142
NOTES AND QUERIES. [i2s.ni.FEB.24.i9i7.
as a martyr, and a cult was speedily in
evidence. Of this we find details in the
' Flores Historiarum,' anno 1322 :
" Diuinae dispensationis misericordia, cuius dementi pietate et dispositione reguntur feliciter uniuersa, tantis miraculorum copiis dominum Thomam Lancastriae, cooperante Spiritus Sancti gratia, sublimauit ut ex longe positis regionibus turbae languentium cateruatim ad eius sepulcrum in prioratu de Pontefracto sincere, deuotione confluebant, gratia recuperandae sanitatis. Nam ipsius mentis et precibus caecis Christus concessit uisum, claudis gressum, surdis auditum, mutis loquelam, ac aliis diuersis mprborum generibus uexatos pristinae restituit sanitati ; unde ab eis totius doloris incommode fugato, qui prius tristis aduenit infirmatus, gaudens abscessit sanatus. Nee ista solum, superna prouidente dementia, circa locum ipsius acciderant sepulturae, uerum etiam apud ciuitatem Londoniarum, in ecclesia Sancti Pauli eiusdem ciuitatis ad quandam statuam in similitudinem ipsius armatam, in breui tabula, lignea protractam, consimilia copiose miracula refulsere. Ita ut tota ciuitas cum finitimis populis certatim concurrentes et mani- festa Dei magnalia clara luce contuentes, Salua- toris clementiam deuote laudauerunt, qui in suis semper est miserabilis et gloriosus. Huius igitur clarissimi copiosae bpnitates, elemosinarum largi- tiones, et caetera pietatis opera, quibus jugiter uiuens insistebat, ac etiam miraculorum uirtutes, quas pro ipso post mortem eius operabatur dementia diuina, non possunt in praesenti breui calamo perorari, sed locis et temporibus oppor- tanis tractatus exigunt speciales.
" Interea rex Spiritui Sancto et Eius operibus, ut hactenus consueuerat, toto mentis desiderio re- sistens, indulsit nequitiae tyrannidis crudelitatis ; praeceperat enim ne quisqaam comprouincialium uel alius, cuiuscumque status fuerit uel condi- tionis, loca sepulturae seu decollationis eius in- gredi praesumeret uel apprppinquare, sub certis poenis transgressoribus infligendis. Et ne ali- quid saeuitiae suae aut impietatis in praemissis deesset, ad hominum accessus artius inde re- pellendos, more nequissimi Pilati iussit imponi custodes."
Even if it were not for the unwarranted and acrimonious attack upon the king, the whole account stands plainly self-convicted of unblushing partisanship, and the very insistence upon, and the detailed yet vague enumeration of, so many miracles are highly suspicious. The citizens of London were no friends to Edward, and the new cult was worked for all it was worth. Extra- ordinary cures were repeatedly alleged to have taken place at the statue or picture in St. Paul's, and real scandal ensued. The king, who was at York, on June 28, 1323, wrote a letter of stern remonstrance to the Bishop of London, calling upon that prelate to check the growing disorders and extravagances :
" Bex, uenerabili in Christo patri, Stephano eadem gratia episcopo London' salutem. Auri- bus nostris intonuit, quod moleste gerimus, quod
plerique de populo Dei, uestro commisso regi-
mini, diabolica fraude decepti, ad quandam
Tabulam, in ecclesia uestra Sancti Pauli Londoniae
existentem, in qua statuae, sculpturae, seu
ymagines diuersorum, et inter caetera effigies
Thomae, quondam comitis Lancastr', inimici et
rebellis nostri, sunt depictae, fatue accedentes,.
earn absque auctoritate ecclesiae Bomanae, tan-
quam rem sanctificatam colunt et adorant ; ft
" Asserantes ibi fieri miracula, in opprobrium totius ecclesiae, nostri et uestri ; dedecus et animarum populi praedicti periculum manifestum . ac perniciosum exemplum aliorum. ..."
The king next plainly hints that he is pretty certain the new cult is encouraged merely for the sake of gain, an abomination, " de quo non mediocriter conturbamur." He then strictly enjoins upon the bishop that nobody is to be allowed to approach the- picture with the design of praying there,, or of making offerings, or for any purposes of veneration and devotion :
" Ne tabulam praedictam accedere, orationes,. oblationes, seu alia ad cultum diuinum tendentia, . absque auctoritate Bomanae ecclesiae, ibidem. facere praesumant."
The bishop was to reply and state what measures he had adopted to prevent the continuance of the cult. The king wrote similar letters to the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's. These wise and judicious pro- ceedings checked the scandal, and it is perfectly clear that the king was exercising not merely an eminently sensible, but a just and necessary restraint. The manner in which he insists throughout that no new cult, no strange devotions, can be permitted without due licence and approved eccle- siastical authorization, is very striking.. The bishop,* shamed at the rebuke, did his duty, and the picture was removed from. the cathedral. Three years later, however,, when Edward II., having vainly endeavoured to persuade the citizens to espouse his cause, left London (Oct. 2, 1326), the populace rose, and scenes of hideous disorder took, place. A mob of ruffians, who had bound themselves by an oath to destroy all those who were not adherents of the queen, . rushed through the streets, dealing death and destruction on every side. The Bishop of Exeter was foully murdered by the- mayor, Hamond de Chigwell, who, " for his late bloody act, which was styled an excellent piece of justice," was personally thanked by the infamous Isabella. The prelate's mansion was rifled and burned,, whilst he, his brother, his nephew, and
- Stephen de Gravesend (d. 1338), who after-
this incident appears as a strong and faithful, supporter of the king.
