Penance

Forgive me the Sin of Alacrity

I joined the slow read of Hilary Mantel’s ‘Wolf Hall’, accompanying

Simon Haisell

and hundreds (if not thousands) of others in a ‘meander’ through a gentle reading schedule. I mentioned quite early on that:

a. I’m not much of a ‘joiner in’.

2. This is quite a departure for me … I usually rattle through books I like.

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Confession (extracted without a visit to the Tower or the ministrations of Sir Thomas More):

My name is Barrie Thomson and I freely confess that I am currently 212 pages ahead of the prescribed reading schedule of Wolf Hall. Without fear or favour, I acknowledge that only a version transcribed in Latin would slow this reader down. Forgive me, Father Haisell, I know not what I was thinking.

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Penance

Write a tale inspired by the painting ‘Cardinal Wolsey at the Gate of Leicester Abbey’. The story shall be not less and not more than 212 words in length.

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Cardinal Wolsey at the Gate of Leicester Abbey (1847) - Charles West Cope

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Monseigneur

I recall the words I uttered to our much-loved Cardinal Wolsey as he slid from the mule, supported in his weakened state by George Cavendish. “Your Eminence, I fear that the journey from Sheffield Manor has taken much from you”. He groaned pitifully. I dream of it and my heart is sorrowed. We laid a feast to welcome his lordship but he retreated, ashen-faced and unfed, to his chambers. Our victuals were prey to the voracious appetites of the Warden of the Tower and his thugs. Master Kingston wasted little time in accusing me of financial impropriety whilst supping beakers of the excellent Italian wine I set aside for His Eminence. I retreated to my lodgings early to pray for our dear Cardinal. The Warden’s terse inquisition over the trifling matter of one thousand pounds secreted in York weighed heavily upon Wolsey. They said that young Henry Percy was tearing Cawood apart to seek out the money, the better to find favour with the King and to counter salacious rumours of his behaviour with the Lady Anne. Should I hear fresh news, of coin or conjugal rights, I shall write again. Until then, we mourn His Eminence but trust in the Lord.

Your Servant,

Pescall, Abbot of St Mary de Pratis

[212 words]

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Historical Notes on Abbot Pescall:

In 1518 William Atwater, Bishop of Lincoln, visited to inspect the Leicester Abbey. The Abbot, Richard Pescall, was accused of financial impropriety and was thought too old to perform his duties. Pescall's extravagances included an "excessive number of hounds", which were known to roam freely "fouling church, chapter house and cloister"; whilst the Bishop complained the boys in the almonry were being improperly educated.

A follow-up visit, in 1521, by Bishop Atwater's successor, John Longland, showed that things had not improved. Abbot Pescall rarely attended church services and, when he did, he would often bring his jester who "disturbed the services with his buffoonery". The Abbot's bad example had affected the canon's behaviour, who ate and drank at improper times, failed to attend services (an average of 11 of the 25 canons attended), and roamed freely outside the abbey: visiting the town's alehouses and frequently going hunting. Two canons were also accused of "incontinence". This visit revealed the abbey was severely in debt, leading the Bishop to appoint two administrators to oversee the abbey's finances.

The Chancellor of Lincoln Diocese visited the abbey in 1528 and found things had not improved. The abbot was still not attending services and was eating at unusual times and in unusual places, away from the other canons. The Chancellor also complained about the Abbot's "excessive number" of servants. The 24 canons were also still frequently leaving the abbey without proper reason.

Bishop Longland saw no alternative but to remove Abbot Pescall. Still, the task was not simple as Pescall tried to secure his position by sending gifts and bribes to Thomas Cromwell, leading Bishop Longland to resort to "harassing" the Abbot by constantly interfering with affairs at the abbey. Abbot Pescall finally resigned 5 years later (10 years after his failures were first noticed). He was granted a pension of £100 a year. Pescall's retirement was far from quiet, however, as he frequently wrote to Cromwell complaining about affairs at the abbey. He bemoaned the fact that £13 of his (undeservedly generous) pension was being taken in tax, which he thought should be paid by the Abbey.

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Is anyone else finding a slow read harder than they imagined it would be?