Egerton 1821

The year is 1490. You are a monk. After two difficult years as a novice and postulant at the House of Jesus of Bethlehem of Sheen in England, you have been permitted to take your monastic vows. In that time, the senior monks taught you how to pray, sing polyphonically, and read devotional books. Today, the Abbot wants to show you one of the monastery's newest books. He thinks you're exactly the right person to read it. [[Go to the library to meet him.]]

"Gode daye, Brother," the Abbot says. "Gode daye, Father Abbott," you reply solemnly. "Wilt pleas thee to openne thys boke, Brother?" The Abbott hands you a book with a beautiful leather cover. Although you have renounced worldly goods, you *really* love books. The Abbot knows this, but he will never call bibliophilia a sin. You place the book on the table and open it slowly, allowing the vellum pages to fall open as they will. Do you want to start from [[the beginning of the book]]? Or will you open to [[the middle of the book]]? Or is [[the last page]] the most interesting place to begin?

(alert:"The Abbot sighs, 'Trew choyse, my sonne.'") The Abbot sighs again. You think he feels (either:"happy","frustrated","sad","proud","brave","woeful","sorrowful","exultant","joyful","loving","worried","afraid","upset","distressed","supportive","generous","concerned","impatient"). He is making you a little nervous. Will you [[still read from the beginning of the book]] or would you rather [[go to a different page]]?

(alert:"The Abbot sighs, 'Gode choyse, my sonne.'") The Abbot sighs again. You think he feels (either:"happy","frustrated","sad","proud","brave","woeful","sorrowful","exultant","joyful","loving","worried","afraid","upset","distressed","supportive","generous","concerned","impatient"). Will you [[still read from the middle of the book]] or would you rather [[go to a different page]]?

(alert:"The Abbot sighs, 'Wyze choyse, my sonne.'") The Abbot sighs again. You think he feels (either:"happy","frustrated","sad","proud","brave","woeful","sorrowful","exultant","joyful","loving","worried","afraid","upset","distressed","supportive","generous","concerned","impatient"). He is making you a little nervous. Will you [[still read from the last page]] or would you rather [[go to a different page]]?

The abbott seems to feel (either:"worried","woeful","hopeful","penitent","disappointed","fearful","patient","uncertain","regretful","blessed","confident","trust in you","resolute","anxious","blissid","uncomfortable","satisfied","dissatisfied","foolish","that he has made a mistake","no confidence in you"). Have you made the right decision this time? [[Yes->Open to the middle2]] [[No, try a different part of the book->go to a different page]] [[No, I am not up for this->close the book from the middle]]

The abbot wants you to choose the most proper page to read, but he believes that you must decide for yourself which page that may be. Will you try reading from [[the beginning of the book->beginning second time]], [[the middle of the book->middle second time]], [[the last page->last second time]]? You do not want to disappoint him, but he will understand if you [[do not want to read the book right now->I am too nervous to read this book!]].

You see an image of yourself. Slowly, you translate the Latin phrase aloud: "O Lord, I beseche yow, send me salvacioun." The Abbot translates the Lord's words to answer, "Sonne, shunne, subdue, telle nothynge, kepe quiett." <img src="http://www.bl.uk/IllImages/Kslides/big/K065/K065423.jpg" width="450" height="700" alt="9v"> You glance from the Abbot to the image of the monk and back. The Abbot says, "(either:"Reade [[undernetthe->English underneath last page]], my sonne","[[Look thee to Christe->Image of Christ on last page]]","[[Looke to thine habitus->You look at your white habit]], my sonne")".

(alert:"You lift the heavy leather-bound cover, expecting to find many lines of even black letters in a familiar Gothic script. Instead, you are surprised to see something else entirely.") Just a second--does blood make you feel queasy? [[Of course not->keep reading from beginning]] [[Umm...yes->If blood makes you feel queasy]]

'Hast thou made uppe thine mynd?' The abbot asks. [[Yes->still read from the beginning of the book]] [[No->go to a different page]] [[I am too nervous to read this book!->close the book from the beginning]]

'Hast thou made uppe thine mynd?' The abbot asks. [[Yes->still read from the middle of the book]] [[No->go to a different page]] [[I am too nervous to read this book!]]

'Hast thou made uppe thine mynd?' The abbot asks. [[Yes->still read from the last page]] [[No->go to a different page]] [[I am too nervous to read this book!]]

"Father Abbatte, I am not preparid to readde thys boke," you stammer. The Abbot nods in silence and gestures for you to leave. You scurry out, thoroughly confused. [[The end]].

Aha. It says: "The greatest comfort in al temptacyon Is the remembraunce of Crystes passyon." <img src="http://www.bl.uk/IllImages/Kslides/big/K065/K065423.jpg" width="450" height="700" alt="last page 2"> Have you need of comfort? [[Yes->go to a different page 2]] [[No->close the book from last page]]

For the first time you notice how much Christ is bleeding in that image. <img src="http://www.bl.uk/IllImages/Kslides/big/K065/K065423.jpg" width="450" height="700" alt="last page 2"> "The firmament wept witth bloud," the Abbot murmurs. Suddenly, you hear the pattering of rain on the ceiling of the library. You look out the window. Do you expect to see [[rainwater->go back or try again]] or [[blood->rain compassionate blood]]?

(prompt:"When was the last time you cleaned your habit?") Why would the Abbot tell you to look at your habit? Eek--maybe it's dirty! Cleanliness is next to godliness, right? Since you're a monk, you'd better be pretty clean! What are you most afraid to find on your habit? [[Inky fingerprints->Have you touched the book yet?]] [[Food stains->You were breaking your daily fast!]] [[Dirt->You had been working in the vegetable garden yesterday]] [[Blood->habit compassionate blood]]

The book has told you to remember Christ's Passion. Where will you find the page that will help you do this? The Abbot's book has no page numbers, no table of contents, and no index. [[I have seen that page already.]] [[I do not know where to look.->go to a different page 2b]]

"Father Abbotte, thank ye for shewing me thys boke. Perhapps I wyll retourne to reade it on another daye." You close the book, bow to the Abbot, and walk slowly out of the library. You wonder why the Abbot wanted YOU to see that particular book. You also wonder if those carrots you harvested from the garden yesterday will be in today's evening meal... [[The end]].

(prompt:"Are you sure of this? If not, you can always go back.") [[Go back.->go to a different page 2]] Is it in [[the beginning->beginning second time]], [[the middle->middle second time]], or maybe [[the end again->still read from the last page]]?

You must find an image of Christ's crucifixion. That is what the book wants you to do. The Abbot is watching you (either:"expectantly","doubtfully","worriedly","impatiently","patiently"). Will you open the book to [[the beginning->the beginning of the book]], [[the middle->the middle of the book]], or [[the end->the last page]]?

[[Yes->Inky fingerprints]] [[No->close the book from last page]]

The Abbot is sternly looking at your honey-coloured sleeves. You cross your arms to cover the stains, but feel your hands stick to the fabric. "Hast thou been raiding the pantries, Brother?" the Abbot asks disapprovingly. You have been! Should you [[lie]], [[tell the truth]], or [[ignore his question->close the book from last page]]?

You had been working in the vegetable garden yesterday. "Father Abbotte, thys soyle is from ure veggye patch," you stammer. The Abbot sighs. "My sonne, would thee preferr to reade thys boke another daey?" [[Yes->close the book from last page]] [[No->go back or try again]]

[[If blood makes you feel queasy]], you had better not look down at your habit. The white cloth is also stained red, as if with blood! The Abbott beams. "My sonne, thou hast redde thys boke as I did wish. Thou mayst [[continue reading->If you are feeling all right]], or [[stoppe now]]."

Either [[go to a different page]] or [[close the book from last page]].

[[If blood makes you feel queasy]], you had better not look. The rain outside looks red, red, red like blood. The Abbot murmurs, "Thou prayedst more earnestly, in so great feare, that pretious sweat came trickling to the ground, like drops of blood thy sences to confound." The Abbott beams. "My sonne, thou hast redde thys boke as I did wish. Thou mayst [[continue reading->If you are feeling all right]], or [[stoppe now]]."

Your white habit is covered in red and black fingerprints. Ink!! "I am sorry, Father Abbotte!" you sqeak. "Ah, my sonne, the boke has left its imprint on your habitus. It will also imprint on your mynde. Look back againe into the boke. Just as the boke has printed on you, ure fingerprintes wyll remaine for all dayes on the boke." How do you respond? [[Turn back to a previous page->scratched page]] [[Ask the Abbot to explain->the Abbot's Tale]] [[You just do not understand->close the book from last page]]

"Nay, Father Abbotte. My sleeves are but stayned by the soile of our veggye patch." He says nothng. Maybe he does not believe in your white lie. You know that you will have to [[leave on bad terms]].

"Indeede, Father Abbotte, my bellye rumbled after I harvested the carrots yesterdaye morn. I did not eat of the veggyes, but I did take some hunny from the pantrie to ease my hunger." The Abbot raises an eyebrow. "Please, Father Abbotte, forgiefe mee." "My sonne, I see that thou hast repented," the Abbot says more kindly. "Now please [[go->leave on bad terms]] and wash thyself."

Without meeting the Abbot's gaze, you close the book and scurry out of the library. Why did the Abbot want you to read that weird book anyway? [[The end]].

You scrabble for an excuse not to read this book! "Father Abbotte, thys boke is too hard for mee. Before I know how to reade bokes without words, I must learn to pray in stillnesse and silence." He nods and smiles thinly. "My sonne, goe to thine cell and pray. When you are readye, thys boke will awayte you here in the librarie." You rise, bow to the kind Abbot, and walk slowly out of the library.

Go on, touch it. Run your cursor over the page. <img src="http://www.bl.uk/IllImages/Kslides/big/K141/K141852.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="ff1v-2"> What did you notice? [[Scratches]] [[Missing paint]] [[Fingerprints]]

The Abbot stands tall and recites: "Should the inke On thy fingers sticke Thy habitus shall stinke With th'scent of sanct- ity or elss should stanke With fingerprintes ranke With bloude, I thynke." You nod respectfully and try not to laugh at the Abbot's rhymes. Will you [[continue reading->Inky fingerprints]] or [[close the book]]?

You turn the page. <img src="http://www.bl.uk/IllImages/Kslides/big/K141/K141854.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="ff6v-7"> Gazing at the page, the Abbot says, "My sonne, I feel (either:"sad","mournful","woeful","sorry","humble","gratefull","blissed","blessed","loved","lovynge","fortunate","afeared","unworthy","joyfull","godlie","trust") for ure Savioure's greate lovyngeness." He seems to want you to say something too. You might follow his gaze back to the blood-soaked page. [[How do you feel?]] Or maybe you do not want to feel anything. You may [[turn the page back->still read from the beginning]] or [[go to a different page]].

(prompt:"How do you feel?") You keep flipping back and forth between the beginning pages. <img src="http://www.bl.uk/IllImages/Kslides/big/K141/K141852.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="ff1v-2"> Gazing at the page, the Abbot says, "My sonne, I feel (either:"sad","mournful","woeful","sorry","humble","gratefull","blissed","blessed","loved","lovynge","fortunate","afeared","unworthy","joyfull","godlie","trust") for ure Savioure's greate lovyngeness." You must (either:"[[answer]]","[[answer->answer2]]","[[answer->answer3]]").

<img src="http://www.bl.uk/IllImages/Kslides/big/K141/K141852.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="ff1v-2"> Gazing at the page, the Abbot says, "My sonne, I feel (either:"sad","mournful","woeful","sorry","humble","gratefull","blissed","blessed","loved","lovynge","fortunate","afeared","unworthy","joyfull","godlie","trust") for ure Savioure's greate lovyngeness." He seems to want you to say something too. [[How do you feel?]] The Abbot keeps speaking. "Please, my sonne, keepe reading. I mean, keepe lookeing at Chrystes bloude. I beliefe that you wyll begynne to see what I am able to see in this boke." Or would you rather not keep looking at this page? You may [[close the book from the beginning]] or [[go to a different page]].

(prompt:"How do you feel?") <img src="http://www.bl.uk/IllImages/Kslides/big/K141/K141852.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="ff1v-2"> Gazing at the page, the Abbot says, "My sonne, I feel (either:"sad","mournful","woeful","sorry","humble","gratefull","blissed","blessed","loved","lovynge","fortunate","afeared","unworthy","joyfull","godlie","trust") for ure Savioure's greate lovyngeness." [[How do you feel?]]

(prompt:"How do you feel?") <img src="http://www.bl.uk/IllImages/Kslides/big/K141/K141852.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="ff1v-2"> Have you felt enough? [[Keep looking->answer]], [[go to a different page]], or [[close the book from the beginning]].

(prompt:"How do you feel?") The Abbot thinks you are ready to read more deeply. "Please, my sonne, touch thys boke." Do you want to? [[Yes->scratched page]] [[No, I just want to look->answer2]] [[No, I want to stop reading->close the book from the beginning]] [[No, I want to try a different page->go to a different page]]

Why would someone scratch this book? The Abbot seems to have anticipated your question. He answers, "Out of love. Look ye for an image of Christes crucifxion in thys boke." [[Turn to another page to look for that image->go to a different page 2b]] or [[keep looking at this page->scratched page]].

Someone must have really rubbed this page. [[Keep looking at this page->scratched page]] or [[go to a different page]].

Other readers have already touched this book! Maybe, because there are no words, this book is meant for touching. The Abbot speaks, as though affirming your realization, "My sonne, in the future the blind will read through touch. At thys present time, we are blind to ure God. Thys boke wyll helpe us to see him." Now you know the purpose of this book! Would you like to [[keep reading]] or [[close the book from the beginning]]?

Would you like to keep reading [[this page->scratched page]] or [[a different page->go to a different page]]? Wait!! or--are your fingers inky now? [[Yes->Inky fingerprints]] [[I don't think so->keep reading]]

"Father Abbotte," you say, "yf this booke can be redde from the begynninge, middl, or the verye end, how should I knowe where to begynne?" The Abbott replies, "My sonne, if thou dost not know, then now ys not the time for you to read thys boke." Do you agree? [[Yes->leave library]] [[No, give me another chance!->another chance from middle]]

You bow to the Abbott and exit the library. That was a weird morning for a young monk! You scamper back to your cell. Maybe you will follow the linear narrative of your prayer beads ...-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O--X--O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O--X--and so on... or maybe you will take a snooooooooooooooooooze... [[The end]].

"Please, Father Abbotte, may I have one more chaunce?" you ask politely. You really are curious about this book's mysterious nonlinear reading pattern. The Abbott nods and smiles. "I knewe thou wast thys boke's trew reader, my sonne." Will you [[continue reading from here->Open to the middle2]], or will you [[go to a different page]]?

<img src="http://www.bl.uk/IllImages/Kslides/big/K065/K065421.jpg" width="450" height="700" alt="Man of Sorrows with Arma Christi"> Wow! That's a lot of blood! [[If blood makes you feel queasy]], you'd better tell the abbott before it's too late... [[If you are feeling all right]], take another look. There are so many pictures to look at on this page!

Suddenly, everything blacks out. You wake up lying on the hard cot in your cell. The Abbott and another monk are watching you intently. "What haz happenid?" you ask in a daze. The Abbott sighs. "My sonne, thou didst faint severall houres ago. I should not have shewn that new boke to thee. I am sorrig." He grasps your hand, makes the sign of the cross over your forehead, and quietly leaves the room. The other monk shrugs. "I guess you don't like blood, do you? Whyever did you become a monk in the first place???" [[The end]].

Are there any that you recognize? Are there any that you are curious about? Here are some of them, clockwise around the perimeter beginning at twelve o'clock. Read them with your pointer finger. [[Face on a cloth]] [[Goblet filled with wine]] [[Hand]] [[Is that a brain???]] [[Three really bloody nails]] [[Gross...a bloody kiss?!]] [[A ladder]] [[What is that thing on top of the sword and spiked club?]] If you are finished reading this page, [[turn the page->Open to the middle2]] or [[read another part of the book->go to a different page]].

The Abbott murmurs, "Take and eat of me. Take and drink of me." [[Go back->If you are feeling all right]] or [[keep thinking about the goblet->communion]].

"Climbe thou insyde the hole in Christes hand," the Abbott says. What? What does he mean? "But...it's a picture. And anyway it's too smale to climbe insyde," you answer. The Abbot replies, "This littil thyng which is created seemd as if it could have fallyn into nothing because of its litilness. And yet yt ys in thys boke." Would you like to [[try climbing inside->communion]] or [[go back->If you are feeling all right]]?

"My sonne, I knowe not what that thgynge ys," the Abbott admits. Hm. Will you [[keep wondering about it->bored]] or [[go back->If you are feeling all right]]?

As if in a trance, the Abbott murmurs, "1 cross, 2 die, 3 nails, 4 given." That's weird. [[Go back->If you are feeling all right]] or [[keep thinking about the nails->ouch]].

The Abbot sighs, "Oure Lorde did sing, Judas--must you betray me with a kiss? Judas ys the blue-faced man here." "Father Abbatte, why ys his face blue?" you ask. "It ys blue because the wind blew on it untill the thridde day." You suspect that the Abbot invented that fact. Will you call him out on it? [[Yes]] or [[no]]?

<img src="http://www.bl.uk/IllImages/Kslides/big/K141/K141852.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="ff1v-2"> No words! You gasp. The Abbot sighs again. Is he frustrated with you? Will you [[take another look]] at this astonishing book, or have you [[had enough->close the book from the beginning]]?

"It ys the face of Christ," said the Abbott. "His face is stayned redde with bloude, just as the Shroud of Turin is stayned with the iron of hemoglobin." Hemoglobin...hemobloggin...glemohobbin... Would you like to [[go back->If you are feeling all right]] or [[keep looking at the face of Christ->habit compassionate blood]]?

"there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run there's still time to change the road you're on. And it makes me wonder," sings the Abbott. "Is thatte a stairway to heaven?" you ask. "No, indeede," says the Abbott. "It ys not Jacob's ladder." If you need a little more time to understand, [[keep thinking about the ladder->ouch]]. If you do not, then [[go back->If you are feeling all right]].

"My sonne, I knowe not what that thgynge ys," the Abbott admits. Hm. Will you [[keep wondering about it->bored]] or [[go back->If you are feeling all right]]?

(alert:"Wow...all that blood...how long have you been thinking about these images?") Ouch! Your hands both suddenly hurt A LOT. You clasp your hands together and wince. What happened? The Abbott beams. "My sonne, thou hast redde thys boke as I did wish. Thou mayst [[continue reading->If you are feeling all right]], or [[stoppe now]]."

(alert:"Wow...everything is so small in this book. You feel like you do when you have partaken of the Eucharist at mass...how long have you been looking at these images?") Suddenly your hands feel cold and wet. Clammy? No. You realize that you have drooled all over the book. You look at the Abbott, embarrassed. The Abbott beams. "My sonne, thou hast redde thys boke as I did wish. Thou mayst [[continue reading->If you are feeling all right]], or [[stoppe now]]."

Although you suddenly feel physically and emotionally overwhelmed, something reminds you of your manners. "Thank you, Father Abbotte," you say. "You are welcome, my sonne. Go now, with my blessynge." He makes the sign of the cross over your forehead, pats you on the back, and sends you on your way. [[The end]].

"Father Abbotte, thys boke ys a littil dull," you WOULD LIKE TO SAY. You say nothing. Insetad,you keep staring at that brain-like image. "Dost thou feel any stronge feelinges?" the Abbott asks eventually. Apparently he feels confused. [[yes->boredom]] or [[no->boredom]]?

"Father Abbotte, thys boke is a littil dull," you finally admit. All you feel is sheepish. "That ys fine, my sonne. Go, and may my blissinges go with thee." You close the book and walk out of the library. Really, though, what was that thing? [[The end]].

"Father Abbotte, that ys no truthe," you exclaim. The Abbot's face turns blue with anger at your IMPERTINENCE. He grabs the book, pushes back your chair, and tells you to skedaddle. Oh well, I guess you won't have to continue to enjoy reading his bizarre and bloody book. [[The end]].

Wise indeed. It is best to [[continue reading his book->If you are feeling all right]].

You smile warily. "Thank you for the boke and the poeme, Father Abbotte. Now I must goe and water my veggyes in the garden outsyde," you say. The Abbot nods and says nothing. He gestures for you to leave. As you are walking out of the library, you see that he has taken your seat. He will finish reading where you left off...wherever in that bizarre book that may have been! You think about the sun shining and your carrots growing outside. Much better than sitting forever in that dank library, thinking about stink, stank, and sanctity! [[The end]].

Thank you for reading my story and the Abbot's new book. The images I have used in this story are from a book in the British Library called Egerton 1821. If you would like to learn more about Egerton 1821, or if you would like to read it in a different format, this is the web link: http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/illuminatedmanuscripts/record.asp?MSID=8389.