Chapter XXXVIII – Branded






“Be it hereby proclaimed by his Worship the Archbishop of Venice, that three cowards, who forsook their God-given duty to defend His holy city of Constantinople, shall be branded forthwith, that all may know their cowardice. Let all men shun their company and treat them as the infidel, that by their earthly suffering they may be granted forgiveness after this life.

Francois of Gascony, Owen the Welshman, and John Kerrich: may God grant your spirit passage into Heaven by virtue of your bodily misery.”

I saw the Archbishop himself shuffle onto the scene. He made his way towards me. As he knelt to the ground to get a good look at me, I felt as if his eyes had pierced my very soul.

“You did not tell me that another man was to be punished today,” said the Archbishop to his nearby aide.

“Well, your worship,” the man responded awkwardly, “you instructed us to treat any other such men as we did these two.”

“Ah, so I did. Good work young man. Still, I wish to speak with them before the sentence is carried out.

Tell me, my son. Are you a servant of the church?”

“Yes, your worship.”

“Then how is it that you did not make the ultimate sacrifice in its service?”

“I was prepared for it, my lord. For many months I had looked forward to the peace of death. Yet I escaped it, for I was taken down during the battle. When I awoke, the struggle was over; I saw the Turkish standard flying from the Cathedral. Still…”

John caught himself. In his emotion, he almost mentioned that his desire to survive was grounded in the hope of saving Godwin.

The Archbishop rose slowly and shuffled over to an aide. After exchanging a few hushed sentences, the man of God motioned a guard to release John.

“I know not whether your words or true, or if you are merely a skilled liar,” the Bishop said as John arose. “But the captain there tells me that you have the look of one accustomed to war. I believe your case is worthy of taking a second look.”