| Description | From: John Pecham, archbishop of Canterbury, papal judge delegate
To: the rural dean of Canterbury
Recites the mandate of Pope Gregory X, dated 21 Mar 1273 at Orvieto [Treni, Italy], addressed to the archbishop of Canterbury [Robert Kilwardby]. This stated that, although the subprior and convent of Dover Priory have a papal privilege exempting them from the jurisdiction of Canterbury Cathedral Priory sede vacante, Geoffrey of Romney, third prior of the cathedral priory, and the cathedral priory's chapter, tried to impose their authority. Details of Geoffrey's actions against Dover Priory when Richard of Wincheap was prior of Dover, including the excommunication of Robert de Stanford [also known as Robert of Canterbury], the subprior, 9 named monks and other monks, and Dover Priory's appeals to the pope. Richard returned to Canterbury, where he had been a monk, and promised to prosecute Dover Priory's first appeal, but failed to do so. Dover Priory has therefore sought a remedy from the pope and the pope delegates the case to the archbishop. The case is still pending and Pecham claims that the authority delegated to Kilwardby now vests in him. He orders the rural dean to cite the prior and chapter of Canterbury Cathedral Priory to appear before him or his deputies in St Paul's Cathedral, London, on 19 Oct and to command the prior of Dover to be present to promote these cases if it seems expedient to him.
Given at Aldington [Kent].
Endorsed with description, referring to the unjust excommunication, in late 13th cent hands. |