DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6886#0195
WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 165
erected, near the north door; but the chapel being pulled down, his body was
removed to that of St. Nicholas, and laid under a small plain stone before the
middle altar. His epitaph consisted of the two following lines :—
Jam Wintona polis de Crokesleye Ilicardo
Mortis amara dedit, et locus iste capit.
He is represented by Matthew Paris, who was his contemporary, and seems
to have known him well, as a man of winning manners and attractive qualifica-
tions. On the same authorit)', he possessed an insinuating eloquence, a rare skill
in the civil and canon laws, and was remarkable for his ability in all matters of
public business. He seems, however, to have been troubled with a love of
power, which did not promote the happiness of his life.
PHILIP LEWESHAM.
On the 21st of July, 1258, being four days after the death of de Crokesley,
the king granted the custody of the Abbey of Westminster to Adam de Easton* ;
and two days after, being the 23d of the same month, he issued his royal
licence to the monks to proceed to the election of an abbot, when they chose
Philip de Lewesham, whose name was derived from a small village near Green-
wich, in the county of Kent, where he was born, and which now gives the sub-
ordinate title of viscount to the earldom of Dartmouth.
Lewesham was at this time prior of the monastery, but being of a very
corpulent figure and gross habitf, he was apprehensive of the fatigue and danger
attendant on the necessary journey to Rome for confirmation, and expressed
an anxious wish to remain in the situation he then enjoyed in preference to
* Newcourt's Eepertorium.
t Matt. Paris, p. 972.
Y 2
erected, near the north door; but the chapel being pulled down, his body was
removed to that of St. Nicholas, and laid under a small plain stone before the
middle altar. His epitaph consisted of the two following lines :—
Jam Wintona polis de Crokesleye Ilicardo
Mortis amara dedit, et locus iste capit.
He is represented by Matthew Paris, who was his contemporary, and seems
to have known him well, as a man of winning manners and attractive qualifica-
tions. On the same authorit)', he possessed an insinuating eloquence, a rare skill
in the civil and canon laws, and was remarkable for his ability in all matters of
public business. He seems, however, to have been troubled with a love of
power, which did not promote the happiness of his life.
PHILIP LEWESHAM.
On the 21st of July, 1258, being four days after the death of de Crokesley,
the king granted the custody of the Abbey of Westminster to Adam de Easton* ;
and two days after, being the 23d of the same month, he issued his royal
licence to the monks to proceed to the election of an abbot, when they chose
Philip de Lewesham, whose name was derived from a small village near Green-
wich, in the county of Kent, where he was born, and which now gives the sub-
ordinate title of viscount to the earldom of Dartmouth.
Lewesham was at this time prior of the monastery, but being of a very
corpulent figure and gross habitf, he was apprehensive of the fatigue and danger
attendant on the necessary journey to Rome for confirmation, and expressed
an anxious wish to remain in the situation he then enjoyed in preference to
* Newcourt's Eepertorium.
t Matt. Paris, p. 972.
Y 2