Vatican Regesta 723: 1485-1487

Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland: Volume 14, 1484-1492. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1960.

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'Vatican Regesta 723: 1485-1487', in Calendar of Papal Registers Relating To Great Britain and Ireland: Volume 14, 1484-1492, (London, 1960) pp. 178-186. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-papal-registers/brit-ie/vol14/pp178-186 [accessed 19 April 2024]

In this section

Vatican Regesta, Vol. DCCXXIII. (fn. 1)

Bullarum Liber XXVI.

3 Innocent VIII.

1487.
10 Kal. May.
(22 April.)
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 17v.)
Approbation and decree, as below. When Sixtus IV erected the church of St. Andrews, then a cathedral church, into a metropolitan church [Cal. Papal Lett., XIII, p. 15], he granted to all faithful who, being penitent and having confessed, on the feast of St. Michael the Archangel in September, from the first to the second vespers, and at any time (fn. 2) during the octaves of the same feast, visited the said metropolitan church and gave alms for its repair and restoration, plenary indulgence and remission of all their sins, and the indulgence which they would have gained if they had in person visited in the year of Jubilee the appointed churches and basilicas of Rome, etc.; the said indulgence to be perpetual, and the said visits to be made yearly for the first seven years, and afterwards triennially. Seeing that the present pope suspended all plenary indulgences and remissions granted by his said predecessor, and the faculties concerning the effect thereof, in so far as such faculties had not taken effect, he has now, considering the pre-eminence of the said church in the realm of Scotland, and the virtues and merits of William Scheuez, archbishop thereof, erected it into a primatial church, and constituted him primate and legatus natus of the whole of the said realm [above, p. 152]. Desiring, therefore, that the indulgence and the faculties for carrying out the one granted by the said predecessor, may begin anew from the first vespers on the feast of St. Michael in the month of September after the year of the Incarnation 1488, and continue during the octaves of the said feast for the following seven years, and afterwards triennially on the said feast and during its octaves, for ever, the pope hereby, motu proprio, approves the indulgence and letters of his said predecessor, the which shall begin to take effect immediately after the said year 1488 on the said feast, as if they had emanated from the pope anew, decrees that they shall have perpetual force, and, potiori pro cautela, renews them, and grants them anew (fn. 3); notwithstanding any papal constitutions, etc., and the aforesaid and any other suspensions, limitations or revocations made by the pope and the apostolic see, even the revocation made by James, bishop of Imola, nuncio of the pope and the apostolic see in Scotland, in virtue of a certain brief of the present pope, etc. Ad perp. rei mem. Pastoris eterni. (Gratis de mandato [sanctissimi] domini nostri pape.) [2½ pp. In the margin at the end: ’Maii.’]
Ibid.
(f. 19r.)
To William, archbishop of St. Andrews, primate and legatus natus of the realm of Scotland. (fn. 4) Grant, as below. Whereas (in order that he might deliver his metropolitan church from the burden of debt which the late Patrick his predecessor contracted on account of the said church and the privileges granted to him and to it by the apostolic see; and whereas, in order that he might now enrich it and his and its subjects with greater privileges, etc., the pope having, in consequence of the merits of the said William, motu proprio erected the said church from a metropolitan into a primatial church, and appointed him and the archbishops for the time being primates and legati nati, he has incurred great burdens and expense, and is therefore, as the pope has also learned, bound to divers merchants and others in great sums of money), the pope, considering that the ecclesiastical persons of his city and diocese will enjoy the said privileges along with him, and that burdens shared are more easily borne, and deeming it right and proper that the said persons should also share with him the burdens and expense, (fn. 5) hereby grants, at his petition, that he may ask and exact, even a second time [in another year], (fn. 6) if necessary for full payment of the above, from all beneficed ecclesiastical persons of his city and diocese of St. Andrews, secular and regular, exempt and non-exempt, a charitable subsidy; with mandate executory hereby to the bishop of Aberdeen, the precentor of Segorbe (Segobricen.), and the official principal of St. Andrews, to cause such subsidy to be paid to the said archbishop, not only once but also, if it be not sufficient for the full payment of the said debts, a second time in another year. (fn. 7)Exigit tue deuotionis affectus. (Gratis de mandato sanctissimi domini nostri pape.) [2 pp. In the margin at the end: ‘Maii.’]
5 Non. May.
(3 May.)
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 57r.)
Union, as below. Sixtus IV erected the church of St. Andrews, O.S.A., into a metropolitan church, and, in order that the late Patrick, then archbishop, formerly bishop of St. Andrews, and his successors, might the better keep up their estate, and for certain other reasonable causes, united in perpetuity to the archiepiscopal mensa the parish churches of Inchbrick, Tannydes, Kynnel and Tynyngame, in the diocese of St. Andrews. At the recent petition of archbishop William, containing that although the said unions were made, he desires the said churches to be united to the said mensa anew, and alleging that the causes for which the said unions were made still subsist, and that the yearly value of the said churches does not exceed 100l. sterling, the pope hereby unites the said churches to the said mensa in perpetuity, so that on the cession or death, etc., of the present holders, the said archbishop William or the archbishop for the time being may by his own authority take possession of the said churches and hold them for ever, suitable portions being reserved by him for fit priests (where there are not at present perpetual vicars), to be instituted at pleasure by the said archbishop. Ad perp. rei mem. Ut ea que pro utilitate ecclesiarum. (Gratis de mandato etc.) [2½ pp.]
10 Kal. May.
(22 April.)
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 58r.)
To William, archbishop of St. Andrews, primate and legatus natus of the whole realm of Scotland. (fn. 8) Faculty, as below. Nicholas V made statute and ordinance that at all future voidances of monasteries, priories, and other pious places in the city and diocese of St. Andrews, the abbots, priors, and others appointed by election or postulation or otherwise, could obtain the confirmations of their elections from the then bishop, and from the bishop for the time being, and that he could grant the same (fn. 9); and after Sixtus IV had erected the church of St. Andrews, then a cathedral church, into a metropolitan church [Cal. Papal Lett., XIII, p. 15], the present pope, to the honour of Almighty God and St. Andrew the Apostle, erected the said metropolitan church into a primatial church, and willed that the said archbishop William, and the archbishop for the time being, should be primate of the whole realm of Scotland and legatus natus therein [above, p. 152], as is more fully contained in the letters of the pope and of the said Nicholas and Sixtus. Seeing that, as the pope has learned, there are in the said city, diocese, and province many monasteries, [churches? ], (fn. 10) and priories and other pious and religious places, hospitals and religious houses, (fn. 11) which are in need of visitation, he hereby motu proprio renews and confirms, for the lifetime only of the above archbishop (who has been sent as principal orator to make on behalf of James king of Scots (fn. 12) his obedience to the pope and the apostolic see), the said statute and ordinance of the said pope Nicholas; grants to him anew that at all future voidances of monasteries, priories, and other pious places in the city and diocese of St. Andrews, of any Order (except only those of the Cistercian, Premonstratensian, Cluniac [and] Mendicant Orders), provided that they be not exempt, (fn. 13) the abbots, etc., thereof elected, postulated, or by the said archbishop William appointed, may obtain the confirmations of their elections [and] postulations, and the said provisions, from the said archbishop only, to whom for his lifetime the pope hereby commits in this matter power to act in his stead, (fn. 14) and grants that he may grant the same, the pope further making statute and ordinance that the confirmations of such elections and postulations and such provisions shall always hold good and have force as if reservations by the pope and the apostolic see, special or general, of the provisions of the said monasteries, etc., had not emanated; with faculty for life to visit, in person or by deputy, once a year or oftener if necessary, the said monasteries, churches, priories [and] other pious and religious places, exempt and not exempt (but not those of Mendicants), (fn. 15) and their holders, etc., exempt and not exempt, in the said city, diocese, and province, both in head and members, and make necessary reformation, etc.; to correct and punish the guilty and, if need be, deprive them, and make provision to other persons of the said monasteries [churches? ], (fn. 16) priories, and other places, if they be not exempt (fn. 17) to receive procurations, even in money, on account of such visitation, (fn. 18) etc.; to absolve any persons of either sex of the said city, etc., from sentence of excommunication, enjoining a salutary penance, and dispense them on account of any irregularity contracted by celebrating masses and other divine offices, not in contempt of the Keys, when under such sentence; to dispense twelve persons of either sex of the said city, etc. (husband and wife being reckoned as one person), (fn. 19) related in the simple double and multiple third, and as many persons related in the simple double or multiple fourth degrees of kindred or affinity, or in such degrees mixed, to contract marriage, or, if they have already contracted marriage, to remain in such marriage, absolving from excommunication those who have done so wittingly, enjoining on them a salutary penance (fn. 20) and temporarily separating them, and decreeing the offspring of such marriages legitimate; and to reconcile by deputy the churches and cemeteries of the said city, etc.; with mandate executory hereby to the bishops of Tournai and Aberdeen and the precentor of Segorbe (Segobricen.). Personam tuam. (Gratis de mandato etc.) [6 pp. In the margin at the end: ‘Maii.’]

2 Innocent VIII.

1486.
7 Kal. June.
(26 May.)
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 82v.)
Confirmation, as below. The recent petition of Richard Mayewe, president, and the scholars of the college of St. Mary Magdalen founded in the university of Oxford, contained that John, bishop of Lincoln (considering that the fruits, etc., of the said college, in which there are a president and eighty scholars studying in divers faculties, especially in theology, besides sixteen boys called choristers and thirteen servants. were insufficient for their maintenance; and considering that in the houses or hospitals of SS. James and John in Brakley and of the same Saints in Aynehoo, in the diocese of Lincoln, hospitality had not for a long time been observed, and was not being observed), gave commission and mandate by his ordinary authority to Richard, prior of Newark (?) (de Novo loco), O.S.A., in the diocese of Winchester, to unite and appropriate the said houses or hospitals to the said college in perpetuity, and that the said prior, in virtue of the said commission and mandate, and also of a faculty granted to him by the said bishop, united and appropriated the said houses or hospitals, which were of lay patronage, with consent of the dean and chapter of Lincoln and of the archdeacon of Northampton, (fn. 21) and of the said patrons, and of others interested. to the said college, in perpetuity, and that in virtue thereof the said president and scholars obtained possession of the said houses or hospitals, and are still in possession. At the said petition of the said president and scholars. who allege that the yearly value of the said houses or hospitals in Brakley and Aynehoo do not exceed 100 and 40 gold florins of the Camera, respectively, the pope hereby approves and confirms the said union, etc., and moreover, pro potiori cautela, himself makes the said union, etc., anew for ever. Ad perp. rei mem. Cum in hiis que ecclesiasticorum et piorum locorum. [3½ pp. In the margin at the end. ‘Jul (ii).’]
1485.
17 Kal. Dec.
(15 Nov.)
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 84r.)
To Archibald Lindissay, precentor (cantori) of Aberdeen. Collation, etc., as below. His recent petition contained that after he had been sufficiently dispensed on account of illegitimacy, as the son of a married man and an unmarried woman, and had been made a clerk, upon the voidance of the precentorship (cantoria) of Aberdeen by the resignation extra R.c., for purpose of exchange, of Walter Lindissay made to the ordinary collator, and its admission by the same collator, by his ordinary authority, he obtained provision thereof by the said authority, and in virtue thereof obtained possession. His said petition adding that he doubts whether the said provision holds good, and the pope having learned that the said precentorship is still void as above, the pope hereby collates and assigns to him the said precentorship, a non-major dignity, yearly value not exceeding 20l. sterling; with mandate executory hereby to the bishop of Sezza (Suessan.), John Baptista de Ferrariis, canon of Modena and the official of Aberdeen, to induct him, etc. Vite etc. [2 pp. +. In the margin at the end: ’Maii.’]

3 Innocent VIII.

1486/7.
12 Kal. April.
(21 March.)
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 125r.)
To the dean and the archdeacon of Emly, and Denis Ohogayn, a canon of the same. Mandate to collate and assign to Philip Occinkyayn (?), (fn. 22) priest, of the diocese of Cashel, the perpetual vicarage of the parish church de Ryllymagarayff [sic] alias Aglas Ydonyn, in the diocese of Killaloe (Laonien.), yearly value not exceeding 4 marks sterling, so long void that by the Lateran statutes its collation has lapsed to the apostolic see, although Thomas Offlanet, priest, of the said diocese of Killaloe, has without any canonical title detained possession for between eight and sixteen years, on account of whose power the said Philip dare not meet him in the city and diocese of Killaloe; summoning and removing the said Thomas. Vite etc. [3¼ pp. In the margin at the end: ‘Ap (r)i (lis).’]
1487.
4 Non. April.
(2 April.)
St. Peter's, Rome,
(f. 146r.)
To the prior of the monastery of Killete in the diocese of Kildare (Daren.), wont to be governed by a prior, Malachy Odullayn, a canon of Kildare, and Nicholas Whith, a canon of Ossory. Mandate, as below. The pope has learned that the perpetual vicarage of the parish church of Rossanclays alias Casleainbreac, in the diocese of Kildare (Daren.), yearly value not exceeding 26 marks sterling, has been so long void that by the Lateran statutes its collation has lapsed to the apostolic see, although Gilbert (Guylibertus) Ohalagan, priest, of the said diocese of Kildare, has detained possession for several years without any canonical title. The pope, therefore, hereby orders the above three to collate and assign to Nemeas Osgulla, clerk, of the diocese of Killaloe (Laonien), who is in his twenty-second year, a canonry of the church of Killaloe, in which, as he alleges, supernumerary canons, created by both papal and ordinary authority, have been wont to be received, and if, after summoning the said Gilbert (fn. 23) and those interested, and others concerned, they find the said vicarage to be void in any way, to unite and appropriate it to such canonry, the fruits, etc., of which are null, for as long as the said Nemeas shall hold the latter; removing the said Gilbert (fn. 23) and any other unlawful detainer. Vite etc. [3½ pp.]
13 Kal. May.
(19 April.)
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 184r.)
To the abbots of the monasteries of St. Mary, O'Dorney (de Kyneloyson [sic]), and SS. Peter and Paul, Raytthwoyg, and the prior of the monastery of Killagh (de Bello loco), wont to be governed by a prior, in the diocese of Ardfert. Mandate, as below. The pope has learned that the precentorship of Ardfert and the rectory of the parish church of Sifienach (?), in the diocese of Ardfert, have been so long void that by the Lateran statutes their collation has lapsed to the apostolic see, although John Syemoris [sic] and Thomas Lwmpre [sic], priests, have respectively detained the said precentorship and rectory for several years, without any title or right. At the recent petition of Patrick de Crucy, treasurer of Ardfert, who alleges that he holds together by papal dispensation the said treasurership, which is a major dignity without cure, and the perpetual vicarage of the said church of Sifinuch (?), (fn. 24) the pope hereby orders the above three if, after summoning the said John and Thomas and others concerned, they find the said precentorship and rectory to be void in any ways, to collate and assign the said precentorship, which is a non-major dignity with cure, to the said Patrick, and to unite and appropriate the said rectory, which has cure, to the said vicarage, yearly values not exceeding 16, 4, and 6 marks sterling, respectively, for as long as he shall hold the latter; removing the said John and Thomas, etc. As soon as he gets possession of the said precentorship, he is to resign the said treasurership. Vite etc. [5 pp. In the margin at the end: ‘Maii.’]
4 Id. April.
(10 April.)
St. Peter's, Rome.
(f. 219r.)
To the dean of Leighlin and Nicholas Mecsarmoris [sic] and Cornelius Ocurryn, canons of the same. Mandate, as below. The pope has learned that the archdeaconry of the church of Glendalough (Glandalocen.) and the rectory of the parish church of Wikelo in the diocese of Glendalough are void by the death extra R.c. of Patrick Obryn. And the recent petition of Geoffry, also Ybryn, a canon of Leighlin, contained that formerly he (who was lately dispensed by papal authority on account of illegitimacy, as the son of the said Patrick, clerk, and an unmarried woman, to be promoted to all, even holy orders, and receive and retain a benefice with cure and a dignity in a cathedral or a metropolitan church, provided it were not a major dignity, and a simple benefice, (fn. 25) compatible with one another, even if such dignity were elective and had cure) obtained by canonicial collation the rectory of the parish church of Ynisboyn (fn. 26) in the said diocese, which has cure of souls, and has held possession of it for about ten years without being promoted to subdeacon's orders, as he was bound to be by a certain papal dispensation granted to him, taking the fruits thereof. The pope therefore (to whom Maurice Caudelan, clerk, of the diocese of Cloyne (Clonen.), has this day resigned, before the papal letters have been drawn up, the grace by which the pope, under date 4 Non. April anno 3 [2 April. 1487], granted him provision of the said archdeaconry and the uniting and appropriating thereto of the said rectory of Wykelo, also void as above, for as long only as he should hold the said archdeaconry), at the said petition of the said Geoffrey, who alleges that he is an expert in law, (fn. 27) and that he holds a canonry and prebend of Leighlin under the said dispensation, hereby orders the above three to unite the and appropriate the said rectory of Wykelo, which has cure of souls, wont to be exercised by a perpetual vicar, to the said archdeaconry for as long as the said Geoffrey shall hold the latter, if he obtain it in virtue of these presents, their yearly values not exceeding 5 and 30 marks sterling, respectively, and, after so doing, to collate and assign to him the said archdeaconry, which is a non-major dignity, and such annexed rectory. The pope further specially dispenses him to receive and retain them, notwithstanding the said defect, etc. Before they proceed to execute these presents, he is to resign to them the said rectory of Yni[s]boyn. Sedes apostolica pia mater. [5 pp. In the margin at the end: ‘Maii.’]

Footnotes

  • 1. On the back of the volume: ‘Inn. viii. Bullar. An. i, ii, iii. L. xxvi.’ On the front cover of the original sheepskin binding, preserved at the beginning of the volume, is the contemporary ‘xxvi. Bull. D (omini) In (nocentii),’ and the usual later ‘Innoc. 8. Lib. 26.’ There are i–cccxiiij ff. of text, and no ‘rubricelle.’
  • 2. in aliquo tempore.
  • 3. Cupientes itaque quod indulgentia et facultates ad effectum illius per Sixtum predecessorem huiusmodi concesse a primis vesperis in festo sancti Michaelis de mense Septembris post annum incarnationis dominice millesimum quadringentesimum octuagesimum octauum de novo incipiant, et per octauas dicti festi ad septennium extunc computandum, et deinde de triennio in triennium in dicto festo et per illius octauas pariformiter propetuis [sic] futuris temporibus durature continuent et perseuerent, motu proprio, non ad alicuius nobis super hoc oblate petitionis instantiam, sed de nostra mera liberalitate et ex certa scientia, plenariam indulgentiam et litteras ipsius Sixti predecessoris huiusmodi que tamen suum post dictum annum millesimum quadringentesimum octuagesimum octauum in dicto festo immediate ac si a nobis de nouo emanassent incipiant sortiri effectum auctoritate apostolica tenore presentium approbamus ac perpetue firmitatis robur obtinere decernimus, illasque potiori pro cautela innouamus, modo premisso ac motu auctoritate et scientia similibus prout idem Sixtus predecessor tempore concessionis earundem concesserat de novo concedimus, non obstantibus constitutionibus. …
  • 4. incliti regni Scotie primati ac legato nato. Cf. below, f. 58r, and Reg. Vat. DCCXXI, f. 149v, above, p. 161.
  • 5. Exigit tue deuotionis affectus quo nos et Romanam reuereris ecclesiam ut petitiones tuas quantum cum deo possumus fauorabiliter admittamus. Cum itaque tu, ut ecclesiam tuam metropolitanam grauibus inuolutam debitis que tunc bone memorie Patritius tuus predecessor occasione dicte ecclesie et priuilegiorum sibi et eidem ecclesie per sedem apostolicam ut accepimus concessorum contraxit liberares, atque ut tu nunc illam ac tui et illius subditos maioribus privilegiis et insigniis ac gratiarum donis ampliares, dum ecclesiam ipsam tuis exigentibus virtutibus ex metropolitana in primatialem et te ac in illa pro tempore existentes archiepiscopos primatos et legatos natos motu proprio ereximus et deputauimus, grandia subires onera et expensas, et propterea sicuti etiam accepimus nonnullis mercatoribus et aliis personis in magnis pecuniarum summis obligatus existas, Nos vero, attendentes quod persone ecclesiastice tuarum ciuitatis et diocesis Sanctiandree tecum priuilegiis huiusmodi gaudere debebunt, quodque diuisa in partes onera leuius perferuntur, ac equum reputantes et congruum quod persone ipse tecum etiam onera et expensas partiantur. …
  • 6. Cf. below.
  • 7. Et nichilominus venerabili fratrimandamus quatenus ipsifacerenthuiusmodi subsidium non solum semel sed etiam, si illud ad integram debitorum solutionem non sufficiat, etiam iterato semel in alio anno integraliter persolui.
  • 8. totius regni Scotie primati et legato nato.
  • 9. Not in Cal. Papal Lett., Vol. X.
  • 10. Cf. below.
  • 11. hospitalia et cenobia.
  • 12. qui ex parte dicti nostri carissimi filii nobis principaliter destinatus fuisti.
  • 13. ut quotienscunque deinceps quecunque monasteria prioratus et alia pia loca, dummodo not fuerint exempta (these four words are added in the margin), cuiusuis ordinis, Cistertiensis etiam et Premonstratensis aut Cluniacensis Mendica[n]tium dumtaxat exceptis in diocesi et ciuitate Sanctiandree predictis consistentia.
  • 14. cui pro tempore tue vite in hiis vices nostras harum serie committimus.
  • 15. … prioratus [et] loca alia pia et religiosa predica exempta et non exempta, non tamen mendicantium. … The words ‘et non exempta’ were cancelled, and ‘dummodo non fuerint exempta’ inserted in the side margin; but this insertion is in its turn cancelled, and ‘et non exempta’ written again above the cancellation of the same words.
  • 16. Cf. above.
  • 17. si exempta non sint, added in the margin.
  • 18. necnon procurationes ratione visitationis huiusmodi ab eisdem ecclesiis monasteriis et locis in illa obtinentes, etiam in pecunia numerata, petendi exigendi et recipiendi. The text appears to be defective.
  • 19. ita quod vir et mulier pro una persona computentur.
  • 20. eisque penitentiam secularem (recte salutarem) iniungendo.
  • 21. So spelt, which is rare.
  • 22. The first half of the name is not clear.
  • 23. Again Guylibertus.
  • 24. Here less obscurely written.
  • 25. i.e. a benefice without cure of souls.
  • 26. The letters after the o are obscured by correction, but the spelling Ynisboyn occurs clearly further on.
  • 27. asserentis se in jure peritum existere.