Iris Collier: Day of Wrath

‘I should be delighted, Prior, if the Sheriff doesn’t need me. But you mustn’t ignore what’s staring you in the face. The Commissioners will soon be here. They won’t like suckling pigs and won’t take kindly to love songs at mealtimes. They’ll use it against you. Don’t make it easy for them. For a few weeks you would do well to observe the Rule of your founder. The King wants the monasteries closed. Let me make myself quite clear. Thomas Cromwell has been instructed to deal with the matter. Don’t give his Commissioners any grounds for criticism. Listen to Brother Michael.’

Brother Michael’s gaunt face creased into a satisfied smile. Although Nicholas couldn’t go along with Brother Michael’s views on the joys of the ascetic life, he wished heartily that the Prior had some of his qualities. What a pair they made! The Prior, smooth and fat with good living, Brother Michael, lean and gaunt, his breath smelling sour with fasting. The Prior, good humoured and easy-going; Brother Michael, bitter and censorious.

Nicholas walked across to the window and stared out at the surrounding fields where sheep were grazing, and the outhouses where cows were being milked and cheese was being made, and ale brewed. Over in the church, the monks were assembling for the morning Mass.

‘The King wants all this to end, Prior. You, and others like you, are thorns in his side. You may have taken the Oath of Supremacy, but you take the Pope’s side in the matter of his divorce and marriage to Anne Boleyn. You didn’t make a stand like Sir Thomas More; as you said, you’re not made of the stuff of martyrs. No, don’t speak,’ he said, as Prior Thomas opened his mouth to protest. ‘You’ll only say too much. You’ve got an enviable establishment here, Prior. There are only a dozen or so of you but just think for a moment of your church. Forget Hobbes’s parish church. There’s nothing much there to tempt the King, but in your monks’ choir you have silver plate, candlesticks, priceless vestments and a solid gold chalice.’

‘Given to us by one of your ancestors, my Lord.’

‘Aye, and God knows where he got it from. But I hope the King never sets eyes on it. What he sees, he wants, as Wolsey knew to his cost. And he’ll want your treasures, Prior. He’ll not be interested in the buildings, except for the lead on the roof – he’ll know he can get a good price for that. The stones he’ll sell to local people like that jackal Guy Warrener. Cromwell told me that this Priory, although small, is one of the richest, and after the monasteries have been closed down, and their goods confiscated, he’ll be able to clear off the King’s debts in one go and still have plenty over to furnish the King’s fleet. It’s not now a case of “if” he closes down the monasteries, but “when”.’

There was silence as the Prior and Brother Michael digested this information. Then the Prior began to pace restlessly up and down the room.

‘Lord Nicholas, I don’t doubt for a minute that what you are saying is true. You are a man of the world, and Brother Michael and I are men of God, living quietly in the country, knowing nothing of politics and the ways of the Court. Yet we do know all about human nature and we know that men are capable of every wickedness. Yes, I see now that the Commissioners will come here and they will want our treasures. I shall be sorry to see those priceless things go, but what I am more worried about is my brethren. What’s going to happen to them? Some of my monks, Father John, for instance, have lived here all their lives. He couldn’t survive for long if he was turned out of here. It would be pure wickedness to inflict that on him.

‘And what about the people who work on the estate?’ he said, turning to look at Nicholas, as if he was responsible for the fate of the Priory. ‘And the children in the school, and the poor people in the hospital? Are they to be turned loose to fend for themselves like common vagabonds? It can’t happen. The King couldn’t be so cruel.’

‘Take care what you say, Prior,’ said Nicholas in alarm. ‘You must control your anger, or else you’ll say things you’ll regret. Your brethren will need all your strength and subtlety if you’re going to survive. The King can do what he pleases. Parliament will pass the legislation; there’s no doubt about that. It’s full of greedy people licking their lips over the promise of rich pickings. There is talk of giving the monks pensions. There’s nothing to stop them from joining the secular clergy. They’re not suggesting that the parish churches should be closed. They’ll continue and they’ll need clergy to run them just as they always have. But I do advise you to hide your treasures. I’ll help you all I can. I could make the King an offer to buy the bells myself. Come to think of it, I could offer to buy the Priory and in that way we’ll keep all our treasures for posterity. I’ll also preserve my chantry and Mary can be laid to rest there in peace with no threat of disturbing her. The King would bite if I offered him a good enough price. But this won’t save you, Prior, nor your monks. We shall have to get used to an England without monks.’

‘To think that we welcomed King Henry as our anointed Sovereign when he came to the throne. Now he’s forfeited that right. He’s the devil emissary,’ said Brother Michael, scarcely able to control his anger.

Nicholas turned to look at him. Brother Michael looked calm, but his eyes glowed with a deep anger. There was passion in that man, he thought. A deeper, more dangerous passion than the explosive anger of the Prior.

‘You must both control yourselves,’ Nicholas said. ‘Never again repeat what you’ve just said to me in anger, otherwise you’ll both suffer a terrible death. You know the penalty for treason. What use will you be to your brethren or the children in your school or the sick in your hospital if you are dragged off to Marchester Heath to be butchered there as an example of what happens when the King is crossed? Look to yourselves and your brethren. I will do my best to help you. If we work together, we shall survive. But hide the Priory treasures. Let’s try to keep something of our time to pass on to posterity.’

‘This can’t happen. It must not happen,’ said Brother Michael furiously.

‘Face the facts, both of you. It is going to happen. Now you must work to save yourselves and this community.’

‘Are you telling us to give in to the King and save our own skins? That’s telling us to do the devil’s work for him!’ exclaimed Brother Michael.

‘Hush, Brother,’ interposed the Prior, ‘Lord Nicholas knows the King’s mind. Surely, my Lord,’ he went on, ‘you could speak to him, tell him how we pray for him daily, and for his family and his kingdom. Surely he will listen to you.’

‘Nothing I do or say, Prior, will make him change his mind. I cannot save you and your brethren from being evicted. Neither can I save your treasure if the Commissioners set eyes on it. I shall be seeing the King again soon. I’ll see what I can do about finding benefices for you all. I expect there’ll be a cathedral appointment for you, Prior. With your musical talent, you’d make a fine Precentor.’

‘Lord Nicholas, you go too fast. Here am I just trying to grasp the fact that we are to be evicted and you’re talking about cathedral appointments.’

‘Time is just what we haven’t got. Now give me your blessing and I must get back to Landstock. Remember that I’ve got a murder investigation on my hands.’

Nicholas bowed his head for the Prior’s blessing. He felt immensely sorry for his friend. Impulsive and arrogant as he might be, he had a sincere compassion for all the members of the community in his charge. He was also a devoted friend, and at the time of Mary’s death his support and advice had been invaluable. Hard times were coming, but he might just possibly be able to help them. As long as Prior Thomas guarded his tongue. And Brother Michael controlled his anger. Extremists would get nowhere at all in these times. And the King had a swift way of dealing with them.