| Description | From: Thomas Brantingham, bishop of Exeter
To: Richard Gyllyngham, prior of Canterbury Cathedral Priory; the chapter of Canterbury Cathedral Priory, acting sede vacante
[Document badly damaged. Large area of text lost.] The priory is acting sede vacante. He received its mandate, dated 7 Dec 1374 at Canterbury (recited) on 9 Jan 1375. The priory had sent the bishop a mandate ordering him to levy and collect a tax of ½d in the mark from the clergy of his city and diocese for the procurations of Bernard Folcant, bishop of Pamplona, Ralph de Castello, bishop of Sinigaglia, and Giles Sancti Minuonis, provost of Valencia, papal nuncios, within a specified period.
The priory has since 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 have not received payment of 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, making a total of 4,416 florins, to be paid at Bruges within 30 days. The nucios empower the archbishop of Canterbury, the priory sede vacante and the archbishop of York to apportion and collect the 4,416 florins.
It is necessary to levy another tax of ¼d in the £ to cover this payment. The priory commands the bishop to levy these taxes in his city and diocese within 30 days and send the money collected, together with his portion, to 'Dominus' Robert, rector of St Gregory's, London, and 'Dominus' Ralph, rector of St Botolph's without Aldgate ('Aldrichesgate'), London, whom the priory has appointed as receivers, in the church of St Gergory's; he is to employ ecclesiastical censures if necessary. Anything already contributed will be allowed for and any excess will be kept to pay similar expenses in the future. The bishop is to certify the amount collected and the names of those who have and have not paid.
The bishop has appointed collectors, but although they and he have been diligent, they cannot carry out their work as they should for fear of the armed men who have almost destroyed the whole area. He cannot certify was has been done because his collectors have not been able to provide the necessary information because of these dangers. Dated 1374 [ie 1375], day and month lost. [A related certificate is dated 10 Mar 1375.]
Endorsed with note of amount received in part payment of the procurations [partly lost] in late 14th cent hand. |
| Physical Description | Parchment, 1m, filing hole to left, 3 large holes in centre, large area of text lost, crude repairs, dirty, creased, stained |