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cut down Christians in battle or throw stray pilgrims into dungeons, and still be tolerated and respected, even if he’s held to be already damned. But if a Christian steps a little aside in his beliefs he becomes anathema. He had seen it years ago in the east, in the admittedly beleaguered Christian churches. Hardpressed by enemies, it was on their own they turned most savagely. Here at home he had never before encountered it, but it might yet come to be as common as in Antioch or Alexandria. Not, however, if Radulfus could rein it in.
    â€˜His own priest does not seem to have regarded William as an enemy, either within or without,’ said the abbot mildly. ‘But Deacon Serlo here is about to tell us what he recalls of the contention, and it is only just that you should afterwards speak as to your master’s mind before his death, in assurance that he is worthy to be buried here within the precinct.’
    â€˜Speak up!’ said Gerbert as Serlo hesitated, dismayed and unhappy at what he had set in motion. ‘And be precise! On what heads was fault found with the man’s beliefs?’
    â€˜There were certain small points at issue,’ Serlo said submissively, ‘as I remember it. Two in particular, besides his doubts concerning the baptism of infants. He had difficulty in comprehending the Trinity...’
    Who does not! thought Cadfael. If it were comprehensible, all these interpreters of the good God would be out of an occupation. And every one of those denies the interpretation set up by every other.
    â€˜He said if the first was Father, and the second Son, how could they be co-eternal and co-equal? And as to the Spirit, he could not see how it could be equal with either Father or Son if it emanated from them. Moreover, he saw no need for a third, creation, salvation and all things being complete in Father and Son. Thus the third served only to satisfy the vision of those who think in threes, as the song-makers and the soothsayers do, and all those who deal with enchantment.’
    â€˜He said that of the Church?’ Gerbert’s countenance was stiff and brow black.
    â€˜Not of the Church, no, that I do not believe he ever said. And the Trinity is a most high mystery, many have difficulty with it.’
    â€˜It is not for them to question or reason with inadequate minds, but to accept with unquestioning faith. Truth is set before them, they have only to believe. It is the perverse and perilous who have the arrogance to bring mere fallible reason to bear on what is ineffable. Go on! Two points, you said. What is the second?’
    Serlo cast an almost apologetic glance at Radulfus, and an even more rapid and uneasy one at Elave, who all this time was staring upon him with knotted brows and thrusting jaw, not yet committed to fear or anger or any other emotion, simply waiting and listening.
    â€˜It arose out of this same matter of the Father and the Son. He said that if they were of one and the same substance, as the creed calls them consubstantial, then the entry of the Son into humankind must mean also the entry of the Father, taking to himself and making divine that which he had united with the godhead. And therefore the Father and the Son alike knew the suffering and the death and the resurrection, and as one partake in our redemption.’
    â€˜It is the Patripassian heresy!’ cried Gerbert, outraged. ‘Sabellius was excommunicated for it, and for his other errors. Noetus of Smyrna preached it to his ruin. This is indeed a dangerous venture. No wonder the priest warned him of the pit he was digging for his own soul.’
    â€˜Howbeit,’ Radulfus reminded the assembly firmly, ‘the man, it seems, listened to counsel and undertook the pilgrimage, and as to the probity of his life, nothing has been alleged against it. We are concerned, not with what he speculated upon seven years and more ago, but with his spiritual wellbeing at his death. There is but