| Description | From: Simon Islip, archbishop of Canterbury and papal legate
The prior and chapter of Canterbury Cathedral Priory submitted a petition to the archbishop by Mgr Richard Wodelond, its proctor (recited). This stated that Archbishop Richard [of Dover] had of appropriated the churches of Eastry and Monkton to the priory's almonry for the maintenance of the poor. The priory held the churches until Archbishop Baldwin seized them with certain manors belonging to the priory's table. The priory was was unable to resist him and was forced to appeal to Pope Urban [III] who ordered Baldwin to return the churches. Eventually, Baldwin restored the manors to the priory but kept the churches and instituted his clerks to them, granting half of their fruits to the priory and the other half to his clerks. The priory asks the archbishop to restore the churches.
The archbishop, having considered all the evidence, has decided that Baldwin's action was unjust. He restores the churches to the priory and its almonry and grants it all the profits from them to the use of the almonry. Reserving to himself the right to assign portions to the vicars and rights of collation and provision. So that the archbishop and his successors may have no cause for complaint, the priory grants him the advowsons of the churches of St Pancras [Soper Lane], St Dunstan [in the East] and All Hallows Bread Street in London. Also recites the letters of proxy from Prior Robert Hathbrande and the chapter, dated 14 May 1365 in its chapter house, appointing Richard, who is described as rector of Lambeth [Surrey], as its proctor. The sentence was read by Mgr Richard de Warmyngton', auditor of causes of the archbishop's court of audience.
Given at the archbishop's manor of Mayfield [Sussex].
Decorated with outline drawing of a hunting scene above first line of text: a rabbit or hare running to left, pursued by a hound, followed by a huntsman blowing a horn and carrying a pole with a rabbit or hare hanging from it over his left shoulder. In left margin a grotesque, with human upper body and hands, haunches of a lion and a horse's tail, blowing a trumpet. Initial letter decorated with stylized foliage. Some ascending loops in top line decorated with stylized foliage or patterns of lines and circles.
Notarial attestations and signs of Richard de Mersey ('dictus de Mersey'), clerk, of London diocese, who wrote the document, and Adam Clerk' of Ash [near Longfield], of Rochester diocese, notaries public.
Witnesses: Reginald leghton', OP, DD; Mgr Robert Bourne, official of Rochester; Mgr Richard Sellyngg', bachelor of laws and notary public; 'Dominus' John Sulthorn', the archbishop's cross-bearer and chaplain at Canterbury ('Cruciferarius noster...Capellanus noster Cantuar''); 'Dominus' John vergien, rector of Sandhurst and the archbishop's chaplain at Canterbury ('Capellanus noster Cantuar''); Elias, vicar of Brenchley, clerk and notary public, of Rochester diocese; 'Dominus' John Boland, clerk and notary public, of Carlisle diocese; Adam Clerk' of Ash [near Longfield], clerk and and notary public, of Rochester diocese; John Chilterne, clerk and notary public of Bath and Wells diocese
Endorsed with description in late 14th cent hand. |