A Monk of Fife<br />Being the Chronicle Written by Norman Leslie of Pitcullo, Concerning Marvellous by Andrew Lang (highly illogical behavior .txt) 📗

as it races to the fall.  Wherefore, being more strong than Time, Love shall be more strong than Death.  The river of my life speeds yearly swifter, the years like months go by, the months like weeks, the weeks like days.  Even so fleet on, O Time, till I rest beside her feet!  Nay, never, being young, did I more desire my love’s presence when we were apart than to-day I desire it, the memory of her filling all my heart as fragrance of flowers fills a room, till it seems as if she were not far away, but near me, as I write of her.  And, foolish that I am! I look up as if I might see her by my side.  I know not if this be so with all men, for, indeed, I have asked none, nor spoken to any of the matter save in confession.  For I have loved this once, and no more; wherefore I deem me happier than most, and more certain of a good end to my love, where the blessed dwell in the Rose of Paradise, beholding the Beatific Vision.

To this end I implore the prayers of all Christian souls who read this book, and of all the Saints, and of that Sister of the Saints whom, while I might, I served in my degree.

VENERABILIS JOHANNA

ORA PRO NOBIS

APPENDIX A—NORMAN’S MIRACLE

(See “Livre des Miracles de Madame Sainte Katherine de Fierboys”.  MSS.  Bib. Nat. 7335, fol. lxxxiv.)

Le xvi jour du moys de janvier, l’an mil cccc. xxx., vint en la chapelle de céans Norman Leslie de Pytquhoulle, escoth, escuyer de la compagnie de Hugues Cande, capitaine. {40}  Lequel dist et afferma par serment estre vray le miracle cy après declairé.  C’est assavoir que le dit Leslie fut prins des Anglois à Paris le jour de la Nativité de Nostre Dame de l’an dernier passé.  Lequel Norman Leslie avoit entré dans la ville de Paris avec c.  Escossoys en guise d’Angloys, lesqueuls Escossoys furent prins des Angloys, et ledit Norman fut mis en fers et en ceps.  Et estoit l’intention de ceux qui l’avoient pris de le faire lendemain ardre, parce qu’il portoit robe de femme par manière de ruse de guerre.

Si s’avint que ledit Norman se voua à Madame Sainte Katherine, qu’il luy pleust prier Dieu qu’il le voulsist delivrer de la prison ou il estoit; et incontinent qu’il pourroit estre dehors, il yroit mercier Madame Sainte Katherine en sa chapelle de Fierboys.  Et incontinent son veu fait si s’en dormit, et au reveiller trouva en la tour avecques luy un Singe, qui lui apporta deux files, et un petit cousteau.  Ainsi il trouva manière de se deferrer, et adoncques s’en sortit de la prison emportant avecques luy le singe.  Si se laissoit cheoir a val en priant Madame Sainte Katherine et chut a bas, et oncques ne se fist mal, et se rendit à Saint Denys ou il trouvoit des compagnons Escossoys.

Et ainsy ledit Norman Leslie s’en est venu audit lieu de Fierboys, tout sain et sauf, emportant avecques luy ledit singe, qui est beste estrange et fol de son corps.  Et a juré ledit Norman ce estre vray par la foy et serment de son corps.

Presens messire Richart Kyrthrizian, frère Giles Lacourt, prestres gouverneurs de la dite chapelle, et messire Hauves Polnoire, peintre du Roy, et plusieurs aultres.

APPENDIX B—ELLIOT’S RING

The Ring of the Maid, inscribed with the Holy Names, is often referred to in her Trial (“Procès,” i. 86, 103, 185, 236, 238), and is mentioned by Bower, the contemporary Scottish chronicler (“Procès,” iv. 480), whose work was continued in the “Liber Pluscardensis.”  We have also, in the text, Norman’s statement that a copy of this ring was presented by the Maid to Elliot Hume.

While correcting the proof-sheets of this Chronicle, the Translator received from Mr. George Black, Assistant Keeper of the National Museum of Antiquities in Edinburgh, a copy of his essay on “Scottish Charms and Amulets” (“Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland,” May 8, 1893, p. 488).  There, to his astonishment, the Translator read: “The formula MARI. IHS. occurs on two finger-rings of silver-gilt, one of which was found at Pluscarden, Elginshire, and the other in an old graveyard near Fintray House, Aberdeenshire.”  Have we in the Pluscarden ring a relic of the Monk of Pluscarden, the companion of Jeanne d’Arc, the author of “Liber Pluscardensis”?

FOOTNOTES

{1}  Several copies of this book, the Liber Pluscardensis, are extant, but the author’s original MS. is lost.

{2}  This was written after the Act of the Scots Parliament of 1457.

{3}  Daggers.

{4}  Rude wall surrounding a keep.

{5}  Sisters in the rule of St. Francis.

{6}  These tricks of sleight-of-hand are attributed by Jean Nider, in his “Formicarium,” to the false Jeanne d’Arc.—A. L.

{7}  Very intimate.

{8}  When the sky falls and smothers the larks,

{9}  This quotation makes it certain that Scott’s ballad of Harlaw, in “The Antiquary,” is, at least in part, derived from tradition.

{10}  This description confirms that of the contemporary town-clerk of La Rochelle.

{11}  The staircase still exists.

{12}  “My neck would learn the weight of my more solid proportions.”

{13}  Neck.

{14}  “Frightened by a ghost.”

{15}  “Airt,” i.e. “quarter.”

{16}  “Fright for fright.”

{17}  Lameter, a lame.

{18}  Bor-brief, certificate of gentle birth.

{19}  Howlet, a young owl; a proverb for voracity.

{20}  Battle-axe.

{21}  Bougran, lustrous white linen.

{22}  There are some slight variations, as is natural, in the Fierbois record.

{23}  Equipped for battle.

{24}  That is, in the “Liber Pluscardensis.”

{25}  Englishman.

{26}  Heavy and still.

{27}  Daughter of God, go on, and I will be thine aid.  Go on!

{28}  Lyrat, grey.

{29}  The king’s evil: “écrouelles,” scrofula.

{30}  Darg, day’s work.

{31}  “Par mon martin,” the oath which she permitted to La Hire.

{32}  See Appendix A, ‘Norman’s Miracle,’ Appendix B, ‘Elliot’s Ring.’

{33}  That in to say, some two thousand combatants.

{34}  Échevins—magistrates.

{35}  “Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas.”

{36}  Pavises—large portable shelters.

{37}  Block-houses.

{38}  The Grahames had not yet possessed themselves of Netherby.—A. L.

{39}  Substituting ‘or’ for ‘argent,’ his bearings were those of the distinguished modern novelist of the same name.—A. L.

{40}  Cande = Kennedy.