Aleric Donnal’s notebook
Aleric Donnal’s notebook
I have visited the archives in Exeter and found abundant material relating to Brother Anselm’s monastic house in Neston.
It was a house of Augustinian canons who ministered to their local community, acting as priests and confessors to the populace.
I suspect this is how he heard the confession that appeared to trouble him so much.
I wish I could find out what it was, but even today the seal of the confessional is sacred.
Anselm had freedom to come and go from his religious house (which must have aided him on his secret missions to Brittany).
Few people in those highly religious days would question the motives of a holy monk travelling to a foreign cathedral or monastery.
It was the perfect cover for what we would nowadays call a spy.
One interesting reference I found in his chronicle was to a chapel beside a holy well dedicated to St Catherine. The chapel was constructed in the late fifteenth century, early in the reign of Henry VII, as, and I quote, an act of penance.
But penance for what, I do not know – yet. The reference states that the chapel was to be dedicated to St Julian, and the well was from that time to be named for the same saint. I would like to discover the reason for this. For St Julian the Hospitaller is the patron saint of murderers.