Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-12-08

Among the most curious manuscripts to be
found in the archives OF Great Britain is one
which relates the history and privileges of
Westminster Abbey. 1t forms a roll eleven
feet and Il half long, consisting Of six pieces of
parchment nearly five feet wide, and an extra
sheet, which was evidently intended as a cover
for the others. The first sheet written in Lat.
in, contains legend recounting the miracu-
lous conservation of the church by the ghost
OF ST Peter. The second sheet contains til.
English translation Of this legend, according to
which, when Ethelbert, King OF Kent, was
converted to christianity by the preaching of
st, Augustine he built Il church in London in
honor of ST. Paul, while his nephew, the king
of Essex, built one in honor Of ST. Peter, Just
without the gates OF thai city ; and that the
night preceding the public conservation of this
last mentioned editice, St Peter. in the habit
of pilgrim, appeared to a fisherman on the
opposite bank OF the Thames and prayed this
fisherman to ferry him across the river. The
fisherman having obeyed the pilgrims behest,
the latter directed him to cast his net into the
river, which h had no sooner done than he
found it SO full OF fish that he had hard work
to haul it ashore. Among the fishes thus
taken was particularly fine salmon, which
the pilgrim ordered the astonished fisherman
to carry 10 the Bishop to inform that dgnitary
that it was sent him by the apostle Peter. The
pilgrim then disappeared, and the fisherman
FASTENED, at day break, to he Bishops house,
where he delivered the salmon and the mes
sage, with, no doubt, a minute account OF the
adventure of the preceding night, cOniided to
the safe keeping of the openmOuthed and open
eyed servants OF his lOrdship. The affair
soon reached the ears Of the Bishop, whose
belief in the apparation OF the apostle as prov
ed by the presence of the salmon, was con-
frmed hey ond the possibility OF doubt by the
appearance of certain miraculous letters that
showed themselves on the fag.stones in the
floor OF the new church, and the presence of
the consecrating oil ON twelve different places
upon the inner surface OF its walls. The ven
cradle calf skin adds that the descendants of
the fisherman, in memory Of this miracle ever
afterwards offered to the Bishop OF London the
fish taken by them on the anniversary of its
occurrence. The third parchment contains a
statement of the various rights and privileges
conferred upon the Abbey OF Westminster by
its royal founder, followed by formula OF ex-
communication directed against all and any
who should violate these rights, or modest the
monks in the enjoyment ct the same. The
fourth document is charter of Edward the
Martyr, confirming the ancient privileges of
the Abbey, and granting to its church the
right OF refuge. The fifth sheet contains
succession OF arguments that appear to have
been submitted to Henry w., in council. rel.
alive TO the right oil refuge conferred on the
Abbey by the charter OF Edward the MARTYR.
aludes 10 the miraculous conservation of the
church of ST. Peter, "as il is contained in the
charter OF King Edgar, and also in the char.
tiers of ST. Dunstan and ST. Edward"