108 THE ANCIENT GLASS IN YORK MINSTER. 
The window depicts events in the life of St. William of York, 
who was elected as Archbishop by a majority of the York Chapter, 
the minority opposing his election. Upon this Henry, Bishop of 
Winchester, William’s uncle, and the Papal legate, directed him 
to appeal to the decision of the Roman See, which was then 
occupied by Pope Innocent. Walter, Archdeacon of London, 
supported by the Abbot of Rievaulx ; Richard, second Abbot of 
Fountains; Cuthbert, Prior of Guisborough ; Waltheof, Prior of 
Kirkham ; and Robert, Master of St. Peter’s Hospital at York, 
appeared before Pope Innocent and objected to William’s election. 
William returned from Rome in September, 1143, and submitted 
the Apostolic decision to a council which was held at Winchester. 
In accordance with that decision his consecration was ordered to 
proceed and the consecration took place on the 24th of September, 
1144, the very day that Pope Innocent died. Celestine, who 
succeeded to the Papal chair, appealed to by William’s opponents, 
refused to grant the pallium. Celestine died in 1145, and his 
successor Lucius granted the pallium to William, dispatching it 
by the Cardinal Bishop Hincmar. The death of Lucius occurred 
on the 14th February, 1146, and Eugenius, a Cistercian Abbot, 
who followed him as Pope, influenced by William’s adversaries, 
recalled Hincmar to Rome with the pallium before William could 
receive it. Eugenius having given judgment against William, 
sent letters to the Chapter of York instructing them to choose a 
successor, and in 1147 a great council was summoned at Rheims, 
at which were present, besides foreign prelates and ecclesiastics, 
the clergy of the Church of York, and Henry Murdac, then Abbot 
of Fountains, who accused William, Archbishop of York, urging 
that he was neither canonically elected nor legitimately consecrated, 
but thrust in by royal favour. Sentence deposing William was 
pronounced by the Bishop of Ostia, who said : “ We adjudge by 
Apostolic authority that William, Archbishop of York, be deposed 
from the Pontificate, seeing that Stephen, King of England, nomi¬ 
nated him before canonical election.” The Chapter of York were 
again divided in their selection, the greater part choosing St. 
Hilary of Chichester, and the other part Henry Murdac, Abbot of 
of Fountains. When the two elections were presented to Pope 
Eugenius he confirmed the election of Murdac, and gave him 
consecration. After his deposition, William betook himself to his 
kinsman, Roger, King of Sicily. Pope Eugenius and Archbishop 
Murdac died in 1153 within a few months of each other, although 
