woman, nor the woman without the man in the Lord. And yet, it was forbidden by the Church that he should marry. If God gave woman to the first man and commanded that they become one flesh, he wondered, how is it that the Church would forbid him do the same?
James removed a large, leather bound Bible from the shelf and carried it to the desk near the window. The book's leather binding was carved with a large cross on the front and the book was held closed by metal clasps. Large letters of embossed gold proclaimed 'Holy Bible' across the front. The Bible couldn't have been more than a few years old and its leather still smelled fresh. It was likely copied from an earlier Bible in the same library or perhaps from several of the priory's scrolls.
Two hours passed quickly and James soon found that he needed to light a candle. Continuing by the dimming light of day and the flicker of the candle's flame, James read the writings of Peter. It caused him to pause and reflect when he read, concerning the husband and wife relationship, that they were to be 'heirs together of the grace of life.' Heirs, he reasoned, inherit status, position or things, usually from a parent. If husband and wife were heirs together, what was the 'grace of life?'
James knew that 'grace and truth' came by Jesus Christ and that he was the 'way, the truth, and the life.' He had also read that 'eternal life' came by Jesus Christ.
'Surely,' he said quietly to himself, 'this means that man and woman are commanded to becomb one flesh and they can inherit eternal life together, as joint heirs.' The thought was powerful and exciting to him until he wondered how, without a prophet on the earth with authority to act in God's name, could such a thing be so? He reasoned to ask the Prior.
It was late when James approached Prior Forman. James explained to the Prior what he was reading and its implications, that is that the Church was in gross error on its teaching of marriage and likely had no authority from God without a prophet. James' experience with his study of the trial of Joan of Arc had taught him to not expect sympathy when questioning the teachings or the authority of the Church, but he was determined.
'James,' said Prior Forman after patiently listening, 'you are very yung and unschooled in life. You 'ave erred in your reasoning.'
'Boot Prior, if I might...' James was cutoff in mid-sentence.
'I will nay listen to blasphemy, me sone,' retorted the prior. 'Further, I must warn you, me sone, that if you persist in soch thinking, the devil will get 'old of your 'eart and there will be no saving you then.'
'Aye, Prior Forman, I understand,' replied James quietly. James left and went back to the library to think and he spoke no more of it to others at the priory.
______
Margaret tried unsuccessfully to pick up a loaf of bread that she had dropped. As she raised herself up, she held her back with one hand and her abdomen with the other and groaned.
'Let me retrieve the loaf for you, me luv,' said Richard as he saw his wife's struggle and obvious discomfort. 'You must sit more often. I do believe that you will 'ave twins,' he added with a smile.
With his wages from working on the All Saints' Church, Richard had been able to secure a small cottage in Stamford, not far from the church. It had a small garden and enough space for a cow and some chickens. Life was good for he and Margaret.
'Oh, me luv, I do 'ope that this baby combs soon,' said Margaret. 'I do nay believe that I can go on much longer. I am as large as a 'orse.'
'Nay, me luv. You are nay large, boot you are beaut'iful,' Richard said with a smile. He hugged her and promised to take the afternoon meal at home. 'If you shuld need me, send a neighbor to fetch me right away, me luv. Promise that you will do that.'
Margaret promised, but added that Geva would be visiting her and that she would be fine. Richard left the cottage to go and work on the windows of the church. It was mid-morning, and he was assembling one of the windows for the north side of the building, when a woman came hurrying to fetch him.