Yorkshire Almanac Archbishop Zouche writes from Cawood Palace to York ordering action against a great pestilence threatening England

28 July 1348: Archbishop Zouche writes from Cawood Palace to York ordering action against a great pestilence threatening England – the Black Death

James Raine, Ed. 1873. Historical Papers and Letters from the Northern Registers. London: Longman. Get it:

Unedited excerpt

If an excerpt is used in the book, it will be shorter, edited and, where applicable, translated.

CCXLVIII.
A LETTER FROM ARCHBISHOP ZOUCHE TO HIS OFFICIAL AT YORK.
(Reg. Zouche 247 b.)
Willelmus, etc., dilecto filio Officiali curiæ nostræ Ebor., ejusve commissario generali, salutem, gratiam et benedictionem. Cum sit militia vita hominis super terram, nimirum si militantes in hujus mundi miseria incertis agitentur eventibus, nunc prosperis nunc adversis, Omnipotens namque Dominus interdum quos diligit lacessiri permittit, dum virtus in infirmitate perficitur, superinfusa gratia spirituali. Quantæ siquidem mortalitates, pestilentiæ, et aeris infectio in diversis mundi partibus, et præsertim Anglicanis, immineant his diebus, non est, cum sit publicum, qui ignoret; et hoc quippe hominum peccata efficiunt, qui, arridentes prosperis, summi Largitoris beneficia negligunt reminisci. Sic, quia sortis humanæ conditio et mortis instent impietas, nulli parcere dedignantis, nisi plebi Suæ de excelsis prospiciat sancta clementia Salvatoris, restat igitur ad Ipsum solum recurrere, Cujus misericordia excedit judicium, et Qui ignoscens benignius de conversione congaudet piissime peccatorum, orationibus insistendo humiliter et precibus, ut Ipse, mitis et misericors Omnipotens Deus, iram Suam avertat, pestilentiamque et infectionem hujusmodi amoveat et repellat a populo prætioso Suo sanguine quem redemit.

Discretioni itaque vestræ injungimus et mandamus quatenus faciatis cum omni celeritate qua poteritis publicari, quod, tam in ecclesia nostra cathedrali, quam aliis ecclesiis collegiatis et conventualibus, ac singulis ecclesiis parochialibus nostræ civitatis et diœcesios, singulis quartis et sextis feriis devote processiones fiant cum decantatione letaniæ solemni, et specialis oratio dicatur in missis pro pestilentia et infectione sedanda hujusmodi omni die, similiter et pro domino rege et statu ecclesiæ atque regni totiusque populi Anglicani; ut frequentem pulsationem Salvator exaudiens, creaturæ ignoscat et subveniat quam ad Suam formaverat imaginem ipse Deus. Et nos de Omnipotentis Dei misericordia et gloriosæ Virginis Mariæ, matris Suæ, ac beatorum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli, necnon sanctissimi confessoris Willelmi, Omniumque Sanctorum meritis et precibus confidentes, omnibus parochianis nostris et aliis, quorum dioecesani hanc nostram indulgentiam ratam habuerint et acceptam, de peccatis suis pœnitentibus, contritis et confessis, qui pro præmissis devote oraverint, missas celebraverint, processiones fecerint, eisdem interfuerint, aliave piæ devotionis officia exercuerint, quadraginta dies de injuncta sibi pœnitentia Deo propitio misericorditer relaxamus; indulgentias in hac parte rite concessas et in posterum concedendas ratas habentes pariter et acceptas. Et hæc in singulis archidiaconatibus dictæ nostræ diocesios per locorum archidiaconos, eorumve officiales, faciatis executioni celeri demandari. Valete. Data apud Cawode, xxviijo. die mensis Julii, anno Domini millesimo ccc quadragesimo octavo, et pontificatus nostri septimo.

Translation
… Since man’s life on earth is a struggle, it is no wonder that those fighting amidst the miseries of this world are troubled by the uncertainty of events, now favourable, now adverse. For the Lord Almighty sometimes allows those he loves to be chastised, since strength, by the infusion of spiritual grace, is perfected in infirmity. All know what a mortal pestilence and infection of the atmosphere is hanging over various parts of the world, and especially England, in these days. This is caused by the sins of men who, callous through prosperity, neglect to remember the benefits of the supreme giver. Thus, since the human condition and impious death threaten, disdaining to spare anyone, unless the holy clemency of the Saviour shines down upon his people from on high, it remains therefore to have recourse to him alone, whose mercy surpasses judgement, and who, most generous in his forgiveness, rejoices in the conversion of the most pious of sinners, who, through orison and prayer, humbly urge that he, the gentle and merciful Almighty God, avert his wrath, and remove the pestilence and repel the infection from the people whom he redeemed with his precious blood.

Therefore we enjoin and command that you make it known as soon as possible that devout processions are to take place on every fourth and sixth day of the week in our cathedral church, in other collegiate and conventual churches, and in every parish church of our city and diocese, with chanting of the solemn litany, and that a special prayer be said daily in mass for the alleviation of pestilence and infection of this kind, likewise for the lord the king, the estate of the church, the kingdom, and the whole English people; that the Saviour, hearing the frequent blows, forgives and helps the creatures whom God himself formed in his own image.

And we, by the mercy of Almighty God, and trusting in the merits and prayers of the glorious Virgin Mary, His mother, and of the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, as well as the most holy confessor William, and of all the saints, mercifully respite forty days of the penance enjoined by God’s forgiveness upon all our parishioners and others whose diocesans have approved and accepted this indulgence of ours, who, contrite and confessed, have repented of their sins, who have prayed devoutly for those who have been forgiven, who have celebrated masses, who have undertaken processions or have attended them, or who have performed other services of pious devotion. Indulgences duly granted in this respect and agreed to be granted hereafter are equally accepted. And the speedy execution of these things is required in each of the archdeaconries of our diocese by the local archdeacons or their officials. Farewell.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Comment

Francis Gasquet:

Archbishop Zouche of York was apparently one of the first of the English prelates to recognise the gravity of the epidemic, which in 1348 was devastating Southern Europe, and ever creeping northwards towards England… Judging from a reply of the Pope to a petition of the Archbishop, it would be necessary to conclude that the plague had reached York as early as February, 1349. It is, however, more probable that the petition was sent in the expectation that the scourge would certainly come sooner or later, and it was best to be prepared. From the dates of the institutions to vacant benefices, moreover, it would seem that the province of York suffered chiefly in the summer and autumn of the year 1349 (Gasquet 1893).

Translation based partly on Gasquet, including the perhaps controversial translation of dum as “since.” I think he’s right, and I think The Oxford Latin Syntax agrees with me, though at this early hour I can’t explain why. Ditto for piissime peccatorum. Re frequentem pulsationem > “frequent blows”: inelegant and not completely accurate though it may be, it strikes me as more probable than Rosemary Horrox’s “constant entreaties” (HMG 1770), for which I can find no precedent.

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Comment

Francis Gasquet:

Archbishop Zouche of York was apparently one of the first of the English prelates to recognise the gravity of the epidemic, which in 1348 was devastating Southern Europe, and ever creeping northwards towards England… Judging from a reply of the Pope to a petition of the Archbishop, it would be necessary to conclude that the plague had reached York as early as February, 1349. It is, however, more probable that the petition was sent in the expectation that the scourge would certainly come sooner or later, and it was best to be prepared. From the dates of the institutions to vacant benefices, moreover, it would seem that the province of York suffered chiefly in the summer and autumn of the year 1349 (Gasquet 1893).

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29 August 1570: On arriving in Yorkshire, Archbishop Grindal declares war on bloody-minded folk-Catholicism

22 September 1465: A menu for the enthronement at Cawood Castle of George Neville as Archbishop of York

21 May 1108: Archbishop Gerald of York dies reading Roman astrology

20 September 1319: During the Anglo-Scottish wars, seasoned raiders encounter an improvised Yorkshire home guard of clergy, peasants and officials at Myton-on-Swale

26 December 1570: Edmund Grindal, Puritan archbishop of York, orders the removal of rood-lofts (and their superstitious images), and the erection of pulpits

5 February 1649: The Puritan John Sharp of Bradford, on military service at Hull, writes passionately to his “cousin” at York

12 June 1635: A prominent Puritan finds poor buildings but good beer for Archbishop Richard Neile at Bishopthorpe Palace (York)

25 September 1880: Thomas Harper reveals to the Leeds Mercury’s young readers a mnemonic song of monarchs (except Oliver) used in the village school at Weldrake (York) in the 1770s

1 November 1530: Dining at Cawood on All Hallows’ Day, Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII’s ex-Lord Chancellor, receives divine warning that his time is nigh

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Comment

A different version of this story is incorporated into the second (but not the first) published version of the prophecies attributed (after their fulfilment) to the mythical Mother Shipton, which appeared in the same year as the first published version of Cavendish’s biography:

In Henry the 8th’s time the King having made Cardinal Wolsey Bishop of York, and he purposing to come and live in the north, Mother Shipton hearing of it replied and said, “He must see York, but never come to it.” King Henry and the Cardinal heard tell of her saying, and were very angry, and sent three lords down to see if she would stand to her words, viz. Lord Duke, Lord Percy, and Lord Darcy. So they and their men came down disguised from London to Dringhouses near York, and left there their men, and came to York themselves to one Master Beasley’s House in Conistreet in York late at night, and knocked at his door and asked if Master Beasley was within, who were answered, he was, and they requested to speak with him, who forthwith came unto them, and they whispering in his ear, told him he must go with them to Shipton wife’s house, which accordingly he did, and knocking at her door, she said, “Come in, Master Beasley, and those three honourable lords with you.” Upon which words Master Beasley would have put the lords in first, and she said, “No, Master Beasley, come you in, you know the house and they do not.” Then said they one to another, this is a strange thing, that she should know us and never saw us.

So they came in, and there was a fair fire prepared, Master Beasley saying, “with your leave Mother Shipton.” “Welcome,” quoth she, so said all the Lords in order; and she said, “Welcome, my Lord Duke, welcome, my Lord Percy, and welcome, my Lord Darcy. Sit you here, my Lord Duke, sit you here my Lord Percy, and sit you here my Lord Darcy, and you M. Beasley sit here, for you are as one of the house.” And when they all were set down, she bade her maid fetch some ale, and go to the cupboard and bring short cakes, (for she had prepared them before hand) and she did so, and they all did eat and drink thereof, and were very merry. Then said my Lord Duke, “Mother Shipton, if you knew what we were come about, you would not make us thus welcome.” And she said, “My Lord Duke, the Messenger must neither be headed, nor hanged.” “But Mother Shipton,” said the Duke, “my Lord Cardinal says you must be burned, for saying, he might see York, but never come into it. And when he comes to York, he purposeth to effect the same.” And she answered him, she did say so, and that he should see anon whether she might be burned or no then she took a kerchief which she had on her head, that had a yard of cloth in it, and spread it on her knee, and her head was as white as wool, and cast it upon the fire and let it lie thereon a great while, which not burning, she took her staff and turned it over, and it would not burn: then took she it out of the fire and shaked it, and put it on her head again. Then my Lord Duke asked her what she meant by that, and she gave him answer and said, “If this had burned I might have been burnt, but because it doth not, I must not.”

Then said my Lord Duke, “Mother Shipton, I understand you are woman of knowledge and judgement, tell me, what shall be the event of me?” She answered him, “My Lord, the time shall come when you will be in as low an estate and case as I am in, and in as mean an office, and that is both a mean one and a low one.” Then required Lord Percy of her, what should become of him. “My Lord,” said she, “shoe your horse in the quick, and you will do well enough, but if you do not, your body will be buried in Cruse-Church after you be beheaded on the pavement in York, and your head will be stolen into France.” And they laughed, and said, “That will be a great hop betwixt the head and the body.” Then said my Lord Darcy, “Mother Shipton, what must I do?” Who answered him, “You my Lord, who is going for warfare, God speed you well, you have made a great gun, shoot it off in time, for it will come to pass, that you will pyne many, but kill few.” So they drank and gave her money and thanks, and returned to M. Beasley’s house, and the next morning posted to the court, and declared their conference with her, which several passages came to be incident to the several parties.

Presently afterwards the Lord Cardinal came to Cawood Castle near York, and resided there three days and three nights. Upon the third day the cross upon the top of the castle fell down, and sore hurt the steward upon his head. Lord Cardinal being told thereof replied, “I fear and doubt a greater cross than this will follow.” In the afternoon the Cardinal went up to the top of the castle, and many knights with him, and when he was at the top upon the leads walking, he demanded of them where York stood, and they showed it to him. And he demanded how many miles it was thither, and they told him seven miles. “Then,” said he, “that will be soon ridden, not past two hours work, I will go thither because yonder witch said, I might see York but never come thither,” and vowed he would burn not only her, but also three priests which were at table with her, if when he came there they lacked their vestments. The priests hearing tell thereof were sore affrighted, but she encouraged them, saying, “Content yourselves, for if need require, you shall have twenty vestments, but his purpose will be altered.” The night following, after supper, the Lord Cardinal fearing some evil towards him to approach, charged his household and all his officers, that no manner of person should that night more be suffered to come in, but immediately after the charge was passed, came Lord Percy and knocked at the gates, importuning the porter to let him in, who answered him, none could that night come in, for the cardinal had charged him to suffer none to come in more then was in the house. Then Lord Percy changed his voice, pretending to be a near kinsman and favourite to the Cardinal, and must needs speak with him, so that the porter let him in. And when the Cardinal saw Lord Percy, he cried out, “Mercy, Lord Percy, I am no traitor.” “If not,” said Lord Percy, “yet must you with speed go with me to London.” But before he came thither, for all the haste by the way, he ended his life, and against Mother Shipton his threats were past. Then Mother Shipton, after the cardinal had poisoned himself by the way, sent to M. Beasley and said to him, “M. Beasley, the cardinal builded a goodly closet in the minster for him to sit in, with pillars of silver and gold, with pearls and rich stones enamelled, go and pull down one or two of them, and present them to King Henry.” Which accordingly he did, and was made in recompense thereof an officer to the King, and the rest the King caused to be taken down.

(Shipton 1642)

In the 1641 version “Lord Duke” is the Duke of Suffolk, i.e. Charles Brandon, which makes no historical sense: Brandon was never “in as low an estate and case” as Shipton. Ma Shipton Inc. on the other hand makes him Henry Grey, which is also historical nonsense: Grey was executed by Mary, but at the time of Wolsey’s fall and death he was 13 and didn’t become Duke of Suffolk until 1551, four years after Henry VIII’s death.

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