The Heretic's Apprentice Read Online Free PDF

he was bidden, refreshed and bright with the relief of reaching his goal and shedding his burden of responsibility. His face was open and confident, even joyful. He had no reason to expect anything but acceptance.
    â€˜My lord,’ said Elave, ‘I have brought back from the Holy Land the body of my master, William of Lythwood, who was well known in this town, and has been in his time a benefactor to the abbey and the church. Sir, you will not have known him, for he left on his pilgrimage seven years ago, but there are brothers here who will remember his gifts and charities, and bear witness for him. It was his wish to be buried in the cemetery here at the abbey, and I ask for him, with all respect, his funeral and grave within these walls.’
    Probably he had rehearsed that speech many times, Cadfael thought, and shaped and reshaped it doubtfully, for he did not seem like a man of many or ready words, unless, perhaps, he was roused in defence of something he valued. However that might be, he delivered it from the heart. He had a pleasant voice, pitched agreeably low, and travel had taught him how to bear himself among men of all kinds and all fortunes.
    Radulfus nodded acknowledgement, and turned to Prior Robert. ‘You were here, Robert, seven years ago and more, as I was not. Tell me of this man as you remember him. He was a merchant of Shrewsbury?’
    â€˜A much respected merchant,’ said the prior readily. ‘He kept a flock folded and grazed on the Welsh side of the town, and acted as agent for a number of other sheep-farmers of the middle kind, to sell their dips together to the best advantage. He also had a workshop preparing vellum from the skins. Of good repute, very fine white vellum. We have bought from him in the past. So do other monastic houses. His nephews have the business now. Their family house is near Saint Alkmund’s church in the town.’
    â€˜And he has been a patron of our house?’
    Brother Benedict the sacristan detailed the many gifts William had made over the years, both to the choir and the parish of Holy Cross. ‘He was a close friend of Abbot Heribert, who died here among us three years ago.’ Heribert, too gentle and mild for the taste of Bishop Henry of Winchester, then papal legate, had been demoted to give place to Radulfus, and had ended his days quite happily as a simple choir-monk, without regrets.
    â€˜William also gave freely in winter for the poor,’ added Brother Oswald the almoner.
    â€˜It seems that William has well deserved to have what he asks,’ said the abbot and looked up encouragingly at his petitioner. ‘I understand you went with him on pilgrimage. You have done well by your master, I commend your loyalty, and I trust the journey has done great good to you, living, as to your master, who died still a pilgrim. There could be no more blessed death. Leave us now. I will speak with you again very soon.’
    Elave made him a deep reverence, and went out from the chapter-house with a buoyant step, like a man going to a festival.
    *
    Canon Gerbert had refrained from comment while the petitioner was present, but he cleared his throat vociferously as soon as Elave had vanished, and said with weighty gravity: ‘My lord abbot, it is a great privilege to be buried within the walls. It must not be granted lightly. Is it certain that this is a fit case for such an honour? There must be many men, above the rank of merchant, who would wish to achieve such a resting-place. It behoves your house to consider very gravely before admitting anyone, however charitable, who may fall short of worthiness.’
    â€˜I have never held,’ said Radulfus, unperturbed, ‘that rank or trade is valued before God. We have heard an impressive list of this man’s gifts to our church, let alone those to his fellow-men. And bear in mind that he undertook, and accomplished, the pilgrimage to Jerusalem, an act of devotion that