| Description | From: the official of the bishop of Rochester
To: Mgr Martin de Hampton, commissary of Canterbury
Recites Martin's mandate dated 10 Jan 1300 at Canterbury, addressed to Thomas [Wouldham], bishop of Rochester. This states that there is a case pending between the prior and convent of Canterbury Cathedral Priory, who have appropriated the church of Farningham ('Frenyngham'), and 'Dominus' Henry de Sheneholte, clerk, and 'Dominus' Richard de Scoland', knight, concerning offerings to the chapel of Charton ('Cerytone') in Farningham parish.
Richard and Henry were found guilty and ordered to pay the priory £35 for the offerings. Martin also excommunicated them and ordered them to allow the priory to recieve the offerings. Henry and Richard persisted and the sentence of excommunication twas therefore put into effect.
Martin found by enquiry that Walter Henry's servant, Thomas his palfreyman ('palefridarius') and Geoffrey de Longfeld' had prevented the priory from receiving the offerings and violently expelled the vicar of Farningham, from the chapel, removed all the offerings he had received and laid violent hands on him. The [rural] dean of Shoreham cited them to appear before Martin but they did not and Martin therefore imposed the sentence of greater excommunication on them. Walter, Thomas and Geoffrey moved to Rochester diocese to avoid this denunciation and the bishop's official is to denounce them as excommunicate throughout the diocese. He is also to cite them to appear before Martin at Canterbury Cathedral on 8 Feb next to answer the priory and the vicar.
Also recites the offical's certificate, dated 4 Feb 1300 at Trottiscliffe. This states that the official caused Henry, Richard, Walter, Thomas and Geoffrey to be publicly denounced as excommunicate throughout Rochester diocese. Walter was cited, but Thomas had started on a journey to the Roman Curia before the mandate was received and Geoffrey had wandered ('vago') out of the diocese and does not have a fixed hiding place ('certum receptaculum') and so cannot be cited.
Also recites Martin's mandate dated 16 Feb at Canterbury. This states that Walter did not appear. The official is to find out whether anyone has communicated with Walter, who is excommunicate, other than in a case permitted by law ('ius') and cite them to appear at Canterbury Cathedral on 14 Mar next to say why they should not be excommunicated. Walter and Geoffrey, who have been excommunicate for 40 days and more, are to be cited to appear to say why the king should not issue a warrant for their arrest.
The official replies that Walter could not be found in Rochester diocese, although he was sought diligently, and therefore the citation concerning him and those communicating with him could not be served.
Given at Trottiscliffe [Kent].
Endorsed 'Farningham' in 16th cent hand. |