|
1403.
13 Kal. Sept.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 10d.) |
To the archbishop of York, the bishop of Durham, and Adam Fenrethyr, canon of Beverley. Mandate, recapitulating the ordinances of Benedict XII about the reconciliation of apostates, to carry them out in respect of Robert Hesyll, Cistercian monk of Benoys (sic), in the diocese of York, priest, bearer of these presents. Robert, at divers times, carnally knew divers women within and without the precincts (septa) of the said monastery, after which, abandoning his order and habit, he left the monastery and went back to the world, living there for two months and more in a secular habit. Afterwards he returned, was absolved by the abbot, and restored to his former place, after which he again left, as before, remaining in the world some months. Again returning, he was again absolved and restored, and was penanced, after which, led by evil counsellors, to the end that he might the more easily receive some of the goods of the monastery, he consented, with certain conspirators, that the said abbot should be assailed and be bodily smitten by the same. The abbot, forewarned, caused Robert to be taken and imprisoned in the monastery, where he remained in prison two months, and then violently broke loose, left the monastery afresh, and has stayed with certain friends of his for about half a year, again in a secular habit. He now desires to be reconciled to his order. Dudum felicis recordacionis. |
1402.
15 Kal. Dec.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 26.) |
To the abbot of Westminster. Mandate, at the recent petition of the abbess and nuns of the monastery situate near Tower Hill (montem Turris), London, of the order of Minoresses enclosed—containing that the late Thomas, earl of Gloucester, on account of a certain house of his situate near the church of the said monastery, with consent of the then abbess and licence, as is believed, of the apostolic see, caused a certain door (hostium) to be made, through which he could enter the church from his house; and adding that after his death the said house has come into the hands of a certain temporal lady of those parts, who presumes to make use of the entrance through the said door, to the inconvenience and disturbance of the abbess and nuns—if he find the facts to be so, to grant licence to them to cause the said door to be walled up, locked or closed (murari, serari, seu recludi). Justis et honestis. [Wadding, Annales Minorum, IX, p. 476, refers to the wrong register, and has Thomas Comes Blonteseriæ.] |
9 Kal. Dec.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 31d.) |
To Thomas Felawe, Augustinian canon of Bradenestok priory, in the diocese of Salisbury. Dispensation to him, a priest, to hold a benefice with or without cure, wont to be governed by secular clerks, and to resign it for exchange or otherwise as often as seems good to him, and hold instead another benefice with or without cure. Religionis zelus, vite ac morum. (De mandato.) |
17 Kal. Dec.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 33.) |
Confirmation, etc., as below. The pope has recently learned that in the original foundation of the Benedictine monastery of Peterborough, a conventual church dedicated to St. Peter was built, with a scattered (diffusam) parish, the tithes, etc. which they still possess, being granted for ever to the abbot and convent for their own uses, a perpetual vicar's portion being reserved; that for some time after the said foundation and building the parishioners were wont to go to the said church to hear divine offices, and for the administration of the sacraments by the said religious or by a chaplain deputed by them; that subsequently Gregory IX instituted a perpetual vicar; that afterwards a sometime bishop of Lincoln, taking into consideration the disturbance caused to the abbot and convent on account of the tumult and insolence of the parishioners in the performance of divine offices, by his ordinary authority transferred the vicar to the church or chapel of St. John Baptist within the bounds of the said parish, assigning to him a fit portion from that church; that later, St. John's becoming too small for the increased number of parishioners, and being hard of access for them especially in wintry and rainy weather, on Sundays and feast-days they abandoned it and went to other places, wherefore the abbot and convent induced them to build another church larger and more decent, and gave them a site on the land of the monastery, agreeing to which the parishioners have obtained licence from bishop Henry for the demolition of St. John's, and the building of such other church, the rights of the abbot and convent in respect of tithes etc. due to them being safeguarded, etc. The pope therefore, motu proprio, confirms the said gift, and the bishop's letters. He further, likewise motu proprio, ordains that the said vicar shall seek or receive nothing beyond his portion, limited as above, but be content therewith, and shall, after the completion and consecration of the proposed church, be bound to celebrate divine offices etc. for the said parishioners. Ad perp. rei mem. Inter cetera. |
9 Kal. Dec.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 34.) |
To the Cistercian abbot of St. Mary's Graces by the Tower of London. Indult for him and his successors and the monks, whenever they leave the monastery for a reasonable cause, to eat flesh on lawful days; with dispensation for the purpose. Exigit tue. |
2 Id. Nov.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 34.) |
To the prior and convent of the Cluniac priory or monastery of Leitton (sic), in the diocese of York. Indult for the prior and his successors and the convent to let to farm to clerks or laymen all fruits, etc. tithes [and] oblations of their churches, chapels, portions, pensions and other possessions. Quociens illud. |
1403.
4 Id. May.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 45.) |
To the Premonstratensian abbot and convent of Barlynges, in the diocese of Lincoln. Indult to them—whose recent petition contained that their monastery, in which they are twenty-seven or thereabouts in number, is so impoverished that they cannot be sustained, especially as its fruits etc. are not worth 100 marks a year; and that, although they are also burdened with debt, they nevertheless have to keep hospitality; and whose petition added that a number of the faithful in those parts have been wont to hire priests to say special or private (peculiares) masses, called Annuals, for the living and the dead—that for the relief of their poverty, their canons may celebrate or say such masses in the monastery church. Sincere devocionis. |
1402.
15 Kal. Dec.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 49.) |
To the Cluniac prior and convent of St. Pancras, Lewes, in the diocese of Chichester. Indult, as above to Leitton, f. 34. Quociens illud. |
11 Kal. Dec.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 49d.) |
To Robert Wyllingham, Cluniac monk of Thetford priory, in the diocese of Norwich. Indult to him—who desires to remain at Thetford perpetually, because divine offices are there by day and night solemnly and devoutly performed, and because the priory possesses a copy of divers books in which he desires to study, and who fears lest the prior may send him to another place where perhaps divine worship is less devoutly performed and such copy not exist—to remain in the said priory for life, and not to be transferred thence by the prior or any other superior. Exigit tue. |
2 Id. Nov.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 49d.) |
To the Cistercian abbot of Tiltey in the diocese of London. Indult, as above, f. 34, to St. Mary's Graces. Exigit tue. |
11 Kal. Dec.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 50.) |
To the Augustinian prior and convent of Thurgarton, in the diocese of York. Indult to have made anew in their dormitory as many cells as may be expedient for the sleeping of the canons. Such cells, when made, shall not be changed in future. Sacre religionis. |
2 Id. Nov.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 54.) |
Ordinance—at the petition of William abbot of Peterborough to the effect that a number of his monks, asserting themselves [to be] papal chaplains, with the enjoyment of all immunities, etc. granted by John XXII, Clement VI and Boniface VIII, refuse to obey their superiors, put off their religious and reassume a secular habit, and wander about through the world—that all such monks who are and shall be papal chaplains shall none the less obey and be subject to the abbot and their other superiors; with power to the abbot and his successors to correct all such monks, chaplains, and to compel their return. Ad fut. rei mem. Ad Romani pontificis. |
8 Id. Dec.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 61.) |
To John de Firthby, Cistercian monk of St. Mary's, Rievaulx (de Ryevoll.), in the diocese of York, papal chaplain. Faculty to dispose of his books and certain other moveables for the expenses of his funeral, and the remuneration of his servants or his kinsmen or others, and, after deducting his debts, to convert them to other pious and lawful uses. He is to be liberal to his monastery. Quia presentis vite. |
1403.
4 Id. March.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 68.) |
To the abbot of Staneley, in the diocese of Salisbury. Mandate at the recent petition of Thomas abbot of Malmesbury—containing that before provision was made to him of that monastery, then void by the death of abbot Walter, he was induced by the convent to swear to observe, if appointed abbot, certain statutes and ordinances, donations etc. said to have been formerly made (prius innovata) by the said abbot Walter, afterwards by that abbot and the convent renewed and approved, and read in the presence of, and well understood by, abbot Thomas, then a monk of the monastery; adding that if he, who was afterwards appointed abbot, were compelled to observe the said oath, it would be to the detriment of his abbatial dignity; and asserting that his predecessors were not wont to take such oath—if he find the above to be true, to absolve abbot Thomas, after enjoining a salutary penance, from the observance of the said oath, and to declare him and his successors not to be bound thereto or to the observance of a like oath. Justis petencium. |
17 Kal. April.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 77d.) |
To the bishop of St. Asaph. Mandate at the recent petition of the Benedictine abbot and convent of St. Peter's, Shrewsbury, in the diocese of Lichfield—containing that on account of the parish church of Wrocwardin in the said diocese, which they hold to their uses, they are bound to maintain two of their monks to study theology at an university, and that on account of wars and other evil dispositions which have for some time afflicted those parts, the fruits, etc. of the monastery and of the said church have so diminished that they cannot do so without penury and difficulty—if he find this to be the case, to grant that in future they shall be bound to maintain only one such monk as a student. Sacre religionis. |
1402.
14 Kal. Dec.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 79.) |
To the Cluniac prior and convent of Lewes. Grant that the public transcript of the letters conservatory—Etsi quibuslibet religiosis, of Clement VI, granted at the petition of the abbot and convent of Cluny and of Philip, king of France, and addressed to the archbishop of Canterbury and the bishops of Exeter and Norwich, on behalf of the said abbot and convent and of abbots, priors and deans and convents of the order, and dated at Avignon, Id. April anno 2 [Cal. Papal Lett. III, p. 136], which public transcript the pope has caused to be inspected, of which exemplification is here given, and the original of which is in possession of the pretended abbot and convent of Cluny—shall have the force of the original, and may be equally executed by the said executors. Sacre religionis. (De mandato.) |
9 Kal. Dec.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 81.) |
To William de Wardon, Cistercian abbot of St. Mary's Graces by the Tower, London, in England, and his brethren, present and future. Taking their monastery under the protection of St. Peter and the pope. The monastic order as instituted there, according to the rule of St. Benedict and the Cistercian institution, shall be perpetually observed. The pope confirms their possessions present and future, mentioning the place where the monastery is situate, its cemetery and all its other appurtenances; all lands, rents and tenements etc. in the city of London and its suburbs; the church of All Saints, Stanyngchirche, London, with its rights etc. appropriated to them by the bishop of London and the chapter of St. Paul's; the advowson of the church of St. Bartholomew the Less, London; the manors of Westmell, Little Hormade, and Mesdoun, with the advowsons of the churches thereof, and all their other rights etc. in the county of Hertford; the manors of Leyborne, Graveshende, Lenches, Wateryngbury, Gore, Parrok and
Bykenore, with all their rights etc. in the county of Kent, and with the advowsons of the churches of the said manors of Leyborne, Graveshende and Bykenore; the manor of Popellier with all its appurtenances, in the county of Middilsexe; the manor of Gomshulf, in the county of Surre; 20l. of fee farm from the abbot and convent of St. Saviour's, Bermondeseye alias
Bermundeseye near London, to be received yearly for the manor etc. of Retherhithe in the said county of Surre; the manors of Bovytracy, Northlieu, Holdesworthy and Langeacre, with appurtenances, in the county of Devon; the manors of Blakedon, West Ludeforde and Staunton, with appurtenances, in the county of Somerset; the manor of Takkebere, with appurtenances, in the county of Cornwall; the advowsons of the churches of the said manors of Blakedon, West Ludeforde, Northlieu and Holdesworthy; all which manors, lands, rents, tenements, appurtenances and advowsons were conferred upon them by Edward III their founder, Richard II and Henry IV, by the feoffees and executors of the said king Edward, and by others, in free and perpetual alms. The pope confirms all liberties, immunities, exemptions, privileges etc. granted to them or their order by himself or his predecessors, as well as all liberties and exemptions, granted or to be granted to them by kings, princes or any others, from secular exactions; with the usual inhibition against violence within their monastery or to its possessions. Religiosam vitam. (De mandato.) |
Id. Nov.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 82d.) |
To the Benedictine abbot and convent of Peterborough. Indult for the abbot and his successors to wear anywhere the mitre, ring, pastoral staff and other pontifical insignia; to give in the monastery and subject priories, and in their parish and other churches, solemn benediction after mass, vespers and matins and at their table, provided that no bishop or legate be present; to consecrate churches, namely those above, the churches, oratories and chapels of their monastery and priories, altars therein, vestments, chalices and other ecclesiastical ornaments thereof; and to reconcile the same and the cemeteries of such churches. Exposcit vestre. (De mandato.) |
2 Id. Nov.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 83.) |
Appropriation to the Cluniac prior and convent of St. Pancras, Lewes, of the parish church of Horstedekeynes alias
Bryctesley, in the diocese of Chichester, of their patronage, value not exceeding 26 marks, that of the priory not exceeding 3,000. Upon the resignation or death of the rector they may have it served by one of their monks or a stipendiary secular priest appointed and removed at the sole pleasure of the prior. Ad perp. rei mem. Sacre religionis. (De mandato.) |
Ibid.
(f. 84.) |
Indult, during five years, to penitents—who, from the first vespers of the first Sunday in Lent to compline on the Monday following, visit in person or, if prevented by infirmity or otherwise lawfully, by others, and give alms for the conservation or repair of the church of St. Helen, mother of the emperor Constantine, of the Gilbertine priory of Maresey (sic) in the diocese of
York—that the confessor of their choice may grant them plenary (plenam) remission of all their sins, and commutation of vows of pilgrimage and abstinence, vows of pilgrimage to SS. Peter and Paul [Rome] and St. James [Compostella] alone excepted. Univ. Christifid. etc. Licet is. (De mandato.) |
[1403.
8 Id. Feb.
St. Peter's, Rome.]
(f. 86d.) |
Annulment, as above, Reg. CVIII, f. 132. Ad fut. rei mem. Apostolice sedis. [Unfinished and cancelled with strokes only.] |
1403.
7 Kal. March.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 86d.) |
To Alice Golafre, Augustinian nun of Burnham in the diocese of Lincoln. Dispensation, as the daughter of an unmarried man and an unmarried woman, to hold any dignities, even abbatial or principal, administrations and offices of her order. Religionis zelus, vite etc. |
8 Kal. June.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 93d.) |
Annulment, etc. as below, Clement VI, at the petition of the Augustinian abbot and convent of St. Anthony's, Vienne, inhibited all, except brethren of the said monastery empowered by the abbot, under pretext of oratory or altar built or to be built under the name of the said saint, from seeking or receiving in his name alms, offerings (vota) or legacies, and excommunicated all pardoners (questuarii) who should receive the same against the will of the said abbot and convent, unless, when warned, they made restitution. Certain letters—Univ. Christifid. etc. Splendor paterne, dated at St. Peter's, Rome, Id. Feb. anno 12 [1401, above p. 398], here exemplified, are said to have issued, by which the pope grants, during ten years, an indulgence to penitents who on certain feasts etc. visit the chapel of St. Anthony without the walls of York near the hospital of St. Mary in ‘le horsfayre,’ and give alms for it and the ways commonly called ‘Giligate’ and ‘horsfayre.’ Seeing that the tenor of the said letters, which tenor the pope has caused to be examined in his chancery, differs from the style of the chancery, and clearly conflicts with certain ordinances of the pope in conformity with which they ought to have been expedited; and seeing that—according to the recent petition of John Macclesfeld, clerk, of the diocese of Lichfield, who by papal authority holds in commendam the preceptory of the house of St. Anthony, London, dependent on the said monastery—a certain pretended hermit dwelling at the said chapel, built within the bounds within which the preceptor and brethren of the said house have from of old been wont to seek and receive alms, etc., as above, in the name of the said saint, under pretext of the pope's said letters, and without licence from them, has presumed to seek and usurp in the saint's name such alms, etc., and in many ways to misuse the pope's said letters; the pope hereby orders the said letters to be cancelled from his register, in which they are inscribed, and anywhere else where they may be found, and no credence to be given to them. He further inhibits the said pretended hermit and any others from using them, and, if they do so, he orders that they shall be punished as forgers. Ad fut. rei mem. Exigit officii. |
|
Concurrent mandate to Master Bartholomew Francisci, provost of St. Stephen's, Prato, in the diocese of Pistoja, papal notary, regent, by the pope's order, of the chancery, to cause the said pretended letters to be cancelled from the register, and not to permit the said John and brethren to be molested by the said pretended hermit or others, compelling by ecclesiastical censure without appeal, and invoking, if necessary, the aid of the secular arm. Nuper ad supplicacionem. |
1402.
3 Id. Nov.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 101.) |
Grant and ordinance, at the recent petition of the provincial, ministers and other friars of the Trinitarian order in England—containing that the rules of the order ordain that no one shall be received as a friar unless he has attained his twentieth year, and that the friars of each house are bound to divide their goods into three equal parts, one for their food and clothing and the repair and sustentation of their house and other necessaries, another for the poor, and the third for the redemption of captives in the Holy Land; and adding that on account of their burdens it is very hard to pay the third part, and that in its place they have from time immemorial paid a certain yearly quota; adding also that a number desire to enter the order but are below the said age—that in future they shall pay the said accustomed quota only, and may receive into the order any persons fit and willing, even below the said age. Ad perp. rei mem. Vacantibus sub religionis. |
4 Kal. Dec.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 104.) |
To William Henle, claustral prior of the Benedictine monastery of Radynghe, in the diocese of Salisbury. Grant to him—who, on account of his said office, whose holder has been wont to be removed at the pleasure of the abbot, and which he has held for some time, has yearly received from the common rents of the monastery as much for food as two other monks, for his clothing 6l., and other necessaries; for the food and clothing of his three servitors in his said office, namely a yeoman (valetto), groom (garcione) and a page (pagetico), the usual allowance of like servants in the monastery; and who has had a stable for one horse within the monastery, sufficient hay, and for its keep (pabulo seu prebenda) 26s. 8d.; and who has yearly had certain other things—to hold the said office for life, and not to be removed against his will, and for his above expenses etc. to receive as hitherto. If he resign, there shall be given to him for life as much for his food and clothing as is allowed to two other monks commonly called ‘Scarotys.’ He shall not be bound henceforth to visit the choir. Religionis zelus, vite etc. (De mandato.) |
1403.
7 Id. Feb.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 109.) |
To Richard, Cistercian abbot, and the convent of Dounkeswell, in the diocese of Exeter. Indult for the abbot and his successors and the convent, whenever they leave the monastery for a reasonable cause, to eat flesh on lawful days. Exigit vestre. |
14 Kal. May.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 112d.) |
To John Roden, Cistercian monk of St. Mary's, Fountains, in the diocese of York. Dispensation, as the son of an unmarried man and an unmarried woman, to be promoted to all dignities, even major and abbatial, administrations and offices of his order even if with cure and elective. Religionis zelus, vite etc. |
Ibid.
(f. 126.) |
To John Ripon, monk of the same. Dispensation to him, a priest, to minister in his orders; with rehabilitation on account of irregularity. While warden, by will of his superior, of a certain place belonging to Fountains, certain robbers entered, stole and carried off goods to the value of about 40 marks. John caused them to be pursued and captured at his expense, with the object of having them handed over to the secular judge, but before they could be so handed over, their captors beheaded one of them. The other was hanged by the judge, John having nothing more to do therewith than as stated above. Sincere devocionis. |
7 Id. July.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 139d.) |
Revocation, at the petition of the Benedictine abbot and convent of Evesham, as contrary to the rule of the order against private property among its members, as disturbing obedience in the monastery and as a pernicious example, of the pope's letters—Religionis zelus, vite ac morum, of which exemplification is given, addressed to Thomas Ledbury (sic) monk of Evesham, and dated at St. Peter's Rome, 3 Id. March anno 11 [1400, above, p. 335]. Ad fut. rei mem. Sedes apostolica. |
4 Kal. June.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 142d.) |
To the prior of Kylkeny in the diocese of Meath. Mandate to collate and assign to Luke (Lucham) Occhalan, canon of the Augustinian priory of Derwach, in the said diocese, if found fit in Latin, that priory, an elective conventual dignity with cure, dependent on no monastery or other regular place, value not exceeding 24 marks, void by the death of Malachy Ykyriga (or
Ykynga). Dignum [arbitramur.] |
Id. May.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f.148.) |
Confirmation, at the petition of William Puddesay, Trinitarian friar of the house of St. Robert, Knaresburgh, in the diocese of York, provincial of the order in England, and sometime minister of the said house, of the grant made to him by John Kyllyngwyk, his immediate successor as minister, and the friars of his house. Exemplification is given of their letters patent, dated in the said house, 5 Jan. 1387 [-8], granting to William Pud [de] say, provincial of England, recently their minister, on account of his good services as minister, that he shall be exonerated for life from choir and chapter, and that upon giving up the office of provincial, he shall be bound to obey the provincial for the time being and none other of the order. He shall daily eat, when he pleases, at the table of the minister, and shall be served in all things like the minister, in food, drink, cooking, degree and honour. When he does not wish to eat in the presence of the minister or convent, he shall be served with the same service as the minister. They grant him, also for life, a decent chamber for his dwelling within the cloister, with suitable sheets for his bed, napery, eight silver spoons, a bason with a laver, ware (et uno pelve cum lavacro, vasis), utensils and other chamber necessaries and a servant to be fed and clothed at the expense of the minister and friars. He can have at will one of the brethren of the house to dwell with him, pass the night with him, and eat in the said room at the said expense; have a sufficient fireplace, with twelve pounds of candles of Paris a year; also hay, oats, grass, litter (literam), for one horse to be kept with the horses of the minister, and not to be ridden without his leave; also herbage and other aliment for eighty hoggets (bidentibus), to be kept with the sheep (ovibus) of the minister and friars; also one horse and one servant of the minister whenever he pleases; and in addition to all the above, every year for his life 100s. for his other necessaries, to be paid in equal portions at the Purification, Easter, St. [Mary] Magdalene and All Saints. Ad fut. rei mem. Hiis que pro statu. |
6 Non. July.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 157.) |
To John de Rypon, Cistercian monk of St. Mary's, Fountains. Confirmation, with exemplification, of the letters—Considerantes diversos, of abbot Robert and the convent, dated at Fountains, 20 April 1400 (as above, p. 354, here with spelling Nyddyrdall). In addition to the present confirmation, the pope grants indult to him and not more than four other monks who may be at his table, within the monastery but not in the common refectory, and also without the monastery, to eat flesh on lawful days, provided that he and they have not taken a special oath or made a special vow of abstinence from flesh. The pope further grants him indult that he cannot be removed from his chamber and emoluments by the abbot or other. Iis que benemeritis. |
|
Concurrent mandate to the bishops of Carlisle and Tuy and the dean of York. Iis etc. |
3 Id. June.
St. Peter's. Rome.
(f. 159.) |
To Richard, Cistercian abbot of Jervaulx, in the diocese of York. Dispensation to him, seeing that the fruits etc. of the monastery are so diminished that he cannot decently keep up his estate and support his burdens, to hold for life a benefice in the common gift of himself and the convent, or any other benefice with cure, even if of lay patronage. Sincere devocionis. |
4 Non. Aug.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f.159.) |
Confirmation, at the recent petition of the Augustinian prior and convent of St. Mary's Killagh (de Belloloco), in the diocese of Ardfert—containing that the monastery was founded and endowed by Geoffrey de Marisco, donsel, an Englishman, who ordained that no religious or canon regular should be admitted to make his profession, except an Englishman; and that, although this has been observed from time immemorial, they fear molestation in respect thereof—of the said foundation and ordinance. The pope further ordains that they shall not, under pretext of any letters of the apostolic see or of its legates, admit anyone contrary to the said ordinance. Ad fut. rei mem. Ea que pro divini. |
5 Id. Feb.
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 164d.) |
To the prior of Compwell, in the diocese of Canterbury. Mandate, at the recent petition of John Holmborn, Cistercian monk of Robertsbridge in the diocese of Chichester—containing that he was formerly seduced by an unmarried woman, found with her in a wood, captured by his abbot William, beaten to the effusion of blood and harshly afflicted, and relegated to the Cistercian monastery of Coksale, in the diocese of London, an oath being extorted from him not to approach Robertsbridge and not seek on account of the above a privilege from the apostolic see; that after long leading a miserable life in Coksale, he went forth by the walls, and, betaking himself to the said see, had himself absolved by one of the minor papal penitentiaries, and partly did the penance enjoined; and adding that he desires to return to Robertsbridge—after he, who is old, has done the said penance, to absolve him from the excommunication etc. incurred by the statutes of his house and order, enjoining a salutary penance. The prior is further to dispense him on account of irregularity contracted, to rehabilitate him, and to relax the said oath, causing him to be received into Robertsbridge and restored to his stall in choir, to his voice and place in chapter, and to his former room, books, clothes and other goods, and to his former state. Humilibus supplicum. |
