The Case of Canterbury, 1333

[Master Claramae St. Laurence]

The Case of Canterbury, 1333

A cont. of the original adventures as seen within the Long English Night, wherein the Archbishop is recovered to the holy see of Canterbury and the discovery of most reputable persons in concealment for their safety.

Evangeline O'Cathasaigh

The mourning party of a man's last pilgrimage was more sacred for continuing the wishes of the deceased well into death. So pious was the brother of good Uncle Martin that he was insistant they continue unto Canterbury for the Archbishop's blessing even so close to death! The story was amazing, drawing admiration from the guard, sighs from the women, and even the blessing of passing nuns. Saints relics should be piled in the cart that Jenks drove! At the very least, Faolan's wrapping with the woodwork LePower kept the body from stinking in the summer hit. A storm approaching was a blessing with its promise of chill to preserve dear uncle's earthly remains for at least one more blessed day. Where to put him? You couldn't eleave that sort of..package..in the carriage house. Sacrilige turned her cheeks scarlet as the men would have to stuff dear old Uncle Archbishop in a cheese cold cave in neighboring Ashmore! (d)

Martin lePower

The departed was in good company, on into the carved rock archway, on past where golden wheels of fine cheddar rested, gathering strength in age, on back to where the Blue Stilton kept, its thick covers sealing in its ever expanding veins of goodness. Like the cheeses, well wrapped as he was, the deceased was ripening like a fine fragrant cheese, although sealed in by Falon, he would keep better in this cooler room. "Come Jenks. Put your back into it lad. It be cooler the father you get." Martin had his hands folded in prayer but he growled at his aide. "Smartly there, else the warm air come in with ye."

Rhupert Jenks

Rhupert strained to slide the wooden box along the path, young and strong, he was not above asking for a little help.He tilted his end of the box and muttered as he barked a shin on a wooden sdtorage crate. "Who would put cheddar and blue cheese in the same durn cave? " The cool damp walls seemed to close on his shoulders, the more they went into the dark, He asked Falon," This good enough?" (d)

Faolan O'Connor

It was with a certain revulsion that Fao bent to the task of unloading the corpse of the poor archbishop from the wagon and carrying him deep into the depths of the cheese cold cave. The only sound of distaste had been a soft "Uggghh..." as they had slid the shroud wrapped form of the archbishop into one of the cooling areas. As he and Jenks maneuvered the body, Fao could not help but long for bar of good Moorish soap and a hot bath awaiting him. Still, they had taken the archbishop to yet another temporary place of rest. While Fao had a certain familiarity with death... and was that saw him have a fair amount of revulsion for the diseased and the dead. On campaign he had seen the ravages of cholera and Justinian's Plague sweep through armies and cities alike. Before, when he had been caught for outlawry, he had been forced to dig the graves for those who had died when the late Ceannafort had launched her last campaign to retake Dublin. Fao's eyes, showing above the improvised kerchief that was tied about his face (covering his moth and nose), would nod. "Aye. I just 'ope we 'ave bribed tha' fool caretaker enough ta keep'is mouth shut." Then the archbishop would be put in his breif resting spot (Fao restraining the urge just to toss 'im and run). (D)

Evangeline O'Cathasaigh

"We would nay be stowin' him away had ye menfolk allowed me the plan first decided upon. Ah lord God such blasphemy.." The cross was clung to where it dangled down from the pretty throat. Naturally the aged and the beautiful need not have course with the dead but for supervision, "Better me tae appear his dignified..lady o' needs than.." Cheeks flushed with every undignified push further into the cold, cramped collection of prized dairy. Leave it to be that three Irish folk with one English assistant stuffed the head of Anglo-Christendom among the cheese. At least he was close to the most humble of man's work, blessed by God's hand? If they laid him by salt, would it be better? Blessed are the well creamed and salted? She crossed herself as if God were going to pull back the roof right then and there to blast them from where they stood. "Can we hurry tae the inn please, tae decide it all. Ye all can rest away but Ah only need some time tae make composure," and hail marys. No man of God deserved such treatments, no matter what his earthly delights would have been. Oh he had a mistress, wouldn't you know Eva favored her from stem to stern (d)

Martin lePower

Martin stood one hand to themid of his aching back. "The inn cannot come too soon for me. A good mug of beer and bread with cheese....er, make that beef." His weary steps showed his age, as the elder began making his way in direction of food and rest." I trust they do not have bed bugs. I have had enough to try a man's soul.""Where are you Jenks? Come along. " he looked back at Fao and in cheerful tones, "I buy you both a beer or ten." chuckling. (d)


Rhupert Jenks

He discarded his own cloth cover from mouth and nose, but kept in for there was retrival to be done,"Beer did you say? I am thinking it best be something stronger." Irish whiskey he had in mind.(d)

Faolan O'Connor

For Fao, the deed could not be done soon enough! As soon as the mortal remains of the archbishop came to rest, Fao was almost behind the old man LePower as they went out. Unlike Jenks, however, Fao would keep his cloth covering on -- until he was certain that they were clear of the miasma of the corpse. "I fancy tha' a bath tis where I shall be off ta.... may'ap then I shall join ye fer a drink er ten." Fao's skin seemed to *crawl*. (D)


Evangeline O'Cathasaigh

" A beer or ten, men would make time for ten beers n' a time like this, but can nay be helped nor blamed. He shan't..spoil. How heathen tha' sounds!" She whispered, lifting the hem of her black gown to move where the men did move listen as they spoke. The Duchess of Dublin and her O'Connor guardian were reduced to a great many things so they might beseech assistance for an embattled country, but this was as comical as it was horrid. "Imagine bein' by the body o' an Archbishop, n' wantin tae gae tae church, tha' cheese cave should be quite blessed by now." From the famed dairy place back to Canterbury they would go, for the horse could not be fast enough driven. Humor's moment subsided as on the way to the inn she noted the emergence of begging hands in the road. Stopping to pay them coin, she could not help but notice the dark, dark fingers peering through bandages. "Take it n' God keep ye.." It was enough to nearly take her form the horse! Did leprosy blacken the skin too? Little did she know, a forced leper always had black skin. A forced leper was black all the time, and waiting for word from a dead man to bring him from hiding. "Good day." The leper said in English with a deep accent slidng the coin away. "Lepers, n' the city is sae closed in.." She shuttered (d)


Faolan O'Connor

Once more, Fao was called upon to suppress a shudder that thought to run through him when he saw sight of the lepers upon the road. Ever the faithful guardian, he would go with Eva to give alms to them. Even if he did have his bit of cloth pressed tightly to his nose and mouth. God above! Justinian's Plague....cholera...and now lepersy? The only affliction that Faolan had not encounter was 'boils' distributed as G-- Fao abruptly stopped that train ofthought. It was better *not* to tempt divine wrath when engaged in blasphemy and sacrilege. With his free hand, Fao tossed -- what else? -- hunks of cheese to the lepers. (D)


Martin lePower

Martin glanced over at her and shook his his head no, being as subtle as he could. "This one did not have the smell; not like when I was in the Holyland; along the road you caught wind of them a ways off and when they walked off, that smell trailed 'em like the wake of a ship, diminished but not gone. If that be leper, he be in early stage, I would think." There were no absolutes in life, the old man learned on his journey. "Still, the needy require our alms." he had given to the ones at the roadway, too. It had not occurred to LePower that the wind might have been kind to these travelers today. (d)


Rhupert Jenks

A begging bowl did not go empty when it passed Jenks' way, for he gave enough to keep him feeling good; good of health and yes, say it. He donated to keep his good luck. Today they needed all the help and luck that could be bought. "There but for the grace of the Almighty could go meself." He glanced back at the unfortunates, be they be real or not. He hoped he had not come near lepers, lest it be contagious.(d)


Evangeline O'Cathasaigh

Scholars came for the scholary sorts of things, barristers for legality. Theology for the theologians, and amidst them the streets were filled with people. people seeking stories, selling relics, seeking blessing, giving praise. It would seem the talk of England was that to kneel at a church or the archbishop's palace in Canterbury would be to wash your sins away. It would spare you and yours the suffering from all of England, spare you from spaniards. Your fortune could be made anywhere in the realm, why you might even return in three years time to find your ruins riches if you but did this! Unable to afford pilgrimages to the holy sights of Europe or on the road to Damascus, the poor, and rich alike were crawling through the streets. Fear of Spanish captivity was nigh! Fires burned from Oxford, Cambridge loomed to ruin. The North was taken by the Devil posing as God (a story told different times, the attackers were always Devils who prayed to the same God, twas amusing that way) so come, to Canterbury come! People braved the roads no matter the danger for this. Humor fell away as she saw their faith, the fear, despite how they milled. Market stalls were more the pulpits of priests. Dirty children received alms but gave them right away to church boxes. Her heart was so clearly laid bare as she saw Dublin, Belfast, indeed Ireland.here in Canterbury. On horseback now, she maneuvered carefully through the throngs to the inn but a street away from the palace. In its shadow, they would stay. Veil lowered, the tenderheart shed tears in secret (d)