Abbot's Passion Read Free

them - they will wish naturally to abandon their odious practices and follow the path of true faith.’
    ‘So you do intend to close the market?’
    He scowled at me. ‘I’ve just told you, my intention is to do the Lord’s work.’
    ‘I see. And our part in this great enterprise of yours - erm, yours and the Holy Spirit?’
    ‘Will be to support me. You three are the most senior obedientiaries of the abbey. Your presence will demonstrate to the populus communi , to use your colourful phrase maître, that we are serious in our undertaking.’
    ‘Admirable sentiments I am sure, father. But I’m a physician. I really don’t really see how my presence -’
    ‘Your presence in particular will be useful,’ he interrupted, a sardonic smile curling his lip. ‘Do not imagine that I do not hear the cynicism in your voice, maître Walter. No doubt that is the result of some of your more doubtful associations.’
    I felt a trickle of ice form on my neck. ‘My doubtful associations?’
    Eustache bent to hear another whispered message from his dwarf clerk. He nodded and straightened up again.
    ‘You have a brother, I believe. A Jew.’
    I stiffened, not because of the word but by the way it was delivered. I was so surprised to hear Joseph being mentioned at all in the present context that for a moment I couldn’t think how to reply.
    ‘Well?’ Eustache urged.
    My mouth opened and shut wordlessly. Seeing my confusion Jocelin leapt to my defence:
    ‘If you are r-referring to Joseph, f-father abbot, he isn’t really Walter’s b-brother. That is, they have d-different fathers. And m-mothers. A-and Joseph is only h-half Jewish as a m-matter of f-fact. That’s right, isn’t it Walter?’ he blushed.
    I glared at him.
    ‘Indeed?’ sniffed Eustache. ‘And the other half?’
    ‘A-arab - er, I b-believe,’ stammered Jocelin blushing even deeper.
    ‘In which case he is doubly a heathen. Nevertheless, he may be helpful to us.’
    ‘Helpful?’ I managed at last. ‘In what way?’
    Eustache consulted again with his clerk.
    ‘He is an apothecary, non ? He has a shop in the town?’
    ‘I don’t see what relevance that has.’
    Eustache sighed patiently. ‘All Jews lend money, mon frère . In your brother’s case to other traders - market traders. He can use his influence to convince them of the rightness of our cause.’
    I snorted. ‘I doubt he will do any such a thing.’
    ‘Then you will persuade him. I don’t need to remind you, mon frère , that England is still a Christian country despite appearances. Those of other faiths are welcome to live here, of course, but occasionally they need to demonstrate their loyalty. This will be a good opportunity for your brother to do just that. It would be a pity if some doubt were to arise that might cause his position to be reviewed. And your first duty is naturally to your church, which is now your true family, rather than this faux brother.’
    I could feel the blood boiling in my veins. This was no idle threat. As a non-Christian in such a resolutely Christian town as Saint Edmundsbury, Joseph’s position was always precarious. Like all Jews he was here on sufferance with very few rights. He’d already been evicted once a decade earlier when Samson banished all Jews from the town for being, in his memorable phrase, “not Saint Edmund’s men”. They had only recently been let back in again largely because Samson realised he could not do without Jewish business acumen - or their money. In the intervening years Joseph’s apothecary business had been all but ruined, his shop vandalized, his goods stolen, and it was only just recovering. Now it was being threatened again. I shot a glance at Samson but to my intense annoyance his eyes were cast firmly on the ground.
    I turned back to Eustache. ‘I’m not sure I would be of much help to you, father abbot. Like all monks when I entered the cloister I cut my ties with my earthly family for, as you rightly pointed out, my