Chapter 7

How, after gaining the king's favour, he fulfilled both the vow and the precept.

THEREFORE, the remainder of his journey being accomplished, he came to London, and was received with much joy by his acquaintances and friends. With whom and with some barons of London in intimate converse about these things which were revolving in his mind, he narrated what things were done concerning him by the way, and took counsel as to what would be meet to be done thereon. And from them he received the answer that nothing of what he desired could be effected by him without consulting the king, especially because the place divinely shown to him was contained within the king's market, on which it was lawful neither for the princes themselves nor for the wardens of their own authority to encroach to any extent whatever, much less to allot it to a religious purpose of this kind. And, using their counsel, he betook himself at an opportune time to the king and, in the presence of Bishop Richard, whom he had won over to himself as a supporter, he effectually explained his business, and humbly besought to be allowed to bring his purpose to performance. Forthwith He, in whose hand he was, inclined the king's heart to his desire, nor could prayers be ineffective whose author was the apostle, whose hearer was God. So his saying was pleasing in the eyes of the king and, considering the man's wish to be very good, and as he was of a prudent mind, he bestowed his royal favour upon his petitioner, and graciously gave him authority to carry out his proposals. And he, having obtained of the king's majesty the title of the possession he desired, and omitting no care or diligence, very gladly began to carry out his double work of piety; one for the vow which he had made; the other as had been appointed to him by precept. When, therefore, matters succeeded prosperously and all things that were necessary flowed to his hand-according to the apostle's word-he forthwith began to build the church with suitable stone blocks in courses, and the hospital house a little farther removed from the church.

Now the church was founded, as we have received of our elders, in the month of March, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, in memory of the most blessed apostle Bartholomew, in the one thousand one hundred and twenty-third year from the Incarnation of the same Lord our Saviour, while the most holy Pope Calixtus the Second ruled the citadel of the high pontificate, William, Archbishop of Canterbury, presided over the Church of England, and Richard was Bishop of London, who of due right hallowed that place on the east side of the said field, and dedicated with episcopal authority what was at that time a very small cemetery, in the reign of the younger son of William the Bastard, first King of the English in the North, Henry the First, in the thirtieth and about a third year of his reign [December 5, 1129] to the praise and glory of the Most High and Undivided Trinity, to whom be blessing and thanksgiving, honour and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

The Book of the Foundation of St. Bartholomew's, Smithfield Rendered into Modern English from the original Latin version preserved in the British Museum, numbered Vespasian B. IX, by Mr. Humphrey H. King and Mr. William Barnard for use in the Records of St. Bartholomew's Priory by E.A. Webb.

Rahere's Garden Home tbird's home page Photographs and text copyright Tina Bird, 2003-2008 Last modified 12 December 2008