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October 9, 1845


It was on October 9, 1845 that the English academic, (and Anglican priest) John Henry 
Newman, was received into the Roman Catholic church, his action being both cause and 
effect of this Victorian trend. One reason he cited as leading to his conversion to Catholicism
was his study of the English saints. He wrote on them in a book, "The Lives of
the English Saints," (1843, 1844). Our quote below about St. Wulfstan is
taken from Newman's book. Wulfstan died in 1096 and this different social setting
is necessary to appreciate the context of this narrative:

Wulstan lived to a good old age, reverenced by the stern strangers who so hated his 
countrymen. [Wulfstan as Bishop of Worcester, was the only English clergyman 
allowed to keep his post after the French conquered England in 1066. William the 
Conqueror said that it was obvious Wulfstan was devoted to those in his care.]
Still these must have been mournful days for Wulstan. He had made the best of 
the old English system; he was cast in its mould; it had all his sympathies; and now 
that he was old, it was rudely broken off, its evil sternly exposed and put to shame, its 
ways of doing good despised...he was still the blunt, unaffected, good-humoured Saxon, 
who avoided all show, either of austerity or pomp,... 
He would say his grace before drinking, as the English always used to do, though he 
was dining at the royal table; and he would persist in coming into the company 
of great lords in a very ordinary dress—intruding his common lamb-skin among their 
rich furs. The rich and courtly Geoffrey, Bishop of Coutances, once
[tried], to set the simple Englishman right; ... he expostulated with him
on the unsuitableness, in a man of his dignity, of his usual appearance..." 
He could well afford, and really ought, to wear something more respectable; 
some more costly fur, sable, or beaver, or fox-skin." But the old Englishman
had some shrewd humour in him." The skins of such shifty animals," he
said, " might do for experienced men of the world, but for himself, he
was a plain man, and content with lamb-skin." "Then at least," said
Geoffrey, "you might wear cat-skin."

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