The Armourer's PrenticesYonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
History
The Armourer's Prentices
Yonge, Charlotte M. (Charlotte Mary)
Great Britain -- History -- Henry VIII, 1509-1547 -- Fiction
“Ha! that’s well,” quoth he, greeting them. “No slugabeds, I see. Will
ye come with us to hear mass at St. Faith’s?” They agreed, and Master
Headley then told them that if they would tarry till the next day in
searching out their uncle, they could have the company of Tibble
Steelman, who had to see one of the captains of the guard about an
alteration of his corslet, and thus would have every opportunity of
facilitating their inquiries for their uncle.
The mass was an ornate one, though not more so than they were
accustomed to at Beaulieu. Ambrose had his book of devotions, supplied
by the good monks who had brought him up, and old Mrs. Headley carried
something of the same kind; but these did not necessarily follow the
ritual, and neither quiet nor attention was regarded as requisite in
“hearing mass.” Dennet, unchecked, was exchanging flowers from her
Sunday posy with another little girl, and with hooded fingers carrying
on in all innocence the satirical pantomime of Father Francis and
Sister Catharine; and even Master Headley himself exchanged remarks
with his friends, and returned greetings from burgesses and their wives
while the celebrant priest’s voice droned on, and the choir
responded—the peals of the organ in the Minster above coming in at
inappropriate moments, for there they were in a different part of High
Mass using the Liturgy peculiar to St. Paul’s.
Thinking of last week at Beaulieu, Ambrose knelt meantime with his head
buried in his hands, in an absorption of feeling that was not perhaps
wholly devout, but which at any rate looked more like devotion than the
demeanour of any one around. When the _Ite missa est_ was pronounced,
and all rose up, Stephen touched him and he rose, looking about,
bewildered.
“So please you, young sir, I can show you another sort of thing by and
by,” said in his ear Tibble Steelman, who had come in late, and marked
his attitude.
They went up from St. Faith’s in a flood of talk, with all manner of
people welcoming Master Headley after his journey, and thence came back
to dinner which was set out in the hall very soon after their return
from church. Quite guests enough were there on this occasion to fill
all the chairs, and Master Headley intimated to Giles that he must
begin his duties at table as an apprentice, under the tuition of the
senior, a tall young fellow of nineteen, by name Edmund Burgess. He
looked greatly injured and discomfited, above all when he saw his two
travelling companions seated at the table—though far lower than the
night before; nor would he stir from where he was standing against the
wall to do the slightest service, although Edmund admonished him
sharply that unless he bestirred himself it would be the worse for him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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