The Remembered

Chapter Five

1434 - 1436

May 1434

Stamford



A chilled breeze blew across John Darby's face rousing him from a deep sleep. It was still too early so he pulled the down quilt more tightly over his face. He had grown accustomed to sleeping with the window open slightly while he was at Oxford attending school. His roommate there had insisted that doing so kept a person from getting ill. John decided that maybe there was something to that philosophy since he had yet to be sick while at Oxford.

He had arrived at Stamford in the wee hours of the morning and was still very tired. He had gotten home so late that only one of the man servants was awake to greet him. He had been looking forward for weeks to spending a fortnight break from his studies in Stamford. This was his first opportunity for a visit in nearly a year. He could have come home at the Christmas season, but one of his friends had wanted him to go to visit his own family to the south of London. John had never been south of Oxford and so his father encouraged him to go. John's father was especially pleased that they would be visiting London on the way. He also said that the contacts that John would make on the trip may prove useful later on in life. John had now brought the same friend with him on this trip home.

The last time that John had seen Richard was just prior to John's leaving for school in Peterborough. That seemed so long ago now. He had hoped to see Richard on his last visit, but with Richard so busy in his apprenticeship, it didn't happen. The situation was complicated also by the desire of John's father to involve John in the family business as much as possible during his breaks from school. If John were going to be successful in the wool trade like his father, he would need contacts and those were best developed early. An acquaintance with a glazier's apprentice wouldn't do much to further a wool merchant's business and influence.

The room was starting to feel warmer now and John realized that a chamber maid had stoked the fire. He got out of bed and walked to the window and drew open the drapes. The window had already been closed by the maid. John liked this room. He had only known three bedrooms in his life, this one, the one in Peterborough and now the one in Oxford. Certainly, this was the nicest of the three. This room had very high ceilings with ornately corniced walls. One wall had been painted with a mural of a battle scene. As a young boy, he had enjoyed looking at that wall and dreaming about becoming a knight. Those dreams were distant memories now and he knew that he would one day be a wool merchant. Another wall was painted with the mountainous scenes of some far away place. John hoped to visit places like that some day.

The window that John was standing at overlooked the beautifully landscaped gardens of the front of the house toward the direction of Stamford. Richard at once felt at home with this view before him. The River Welland on the right at the bottom of the hill, the steeples of the churches of Stamford in front view and the forests to the south and north of Stamford. Richard realized that he had never been very far to the other side of Stamford and he wondered what villages lay there.

In the distance, he could hear the bells of Saint Mary's. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. Ten in the morning! John hadn't realized it was so late. Quickly he dressed and went downstairs.

The house seemed quiet and John wondered whether anyone was around. He wondered where Peter might be. Peter was the friend who had come with him from Oxford.

Passing through the library and the large banquet hall, John found his mother in a sitting room with her Irish Wolf Hound.

'Gud morning, me luv,' greeted his mother as he walked into the room. ''ow was your rest?'

'It was fine,' said John as he kissed her forehead. ''ave you seen Peter?'

'Yes, luv, 'e is in the kitchen eating. 'e is soch a fine yung man,' stated John's mother with a smile. 'We 'ave 'ad a nice visit together. Will you be showing 'im around Stamford todee?'

'Aye,' said John as he turned and headed for the kitchen, followed by the hound.

'Oy,' greeted Peter as John entered the large kitchen. The cook had just placed a plate of sausage and eggs in front of Peter.

'Will you 'ave sume breakfast sir,' asked the cook.

'Aye,' nodded John, then to Peter 'I 'ear that you 'ave met me mum.'

Just then John's mother entered the kitchen also.

'Aye, we 'ad a gud visit while you were yet asleep.'

John's mother then started to share with John the latest news of Stamford. The priest at the All Saints' church was hoping to have a steeple added to the church next year. John's father was considering financing its construction. The priest was getting old and had forgotten a part of the liturgy a few weeks earlier. The sheriff had captured the suspect in a killing from last year and the price of wool was climbing again.

''ave you 'eard 'ow Richard Easton is?' asked John.

'O, aye,' said his mother with a smile. 'I 'ave 'eard that 'e is sweet on a girl from Burghley.'

'Burghley?' questioned John. 'Where is Burghley?'

'Burghley is a lit'le 'amlet on the road to Barnack.'

'ave I been there?' asked John

'Nay, I do nay believe that you 'ave,' said his mother. 'There is nay much there. O, and Bromley 'as married a girl named Margaret and moved 'er into the sod cot'age near the creek east of their village. Did you know a Margaret from Easton-on-the-'ill?'

'Nay, I do nay know Margaret. Well, per'aps I do,' replied John seeming to stare into the distance as he traced his memory. His childhood in this place was starting to seem a faint memory already. He wondered how it was possible that things that seemed so important and a time that seemed would last forever were starting to fade. He thought that the cause must be all of the new places and people that he was becoming acquainted with.

John's father entered the kitchen through the outside door and greeted John and Peter. He had been out before Peter was up and this was the first that he had met him. He asked Peter about his family and his studies and then started to tell John and Peter of his plans for them for the fortnight. Today he wanted to show them the farm, take them to the wool market and to All Saints' to visit with the priest about a steeple. Later in the week there would be time for a fox hunt.

After breakfast, they left to toured the farm and to go into Stamford. John was amazed at all of the things about the farm that he had not noticed before. The buildings for storing hay didn't seem as big as they had before. He had never noticed so many sheep grazing. The shearing of the sheep would begin soon and there were a few traveling shearing groups that were starting to gather in Stamford in preparation. When they reached the wool market there was considerable activity as prices were beginning to be negotiated. John found it all very exciting.

As the three left the Sheep Market on their way to the All Saints' church they passed the Glazier shoppe. John told his father and Peter that he would catch up with them at the church and he lagged behind at the shoppe. He approached the doorway and hesitated a moment for his eyes to acclimate to the lower amount of light. Inside he saw that there were several individuals working intently at tables. The tables were high enough that the workers stood beside them as they worked on the glass lying on the tables. The interior of the shoppe was quite warm from the fire that was used to heat the tools. John knew that the activity of the shoppe was very busy, making it imprudent for him to interrupt. John didn't see anyone that he thought looked like Richard anyway. John left the shoppe and joined his father and Peter at the church.

Richard came in from the back of the shoppe where he had been unloading a new shipment of glass. 'Richard,' said the Master Glazier, 'after you get that glass unloaded, 'elp the new apprentice with the cuts for the upper center window.'

Richard looked at the window that the new apprentice was working. The cuts were fairly basic, but it reminded Richard how he felt when he was the new apprentice. He had been afraid to make unsupervised cuts also.

Soon work was completed for the day at the Glazier shoppe and since it was a market day, Richard headed for the market to meet Elizabeth. They had been meeting at the market at least a couple of times each week for the last few weeks and Richard had found opportunity to return to Burghley on a couple of occasions. Richard and Elizabeth were growing very close already and were developing a sincere love for each other.

At the market, Richard went straight to Elizabeth's stall.

'Richard,' called out Elizabeth's father, ''ow are you todee? It is gud to see you.' Elizabeth's father liked Richard and treated him like a son.

'I am well,' said Richard. 'We made great progress on our windows todee and we 'ave received the glass shipment that we were expecting.'

''ello, Richard,' Elizabeth said in a quiet voice as she embraced Richard. She was wearing a red dress that Richard hadn't seen before.

'You luk luvly, Elizabeth,' observed Richard. 'Your dress is very nice, did you make it?'

'I did, do you like it then?' she asked as she spun around for Richard.

They chatted easily about the events of the day and Richard helped them to load the wagon. It was Richard's custom now to walk along with Elizabeth as far as the Barnack road while her father rode the wagon and drove the ox.

It was nearly dark when John, Peter and John's father left the All Saints' church and gathered their horses and rode down St. John's street toward the bridge gate. Their progress was slowed on Saint Mary's street by a commoner's wagon being pulled by an ox. The wagon driver yielded to the horsemen and they continued on their way.

Richard left Elizabeth and her father at the Barnack road and then followed the Kettering road to Easton-on-the-hill.

The visit to Stamford ended much too soon for John and Peter, but they had to get back to their studies. Despite good intentions, John did not make it to Easton-on-the-hill or to the Glazier's shoppe and didn't see Richard before he left for Oxford. Richard did not know that John had been in Stamford.



1436 - Stamford



With the help of a new apprentice, Richard lifted the section of the window that he had just finished and admired it. The light poured through the glass for the first time and the scene that it contained seemed to come to life. This work was not made simply of colored glass, but was a painted masterpiece set in glass. An artist had painstakingly painted the glass and then the glass had been heated in an oven to seal the colors. Richard had been told that glass treated in this way may last for hundreds of years. He wasn't sure that he believed that, but he was pleased that in the near future this window would inspire the observer to praise God.

This window wasn't a large window, but would serve nicely in its intended location in the Saint Leonard's Priory. The priory building was already an old building, built during a time before large window openings were possible. This window would be in a section that was being repaired.

Richard's apprenticeship would be complete within the year and he was looking forward to being free to seek other employment and to earn a better wage. Returning the window to a safe resting place, Richard thought about that better wage and the opportunities that it might bring. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pendant that he had made for Elizabeth using a piece of blue glass, the same glass that he had broken when he saw her from the Glazier's shoppe. Right now it was attached to a strip of leather, but with the better wage of a journeyman, he hoped to eventually add a nice chain. He had decided that he would give it to her tonight.

After closing for the day, Richard walked quickly to Burghley. The family had not been expecting him and they had just finished their evening meal.

'Comb in Richard. Whot a surprise!' exclaimed Elizabeth's mother when she saw him approach the house. Elizabeth ran to his arms and he held her tightly. 'Rune Lass, and get 'im sume bread and but'er,' said Elizabeth's mother.

Later, after Richard finished the bread and butter, he invited Elizabeth to go outside with him. When they were alone, he pulled the pendant out of his pocket and presented it to her.

'O, Richard, it is luvly.'

'I made it meself using some of the glass that I broke when I first saw you from the Glazier's shoppe. Sumedee I will replace it with a real pendant and a fine chain,' said Richard.

'Nay, I luv it just as it is. I will wear it everydee. It is so kind of you, me luv.'

'Marry me, Elizabeth,' asked Richard. 'I am aboot finished with me apprenticeship and I will make a gud 'usband.'

'I know that you will, Richard, boot I do nay believe me father is ready to give 'is permission.'

'Bromley and Margaret will witness for our 'andfasting, then we do nay need 'is permission,' offered Richard.

'Whot is 'andfasting?' asked Elizabeth.

'One of the glaziers was married by 'andfasting. If we each consent, we can make it official by joining our right 'ands in the presence of witnesses. We will then be married for a year and a dee,' explained Richard.

'And then whot 'appens after a year and a dee?' asked Elizabeth. 'I want to be married to you forever.'

'We wuld make the 'andfasting known during the year and receive your father's blessing and then be married by the priest.'

'And whot 'appens during that year? Where do I live?'

'You wuld live with your parents, until we make the 'andfasting known,' urged Richard.

'Alright,' said Elizabeth tentatively.

'Gud,' exclaimed Richard. 'Let us do it tomorrow near the market. I will bring Bromley and Margaret.'

The next day, Bromley and Margaret met Richard outside the Glazier's shoppe and walked to the market. They planned to do the handfasting in the walkway that Richard had used to watch Elizabeth before he met her.

When they met Elizabeth, she was more quiet than normal. Once in the walkway, she said, 'Richard, I am nay going to do the 'andfasting, I will nay do it withoot me mum and father's permission.'

Richard was surprised and disappointed. Bromley and Margaret walked a little way away to give Richard and Elizabeth time to speak.

Richard looked down, taking a moment to gather his composure so by that he wouldn't say something that he would regret. Elizabeth could see Richard's disappointment and stepped close to him. 'Just ask me father. 'e may surprise you,' she urged.

Despite Richard's embarrassment he pulled Elizabeth closer to himself and smiled at her. 'I will then. When shuld I speak with 'im?'

'Ride the wagon with us and just speak with 'im.'

'I will,' responded Richard with a smile.

Bromley and Margaret left to return home and Richard and Elizabeth began helping her father load the wagon.

As the wagon slowly made its way through the streets toward the gates of the towne, Richard tried to figure out what he might say to Elizabeth's father. He knew that he could not support a wife on an apprentice's wage, but his apprenticeship was almost completed and that should be a strength to his request. Richard had thought about this conversation many times and he had several persuasions that he could use to support his case if needed.

To this point of the evening Elizabeth's father had engaged Richard in conversations about the weather and the cow that was not giving milk, but as the wagon started crossing the bridge, Richard found the courage to change the conversation to more serious matters.

'I am nairly finished with me apprenticeship,' stated Richard.

'Wonderful,' replied Elizabeth's father. 'Do you luv being a glazier, then?'

'Aye, I luv creating windows that tell the ancient stories of the prophets and of our Lord. There is nuthing that I wuld rather do.'

'Aye, it is a great thing to praise God in our work. Where will you work when your apprenticeship is completed?'

'I understand that there is repair work being dune on the Bourne Abbey. I think that I can get work there,' replied Richard hopefully. 'An apprentice that finished last munth was able to get work there.'

Elizabeth's father looked straight ahead and encouraged the ox. Elizabeth had been listening and she knew what was coming next and hoped that it would turn out well.

'Me wage will be sufficient to support a wife,' hinted Richard without looking directly at Elizabeth's father.

With that, Elizabeth's father looked straight at Richard without saying a word for a moment or two. He then looked at the road ahead and asked, 'So, are you asking for me Elizabeth, then?'

'Aye,' replied Richard with some confidence that the response would be favorable. 'I wuld care for 'er and make 'er 'appy.'

Elizabeth's father drove on in silence. Richard glanced backward at Elizabeth with a look of desperation. After what seem an eternity to Richard and Elizabeth, her father turned to Richard and said, 'Aye, that wuld make me very 'appy. I know that you will take care of 'er. 'er mum will be pleased.'

Richard could hardly believe what he had heard. He was so excited that he lighted from the wagon to the ground and ran a few paces ahead and then back. Elizabeth gave her father a hug around the neck from behind as he drove the ox.

'I am so 'appy, Father,' she whispered quietly in his ear.

'Your mum will be pleased,' he replied.