Note.—During excavation alongside the south aisle footing of the nave, in continuation of the work on the south-west tower footings, an interment of a curious nature was encountered. The skeleton lay in the clay just outside the wall, and the head was protected by a "dropstone" having a cylindrical hollow, open at the neck, in which lay the skull. Between the legs of the skeleton was a second skull, but broken. At the foot was a flat stone laid across, and against it on the further side a number of leg-bones, etc. The following was written shortly after the discovery:
SITTING XXXIV. 19th September, 1908.
"Radulphus Cancellarius, who slew Eawulf in fair fight, did nevertheless suffer by his foeman's seaxe, which broke his bones asunder.39He, dying after many years, desired that they who loved him should bury him without the church where he was wont to feed the birds in his chair. The sunne did shine there, as he loved it, for his blood was cold." "It is strange, yet wee know it is true. The head of Eawulf was (there). As they digged around his body they knew not that the head of Eawulf fell, and so lay betwixt his feet. And thus have ye found it."I, Gulielmus, I knew the old church that Radulphus did pull downe, and much lieth beneath the floor of ye newe church. Search estward of where ye now digge and ye shall find much, and of the old work made they the vaults, and some are deeper. Be not deceived by appearances. Under where ye now think is the end of all, there will be seen very deep walls of the older church. None knew of them, and they were not destroyed. Seek also north of the said cutting: there is somewhat there ye might not know of."Q. "Why was the head of Radulphus protected by a dropstone, when the body was not enclosed?"A."Soe he wished it. Let the worms of the earth devour my poor body with all its sinnes, saith he. Mine head did ever fight against the body. It is the best part of me. See ye, saith he, that ye protect it! That foul body—let hym go, saith hee."Q. "How did Eawulf come to be buried there, and who was he?"A."Know ye not Eawulf, the Yarl of Edgarley, of royal blood, who harried the Norman, and would have slain Turstinus?40A doughty Saxon he, and one who said that Glaston was builded by the Saxon, and Saxon it should remain. So he was buried in Glaston, and not in his own chapel at Edgarley.41The holy men of Glaston, they who were of Saxon blood, suffered much through his violence in their behalf, and, God wot, through no rebellion of their own; and they had their reward, for a Saxon42again was Abbot for a time."
"Radulphus Cancellarius, who slew Eawulf in fair fight, did nevertheless suffer by his foeman's seaxe, which broke his bones asunder.39He, dying after many years, desired that they who loved him should bury him without the church where he was wont to feed the birds in his chair. The sunne did shine there, as he loved it, for his blood was cold." "It is strange, yet wee know it is true. The head of Eawulf was (there). As they digged around his body they knew not that the head of Eawulf fell, and so lay betwixt his feet. And thus have ye found it.
"I, Gulielmus, I knew the old church that Radulphus did pull downe, and much lieth beneath the floor of ye newe church. Search estward of where ye now digge and ye shall find much, and of the old work made they the vaults, and some are deeper. Be not deceived by appearances. Under where ye now think is the end of all, there will be seen very deep walls of the older church. None knew of them, and they were not destroyed. Seek also north of the said cutting: there is somewhat there ye might not know of."
Q. "Why was the head of Radulphus protected by a dropstone, when the body was not enclosed?"
A."Soe he wished it. Let the worms of the earth devour my poor body with all its sinnes, saith he. Mine head did ever fight against the body. It is the best part of me. See ye, saith he, that ye protect it! That foul body—let hym go, saith hee."
Q. "How did Eawulf come to be buried there, and who was he?"
A."Know ye not Eawulf, the Yarl of Edgarley, of royal blood, who harried the Norman, and would have slain Turstinus?40A doughty Saxon he, and one who said that Glaston was builded by the Saxon, and Saxon it should remain. So he was buried in Glaston, and not in his own chapel at Edgarley.41The holy men of Glaston, they who were of Saxon blood, suffered much through his violence in their behalf, and, God wot, through no rebellion of their own; and they had their reward, for a Saxon42again was Abbot for a time."
SITTING XXXVII. 23rd September, 1908.
Q. "How is the great difference in date between Radulphus and Eawulf to be explained? We cannot reconcile this."A."Wee know not your dates, nor the tymes gone by; but this we know—Eawulf and Radulphus43did fight, and the Norman did slay the Saxon. This is fact, as we know it. Be sure of your own tymes and look at Domesday for light."We remember (Radulphus) was an hundred years and three when he went to hys fathers:—hale and of a good visage even then—but hys bones did grieve him (by reason of) ye payne in them. Soe did he seek ye sunne. More we will serche in the great army of past things. They are soe hard to find!"That wych is hidden will be found out and all ye Abbaye is at your hands; but serche. Alle three churches are open to ye, and one whych was of old time in the midst of the nave of ye newe—not much, for Turstinus did remove ... them when he builded anewe the Norman churche" (i.e., built the new Norman church.—F.B.B.).Q. "Did Eawulf lead the assault in the fight? How did it come about?"A."Old men have strong anger, but youth should have spared him. More we know not,—we wil serche."
Q. "How is the great difference in date between Radulphus and Eawulf to be explained? We cannot reconcile this."
A."Wee know not your dates, nor the tymes gone by; but this we know—Eawulf and Radulphus43did fight, and the Norman did slay the Saxon. This is fact, as we know it. Be sure of your own tymes and look at Domesday for light.
"We remember (Radulphus) was an hundred years and three when he went to hys fathers:—hale and of a good visage even then—but hys bones did grieve him (by reason of) ye payne in them. Soe did he seek ye sunne. More we will serche in the great army of past things. They are soe hard to find!
"That wych is hidden will be found out and all ye Abbaye is at your hands; but serche. Alle three churches are open to ye, and one whych was of old time in the midst of the nave of ye newe—not much, for Turstinus did remove ... them when he builded anewe the Norman churche" (i.e., built the new Norman church.—F.B.B.).
Q. "Did Eawulf lead the assault in the fight? How did it come about?"
A."Old men have strong anger, but youth should have spared him. More we know not,—we wil serche."
The script here breaks off into the description (already given) of the pilgrims' procession at sunset, with the music of organs and bells.
SITTING XLII. 18th April, 1911.
The problem of the dates was left for further consideration, and remained in abeyance for two and a half years. At this sitting other matters of early history had been touched upon, and itoccurred to F.B.B. to ask a question as to Radulphus and Eawulf.
Q. "Please explain the apparent discrepancy of dates in the story of Radulphus and his fight with Eawulf."A."Ne Radulphus of Henry the King" (i.e., FitzStephen, 1184.—F.B.B.). "Radulphus the Treasurer was Norman of the time of Turstinus—annos One Thousand and Eighty-seven. Ralph was hee. Eorwulf of Edgarley, old in years, was wroth because the soldiers of Turstinus did slay the Saxon monks. Ralph the Norman knight and Treasurer of Turstinus, slew him. Who was hee? Radulphus FitzHamon—as wee wot, an evil man."Q. "Where was Ralph FitzStephen—of Henry II.—buried?"A."Ralph, ye cousin of ye King, dyed as we deem, at Wincastre—there yburied. Chancellor of Angleland was he."
Q. "Please explain the apparent discrepancy of dates in the story of Radulphus and his fight with Eawulf."
A."Ne Radulphus of Henry the King" (i.e., FitzStephen, 1184.—F.B.B.). "Radulphus the Treasurer was Norman of the time of Turstinus—annos One Thousand and Eighty-seven. Ralph was hee. Eorwulf of Edgarley, old in years, was wroth because the soldiers of Turstinus did slay the Saxon monks. Ralph the Norman knight and Treasurer of Turstinus, slew him. Who was hee? Radulphus FitzHamon—as wee wot, an evil man."
Q. "Where was Ralph FitzStephen—of Henry II.—buried?"
A."Ralph, ye cousin of ye King, dyed as we deem, at Wincastre—there yburied. Chancellor of Angleland was he."
Note.—The two foregoing answers were now read, but unfortunately the first was incorrectly interpreted, as the writing was a little difficult. F.B.B. made the mistake of thinking that it implied that Ralph of Turstinus was FitzStephen (though the sense is clear enough on further inspection), and consequently asked as follows:
Q. "Why do you say that Ralph, treasurer of Turstinus, was Ralph of King Henry?"
Q. "Why do you say that Ralph, treasurer of Turstinus, was Ralph of King Henry?"
(Here the influence changes and a masterful "personality" of whom we have had previous experience, controls the utterance.)
A."Rede. I said it not. I said not 'Ralph of the King Henricus,' but 'Ralph ye Norman.' Taedet damnosum. Lege!—IMPERATOR."Audi me, barbari stultissimi! Ego Imperator, qui feci interpretationes pro anima insularium.—CAESAR."44
A."Rede. I said it not. I said not 'Ralph of the King Henricus,' but 'Ralph ye Norman.' Taedet damnosum. Lege!—IMPERATOR.
"Audi me, barbari stultissimi! Ego Imperator, qui feci interpretationes pro anima insularium.—CAESAR."44