DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6886#0157
WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 125
frequently appointed others in their places; and in this manner provided the
vacant bishopric or monastery with a pastor by their own special authority. Thus
Theodore was nominated Archbishop of Canterbury, by Pope Vitalianus, in the
place of Wighard, who was sent over by Egbert, King of Kent, in the year 668,
for confirmation, and died at Rome. The papal see afterwards extended this
illegitimate authority* so far as to grant reversions of benefices, and name suc-
cessors to the existing incumbents.
In a short time after his promotion, Abbot Humez was appointed by King
John one of his commissioners or plenipotentiaries to treat for a peace between
him and the King of Francef.
It was no uncommon act of piety in those times to add chapels to cathedrals,
and particularly to monastic churches, in commemoration of some patron or
tutelary saint: thus, in the abbacy of Humez, a chapel was begun at the east end
of his church in honour of the Virgin Mary. King Henry III. is said to have
laid the first stone of this structure on Whitsun eve, in the year 1220; and those
who assign fifty years to the building of the church, date it from the foundation
of this chapel, as the interval to the year 1269, when the church itself was
finished for the performance of divine service, comprehends that period. This
chapel of the Virgin Mary, though distinct in its offices, was not a separate
building. It stood on the spot which is now occupied by Henry Vllth's chapel;
and, to accommodate the erection of that structure, it was taken down. The
body of this new abbey church was not begun till the year 1245, and it is most
probable that this chapel had been completed some years before.
Another remarkable occurrence took place during the time of this abbot. It
was a warm and active contest between Eustachius de Fauconberg, Bishop of
* Bede, Eccles. Hist, book iv. chap. 1.
+ Rymer's Foedera, torn I. p. 191.
frequently appointed others in their places; and in this manner provided the
vacant bishopric or monastery with a pastor by their own special authority. Thus
Theodore was nominated Archbishop of Canterbury, by Pope Vitalianus, in the
place of Wighard, who was sent over by Egbert, King of Kent, in the year 668,
for confirmation, and died at Rome. The papal see afterwards extended this
illegitimate authority* so far as to grant reversions of benefices, and name suc-
cessors to the existing incumbents.
In a short time after his promotion, Abbot Humez was appointed by King
John one of his commissioners or plenipotentiaries to treat for a peace between
him and the King of Francef.
It was no uncommon act of piety in those times to add chapels to cathedrals,
and particularly to monastic churches, in commemoration of some patron or
tutelary saint: thus, in the abbacy of Humez, a chapel was begun at the east end
of his church in honour of the Virgin Mary. King Henry III. is said to have
laid the first stone of this structure on Whitsun eve, in the year 1220; and those
who assign fifty years to the building of the church, date it from the foundation
of this chapel, as the interval to the year 1269, when the church itself was
finished for the performance of divine service, comprehends that period. This
chapel of the Virgin Mary, though distinct in its offices, was not a separate
building. It stood on the spot which is now occupied by Henry Vllth's chapel;
and, to accommodate the erection of that structure, it was taken down. The
body of this new abbey church was not begun till the year 1245, and it is most
probable that this chapel had been completed some years before.
Another remarkable occurrence took place during the time of this abbot. It
was a warm and active contest between Eustachius de Fauconberg, Bishop of
* Bede, Eccles. Hist, book iv. chap. 1.
+ Rymer's Foedera, torn I. p. 191.