| Description | From: the prior of Worcester Cathedral Priory, guardian of spiritualities in the city and diocese of Worcester sede vacante
To: Richard Gyllyngham, prior of Canterbury Cathedral Priory; the chapter of Canterbury Cathedral Priory
Canterbury Cathedral Priory is acting sede vacante. He has received the priory's mandate, dated 6 Dec 1374 at Canterbury (recited). The prior of Worcester had received a processus from Bernard Folcant, bishop of Pamplona, Ralph de Castello, bishop of Sinigaglia, and Giles Sancti Minuonis, provost of Valencia, papal nuncios, demanding payment of procurations, and a mandate from Canterbury Cathedral priory, ordering him to levy and collect a tax of ½d in the mark from the clergy of his city and diocese for the procurations but failed to take action.
Subsequently, the priory has received a processus from Bernard, Ralph and Giles, dated 4 Sep 1374 at Bruges, addressed to the clergy of England (recited, with witness list), complaining that they had not received 2,946 florins, representing their expenses until 1 Oct, and demanding a further 1,464 florins, plus 6 florins for the notary's salary as their expenses until 1 Dec, to be paid at Bruges within 30 days. The nucios empower the archbishop of Canterbury, Canterbury Cathedral Priory sede vacante and the archbishop of York to apportion and collect the 4,416 florins.
An additional tax of ¼d in the £ will have to be levied to meet this demand. Canterbury Cathedral Priory commands the prior of Worcester to levy these taxes in his city and diocese within 30 days and send the money collected, together with his portion, to to 'Dominus' Robert, rector of St Gregory's, London, and 'Dominus' Ralph, rector of St Botolph's without Aldgate ('Aldrichesgate'), London, its receivers in London, in St Gregory's church. Any contributions already made will be allowed for and any excess will be kept to pay similar expenses in the future. The prior of Worcester is to certify the amount collected and the names of those who have and have not paid.
The prior of Worcester has warned the clergy of his city and diocese to pay the procurations to Canterbury Cathedral Priory's receivers in London and has also paid his own portion. He sent a certificate of what he had done with the abbot of Winchcombe who delivered it to the subprior of Canterbury in the prior's absence. Some of the Worcester clergy went to the receivers in London with individual payments, but the receivers refused to examine them, saying that they only wanted one sum of money from the whole diocese. When the prior of Worcester heard this, he collected the money for the city and diocese of Worcester as quickly as he could, except for the money for the bishop of Worcester, because the bishop's temporalities are in the king's hands as the see is vacant and Worcester Priory cannot afford to pay and no-one wishes to do so. He has sent £21 7s 5¼d for the tax of ½d. The amount for the bishop of Worcester is 30s 4d. The tax of ¼d raised £7 13s 5¼d, of which he has sent the receivers £6 11s 2½d, together with the names of those who have paid. He cannot collect the rest because it is for lands and goods of aliens which are in the king's hands. Some refuse to pay, although he has proceeded against them with ecclesiastical censures. The sum for Worcester Priory is included in the money which has been sent to the receivers. The names of those who have and have not paid are contained in the annexed schedules [no longer present].
Given at Worcester [Worcestershire]. |