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G. A. Hertford
16 °
8
THE
ABBOTS
OF ST.
ALBANS.
A CHRONICLE.
LONDON:
THOMAS RICHARDSON AND SON,
26, PATERNOSTER ROW ;
9, CAPEL STREET, DUBLIN ; AND DERBY,
MDCCCLXIV.
[The Copyright is reserved .]
BL
BI
OT
BLI
TO THE IRISH,
AND
THE REST OF THOSE WHO FORM THE
CONGREGATION OF CATHOLICS
AT ST. ALBANS,
THIS LITTLE BOOK IS
AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED .
GLORIOUS ST. ALBAN,
ENGLAND'S FIRST MARTYR,
PRAY FOR US .
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS .
A CHRONICLE.
CHAPTER I.
Conversation between Incola and Viator, who meet in a stone
passage near St Alban's Abbey.
INCOLA.
I observe that, contrary to the custom
of most of our visitors, you have been attentively
examining the more ancient parts of the building,
and the modern alterations have failed to attract
your notice.
May I ask if you have made its
past history your study, and if you can give me
any information on the subject ?
VIATOR. On the contrary, this is my first
visit to St. Albans, and I should rather ask you,
as a resident in the place, to tell me something
more than I can find in the Guide Books.
I, Our Guide Books are generally considered
to contain more information than most of their
class.
1
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
2
V. I think so myself-nevertheless this magnificent building interests me so much that I
confess to a feeling of curiosity on subjects
beyond the mere building : I should like to discover something about those who built it, lived in
it, whose daily occupations, hopes, fears, aspirations, and sentiments, were all as it were enclosed in it- or rather were derived from itfrom it as a great system .
I. Exactly the wish I have had myself.
V. One would not believe all that has been
said against such institutions ; some allowance
must be made for the exaggerations of those not
of their own faith .
I. You might easily believe all that any
Protestant writer (who has taken any pains to
get at the truth) has ever said against the Abbots
of St. Albans, and yet believe no harm of them.
I do not think one single case has been made out
against them.
The most staunch
Protestant
writers lament the cruelty that deprived them of
their house and their possessions, and not one has
found them guilty of any sort of crime.
V. I should like to know the truth.
I.
That never was published in England :
those who had the courage to write what they
knew was the true state of the case, were obliged
to go abroad to publish their books. The life of
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS .
3
Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, who was beheaded
in defence of the Catholic Faith in the reign of
Henry VIII. was published at Antwerp. It was
written by a Dr. Bailey, and a more simple
statement of facts can hardly be imagined - but
such facts as it would be absurd to suppose could
ever have been brought to light at that time in
England .
V. And is no reason given in the accounts of
the dissolution of this monastery for the dispersion of the monks, and the deprivation of their
property by the king's orders ?
I. I can find none. Of the two Protestant
writers who are generally considered to have
taken the most pains to collect the different
events in the history of St. Albans, one contents
himself with a passing remark to the effect that
doubtless the insolence of these abbots had grown
to a great height before Henry would have taken
such a strong measure, and the other simply
chronicles the events that took place at the dissolution, without any remark whatever.
V.
I suppose the opinion of most people is
that the king's convictions with regard to the
Protestant religion were the cause of these proceedings.
I. A most erroneous opinion. Henry had no
real attachment to the Protestant faith. In his
4
THE ABBOTS OF ST . ALBANS .
last will and testament he gives directions that
the " Deane and Cannons of Windesor shall
fynde twoo Prestes to say Masses at the sayd
Aulter," with other orders of the same kind.
There is no mass in the Protestant religion .
How then could he desire masses, and invoke the
saints, in behalf of his soul if he were a Protestant?
But with regard to the abbots who
ruled this monastery for upwards of seven hundred years, and whose lives in zeal, fervour, and
mortification resemble those of the saints, there
is no such mystery beyond that which is necessarily thrown over the more minute details of
their daily lives from the lapse of time since they
were living on the earth ; and when sorrow and
persecution at last reached them, they met their
fate with the constancy and courage of martyrs.
V.
Really !
It is not usual to hear a Pro-
testant speak in this way.
I.
Living near the abbey, seeing its grand old
tower lighted every morning by the rising sun ;
thinking on its wonderful size, though reduced
now to one-third of what it was originally- [
have been interested beyond measure in all that
concerns its previous history from the time when
on this very hill-described by the Venerable
Bede as 66 a most pleasant spot, covered with
several sorts of flowers" -the holy Alban, Eng-
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS .
5
land's first martyr, went to his reward, down to
the day when men's hearts must have failed
them from fear- when all they had been taught to
consider good and holy was suddenly overturned
to meet the wishes of a king who neither feared
God nor regarded man.
V. What then was the history of St. Alban's
martyrdom ? I suppose I have read it, but never
having been on the spot did not care to keep the
story in my mind,
I. You know that this town was formerly an
immense Roman city, and was called Verulam.
Alban, a citizen of Verulam, went to Rome to
receive his education, and returned to occupy a
distinguished position in the city, in the year
303.
There he lived, not only with dignity, but with
some popularity, on account of his kindness to
others and (though a stranger to Christianity) his
generosity towards the poor.
None were refused an interview with him, and
sufferers from whatever cause were always made
welcome. One day a fugitive stranger applied for
admission, and encouraged by Alban's kindness and
courtesy, boldly asked to be allowed to hide from
his pursuers in some corner of the house.
was admitted.
He
Alban was struck with his ap-
pearance, and still more by the frequency of his
6
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
prayers. Curiosity induced him to question his
guest, from whom he learned that he was a
Christian Priest from Wales, and that he had
been wandering far away from home to escape
the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian. He
then instructed Alban in the doctrines of the
Christian religion. To the noble, refined, and
generous mind of his host nothing could be conceived more magnificent than these doctrines, and
especially the idea of remaining firm to them
through dangers and difficulty till death.. Here
was the hidden treasure for which all in this life
must be sacrificed-here was the pearl of great
price, of which he had dreamed but never before
Scarcely was he baptized when he re-
found.
ceived the crown of martyrdom .
The judge
being informed that a Christian priest was concealed in the city, began the search for him .
Alban hearing of this entreated his guest to fly
concealed in his (Alban's) cloak , while he, clothing himself in the priest's habit, presented himself to the judge, who was at that moment before
his altar offering sacrifices to idols .
He knew
the priest's garb, was startled to see the wellknown form of Alban the highly respected citizen
of Verulam clothed in it ; then becoming enraged
he at once ordered him to be dragged before the
images of his gods.
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
7
"As," he said, " you have concealed a blasphemous and sacrilegious person in your house,
his punishment shall fall on you if you refuse to
comply with our form of worship. " The saint
refused and courageously confessed himself a
Christian. "Whoever," he added, " shall sacrifice to these idols deserves the pain of hell." His
answer so enraged the judge that he ordered him
to be scourged .
This and other tortures Alban
endured not only with patience but with joy,
which was augmented by hearing himself immediately after condemned to be beheaded. The
news spread through the town : it was scarcely
believed. Alban, so much respected, so beloved,
A large
had declared himself a christian.
crowd flocked round the martyr and followed him
to the place of execution, and the judge, to his
astonishment, found himself almost alone and
The clear
without attendants in the place.
waters of the river Colne flowed, as now they
flow, between Verulam and the hill where the
glorious saint was to receive his crown. One
small bridge was the only means of access to
the other side.
It is not the only time that God has dispensed
His creatures from the laws by which He Himself
has bound them and made them obedient to the
slightest wish of His saints.
St. Alban cannot
8
THE ABBOTS OF ST . ALBANS .
wait till the crowd has crossed this little bridge
he is so impatient to suffer
he walks to the
bank, lifts his eyes to heaven, and says a short
prayer the stream divides and makes a passage
for the whole crowd of people to pass over. Not
yet, however, was the martyr to attain his wish ;
a Roman soldier comes hastily down from the
very brow of the hill and throws himself at
Alban's feet ; a soldier, but without a sword.
It
is the executioner, who having witnessed the
miracle, throws away his sword, and asks permission to follow his example, and die for the
Christian faith. They go to find another executioner, and in the mean time Alban works another
miracle ; through his intercession a spring of water
bursts from the ground, at which he refreshes his
thirst.
(I am repeating to you almost the very words
of the old chronicle.)
The new executioner is found, he beheads the
martyr, and with him the first executioner, who
is baptized in his own blood.
I. Some stone carving in the abbey was shown
to me as a representation of passages in the life
of St. Alban, but I confess I could not make
them out.
V. On Abbot Ramryge's tomb there is a carving of the scourging of the saint, which is very
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
9
clear. The one on the opposite spandril, said to
be of the execution, is not so well preserved.
V. The story is most poetical, nothing has ever
been written or imagined more striking than the
history of this saint, and Protestants such as you
and I are, can enjoy it for its beauty, without
any fear of being led away into the superstition
of believing it all.
I. It has often struck me, however, how much
more those must enjoy it who do believe it.
It
is easy enough to doubt and suspect, the commonest minds do that every day.
To believe, is
a gift, and surely those are happiest who have
the largest share of it.
V. And does your history say what followed
upon the death of Alban ?
I. One thousand of the spectators were converted to the faith, and, following Amphibalus,
the priest who had baptized St. Alban, were
baptized by him in Wales. These afterwards suffered martyrdom at the hands of the idolators ,
and Amphibalus himself was brought back to
Redbourn, a village about five miles from St.
Albans, and stoned to death there.
In the time
of Constantine, persecutions having now ceased,
a magnificent Church was built on the spot where
the martyrs suffered, but this was afterwards destroyed by the Saxons.
10 .
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
V. When was the monastery first begun ?
I. Nearly five hundred years after St. Alban's
Offa, king of the Mercians, and after-
death.
wards of the East Angles also, feeling towards the
close of his life a great desire to make satisfaction
for the sin (though not his own) that had given
him possession of the last- named kingdom , was
one night lying on his bed in the city of Bath,
when an angel appeared to him, and directed
him to search for the body of St. Alban, the protomartyr of England, and to lay up his relics in a
chest. From this time the king's chief thought
and study were how he might perform this
divine command, and accordingly he consulted
his suffragan Bishops Ceolwolfe and Unward,
who ordered him to lose no time in looking for
the relics, as the angel had said. First, however,
the Archbishop Humbert was informed of their
proposed search, and appointed a meeting to take
place on a certain day at Verulam.
There, when
the king arrived, he saw in the sky rays of a
most brilliant light, shining " after the manner of
a large torch," darting from heaven upon a certain spot in the earth : the townspeople also saw
the light.
The king and the prelates had passed some
days at Verulam, with the people, fasting and
praying, beseeching the martyr himself to assist
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
in the discovery.
11
When, therefore, they saw the
ray of light they at once looked upon it as an
answer to their prayers, (which were accompanied
by much alms-giving), and in the presence of Offa
they at once began their search.
The ground was
opened, and the body of Alban was found just as
Germanus had placed it, together with some relics,
in a coffin of wood , 344 years before.
The old Chronicler says, that all present shed
tears of holiness and reverential awe."
V. This history interests me much in spite of
its superstitions, which are however characteristic
of the age in which it was written .
I. You remember I undertook to give you
the story as I read it, in the very words where I
could remember them ; we can credit it or not
as we please, only I must again remark that I
think those are happiest who have no difficulty in
believing that God can work miracles when and
how He pleases .
V. Having found the body, what did they
do next?
I.
Outside the walls of Verulam, was a little
Church or Chapel built on the hill by the converts just after the death of Alban , in honour of
this Blessed Martyr. So small was this chapel
that it had escaped devastation with the rest.
After King Offa had knelt before the body and
12
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
placed on the head a circlet of gold with the
Saint's name and title, or possibly before this was
done, the body was raised from the ground and
in solemn procession borne to the little chapel.
Then the King gave orders that the chapel should
be enriched with plates of gold and silver, and
decorated with pictures, tapestry and other
ornaments, until a more noble edifice could be
raised.
Mathew Paris says, that the discovery of
the body was followed by numerous miracles.
But for founding the monastery, permission must
be obtained from the Pope, and it was decided
that the King should go to Rome to solicit leave
and procure the privileges for the foundation .
The King's intention was, to " make the endowment exceed that of all other monasteries, as far
as S. Alban had surpassed all other martyrs."
The Pope granted his requests, heard his confession, gave him absolution and dismissed him with
a "devout benediction."
V.
Nothing now was wanting but an Abbot
and monks, I am anxious to hear what was the
next proceeding.
薯 I. On his return the King, prelates, and
nobles met in conference at Verulam , where they
decided on making a selection of persons from
different religious houses, but especially from that
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
13
of Bec in Normandy, for monks ; one Willegod
was placed over them as Abbot and Superior :
He had been present at the finding of the
body of S. Alban and had " witnessed the
marvellous flame."
A proper place for the
building being chosen, the day came for laying the
first stone, which was done by the King with his
own hands, with great solemnity saying this
prayer or recommendation : "To Thee, O Jesus !
and to thee, O Martyr Alban, and to thee, O
Willegod, with maledictions on all who shall
disturb it and eternal blessings on all who shall
be its benefactors."
V. To what order did these monks belong ?
I. They were Benedictines .- In the words of
Mathew Paris, the King, after endowing the
monastery, " did command in the name of God
and adjure that the monks and all others should
live reverently and regularly under their Abbot
according to the order of S. Benedict ;" he also
gave orders that prayers and intercessions should
be made continually for his soul and the souls of
his friends at canonical hours in the Church, and
confirmed his gift with the sign of the Cross.
V. I see they are going to shut the Church for
the night, otherwise I should much have liked to
pay it a visit with you, who are so familiar with
its different parts .
14
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
I. I shall be very glad to meet you here tomorrow, when I will read you from my note-book
a few passages from the old writers which I have
collected at different times.
They throw a little
light on the one principle that influenced the
builders and decorators of this noble Church.
V. The passage in which we are standing,
does it not seem strange to have made one in this
part of the building?
I. This passage was made quite lately and
its walls are formed out of some of the mutilated
portions ofthe monastery.
It passes through the beautiful Lady chapel ,
and the eastern end of the chapel is now a
Grammar School ; I believe it may be seen after
school hours, but for my part I have never asked
permission to go inside it. It would be too painful to see such desecration. To hear of it is
quite bad enough.
V. If a Protestant can feel so much sorrow
for the change, how much those must regret it
who still keep the old Catholic Faith, and who
would altogether sympathize with the sentiments
which inspired the old monks to fill their Church
with such gorgeous decorations.
How much there must be to grieve them in a
visit to S. Albans.
I. Scarcely more than for ourselves, I should
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS .
15
think ; or rather it would seem, that they would
sorrow after a different fashion . A Protestant feels
ashamed of his country, if not of his religion,
when he sees these glorious works of art destroyed, and he regrets them as works of art.
The Catholic knows with what intention their
churches were enriched with all that is costly and
beautiful. To him their chief value lies in that
intention.
V. I suppose the intention was to raise the heart
of the worshipper far beyond the very highest
tower of the abbey, far beyond the blue sky to
the throne of God in heaven.
I. Their intention was to collect the richest
treasures out of His richest gifts and make a
shrine worthy to enclose that God upon earth.
Their hearts were not in the building of the temple,
but in One greater than the temple, who (you
must remember, if you wish to approach to any
idea of what their intentions were) they firmly
believe lived day and night there on those very
altars, which Protestant fury has destroyed. Tomorrow we will examine the few relics that are
left of its former magnificence, and compare its
present state with the description of what it was
in its days of prosperity.
16
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
CHAPTER II.
Incola and Viator meet at the south door. It is Wednesday
morning 11 o'clock, and the words of the " Dearly beloved
brethren," reach their ears from the interior of the Abbey.
They pause, and seating themselves in the shade of the
massive walls, wait till the service is over.
VIATOR.
Do the Protestants
make use of
music in their week-day services here ?
INCOLA.
I cannot tell you ; Protestant as I
am, I prefer to connect the Abbey in my mind.
only with its former condition, to think of it
simply as a relic of what it was. I could not
hear a Protestant service in it, so on Sundays I
go to S. Peter's.
V. You were speaking of the saintly lives of
the 40 Abbots who ruled the monastery, were
there really no exceptions to the rule?
I.
Two : Vulsig the 3rd. Abbot, and Eadfrith
the 5th. were exceptions to the rule.
The world
took possession of their hearts, the former wore
" silk vestments, rid a hunting, and drank sumptuously." In his time the monastery became
lax, charity grew cold, and the beautiful devotion.
that had characterized it dwindled away.
He
was succeeded by Vulnoth, who immediately began
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
17
to reform it, and in a few years had restored the
ancient discipline.
Eadfrith happily lived to reform his former
life, and to make satisfaction for his sins, by
passing his remaining years in penitence. The
history of his call to repentance deserves notice.
In his time Ulpho , the Prior of S. Albans, a man
of great holiness, built a Chapel to the honour of
S. Germanus, having asked permission of Abbot
Eadfrith to do so.
After this, another chapel
was built by his license, and the spot chosen for
its site was near the house of another Ulpho, a
relation of the Abbot. This Ulpho was a monk
of the cloister, remarkable for his holiness, and
having a great attraction to mortification and
prayer.
He lived a hermit's life and though he
was contented that his days should be passed in
the tranquil occupation of tilling gardens, and
setting herbs and pulse, it was not the Will of
God that his sanctity should remain hidden ;
Bishops and learned men began to find him out,
many of them came to confession to him, and to
ask his prayers, which were of great efficacy.
If
his life was edifying no less so appears to have
been his death, for it caused Abbot Eadfrith to
reflect upon his own condition, his thoughtless
worldly life and self-indulgent habits. He laid
aside all the state and luxury that belonged to his
2
18
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.'
'position as Abbot, and retired from his office
altogether, resigned his staff and went to live in
the very house of the Holy Ulpho, imitating his
virtues and leading a life of mortification and
penitence.
His retirement was however the
cause of great inconvenience in the Monastery, and
the choice of a person to fill the vacant Abbotship
was from various causes long delayed.
At length the blessing of God seemed to have
attended their selection, for Ulsig, the 6th. Abbot,
is described as famous in all spiritual and secular
affairs.
He obtained from King Ethelred a con-
firmation of all the grants belonging to the Abbey,
and built the Churches of S. Peter, St. Stephen ,
and S. Michael in the town. While the retired
Abbot Eadfrith was passing the remaining years
of his life in the Hermit's house, by none was he
so much honoured as by his successor
Ulsig,
and when at last his weary life was ended, Ulsig
performed the " solemnities of his funeral, buried
him among the Abbots, and greatly loved the
the church wherein he lived." This love seems
to have continued with undying fervour, for he
used frequently
to
celebrate
Mass
in the
Hermit's chapel, and as if to show still further his
devotion to holy penitence, built another chapel
near it which he dedicated to S. Mary Magdalene.,
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS .
19
At a great age he, in the words of the old writer,
" did happily go from hence to God."
The two following Abbots distinguished themselves chiefly by greatly improving the Monastery
and the town, and it was while these works of
repair were going on, that the life of S. Alban
was discovered, written in English and bound
in oak boards with silk strings fixed to them.
Leofric, the 10th. Abbot, was a man of con-
siderable property which he inherited from the
Earl of Kent, his father. Wonderfully gifted in
mind and person, he shewed his contempt for
worldly honours and wealth, by giving all his
possessions to his young brother Alfric, who on
Leofric's advancement to the Archbishoprick of
Canterbury, succeeded him in the rule of the
Monastery of S. Albans.
He appears to have
resembled Leofric in all respects.
Among
other great and noble qualities he is said to have
had great eloquence of speech, and a tender and
compassionate heart to strangers, the poor, and
the afflicted, and to have been " without fault in
his life." He was " admonished in a vision," to
complete the life of S. Alban, which he did.
Frederic, the 13th. Abbot, ruled the Monastery
when William the Conqueror became King of
England.
After the battle of Hastings the King
came to Berkhampsted on his way to London,
20
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
but instead of being able to proceed after a short
stay there, he found himself unable to continue
his journey. The roads leading through the land
belonging to the Monastery were impassable, large
trees had been cut down and laid across the road.
William much enraged learned in answer to his
enquiries that this hindrance was the work of the
Abbot of S. Albans. It was in fact the means he
had employed to preserve the Church property
from spoil.
Frederic was summoned before the
King, who asked him why so much wood had been
felled on that particular spot. The brave Abbot
answered, " I have done what I ought, and if all
spiritual persons had used their endeavours to
have hindered thee as they should and might
have done, it would not have been in thy power
to have come thus far."
William's anger was
not likely to have been calmed by this reply. "Is,"
he said, " the spirituality of England in such
power ? If I shall live to enjoy what I have got,
I will make their power less."
The Abbot then summoned the Lords and
Nobles of England together, and after a consultation, went to the King at Berkhampsted , where in
the presence of Archbishop Lanfranc, after a long
debate, they frightened William into tranquillity,
and in the presence of Abbot Frederic he swore
with his hand on the holy Gospels, and on the
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
21
relics of S. Alban's Church, that he would
observe the ancient laws of the kingdom, especially
those of King Edward, after which they all swore
fealty to him, and submitted to his government.
They then departed in great joy to their
habitations.
The noble Abbot, however, was not to rejoice
in the success he had achieved without great and
heavy trials. The King, to satisfy his desire of
revenge on Frederic for his bold answers, soon
after seized a large quantity of land belonging to
the Church, and the Abbot seeing the motive of
all this sacrilege and caring more for guarding the
property of God and the Church, than his own
dignity, called a chapter, showed them the
approaching dangers, and retired to Ely, where
he died in great grief, for the troubles which were
coming on his beloved Monastery. At his death
King William seized the Church, destroyed the
woods and impoverished the people.
But for
Archbishop Lanfranc, the Monastery would have
been utterly demolished, but at length he succeeded
in getting a new Abbot appointed, and the choice
fell upon a relation of Lanfranc who had come
with him from France, and whose name was
Paul.
It was a difficult work to take the government
of the Abbey at that time, devastated as it was
22
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS .
by the rapacity of the Conqueror, but Abbot
Paul seems to have been quite equal to the task.
Former Abbots had thought proper to destroy
the foundations of the old city which were massive vaulted passages extending throughout the
whole length and breadth of the town, and had
lately become the resort of thieves and other evil
persons. The materials of which these passages
were made, the Abbots reserved for furture occasions, and out of these materials Abbot Paul
rebuilt the Church with the rest of the Abbey
buildings, except " the bakehouse and pastry."
It required great circumspection to restore the
discipline so much relaxed, but by degrees he
succeeded in his work of reform, and commanded
the observance of a set of rules made by Lanfranc
and confirmed by the Pope.
VIATOR. The building we now see is then the
work of Abbot Paul.
INCOLA.
Yes.
I believe that none of the old
Monastery is remaining. It took eleven years to
rebuild, and in the meantime the Abbot was engaged in the more difficult business of reclaiming
the property that had been wrested from the Monastery, and in erecting a cell of Monks at Wallingford and other places.
He had several books
copied at his own expense, and gave rich gifts to the
Church, amongst these were a silver basin, to con
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
23
tain burning wax continually before the great Altar,
three candlesticks covered with gold and silver of
rare work to stand before the same Altar with
wax lights, and two silver candlesticks to be car66 He also
ried before the Martyr on festivals.
ordained a pitched lanthorn , with a candle in the
quire, to be carried about in the night that he
might stir up the idle and drowzy people."
This Abbot, after ruling for sixteen years and
four months, died in November 1093.
After a vacancy of four years, during which
King William again pillaged the Church property,
a new Abbot was appointed named Richard, who
governed one-and-twenty years.
In his time
the Abbey was solemnly dedicated by Archbishop
Rodulf, in the presence of King Henry I., his
Queen Maud, and a great many others.
This Abbot was buried in a chapel which he had
built near the Church and dedicated to S. Cuthbert,
He was succeeded by Geoffrey the 16th. Abbot,
who continued the improvements begun by his
predecessors, built an Infirmary and also a small
Nunnery at Sopwell.
VIATOR. Are not those the ruins of Sopwell
nunnery that I noticed near the railway?
INCOLA. Yes, and it must have been a building of considerable size, and very strongly built.
The name is said to have originated in a
24
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
custom the nuns had of dipping their bread in a
well that was near the spot where they lived. I
do not think that seems a very probable story, it
has struck me perhaps it might be a sort of
abbreviation of S. Alban's well.
With that forgetfulness of self, and regard for
the welfare of the monastery which seems to have
distinguished these Abbots, no sooner did Abbot
Ralph, who succeeded Geoffrey, find himself attacked with dangerous sickness, than he set to
work to consider who would make a trustworthy
successor to his office, for he knew the great disadvantage of a long period elapsing before a new
Abbot was chosen. He proposed Robert, nephew
to the late Abbot Geoffrey, and soon after died
in 1151 .
Robert, the 18th. Abbot, had taken the habit
of a monk in some religious house on the continent. When news reached him of the great
fervour and holiness of S. Alban's monks, he
asked leave to visit England, that he might see it
himself.
Finding that the report was true he
applied for admittance, and his Uncle Geoffrey
making the same request, he was admitted a
monk and brother of S. Albans.
He was afterwards appointed Secretary, then
Prior, and lastly " prefered to the pastoral staff "
VIATOR. Was it not in the house of this
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
Abbot, that Nicholas Breakspeare
25
was made
Pope?
INCOLA.
Yes, and the story which connects
him with S. Albans is very interesting. You know
I daresay, the village of Abbots Langley, near
the town, it was there Pope Adrian was born.
When quite a young man, " comely in body
and an easy clerk," as Mathew Paris expresses
it, he called at the Monastery and was admitted
to an audience of the Abbot. He wished to take
a monk's habit, and he simply and modestly told
his wish.
"Wait my son awhile," said the kind Abbot
gently, " and fit thyself at school for the cloth
that thou desirest," for with all respect for his
desire, it was evident that at present he was not
sufficiently educated for such a position.
The young Nicholas quietly and modesty
submitted to the mortification of this refusal, and
lost no time in establishing himself in Paris,
where studying very diligently he was soon at the
head of the other scholars , he was promoted to a
college near Valentia and was made Abbot there .
VIATOR. Did he remain there long ? I think
I have read of his being promoted to a bishopric
in Italy before being made Pope.
talents become known?
INCOLA.
How did his
The monastery at Valentia, wishing
26
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
to send a message to Rome, chose Nicholas as
messenger.
Pope Eugenius soon discovered his merits, and
made him Bishop of Alba. After this, he was
sent on a mission to convert the Pagans in Norway.
In this his success was so great that on his return
he was made a Cardinal, and at the death of
Eugenius was chosen Pope under the title of
Adrian the Fourth . When the news reached S.
Albans that Nicholas was promoted to be head of
the Church, Abbot Robert had not forgotten
the young candidate for the religious habit, who
had turned his reproof to such good account, and
was much pleased. He proposed to Henry the 2nd.
that he should proceed at once to Rome to request
his Holiness
Monastery.
to grant certain favours to the
Having obtained letters from the King, he
started at once and met the Pope at Beneventum ;
Adrian received him with great honours, and
with much joy. The Abbot then presented to
him the gifts he had brought, amongst which
was
a pair of sandals and three mitres of
admirable work, made by the Lady Christian
Prioress of Margate." The Pope replied most
courteously, and greatly praised and commended
his devotion. He examined and admired the
mitres and sandals, then smiling said, " I refuse
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
27
your gifts, because once you denied me shelter in
your house when I craved your charity and
begged the religious habit. "
"My Lord," the Abbot quickly replied " it was
out of our power to receive you when the Will of
God opposed it, whose great Wisdom had called
you to a higher station. "
Adrian delighted with
this clever answer said, " Dear Abbot, ask boldly
what thou desirest, for nothing shall be wanting
to the Blessed Alban." Then the Abbot with
tears in his eyes, told the Pope how much the
Abbey had to suffer from the oppression of the
Bishop of Lincoln, upon which Adrian granted
this great privilege, that this Church should be free
from any Bishop except the Bishop of Rome.
Having received the Apostolic Benediction, the
Abbot returned home, and a Synod was called in
London when the letters of Pope Adrian were
showed with the privileges he had given to this
monastery.
VIATOR. This story is extremely interesting .
It is wonderful at this distance of time to be able
to read as it were the very thoughts of these
Abbots. The rule of S. Benedict with all its
austerity does not seem to have hardened the
hearts of its disciples , at least of those whom we
are now examining.
( INCOLA. You will have still greater reason to
28
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
say so when you have heard an anecdote related by
M. Paris of the next Abbot, Symon the Prior,
whose appointment took place just when the
contest between Henry the Second and Thomas
The Archbishop
à Becket was at its height .
as
à Becket after a banishment of seven
Thom
years , resolved to return to his flock , to die
for them , if such was the Holy Will of God.
Prince Henry, the Archbishop's beloved pupil , was
just crowned , and Thomas' first visit , he resolved,
should be to him at Woodstock . While on his
journey the King sent and forbade his proceeding
further ; with a heavy heart the Archbishop
turned back. He had a manor seven miles from
S. Albans , here he rested for some days , and
being in great grief sent to ask Abbot Symon to
come and console him . The Saint and the Abbot
were together for some days , after which the
latter returned to S. Albans, and the Archbishop
proceeded to Canterbury , where fifteen days after
The news
he went to his glorious reward .
reached the Abbey , causing great consternation
there. In general , sorrow for the martyrdom of
S. Thomas was mixed with contentment for his
faith and courage. Abbot Symon however wept
and lamented more than all the rest , and on being
asked why he could take no consolation , " I
grieve," he said, " because I am not worthy to
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
29
have been involved in so glorious a toil, never
have I had the honour to be maimed or mutilated
or beheaded in so noble a cause."
VIATOR. Certainly this showed great devotion
to his religion.
INCOLA.
Symon still further showed his love
of his religion and of its Founder, by making a
most costly and beautiful vessel, for the Blessed
Sacrament to be carried in processions.
In his time, says M. Paris, the body of S.
Amphibalus was found, and on the spot where it
was discovered miracles were wrought among the
blind, sick and lame.
Garine, or Warren, succeeded him.
He was
" excellently well learned and fair in body, for
"9
which reason he was received into this Monastery,'
er
rs,
ed
and aft
11 yea
says M. Paris. He rul
him, the Monks chose John of the Cell, who had
been educated in Paris, and was distinguished by
great piety and love of obedience .
M. Paris says, that after the manner of scholars,
he left the work of Martha for the better part of
Mary, devoting himself to study, contemplation
and continual devotion.
Raymond the Prior, a devout and prudent
person, undertook by his direction, the secular
government of the Monastery, in which he was
assisted by Roger de Parco.
At this time, the
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS .
30
offices, especially the refectory and dormitories,
were found so much out of repair that rebuilding
A hundred marks was the
was necessary.
largest sum at their command, for these heavy
expenses.
The brethren therefore agreed to " spare their
wine" for fifteen years, to supply the required
funds.
This Abbot, perhaps , as the natural con-
sequence of his fervour, devotion, and purity of
intention, had to endure many trials.
A false monk was guilty of forgery, and other
crimes. Abbot John sent him to Tinmouth, to
do perpetual penance ; soon after, as one of the
monks was in the dormitory, he heard a voice.
repeating the words, " Cape Satan, Cape Satan,"
and the news reaching the Monastery, that the
wicked monk had died about that time, it was
concluded that he had fallen under the terrible
judgment of God for his crimes.
Another trial
which this good Abbot had to endure, was during
the interdiction .
King John sent and commanded him to set at nought the command of the
Pope, and to return to the usual solemnities and
mode of worship. The brethren met in council,
and drew up a form, stating that it was better to
obey God than man .
The result of this courageous decision was , as
might be expected- the King took possession of
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
31
the Abbey, extorting money from the Abbot,
who thus bought the restoration of peace to his
house.
: VIATOR, How consoling for those who now
suffer persecution for their faith, to reflect upon
the holy constancy of these Abbots, so many
years resting in their graves, but their souls, (as
we may well hope), having found the glorious
reward, of their having been during their short
stay in the world, all for God and the Church.
We have spent some time with Abbot John of
the Cell. Amongst all the good Abbots, he must
have been one of the best.
INCOLA. It is not surprising that we should
feel attracted to his company, when we are told
that even the angels loved it so much that when
he sang alone in the Church they sang alternately
with him. The Church in his time was richly
adorned with pictures, painted by the monks.
I
will point out to you presently, a painting of S.
Thomas in the north transept, mentioned with
many others not now visible, as having been done
at this time.
VIATOR. Do you know the number of monks
in this house ?
INCOLA. Abbot John limited the number to one
hundred.
As the life of this holy Abbot drew
towards its
close, his love
of
mortification
32
increased.
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS .
His whole time was now spent, in
exhorting the brethren, in prayer, and in mortifying his feeble body. At last when his end drew
near, he ordered the Monks to carry him to
the chapel, and there in the presence of them all,
to strip him to the waist, and place him on a
faldstool, in order to show them " what a poor
emaciated wretch an old man was." After this
1
act of humiliation, he prophesied the day of his
death, or rather, that his life should not extend
beyond three days, and received extreme unction,
dying within the three days, as he had foretold.
In the time of William de Trumpington, his
successor, Falcatius de Brent, with a number of
followers, came to S. Albans, and having pillaged
the town, taking men and women, killing some
imprisoning others, proceeded to the Abbey, and
attacking it, threatened to treat the monastery and
its inhabitants as he had done the town. The
Abbot like his predecessor on a similar occasion
was compelled to buy the safety of the house by
payment ofone hundred pounds ofsilver. Falcatius
proceeded to further extortion and violence in the
town, but some little time after met with the
reward of so much wickedness, dying according
to Dugdale from poison taken in a fish.
Before
his death, he had desired an interview with
Pandulph, Bishop of Norwich, then at S. Albans.
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
33
The Abbot of S. Albans was present at their
meeting. To the surprise of Falcatius, the Bishop
asked him if he had ever offended S. Alban.
"No," he had the audacity to reply. " I asked
thee this question," said the Prelate, "because one
night while I slept on my bed I dreamed that I
was in S. Alban's Church, standing before the
high Altar praying. Suddenly I looked behind
me, and saw thee standing in the Choir, then
casting upwards my eyes, a mighty stone fell out
of the tower crushing thee head and body together,
so that thou didst altogether vanish, as if thou
hadst been drowned. Try therefore, to call to
mind if thou hast in any sort offended that blessed
Martyr, and make satisfaction to him and his ;
before this judgment comes upon thee." The
wretched Falcatius on hearing this, thought
proper to ask pardon of the convent, but his
avarice prevailing over his fear of God, he refused
to restore the goods he had so unjustly taken.
Abbot William died in 1235 , and was succeeded
by John of Hertford, the 23rd. Abbot. He added
many useful buildings to the house, amongst
them a most noble hall, for the use of strangers.
It was during the rule of this Abbot, that there
happened an earthquake in the town of S. Albans
and its neighbourhood, which is thus quaintly
described by Hollinshed. " Upon S. Lucies ' day
3
34
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
there was a great earthquake, with a noise under
ground as though it thundered, which was the
more strange for that the ground is chalky and
sound, not hollow and loose, as those are where
earthquakes often happen, and this noise did so
fright the dawes, rooks and other birds, which sat
upon houses or trees, that they flew to and fro as
if they had been frightened by a gosshawk."
Roger, the 24th. Abbbot, was described by
Weaver as " a very pious and religious man,"
and is said to have " wondrously loved the beauty
of this Church," and to have expended large sums
in its repairs and decorations.
John of Berkhamsted was the next Abbot.
He is said to have passed his whole time in prayer
and other works of piety, and his successor was
John Marines, who gave costly gifts to the
Church.
Hugh was the next appointed Abbot ; he greatly
enlarged the possessions of the Church by the
purchase of land, and he also asked certain gifts
for the Church from King Edward, among these
was a gold crucifix set with precious stones.
After him came Richard de Wallingford, the
28th. Abbot, a very learned man, who passed
through many troubles in defence of the rights of
this Church.
Michael de Mentemore, who was elected in
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
35
1334, " well deserved the name of an angel, for
the works which he did, do testify what he was ;
he was so pious and mild to his brethren, that he
was accounted as an angel among them."
Thomas de la More, Prior of Tinmouth, succeeded him . The rule of this Abbot was marked
by a succession of troubles, of which the commotions caused by Wat Tyler were not the least.
The history of these outrages, however, scarcely
belongs to that of the Abbey, as an Abbey, and
has so often been read and written , that I will
pass over the very few extracts I took from my
old authors on the subject, and merely notice
that, according to Weaver, Abbot de la More or
Mare, repaired the west end of the Church,
ended his days very piously, and was buried in
the Church. We must not forget to notice his
brass monument, which was I believe discovered
under the modern pavement near the screen, and is
now placed in the floor of Abbot Wheathamsted's
tomb, in the south side of the choir.
It is of very
rich design, and one of the most beautiful specimens of that sort of monument in England.
John Moot was the 31st. Abbot. He built the
house at the manor of Tittenhanger, as a place of
recreation for the convent, but his rule only
lasted five years, and this house was not finished
at his death.
36
THE ABBOTS OF ST . ALBANS .
John de Wheathamsted succeeded him.
He
was a learned and religious monk of Tinmouth ,
where his amiable and courteous manners , the
holiness of his conversation and " his great affection for the beauty of the House of God," made
him greatly loved and esteemed.
On his appoint-
ment to the rule of S. Alban's Abbey, his zeal
and fervour increased rather than cooled, and it
was he who was chiefly instrumental in procuring
the costly and beautiful decorations which filled
the Church.
The magnificent Lady Chapel, now so desecrated,
he " caused to be trimmed and rarely painted
with stories out of the Sacred history, and with
verses curiously drawn in gold." On the south
side of the Church he built the small Chapel or
Chauntry, for his own burial place, which still
remains, though as we saw with Abbot de la
Mare's brass monument in it. In the list of his
costly and beautiful gifts to this Church are, " a
reverend kind of embroidered vestment for himself and successors, when they enter into the
Sanctum Sanctorum, a pair of silver flagons gilt,
upon which the similitudes of a Lamb and an
Eagle were engraved, for the use of the holy Altar,
Pictures of Christ, the Blessed Virgin, S. Alban
and the Sacred Host, to be carried into the
cloister or into the town, with divers verses
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
37
written on them to bring people to a reverend
esteem of them," with many other things.
Wherever he made any new building he decorated
their walls and roofs with pictures of a Lamb and
an Eagle. He continued the building of the
house at Tittenhanger, enlarged the Chapel, and
on its walls had painted pictures of the Saints
who were (like himself) named John. His own
portrait was also there, with this beautiful and
humble prayer, " that though unworthy, he might
have a place with his namesakes in Heaven. "
This chapel still remains, but not a trace is left
of all these Christian emblems and decorations.
After governing the Monastery for twenty
years, he resigned , and John Stock succeeded him.
In his time was fought the battle of S. Albans,
in S. Peter's Street, and it was in this town that
King Henry VI. was rejoined by his Niece
and Prince Edward after the battle. The Prince
and thirty others who had fought bravely, were
knighted by Henry at the request of the Queen ,
after which they went to the Abbey where they
were met by the Abbot and Monks, who brought
them in procession to the High Altar, singing
hymns as they went. From the High Altar they
went to visit the shrine of the Saint, and from
thence to the chamber, which the King was in the
habit of occupying.
The Abbot asked the King
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS .
38
and Queen to take measures to prevent the soldiers
from spoiling the town ; they immediately caused
a proclamation to be made to that effect, but in
vain, they laid hands on everything they could
get. Abbot John Stock died in 1452.
Abbot Wheathamsted was re-elected, and with
unabated zeal and devotion to the welfare of the
Monastery, set to work to improve and augment
its property.
Notwithstanding the expensive
additions he made to it at his death, which
happened in the year 1464, he left it free from
debt.
William Alban was the next Abbot, of whom
it is said that he governed this Church with great
wisdom and satisfaction, and exchanged this life
for a better, July 1st. 1476.
He was succeeded
by William Wallingford, Prior of S. Albans, and
the builder of the beautiful screen which we shall
presently see, and which is said to have cost 1100
marks.
He was very charitable to the poor, and
conscientious in keeping up the repairs of the
Abbey.
Thomas Ramryge, the 38th. Abbot, " beloved
both of God and man," followed the example
of his predecessors in his devotion to the Church.
He died in great sanctity and was much regretted.
Thomas Wolsey was his successor, and as
his character is discussed in every history
THE ABBOTS OF ST . ALBANS.
39
of England, being so much connected with the
political events of his time, I took no notes of
his government, nor could I find any notice of
Robert Catton the 40th. Abbot, except that he
died in the 29th. year of Henry the 8th., and it
was in the rule of Richard Boreman, or Stevenache,
that the fearful storm of the reformation fell upon
the Church, and this glorious Abbey, so long a
model of christian discipline mortification, and
boundless charity to the poor- this abode of
learning, art and science, whose long line of
mitred Abbots had shewn such heroic courage in
defending the property of God committed to their
charge, and such humility in their own persons,
was to be swept away at the caprice of a King,
for the gratification of his unrestrained passions.
CHAPTER III.
VIATOR.
The service has long been ended, we
should find the Church quite quiet now for our
visit.
INCOLA. I secured our tickets this morning, so
we have nothing to do but to go in and give them
up to the clerk.
VIATOR. I am glad you thought of getting them.
40
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
After passing some time on the Continent, one
forgets the necessity for tickets to see the Churches.
INCOLA.
I will take you at once through the
south door, where another door leads to the spot
where once stood the shrine of the Saint. There
close to where you are standing are six square
holes in the floor, these mark the places of the six
pedestals on which the shrine was raised , in order
that the Priest saying Mass at the high Altar
might be able to see the relics.
According to Mathew Paris, there was never
seen a more costly shrine than that of S. Alban.
At its head was a large crucifix, at the foot of
which stood the Blessed Virgin and S. John .
At its foot, near the choir, was the Blessed Virgin
seated with our Lord in her arms, on a throne
enriched with precious stones. The coffin containing the bones of the Saint had been until the
year1256 buried in the floor, with a splendid canopy
to mark the spot ; that year it was taken from
under the ground and placed in a new shrine,
probably in order that the relics might be carried
in procession.
M. Paris tells us that when the
bones were removed, a boy was raised from
death, and several other people cured of palsy
and blindness, through the Saint's intercession .
Towards the end of the summer, there being
fears for the harvest, the Abbot ordered a fast,
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
41
and humiliation, and had processions made with
the holy relics to the little chapel of S. Mary in
the Pré. Many and costly were the offerings
made to this shrine. The King gave a silver gilt
cnp, to contain the Martyr's dust, and also some
valuable braclets and rings.
VIATOR.
What is this wonderful piece of old
carving in wood? I never saw a more remarkable
specimen, so old and yet so solid-looking.
INCOLA. Your guide-look will tell you that
this gallery was made for the monks to watch the
shrine; I think, however, it may possibly not have
been for that purpose, but to watch the various
Altars, and especially that of the Blessed Virgin,
as mention is made of watches kept over the
Altars, and especially of that in the Lady Chapel.
Open that massive side door, there is still the old
staircase leading to the gallery with its clumsy
wornout steps. In the centre cupboard , you will see
a collection of Roman pottery found at different
times, and in the midst of it a little relic, on the
history of which one cannot help speculating.
VIATOR. I see what you mean ; the remains of
a small wooden rosary .
INCOLA.
Yes .
Where is the hand that has
counted probably thousands of Paters and Aves
on that little chaplet?
VIATOR.
Long ago laid in the dust, but his
42
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS .
simple prayers, they have not perished with his
body.
INCOLA. No ; carried by the angels before the
throne of God, they still live and make part of the
treasures of Heaven.
Before we leave the shrine we ought to call to
mind the story of the death of Abbot John
Marines.
VIATOR.
tioned it.
I do not recollect your having men-
INCOLA.
Finding himself dying he called a
Chapter, and desiring two monks to carry him to
the relics, entreated their pardon (with tears) for
any cases in which he might have treated them
with harshness.
Having pardoned him according
to his desire, he was borne to the shrine, where
he died with this prayer upon his lips : " O holy
Alban, whom I have loved and addressed as my
aid, as I have lived under thy protection, so O
glorious Saint, defend me against the pains of
hell ."
VIATOR.
You said that the shrine was raised
so that the Priest saying Mass at the high Altar
might see it. I suppose that was before this
beautiful stone screen was built, which would
have quite prevented any such view.
INCOLA. That screen was begun by Abbot John
Wheathamsted whose arms (ears of wheat) are
1
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
carved on it.
43
It was finished by Abbot Walling-
ford, about the year 1451.
Originally it must
have been a splendid piece of carving, but there
is something senseless and almost provoking in
the sight of a series of empty niches, such as
there are here.
VIATOR.
I wonder what images they were
that were considered so injurious ; representations
perhaps of people not worthy of being honoured,
otherwise they would have been left.
INCOLA. They were the images of our Lord and
the Apostles, which the Protestants could not endure. And now, if you ask me in the words ofthe
inscription at the back of this beautiful chantry,
"Quis jacet hic ?" I will answer you also in the
words of the inscription, " Ille Pater, Johannes
de loco frumentario." Look at its rich sculpture,
though plain compared with that of Abbot
Ramryge on the north side of the choir, which is
most exquisite, and the " legend" carved on the
walls of the interior very beautiful and appropriate.
VIATOR. This is, I think you said, S. Cuthbert's
screen, which crosses the nave at the west end
of the choir.
INCOLA.
Can you tell me its history?
Richard d'Aubigny, the 15th. Abbot,
went to visit the monastery at Tinmouth, and was
at Durham when the body of S. Cuthbert was
44
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
moved by the monks. He had for many years
suffered from what is described as a withered
arm . On giving what assistance he could in
supporting the shrine, he found himself suddenly
cured of his malady, his arm was completely
restored. On his return, he built a chapel in
honour of S. Cuthbert, and the screen we now
see.
VIATOR. Unlike the nine lepers, he did not
forget to return and give thanks to God .
INCOLA. We are now near the spot where the
shrine of S. Amphibalus stood, and close by it
was one of the many Altars with which the
Church was filled . The Altar dedicated to the
Holy Cross, was solemnly consecrated by the
Bishop of Ardfurt, who stayed here some time,
and also consecrated the large Cross that was in
the quadrangle.
VIATOR. Did all the relics remain here until the
Reformation ?
INCOLA.
No, those of S. Amphibalus were
removed to Redbourne, where he suffered martyrdom.
From this spot we can judge a little of the
former splendour of this Church with its numerous
Altars richly adorned, its walls covered with
paintings, and the candles lighted on the different
Altars, or at the shrines. Look at its enormous
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS,
45
length, greater than that of most of the English
Cathedrals, its massive walls and delicate carving.
What it must have been when the beam supporting the rood loft was one mass of beautiful
carved work, representations of events in the life
of the Saint.
On another beam were carved the
figures of our Lord seated in glory, giving
Benediction with symbols of the four Evangelists,
with the twelve Apostles and twelve Patriarchs.
These old paintings on the pillars, give one some
idea (though they are so faded ) of the effect of
the colouring before the desecration of the Church.
VIATOR.
I see that the Crucifixion is painted
on each of them, and that but the one side of the
pillar is painted.
INCOLA. There were altars between each of
these pillars, and those paintings formed the back
of the Altars. There was one to S. Wulfstan,
whose relic given to the Monastery was much
prized by the Monks, one dedicated to S. Catharine
of Alexandria, whose wheel may be seen in the
painting over against her Altar, and one to Saint
Sebastian.
The forms of the figures are peculiar.
In other
parts of the Church were Altars dedicated to the
Blessed Virgin, S. Oswyn, S. Thomas, S. John
the Evangelist, and others.
46
VIATOR.
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
Here are the remains of a very old
painting, on this pillar in the south of the nave.
INCOLA.
I find mentioned by Newcome in his
history of the Abbey, a picture of the Blessed
Virgin with S. Edmund kneeling to her in the
habit of a Bishop, possibly this is the same. And
now that we have I think thoroughly examined
all that remains of the ancient beauty of the
Church, let us try and picture to ourselves a little
of what it must once have been. The various
services constantly going on.
The daily lives,
half active, half contemplative, of the Abbots and
Monks.
Imagine it a clear morning in Spring, the sun
warm and bright without, has not penetrated
through these massive walls. It is Holy Thursday,
in the year 1349.
Abbot Michael Mentmore
has lately completed successfully the hanging of
the two great bells named Alban and Amphibal,
made to replace two which had been broken
while ringing the Angelus.
Mass is about to
begin, and Vespers, which on that day follow
immediately after. He feels, more than usual, the
chill air of the Church, but with his usual fervour
has " done the duty of choir in person, " and has
performed the ceremony of washing the feet of
the poor with such devotion that no one would
imagine a fatal illness had already struck him .
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
47
The crowded Church is once more left in
quietness, the Procession of the Holy Sacrament
over, the last words of the glorious, " Pange
lingua," yet linger on the air, when Abbot
Michael, pale and suffering, retires to his chamber.
A pestilence which has been lingering in the
neighbourhood has hitherto spared S. Albans,
and now the sorrowing monks have to learn that
their beloved Abbot is to become its first victim .
A century later. Humphrey Duke of Gloucester
is dead, and the death of Abbot John Stoke
rendering necessary the election of a new Abbot,
a general wish prevails that John of Wheathamsted should once more take the rule of the
Monastery ; the Monks assemble in the Chapterhouse, and the feeling towards the re - election of
the retired Abbot is so well known that it
is proposed to dispense with the usual formularies ,
and at once proclaim his election ; but the authorities think otherwise, it is put to the vote, and
Abbot John is once again at the head of the
Monastery.
Then the notes of the Te Deum ,
repressed with difficulty, swell through the air,
while the prior Alban, and Langton prior of
Tynmouth, taking the restored Abbot by the
hands, lead him through the choir to the high
Altar. There he kneels till the conclusion of the
Te Deum, when prior Alban desires him to rise
48
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS .
and turn to the people. His election is now
proclaimed in form , and he retires to his chamber
near the Infirmary, while the monks return in
procession to the Chapter-house.
VIATOR. What was the form or rule observed
in electing these Abbots?
INCOLA. There always were three or four Confessors appointed to the Monastery, and these
Priests (being of course better acquainted with the
characters of the members of the Community than
any one else could be) made choice of twelve of
the most faithful and upright men in the whole
convent, and on those twelve devolved the whole
responsibility of the election, they, or the majority
of them , deciding on whomsoever they judged
fit out of their own number or from any other
rank in the monastic body.
It is difficult to make a picture in imagination of what this Church must once have been,
with its costly shrines, its numerous Altars, and
its splendid Lady Chapel, its walls up to the very
ceiling glowing with gold and colours, and painted
with subjects most sacred and touching, as the
remains of the frescoes yet show, its hundred
Monks and devout Abbot busy with the business
of Heaven, (for even as Protestants we cannot
fail to see that it was so,) with such love and
devotion as the world can neither feel nor under-
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS.
49
stand, (such for instance as that of Abbot Roger,
who requested that though his body was buried
in the choir with the rest of the Abbots, his heart
might be placed at the foot of the Altar of the
Holy Virgin, where he had said Mass for four
years, and to whom he had a special devotion , )
it is difficult to form an idea of what it must then
have been.
VIATOR. And to look at it now, " empty swept
andINCOLA. No, thank God, not " garnished," the
taste that has been at work in this Church, with a
true instinctive appreciation of the beautiful, has
preserved all that was left undestroyed, that tells
of the old Catholic spirit of the place, but the
building is almost wholly free from the sham of
modern decorations.
Here, it is true, where piscina, holy water
stoups, and chantries have been discovered, they
have been carefully preserved as relics of the past ;
the High Altar is kept in the same position as
formerly to show what it once was, but I can
trace no such miserable shams as sometimes are
to be met with, no attempt to make out any sort
of resemblance between the two religions, no
pretence of making use of these piscinæ, &c. &c.,
and no costly decorations of an Altar where it
would be papistry to believe, that there ever
4
50
THE ABBOTS OF ST. ALBANS .
dwelt on it the Presence of Him who alone could
make one spot more than another, worthy of
honour.
VIATOR. No, it is plain and Protestant, and the
order of Benedictines, with all its pomp and
power, and its long line of mitred Abbots swept
away, vanished altogether out of England.
INCOLA. Excuse me, the order is not annihilated ; the Benedictines in England are numerous.
They lead the same lives, follow the rule, (that
given them by their saintly founder,) say the same
Office and wear the same habit as those did whose
bodies rest beneath these stones, richer perhaps
in their poverty, and more powerful in their
weakness even than those whose lives we have
been studying.
VIATOR. Before leaving S. Albans, (and I start
to-morrow after the morning service), I must
thank you for the interesting particulars you have
given me of this place ; you do not frequent the
services here, so I suppose we shall not meet
again.
INCOLA.
VIATOR.
No, I shall not be here to-morrow.
TO S. Peter's, I think, you go on
Sunday mornings?
INCOLA. I shall not be at S. Peter's.No, Viator, I have studied the past history of
S. Albans so long, have lived as it were so much
THE ABBOTS OF ST . ALBANS .
51
with its former inhabitants that a great wish has
come to me, to turn from the history of Monks of
the past ages, to study the lives of those of the
present day. To-morrow I spend with the living
Benedictines at
#
The Author believes there are five Benedictine
Monasteries in England at the present time-at Ramsgate,
Hereford, Liverpool, Bath, and York.
THE END.
RICHARDSON AND SON, PRINTERS, DERBY.
1