William

ON SAINT WILLIAM,

ARCHBISHOP OF YORK IN ENGLAND.

YEAR 1154.

HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.

William, Archbishop of York in England (S.)

AUTHOR D. P.

§. I. On the more ancient and almost coeval Authors of the Acts.

When before the entry of Father Godfrey Henschenius to this molition of so vast a work, Bollandus alone, applied to it by his Superiors, Bollandus 8 January had begun to give to the press the first days of January, somehow patched together; his counsel was, on individual days to report the individual feasts of individual Saints. So there are noted, the Octaves of SS. Stephen, John the Evangelist, and the Innocents: likewise on 1 January, the Canonization of S. Osmund Bishop of Salisbury; on day 2, the Finding of the head of S. Vedast and other Relics at Arras in Belgium; on day 3, the Finding of S. Quintin among the Vermandui, about to treat of the Translation of the Saint, and the bringing back of the head of S. James the Apostle to the monastery of S. Vedast. Similarly therefore the solemn Translations of Saints were to be reported, of which an annual festivity was found to be performed or to have been performed; unless Henschenius supervening had persuaded, to note all these things among the Passed-over, and to reserve a whole treatment about each Saint and all his cult, to the principal day of each. When this pleased, whatever Bollandus had prepared of this kind was set aside, had prepared a compendium of Life from Harpsfeld: whence among the Passed-over of 8 January; this alone is now read of the foretitled Saint, "Of S. William, Archbishop of York, the Relics translated on this day in the year 1285, and therefore here his name inscribed in the English Martyrology and the Catalogue of Ferrarius. He is venerated on 8 June."

[2] So I find set aside a Little Commentary on the Translation of S. William: afterwards he received the Legend of Capgrave, which lest it should be wholly absolved in a few lines, when besides those two authorities nothing about it then was at hand, it seemed good to Bollandus, from the English history of Nicholas Harpsfeld, in the following century at its end collected and published at Douai in the year 1622, to transcribe a compendium of life and death, as it is reported by the same, in the 12th century chapter 41, namely for some notice of so great a man; and from the 13th century chapter 26, one or another line about the Translation. Namely no older Author yet had come into Bollandus's hands: there came, however, before the printing proceeded to 8 January, & the almost contemporary Newburgh's history of England: the New Legend of England, published at London in the year 1516, from the autograph of the collector John Capgrave, an Augustinian Monk, who died in the year 1464; whence without doubt he would have preferred to receive another compendium, briefer in words, but more prolix in matters: there came also the five books of William of Newburgh, on the English matters of his time, written in the very 12th century in which S. William lived, verging to its end; and one refuting the sprinkled suspicion of poison given to the Saint, by the testimony of his domestics, studiously inquired of by himself about it.

[3] These supports were at hand for Bollandus and Henschenius, when

at the time when the 8 day of January was being given to the press, there was added among the 10 ancient Writers without doubt all of these were then to be used, unless changed counsels had persuaded to defer the whole treatment of William to the month of June. But in the meantime there were brought out at London the Ten Ancient Writers of English History; of whom the second, John Prior of Hexham, wove the history of his time, namely from the year 1130, until 53. I say 53, not 54, as the printed editions have, after the year 1140 augmenting the numbers of the following years by one more than is fitting. The contemporary John of Hexham, The occasion of the error to the librarians was given by this, that about Archbishop Turstin, whose death John had reported in that year, pursuing his history that he had begun, he began from the Council of Rheims, in which Turstin's election had been confirmed; and wrote, In the year 1119 Pope Calixtus celebrated the Council of Rheims on the 13th Kalends of November. This year is indubitable from the very Acts of the Council. Meanwhile the Librarian, but in the number of years vitiated by the librarians, thinking a new year was here begun, and not considering how long Calixtus's Pontificate had preceded the death of Turstin, so wrote, In the year 1141 Pope Calixtus, then however all the rest about Turstin, until the following year, which begins, After the death of Turstin; which when he ought to have foretitled, In the year 1141, he foretitled 1142; and so consequently all the rest, until 1153, which he foretitled 1154. But the most shameful error of the Librarian, that I may keep silent about other intermediate things, the end of that year of this kind convicts; Pope Eugenius died, Anastasius a man of great age succeeded him. Bernard also Abbot of Clairvaux, whom the unction of the Spirit taught about all things, has died. Henry also Archbishop of York, at Beverley, on the day before the ides of October, died. Now it is agreed that the first two died in the year 1153, Eugenius on 8 July, Bernard on 21 August: but lest perhaps anyone doubt about Henry, the death of his successor, occurring in June of the following year, until the year 1153, on this 8 day, will make it clear. Meanwhile this was to be noted, lest the Reader, about to find William's history so excellently traced by John, should wonder; first, that in numbering the years I always differ by one from the printed editions; then, that I have nothing from him about the return to the Archbishopric, from which he had been cast down; and into which he was restored by Anastasius, Eugenius's successor; and nothing also about the death, which most holily he met six months before Pope Anastasius, extinguished in the very year 1154 on day 11 December.

[4] Moreover, in reporting William's end, the place of the failing contemporary writer will be supplied by the one nearest in age, John Bromton, Abbot of Jervaulx, sixth among the aforesaid Ten Writers; whose Chronicle reaches up to the year 1198; likewise Gervase Monk of Canterbury, seventh in the order of the aforesaid Writers, also two others of the same century, who from the year 1122 taking his beginning, left a Chronicle drawn down to the year 99 of the same century; in which time also the aforecited Newburgh ceased to write. Supported by these three, and equally by the first, Thomas Stubbs the Dominican, in the 14th century describing the Acts of the Pontiffs of York, & one of the 14th century. treats of Henry Murdac and of Saint William. Altogether the same Authors he had, who composed the Life, inserted into the Legend of the Saints of England, published under the name of John Capgrave; which, because it is brief and clear, seems to me worthy to be read first, before I undertake to put together the Compilation of the Acts from synchronous authors. But in writing the name, which to Newburgh and Harpsfeld is Guilielmus, to Capgrave Willelmus, I shall follow the consonant plurality of the rest, noting Willielmus.

§. II. Life from the Legend of John Capgrave.

[5] Blessed William, distinguished with illustrious titles of birth, Born of royal stock, drew his origin from his father Herbert a most strenuous Count, and his mother Emma sister of Stephen King of the English. But lest only the generosity of his parents should decorate the series of his life with titles, with the circles of years revolved, when his tender age began to be solidified by the rule of discretion, made Treasurer of York, he excelled in every honesty of manners. With his merits of virtue and sanctity at length growing, made Treasurer of York, he compelled his wealth to pass through the hands of the needy, judging no treasure more precious, than to succor those suffering penury. With Archbishop a Turstin of York at length dead, the man of highest meekness, piety, and charity is elected. But devouring envy and the love of dominating attracted a certain Archdeacon of the same Church into the region of dissimilitude so much, that stirring up discord among the electors, he impeded the Elect of the saner part. then is elected Archbishop; For although in the election, the proclamations of his praises by the clergy acclaiming and the people applauding, testified him a special lover of justice and manners; yet the business was suspended, called to the examination of the Apostolic See. But the highest Pontiff of the Cistercian Order b Eugenius, not from the fault of the person, but from the choice of his own will c, voided his election; and ordained Henry Murdac, Professor of the said Order, as Pastor of the Church of York.

[6] The man of God William lacerated by the venomous bites of detractors, deposed by Eugenius III as faultily created, held patience for consolation; and overcoming various events by the constancy of his soul, came to Henry Bishop of Winchester, his paternal uncle: by whom kindly received, he assigned all his household to his service. But the man of God, abhorring the pomp of the world, in a certain manse of the Bishop affecting solitude, remained; and took care to bear penitence for his committed things, and to extinguish the avenging flames of punishments with the abundance of tears. For his life was in the highest silence, and his manners tranquil; nor could a vain voice or idle speech impede his intention from divine contemplation. lives solitary most piously: The considered punishments of the damned, and the rewards of the blessed, augmented the ardor of his devotion; and how grievous it is, in the extreme winnowing, to see God and to lose Him, did not recede from his memory; indulging few things, but due, to nature; none to gluttony. And if at any time the eminence of his nobility brought even unwilling crowds of visitors, in their sight he appeared so honorable, and joyful, and full of grace, that the very sight indicated him to have something angelic.

[7] At length death, of the highest Pontiff Eugenius and Archbishop Henry, on one and the same day d, violently broke off life: & he knows the absent by divine revelation: which were revealed by the Holy Spirit revealing to B. William. When in those days certain spurs of wondrous sculpture had been sent to the Bishop of Winchester from overseas parts, with cheerful face he offered them to the man of God. With which inspected, he opened to him in order, how the aforesaid Fathers, on one and the same day, in diverse places of the lands, departed from fate: adding that that Cardinal e, who had been a special defender of his Election, raised by happy auspices, has ascended the summit of Apostolic dignity. The venerable highest Pontiff, lover of truth, with the Canons of the Church of York electing B. William again, confirmed the election, and bestowed on him the gift of consecration f.

[8] The man of God returning, when he was making the crossing through the bridge of the city of York, and again elected with the bridge broken by the weight of the following people, a great part of the people fell into the deep of the water g: but by the sign of the Cross made by the holy Bishop, and prayer poured forth, escaped from every peril unharmed and uninjured to the land. After this some h years having elapsed, full of good works, alms, fasts, vigils; and pleasing God with all sanctity, he migrated from the world to God on the sixth Ides of June. After his death however he enlightened a certain girl, blind from birth, saves a multitude from drowning. restored three contracted ones to steps, gave hearing to a deaf man, healed a dropsical man, restored a paralytic and a leper to desired health, raised a dead man; and until this day, in the place of his rest, the omnipotent Lord shows miracles by his prayers and merits. dead he shines with miracles,

[9] But in the year of the Lord 1283 i, his bones were translated with great honor, and placed in a precious shrine. Thus he, to be confirmed from the following, the body is transferred. but first to be corrected or illustrated in some things, by the subjoined Annotations.

NOTES.

§. III. The controversial election of William is examined at Rome, approved in England; and the Elect is ordained.

[10] In the year 1141, after the death of Archbishop Turstin, the Clerics of York, Canons, with their first election voided, according to the desires of their heart, with various and wavering opinion had been thrown around for the whole year, over the election to be made. They had elected, with the Legate Henry of Winchester persuading, the nephew of King Stephen, Henry of Coilly: who because he had presided over the Abbey of Caen, the Lord Apostolic did not wish him to be made Archbishop, unless he renounced the prior honor. In the month of January again treating about the election, very many consented in the person of William the Treasurer. Bromton adds: they seek William the King's nephew, But this B. William sprung from the notable stock of King Stephen, had been distinguished with illustrious titles of birth: for he was the son of Herbert the Count, a most powerful man: and Newburgh; A man plainly noble according to flesh, and lovable for the noble gentleness of manners. But Thomas Stubbs: Begotten from Emma sister of the King; a man indeed noble in birth, but in excellence of manners, and most clean life incomparably distinguished. a most excellent man, And certainly, says Bromton, lest, while he was little, he should taste the foulness of ignobility in his tender marrow, he was added to the feet of a moral pedagogue; and when he flourished with the laurel of letters, he was imbued in liberal disciplines. learned, liberal toward the poor. With these and other gifts of divine grace weighed, made Treasurer of the Church of York, he compelled his own wealth to pass through the hands of those asking aid, judging no treasure...

more precious than to succor those suffering penury.

[11] Some oppose him Then, with no mention made of delay, Meanwhile, says the same Bromton, with Archbishop Turstin of York departing into fate, the individual Canons preferred William, both for the honesty of manners and the excellence of merits. But what he says was preferred by all, soon he tempers when he adds: But devouring envy, and the impetuous love of dominating, drew a certain Arch-Levite of the same Church into the region of dissimilitude so much, that it stirred up discord among the electors, impeding the elect of the saner part; although about his election the Clergy and People had acclaimed proclamations of praises. The cause therefore is suspended, having been appealed to the examination of the Apostolic See. Thus he, with words (as appears) almost the same, afterwards transferred into the Life in Capgrave; which it will be useful to have observed in the following also. But Brompton, leaping over the Acts of a longer time, and with several Pontiffs, seems to bring the cause immediately to him by whom it was decided, Eugenius. Not so Hexham: but he accurately traces the same cause through its grades in this manner.

[12] William, Count of York, was present, solicitous about his promotion. But at the same hour there appeared above them in the air a great sign of the Cross, stretched out through the length and breadth of the church of S. Peter. stirred up by the Archdeacon of York: Walter, Archdeacon of London, opposed this election, with his fellow Archdeacons; whom the same Count had intercepted as he was setting out to the King, and had enclosed in his castle of Biham. You have (unless I am mistaken) the beginning and cause of the accusation, objected against the election; as if this Count, by the will of the King, had commended William, and had impeded the aforesaid Archdeacon so that he could not render the commendation, as opposing the freedom of election, void: which from the following will become clearer. So the Elect being led to Lincoln, the King willingly received him, because the King was said to have commanded the election, and confirmed him in the lands and possessions of York. But Gervase of Canterbury explains this thus: But King Stephen gave the Archbishopric of the Church of York to a certain Cleric, by name William, with certain Clerics of the same Church consenting, but others (as they dared) protesting.

[13] or even to have obtained it by money: Therefore in the same year 1141 still running on (as is had from Hexham) Henry Bishop of Winchester, Legate, directed William, the Elect of York, to the audience of the Lord Apostolic. For William Abbot of Rievaulx interpellated him, and Richard the second Abbot of Fountains, Cuthbert Prior of Guisborough, Walthev Prior of Kirkham, and Robert Hospital, that with monetary pledge he had aspired to this honor. Robert also Bisech Prior of Hexham, having heard of his election, immediately exposed his house and the Brothers; and surrendered himself as a Monk under Bernard Abbot of Clairvaux; lest namely he be compelled to have as Archbishop him, whom from such, although false, accusation he believed infected with Simoniacal stain. Hence William began to experience S. Bernard himself as adversary: which S. Bernard also believed, whence at length under Eugenius III, Bernard's disciple, it happened that he was deposed, as we shall see below; now I pursue the dispute begun at Rome from Hexham, who writes thus to the year 1142.

[14] & Innocent 2, the cause being brought to him, In these days the cause of William the Elect of York was heard, in the consistory of Pope Innocent. Master Walter, Archdeacon of London, was also present, bearing in his hands the allegations of the Abbots and Priors written against him. At length a precept was given, that on the third Sunday of Lent of the following year, on this question, both those who had been present then and those who had been absent, should concur there. So in the year 1143, according to the tenor of the Apostolic precept, William Abbot of Rievaulx, Richard the second Abbot of Fountains, Cuthbert Prior of Guisborough, Walthev Prior of Kirkham, and Robert Hospital convened at Rome, with whom Walter Archdeacon of London, and William Cantor of York. William the Elect also stood with his coadjutors: against whom in the presence of the Apostolic Lord those who had appealed him proceeded in the cause. ordered to be purged by the oath of the Dean of York: But the sum of their complaint seemed to lean on this; that William Count of York, in the Chapter of York commanded from the mouth of the King, that this William should be elected. Therefore the Apostolic decreed, that, if William Dean of York would swear, that this precept of the King had by no means been brought to the Chapter through the Count, this one could solemnly be admitted to be consecrated; if however he himself also for himself would give faith, who, with him excusing himself, that he had not sought this honor by the giving of money. It was also impetrated, that in the place of the Dean another approved person could be substituted to the oath.

[15] others did: So William, returning from the overseas departure, in the month of September at Winchester, according to the decree of the Apostolic, came under the judgment of the Legate, with the nobles of the Clergy of England sitting together. The desire of the multitude pressed for him, not so much demanding, as exacting that he be consecrated. There appeared no one there, who against him presumed to mutter. William, Bishop of Durham, summoned to this Convention, with a responder directed excused himself. In his place there arose Ralph Nuël, Bishop of the Orkneys; Severinus, Abbot of York; and Benedict, Abbot of Whitby, about to give satisfaction with the Elect and for the Elect. So he was consecrated by the Legate, namely Henry Bishop of Winchester; & so William was ordained by his uncle the Winchester Bishop. on the 6th Kalends of October, William Archbishop of York, with many rejoicing together over his promotion. Gervase of Canterbury interpreted this less favorably, as if the Legate had by that deed invaded the right of the Archbishop of Canterbury; when, he says, thus (as is said above) to the made election Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury did not consent, Henry brother of the King, Bishop of Winchester and Legate of the Apostolic See, always with presumptuous magnanimity collecting fame, consecrated the aforesaid Elect at Winchester.

§. IV. Grave complaints of S. Bernard, with Celestine II and Eugenius III, against the ordination of William.

So the newly consecrated went to York, and scarcely sat two years in peace, Bernard complains to the new Pontiff Celestine 2, with the same Gervase testifying. But in this same year says Hexham: Pope Innocent died, on 24 September: and with no delay interposed, in his place was substituted Celestine, a man of great age; and on the very same day ordained at Rome, on which William in England, where namely nothing yet was known about the change of the Pontificate. But when this became known to S. Bernard, at the same time as the ordination of William; his most fervent zeal was stirred, that against this, which he believed illegitimate, he should write to the new Pontiff, and also to the Cardinal Bishops of the Curia those Epistles, which in the order of his Epistles are reckoned 234 and 235. against the sentence of his predecessor William ordained, And the first indeed he begins thus: It behooves you, according to the justice which is from the law, to raise up the seed of your dead brother: which you will worthily fulfill, if you both defend the well-done things and perfect the less fulfilled things of Pope Innocent, to whom you have succeeded in the inheritance of the Lord. There is at hand in which it is permitted to experience this. That the cause of the Church of York was decided by him, who does not know? But how it was mandated to execution, what went forth from the lips of so great a man, would that it were not known!... When in many things he who impiously desired to vindicate to himself the election in the aforesaid Church was accused; at length the whole controversy was ordered to be silenced at the testimony of an illustrious man, William the then Dean of the same Church; that unless he by the oath of his own hand removed the chapter of intrusion, which among other things was imputed to him, his ambition would be wholly frustrated of all his efforts... We do not accuse the remission of the sentence: nor indeed did the larger indulgence profit the adversary, who could not even fulfill that which he had voluntarily promised: for he failed of him from whom he seemed to presume, lest he fail himself by perjuring... What then? He did not swear, and this one is Bishop.

[17] and that with great bitterness of words against the ordained and the ordainer I would indeed not define, whether his conscience deterred him from swearing, or some other cause: one thing I believe I can say, if William's election truly preceded that precept of the King which was accused, the Elect was wholly ignorant of it; he was also excusable, both himself, and the English Synod, which approved the election; when, as Hexham said above, it had been impetrated, that in the place of the Dean, either impeded or refusing, another approved person could be substituted to the oath: but for one Dean, then Bishop, and from thence perhaps taking excuse; there arose another Bishop and two Abbots, about to give satisfaction for the Elect. Bernard also must have been ignorant of his virtue and manners, nor known him except from the report of adversaries, against the ordained and the ordainer whom he represents with titles; A wicked servant; A base and infamous person; Publicly defamed, not purged, indeed convicted. Nor content with these; I say, he says, and confessed: for he who, to escape judgment, voluntarily chose to take refuge in the testimony of William the Dean; with him failing him, what but by his own judgment fell from the cause, by his own mouth condemned? Bernard then proceeds to exaggerate the deed, and at length wretchedly to ask, what counsel the Pontiff would give to those wretched Abbots, whom the Apostolic summons to Rome drew to accuse William; and also to very many others of religious men from that Episcopate; whether they are to obey and receive Sacraments from a man twice intruded, first indeed by the King, then by the Legate, who that one into the sanctuary of God, against right and divine law, against the mandate of the highest Pontiff, in injury to the highest See and the whole Roman Curia, when he could not through the door, dug with a silver, as they say, hoe, whence he impudently intruded him.

[18] from whom, the Apostolic indult that was brought forth he accuses of Subreption: No lighter, although briefer, is the Epistle to the Cardinal Bishops; where he also brings in mention of a certain Papal rescript in these words: For what shall I say about this, that he glories he had hidden and truly dark letters, this William? would that from the princes of darkness, not from the Princes of the Apostles. Such a rescript could not have come from anywhere else, than from that, which Hexham said was granted, that in the place of the Dean another fit person could be substituted to speak the oath. But that of granting a reasonable cause could be to Innocent; that the defenders of the election would indeed not deny, that the Count sent by the King had commended the person of William to the Chapter; but they would deny that he had commanded the election by absolute mandate, at least understood by very many as such, however urgent terms perhaps the Count had used. And so the whole controversy reverted to a mere scruple, which yet seems to have been reasonable: which both parties, for their own conscience pressed more vehemently, each occupied with their own prejudices, and supports of diverse relations and depositions, strengthening those prejudices: among which when perhaps it was feared lest the Dean should hesitate, it was providently petitioned, that any fit person should suffice to purge the election. Very many examples of such tangles among most holy men occur in the Acts of the Saints and ecclesiastical history; especially that celebrated controversy between Saints Leo and Hilary of Arles, set forth by us in the Appendix to 5 May; in which

you would find no other middle ground, than to excuse the conscience of each side, according to which each acting, before God they were immune from fault.

[19] meanwhile the Pallium is denied by Celestine, So however with Pope Celestine pre-occupied by S. Bernard, when William, as Newburgh writes, having received consecration, as has been said, at Winchester, had directed fit Responders, to ask solemnly for the Pallium, to the Apostolic See; with the adversaries emerging and proposing many things against him, it was denied; and he was ordered to come to the same See in his own person; and for himself, as having age, to allege... Meanwhile, says Hexham at the year 1154, Pope Celestine died on day 8 March; whom Lucius succeeded, ordained on day 12 of the same March, not bearing so austere a spirit of mind: in whose sight Henry Bishop of Winchester, William's uncle and ordainer, found favor... He did not however obtain the name and office of Legate: but he efficaciously pursued the cause of his nephew. For in the year 1145 Hicmarus (in others Ymarus) Cardinal Bishop of Tusculum, which at length Lucius II sends. taken from the cloisters of Cluny by Innocent II, directed by the Apostolic Lucius, came as Legate into England, having the Pallium destined for Archbishop William; after, namely, as Thomas Stubbs writes, with the lawsuit running in the Roman Curia under Popes Innocent II, Celestine II, and Lucius II, for five years... with due process running, nothing was found, which ought to put off the Consecration. Now William made delay through negligence to meet him, occupied about other less necessary things. For he was the son of Herbert of Winchester, always nourished in delights and riches, and rarely accustomed to labor; yet with the kindness of his innocent mind and liberality very dear to the people.

§. V. With Bernard pressing with Eugenius III, William is deposed from the Archbishopric, and to him is substituted Henry Abbot of Fountains, the Saint's disciple.

[20] So Pope Lucius died, says Hexham, on 13 February, With Eugenius III created, the delivery of the Pallium is deferred: and ruled the Apostolic See Eugenius, Abbot of the Cistercian observance, previously called Bernard, and ordained on 18 February. There died also William, the first Abbot of Rievaulx... there died also Richard, the second Abbot of Fountains; and Bernard Abbot of Clairvaux transferred to the rule of that place Henry Murdac, Abbot (read, Monk) of Clairvaux, of excellent stock indeed, but rather excellent in frugality of conversation; before his monkhood, under the venerable Archbishop Turstin, both in the Church of York and in the surrounding Province, from the gift of his parents, enriched with honors and riches. So with confidence resumed; they came together who had been adverse to Archbishop William, and with him this Henry, presuming very much for himself from the favor of the Apostolic. With these pressing in an appeal against the same Archbishop of York, Hicmarus called back returned to Rome, and brought back the Pallium.

[21] In the year 1146, William Archbishop of York went to Eugenius the Apostolic, & Bernard resumes his complaints, to demand the fullness of his office, that is the Pallium. The suffrages of the Roman Senate were urgently in his support: but against him wrote Bernard Abbot of Clairvaux, whom the Apostolic judged it as if a sin of divination to oppose, and as if a crime of idolatry not to acquiesce. There are extant his two epistles, numbered 238 and 9, most powerful altogether and most vehement. The earlier begins thus: I am importunate, but I have an excuse: Eugenius's Apostleship excuses me. They say, that you are not Pope, but I; and from every side flow to me those who have businesses... And now there is also another excuse, no less suitable, because the cause is most honest. Against that Eboracensian idol the pen is again directed, namely by this necessity, that often struck by us with this dart, it has not yet been pierced... It is known to be of the sole Roman Pontiff, demanding William to be deposed: to give a peremptory sentence for the deposition of Bishops... Alone therefore, if I dare to say, you are in fault, if the fault is not struck, which ought to be struck; and with that vehemence, with which it ought to be struck: but with what vehemence, I do not say to be struck, but to be thunderbolted ought to have been the fault of the aforesaid Eboracensian, I leave to your conscience. But what has not been done, we believe is reserved to you; that in it the Church of God, over which by His authorship you preside, may experience the fervor of your zeal, the power of your arm, and the wisdom of your mind; and let all the people fear the Priest of the Lord, hearing that the wisdom of God is in him, to do judgment.

[22] What would he do, so constrained, and almost adjured, by his once Abbot, Eugenius? He was, says Hexham, placed in anguish of mind, he again orders to be cited the Bishop of Durham, formerly Dean of York, while, with the Roman sentence frustrated, by the Abbot's counsel he prefers to give satisfaction. So he chose the same reason as Innocent for deciding the cause, and at length commanded that the same William cease from the office of the Episcopate; until William Bishop of Durham, once Dean of York, according to the decree of Pope Innocent, should give an end to this controversy with his oath. So that he had so defined, since Eugenius had rewritten to Bernard, and the Durham man required and adjured by the Pontiff to declare the truth openly, seemed to have written against the Eboracensian; Bernard urges in a second Epistle: and, How long, he says, is the land occupied by a useless branch, the fruit suffocated? And certainly the time of pruning has come. For the man of his peace, in whom he hoped, that he should purge himself, testifies that it is needful not of purgation, but of amputation. There are extant finally his letters about him to the Legate of the Apostolic See, in which he asserts his manifest intrusion, denies the election. So therefore the one whom he had prepared as defender for himself, he endures as accuser... By what way one should proceed to his dejection (for one way does not seem to be) it is not for me to dictate to you. with which one acknowledging the intrusion, Nor does it concern us much, on which side the fruitless tree falls, provided it falls... Where he asserts that he had clandestine letters of his execration, either what he says is true, or false. If it is true, he is guilty of theft, and of having criminated the highest Pontiff... but far be it that so great duplicity of such a man be believed, as is imposed on him by this one. For this was Innocent; to whom if it were lawful to respond for himself, without doubt he would say to this: Because I openly gave a sentence against you, and in secret have spoken nothing.

[23] So William seeing (that I may proceed with Hexham) that his attempts were by no means prospering; when the letters, which he alleged for himself, withdraws into Sicily William: were accused of obreption and subreption; and openly deserted the cause of the Durham man, to whom he had previously offered himself as patron, not to say betrayed; departing from Rome; turned aside to Roger, King of Sicily, his kinsman; and with Robert, the Chancellor of the same King originally from England, namely from Salisbury, for very many days stayed. where with a cause given by others for new offense Eugenius being irritated, Then certain Soldiers, his kinsmen, moved by the affliction of the same William, burned a certain possession of the Monks of Fountains, with the supplies of resources, which were preserved gathered there. There was a complaint made about this before the Apostolic, who very much wished to be able to lay hands on the same William and avenge. And this is what Newburgh says, that with causes growing heavy and adversaries gaining strength, Pope Eugenius against William, either through truth, or through subreption, was implacably irritated.

[24] At Rheims in the year 1147 he voids the election, In the year 1147, according to the Gauls and English, still running until Easter, to be celebrated on day 11 April, according to the present use, already begun is 48; Pope Eugenius, as Gervase of Canterbury writes, withdrawing from Rome arrived in France, that he might celebrate a council of the Cisalpine Bishops. So convoked by the mandate of the Lord Pope were Bishops and Prelates, that they should meet him at Rheims; and in the middle of Lent Pope Eugenius celebrated the great Council at Rheims... There stood by in this Council the Clerics of the Church of York, together with Henry Murdac, at that time Abbot of Fountains, accusing William Archbishop of York, and saying, that he was neither canonically elected, nor legitimately consecrated, but intruded by royal authority: and at length the aforesaid William was convicted and deposed. With Alberic Bishop of Ostia pronouncing the sentence, and saying: and orders another to be substituted. We decree by Apostolic authority, that William Archbishop of York is to be deposed from the Pontificate, because Stephen King of England, before the canonical election, nominated him. When therefore Lord Pope Eugenius had deposed blessed William, Archbishop of York, with the smaller part of the Cardinals consenting to him, by his own will, as has been said (I pursue the rest with the words of Hexham), with a letter directed to William Bishop of Durham and the Chapter of York, within forty days of the received Epistle, he decreed that in his place a literate, discreet, religious man should be elected... According to this Apostolic decree, in the suburb of Richmond at the church of S. Martin, on the Vigil of S. James the Apostle; the elders of the Clergy of the Church and Diocese of York convened, to treat of the election of an Archbishop; and (that I may finish with Gervase in few words) they elected as Archbishop, Henry is elected however, the greater part of the Chapter Lord Hilary Bishop of Chichester; the other part Henry Murdac, Abbot of Fountains. But the aforesaid Pope Eugenius, when both elections in the following winter were presented to him at Auxerre, confirmed the election of the aforesaid Henry Murdac; and the other, with very much commendation however of the person, voided; and consecrated Henry himself with his own hands.

[25] Hexham adds, that this was done at the city of Trier, on the Octaves of S. Andrew, the second Sunday of the Advent of the Lord: but about William he had premised, that Henry Bishop of Winchester took him returning from Sicily to himself, & is consecrated at Trier by the Pope. and gave him daily ministry not otherwise than as if to an Archbishop most officiously. Who in the whole time of his humiliation, brought forth no murmur, no complaint; but with silent heart his conscious mind preserved patience. He did not speak against his rivals, nay rather turned away his mind and hearing from those speaking against him. None of his companions sat so frequently and continuously at reading, persisted at prayer: for he was wholly changed into another man. Thus far Hexham about B. William, nor anything more; spending the rest of the writing on referring acts under Archbishop Henry, also a most holy man; and finishing it with his and the deaths of Saints Bernard and Eugenius, in the year (as I have said) 1153, not 54 following.

§. VI. With the adversaries dead and Archbishop Henry, William is again elected by the Chapter, and confirmed by Pope Anastasius.

[6] John Bromton succeeding the failing Hexham, having briefly narrated William's deposition, While the deposed William lives solitarily, thus pursues his life: The man of God William, having patience over this, came to Henry Bishop of Winchester, his uncle: who offered him the choice of his manses, willing to incline to his service the whole clientele. But the elect of God refusing such great things, in a certain manor of the said Bishop remained in solitude: desiring there to bear penance for the committed things; and to extinguish the avenging punishments of flames, by the abundance of tears. After these things death, by whose sentence rich and poor are judged equally, on one and the same (as is reported) day...

violently broke off the life of Pope Eugenius, and his Archbishop Henry: but that Cardinal, who had previously been the special defender of the election of the man of God William, raised by happy auspices, ascended the summit of Apostolic dignity, Eugenius and Henry die, called Anastasius. Who grieving over the sentence of his predecessor, did not change his sentence toward the elect of God William, but as a zealot for truth, with the Canons of the Church of York, for the greater and more worthy part electing that William again, confirmed the election. Thus far Bromton, yet I know not by what rumor seized, that he believed Pope Eugenius and Archbishop Henry to have died on the same day. For there intervened, not indeed on the same day, but with a brief interval, as I have said above, three whole months. For about Eugenius his Epitaph says, that Solemn jubar he snatched away and the world's beauty? July bearing the eighth day with the sun. But about Henry the irrefragable witness Hexham, ending his writing with his death, asseverates, that he died at Beverley on the day before the ides of October.

[27] But, because Eugenius's death happened at Tivoli, his burial at S. Peter's was perhaps delayed to 13 October, as also S. Bernard; and on that day his anniversary was inscribed in the Necrology of that very Basilica: which gave occasion to that error. Whencesoever arisen, Newburgh best corrects it, and pursues the rest of the history, not a little more distinctly, in book 11 chapter 26, treating of the institution of Hugo Bishop of Durham, and the restitution of Guillelmus of York. He had set out for Rome in the company of the senior of his Electors, and as Responder, sent by Archbishop Henry disapproving the election. But the venerable Eugenius, says Newburgh, having been withdrawn from this light a little before, they found Anastasius presiding over the Apostolic See, and crowned on 12 July. For three venerable men, and in life most friendly, deceasing at that time, meanwhile William, having set out for Rome, in death also were separated by brief intervals; Pope Eugenius the Roman, Bernard the Abbot of Clairvaux, Henry Archbishop of York: of whom with Eugenius and Bernard first taken away (this one however died on 20 August) Henry immediately, that is, not entirely two months later, followed. But with the passing of the two divulged, with the third still surviving, Guillelmus once of York, who was tarrying at Winchester, with hope of recovery conceived (for the first had deposed him, the second had acted that he be deposed, the third had succeeded him) swiftly went to the Apostolic See: and not accusing the judgment, humbly demanded mercy. And behold the certain messenger of the passing of the Archbishop of York supervening, much helped his most modest prayers.

[28] & having heard of Henry's death rapidly returned and again elected, The same messengers, who announced Henry's death at Rome, seem to me to have brought back with them to England with hastened journeys William, invited by his supporters at York, with good hope, that unless with him present, one should not proceed to a new election. But this falling back on himself; he seems, with no delay interposed again, now to have returned to Rome with equal swiftness. For Gervase of Canterbury says, that when Pope Anastasius had consecrated the aforesaid Durham man, on the Vigil of S. Thomas the Apostle, 20 December, and then a Sunday; Blessed William on the following third day came to the Roman Curia, indeed for the second time: whom the aforesaid Bishop of Durham honorably received, and procured and promoted his business to such a degree, presents himself to the new Pope Anastasius; that he sought for him the restitution of his Archbishopric from the aforesaid Pope Anastasius and the whole Roman Curia, and obtained for him the Pallium, which he had never had before, before he departed thence. But this last Newburgh does not admit: for he says, that the Durham man, who had come to Rome first, solemnly consecrated by the Lord Pope, departed with the cause of him who had come later still pending. However these things were, Guillelmus also, as the same Newburgh writes, with the rigor of the prior judgment removed, & obtains the Pallium from him. experienced the clemency of Apostolic meekness; with the Pope having pity on his white hairs together with the Cardinals, and striving about his business, especially a certain Gregory, Cardinal of great spirit, a most eloquent man and of the most profound astuteness, and of truly Roman spirit; the same, as I believe, who then was Archpresbyter of the Holy Roman Church, and long ago of S. Mary across the Tiber by the title of Callistus created by Innocent II, is said to have been mediator of peace between this man and Emperor Frederick. returned to England under Easter of the year 1154: So restored to integrity William; and distinguished with the Pallium, which he had never until then been able to impetrate, on Holy Saturday, of the year indeed 1154 falling on day 3 April, returned to Winchester; and there with the Paschal solemnity celebrated, after Albas hastened to his own city.

[29] Bromton, when he had said, that William, having received with such a great benefit the grace of the Papal blessing, began to return to England; adds, predicts who will succeed him, And wherever he made transit, he laudably shone with chastity and purity and the glory of divine conversation. Thomas Stubbs repeats the same words, and subjoins these. Who, namely William, when he had come to Canterbury, Roger Archdeacon of the Church of Canterbury, especially kindled with desire of mutual conference to be had with him, devoutly visited him for the reverence of his sanctity. But when, after the desired conversations of so great a Father, Roger had returned to his own; William the Archbishop brought forth such a sentence about him, saying to those standing by; This one shall be my successor: which also was done. Meanwhile Gervase also affirms, that before he came to York, in the Paschal solemnity he visited the foster Church of Winchester, he visits Winchester, I believe that he might congratulate its new Bishop Hugo on the obtained possession; and grateful for the services bestowed on him at Rome, might gladden the same about the happy event. He came however to York, says Thomas, on the Sunday nearest before the feast of Ascension, on the 7th Ides of May, in the year of the Lord 1154. But there met him, according to Newburgh, outside the city less peacefully, & comes to York on 9 May. Robert Dean of the Church of York, and Osbert Archdeacon: who that they might keep him from the desired See, with chapters proposed strongly appealed against him. He nonetheless proceeding, was received with solemn meeting and huge applause by the Clergy and People. But his aforenamed adversaries, swiftly approaching Theobald Archbishop of Canterbury, then performing the Apostolic functions in England, used his favor and suffrages. But in vain.

§. VII. Return to the See, and holy death, excused from the suspicion of poison.

[30] So when he was entering the city of York, says Bromton, and the unbridled multitude of peoples wished to pass over the bridge after their Father, the joint of the wooden bridge was broken by the weight. So, what is horrendous to sight, Multitude meeting him entering the City and stupendous to relate, multitudes of men and women, and especially of infants, in crowds among the rapid waters of the river fell, where the depths of the river were, with men mixed with horses caparisoned. And the man of God turning to the people, involved on every side by the mad waves, with the saving sign of the Cross marked them; and dissolved in weeping, offered prayers to God, that the deep water should not absorb them: which also was so done, that not one soul was in peril. The same writes Thomas Stubbs, is freed from drowning; with words a little more prolix; and saying that the bridge of the Ouse was then wooden, indicates that in his time a stone one stood. Bromton adds nothing more, than that, with holy William afterwards resting in the Lord... the Elders of the Church of York summoned... with a decree made on Roger Archdeacon of Canterbury, they sought him from his Archbishop, by whose astuteness the whole business of that election had preceded, with the King granting, as their Archbishop: and with him not long after dead, whom when they had easily impetrated from one willing, they immediately threw in other prayers, namely that he should consecrate him not as Archbishop of Canterbury, but as Legate of the Apostolic See. This also from one willing impetrated not with difficulty; the same Elect in the church of B. Peter at Westminster is consecrated, and is fulfilled the prophecy of B. William about him. Of this however Newburgh makes no mention, but consonant with Bromton says, is fulfilled the Prophecy about the successor. that with the death of the Bishop of York ascertained, Robert the Dean and Osbert the Archdeacon, with the Archbishop of Canterbury granting and cooperating, Legate of the Apostolic See, elected Roger the Archdeacon of the same to the Chair of the Church of York, and with great suffrages and terrors induced the Chapter of York to consent.

[31] The same Newburgh had said before, that William ruling not long after Paschal Albas the received Church with becoming moderation, and with innate gentleness being burdensome to none, with a few days after Pentecost elapsed is seized by fever, and is snatched from this life, with huge mourning to Clerics as much as to Laity, from the setting of the most mild Pastor, left behind. Thomas Stubbs the same death so more distinctly expounds, and after the foretold miracle at the bridge; Not long after, he says, holy Bishop William solemnly girded himself to celebrate the feast of the holy Trinity, that through the assumption of the celestial Bread, to the one and triune God he might render himself a gift accepted. But with the mysteries of so great solemnity completed, Bishop William, suddenly seized by a grave disease, contracted on the feast of S. Trinity, returned to his palace, and ordered a banquet abundantly to be given to his guests. But while they were feasting splendidly, the blessed Father entered his chamber, and to his familiars predicted the day of his death by prophetic spirit. So through eight days wearied by the force of fevers, he admitted the healing hand of no other than the celestial physician. But on the ninth day of his illness, that is the thirtieth day from which he came to York, on 6 Ides of June, in the abovesaid year, but of the reign of King Stephen the 19th, and with the last farewell said to his Brothers, 8 June 1154. in his palace at York he finished his temporal life, about to receive from the Lord one to remain without end: and he was buried in the church of S. Peter at York. In which place, with healing oil flowing from his body, the best God, through his merits, worked very many miracles for the sick.

[32] Writing these things Thomas, could not but have read in Gervase, that William in the sacred solemnity of Pentecost, amid the solemnities of Mass, Hence he is believed extinguished by poison, was infected with poison. He could not also have been ignorant of the Hymn, then composed in praise of the Saint, of which our Alfordus brings forth this particle, would that he had given the whole!

On the Octaves of Pentecost, certain malignant enemies Against him the Pacific One, And that they might deprive him of life, the celebrant's aconites They serve in the Chalice: By the profane are poisoned, that drink, that bread Through which he seeks the Toxic.

For although Thomas was reading these things, deservedly however he did not believe, with Bromton silent; and with Newburgh, & indeed in receiving the Chalice: after an accurate examination of the whole fable, on the contrary assertively writing thus:

[32] On account of the unexpected death by many he is believed extinguished by poison, with them asserting that he from the sacred chalice, infected by some one of his adversaries or one rivaling for them, drank the deadly drink (what is horrendous to say) and with the drink drew death. But this is by the mere opinion of certain people: which...

yet petulantly, as if perspicuous truth, they sprinkled abroad among the common people. Finally I in the process of time, when that fame grew frequent, a certain man, great and aged, a Monk of the monastery of Rievaulx, which is proved to be false, now an invalid and near to death, who at that time had been a Canon of the Church of York, and a familiar of the mentioned Archbishop, on this matter with adjurations I thought I should inquire. Who steadily responded, that this was a most mendacious figment of an opinion conceived by certain people. For when the crime is said to have been attempted, that he was present and assisting the Archbishop; and that in no way could any malign one, among the most faithful bystanders, creep in to dare such a thing. That also is false, what they say, that he with friends persuading would not taste an antidote, when by them hostile malice against him something was thought to have dared: and to confirm this his either supposition or fabrication, he is reported to have said, that to celestial antidote he would not add human. Which indeed, because he was a wise man, and taught by divine authority that the Lord should not be tempted, neither said nor did he is to be believed. To this Symphorianus, by the testimonies of his familiars. a familiar Cleric of his, who had been in his service for no small time, and had stood by as devout minister to him sickening, I heard saying, that with friends persuading he took an antidote, what (indeed wise) is to be believed. From the same also I heard, that the friends who were present, were inclined to think that he had drunk something deadly especially for this, because his teeth, which had been white, in that extreme discomfort had begun to blacken. But this is laughed at by physicians, since the teeth of a man about to die are wont everywhere to blacken.

§. VIII. Elevation of the holy body, when and by what authors made.

[34] The often-praised Thomas Stubbs, pursuing the Acts of the Pontiffs of York to the forty-fourth inclusive, after the narrated death of Walter Giffard, writes these things: The thirty-seventh took up the rule of the Church of York William Wykwane, William the 37 Archbishop Canon and Chancellor of the same Church. He elected on the feast of S. Alban in the year of the Lord 1279, on the 13th Kal. of October next following, was consecrated in the Roman Curia by Pope Nicholas III. By whose venerable ministry, with the cooperating eleven Bishops who convened, the Translation of the most holy Confessor William, formerly Archbishop of York, was solemnly made in the church of York, on Sunday, the 5th Ides of January, in the year of the Lord 1283, but of the Pontificate of Father William the 4th, but of the reign of Edward, in the year 1284. son of King Henry the Third the 11th. And it is to be noted, that this year, in which the Translation is recorded to have been made, was Leap year. For from the Kalends of January until the place of the Bissextus, which happened in the same year, B was the Sunday letter, and after the Bissextus, with B cast off, A as the Sunday letter remained for the remaining time of the year, makes the translation on the 9th, not 8th of January, (still namely lasting until Easter in the English manner, when to us now was numbered the year 1284): and consequently it is plain that the Translation itself, on the fourth day from Epiphany, with each day computed, not the third as some wish, was completed.

[35] at the expense of Anthony Bishop of Durham. The Translation therefore of this glorious Confessor the noble man Anthony de Bek, elected to the rule of the Episcopate of Durham, when his election had been confirmed, diligently procured, and expended all the expenses; as Master Thomas, his brother, around the Translation of S. Hugh Bishop of Lincoln before had done (namely in the year of the Lord 1280 the day before the Nones of October; as at S. Hugh's Natal on the day 17 November will be said.) But on the same day of the Translation of the holy Confessor William Archbishop of York, the same Anthony, with Lord King Edward present and Queen Eleanor, and the greater part of the Magnates of all England, who had been present at the Translation, by the hands of holy Father William Archbishop of York, in the church of B. Peter of York, was consecrated Bishop of Durham. The same also venerable Father William, illustrated by the highest devotion, afterwards holily dead, dedicated in his time the greatest part of the churches of his diocese, to the honor of divine cult to be amplified. He discharged the Archbishopric for five and a half years: which completed he ceded the Pontificate, and withdrew to overseas parts. And when he had come to Pontigny, vexed for some time by grave infirmity, and led to the last, in the Lord happily falling asleep, ended his life. Now the same venerable Father William died at Pontigny on the 7th Kal. of September, in the year of his Pontificate the 6th, and in the year of the Lord 1285, but of the reign of King Edward the 13th: and in the church of the monastery of Pontigny, with the honor due to so great a Father, he was buried: where through his merits the divine piety works very many miracles. at Pontigny on 26 Aug. 1285. These things I have here adjoined the more willingly, because in the year 1662 existing at Pontigny, I heard nothing there about the cult of this second S. William, perhaps obscured by the more celebrated cult of S. Edmund of Canterbury in the same place: but neither do I find the name in the Gallican Martyrology of Saussay, or in the Fasti of the Cistercians, wherefore I would willingly know more for the day 26 August, on which he should be commemorated.

LECT. I

[36] Meanwhile I return to the Translation of the earlier S. William; how festively it was celebrated at York, Lessons about that translation say; our egregious Sermon about it teaches, transmitted from an English MS. Codex at Saint-Malo to Bollandus; and distributed for use of the divine Office into nine Lessons; but mutilated in the first some lines, whose sense seems to have been; that the Natal of this S. William fixed from his death, with the people judging and the Ordinary consenting (for of any Canonization through the Roman Pontiff no mention anywhere) was... in the whole Province of York by all the faithful held solemn and celebrated; and in praise of the most holy Father William most devoutly celebrated, and most celebratedly preserved. But although by the clergy and people he was so held glorious and laudable; yet this seemed to be lacking to the heap of glory and praise of the Saint himself; that his most holy body, which with many desiring it, from which through the hardness of the stone oil more frequently sweated forth, was held enclosed among shapeless stones. Whence to the consummation of praise and glory, the translation of his holy body by the Prelates a of the Church of York, and also by the Canons, and other Clerics and Laics was affected with ardent desire. But although the desire of all was directed to this; yet to all was not granted, to see so great glory of the holy Father, or to begin so glorious and magnificent a work.

L. II.

[37] But when there came the fullness of time, when God in the bosom of His secret had decreed to sublime His Saint; He raised up as Archbishop of York the Venerable Father William, at length a homonymous successor, who before for many times had discharged in the same office of Chancellor, by whose ministry He had preordained to consummate the translation of the body of His glorious Confessor. Nor is it believed empty of mystery, that Bishop William translated the body of William. But this for the present being left to the powerful and willing to unlock mystically, let it be permitted to us to think; that to the merits and singular affection of the said Bishop, which he bore toward S. William, it is to be ascribed, that with others passed over so holy and sublime a work had been reserved for the same.

L. III.

[38] In the year therefore from the Incarnation of the Lord 1283, with the Elect of Durham helping, and the third year of the aforesaid Father William; with the noble man Anthony Bek, elected to the rule of the Episcopate of Durham, when his election had been confirmed; the Archbishop and Elect, by the same spirit (as can piously be believed) inspired, to this unanimously directed their vows, that the translation of S. William and the consecration of the Elect himself should concur, and be celebrated on the same day; that the translation of the holy Father, with the Elect procuring, might become more celebrated; and the consecration of the Elect himself, by the prayers of S. William, for whose translation he was zealous, might obtain a happy end and desirable outcome. & by the order of King Edward So with the proposal firmed, the Illustrious King of England Edward, and the most serene Queen Eleanor, and also the Magnates of the land of England, both ecclesiastical and secular persons; that for so great a solemnity, for the honor of the Saint and the intercession of the Elect, with due devotion they might exhibit their presence. But although it was believed by many, that the intemperance of the air, which after the winter tropic is wont to break in; and the greatest occupation of the King and Barons about the disposition of Wales, which in those times had been newly acquired; would impede the coming of the King himself and the Magnates: yet unexpectedly it was inspired to the King from heaven, that with firm proposal he should be present at so great a solemnity. But when he was remaining in so holy a proposal; miraculously preserved, it happened that on a certain day he ascended an eminent place; and when he was on the summit of the place, with foot slipped from on high he fell: whence by all the assisting, no wonder stupefied, he was thought broken and shattered in body. But immediately the King himself, rising without any injury, gave thanks to omnipotent God and S. William; imputing his fall to the enemy of human kind; and constantly ascribing his salvation to the merits of the glorious Confessor, whom he had disposed to honor. From that day moreover to honor S. William he was kindled with so great desire; that as swiftly as possible he seized the journey, and to the city of York from day to day solicitously hastened.

L. IV.

[39] But with the time approaching when the holy body was to be sublimed; the Venerable Father William Archbishop of York anticipated the very day, and also the Bishop of St. David's b, brother of the Elect of Durham, likewise also the same Elect: and entering the church in the silence of the untimely night, with the Dean accompanying and the Canons, first the body was elevated secretly from the sepulcher. they sing together the Litanies, pour forth prayers; and at the tomb of S. William, imploring his aid, humbly prostrate themselves. At length rising from prayer, with the stone placed over the sarcophagus removed, they find the body of the holy Pontiff, with sacred vestments, in which it had been buried, manifoldly wrapped: but those sacred vestments by the richness of the oil, which had sweated from the body of the holy Father, both to sight and touch were discerned suffused. So with Paten and Chalice removed, which next to the body in the sepulcher had been placed; the Archbishop and Bishop aforesaid, together with others who were believed to excel in merits, beginning from the head, with reverence and due devotion wrapping up the sacred Relics, placed them in a certain casket: and to a secret and secure place with the highest devotion on their shoulders carrying, with seals affixed and vigilant custody deputed, with due maturity they withdrew. But morning being made returning, & transferred into another shrine. with clear light unwrapping the sacred Relics of the Saint, which they had before wrapped, and with exact reverence handling them; those sacred vestments themselves, in which the body of the glorious Confessor had been wrapped, they were placing in one part; but those things which pertained to the substance of the body, in a casket more diligently prepared for this most devoutly were placing, sealing the casket and applying custody.

NOTES D. P.

§. IX. The solemnity of the Translation itself, and the miracles that followed it.

L. V.

[40] Thus far the first four Lessons, the other five thus continue: The day before the feast under the Office a certain man sleeping, But on the following day, while Matins of the translation of S. William were being solemnly sung; that the solemnity might be more celebrated, omnipotent God magnified His Saint with a notable miracle. Indeed with certain servants of the Canons sleeping in the ambo, who with their lords had come to the church; one of those resting there, reclined his head on the base of the pulpit in which the Gospel is wont to be read. And behold, while the third Lesson was being read, by a chance impulse, a columnar stone of no small weight fell upon the head of the resting one; so that his head between the falling stone and the base lay compressed. Which those who were present seeing; they ran up, to lift up the stone, is preserved from the stone fallen on his head: thinking his head had been irreparably broken. But rising he who had been sleeping, felt nothing of evil; but loosing his coif a which he had on his head, he noticed it from each part of the head corroded by the upper and lower stone, and as if bitten by teeth; so that to all looking it should appear more clearly, that it was a divine work, that with the coif so broken on each part, and the head intercepted, he escaped unhurt. So the aforesaid servant attending, that he had been freed from so great peril, gave thanks to God and B. William; to whose merits not undeservedly he believed he had escaped so great a danger.

L. VI.

[41] But on the following day, around the first Hour, with the Prelates convening at the church, who had come to the solemnity, on that day in the morning, in a celebrated assembly, with the King and Queen also present, and the greatest company of Counts and Barons, with the word of God first proposed through the Venerable Father William then Archbishop; the King himself, together with the Bishops who were present, the casket of holy Reliquary, in which were the holy Relics, with the highest devotion and reverence, on their shoulders around one part of the choir, to the place where now the body of the Saint rests, not without great pressure solemnly carried: for they could not descend into the body of the church with the holy Relics on account of the multitude of men; although the King's straitiotai b strove with their powers to prepare the way. So therefore the body of S. William, [& with the King bearing the body on his neck it is carried to the prepared place;] with the joy and solemnity which was fitting, from below to above, from the common place into the choir, with the Lord disposing was venerably translated. But with the office of the Translation now completed, the Archbishop solemnly performed the mysteries of consecration. But every Bishop, who was present at this solemnity, when there were eleven, besides the Archbishop himself, forty days, to all truly contrite and confessed, on the Sunday next after Epiphany, Indulgences are granted by the Bishops, visiting the Church of York in honor of the Translation of S. William, of the penance to be performed for their sins, with the Metropolitan assenting and ratifying, mercifully relaxed c.

L. VII.

[42] Not much time had elapsed, after the translation so made; before God of heaven, many miracles follow. declared with many miracles that His saint William was to be revered by the whole province, and that from him remedy in tribulations and anguishes was to be sought. But of the miracles of this time, many have been passed over, because they were not solemnly and certainly announced to the Church and her ministers, on account of the ignorance and negligence of those who had seen them: but many which were announced, and were certain, were not committed to memory, nor reduced to writing; but some, which were so publicly preached, that they could not lie hidden, to the honor of S. William and the perpetual memory, are continuously subjoined. On a certain Sunday d before Ascension, next after the translation (as has been said) consummated, a certain woman in the city of York, in a certain boat e in the water, which is commonly called Ouse, floating in the usual manner, held her daughter now three years old; and while she casually attended to other things, A girl submerged in the river her daughter fell from the boat; and snatched along by the aforesaid river, under five ships, as if to the middle of the water, now hither now thither floating, was borne by the impetus of the flowing water. Which the woman seeing, began lamentably to fall, miserably to cry, and to invoke help. So those who were near ran up; receiving themselves into boats, were rowing with their powers for the relief of the girl: whom at length seizing; when as if a bowshot, from the place in which she fell, she had been carried away by the violence of the river; following by ship, they immediately brought her back to land. But the mother seizing her daughter, and not being able to recognize sense or movement in her, tearfully complained that she was deprived of the fruit of her womb.

[43] There was present at the cry a multitude of neighbors, multifariously experimenting, if perhaps any of them could notice any sign of life in the girl: and when she was thought dead by all; they seek f a Coroner, that he should exercise his office, as is the custom about those submerged in water, at the vow of the mother she revives. around the dead girl. But one of those standing by, stirred up by others, in honor of S. William began to bend a denarius g over the body of the girl, that S. William with his sacred prayers might heal the mother's sadness. The mother herself also, from this having conceived hope of the help of S. William, having received her daughter between her arms, began swiftly to carry her to the bier of S. William. And it was done with the Lord's clemency helping, before she came to the intended place, the girl began to move, and truly to appear alive: and by divine dispensation it was so done, that when she approached to the intended place, the vital and animal spirits to such an extent revived, that when the mother with the daughter had come to the bier of S. William; she could stand, who was thought dead: and within a brief time, with the mother devoutly praying there, the daughter was found alive, sound, and alert. But the mother filled with very much consolation, devoted her daughter to the service of S. William himself; and to her own, after the publication of so great a benefit, received by the suffrages of S. William from God, with the boy h returned.

L. VIII.

[44] There was also about the time of the translation of S. William, that a certain Religious, of the Order of the militia of the Temple of Jerusalem, having one shin, deprived of sensible and vital virtue for a long time to such an extent, that that part of the body dried up, and was sensibly deprived of animal operation. A Templar Knight's withered shin is healed: Who when he had heard, that by the suffrages of S. William, now newly translated, health was being restored to many sick; directing his devotion to the Saint, conceived firm hope of health to be obtained through him. So he began in the manner of the sick to measure his languid members i, and to prepare a luminary in honor of the Saint, as is wont to be done from the very measure. But immediately without the loss of delay, by the virtue of the Holy Spirit, whose grace knows no slow efforts, he was restored to plenary health. He indeed feeling himself saved, grateful for so great a benefit, immediately published the miracle, to the honor and praise of S. William; and in testimony of the miracle, sent a waxen shin and foot, under his seal, to the bier of S. William.

[45] It also happened to the praise of this glorious Confessor, that a certain man contracted from birth, likewise a contracted boy k, when he was about thirteen years old, was carried by his parents to the tomb, in which the body of S. William rested before the translation. And when one day in a solemn Procession the body of the holy Confessor was being carried; it happened, that when the Procession with the holy Relics had returned into the church, while the Procession still stood between the tomb and the door, singing the canticles of praise in the wonted manner; the contracted one, who had slept next to the tomb, awakened at the noise of those, who had been in the Procession, feeling the rectification and direction of his nerves in himself, rose by his own virtue: and he who had not come to the place without help, no longer requiring help for motion and step, went away sound; giving the actions of thanks to God and S. William, as that age permitted.

L. IX.

[49] But in the second year of the translation of the same Saint, a certain woman from the Villa fatigued, as far as the exterior senses, when she was resting; in sleep there appeared to her S. John l of Beverley, and S. William, as afterwards the same woman by the oracle of her living voice was relating. to a mute woman, after the vision of the Saint, And the Blessed William touched her with each of his hands; by that very deed signifying that he had come for her help: but what he said to her, perhaps because she did not hold the whole vision in mind, she in no way explained. But when she had been awakened; she was kindled with huge desire, to visit S. William as a pilgrim. And since she could not speak, she began by nods and signs to show the desire of her mind to others in an unusual manner: on account of which certain bystanders, in no way understanding her nods, judged her to be alienated in mind. At length however after many insinuations and... divining her desire, that to S. William, now newly translated, she had directed her will, they recognized. So they brought her to the bier of S. William for three days, and there permitted her to rest. But at about the third hour, when Mass was being celebrated, she slept a little in the choir: and when the Priest had begun the Canticle of Angels, namely Glory to God in the highest, awakened she rose, speech is restored. and the bond of her tongue was loosed, and she began to say; Holy William, have mercy: I give thanks to you, because through your suffrages the use of the tongue, which I had lost, has been restored to me by the Lord. And she began to recite to the bystanders; in what manner in the same place, immediately before she arose, S. William had visited her; and placing his hand under her head, raised her; and so by him awakened, she rose sound, with the benefit of tongue plenarily restored. The same woman also, before many of the church standing around and others, recited fully the beginning of her infirmity, and the end; and also in what manner S. John and S. William she had before seen in dreams, and how she had conceived hope of recovering health. With prayer indeed poured forth by her and the bystanders to God and holy William, she returned to her parents with joy.

NOTES D. P.