Blood Moon by Stephen Wheeler

mass or hear confession a community of canons was added to serve them. Then a community of lay sisters was added to serve the needs of the nuns and finally another of lay brothers to do the heavier work.’
    ‘Goodness me!’ I chuckled. ‘Not two houses but four .’
    He lowered his eyes. ‘You mock us, master.’
    I shook my head. ‘Not at all. But you have to admit, it does sound a little…complicated.’
    ‘Not if the rules are obeyed . If correctly followed the arrangements work well enough. Although…’
    ‘Although?’
    He stiffened a little. ‘No doubt you have heard the tales.’
    I had indeed. I didn’t like to mention it, but as is so often the case with even our noblest of intentions, human behaviour has a habit of tripping us up. There was one particular case I knew o f a Gilbertine nun who was seduced by one of their lay brothers. When the other nuns found out they forced the girl to castrate the brother concerned and to consume the severed parts - or so the story had it. The disgraced nun was then locked away to bear her shame alone. But all was made well in the end for during her lonely sojourn in the dungeon cell the nun had a miraculous visitation from the Archbishop of York, no less, who spirited away both her chains and her unborn child thus saving the girl from everlasting damnation - and Holy Mother Church from everlasting disgrace, of course. I am not saying such things never happen among Benedictines, but the opportunity must be all the greater with so many men and women living together cheek by jowl.
    ‘We are none of us perfect,’ Eusebius was saying shyly. ‘We are all tempted at times.’ He looked up. ‘Even you, master.’
    ‘Me?’ I was stunned by the sudden personal reference. ‘Oh well - when I was your age, perhaps. I’m not sure I have such feelings anymore. Not for a while at any rate.’
    ‘But did I not hear the prior correctly,’ Eusebius persisted, ‘that you visited a lady privately in her bedchamber? Isn’t that why you were being disciplined in the chapterhouse this morning?’
    I grimaced. ‘I’m afraid Prior Herbert’s imagination sometimes runs away with him. It is true that I paid a visit to the lady concerned, but in my capacity as her doctor. She has just given birth to a baby daughter which I delivered. It was concern for her health and that of her child that attracted my interest, not her feminine charms.’
    He went quiet. ‘Did I hear correctly that the lady in question was Lady Adelle de Gray?’
    ‘You’ve heard of her?’ I asked suspiciously.
    ‘I know the name. Bishop de Gray is our bishop.’
    Of course, that would be it. Shouldham was in the diocese of Norfolk - Bishop de Gray’s diocese.
    ‘You would agree, though,’ said Eusebius, ‘that it is the animation of carnal lust which damns us?’
    ‘Erm – well yes, I suppose so,’ I agreed somewhat reluctantly as I rinsed out his bowl.
    He nodded. ‘Guiges of Chartreuse says that it is not possible for a man to hide a fire in his breast or touch pitch without getting stuck. And Gerald of Wales advises that if we are tempted by the desires of the flesh we should visualize coupling with a corpse, for what can be more disgusting than stinking, rotting flesh?’
    I laughed awkwardly at his extreme imagery. It was clear the boy was both well-read and deeply serious. His devotion to the Virgin was also commendable if a little severe in one so young. I thought I was beginning to understand why Eusebius had been sent to us.
    ‘I find a dip in the cold waters of the Lark has the same effect,’ I said trying to lighten his mood.
    But the boy was not to be deterred so easily. ‘No, master. Abstinence is the only safe way. The Holy Mother showed us by her example, the only truly virgin in thought as well as in deed. Only by following her supreme example can we achieve full redemption. Her chastity is the light and the purity, whiter than snow, clearer than glass, more brilliant than the