By
Kim Rendfeld
In
779, the Sister Elisabeth decides to embark on a pilgrimage, leaving the
safety of the abbey where she has spent most of her life. With her womanly
courses passing, Elisabeth guesses she is 50 years old. Having lived longer
than most medieval women, she is keenly aware of her mortality and the possible
fates for her soul in the afterlife. A pilgrimage is one way for her to do
penance and spend less time in Purgatory, perhaps even avoid it.
With
Elisabeth are her good friend, the lay sister Illuna, about age 35, and a man
in his late 20s whom she calls Sebastian and introduces as an abbey tenant. If
she and Illuna were younger, Elisabeth would worry about the risk to their
virtue. At her age, she is more concerned about safeguarding her life and the
jewels paying for the journey and has asked Sebastian for protection.
The
other pilgrims in the group have their own reasons for travel. They might be
seeking a cure for a disease or doing penance for a crime not bad enough to warrant
execution.
In
this era, Europe is covered with forests, and with progress at 12 to 15 miles
per day, pilgrims could spend several days away from civilization in the form
of a city, village, or abbey. In the woods, they start their day with sunrise prayers
as the fire allowed to burn through the night still smolders. Sebastian and the
men are tired from taking turns to watch for brigands. And they fear not only
human enemies. Bread was left in the trees to appease kobolds, and the faithful
hope their crosses will protect them from ghosts and demons and other
creatures.
Camping
near a stream, the pilgrims wash their faces and hands, and those who are
hungry break their fast. Beer is the beverage of choice, but water is not out
of the question. Then, it is time to load carts and saddlebags. Elisabeth and
Sebastian ride horses, while Illuna drives a cart with supplies. Other pilgrims
use oxen and horses to pull carts. Those who cannot afford livestock use a
handcart instead.
The
group travels for a few hours. At midday, the pilgrims need to rest their
animals and let them graze, so the humans might as well eat. The rounds of
bread they brought with them are hard and must be moistened just so they can be
chewed. Even then, the travel bread has the texture of wet leather. In addition
the pilgrims have brought dried meat along with a few fruits and vegetables. Another
option is to boil some grains like barley or oat along with vegetables.
After
the meal, more hours of travel follow. Although not on a schedule, the pilgrims
hope no one breaks a cart wheel or a spooked horse bolts.
This
particular day of travel ends at sunset in the forest, and the pilgrims say
prayers and make camp. No one in this group has brought a goat leather tent, shelter
for the wealthy, but they can use cloth and sticks, large fallen branches
leaning against a tree, or sheepskin cloaks for protection. They are traveling
in the spring, facing rain rather than snow.
Sister
Elisabeth would rather rest in an abbey. As the daughter of a count, she could
ask the abbot or abbess for their hospitality of herself and her two companions.
If she were a lady traveling with many servants, she could stay in the hostel
for important guests, while other pilgrims use the one for commoners. In a
city, she could be the guest of a bishop or count, assuming her family is not
feuding with theirs. Commoners might stay at an inn and hope the innkeeper won’t
steal from them. In these civilized places, the animals would need to rest for
three days before the journey continues.
Here
in the woods, someone lights a fire to keep away the night creatures, and the
men discuss who will take the first watch. Sister Elisabeth looks forward to
reaching the church in the next city, where she can pray before the saint’s
relics. Being in the physical presence of a saint is worth the bad food, the
uncomfortable sleep, traveling in the rain, the risk of being murdered, and the
fear of demons.
