Anne spoke to him but with enough volume that others could hear. “A priest was wandering among the poor, selling indulgences. Salvation was to be purchased for a silver groat, and release from purgatory for the dead cost a half-angel. Forgiveness of all sins was included when you purchased salvation. One rough-looking boy approached the priest and asked, ‘Sir, does forgiveness of sins cover only my past, or will I be forgiven for those acts I have yet to commit?’ The priest was delighted to save such a rough-looking fellow, and he replied, ‘Aye, purchase salvation and all sins are forgiven, even those sins not yet committed. God is wondrous to forgive us all our debts!’
“So the rough-looking chap paid a silver groat and listened as it fell into a purse weighted down with coins. The villagers all came round, marveling that the boy had been saved. The poor gave the priest their money, securing eternal rest for their dead and salvation from their sins. It was a happy day in the village, and as the sun went down, many people feasted and drank what little they had left, while the priest went on his way. But he had not gone two miles out of town when the boy leapt from behind a boulder, beating the priest mercilessly and stealing his coin purse. He ran all the way back to town, giving everyone back double and triple what they had given the priest, because the boy had paid in advance for this great sin, and it was no sin at all.”
With that, Anne speared a great sausage and commenced eating. If there were whispers of protest, she didn’t hear them, for her heart was beating too loudly.
Chapter Eighteen
“Destroy it!”
Margaret stood above her, with a finger jabbed in her face. Rose closed the book and stood, clutching it to her chest, shaking her head. They were in Margaret’s bedroom. No one else was near; all the others were taking their exercise. Rose had begged off, saying her head hurt, but Margaret knew why she sought time alone.
“Listen to what I read today, Margaret:
“And behold, a woman in that city, which was a sinner, as soon as she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster box of ointment, and she stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with ointment.
“When the Pharisee which bade him, saw that, he spake within himself, saying: If this man were a prophet, he would surely have known who and what manner woman this is which toucheth him, for she is a sinner. And Jesus answered … There was a certain lender which had two debtors, the one ought five hundred pence, and the other fifty. When they had nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Which of them tell me, will love him most?... I entered into thy house, and thou gavest me no water to my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint: but she hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee: many sins are forgiven her, for she loved much.…
“And he said unto her, thy sins are forgiven thee.… Thy faith hath saved thee, Go in peace.”
“Shut the book.” Margaret’s voice was cold. Nothing had reached her.
“Margaret, the priests are wrong! They are teaching error! You must trust me: This is life or death to the simple! You did not know me before I came here. I trusted the priests and it wrought death! Here is the truth! Please, Margaret, open your eyes. It is the Church that must be destroyed!”
Margaret slapped her with such force that Rose fell back against the bed.
“The Church is my father!” she shouted at Rose. “The Church is law and orderly lives, and these things my father has given his life to. I will not see it undone by a servant.” She spit that last word out of her mouth as if it were sour to her.
A great shouting out in the hall startled them both. The boys were whooping and running about, and Margaret went to the door to peer out. She turned back to Rose, her face still hard.
“Wipe the tears from your face, Rose. The king’s messenger is here.”
Margaret swept from the room. Rose started to replace the book under her mattress, but she knew Margaret would look for it there. There were not many other hiding places in the room. There was a washstand and little desk, plus Margaret’s bed. Rose slipped the book under Margaret’s mattress and wiped her palms across her face to clear it before she ran out.
“What is the meaning of this?” Sir Thomas looked horrified to be holding a red velvet pouch.
“Cardinal Wolsey has been fired. He surrenders the Great Seal and the king ordered it delivered to you. You are to replace him.”
“On what grounds was Wolsey fired? What has happened?” More asked. He still held the pouch out and away from his body.
“His many failures are known to the king, chief among them his failure to obtain the annulment from his master the Pope. The Bible says one cannot serve two masters, so Henry has freed him from his burden.”
Sir Thomas opened the bag, as if he was uncertain whether the messenger spoke true. He emptied it into his palm, and Rose saw a wide silver medallion, catching the light enough to make the figure of a king on horseback visible even from her distance.