CHAPTER VI--THE PROCTOR
But if a mannes soul were in his purse,
For in his purse he should yfurnished be.
CHAUCER, Canterbury Pilgrims.
Five years had passed since Grisell had been received at Wilton, when
the Abbess died. She had been infirm and confined to her lodging for
many months, and Grisell had hardly seen her, but her death was to
change the whole tenor of the maiden's life.
The funeral ceremonies took place in full state. The Bishop himself
came to attend them, and likewise all the neighbouring clergy, and
the monks, friars, and nuns, overflowing the chapel, while peasants
and beggars for whom there was no room in the courts encamped outside
the walls, to receive the dole and pray for the soul of the right
reverend Mother Abbess.
For nine days constant services were kept up, and the requiem mass
was daily said, the dirges daily sung, and the alms bestowed on the
crowd, who were by no means specially sorrowful or devout, but
beguiled the time by watching jongleurs and mountebanks performing
beyond the walls.
There was the "Month's Mind" still to come, and then the chapter of
nuns intended to proceed to the election of their new Abbess,
unanimously agreeing that she should be their present Prioress, who
had held kindly rule over them through the slow to-decay of the late
Abbess. Before, however, this could be done a messenger arrived on a
mule bearing an inhibition to the sisters to proceed in the election.
Pages:
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55