DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6886#0275
WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
243
WESTMINSTER RE-ESTABLISHED AS A MONASTERY.
In this restoration of the abbey to its original monastic character, the papal
authority was not only allowed to interpose, but to predominate; and it appears
to have been by a licence proceeding from the pope's legate, that the chapter held
itself authorised to resign its estates to the queen, in order to furnish a revenue
adequate to the support of the resettled foundation. On this surrender being
made, Cardinal Pole, who had been appointed to the legatine office, gave the new
abbot possession, and assumed the right of forming regulations for his conduct, as
well as that of the monks in the respective offices to which they were named:
in several particulars they differed from those which had been observed in the
former state of the monastery. It was now settled, that the abbots were not
to retain their office during life, as under the old establishment, but for the limited
term of three years; neither was there to be a conge d'elire previous to the election;
nor was the royal assent necessary to confirm it.
JOHN FECKENHAM.
On the monastic re-establishment of the Church of Westminster, Feekenham
was appointed abbot. He took his name, after the monkish custom, from the
place of his birth, which was in or near Feekenham Forest, in the county of
Worcester, his proper surname being Howman. After pursuing his studies at
Oxford, he became a monk of Evesham; and, on the surrender of that monastery,
November 17, 1539, he was appointed chaplain to Bell, Bishop of Worcester,
on whose resignation, if not previous to it, he was received by Bonner, Bishop
of London, in the same character; in which capacity he continued till his patron's
deprivation in the year 1549.
11 2
243
WESTMINSTER RE-ESTABLISHED AS A MONASTERY.
In this restoration of the abbey to its original monastic character, the papal
authority was not only allowed to interpose, but to predominate; and it appears
to have been by a licence proceeding from the pope's legate, that the chapter held
itself authorised to resign its estates to the queen, in order to furnish a revenue
adequate to the support of the resettled foundation. On this surrender being
made, Cardinal Pole, who had been appointed to the legatine office, gave the new
abbot possession, and assumed the right of forming regulations for his conduct, as
well as that of the monks in the respective offices to which they were named:
in several particulars they differed from those which had been observed in the
former state of the monastery. It was now settled, that the abbots were not
to retain their office during life, as under the old establishment, but for the limited
term of three years; neither was there to be a conge d'elire previous to the election;
nor was the royal assent necessary to confirm it.
JOHN FECKENHAM.
On the monastic re-establishment of the Church of Westminster, Feekenham
was appointed abbot. He took his name, after the monkish custom, from the
place of his birth, which was in or near Feekenham Forest, in the county of
Worcester, his proper surname being Howman. After pursuing his studies at
Oxford, he became a monk of Evesham; and, on the surrender of that monastery,
November 17, 1539, he was appointed chaplain to Bell, Bishop of Worcester,
on whose resignation, if not previous to it, he was received by Bonner, Bishop
of London, in the same character; in which capacity he continued till his patron's
deprivation in the year 1549.
11 2