The antiquities of Canterbury. Or a survey of that ancient citie, with the suburbs, and cathedrall Containing principally matters of antiquity in them all. Collected chiefly from old manuscripts, lieger-bookes, and other like records, for the most part, never as yet printed. With an appendix here annexed: wherein (for better satisfaction to the learned) the manuscripts, and records of chiefest consequence, are faithfully exhibited. All (for the honour of that ancient metropolis, and his good affection to antiquities) sought out and published by the industry, and goodwill of William Somner.

Dunstan. 23.

Dunstan succeeded Odo, sate 27 yeares, and then dying was buried in Christ-Church, that is (and so it must be un∣derstood of all his predecessors said to be there buried) in the old Church, not in the modern. For his piety and mi∣racles in his life time (so they say of him) he was (like his predecessor Odo) canonized a Saint after his death; and his reliques of such high account, even in those times, that s Archbishop Lanfranc, when he built the Church of new in the Conquerours dayes, very solemnly translated his corps from its first sepulchre into his new Church, and there of new intombed it (with the Pontificalls, wherewith, ac∣cording to the times, it was apparelled, and a plate of lead bearing an inscription to shew upon inquiry whose body it was) neare unto the high Altar on the South-side. And from thenceforth the tombe became called the altar of S. Dunstan, and the steps leading to it the steps of S. Dun∣stans altar. Whoso observes the pavement on the South∣side of the steps between Stratford and Sudburyes monu∣ments with the guilded work on the wall and pillar there,

shall easily discerne some such thing had thence, as que∣stionlesse this Altar was at the purging of the Church of such things at or shortly after the Reformation.

Whilest it was standing there, such high estimation was had of this Saint and his reliques, and so beneficiall they became to the place that enjoyed them, by the offerings to his altar, that the Monks of Glastonbury (amongst whom he was brought up) in Hen. 7. time, began to boast and give out that they had them in possession, being translated thi∣ther from Canterb. (as Capgrave in the life of Dunstan af∣firms) in the yeare 1012. Hereupon these Monks built him a Shrine t. and by that and other meanes the stream of be∣nefit formerly running to Christ-Church became turned to Glastonb. This at length so troubled the Archbishop of Canterb. and his Monks, that bethinking themselves of a speedy remedie, they resolve on a scrutinie to be made in his Tombe or Altar; by opening thereof to see whether really his corps, his reliques, were there inclosed or not. The scrutiny is made, and the searchers finde for the Christ-Church Monks. Whereupon Warham the then Archbi∣shop forthwith directs and sends his letters to the Abbat and Monks of Glastonb. straightly charging them to desist from all other jactitation of their possession of S. Dunstan's reliques, which letters he was fain to iterate, before they would obey; so loth they were to forgo their Diana. A Record of the scrutiny is kept in in Archivis ecclesiae, a true copy whereof you shall finde in my Appendix Scriptura duo∣decima. It is a pretty ••elation, and worth your reading.

Notes

• Anno▪ Dom. 961.
• s

  Harpsfield. Hi••. eccles. Angl. in ejus vita.
• t

  Harpsfield. ubi supra.
• Scrutiny in S. Dunstans tombe.