york00orns

RICHARD SCROPE. 195
contributed to tlie ujDraising of that glorious edifice
which he had never neglected during his hfe."i
These demonstrations of popular feeling were very
unpalatable to the king. By his order a strong
remonstrance on the subject was addressed to the
chapter by Archbishop Arundel, which was also
signed by Langley, the Dean of York, in his official
capacity of Chancellor. But the tide of popular
devotion at the tomb of Scrope was far too strong
to be diverted even by royal interference. It went
on down to the time of the Reformation, and when
shrines and chantries were then stripped of their
treasures, no chapel in the minster contained a more
costly array of rich and precious things than that in
which were laid the remains of the ill-fated prelate."
He was never canonized, except by rire vox popiiU,
but many an honoured name has been enrolled in the
calendar of saints which has failed to secure one
tithe of the veneration which was long and lovingly
rendered at the shrine of Richard Scrope.
Yet the acts which led to the Archbishop's condemnation
were treasonable. That condemnation was a
direct and unheard-of violation of the canon law, but
it was subsequently almost vindicated at Rome. It
is true indeed that the king was excommunicated by
Innocent VII., but the excommunication was taken
off by his successor, Gregory XII., and the bishops of
Durham and Lincoln had plenary power given them
' " Fabric Rolls of York Minster," p. 193.
' A list of them is given in the "Fabric Rolls of York
Minster," p. 225.