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| | | From: Sleepy Elf (Original Message) | Sent: 11/30/2002 9:45 AM |
This is an extract that I found in Alexander Rose’s excellent book called “Kings of the North�?about the House of Percy.
William De Percy
“According to an anonymous monk, writing in the early twelfth century, Percy emerges as an over determined and over resolute character. At the time, every prudent Norman before he left his threshold for a journey of even a single night, crossed himself, recited a paternoster and offered a prayer to St Julian for protection of his person, chattels and properties against ghostly and other foes. Percy unerringly observed this custom, but his success in England had caused him to become arrogant. He began to ignore St Julian, saying to his worried Chaplain in jest as he left for a tour of his estates “What need we further of St Julian and his petty hospitality? Tonight we shall sleep in our own houses. Why ask for what is our own?�? The Chaplain pleaded with Percy to offer the prayer, but his master infuriated cried “Who hinders you to pray as you will? Only let me be and do not trouble us with your prayers�?
Hardly had the party travelled half a mile from Topcliffe but they saw it in flames. After an uncomfortable night in his peasants hovels, Percys band left the next morning for Tadcaster, but discovered that all his granaries and barns had burnt down in the night. Again, they sheltered in a hovel, Percys mood decaying by the hour. When the Chaplain timidly reminded him of what happened to those who ignored St Julian, he was sharply dismissed. His servants began to take bets, whispering to each other “see who wins, the Saint or Sir William�?BR>In the morning, they made for York only to find that Percys mansion had been blown down by a furious wind. At daybreak, Percy set off for Nafferton to visit his wife and infant son, Alan, but arrived just in time to witness his house burning down and his family, intoxicated by the smoke, being carried to safety.
Only then did Percy finally regain his humility and offer prayer. Following yet another miserable night in local accommodation, Percy crossed the Humber into Lincolnshire, where he met his reeve. The man told him that he had received the letter sent 5 weeks before, commanding him to store in readiness provisions for 300 to 400 men, along with food for their horses and hounds. Bemused, for he had authorised no letter to be sent-Percy turned to his notary and chamberlain, who shook their heads at this marvellous occurrence.
The chaplain then appeared and delivered a sermon berating Percy for thinking himself mightier than a saint. A huge feat ensued: Percy regretted the error of his ways, his fortune e had been saved and best of all his wife and son joined him both having made a rapid recovery.
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great story, Sleepy Elf; rather determined man, William de Percy, but it sounds like he learned his lesson; I like it when saints/gods become vindicative; anyway, had to go search out St. Julian; even after 13 years of RC schooling, I am unfamiliar w/him; so, his feastday is 12 February; date of death unknown (though one account has him martyred in Egypt in 313ce); he is the patron of boatmen, innkeepers, travelers; he killed his parents -- Geoffry, Duke of Angers & Emma -- but it was a case of mistaken identity; did penance to Rome; fought in the Crusades (which doesn't quite work w/the date of death above); built inn & hospital for care of poor & sick; gave own bed to leper, who was an angel; wife, Basilissa, worked w/him but in separate establishment; supposedly their marriage was chaste, which makes you wonder why bother?; anyway, his story is rather mixed up; the RC's official line is very short; there was a medieval French manuscript that went on & on & on; oh well, at least in the battle between Percy & Julian, sounds like Julian carried the day; |
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Scolastica
Glad you liked the story...I didnt know anything about St Julian, so thanks for the info! If you got to catholic.org theres a list of all the saints and their lives, etc...its pretty interesting..I went their to find out the exact date Thomas More was canonized...but it didnt tell me :(
Sleepy Elf
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I enjoyed reading about St. Julian, thanks Sleepy Elf! In answer to your question about Tom More, the Vatican finally got around to canonising him in 1935, and I have read that there was an idea to make him the patron saint of politicians!! |
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Dee, you are right!! JPII signed an apostolic letterin July 2000 making More the patron saint of statesmen & politicians; & Sleepy Elf, not only did TM have to wait until 1935 for canonization (though they did it on the 400th anniversary of his execution), he wasn't even beatified (the step before canonization) until 1886; then both he & Bishop John Fisher were 'sainted' together in 1935; as for me, TM wanted to be executed; HVIII gave him ample opportunity to slip away or get around the oath; what else do you expect from someone who wears a hairshirt? |
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This is an interesting topic. |
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