Moreover, he sets the curse of the Church upon me
and any man with whom I shall dare to re-marry until this be done. For
myself I would defy the Church, but not for you or for children that
might come to us. Moreover, the holy father, Sir Andrew, forbids it,
saying that God will right all in His season and that we must not make
Him wroth. Therefore, Hugh, lover you are, but husband you may not
be while de Noyon lives or until the Pope gives his dispensation of
divorce, which latter may be long in winning, for the knave de Noyon
has been whispering in his ear. Hugh, this is my counsel: Get you to the
King again and crave his leave to follow de Noyon, for if once you twain
can come face to face I know well how the fray will end. Then, when
he is dead, return to one who waits for you through this world and the
next.
"Hugh, I am proud of your great deeds. No longer can they mock you as
'the merchant's son,' Sir Hugh. God be with you, as are my prayers and
love.
"Eve Clavering."
"I forgot to tell you that Sir Andrew is disturbed in heart. He looks
into a crystal which he says he brought with him from the East, and
swears he sees strange sights there, pictures of woe such as have not
been since the beginning of the world. Of this woe he preaches to the
folk of Dunwich, warning them of judgment to come, and they listen
affrighted because they know him to be a holy man who has a gift from
God.
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