DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6886#0241
WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 209
October 20, 1414, this abbot was appointed one of the king's ambassadors to
the council of Constance. His colleagues on this occasion were the Earl of
Warwick, the Bishops of Bath and Wells, of Salisbury and Hereford, the Prior
of Worcester, and the Abbot of St. Mary's, in the city of York.
In the closing years of his life the rebuilding of the abbey was carried on
with renewed activity. The work seems to have been suspended during the reign
of Henry IV,* but was very much encouraged by his son Henry V.; who, as it
has been already observed, notwithstanding the pressures of his war with France,
contributed the annual sum of a thousand marks towards its completion.
This abbot died some time in October 1420, having enjoyed his dignity for
nearly thirty-four years; a period of administration unexampled for its length in
this monastery. He was buried in the chapel of St. John the Baptist, where his
tomb, with its effigy, is still remaining, but without epitaph or inscription. It
has no other distinctive marks than the initials of his name, W. C. engraved on
the pillow whereon his mitred head reposes. That his talents were well suited to
public business, and that he employed them with superior sagacity and under-
standing, may be fairly presumed from the frequent and important occasions on
which he was called to exercise them.
It is remarkable that, in the same year, the abbey consigned thirteen of
its monks to the tomb; one of whom, Ralph Selby, deserves particular notice.
In the year 1385, he was prebendary of Driffield, in the cathedral of York; in
1386, sub-dean of that church, and in 1392, by exchange, he became archdeacon
of Buckingham. In 1395, he was one of the executors of Bishop Waltham.
In 1398-f-, he was collated to the archdeanry of Norfolk. In 1399, he became a
monk of this place. Other matters relative to him are mentioned in his epitaph.
* Rymer's Fcedera, torn. IX. p. 38.
+ Le Neve's Fasti.
Vol. I. E e
October 20, 1414, this abbot was appointed one of the king's ambassadors to
the council of Constance. His colleagues on this occasion were the Earl of
Warwick, the Bishops of Bath and Wells, of Salisbury and Hereford, the Prior
of Worcester, and the Abbot of St. Mary's, in the city of York.
In the closing years of his life the rebuilding of the abbey was carried on
with renewed activity. The work seems to have been suspended during the reign
of Henry IV,* but was very much encouraged by his son Henry V.; who, as it
has been already observed, notwithstanding the pressures of his war with France,
contributed the annual sum of a thousand marks towards its completion.
This abbot died some time in October 1420, having enjoyed his dignity for
nearly thirty-four years; a period of administration unexampled for its length in
this monastery. He was buried in the chapel of St. John the Baptist, where his
tomb, with its effigy, is still remaining, but without epitaph or inscription. It
has no other distinctive marks than the initials of his name, W. C. engraved on
the pillow whereon his mitred head reposes. That his talents were well suited to
public business, and that he employed them with superior sagacity and under-
standing, may be fairly presumed from the frequent and important occasions on
which he was called to exercise them.
It is remarkable that, in the same year, the abbey consigned thirteen of
its monks to the tomb; one of whom, Ralph Selby, deserves particular notice.
In the year 1385, he was prebendary of Driffield, in the cathedral of York; in
1386, sub-dean of that church, and in 1392, by exchange, he became archdeacon
of Buckingham. In 1395, he was one of the executors of Bishop Waltham.
In 1398-f-, he was collated to the archdeanry of Norfolk. In 1399, he became a
monk of this place. Other matters relative to him are mentioned in his epitaph.
* Rymer's Fcedera, torn. IX. p. 38.
+ Le Neve's Fasti.
Vol. I. E e