The History and Antiquities of London, Westminster, Southwark, and Parts Adjacent, vol. 4
Allen, Thomas
1827
The history of is involved in that of the venerable abbey from which it derives its name. To the zeal and taste of English monachism, are we indebted for some of the finest remains of pointed architecture, and of the most ancient and interesting edifices in Europe; but, unfortunately, like all other similar relics of the piety, taste, and skill of our forefathers prior to the Reformation, the iconoclastic zeal and mistaken policy of a purer faith, have involved much of its earliest history in obscurity. The furor of state ecclesiastical reformations has lessened the evidence of its former magnificence, by ravaging its archives, and committing to the flames, as records of popery, many documents which are now required in the elucidation of its history. | |
This city, as above noticed, received its name from the abbey, or minster, situated to the westward of the city of London, which, according to several historians, was thus denominated, to distinguish it from the abbey of Grace on , called Eastminster; but Mr. Maitland proves this to be a mistake, by showing that the former is called , in an undated charter of sanctuary, granted by Edward the Confessor, who died in , and that the latter was not founded till ; he therefore supposes, that the appellation of was given to distinguish it from , in the city of London. | |
In ancient times, this was a mean, unhealthy place, | |
2 | remarkable for nothing but the abbey, which was situated on a marshy island, surrounded on side by the Thames, and on the other by what was called Long Ditch. This ditch was a branch of the river, which began nearly where Manchester-buildings now stand; and crossing , ran westward to Delahay-street, where it turned to the south, and continued its course along , until it crossed , from whence it passed along the south wall of the abbey-garden, to the Thames again. It has, however, been arched over for many years, and is at present a common sewer. |
Mr. Nightingale, however, presumes this island was of greater extent. From the roof of the northern tower of Westminster-abbey, he says, the eye may distinctly trace the ancient isle of Thorney. Following the winding of the Thames round Mill-bank, we perceive it ends in a marsh, filled with reeds and aquatic plants, at the extremity of . From that place to waterworks is equally low and wet, exclusive of the creek, or canal for barges. This brings the eye almost to the gates of , where a valley, nearly in a line with the marsh, contains the canal. Allowing these probabilities, and for filling inequalities in the streets, an angular line is formed. | |
But a question naturally occurs: whence was made the embankment, known by the name of Milbank? And where would highwater mark be found, supposing it away? It is to be feared the island of Thorney would be reduced to a very narrow compass. Possibly the tide passed, in very ancient times, across , through the park, and over all the ground south-west of the abbey, leaving on its return the whole a mass of filth. Such, generally, are the observations and conjectures of an antiquary to whom I have before been frequently indebted. The necessity of thus endeavouring minutely to ascertain the situation and boundaries of the little island of Thorney arises from the ancient assertion that the abbey of was erected on this real, or imaginary insulated spot of ground, which was called the Island of Thorns, or Thorney Island, on account of its being overspread with thorns. | |
After all, however, much is left to conjecture on this subject, and as much to the imagination, in support of this ancient tradition concerning Thorney Island. | |
In the course of time a few houses were erected round the monastery, which, at length, grew into a small town, called in ancient books, But the principal cause of the increase of , was the continual jealousy of the government against the privileges and immunities claimed by the citizens of London. To this cause must be attributed the establishment of the woolstaple, at , in preference to London, which occasioned a great resort of merchants thither. Another | |
3 | cause of its growth, was, the royal residence being generally here; for which reason, most of the chief nobility also erected inns, or town-houses, in its vicinity, the sites of many of which still retain the names of their former owners. |
continued for many ages a distinct town from London, and the road between them, on the sides of which the street called was afterwards built, passed along the river side, and through the village of Charing. This road, however, from the frequent passing of horses and carts, had become so dangerous both to men and carriages, that in the year , an order of council was passed which imposed a duty on every pack of wool, as well as all other goods,
It is evident from the record, that London and were then regarded as distinct towns; but it would be, perhaps, too much to infer, that between them, &c. For we learn, from the same order of council, that the cause of the impost was, the and we farther find, that it was ordained, that -- It seems pretty clear from these parts of the edict, that even at this early period the buildings of both cities had extended considerably beyond their respective gates, along the line of the highway between them; although probably they did not reach on either side as far as Charing-cross, which is supposed to have derived its name from a village, called Charing, which anciently stood midway between London and . In , it was new paved from Temple-bar to the Savoy; and some years after, by the interest of sir Robert Cecil, who had an elegant mansion where now stands, the pavement was continued as far as his house. | |
In course of time, became a place of some consideration; but it received its most distinguished honours from Henry VIII. who, on the dissolution of the monastery of St. Peter, converted it into a bishopric, with a dean and prebendaries; and appointed the whole county of Middlesex, except Fulham, which was to remain to the bishop of London, for its diocese. On this occasion became a city; for the making of which, according to lord chief justice Coke, nothing more is required, than to be the seat of episcopal power. | |
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The old palace, near the abbey, having been nearly destroyed by fire in , Henry VIII. took up his residence at , which he purchased, in , of cardinal Wolsey. He also built the palace of St. James, and inclosed a fine spot of ground, which he converted into a park, for the accommodation of both palaces. | |
From this period, the buildings about began greatly to increase: but it did not long enjoy the honour of being a city; for it never had but bishop, Thomas Thirleby, who being translated to the see of Norwich, by Edward VI. in , the new bishopric was dissolved, and its right to the epithet of city was thereby lost. However, is still considered as a city, and is so stiled in our statutes. | |
The city of , properly so called, consists of but parishes, viz. St. Margaret and St. John the Evangelist; but the liberties contain parishes, which are as follow: St. Martin, in the Fields; St. James; St. Anne; St. Paul, Covent-garden; ; St. Clement Danes; and St. George, ; to which must be added, the precinct of the Savoy. | |
The government of both the city and liberties of is under the jurisdiction of the dean and chapter of , as well in civil as in ecclesiastical affairs, whose authority also extends to some towns in Essex, and the whole of their district is exempt from the jurisdiction of the bishop of London, and of the archbishop of Canterbury. Since the Reformation, the management of the civil part of the government has been in the hands of laymen, elected, or, when appointed by their principals, confirmed by the dean and chapter. | |
The form of the civil government of was settled by an act of parliament passed in the of queen Elizabeth, intituled, which directs the appointment of burgesses, and assistants, annually, to preside over wards into which was at that time divided; and gives power to the dean, high steward, or his deputy, and the burgesses, or any of them, whereof the dean, high steward, or his deputy, to be , to hear, determine, and punish according to the laws of the realm, or laudable and lawful customs of the city of London, all matters of incontinency, common scolds, inmates, common annoyances, &c. and to commit persons offending against the peace, to prison; but to give notice, within hours, to some justice of the peace for the county. All good orders and ordinances, made by the dean and high steward, with the assistance of the burgesses, concerning the government of the inhabitants, and not repugnant to the queen's prerogative, or the laws of the land, to be of full force and strength. | |
Though the increase of the liberties of has rendered some alterations in this statute necessary, yet the substance of it is still the basis of the government of this city. | |
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The of these magistrates is the high steward, who is usually of the chief nobility, chosen by the dean and chapter. His office has some affinity to that of a chancellor of an university; and he holds his place during life. On his death, or resignation, a chapter is called for the election of another, in which the dean sits as high steward, until the election is determined. | |
The deputy steward is appointed by the high steward, and confirmed by the dean and chapter. He is chairman of the court-leet; by which the high constable, the petty constables, and the annoyance juries are appointed. | |
The high bailiff is nominated by the dean, and confirmed by the high steward, and holds his place for life. He is returning officer at the election for members of parliament, and enjoys considerable profits from fines, forfeitures, &c. The office is generally executed by a deputy, who is an attorney of repute. | |
The burgesses are in number, each of whom has an assistant. They are nearly similar to the aldermen and deputies in the city of London, but the exercise of their office is now principally confined to attending the courts leet, &c. | |
Before the year , the inhabitants of were liable to be called upon to serve as jurors at the quarter sessions for the county of Middlesex; but a clause was introduced into an act, passed in that year for regulating jurors, by which they were exempted from this duty. | |
Notwithstanding the great extent of , the government of it bears but little resemblance to that of a large city; the inhabitants have no exclusive corporation privileges, nor are there any trading companies within its jurisdiction. The members who represent it in parliament, like those of a common country borough, are chosen by the inhabitant householders at large; and the only courts held in , are, the court-leet, the quarter session, and courts of requests, for the recovery of small debts. has, however, long been the seat of the royal palace, the high court of parliament, and of our law tribunals. | |
The building of the abbey is involved in mists too dense for the sun of antiquarian research to dissipate. The period of its erection, previous to Edward the Confessor's days, will not probably ever be discovered. In this venerable building lived Sulgardus, a monk, who devoted his leisure hours to a history of it. He has, indeed, according to custom, used but little ceremony with St. Peter, or the choir of heaven; for he pressed both into his service, in order to make the consecration of this church hallowed and sublime. Widmore, whose work is the only worthy of implicit credit, both from his having been a learned man, and his unrestrained access to every species of record belonging to the abbey, fixes the foundation between the years and ; but is unable to say who is the founder. If, however, we could rely on dreams, and | |
6 | particularly on those of monks, we might quote the authority of Wulsinus, that the apostle St. Peter himself had a chapel or oratory on the site of the magnificent pile dedicated to him. The vision of Wulsinus was turned to some advantage by the succeeding monks, who added a new legend of crossing the water stormy night, to consecrate the church, and rewarding the fishermen who ferried him over Thorney (water which surrounded the church, the site of which was called Thorney Island), with a miraculous draught of salmon, assuring him and his fellow watermen that they should never want fish, provided they would give - of what they caught to the newly consecrated church. To those who consider the influence of the Catholic priesthood, it will not excite much surprise that the tale was believed, and that for several centuries the monks of fed on the offerings of the Thames fishermen. What was at solicited as a benevolence, in course of time was claimed as a right, so that in the year , the monks brought an action at law against the priest of , in which they compelled him to give up to them -half of the tithe of all salmon caught in his parish. |
It is very probable it was destroyed by the Danes, and rebuilt through the influence of Dunstan with king Edgar, and appropriated to the order of St. Benedict, and monks, with endowments sufficient for their maintenance. | |
The monastery continued unmolested till Edward the Confessor, about , piously resolved to thoroughly renovate it, and some authors say rebuild it, in the Norman style. Large revenues were given to the monks by the king; and his nobles, like true courtiers, copied his example. | |
Whether Edward entirely rebuilt the whole of this monastery, as well as the church, has not been ascertained, though it seems probable, considering the ardour with which he carried on the undertaking, and the vast sum which he appropriated to its support. Some remains of this building still exist, and will be described in their due place. | |
On the completion of the church, Edward determined to have it consecrated in the most solemn and impressive manner, and with that intent summoned all the bishops and great men in the kingdom to be witnesses of the ceremony, which took place on Holy Innocent's day (,) . He shortly after died ( or ) and was buried before the high altar in the new church. | |
In the time of abbot Laurentius, after the year , some repairs were made to the out-buildings of the monastery, which had been destroyed by fire, and their roofs covered with lead. | |
Henry III. in the year , on Whitsun-eve, , laid the stone of a chapel, which was dedicated to the blessed Virgin Mary. Its site was that of the present chapel called Henry the 's. | |
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In the year , a furious assault was made upon the mastery by the exasperated citizens of London, who pulled down the steward's house, and did other considerable damage, in consequence of a dispute who was winner at a wrestling match. It appears that the people at the abbey were in some measure the aggressors, as the steward had armed them against the day he appointed for a trial of skill. | |
Nothing more occurs relating to the repair or additions to the Confessors structure till the year , when Henry III. began to take it down, in order to rebuild it. Matthew Paris, speaking of this sovereign, under the date , says, This circumstance, his gifts to the abbot and convent, his will, and the translation of the Confessor's body, would lead to a supposition that he was a man piously disposed towards the clergy and religious orders. On the contrary he was a weak and artful prince, and suffered the most shameful exactions to be forced from the priesthood, through legates and nuncios, for the popes. | |
Henry appropriated a considerable sum to the rebuilding of the church; in the year , the sum of due from the widow of David of Oxford, a Jew, was assigned by him to that use. | |
In , on the day of the translation of Edward the Confessor, a vessel of blood, which in the preceding year had been sent to the king by the knights templars and hospitallers in the Holy Land, and was attested by Robert, the patriarch of Jerusalem, to have trickled from our Saviour's wounds at his crucifixion, was presented with great ceremony to this church. | |
During the reign of this monarch, pope Honorius III. demanded that prebends in every cathedral, and monk's portions in every monastery, should be appropriated to the holy see. Though the king did not interfere, the parliament did, and prevented such an arrangement from taking place. The clergy too were firm; but as the monarch, who often wanted the capacious shield of papal power as a guard from the resentment of his people, countenanced the legates, they did not escape many pecuniary demands, which were paid to avoid anathemas, excommunications, and deprivations. | |
On the , the new church, of which the eastern part, with the choir and transept appears to have been at that time completed, was opened for divine service; and on the same day, the body of Edward the Confessor, was removed with great solemnity This ceremony accompanied by every circumstance of pomp and solemnity, must have been very impressive. It appears that
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Among the additional privileges with which this sovereign invested the abbots, were those of holding a weekly market at Tuthill on Mondays, and an annual fair of days continuance, viz. on the eve, the day, and the morrow of the festival of . He also granted leave to the abbot to make a park in Windsor forest, and a warren of acres and a half. | |
It is impossible to ascertain how far the architect had proceeded in the church when Henry died in the year . According to Fabian, the choir was not completed till years after his death. | |
A short time previous to the re-building of the church, abbot Richard de Crokesley had erected a chapel near the north door, and dedicated it to St. Edmund. It was taken down with the rest by Henry III. | |
Not long after, the beautiful pavement before the high altar was laid, for abbot Ware died , and was buried under it. | |
The abbey was damaged in by a fire which broke out in the lesser hall in the king's palace adjoining. | |
In the year , the king's treasury, at that time somewhere within the abbey, was robbed to the amount of which had been laid up for the service of the Scottish wars. The abbot, Walter de Wenlock, and of the monks, were in consequence committed to the Tower; and notwithstanding their protestations of innocence, and request to be tried, of them were kept years in prison, the depositions against them being such as caused great suspicion of their having been concerned in the robbery. | |
Abbot Langham who died at Avignon, , bequeathed all the residue of his property, consisting of silver and gilt vessels, money, robes, vestments, jewels, &c. towards the building of the abbey church. The value of this benefaction amounted to the immense sum of | |
Nicholas Littlington succeeded Langham; and, chiefly with the sums left by his predecessor, made great additions to the abbey. Widmore, from the records, says, 'he built the present college hall, the kitchen, the Jerusalem chamber, the abbot's house, now the deanery, the bailiff's, the cellarer's, the infirmarer's, and the sacrist's houses; the malt house, afterwards used as a dormitory for the king's scholars, and the adjoining tower, the wall of the | |
9 | infirmary garden, a water mill; and finished the south and west sides of the cloisters. He died in . |
In , the right of sanctuary possessed by the abbey was, for the time, violated; and the church itself made the scene of a most atrocious murder. Sir Ralph de Ferrers and sir Allan Boxhull, constable of the Tower, at the instigation of John of Gaunt, went to the abbey with upwards of retainers, to seize esquires, Frank de Haule and John Schakell: the latter was taken prisoner in the church during high mass, but Haule defending himself was slain in the choir. The church was shut up for months, and the aggressors were excommunicated by the archbishop of Canterbury. During the reign of Richard II. the rebuilding of the western part of the church was carried on, and continued by William of Colchester, abbot, who died . Richard Harweden, the next abbot, zealously proceeded with the nave. Abbot Esteney, who died in , did a great deal towards the finishing of it, and made the great west window. | |
Abbot John Islip was the last, during whose time many additions were made to the church; and it remained unfinished till sir Christopher Wren completed the towers. | |
The early part of the government of Islip was rendered memorable by the foundation of the magnificent chapel of Henry the ; which is attached to the east end of the abbey church, and was erected on the site of chapels dedicated, respectively, to the Virgin Mary and to St. Erasmus. These chapels having been pulled down to make room for the new fabric, the stone was laid on -, by the hands of abbot Islip; sir Reginald Bray, K. G.; Dr. Barnes, master of the rolls; Dr. Wall, chaplain to the king; master Hugh Oldham, chaplain to the countess of Richmond and Derby, the king's mother; sir Edward Stanhope, knt.; and divers other persons. The king himself was present at the ceremony, and most probably assisted in placing the stone, which had engraven on it the following inscription:--
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This was intended by the king not only for his own place of interment, but for that of king Henry VI.: but whether the latter was ever placed in the chapel, is now a matter of doubt. According to Widmore, the body was actually removed by the convent to the abbey, in the year , at the expence of As the chapel was unfinished at the king's death, it is probable, that his rapacious successor thought the cost of a public interment would be better applied to his own use, and therefore let the murdered king remain in privacy, unknown; and perhaps he is still undisturbed. | |
The indentures made between Henry the and the abbot and convent of , , are in existence among the | |
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Harleian manuscripts, in the great national repository--the . The article in this elegant volume binds every monk in the monastery to assist at high mass at the high altar, to pray for the king's prosperity and welfare during his life. The precise service is inserted. | |
In consequence of these agreements abbot Islip provided an altar and hearse, on and about which were placed tapers, till the king's chapel was finished. monks who were added to the usual number, and doctors or bachelors of divinity, sung mass daily before it, for the prosperous estate of the king and his realm; for queen Elizabeth's soul; their issue; for Edmund, earl of Richmond; Margaret, countess of Richmond; and, when deceased, for their souls. On Sunday the mass of the assumption of our Lady, Monday of her annunciation, Tuesday her Wednesday her conception, Thursday her purification, Friday her visitation, and Saturday her commemoration. A priest at in the morning sung a mass of requiem; and the priest a mass of the day, beginning after the gospel of high mass. | |
Those priests, after the king's decease, addressed the congregation thus; At a quarter of an hour before each mass the great bell of the abbey was tolled strokes. As this altar was intended only for a temporary purpose, it was removed on certain days of ceremony to the south aisle, facing the chapel of St. Benedict. | |
At o'clock on Good-Friday, Easter-Monday, and every Sunday except Palm-Sunday and or others, and on all the feasts of the blessed Virgin, the great bell began to toll, which was continued till , when a chauntry priest, a regular, or secular, or | |
11 | doctor from either of the Universities, ascended the pulpit, and in a solemn sermon exhorted the audience to pray for king Henry and his relatives. |
On the , annually, the hearse for the king, and his altar, were adorned with tapers, each weighing , and feet in length; almsmen were ranged round it with torches, in weight. After those were prepared, the bells began to toll, as for the anniversary of Richard the . | |
A procession then commenced through the choir to the high altar, formed by the monks, prior, and abbot, the lord chancellor, lord treasurer, chief justice, master of the rolls, chief baron of the Exchequer, and other justices, together with the lord mayor, recorder, and sheriffs, of London. The abbot then proceeded to the high altar, and began the mass of , while the monks knelt before it. The officers of state kneeling before the hearse said the psalm , with the prayers belonging to the office. | |
During those solemnities an almoner distributed to the poor; twopence each to adults, and penny to children. beside were divided between men and women. | |
Previous to those anniversaries, sermons were preached at Paul's cross and the abbey, with an exhortation for the prayers of the congregation. The abbot and convent on the day before went to the high altar, and sung and , with lessons, and the lands. | |
A weekly obit was also held, preceded by the tolling of the bells. At o'clock in the afternoon, the abbot and convent went in procession to the choir, and , &c. were sung. | |
The hearse had tapers. feet in length, placed on the middle of each side (to burn perpetually) and to be lighted only during the obit, mass, and even-song. The sockets were set in crests of roses and portcullises; and the tapers never consumed lower than feet, when they were replaced. | |
After the procession of the convent to the choir for this weekly service, a monk went to the high altar, and sung a mass of requiem, at which poor people, and men and women each received penny. After the mass, the whole ranged round the hearse, while me and were chaunted. Lest all this intercession should not avail, the king founded an almshouse within the precincts of the abbey, for men and women; whose frugal meals were hardly earned, as a diary of their employment will shew. The king provided a priest without benefice, who was a grammarrian, and more than years of age, together with bachelors upwards of , whose attainments were equal to singing and repeating psalms, and praying for his temporal and eternal welfare. After his decease, the vacancies to be supplied by the abbot. of the most discreet and pious of the monks acted as their superintendant. | |
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Their habit was a long gown and hood, of brown russet, at per yard, lined with black frieze; and on the left shoulder was embroidered a crown and rose. women, upwards of years of age, served them as laundresses and cooks, bought their provisions, and kept the rooms clean. Each member filled the office of steward for a week, in rotation, to whom the men paid and the women every Thursday for their viands. At dinner, an half-penny worth of flesh or fish, a farthing loaf, and a quart of ale, was each man's meal; added to which, the women might make pottage of oatmeal, to the value of half-pence, and pennyworth of salt. At supper they had as much bread and ale as they chose. The salary of the priest was and fourpence, and the almsmen's xii iid. (or and ) per week, which was paid at the hearse. The gowns were given at Easter. The abbot was bound, by the agreement, to keep the almshouses in repair. | |
At o'clock every morning the bell belonging to the chapel of the almshouse was rung by an almsman, beginning the week with the youngest, and so in rotation to the eldest; half-penny was their reward. Upon this notice, the brethren assembled in their chapel, where they knelt and prayed for the king and his relatives, and for all Christian souls; paternosters, aves, and a creed. Hence they proceeded, in the order of their admission, in pairs, followed by their priest, to the altar and hearse, where kneeled on each side, and the priest at the west end. The chantry priest then performed the mass, and the almsmen recited the prayers appointed for them. After this they were permitted to return to their rooms, or remain in the monastery, till high mass began. At o'clock the alms-priest said a mass at the hearse. They then attended at high mass, and the chantry mass, when the alms-priest gave an exhortation, and read collects. Previous to their dinner the priest said a grace after the form of Salisbury. When they had dined, was sung, and the king prayed for. Half an hour before vespers in the monastery, the chapel bell rung, upon which the alms-men retired to it, and repeated their paternosters and aves; from thence to the hearse, where they kneeled during even-song, and then retired to their rooms. At o'clock the chapel bell was rung for the time, and there they sung , with other psalms, and repeated prayers. | |
As the establishment of those splendid services required constant attendants, brethren of the monastery, were appointed to assist the monks, and take care of the tapers and torches. others were appropriated to the new chapel, and the chantry priests founded by the king. The king also enabled the convent to send of the brethren, elected by them in the chapter-house, to Oxford, under the title of king Henry the 's scholars; besides When the above scholars had taken a degree, others were to be immediately elected. | |
Abbot Islip bound himself and his successors, by an oath, to the observance of the foregoing ceremonies and stipulations; and appeared in the court of Chancery days after the feast of All-Saints, Henry VII. with the indentures for that purpose. | |
days previous to every anniversary, the abbot, prior, monks, priests, and almsmen, the king's attorney, the recorder of London, and the steward of the abbey lands, assembled in the chapter-house, when the whole of the indentures were audibly and distinctly read; after which they went in procession, chaunting , , and , to the hearse, where the obit concluded the ceremony. | |
The preachers of the sermons at Paul's-cross and the abbey had each. When high mass was celebrated by the abbot, he had , the prior , the monks who were priests , monks who were not priests | |
The abbot paid, besides, many other annual sums for anniversaries to cathedrals and monasteries. | |
The funds for all those expenses were supplied by the following resources, conveyed to the abbot and convent by the king. | |
The advowson of the deanery of , its canonries, prebends, churches, chapels, and all profits (except the prebend of Newlonde, founded by Herbert), valued at per annum, above all charges. The advowsons of the prebend of Tikehill, Yorkshire, and the parsonage of Swafham market, in the county of Norfolk; and that of Stamforde, in Berkshire. The free chapels of Uplamborne, Berkshire; in the manor of Plesshe, Essex, and another at Playdon, in Sussex; the whole valued at per annum. The priory and manor of Luffield. Advowson of the church of Sodford, Northamptonshire, and of Thorneburgh, Buckinghamshire, to the yearly value of In money
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The lands, &c. were purchased, and are recapitulated; and the whole annual amount added to the before mentioned, was | |
The expenses of the anniversareis, obits, almshouses, &c. &c. amounted to and ; so that the convent gained to which was added, the church of Chesterforde, to the yearly value of over the endowment of the vicar; and given to the abbot for the costs of the appropriation, with vicarage, in London, to the yearly value of over the endowment of the vicar. | |
In consideration of repairs of the almshouses, accidents by fire, | |
14 | and renewing vestments, &c. for the altar, the king purchased for the abbot and convent. |
We have little reason to wonder at his thus besieging heaven, after perusing the prelude to his will, which he made . | |
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Henry VII. by his will left his funeral to the discretion of his executors, only charging them to avoid Whether he pursued his own advice will appear from the decorations on the chapel, altars, and his tomb, exclusive of the anniversaries. | |
As he requests the chapel may be finished as soon as possible after his decease, if not then compleated, and particularly mentions that the windows were to be glazed with stories, images, arms, badges, and cognizances, according to the designs given by him to the prior of St. Bartholomew's; and that the walls, doors, windows, vaults, and statues, within and without should be adorned with arms and badges; we may conclude that much remained to be done in the year , as be died days after the date of the will. | |
He mentions his having advanced to abbot Islip, and authorises his executors to pay other sums to carry on the building of the chapel. | |
It is probable his directions in general were strictly complied with; and therefore we must imagine the high altar which was dedicated to to have been adorned with the largest statue of the Virgin in his possession, and a cross plated with gold to the value of and pair of silver gilt candlesticks. The vestments for the priests given to the abbot and convent were of cloth of gold tissue, embroidered with roses and portcullises, which were made by his order at Florence. They consisted of those for the priest, deacon, and sub-deacon, and copes. | |
The various altars mentioned in the description received each suits of cloths, pair of vestments, corporasses, with their cases, a mass book, a silver-gilt chalice, a pair of silver-gilt cruets, a silver-gilt bell, and pair of silver-gilt candlesticks. of them was dedicated to Henry VI. for a pair of candlesticks are expressly given to it. | |
The present skreen of his tomb was designed, and the artist employed on it, before this will was written; for he speaks of it as a | |
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The step for the altar within the rails still remains. It was dedicated to feet in height, and the top projecting inches over the sides, which was adorned with a representation of the crucifixion, Mary and John, his guardian saints, and the apostles, carved in wood, and plated with the finest gold. | |
On all solemn feasts the chantry priests placed on this altar a fragment of the real cross, set in gold, resplendent with precious stones and pearls; and of the legs of St. George, set in silver-gilt. The king gave to it a mass book suits of altar cloths, pair of vestments, a golden chalice value , another of silver-gilt value , pair of silver gilt cruets of the same value, candlesticks weighing ounces, of silver gilt, and others of the same materials weighing ounces, corporasses with their cases, silver-gilt statues of our lady, St. John the Evangelist, St. John Baptist, St. Edward, St. Jerome, and St. Francis, each valued at , a silver bell value and a of silver gilt . | |
Such of the altar-cloths and vestments as remained to be given by his executors, were to be made worthy the gifts of a king, and embroidered with his badge and cognizances. | |
He ordered that his body should be interred before the high altar, with his wife; and that the tomb should be made of touchstone, with niches, and statues of his guardian saints, in copper, gilt. The inscription to be confined merely to dates. | |
Lest his soul might not rest in peace, although every precaution certainly was taken by him, he requested masses should be said in the monastery, London, and its neighbourhood, for its repose; in honour of the Trinity, in honour of the wounds of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the joys of our lady, to the orders of angels, to the honour of the patriarchs, to the apostles, and to the honour of All Saints, and all those to be sung in a little month after his decease. | |
He directed that a statue of himself kneeling, feet in height from the knees, should be carved in wood, representing him in armour, with a sword, and spurs, and holding the crown of Richard III. won by him at Bosworth-field. | |
The figure to be plated with fine gold, and the arms of England and France enamelled on it. A table of silver, gilt, supporting it, enamelled with black letters, was to be placed on the shrine of St. Edward, to whom, with St. Mary and the Almighty, he dedicated the statue. He gave in trust to the abbot and convent to be distrbuted in charity, and to the finishing of the church. | |
Mr. Malcolm says,
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On the several bishops sung masses; at the last of which the king's banner, his coat of arms, sword, target, helmet, and crest, and his courser, were brought to the altar, and there offered; the mourners afterwards proceeded to its steps, and offered rich palls of cloth of gold, and bawdkins. then floated in gentle strains from the choir, when the body descended to the earth. The officers of his household approached to the grave, and dropt therein their broken staffs. Garter finished | |
18 | the ceremony by crying
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Henry VIII. ordered Lawrence Ymber to make an estimate for the tomb of his father, according to the directions in his will. Caprice, or some other cause, led him to reject it. But Ymber is supposed to have worked under Torreggiano, who executed the tomb, as well as that of Margaret countess of Richmond in the same church, and that of Dr. Young, master of the rolls, in their chapel. | |
Humphrey Walker calculated that large and small figures on the tomb would require weight of fine yellow metal at a weight; the casting and finishing fit for gilding making the effigies (which probably were of wood for the moulds) a piece; lords images each, and the smaller ones each. | |
Nicholas Ewen, gilder, offered to gild the whole for ; John Bell, and John Maynard, the painting, for These sums amounted to exclusive of masonry. | |
On the -, this abbey, which had existed for upwards of years, was surrendered to Henry VIII. by abbot Boston, and of the monks, and immediately dissolved. Its annual revenues at that period, according to Dugdale, amounted to but according to Speed, who includes the gross receipts, to The history of this church is well known from the time of the dissolution; Henry the advanced it to the dignity of a cathedral by letters patent, dated . Thomas Thirleby was appointed bishop with a diocese, including all Middlesex, except Fulham. William Benson became the dean, the prior (Dionysius Dalyons), and of the monks, prebendaries; minor canons, and students. The remainder were discharged with shamefully-pitiful pensions, the highest not more than and some as low as . The endowments were considerable; according to Strype, of the annual value of ; but the archives of the church make them no more than In the reign of Edward VI. , the new bishop resigned his office, in consequence of the king's letters patent, granting his new diocese to the bishop of London, from whom it had been taken. An act of parliament was passed for continuing it a cathedral in the diocese of London soon after. | |
Queen Mary, succeeding to the throne in , dispossessed the cathedral of its dean and prebendaries, and restored the monastery to the order of St. Benedict. In , John Feckenham, late dean of , was appointed abbot of ; and, , with monks, took possession of the abbey; and the morrow after, the lord abbot, with his convent, went in procession | |
19 | after the old fashion in their monks weeds, in coats of black say, with vergers carrying silver rods in their hands. |
Mr. Malcolm quotes a few lines from a proclamation issued in to shew the probable state in which Feckenham found the abbey. Speaking of the churches, he was indefatigable in restoring it to its former state; but the death of his royal mistress put an end to his exertions and his authority as abbot, . | |
Feckenham possessed considerable talents, and knew how to make the most of a bad argument; he was therefore employed in declaiming from the pulpit against the Protestants. This circumstance occasioned him frequent imprisonments in the reign of queen Elizabeth. Setting aside his zeal in defending that which could not be defended, he was humane, good-natured, and charitable. His speech in the parliament of Elizabeth against the new Liturgy is a master-piece of sophistry; and his art in dwelling upon the inconsistencies of his opponents is only equalled by his skill in not touching upon untenable points in his own doctrines. | |
From to the present moment it has remained a collegiate church. Widmore has given a great deal of pleasing information in his short lives of the deans of . He mentions that John Williams, who was installed , found This library was unfortunately burnt in , and but MS. saved out of . There is an exceedingly well written catalogue of them in the Museum, but too long to transcribe. It is dated . | |
In the reign of Charles the , the abbey underwent an assault from the mob (from excess of religion, and zeal in the good old cause;) but they were beaten off, and a sir Richard Wiseman, of the number, was killed. The ever-to-be-detested parliament of that time, in repeated resolutions, destroyed a great deal, and burnt the sacred vestments; and, under pretence of knowing whether the regalia were in safety, took an opportunity of mocking royalty by dressing a person in the regal ornaments, and finally sold them. Their mad agents contaminated the abbey by what they called exercises of prayer, or rather rancour and virulence. | |
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In the and years of William III. the house of commons granted an annual sum for repairing it; and in the of queen Anne an act passed allowing a year towards the same excellent purpose. The like sum was afforded by acts of the , , , and of Geo. II. In the year , however, the works were at a stand, for want of money; and a petition was presented, which was referred to a committee of the whole house. The assistance, however, which was granted, was inconsiderable, and that even was not paid till some time after. | |
It appears, says Malcolm, that the dean and chapter had, from the time of their foundation to , expended out of their dividends on the church and its dependencies, and applied the fees for monuments and burials to the fabric. The sums received from shewing the tombs are divided among the gentlemen of the choir and officers of the church. The repairs of Henry the 's chapel are out of their province, and belong to the office of the king's board of works. | |
Of the repairs at present making in this venerable abbey, notice will be taken when we come to describe its various architectural beauties and general character. | |
. . The day's performance of the commemoration of Handel took place. The idea of this sublime display of the power of music originated in a conversation at the house of the late Joah Bate, esq. between himself, lord Fitzwilliam, and sir Watkin Williams Wynne, on the grand effect produced by large bands. It is easy to conceive that such a subject would remind them of Handel's chorusses; and thence to that year having completed a century from his birth, and years from his death. When the plan had assumed some degree of form, the abbey was naturally thought of, as the place best calculated for such a scene, both from Handel having been buried within it, and the venerable air of the structure. His late majesty offered his patronage; and the scheme was laid before the managers of the musical fund, and the directors of the concerts of ancient music. The consent of the dean and chapter was readily obtained, under the easy terms of dividing the day's profit between the Infirmary and the musical fund, after which the whole was to be applied to the latter. Mr. Wyatt received directions, from the gentlemen, whose names are recorded in a subsequent page, to erect galleries and seats for the accommodation of the musicians and auditors. He disposed the former in the most judicious manner; and a most imposing effect was produced by the ranges of persons before and on each side of the organ, mixing with the brilliant patriarchs and prophets of the great western painted window. At the eastern extremity of the nave was a display of magnificence, suited to the public appearance of the whole British court, composed of every beauty richly adorned that forms it. The side galleries and platform were crowded with near persons, whose souls seemed impatient to | |
21 | meet the flood of melody ready to burst forth from the voices and instruments towering above them. His majesty and the royal family entered the church at the south-east door; he immediately went into the south transept to view Handels monument, and from thence, preceded by the clergy of the church through the choir, to his throne. Both the king and queen were greatly delighted by the beautiful scene before them, and expressed their approbation in the warmest terms. The instruments used on this occasion, were an excellent organ built by Green, for Canterbury cathedral: and violins, tenors, oboes, violoncellos, bassoons and double, double bases, trumpets, trombones, horns, drums, and double. This celebration was continued till , when, the edge of curiosity having been blunted, and the expence a little felt, it was renewed in for a year or , and for the last time in the Banqueting house at . |
In , the church was robbed of the gold fringe from the pulpit-cloth and cushions, and the silver head of the beadle's staff. | |
In the roof of Henry the 's chapel was repaired at an expence of which was defrayed out of the revenues of the church. | |
The exterior of this magnificent pile being in a sad state of decay, a memorial was addressed to the lords of the treasury, dated Nov. , and on the following, the lords referred it to the committee of taste, in consequence of whose report, and on the petition from the dean and chapter being presented to the house of commons, was immediately granted towards the projected repairs. From subsequent reports made to parliament, it appears that was granted by parliament from to for reparations; and on Christmas eve of the last year the scaffolds were struck. In the base of the ornamental dome, which crowns the south-east turret, the following inscription was cut :--
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Similar inscriptions were cut on other turrets. | |
The abbey church was nearly destroyed on the , through the carelessness of some plumbers who were repairing the lanthorn at the junction of the cross; fortunately it broke out in the day time, or the consequences might have been fatal to the whole building. The repairs amounted to | |
Since the commencement of the present century the repairs of this ancient building has been progressively going on. The exterior of the west side of the north transept has been recently finished in a very satisfactory manner. | |
has been for many centuries the scene of the | |
22 | coronations of our monarchs; want of space prevents the notice of many curious customs now disused in that imposing ceremony, but it would be improper to pass over the |
Footnotes: [] Beauties of England and Wales, vol.x, part 4, p. 11. [] Hughson, vol. i, p. 78. [] Vide ante, vol. i. p. 73. [] Neale and Brayley's Hist. West. Abbey, i. p. 49. [] Dart from Wyke's Chron. p. 88. [] Rymer's Foedera, ii. p. 930. [] No. 1498. [] The cover of the book is of boards, with red damask over them, and on that a large pall of crimson velvet, lined with the same. On the centre of the cover is a silver circle, within which are the king's arms, supporters and crows executed in enamel; at the four corners are similar circles enamelled party per pale ar. and vert a portcullis or. Rich straps embellished with silver gilt angels holding scrolls, beneath them, in a square red roses, and fringed with gold and crimson are the fastenings. Five impressions in green wax, from the great seal, representing the king seated in a Gothic niche, are appended by green silk and gold thread, inclosed in silver cases, embossed with silver gilt roses and crowns on one side, and the crown and portcullis on the other. A box has been added in later times for the seals, covered with red Morocco leather. The leaves of this manuscript are of the finest vellum and the writing beautifully clear and excellent. The title pages are covered with burnished gold, and relieved with red roses and portculllses; in it are four small drawings finely executed within the circle formed by an old English T.; three represent Henry VII. presenting this book to the abbot and monks, and the fourth the abbot swearing in the court of Chancery to perform the agreement faithfully. [] This will was published by Mr. Astle, 1775, 4to. from the original in the chapter-house at Westminster, from which the orthography of this copy materially differs. [] Malcolm's Lond. Red. vol i. p. 228. [] Harl. MSS. No. 197. [] Walpole's Painters, 4to. vol. i. p. 104. [] Strype's Ecclesiastical Memorials, vol. iii, p. 309. [] In 1557, the Muscovite ambassador attended mass at Westminster-abbey: and afterwards dined with the lord abbot, and went to see St. Edward's shrine new set up: and then saw all the place through. [] Vol. i, p. 238 [] Harl. No. 694. [] Malcolm, i. 254. |