Vindication of Ecclesiastical Volume 3, Volume 2 · Book · Chapter 3 · Document 248 – Document 249
REX Legato ſalutem. Auditis & intellectis hiis quae Magiſter Willielmus de Clifford Pat. 51 H. 3. m. 24. dorſ.Clericus noſter ex parte veſtra nobis expoſuit, paternitatem veſtram ſcire volumus, quod quia pro urgentiſſimis negotiis noſtris expediendis pecunia ad praeſens, prout noſtis non mediocriter indigemus, placet nobis, quod omnia jocalia et alia precioſa noſtra, tam in Turri London. quam in Abbatia Westm. exiſtentia, …obis per Cuſtodes eorundem quibus ſuper hoc ſcribimus, liberentur ad impignorand. prout expedire videritis pro quanta pecucunia poteritis, ad opus noſtrum. Ita quod jocalia & precioſa praedicta ſub cuſtodia veſtra in …urri reſideant ſupradicta. Mandavimus enim Cuſtodibus eorundem quod ipſa vobis liberent ſine mora. De decima quoque nobis conceſſa volumus, ſi vobis videatur expediens: Quod decima illa in Dioc. Wigorn. & Hertf. ſecundum antiquam aeſtimationem, per Collectores ejuſdem, non obſtante aliquo termino prolixiori à vobis ſuper hoc aſſignato, ſine morae diſpendio colligatur, ſalvo nobis pro loco & tempore quod ad nos pertinet ratione conceſſionis nobis factae de decima memorata. De decima etiam in aliis Dioc. ſimiliter colligenda ſcripſimus Edw. primogenito noſtro, ut de ipſius conſilio & aſſenſu & aliorum Magnatum & fidelium noſtrorum qui ſunt de Conſilio noſtro facere poſſumus, quod honori & utilitati noſtro in hac parte ſecundum ordinationem veſtram magis Noverimus connire. Ceterum de ſtatu & Libertatibus de London in inſtanti Parliamento Noſtro apud Sanctum Edmundum ordinare curabimus, quod nobis & Civitati praedictae convenientius fuerit faciendum. In hiis autem & aliis quae dilectus Clericus noſter Robertas Fulc. lator praeſentium vobis dicet ex parte noſtra, ſi placet fidem adhibeatis indubitatam. Teſte Rege apud Cantebrigiam octavo die Marcii.
REX omnibus, &c. Sciatis quod dedimus poteſtatem Venerabili Patri O SanctiIbidem. Adr. Diac. Card. Apoſtolicae ſedis Legato in Angliae, recipiendi omnia jocalia et pretioſa noſtra tam in Turri noſtra London. quam in Abbatia Weſtm. exiſtentia, à Custodibus eorundem, ea impignoranda, pro quanta pecunia poterit ad opus noſtrum, ad quaedam urgentia negotia noſtra inde expedienda, prout nobis magis viderit expedire. Ita quod jocalia & precioſa illa ſub ipſius Cuſtodia in Turri reſideant ſupradicta. Ratum habituri & gratum quod ipſe ſuper praemiſſis in forma praedicta duxerit faciendum. In cujus, &c. Teſte ut ſupra.
I Read in aAntiquitates Brit. p. 189 190.Matthew Parker, and bCatalogue of Biſhops p. 177.Godwin, that John Gernſey, or de Exoniae, made Biſhop of Wincheſter, cMat. Weſt. Anno. 1262.Ex collatione Domini Papae, was conſecrated at Rome, Anno 1262. Where he paid to the Pope 6000. Marks for his confirmation, and ſo much to Jordan the Popes Chancellor, (no Symony nor ſin at Rome) yet upon his return home this year he was ſuſpended from his Biſhoprick by Ottobon the Popes Legate, for taking part againſt the King in the Barons Wars, he enjoying his honor ſo dearly bought but a ſmall time, dying the next year in Italy for grief.
Pope Clement the 4th. at the ſolicitation of King Henry the 3d. by this Bull, wherein he recites all the affronts and injuries done to the King, Queen, Prince, by the Barons, and the ſeveral miſeries which befell them and the whole Kingdome and Church by thoſe Wars, with the Kings extream want of monies, and debts by reaſon thereof, the neceſſity of ſupplying him for the better ſupport and defence of his Kingdom, the Churches and peoples liberties; eſpecially by the Clergy who had received ſuch bountifull gifts and endowments from him and his Anceſtors, granted the Tenth part of the profits and rents of all Archbiſhopricks, Biſhopricks, Monaſteries, and all Eccleſiaſtical perſons and orders whatſoever as well exempt as not exempt, within the Realm of England, Wales and Ireland, according to the true improved values, notwithſtanding all former Bulls and exemptions to the contrary; authorizing Othobon his Legate to Collect it by all manner of Eccleſiaſtical Cenſures notwithſtanding any Appeals, and by aſſiſtance of the Secular arme where need required. Whereupon this Legate having no leiſure to Collect it himſelf; iſſued Commiſſions to ſeveral other perſons to collect this Diſme according to the Popes Bull therein recited, which being very memorable, extant in no printed Hiſtory, I ſhall preſent you with a true Tranſcript thereof out of one Original Commiſſion of Othobon, which I found in the White Tower Chappel, Magiſtro Waltero Scamell, Archdiac. Berks, & Magiſtro Radulpho de Higham, Canonico Sariſburienſ. dated 18. Kal. Febr. agreeing verbatim with this recorded in a Cedule of the Charter Roll, Anno 51 H. 3. but only in the Commiſſioners names, and day of the date, which recites the Popes Bull verbatim, and worthy publication.