| Description | From: the rural dean of Shoreham
To: Richard Gillyngham, prior of Canterbury Cathedral Priory; the chapter of Canterbury Cathedral Priory
The priory is acting sede vacante. He has received the priory's mandate, dated 27 Dec 1374 at Canterbury (recited), addressed to the rural dean of the deaneries of Shoreham and Croydon. The priory's commissary general had ordered him to levy a tax of ½d in the mark on the benefices and ecclesiastical goods of all clergy in the two rural deaneries for the procurations of Bernard Folcant, bishop of Pamplona, Ralph de Castello, bishop of Sinigaglia, and Giles Sancti Minuonis, provost of Valencia, papal nuncios in Flanders. The money was to be paid to the prior and convent of St Gregory's Priory, Canterbury, who had been appointed as receivers, under the penalties set out in the nuncios' letters, and the rural dean was to inform the commissary general of what had been done.
The rural dean ignored the mandate. Because the payment is late, it is necessary to levy an additional tax of ¼d in the £ and another tax of ¼d in the £ has been levied for the procurations and expenses of Pileus de Prata, archbishop of Ravenna and papal nuncio in England. The priory commands the rural dean to ensure that the clergy of the two rural deaneries to pay the two taxes to St Gregory's Priory by 25 Jan and he is also to pay his portion. The priory also cites the rural dean to appear at Canterbury on 26 Jan to answer for contempt and disobedience and to present an account of the profits of the jurisdictions and seals of the deaneries.
The rural dean has warned the clergy to pay the taxes of ½d, ¼d and ¼d to St Gergory's Priory. He has paid his portion and will appear before the priory and do all things in accordance with the mandate.
Given at Wrotham [Kent]. |