List 3: Precentors

Precentory

Mill of Ulleskelf (W.R.) belonged to precentory by 10 Oct. 1154 × 1164 (EYC I no. 156 = EEA XX no. 139; cf. YMF I no. 47). Houses in York on corner of Petergate and Stonegate (Chs. Vicars Choral nos. 403-7). Precentor's Court parallel to High Petergate to west of Minster now has no medieval remains (RCHM York V 199-201).

Dignity described by pope as of small value 9 March 1226 and present incumbent disp. to hold other benefices (CPL I 109 = Reg. Hon. III no. 5852). See also Dobson pp. 67-8.

Prec. to take security for the mint 19 Nov. 1280 (Reg. Wickwane p. 268).

Valuation

1291 £16 13s. 4d. (Taxatio pp. 305b, 322a).

Precentors

Gilbert

preb. unident., list 50

First prec., appd. by abp. Thomas I before Dec. 1093 (Hugh the Chanter pp. xxv, 12-13, 18-19). Occ. 6 Jan. 1101 × 21 May 1108 (EYC I no. 472, cal. EEA V no. 10) and 27 June 1109 × 24 Feb. 1114 (EYC I no. 46, cal. EEA V no. 21). His house in Southwell mentioned 19 Oct. 1119 × 1133, presum. after his d. (Mon. Ang. VI (3) 1313 (ii), cal. EEA V no. 65).

Hugh Sottovagina (or Sottewain)

unident. preb., list 50

Can. (last occ. after c. 1125, list 50). First occ. as prec. before Aug. 1133 (EYC III no. 1367 and II no. 1151, cal. EEA V nos. 39-40). (fn. 39) Also archdcn. [of Cleveland] (list 10). Still alive after 22 Aug. 1138, the date of the battle of the Standard, about which he wrote a poem (Richard of Hexham p. 163). Had been succeeded before Jan. 1140 (below). Commem. 4 July at Durham as 'Hugo Eboracensis archidiaconus' (Liber Vitae Dunelm. p. 144). Perhaps d. July 1139, though just possibly he res. to become a monk of Pontefract in 1139 (see Hugh the Chanter p. 55 n. 3). For his name and his seal, see ibid. pp. xxix-xxx. Cf. Thomas and Arnulf, cans. (lists 30, 36). (fn. 40) Author of The History of the Church of York, covering the years 1066-1127 (Hugh the Chanter pp. xiii-xix); also of poetry etc. (ibid. p. xxii and n. 4; Sharpe, Handlist no. 504).

William of Eu

preb. unident., list 50

First occ. as prec. temp. abp. Thurstan, so before Jan. 1140 (EYC I no. 150, cal. EEA V no. 79). One of the opponents of abp.-el. William in 1141 (John of Hexham p. 307). Occ. several times, temp. abps. William, Henry Murdac and Roger of Pont l'Evêque (Clay, 'Precentors' pp. 120-1). (fn. 41) Last occ. 1164 × 74 (EYC I no. 584 = EEA XX no. 47; cf. EYC I nos. 282, 285 = EEA XX nos. 126, 125; EYC II nos. 683, 901, 955, VI no. 133; Chart. Fountains I 268, II 740), 13 Dec. 1171 (JS Epp. II no. 306 = EEA XX no. 139), and 1164 × 74, perhaps 1173 or 1174 (EYC II no. 978 = EEA XX no. 17). Evidently d. before 1174 (Curia Regis Rolls VIII 242, 290, dated by Clay, 'Precentors' pp. 120-1; cf. EYC VI 200). Possibly to be identified with William prec. of Rouen (suggested in EEA XX introduction; for whom, see also Spear, 'Dignitaires de Rouen' p. 124).

Hamo

preb. ? Husthwaite, list 30

Can. before 1174 (list 30). First occ. as prec. 28 Sept. 1177 × 22 Nov. 1181 (EYC III no. 1834 = EEA XX no. 8; EYC I no. 280 = EEA XX no. 53; cf. EYC I nos. 326-8, discussed by Clay, 'Precentors' pp. 122). Appd. first sacrist of chapel of St Mary and Holy Angels before 22 Nov. 1181 (Yorks. Assize Rolls pp. 21-2 = EEA XX no. 130), still 7 June 1213 (Rot. Litt. Claus. I 137a; Rot. Litt. Pat. p. 100a). One of five candidates nom. by cans. for abpric. Sept. 1186, rejected by kg. (Gesta Hen. II I 352, passage omitted in Houedene II 310). Last occ. as prec. 1195 (Houedene III 294) and 1194 × 98 (EYC V no. 302). Treas. by 1199 (list 5).

Reginald Arundel (fn. 42)

preb. Ulleskelf, list 44

Can. (list 44). First occ. as prec. 1199 (Cart. Guisborough no. 686C; Houedene IV 98) and 2 May 1199 (Rotuli Curiae Regis, ed. F. Palgrave (Rec. Comm., 1835) I 264). One of opponents of abp. Geoffrey in papal court, reconciled 1200 (Houedene IV 126). D. before 4 March 1201 (ibid. p. 158). For his seal, see Durham Seals no. 3349.

M. Ralph [? de Kyme]

preb. unident., list 50

Abp.'s official. Dispute between abp. and cans. over appt. of a prec. on d. of Reginald Arundel, 1201 (Houedene IV 158). M. Ralph de Kyme appd. archdcn. of Cleveland by abp. at same time (list 10). M. Ralph, prob. de Kyme, res. as prec. before 26 June 1213 (Rot. Litt. Pat. p. 101a; cf. p. 105a).

M. Peter Russinol

preb. unident., list 50

Kg.'s clerk, first occ. 11 July 1200 (Rot. Chart. p. 73b; cf. p. 97b, Rot. Litt. Pat. p. 14a). Royal coll. to precentory, s.v., 26 June 1213 (Rot. Litt. Pat. p. 101a) and again 1 Nov. (ibid. p. 105a). Occ. as prec. 28 Nov. 1214, 18 July 1215 and 13 Sept. 1215 (Rot. Litt. Claus. I 180a; Rot. Litt. Pat. p. 149b, 182a, b). D. by 1219 (Book of Fees I 268). (fn. 43)

M. Geoffrey of Norwich

preb. unident., list 50

Can., occ. 17 June 1218 (list 50). First occ. as prec. c. 24 June 1220 (Cart. Rievaulx no. 364). Occ. frequently. Houses in Petergate, York (Chs. Vicars Choral nos. 406-7, 409). Last occ. 3 March 1233 (Chart. Fountains I 201); 29 March 1233 (BL Campbell Ch. viii. 14). (fn. 44) Dean by 14 Dec. 1234, prob. by 28 Dec. 1233 (list 2).

M. Robert of Winchester (fn. 45)

preb. Fenton list 25

Can. by 27 Jan. 1217, preb. Fridaythorpe (list 26); preb. Fenton by 24 Oct. 1230 (list 25). First occ. as M. Robert prec. 4 Dec. 1235 (Chart. Pontefract I no. 53). Occ. with full name and title Reg. Gray p. 185. Land in Goodramgate, York (Chs. Vicars Choral nos. 147-8, 149, 158-9), Layerthorpe (ibid. no. 258) and Petergate (ibid. no. 398). Occ. as formerly prec. 26 March 1240 (cart. York: BL Cotton MS Claud. B. iii fo. 13v). D. before Oct. 1240 (Reg. Gray p. 186). His chantry at altar of St Blaise in Minster ord. Oct. 1263 (Misc. Reg. fo. 14v; York Fabric Rolls p. 278). Built a house by the church of St Maurice, Monkgate; had nephews Luke and Benedict (Reg. Gray p. 185). His will executed Chs. Vicars Choral no. 532.

M. Simon of Evesham (fn. 46)

preb. Weighton, list 46

Can. from c. 1230 (list 50). Not yet prec., occ. as can. 8 Jan. 1238 (Reg. Gray p. 80). First occ. as prec. Feb. 1241 (Cart. Rievaulx no. 278). Also occ. 22 March 1242 (Reg. Gray pp. 191, 195) and 4 Jan. 1243 (Chart. Fountains I 425). Preb. of Beverley by 1242 (Beverley Fasti p. 79). Archdcn. of E.R. by 15 Oct. 1247 (list 11).

M. Godfrey of Ludham (fn. 47)

preb. unident., list 50

Abp.'s clerk by 17 June 1226 (Reg. Gray p. 9); rector of moiety of 'Pengston' (? Penistone, W.R.), pres. 26 Aug. 1228 (? 1229) (ibid. p. 26; cf. pp. 56, 57, of 2 Sept. 1232 and 15 Feb. 1233). First occ. as prec. 21 Sept. 1249 (Reg. Gray p. 261 n.) and perhaps earlier, 1244 × 49 (Cart. Guisborough II no. 704; cf. Reg. Gray p. 252 n., of 1245 × 49). Occ. as prec. and official Nov. 1252 or 1253 (Chart. Fountains I 423). Last occ. as prec. 20 Aug. 1253 (Cart. Treas. York no. 11). Dean by 21 June 1257 (list 2).

M. Hugh de Cantilupe

preb. Ulleskelf, list 44

First occ. as prec. before 22 Sept. 1258 (Chart. Fountains I 424, temp. Godfrey of Ludham dean). Occ. several times. Last occ. 28 Dec. 1267 (Reg. Giffard p. 112, cf. p. 190). For his seal, see Durham Seals no. 3350. Not the same man as M. Hugh de Cantilupe archdcn. of Gloucester (Worcester dioc.), (fn. 48) brother of Walter de Cantilupe, bp. of Worcester (see YMF I 15; 1 Fasti II 108).

M. Thomas de Cantilupe (fn. 49)

preb. unident., list 50

Chanc. of Oxford university 1262 (Cart. of Oseney Abbey II, ed. H. E. Salter (Oxfords. Hist. Soc. xc, 1929) p. 402). Can. of London (1 Fasti I 95); can. of Hereford; archdcn. of Stafford by 22 Aug. 1265 (CPR 1258-66 p. 443), still 14 May 1270 (Reg. G. Giffard (Worc.) I 40). Royal chanc. 22 Feb. 1265 - ? 4 Aug. 1265 (Tout, Chapters I 309-12, VI 5). First occ. as prec. of York 8 Feb. 1274 (CCR 1272-9 p. 67). Still prec. when el. bp. of Hereford 14 June 1275 (Chron. Wykes p. 263), temps. 26 June, cons. 8 Sept. Nephew of Walter de Cantilupe, bp. of Worcester (1237-66). Canonized 17 Apr. 1320 (CPL II 199).

Antony Bek (fn. 50)

preb. Strensall, list 42

Occ. as prec. 2 March 1276 (Cal. Fine Rolls I (1911) 66), but not given title when coll. to preb. Strensall 13 July 1279 (CPR 1272-81 p. 321; list 42). Can. of Lincoln (1 Fasti III 105), London (ibid. I 70, 80), Lichfield, Wells; archdcn. of Dorset (ibid. IV 27); archdcn. of Durham (ibid. II 39). Bp. of Durham, el. 9 July 1283, temps. 4 Sept., cons. 9 Jan. 1284 (ibid. p. 32).

M. William de la Corner (fn. 51)

preb. Barnby, list 16

Can. by 12 Sept. 1264 (list 16). Abp.'s coll. to precentory 9 Nov. 1283 (Reg. Wickwane p. 332). Also preb. of Salisbury (1 Fasti IV 76, 102), Exeter, Dublin and Howden (Reg. Wickwane pp. 229-31); archdcn. of Northumberland (1 Fasti II 41). Still prec. 20 May 1288 (Reg. Romeyn I 373). Bp. of Salisbury, el. 24 or 25 Nov. 1289, temps. 26 Feb. 1290, cons. 8 May (1 Fasti IV 6-7).

M. Peter de Ros (fn. 52)

preb. Barnby, list 16

Abp.'s coll. to precentory and preb. vacated by cons. of M. William de la Corner, 8 May 1289, with mandate to induct (Reg. Romeyn I 377). Occ. in chapter 3 Apr. 1290 and summer 1290 (Misc. Reg. fos. 1r, 2r), but not resident prob. autumn 1291 (ibid. fo. 4r). Occ. in chapter 21 Sept. 1292, 26 June 1298, 5 Jan. 1301 (ibid. fos. 14r, 9r, 9v). Last occ., absent from el. of dean, 1310 (Reg. Greenfield I 48). Also preb. of Lincoln, d. by 22 May 1311 (2 Fasti I 100). Precentory of York coll. by abp. to his successor 14 July 1312 (Reg. Greenfield V 177). His chantry at altar of St Thomas of Canterbury ord. 26 May 1313 (York Fabric Rolls p. 302).