As soon, however, as the King's party was subdued, and the unhappy
sovereign, whose acts and habits had excited so much animosity,
cruelly put to death, we find not only the political character of
the Earl of Lancaster vindicated, his attainder reversed, his
estates restored to his family, and his adherents re-established in
all their rights and liberties, but within five weeks of the
accession of Edward the Third, a special mission was sent to the
Pope from the King, imploring the appointment of a commission to
institute the proper canonical investigation for his admission into
the family of saints. His character and his cause are described, in
florid language, as having been those of a Christian hero; and the
numberless miracles wrought in his name, and the confluence of
pilgrims to his tomb, are presumed to justify his invocation.
In June of the same year (1327), a "king's letter" is given to
Robert de Weryngton, authorising him and his agents to collect alms
throughout the kingdom for the purpose of building a chapel on the
hill where the Earl was beheaded, and praying all prelates and
authorities to give him aid and heed. This sanction gave rise to
imposture; and in December a proclamation appeared, ordering the
arrest and punishment of unauthorised persons collecting money under
this pretence, and taking it for their own use.
In 1330, the same clerical personages were sent again to the Pope,
to advance the affair of the canonization of the Earl, and were
bearers of letters on the same subject from the King to five of the
cardinals, all urging the attention of the Papal court to a subject
that so much interested the Church and people of England.
Pages:
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32