The House of Walderne - A Tale of the Cloister and the Forest in the Days of the Barons' Wars by A. D. (Augustine David) Crake
page 14 of 339 (04%)
page 14 of 339 (04%)
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Mussulmen and Greeks--who alike came to the marts--corrupted them,
and they became unbelievers, so that even the children in their play mocked at the Church and Sacraments. In short, it was said they were Manicheans." "What is that?" "People who believe that the powers of good and evil are co-equal and co-eternal, that both God and the devil are to be worshipped. At least this was laid to their charge; I know not if it be all true. "Well, the Church appealed for help to the chivalry of France; she declared the goods and possessions of this unfortunate people confiscate to them who should seize them, and offered heaven to those who died in battle against them. Now these poor wretches could write love songs and were clever at all kinds of art, but they could not fight. My father was chosen to head the new crusade; and even he was shocked at the murderous scenes, the massacres, the burnings, which followed--God forbid I should ever witness the like--they were blotted out from the earth." The storm which had been gathering all this time now burst in its full violence upon our travellers. Blinding flakes of snow, borne with all the force of the wind, seemed to overwhelm them; soon the tracks which alone marked the way became obliterated, and the riders wandered aimlessly for more than an hour. "What shall we do, Stephen? I have lost every trace of the way; my poor beast threatens to give up." |
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