"Lady of Blossholme"
The year is 1535, and the conflict between reformers and reactionaries in the Church has come to a head. King Henry VIII has broken with Rome, and some of the smaller religious houses have already been suppressed. Sir John Foterell, of Shefton Hall, is in dispute with Clement Maldon, Abbot of Blossholme, over some lands owned by the former and claimed by the latter. Sir John rides for London to seek the aid of the King and his Commissioners against the rapacious abbot, but is ambushed and murdered by the Abbot's men in the forest near Blossholme Abbey. His only child, his daughter Cicely, takes refuge with his lover, Sir Christopher Harflete, at nearby Cranwell Tower. Sir Christopher had been refused permision by her father to court Cicely because he was hoping for a richer suitor, but Cicely had been told to turn to Christopher for succour if need be. Cicely was accompanied by her waiting woman, Emlyn Stower, part Gypsy, half Spanish, while Sir John's servant fled abroad with the deeds of Shefton, and letters attesting to Maldon's treachery, for safely.
Knowing that the Abbot would seize Cicely as his ward, Sir Christopher and Cicely are quickly married at Cranwell, by the parish priest, Roger Necton. But the house in beseiged by the Abbot, who wants Cicely, and more importantly the family jewels which he thinks that she has with her. In fact Emlyn has hidden them in the masonry of the tower.
The abbots men attack the house. It is taken, but not before Sir Christopher is overcome and apparently killed, and the women retreat to the tower, where they almost perish in the fire after one of the Abbot's servants sets the house afire. But both survive. Christopher is borne away, apparently dead. But the Abbot's secretary, Brother martin, discovers that he lives, and saves him. However, because it does not suit the Abbot the survival of Sir Christopher is kept secret, and he is shipped to Spain, and a servant is buried in his place. But Thomas Bolle, a lay brother of the Abbey, who was once the bethrothed of Emlyn, discovers the switch, although he says nothing for the moment.
Cicely and Emyln are placed in Blossholme Priory, a subordinate nunnery, on the orders of Abbot Maldon. Although originally a separate house the nunnery is now completely under the control of Blossholme Abbey, and the Prioress, always known as Mother Matilda after the first prioress, is compelled to act the wardress. However she and her six nuns do so gentle enough, as Cicely was known and loved by them. Although they are prisoners they are able to secretly communicate with Thomas Bolle.
Cicely, who thinks her husband of a few days is dead, would follow him except that she finds herself pregnant (Sir Christopher and she hadn't been idle during their week together, even though their castle was under attack). Eventually the child, a boy, is born. The Abbot avows that he is illegitimate, since Cecily married without his permission, and so he is christened John Christopher Foterell. It would suit the Abbot more if he were to die, but young John Harflete (for such he was entitled to be called, since the marriage was perfectly valid) seemed too strong and healthy. But he hints to the midwife that if they child died he would not be displeased, and she (Mother Megges) tries her best.
Meanwhile, although Cicely cannot escape, she can harry the Abbot though her secret agent Thomas Bolle. He first burns the Abbey wool and grain store, then commences a reign of terror, disquised as the devil. He is hugely successful. He also makes guest appearances as the ghost of Sir John Foterell. In one of the latter appearances he manages to stop Mistress Megges in time from choaking the baby. Megges dies of fright in the chapel, which causes ever more consternation. Unfortunately Cicely and Emlyn are seen talking with the "ghost", and the Abbot has them arrest for witchcraft, along with the half-witted nun Sister Bridget, who also appeared to speak with the spook.
Cicely and Emlyn cannot expose Thomas Bolle, so face a charge of witchcraft before an ecclesiastical court composed of the Abbot - as judge and accusor - an old bishop know for his enthusiasm with heretics, and a prior from a distant house. They are convicted, and sentences to burn, although the court lacks jurisdiction to give such a sentence. Mother Matilda leaves her nunnery for the first time in years, with Thomas Bolle as escort, to summon help from a kinsman, who is one of the King's Commissioners looking into the state of the religious houses. She will offer to surrender the nunnery to save Cicely.
The faggots are ready, the flame being fanned by the Abbey cook, when Thomas Bolle rides up calling upon them to stop, "in the King's name". The old Prioress soon rides up, as does a vain and pompus little man, the commissioner. The Abbot slips away before he can be seized. Cicely must promise the first year's rents of her estates to the Commissioner for his help, but the conviction still stands and must be remitted to the King. So they ride to London.
Cicely, Emlyn, and Thomas take up residence with Jacob Smith, Emlyn's relative and a wealthy goldsmith. Through him they arrange to see the Vicar-General, Lord Cromwell, who aids them - in return for a large pearl. The price is the jewels, which will be pawned or sold by Jacob for a loan of £1,000 to the King - a loan which they all know will not be paid off. The King is in need of ready money to fight the Pilgrimage of Grace, in which Abbot Maldon, a spy for the Spanish and agent of the Emperor, is taking a leading role. They hear that Sir Christopher is not dead, but that he was shipped to Spain. However their ship was attacked and taken by Turks, and both Sir Christopher and Brother Martin were made prisoner, as was Jeffrey, Sir John's servant, who was on the same ship. All slaved for six months in the Turkish galleys before being rescued by Spanish forces. Christopher and Jeffrey stayed to fight the Turks, thinking Cicely had died in the sack on the house. But they are now returning, to avenge themselves on the Abbot.
King Henry VIII and Queen Jane Seymour, themselves interview Cicely, Emlyn and Thomas. The Queen is taken with the baby, and is keen on the pearls also. The king is sympathetic, and orders Cromwell to see to their case. He also commissions Sir Christopher Harflete, and Lady Harflete in his absence, to take the Abbot, with Thomas Bolle as Captain.
Approaching the abbey, Cicely and party - now including Jacob - sees Sir Christopher and Jeffrey being puursued and taken by rebels. He is placed in the abbey dungeons, and the Abbot, now back in charge, warns Cicely to depart or he will have him killed. The force summoned by Bolle in the King's name and under Cicely's nominal command, soon attacks the fortified abbey. Emlyn and Thomas fire a mine under the gatehouse, and they enter the abbey, just in time to save Sir Christopher, whom the abbot has ordered killed. He is chained in a cell, but Brother Martin is defending him - though he himself is mortally wounded. The abbot escapes, while the abbey burns.
Later Cicely and Sir Christopher come upon the abbot, in a distressed state, who asks for mercy from them. Sir Christopher would capture him and have him tried, but Cicely had promised the dying Martin to show him mercy. Brother Martin had told her that the Abbot was not all bad, but was misguided, seeking a good end - the good of the Church - through an evil path. They give him temporary shelter and food, and he later disappears.
The day Emlyn and Thomas Bolle marry - for the King gave Thomas dispensation from his status as a lay brother - they see a party of the King's men in the woods near the ruined abbey. They later see the Abbot's head exposed on the wall of the abbey, as Emlyn had promised him would happen.
This is a rather neglected story, but not without interest. The Abbot is a Spaniard who pursues an evil course. But (unusually perhaps for Haggard) he is not all eveil. We see his struggle with conscience - and Martin tells us more of it. Emlyn is one of Haggard's strong women - and not without her faults - mainlu temper. We don't really see enough of Sir Christopher to judge him fully, but we learn he is moody - as a result of his experiences at the hands of the Turks. Although the story does not even hint at it, the Turkish practise of sodomising captives may have had a part to play in this. Thomas Bolle is determined but a little simple - Cicely is gentle but determined. The prioress is strick but good.
Haggard manages to give an interesting account of an important historical period, with more focus upon the locals than the people at the centre of events - the King feature, but not majorly. All in all well worth reading, if only for the sympathetic treatment of personal religious conviction and the sentiment of the religious and lay people at a time of crisis.