ed from being the most inexact
writer of his time."--Macaulay, _Hist. England_, vol. ii.
p.177, 3rd. Ed.

T.
Bath.

* * * * *

QUERIES

SAINT THOMAS OF LANCASTER.

Sir,--I am desirous of information respecting the religious
veneration paid to the memory of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster,
cousin-german to King Edward the Second. He was taken in open
rebellion against the King on the 16th of March, 1322, condemned by
a court-martial, and executed, with circumstances of great
indignity, on the rising ground above the castle of Pomfret, which
at the time was in his possession. His body was probably given to
the monks of the adjacent priory; and soon after his death miracles
were said to be performed at his tomb, and at the place of {182}
execution; a curious record of which is preserved in the library of
Corpus Christi College, at Cambridge, and introduced by Brady into
his history of the period. About the same time, a picture or image
of him seems to have been exhibited in St. Paul's Church, in London,
and to have been the object of many offerings. A special
proclamation was issued, denouncing this veneration of the memory of
a traitor, and threatening punishment on those who encouraged it;
and a statement is given by Brady of the opinions of an
ecclesiastic, who thought it very doubtful how far this devotion
should be encouraged by the Church, the Earl of Lancaster, besides
his political offences, having been a notorious evil-liver.

As soon, however, as the King's party was subdued, and the unhappy
sovereign, whose acts and habits had excited so much animosity,
cruelly put to death, we find not only the political character of
the Earl of Lancaster vindicated, his attainder reversed, his
estates restored to his family, and his adherents re-established in
all their rights and liberties, but within five weeks of the
accession of Edward the Third, a special mission was sent to the
Pope from the King, imploring the appointment of a commission to
institute the proper canonical investigation for his admission into
the family of saints. His character and his cause are described, in
florid language, as having been those of a Christian hero; and the
numberless miracles wrought in his name, and the confluence of
pilgrims to his tomb, are presumed to justify his invocation.

In June of the same year (1327), a "king's letter" is given to
Robert de Weryngton, authorising him and his agen