Statutes (Baldock and Lisieux): Prologue

Registrum Statutorum et Consuetudinum Ecclesiae Cathedralis Sancti Pauli Londiniensis. Originally published by Nichols and Sons, London, 1873.

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'Statutes (Baldock and Lisieux): Prologue', in Registrum Statutorum et Consuetudinum Ecclesiae Cathedralis Sancti Pauli Londiniensis, (London, 1873) pp. 9-10. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/st-pauls-register/pp9-10 [accessed 26 April 2024]

STATUTA ET CONSUETUDINES ECCLESIE CATHEDRALIS SANCTI PAULI LONDINENSIS.

In Dei nomine. Amen. Incipit Registrum Consuetudinum Ecclesie Sancti Pauli London que sunt extracte ex pluribus antiquis libris et munimentis in archivis ipsius Ecclesie existentibus, ipsas consuetudines sparsim preter certum ordinem olim confuse continentibus, in presens opusculum seriosius redactum per recolende memorie Radulphum de Baldok (fn. 1) tune Decanum cum Capitulo ipsius Ecclesie, cum quibusdam injunccionibus et declaracionibus postea subsecutis. (fn. 2)

Secundum Hugonem de Sancto Victore (fn. 3) in thesauris Sapiencie: varie sunt operum species, et in archa cordis conditoria multa, dispociscio ordinis illustracio est cognicionis, confusio quippe ignorancie et oblivionis mater est. Igitur discrescio rerum evidenciam facit. Evidencia vero rerum animum simul et in agnicione illuminat, et in memoria confirmat. Ea propter Nos Decanus et Capitulum Ecclesie Sancti Pauli London multa et varia que successivis temporibus retroactis prout negociorum varius exegit eventus a nostris predecessoribus confuse et preter ordinem fuerint scripture retinaculo commendata, volentes ad artificialem ordinem reducere, libellum istum, quem Registrum Ecclesie London appellari censuimus, distinximus in quinque partes.

In prima quidem particula tractabitur de primaria institucione London Ecclesie, necnon de Dignitatum et Canonicorum ac Prebendarum numero et ordine, ac valore prebendarum secundum taxacionem Norwicensem. (fn. 4) In secunda parte tractabitur de Canonicorum ingressu per Canonicam installacionem, et de communiter spectantibus ad eosdem. In tercia parte de Canonicorum progressu per residenciam corporalem, et ministerii ecclesiastici prosecucionem.

In quarta parte de Canonicorum egressu per mortis resolucionem, cessionem, vel translacionem, quid eis debeatur per ipsius Ecclesie consuetudinem approbatam. In quinta parte de spectantibus ad ministeria minorum et inferiorum officiatorum Ecclesie predicte, utputa, Camerarii, Sacriste, Elemosinarii, Custodis bracini, et ceterorum ministrorum Ecclesie memorate.

Footnotes

  • 1. Ralph de Baldock or Baudake, elected Dean 18 Oct. 1294; elected Bishop of London 23 Feb. 1303-4; consecrated 30 January 1305-6; died 24 July 1313; buried in S. Paul's Cathedral.
  • 2. This heading varies considerably in the different MSS. but the variations are unimportant: the more usual reading is "Registrum Statutorum et Consuetudinum."
  • 3. A native of Ypres, Abbot of S. Victor near Paris, floruit 1120. His works, in three volumes folio, were published by J. Badius Ascensius and J. Parvus, at Paris, in 1526; at Venice in 1588; and at Mayence in 1617.
  • 4. This Taxatio was made by Walter de Suthfeld, Bishop of Norwich (who was consecrated 19 Feb. 1244-5), about the year 1246. Newcourt, Repertorium, vol. i. 53.