Brother Cadfael's Penance Quotes

“The voices of cold reason were talking, as usual, to deaf ears.”
― Ellis Peters, Brother Cadfael's Penance

“In the end there is nothing to be done but to state clearly what has been done, without shame or regret, and say: Here I am, and this is what I am. Now deal with me as you see fit. That is your right. Mine is to stand by the act, and pay the price.

You do what you must do, and pay for it. So in the end all things are simple.”
― Ellis Peters, Brother Cadfael's Penance

“It may be that God is reminding me that I am approaching my November. Well, why regret it? November has beauty, has seen the harvest into the barns, even laid by next year's seed. No need to fret about not being allowed to stay and sow it, someone else will do that. So go contentedly into the earth with the moist, gentle, skeletal leaves, worn to cobweb fragility, like the skins of very old men, that bruise and stain at the mere brushing of the breeze, and flower into brown blotches as the leaves into rotting gold. The colors of late autumn are the colors of the sunset: the farewell of the year and the farewell of the day. And of the life of man? Well, if it ends in a flourish of gold, that is no bad ending.”
― Ellis Peters, Brother Cadfael's Penance

“his son turns against him and joins the king! And no half-measures, either. By all accounts, he’s fighting for Stephen as fiercely as he ever fought for Maud.’ ‘And bear in mind, Philip’s sister is wife to Ranulf of Chester,’ the courier pointed out, ‘and these two changes of heart chime together. Which of them swept the other away with him, or what else lies behind it, God he knows, not I. But there’s the plain fact of it. The king is the fatter by two new allies and a very respectable handful of castles.’ ‘And I’d have said, in no mood to make any concessions, even for the bishops,’ observed Hugh shrewdly. ‘Much more likely to be encouraged, all over again, to believe he can win absolute victory. I doubt if they’ll ever get him to the council table.’ ‘Never underestimate Roger de Clinton,’ said Leicester’s squire, and grinned. ‘He has offered Coventry as the meeting-place, and Stephen has as good as agreed to come and listen. They’re issuing safe conducts already, on both sides. Coventry is a good centre for all, Chester can make use of Mountsorrel to offer hospitality and worm his way into friendships, and the priory has housing enough for all. Oh, there’ll be a meeting! Whether much will come of it is another matter. It won’t please everyone, and there’ll be those who’ll do their worst to wreck it. Philip FitzRobert for one. Oh, he’ll come, if only to confront his father and show that he regrets nothing, but”
― Ellis Peters, Brother Cadfael's Penance