| Description | (1) Commission
From: John Pecham, archbishop of Canterbury, papal judge delegate
To: the archdeacon of London ('maiori') [Mgr Richard de Swinfield]; the archdeacon of Middlesex [Mgr Ralph de Baldock]; Mgr Robert de Stowe, canon of St Paul's Cathedral, London
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 Canterbury Cathedral Priory, and the chapter of Canterbury Cathedral Priory, 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 archbishop empowers the addressees to deal with the case referred to in the pope's letters between Dover Priory and the prior and chapter of Canterbury Cathedral Priory and Geoffrey of Romney, monk of the cathedral priory, a case of counter-petition ('reconventio') brought by the cathedral priory and all other relevant cases. Dated 21 Sep 1282 at Aldington.
(2) Certificate
From: the rural dean of Canterbury
To: John Pecham, archbishop of Canterbury, papal judge delegate
Recites the archbishop's mandate dated 21 Sep 1282 at Aldington (as above), which in turn recites the letters of Pope Gregory X, dated 21 Mar 1273 at Orvieto. A case between the subprior and convent of Dover and the prior and chapter of Canterbury and Geoffrey of Romney that had been pending before Archbishop Robert Kilwardby or his commissary is still undecided. The archbishop orders the rural dean to cite the prior and chapter of Canterbury and Geoffrey to appear before him or his deputies in St Paul's Cathedral, London, on 19 Oct and command the prior of Dover to be present to promote these cases if it seems expedient to him. The rural dean has executed the mandate. Dated 30 Sep 1282, at Canterbury.
No date. [Date: date of related acta, DCc-ChAnt/D/58.]
Endorsed with descriptions, one referring to the unjust excommunication, in late 13th cent hands. |