On Tue, 31 Oct 2000 13:16:22 -0700 Dave Forth
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I'm still trying. All this is from my computer that was Norton clean this morning.
> This is a reply from one non-scholar to another's request
about WGC's Monk's Tale. My interest is in the history of
NE England and I would welcome any elucidation,
particularly about the language ,of the procedure described.
> Concerning the ghost of Robert, son of Robert, of
Boltby and Kilburn, taken in the cemetery.> It is
notable because Robert Jr. died and was buried in the
cemetery but was wont to come out of his grave at night to
disturb and frighten rascals. The dogs of the town
followed him and barked vociferously. At last the town
youths talked together, proposing to catch him outside the
cemetery by any means possible.
> But, when he appeared, all fled except two, one of
whom, Robert Foxton, caught him at the gate of the cemetery
and threw him out of the church yard.(A.S. ciricsteall,
site of a church.) The other shouted loudly, "Hold him
till I reach you." To which the first replied, "Go to a
parishioner(?) and get XXX so that he can be can be treated
according to policy. (XXX=cicius that I can only speculate
to be associated either with A.S. cicel, a little cake, or
Greek kek- suggesting castor oil. Either way there seems
to be reference to the communion service.) Because I am in
God's good graces I can hang on till the priest comes."
> The parish priest came quickly and performed the
proper ceremony. In the name of the sainted Trinity and
the goodness of Jesus Christ (he asked) that the ghost
reply to the questions as far as he could. He replied, not
with his tongue but rather from his internal organs as if
from empty space, and confessed his sins. Once these were
known the priest absolved him, but warned him he was not
removing sentences imposed after other confessions, "and
for the rest you may go in peace. God decides."
> It was said that before the absolution he regularly
stood at house doors, windows, footings and walls, as
though listening, perhaps expecting to grab someone coming
out and have him agree to help with his predicaments.
> Others say it was because of his helping and agreeing
to the killing of a certain man and doing other evils, but
noone is saying this applied to this particular man.
> Dave Forth
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