medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
June 8th is feast of St William of York
William Fitzherbert was elected archbishop of York by a majority of the cathedral chapter, defeating the Cistercian, Henry Murdac of Fountains Abbey. Murdac's supporters appealed to Rome on the grounds that Fitzherbert was a dissolute simoniac put into the see by King Stephen. Innocent II permitted the consecration if the charges against Fitzherbert were denied on oath. Lucian II, the next pope but one sent him the pallium, which Fitzherbert did not bother to collect! The following pope, the Cistercian Eugenius III suspended William on a technicality, and Murdac, now abbot of Fountains, was consecrated by Eugenius and William deposed, following the sacking of Fountains by William's supporters. William still had royal support and he went off to Winchester and lived, we are told, a saintly life. On the deaths of St Bernard, Eugenius and Murdac himself, the new pope, Anastasius IV, reinstated William. William was subsequently poisoned, it is said, by the defeated party. He was canonized in 1227 by Honorius III. Miracles were reported at his tomb, including holy oil exuding from the tomb (shown in one of the panels in the St William window in York Minster - see below.
Some images:
Oxford, Trinity College, Old Library, East windows:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/17881209926
York Minster, Great East window, 1f:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/16458304294
detail of rings embroidered on glove of St William of York:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/16893220330
detail, arms of St William as archbishop:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/17080803325
Morley, St Matthew, Derbyshire, sIII, 1c, St William with St John of Bridlington:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/10906233705
York Minster, nVII, St William window - some details:
nVII, 22b, man offering leg at William's shrine:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/6309586135
cripples collecting oil from William's tomb:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/6309586127
released prisoner offering chains at shrine:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/6309586139
Woman praying at William's tomb:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/6312948956
four men seeking cures at the tomb:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/6312948944
nVII, 1b, Robert & Richard, 4th and 5th sons of William 7th Baron Ros:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/4532454996
nVII, 1c, William Lord Ros and Margaret, Lady Ros:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/4532475908
nVII, 1e, Beatrice Dowager Lady Ros mother of William, 6th Baron Ros:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/4531857853
York Minster, wI, 2g-4g: St William and Sewall de Bovill:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/4708769605
detail of apparel on William's alb:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/4714714771
York, St Michael-le-Belfrey, sVI, 2b, arms of St William in wreath:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/4583752274
York, St Michael-le-Belfrey, sIV, 3d-4d:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/4583124939
and detail:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/4583755948
York, Yorkshire Museum. western corner of St William's shrine, c.1471:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22274117@N08/6313307222
Gordon Plumb
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