The
Priory of Carlisle in first half of fourteenth century
Niall
C.E.J. O’Brien
The
beginnings
In 1122 King Henry I
founded an Augustinian priory at Carlisle dedicated to St. Mary, with Athelwold
as first prior. In 1133 the priory church was raised to cathedral status with
the formation of the Diocese of Carlisle. Athelwold became the first bishop and
served until 1155.[1]
In most other cathedrals the management and membership of the cathedral was performed
by a dean, archdeacon, chancellor, precentor and a group of secular canons. At
Carlisle the prior and canons of the old Augustinian house were retained. The
prior thus became equivalent to a dean in another cathedral.
The prior and convent
of Carlisle cathedral continued until the Reformation when a dean and chapter
was established. This article will examine some aspects of the priory history
in the early decades of the fourteenth century.
Border
country
In the early fourteenth
century the Diocese Carlisle was situated in the border country between England
and Scotland. It was located at the northern edge of the English world with
London far to the south and the lands of English Gascony still further south.
North of Carlisle laid the Kingdom of Scotland, at one time independent, but
since the death of Margaret, the Maid of Norway, under subjection to the
English Kingdom of Edward I. Some in Scotland accepted this position, others
did not and Edward I had to make near constant war in Scotland. But the Scots
were also able to make war in England and Carlisle was in the direct path of
these wars. In 1292 the cathedral and surrounding buildings were burnt by the
Scots.
The burning of the
cathedral and the neighbouring buildings left the clergy and the Prior of
Carlisle with “nowhere to lay their heads” for a long number of years. On 8th
November 1318 Archbishop Melton of York granted forty days indulgence to all
who shall contribute to the rebuilding of Carlisle cathedral and the
neighbouring buildings.[2]
Work of restoration continued for much of the fourteenth century and was not
fully completed until the last years of the century.[3]
The battles around
Carlisle were not exclusively military in nature. In 1323 the then Bishop of
Carlisle, John de Halton, was in dispute with the Prior of Carlisle, Simon de
Hautwysell, over rents due to the bishop at Linstock. On 25th
November 1323 the prior acknowledged he rent of 13 shillings 4 pence to be due
to the bishop. For this acknowledgement the bishop paid £10.[4]
New
Bishop of Carlisle, 1325
On 1st
November 1324 John de Halton, Bishop of Carlisle died. He had been bishop since
1292 and was a former canon and cellar at Carlisle cathedral.[5]
Master John de Skiren, rector of Marton, was appointed by Archbishop Melton of
York to administrate the Diocese of Carlisle during the vacancy in the see. In
January 1325 the prior and convent of Carlisle met to elect a new bishop and
they decided on Sir William de Ayreminne, canon of York. On 26th
January Master John de Skiren was mandated to announce the election publicly
and ask if any knew of any impediment to the election.[6]
In early February 1325
Roger Paul, sub-prior of Carlisle and William de Hurtheworth, canon of
Carlisle, wrote to Archbishop Melton of York on the election of Sir William de
Ayreminne as bishop-elect of Carlisle.
Simon de Hautwysell, Prior of Carlisle,
wrote a further letter with William de Hurtheworth, confirming the election.
Archbishop Melton accepted these letters and confirmed Sir William as bishop of
Carlisle. On 11th February 1325 Archbishop Melton sent a mandate to
the prior and convent of Carlisle to obey William de Ayreminne as their lawful
bishop. But by April William de Ayreminne had learnt that the Pope had provided
another cleric to the see of Carlisle and resigned.[7] For
more on William de Ayreminne see the article = http://celtic2realms-medievalnews.blogspot.ie/2014/08/william-airmyn-government-official-and_16.html
This new cleric was
John de Ross, a man who had spent many years in the Roman Curia.[8] In
1310 John de Ross was clerk to Thomas Jorz; cardinal bishop of St. Sabina and
brother of the then Archbishop of Armagh, Walter Jorz.[9]
For more on Walter Jorz see the article = http://celtic2realms-medievalnews.blogspot.ie/2014/07/walter-jorz-archbishop-of-armagh.html
John de Ross had been
provided to Carlisle by papal provision on 13th February 1325 and
was consecrated at Avignon on 24th February.[10]
The long distance between Avignon and Carlisle must account for the delay in
the resignation of William de Ayreminne. Thus John de Ross became the new Bishop of Carlisle.
Carlisle Cathedral in the snow
New
Prior of Carlisle
Within a few months of
the new episcopal of John de Ross there was a vacancy within the cathedral priory.
On 13th July 1325 Roger the sub-prior and the convent wrote to
Bishop de Ross via William de Hurchword, canon of Carlisle, about the death of
Prior Simon de Hautywysell and asked for the right to elect a new prior.[11]
On the following day
the sub-prior surrendered the vestments and other articles belonging to the
late prior. These items included a red chasuble of samite with a tunicle and
dalmatic of red sindon in the same suit, with an alb, embroidered with the arms
of the king and the Earl of Lincoln; two other albs with appurtenances for
deacons and sub-deacons; a chasuble for daily use; two yellow copes; two
embroidered altar cloths and a third plain; a missal without gospels and
epistles; another book of gospels and epistles; two graduals; a silver and gilt
chalice; a portable altar; a silver chrismatory and a little book for the confirmation
of children with a stole and two coffers.[12]
Sometime after the
canons of the cathedral priory met and elected John de Kirkby as the new prior.
The relationship between Prior John de Kirkby and Bishop John de Ross would
seem to have started off well with both new to their positions. Yet within a
few years both would be at battle over the rights and privileges of those
positions
New
Bishop of Whitehorn, 1326
On 16th
October 1326 Archbishop William Melton of York sent a mandate to the abbot of Holme
Cultram, the prior of Carlisle, Master Robert de Southeayke, official of the
bishop of Carlisle and Thomas Appleton, canon of Hexham, custodians of the
spiritualties of Whitehorn, to examine the election of Simon de Wedale, abbot
of Holyrood, as bishop of Whitehorn.[13] A
letter from Abbot Simon to Archbishop Melton stated that he was elected on 23rd
September 1326 following the death of Bishop Thomas of Whitehorn. This letter
and the examination by the four custodians must have confirmed a proper
election. Archbishop Melton informed Thomas de Appleton to induce the
bishop-elect to appear before the Archbishop for consecration. The Archbishop
granted Abbot Simon save passage from Edinburgh to come south for his
confirmation and consecration.[14]
Avoidance
of conflict, 1329
In 1329 the Bishop of
Durham, Lewis de Beaumont, refused to institute Sir Henry de Latrington to the
vicarage of Aycliffe. De Latrington was presented to the vicarage by the
patrons, the prior and convent of Durham and Bishop Beaumont was to follow
normal practice and institute de Latrington to the vicarage without much
question. Archbishop Melton of York got involved and tried for force the Bishop
of Durham to show what legal objections he had to the institution of de
Latrington.
Somebody petitioned the
Pope in Rome to resolve the dispute. Pope John XXII issued a letter to the
abbot of Holme Cultram, the Archdeacon of Carlisle and the Prior of Carlisle to
act as papal judges to settle the dispute. On 19th October 1329
these three clerics replied to the Pope that they begged to be excuse from
acting as papal judges on “account of the lack of skilled legal help in the
Diocese of Carlisle, the distances involved and the fury of the people”.[15]
Differences
between the prior of Carlisle and Bishop Ross of Carlisle
At the start of the
1330s differences and difficulties existed between the Prior of Carlisle, John
de Kirkby and the then Bishop of Carlisle, John de Ross. The uncertain
political situation in the country was no help. It was against the government
that John de Kirkby had his first difficulties. The Pope had granted the church
tenths to the King of England but which king. King Edward II was deposed by his
wife and her lover, Roger de Mortimer. They claimed to rule on behalf of the
young King Edward III but this was questionable. In 1330 King Edward III
deposed his mother and had Mortimer killed. Edward III then proceeded to
establish his rule and call in unpaid taxes.
The Prior of Carlisle
was one of these tax payers in default. On 6th October 1330 notice
was issued that John de Kirkby was excommunicated, on the instance of the king,
for not paying the tenths due to the king. On 3rd January 1331 the Prior
of Wetheral and Adam de Appleby announced the excommunication of Prior Kirkby
for not paying the tenth.[16]
Shortly after the
Bishop of Carlisle petitioned the king on behalf of Master Adam de Appleby, rector
of Caldbeck against the Prior of Carlisle. Adam de Appleby alleged that the
prior was seizing tithes of wool, lambs and other animals in his parish. The
prior said he was asserting his rights to tithes in Inglewood granted to the
priory by King Edward I. On 22nd January 1331 Edward III ordered
Bishop de Ross to proceed against the prior. On 1st February 1331
Adam de Appleby and Robert de Askeby were commissioned by Bishop de Ross to
proceed against Prior John de Kirkby for offences against the bishop and his
church.[17]
One of these offences
related to the Forest of Inglewood. The prior had claimed the tithes of
Inglewood by charter of Edward I and used this claim in the case against Adam
de Appleby. Bishop de Ross petitioned Edward III that the priory had no claim
to the lesser tithes of Inglewood. Edward III agreed and declared that the
priory of Carlisle had no such claim. Prior John de Kirkby asserted he had
documents to prove his claim. On 18th May 1331 Bishop de Ross
commissioned Adam de Appleby and Robert de Askeby to examine these documents if
produced in Dalston church.[18] It
seems strange for Adam de Appleby to be the Bishop’s official against the Prior
of Carlisle when he had his own disputes against the prior. Yet Carlisle was a
small diocese where qualified people were scarce to deal with church legal
matters.
Meanwhile Prior John de
Kirkby had petitioned the Pope for redress. In December1330 Pope John XXII
issued two letters to the Bishop of Durham of which the first was to judge in
the case concerning eight churches in disputed claim between Prior Kirkby and
Bishop de Ross. The second letter said that any property of the priory could
not be disposed without the consent of the priory.[19]
With these papal
letters behind him, Prior de Kirkby took on Bishop de Ross for the advowson of
Caldbeck church before the Bishop of Durham. Prior Kirkby claimed his
predecessor Ralph Barry (prior 1232-1248) held the advowson in the time of
Henry III. This was refuted by Bishop de Ross and claimed Caldbeck as always
the right of the bishop.[20]
But Caldbeck was not
the only parish in dispute. On 31st July 1331 Bishop de Ross
appointed Master Robert de Askeby to further his case before the prior of
Durham relating to the vicarage of Addingham and the tithes of Dalston as
Bishop de Ross was outside the diocese. This absence was used by Prior de
Kirkby and the convent to put further pressure on the bishop.
In early May 1331
Richard de Whyterigg resigned the office of cellarer at Carlisle. This
resignation by subsequent documents appears to be an organised event on the
part of Prior de Kirkby. The prior and convent sent letters to Bishop de Ross
stating that they had delayed the election of a new cellarer because they
expected the bishop to return to the Diocese by 19th May. Bishop de
Ross didn’t return to Carlisle as expected or more truthfully, not expected, as
relations were so strained between bishop and prior that they could not stand
to be in each other’s presence.
The prior and convent
piled on the pressure by sending two canons to Bishop de Ross asking for him to
pick one to be the cellarer by 8th September or the prior and
convent would elect by their own authority. Their letters to Bishop de Ross
were ended with the statement that they were “not obliged to write to him about
such matter … but do so for the sake of peace, although under protestation lest
this be taken as a precedent”. Bishop de Ross could see their games and
commissioned the prior of Lanercost and Adam de Appleby to appoint one of the
two canons as cellarer.[21]
New
Bishop of Carlisle, 1332
The disputes with the Prior
of Carlisle may have played upon the health of Bishop John de Ross. In about
April 1332 his body gave up the struggle of old age and stress and Bishop de
Ross died.[22]
The reaction of Prior John de Kirkby is unknown and his opinion, as an
excommunicated cleric, was regarded as irrelevant by some. On 8th
May 1332 Archbishop Melton commissioned William de Wyrkesworth, rector of
Slaidburn, to hold a synod in Carlisle Cathedral to assist the administration
of the diocese during the vacancy while on 11th May 1332 the old
adversary of Prior John de Kirkby, Master Adam de Appleby, was appointed
administrator of the diocese.[23]
If other clerics wished
to set aside the presence of Prior John de Kirkby, his canonry colleagues in
the cathedral convent did not abandoned their superior. The convent had the
king on their side. On 11th May 1332, the same day the administrator
was appointed; Edward III gave licence to the prior and convent to elect a new
bishop after two canons from the cathedral had arrived at court with the
necessary request for same.[24]
The status of an excommunicated prior did not stop the king’s licence but then
the king could not ignore the right of the prior to be involved in the election
of a new bishop.
In June 1332 the
cathedral canons elected their prior, to be the new Bishop of Carlisle. Letters
asking for objections were issued on 13th June but it seems none of
substance were received and John de Kirkby was confirmed as Bishop on 2nd
July 1332. The temporalities of the diocese were granted to John de Kirkby on
20th June which would suggest that John de Kirkby had made provision
for royal backing to his candidature if the church authorities objected. The
royal support was not a complete blank cheque and King Edward instructed the
prior and convent of Carlisle not to interfere with church property on the
pretext of royal approval.[25]
The consecration
ceremony was to have taken place at Rudston on Sunday 19th July but
was moved to Bishop Burton instead. The difficulties between Archbishop Melton
and Bishop de Beaumont of Durham seem to have been resolved by 1332 as both
made their way for the consecration. The third officiating cleric was Rowland
Jorz, late Archbishop of Armagh.[26]
The new Bishop of
Carlisle did not have an easy start to his episcopal. In June 1333 Bishop de
Beaumont of Durham was given a mandate to excommunicate all those who attacked
Bishop Kirkby and his followers with blasphemous words, arrows and stones.[27]
On 9th
October 1333 an agreement was made between John de Kirkby, Bishop of Carlisle
and Prior Geoffrey and convent of Carlisle concerning the tithes of Dalston and
the rights of the prior to certain parishes. The excommunication issued by the
late Bishop of Carlisle, John de Ross, against the prior and convent was also
lifted as part of the agreement. This agreement was affixed with the seals of
the bishop and the prior. On 4th December 1333 the pope confirmed
his approval of the settlement while on 14th May 1334 Archbishop
Melton of York examined the agreement and agreed to its settlement.[28] Peace
was restored to Carlisle cathedral and a good working relationship between the bishop
and the prior was established.
The priory seal showing the Bishop and the Prior equal under St. Mary
Seal
of the Priory of Carlisle
The same seal of the
Priory of Carlisle was used for much of the medieval period. A good article on
the seal was written by W. Nanson entitled ‘The seal of the Priory of Carlisle’
in Transactions of the Cumberland and
Westmoreland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society Volume seven (1883),
pages 330 to 334. An online copy of the article can be seen at https://archive.org/stream/transactionsofcu07cumb#page/330/mode/2up/search/330
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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlisle_Cathedral
and http://www.gatehouse-gazetteer.info/English%20sites/4090.html
accessed on 5 July 2014
[2]
Rosalind M.T. Hill (ed.), The Register of
William Melton, Archbishop of York, 1317-1340, vol. 1 (Canterbury &
York Society, vol. LXX, 1975-76), no. 200
[4] R.L. Storey (ed.), The Register of John Kirkby, Bishop of
Carlisle 1332-1352 and the Register of John Ross, Bishop of Carlisle, 1325-1332
(2 vols. Canterbury & York Society & Boydell Press, 1993), vol. 1, no.
828
[5]
A.B. Emden (ed.), A biographical register
of the University of Oxford to A.D. 1500 (Oxford University Press, 1989), vol.
2, p. 859
[6]
Rosalind M.T. Hill (ed.), The Register of
William Melton, Archbishop of York, 1317-1340, vol. 1, nos. 249, 254
[7]
Rosalind M.T. Hill (ed.), The Register of
William Melton, Archbishop of York, 1317-1340, vol. 1, nos. 257, 258, 259,
264
[8]
Rosalind M.T. Hill (ed.), The Register of
William Melton, Archbishop of York, 1317-1340, vol. 1, no. 267
[9]
A.B. Emden (ed.), A biographical register
of the University of Oxford to A.D. 1500, vol. 3, p. 1591
[10]
A.B. Emden (ed.), A biographical register
of the University of Oxford to A.D. 1500, vol. 3, p. 1591
[13]
Rosalind M.T. Hill (ed.), The Register of
William Melton, Archbishop of York, 1317-1340, vol. 1, no. 272
[14]
Rosalind M.T. Hill (ed.), The Register of
William Melton, Archbishop of York, 1317-1340, vol. 1, nos. 273, 274, 275
[15]
Rosalind M.T. Hill (ed.), The Register of
William Melton, Archbishop of York, 1317-1340, vol. 1, nos. 299, 300
[16] R.L. Storey (ed.), The Register of John Kirkby, Bishop of
Carlisle 1332-1352, vol. 1, nos. 11, 57
[17] R.L. Storey (ed.), The Register of John Kirkby, Bishop of
Carlisle 1332-1352, vol. 1, nos. 17, 18, 49
[19] R.L. Storey (ed.), The Register of John Kirkby, Bishop of
Carlisle 1332-1352, vol. 1, nos. 27, 28
[21] R.L. Storey (ed.), The Register of John Kirkby, Bishop of
Carlisle 1332-1352, vol. 1, nos. 64, 65
[23]
Rosalind M.T. Hill (ed.), The Register of
William Melton, Archbishop of York, 1317-1340, vol. 1, nos. 302, 305
[25]
Rosalind M.T. Hill (ed.), The Register of
William Melton, Archbishop of York, 1317-1340, vol. 1, no. 308
[26]
Rosalind M.T. Hill (ed.), The Register of
William Melton, Archbishop of York, 1317-1340, vol. 1, nos. 309, 310
[27]
Rosalind M.T. Hill (ed.), The Register of
William Melton, Archbishop of York, 1317-1340, vol. 1, no. 313
[28]
Rosalind M.T. Hill (ed.), The Register of
William Melton, Archbishop of York, 1317-1340, vol. 1, no. 350; R.L. Storey (ed.), The Register of John Kirkby, Bishop of
Carlisle 1332-1352, vol. 1, no. 183
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