Pabo, the Priest: A Novel

by S. Baring-Gould

  CHAPTER XI

  A MIRACLE

  Had one been on Bronffin, the mountain-brow overhanging Caio, on thefollowing morning, strange would have been the scene witnessed.

  Those of the inhabitants who had not fled were engaged in the obsequiesof the hermit who had been burned when the presbytery took fire, andwhose charred remains had been extricated from the ruins.

  The corpse was borne on a bier covered with a white sheet; and men andwomen accompanied, chanting an undulating wail-like dirge, while thepriest from Llansawel--a daughter church--preceded the body.

  Simultaneously arrived a number of armed men, retainers of the bishop,under the command of his brother, with the chaplain Cadell in theirmidst, accompanied by the Dean of Llandeilo and his deacon. Rogier hadrecovered the use of his arm, which was, however, still somewhat stiffin the joint from the blow he had received.

  Their arrival disturbed the procession, for the newcomers rode throughthe train of wailers manifesting supreme indifference with regard to theproceedings.

  "Put down yon bier!" ordered Rogier; and then, because none comprehendedhis words, he made imperious gestures that could not be mistaken. He wasobeyed by the bearers, and the mourners parted and stood back, while thearmed men filled in about the chaplain and their leader.

  Cadell rose in his stirrups and called in Welsh for silence, that hemight be heard.

  Then, addressing the inhabitants in loud tones, he said: "It is wellthat ye are present, assembled, without my having to call you together.Ye shall hear what has been decreed. Proceed with the interment of thedead after that. Draw around and give ear."

  All obeyed, though slowly, reluctantly.

  When Cadell saw that all those of Caio who were gathered to the funeralwere within earshot and attention, he said, speaking articulately, insharp, distinct sentences, raising himself in his stirrups: "Hisfatherliness, the Bishop of St. David's, by the grace of God and thefavor of Henry King of England and Lord Paramount over Wales, inconsideration of the disloyal and irreligious conduct of the peopleinhabiting the so-called Sanctuary of David in Caio, but forming anintegral portion of the patrimony of the see when he, their father andtheir lord, visited the place but recently, and above all, because theArchpriest did resist him, and further, did not shun to lift up hissacrilegious hand against him, his father in God, and inasmuch as in thedivine law communicated to man from Sinai, it is commanded that he whosmiteth his father shall surely be put to death, therefore he, theirLord and Bishop, in exercise of his just and legal rights, doth require_imprimis_: That the said Archpriest, Pabo by name, shall surrender hisperson to be tried and sentenced by the Court ecclesiastical, then to behanded over to the secular court for execution; and, further, that he beesteemed _ipso facto_ and from this present inhibited from the dischargeof any sacred office, and shall be destituted of all and singularbenefices that he may hold in the Menevian diocese, and that he beformally degraded from his sacerdotal character, by virtue of theauthority hereby committed to me."

  Then Howel the Tall stood forth, and approaching the chaplain, said,"Good master Cadell, this matter hath already been decided and taken outof the province of thy master. Pabo, Archpriest and hereditary chieftainof the tribe of Caio, hath, as saith the Scripture, escaped out of thesnare of the fowler. We are even now engaged in the celebration of hisobsequies. You have interrupted us as we were about to commit his ashesto the ground."

  "How so!" exclaimed the chaplain, taken aback. "Pabo is not dead?"

  "Look around thee," answered Howel. "Behold how that fire hath destroyedthe presbytery and at the same time hath consumed him who lay therein."

  "It was the judgment of God!" cried Cadell. "The manifest judgment ofGod against the man who lifted his hand against his spiritual father.Did the lightning flash from heaven to slay him?"

  "That I cannot affirm," said Howel.

  "Heaven has manifestly and miraculously interposed," said the chaplain,dismounting. In a few words he informed his attendants of what hadtaken place.

  "It is to be regretted," said Rogier. "I had hoped to carry a fagot,wherewith to roast him."

  "It soundeth passing strange," said another.

  "It is a miracle," persisted Cadell. "God is with us and against thosewho resist the bishop. This shall be everywhere proclaimed."

  "I do not see that as a miracle it was necessary," said Rogier. "For wewould have burnt him all the same."

  "But," said the chaplain, "it was the will of Heaven to reveal that itis wroth with this people, and is on our side."

  Rogier shrugged one shoulder.

  "I will have a look at him and satisfy myself," said he, strode to thebier, and plucked aside the sheet.

  All recoiled at the object revealed--a human being burnt to a cinder.

  "By the soul of the Conqueror," said the bishop's brother, "methought hehad been a man of more inches."

  "He is shrunken with the fire," explained the chaplain.

  "I would I could be certain it is he," said Rogier.

  "We will subject them to an oath," said Cadell. "If it be he, then,assuredly, his wife--that woman whom he called his wife--will not be faraway."

  "She is the chief mourner," said Howel.

  Then he took Morwen by the hand and led her forward. "She is here."

  "Ah, ha! my pretty wench!" said Rogier, "praise Heaven that thou artreleased from thy leman. We may find thee a better man, and not one thatwears the cassock."

  "Come hither," said the chaplain; "I desire thee to take the strictestand most solemn oath that he who there lieth charred as a burned log isnone other than Pabo the Archpriest, whom thou didst call thy husband.What be the chiefest relics here?" he asked, looking round.

  "We have but the staff of Cynwyl; but that is mighty and greatlyresorted to," said Howel.

  "Where is it? Bring it hither."

  "I am the custodian of the relic," said Morgan ap David. "But it is notcustomary to produce it unless it be attended and treated with allreverence."

  "Take with you whom you will," said the chaplain impatiently. "Faugh!cast again the pall over it."

  Morgan chose Howel and another, and they departed towards the church.

  After a few moments' delay they returned, Morgan in the center, bearingthe staff.

  "Lay it on the corpse," said Cadell.

  "Have a care," said Howel, with a curve in the lip. "That staff has beenknown to have raised the dead to life again."

  "It were well it did so now," laughed Rogier, when Cadell, somewhatdashed, interpreted what had been said. "I' faith, I would be glad tohave a hand in the second burning of him."

  "Hath it really done so?" asked the chaplain.

  "There was Ewan, the son of Morgan ap Rees, who fell from a tree," saidHowel, "and he lay stone dead. Then, full of faith, his mother cried outfor the staff of Cynwyl, and lo! when it was laid on the lad he openedhis eyes and spoke."

  "Hold it above the body," said the chaplain, "one at each end, so as notto touch, and in such wise let the woman take oath."

  Again was the linen sheet removed, and now Morgan and an attendantsacristan held the relic--one at the head, the other at the foot--thatit was above the body, yet not touching it; only the shadow fell uponit.

  "Go thrice round it," enjoined Morgan, signing with his head to Morwen;"thrice from left to right, with the sun, then lay thine hand on thestaff and take the required oath."

  Morwen shuddered, but she obeyed, though pale as death. When she hadmade the third circuit she was forced, shrinking and with averted head,to approach the dead man. Then Cadell said in a loud voice, "Lay thyhand thereon and say these words: 'I take oath before God and Cynwyl,before the saints and angels in heaven, in the face of sun and moon andall men here present, that this is the dead body of Pabo, lateArchpriest--whom thou didst esteem as thy husband.'"

  Then Morwen repeated, mechanically, the first words of adjuration, butadded, in place of what Cadell had recited: "I take oath that if this benot Pabo, the Archpriest, and
my husband, I know not where he is."

  "That sufficeth," said Cadell. "And now," he spoke aloud, turning to theassistants, "seeing that this man hath manifestly died by the justjudgment of God, and to the notable confirmation of the authority ofBernard, the bishop, I declare that he be treated as one excommunicate,and be not buried within consecrated ground."

  The people of Caio murmured and looked at one another disconcerted.

  Then Howel went among them and whispered a few words. Cadell did notobserve him; he was intent on speaking once more. That he might be thebetter heard, he remounted his horse.

  "Inhabitants of the sanctuary and of the tribe of Caio," said he, in thesame distinct and sharp tones as before. "I have something further toadd. _Secundo_: Inasmuch as the Archpriest Pabo hath manifestly perishedby the interposition of Heaven, thus obviating his deposition aspurposed, now his fatherliness, Bernard, Bishop of Menevia, isgraciously pleased to nominate and present me, unworthy, to fill hisroom; in token whereof, the Dean of Llandeilo accompanies, so asstraightway to induct me into all the offices, benefices, spiritualsthat were possessed by Pabo, the late Archpriest. _Tertio_: And inasmuchas the people of the territory and tribe of Caio did resist andmutinously assail the servants of the bishop, he imposes on them a fineof a mark in silver per house, great and small, to be collected and paidwithin one month from this day, until which time his attendants nowaccompanying me shall have free quarters and entertainment forthemselves and their beasts among you."

  His words filled all with dismay. None answered.

  Then said Rogier laughingly: "I' faith, while Providence punished thelate Archpriest, it did not mightily favor the incomer, for it hathconsumed his presbytery."

  "The hall still standeth," said Cadell sternly. "Are we to question theways of Heaven!"

  "'Ods life," pursued Rogier mockingly, "who would ever have consideredmy brother a saint, and one to be sustained by miracles; and he, but theother day, as great a Jew in grinding the peasants, and wringing theblood from their noses, as any son of Abraham. By the paunch of theConqueror--and taking tithe and toll therefrom to his own benefit! Well!If Heaven be not nice in whom it proclaims as saints. There is good hopefor such as me."

  Somewhat later, the new Archpriest indited the following letter to hisecclesiastical superior--

  "Cadell, Archpriest of Caio, to Bernard, Lord Bishop of St. David's,sendeth humbly greeting, with much filial affection.

  "This is to inform your fatherliness that it has pleasured Heaven--whichis wondrous in the saints, to vindicate thy sanctity in a very specialand marvelous manner. It is now many hundred years ago since David, theholy, founded the bishopric of Menevia, and primacy over all Cambria;and it is said he was thereto ordained and appointed by the Patriarch ofJerusalem. Now it is a notable fact that there was a certain Boia, achief of the land, who mightily opposed him. Then fell fire from Heavenin the night, and consumed Boia and his wife and all that he had, inwitness thereto remaineth the Cleggyr Voia, his ruined and burnt castle,unto this day. Since then many have been the bishops who have sat in theseat of David, and many also have been those who have opposed them. TheNorthmen have slain some, and have expelled others, yet did not Heaveninterfere in their behalf. Nevertheless, no sooner art thou, Bernard,appointed and consecrated to this see, than have thy right and thyholiness been vindicated miraculously in the sight of all. For theArchpriest and chief Pabo did oppose thee even as did Boia opposeDavid. And each was smitten in the same way. Manifestly in the sight ofall men, fire fell from Heaven and consumed him who sacrilegiouslylifted his hand against thee, him and all his house, whereof we arewitnesses--to wit, thy brother Rogier, the Dean of Llandeilo, and allthy servants and the people of Caio, as well as my unworthy self, thyservant, who beheld him--the transgressor--burned as a charred log,blasted by Heaven. And forasmuch as he perished by the judgment of God,I have bidden give to him but the burial of an ass.

  "Be this known unto all men, and it will mightily extend the fear ofthee, and dissuade men from temerariously resisting thy just authority,whether in the diocese or throughout Wales."

  When the chaplain had written this, as he sealed it, he said to Rogier,"It is so wonderful, he will hardly credit it."

  "My good Cadell," replied the Norman adventurer, "I know my brotherbetter even than do you. He is so inordinately vain that he wouldbelieve if you told him that the sun and moon had bowed down to worshiphim. But I--whether I believe this, that is another matter."

  "But I believe it--that I solemnly affirm," said Cadell.

  "And, further, do you not recollect that his fatherliness, the Bishop,did threaten as much, when he was here, and the Archpriest resisted him?Did he not say, can I not send lightning to consume thee?--and lo! ithas fallen, even as he said."