Medieval Sourcebook:
The Register of Roger Martival, Bishop of Salisbury, 1315-1330
Material from the Register of Roger Martival, Bishop of
Salisbury, 1315-1330
Commission to William de Coleshull to receive the oath of obedience to the
Bishop from his men in the archdeaconries of Berkshire and Wiltshire [undated]
Commission to Ralph de Querendon to receive the oath of obedience [undated]
Commission to take clerks imprisoned by royal and other officials into
ecclesiastical custody [undated].
Publication of commission to John of Dorset, steward, Nicholas Saddock,
and Geoffrey de Werminster, bailiff of Sonning, to hear a suit in the court of Sonning by
royal writ of right between John and Margaret de Lenham and Robert de Syndlesham about
two-thirds of the manor of Syndlesham [28 October 1315]
Commission to Peter de Periton and John de Hakeneye, canons of Salisbury,
to examine evidence in the case of George de Brithmanstone, imprisoned at Salisbury and
claiming clerical privilege [16 October 1315]
1. Commission to William de Coleshull to receive the oath of
obedience to the Bishop from his men in the archdeaconries of Berkshire and Wiltshire
[undated]
Commision for receiving canonical obedience. Roger, by the [divine] permission [Bishop
of Salisbury] ... etc., to our belived in Christ Master William of Coleshull, canon of
Salisbury, greetings in the name of the Savior of all. We commit to you as our
representative with the power of canonical coercion to receive the canonical obedience
from whomsover of our men living in the archdeaconries of Berkshire and Wiltshire who hold
[land] from us and we make you our representative to make and exercise each and every
thing that ought to be done in these matters. In testimony of this grant, etc. [here would
be a formula of proof, either by witnesses or by seals].
2. Commission to Ralph de Querendon to receive the oath of
obedience [undated]
Item, another commission. R[oger] by the divine permission [bishop of Salisbury] etc.
... to the beloved of Christ Master Ralph of Querendon, clerk, greetings in the name of
the glorious Virgin. We make you our representative to receive the canonical obedience
from whomever is subject to our power in our jurisdictions of Lavington, Potterne, Devizes
and the borough of Marlborough in the Diocese of Salisbury, namely [to receive the
obedience] from those who ought to swear it to us by custom or by right; [we also make you
our representative] to inquire into, correct and punish anyone within our jurisdictions
who exceeds these jurisdictions; and moreover [we appoint you our representative] to hear
and to properly conclude cases and other business introduced and moved in these same
jurisdictions; and [we concede to you as our representative the right] to exercise all and
every matter which is known to pertain to our jurisdiction. And we depute you to be our
clerk and registrar of our consistory of Salisbury, and also to be our sequestrator in the
diocese of Salisbury. We commit to you this office and each of these above-mentioned
customs with the power of canonical coercion. As testimony of this matter ... [etc.] Done
... [etc].
3. Commission to take clerks imprisoned by royal and other
officials into ecclesiastical custody [undated].
Commission for extracting prisoners. Roger, by divine permission [Bishop of
Salisbury...] etc. to the beloved of Christ A. A. B. etc., greetings in the name of the
Lord. We appoint you our representative with the power of canonical coercion to seek and
receive in our name from whichever justiciars, viscounts, and bailiffs of the lord king or
of anyone else, and also [to seek and receive] from whomsoever regardless of their name or
office, all clerks who, for reason of felonies, crimes, or excesses, have been indicted or
are about to be indicted, have been seized or are about to be seized, have been
incarcerated or are about to be incarcerated for any reason, or have been detained or are
about to be detained in custody or in chains; [you shall seek and receive such clerks] who
by right ought to be and are able to be brought before us to receive justice in the
ecclesiastical court according to the canonical sanctions. We grant these powers to you
conjointly and separately in the county of B., ordering that through our authority you
cause these clerks to be guarded by our bailiff of Salisbury as soon as is possible. As
testimony of this matter etc. Done at London etc. in the year of the Lord etc.
4. Publication of commission to John of Dorset, steward, Nicholas
Saddock, and Geoffrey de Werminster, bailiff of Sonning, to hear a suit in the court of
Sonning by royal writ of right between John and Margaret de Lenham and Robert de
Syndlesham about two-thirds of the manor of Syndlesham [28 October 1315]
Commission made to John of Dorset, seneschal and bailiff of Sonning. Let it be known to
all thorugh the present document that we, Roger, by divine permission bishop of Salisbury,
commanded those men beloved to us in Christ John of Dorset, our seneschal, Gilbert of
Saddock, and Geoffrey of Werminster, bailiff of our maner of Sonning, to hear in our court
of Sonning held in the county of Berkshire the arguments made in this court according to
the royal writ of right by John of Lenham and Margeret his wife, plaintiffs, and Robert of
Syndlesham, the accused, concerning two parts of the manor of Syndlesham with all its
appurtenances. [We order you] to dispense full justice in each and every matter concerning
the abovementioned case according to the law and custom of the kingdom of England. As
testimony of this action, we caused these letters patent to be drawn up. Done at Sonning
on the 28th day of the month of October in the ninth year of the reign of King
Edward son of King Edward.
5. Commission to Peter de Periton and John de Hakeneye,
canons of Salisbury, to examine evidence in the case of George de Brithmanstone,
imprisoned at Salisbury and claiming clerical privilege [16 October 1315]
Simple letters concerning George de Brithmanstone who was imprisoned for his
excesses
Roger by divine permission bishop of Salisbury sends greetings, grace, and blessings to
his beloved masters in Christ, Peter of Periton and John of Hakeneye, canons of our church
of Salisbury. Recently George de Brithmanstone, a man of our diocese, had been captured
and imprisoned at Salisbury for certain crimes imputed to him; he had personally claimed
before certain justiciars of our lord king who were denying his clerical status to have
constituted himself as a cleric, and he had sought at an ecclesiastical examination to
prove on his part that his clerical title ought to be returned to him. Although this title
had in no way been given [him] by us, because of the great vehemence of his supplication,
we took the trouble to depute for him commissioners to allow/accept/promise/receive
certain prohibitions in this matter, desiring therefore that the ecclesiastical immunity
be kept undiminished to the extent that is possible with the help of God and fully
entrusting to your prudent caution the decision concerning the said George and others, to
be made as we ought to do so, that is according to the full strength of the law. [We also
command you] to receive legitimate witnesses in a strictly legal way and to ask them about
the articles that we have sent to you under our seal [the articles are attached to the end
of this document]; [you should also examine] other canonical documents of interest which
shall be produced before you on the part of the said George. And just as the sacred canons
evoked by you dictate, we commission you as our legates [vices] with the power of
canonical coercion until such time as we shall revoke that power, ordering that you take
care to send us under your seal and at the opportune time and place the attestations of
the witnesses and the writings concerning this matter. Whatever you shall decide in this
matter you ought duly to make known to us through the strength of letters patent
containing descriptions of these affairs. Farewell. Done at Sonning on the 17th Kalends of November in the year of the lord 1315 and in the first year of our
consecration.
Articles despatched to the commissioners:
First, [ask] whether the said George was a cleric.
And if yes, [ask] by whom and when he was ordained.
Then, whether he remains married [conjugatus], and if yes, whether he married only one
woman of marriageable status and when he did so [Item an idem conjugatus existat et si sic
an unicam et virginem et quando duxerit in uxorem]
Item, [ask] if he was living as a cleric and had been wearing clerical habit and
tonsure, especially at the time of his capture.
Item, [ask] about how he conducted himself and how he was thought of and reputed in
public, especially concerning his conversation, character [fama], and reputation
[opinione].
[Ask] about the day, place, reasons, and other circumstances surrounding them, just as
a cautious examination of them shall reveal, and so on.
Source.
The Registers of Roger Martival, Bishop of Salisbury, 1315-1330, vol. 2 (The
Register of Divers Letters, First Half), ed. C.R. Elrington (Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 1963), p. 24, 25, 46, and 39-40. Translated by Richard Barton, 1998
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© Paul Halsall, October 1998
halsall@fordham.edu
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