The History Of Selby, Its Abbey, And Its Masonic Associations.

Rainecourt gave , And in my gift , I have granted him to hold along with these , all things from whatever source , as well in lands and possessions , as in other offerings which , by the promptings of the Holy Spirit , may be presented by p ious benefactors , and whatever may be acquired in any way , by right , by solicitation , or by purchase , under the royal favour , quietly and freely , exempt from all taxationtrouble and annoyanceas becomes the alms of a king and

, , an abbey of his founding , in endless and perpetual peace ; and to have and possess for ever , its own court with sac , soc , tol , team , and infangenethefe , and all customs of a hi gher order , that the church of St . Peter at York , has , for the evidence or testimony and confirming of this charitable gift , for the salvation of my soul , and those of my ancestors and successors , this charter was given and confirmed at London in the presence of thesenamelyOdo

, , , Bishop of Bayeux , Edward of Salisbury , Hugh of Porta , Hugh of Montford , Richard , son of Earl Gilbert , Baldwin , his brother , Bishops Remigius , Radulph , Talebois , Robert of Tany , Ganfrid de la Wirchi , and of the king ' s whole court . "

It may be interesting to note that William only founded two abbeys in consequence of his northern victories , viz .: Selby ancl Battle Abbey , in Sussex . In 1070 William brought his queen to the north to assist him to settle the endowments of the newly-founded monastery , ancl whilst they were at Selby it is stated that our first English king , Henry Beauclerc , was born ; but the fact is by no means free from doubt , ancl is yet a subject of controversy .

During the reign of Stephen a castle was erected in what is now Finklestreet , of which the remains were discovered some twenty years ago . For the next 400 years Selby pursued pretty much the even tenoiir of its way as a small but important provincial town , under the leadership of the abbots , who were its masters ; indeed , the history of the abbey is , until the Reformationvirtually the history of the town . The abbots of Selbwere very

, y important personages in those days , for being mitred abbots they were lords of Parliament ; ancl the Abbot of Selby , with- his colleague of St . Mary ' s , at York , were the only mitred heads of houses north of the Trent . They were wealthy , for in 1292 , in the time of Pope Nicholas IV . ( the only Englishman who ever wore the tiara ) , the value of their possessions was estimated at

£ 832 lis . Id ., a large sum at that time . Doubtless there were gay doings in Selby in those days , whether on the occasion of the Church high festivals or when some royal or other important personage passed through ; ancl the archbishops of York would most likely pass through it on their way to and from their episcopal seat , and to and from their palace of Cawood , within five miles from hence .

Of the royal visitors prior to the Reformation , may be noticed Edward I ., who , making a progress in the north with his second wife , Margaret , daughter of Philip III . of France , visited Selby on the 1 st of June , 1304 , being conveyed up the river Humber in a fleet of eleven barges belonging to Gilfred de Selby . ^ He stayed at the abbey , and shortly afterwards his wife gave birth to a son in a small manor-house at Brothertonnear Ferrybrid In 1322

, ge . Edward II . stayed all night here ; and , doubtless , in 1530 , the great Lord Cardinal Wolsey passed through here on his arrest by Percy , Earl of Northumberland , at Cawood , on his way to Leicester , " there to lay his weary bones , " ancl thus end , perhaps , the most chequered career that has ever befallen English subject , and whose character is so beautifull y but pathetically drawn by our great English bard—the Swan of Avon .

In 1540 , the act dissolving the Abbey of Selby and its possessions was passed , vesting them in the Crown ; and possibly owing to the fact that the last abbot , Robert Selb y , was not implicated in the Pilgrimage of Grace , very liberal terms were secured to the abbot ancl monks , for he got £ 100 per annum for himself , and at least £ 5 per annum a-piece for the twentythree monks . This abbot led a very chequered career , for he ultimately be-