Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland: Volume 13, 1471-1484. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1955.
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'Lateran Regesta 772: 1476-1477', in Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland: Volume 13, 1471-1484, (London, 1955) pp. 554-562. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-papal-registers/brit-ie/vol13/pp554-562 [accessed 25 April 2024]
In this section
Lateran Regesta, Vol. DCCLXXII. (fn. 1)
6 Sixtus IV.
De Provisionibus Prelatorum.
| 1476. Prid. Non. Nov. (4 Nov.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 30r.) |
To George Bois, a monk of St. Thomas the Martyr's [Aberbrothoc], O.S.B., in the diocese of St. Andrews. Absolution (in order that the provision which the pope intends to make to him this day of the monastery of St. Thomas the Martyr, Aberbrothoc, in the diocese of St. Andrews, and the letters to be drawn up thereupon, may not be liable to have any invalidity imputed to them), (fn. 2) from any sentences of excommunication etc. which he may have incurred. Apostolice sedis indefessa clementia. |
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|
Ibid. (f. 30v.) |
To George Bois, abbot of St. Thomas the Martyr's, Aberbrothoc, O.S.B., in the diocese of St. Andrews. Provision etc., as below. Lately, during the lifetime of abbot Richard, the pope specially reserved the provision of the said monastery to his own gift. Subsequently, on its voidance by the death of the said Richard extra R. c., the convent received the said George, then a monk of Lindores (de Lindoris), of the said order and in the said diocese, as a monk of St. Thomas's, and, perhaps in ignorance of the said reservation, elected de facto as abbot the said George, who, likewise ignorant, consented to the election and had it confirmed by the official of St Andrews (who falsely alleged that Patrick, [now] archbishop, then bishop of St. Andrews, had given him commission, the said Patrick having, as the said official likewise alleged, special faculty from the apostolic see), and with the help of the said official (fn. 3) got himself blessed, under pretext of which election and confirmation he entered upon the rule and administration, and has received the fruits etc., as he continues to do, in good faith. The pope, on the other hand, ordered the late Alexander Schiymgeoure (recte Schrymgeoure), then a secular priest, to be received as a monk of St. Thomas's, the regular habit to be given to him, and his profession to be received, and granted the said monastery to him in commendam for a certain time, and decreed that, as soon as he had been so received, etc., provision was made to him of the said monastery. Afterwards, on the voidance of the said monastery by the death of the said Alexander extra R.c., without having had possession of the rule etc., the pope granted it in commendam to the said archbishop for five years and more, at the pope's pleasure. The pope having this day revoked the said grant to the said archbishop (who has not obtained possession of the rule and administration), and the monastery being therefore still void by the death of the said Alexander, the said George (the said reservation having been brought to his knowledge) has caused the matter of his election to be set forth before the pope in consistory. The pope therefore, to whom Malcolm Bridi, [now] a monk, sometime abbot of St. Thomas's (who was deprived by the said Patrick archbishop, then bishop, but who nevertheless [remained] in the rule and administration) has given up all right in and to such rule and administration, hereby reputes null and void the said election and its consequences, and (having lately reserved the provision to his gift, whilst the said Alexander had the rule and administration) makes provision to the said George, his will being that he may make use of the blessing which he has received, and that before taking part in the rule and administration in virtue of these presents, he shall take to the bishops of Brechin and Aberdeen, or one of them, the usual oath of fealty. Suscepti cura regiminis. |
| Concurrent letters to the convent and to the vassals of St. Thomas's—Hodie monasterio vestro: to the archbishop of St. Andrews—Ad cumulum etc.; and to James, king of Scots—Gratie divine etc. [5½ pp.] | |
|
Ibid. (f. 33r.) |
To the bishops of Brechin and Aberdeen. Mandate to receive from George, abbot de facto elect and confirmed of the above monastery and blessed, to whom the pope has this day made provision thereof, the usual oath of fealty to the pope, according to the form enclosed, and to send it to the pope by his letters patent, sealed with his seal. (fn. 4)Cum nos hodie. [½ p.] |
| Id. Sept. (13 Sept.) Foligno. (f. 52r.) |
To William Scheues, dean of Dunkeld. Appointing him, who is also archdeacon of St. Andrews, coadjutor during the pope's pleasure of Patrick, archbishop of that church, the pope having been informed by James king of Scots and the prior and chapter of St. Andrews that the said archbishop has been by papal authority for more than a year under divers sentences of excommunication and has lost his reason. (fn. 5) Before beginning to exercise the said office he is to take to the bishops of Glasgow and Aberdeen an oath to exercise it well etc. and the usual oath of fealty. Apostolice sedis circumspecta benignitas. |
| Concurrent letters to the chapter of the church of St. Andrews, to the clergy and to the people of the city and diocese, to the vassals and to the suffragans of the church—Hodie ex certis; and to James, king of Scots—Gratie divine etc. [31/6 pp.] | |
|
Ibid. (f. 53v.) |
To the bishops of Glasgow and Aberdeen. Mandate, recapitulating the preceding, to receive the above-mentioned oath according to the form enclosed, and send it to the pope by their letters patent, sealed with their seal. (fn. 6)Hodie dilectum filium. [½ p. +] |
| 1476[–7]. Prid. Id. Feb. (12 Feb.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 72r.) |
To William, bishop of Moray. Translation from the church of Orkney to that of Moray, void by the death of David extra R.c., during whose lifetime it was specially reserved by the pope. Before receiving possession of the rule and administration, he is to take to the bishops of Brechin and Caithness the usual oath of fealty according to the form enclosed. Romani pontificis. |
| Concurrent letters to the chapter of the said church, to the clergy and to the people of the city and diocese and to the vassals of the church—Hodie venerabilem fratrem; and to James, king of Scotland (Scotie)—Gratie etc. [3 pp. + In Eubel, op. cit., from the ‘Obligationes.’] | |
|
Ibid. (f. 73v.) |
To the bishops of Brechin and Caithness. Mandate to receive the above-mentioned oath, and to send it to the pope by the above-named bishop's letters patent, sealed with his seal. (fn. 7)Cum nos hodie. |
De Diversis [Formis].
5 Sixtus IV.
| 1476. 7 Kal. Aug. (26 July.) Narni. (f. 150r.) |
To Thomas Popeley, rector of the parish church of All Saints, Dudcote, in the diocese of Salisbury, M.A. The like. Litterarum etc. [1⅓ pp.] |
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6 Sixtus IV.
| 8 Kal. Nov. (25 Oct.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 166r.) |
To John Moren, rector of the chapel of St. Catherine, called a chantry, situate in the cemetery of the parish church of St. Edmund, Salisbury. Relaxation of the oath which he took in accordance with the foundation of the said chapel, which is without cure, namely, that its holder cannot receive and retain another benefice with or without cure, and that the holder is bound to reside in person; with dispensation to receive and retain for life with the said chapel any mutually compatible benefices of any number and kind, even if parish churches etc., or dignities etc., and to resign them, simply or for exchange, as often as he pleases. Vite etc. [1½ pp.] |
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| 1476[–7]. 3 Kal. March. (27 Feb.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 175r.) |
To John Forster, rector of the parish church of St. Margaret in Lothbury, London, M.A. Dispensation to receive and retain for life with the said church any other benefice etc., as above, f. 139v. Litterarum etc. [2 pp.] |
| 4 Id. March. (12 March.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 182r.) |
To Clement Heth alias Toullesworth, a canon of the priory of St. Mary, Marton, O.S.A., in the diocese of Winchester. Dispensation to receive and retain for life any benefice with or without cure wont to be governed by secular clerks, even if a parish church etc., and to resign it, simply or for exchange, when he pleases. Religionis zelus, vite etc. [1 p.] |
| 15 Kal. April. (18 March.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 186r.) |
To John Combe, rector of the parish church of Cornscombe alias Croscombe in the diocese of Bath and Wells. Dispensation to receive and retain for life with the said church one other benefice, etc., as above, f. 139v. Vite etc. [1¾ pp.] |
|
Prid. Id. Feb. (12 Feb.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 194r.) |
Confirmation, at the recent petition of James, king of Scots, and William, earl of Orkney and Caithness and temporal lord of the place of Sinclair (de Sancto Claro), of the foundation by the latter of the college or collegiate church of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, which he formerly built near his palace in Roslin in the diocese of St. Andrews, and which he endowed, assigning to it a president and six other prebendaries, priests, and three young clerks, singers, one of whom is sacrist, and to each of them a becoming dwelling-place and portion, (fn. 8) as is contained more fully in public instruments etc.; with grant hereby of relaxation of seven years and seven quarantines of enjoined penance to all who, being penitent and having confessed, visit the said church on the feast of St. Matthew and that of the dedication, (fn. 9) and give alms for its conservation and repair. Ad perp. rei mem. Illius qui pro salute animarum. [2 pp.—] |
| 1477. 4 (fn. 10) Id. April. (10 April.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 196r.) |
To James Preston, provost of the church of St. Mary, Hemmyngburgh, in the diocese of York, S.T.M. Dispensation to receive and retain for life with the said provostship, which is a principal dignity, any other benefice etc., as above, f. 139v. Litterarum etc. [12/3 pp.] |
|
Ibid. (f. 196v.) |
To the bishop of Aberdeen. Mandate to dispense Henry Forles [sic], scholar, of his diocese, on account of illegitimacy, as the son of a priest and an unmarried woman, to be promoted to all, even holy orders and receive and retain any compatible benefices of any number and kind, with or without cure, and to resign them, simply or for exchange, as often as he pleases. Ex parte dilecti filii. [1 p.] |
| 1476. 19 Kal. Jan. (14 Dec.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 203v.) |
To John Lokhart, priest, of the diocese of Glasgow. Reservation (he having lately resigned extra R.c. the treasurership of Dunblane to John, bishop of Dunblane, who has made collation and provision thereof to William Elphi[n]ston’, rector of the parish church of Kyrkmychel in the diocese of Glasgow, in virtue whereof he has obtained possession), of a yearly pension for life of 10l. of the money of Scotland, equal to 4l. sterling, on the fruits etc. of the said parish church, (fn. 11) the yearly value of whose fruits etc. does not exceed 18l. sterling, to be paid by the said William (who has consented by his proctor Henry Steuynwech’, provost of St. George's, Cologne) and his successors, rectors of the said church of Kyrkmychel, half at St. John Baptist's and half at Christmas, in the town of Edynburch; with the usual sanctions for non-payment. Vite etc. |
| Concurrent mandate to the provosts of Holy Trinity and St. Giles's, Edymburch, and Stephen Goupillon, a canon of Chartres (Carnoten.). Hodie dilecto filio Johanni Lokhart. [3 pp.] | |
| 1476[–7]. 12 Kal. April. (21 March.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 222v.) |
To Thomas Perte, perpetual chaplain called a chantry priest (fn. 12) in the church of London. Dispensation to receive and retain for life with the said perpetual chaplaincy, called a chantry, founded for the soul of the late Gilbert de Bruera, which has cure, any other benefice, etc., as above, f. 139v. Vite etc. [1¾ pp.] |
| 7 Kal. March. (23 Feb.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 233r.) |
To Thomas de Camera, priest, of the diocese of St. Andrews, bachelor of decrees. Dispensation to him (who was lately dispensed by papal authority on account of illegitimacy, as the son of a priest and an unmarried woman, to be promoted to all, even holy orders and receive and retain a benefice even with cure, and subsequently, after he had been so promoted, to receive and retain any compatible benefices of any number and kind, with or without cure, and to resign them, simply or for exchange, as often as he pleased), to receive and retain for life any two benefices with cure or otherwise incompatible with one another, even if two parish churches etc., or dignities etc., and to resign them, simply or for exchange, as often as he pleases. Litterarum etc. [2 pp.] |
|
Prid. Non. March. (6 March.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 234v.) |
To Walter Ogilvy, layman, and Margaret Edmondeston, mulier, of the dioceses of Aberdeen and St. Andrews. Dispensation as below. Their recent petition contained that after he had committed fornication with a woman related to Margaret in the second degree of kindred, and with another woman related to Margaret in the third and third degrees of kindred, they promised to marry one another, and carnally knew one another, he not in ignorance and she altogether ignorant of the foregoing. Seeing that, by reason of the impediments of the second and the third and third degrees of affinity arising from the said acts of fornication, they cannot remain in the said presumed marriage which they have contracted, without a papal dispensation, (fn. 13) the pope hereby dispenses them to contract marriage anew, notwithstanding the said degrees of affinity, and to remain therein, declaring legitimate the offspring born, if any, and that to be born. The pope wills that a fit confessor to be chosen by the said Walter who alleges that the said acts of fornication have been kept secret in those parts), (fn. 14) may absolve him from sentence of excommunication, etc. incurred, enjoining upon him a salutary penance, etc. Oblate nobis. [11/5 pp.] |
| 1477. Prid Kal. April. (31 March.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 246r.) (fn. 15) |
To Henry Wright, rector of the parish church of Ayno in the diocese of Lincoln, bachelor of decrees. Dispensation to receive and retain for life with the said church one other benefice, etc., as above, f. 139v. Litterarum etc. [12/3 pp.] |
| 10 Kal. May. (22 April.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 271v.) |
To John, bishop of Beirut (Bericen.), dwelling in the city of London, and the abbots of Holy Cross, Waltham, and Stratteford Langhorne, in the diocese of London. Mandate, as below. The recent petition of Joan Hayford alias Langdon, relict and executrix of the testament of the late Reynald Langdon, layman, of London, contained that William Langdon, layman, also of London, alleging that the said Reynald had bequeathed certain sums of money to him in the said testament, and that the said Joan was wrongfully refusing to pay them to him, thereby going against the last will of the said Reynald, (fn. 16) brought her before John Peese, dean of the church of St. Mary le Bow, London, judge of the archiepiscopal court of Canterbury, craving that she should be condemned and compelled to pay the said sums, and should also be declared to have incurred the sentence of the greater excommunication contained in a certain provincial constitution, and in other constitutions, against hinderers of the last wills of deceased persons; that the said dean, wrongfully proceeding, promulgated an unjust sentence by which, inter alia, he declared that the said Joan had incurred the said sentence, afterwards publicly threatening to excommunicate her again and to take further proceedings against her, wherefore she appealed to the apostolic see, and subsequently petitioned the pope to order her to be absolved conditionally from (fn. 17) the said sentence, and to commit the cause of the said appeal, that of the nullity of the whole proceedings of the said dean, and that of the principal matter, to some upright men in those parts. The pope, therefore, hereby orders the above three to summon the said William and others concerned, absolve the said Joan conditionally from the said sentence, and for the rest to hear both sides, taking cognizance of the principal matter also, and decide what is just, without appeal, causing their decision to be observed by ecclesiastical censure. Humilibus etc. [1 p. +] |
|
Ibid. (f. 272r.) |
To the same. Mandate, as below. The recent petition of John Stanney, clerk, of the diocese of Chichester, contained that John Wayneflete, dean of Chichester, falsely alleging that he had committed divers crimes and excesses, and had contemned and violated the archiepiscopal court of Canterbury and its judges and officials, and the jurisdiction and keys of holy mother church, caused him to be summoned in person before John Preese, dean of the court of the church of St. Mary le Bow, London, judge of the said court, for judgement; that although the said John Stanney, appearing before the said judge, craved to be admitted to appoint a proctor in the said cause, to appear and answer for him, in accordance with the statutes of the said court, inasmuch as the said judge wrongfully refused to do so, and publicly threatened to correct and excommunicate him as a contemner and violator of the said court and ecclesiastical jurisdiction, he appealed to the apostolic see; and that the said judge, in contempt of the said appeal, and whilst the said John was within the period for prosecuting it, proceeded further in the said cause, de facto excommunicated him, and caused him to be publicly proclaimed excommunicate. At the petition of the said John Stanney for ad cautelam absolution from the said sentence, etc., and for the commission of the cause of the said appeal, that of the nullity of the whole of the proceedings of the said dean, and that of the principal matter, to some upright men in those parts, the pope hereby orders the above three to summon the said John Wayneflete and others concerned, absolve ad cautelam the said John Stanney from the said sentence, and for the rest to hear both sides, taking cognizance etc., as in the preceding. Humilibus etc. [14/5 pp.] |
| 1476. 7 Id. Dec. (7 Dec.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 278v.) |
To the abbot of Glastonbury (Glastonie) in the diocese of Bath and Wells. Mandate, as below. The recent petition of all the persons dwelling within the bounds of the chapel of Tull’ [sic] in the diocese of Bath and Wells, called the parishioners of Trull’, (fn. 18) contained that from time immemorial they have been wont to carry the bodies of those who die within the said bounds, first to the parish church of St. Mary Magdalen, Taunton, in the said diocese, and afterwards to the church of the monastery of SS. Peter and Paul, O.S.A., also at Taunton, and to offer in the said church of St. Mary Magdalen for each dead person 1d. of obligation and 5d. voluntary, of the money current in those parts, (fn. 19) and to bury the said bodies in the church of the same monastery. At the said petition, which added that the said chapel is distant one mile, and that some of the houses of the said persons are distant two miles of those parts or thereabouts [from the said churches], that in winter the roads are very muddy, and that the said persons cannot sometimes conveniently carry the said bodies to the said churches, the pope hereby orders the above abbot to summon the abbot and convent of the said monastery and the rector of the said church, and others concerned, and if he find the foregoing to be true, to grant licence to the said persons to erect a cemetery at the said chapel, have it consecrated, and bury the said bodies therein, without their being carried to the said churches, provided that they shall be bound to send or offer the said penny in the said church of St. Mary Magdalen, by whomsoever they choose, etc. Sincere devotionis affectus. [1⅓ pp.] |
| 1476[–7]. 6 Kal. Feb. (27 Jan.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 285v.) |
To Henry Gowlle, a monk (manoco [sic]) of St. Albans, O.S.B., in the diocese of Lincoln. Dispensation to him, who is a priest, to receive and retain any benefice, etc., as above, f. 182r. Religionis etc. [1¼ pp.] |
| 12 Kal. Feb. (21 Jan.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 286r.) |
To Thomas Monemowthe, (fn. 20) rector of the parish church of Chilthington (fn. 21) in the diocese of Chichester, bachelor of decrees. Dispensation to receive and retain for life with the said church one other benefice, etc., as above, f. 139v. Litterarum etc. [2 pp.—] |
| 9 Kal. March. (21 Feb.) St. Peter's, Rome. (f. 294r.) |
To Richard Martin, perpetual vicar of the parish church of Crowan (sancti Criynneri?) in the diocese of Exeter. Dispensation to receive and retain for life with the said vicarage etc., as ibid. Vite etc. [1¾ pp.] |