A Day to Remember
The CBB -> Starting again at Sarres...

#1: A Day to Remember Author: Identity HuntLocation: UK PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 5:23 pm


The young couple in the car were bickering good-naturedly as they drove along the narrow road.
“I told you we should have turned left at Mustow Green !” she said, smoothing her black hair away from her eyes.
He sighed exaggeratedly and replied “ Fine. When we get to a wide enough place in the road, I`ll turn the car round and we`ll go back. I do wish Aunt Sophie hadn`t chosen to live in the wilds of Kidderminster ! What a trek it has been .”
“At least the weather`s been good, and it`s been fun seeing all your relatives. “” Joey smiled at her new husband.
“What ? Even the rather eccentric ones ? “he asked incredulously.
“Aunt Sophie isn`t eccentric ! “ Joey retorted. “She just likes parrots. Nothing wrong with that; I rather like parrots myself.”
“Joey, she has twelve ! TWELVE ! That`s eccentric, in my book. Especially the one that squawks hymns” Jack replied bitterly, who had been nearly deafened by the wretched parrot when it clambered up on his shoulder and started to squawk in his left ear. It was still ringing a bit even now.

The road was getting narrower now, with no turnings and no possible way of retreat. A few cottages were dotted along one side, and fields of sheep baaa`d at the car as it sped past. A few trees lay ahead, and Jack slowed the car.
“Oh Jack !” Joey exclaimed. “Please stop !” as a huge old red-brick manor house came into view.

Knowing Joey`s passionate love of history, Jack obligingly stopped the car and they got out to admire the view. The house was obviously very old indeed, and even had a moat with reeds and trees surrounding it.

“There`s a ticket kiosk ! “ she hinted enthusiastically. As they crossed the moat into the courtyard.

“OK, I can take a hint “ he grinned, and fished in his pocket to pay the custodian, who greeted them warmly.
“You`re the only visitors here today, Sir, ma`am” he smiled. "I`m afraid we haven’t been able to produce a guide book yet, but we have put notices in the house to show you the various features. I am sure you will find it interesting. We`ve only opened the building to the public this last week, after finishing the necessary repairs. “

Having thanked him Jack and Joey Maynard made their way slowly inside the imposing old house. Jack watched amusedly as Joey`s face softened, dreaming of the stories the old house must have seen since it was built in the 14th century. A monk, wearing the Franciscan habit was seated quietly in the kitchen, fingering his rosary, but as he saw the couple, he rose and blessed them.

“Hello, Father, we have been admiring the house. “ Joey said breezily in response to his smile.

“I can show you around if you wish” he offered, and Joey the insatiable jumped at the chance to learn as much as she could. Jack inwardly groaned, foreseeing a possibly mind-numbing hour in front of him, but little did he think to be as enthralled as his wife at the stories the old monk was to tell them.

“This house was a centre for the Catholics during the time of the Reformation, and there are many secret hiding places that were used by priests fleeing from the persecutions. This house is believed to have been one of the most secure in the country, as it has no fewer than seven secret hiding places built between the late 1500s and the early 1600s, ordered by the owner, Humphrey Pakington.

The most ingenious were built by Nicholas Owen, whose whole family were Catholics. Nicholas was the runt of the family, little bigger than a dwarf in stature, and he suffered greatly with ill-health. Despite his problems, he was a devout Catholic and a skilled carpenter. He fell into trouble when he publicly defended a Jesuit priest named Edmund Campion from charges of treason in 1580, and he was imprisoned.
His bravery brought him to the notice of Father Henry Garnett, who realised that Nicholas could be the ideal person to create secret hiding places for houses where Catholic priests were sheltered, using the pretext of doing necessary carpentry work at the houses to explain his presence there.

And this was the case here, at Harvington. Nicholas was commissioned to create a magnificent new grand staircase, and at the same time, he built four incredibly ingenious secret hideouts, altering floor levels and creating false hiding places to foil possible searchers from finding the real hiding places.

Look here, my children” he explained, as he raised a step on the Great Staircase to reveal a secret recess apparently just big enough to hide some valuables in. “If I lift this part, though, it opes the way to a hiding place big enough for a priest !”

The young couple held hands as the priest showed them the tiny old chapel, whose walls were painted with drops of water and blood, and the bigger chapel used later on. Secrecy and security were paramount, and the room nest to the chapel had windows on three sides, allowing watchers a good view of anyone approaching the house who might be a threat if Mass were being said.

"What happended to Nicholas, Father ?" Joey asked softly.

"He was captured in 1606, and was sent to the Tower of London. He was cruelly tortured, to make him reveal the names and whereabouts of Catholic priests and the locations of the secret hiding places he had constructed. Despite being encased in an iron corset on the rack, he would not betray his friends or deny his faith.
He was buried in the Tower grounds after his death " The priest replied briefly and sadly.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” said Joey quietly.

"Thank God we no longer live in such troubled times, where people were killed for daring to believe differently “ Jack commented.

“Indeed, my son,you have much to be thankful for." the old priest replied. "But take heed, troubled times are never dar away, and innocent people can always be persecuted by the strong and the unkind. It takes a brave man to fight against such evil, and to defend the innocent no matter what their creed might be, from those who would do them harm for who they are or for their beliefs. "
He shook his head sadly and fingered his rosary again.

"Father, may I please see your rosary ? It looks very old indeed !" asked Joey the inquisitive.

The old man smiled and handed it to her. "It is , my child . The beads are made of holly wood, strung on silk ribbon. It has a long history; it belonged to Nicholas Owen himself, and and was passed down to me. I treasure it greatly and it reminds me of a good and brave man, who lived his life as piously as he could, helping others."

Tears misted Joey`s eyes, and Jack cleared his throat noisily to hide his emotion.
“We really do need to go now, Jo” he said. “We still have a long drive ahead of us.
Goodbye Father, and thank you so very much for taking the time to show us around. "
Joey echoed his comments.

"I know I this house well," he smiled. "God bless you and keep you safe."
And bent back over his Roasary beads.

Jack and Joey made their way to the exit, but Joey suddenly spun on her heel and called out impulsively "Father ! What is your name ? "

"My name is John. John Wall." he answered softly.


As they reached the ticket kiosk,where Jack intended to get detailed instructions on the best route home, Joey asked the custodian curiously why the old priest was there. "Is he staying or visiting, or working here?"

"What priest?" asked the man, puzzled. "As I said , you two have been the only visitors here today, and no-one else is working here this week. What did he look like ?"

"He was an old man, white hair, wearing a Franciscan habit. He was carrying a rosary made of holly wood beads, which he said had belonged to Nicholas Owen, whio made the priests` holes. He said his name was Father John Wall." Joey replied succintly

The custodian looked taken aback as he replied “ But that can`t be possible. Fr John Wall was executed for the crime of being a Catholic priest in England in 1679. He was beatified in 1929 by Pope Pius XI !"

The young pair were uncharacteristically silent as they made their way back to the car.
“Jack do you think we saw a ghost?” Jo asked bluntly.
I don`t know, sweetheart," Jack replied as he slipped his arm around his wife. "It was certainly very strange though ! I`ve.........I`ve been thinking about what he said. About needing to be prepared to fight to protect the innocent. My call-up papers will be coming though any day now, and I will have to go to war."

"I know Jack," she replied sadly. "But I suppose it really it is necessary for someone to stand up to protect the inncocent, isn’t` it ?"

His arm tightened around her in reply.

"I`m so scared, Jack. What if you get killed ? What about this baby? How on earth will I manage?"she whispered, her hands nestling protectedly around her slightly swollen stomach.

"I`m scared too, Jo," he replied candidly. "There is one thing you can do for me though ......."

"Anything, you know that." she said eagerly.

"I don`t want to take my old rosary to war with me. I want that to stay with you, to comfort you whilst I am away. Could you buy me a new rosary, to remind me of you each time I see it or use it ?" he asked earnestly.

"Of course I will !" she said softly . I will get you one like Father John`s…made of holly wood."

The End.

 


#2:  Author: SquirrelLocation: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 10:32 pm


I'm glad to have read this again - it's a lovely tale. Thanks Identity Hunt

 


#3:  Author: RóisínLocation: Gaillimh, Eire PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 5:32 pm


Thanks for reposting IH, I missed this first time round and it's lovely Very Happy

 


#4:  Author: JustJenLocation: sitting on the steps PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 6:39 pm


Thank you for reposting tyou fic Identity Hunt.

 




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