CHAPTER 4
ABAB JOEL NIELSEN received the illustrious visitor with a dubious disposition at that time of night, it was not something common for him to do so, however, due to the person who had made the request, it was impossible to deny him anything, he was an important financier of the Anglican Church and he knew that if any complaint came to the Bishop of Canterbury about him, it would be the end of a long and arduous journey, everything he had fought for would just end there, he had been given a second chance to make amends for his past wrongs, but there wasn't much else to do.
— It's an honor to welcome you.
The man silently consented as he formally greeted the abbot, Joel Nielsen showing clear enthusiasm for that man's illustrious visit.
'Thank you, Abbot Nielsen, I won't be long before you get in the way of your ecclesiastical duties, it's a very direct and quick visit.'
— For a man with no family like me, it's okay to welcome people at this time, even if it's somewhat of a breach of protocol.
— Thank you for your consideration and I know how important it is to maintain protocols.
— It's okay, I have insomnia, I hardly ever sleep, having company at this hour I would say it's even an honor.
The visitor smiled.
— I'm sure yes.
The abbot nodded.
His guest was one of the most powerful men in the world, it would be nice if someone like him owed him a favor.
— I am glad to hear of your particular interest in this man as unfortunate in life as he was brilliant, few come to visit him.
The man again nodded solicitously at the kindness of the Anglican abbot.
— He deserved recognition for his genius, but in the end, everyone abandoned him.
The abbot agreed.
— There were other times and he did not faithfully follow the precepts of the Holy Church, so he was frowned upon by his peers, the State and the Church, his bust was only inaugurated here very recently, more than 130 years after the your death.
The guest's face seemed to have petrified with anger at that fact.
— God shared unique gifts with this man.
— God shares unique gifts with all men.
— But not everyone works to see that these gifts are used efficiently, abbot.
— Unfortunately, you are right... however, the important thing is that we know that your legacy has reached us, in a way, that comforts you in heaven.
WALKING THROUGH Westminster Abbey at night was like being teleported back centuries, there was nothing to indicate that there was any technology in this place, which had been used to crown and marry so many kings.
THEY ARRIVED as far as the South Transept, a place known as the Poet's Corner, because of the large number of poets, playwrights, and writers buried and commemorated there.
The visitor saw prominently the Shakespeare Memorial of Kent , built in 1740 , and smiled, it was a work of art that stood out among all others.
They revere a mere copyist of ideas and despise a genius...
— I know what you must be thinking.
— That the vast majority of them weren't meant to be here — said the visitor with clear irritation in his voice.
The abbot nodded gently.
— It's a historic mistake that we're trying to fix, the fact that many of them weren't religious, they weren't even Christians, made the church close its doors to them in the past, but that doesn't mean they can't receive the honors of the Church, which, in a way, also represents the British Crown.
Are they really fixing things? Or is it I'm doing this?
— Remembering that we are an independent church of Rome, so we can afford to pay simple tributes to some praiseworthy British figures, regardless of their religious creed.
— It was the least the state could do for its illustrious citizens, not that many of these here deserve it, but others might have something more pompous in their honor.
The abbot nodded and continued the exclusive tour inside the historic Abbey.
— THE FIRST POET buried here in Poets' Corner was Geoffrey Chaucer — resumed Abbot Nielsen in his speech — his burial took place in 1400 in the Abbey opposite St. than his reputation as a writer. The construction of his magnificent tomb by Nicholas Brigham in 1556, where Chaucer's remains were transferred, and the burial of Edmund Spenser nearby in 1599, started a tradition that is still alive today.
The abbot waited for any inquiries, however, it seemed that his visitor was not interested in anyone else.
— Over the centuries, the tradition of burying or honoring people here has grown in recognition of their contribution to British culture . In the overwhelming majority of cases, reverence is bestowed on the most notable writers.
The visitor looked bored, he hated that religious nonsense, there was only one man there among so many who could predict the future, a man who, unlike the others, predicted the end of the world, a future that would end nine nights later, after all. the sacrifices.
— In 2009, the founders of Royal Ballet were honored on a memorial stone floor and on September 25, 2010… — continued the abbot as he reached the intended memorial bust. — On November 22, 2013, the fiftieth anniversary of his death, writer CS Lewis was honored with a memorial stone floor.
The visitor was clearly not listening to the abbot's words, the closer he was to the bust, the stronger was the desire to initiate what he intended.
The prophecy begins today...
— The area also houses the tombs of several Canons and Deans of the Abbey, as well as the tomb of Thomas Parr, said to have died aged 152 in 1635, having seen ten sovereigns on the throne.
It's easy to live 152 years without doing anything...
His hands began to shake with excitement.
— Burial or commemoration at Westminster Abbey does not always take place at the time of death or shortly thereafter. Lord Byron , for example, whose poetry was admired but maintained a scandalous lifestyle, died in 1824 but did not receive a memorial until 1969. Even William Shakespeare , buried in Stratford— upon— Avon in 1616, was not honored with a monument until 1740, when a design by William Kent was built in Poets ' Corner, although shortly after Shakespeare's death William Basse suggested that Shakespeare should be buried here.
— But Samuel Horsley , Dean of Westminster in 1796, bluntly refused actress Kitty Clive 's request to be buried in the Abbey.
— Exactly! He claimed that if we don't draw a line on this theatrical ambition to mortuary fame, we'll soon make Westminster Abbey a little better than a Gothic Green Room ! In some cases, a complete burial of a body took place, in other cases the body was cremated and the ashes buried.
They walked some more.
— There are also cases where there was support for a particular individual to be buried in the Poets' Corner, but it was decided to bury him elsewhere in the Abbey, such as Edward Bulwer— Lytton . Other notable poets and writers, such as Aphra Behn , are buried elsewhere in the Abbey. At least two of the memorials, both to individuals buried in Poets' Corner — Rowe and Gay , were later moved to a location elsewhere in the Abbey due to the discovery of ancient paintings on the wall behind them.
The visitor couldn't take it anymore, he knew that this was just the first of the nine sacrifices, he discreetly took the dagger without the abbot noticing and was waiting just for the exact moment they arrived where he wanted.
— Memorials can take many forms. Some are stone slabs set into the ground with a name and inscription engraved on them, while others are more elaborate, carved stone monuments, hanging stone slabs or memorial busts.
The abbot paused for a moment to explain the one who was an exception to the rule.
— Some are celebrated in groups, such as the joint memorial for sisters Emily, Charlotte and Anne Brontë, commissioned in 1939 but not opened until 1947 due to World War II, the sixteen World War I poets inscribed on a stone floor slab and inaugurated in 1985, and the four founders of the Royal Ballet , commemorated together in 2009.
The abbot resumed his march and for a moment admired the beauty of the place, something he rarely did.
— Ben Jonson 's grave is not in Poets' Corner, but in the north aisle of the nave. — He pointed to the spot — It has the inscription O Rare Ben Johnson" it has been suggested that this could be read "Orare Ben Johnson", i.e. pray for Ben Johnson in Latin, which would indicate a return to Catholicism in bed of death, however, the sculpture shows a distinct space between "O" and "rare". The fact that he was buried in a vertical grave may be an indication of his reduced circumstances at the time of his death, but it has also been suggested that Jonson requested a grave exactly eighteen square inches from the monarch and was given a vertical grave to fit the requested space. In addition to the headstone in the north aisle of the nave, a wall plaque commemorating Jonson was later erected in the Poets' Corner.
As the decorated floors and walls began to wear out, they finally arrived at the requested location.
— There is room for twenty names, and there are currently six names in this window, with the latest entry Elizabeth Gaskell, revealed on September 25, 2010.
THEY ARRIVED in front of the memorial bust and stood admiring the bronze bust for a long moment in silence.
— Sometimes I wonder why he's here, you know? He was devoted to nothing but John Milton and several times made somewhat satanic claims.
— It's a comfort for him to be here.
— In a way, yes.
— A comfort from those few who knew the truth and it really set them free.
The abbot did not understand the reference, talking about Jesus was against that man who had painted more demons than any other man on the face of the Earth.
— We can say he was a demonologist.
— Demonologists don't predict the future, Abbot.
The abbot made a move to look to the side and try to decipher the face of his illustrious visitor, but something out of everything he had ever lived happened.
It was then that the abbot felt the first thrust, looked at his tormentor who had a different face from the gentle way he had arrived there.
— Feel honored to be the first sacrifice of the nine nights, Joel Nielsen.
The abbot struggled to say something, but only whispers came out, then he felt a thrust, another and another, until he felt nothing else.
There are only eight more days for the prophecy to be fulfilled...