Appendix: Indulgence for devotions in the chapel

Survey of London: Volume 12, the Parish of All Hallows Barking, Part I: the Church of All Hallows. Originally published by London County Council, London, 1929.

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'Appendix: Indulgence for devotions in the chapel', in Survey of London: Volume 12, the Parish of All Hallows Barking, Part I: the Church of All Hallows, (London, 1929) pp. 67-69. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol12/pt1/pp67-69 [accessed 24 March 2024]

In this section

APPENDIX I

Forty days' indulgence to those who pay devotions in the chapel in the churchyard of Berkyngchirche

Universis sancte matris ecclesie filiis, presentes literas inspecturis Nos miseracione divina . . . [Johannes] Ciuitatis Noue Johannes Carpenteran' Adrianus, Tartarorum Episcopi, & domini Pape legati, salutem in domino sempiternam. Quia datum est nobis intelligi per illustrissimum Regem Anglie, Edwardum filium Regis Henrici quod capella in cimiterio de Berkyngchirche, London' situata per strenuum Ricardum quondam Regem Anglie [mi]rabiliter extiterat fundata Ac eciam qualiter Wallences Angliam inuaserunt viuente dicto Henrico & patriam undique devastauerunt homines ac mulieres ac infantes in Cunabulis occiderunt & quod auditu horrendum est mulieres in puerperio decubantes gladio trucidauerunt & ulterius Insulam de Ely hostiliter ceperunt & illam per vnum annum manu forti custodierunt, & finaliter indempnes cum tempus sibi placuerit Walliam redierunt Idem Edwardus tunc temporis juvenis tot dampna cernens Inurias & obprobria in exheredicionem patris sui & destruccionem totius Anglie fleuit amariter ac tantam doloris tristiciam acerbi cordisque merorem presertim suo corpori ministrauit vt lecto recumbens penitus semiuiuo relicto nullam se credidit totaliter sanitatem recuperare Quadam vero nocte dei genitricis marie auxilium postulans piam ejus clemenciam deuote implorauit vt ipsum ex diuina reuelacione nocturna visione inspiraret quomodo de Wallensibus Anglici possent citissime vindicari. Vt factum est autem eo dormiente virgo venustissima omnium virtutum floribus insignita virgo dei genitrix gloriosa cujus precibus iuuatur populus Christianus florem inmarcessibilem & eternum ineffabili sancti Spiritus cooperacione produxit, quasi nocturna visione ipsi apparuit dicens O Edwarde amice dei quid clamas Ecce assum Scias pro certo quod viuente patre tuo non possunt Wallenses ab anglicis totaliter opprimi aut subiugari & hoc est ob patris tui vile peccatum ac nimias extorciones. Sed vade cras mane ad quendam Judeum nomine Marlibrunum totius mundi sapienciorem picture artificem apud Billingesgate London' commorantem, & eum tibi facere ymaginem constringas sub tali forma qua modo me vides qui ex diuina inspiracione duas in ipsa perficiet facies unam filio meo Jesu valde similem alteram mihi in cunctis consimilem perornabit, vt nulla difformitas possit ab aliquo veraciter enarrari Ipsam ymaginem sic plene compositam Capelle in Cimiterio de Berkyngchirche iuxta turrim London' situate quamtocius destinare studeas & ibidem ex parte aquilonari decenter ornari facias vnde maiora tibi mirabilia scias veraciter protinus eminere Nam tam cito quam facierum vultus dictus Mar[l]ibrunus infra ipsam Capellam diligenter inspexerit mox in amorem celestem affectabitur vt ad fidem catholicam unacum vxore sua Juda conuertetur qui postmodum tibi multa Judorum secreta est reuelaturus vnde puniendi sunt Et tu, Edwarde, cum hoc miraculum videris omnipotenti deo votum tuum voue quod te viuente & in Anglia existente quolibet anno quinquies dictam ymaginem sub honore matris Christi visitabis, eandemque Capellam quociescunque opus fuerit reparabis, & sustentabio Nam ille locus vere est laudandus qui cum hoc votum genuflectendo feceris & iuxta tuum posse firmiter impleueris vbicumque in mundo fueris super omnes gentes semper victoriosissimus atque insuperabilis eris & mortuo patre tuo tu es Rex Anglie subjugator Wallie & oppressor tocius scocie futurus Insuper crede michi quod quilibet iustus Anglie monachus seu forte alius qui hoc votum deuote vouerit & iuxta suum posse firmiter adimpleuerit super Wallenses & scotos semper sine dubio victoriosissimus atque insuperabilis erit Et hiis dictis euanuit Vt ergo euigilans, & sui sompnum commemorauit velut raptus pene spiritu cepit admirari. Verum tamen totum impleuit quemadmodum per sompnum in mandatis prehabuit Insuper coram nobis in presentia multorum magnatum tam Anglie quam scocie dictus Edwardus sponte prestitit juramentum quod omnia per sompnum sibi ostensa ut predictum est hucusque inuenit verissima Nos igitur cupientes ut dicta Capella congruis honoribus frequentetur & a Christi fidelibus iugiter veneretur omnibus vere penitentibus et confessis qui ad ipsam Capellam causa devocionis et oracionis accesserint & qui ad luminaria reparamenta ac ornamenta manus suas porrexerint adiutrices necnon & qui pro animabus nobilis Ricardi quondam Regis Anglie cuius cor in eadem Capella sub summo altari requiescit humatum Et omnium fidelium defunctorum in Christo quiescencium oracionem dominicam cum salutacione Angelica quociescunque & quandocunque pia mente dixerint de omnipotentis dei misericordia & beatorum Petri & Pauli Apostolorum eius meritis & auctoritate confisi singuli singulas quadragenas dierum de Inunctis eis penitenciis misericorditer in domino relaxamus dum tamen loci diocesanus hanc nostram ratam habuerit Indulgenciam. In quorum omnium testimonium presentes literas nostris sigillis duximus roborandas. Data apud Northam existente Parliamento tam Anglie quam scocie vicesimo die Maii Anno Domini Millesimo Ducentesimo nonagesimo brimo [sic].

The text as here printed occurs in London Episc. Reg., Gilbert, f. 194, and differs considerably from the version printed by Newcourt (Repertorium App.). The marginal notes, in a hand which added notes throughout the register read: (a) Nota quomodo Wallenses Inuaserunt Regnum et que dampna inde perueniebant et quomodo tandem ex Reuelacione Diuin[a] Virginis Marie facta Edwardo Regi Anglie vindicabantur; and (b) In hiis litteris continetur de factura ymag[inis] s[ancte] marie in ca[pella] iux[t]a Berkyn[g]chirch.

The Register itself is that of Bishop Gilbert, who was Bishop of London, 1436 to 1448. The indulgence occurs directly after an imperfect Act on the same folio relating to an agreement between a Bishop of London and the Prior and Chapter of Christchurch, Canterbury, the See of Canterbury being vacant, and among a number of miscellanea relating to Thele, Steple, and Canterbury, and occupying folios 192 to 194. The Register is not in the same hand throughout. At f. 203 follows a similar Indulgence for Edmonton parish church entered as this one is without any letters of inspection or confirmation, but in the hand of the clerk who wrote the bulk of the Register. It is clear that these Indulgences were either entered at the end of Gilbert's episcopate, or after his death (July 1448); but neither is in the hand which at f. 207 begins the Register of Walter Sherington clerk Canon of St. Paul's, official and Custos of the Spiritualities upon the death of Gilbert.

The whole register was bound in 1529. (fn. 1)

Footnotes

  • 1. I am much indebted to Miss Minnie Reddan for very generous help in respect to this and other records relating to the history of the church.—L. J. R.