Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Date:         Mon, 16 Nov 1992 04:41:02 EST
From:         JEK@NIHCU.BITNET
Subject:      Hugh of Lincoln (16 Nov)

Subject:  Hugh of Lincoln (16 Nov)

     HUGH OF LINCOLN (16 NOV 1200)

As a sign of his remorse for his role in the murder of the
Archbishop Thomas a Becket, King Henry II founded the first house in
England of the strict monastic order called the Carthusians.
Difficulties arose with the first two priors, and a French noble
recommended Hugh de Avalon, who at that time had been a monk at the
mother house of the order for 17 years.

On his arrival in England in 1176, Hugh found that the building of
the monastery had not begun. Worse, no compensation had been paid to
those who would have to lose their lands and property to make room
for it. Hugh refused to take office until these persons had been
paid "to the last penny." He intervened again on behalf of the
builders, whose pay was not forthcoming.
     Henry loved him for his plain speaking. "I do not despair of
you," Hugh said to him at their first interview; "I know how much
your many occupations interfere with the health of your soul."
Henry, impressed by his frankness, swore that while he lived he
should not leave his kingdom, and took so much pleasure in his
conversation, and paid so much heed to his counsels, that a rumor
arose that Hugh was his son. Hugh's biographer wrote that "of all
men only Hugh could bend that rhinosceros to his will." When Henry
was in danger of shipwreck, he cried out, "If only my Carthusian
Hugh were awake and at prayer, God would not forget me."
     This affection never diminished, though Hugh dared to oppose
the king, particularly in the matter of keeping bishoprics vacant in
order that their revenues might fall to the king's treasury.  One of
the worst examples was Lincoln, which, except for a few months, had
been without a bishop for eighteen years. Hugh was elected to the
post in 1186, and his monastic superiors ordered him to accept.
After so long a period of neglect, there was great need of reform.
Hugh employed priests of great piety and learning, and made the
fullest use of his authority in disciplining his clergy. He took a
stern view of the ill-treatment of the poor by the royal foresters,
and when a subject of the church of Lincoln suffered at their hands
he excommunicated their chief.
     He also refused to appoint a royal favorite to a meaningless
but lucrative post.  Henry was furious, and summoned him to his
presence. He came, and Henry turned away his face and would not
speak, but by way of ignoring his presence took out a torn glove and
began to sew it. At last Hugh said, "How like you are to your
relations at Falaise." The king might have resented this allusion to
the humble birth of William the Conqueror's mother, the daughter of
a glove-maker, but he only laughed, and the quarrel was made up.

     Riots against the Jews broke out in England at the time of the
Third Crusade. In defence of the persecuted, Hugh faced armed mobs
in Lincoln, Stamford and Northampton and compelled their submission.
     Hugh refused to raise money for the foreign wars of King
Richard the Lion-Heart, calmed the king's rage with a kiss, and
persisted in his refusal: this was the first clear example on record
of the refusal of a money-grant demanded directly by the crown, and
an important legal precedent. Richard said, "If all bishops were
like my lord of Lincoln, not a prince among us could raise his head
against them."
     His relations with King John were less happy. John showed him
an amulet, which he said was sacred and would preserve him. Hugh
replied, "Do not put your trust in lifeless stone, but only in the
living and heavenly stone, our Lord Jesus Christ."  The following
Easter he preached at length on the duties of kings, and the king
slipped out partway through.

     Devout, tireless, and forgetful of self, Hugh also had wit, a
temper that he described as "more biting than pepper," and a great
love and concern for children and the defenceless. He visited
leper-houses and washed the ulcerous limbs of their inmates.
     He was fond of animals, and they of him. Birds and squirrels
came readily to his hand. He had a swan that would feed from his
hand, follow him about, and keep guard over his bed, so that no one
could approach it without being attacked.
     In 1200 the king sent him on an embassy to France. His mission
was a success, but he took ill and returned to England to die on 16
November 1200. John Ruskin called him "the most beautiful sacerdotal
(priestly) figure known to me in history."

   O holy God, who didst endow thy servant and bishop Hugh of
   Lincoln with wise and cheerful boldness, and didst teach him to
   commend the discipline of holy life to kings and princes:
   Grant that we also, rejoicing in the Good News of thy mercy,
   and fearing nothing but the loss of thee, may be bold to speak
   the truth in love, in the name of Jesus Christ our Redeemer,
   who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy SPirit, one God,
   for ever and ever.
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