The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1889-01-11
CHAPEL OF THE PYX.
History of This Relic of By-Gone
Years.
Bunt During the Reign OF Edward the
COnfessor It served as Governments
Treasury for Many Years
How 1t was Robbed

now II was 4tODDous
In the eastern cloister of the abbey
of Westminster there is an antique
door, admitting to a remarkable vault
ed chamber, built during the time of
Edward the COnfessor, and known as
the Chapel of the Pyx. 1t is called a
chapel probably from the fact of there
being at the eastern end the remains
of a stone altar. and also a Ptsctna close
by. II tradition may be accepted, here
lie the bones of HugOlin, treasurer to
Edward the Confessor, the progenitor
of our ChancelOrs of the Exchequer.
The chamber is built in two bays. with
n column in the center, from which
springs the vaulting. The aspect is
gloomy and prison-like, the heavily
barred window not tending to diminish
that effect. Although part of the alb
hey buildings, this is government prop
erty, for when we stand within its walls
we are in the first treasury of the En-
glish nation, and where, in medieval
days, the boarded wealth Of royalty
was kept under the eye and ecclesias-
tical guardianship of the abbot and
the time of the Reformation, the regalia
of the Saxon monarchy, the Black Rood
of st. Margaret from Scotland (the
Holy Cross of HolyrOod). the Cross of
st. Neot from Wales, and all the later
acquisitions of subsequent monarchs,
were deposited. Large sums of money,
chiefly for purposes of conquest, ac-
cumulated here, the money wrested
from jew or citizen helping to swell
the amount.
The close connection with the reIig-
ious house of Westminster, and the
sacred character of the chamber, pre-
sumably consecrated its contents in the
eyes of the people, for no very strict
watch or guard seems to have been ex-
ercised The cloisters OF the mOnas-
terry were the playground and place of
relaxation of the monks, and here
probably the lay friends would be ad-
mitted. Many would therefore know
of the place and its contents. To break
open and rob such a treasure-hOuse
would be treason and sacrilege; the lat
ter in those days was punishable with
death without benefit of clergy-a ter
rible sentence even when human life
was held cheaply; but added TO this,
no sanctuary could be claimedsby the
sacrilegious. The chapel being hedged
round with such pains and penalties,
was not troubled by the medieval burg
lar until early in the fourteenth cent
ury.
In the year 1903, Edward 7. was COM
mencing, or rather renewing war with
the Scots, a war of revenge for defeats
suffered at their hands recently, and
for incursions made to the south of the
Border. In this new campaign, a great
Iand-force was raised and dispatched
north. and a numerous fleet sailed for
the same destination. The Scots were
60 be crushed and their country
ravaged. Fortune favored the English
and the hardy Northerners retired on
every side before the three divisions OF
Edwards army. At the height of the
victory, and while the King was at
Linlithgow, news reached him that the
treasury in the abbey at Westminster
had been forced and rihed of the vast
sum laid up there for carrying on the
war. The lords of Her Maiesty's suite
must have had a bad quarter of an
hour with the King after he learned
this; for to lose a sum of E100, 600, in
tended for the purpose of n sweet re-
venge, must have been gall to the
ambitious monarch, stopping, as il
must, some of his schemes of conquest.
Such an outrage on the royal property
had never before been committed, and
accordingly strong measures were
taken. The abbot and monks of the
abbot were hurried OF. to the tower;
and a trial, which continued for nearly
two wears, was commenced. The chron-
icler and good friend of the monastery
ropudiates the assertion that any oil
the monks were engaged in the work
of spoliation; but the chapter OF West
minister, being intrusted with the safe
ty of the treasure, naturally was ac-
cused Of cOnnivance with the robbery.
The tribunal, before whom the breth-
rem were taken, released the greater
number. but condemned the subprioI
and the sacrist; aud they paid the
penalty of the crime
The history Of the sacrilegious theft
seems to have been, that one Richard
de Podlicote audaciously robbed the
refectory of the abbey, and in the
course of his search for plumber no
ticed the insecure state of the treasury.
and discovered the nature of its con
tents. In concert with some lay
friends and some of the clerical
guardians, among them tho subpriOr
and sacrist, plot was elaborated fOl
CARRYING of the money intended fOi
furnishing the King with the means OF
war. Early in the year 1908 this plot
was carried to a successful issue, and
the money distracted without at once
causing attention. The plumber was
not Immediately removed from the
precinct OF the abbey. but buried in
the green inclosed by the cloister.
To prevent the removal OF the
earth being noticed, a crop
of hemp was sOwn, partly
perhaps, to mark the spot, and also be-
cause of its rapid growth. The gar
dener who usually trimmed the grass
was refused admission on various pre-