March 7th 1093
After an extraordinary sequence of events at Kingsholm it was announced late yesterday that the appointment of a new Archbishop of Canterbury has finally taken place.
Kingsholm, the royal palace at Gloucester, has been the scene of many a dramatic event, but nothing quite like the chaotic events of yesterday. It has been reported that there was a virtual scrum around the king’s sickbed as prelates and courtiers set about forcing the king to make the long overdue appointment.
Background to this story
King William Rufus, who succeeded his father in 1087, had retreated to Kingsholm after falling ill at Alveston, north of Bristol where he was visiting a royal manor. This manor had once belonged to King Harold and the king’s illness was subsequently attributed to revenge for the slaughter at Hastings.
Refusing to take to his bed, the king made the 25mile journey to Gloucester where he became dangerously ill and withdrew to his sickchamber in Kingsholm Palace.
Gloucester filled up with officials, courtiers and clergy. Special prayers were said at St Peter’s Abbey for the recovery of the king. Then word went round that the king would only be spared through the prayers of an Archbishop of Canterbury. It is widely known that the clergy are angered by the king’s failure to appoint an archbishop to Canterbury, leaving the office unfilled for four years. During this time there has been no real leader of the church in England. So is the king’s recovery being made a matter of quid pro quo?
Allegations made against King
The King is accused of misappropriating church funds as well as taking church lands and income within his own control, thus effectively stealing from the church. These highly controversial allegations may have been instrumental in finally persuading a desperately ill William Rufus to appoint an archbishop and thus prevent further criticism from the church.
Caught on his sickbed, in fear of dying, the king may have had his hand forced. In effect William Rufus is being made to promote a man whom he believes to be not only an ineffectual leader but also ‘an interfering Pope’s man.’
News of the appointment well received by some at court
The king’s advisers are said to be satisfied with the appointment, including officials of the chancellery, the clergy and the royal chaplains and staffers. Some of the grand magnates are more hesitant, including Robert of Meulan who has, in the past, had disagreements with the Anselm whose monastery, Bec, is within Meulan’s Norman territories.
But, when the news was finally brought to Anselm there was an unexpected and explosive response.
In a complete reversal of expectations, Anselm totally rejects the appointment
One eyewitness, a monk called Eadmer, said: “Anselm himself was aghast…and turned deathly pale.” He had to be pulled along to the king’s bedside to receive the investiture. Resisting all the way, he was heard to shout: “What are you thinking of? Where are your wits gone to?”
Chaos followed this outburst as Anselm kept up his protestations, saying he was Abbot of a monastery, devoted to monastic life, he was a monk, unsuited to administration, he didn’t want the job and couldn’t do it. He had an allegiance to his monks and his overlord, the Duke of Normandy, which he couldn’t cast off. He denounced the whole idea as preposterous.
Meanwhile the space around the king’s bed filled up with supporters of the appointment. The clergy wanted an Archbishop, someone who would stop the flow of church money into the king’s coffers.The king was very ill. It was time for the church to triumph. Anselm must accept the office.
Having made the decision, the king was desperate for Anselm to agree and was even heard to beg him to take the role. When Anselm refused, the king told all those present to kneel down and implore Anselm to accept. Everybody knelt. But then Anselm knelt down too and still refused to accept.
Situation descends into farce
By this time the nobles and clergy around the king’s sickbed were thoroughly fed up with Anselm’s obduracy. One eyewitness said: “They called for the pastoral staff to be brought and thrust it into his hand, folding the fingers around it. They wouldn’t let him throw it down, they made him hold it, grasping his hands and forcing them around the staff. Can you believe it? They forced the staff of office into his hands. I never saw anything like it in my life.”
Another witness commented: “I have never seen such an embarrassing fiasco.”
During the whole of yesterday William Rufus continued to insist that Anselm must take the office of Archbishop. Anselm continued to refuse.
Latest development
It was announced late last night that, in order to win Anselm’s consent, the King intends to issue a renewal of his coronation pledges, in the form of a ‘charter of liberties’. This charter is being welcomed as a restatement of the king’s governing programme: to protect and defend the church and to stop the ‘misappropriation of funds,’ a scandal which has seen the church losing many thousands to the royal coffers over the last four years.
The charter further pledges to abolish unjust laws, to deter wrong-doers, to release prisoners and remit debts. How he intends to implement this popular set of promises is as yet unclear.
It is understood that Anselm, under pressure from both clergy and court, must now accept the inevitable and take up the burden of office.
As of today, March 7th, Anselm remains in his lodgings at St Oswald’s Abbey in Gloucester. He has issued no statement.