Eighteen abbots ruled in succession, when, as was the fate of many other abbeys, Evesham became a source of strife between the secular canons and the monks. It was alternately under control of these two bodies until finally it became a Benedictine settlement. In the reign of William I., Abbot Walter of Cérisy began to rebuild on a scale of grandeur and great magnificence. The church, built in the form of a Latin cross, possessed cylindrical piers of immense size, similar to those of Gloucester. Everything appertaining to the service of the church was solemn and impressive. The vestments were elaborate and costly, and the sacred vessels wrought with solid silver--many of them being enriched with various gems. The tomb of St Egwin was made of gold and studded with sparkling precious stones, while Simon de Montfort’s tomb was credited with miraculous powers by many ailing and weakly pilgrims. These sacred tombs were demolished by the rapacious Henry VIII. in 1539, during his wanton desecration of one of England’s most noble abbeys--the shelter of kings, and the home of religious and God-fearing men. [Illustration] CHAPTER X MIDDLESEX WESTMINSTER (_Mitred Benedictine_) _c._ 184, Lucius, King of Britain, consecrates Westminster (then Thorny Island) to God, and builds the first church there--At the time of Diocletian’s persecution, the church converted into a heathen temple and dedicated to Apollo--604, Sebert, King of the East Saxons, converted and baptized into the Christian faith by Mellitus--He destroys the temple and builds a church in honour of St Peter--This suffers greatly from the ravages of the Danes--785, Offa, King of Mercia, grants the manor of Aldenham to the monastery and restores the church--1050, Edward the Confessor, the actual founder of the present abbey, builds the church--1065, The church completed and consecrated a few days previously to the royal founder’s death--1066, Edward buried with great ceremonial--King Harold crowned--William the Conqueror offers a thanksgiving for his victory at Hastings before the Confessor’s tomb, and is crowned in the abbey on Christmas day--1160, Becomes a mitred abbey--1250, Henry III. pulls down the choir and transepts of Edward’s Norman church and begins the present structure--1253, The chapter house completed--1269, The choir opened--1272-1500, The nave begun, gradually attaining its present length--During these years Richard I. builds the north porch, and Henry V. his beautiful chantry--1503, Henry VII. builds the chapel which bears his name--153--, Dissolution of the monastery. Annual revenue, £3471, 0s. 2d.--1540, The church converted into a cathedral church and a new bishopric created--1550, Bishopric suppressed--1643, The Westminster Assembly meets--1663, The See of Rochester joined to the Deanery of Westminster--1673, Treaty of Westminster