The Oblate's Confession (62 page)

Ælfhelm, poet, monk of the monastery at Redestone, and courier to Gwynedd.

Agatho, Roman priest and abbot of the monastery at Redestone (supplanted Abbot Folian).

Alcfrith*, under-king of Deira (southern half of Northumbria), son of King Oswiu.

Baldwin, monk and sacristan of the monastery at Redestone.

Botulf, monk and kitchen master of the monastery at Redestone.

Ceolwulf, Anglo-Saxon warrior and father of Winwæd.

Cuthwine, priest and cellarer of the monastery at Redestone, dies of the plague.

Dagan, priest and prior of the monastery at Redestone.

Eadnoth, monk of the monastery at Redestone, dies of septicemic plague.

Ealhmund, oblate of the monastery at Redestone.

Eanflæd, a young girl who lives in the village at Redestone.

Edgar, replaces Winwæd as courier to Gwynedd.

Ecgfrith*, King of Northumbria, successor to his father, King Oswiu.

Folian, Northern (Celtic) priest and founding abbot of the monastery at Redestone.

Godwin, third abbot of the monastery at Redestone, replaces Agatho.

Gwynedd, priest and hermit.

Maban, replaces Dagan as prior of the monastery at Redestone.

Oftfor, oblate of the monastery at Redestone, dies of the plague.

Osric, monk of the monastery at Redestone and cellarer after Cuthwine dies of plague.

Oswiu*, king of Northumbria and Bretwalda (overlord) of lands beyond its borders.

Paulinus*, Roman priest sent as missionary by Pope Gregory to England in 601 A.D. Is credited with converting large numbers to the Christian faith.

Penda*, pagan king of Mercia.

Stuf, a pagan (one of the hill people) who makes charcoal for the furnace at Redestone.

Tatwine, monk of the monastery at Redestone who shows Winwæd the way to Father Gwynedd’s hermitage.

Victricius, monk and furnace master of the monastery at Redestone.

Waldhere, oblate of the monastery at Redestone.

Wilfrid*, Roman priest and bishop.

Winwæd, oblate of the monastery at Redestone.

''Historical figure (Note: The spelling of these names may vary.)

A book like
The Oblate's Confession
owes a very real debt to all the anonymous people who, over the course of human history, have taken time to record something of their lives and the lives of those that preceded them. Without them, neither history nor life as we know it would be possible.

In addition, there are any number of professional historians who have made the writing of this book possible. First and foremost among these must be the Venerable Bede. Any scholar of seventh century England will recognize the many borrowings and out-and-out thefts I have made from the life and work of this brilliant, humble man. I owe a similar, if somewhat less extensive, debt to the Roman historian, Tacitus. As for modern historians, there are any number whose works have informed my own. I

would like to express my special thanks to the late Gerald Bonner, whose encouragement and advice convinced me that a book like
The Oblate's Confession
could actually be written. Though I never had the good fortune to meet the archaeologist Rosemary Cramp, her work at Bede’s monastery of Monkwearmouth-Jarrow taught me a great deal about the material culture of seventh century Northumbria.

Among the monks whose work has influenced and made possible my own, I must mention Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, Thich Nhat Hanh, and, of course, the anonymous author of
The Cloud of Unknowing.
I would also like to thank the brothers of Our Lady of the Holy Cross Abbey (Berryville, Va.) and St. Anselm’s Abbey (Washington, D.C.), who helped me with advice, encouragement, and the loan of works from their libraries. From time to time, they also heard my own confession.

I am indebted to the staff and board of the Talbot County Free Library, who, in addition to paying my salary over the last several years, have given me permission to play at will among their stacks.

Can there be any greater source of inspiration than unfettered access to a library?

I also want to thank my publisher, Ron Sauder, who, from the beginning, has believed in this book. Scripture tells us “to be hospitable to strangers for some have thereby entertained angels unawares.” Ron may have been a stranger when he first walked into my life, but it didn’t take long to notice the wings and halo.

I have been blessed with any number of friends and family members whose care and affection have made this book possible, but I want to especially single out five. When an artist as serious and accomplished as S. A. Jones tells you the book you’ve written is good, it gives you faith in yourself and the work. I will never be able to thank her enough. Jean-Pierre LeDru and his late wife Winnie offered me sound counsel, a Gallic perspective on my research, and loving friendship; I thank them both. During all the years when I thought no one would ever publish my book, my mother re-read it annually, and then spent the rest of her time telling me how much she loved it. This may be a book about “fathers,” but it is one that I would have given up on long ago were it not for my mother. And, finally, Melissa. What can I say? You’re it, kid.

To all of these I owe a debt beyond paying.
The Oblate’s Confession
would not have happened without you. Its faults are all my own, its strengths I owe to you.

William Peak

Easton,
Maryland

June 3, 2014

William Peak is communications manager for the Talbot County Free Library in Maryland. A graduate of Washington & Lee University and the creative writing program at Hollins University, he spent ten years researching and writing
The Oblate’s Confession,
his debut novel. He is a member of the board of the Talbot County Arts Council. His poetry and prose have appeared in
The Delmarva Review
and
Tidewater Times.
Peak lives in Easton, Maryland, with his wife, Melissa McLoud, a professional historian. For more information see www.williampeak.com.