The History of Richard Raynal, SolitaryBenson, Robert Hugh
History
The History of Richard Raynal, Solitary
Benson, Robert Hugh
Great Britain -- History -- Henry VI, 1422-1461 -- Fiction; Hermits -- Fiction; Historical fiction
"There were two men who led him by the arms, and he would have fallen
but for their assistance, and I immediately whispered to my lord to let
him sit down. But my lord was busy and anxious at that time, for he had
but just come from the King, who was no better and would take no meat
nor speak at all. So he paid no heed to me, and presently began to ask
questions of Master Raynal, urging him to confess what it was that he
had done, and threatening him with this and that if he would not speak.
"But Master Raynal did not speak or lift his eyes; it seemed as if he
did not hear one word.
"My lord told him presently that if temporal pains did not move him,
perhaps, it was that he desired spiritual--for my lord was very angry,
and scarce knew what he was saying. But Master Richard made no answer.
I will tell you, Sir John, plainly, that I thought he was but a fool to
anger my lord so by his silence, for it could not be that he did not
hear: my lord bawled loud enough to awaken the dead, and I saw the folk
behind, some laughing and some grave.
"It would be full half an hour after noon before my lord had done his
questions, and lay back in his chair wrathful at getting no answer,
though the men that held Master Raynal shook him from side to side.
"Then it was that the end came.
"I was observing Master Raynal very closely, wondering whether he were
mad or deaf, and on a sudden he lifted his eyes, and his lips closed. He
appeared to be looking at my lord, but it was another that he saw.
"I cannot describe to you, Sir John, what that change was that came to
him, save by saying that I think Lazarus must have looked like that, as
he heard our Saviour Christ's voice calling to him as he lay in the
tomb. It was no longer the face of a dead man, but of a living one, and
as that change came, I perceived that my lord cardinal had raised
himself in his chair, and was staring, I suppose, at the young man too.
But I could not take my eyes off Master Raynal's face.
"Then on a sudden Master Raynal smiled and drew a great breath and cried
out. It was but one word; it was the holy Name of JESUS.
"I perceived immediately that my lord cardinal had stood up at that cry,
but then he sat down again, and he made a motion with his hand, and the
men that held Master Raynal wheeled him about, and they went through the
crowd towards the door.
"My lord cardinal turned to me, and I have never seen him so moved, but
still he could not speak, and while we looked upon one another there was
a great uproar everywhere--in the court and in the palace.
"I stood there, not knowing what to do, and my lord pushed past to the
window. He, too, cried out as he looked down, and then ran from the
room, and as I was following there broke in one by the door behind the
chair.
"'Where is my lord cardinal?' he cried; 'The King has sent for him.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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