Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland: Volume 10, 1447-1455. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1915.
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'Vatican Regesta 430: 1454', in Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland: Volume 10, 1447-1455, (London, 1915) pp. 259-266. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-papal-registers/brit-ie/vol10/pp259-266 [accessed 25 April 2024]
In this section
Vatican Regesta, Vol. CCCCXXX. (fn. 1)
De Curia.
8 Nicholas V.
| 1454. 6 Kal. Aug. (27 July.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 55d.) |
To the abbot of Newmoster in the diocese of Durham. Mandate, as below. The petition of John Neville, knight, and Anne daughter of the late-John Holland, duke of Exeter, of the diocese of Durham, contained that they were dispensed, notwithstanding an impediment of spiritual relationship (fn. 2) (arising from the fact that on the death of John Radulfi, son of the earl of Westmoreland and the said John Neville's nephew, with whom the said Anne had contracted marriage per verba legitime de presenti, but had not consummated it, the said John and Anne contracted marriage per verba similia, consummated it and had offspring) to remain in the said marriage, in virtue of letters of the present pope, whereof the above abbot was the executor; and that they subsequently learned that they were also related in the third degree of kindred. The pope hereby, validating the said dispensation and its consequences, orders the above abbot to dispense them to remain in the said marriage, notwithstanding the said impediment of kindred, as if it had been mentioned in the said first dispensation, decreeing offspring born and to be born legitimate. Oblate nobis. (Pe. de Noxeto. | xxx. Ja. de Vicentia. Jo. de Vulterris.) [In the margin: Jul(ii). 1¼ pp.] |
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| 18 Kal. Sept. (15 Aug.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 80d.) |
To the bishop of Aberdeen, the archdeacon of the church of Aix (Aquen.) (fn. 3) and the official of Aberdeen. Mandate to collate and assign to Andrew Matheson, clerk, of the diocese of Aberdeen, a member of the pope's household, M.A., who is also a continual commensal of the pope, the perpetual vicarage of Haitoun in the diocese of St. Andrews, value not exceeding 20l. sterling, provision of which, on its voidance by the death of William Gibson, the pope recently made to the late Robert Kirkwode, priest, of the diocese of St. Andrews, who has died at the apostolic see before the papal letters were drawn up, so that it is still void as above. Grata familiaritatis obsequia. (Pe. de Noxeto. | A. de Harspaco.Gratis de mandato domini nostri pape.) [2½ pp.] |
| 8 Id. Oct. (8 Oct.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 165d.) |
To William Forbas. Collation and provision to him, who is in about his twentieth year, is a kinsman of James, king of Scots, is of a race of barons, and is studying at Paris, at the petition of James, bishop of St. Andrews, whose nephew he is, of the deanery of Brechin, a principal (rectius major) elective dignity with cure, value not exceeding 30l. sterling, void by the death of Walter Steuart, and reserved under the pope's late general reservation of all major dignities in cathedral churches; whether it be void as stated, or by the death of David Crannok, or in any other way. He is hereby dispensed on account of the said defect of age; with mandate executory hereby to the prior of St. Andrews, the archdeacon of Dunblane and the official of St. Andrews. Nobilitas etc. (Pe. de Noxeto. | xxxxx. P. de Legendorff. Jo. de Vulterris.) [In the margin: Oct(obris). 2½ pp. See above, p. 256, and below, f. 179.] |
| 1454. Ibid. (f. 179.) |
To Hugh de Douglas, clerk, of the diocese of St. Andrews. Reservation to the pope's gift, for collation to him, who is by both parents of noble race, of a canonry of Brechin and the prebend commonly called Guthen therein, value not exceeding 6l. sterling, which, not being tenable according to the statutes and customs of the said church along with the deanery, are expected to become void by the obtaining of the deanery by William Forbas, a canon of Brechin, in virtue of certain other letters of the pope [see the preceding]; with mandate executory hereby to the prior of St. Andrews, the archdeacon of Dunblane and the official of St. Andrews.Nobilitas etc. (Pe. de Noxeto. | xxiiii. P. de Legendorff.G. de Porris.) [In the margin: Oct(obris). 2¼ pp.] |
| 3 Non. Dec. (3 Dec.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 207d.) |
Decree (fn. 4) etc., as below, recapitulating the pope's recent grant etc., below, f. 228d, of the Jubilee indulgence to Ireland. (fn. 5) Seeing that there may arise a doubt about the said grant in regard to those whose not going to Rome in the Jubilee year was intentional and therefore not due to some hindrance, or those who are too sick or decrepit to visit the prescribed churches in Ireland, or too poor to pay the whole of the prescribed fourth etc., the pope hereby, in order to remove all doubt, decrees and declares that the princes and prelates and other faithful of Ireland, even if they had no intention of going to Rome, and were not hindered in any way from going etc., shall gain the said Jubilee indulgence as if in the pope's said grant he had made no mention of such hindrances. With regard to those who are too sick and decrepit etc. and too poor to pay the said fourth etc., the pope lays down detailed instructions in each case for the guidance of his commissaries or their deputies, etc. Ad fut.rei mem. Provida sedis apostolice. (Pe. de Noxeto. | Jo.de Collis. [de Curia.]) [7 pp. +. See Fœdera.] |
| [1454. 3 Non. Dec. (3 Dec.).] St. Peter's, Rome. (fn. 6) (f. 211.) |
To John Langstrothir, castellan of the city of Rhodes and Melchior Bandini, chancellor of the convent of Rhodes, of the order of St. John of Jerusalem. Mandate (fn. 7), as below. The pope recapitulates his recent grant of the Jubilee indulgence to the faithful of Ireland, as below, f. 228d, and the ordinance accompanying the same in regard to the keeping of a chest in each of the churches to be visited, with three keys, one to be kept by the above castellan and chancellor, or their deputy, the second by the metropolitans or bishops of the places or their vicars-general in spirituals, or their substitutes, and the third by the sacrists or rectors; and orders the above to open or cause to be opened the said chest, as often as seems good to them or their deputies, in the presence of the keepers of the keys, count the money therein and (retaining each time appropriate amounts for the execution of the said indulgences, both for a becoming salary and for other reasonable expenses) take charge of the rest for the use of the said order, and give receipts etc (fn. 8).Ad providam vestre circumspectionis. (Pe. de Noxeto. | There are no subscriptions at the end of the letter.) [2⅓ pp.] |
|
Ibid. (f. 212d.) |
To Robert Botyll, prior of the priory of England, of the order of St. John of Jerusalem, and John Langstrothir, castellan of the city of Rhodes. Mandate, as in the preceding, mutatis mutandis, e.g. with ‘the realm of England, the principality of Wales and the lordship of Ireland etc.' instead of ‘Ireland.’ Ad providam vestre circumspectionis. (Pe. de Noxeto. | A. de Veneriis.) [The letter only occupies half a page, being registered briefly, with the repeated use of ‘etc. ut supra in precedenti bulla usque ad illa verba …,’ and ends ‘etc. usque ad Datum Rome.’] |
| 1454. 3 Id. Dec. (11 Dec.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 212d.) |
Statute and decree (the pope having, in aid … for the purpose, as in the following), in order that, after deducting all expenses, all the rest of the proceeds of the indulgences shall be devoted to the due purpose and to none other, that all the said proceeds shall be deposited by the above commissioners and their deputies in the hands of Peter, [son] of Cosmas de Medicis, [of Florence,] nobleman, the pope's banker, or his partners in the said parts, whom he hereby appoints receivers and bankers for the purpose, and by whom alone shall be paid all due and necessary expenses incurred in the execution of the pope's letters of indulgence; with penalties against transgressors of these presents etc.Ad fut. rei mem. Desiderantes ab intimis. (Pe. de Noxeto. | L. de Narnis [sic]. de Curia.) [3 pp. +.] |
| 1454. 5 Id. Dec. (9 Dec.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 222.) |
Declaration (the pope having, in aid of the necessities of the master of the hospital of St. John of Jerusalem and the convent of Rhodes, more than usually impoverished and in debt through their wars with the Infidels, granted certain indulgences in the realm of England and the principality of Wales and the parts of Ireland etc., and appointed certain commissaries for the purpose, and having omitted to mention in his letters with whom the moneys to be collected from the said indulgences are to be deposited) that all the said moneys (after deducting expenses according to the discretion and conscience of the said commissaries and their deputies) shall be deposited by the said commissaries and their deputies in the hands of Peter, [son] of Cosmas de Medicis, of Florence, nobleman, banker of the said master and convent, or his partners in those parts, to be devoted solely to the said purpose. Ad fut. rei mem. Sedis apostolice providentia. (Pe. de Noxeto. | L. de Narnia. de Curia.) [1 p.] |
| Kal. Dec. (1 Dec.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 228d.) |
Grant etc., as below. (fn. 9) The pope recapitulates his grant of plenary indulgence to penitents etc. who visited the usual basilicas and churches in Rome during the Jubilee year 1450. Seeing that the Turks have subjugated the city of Constantinople and many other lands and places, and threaten utterly to devastate in the coming year the island of Rhodes, and that the master of the hospital of St. John of Jerusalem and the convent of Rhodes are on account of past wars so heavily burdened with debt that without the help of other faithful they will not be able to resist the said enemies, who are said to have made incredible preparations and got ready a very strong army (fn. 10); and seeing that, as the pope has been informed, there are in Ireland very many faithful, princes, archbishops, bishops, abbots, priors and other prelates of churches and monasteries, abbesses, prioresses, and nobles, clerks, religious and laymen of both sexes, who in the last year of Jubilee were prevented by age, bodily weakness, poverty etc., and the fear of wars, distance etc. from visiting the said basilicas and churches of Rome in order to gain the indulgences and remissions of the Jubilee, and who desire to share therein, the pope (seeing that Ireland and its inhabitants have always been most constant champions of the Christian faith (fn. 11), and have held the religion of St. John of Jerusalem in the greatest honour etc.), recapitulating the evils wrought by the Turks, hereby grants indult to all the said faithful in Ireland that after the confessors appointed (with the counsel of the respective metropolitans and bishops) by the pope's commissaries, John Langstrothyr, castellan of the city of Rhodes and Melchior Bandinis (sic), chancellor of the convent of Rhodes, or their deputies, have from the first Sunday of Quinquagesima in the year of the Lord next to come until the feast of Corpus Christi in the same year, absolved the said faithful from the sins etc. which they shall confess, even in cases specially reserved to the pope and the apostolic see and have enjoined penance (faculty for which the pope hereby grants to the said confessors), the said faithful, thus penitent and having confessed, may (after visiting once a day a number of churches to be named by the said commissaries or their deputies, namely during five days in the case of churches three miles of those parts distant from their homes, and during three days in the case of churches distant more than three miles and less than ten, and during one day in the case of churches distant more than ten miles; and after making a money offering to the chest (fn. 12) which the said commissaries or their deputies shall appoint, in aid of the said order, in the case of princes (fn. 13) and prelates what seems good to them and their consciences, in the case of other ecclesiastics, nobles and other persons of both sexes, the fourth part of what they would have spent in going to Rome in the said year of Jubilee, staying there and returning) gain plenary remission of all their sins etc. and the entire indulgence of the Jubilee, as if they had gone in person in the said Jubilee year to Rome and visited the basilicas etc., in such wise, however, that the personal labour which would have been borne by going to Rome shall be commuted by such confessor into other works of piety etc. Faculty is hereby given to the said commissaries and their deputies to tax etc., with counsel of the confessors, the said offering of the fourth. The pope decrees, further, that a copy of these presents, subscribed by two notaries public and sealed with the seal of one of the said metropolitans or ordinaries, shall wheresoever exhibited have the same authenticity as the present original, and that the said taxations etc. by the said commissaries and deputies shall in all respects hold good as if made by the pope himself. He ordains further that in each of the said churches a chest shall be appointed to receive the said moneys, with three keys, one to be kept by the said commissaries or their deputies, another by the bishop, the ordinary of the place, or, in his absence, his vicar general in spirituals, or their substitute, the third by the sacrists or rectors or their deputies, in accordance with other letters of the pope in the matter of the said commission and faculty. Ad fut. rei mem. Celestis clavigeri. (Pe. de Noxeto. | Jo. de Collis. de Curia.) [3½ pp.] |
| 1454. Ibid. (f. 232d.) |
Grant etc., as below. The pope recapitulates, as in the preceding, his Jubilee indulgence. Henry, king of England, has recently set forth to the pope that in the realm of England, the principality of Wales and the lordship of Ireland, and other parts subject to him, there are very many faithful of both sexes who did not gain the said indulgences in the year of Jubilee, and that the king himself and queen Margaret and very many dukes and archbishops, bishops and other prelates, earls, barons, knights and other nobles, ecclesiastics etc. desire to share in the said indulgences, and that the said king (considering that the enemies of the name of Christ have in the past year subjugated Constantinople etc. and have prepared a very powerful and incredible army (fn. 14), alike for the preservation of their Eastern conquests and for the invasion of the realms etc. of catholic princes etc.; and considering especially that the order of St. John of Jerusalem is unable to resist as in times past, alike on account of the growing strength of the said enemies and the burden of debt due to past wars, without the help of the faithful), is ready to risk the whole strength of his realm on behalf of the catholic faith. (fn. 15) The pope, therefore, recapitulating the evils wrought by the Turks, grants hereby, at the petition of the said king, to him and the said queen, dukes, archbishops etc. and other faithful who in the last year of Jubilee … and who desire to share therein (as in the preceding) indult that after the confessors appointed (with the counsel of the respective metropolitans and bishops) by the pope's commissaries, Robert Botyll, prior of the priory of England, of the said order, and (fn. 16) John Langstrothyr, castellan of the city of Rhodes, or their deputies, have, from the first Sunday of Quinquagesima in the year of the Lord next to come until the octaves of Easter in the same year, absolved the said king etc. from the sins etc. which they shall confess, even in cases specially reserved to the pope and the apostolic see, and have enjoined penance (faculty for which the pope hereby grants to the said confessors), the said king, queen, dukes, archbishops etc. and other faithful, thus penitent and having confessed, may (after visiting … ten miles, as in the preceding, and after making a money offering to the chest which the said commissaries or their deputies shall appoint, in aid of the said order, in the case of the said king and queen and all the members of their family, and archbishops, bishops, abbots and priors, abbesses and prioresses, what seems good to them and their consciences, is the case of other nobles, ecclesiastics and other persons of both sexes, the fourth part …. returning, as ibid.) gain plenary remission of all their sins etc. and the entire indulgence of the Jubilee, as if … subscribed by two notaries public (as ibid.) and sealed with the seal of the said king or metropolitans or bishops, shall wheresoever exhibited … said commission and faculty (as ibid., mutatis mutandis).Ad fut. rei mem. Quoniam alto. (Pe. de Noxeto. | L. de Narnia. de Curia.) [4 pp. +. For a like grant to Scotland, see above, Reg. Vat. CCCCIII, f. 63d.] |
| Non. Dec. (5 Dec.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 237.) |
Prolongation etc., as below. The pope recapitulates, almost at full length, his grant, at the petition of Henry, king of England, above, f. 232d (fn. 17), and hereby (considering the amplitude of the realm of England etc. and the greatness of its population, the dangers of travelling, storms of the sea, tempests of winter, impetuous and rapid floods etc. whereby the faithful of the said realm etc. may remain deprived of the said indulgence) prolongs the said faculties, indulgences and remissions of sins, and the letters thereof, from the end of the time appointed therein to the feast of Corpus Christi next to come. Further, seeing that there may arise a doubt in regard to the said grant, as above, f. 207d, the pope hereby decrees and declares, as ibid., mutatis mutandis. Ad fut. rei mem. Provida sedis apostolice. (Pe. de Noxeto. | L. de Narnia. de Curia.) [6½ pp.] |