Queen's Grace, and my son, Thomas, Marquis of Dorset, to put their good wills and help for the performance of this my testament."

And thus closes the eventful life of Elizabeth of York. Some thirty years ago, when the workmen were busy in the vaults of Windsor, preparing a place of sepulture for the family of George III., they lighted upon a stone coffin buried fifteen feet below the surface. It contained the remains of Queen Elizabeth Woodville.

Bermondsey has yet another memory in connexion with this unfortunate queen's persecutor, Henry VII., and one that illustrates another remarkable trait of his character-his superstitious piety. His masterly policy was not often a very upright and honourable policy; so, this stroke was followed by the erection of a chapel, that, by founding masses to be said evermore for his soul, he might keep a tolerably fair reckoning in the great account-book of his conscience. He is not the only monarch who has endeavoured to keep an “even mind” by the adoption of a similar kind of offset. It appears that an indenture was executed between the king, the City of London, and the Abbots of Westminster and Bermondsey, sometime after the death of his queen, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth Woodville, by which the Abbot and monks of Westminster were to pay 31. 6s. 8d. annually to those of Bermondsey, for the holding of an anniversary in the church on the 6th of February in every year, to pray for the good and prosperous estate of the king during his life, and the prosperity of his kingdom, also for the souls of his late queen and of their children, of his father, the Earl of Richmond, and his progenitors, and of his mother, the Countess of Richmond, after her decease. Full directions are contained in the indenture as to the mode of performing the ceremony.

As a glimpse of what was sometimes doing in the old church, as well as of the old custom itself, is the following :—“The Abbot and Convent of St. Saviour of Bermondsey shall provide at every such anniversary a hearse, to be set in the midst of the high chancel of the said monastery, before the high altar, covered and appareled with the best and most honourable stuff in the same monastery convenient for the same. And also four tapers of wax, each of them weighing eight pounds, to be set upon the same hearse, that is to say, on either side thereof one taper, and at either end of the same hearse another taper, and all the same four tapers to be lighted and burning continually during all the time of every such Placebo, Dirige, with nine lessons, lauds, and mass of Requiem, with the prayers and obeisances above rehearsed.”

At the Dissolution, the Abbot of Bermondsey had no tender scruples about conscience or principle, like so many of his brethren, but arranged

everything in the pleasantest possible manner for the King; and he had his reward. The monastery itself, with the manor, demesne, &c., the “court leet, the view of frank-pledge, and the free-warren" were granted by Henry VIII., to Sir Robert Southwell, Master of the Rolls, who sold them to Sir Thomas Hope, the founder of Trinity College, Oxford, who was the destroyer of the fine old Abbey of Bermondsey. He pulled down the conventual church and most of the other buildings, and erected a mansion on the site; and then, as if satisfied with what he had done, reconveyed the mansion, with the orchards, &c., to Sir Robert. The manor he subsequently sold to a citizen and goldsmith of London.

Bermondsey Priory (converted into an Abbey late in the fourteenth century), was founded in 1082, by Alwin Child, a citizen of London, for Cluniac monks, from the monastery of La Charité de Dieu, on the Loire, which continued to supply its priors until 1372. It is worthy of note that between 1082 and 1372, the number of these priors was sixty-eight, nine of whom were promoted, and six resigned, leaving fifty-three to die while holding the office; at times two or three within a single year. The average life in office of the priors of Bermondsey, during 290 years, was but four years, three months, and five days.

Founding the Priory of St. Bartholomew the Great.

Upon the south-eastern side of Smithfield stands a portion of the fine old church, which formed without doubt, part of the ancient Priory of St. Bartholomew the Great, supposed to have been founded at the commencement of the twelfth century, by Rahere, or Raherius, who became the first prior of the establishment. According to a manuscript in the British Museum, written, probably, soon after the death of Rahere, by a monk who inhabited the Priory, Rahere was a "man sprung and born from low kynage, but haunted the palace of the King Henry I., was a pleasant-witted gentleman, and called the king's minstrel;" though he has been identified with one of the companions of the "hardy outlaw," Hereward, "the last of the Saxons," who, at the bridge of Wrokesham, rescued four innocent persons from Norman executioners; and they, owing to his ingenious disguise, mistook him for a heron, an honourable nickname which continued to cling to him through life. Disgusted, however, with his manner of living, and repenting him of his sins, he undertook a pilgrimage to Rome. "There, at the shrine of the blessed apostles, Peter and Paul, he weeping his deeds, prayed to our Lord for the remission of them, and avowed that if health God would him grant, that he might return to his country, he would make an hospital

in recreation of poor men, and to them so there gathered, necessaries minister after his power. And not long after, the benign and merciful Lord beheld this weeping man, gave him his health, and approved his vow. "When he would perfect his way that he had begun, in a certain night he saw a vision full of dread and sweetness. It seemed him to be borne up on high of a certain beast, having four feet and two wings, and set him in an high place. And when he, from so great a height, would inflect and bend his eye to the lower part downward, he beheld a horrible pit, whose beholding him impressed with great dread: for the deepness of the same pit was deeper than any man might attain to see; therefore, he (secret knower of his defaults) deemed himself to slide into that cruel a downcast. And therefore (as seemed him inwardly) he fremshid (quaked), and for dread trembled, and great cries of his mouth proceeded. To whom appeared a certain man, pretending in cheer the majesty of a king, of great beauty and imperial authority, and his eye on him fastened. O man,' he said, 'what and how much service shouldest thou give to him that in so great a peril hath brought help to thee?' And he answered to this saint, 'Whatsoever might be of heart and of might, diligently should I given in recompense to my deliverer.' And then,' said he, 'I am Bartholomew, the apostle of Jesus Christ, that come to succour thee in thine anguish, and to open to thee the secret mysteries of Heaven. Know me truly, by the will and commandment of the Holy Trinity, and the common favour of the celestial court and council, to have chosen a place in the suburbs of London, at Smithfield, where, in mine name thou shalt found a church. This spiritual house Almighty God shall inhabit, and hallow it and glorify it. Wherefore, doubt thee nought; only give thy diligence, and my part shall be to provide necessaries, direct, build, and end this work.' Rahere now came to London, and of his knowledge and friends with great joy was received; with which also, with the barons of London he spake familiarly of these things that were turned and stirred in his heart, and of that was done about him in the way he told it out; and what should be done of this he counselled of them. He took this answer, that none of these might be perfected, but the King were first counselled; namely, since the place godly to him showed was contained within the King's market. In opportune time Rahere addressed him to the King; and nigh him was He in whose hands it was to what he would the King's heart incline: and ineffectual these prayers might not be whose author is the apostle, whose gracious hearer is God. Rahere's word therefore was pleasant and acceptable, and when the King had praised the good wit of the man (prudently, as he was witty), granted to the petitioner his kingly favour.

"Then Rahere omitting nothing of care and diligence, two works of piety began to make-one for the vow he had made, another as to him by precept was enjoined." The place where these great works were to be erected had been previously shown to King Edward the Confessor, in a revelation:-" the which, in a certain night, when he was bodily sleeping, his heart to God waking, he was warned of this place with an heavenly dream made to him, that God this place had chosen: thereupon, this holy King, early arising, came to this place that God had showed him; and to them that about him stood, expressed the vision that night made to him, and prophesied this place to be great before God." It was also said that three men of Greece, who came to London, went to this place and worshipped God; "and before them that were present (and beheld them as simple idiots), they began wonderful things to say and prophesy of this place, saying, 'Wonder not; see us here to worship God, where a full and acceptable temple to him shall be builded; and the fame of this place shall attain from the spring of the sun to the going down.'"

The spot selected for the site of the church was a mere marsh, for the most part covered with water; while on that portion which was not so, stood the common gallows. Rahere's power of rendering himself agreeable, it appears, had not left him; for it seems by assuming the manners of an idiot and consorting with the lower order of persons, he procured so much help, that notwithstanding the difficulties interposed by the badness of the situation, the great work was speedily finished. The church he made of comely stonework table-wise; and an hospital-house, a little longer off from the church by himself he began to edify. The completion of the work evidently excited a large amount of wonder and admiration, not unmixed with a kind of superstitious awe. People" were greatly astonied both of the novelty of the raised frame, and of the founder, who would trow this place with so sudden a dreaming could be purged, and there to be set up the token of the Cross? And God there to be worshipped, where sometime stood the horrible hanging of thieves?" Three Byzantine princes, whether merchants or monks does not appear, attended the consecration of the choir, by Beauvais, Bishop of London, and prophesied the prosperity of the Hospital. On the conventual seal of the 12th century, the original design of the church is shown with a low central tower, and two pair of towers, one at each of the angles of the church, all crowned with conical spires.

When the Priory began to flourish and its fame spread, Rahere joined to him a certain old man, Alfun by name, who had not long be

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fore built the church of St. Giles, at Cripplegate. Rahere, from his counsel and help derived much encouragement. Alfun, with ministers of the church, sought and provided necessaries for the poor men that lay in the hospital, and for them that were hired in building their church. To help Alfun, St. Bartholomew was believed to have wrought miracles, such as the following. Alfun having applied to a widow, she told him she had but seven measures of malt, and that indeed, it was no more than but absolutely necessary for her family's use. She was, however, prevailed on to give one measure. Alfun was no sooner gone than, casting her eyes on the remaining measures, she counted seven still. Thinking herself mistaken, she tried again, and found eight, and so on ad infinitum. No sooner was the receptacle ready than many "yearly with lights and oblations, peaceful vows, and prayers, visited this holy church;" and the fame of cures performed was supported by magnificent festivals; "the year 1148, after the obit of Harry the First, King of England, the twelfth year, when the golden path of the sun reduced to us the desired joys of feastful celebrity, then, with a new solemnity of the blessed Apostle, was illumined with new miracles this holy place. Languishing men, grieved with varying sorrows, softly lay in the church; prostrate beseeching the mercy of God, and the presence of St. Bartholomew."

But, new troubles arose, and disturbed the last hours of Rahere. The reputation he had gained, created for him many enemies, who scrupled not to accuse him of hypocrisy, and sought all means to injure him: some even went so far as to conspire his death; but being apprised of the plot, he contrived to elude them, and ultimately obtained the interference of Henry I. in his behalf: the King also granted to the priory, by charter, many immunities and privileges. According to the MS. referred to, numerous miracles were wrought in the Monastery during the life of Rahere; and even after his death, the blind were restored to their sight, and the sick were made well by a visit to the spot. After the service of his prelacy, twenty-two years and six months, Rahere "the clay-house of this world forsook, and the house everlasting he entered." His memory was held in great veneration: and his remains rest beneath a sumptuous tomb in the church. He was succeeded by Thomas, one of the canons of the church of St. Osyth, who was prelate about thirty years. "In age," says the MS., "an hundred winters, almost with whole wits, with all Christian solemnity, he deceased in 1174. In this man's time grew the plant of the apostolic branch in glory and in grace before God and man. And with more ample buildings were the skins of our tabernacle dilated."