Brother Hamish was the Abbey’s steward, which gave him oversight of all the Abbey’s stores. A most unfortunate choice, thought Father Vincent, who was an astute judge of character. He couldn’t imagine what the Abbot had been thinking. Brother Hamish liked to tipple. Not from the Abbey’s stores, of course, he told himself. As each batch of ale was brewed, Brother Hamish sampled some “for the good of the Abbey,” and stored some in bottles for quality control, or as it was known back then, to make sure it was “sound,” or did not go bad after bottling. All useful things to know, of course, but Brother Hamish set aside more than was strictly necessary.
Father Vincent and the Startled Monk
Father Vincent and the Startled Monk
Father Vincent and the Startled Monk
Brother Hamish was the Abbey’s steward, which gave him oversight of all the Abbey’s stores. A most unfortunate choice, thought Father Vincent, who was an astute judge of character. He couldn’t imagine what the Abbot had been thinking. Brother Hamish liked to tipple. Not from the Abbey’s stores, of course, he told himself. As each batch of ale was brewed, Brother Hamish sampled some “for the good of the Abbey,” and stored some in bottles for quality control, or as it was known back then, to make sure it was “sound,” or did not go bad after bottling. All useful things to know, of course, but Brother Hamish set aside more than was strictly necessary.