CHAPTER II
THE BEGINNING OF THE VISITATION
It was on a wet foggy morning in October that Ralph set out with Mr.Morris and a couple more servants to join Dr. Layton in the Sussexvisitation. He rode alone in front; and considered as he went.
* * * * *
The Visitation itself, Cromwell had told him almost explicitly, was inpursuance of the King's policy to get the Religious Houses, which wereconsidered to be the strongholds of the papal power in England, underthe authority of the Crown; and also to obtain from them reinforcementsof the royal funds which were running sorely low. The crops were mostdisappointing this year, and the King's tenants were wholly unable topay their rents; and it had been thought wiser to make up the deficitfrom ecclesiastical wealth rather than to exasperate the Commons by adirect call upon their resources.
So far, he knew very well, the attempt to get the Religious Houses intothe King's power had only partially succeeded. Bishop Fisher's influencehad availed to stave off the fulfilment of the royal intentions up tothe present; and the oath of supremacy, in which to a large extent thekey of the situation lay, had been by no means universally accepted.Now, however, the scheme was to be pushed forward; and as a preparationfor it, it was proposed to visit every monastery and convent in thekingdom, and to render account first of the temporal wealth of each,and then of the submissiveness of its inmates; and, as Cromwell hadhinted to Ralph, anything that could damage the character of theReligious would not be unacceptable evidence.
Ralph was aware that the scheme in which he was engaged was supported intwo ways; first, by the suspension of episcopal authority during thecourse of the visitation, and secondly by the vast powers committed tothe visitors. In one of the saddle-bags strapped on to Mr. Morris'shorse was a sheaf of papers, containing eighty-six articles of enquiry,and twenty-five injunctions, as well as certificates from the Kingendowing Ralph with what was practically papal jurisdiction. He wasauthorised to release from their vows all Religious who desired it, andordered to dismiss all who had been professed under twenty years of age,or who were at the present date under twenty-four years old. Besidesthis he was commissioned to enforce the enclosure with the utmostrigour, to set porters at the doors to see that it was observed, and toencourage all who had any grievance against their superiors to forwardcomplaints through himself to Cromwell.
Ralph understood well enough the first object of these regulations,namely to make monastic life impossible. It was pretty evident that arigorous confinement would breed discontent; which in its turn would bebound to escape through the vent-hole which the power of appealprovided; thus bringing about a state of anarchy within the house, andthe tightening of the hold of the civil authority upon the Religious.
Lastly the Visitors were authorised to seize any church furniture orjewels that they might judge would be better in secular custody.
Once more, he had learned both from Cromwell, and from his ownexperience at Paul's Cross, how the laity itself was being carefullyprepared for the blow that was impending, by an army of selectedpreachers who could be trusted to say what they were told. Only a fewdays before Ralph had halted his horse at the outskirts of a huge crowdgathered round Paul's Cross, and had listened to a torrent ofvituperation poured out by a famous orator against the mendicant friars;and from the faces and exclamations of the people round him he hadlearned once more that greed was awake in England.
* * * * *
It was a somewhat dismal ride that he had this day. The sky was heavyand overcast, it rained constantly, and the roads were in a more drearycondition even than usual. He splashed along through the mud with hisservants behind him, wrapped in his cloak; and his own thoughts were notof a sufficient cheerfulness to compensate for the external discomforts.His political plane of thought was shot by a personal idea. He guessedthat he would have to commit himself in a manner that he had never donebefore; and was not wholly confident that he would be able to explainmatters satisfactorily to Beatrice. Besides, the particular district towhich he was appointed included first Lewes, where Chris would have aneye on his doings, and secondly the little Benedictine house of Rusper,where his sister Margaret had been lately professed; and he wonderedwhat exactly would be his relation with his own family when his work wasdone.
But for the main object of his visitation he had little but sympathy. Itwas good, he thought, that a scouring should be made of these idlehouses, and their inmates made more profitable to the commonwealth. Andlastly, whether or no he sympathised, it would be fatal to his careerto refuse the work offered to him.
As he did not feel very confident at first, he had arranged to meet withDr. Layton's party at the Premonstratension Abbey of Durford, situatedat the borders of Sussex and Hampshire, and there learn the exactmethods to be employed in the visitation; but it was a long ride, and hetook two days over it, sleeping on the way at Waverly in the CistercianHouse. This had not yet been visited, as Dr. Layton was riding upgradually from the west country, but the rumour of his intentions hadalready reached there, and Ralph was received with a pathetic deferenceas one of the representatives of the Royal Commission.
The Abbot was a kindly nervous man, and welcomed Ralph with every signof respect at the gate of the abbey, giving contradictory orders aboutthe horses and the entertainment of the guests to his servants whoseemed in very little awe of him.
After mass and breakfast on the following morning the Abbot came intothe guest-house and begged for a short interview.
* * * * *
He apologised first for the poorness of the entertainment, saying thathe had done his best. Ralph answered courteously; and the other went onimmediately, standing deferentially before the chair where Ralph wasseated, and fingering his cross.
"I hope, Mr. Torridon, that it will be you who will visit us; you havefound us all unprepared, and you know that we are doing our best to keepour Rule. I hope you found nothing that was not to your liking."
Ralph bowed and smiled.
"I would sooner that it were you," went on the Abbot, "and not anotherthat visited us. Dr. Layton--"
He stopped abruptly, embarrassed.
"You have heard something of him?" questioned Ralph.
"I know nothing against him," said the other hastily, "except that theysay that he is sharp with us poor monks. I fear he would find a greatdeal here not to his taste. My authority has been so much weakened oflate; I have some discontented brethren--not more than one or two, Mr.Torridon--and they have learned that they will be able to appeal now tothe King's Grace, and get themselves set free; and they have ruined thediscipline of the house. I do not wish to hide anything, sir, you see;but I am terribly afraid that Dr. Layton may be displeased."
"I am very sorry, my lord," said Ralph, "but I fear I shall not becoming here again."
The Abbot's face fell.
"But you will speak for us, sir, to Dr. Layton? I heard you say youwould be seeing him to-night."
Ralph promised to do his best, and was overwhelmed with thanks.
He could not help realising some of the pathos of the situation as herode on through the rain to Durford. It was plain that a wave of terrorand apprehensiveness was running through the Religious Houses, and thatit brought with it inevitable disorder. Lives that would have beenserene and contented under other circumstances were thrown off theirbalance by the rumours of disturbance, and authority was weakened. Ifthe Rule was hard of observance in tranquil times, it was infinitelyharder when doors of escape presented themselves on all sides.
And yet he was impatient too. Passive or wavering characters irritatedhis own strong temperament, and he felt a kind of anger against theAbbot and his feeble appeal. Surely men who had nothing else to do mightmanage to keep their own subjects in order, and a weak crying for pitywas in itself an argument against their competence. And meanwhile, if hehad known it, he would have been still more incensed, for as he rode ondown towards the south w
est, the Abbot and his monks in the house he hadleft were prostrate before the high altar in the dark church, each inhis stall, praying for mercy.
"O God, the heathens are come into thine inheritance," they murmured,"they have defiled thy holy temple."
* * * * *
It was not until the sun was going down in the stormy west that Ralphrode up to Durford abbey. The rain had ceased an hour before sunset, andthe wet roofs shone in the evening light.
There were certain signs of stir as he came up. One or two idlers werestanding outside the gate-house; the door was wide open, and a couple ofhorses were being led away round the corner.
Inside the court as he rode through he saw further signs of confusion.Half a dozen packhorses were waiting with hanging heads outside thestable door, and an agitated lay brother was explaining to a canon inhis white habit, rochet and cap, that there was no more room. He threwout his hands with a gesture of despair towards Ralph as he came in.
"Mother of God!" he said, "here is another of them."
The priest frowned at him, and hurried up to Ralph.
"Yes, father," said Ralph, "I am another of them."
The canon explained that the stable was full, that they wereexceedingly sorry, but that they were but a poor house; and that he wasglad to say there was an outhouse round the corner outside where thebeasts could be lodged.
"But as for yourself, sir," he said, "I know not what to do. We haveevery room full. You are a friend of Dr. Layton's, sir?"
"I am one of the Visitors," said Ralph. "You must make room."
The priest sucked his lips in.
"I see nothing for it," he said, "Dr. Layton and you, sir, must share aroom."
Ralph threw a leg over the saddle and slipped to the ground.
"Where is he?" he asked.
"He is with my Lord Abbot, sir," he said. "Will you come with me?"
The canon led the way across the court, his white fur tails swinging ashe went, and took Ralph through the cloister into one of the parlours.There was a sound of a high scolding voice as he threw open the door.
"What in God's name are ye for then, if ye have not hospitality?"
Dr. Layton turned round as Ralph came in. He was flushed with passion;his mouth worked, and his eyes were brutal.
"See this, Mr. Torridon," he said. "There is neither room for man orbeast in this damned abbey. The guest house has no more than half adozen rooms, and the stable--why, it is not fit for pigs, let alone thehorses of the King's Visitors."
The Abbot, a young man with a delicate face, very pale now andtrembling, broke in deprecatingly.
"I am very sorry, gentlemen," he said, looking from one to the other,"but it is not my fault. It is in better repair than when I came to it.I have done my best with my Lord Abbot of Welbeck; but we are very poor,and he can give me no more."
Layton growled at him.
"I don't say it's you, man; we shall know better when we have lookedinto your accounts; but I'll have a word to say at Welbeck."
"We are to share a room, Dr. Layton," put in Ralph "At least--"
The doctor turned round again at that, and stormed once more.
"I cannot help it, gentlemen," retorted the Abbot desperately. "I havegiven up my own chamber already. I can but do my best."
Ralph hastened to interpose. His mind revolted at this coarse bullying,in spite of his contempt at this patient tolerance on the part of theAbbot.
"I shall do very well, my Lord Abbot," he said. "I shall give notrouble. You may put me where you please."
The young prelate looked at him gratefully.
"We will do our best, sir," he said. "Will you come, gentlemen, and seeyour chambers?"
Layton explained to Ralph as they went along the poor little cloisterthat he himself had only arrived an hour before.
"I had a rare time among the monks," he whispered, "and have some talesto make you laugh."
* * * * *
He grew impatient again presently at the poor furnishing of the rooms,and kicked over a broken chair.
"I will have something better than that," he said. "Get me one from thechurch."
The young Abbot faced him.
"What do you want of us, Dr. Layton? Is it riches or poverty? Whichthink you that Religious ought to have?"
The priest gave a bark of laughter.
"You have me there, my lord," he said; and nudged Ralph.
They sat down to supper presently in the parlour downstairs, a couple ofdishes of meat, and a bottle of Spanish wine. Dr. Layton grew voluble.
"I have a deal to tell you, Mr. Torridon," he said, "and not a fewthings to show you,--silver crosses and such like; but those we willlook at to-morrow. I doubt whether we shall add much to it here, thoughthere is a relic-case that would look well on Master Cromwell's table;it is all set with agates. But the tales you shall have now. My servantwill be here directly with the papers."
A man came in presently with a bag of documents, and Layton seized themeagerly.
"See here, Mr. Torridon," he said, shaking the papers on to the table,"here is a story-box for the ladies. Draw your chair to the fire."
Ralph felt an increasing repugnance for the man; but he said nothing;and brought up his seat to the wide hearth on which the logs burnedpleasantly in the cold little room.
The priest lifted the bundle on to his lap, crossed his legscomfortably, with a glass of wine at his elbow, and began to read.
* * * * *
For a while Ralph wondered how the man could have the effrontery to callhis notes by the name of evidence. They consisted of a string of obsceneguesses, founded upon circumstances that were certainly compatible withguilt, but no less compatible with innocence. There was a quantity ofgossip gathered from country-people and coloured by the most flagrantanimus, and even so the witnesses did not agree. Such sentences as "Itis reported in the country round that the prior is a lewd man" werefrequent in the course of the reading, and were often the chief evidenceoffered in a case.
In one of the most categorical stories, Ralph leaned forward andinterrupted.
"Forgive me, Master Layton," he said, "but who is Master What's-his-namewho says all this?"
The priest waved the paper in the air.
"A monk himself," he said, "a monk himself! That is the cream of it."
"A monk!" exclaimed Ralph.
"He was one till last year," explained the priest.
"And then?" said the other.
"He was expelled the monastery. He knew too much, you see."
Ralph leaned back.
* * * * *
Half an hour later there was a change in his attitude: his doubts werealmost gone; the flood of detail was too vast to be dismissed as whollyirrelevant; his imagination was affected by the evidence from withoutand his will from within, and he listened without hostility, tellinghimself that he desired only truth and justice.
There were at least half a dozen stories in the mass of filthy suspicionthat the priest exultingly poured out which appeared convincing;particularly one about which Ralph put a number of questions.
In this there was first a quantity of vague evidence gathered from thecountry-folk, who were, unless Layton lied quite unrestrainedly,convinced of the immoral life of a certain monk. The report of his sinhad penetrated ten miles from the house where he lived. There wasbesides definite testimony from one of his fellows, precise anddetailed; and there was lastly a half admission from the culprithimself. All this was worked up with great skill--suggestive epithetswere plastered over the weak spots in the evidence; clever theories putforward to account for certain incompatibilities; and to Ralph at leastit was convincing.
He found himself growing hot with anger at the thought of the hypocrisyof this monk's life. Here the fellow had been living in gross sin monthafter month, and all the while standing at the altar morning by morning,and going about in the habit of a
professed servant of Jesus Christ!
"But I have kept the cream till the last," put in Dr. Layton. And heread out a few more hideous sentences, that set Ralph's heart heavingwith disgust.
He began now to feel the beginnings of that fury against white-washedvice with which worldly souls are so quick to burn. He would have saidthat he himself professed no holiness beyond the average, and would haveacknowledged privately at least that he was at any rate uncertain of thewhole dogmatic scheme of religion; but that he could not tolerate a manwhose whole life was on the outside confessedly devoted to both sides ofreligion, faith and morals, and who claimed the world's reverence forhimself on the score of it. He knit his forehead in a righteous fury,and his fingers began to drum softly on his chair-arms.
Dr. Layton now began to recur to some of the first stories he had told,and to build up their weak places; and now that Ralph was roused hiscritical faculty subsided. They appeared more convincing than before inthe light of this later evidence. _Ex pede Herculem_--from the fellowwho had confessed he interpreted the guilt of those who had not. Theseed of suspicion sprang quickly in the soil that hungered for it.
This then was the fair religious system that was dispersed over England;and this the interior life of those holy looking roofs and buildingssurmounted by the sign of the Crucified, visible in every town to pointmen to God. When he saw a serene monk's face again he would know whatkind of soul it covered; he would understand as never before how vicecould wear a mask of virtue.
The whole of that flimsy evidence that he had heard before took a newcolour; those hints and suspicions and guesses grew from shadow tosubstance. Those dark spots were not casual filth dropped from above,they were the symptoms of a deep internal infection.
As Dr. Layton went on with his tales, gathered and garnered withdevilish adroitness, and presented as convincingly as a clever braincould do it, the black certainty fell deeper and deeper on Ralph's soul,and by the time that the priest chuckled for the last time that evening,and gathered up his papers from the boards where they had fallen one byone, he had done his work in another soul.