Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 63.djvu/199

 profession of obedience to Stigand [q. v.], whose position was uncanonical (, relying on Florence of Worcester, holds that he made profession to Stigand, but prints in an appendix his later profession to Lanfranc in which Wulfstan declares the contrary, Norman Conquest, ii. 466, 607).

Under a pretence of doing him honour, Aldred left him for some time in charge of the church of York, and took to himself the revenues of Worcester; nor was it without much difficulty that Wulfstan persuaded him to resign the temporalities of the see, with the exception of twelve estates which the archbishop insisted on withholding from him. As bishop, Wulfstan practised the same asceticism that had marked his earlier life; he was diligent in the administration of his diocese, constantly going about from place to place confirming the young, exhorting the people, and promoting church building. His connection with the diocese of York enabled him to be useful to Harold on his accession by helping to gain the allegiance of the Northumbrians. He made submission to the Conqueror, along with Aldred and other great ecclesiastics and laymen, at Berkhampstead. The property of his church was invaded by Urse [q. v.] of Abetot, sheriff of Worcester, who built his castle so that it encroached on the monastic cemetery, and Ealdred laid his curse on the offender. At the council of 1070, in which many English prelates were deprived, Wulfstan demanded the restitution of the twelve manors unjustly retained by Aldred, and then in the king's hands during the vacancy of the see of York by Aldred's death. A decision was deferred until a new archbishop had been appointed to York. Thomas (d. 1100) [q. v.], the next archbishop, claimed Wulfstan as one of his suffragans, but the see of Worcester was declared to be included in the southern province. It is probable that Wulfstan, who had suffered from the close connection between his see and the archbishopric of York, was on the side of Canterbury in this dispute. Both archbishops sought to have him deprived, Lanfranc on the ground of his ignorance, and Thomas for insubordination to himself. Nevertheless he kept his see. Later writers record a legend which represents the Conqueror demanding the resignation of Wulfstan's pastoral staff at a council at Westminster; Wulfstan went to the Confessor's tomb, and, addressing the dead king, declared that he would resign his staff only to him from whom he had received it. He struck his staff upon the tomb, saying ‘Take it, my lord king, and give it to whomsoever thou wilt.’ The marble opened to receive the staff and held it fast, nor could any remove it until a decision had been given in Wulfstan's favour, and then the staff was yielded to its rightful possessor (, ap., cols. 405–7; ii. 52–5).

Both archbishops eventually became Wulfstan's friends; he helped Thomas by visiting parts of his diocese for him, and at Lanfranc's request held, probably in 1072, a visitation of the vacant diocese of Lichfield, where the Norman power had not yet been established. In that year Lanfranc obtained a decree from the king adjudging to the see of Worcester the twelve manors taken from it by Aldred. Wulfstan increased the number of monks in his cathedral monastery, was careful and strict about the performance of divine service, punishing any monks who came in late with a stroke of a ferule administered by his own hand, and rebuilt his cathedral church between 1084 and 1089, supplying it with all necessary furniture. The crypt and some other parts of his building still exist. When it was complete and the church built by St. Oswald had to be pulled down, he wept, saying that the men of old, if they had not stately buildings, were themselves a sacrifice to God, whereas ‘we pile up stones and neglect souls.’ He and his monks entered into a bond with six other monasteries to be obedient to God, St. Mary, and St. Benedict, to be loyal to the king and queen, and to perform certain masses and good works. He was diligent in his diocesan work, and, among the many churches which he built or restored, rebuilt St. Oswald's Church at Westbury in Gloucestershire and gave it to the monastery of Worcester. In confession as well as in preaching he was excellent, and many came to him for spiritual direction. He is said to have insisted that the married clergy of his diocese should either put away their wives or resign their benefices. While he was extremely abstemious he entertained others liberally, and when not dining with his monks would preside in his hall at the feasting of his followers, for he seems to have always had a number of armed retainers in his household, to which many rich youths were sent for education. Careful not only for the wants but the feelings of the poor, he instructed these youths whom he caused to serve poor people with food to do so with humility. He was much beloved by Normans as well as English, and was on friendly terms with Bishop Geoffrey of Coutances, who reproved him for the monastic plainness of his dress. The influence of his preaching is illustrated by its success at Bristol, where the merchants had long been in the habit of kidnapping their fellow-countrymen, and