Since the foregoing pages were in type, Mr. Winston has arrived at some very important and interesting conclusions relating to the east window of the choir. The general design of the figure-work is the Enthronement of the Blessed Virgin. The original arms in the window were those of warriors who served in the Cressy campaign, and who were connected with the county of Gloucester by their landed possessions; and there is ground for a surmise that the donor of the glass was Lord Bradeston, Governor of Gloucester Castle. The conception of the work may be attributed to 1347 or 1348, and it was completed not later than 1350.
The saving of this noble relic from the destructive effects of a ‘restoration’ is due to the energetic remonstrances of the Archæological Institute; in the Journal of which Society the results of Mr. Winston’s investigations, briefly stated above, will soon, it is to be hoped, appear. They will be eagerly welcomed by all who are interested in the subject.
GLOUCESTER CATHEDRAL.
PART II.
History of the See, with Short Notices of the principal Bishops.
VERY ancient traditions, which were accepted as facts throughout the Middle Ages, connected Gloucester with the first introduction of Christianity to Roman Britain. It was said to have been the chief city of Lucius, the British King who, about the year 160, sent messengers to Rome with a request that Pope Eleutherius would despatch Christian teachers into Britain, who might teach Lucius himself and his people. This was accordingly done. Lucius was baptized at Gloucester, and after establishing Christianity throughout the island, died at Gloucester in the year 201, and was buried in a church which he had built on the site of the existing cathedral[24]. What amount of truth may be involved in this story is altogether uncertain. The first who mentions the conversion of Lucius is Bede[25]. His death is placed at Gloucester by Matthew Paris, and by others of the later chroniclers; and his legend (for it is little more) has been illustrated in a window of stained glass, lately inserted in the nave of the Cathedral, (see Pt. I. § VI.)
Gloucester, the British Cair glou, the Roman Glevum, had been walled during the Roman period, and was one of the strong “ceasters” of Mercia. In 681 it was granted by Ethelred of Mercia to Osric, as “underking” or viceroy of the district. Osric is said to have completed the establishment of a convent of nuns, which had been commenced in Gloucester by Wulphere, brother of Ethelred; and Archbishop Theodore of Canterbury dedicated it in honour of St. Peter. Osric was accordingly regarded as the founder of the monastery, which continued under the rule of an abbess until A.D. 767, between which year and 821 it lay desolate, and the nuns were dispersed. In A.D. 821, Beornulph of Mercia restored the convent, and established in it a body of secular canons. They remained until 1022, when Canute introduced Benedictines in their place. From that time until the dissolution the abbey increased steadily in wealth and importance. The reception of the body of Edward II. brought vast sums to its treasury; and under Abbot Froucester it was raised to the dignity of a mitred abbey, by Pope Urban VI. Its income at the Dissolution was, according to Speed, £1,550.
The first Parliament after the Conquest was assembled by Henry I. in this abbey, and the young King, Henry III., (then but nine years old,) was crowned in the church, October 28, 1216. Richard II. held a Parliament in the great hall of the abbey, in November, 1378.
The most important Abbots were—
[A.D. 1072-1104.] Serlo, who laid the foundation of the present church, dedicated in the year 1100. [A.D. 1113-1130.] William, in whose time (1122) Serlo’s church was greatly injured by fire, (see Pt. I.) [A.D. 1139-1148.] Gilbert Foliot, who in the latter year became Bishop of Hereford, and in 1163 was translated to London. He was the well-known opponent of Becket. [A.D. 1306-1329.]