The Remembered (16 page)

The next several weeks were some of the most pleasant of Thomas's life. He and Elizabeth drew closer to each other every day it seemed and all was right. They had become more anxious though as the days went, waiting for the baby to come. Elizabeth was getting concerned because this was her first child and the prospect of delivery was frightening and the wait was not helping to ease her mind.
'Thomas,' she said as they lay in bed one evening, 'are you asleep?'
Thomas quickly awoke at the sound of her voice. 'Nay, me luv. Is the baby combing?' He was already out of the bed by that point and ready to leave to fetch Elizabeth's mother.
'Nay, it is nay the baby,' Elizabeth laughed. She had to hold her stomach from her laughter for fear that the baby would be delivered right then.
Thomas let out a sigh of relief and climbed back into bed and hugged Elizabeth. 'Whot is it, me luv?' he asked.
'Whot if I do nay survive the delivery of the baby?'
Thomas could hear a quiver in her voice and knew that she was near to tears. 'Elizabeth, do nay speak that way, you will survive just fine,' he reassured her.
Though he tried to sound convincing, Thomas too was concerned. Child delivery was hard and dangerous. He personally knew of more than one woman who had not survived.
'I am frightened,' Elizabeth said through her tears. She was now crying and he didn't know what to do to consul her.
'Your mum will be with you, me luv, and I will nay be far from your seed. I will be right ootseed the room,' he promised.
'I know you will, Thomas. I am still scared,' she said through her tears.
'Thomas, aboot the baby, I shuld 'ave told you earlier that...' Elizabeth started, but was cutoff by Thomas.
'Shhh, I luv you and the baby. You 'ave told me all that I need to 'ear,' he assured her.
''old me Thomas,' Elizabeth asked.
Not knowing what else to do or say, Thomas held her and whispered in her ear, 'God will be with you, me luv. Whotever 'appens, 'e will nay leave you alone.'
Elizabeth nuzzled her face into his side and relaxed. Eventually, she was asleep. Thomas couldn't get to sleep right away. 'Whot must it be like for a woman to be willing to offer 'er life so that another may 'ave life,' he wondered. Then he thought about his Lord and considered the similarities and his heart was drawn out to them both. 'ow culd I ever 'ave been un'appy with 'er?' he asked himself. 'Please forgive me, Elizabeth. Please forgive me, Lord,' he whispered. His voice slightly disturbed Elizabeth in her sleep and she stirred, but did not wake.
______
As he neared Elizabeth's uncle's house, Thomas could see Elizabeth's mother in the garden.
'Oy, comb quickly,' he yelled as he neared. 'It is Elizabeth! The baby is combing now.'
'Oh,' gasped Elizabeth's mother, 'the baby is combing? I must 'urry. Tell the lads and the others where I 'ave gone.' And with that she hurried along the road as quickly as she could.
It didn't take Thomas long to inform the others of the impending delivery and to catch up with Elizabeth's mother.
'Is she okay?' asked her mother through gasps of air.
'I do nay know, boot I think that she is,' responded Thomas. 'I am going to go a'ead of you.' With that he quicken his pace and left her mother hurrying as fast as she could.
Thomas could hear Elizabeth's cries before he entered the bakery and he grew weak and felt dizzy.
'Thomas!' he hear Elizabeth cry as he hurried up the stairs. He was not prepared for the sight of desperation that he saw when he entered the room. Elizabeth was breathing heavily and was sweating profusely. The bed linens were crimson with her blood. It was all that Thomas could do to keep from passing out.
Hurrying to her side, he said, 'Your mum is on 'er way, she is right be'ind me.' He felt so helpless. He felt that all that he could do was to pray and so he did.
Elizabeth's mother appeared in the doorway and he leapt to his feet. He was so happy to turn the situation over to her. She had some experience with child birth. She had delivered three of her own and had helped other women as well.
Thomas had promised that he would stay near, but the cries of Elizabeth were more than he could stand, so he left the bakery. He first went into the yard in the back of the bakery, but he could still hear her cries so he walked down the nearby lane to the church. He was there for over an hour and decided to return, but when he got near to the bakery, he could hear her cries again. A friend of his was standing nearby.
'Oy, Thomas, so todee is the dee?'
'Aye, it is,' replied Thomas as he looked up to the window of the room above, 'and I can nay abide Elizabeth's cries.'
'Aye, I was nay nearby when me five were born.'
Thomas left again with his friend. He didn't go any place in particular, but walked the streets of the village until he could not stand to be away from Elizabeth any longer. When he returned to the bakery he couldn't hear any sounds coming from the rooms above. His heart sunk as he feared that he had lost his dear Elizabeth. He hurried up the stairs and just as he reached the top, he heard a cry, but it wasn't Elizabeth's, it was a baby's cry.
'Elizabeth!' he cried as he hurried into the room and rushed to her side. Her eyes were shut when he looked at her. She her body was limp and wet from sweat and her face was whiter than he had ever seen. Kneeling beside her, he cradled her head in his hand and rubbed her face with his other hand. 'Elizabeth,' he whispered. With that, Elizabeth slowly opened her eyes and looked at him.
'Thomas, I luv you,' she whispered.
Thomas held her face close and kissed her gently. 'Elizabeth, me luv. I thought that I 'ad lost you. I was so scared and 'elpless. Praise God that you are alive.'
Elizabeth was weak, but she smiled and said 'Thomas, we 'ave a sone,' and then she looked in the direction of her mother.
Up to that point Thomas had forgotten about the baby. He looked in the corner of the room where Elizabeth's mother was cleaning the baby. 'A sone!' he said with excitement. Only now did his mind register the cries of the baby. He looked at Elizabeth again and kissed her on the forehead. Then he stood and went to the side of Elizabeth's mother. She had wrapped the baby boy in a small blanket and handed the bundle to Thomas. He took the baby and gently cradled him in his arms. He was instantly filled with love for the child. He hadn't realized that he was capable of such an immediate reaction. For a moment it was as if there was no one else in the room except the two of them. It seemed that no one existed in time and space except for the two of them and he felt closer to Elizabeth and to God than he had ever felt. Regardless of circumstances, this was his son. His heart was full and his joy complete.
He gently carried the baby to Elizabeth and placed the child on her breast. Elizabeth had never looked more radiant and beautiful. She gently stroked the baby's head and looked up at Thomas and smiled. Her energy was spent, but she had never felt so alive. This was her baby, he was a miracle and words could not express her joy and contentment. She reached out and took Thomas by the hand and closed her eyes. Thomas noticed a tear slowly roll down her cheeks.
Elizabeth's mother came to her side and asked Elizabeth what the baby would be called. Elizabeth looked up at Thomas expectedly. ''e will be James,' said Thomas. Elizabeth looked at her mother and said, ''is name is James.'
'That is a fine name,' said her mother. 'You did well me child.'
 

1450

Lambley

'Will you 'and me that bag o' flour me lad?' asked Thomas. 'We need to make sume crust for the meat pies.'
'Aye Father,' replied James as he picked up the bag of flour and handed it to Thomas.
'Me lad, you get bigger and stronger every dee,' said Thomas when he saw how easily James lifted the bag. At twelve years old, James was already taller than Thomas and working in the bakery was developing his muscles.
James smiled and looked at his arms. He realized that he was getting bigger and he enjoyed the recognition that he was receiving as a result.
Elizabeth walked into the bakery from the street. She had been to the market to purchase meat for the pies. 'Is she nay the most luvly woman,' Thomas observed as she entered. Elizabeth smiled.
'Oh, Thomas, you embarrass me so,' replied Elizabeth, but she obviously approved.
Then looking at James, Thomas said, 'Sone, I will show you 'ow to make meat pies todee. Sumedee when you take over the shoppe, you will make the best meat pies in the county, just like your father.'
James and Elizabeth exchanged looks. Since the time that James was born, Thomas had been looking forward to and planning for the day when James would take over the bakery. James had been a willing pupil and a quick learner, but baking was not what he loved. James had already confided in Elizabeth many times that, while he didn't mind baking, he didn't love it and wasn't interested in taking over the shoppe. Most boys would have loved the opportunity of taking over their father's business and most fathers are excited about the prospect of a son following in their footsteps. So naturally Thomas assumed that would be the case with James. For the oldest son to choose not to follow his father would be a disappointment for most men, but for Thomas the disappointment would be multiplied because he had no other children. He and Elizabeth would have loved to have had more children, but it was not to be.
Elizabeth had made up her mind that she needed to tell Thomas of James' plans soon. James was already twelve and would be expected to apply himself in earnest to a trade soon, similar to an apprentice. Before she could speak with Thomas, she would have to get James out of the shoppe.
'James,' said Elizabeth, 'go and fetch sume water for the dough lad.'
With James out of the shoppe, Elizabeth said to Thomas. ''e is a gud boy, is 'e nay,' she said to Thomas as she watched James leave with the bucket.
'Aye, 'e is a gud lad,' Thomas agreed.
''e really luvs you, Thomas and wuld do most anything to please you.'
'Aye, I am very proud of 'im.'
'You know that 'e does nay luv baking,' ventured Elizabeth.
'e does nay luv baking?' Thomas repeated with some disbelief.
'Nay, 'e does it to please you. And 'e does it to 'elp us as well.'
Thomas was chopping potatoes and brought the knife down hard onto the wooden workbench for emphasis. ''e does nay enjoy baking?' Thomas repeated again. He was having difficulty making sense of this new information. ''e is almost a man, whot does he intend to do if it is nay baking? 'e 'as been baking since 'e was a wee lad. It will nay be long before 'e is as gud as meself.'
'Aye, 'e is a very gud baker indeed. 'ave you asked 'im whether 'e wants to be a baker all of 'is life?' she asked.
'Nay, I 'ave been too busy teaching 'im to bake. I just assumed that 'e wuld be a baker,' stated Thomas as he continued chopping the potatoes.
Thomas was getting a little agitated and so Elizabeth though it best to not press him on the issue at this time, but Thomas wouldn't let it rest.
'Whot is 'e prepared to do in the world? 'e does nay 'ave training. Are we to find 'im an apprenticeship?' Thomas asked.
'e does nay want to do a trade,' said Elizabeth. She knew that Thomas would not like to hear that, so she continued before he could react. 'You know that 'e has visited 'is great aunt regularly for years. She 'as taught 'im 'is let'ers and 'is numbers. 'e is quite bright,' she stated quickly.
'Aye, I know that 'e has 'is let'ers and numbers,' replied Thomas. 'boot whot will 'e do with those?'
A customer came into the shoppe at that time, so Elizabeth didn't answer right away. The customer only needed a couple loaves of bread. After the customer left, Elizabeth continued.
'is aunt also taught 'im sume Latin. 'e wants to go into the priesthood,' Elizabeth stated. 'There,' she thought, 'I 'ave said it. Now Thomas will be angry,' but she was surprised when Thomas didn't say a word.
Elizabeth looked over a Thomas. He was cutting meat into small squares for the meat pies, but cutting rather slowly.
'If me sone is in the priesthood,' thought Thomas to himself, 'who will take over the shoppe? Who will care for us in our old age?' 'On the other 'and,' he continued thinking, 'the priesthood is a respectable position. Me sone a priest!'
Thomas looked at Elizabeth and said, 'Our sone wants to be a priest?' Elizabeth nodded and smiled. 'Do you suppose that 'e will stay with it?' he asked.
'Aye, 'is mind is firm and 'e is a lad of strong resolve,' replied Elizabeth.
'I suppose that if 'e changes 'is mind, 'e can comb back to the shoppe,' said Thomas.
'Aye, boot do nay expect 'im to return.'
'Who will take over the shoppe then?'
Elizabeth could see that Thomas was accepting the changes quite well and she hugged him and said, 'We can sell the shoppe sume dee and use the muney to care for ourselves in our old age.'
Thomas kissed Elizabeth and asked with a grin, 'You will nay leave the shoppe, will you me lass?'
'Nay, I will never leave you.'
Thomas smiled warmly at Elizabeth and returned to preparing the meat.
'ow will we get 'im into the priesthood then?' asked Thomas.
''is great uncle Charles knows the new prior at the Lenton Priory, Prior Mydylburgh and 'e will provide a reference for James. The Priory is only aboot 8 miles away and we can see 'im on occasion.'
'And when wuld we do this?'
'Right away,' replied Elizabeth, ''e is already twelve.'
______
Elizabeth kissed James goodbye on a clear morning about two weeks later. 'You let your father ride the 'orse lad and you walk if need be,' she said to him. 'You can send word to us with the priest at Saint Michael's. 'ave you the food that I packed for you?'
'Aye, mum. I a ready to go,' replied James with some excitement to be off.
'Now you do everything that the brothers tell you to do lad,' she made him promise.
'Aye, mum. I will,' said James with an obvious air of impatience.
''e is a big lad, me luv,' replied Thomas, coming to his defense. ''e will do fine.'
Elizabeth had tears welling up in her eyes now. She had never sent James away before. He had been at her side daily.
Thomas hugged his wife with a promise to be home before supper and with that, they were off.
It was a beautiful day and they made good time. They were standing in front of the Priory before it was time for lunch. The monks were gathering for the afternoon meal and Thomas asked one of them where he might find Prior Mydylburgh. The monk offered to take them to the Prior. They found him seated in the dining hall.
'Prior Mydylburgh,' stated the monk, 'these two 'ave comb from Lambley to see you.'
'Welcome friends,' said the Prior. 'Sit and dine with us. It is a simple meal, boot there is plent'y. After we eat, we will talk of your business.'
Thomas thanked him graciously and he and James sat at the table. James was surprised that the hall was entirely silent during the meal. He had never been in any group that was so utterly silent. At one point in the meal, he leaned over to his father to whisper, but the swift look of one of the monks caused him to reconsider.
After the meal, they followed in silence as the Prior and the Subprior, along with one brother of the priory led them to another room where they could speak. James noticed that all the monks and novices seemed to know exactly what it was they were supposed to be doing at every moment. And they all seemed very busy.
The Prior was a tall man. He was thin and had dark hair and a square jaw. He appeared old to James, maybe in his fifties. The Subprior was quite a lot older still. James thought that he was as old as his great uncle, Charles, maybe in his seventies. The Subprior was also shorter than the Prior, with gray hair. He had a stern look about him.
Once inside the room and the door shut, the Prior seated himself in a large chair. James had never seen a chair so large. Despite its size, it certainly did not have the appearance of being comfortable.
'Now, please state your business,' urged the Prior. 'Whot can we poor servants do for you?'
Thomas bowed his head in recognition of Prior's position and status and said, 'Me sone desires to join your order and be one with the brothers of your priory. I 'ave a let'er 'ere from 'is great uncle, Charles, who lives in Lambley.'
The Prior smiled in recognition of the name and asked for the letter. He studied it carefully and then looked steadfastly at James, making James uncomfortable. James had never been in the presence of someone so important and he was filled with excitement. He also realized that he was staring at the Prior. He quickly bowed his head also.
'Whot is your name lad?' asked the Prior.
'It is James, me lord,' he replied.
'You may call me Prior, sone.' James felt his face flush. He thought that he should have known better and he was a little embarrassed.
The Prior continued. 'Is it true that you wish to join our order?'
'Aye, it is true,' asserted James.
'You are yung enuf that I doubt that you are married.'
'Nay, Prior, I am nay married.'
'Do you 'ave any debts? Nay, I suppose that you are too yung. You can nay join the order if you are encumbered with debts.'
'Nay, I 'ave no debts, Prior Mydylburgh,' promised James.
'And you brought no belongs with you? Is this true?' asked the Prior.
'Only the clothes you see me wearing,' stated James.
'Do you read or write, boy?' asked by the Subprior. James lifted his head and looked at him and then bowed his head again.
'Aye, me great aunt taught me me let'ers and me numbers,' offered James.
'I did nay ask about your numbers,' retorted the Subprior sternly. 'To offer more information than is requested about one's self is a sign of vanity. Are you vain, lad?'
James didn't know how to answer that question and felt as though he were in a trap. 'If I say that I am nay vain, 'ow wuld I account for offering the information when it was nay asked?' he thought to himself. 'If I do say that I am vain, per'aps I shall be punished for vanity.'
'I do nay know,' replied James quietly.
'You realize that you can nay join the order directly, boot must spend time as a novice to learn our ways and to determine whether our life is suitable for you and whether you are suitable for our order,' stated the Prior.
'Aye, I do understand,' replied James, but this interview was causing him to wonder about his choice.
Thomas had remained silent with his head bowed during the entire conversation and now the Prior addressed him.
'You may leave the lad 'ere and return to your 'ome,' the Prior said to Thomas as he handed the letter of reference back to him.
Thomas thanked the Prior and turned and hugged James. James saw a tear in Thomas' eye and hear a crack in his voice when he said, 'Send us word sone. Do nay forget your mum.'
'Aye, I will send word father. I luv you and mum,' replied James.
With that, Thomas turned and followed one of the brothers out of the room and down a long stone corridor. They walked in silence. Thomas wanted to ask the brother to care for James, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. The corridor emptied into a stone-cobbled courtyard surrounded on three sides by a high stone wall. The only opening in the wall was a large gate that had a door fashioned in the middle. Thomas exited the Priory enclosure through the heavy door and listened as it creaked closed behind him. When it closed, he could hear someone secure the door on the inside with a large wooden beam.
Thomas took his horse and walked a few paces before turning to look at the Priory. He couldn't help but think that those inside had barricaded themselves off from the real world. He was sure that most of them did it to bring glory to God, but it wasn't the type of life that other people could live. It was a cloistered existence. The realization that he and Elizabeth would never have grandchildren swept over him and his heart sank. They would also now be deprived of the regular association of their only child.
Thomas mounted his horse and as he headed for Lambley, he felt a heaviness in his heart that he had not expected. 'Why do I feel this way?' he wondered out loud. 'I 'ave just given me sone to God. I shuld be full of joy. Boot, I do nay feel joyful.'
When Thomas reached Lambley it was well after dark. He entered through the back of the bakery and ascended the stairs. He found Elizabeth in the bed with a candle burning nearby. She turned to him when he entered the room and called to him.
'Thomas, is James going to be alright?' she asked.
Thomas sat on the bed beside her. Only then did he see her puffy, red eyes and see the wetness of the pillow where she had laid her head. He held her close.
'Aye, me luv. 'e will be fine,' he said as he struggled to control his own emotions. Elizabeth breathed in heavy, uneven breaths as she fought back the tears. He held her in silence for what seemed like a long time. Once he thought that she had fallen asleep, but realized that she had not. 'Whot 'ave we dune, me luv? I miss 'im so much already,' he whispered. 'And we will nay 'ave grandchildren.'