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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 ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: subscribe medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: unsubscribe medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/medieval-religion