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This extract comes from Chapter 13 and is when Simon learns about Brother Clement’s life before he took Holy Orders and what happened to the girl he was betrothed to. I chose this section because it also gives an insight into how religion controlled everything about a person’s life, and their life after death.
“His parents mentioned that Hugh was also
betrothed to be married before he entered the Abbey.” Simon said after a while.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Peter replied, “Lady
Isabel. She was beautiful, and the two of them had known each other for years.
They were betrothed when they were just children, but it was a good match, and
they were well suited.”
“I can imagine that Hugh deciding to take
Holy Orders must have come as a great shock to her?”
Peter nodded. “Yes, Hugh told me she was
distraught. I believe she tried everything she could, to try and persuade him
against it. But he was a very focused and single-minded person, and once he set
his mind to something, there was no moving him. Isabel came to me and told me
that nothing she said could dissuade Hugh; and asked me to intervene. I tried
to talk to him as well, but he assured me he knew what he was doing. He really
did believe that he had heard the voice of God calling him. He said that God wanted
him to leave behind his previous life as a soldier, and to live a life of
prayer; to atone for his past offences.” Peter shrugged and gestured with his
hands. “There was nothing I, or anyone, could say that would stop him.”
Simon nodded. “Do you know what happened to
Isabel after Hugh entered the order?”
“Now, that was tragic.” Peter added. “She
tried again and again to see him and talk to him whilst he was a postulant, but
he was resolute about his calling. He just wouldn’t change his mind, and, in
the end, he refused to see her anymore. Isabel asked for my help, to try and
persuade him to see her, and also for me to try and sway him, but he said the
same thing to me; that God had called him and that he had found peace and had
no doubts that this was what he was supposed to do with his life.”
“And Lady Isabel, what happened to her? Hugh's
parents thought that she had married.”
Peter shook his head and took a while before
he spoke. “No, that’s not right. Isabel didn’t get married. She was so
distressed by Hugh leaving her; she would never have looked at anyone else. She
loved him so very much you know, and I think, in the end, it must have all been
too much for her. I believe that she just couldn’t face her future without him
and ended up taking her own life.”
Simon found himself a little shocked by the
news. His instincts were peeked at the information Peter had just given him.
“She killed herself?”
Peter nodded. “Yes, she drowned herself in
the river, one winters night, a couple of years ago.” He said solemnly. “From
what I know, she placed stones in the hem of her gown and cloak and then walked
into the river one night after a rainstorm when the water was high. It was such
a shock to all of us.”
“Indeed, it was.” Lord Beaumont added.
“No-one had expected her to do that.”
“That is very sad,” Simon stated. “I gather
that Hugh must have been told what had happened?”
“Yes, he was told,” Peter continued. “I visited him to tell him the news myself. He looked sad, but said that she had gone against all the Holy laws by taking her own life. He told me that her soul could not be saved because she had taken her own life, which is against the teachings of God.”
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| The story of the events that led to The Battle of Hastings in 1066 Harold the King (UK edition) I Am The Chosen King (US edition) AND 1066 Turned Upside Down an anthology of 'What If'' 1066 tales  |
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