1393. 4 Kal. Dec. St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 106.) |
To Master John Fraunceys, canon of St. Mary's, S[o]uthwell, papal writer and member of the pope's household. Licence to him, who is also abbreviator of apostolic letters, to resign into the hands of any ordinaries, for purpose of exchange, without leave of the apostolic see, any benefices or dignities below the episcopal, and to such ordinaries to carry out the exchanges. (Pro socio.) |
4 Id. Nov. St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 117.) |
To John Alhart, priest, of the diocese of Ossory. Extension of dispensation on account of illegitimacy to be ordained and hold a benefice even with cure, so that he may hold two other mutually compatible benefices with or without cure, secular or regular, even if canonries and prebends, or one of them an elective dignity with cure, major in a metropolitan or cathedral, or principal in a collegiate church, or abbatial, or a regular priory, and may exchange them as often as seems good to him for similar or dissimilar mutually compatible benefices. His illegitimacy need not be mentioned in future graces. (Pro Deo). |
3 Id. Nov. St Peter's, Rome. (f. 120d.) |
To the abbot of St. Mary's, Tryne, in the diocese of Meath. Mandate to relax an unlawful oath, as follows. The petition of Richard Petir, rector of St. Mary's, Birewell (Burwell), in the diocese of Norwich, contained that he deputed John Bernardi, clerk, of the diocese of Ely, as his proctor and agent (gestorem) for the administration of the goods of the said church, and that when John rendered his account, it was found that Richard was indebted to John in the sum of 220 marks, and that although Richard entered into a bond to pay, nevertheless John, moved, as is believed, by the intention of disposing of the said church as he chose, with the help of some of his friends caused Richard, under pretext of the bond, to be arrested and imprisoned. Released for a time from prison by the intervention of their common friends. but fearing to be again imprisoned, Richard, under constraint, bound himself a new under penalty of 1000 marks, half to be paid to the camera and half to John, that he would pay 60 marks during the year dating from Christmas 1392, and 40 in successive years until the 220 marks should be fully paid; that meanwhile he would not without John's leave exchange or resign the said church, and would live in the university of Cambridge, or within twenty miles of it; that he would constitute John his proctor for the exchange of the said the church, which he did, and would not revoke such constitution under the aforesaid penalty; to all which Richard, against his will, bound himself by oath before a public notary and witnesses. His petition added that he has kept the above as far as regards the payment of the 220 marks, and intends to keep it, but feels himself burdened by the rest, which was extorted unlawfully and by fear. The pope orders the abbot, if he find the above to be true, and provided that Richard make satisfaction in regard to the 220 marks, to relax the oath as far as regards the unlawful agreements, namely, the non-exchange, the non-revocation and residence in or near Cambridge. |