“What do you mean, Brother?”
“Lord Godfrey has emancipated you—completely forgiven your fees and head money.”
Could it be? That meant he would no longer be forced to return to Hardonbury as a serf.
“Do you understand, my son? Godfrey and your uncle have both released you of your obligations to them. Now you are free to follow your true vocation. Indeed, your boyhood is passing away before our eyes this very day—the choices of a man are set in front of you.”
A smile formed on Xan’s lips as he realized the truth of the monk’s words. Godfrey’s gift had brought freedom. Somehow, even without Carlo’s emerald, God had set him free from his prison.
But where should he go?
He turned his face to the sun, closed his eyes, and offered a prayer of thanks.
When he opened them, there in the eastern sky a hawk soared high and free upon the wind.
I shall go wherever You will.
Author’s Historical Note
Although the characters and events in The Haunted Cathedral are fictional, the novel takes place in a historical place and time. The story is set in medieval England in A.D. 1185, during the final years of the reign of King Henry II (1153–1189). Xan, the main character, is a peasant boy who has been orphaned and is being raised by the monks of Harwood Abbey in a remote northern part of the country. His best friend, Lucy, has left the convent on the grounds of the abbey to travel with her father throughout England. In the novel, both Xan and Lucy find themselves far from the abbey in the major town of Lincoln to the south.
Lincoln Castle and Lincoln Cathedral
In 1066, more than a century before Xan was born, England was transformed when William the Conqueror crossed the English Channel and invaded from Normandy, an area of Northern France populated by descendants of the Vikings—called Normans or, as in the case of The Haunted Cathedral, Northmen. The Norman invasion ended the reign of the Anglo-Saxons—descendants of Germanic tribes that had ruled England for almost 700 years. After the Conquest, King William constructed many castles and cathedrals in England. In The Haunted Cathedral, the reader encounters two of these structures: Lincoln Castle and Lincoln Cathedral.
Lincoln Castle still stands today as a major attraction in England, though it has changed much in the nearly thousand years that have passed since the events in the story. The novel accurately describes the castle’s strong walls and pillars, and also its famed “Lucy Tower,” which still exists and by pure coincidence—or perhaps God’s great humor—shares its name with Xan’s best friend.
Xan and Lucy explore Lincoln Cathedral while solving the mystery of the ghost rumored to live within it. The novel conveys the strange but true history of that cathedral. As Xan learns, the Normans built the cathedral over the old Anglo-Saxon church of Saint Mary Magdalene’s—although the story invents the crypt hidden under the old church. The description of the cathedral is historically accurate, including its two great bells in the western tower of the church. The background story involving Bishop Remigius is also true, including the devastating fire that cracked the bishop’s tomb in A.D. 1141.
The Lincoln Cathedral of the novel crumbled during the earthquake that struck England in April of A.D. 1185. Listen to how the English historian, Raphael Holinshed, described that event:
On the Monday in the week before Easter in 1185: “chanced a sore earth-quake through all the parts of this land, such a one as the like had not been heard of in England, since the beginning of the world; for stones that lay couched fast in the earth were removed out of their places, houses were overthrown, and the great church of Lincoln rent from the top downwards.”
The quake literally devastated Lincoln Cathedral, leaving only one wall in good condition—the same wall that still can be seen. It is now part of a larger wall built by Saint Hugh of Avalon when creating the version of Lincoln Cathedral that stands today. It is still one of the most magnificent cathedrals in the world, attracting countless tourists each year.
Abbeys and Benedictine Monks
Xan starts and ends the book at his adopted home, Harwood Abbey—a monastery run by Benedictine monks and the nuns who live at the nearby nunnery (convent). Sometimes called “black monks” due to their simple black robes, monks organized their lives according to the Rule of Saint Benedict, spending most of their time praying, working, and copying manuscripts. During the Middle Ages, Benedictine monks and nuns—and the Church itself—played a major role in preserving written works of the ancient Greeks and Romans, along with the Sacred Scriptures (the Bible).
A major decision that confronts Xan throughout the series is whether he, too, should become a monk. To do so, he would need to become a novice and train to take the permanent religious vows of the Benedictine order. A man might become a novice as an adult, but often novices were teenagers.
While at the abbey, Xan and Lucy interact with the adults in charge—the abbot or abbess—along with their assistants, such as priors and obedientiaries. Xan sees the monks gathering to pray in the abbey church seven times throughout the day and night, and he participates in some of the monks’ meetings in the chapter house. Xan also continues his studies with his mentor, Brother Andrew, learning how to read and write with the ink and goat parchment used to copy manuscripts.
Peasant Children and Feudalism
In The Haunted Cathedral, Xan discovers the lowly place he holds in medieval society as a peasant child. He lives in a time when England and most of European society was set up as a feudal system, also called “the manorial system.” In that system, peasant “serfs,” such as Xan and his family, lived and worked on the land of a manor, but they were at the bottom rung of the English social ladder. Unlike children from wealthy families, serf children were illiterate and uneducated.
In this story, King Henry II is at the top of the social system; he is lord over all English lands, followed by the major landowners (the land barons) and lesser landlords and knights who run manors on behalf of the land barons. As Xan learns, a serf boy like himself cannot make any major life decisions—such as becoming a monk, marrying, or even leaving the manor—without the permission of his landlord. To finally be free of this oversight, a serf must pay “head money” to the landlord to buy his freedom.
Still, Xan and the other children he encounters are not so different from children today. Their parents love and care for them, they enjoy toys and games, they are taught to help around the home, and they like making friends.
There are some major differences, though. Medieval children did have to grow up sooner than children today. Once they reached puberty—ages 12 to 14—they were considered adults, often getting married and having children while in their teens. Boys from wealthy families might be sent away to be trained as knights, and the girls would receive training to prepare them to be proper ladies.
Due to the societal norms at the time, men had a more prominent role in society than women did. Even a girl whose parents were wealthy did not have many choices about her own life. Her father could choose her husband, and then her husband’s decisions would rule their household. A girl’s options were quite limited, whether she was rich or poor. She might marry and have a family—or she might join a religious order and dedicate her life to God’s service. In The Haunted Cathedral, Lucy is at the mercy of her own father’s travels even as she considers for herself whether she would prefer to marry one day or to become a nun.
Glossary
abbey Another term for monastery, where monks and priests live in community
abbot The superior of an abbey
Blessed Sacrament The Eucharist that has been consecrated by the priest at Mass. It is kept in the tabernacle for adoration and to be taken to people who are sick.
chain mail A type of armor made of metal links
chapter house A building attached to a monastery or a cathedral in which meetings are held and business addressed
Crusades A series of medieval military campaigns between Christians and M
uslims for control of sites in the Holy Land
crypt An area underneath a church—a room or vault—that served as a burial place or a chapel
granges Another term for farmlands
land baron A nobleman who was given a title and land in exchange for pledging allegiance to the king
mace A heavy club with metal spikes used in the Middle Ages
Moors The term used in medieval times to refer to Muslims who lived in what is now Spain, Portugal, and North Africa. In the Crusades, the Christians and the Moors fought for control of the Holy Land.
novice A monk in training who has not yet taken final vows. The purpose of the novitiate period is to determine if the novice is truly called to the religious life.
prior The person in charge of the abbey after the abbot
quarrel The arrow designed for a crossbow
reeve a local official, such as a judge
refectory The dining room of a monastery
Roman road One of a vast system of roads constructed during the Roman Empire. They connected the city of Rome with all outlying towns and major trade routes. These roads were well kept and patrolled by Roman soldiers; thus, they were relatively safe for travelers.
Saint Benedict The founder of the Benedictine Order (A.D. 480–547)
scriptorium a room, often in a monastery, where Scripture and other important books were copied by hand
sext The midday prayer in the Liturgy of the Hours, the public prayer of the Church to praise God and sanctify the day. It is prayed at approximately noon.
The Rule The book written by Benedict in 516 of the rules and concepts for how a monastic community should live. The Rule addressed spiritual and practical matters and helped shape how religious orders were organized and operated.
toft a location for a house or other dwelling, along with any buildings that went with it
Acknowledgments
Writing The Haunted Cathedral was one of the most fulfilling endeavors I have ever undertaken. Stories of redemption and forgiveness are dear to me. Of particular note, I was moved to create the ghost of Nelly from a real-life tragedy that I learned about while on spiritual retreat in California at an ancient Spanish mission—San Antonio de Padua. I learned about a young girl who had died of cancer and was buried on the grounds of the old mission. I vividly recall the rumors of the innocent girl’s ghost walking the halls of the mission, which truly left my imagination running wild and inspired me to honor the little girl’s memory in this novel.
I owe a great debt of gratitude to God and to the many friends, family, and professionals who have made the entire Harwood Mysteries series a reality. I regret only having space to mention a few of those names here.
First, I greatly appreciate the love and support of my family, especially my wife, Alisa, and my son, A.J., who both inspired me, suggested many great ideas, and became invaluable sounding boards for the series. Second, I am grateful for the generous advice and consultation of Dr. Jennifer Paxton, a professor in the Department of History at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. An expert in twelfth-century English abbeys, Dr. Paxton helped me conform Xan’s world ever closer to the historical reality of that period. Third, I am deeply indebted to other authors who took the time to inspire me and encourage my writing, especially the men and women of the Catholic Writers Guild and the mentorship of Ramona Tucker and Jeff Nesbit.
Finally, I am so grateful for the dedication of the entire staff at Loyola Press, who have taken this series and raised it to the next level through their professionalism and investment. Their incredible editorial staff—with a special shout-out to freelance editors Jim Thomas and Tim Travaglini—helped make innumerable improvements to this story and to my writing. Special thanks to Joseph Durepos, Joellyn Cicciarelli, Maria Cuadrado, Vinita Wright, Carrie Freyer, Andrew Yankech, and Mandy Lemos. And to the many, many others who have personally worked on making this series a success, I cannot thank you enough.
For those who have read this novel, I pray it has been a blessing to you, and I hope you will keep reading the series. There is yet more to come in the adventures of Xan and Lucy!
About the Author
Antony Barone Kolenc retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps after 21 years of military service. He is a law professor who has been published in numerous journals and magazines, and he speaks at legal, writing, and home education events. He and his wife, Alisa, are the parents of five children and three wonderful grandchildren.
Other Loyola Press books by Antony Barone Kolenc
Shadow in the Dark
The Fire of Eden
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© 2021 Antony Barone Kolenc
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Cover art credit: Martin Beckett, MahirAtes/iStockphoto/Getty Images.
Map art credit: Martin Beckett
Map insert, Floor plan of Lincoln Cathedral: Kathryn Seckman Kirsch
eBook ISBN: 978-0-8294-4813-9
Based on the print edition: 978-0-8294-4812-2
Library of Congress Control Number: 2020938878
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