by Shel Pais
Hubert tried to hide his true emotions. “Baruch, let me ask you something. As the most successful moneylender here, I would suspect both Jews and Gentiles alike are jealous of you.”
“Of course. Success always breeds jealousy. I do not hide my success. As long as I am not permitted most other professions, I will be a moneylender. Why do you ask?”
“I was just curious. I have never borrowed money from anyone before. My previous abbey was well-funded, we maintained a steady revenue, and I watched expenses very carefully.”
“I see. I assume Hedgestone is not like your previous abbey. Therefore, you will be borrowing from me in the near future.”
“Perhaps. You aren’t the only moneylender here, are you?”
“Of course not. But as the most successful, I can lend larger amounts at better rates.”
Hubert decided to change the subject. “Tell me, are you married?”
Baruch at first thought he would tell Hubert it was none of his business. Then he determined he might as well be cordial since it hopefully would pay off in the future. “No, I’m not. Many years ago, I was to be married, but she was killed two months before the wedding.”
“I’m sorry. I know there have been many Jews killed in towns and cities throughout Europe.” Hubert did not sound apologetic and did not ask why he did not seek another wife. “Do you have any family here?”
“Yes. My brother Mordecai lives in West End with his three children. His wife was killed more than two years ago by another murderous Christian mob.”
Hubert realized that while he should not have started this conversation, he must show compassion. “Again, I’m sorry. When mobs get started there’s no stopping them.”
“This one was started by Simon de Montfort and his mercenaries. There was no reason for it. There never is. A legitimate one, at least.”
“Is your brother a moneylender as well?”
“No. He’s an apothecary. Our father was an apothecary, and Mordecai decided to carry on his profession.” Baruch paused. “If you don’t have any business to conduct, Your Grace, I must beg your leave. I have business this afternoon I must attend to.”
“Certainly, Baruch. Thank you for coming. If and when I am in need of your services, I will contact you.”
“Until then.”
Hubert called for a monk to walk Baruch out of the priory. This Baruch is shrewd, he thought. I must be careful with him, as he is no fool. I must use him to obtain the sum I want, since it will be too complicated and suspicious if I use several small moneylenders.
Baruch returned home, feeling it was a strange meeting. Hubert only wanted to meet him? It made no sense. Hubert’s order forbidding the monks to have any contact with a Jew also bothered him. He remained quite suspicious of this abbot made temporary prior. When he did request a loan, Baruch decided he would require extra collateral to protect himself.
Instead of returning home, Baruch stopped at Mordecai’s house. He found only David at home.
“Shalom, Uncle,” David greeted him with a hug.
“Shalom, David. Where is everyone?”
“Father took Benjamin and Rachel to the market. I didn’t want to go. Please come in.”
Baruch entered and sat down in an old, worn chair. Every time he visited, he could not help noticing how poor his brother was, especially compared to him. While he had offered assistance to Mordecai, his brother had always refused, saying he appreciated it, but he could not take anything and they did not need it. No matter what Baruch offered, Mordecai always declined.
David took a chair next to his uncle. “So, David, how have you been?”
“Very well, Uncle. What about you?”
“I am fine. I’ve just come from Hedgestone Priory.”
“Are you thinking of becoming a monk?”
They both laughed. “No, the new prior, Abbot Hubert, wanted to meet me. He didn’t want a loan now but said if he did in the future he prefers to know with whom he is doing business. So, David, what’s new with you? How are your studies going?”
David appeared solemn. “You know I’m only going to cheder because of father and my mother’s memory, may she rest in peace.”
“I know. You are growing into quite a man. Have you thought about joining me as a moneylender?”
David had figured one day Baruch would ask him that. Since Baruch had no children, David always felt he was his uncle’s favorite nephew, and was almost like a son to him.
“Frankly, I have thought about it. There are so few options available to Jews. But you know what I would do if I could.”
“And a fine soldier you would make. But we must be realistic, David. I hope you aren’t thinking of being baptized to become a Christian so you can be a soldier.”
“No, I’m not. It would hurt my father deeply and be an insult to my mother. Even though I don’t feel religious, I always will be Jewish. That’s what torments me—that I can’t be who I am and become what I want to be.”
“The world is a hateful place, I am afraid,” Baruch said. “It always was, and I am afraid it always will be. I lend money at lower rates than the Christian moneylenders, who do it against Church laws, and yet I am the one who is accused and accursed.”
David always had a good relationship with his uncle. For some reason, it often was easier to talk to him about certain matters than his father.
“Tell me, Uncle Baruch, I don’t understand all the persecution we Jews must withstand. After my mother was killed I begged my father to leave England. He said there was no place to go. He wouldn’t go back to Paris. We didn’t speak any of the other languages of Europe. Who would take us in? he said. I am tired of this hatred. I wish there was something I could do to end it all.”
Baruch saw David had tears in his eyes and put his hand on David’s shoulder. “David. David. Your sadness is something our people have felt for many, many years. I find it ironic that decisions made more than twelve hundred years ago by men who were not even our direct ancestors can so direct our lives. So many of our kinsmen have been murdered. And for what? For believing something different and refusing to be intimidated by those who tried to force conversion on us. I’m not a very religious man either, as you know. But I do believe in maintaining our heritage. Unfortunately, it is easy to hate, easy to believe lies, and easy to incite the uneducated. Since we’re dispersed, we don’t have the strength in numbers to defend ourselves. Perhaps one day things will be different, but I do not see it happening in my lifetime. Can you understand that?”
David wiped a tear from his eye. “Yes, Uncle, I guess so. Thank you.”
“David, I believe you will find your destiny. You are not afraid to stand up and fight. I only hope you’ll be safe. There’s danger everywhere, and you must be careful.”
David nodded.
Baruch embraced his nephew. “I must go now. Tell your father I’ll see him soon.”
“I will,” David said. “My destiny,” he said to himself. “What can it be?”
Alwyn returned from London, and reported to Hubert. One of the monks told him the abbot was in his chamber, ill. Alwyn hurried there and found the door open. Hubert laid in his bed as a monk wiped his forehead with a wet cloth.
“Hubert, what’s the matter? Alwyn asked.
Hubert slowly sat up. “Alwyn, I’m glad you’ve returned. Brother Gabriel, you may go now, and close the door.” The monk left, shutting the door behind him as ordered.
“Tell me what Basil said.”
“First, tell me what’s wrong with you.”
“I came down with a fever and some other conditions I would rather not disclose. The brothers here have no idea how to take care of any illness. I am surprised any survived the diseases they had when we arrived here.”
Alwyn laughed. “I don’t believe you think they can do anything correctly.”
Hubert let out a loud cough. “Tell me about Basil.”
“It sounds like you have the lung congestion. That can be dangerous.”
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“I’ll be fine. Now, tell me about Basil.”
“Very well. He approved all of your plans and wants you to secure the largest loan you can from the Jews by the summer solstice. He gave me this written approval for you.” Alwyn held out the parchment.
“Put it on the table. That long? Why not now?”
“I don’t know. Those were his orders. I will say he also approved of your punishments for disobeying your orders regarding talking to the Jews.”
Hubert coughed again, this time spitting mucus onto the floor. “I am impressed. I didn’t think he had the stomach for that. What else did he say?”
“Hubert, I’m worried about you. You need to see a physician.”
“Are there any in Northampton? Any Christian ones?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll find out. And, no, he didn’t say much else. I told him you already had made significant progress here, and he was pleased. Now, let me go and get help for you.”
Hubert fell back on his bed. “Very well. If you insist.”
Brother Gabriel was standing outside Hubert’s door.
“Gabriel, I want you to watch him. I’m going to bring a physician.”
Gabriel looked surprised. “Physician? There is none around here. There used to be one, but he was a Jew killed in the riots two years ago. There is an apothecary, though.”
“Apothecary? Can he cure diseases?”
“I believe he has knowledge of what herbs can help cure certain conditions. He cured Prior Bartholomew once.”
“Then go fetch him immediately, and take a horse. Tell him Abbot Hubert is very ill, has a high fever and his lungs are congested.”
“He’s a Jew, Father Alwyn. I’m not allowed to even speak to him.”
“I permit you to do this. Now go.”
Gabriel appeared nervous. “But Father Alwyn, Abbot Hubert will be angry if I do this.”
“He’ll be angry if you don’t. I told you to go.”
Gabriel left without responding. Alwyn returned to Hubert’s room. Hubert frowned when he saw him.
“What are you doing here? I told you to go get the physician,” Hubert said, his voice slightly raised.
“Brother Gabriel told me there are no physicians near here. There is an apothecary, though, and I sent him to bring him here. He cured Prior Bartholomew once.” Alwyn intentionally neglected to mention the apothecary was a Jew.
Hubert started to get angry, assuming this apothecary also must be a Jew. But then he remembered Baruch telling him his brother was an apothecary. He probably was the only apothecary in Northampton anyway.
“Very well. I pray he arrives soon.” Hubert closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.
Gabriel arrived at Mordecai’s house and knocked on the door. He had been there before when he had summoned Mordecai the time Bartholomew had developed a very high fever.
“Brother Gabriel. What brings you to my door?” Mordecai asked. “It must be important, since Abbot Hubert doesn’t allow monks to converse with Jews.”
“I’m sorry to disturb you, Mordecai. Father Alwyn sent me. Abbot Hubert is very ill, and since there is no physician, Alwyn wants you to help cure him.”
Mordecai laughed under his breath. “I see. We aren’t good enough to interact with the priory unless there are no Christians to help. What are his symptoms?”
“He has a high fever and his lungs are very congested. He coughs and coughs.”
“Is he coughing up blood?”
“I don’t know. Please hurry. Father Alwyn will be angry with me if we don’t return soon.”
“I believe I have what can help him. I’ll need a few minutes to prepare it. Would you like to come in?”
Gabriel thought he should not but then realized it probably would be better not to be seen standing outside a Jew’s house. “Yes, thank you.”
“Please be seated. I won’t be long.”
This was the first time he had ever been inside a Jewish house. When Prior Bartholomew was ill several years before, Mordecai had not been at home, so he had left a message with his wife to come to the priory as soon as he could. While Gabriel thought about that, a young man entered the room.
“I’m David, Mordecai’s son.”
“I’m Brother Gabriel from Hedgestone Priory.”
“I know. My father just told me. Can I get you some wine?”
“No, thank you. You must know we are not allowed to even speak to Jews.”
“Yes, I know. We aren’t wanted except when we can be useful. What do you think about that, Brother Gabriel?”
Gabriel appeared very uneasy. “It’s not for me to say. The abbot gave the order, and we must obey him.”
“Do you like being a monk? Do you enjoy not being able to think for yourself?”
Gabriel did not answer as Mordecai entered the room.
“David. Do not disrespect Brother Gabriel. He’s come to me for help, and I will help, regardless of religion or circumstances. Come, Gabriel, I have what I believe will help the abbot.”
“Father, Brother Gabriel, I meant no disrespect. At least no more than the Christians give us.”
“Gabriel, I apologize for my son. He does not understand the world we must live in.”
David laughed. “I understand very well, Father. Very well.”
“Shalom, David. I’m leaving.”
Gabriel gave Mordecai the horse and instructed him to ride to the priory while he would walk. Father Alwyn was waiting for him.
“You must be the apothecary,” Alwyn said.
“I am Mordecai. Gabriel said it was urgent.”
Alwyn led Mordecai to Hubert, who still was sleeping. Alwyn lightly shook him.
“Wake up, Your Grace. The apothecary is here.”
Hubert slowly opened his eyes to see Mordecai standing over him. He started to raise himself up.
“Let me help you, Your Grace,” Mordecai said.
“Who are you?” Hubert asked.
“I am Mordecai, the apothecary.”
“Do you have a brother Baruch?”
Mordecai showed his surprise. “Yes, I do. How do you know that?”
Hubert coughed again. “I recently sent for Baruch, as I may have need of his services someday. He told me his brother was an apothecary. I assume you are the only apothecary in Northampton?”
“Yes, I am. I often assist Baron Geoffrey.”
At this, Hubert scowled. “Perhaps I can get you to poison him.” Hubert tried to laugh, but the congestion made him cough even more.
“I do not poison anyone, Your Grace. I only help heal. Now, let me look at you.”
Mordecai bent down to look at Hubert’s condition, examining his eyes and feeling his forehead.
“You kill rats and other vermin with your potions, do you not?”
“I believe they bring disease and are unhealthy. Let me see if I can help you.”
Mordecai opened the small bag he had brought with him and took out three small, clay jars.
“What are those?” Hubert asked.
“Mugwort, vervain, and angelica. I believe these will cure you.”
Mordecai mixed them together into a paste. He then took a wooden spoon and placed about half of the paste onto it. “Please open your mouth, Your Grace.”
Hubert reluctantly obeyed. The mixture tasted bitter and terrible. He almost spit it out but did swallow it. “Water! Give me water!”
Alwyn gave him a cup of water, and Hubert drank it quickly.
“Now he must rest. If he is not better tomorrow, give him the rest of this.”
Hubert laid back in his bed. “Mordecai, I want to ask you something.”
“Yes?”
“You know about my orders that the monks are not to even talk to Jews?”
“Of course.”
“Then why do you help me?”
“God has given us ways to help our fellow man. Even though you may hate us, we must use God’s tools to help heal when we can. Did not Jesus teach peace and love? We ar
e not evil people. We are not against the Church or your beliefs. We only want to worship God as we want to. Our way. The Church says since we do not believe what you believe we are infidels and will burn in Hell. The truth is I respect the fact you can believe whatever you want to. You twist our religion and our customs to your own advantage. The Old Testament, as you call it, is our Torah, our Bible. God gave it to us, and we have shared it with the world. It is up to each man to decide which course to follow. I am not an expert in Christian teachings. I believe if the Messiah had already come, the world would be a better place, and it is not. And not because we have not embraced Jesus. No, we cannot be blamed for that. We are so few, and yet we have managed to survive all the evil perpetrated against us. So many of us have died. Your Crusades only have brought more hatred and death, and for what?”
Mordecai suddenly stopped. “I’m sorry, Your Grace. You are ill, and I didn’t mean to go off on a tirade. I only can hope to have taught you something today, to at least have helped you to understand we are all made in God’s image, and to not treat any man equally is actually sacrilege.”
Hubert was stunned. While he had never had any debate or religious discussion with a Jew before, he also never had been spoken to like that.
“Mordecai, out of respect for you helping me today, I will not respond to your heretical statements. However, I warn you. Keep your sentiments to yourself. I will not allow this in my priory.”
Hubert coughed again, this brief exertion tired him out, and he quickly was asleep. Mordecai began to hurry out, but Alwyn stopped him.
“Mordecai, I’m sorry for what just happened.”
“I am as well, Father Alwyn. The differences between us are deep, I know, and it frustrates me and most of my people. The discussions we used to have with Prior Bartholomew were helping us to better understand one another. Only through mutual respect and communication will we be able to live with our differences. Force is not the way, and not God’s way. If that were true, why would not God have made us all the same? Every man must decide for himself.”
“Your points are well taken. I’m afraid, however, that Church doctrine and the beliefs of many will never embrace those concepts. Both of us cannot be right.”