Historical setting: 602 C.E. The Vosges Mountains
I was asking what Bishop Felix will do if the noble bishops of Gaul won’t negotiate.
He explains, “I will go to the pope again and ask for an assignment to East Anglia. Oh, but I probably shouldn’t make it sound so futile when these power struggles over the hierarchy would hardly make a difference to you and the other common people of Gaul. Surely your faith won’t be forsaken by God regardless of how bishops and abbots may disagree.”
I don’t find comfort in that. Of course, we, who are the common people of Gaul, are not forsaken by God simply because the religious hierarchy abandon us to argue among themselves. It’s probably a very good thing that this churchman, so recently elevated to his rose-tinted authority, believes his ordination is all for God’s sake. But hopefully he won’t forget that God first knew us all naked, so whatever the liturgical garb, or ermine robes and crown, or tattered tunic, God still listens to our prayers.
Now, the guards have climbed the hill and they are already at our cottage door. There are four guards on horseback leading the fifth horse, looking for the bishop. One of the voices of these men and the clacking of armor has an indelible place in my memories of terrors. I choose not to invite them into our house or even to go out and greet them as social duty would demand. The bishop simply thanks us and is gone. I send Haberd and Brandell back from the window so they don’t see this.
The wood-smoke wafting up from the forests at the hunter’s village speaks of a new season now upon us. New castles and fortresses require the huge straight timbers hewn from the forests. The debris of this harvest is heaped unto bon fires flaming up in the newly barren places. The naked earth is softened by burning the land into new fields soon to come under the plow.
The aisles supporting the halls and oratorios of castles and churches can only be as high as had been these tall trees now cut into columns. Now trees are for holding roofs, not for stroking the skies. When the grand rooms are made with the long tables and great thrones for the aristocracy, then the mules will bring the stones for the outer walls, solid as ancient Rome, to hold back any intruders or armies – maybe the rumored Slavs and Avars. Everyone is planning on wars.
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 