Saint William of York
Encyclopedia
William of York also known as William FitzHerbert, William I FitzHerbert and William of Thwayt, was an English priest
and Archbishop of York
. William FitzHerbert has the unusual distinction of having been Archbishop of York
twice, both before and after his rival Henry Murdac
. He was a relative of King Stephen of England
, and the king helped secure FitzHerbert's election to York after a number of candidates had failed to secure papal confirmation. FitzHerbert faced opposition from the Cistercians who, after the election of the Cistercian Pope Eugene III
, managed to have the archbishop deposed in favor of the Cistercian Murdac. From 1147 until 1153, FitzHerbert worked to secure his restoration to York, which he finally achieved after the deaths of both Murdac and Eugene III. He did not retain the see
long, as he died shortly after returning to York, allegedly having been poisoned. After William's death miracles were reported at his tomb from the year 1177 onwards, and in the year 1227 he was declared a saint.
, William was the son of Herbert of Winchester, or Herbert FitzAlberic, chancellor and treasurer of King Henry I
. Most sources say his mother was Emma, half-sister of King Stephen and Henry of Blois
, Bishop of Winchester
, and that she was an illegitimate daughter of Stephen II, Count of Blois
, Stephen's father. New research, however, suggests that Emma might have been a daughter of Hunger fitz Odin, who held lands in Dorset
in the Domesday survey
. FitzHerbert was born sometime before the 1090s, but the exact date of birth is unknown.
FitzHerbert held the prebendary
of Weighton in the diocese of Yorkshire between 27 June 1109 and 24 February 1114. Sometime between 1109 and 1114 he was appointed Treasurer of York. He was also appointed archdeacon of the East Riding of Yorkshire at an unknown date between 1125 and 1133. The influence of his rich and powerful father, who had many landholdings in Yorkshire may have been of benefit in gaining him these offices at a relatively early age. William apparently held both of these offices until his election as archbishop. Serving under Archbishop Thurstan of York, William FitzHerbert became involved in Thurstan's dispute with King Henry I after Henry demanded that the Archbishops of York should accept subordination to the Archbishops of Canterbury. William accompanied Thurstan into exile in Europe and on embassies to the papal court. Reconciliation with Henry allowed a return to York in 1121. A papal ruling in favour of the independence of the Archbishops of York was finally delivered in 1127.
of York had elected Waltheof in 1140, but that election was set aside because one of Waltheof's supporters had made an uncanonical
gift to secure Waltheof's election. Then Henry of Blois tried to secure the see for Henry de Sully
, another nephew of Stephen and Henry's. Sully's election was opposed by Pope Innocent II
, who refused to confirm him as archbishop while he retained his post as Abbot of Fécamp. It was only at a third election, held in January 1141, that FitzHerbert was selected. Whether he had been a candidate in the previous two elections is unknown.
The election was opposed by the Cistercian monasteries of Yorkshire, and by the archdeacons of York. The Cistercians opposed on the grounds that the Second Lateran Council
in 1139 had given the religious houses of a diocese the right to participate in the election of the bishop. Theobald of Bec
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
, refused to recognize FitzHerbert's election due to allegations of simony
, or the acquisition of church positions by bribery, and of interference by King Stephen. In 1143, Pope Innocent II ruled that FitzHerbert could be confirmed in office if he swore under oath that the allegations were false. After he swore the oath, Henry of Blois, who was also papal legate
, found FitzHerbert innocent, and he was consecrated as archbishop on 26 September 1143.
, the sign of an archbishop's authority from the pope, which he had not yet received. The Cistercians, who were still adamantly opposed his being archbishop, were determined to prevent his receiving it. FitzHerbert travelled to Rome in an attempt to obtain the pallium. The election of Pope Eugene III, a Cistercian, in 1145, was a setback for FitzHerbert's cause. Bernard of Clairvaux
, the famous Cistercian abbot and religious leader, exerted all his influence to ensure FitzHerbert's suspension, sending a series of complaints to the new pope that William had been intruded by secular powers into the see, that he was oppressing the Cistercian monasteries and that he had irregularly appointed William of St. Barbara
as Dean of York
. In the winter of 1145–46 Eugene re-examined the case, declared that FitzHerbert had not been validly consecrated, and suspended him from office. FitzHerbert was required to obtain an in-person refutation of the old charges by William of St. Barbara, who was now the Bishop of Durham.
While awaiting the final decision in his case, FitzHerbert took up residence with one of his friends, Roger II
, King of Sicily. Hearing of his suspension, some of FitzHerbert's supporters in York launched a damaging attack upon Fountains Abbey
which destroyed many of the buildings. William was formally deposed as archbishop by Eugenius in early 1147 and the deposition was confirmed at the Council of Reims on 21 March 1148. Another election to York was held, and the candidates included Hilary of Chichester
who was the king's candidate, and Henry Murdac, the Cistercian abbot
of Fountains Abbey. Murdac's supporters included the Cistercians and most of the clergy of the diocese, including FitzHerbert's former ally, William of St. Barbara. Both sides appealed to the pope, and the pope confirmed Murdac as the successful candidate. FitzHerbert then returned to Winchester, the city he had left forty years earlier to begin his career in York.
. Stephen was trying to secure the coronation of Eustace as his successor during his own lifetime, to defeat the rival claims to the throne of Henry of Anjou
. Within a few years, however, both Murdac and the new Pope had died, so FitzHerbert traveled to Rome to plead with the new pope, Anastasius IV
, for restoration to office. The pope concurred, and FitzHerbert's reappointment was confirmed on 20 December 1153. On his return to York, while crossing the Ouse Bridge in York in triumphal procession, the bridge collapsed, yet no one was killed.
, an archdeacon of York, of the murder, and Osbert was summoned before the king to be tried at the royal court. Before the trial could take place, however, Stephen died, and the trial never took place. William FitzHerbert was buried in York Minster
and within a few months of his death, miracles were attributed to his intervention and a sweet-smell came from his tomb when it was damaged during a fire. Nor was the body decayed or burnt in the fire. Pope Honorius III
then ordered an investigation into the miracles. In 1227, he was canonized
in Rome by Pope Honorius III.
William's feast day
is celebrated on 8 June, the day of his death, although his veneration is largely localized to York. Traditional iconography
and windows
often depict William's crossing of the Tweed; some iconography shows him crossing in a boat. William's Coat of arms
traditionally depict seven mascles or lozenge
s. St William's College, which was named for him is next to York Minster. It was established between 1465 and 1467 with the permission of King Edward IV
as the home for chantry
priests of the Cathedral. His remains were rediscovered in the 1960s and are now in the crypt at York Minster.
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
. William FitzHerbert has the unusual distinction of having been Archbishop of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
twice, both before and after his rival Henry Murdac
Henry Murdac
Henry Murdac was abbot of Fountains Abbey and Archbishop of York in medieval England,-Early life:Murdac was a native of Yorkshire. He was friendly with Archbishop Thurstan of York, who secured his promotion in the cathedral chapter of York Minster, however Murdac resigned soon afterwards when...
. He was a relative of King Stephen of England
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
, and the king helped secure FitzHerbert's election to York after a number of candidates had failed to secure papal confirmation. FitzHerbert faced opposition from the Cistercians who, after the election of the Cistercian Pope Eugene III
Pope Eugene III
Pope Blessed Eugene III , born Bernardo da Pisa, was Pope from 1145 to 1153. He was the first Cistercian to become Pope.-Early life:...
, managed to have the archbishop deposed in favor of the Cistercian Murdac. From 1147 until 1153, FitzHerbert worked to secure his restoration to York, which he finally achieved after the deaths of both Murdac and Eugene III. He did not retain the see
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
long, as he died shortly after returning to York, allegedly having been poisoned. After William's death miracles were reported at his tomb from the year 1177 onwards, and in the year 1227 he was declared a saint.
Early life
Born William FitzHerbert in York, YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, William was the son of Herbert of Winchester, or Herbert FitzAlberic, chancellor and treasurer of King Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
. Most sources say his mother was Emma, half-sister of King Stephen and Henry of Blois
Henry of Blois
Henry of Blois , often known as Henry of Winchester, was Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey from 1126, and Bishop of Winchester from 1129 to his death.-Early life and education:...
, Bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
, and that she was an illegitimate daughter of Stephen II, Count of Blois
Stephen II, Count of Blois
Stephen II Henry , Count of Blois and Count of Chartres, was the son of Theobald III, count of Blois, and Garsinde du Maine. He married Adela of Normandy, a daughter of William the Conqueror around 1080 in Chartres...
, Stephen's father. New research, however, suggests that Emma might have been a daughter of Hunger fitz Odin, who held lands in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
in the Domesday survey
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. FitzHerbert was born sometime before the 1090s, but the exact date of birth is unknown.
FitzHerbert held the prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
of Weighton in the diocese of Yorkshire between 27 June 1109 and 24 February 1114. Sometime between 1109 and 1114 he was appointed Treasurer of York. He was also appointed archdeacon of the East Riding of Yorkshire at an unknown date between 1125 and 1133. The influence of his rich and powerful father, who had many landholdings in Yorkshire may have been of benefit in gaining him these offices at a relatively early age. William apparently held both of these offices until his election as archbishop. Serving under Archbishop Thurstan of York, William FitzHerbert became involved in Thurstan's dispute with King Henry I after Henry demanded that the Archbishops of York should accept subordination to the Archbishops of Canterbury. William accompanied Thurstan into exile in Europe and on embassies to the papal court. Reconciliation with Henry allowed a return to York in 1121. A papal ruling in favour of the independence of the Archbishops of York was finally delivered in 1127.
Election problems
In January 1141 he was elected Archbishop of York. Originally, the cathedral chapterCathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
of York had elected Waltheof in 1140, but that election was set aside because one of Waltheof's supporters had made an uncanonical
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
gift to secure Waltheof's election. Then Henry of Blois tried to secure the see for Henry de Sully
Henry de Sully, Abbot of Fecamp
Henry de Sully was a medieval Abbot of Fécamp and Bishop-designate of Salisbury and Archbishop-elect of York.-Life:Henry was the son of William, count of Chartres the eldest brother of King Stephen of England and Henry of Blois, Bishop of Winchester. Henry's mother was William's wife Agnes who had...
, another nephew of Stephen and Henry's. Sully's election was opposed by Pope Innocent II
Pope Innocent II
Pope Innocent II , born Gregorio Papareschi, was pope from 1130 to 1143, and was probably one of the clergy in personal attendance on the antipope Clement III .-Early years:...
, who refused to confirm him as archbishop while he retained his post as Abbot of Fécamp. It was only at a third election, held in January 1141, that FitzHerbert was selected. Whether he had been a candidate in the previous two elections is unknown.
The election was opposed by the Cistercian monasteries of Yorkshire, and by the archdeacons of York. The Cistercians opposed on the grounds that the Second Lateran Council
Second Council of the Lateran
The Second Council of the Lateran is believed to have been the Tenth Ecumenical Council by Roman Catholics. It was held by Pope Innocent II in April 1139, and was attended by close to a thousand clerics...
in 1139 had given the religious houses of a diocese the right to participate in the election of the bishop. Theobald of Bec
Theobald of Bec
Theobald was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1139 to 1161. He was a Norman; his exact birth date is unknown. Some time in the late 11th or early 12th century Theobald became a monk at the Abbey of Bec, rising to the position of abbot in 1137. King Stephen of England chose him to be Archbishop of...
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, refused to recognize FitzHerbert's election due to allegations of simony
Simony
Simony is the act of paying for sacraments and consequently for holy offices or for positions in the hierarchy of a church, named after Simon Magus , who appears in the Acts of the Apostles 8:9-24...
, or the acquisition of church positions by bribery, and of interference by King Stephen. In 1143, Pope Innocent II ruled that FitzHerbert could be confirmed in office if he swore under oath that the allegations were false. After he swore the oath, Henry of Blois, who was also papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
, found FitzHerbert innocent, and he was consecrated as archbishop on 26 September 1143.
First Archiepiscopate and deposition
As archbishop, FitzHerbert undertook a number of ecclesiastical reforms, and became popular with the people of York. However, he still needed a palliumPallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
, the sign of an archbishop's authority from the pope, which he had not yet received. The Cistercians, who were still adamantly opposed his being archbishop, were determined to prevent his receiving it. FitzHerbert travelled to Rome in an attempt to obtain the pallium. The election of Pope Eugene III, a Cistercian, in 1145, was a setback for FitzHerbert's cause. Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux, O.Cist was a French abbot and the primary builder of the reforming Cistercian order.After the death of his mother, Bernard sought admission into the Cistercian order. Three years later, he was sent to found a new abbey at an isolated clearing in a glen known as the Val...
, the famous Cistercian abbot and religious leader, exerted all his influence to ensure FitzHerbert's suspension, sending a series of complaints to the new pope that William had been intruded by secular powers into the see, that he was oppressing the Cistercian monasteries and that he had irregularly appointed William of St. Barbara
William of St. Barbara
William of St. Barbara or William of Ste Barbe was a medieval Bishop of Durham.-Life:From William's name, it is presumed that he was a native of Sainte-Barbe-en-Auge in Calvados in Normandy. He was a canon of York Minster in 1128. He was Dean of York by December of 1138.William was elected to the...
as Dean of York
Dean of York
The Dean of York is the member of the clergy who is responsible for the running of the York Minster cathedral.-11th–12th centuries:* 1093–c.1135: Hugh* c.1138–1143: William of Sainte-Barbe...
. In the winter of 1145–46 Eugene re-examined the case, declared that FitzHerbert had not been validly consecrated, and suspended him from office. FitzHerbert was required to obtain an in-person refutation of the old charges by William of St. Barbara, who was now the Bishop of Durham.
While awaiting the final decision in his case, FitzHerbert took up residence with one of his friends, Roger II
Roger II of Sicily
Roger II was King of Sicily, son of Roger I of Sicily and successor to his brother Simon. He began his rule as Count of Sicily in 1105, later became Duke of Apulia and Calabria , then King of Sicily...
, King of Sicily. Hearing of his suspension, some of FitzHerbert's supporters in York launched a damaging attack upon Fountains Abbey
Fountains Abbey
Fountains Abbey is near to Aldfield, approximately two miles southwest of Ripon in North Yorkshire, England. It is a ruined Cistercian monastery, founded in 1132. Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved Cistercian houses in England. It is a Grade I listed building and owned by the...
which destroyed many of the buildings. William was formally deposed as archbishop by Eugenius in early 1147 and the deposition was confirmed at the Council of Reims on 21 March 1148. Another election to York was held, and the candidates included Hilary of Chichester
Hilary of Chichester
Hilary was a medieval Bishop of Chichester in England. English by birth, he studied canon law and worked in Rome as a papal clerk. During his time there, he became acquainted with a number of ecclesiastics, including the future Pope Adrian IV, and the medieval writer John of Salisbury...
who was the king's candidate, and Henry Murdac, the Cistercian abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...
of Fountains Abbey. Murdac's supporters included the Cistercians and most of the clergy of the diocese, including FitzHerbert's former ally, William of St. Barbara. Both sides appealed to the pope, and the pope confirmed Murdac as the successful candidate. FitzHerbert then returned to Winchester, the city he had left forty years earlier to begin his career in York.
Second Archiepiscopate
King Stephen refused to accept FitzHerbert's deposition and the appointment of Murdac, and prevented Murdac from taking up residence in York. Stephen probably wished to trade recognition of Murdac for support for his son EustaceEustace IV of Boulogne
Eustace IV was a Count of Boulogne and the son and heir of King Stephen of England. He became the Heir Apparent to his father's lands by the death of an elder brother before 1135, and inherited Boulogne through his mother, Matilda of Boulogne.In 1137, he did homage for Normandy to Louis VII of...
. Stephen was trying to secure the coronation of Eustace as his successor during his own lifetime, to defeat the rival claims to the throne of Henry of Anjou
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
. Within a few years, however, both Murdac and the new Pope had died, so FitzHerbert traveled to Rome to plead with the new pope, Anastasius IV
Pope Anastasius IV
Pope Anastasius IV , born Corrado Demetri della Suburra, was Pope from 1153 to 1154.-Early life:He was a Roman, son of Benedictus de Suburra, probably of the family of Demetri, and became a secular clerk. He was created cardinal-priest of S. Pudenziana by Pope Paschal II no later than in 1114...
, for restoration to office. The pope concurred, and FitzHerbert's reappointment was confirmed on 20 December 1153. On his return to York, while crossing the Ouse Bridge in York in triumphal procession, the bridge collapsed, yet no one was killed.
Death and sainthood
However, after less than a month back in York, William FitzHerbert died, on 8 June 1154, allegedly due to poison administered in the chalice at Mass. One of FitzHerbert's clerks accused Osbert de BayeuxOsbert de Bayeux
Osbert de Bayeux was a medieval English cleric and archdeacon in the Diocese of York. A relative of Thurstan, the Archbishop of York, Osbert probably owed his ecclesiastical positions to this relative...
, an archdeacon of York, of the murder, and Osbert was summoned before the king to be tried at the royal court. Before the trial could take place, however, Stephen died, and the trial never took place. William FitzHerbert was buried in York Minster
York Minster
York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...
and within a few months of his death, miracles were attributed to his intervention and a sweet-smell came from his tomb when it was damaged during a fire. Nor was the body decayed or burnt in the fire. Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III , previously known as Cencio Savelli, was Pope from 1216 to 1227.-Early work:He was born in Rome as son of Aimerico...
then ordered an investigation into the miracles. In 1227, he was canonized
Canonization
Canonization is the act by which a Christian church declares a deceased person to be a saint, upon which declaration the person is included in the canon, or list, of recognized saints. Originally, individuals were recognized as saints without any formal process...
in Rome by Pope Honorius III.
William's feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
is celebrated on 8 June, the day of his death, although his veneration is largely localized to York. Traditional iconography
Iconography
Iconography is the branch of art history which studies the identification, description, and the interpretation of the content of images. The word iconography literally means "image writing", and comes from the Greek "image" and "to write". A secondary meaning is the painting of icons in the...
and windows
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
often depict William's crossing of the Tweed; some iconography shows him crossing in a boat. William's Coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
traditionally depict seven mascles or lozenge
Lozenge (heraldry)
The lozenge in heraldry is a diamond-shaped charge , usually somewhat narrower than it is tall. It is to be distinguished in modern heraldry from the fusil, which is like the lozenge but narrower, though the distinction has not always been as fine and is not always observed even today...
s. St William's College, which was named for him is next to York Minster. It was established between 1465 and 1467 with the permission of King Edward IV
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
as the home for chantry
Chantry
Chantry is the English term for a fund established to pay for a priest to celebrate sung Masses for a specified purpose, generally for the soul of the deceased donor. Chantries were endowed with lands given by donors, the income from which maintained the chantry priest...
priests of the Cathedral. His remains were rediscovered in the 1960s and are now in the crypt at York Minster.