RELIGIOUS HOUSES St. Albans, and Westminster, refused to acknow- ledge their authority.'^ In spite, however, of an appeal to Rome, and the issue of a papal indult, the visitors published an inhibition that no one should pray in or make offerings at Westminster, whereupon the pope ordered that if they did not revoke everything which they had done to the prejudice of the abbey, the bishop and prior of Ely and the prior of Norwich should annul their proceedings/' The chief offender in the matter was the Cistercian abbot of Boxley,'* and the event seems to have caused a serious coolness between West- minster and the whole Cistercian order. The compiler of the Customary, at the end of the thirteenth century, remarks that at one time Cistercians used to come to the abbey in great numbers, being received in the refectory and sleeping in the dormitory 'as brethren of our order,' and that not infrequently as many as four or more Cistercian abbots had dined together at the high table, but he implies that this had become a thing of the past since the repulse of the visitors.'^ Abbot Richard de Berking died at the close of the year I 246." Matthew Paris calls him ' vir prudens literatus et religiosus,' and his acquisitions led the Westminster chronicler to wish that all abbots would follow his example. From the pope he obtained the right to give episcopal benediction and first tonsure, and from the king he received a grant of the amercements of the abbey tenants. He gave to the abbey a reredos depicting the history of our Saviour, and another of the life of King Edward, as well as certain vestments, and the chronicler records with pride that he was molestus sive onerosus to his neigh- bours. But his best claim to an honourable place in the annals of Westminster should be based on his division of the estates and organi- zation of the constitution of the monastery." His successor, a second Richard, was elected on account of his friendship with the king.'* Perhaps in consequence of this election the relations between the abbey and the crown became closer than ever. In 1247 Henry pre- sented, and carried personally to Westminster, a portion of the blood of our Lord which had been sent to him from the Holy Land. The pro- cession from St. Paul's was attended by all the priests of London vested in copes and surplices, and the king himself on foot and with eyes cast down carried the relic ' through the uneven and " Matt. Paris, Chron. Majora (Rolls Ser.), iii, 238-9, and Ann. Mon. (Rolls Ser.), i, 89. " Cal. of Papal Lei. i, 133. '* Matt. Paris, Chron. Majora{Roh Ser.), iii, 239. " Customary (Hen. Bradshaw Soc), ii, 37 and 107. " Matt. Paris, Chron. Majora (Rolls Ser.), iv, 586. " Cott. MS. Claud. A. viii, fol. 56. For his con- stitutional work see infra. " Fkres Hist. (Rolls' Ser.), ii, 320. muddy streets.' After being borne in this wise through the City, and rotmd the church and palace, amid singing and exultation, it was finally offered by Henry to 'God and St. Peter, and his dear St. Edward.' '» Unfortunately Henry's piety was as injudicious as his administrative policy, and anyone to whom he showed favour could not fail, sooner or later, to become involved in the political strife of the day. As early as the year 1222 indications had not been wanting of the possibility of an out- break between the abbey and the City. In a wrestling match between the tenants of West- minster and the citizens of London, the former had suddenly, either on impulse or of set pur- pose, flown to arms and driven the Londoners back to the City. Here the common bell was rung, and in spite of the pacific efforts of the mayor, a serious political riot developed ; the leader, Constantine son of Arnulf, encouraged his followers with the seditious cry ' Montis Gaudium, Montis Gaudium, adjuvet Deus et dominus noster Ludovicus.' The maddened populace threatened the houses of the abbot with destruction, stole his horses, and ill-treated his men, while he himself barely escaped by taking refuge in the house of one of the king's officials. Ultimately the justiciar held an inquiry, hanged the ringleaders, and, since the people still murmured, took sixty hostages and banished them to various castles throughout England.*" The king, however, failed to take permanent warning by this outburst. In 1250 he demanded for the abbey certain privileges prejudicial to the charters of the City. The mayor offered some resistance, and finally appealed to the earl of Leicester, who, with other barons, effectually complained to the king, and rebuked the abbot, who was regarded as the instigator to the aggression.*' At the same time, and according to Matthew Paris in the same spirit, Henry, to the great indignation of St. Albans, confirmed the rights of Westminster in the manor of Al- denham — a step which at such a time was less judicious than just. In the meantime it became evident that the king's devotion to the abbey was even a stronger motive with him than his friendship for the abbot. About the year 1251 Richard attempted to repudiate his predecessor's division of the abbey revenues, and meeting with opposition from the convent set out for Rome. He appears to have been a man of prepossessing appearance and manners, and no little business capacity, and was accordingly received with " Matt. Paris, Chron. Majora (Rolls Ser.), iv, 641-3. ^ Roger of Wendover, F/ores Hist. (Rolls Ser.), ii, 265 ; Matt. Paris, Chron. Majora (Rolls Ser.), iii, 72 and 73 ; Jnn. Mon. (Rolls Ser.), iii, 78-9 ; Cott. MS. Claud. A. viii, fol. 53.
- ' Matt. Paris, Chron. Majora (Rolls Ser.), v,
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