| Description | From: Simon Islip, archbishop of Canterbury
There have been disputes between the prior and convent of Canterbury Cathedral Priory and the prior and convent of Dover Priory, concerning the cathedral priory's rights over Dover. The cathedral priory's claims include the appointment of priors and subpriors of Dover, the right to an oath of obedience from Dover during vacancies, the right to examine and clothe monks to be professed at Dover, and rights of visitation and jurisdiction over Dover's churches during vacancies. Dover Priory claims that the cathedral priory has no rights over it.
The parties submitted to the archbishop's arbitration. Provisions on obedience to be shown to Canterbury by Dover Priory and the vicars, ministers and chaplains of its appropriated churches and the receiving of oil and chrism for those churches. In all other matters, Dover is to be exempt from the cathedral priory's jurisdiction sede vacante and there are to be no more disputes about this. In compensation, Dover Priory is to pay the cathedral priory an annual payment of 100s from its manor of Sibertswold. The archbishop reserves his decision concerning the churches of Deal, Buckland, Guston and St Margaret at Cliffe. The parties are to agree to these terms and set their seals to the agreement by 7 Jul. [Seal reunited with document May 2004.]
Notarial attestations and signs of William Bradele, clerk, of Winchester diocese, who wrote the document, and Mgr Richard Wodeland of Pynham ('Calceto'), clerk, of Chichester diocese, notaries public.
Given at Mayfield [Sussex].
Witnesses: Mgr John de Carleton', canon of Wells Cathedral; Mgr Richard vaghan, archdeacon of Surrey; John de Lambeleye, LLD; Richard Wodelod', clerk, notary public; Michael Marchal', clerk, notary public; John de Stok'
Endorsed with descriptions, both referring to the rent from Sibertswold, in early 15th and late 16th or early 17th cent hands. |