Wolsey’s maundy at Peterborough

3 days before Easter · Peterborough, Northamptonshire

No longer kept

On Maundy Thursday 1530 Cardinal Wolsey washed and kissed the feet of fifty-nine poor men in the Lady Chapel of Peterborough Abbey. Each man then received twelve pence, three ells of canvas for shirts, new shoes and a cast of red and white herrings, and one of them two shillings. Chambers suggests the number of men matched the cardinal’s age, as in the royal maundy.

made his maund in our lady's chapel, having fifty-nine poor men whose feet he washed and kissed; and after he had wiped them, he gave every of the said poor men twelve pence in money, three ells of good canvas

From Chambers's Book of Days, vol. 1, p. 412. Read the original

Get a copy: Amazon · Bookshop.org · AbeBooks

We may earn a small commission if you buy through these links.

Also on this day

Folklore from the old calendars

Rice and almonds for Shere Thursday at Barking Abbey No longer kept EssexThe nuns of Barking Abbey marked Shere Thursday, the day before Good Friday, with a special dish from the convent kitchen.
Pottage crosses over the byre on Maundy Thursday No longer kept Highlands, Ross and CromartyOn the Thursday before Easter a cross cut on a stick and dipped in pottage was set over each sheep-cot, stable and cow-house.
The royal maundy Still kept LondonOn Maundy Thursday the sovereign gave food, clothes and money to as many poor men and women as the years of the royal age, and once washed their feet as well.
Shere Thursday No longer kept EnglandMaundy Thursday had an old English name, Shere Thursday, from the priests' custom of shearing their hair on that day.
Too late for fooling at Skipton No longer kept YorkshireAt Skipton in Craven the young people had a set answer for anyone who tried to play a trick a day late.

Wolsey’s maundy at Peterborough

Also on this day

Questions and comments

Image credits