Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-03-08
THE MARKETS.
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ROMANCE OF HISTORY

ROMANCE OF HISTORY
The article which follows, is copied from a
work, entitled Romance Of History II is u
vivid description Of the power and effect Of
papa! supremacy, and superstition. We have
rarely read any thing, which has more fully
intere stcd us we have rarely read an article
which at the same time contained so much Of
the true spirit of inspiration, and viva city Of
mind
"On the day on which the synod was held,
.he whole population of Westminster, and
notwithstanding the distance between the
two cItIcs,) OF London also, seemed to be
sembled IN the vicinity of the Abbey. The
rumour that Wulstan had been summoned to
resign his pastoral staff TO Norman had
spread far and wide, and had crcated an ex-
traordlary sensation The Bishop was al
most idoI4ed an.ons the Saxons. His virtues
were numerous, his libcraty Of an exten, cor
respondent TO the princcly revenues with
which he was endowed; and although he was
reputcd 10 be all indifferent scholar, his elo-
quence was overwhelmingly powerful. lie
lad moreover, enjoyed the special favor Of the
late King Edward the Conessor; who, al
though sighted and neglected IN his life time,
most affection and veneration by his people,
and even canoni2ed by the Pope.
As the Bishop moved through the crowd
collected outside the Abbey, clad in his cpis-
copaI robes, and bcari'.y his silver staff in his
hand, the multitude knclt down reverenlly be-
torG him, and bowed their heads to receive
his blessing. The soldiers, who guarded the
entrance 10 the Abbey, received him very diff
ieren:iy. Although they bowed their heads
and crossed themselves when u Norman pre-
late passed, they remained rs immoveable as
statues when any ne Of The few SaXons, who
still retained that dignity, entered the sacred
cdl!icc. Wu!stan, however, only grasped his
staff more rcsolutely, and trod with a frmcr
step as nc moved between these irrevercnt
sentincls. An expression of applause which
burst from the multitude as he entered the
Abbey, was instantly scnccd by the upliftcd
spears Of the soldiers; and then a tunult of
anxious and half suppressed whispering perva-
ded the dense aad rapidly increasing crowd.
Before the high altar, and hear tbe tomb of
Edward the Concssor, wa ere ected a throne
OF great splendor and ma sniiicence, under a
superb canopy of state. On it sat a man ap-
Pnrcntly about five and thirty years of age,
holding sceptrc in his hand, and surrounded
with all the insignia of royalty. Without these
eXtrmsc symbols of his rank, however, the
Lightning glance Of his keen blue eve, the
naughty but ma este loitness Of his brow, and
the ImperioiIs smile with whic.. his lip was
curlcd sufficiently Indicated William the Con-
qucror. On his right hand on a seat some
what lower, sat Lan!rlnc&, a Milancsc Monk,
who had been recently elevated TO the prnla-
cy, and who by virtue OF his distinguished sta
ton, presided over the synod. Several b.sh-
ops, abbols, anl other distinguished ecclesi
as,ics, including Robert OF Orleans, sa: around
him. The Baron FIthwaIlc., and other Nor
man Lords stood on the lc!. hand Of the mon
arch; VINO, as Wulstan entered and bowed
before the royal presence stopped down and
coavcrsed for a few seconds with The primatc
Wulstan, sometime Bishop of Worcester"
said Laniranck, " | am commanded by our
Sovereign Lord KING William, to lntorM you
that he has been pleased to remove you from
the station which you have SO long unworthy
occupied, seeing that you are an un!oarnod and
foolish person, ignorant OF the French Ian
guagc, aud wholly Incapable either to instruct
the Church counsel the King. I, therefore,
call upon you to deliver up your pastoral ring
anl stah, that may give i. to him whom the
King has been pleased to nominate as your
WuIstan drew hialsolf up proudly to reply,
expand to colossal dimensions as he spaku:---
81 know, Lord Archbishop" he said, "lhat
ain entirely iInit aud unworthy OF 50 high
station, beng undcsurying of The honor, and
unequal TO ,hc task; and yet think ii uErea-
50 able that you should demand that stall Of
IA" which never received irom you How
ever, ~ some measure, | submt 10 your SEN
tencc, ani wlI res n that stan; bat consid.
er 1t Isl to make that resignation to mono
other than King Edward, the Ilcly Conicssor,
who conferred 1t on me-"
Thus ending. he rose, and crossed the church
towards King Edwards tomb. " Bold traitor 4"
said the King, "art thou mad or whittier
wonlj thy inso!cncc lead ,hce' Wulsian
needed not, aud seemed not even to hear the
indignant exclamation of the monarch: but ap-
prol ching the tomb. he knclt down before IT,,
and said: Thou knowcst, o holy King! that
with much unwilngncss, aud even by force,
was | constrained tu take tbs oaice upon me,
for neither the desire OF the prelttcs, TIC po-
tIiions OF tho monks nor the voice OF he mo-
blity prevailed, tll thy commands were laid
upon me Bt uow beholl, there are a new
King and now Lords; and a new Bishop pro-
nDuntcs new sentence. Thee they accuse
OF fondness for making me bishop, and me
OF assurance for confronting TO bacpGio one. -
Mover helcss, no; unto them, bat unto thee,
wilI .roslgn my STAR
Thus sayug, hp rose, and -triking his s'ail
with cxrraoolntry force anJ ,Ioicnco oa tie
tomb, it pcn,,riicl above an inch into the
King, vho had rs,s iro'u his throne, on per-