JOHN BESSAC’S FOOTPATH TO FREEDOM

Tags

Agen, Beaumont, Cadiz, Catholic Church, France, Gendarme, Madrid, Montvalant, Shylock, St. Martin's Day, Toulouse

John Bessac walked speedily along the highways all that evening. He made considerable distance. However, as daylight appeared he knew that his father, his uncle and the Holy Roman Catholic Church would be searching for him. Agen was his immediate destination.

He kept up his pace so that he could put more distance between himself and Montvalant. To be safe he departed the highway and walked the fields and solitary footpaths. He wished to see the city of Agen soon; and then Beaumont and Toulouse.

John’s forty mile trip from Montvalent to Agen was without incident. On the second morning he decided to rest after being two days without sleep. He found a comfortable place near a stack of hay and drifted off for a well-deserved rest.

Something brought him out of his deep sleep. Even with his eyes closed he felt a presence of some sort. Slowly opening his eyes he found himself looking at the well-shined boots of a state gendarme. A conversation about John ensued.

After some convincing, the policeman was satisfied that John was on a trip to visit friends. He pointed out to John that a storm was in the air and that he should find a more secure place to rest. John, in his deep sleep, had not noticed the change in the temperature, wind and clouds. He remained a little foggy from his recent awakening and attempted to determine what day it was.

“November 13^th or 14^th; a few days after St. Martin’s Day” he said out loud.

“Pardon me?” responded the policeman.

“Nothing, nothing at all” lied John. “Just forgot the actual date.”

The policeman looked askance at John, excused himself, and departed.

John felt rested up enough to continue his journey towards Toulouse. He was somewhat conflicted as to whether to find shelter or move on. He decided to put more distance between himself and the dreaded plans that the church had for him.

The next sixty miles to Toulouse were windy and cold. John was thankful that it did not rain. He had not thought about a canvas wrap to keep the wetness from soaking him. There was a heavy fall mist coming from the Atlantic side of France but it was not enough to dampen him through.

It took three more days of walking for John to reach Toulouse. He found a reasonable priced boarding room and started making plans. His first task was to write his good friend Barte. Barte’s return letter contained advice and a gift. The advice was for John to head for Cadiz where John had established friends. Barte suggested that John may be able to find a job in the hospital where he had once worked. John did not wish to relive the memories of his brother dying in Cadiz.

The gift was a note that John could cash. It was a second party check drawn on a merchant from Bordeaux. The only person that John could find to cash it was a shylock who extracted an ungodly sum “due to the risk.”

Being desperate, John took the partial amount.

A month had passed while he stayed in Toulouse.

John then departed for Madrid.

 

JOHN BESSAC’S TERMINATED NOVITIATE

Tags

American colonies, de Facto Prime Minister, Declaration of Independence, Earl of Bute, France, John Stuart, King George III, Prime Minister, St. Martin's Day

During the two years preceding John Bessac’s planned St. Martins solemn celebration he had paid close attention to the activities of the American colonies. They were struggling to avoid the yoke of British Taxes and regulations. The sympathies of most of France, and especially young John Bessac, were with the colonies.

This was at the time that King George III was being heavily influenced by his one-time mentor; John Stuart, Earl of Bute.

John Bessac’s interest in the colonies was was an inspiration. He read “The Declaration of Independence” several times over. Perhaps he empathized with the colonies. Possibly he viewed their being under the thumb of King George as a metaphor of himself being under the thumb of his father and uncle.

One thing we know for sure, John had voiced his desire to join the gallant American army to fight against the hereditary enemy of France.

Therefore, when on the morning of St. Martin’s day John was nowhere to be found an assumption was made. Those in charge of the ceremony, including John’s father and uncle, determined that he had left for Bordeaux or some other nearby port. Several quick steeds were put to use in order to locate John. Their assumptions about him leaving for America were wrong.

John, the previous night, had found his mother by herself. He confided that he was immediately leaving his home. She wept bitterly as she hugged him. Even with his pangs of guilt, for hurting her, he told her that his plans were unalterable. He would not take the vows of priesthood – – – “for the present.”

We will never know whether the last statement was to ease the pain for his mother or himself.

Knowing that he was going to offend his father and forever bring the hatred of his uncle upon himself, not to mention the denunciations of the Holy Catholic Church, he maintained his plan. He broke himself away from his mother’s embrace and packed a leather travelling sack with some clothes. His mother gave him a small bible and parting instructions to observe the religious precepts he had been taught throughout his life.

As John was placing the bible in his travel-bag his mother, once again, embraced him. With tears streaming down both their faces John held her tightly a final time. She slipped a few livres, worth five pounds of silver, into his bag. She knew if she looked at him another second she would break down. She looked away.

John knew that he had broken her heart.

John never again returned to the house of his father.