‘Our mother, the Roman Church, is full of troubles and calamities. Yet

her daughter, the University of Paris, alone has tried to comfort her:

Paris has borne the burden and heat of the day, and may well upbraid

us. We too must work for the union of the Church and the reformation

of peace. I therefore, promoted to the degree of Master though

unworthily, through zeal for the religion of Christ and for the Church

of God, and by reason of the command of our lord the King, propose to

move some matters pertaining to the proposition, in the form of a

question, not as a formal _determinator_, but rather as a friendly

speaker (_familiaris concionator_), now on one side, now on the other,

now as an impartial person. In these writings I wish to say nothing

against the Catholic Church or good morals or Pope Boniface; if I do

so inadvertently I submit to the Chancellor and others in

authority.--Touching the reformation of the desolate Church, I ask

whether there is any reasonable way of restoring it to its original

unity.’

Then he treats learnedly about the schismatical churches and shows that

the Church can be reformed only by the punishment of those who have

disturbed its peace--namely, the Cardinals.

He ceased to be Minister some years before his death. In 1405 he was with

Friar J. Mallaert appointed papal commissary to examine into the charges

made by the English Minorites against John Zouche, then Provincial

Minister. The commissaries deposed Zouche; and on the latter’s

reappointment by papal authority, refused to obey him[1595]. According to

Bale he died 1407[1596]; he was buried at Colchester[1597].

At the end of the ‘_determinatio_’ in Harl. MS., 3768 (fol. 196) is the

note:

‘et incipiunt alie conclusiones ejusdem de eodem scismate cum epistola

directa domino Karolo Regi Francorum pro reformacione scismatis

prenominati.’

Some ‘conclusions’ then follow.

=(Richard) Tryvytlam= or =Trevytham= seems to have flourished about 1400;

Hearne suggests that he was the same as Robert Finingham, a Franciscan who

lived about 1460[1598], but this is a quite unwarranted assumption.

Tryvytlam is only known from his rhymed Latin poem, ‘_De laude

Universitatis Oxoniae_,’ a defence of the friars and attack on the monks.

From the poem it is clear that he was an Oxford friar, and one line points

to his having been a Franciscan:

‘Minorum ordinem proclamat impium,’ etc.[1599].

Among the assailants of the mendicants he mentions by name Ughtred of

Durham, who flourished in the reign of Richard II. His poem has been

edited by Hearne (Oxon. 1729), from a fifteenth century MS. then in the

possession of Roger Gale, Esq.

MS. Paris:--Bibl. Nationale, MS. 1201 (sec. XV) contains: _Ricardi

Trevithelani Supplicationes ad beatam Mariam Virginem_.

=William Auger= or =Anger=, according to Leland[1600], studied in the

Franciscan convent at Oxford, and was afterwards made Warden of the Grey

Friars at Bridgwater, where he died and was buried, A. D. 1404[1601].

=John Edes=, =Edaeus=, or =of Hereford=, is said to have been a Minorite

of Oxford, and to have written commentaries on many of Aristotle’s works,

as well as on the Sentences and Apocalypse[1602]. He afterwards retired to

Hereford, where he was elected warden, and where he died in 1406[1603].

_Quedam constituta_ (?)[1604] _Johannis Ede de ordine minorum._ _Inc._

‘Triplex fuit beneficium abrahe, viz. preeleccio, conversacio, propagacio

... Questio utrum personarum accepcio sit peccatum.’

MS. Oxford:--Bodley 815 (= 2684 in Bernard) f. 1-8, a fragment (sec.

xv). The MS. (fol. 1) contains the note: ‘Habetur liber complete inter

fratres minores Hefordie’ (_sic_)[1605].

=William Butler= or =Botellere= was regent master of the Minorites at

Oxford in 1401, when he lectured against the translation of the Bible into

English[1606]. He occurs as the thirtieth Provincial Minister and

successor to John Zouche[1607]. He was probably the person elected by the

Chapter at Oxford on the 3rd of May, 1406, on the deposition of

Zouche[1608]. Though the latter was afterwards restored, he does not seem

to have been generally recognised in England, and was in 1408 made Bishop

of Llandaff[1609]. Butler’s tenure of office seems to have been reckoned

from 1408. A new ordinance was made at this time that no Provincial of the

Minorites should remain in office more than six years[1610]. William

Butler resigned in 1413 or 1414, but was reinstated by Pope John

XXIII[1611]. Whether he actually entered on his duties again does not

appear. The date of his death is unknown. Bale and Pits state that he was

buried at Reading[1612]. The Catalogue of Illustrious Franciscans, as

quoted by Leland, calls him ‘Flos universitatis temporibus suis.’

Besides the treatise against the English translation of the Bible (Merton

Coll. MS. 67) he is said to have written _De indulgentiis papalibus_.

_Inc._ ‘Articulus pro finali cessatione lecture sentenciarum’[1613].

=Vincent Boys=, D.D. of Oxford, was elected thirty-first Provincial on the

voluntary retirement of W. Butler in 1413. Butler was reinstated by the

Pope and the election of Boys quashed; but no stigma was to attach to the

latter[1614]. Tanner mentions a David Boys, Carmelite, c. 1450[1615].

=Peter Russel= was D.D. of Oxford[1616], and taught also in Spain. On

November 25th, 1399, Martin, king of Aragon, gave him power

‘legendi docendi et dogmatizandi ubique locorum sui regni _Artem

generalem_ ceterosque libros Raymundi Lulli.’[1617]

He was the thirty-second Provincial of England, and retired from the

office in 1420, having presumably held it for six years[1618].

He wrote or lectured in defence of Mendicancy. MS. Bodleian, Digby, 90, f.

200, contains a reply to him:

‘Determinacio magistri Johannis Whytheed de Hibernia in materia de

mendicitate contra fratres; in quo respondet pro Radulpho

Archiepiscopo Armachano contra fratrem Petrum Russel.’

=Robert Wellys= or =Wallys=, D.D. of Oxford, was elected thirty-third

Minister on Russel’s retirement in 1420. Martin V empowered the Minister

of the Roman province to confirm the election, but Wellys died in France

before he had assumed the duties of his new office[1619].

=Thomas Chayne=, Minorite D.D., was one of the five friars appointed by

Congregation in 1421 to decide what should be done with the pledges placed

in the chests ‘before the first pestilence[1620].’ He was buried in the

chapel of All Saints in the Church of the Grey Friars, London[1621].

=Hugo David= was D.D. and regent master of the Oxford Franciscans about

1420[1622]. On the deposition of Roger Dewe or Days, Provincial Minister,

in 1430, Hugo David and John (?) Wynchelse were appointed vicars of the

province[1623].

_Determinacio Fratris et Magistri Hugonis Davidis, ordinis Fratrum

Minorum, in Universitate Oxoniensi Regentis, utrum penitens, peccata sua

confessus Fratri Licentiato, teneatur eadem rursus confiteri proprio

Sacerdoti._

MS. Paris:--Bibl. Nationale, 3221, § 5 (sec. XV).

=Robert Colman= is said to have been a Minorite of Norwich[1624]. He was

S.T.P. and Chancellor of the University in 1419[1625]. In 1428 he attended

as Minorite D.D. the diocesan synod at Norwich, where inquisition was made

into the heresies of William Whyte[1626]. He is said to have induced

Walter Clopton, Knight, chief justice of England, to enter the Order in

his old age[1627]. Leland says:

‘Illud non est silentio praetereundum, catalogum illustrium

Franciscanorum accurate Colemannum laudare, ac peritissimum carminis

pronunciare’[1628].

=Matthias Döring= studied at Oxford in his youth[1629], and perhaps

entered the Franciscan Order there. He was certainly a Minorite in 1422,

when he matriculated at Erfurt as ‘lector Minorum’[1630]. He seems to have

been lecturing in the Franciscan Convent at Erfurt some time before this

event; his lectures on the first book of the Sentences were finished on

April 21st, 1422. He may have been at Oxford about 1415 and perhaps took

the degree of B.D. there. In 1423, at any rate, he appears as B.D., and

became Provincial Minister of Saxony in 1427[1631]. He was one of the

representatives of the University of Erfurt at the Council of Basel in

1432, where he played a leading part[1632]. In 1433 he was sent by the

Council as ambassador to Eric, king of Denmark. Soon after this he

returned to Erfurt. In 1438 he wrote a pamphlet entitled ‘_Confutatio

primatus papae_,’ with the object of enlisting the support of the secular

princes on the side of the Council against the pope. He seems himself to

have been a trusted friend of his Margraf, Frederic of Thüringen.

In his relations to his Order he appears as a consistent champion of the

Conventuals against the stricter Observants. In 1443 he was elected

General Minister of the former, and held the office till 1449. In 1455 his

name occurs among the Conventual Provincial Ministers; after a struggle

with the Archbishop of Magdeburg on behalf of the Conventuals he resigned

the Provincialate in 1461, and retired to Kyritz, leaving the Archbishop

in possession of the field. Döring however seems to have been left in

peace till his death, July 24th, 1469. His chief works besides the

treatise already mentioned were a _defence of Nicholas de Lyra_ against

Paul Burgos, written between 1434 and 1440 (printed several times; e.g. at

Basel, 1507); _a defence of the miraculous blood of Wilsnach_; and his

_Chronicle_; the latter was compiled from notes taken at different times

from the end of the thirties onwards; and embraces the period from 1420 to

1464. It has been twice edited, by Mencken and by Riedel; both editions

are said to be inaccurate.

=William Russell=, ‘of the Convent of Stamford in the diocese of Lincoln,’

argued that a religious might lie with a woman without mortal sin; this

thesis was discussed and condemned in the Convocation of Canterbury at St.

Paul’s on October 12th, 1424, and Russell submitted to the decision of

the clergy[1633]. On May 15th, 1425, he again appeared before Convocation

to answer the charge of having publicly held and preached on Jan. 28th,

1425, that tithes need not be paid to the parish priest, but might be

applied by the tithe-payer ‘_in pios usus pauperum_’[1634]. At this time

Russell was warden of Friars Minors of London[1635]. At first he tried to

defend his doctrine, then submitted. The Archbishop enjoined on him, as a

penance, that he should next Sunday after service solemnly renounce his

error in set form[1636] at Paul’s Cross. At the time appointed Russell did

not appear and was in consequence excommunicated. The proceedings against

him dragged on for some time. On July 11th, a letter of the University of

Oxford in condemnation of his doctrines was exhibited, and later a similar

letter from Cambridge; and on the 13th it was decreed

‘that he should be judged and condemned as a heretic and schismatic.’

Meanwhile, Russell, now no longer warden, fled to Rome ‘to defende the

forsaide erronye doctrine’[1637]. On August 12th, 1425, he was imprisoned

by order of the Pope, first in the Pope’s, then in the ‘Soldan’s’ prison.

The following January he escaped from prison and fled to England, where he

was received for one night by the Friars Minors of London. He seems to

have remained at large for more than a year. He surrendered or was

captured in March, 1427, and on the 21st of that month, in accordance with

the papal decision, he read in English a complete recantation of his

doctrine on tithes at Paul’s Cross[1638], and was then handed over to the

Bishop of London to be imprisoned during the Pope’s pleasure. He was at

liberty again in 1429 when he incepted as D.D. at Oxford, and paid £10 to

the University instead of giving a feast to the Regents[1639]. The

University showed its hatred of his teaching by adding to the oaths which

had to be taken by every inceptor in every faculty[1640], a disavowal of

Russell’s teaching on tithes[1641]. The oath has already been quoted at

length in Chapter VI.

_Super Porphyrii Universalia compendium_, by William Russell, Friar Minor.

_Comment. in Aristotelis Praedicamenta_, anonymous, but probably by the

same author.

MS. Oxford:--Corpus Christi Coll. 126, fol. 1, and fol. 4.

=William de Melton= in 1427 went about the country preaching against

tithes,

‘and teaching seditious doctrines among the common people in many

places by uncircumcised words.’

He had probably taken a degree at Oxford, as the University was appealed

to to stop his preaching. The University wrote to the Duke of Gloucester

and the King’s Council, and secured his arrest. Melton was brought back to

Oxford, and is said to have recanted over and over again on his

knees[1642]. He is probably the same as William Melton of the Friars

Minors, S.T.P.[1643], who was preaching at York in 1426, on the subject of

the mystery plays.

‘He commended the play to the people, affirming that it was good in

itself and very laudable; but for several reasons he induced the

people to have the play on one day and the Corpus Christi procession

on the second, so that the people might be able to come to the

churches on the festival’[1644].

=Roger Donwe= or =Days=, D.D. of Oxford, became thirty-fifth Provincial

Minister in succession to John David between 1426 and 1430; in the latter

year he was ‘for just causes deposed by the Minister General.’ He was

buried at Ware[1645].

=Richard Leke= or =Leech=, D.D. of Oxford, was thirty-sixth Provincial

Minister between 1430 and 1438. He was buried at Lichfield[1646].

=Thomas Radner= or =Radnor=, of the custody of Bristol and the Convent of

Hereford, D.D. of Oxford, was Provincial in 1438, being the thirty-seventh

in order. He was buried at Reading[1647].

=John Feckyngtone=, ‘of the Order of Minors in Oxford,’ was one of the two

Rectors of Balliol College in 1433, his colleague being Richard Roderham,

S.T.P. The Rectors, having, at the instance of the College, inquired into

the working of the statutes, recommended a change in the clause of the

first statute which provided that the Master of the College, if he

received a benefice of the clear annual value of £10, was thereby

incapacitated from holding his office.

‘In witness whereof, because our seals are known to few, we have

procured that the seal of the Chancellor of the University of Oxford

should be appended to these presents. Given at Merton College, April

19, 1433’[1648].

The matter was submitted to the Bishop of London, who cancelled the

objectionable clause[1649].

=John Whytwell=, Minorite, on February 7th, 1448/9, was allowed to count

twenty oppositions _pro completa oppositione_[1650]. On January 25th,

1449/50, it was decided in solemn congregation, that one-half of the £10

paid by this friar at his inception as D.D. should be placed in the

Rothbury Chest to be used for the partial redemption of the University

jewels, and that the other half should be given to the proctors in payment

of certain sums owed to them by the University[1651].

=John Argentine= supplicated for B.D. on October 20th, 1449, on the ground

that he had studied philosophy for nine years, theology for seven, and had

opposed and responded formally four times. The grace was conceded[1652].

In 1470 a John Argentine challenged and disputed against all the Regents

of Cambridge; he does not appear to have been a friar[1653]: he was

probably the John Argentine, M.D. and D.D., who was physician to the

princes Edward and Arthur, and held several prebends and livings in the

dioceses of Ely, Lichfield, Wells, and London, between 1487 and

1508[1654]. One of the same name, with the degree of B.D. was Provost of

King’s College, Cambridge, from 1501 to 1507[1655].

=Antony de Valle= or =Vallibus= was admitted B.D., February 6th,

1449/50[1656]. He incepted as D.D. before March 22nd, 1451/2, when he was

permitted

‘to absent himself from every scholastic act for a fortnight, that he

might be able to visit his friends who were sick’[1657].

=John David=, on March 4th, 1450/1, was allowed to curtail his period of

opponency and take the B.D. degree, on condition that he would lecture on

the first book of Isaiah in the public schools[1658]. He became D.D.

before June 5th, 1454, when he received permission

‘to resume his ordinary lectures after the feast of St. Thomas next

ensuing (July 3rd), and to resume the acts of a Regent, except entry

into the house of Congregation’[1659].

Another of the same name was lecturer to the Franciscans of Hereford

before 1416, D.D. of Cambridge, and thirty-fourth Provincial Minister in

1426[1660].

=David Carrewe=, S.T.P., in 1452 received 6_s._ 8_d._ under the will of

Richard Browne, alias Cordon, LL.D., Archdeacon of Rochester, &c., and

benefactor of the friars of Oxford and elsewhere[1661]. This Carrewe is

probably identical with the Friar =David Carron=, S.T.P., who, in 1448,

was with Friar Nicholas Walshe, S.T.B., appointed commissioner to elect a

Provincial of the Minorites in Ireland on the deposition of William

O’Really: their choice fell on Gilbert Walshe, a relative of Nicholas, but

O’Really was afterwards reinstated by the Pope[1662].

=John Foxholes= (co. York) on April 14th, 1451, was allowed to count

opponency from Michaelmas term to Easter as his complete opposition, on

condition that he should preach one Latin sermon in addition to those

which he was bound to deliver by the University statutes[1663]; this was

equivalent to a supplication for B.D.

We venture to identify John Foxholes with =John Foxalls= or =Foxal=,

Minorite, who lectured at Bologna and some other University[1664]. In 1475

he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh by the Pope, but died in England

within a year or two, probably without having visited his diocese[1665].

He was the author of several works[1666]--

_Expositio Universalium Scoti._ _Inc._ ‘Creberrime instantiusque rogatus.’

Printed at Venice, 1508 and 1512, under the name _Joannes Anglicus_.

_Opusculum super libros Posteriorum._

MS. Paris:--Bibl. Nationale, 6667 (A. D. 1501).

Printed at Venice, 1509 (?).

_Opusculum de primis et secundis intentionibus, juxta mentem Scoti,

Mayronis, Aureoli, Boneti, et Antonii Andreae._ _Inc._ ‘Quoniam materia de

primis.’

MS. Florence, _olim_ Bibl. S. Crucis (_nunc_ Bibl. Laurent.?).

_Expositio super metaphysicam Antonii Andreae._

MS. _olim penes Waddingum_[1667].

=John Sunday=, on May 17th, 1453, was allowed to count ‘opposition in each

of the schools’ for about seven months, together with eighteen additional

oppositions, as equivalent to the statutable opposition of one year[1668].

On June 10th, he was admitted B.D.[1669] On February 5th, 1453/4, after

finishing his lectures on the Sentences, he supplicated for D.D., and

grace to incept was conceded under certain conditions[1670].

=Richard Treners=, S.T.B., obtained a grace on December 2nd, 1454, to

substitute one additional Latin sermon after taking his degree (of D.D.)

for two responsions before the degree[1671].

=William Goddard= the elder, ‘Doctor Oxoniae Disertissimus,’ succeeded

Thomas Radnor, according to the Register of the Grey Friars of London, as

thirty-eighth Provincial Minister[1672]. Radnor was minister in 1438, and

it is probable that Goddard was not his immediate successor. At any rate,

the latter was a leading man among the friars, and probably provincial

minister between 1450 and 1460. Bishop Reginald Pecock wrote a letter

addressed _Doctori ordinis fratrum minorum Godard_, in which

‘he calls the modern preachers pulpit-bawlers (_clamatores in

pulpitis_)’[1673].

A little later, the friar had his revenge. On November 27th, 1457, Pecock,

being convicted of heretical opinions, abjured at Paul’s Cross.

‘And doctor William Gooddard the elder, that was provinciall of the

Grey-freeres, apechyd hym of hys erysys’[1674].

He was living in London many years after this event. In the will, dated

March 6th, 1471/2, of John Crosby, ‘citezein and grocer and alderman of

London,’ is the clause:

‘Item, I bequeth to maister Godard thelder doctoure of dyvynyte to

pray for my soule C{s}’[1675].

Similar bequests follow to the prior of the Austin Friars of London and to

the provincial of the same Order. From this entry it would appear that

Goddard was not provincial of the Minorites in 1472. From the

distinguished position which he evidently occupied in 1457, and from the

passage in the Grey Friars’ Chronicle quoted above, it might be assumed

that he had already held the office and retired. But William Goddard is

mentioned as provincial in a record dated Dorchester, October 4th,

1485[1676]. Was this Goddard _senior_ or _junior_? For there were two

Franciscans of this name in the fifteenth century. There is nothing to

show that the younger Goddard was ever provincial minister; he was warden

of the London convent, but was not buried in the choir, where all the

ministers mentioned in the Register were buried[1677]. Further, the

Register of the Grey Friars states that the younger Goddard died on

September 26th, 1485, i.e. before the record was drawn up. The Register

is, however, in the matter of dates absolutely untrustworthy. Without

further evidence it seems impossible to decide with certainty which of

the two was provincial in 1485; and, if it was the elder, whether he held

office twice. William Goddard the elder was buried in the choir of the

Franciscan Church in London.

‘Ad cujus (Johannis Hastyng’, comitis Pembrochie) dexteram in plano

sub lapide jacet venerabilis pater et frater Willelmus Goddard doctor

egregius et ordinis fratrum minorum in anglia Minister benemeritus.

Qui obiit 30{o} die Mensis Octobris a{o} domini 1437’[1678].

_Aqua vite secundum doctrinam magistri Godard per Johannem Grene medicum

scriptum_; a short receipt in English.

MS. Brit. Mus.:--Sloane 4, p. 77 (c. A. D. 1468).

=Richard Ednam= supplicated on January 27th, 1454/5, that eight

oppositions should stand for the complete opposition required by the

statutes[1679]; the grace was conceded without conditions, and Ednam was

admitted B.D., November 28th, 1455[1680]. On April 2nd, 1462, he

supplicated for D.D., promising to pay £10 on the day of his inception;

the grace to incept was granted on condition

‘that he should incept within a year and give the Regents the usual

livery’[1681].

He did not take advantage of this grace, and on May 24th, 1463, he again

supplicated for D.D.; the grace was conceded on condition

‘that he should incept before the feast of St. Thomas (July 3rd), pay

£15 on the day of his inception, and give a separate livery to the

Regents at his own expense’[1682].

He was at this time clearly not in the position of a simple mendicant. In

March, 1464/5 he was made Bishop of Bangor[1683]. The next year[1684] he

was allowed to appropriate a benefice ‘owing to the smallness of the

income of the episcopal table.’ He died in 1496[1685].

=Gundesalvus (Gonsalvo) of Portugal= was admitted to oppose in theology in

April, 1456[1686]. In February, 1456/7, he supplicated that he might

reckon the two terms, during which he had been opponent, as a year, and

proceed to the bachelor’s degree[1687]. On May 29th, 1459, having

performed the exercises required for the doctor’s degree, he supplicated

for grace to incept in theology, ‘notwithstanding that he had not ruled in

Arts.’ The grace was conceded on condition that he should incept in the

first week of the next term, and

‘give a livery, i.e. _cultellos_, according to the ancient custom, to

all the Regents’[1688].

Among the Observant friars of Portugal who died in 1504 to 1505 was

‘venerandus pater frater Gundisalvus, qui bis Vicarius Provincialis

fuit’[1689].

_Gundessalvi Libri de Divisione Philosophiae_, Bodl. MS. 2596 (Bernard)

are probably not by this friar: cf. Cambridge MSS. No. 1025 (in Bernard):

and Bibl. Nat. Paris, 16613 ‘Gumdissalvi Liber de anima’ (sec. xiii).

=John Alien=, B.D. of Cambridge, was on December 1st, 1459, incorporated

as B.D. at Oxford under the following conditions: (1) he was to respond

twice in the first year of his incorporation, and (2) to preach once to

the University in the same period; (3) he was to pay 40_s._ to the

building of the schools, and (4) oppose twice before his incorporation.

The last two conditions were on the same day withdrawn at Alien’s

request[1690]. He may be the same as Friar John Alen, S.T.P., sometime

warden of the convent at London, where he was buried, in the Chapel of All

Saints[1691].

=Richard Rodnore= and =---- Roby=, ‘friars of the Order of St. Francis,’

at Oxford, had a quarrel in 1461, in consequence of which Roby procured

from the Archbishop of Canterbury an inhibition to prevent Rodnore being

admitted to the degree of D.D. At the inception on June 27th, 1461, the

Commissary refused to recognise the inhibition, Rodnore took his degree,

and three persons who had been employed in presenting the Archbishop’s

command were imprisoned by the Congregation of Regents as ‘disturbers of

peace and violators of privileges,’ and suspended from their office in the

University[1692].

=Laurentius Gulielmi[1693] de Savona=, a man of noble birth, and friar of

the Province of Genoa, was for five years a pupil of Friar Francis of

Savona (who in 1471 became Pope Sixtus IV), at Padua and Bologna[1694].

After this Laurentius lectured at Paris and Oxford[1695]. In 1478 he was

at Cambridge, writing on rhetoric[1696]. In April, 1485, he dates a letter

to William Waynflete, in praise of his foundation of Magdalen College, ‘in

almo Conventu S. Francisci Londonii,’ where also he seems to have written

his _Triumphus Amoris Domini nostri Jesu Christi_[1697]. He subsequently

returned to Savona, where he died in 1495 at the age of eighty-one[1698].

His treatise _Nova Rhetorica_ or _Margarita eloquentiæ_, &c., was printed

at St. Albans in 1480[1699].

_Arenga fratris Gwilhelmi Sauonensis de epistolis faciendis._ _Inc._

‘Conquestus mecum es.’

MS. Munich:--Bibl. Regia, 5238 (sec. XV).

_Fratris Laurentii Gulelmi de Traversagnis de Saona, ord. Min., S. Pag.

Prof., in libros septem dialogorum, sive directorium vitae humanae, seu

directorium mentis in Deum._ _Inc. prol._ ‘Quum plures nationes:’ written

at Savona, 1492[1700].

MS. Venice:--St. Mark, Vol. IV, Cl. x. Cod. 246.

=Isaac Cusack=, or =Cusag=, in 1473, obtained letters from the University

testifying to his learning and good conduct, and certifying that he had

incepted as D.D., and

‘laudably fulfilled his regency and all that pertains to the solemnity

of such a degree.’

Armed with this testimonial, he went over to Ireland with a Dominican

named Dionisius Tully; and the two friars

‘preached publickly that Christ preached from door to door, that Pope

John was a Heretic, and such like, telling the People withal, that

they in their proceedings had been encouraged by the University of

Oxford.’

In 1482 the University, hearing of their doings, had them arrested with

the co-operation of the Archbishop of Dublin, and sent back to Oxford.

Being convicted of heresy, they were (according to Wood)

‘after recantation degraded and rejected the University as vagabonds.’

There seems to be no authority for Wood’s surmise, that they were

afterwards reconciled to the University ‘by their complaints to great

persons’[1701].

=William Dysse= in 1477 represented the Friars Minors of Oxford in the

Court of Chancery. He may have been warden, more probably permanent or

temporary ‘syndicus’ of the house[1702].

=Menelaus (Menma) M{c}Cormic= or =M{c}Carmacan= is said to have studied at

Oxford. He was promoted to the see of Raphoe in 1484, died on May 9, 1515

or 1516, and was buried in the Minorite Convent of Donegal[1703].

=---- Wyȝht.= The proctors in their accounts for the year ending April 17,

1482,

‘reddunt compotum de compositionibus 4 Doctorum Theologie, viz.

Morgan, Browne, et Richeford, fratrum ordinis predicatorum, et Wyȝht

ordinis minorum, 26{li} 13{s} 4{d}.’[1704]

=Mauritius de Portu=, or =O’Fihely=, a native of County Cork, studied

first at Oxford, then became regent of the Franciscan Schools at Milan in

1488, and regent doctor in theology at Padua in 1491, where he was

honoured with the title of ‘_Flos Mundi_.’ He was minister of Ireland in

1506 and took a prominent part in deposing the General, Ægidius Delphinus,

in the first _capitulum generalissimum_ at Rome in that year. In 1506

also, he was made Archbishop of Tuam by Julius II. He was present at the

Lateran Council in 1512, and died the next year; he was buried among the

Grey Friars of Galway[1705].

For his writings, most of which have been printed, see Tanner, _Bibl._

p. 605, Wood, _Athenae_ I, 16-18. They relate for the most part to

works of Duns Scotus, ‘whom (Wood remarks) he had in so great

veneration that he was in a manner besotted with his subtilties.’ The

_Distinctiones ordine alphabetico_ by ‘Frater Mauricius Anglus’ cannot

be by Mauritius de Portu; they exist e.g. in a fourteenth-century MS.

in the British Museum (Royal 10 B. xvi), and in a thirteenth-century

MS. at Paris[1706].

=Petrus Pauli de Nycopia=, friar, who transcribed a work of Duns Scotus at

Oxford, c. 1491, was probably a Minorite[1707].

=John Percevall=, D.D. of Oxford, was Provincial Minister about

1500[1708]. There appears to have been a contemporary writer of the same

name, a Carthusian, who studied at Oxford and Cambridge. Among those

buried in the choir of the Grey Friars, London,

‘in plano sub lapide jacet venerabilis pater et frater Johannes

Persevall doctor egregius et ordinis minorum in anglia minister qui

obiit 16 die Mensis Decembris, A{o} Domini 1505{o}’[1709].

=Thomas Roger=, warden of the Grey Friars of Gloucester, is mentioned in

the following record of the Chancellor’s Court; it is to be regretted that

no explanation of the circumstances is forthcoming.

‘Ultimo Februarii 1499 (= Feb. 29th, 1500) W. Botehill de Gloucestre,

scitatus coram nobis ad instanciam fratris Thome Roger gardiani

fratrum minorum Gloucestrie, prestitit juramentum corporale quod ipse

in persona sua propria comparebit Gloucestrie responsurus obiciendis

sibi pro parte dicti Gardiani et hoc citra ffestum Pasche

proximum’[1710].

=John Kynton= is once only described as a Minorite in the records.

‘Eodem die (October 24th, 1507) Thomas Clarke executor testamenti

Joannis Falley promisit se soluturum domino doctori Kynton ordinis

Minorum xxvi{s} viii{d}[1711].’

He was _senior theologus_ in 1503, and acted as commissary or

Vice-Chancellor in 1503, 1504, 1507, 1510, 1512, 1513; ‘Dr. Kyngton,

_senior theologus_,’ was commissary in 1532[1712]. Kynton preached the

University sermon on Easter Sunday in 1515[1713]. He was Divinity reader

to Magdalen College, and afterwards third Margaret Professor of Divinity:

the latter post he resigned on October 5th, 1530[1714]. He was one of the

theologians deputed by the University to confer with Wolsey on the

condemnation of Luther’s books in 1521; he was further one of the

committee appointed by the king’s command to examine more thoroughly the

Lutheran doctrines at Oxford in the same year[1715]. He also took a

prominent official, though not very decisive, part in the proceedings at

Oxford in connexion with the king’s divorce[1716]. He was buried in Durham

College Chapel;

‘for,’ writes Wood, ‘on a little gravestone there, yet remaining, is

written this: “Obiit Johannes Kynton, Frater Minor, sacræ Theologiæ

professor, 20 Januar. 1535”[1717].’

=John Smyth=, B.D., on June 30th, 1506, obtained grace to incept with the

condition

‘that he shall say the mass _Salus populi_ thrice for the good estate

of the regents.’

In January, 1506/7, he supplicated for the same grace, which was granted,

‘conditionata quod habet studium 4{or} annorum in sacra theologia post

gradum bacallariatus.’

He was licensed on January 22nd, and incepted on January 26th, under

Richard Kidderminster, Abbat of Winchcombe, paying £5 for his composition.

In July 1507, he was dispensed from the duty of ‘deponing’ for that term,

and in June 1508 he was allowed to postpone a sermon till the next

term[1718].

=John Hadley= was B.D. in June, 1506[1719].

=Christopher Studeley= supplicated for B.D. on November 18th, 1506, after

studying for ten years. He was buried at the Grey Friars, London, ‘between

the choir and the altars.’

‘Et ad capud ejus (i.e. J. Seller, D.D. warden of London) sub lapide

jacet frater Xpoforus Studley electus [gardianus?] qui obiit 10 die

mensis Marcii A. D. 157{o} (_sic_)’[1720].

=Ambrose Kell=, Friar Minor, and scholar of theology, in March, 1506/7

obtained from Congregation the right of free entry into the University

library on taking an oath not to injure the books[1721].

=Gerard Smyth=, on May 4th, 1507, obtained grace to oppose and proceed to

the B.D. degree, after fifteen years’ study, on condition

‘quod legat tres primas questiones Scoti’[1722].

He was admitted B.D. on February 6th, 1507/8[1723]. He was still B.D. in

1510, when he was appointed to preach the University sermon on Ash

Wednesday[1724].

=Brian Sandon=, =Sandey=, or =Sanden= was _Syndicus_, legal advocate and

bursar of the Franciscan Convent at Oxford from 1507 or before till the

dissolution. A sketch of his career has already been given[1725].

=Peter Lusetanus=, or =de Campo Portugaliensis=, supplicated for B.D. on

June 15th, 1506, after studying for eight years. He was admitted to oppose

on May 10th, 1507, and appears as B.D. in the following March. He

supplicated for D.D. in June 1509[1726].

=John Banester= supplicated for B.D. on October 24th, 1508, after studying

for sixteen years ‘_in universitate et extra_’.

‘Hec est concessa conditionata, una quod habet studium 6 annorum in

universitate; alia quod predicet semel preter formam in ecclesia b.

Virginis’[1727].

=Thomas Rose=, scholar of theology, was admitted to oppose on March

1508/9[1728].

=Thomas Anyden= as B.D. supplicated for D.D. on November 20th, 1507: the

grace was conceded on condition that he would proceed before next Easter.

On the same day, at his request, the condition was graciously cancelled.

He was still B.D. in December, 1512. He is probably identical with

‘=Thomas Anneday=, frater ordinis minorum et Inceptor in s. theologia,’

who supplicated on April 12th, 1513,

‘quatinus graciose secum dispensetur sic quod solvat tantum septem

marcas de compositione sua, causa est quia est pauper et habet paucos

amicos.’

‘Friar Thomas Anyday’ incepted July 4th, with three other Minorites, and

paid the above sum[1729].

=Roduricus= admitted to oppose in theology, June 12th, 1509; he is perhaps

the same as Roderic Witton, Franciscan, mentioned by Pits and

Tanner[1730].

=Walter Goldsmyth= was appointed to preach on Ash Wednesday,

1509/10[1731].

=John Tinmouth=, or =Maynelyn=, Franciscan of Lynn, was educated at Oxford

and Cambridge. He was warden of the Grey Friars of Colchester in 1493. In

1511 he resigned the rectory of Ludgershall, Bucks. In 1510 he had been

made suffragan bishop of Lincoln with the title bishop of Argos; he held

this office till his death. He was vicar of Boston in Lincolnshire in

1518. In the same year he became a brother, and in 1579 Alderman, of the

Gild of Corpus Christi in Boston. He died in 1524, desiring in his will to

be buried at Boston,

‘to the end that his loving parishioners, when they should happen to

see his grave and tomb, might be sooner moved to pray for his soul.’

He left £5 to each of the Franciscan houses at Lynn, Oxford, and

Cambridge. He is said to have written a life of St. Botolph[1732].

=Alexander Barclay=, D.D. of Oxford, the translator and part-author of the

_Ship of Fools_, entered the Franciscan Order after 1514. He died in

1552[1733].

=Henry Standish=, of Standish in Lancashire, was D.D. of Oxford, and

appears to have studied also at Cambridge[1734]. He was one of the court

preachers at the beginning of Henry VIII’s reign, and frequently received

payments for his services: the earliest grant to him in the State Papers

was a sum of 20_s._ for preaching in 1511[1735]. In 1514 the King gave £10

to Dr. Standisshe and the Friars Minors for charges at the general chapter

to be holden at Bridgwater[1736]. The next year the friar was in debt to

the extent of 100 marcs[1737]. Standish was probably at this time warden

of the Grey Friars of London[1738]. The time during which he was

Provincial Minister cannot be determined[1739]. In 1515 he attended a

council of divines and temporal lords summoned by the King to consider a

sermon preached by Richard Kidderminster, Abbat of Winchcombe, on benefit

of clergy. The Abbat maintained that a recent act which deprived

‘murderers, robbers of churches, and housebreakers’ of their clergy if

they were not in holy orders, was contrary to the law of God and the

liberties of the Church. The Franciscan doctor defended the act, arguing

that

‘it was not against the liberty of the Church, because it was for the

weal of the whole realm.’

Soon afterwards he was summoned to answer for his opinion before

Convocation. He appealed to the King, and Henry quickly brought the

bishops to submission by an assertion of the royal supremacy and a threat

of _praemunire_[1740]. Standish thus won the goodwill of the court; he

possessed the confidence of the people. The feeling against foreign

traders was now very bitter in London, and in 1517 one John Lincoln,

acting as spokesman of the citizens, urged the warden of the Franciscans

‘to take part with the commonalty against the strangers’

in a sermon he was to deliver on Easter Monday[1741]. Standish refused,

wisely, as the event showed; for an inflammatory sermon the next day

resulted in a serious riot. In 1518 Standish obtained the bishopric of St.

Asaph by royal influence, in spite of the opposition of Wolsey[1742]. In

1524 he was sent as royal ambassador to Denmark[1743]. In 1528 he was one

of the ‘counsellors appointed for the hearing of poor men’s causes in the

King’s Court of Requests’[1744].

His administration of his diocese was not altogether blameless. His

Vicar-General, Sir Robert ap Rice, was indicted for extortions on the

King’s tenants in 1533, and relatives of Sir Robert had, three years

previously, been indicted for maintaining thieves and had not yet been

punished[1745].

But Standish is best known as a champion, probably the foremost champion,

of the ‘Old Learning’ in England. He was, there can be little doubt, the

Franciscan theologian who in 1516 tried to organize a combined critical

attack on the writings of Erasmus[1746]. It was some years later--in

1520--that he preached at Paul’s Cross against Erasmus’ edition of the New

Testament, and inveighed against his writings in conversation at

court[1747]. He consequently became the object of the famous scholar’s

satire and invective, and his memory has suffered accordingly.

In 1528, when the royal divorce suit was proceeding, he became Katharine’s

chief counsellor, being apparently chosen by the queen herself[1748].

During the long trial, however, he showed little of the boldness which

characterised Fisher’s conduct, and Katharine seems not unreasonably to

have entertained some suspicion of his sincerity[1749]. He was present at

the coronation of Anne Boleyn, June 1533[1750]. That he was willing to

admit the royal supremacy[1751] is not surprising. He proposed to add to

the King’s Articles (which required the surrender, by Convocation, of the

legislative powers of the clergy), the words:

‘Provided that the King allow those constitutions which are not

contrary to the law of God or of the realm to be put in execution as

before[1752].’

He died on July 9th, 1535[1753]. His will is dated July 3rd, 1535[1754].

He desired to be buried ‘inter fratres Minores’ (London?).

‘Item pro sepultura mea quadraginta libras. Item pro Tumba erigenda

xiij{li}. vj{s} viij{d} in ecclesia fratrum minorum ubi contigerit

corpus meum quiescere. Item pro exhibicione scolarium in Universitate

Oxonie quadraginta libras. Item pro edificatione Insule ecclesie

fratrum Minorum Oxonie quadraginta libras.’

His bequest of £5 to buy books for the Oxford Franciscans, and his

appointment of two executors to distribute his own library should make us

hesitate to accept unreservedly the charge of ‘gross ignorance’ which

Erasmus brings against him[1755]. Among other legacies may be noticed £40

to the Church of St. Asaph ‘_pro pavimento chori_,’ 20 marcs to the

Carmelites of Denbigh ‘to build their cloister,’ £10 to the Minorites of

London for thirty trentals, £40 to the parish church of ‘Standisshe,’ and

a messuage in ‘Wrixham’ to Nicholas Rygbye. The will was not allowed to

pass uncontested; ‘for the law is plain, that when a religious man is made

a bishop, he cannot make a will’[1756]. Cromwell seems to have exacted

heavy fines from the executors and legatees[1757].

=Robert Sanderson= supplicated for B.D. on Jan. 22, 1510/1, after studying

twelve years. On May 30, 1511, he petitioned

‘quatenus gratiose secum dispensetur ut respondeat sine aliqua

oppositione propter defectum schole. Hec est concessa et conditionata

quod replicet in scholis post responsionem.’

In April 1513, as B.D., he obtained grace to proceed to D.D., stating that

he had studied for eighteen years. In June his composition was reduced by

four nobles (= 26_s._ 8_d._), on condition

‘that he will tell no one except those whom it concerns.’

He incepted on July 4, 1513, paying £5 8{s}. 8{d}[1758]. At the time of

the dissolution he was warden of the Grey Friars at Richmond in

Yorkshire[1759].

=John Brakell= obtained grace to oppose and proceed to the B.D. degree on

Jan. 27, 1510/1, after studying for fourteen years[1760].

=John Brown=, having studied for twelve years, supplicated for B.D. on

Jan. 22, 1510/1; he obtained the Chancellor’s license Nov. 19, 1512. In

June 1513, he supplicated as B.D. for D.D., after eighteen years’ study.

The grace was conceded

‘sic quod semel predicet in ecclesia B. M. V. infra annum, et non

utatur aliqua gratia generali vel speciali pro sua necessaria regentia

infra annum.’

The second condition was afterwards deleted. Brown incepted on Feb. 20,

1513/4, his composition being reduced by five marcs[1761]. On July 6,

1513, he appeared in the Chancellor’s Court as witness of the indenture

between Dr. Goodfield, ex-warden, and Richard Leke[1762].

=John Smyth= was admitted to oppose in June 1511, after studying for

fourteen years, and to the degree of B.D. in Dec. 1512. Six months later

he was licensed in theology, and allowed to incept as having studied for

eighteen years, with one responsion in the new schools and two sermons _in

diebus Parasceues_ at the Friars Minors. At his inception he paid £6

13_s._ 4_d._ He was dispensed from his necessary regency

‘quia est gardianus alicujus loci et sunt ei magna negotia’[1763].

=Harmon=, friar, who was admitted to oppose on Jan. 26, 1511/2, is perhaps

identical with ‘Friar Simondez Harm,’ lector of the Grey Friars of

Leicester in 1538[1764].

=Gilbert Sawnders=, after sixteen years’ study, was admitted to oppose in

Nov. 1511, provided

‘he said the mass _de Spiritu Sancto_ five times for the good estate

of the regents, and preached _in propria persona_ at St. Mary’s before

Easter.’

In 1512 he was appointed to preach the sermon on Ash Wednesday[1765]. On

April 13, 1513, he supplicated for D.D. In May he asked that 40_s._ might

be deducted from his composition; he was allowed to deduct 20_s._; this

was afterwards increased to four nobles,

‘et nemini revelabit nisi quarum interest.’

He incepted on July 4, and paid £4 6_s._ 8_d._ In the following November

he was dispensed from his necessary regency, and in Feb., 1514, from a

sermon[1766]. He died on July 16, 1533, and was buried in the Chapel of

All Saints at the Grey Friars, London[1767].

=John Sanderson=, B.D., supplicated for D.D. on Dec. 14, 1512, having

studied for sixteen years,

‘cum oppositione et responsione (?) in novis scolis et responsione in

capitulo (?) generali cum introitu biblie’[1768].

=William German=, or =Germyn=, or =Germen=, in Nov. 1511 obtained leave

from the Chancellor to enter the University library[1769]. He supplicated

for B.D. on July 3, 1513, after studying ‘logic, philosophy, and

theology’ for twelve years[1770]. He was still only _scolaris sacre

theologie_ in June, 1515, when he asked

‘quatenus illa particula olim posita in sua gratia, viz. quod sit

medietas anni inter oppositionem et responsionem possit deleri. Hec

est concessa, sic quod dicat unam missam de spiritu sancto pro bono

statu regentium, et aliam de trinitate, et aliam de recordare[1771].’

In Nov. 1516, he obtained grace to incept, and asked for a reduction of

his composition by one-half, which was probably granted[1772]. He did not,

however, become D.D. till June, 1518[1773]. He was one of the executors of

Henry Standish, Bishop of St. Asaph (_d._ 1535), who left

‘omnes libros meos distribuendos secundum discrecionem magistri

Johannis Cudnor S.T.D., nunc gardiani fratrum Minorum Londoniensium et

magistri Willelmi German eiusdem facultatis, et cuilibet ipsorum

quinque marcas pro labore[1774].’

=Alyngdon=, Doctor, friar Minor, in Jan. 1513/14

‘promised to pay William Hows 11_s._ 4_d._ before the fourth Sunday in

Lent under penalty of the law[1775].’

=Richard Lorcan=, an Irish Franciscan, ‘subtracted’ some goods and money

of John Eustas, a scholar, who died intestate, in 1514, and was ordered by

the Chancellor’s Court to restore them[1776].

=John de Castro of Bologna= was admitted to oppose on Dec. 6, 1514, and to

read the _Sentences_ four days later[1777]. He made the following entry

with his own hand in the Register of the Chancellor’s Court (_sub anno_

1514):

‘In die cinerum ego frater Joannes ordinis minorum italus de Castro

Bononiensi praedicabo sermonem dante domino[1778].’

=Radulph Gudman= on May 23, 1515, obtained grace to oppose, &c., after

studying for twelve years

‘in hac universitate et Cantibrigie et in partibus

transmarinis[1779].’

=William Walle=, having studied for twelve years, obtained grace to

oppose, with the stipulation that six months should intervene between his

opposition and responsion (July 3, 1513). He incepted in June or July,

1518, and half his composition was remitted. In Dec. 1518, he was

dispensed from his regency for a fortnight[1780].

=John Flavyngur= or =Flanyngur=, scholar of Canon Law, supplicated on June

20, 1515,

‘quatenus studium octodecim annorum in eodem jure et in jure civili

cum multis lecturis publicis in cathedra doctoris et multis aliis

locis sufficiat ut admittatur ad lecturam extraordinariam alicujus

libri decretalium. Hec est concessa sic quod solvat vj{s} viij{d}

Universitati in die admissionis sue et legat duos libros

decretalium[1781].’

It is curious that a scholar should, before attaining the degree of

B.Can.L., lecture as a Doctor: most of the instruction in civil and canon

law was given by Bachelors[1782].

=Thomas Peyrson=, elected Fellow of Merton College in 1520, is said to

have entered the Order of Observant Friars while still a B.A.[1783]

Perhaps he is confused with

‘Johannes Perse (_or_ Person) electus et cursor theologie hujus loci

(London), qui obiit 18 die Mensis februarii 1527,’

who was buried at the Grey Friars, London, _inter chorum et

altaria_[1784]. Thomas Peyrson was an Observant Friar at Lynn in 1534,

probably as a prisoner: he was still there at the dissolution[1785].

=John Porrett= or =Parott= obtained leave, on Nov. 19, 1511, to enter the

University library[1786]. He supplicated for B.D. on April 26, 1520,

having studied for sixteen years. He was not admitted till May, 1526,

after fourteen years’ study (?)[1787]. Early in the next year he applied

to have his composition reduced to £4: this was granted on condition that

he would proceed at the next act, say five masses for the regents, and

interpret the epistles of Paul to the Galatians before Easter. He does

not appear to have fulfilled these conditions: on May 23, the same grace

was conceded,

‘because he is very poor and scarcely has what is necessary to take a

degree,’

with the condition that he should read the first epistle of the

Corinthians publicly in his house, _schedulis fixis hostio ecclesie b.

Marie Virginis_[1788], after graduating. He incepted on July 8. On Oct.

10, 1527, he was dispensed from his necessary regency as being Warden of

the Grey Friars of Boston: he was, however, to continue to deliver his

ordinary lectures till All Saints’ Day[1789].

=David Williams=, B.D., was allowed to incept, after fourteen years’

study, on condition of preaching at St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s, continuing

his studies at the University for two years, and paying a ‘golden angel’

to repair the staff of the inferior bedell of arts (Jan. 24,

1520/1)[1790]. In April his examinatory sermon was at his request

postponed till after his degree:

‘Causa est quia dicit se plura beneficia a parentibus consequuturum si

fuerit inceptor quam non[1791].’

On May 13, he supplicated

‘quatenus graciose secum dispensetur ut posset iterum circuire non

obstante aliquo statuto in oppositum. Hec est concessa et

conditionata; conditio est quod non circuerat [circueat?] ante festum

Penthecostes’ (i.e. May 19)[1792].

The meaning of this is not clear; perhaps he had already ‘gone round’ once

and failed to incept at the ensuing Congregation[1793]. Having secured a

reduction of his composition to £4, he incepted on July 9[1794]. In Oct.

he obtained a dispensation from all scholastic acts till the first Sunday

in Advent, ‘because he has to preach on that day[1795]’. In Feb. of the

next year, he was dispensed from his necessary regency[1796].

=William Curtes= was admitted to oppose on April 20, 1520. Soon afterwards

he obtained permission

‘to respond in the new schools without having any opposition there

previously.’

In Feb. 1521/2, as B.D. he supplicated for D.D., having studied arts and

theology for eighteen years.

‘Hec gratia est concessa sic quod solvat xl d{os} ad reparationem

baculi inferioris bedelli sue facultatis et quod predicet sermonem

ante gradum susceptum et quod procedat ante pascha[1797].’

=Richard Clynton= supplicated for B.D., after eight years’ study, April

26, 1521. Among the conditions imposed was one

‘that he should celebrate three masses for the plague and another for

peace[1798].’

=Thomas Frances=, B.D., had grace to incept (after sixteen years’ study)

on condition of paying 40_d._ to mend the staff of the sub-bedell of arts,

preaching at St. Paul’s within two years, and preaching an examinatory

sermon before his degree (Jan. 24, 1520/1). He incepted on July 9, 1521,

having three days before obtained a dispensation from his necessary

regency,

‘because he is warden in some convent of his Order and cannot continue

in the University.’

The conditions on which this was granted were:

‘(1) that he should say the Psalter of David before Michaelmas; (2)

that he should celebrate seven masses for the good estate of the

Regents; (3) that he should pay his debts to the University before

going away[1799].’

=John Thornall=, on Nov. 19, 1521, having studied for sixteen years, was

allowed to proceed to B.D., on condition

‘quod studuit hic vel in alia universitate per xii annos.’

He was admitted B.D. in June, 1523, and obtained grace to incept in May,

1524, after ‘studying fifteen years in this University.’ His composition

was reduced to five marcs on condition

‘quod solvat illas quinque marcas in primis suis inceptionibus,’

and that he should incept before Easter[1800]. He failed to do so, and on

July 11, 1525, was permitted to pay £5, instead of his full composition,

with the stipulation that he should distribute 10_s._ for the use of poor

secular scholars[1801]. He incepted on July 17. In Oct. he was dispensed

for all scholastic acts for twenty ‘legible’ days,

‘because he has promised to preach at two places which are forty miles

distant from each other[1802].’

At the Dissolution he was living at the Grey Friars, London[1803].

=Nicholas de Burgo= an Italian Minorite, native of Florence, B.D. of

Paris, was incorporated B.D. of Oxford in Feb. 1522/3[1804]. A year later

(Jan. 25) he supplicated for the Doctor’s degree, stating that he had

studied seventeen years, seven of them having been spent in Oxford[1805].

On the same day he prayed that his composition to the University on his

inception might be remitted[1806].

‘Causa est quia est alienigena et anglice nescit, preterea multos hic

labores suscepit, legendo publice in hac academia hoc septennio, et

pene gratis, et lecturus est quoque perpetuo, et hic remoraturus, modo

dignati fuerint magistri Regentes tantum gratiarum sibi impartire. Hec

gratia est concessa sic quod legat unum librum sacre theologie publice

et gratis post gradum ad designationem Domini Cancellarii.’

A few days later he was dispensed from nearly all his necessary regency,

promising to preach ‘on some day when there shall be a general

procession[1807].’ In March, being ‘unable to procure all that was

necessary to him,’ he was allowed to postpone his inception till after

Easter, paying a fine of 20_s._ to the University. The fine was afterwards

remitted and a sermon substituted, as Nicholas alleged extreme poverty

(June 20)[1808]. He incepted shortly after this. His dispensation from

necessary regency seems to have lapsed, for in Oct. he obtained leave to

absent himself for ten ‘legible’ days,

‘because he had been bidden to preach a sermon within twenty days,’

and had not time to fulfil the duties of regent[1809]. He preached at St.

Peter’s-in-the-East on Ash Wednesday, 1528[1810]. He was patronized by

Wolsey, but whether he came to England at the Cardinal’s invitation is

doubtful. In Nov. 1528, ‘Fryer Nicholas of Oxford’ received £5 as a reward

from Wolsey[1811]. In 1529 the King desired that the friar should have a

benefice[1812]; payments to him from the Privy Purse and other sources are

frequently found[1813]. The Italian friar had made himself useful by

advocating the King’s divorce[1814]. He was perhaps the

‘Franciscan, who was one of the chief writers in favour of the King,’

and who consorted with Dr. Barnes, the Austin Friar and friend of

Luther[1815]. His advocacy of the divorce rendered him very

unpopular[1816], and perhaps after the fall and death of his old

protector, Wolsey, he felt his position less secure. In Dec. 1531, he came

to London, having ‘disposed of his stuff at Oxford,’ to ask leave to

return to Italy for his health. It was thought impolitic to let him go,

‘he being so secret in the King’s great matter as he has been,’ and means

were found to keep him in England[1817].

Wolsey had already appointed him public reader in theology at Cardinal

College, in succession to Thomas Brynknell, at a yearly salary of 53_s._

4_d._, besides commons[1818]; and in 1532, Henry VIII. re-appointed him to

the chair of divinity[1819]. He was also divinity lecturer in Magdalen

College. In Jan. 1533, he writes to Thomas Cromwell,

‘I have performed the duties of reader bestowed on me by the King, and

for greater advantage I have added public lectures. I have received no

remuneration, for those who distribute the King’s gifts do so

arbitrarily. I have often asked in vain. Mr. Baxter retains the

profits of my benefice, and has not paid me the money due Michaelmas

last[1820].’

This appeal was not fruitless: in June, 1533, Dr. Nicholas de Burgo

received £6 13_s._ 4_d._ from Cromwell[1821]. In 1534 he was still at

Oxford, and acted as substitute for the Commissary in the Chancellor’s

Court[1822]. Next year he obtained permission to return to Italy. In Oct.

he wrote to Henry VIII, expressing a hope that he would be allowed to

retain his fellowship at Oxford (_locus collegii_), and his

benefice[1823]. In the same year he resigned the divinity lectureship at

Magdalen College[1824]. In July 1537 he again wrote to the King from

Italy, renewing his previous request; he was at present prevented by

trouble and illness from coming to England, but hoped to come next

month[1825].

=Thomas Kirkham= was admitted B.D. in 1523, after twelve years’

study[1826]. In 1526 he supplicated ‘that four years’ study after the

degree of Bachelor’ might entitle him to incept. He became D.D. in July,

1527, his composition being reduced to £4, ‘because he is very poor,’ and

in November he was dispensed from the greater part of his necessary

regency as warden of the Grey Friars at Doncaster[1827]. He continued to

hold this office till the Dissolution[1828]. He was, in Wood’s words,

‘a very zealous man against the divorce of King Henry VIII from Queen

Katharine[1829].’

He seems to have obtained Church preferment immediately after the

Dissolution. In Feb., 1539, Thomas Kirkham was admitted to the rectory of

St. Mary’s, Colchester[1830], and in 1548, to that of St. Martin’s,

Outwich: he resigned the latter living in 1553 or 1554[1831]. From these

dates it is clear that he had joined the Protestant party.

=Richard Brinkley= (co. Cambridge), D.D. of Cambridge, and ‘Minister

General of the Order of Minors throughout all England,’ was incorporated

D.D. of Oxford on June 26, 1524[1832]. There is a discrepancy about the

dates, which seems to admit of no satisfactory explanation. A Minorite

called Peter Brikley was S.T.B. of Cambridge in 1524. ‘Brinkley frater

minor’ was admitted D.D. of Cambridge in 1527, when he paid £5 6_s._ 8_d._

‘pro non convivando[1833].’ He was buried at Cambridge[1834].

An illuminated copy of the Gospels in Greek, now MS. Caius College 403,

was lent to him out of the Franciscan Library at Oxford, as the following

inscription on p. 1 testifies,

‘Iste liber est de con(ventu) fratrum minorum Oxonie omissus et

accommodatus fratri Ricardo Brynkeley Magistro.’

Another MS. in the Caius College Library (No. 348), containing the Psalter

in Greek, has this note (p. 113):

‘here xeeld be nō qweyr’ off ye nūbyr off 8, ffor her’ ys all _q_ ffr.

Ric. Brynkeley[1835].’

=Edmund Bricott=, =Brycoote=, or =Brygott=, born about 1495[1836],

supplicated for B.D. in Jan. or Feb. 1525/6, having studied ten years

‘here and at Paris.’ He was admitted to oppose on June 13, and became B.D.

on June 28. In Jan. 1527/8, he obtained grace to incept after fourteen

years of study. He was licensed in Feb. 1529/30. In June he obtained a

reduction of his composition to £5 on the score of poverty, and a

dispensation (in advance) from his necessary regency, because he was

warden of some house of Minorites. He incepted in July, 1530[1837]. He was

warden of Lynn at the Dissolution[1838]. Like so many others, he seems to

have gone with the times; he held the living of Thorley, Herts., from 1545

to 1562; was collated to the rectory of Wiley, Essex, in 1547, to that of

Hadham, Herts, in 1548; and became Prebendary of St. Paul’s in 1554. He

probably died in 1562[1839].

=Thomas Knottis= was admitted B.D. in May, 1527. He may be the same as the

Thomas Knott who supplicated for B.A. in 1522; if so, he became a

Franciscan after that date[1840].

=Anthony Papudo=, of Portugal, was admitted to oppose in June, 1526, and

B.D. in May, 1527[1841].

=William Walker= supplicated for B.D., June 3, 1527, after studying

fourteen years. The grace was conceded on condition

‘that he will read the Epistles of St. Paul to the Ephesians and the

Galatians in his house’ (_in edibus suis_, i.e. the Franciscan

Convent)[1842].

=Robert Knowlys= supplicated for B.D. in Jan. 1526/7[1843]. In Oct., 1529,

as B.D., he obtained grace to incept, after eighteen years’ study,

sic quod procedat in proximo actu, et legat 2{m} et 3{um} Scoti super

sententias in Domo sua, et faciat sermonem latinum in templo Dive

Virginis intra annum post gradum susceptum, et alium etiam intra annum

anglice intra universitatem[1844].

His composition was reduced to £5, owing to his poverty (June 22, 1530).

He was dispensed from his necessary regency,

‘because he was lecturing in some house of the Order of Friars Minors’

(June 28, 1530).

He incepted D.D. in July, 1530[1845].

=John Arture= kept a horse in Oxford in 1528[1846]. In May, 1533, he

supplicated for B.D., after fourteen years of study; he was to preach,

before Christmas, a sermon at St. Mary’s,

‘another from the pulpit (_e suggestu_) of St. Paul’s London, and

another _e pulpito_ at Westminster[1847].’

In Dec. of the same year he sued Joanna Coper for libel: the scandal

about him, and his doings ‘at the sign of Bear’ (May, 1534) have already

been noticed. Soon afterwards he was again in trouble, and had to give

bail for his appearance whenever he should be required to answer certain

charges, which are not specified in the register[1848]. About this time

(1534-5) he was appointed warden of the Grey Friars of Canterbury,

according to his own account, by the King, ‘against the heart of the

provincial[1849].’ There was continual war between himself and the

brethren of the house. Each side accused the other of hostility to the

King. Arthur wrote that he kept the observance somewhat strict because the

friars rebelled against the King and held so stiffly to the Bishop of

Rome[1850]. On the other hand a brother whom Arthur had imprisoned brought

an accusation of disloyalty against him. This seems to have been founded

on a sermon which Arthur was said to have preached in the Church of Herne

on Passion Sunday, 1535[1851], in which he ‘blamed these new books and new

preachers for misleading the people’ and discouraging fasts, prayers, and

pilgrimages, especially to the shrine of St. Thomas.

‘And he said, if so be that St. Thomas were a devil in hell, if the

Church had canonized him, we ought to worship him, for you ought to

believe us prelates though we preach false.’

Further he did not pray for the King as head of the Church, nor for the

Queen. As the result of this charge, Arthur was thrown into prison by

Cromwell’s orders, and an Observant, ‘his mortal enemy,’ was made his

keeper, while another friar was appointed warden. Fearing to be starved,

Arthur escaped to France, and wrote letters from Dieppe to a servant of

Cromwell, and to Browne, the Provincial Prior of the Austin Friars,

praying for his own recall and urging the punishment of his enemies[1852].

He appears to have returned, if the dates in the Calendars are correct,

and to have been again arrested on Aug. 21, 1537 at Cromwell’s command by

‘Cardemaker[1853].’

=John Baccheler= was vice-warden or sub-warden of Grey Friars in 1529 and

in 1534. At the latter date he became one of the sureties for Friar Robert

Puller. In June, 1533, supplicated for B.D., after studying twelve years:

the grace was conceded on condition of his preaching at St. Mary’s and

Paul’s Cross, but it does not appear whether the friar took advantage of

it[1854].

=Gregory Based=, or =Basset=, B.D., was at one time suspected of heretical

leanings and subjected to persecution.

‘For in Bristol (writes Foxe, referring to John Hooker as his

authority) he lay in prison long, and was almost famished, for having

a book of Martin Luther, called his Questions, which he a long time

privily had studied, and for the teaching youth a certain

catechism[1855].’

He afterwards abjured, and, to prove his orthodoxy, took a prominent part

in the examination and condemnation of Thomas Benet, who was burned at

Exeter in 1533[1856]. On December 20, 1534 (?), he came forward as one of

the sureties of Friar Robert Puller, for a debt of 25_s._, in the

Chancellor’s Court at Oxford[1857]. He was still alive in Mary’s reign,

and is mentioned by Foxe as ‘a rank papist,’ in connexion with the trial

of Prest’s wife, a half-witted woman, who was burned as a heretic at

Exeter in 1558[1858]. In 1561 a warrant was out for the arrest of ‘Friar

Gregory, alias Gregory Basset, a common mass-sayer,’ who was lying hid, it

was thought, in Herefordshire[1859].

=Robert Beste= was summoned before the Chancellor’s Court on September 30,

1530, to answer a charge of ‘incontinence and disturbance of the peace:’

he does not appear to have been convicted. He continued to reside at

Oxford during the next few years. In 1539 he became vicar of St. Martin’s

in the Fields; he supported the reformation, and was expelled from his

vicarage on Mary’s accession. He was afterwards reinstated, and resigned

the living before January, 1572[1860].

=Nicholas Sall=, admitted B.D. March, 1531/2[1861].

=John Rycks=, according to Wood, spent some time among the Grey Friars at

Oxford[1862]. In 1509, John Rickes, M.A. (who may have been the same

person), was elected fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge[1863]. In

a list of Franciscans written in Cromwell’s hand, and dated September 13,

1532, ‘Father Rykys’ appears as warden of the Observant Convent at Newark

(Notts.)[1864].

‘At length in his last days (being then esteemed a placid old man),

when he saw the pope and his religion begin to decline in England, he

became a zealous protestant[1865].’

He died at London A. D. 1536[1866]. His works are as follows:--

_The image of divine love._ _Inc._ ‘Consideryng in my mind how.’

Printed at London 1525[1867].

_Against the blasphemies of the papists[1868]._

_Otto Brunsfelsius. A very true Pronosticacion with a Kalendar gathered

out of the moost auncyent Bokes of ryght Holy Astronomers for the yere of

our Lorde MCCCCCXXXVI, and for all yeres hereafter perpetuall. Translated

out of Latyn into Englyshe by John Ryckes Preest[1869]._

Printed at London 1536: dedicated to Thomas Cromwell.

=John Nottingham=, or =Nottynge=, supplicated for B.D. in October, 1532,

after studying for twenty years. He was admitted to oppose in November of

that year; but in an entry two years later he is not described as

B.D[1870].

=Edward Ryley= was allowed to proceed B.D. in June, 1533, after sixteen

years’ study, on condition of preaching at St. Mary’s and St.

Paul’s[1871]. He was warden of the Franciscan Friars of Aylesbury in 1534,

and as such took the oath of Succession[1872]. He seems to have remained

loyal to the old religion; he held several livings in Mary’s reign,

namely, Wakering Parva, and Peldon in Essex (A. D. 1555), St. Mary at Axe

(1556), which was united to the parish of St. Andrew Undershaft in 1561;

he resigned the living St. James Garlickhithe, London, in 1560, and that

of Stisted, Essex, in 1561[1873].

=John Williams= was admitted to oppose in 1533, after studying fourteen

years. On May 4, 1534, in the dispute about a horse, already referred to,

between Dr. Baskerfeld and Richard Weston, he was called as a witness on

behalf of the former. In January, 1536/7, Baskerfeld bound himself on

pain of imprisonment to produce John Williams when required, to answer

charges brought against him; the nature of the charges does not

appear[1874].

=William Browne= was admitted B.D. in January, 1534/5. He was at Oxford

when the friary was dissolved[1875].

=John Tomsun=, ‘Ordinis Franciscani,’ was admitted to oppose on October

17, 1534[1876]. The name appears among the twenty-seven names appended to

the deed of surrender of the Grey Friars, London, November 12, 1538[1877].

=Robert Puller= was at Oxford about 1534; Richard Roberts, scholar of

Broadgates Hall, brought an action against him for the recovery of

‘xxv solidos sibi debitos ab eodem Roberto Puller fratre ex causa

emptionis et vendicionis.’

John Bacheler and other friars engaged to pay the debt[1878].

=John Notly=, or =Snotly=, Minorite, was appointed to preach the

University sermon at St. Peter’s (in the East?) on Ash Wednesday,

1535/6[1879].

=David Whythede= was at Oxford in January, 1535/6, when the warden bound

himself to produce him in the Chancellor’s Court whenever required[1880].

=John Joseph=, a Minorite of Canterbury, supplicated for B.D. in June,

1533, after studying for twelve years. He was licensed D.D. in 1541, and

incepted in 1542, as _vir litteris ac moribus ornatissimus_. He was

dispensed from his necessary regency

‘quia astringitur ad residentiam nec his diutius manere poterit.’

It is evident that he held some benefice at this time. In 1542/3, he was

dispensed from a sermon owing to ill-health[1881].

He was one of Cranmer’s chaplains, and a zealous member of the reforming

party, and was appointed preacher at Canterbury by Cranmer[1882]. In 1546

he became Rector of St. Mary-le-Bow[1883]. In 1547 he was made one of the

commissioners for the visitation of the dioceses of Peterborough, Lincoln,

Oxford, Coventry, and Lichfield[1884]. In 1549 he preached at Paul’s Cross

against the observance of Lent[1885], and, on another occasion, as

substitute for the Archbishop, against the rebellions in that year,

concerning

‘the subdewynge of them that dyd rysse in alle iij places, and how

mysery they ware browte unto, and there he rehersyd as hys master dyd

before that the occasyone came by popysse presttes[1886].’

In 1550 he was presented to a prebend in the Church of Canterbury[1887].

On Mary’s accession he was deprived of his preferments, being married. He

fled to the Continent[1888].

=Hugh Payne=, Observant Friar of Newark, who opposed the King’s divorce

and upheld the papal supremacy in 1533-4, may have studied at Oxford

before he entered the Order; a Hugh Payne supplicated for B.A. in

1523[1889].

=Richard Risby=, warden of the Friars Observant at Canterbury, was

executed on May 5th, 1534, for being implicated in the conspiracy of the

Nun of Kent. It is doubtful whether he was identical with Richard Rysby,

B.A., Fellow of New College in 1506[1890].

=William David= supplicated for B.D. in November, 1534, after studying

arts and theology for thirteen years[1891]. The grace was conceded, and in

February, 1535, he obtained permission to defer his ‘Opposition’ until

after he had taken the degree[1892]. He may be the Dr. David, Grey Friar,

who assisted at the condemnation of Thomas Benet for heresy at Exeter in

1533[1893].

=Richard David=, ‘Ordinis Franciscani,’ admitted to oppose, October 17,

1534[1894].

=Thomas Tomsun= supplicated for B.D. in November, 1534, after studying

philosophy and theology for fifteen years _hic et Cantabriæ_, and was

admitted on January 29, 1534/5[1895]. With Gregory Basset, he became

surety for his fellow friar Robert Puller in December, 1534 (?)[1896].

One of this name was rector of Lambourne, Essex, in 1546 (and died before

April 16, 1557), and rector of Beamont, Essex, in 1555 (died before

1559)[1897].

=John Billing= was admitted B.D. in 1537, after seven years’ study[1898].

His name occurs in a list of Observant Friars of the year 1534, as having

fled to Scotland[1899].

=Guy Etton=, or =Eton=, was admitted to oppose in January, 1534/5, and was

admitted B.D. in the same month. In October, 1535, he was allowed to

substitute for a sermon at St. Mary’s,

‘concionem ruri vel in suo monasterio ad placitum[1900].’

In 1553 (in Edward VI’s reign) he was granted license to preach. In Mary’s

reign he took refuge at Strasburg with John Jewell. In 1559 he obtained

the archdeaconry and a prebend of Gloucester, which he held till 1571 or

later. In 1576 he was instituted Vicar of St. Leonard’s, Shoreditch, and

died before June 14, 1577[1901].

=Anthony Brookby= (Brockbey, Brorbe), sometime student in Magdalen

College, a man learned in Greek and Hebrew, entered the Franciscan Order

apparently after leaving the University. Bourchier calls him licentiate in

theology at Oxford; Francis a S. Clara, Doctor of Theology. He attacked

the King’s anti-papal and anti-monastic measures, was thrown into prison,

tortured, and at length (July 19, 1537) strangled with his own cord[1902].

=John Forest=, who entered the Franciscan Order at Greenwich, about the

age of seventeen, is said by Wood to have been instructed afterwards in

theology among the Friars Minors of Oxford, and to have supplicated for

B.D. There seems to be no evidence in support of this statement. Forest

was burnt in 1538, aged sixty-four, for denying the royal supremacy[1903].

=John Taylor= alias =Cardmaker=, of Exeter, entered the Franciscan Order

when under age[1904]. In Dec. 1532, after studying sixteen years at Oxford

and Cambridge, he obtained grace to proceed to B.D.[1905] He was warden of

the Grey Friars at Exeter in 1534[1906]. At the time of the Dissolution he

preached against the Pope[1907]. In 1543 he became vicar of St. Bride’s in

Fleet Street[1908], then prebendary, and in 1547 Chancellor of

Wells[1909]. In the reign of Edward VI. he married a widow (by whom he had

a daughter)[1910], and was appointed reader in St. Paul’s, where he

lectured three times a week[1911];

‘his lectures were so offensive to the Roman Catholic party, that they

abused him to his face, and with their knives would cut and haggle his

gown[1912].’

On the accession of Mary he tried to escape to the continent, disguised as

a merchant; he was caught, committed to the Fleet, and afterwards removed

to the Compter in Bread Street[1913]. Convened before Gardiner and others,

he appears to have shown some signs of wavering at first.

‘You shall right well perceive,’ he wrote to a friend, ‘that I am not

gone back, as some men do report me, but am as ready to give my life

as any of my brethren that are gone before me; although by a policy I

have a little prolonged it, ... That day that I recant any point of

doctrine, I shall suffer twenty kinds of death[1914].’

He was convicted of heresy, deprived of his preferments, and burnt with

others at Smithfield on May 30, 1555[1915].

=John Crayford= or =Crawfurthe= supplicated for B.D. in April, 1537,

after studying fourteen years at Oxford and Cambridge[1916]. He was the

last warden of the Grey Friars at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and surrendered his

house to the King on Jan. 9, 1538/9[1917]. In 1543 he was presented by

Henry VIII to a canonry in Durham Cathedral. He became vicar of Midford in

Northumberland in 1546, and resigned the living in or before 1561. He died

in 1562, bequeathing legacies to several of the canons, grammar-scholars,

and others connected with the church of Durham. To the library he left St.

Augustine’s works in ten volumes, St. Basil in Greek and Latin, and Rabbi

Moses in print; and to Sir Stephen Holiday, all St. Cyprian’s works. He

willed his body to be buried in St. Michael’s, Wytton-Gylbert, if he died

there; otherwise in Durham Cathedral[1918].

=Hugh Glaseyere= supplicated in 1535 that fourteen years’ study might

suffice for his admission to oppose and read the _Sentences_. He was

admitted to oppose on July 13, and B.D. on July 14, 1538[1919], i.e. on

the day of the dissolution of the Oxford friary. His name, however, does

not appear in the list of Minorites at Oxford ‘who would have their

capacities.’ He conformed to the various changes in religion. In November,

1538, he was instituted to the rectory of Hanworth, Middlesex, on the

presentation of the King; he resigned it in 1554. In 1546 he was appointed

to the rectory of Harlington, which he held till his death[1920]. In 1541

he was appointed by Cranmer to the difficult post of commissary-general of

the Archbishop at Calais[1921]. In 1542 he was made canon of Christchurch,

Canterbury[1922]. In Edward’s reign he was reckoned ‘an eager man for

reformation,’ and preached at Paul’s Cross (1547) that the observation of

Lent was only

‘a politic ordinance of man, and might therefore be broken of men at

their leisure’[1923].

In 1553 he was presented by Queen Mary to the rectory of Deal[1924]. In

March, 1558, Cardinal Pole appointed certain commissioners for the

suppression of heresy in his diocese, among them being Hugh Glazier,

S.T.B.[1925] Hugh did not survive the persecution in Kent which followed.

On the 27th July, 1558, ‘Magister Glasier, sacellanus cardinalis,’ was

buried at Lambeth[1926].

=Henry Stretsham= supplicated for B.D. in May, 1538, having studied twelve

years at Oxford and Cambridge; he was to preach at St. Mary’s and in some

other church _intra Universitatis precinctum_[1927].

=Richard Roper=, B.D., was one of the Franciscans at Oxford who desired

‘to have their capacities’ at the dissolution[1928].

=Radulph Kyrswell=, or =Creswell=, was an Observant Friar at Reading in

1534, having probably been sent there as a prisoner for refusing to

acknowledge the royal supremacy. At the time of the dissolution he was at

Oxford, and as priest supplicated for a ‘capacity’[1929].

=Robert Newman= was one of the priests among the Oxford Franciscans at the

dissolution who asked for ‘capacities.’ He became vicar of Hampton in

1541, joined the reforming party, and was deprived of the living on the

accession of Mary[1930].

=John Comre= (?), =James Cantwell=, =Thomas Cappes=, =William Bowghnell=,

=James Smyth=, =Thomas Wythman=, were among the priests in the Franciscan

Convent who asked for ‘capacities’ at the dissolution[1931].

=John Staffordeschyer=, priest, was at Oxford when the friary was

suppressed[1932]. John Stafford, who was warden of the Grey Friars at

Coventry in 1519 and 1538, when he surrendered his house to the King on

the 5th October, seems to have been a different person[1933].

=John Olliff=, sub-deacon, after asking for a ‘capacity’ on the

dissolution of the Oxford friary, joined the Grey Friars of Doncaster and

was among the ten brethren who signed the surrender of that house on

November 20th, 1538[1934].

=Thomas Barly=, =William Cok=, and =John Cok=, who were not in holy

orders, desired ‘capacities’ at the suppression of the Oxford

Convent[1935]. A John Cooke subscribed the surrender of the Grey Friars of

Cambridge[1936].

=Simon Ludford= was a Minorite at Oxford at the dissolution. An account of

his subsequent career has been given in Part I, Chapter VIII[1937].

APPENDIX A.

DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE ACQUISITION OF LANDED PROPERTY BY THE GREY

FRIARS.

1. William son of Richard Wileford (c. 1228).--2. Robert son of Robert

Oen (1236).--3. Royal license to the Friars to enclose their lands

(1244).--4. Purchase by the King of an island in the Thames

(1245).--5. Grant of the same island to the Friars (1245).--6. Thomas

de Valeynes, grant of two messuages (1245).--7. Laurence Wyche, grant

of a messuage (1246).--8. Royal license to enclose (1248).--9. Royal

grant to the Friars of the Sack (1265).--10. Grants from various

persons (1310).--11. Grant by the King of the property of the Friars

of the Sack to the Minorites (1310).--12. Regrant of the same

(1319).--13. John Culvard, Inquisitio ad quod damnum (1319).--14.

Grant by John de Grey de Rotherfield (1337).

1

Grant of a house by William de Wileford.

The following document is by far the earliest private deed relating to the

English Franciscans now extant[1938], and very few grants in the Public

Records are of greater antiquity. The original is to be found in the

Oxford City Archives (No. 17). It is not dated, but it was executed during

the mayoralty of John Pady, who held the office from 1227 to 1229[1939].

The document is in excellent preservation, and the seal of W. de Wileford

is still attached.

Notum sit uniuersis Christi fidelibus, quod ego Willelmus filius Ricardi

de Wileford concessi dimisi et liberaui Johanni Pady, tunc maiori Oxonie,

et Andree Halegod et Laurencio Halegod et Philippo Molendinario et ceteris

probis hominibus Oxonie, illam domum meam in parochia Sancte Abbe in

Oxonia que aliquando fuit Ricardi de Wileford patris mei cum omnibus

pertinentibus eiusdem domus, ad hospitandum fratres minores in perpetuum.

Et si ita contigerit quod fratres minores a uilla Oxonie discesserint, et

ibi amplius manere noluerint, ad hospitandum ibi aliquos probos uiros in

elemosina, saluo quod dicti probi homines Oxonie et eorum heredes faciant

Capitalibus dominis illius feodi annuale seruicium quod ad predictam

terram pertinet, et reddendo michi et heredibus meis annuatim unam libram

cymini ad festum Sancti Michaelis pro omni seruitio. Et ego dictus

Willelmus et heredes mei warantizabimus predictum mesuagium cum

pertinenciis predictis probis hominibus hereditarie sicut prediuisum est

contra omnes homines et feminas, pro hac autem mea concessione dimisione

liberatione et warantizatione predicti probi homines Oxonie ex elemosyna

collecta dederunt michi quadraginta tres marcas sterlingorum. Et ut hac

predicta rata permaneant huic scripto sigillum meum apposui.

Hiis testibus, Pentecost et Henrico filio Tome tunc prepositis, Roberto

Oein, Henrico filio Henrici, Petro filio turoldi, Ricardo Mol(endinario),

Ricardo Taillur, Milone drapario, Benedicto Mercer, Radulpho Palmer,

Willelmo clerico, et aliis.

2

Grant of a house by Robert Oen, A. D. 1236.

Close Roll, 20 Hen. III, m. 9.

Rex Maiori et probis hominibus suis Oxon’ salutem. Quia per litteras

vestras nobis directas accepimus quod sponte suscepistis in vos onus

muragii ville Oxon’ quod ad platiam quam Robertus filius Roberti Oen

tenuit iuxta domos fratrum minorum Oxon’, et quam idem Robertus eisdem

fratribus dedit in augmentum mansionis sue: Vobis mandamus quod eisdem

fratribus de predicta platia plenam seisinam habere faciatis; Ita quod

predictus Robertus, qui prius fuit liber hospes prioris et fratrum sancti

Johannis Jerusalem in Anglia in predicta platia, eandem libertatem habeat

in corpore domus sue in qua nunc manet alibi in eadem villa in parochia

sancti Michaelis ad portam Borealem. Teste ut supra (i.e. Rege apud

Gloucestriam iii{o} die Julii).

3

License to enclose their possessions and throw down part of the old wall,

A. D. 1244.

Pat. 29 Hen. III, m. 9 (printed in Mon. Franc. I. 616).

Pro fratribus Minoribus Oxon’. Rex concessit fratribus minoribus Oxon’ ad

maiorem quietem et securitatem habitacionis sue, quod possint claudere

uicum qui extenditur sub muro Oxon’ a porta que dicitur Watergat’ in

parochia Sancte Ebbe usque ad paruum posticum eiusdem muri uersus castrum;

Ita quod murus karnollatus similis reliquo muro eiusdem municipij fiat

circa prefatam habitationem incipiens ab occidentali latere dicte porte de

Watergat’, et se extendens uersus austrum vsque ad ripam tamisie et inde

protendens super eandem Ripam uersus occidentem vsque ad feodum Abbatis de

Becco in parochia Sancti Bodhoci, iterum reflectatur uersus Aquilonem

usquequo coniungatur cum ueteri muro prefati Burgi iuxta latus orientale

prenominati posticij (_sic_) parui. Rex etiam concessit eisdem ad

continuandum locum nouum cum ueteri, quod possint prosternere de muro

antiquo quantum extenditur habitatio ipsorum infra eundem. Saluo tamen

semper nobis et heredibus nostris, Regibus Anglie, libero transitu per

medium loci noui, in quolibet aduentu nostro ibidem. In cuius, etc. Teste

Rege apud S. Albanum, xxii die Dec.

Et mandatum est vicecomiti Oxon’, Maiori et Balliuis Oxon’, quod id fieri

permittant. Teste ut supra.

4

Island in the Thames, A. D. 1245 (see below).

Liberate Roll, 29 Hen. III, m. 9.

Rex Baronibus de Scaccario salutem. Allocate Henrico filio Henrici

Simeonis in fine lx marcarum quem fecit nobiscum eo quod inponebatur ei

quod interfuit interfectioni cuiusdam scolaris Oxon’ xxv Marcas quas

debuimus Henrico Simeonis patri suo pro quadam Insula in aqua Tamisis apud

Oxoniam quam ab eo emimus, et quas ipse petebat eidem filio suo in fine

predicto allocari. Teste ut supra (i.e. King at Windsor, April 22nd).

5

Grant of the island to the Friars Minors, A. D. 1245.

Pat. 29 Hen. III, m. 6 (printed in Mon. Franc. I. 615.)

Pro fratribus Minoribus.

Rex omnibus salutem. Sciatis quod ad ampliacionem aree in qua de nouo

hospitari ceperunt ffratres Minores Oxon’, assignauimus Insulam nostram in

fluuio Thamis’ quam emimus ab Henrico filio Henrici Simeonis, concedentes

eis et volentes, quod ipsi pontem fieri faciant ultra brachium illud

Thamis’ quod currit inter insulam predictam et domos suas, et quod Eandem

Insulam ad securitatem domorum suarum et tranquillitatem Religionis sue

muro uel alio modo, sicut sibi uiderint expedire, faciant includi. In

huius Rei testimonium etc. Teste ut supra (i.e. Rege apud Westmonasterium

xxii die Aprilis).

Et mandatum est vicecomiti Oxon’ quod Insulam illam eis habere faciat.

Teste Rege apud Wind(esor) xxiiij die Aprilis.

6

Grant of two messuages by Thomas de Valeynes, 1245.

Feet of Fines, Oxon; 29 Hen. III, m. 40.

Hec est finalis concordia facta in curia domini Regis apud Westmonasterium

a die Purificacionis beate Marie (Feb. 2nd) in Tres septimanas, anno regni

Regis Henrici filii Regis Johannis vicesimo Nono, coram Henrico de

Bathonia, Rogero de Thurkelby, Roberto de Notingham, Jollano de Nevill,

Gilberto de Preston et Johanne de Cobeham, Justiciariis, et aliis domini

Regis fidelibus tunc ibi presentibus. Inter Thomam de Valeynes querentem

et Symonem filii Benedicti et Leticiam uxorem eius Inpedientes, de duobus

Mesuagiis cum pertinentiis in suburbio Oxon’ unde placitum Warantie carte

summonitum[1940] fuit Inter eos in eadem curia, scilicet quod predicti

Symon et Leticia recognoverunt predicta mesuagia cum pertinentiis esse ius

ipsius Thome, ut illa que Idem Thomas habet de dono predictorum Symonis et

Leticie; Habenda et Tenenda eidem Thome et heredibus suis de capitalibus

dominis feodi illius imperpetuum, faciendo inde omnia seruicia que ad

predicta mesuagia pertinent. Et predicti Symon et Leticia et heredes

ipsius Leticie Warantizabunt, adquietabunt, et defendent eidem Thome et

heredibus suis predicta mesuagia cum pertinentiis per predicta seruicia

contra omnes homines imperpetuum. Et pro hac recognitione, Warantia,

adquietancia, defensione, fine et concordia, Idem Thomas ad peticionem

predictorum Symonis et Leticie attornauit et assignauit predicta mesuagia

cum pertinentiis in augmentum aree in qua hospitantur fratres minores

Oxon’ commorantes, in puram et perpetuam elemosinam, liberam et quietam ab

omni seculari seruicio et exactione in perpetuum. Et preterea idem Thomas

dedit et concessit predicte Leticie unum mesuagium cum pertinentiis extra

portam Aquilonarem Oxon’ in angulo de Horsmongharestrete iuxta terram

Reginaldi Gamages, simul cum fabrica quam Hugo Marescall tenet, que

scilicet Mesuagium et fabricam Benedictus le Mercer pater predicti Symonis

aliquando tenuit; Habenda et Tenenda eisdem Symoni et Leticie et

heredibus ipsius Leticie de capitalibus dominis feodi illius imperpetuum,

faciendo inde omnia seruicia que ad predicta tenementa pertinent: Ita

tamen quod non licebit predicto Symoni predicta tenementa dare, vendere,

assignare, vel legare, vel aliquo alio modo alienare, quominus illa

tenementa remaneant predicte Leticie et heredibus suis in perpetuum.

7

Grant of a messuage by Laurence Wych, A. D. 1246.

Pat. 31 Hen. III, m. 8.

Pro fratribus Minoribus Oxon’. Rex omnibus etc. Salutem. Sciatis quod (ad)

amplificationem aree ffratrum Minorum Oxon’ assignauimus eis totum

mesuagium illud cum pertinenciis quod laurencius Wych maior noster Oxon’

nobis reddidit et commisit ad amplificationem aree predictorum ffratrum,

concedentes eis et uolentes, quod, ad securitatem domorum suarum et

tranquillitatem religionis sue, muro uel alio modo, sicut sibi uiderint

expedire, illud faciant includi. In cuius etc. Teste Rege apud Clarendon

xxvij die Nouembris.

Et Mandatum est vicecomiti Oxon’ quod mesuagium illud loco Regis recipiat

ad opus eorundem ffratrum.

8

License to enclose their new possessions; the city wall to be repaired, A.

D. 1248.

Pat. 32 Hen. III, m. 10 (printed in Mon. Franc. I. 617).

Pro fratribus minoribus Oxon’.

Rex omnibus etc. salutem. Noueritis nos intuitu pietatis concessisse ut

vicus qui extenditur sub muro Oxon’ a porta que dicitur Watergat’ in

parochia Ste. Ebbe vsque ad paruum posticum eiusdem muri uersus Castrum

claudatur propter maiorem securitatem et quietem fratrum minorum iuxta

dictum vicum habitancium, quamdiu domino loci placuerit. Saluo tamen nobis

et heredibus nostris, Regibus Anglie, libero transitu per medium Noui loci

in quolibet aduentu nostro ibidem. Concedimus etiam ut latus aquilonare

capelle in prefato vico constructe et construende suplere (_sic_) possit

prenominati muri interruptionem, quantum se extendere debet, ceteris

eiusdem muri rupturis in integrum reparatis ut prius, excepto paruo

posticu in dicto muro, per quod possint dicti fratres ire et redire de

nouo loco in quo modo hospitantur ad priorem locum in quo prius

hospitabantur. In cuius, etc. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium, x die

febr’.

This concession is repeated and confirmed in Patent Roll 18 Edw. III. m.

19 (A. D. 1344).

9

Royal grant to the Friars of the Penitence of Jesus Christ or Friars of

the Sack, 1265.

Pat. 49 Hen. III, m. 24.

As the Minorites subsequently obtained the ‘area’ of the Friars of the

Sack, records relating to this property will naturally find a place here.

On May 7th, 1262, the king gave them permission,

quod in area sibi collata[1941], quam habent in parochia ecclesie

Sancti Boduci Oxonie, in qua ius patronatus habemus, oratorium

construere possint ad diuina ibidem celebranda (Pat. Roll 46 Hen. III,

m. 11).

On February 5th, 1265, he made them a further grant (Pat. 49 Hen. III, m.

24), and on February 8th, 1265, this second grant was again made in

greater detail (ibidem). It is this last which is here quoted.

* * * * *

Pro fratribus de penitencia Iħū Xp̄ī Oxon’. Rex episcopo Lincolniensi

salutem. Cum ecclesia sancti Budoci in suburbio Oxon’ nostri patronatus

per amocionem et decessum parochianorum eiusdem ecclesie iam in tantum

depauperata sit et adnullata, quod fructus et obuenciones eiusdem ad

sustentacionem vnius capellani ministrantis in eadem non sufficiunt, vt

veraciter accepimus; ac fratres de penitencia Ihu quendam situm habeant

ibidem contiguum ecclesie predicte, in quo domos suas construxerunt, deo

famulari proponentes ibidem: nos, intuitu caritatis et pro salute anime

nostre et animarum antecessorum et heredum nostrorum, dictis fratribus

ecclesiam predictam cum cimiterio eiusdem et domibus existentibus in eodem

et ad ecclesiam eandem pertinentibus, quantum ad nos pertinet, concessimus

pro nobis et heredibus nostris habendam sibi et successoribus suis,

videlicet ad faciendam inde sibi capellam in qua diuina celebrare possint

inperpetuum, ita quod cimiterium predictum tanquam cimiterium benedictum

in statu suo remaneat. In cuius, etc. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium,

octauo die februarii. Et habent dicti fratres litteram aliam (?) sub hac

forma, ‘Rex omnibus etc.’[1942]

10

Grants from various persons, A. D. 1310.

Pat. 3 Edward II, m. 14.

Rex omnibus ad quos etc. salutem. Sciatis quod de gratia nostra speciali

concessimus et licenciam dedimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris quantum in

nobis est, dilectis nobis in Christo Gardiano et fratribus de ordine

Minorum Oxon’, quod ipsi de Johanne Wyz et Emma uxore eius quandam placeam

terre in Oxonia continentem in se ab oriente versus occidentem quinque

perticatas et duos pedes terre et ab aquilone versus austrum duas

perticatas terre et dimidiam: et de Henrico Tyeys quandam placeam terre

iacentem inter placeam in qua ecclesia Sancti Budoci edificata fuit et

aqua (_sic_) Thamisis, que quidem placea continet in se sex perticatas

terre in longitudine et quinque perticatas terre in latitudine; et quandam

aliam placeam terre extendentem se ab aqua Thamisis vsque ad predictam

placeam terre que fuit Ricardi le Lodere, et continentem in se in

longitudine quatuordecim perticatas et dimidiam et quinque pedes terre et

in latitudine quatuor perticatas et tres pedes terre: et quandam aliam

placeam terre continentem in se in longitudine ab aqua Thamisis vsque ad

viam regalem sexdecim perticatas terre et dimidiam et in latitudine decem

perticatas terre, placee dictorum Gardiani et fratrum ibidem contiguas;

adquirere possint habendas sibi et successoribus suis ad elargacionem

placee sue predicte imperpetuum, statuto de terris et tenementis ad manum

mortuam non ponendis edito non obstante. In cuius, etc. Teste Rege apud

Westmonasterium xxviij die Marcij; per ipsum Regem.

11

Grant of the property of the Friars of the Penitence of Jesus Christ to

the Friars Minors, A. D. 1310.

Pat. 3 Edward II, m. 9.

Rex omnibus ad quos etc. salutem. Licet de communi consilio regni nostri

statutum sit, quod non liceat viris Religiosis seu aliis ingredi feodum

alicuius ita quod ad manum mortuam deueniat sine licencia nostra et

capitalis domini de quo illa (_sic_) immediate tenetur; Volentes tamen

dilectis nobis in Christo Gardiano et fratribus de ordine Minorum Oxon’

gratiam facere specialem, concessimus et licenciam dedimus pro nobis et

heredibus nostris, quantum in nobis est, eisdem Gardiano et fratribus,

quod ipsi quandam placeam terre in suburbio Oxon’ placee dictorum Gardiani

et fratrum in eadem villa contiguam, continentem viginti perticatas terre

et dimidiam in longitudine, et sex perticatas terre in latitudine ad capud

australe, et ad capud boriale duas perticatas et quatuor pedes terre, et

medio inter capud australe et capud boriale quatuor perticatas et septem

pedes terre, in qua placea aliquo tempore fuit quedam ecclesia parochialis

sancti Budoci cum quodam cimiterio pertinente ad eandem ecclesiam, quam

quidem placeam cum dicto cimiterio dominus H. quondam Rex Anglie auus

noster per cartam suam dedit et concessit fratribus de ordine de

penitencia Iħu Xp̄ī Oxon’ pro quadam capella ibidem construenda in qua

diuina celebrare possent: Ita quod cimiterium predictum tanquam cimiterium

benedictum in suo statu remaneret, sic(ut) per quandam inquisicionem per

dilectum et fidelem nostrum Walterum de Gloucestria Escaetorem nostrum

citra Trentam de mandato nostro inde factam et in Cancellaria nostra

retornatam est compertum de predictis fratribus de penitencia Iħu Xp̄ī,

perquirere possint et tenere sibi et successoribus suis ad elargacionem

placee sue predicte imperpetuum, Ita tamen quod Cimiterium predictum

tanquam benedictum in suo statu remaneat imperpetuum. Nolentes quod

predicti Gardianus et fratres aut successores sui ratione premissorum per

nos vel heredes nostros, Justiciarios, Escaetores, Vicecomites aut alios

balliuos seu Ministros nostros quoscunque occasionentur, molestentur in

aliquo, seu grauentur. In cuius, etc. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium

xxviij die Marcii per ipsum Regem.

12

Regrant of the property of the Friars of the Penitence of Jesus Christ to

the Friars Minors, A. D. 1319.

Pat. 12 Edward II, part 2, m. 25.

This document was probably intended as a protest against the claim implied

in the papal grant of the same property, as already explained (Chapter

II), or perhaps merely as an additional confirmation of the friars’ title.

Pro fratribus de ordine minorum Oxon’. Rex omnibus ad quos etc. salutem.

Sciatis quod cum fratres de ordine Minorum Oxon’ totam illam aream que

quondam fuit fratrum de penitencia Iħu Xp̄ī Oxon’ in suburbio Oxon’ aree

dictorum fratrum de ordine Minorum ibidem contiguam de eisdem fratribus de

penitencia Iħu Xp̄ī adquisivissent, et iidem fratres de ordine Minorum

aream illam adeo integre sicut ad manus suas devenit, nobis dederint et

in manus nostras reddiderint habendam nobis et heredibus nostris

imperpetuum: Nos, ob affectionem quam ad dictum ordinem fratrum Minorum

gerimus et habemus, volentes eis graciam facere specialem, dedimus eis et

concessimus pro nobis et heredibus nostris, quantum in nobis est, aream

predictam nobis sic redditam cum pertinenciis, habendam sibi et

successoribus suis fratribus eiusdem ordinis apud Oxoniam commorantibus,

ad elargacionem aree sue predicte, in liberam puram et perpetuam

elemosinam, salvo iure cuiuslibet. In cuius, etc. Teste Rege apud Eboracum

vi{to} die Marcii, per ipsum Regem.

13

Inquiry held at Oxford, A. D. 1319, into the advisability of allowing John

Culvard to grant land to the Friars Minors.[1943]

Inquisitio ad quod damnum 12 Edw. II, No. 47.

Edwardus dei gracia Rex Anglorum dominus hibernie et dux Aquitanie,

Magistro Ricardo de Clare Escaetori suo vltra Trentam, salutem. Mandamus

vobis, quod per sacramentum proborum et legalium hominum de Balliua

vestra, per quos rei Veritas melius sciri poterit, diligenter inquiratis,

si sit ad dampnum vel preiudicium nostrum aut aliorum, si concedamus

Johanni Culuard de Oxonia, quod ipse quandam placeam terre cum

pertinenciis in Oxonia, manso dilectorum nobis in Xpo Gardiani et fratrum

de ordine minorum in eadem villa ex parte orientali contiguam, continentem

in se in longitudine sex perticatas terre et in latitudine quinque

perticatas terre, dare possit et assignare eisdem Gardiano et fratribus

habendam et tenendam sibi et successoribus suis ad elargacionem mansi sui

predicti imperpetuum, necne. Et si sit ad dampnum vel preiudicium nostrum

aut aliorum, tunc ad quod dampnum et quod preiudicium nostrum, et ad quod

dampnum et ad quod preiudicium aliorum, et quorum, et qualiter, et quo

modo; de quo vel de quibus placea illa teneatur, et per quod seruicium, et

qualiter et quo modo; et quantum valeat per annum in omnibus exitibus

iuxta verum valorem eiusdem; et qui et quot sunt (_sic_) medii inter nos

et prefatum Johannem de placea predicta; et que terre et que tenementa

eidem Johanni remaneant vltra donacionem et assignacionem predictas, et

vbi et de quo vel de quibus teneantur, et per quod seruicium, et qualiter

et quod modo, et quantum valeant per annum in omnibus exitibus; et si

terre et tenementa eidem Johanni remanencia vltra donacionem et

assignacionem predictas sufficiant ad consuetudines et seruicia tam de

predicta placea sic data quam de aliis terris et tenementis sibi retentis

debita facienda, et ad omnia alia onera que sustinuit et sustinere

consueuit, vt in sectis, visibus franci plegii, auxiliis, tallagiis,

vigiliis, finibus, redempcionibus, amerciamentis, contribucionibus, et

aliis quibuscumque oneribus emergentibus sustinenda. Et quod idem Johannes

in assisis iuratis et aliis recognicionibus quibuscumque poni possit,

prout ante donacionem et assignacionem predictas poni consuevit. Ita quod

patria per donacionem et assignacionem predictas in ipsius Johannis

defectum magis solito non oneretur seu grauetur. Et inquisicionem inde

distincte et aperte factam nobis, sub sigillo vestro et sigillo eorum per

quos facta fuerit, sine dilacione mittatis et hoc breue. Teste me ipso

apud Eboracum, v die Marcii, anno regni nostri duodecimo.

Inquisicio capta coram Escaetore domini Regis citra Trentam apud Oxoniam

xviii{o} die Maii anno regni Regis Edwardi filii Regis Edwardi duodecimo,

secundum formam breuis huic inquisicioni consuti, per sacramentum Johannis

de Coleshull, Willelmi Pennard, Rogeri Mymekan, Gilberti de Grensted,

Thome Somer, Willelmi de Whatele, Roberti de Watlington, Johannis de

Gunwardeby, Johnnis de Ew, Henrici de Edrope, Ricardi de Hethrop, et

Willelmi de Eueston. Qui dicunt per sacramentum suum, quod non est ad

dampnum nec preiudicium domini Regis nec aliorum, si dominus Rex concedat

Johanni Culuard de Oxonia quod ipse quandam placeam terre cum pertinenciis

in Oxonia, manso Gardiani et ffratrum de ordine minorum in eadem villa ex

parte orientali contiguam, continentem in se in longitudine sex perticatas

terre et in latitudine quinque perticatas terre, dare possit et assignare

eisdem Gardiano et ffratribus, habendam et tenendam sibi et successoribus

suis ad elargacionem mansi sui predicti imperpetuum: Ita tamen quod

communitas ville Oxon’ in omnibus temporibus quando necesse fuerit liberum

habeat introitum et egressum ibidem ad murum ville predicte reficiendum

reparandum et defendendum. Et dicunt quod predicta placea tenetur de

Willelmo de Adreston’ in capite per seruicium vnius denarii per annum pro

omni seruicio; et quod predicta placea valet per annum ij{s} in omnibus

exitibus iuxta verum valorem eiusdem; et quod non sunt plures medii inter

dominum Regem et prefatum Johannem de placea predicta nisi predictus

Willelmus de Adreston’. Et dicunt quod eidem Johanni vltra donacionem et

assignacionem predictas remanent sexaginta solidi terre tenement’ et

redditus in eadem villa que de domino Rege tenentur in capite pro seruicio

ij sol’ per annum pro omni seruicio. Et dicunt quod terre et tenementa

eidem Johanni remanencia ultra donacionem et assignacionem predictas

sufficiunt ad consuetudines et seruicia tam de predicta placea sic data

quam de aliis terris et tenementis sibi retentis debita facienda, et ad

omnia alia onera que sustinuit et sustinere consueuit. Et quod idem

Johannes in assisis iuratis et aliis recognicionibus quibuscumque poni

possit, prout ante donacionem et assignacionem predictas poni consueuit.

Ita quod patria per donacionem et assignacionem predictas in ipsius

Johannis defectum magis solito non oneretur seu grauetur. In cuius rei

testimonium predicti Jurati huic Inquisicioni sigilla sua apposuerunt.

Dat’ predictis die, anno, et loco.

The license to alienate this land was granted to John Culvard on the 8th

of July of the same year, and is entered in the Patent Roll for 13 Edw.

II, m. 44. The same year similar inquisition was held to consider the

petition of Richard Cary to grant land to the Friars Minors at Oxford;

Inquis. ad quod damnum 13 Edw. II, no. 31.

14

Grant of a parcel of ground by John de Grey de Rotherfield, A. D. 1337.

Pat. Roll 11, Edw. III, pt. II, m. 6.

A certain interest attaches to this deed as recording the last gift of

land to the Oxford Minorites, of which evidence remains--probably the last

gift ever made.

Pro Gardiano et fratribus ordinis Minorum Oxon’ de acquirendo ad

elargacionem mansi.

Rex omnibus ad quos, etc. salutem. Licet de communi consilio regni nostri

statutum sit, quod non liceat viris religiosis seu aliis ingredi feodum

alicuius ita quod ad manum mortuam deueniat sine licencia nostra et

capitalis domini de quo res illa immediate tenetur; Volentes tamen

dilectis nobis in Christo Gardiano et fratribus ordinis minorum in villa

Oxon’ graciam facere specialem; concessimus et licenciam dedimus pro

nobis et heredibus nostris, quantum in nobis est, dilecto et fideli nostro

Johanni de Grey de Retherfeld, quod ipse quandam placeam terre cum

pertinenciis in villa predicta manso predictorum Gardiani et fratrum

ibidem ex parte orientali contiguam, continentem in se in longitudine sex

perticatas terre et in latitudine quinque perticatas terre, dare possit et

assignare eisdem Gardiano et fratribus, habendam et tenendam sibi et

successoribus suis ad elargacionem mansi sui predicti imperpetuum: et

eisdem Gardiano et fratribus, quod ipsi placeam predictam cum pertinenciis

a prefato Johanne recipere possint et tenere sibi et successoribus suis

predictis ad elargacionem mansi sui predicti imperpetuum, sicut predictum

est tenore presencium, similiter licenciam dedimus specialem. Nolentes

quod predictus Johannes vel heredes sui, seu predicti Gardianus et fratres

aut successores sui, racione statuti predicti per nos vel heredes nostros

inde occasionentur in aliquo seu grauentur. Saluis tamen capitalibus

dominis feodi illius seruiciis inde debitis et consuetis. In cuius, etc.

Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium, xix die Augusti.

APPENDIX B.

MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENTS.

1. Food for the Friars Minors, etc. (A. D. 1244).--2. Adam Marsh as

royal _nuncius_ (A. D. 1247).--3. For the same (A. D. 1257).--4. The

Church of the Minorites used as a Sanctuary (A. D. 1284-5).--5. Royal

grant of 50 marcs (A. D. 1289).--6. Decree of the General Chapter at

Paris (A. D. 1292).--7. Royal grant of 50 marcs; tally on the sheriff

of Oxford for half the amount (A. D. 1323); evidence of payment.--8.

‘Receptor denariorum gardiani Fratrum Minorum Oxon’ (A. D. 1341).--9.

Goods and chattels of Friar John Welle, S.T.P. (A. D. 1378).--10.

Expulsion of foreign Friars Minors from Oxford (A. D. 1388).--11.

Friar William Woodford; confirmation of his privileges by Pope

Boniface IX (A. D. 1366.).--12. Appointment of a lecturer to the

Convent at Hereford (c. A. D. 1400).--13. Decree of the General

Chapter at Florence (A. D. 1467).--14. Recovery of debt from a Sheriff

(A. D. 1488).--15. Documents relating to the lease of a garden at the

Grey Friars to Richard Leke (A. D. 1513-1514).--16. Extracts from the

will of Richard Leke (A. D. 1526).--17. An ex-warden called to account

(A. D. 1529).

1

Food for Friars Minors, &c., A. D. 1244.

Liberate Roll, 29 Hen. III, m. 14.

Mandatum est Balliuis Regis Oxon’ quod de firma ville sue habere faciant

fratri Rogero Elemosinario Regis die Mercurij in crastino sancte Lucie

Virginis decem Marcas ad pascendum mille pauperes et fratres predicatores

et minores Oxon’ pro anima domine Imperatricis sororis Regis in

aniuersario ipsius Imperatricis sicut ei iniunxit Rex. Et computetur etc.

Teste ut supra (King at Woodstock, Dec. 12th).

2

Adam Marsh as royal _nuncius_, A. D. 1247.

Liberate Roll, 31 Hen. III, m. 4.

Rex Thesaurario et Camerario salutem. Liberate de Thesauro nostro Herberto

de Denmade quadraginta marcas ad Equos et Harnesium emendum ad opus[1944]

... Mathei Prioris Prouincie ordinis fratrum predicatorum et fratris Ade

de Marisco, quos mittimus In Nuncium ad partes transmarinas, et ad

expensas eorundem. Teste Rege apud Clarendon’ xviii die Julii.

3

For the same A. D. 1257.

Liberate, 42 Hen. III, m. 3.

Rex Vicecomiti Kancie salutem. Precipimus tibi quod venerabili Patri W.

Wygornensi Episcopo et fratri Ade de Marisco, quos mittimus in nuncium

nostrum ad partes transmarinas, facias habere festinum passagium in portu

nostro Douor’ et illud aquietes et computetur[1945] tibi ad scaccarium.

Teste me ipso apud Westmonasterium, xiij die Decembris, anno regni nostri

xlij{o}.

Rex Thesaurario et Camerario, etc. Liberate[1946] Johanni Marscallo nostro

xj{li} ij{d} pro iiij equis emptis ad opus nostrum et liberatis per

preceptum nostrum iiij{or} fratribus ordinis predicatorum et minorum

euntibus in nuncium ad partes transmarinas, et lxix{s} vij{d} obolum pro

expensis eorundem equorum et garcionum custodientium eos per xxxv dies.

Liberate etiam eidem Johanni lxvj{s} ix{d} pro hernesiis emptis ad opus

fratrum predictorum.... Teste ut supra (Rege apud Westm’ xxi die Dec.).

4

The Church of the Minorites used as a Sanctuary, A. D. 1284-5.

Assize Roll 710, m. 55[1947].

Adam de Kydmersford posuit se in Ecclesiam fratrum minorum Oxon’ et

cognouit se esse latronem de pluribus latrociniis et abiurauit regnum

coram Coronatore. Nulla habuit catalla.

5

Royal grant of 50 marcs, 1289.

Exchequer, Queen’s Remembrancer, Wardrobe Acc{ts} 4/7, Anno 17-18, Edw. I.

This is the earliest mention which I have found of the annual grant of 50

marks to the Oxford Minorites. After reciting the similar grant to the

Friars Preachers, the record goes on (11th October):--

Et ffratribus Minoribus Oxon’, percipientibus similiter annuatim a Rege in

subsidium sustentacionis L marcas, scilicet eodem modo ad duos terminos

pro Elemosina Regis predicti; de termino Sancti Michaelis anno presenti

per manus ffratrum Johannis de Bekinkham et Johannis de Clara, xvi{li}

xiij{s} iiij{d}.

Later in the same document occurs this entry:--

Pro Scaccario. ffratribus Minoribus Oxon’ percipientibus[1948] annuatim L

marcas de Elemosina Regis ad sustentacionem suam ad duos anni terminos,

vid. ad festum Sancti Michaelis et ad Pasch’, pro eadem Elemosina de

termino Sancti Michaelis anno xvj{mo} finiente et de termino pasche anno

xvij{o} xxxiij{li} vj{s} viij{d}.

6

Decree of the General Chapter at Paris, A. D. 1292.

The following extract is reprinted from Ehrle’s ‘Die ältesten Redactionen

der Generalconstitutionen des Franziskaner-Ordens,’ in the ‘Archiv für

Literatur- und Kirchengeschichte des Mittelalters,’ vol. VI. p. 63. The

Franciscan School at Oxford evidently had at this time a greater

reputation and greater popularity than those at Cambridge and London. But

why the burden should be especially heavy during the long vacation is not

quite clear. Can the Mendicant Friars have been to any large extent

dependent on the alms of the secular scholars?

Memoriale ministro Anglie. Ut tempore vacacionis maioris onus conventus

Oxonie aliqualiter relevetur, ordinat generale capitulum, quod studentes

ibidem de provinciis inter ipsam Oxoniensem et Londonensem et

Canteb[_rigiensem_] conventus pro tertia parte, connumeratis aliis

studentibus extraneis, qui in prefatis Londonensi et Cantebrugiensi

conventibus fuerint, ad ministri provincialis arbitrium dividantur.

7

Royal grant of 50 marcs; tally on the Sheriff of Oxford for half the

amount, A. D. 1323; evidence of payment.

R.O. Exchequer, Treas. of Receipt 3/35.

Gardiano et conventui ordinis fratrum Minorum Oxon’----xvj{li} xiij{s}

iiij{d}.

Liberatum eisdem xxv die Maij. In vna tallia facta ... Coll’ x{a} et

vj{ta}[1949] in comitatu Oxon’ et Liberata fratri Johanni de Stanle

videlicet pro hoc termino Pasche de illis quinquaginta marcis per annum

quas Rex eis concessit ad scaccarium percipiendas de elemosina Regis ad

voluntatem suam per breue de Liberate datum apud Westmonasterium primo die

Aprilis anno xvj{o}. persolutum et est inter breuia de hoc termino.

8

‘Receptor Denariorum,’ A. D. 1341.

Brian Twyne MS. xxiii. 266.

This document--the prosecution of the collector of alms by the Warden of

the Oxford Friars Minors for embezzlement--seems to be the only one of the

kind extant. As Twyne points out, we should naturally have expected the

suit to be tried by the Chancellor, not by the Mayor and Bailiffs of

Oxford[1950]. The original is no longer to be found in the City Archives,

and is probably irretrievably lost. Twyne’s reference is: ‘Ibid. (i.e.

Oxford City Archives) Husteng’ Oxon’ tent. ibid’ die D (_lunæ_ crossed

out) proxim’ post festum Epiphaniæ Domini, a{o} Ed. 3{i} 14{o}.’ (Jan.

1340/1.)

Ricardus de Whitchford minor summonitus fuit ad respondendum fratri

Johanni Ochampton Guardiano ordinis fratrum Minorum Oxon’ de placito

computi, et unde idem Gardianus per fratrem Johannem de Hentham attornatum

suum queritur quod praedictus Ricardus iniuste non reddit computum de

tempore quo fuit receptor denariorum ipsius Gardiani, etc.: et ideo

iniuste, quia idem Gardianus dicit quod praedictus Ricardus die Lunae

proximo post festum Santi Michaelis anno regni regis praedicti 14{o} (i.e.

A. D. 1340) recepit apud Oxoniam de denariis dicti Gardiani per manus

diversorum ad summam 60 solidorum et amplius, viz. per manus Ricardi

famuli Johannis de Couton j marc, per manus Thomae de Lundon xij{s}, etc.,

ad computum inde reddendum cum inde requisitus fuerit, etc.: unde idem

Gardianus saepius postea venisset ad praedictum Ricardum et ipsum rogasset

ut computum ei inde reddidisset, etc.; idem Ricardus computum inde reddere

recusavit et adhuc recusat, etc.: unde dicit quod deterioratus est et

damnum habet ad valorem c{s} et inde producit sectam, etc.: et praedictus

Ricardus venit et non potest dedicere receptionem praedictam et petit

Auditores, etc.: et sic per curiam dantur ei Auditores, viz. Ricardus Cary

et Johannes le Peyntour, etc.: et idem Ricardus postea computavit coram

praefatis Auditoribus de summis praedictis, et invenitur in arreragiis de

60{s}, unde non potest satisfacere, ideo committitur custodiae quousque,

&c.

9

Goods and chattels of Friar John Welle, S.T.P., A. D. 1378.

Patent Roll, 1 Ric. II, Part 4, m. 37.

It is doubtful whether the following extract is entitled to a place in

this work. There is no evidence that Friar John Welle had any connection

with Oxford[1951]; but we venture to print the document here as

illustrating in some degree the actual manner of life of a Franciscan

Doctor of Divinity of the later 14th century.

Pro fratre Johanne Welle. Rex omnibus ad quos etc. salutem. Sciatis quod,

cum quedam equi, salices (_sic_), libri, moneta, vasa argentea, ac diuersa

alia bona et catalla, que fuerunt dilecti nobis in Xpo fratris Johannis

Welle de ordine fratrum Minorum in theologia doctoris, extra hospicium

suum London’ per quendam Thomam Bele servientem suum et quosdam alios

malefactores nuper elongata et asportata fuerint, quorum quidem bonorum et

rerum aliqua, vna cum persona dicti Thome, per suspicionem occasione

eiusdem mesprisionis apud villam nostram Cantebrigg’ arestata existunt,

sicut per prefatum fratrem Johannem coram nobis plenius est testificatum;

Nos, de gracia nostra speciali, concessimus eidem Johanni omnia, equos,

calices, libros, monetam, vasa et alia bona et catalla predicta, vbicumque

fuerint, seu eciam denarios de eisdem bonis et catallis, in casu quo idem

Johannes eosdem denarios in manibus dictorum malefactorum seu aliorum,

quibus iidem malefactores partem eorundem bonorum et catallorum

vendiderint peruenientes, inuenire poterit, ac eciam bona et catalla per

eosdem malefactores de denariis per ipsos de dictis bonis et catallis, que

fuerunt dicti Johannis, receptis empta, habenda de dono nostro, si ea ad

nos tanquam forisfacta seu confiscata occasione eiusdem mesprisionis de

iure debeant pertinere. In cuius, etc. Teste Rege apud Westmonasterium,

xxii die ffebruarii. per breue de privato sigillo.

10

Expulsion of foreign Friars Minors, A. D. 1388.

Close Roll, 12 Ric. II, m. 42.

De certis fratribus expellendis. Rex dilectis sibi in Christo Gardiano

ordinis fratrum Minorum de Oxonia ac fratribus Anglicis, de consilio

Conuentus eiusdem ordinis ibidem, qui nunc sunt vel qui pro tempore

fuerint, salutem. Quibusdam certis de causis nos et consilium nostrum

intime monentibus, vobis inhibemus firmiter iniungentes, ne aliquos

fratres alienigenas ordinis vestri predicti, nisi tantum eos pro quibus

respondere volueritis quod ipsi secreta et consilium regni nostri

aduersariis nostris in scriptis seu alio modo minime reuelabunt, in dictam

domum vestram vobiscum moraturos ex nunc recipiatis, et si aliquos

huiusmodi fratres alienigenas in dicta domo vestra ad presens comorantes,

pro quibus in forma predicta respondere nolueritis, habeatis seu qui

ordinacionibus dictorum ordinis et Conuentus humiliter parere ac missas,

si sacerdotes fuerint, deuote celebrare, seu aliud diuinum seruicium sibi

iniunctum facere, aut pro nobis et statu dicti regni nostri specialiter

orare noluerint, prout alii fratres indigene dicti ordinis faciunt et

tenentur: tunc eos omnes cuiuscumque gradus fuerint ab eadem domo vestra

et Vniuersitate dicte ville Oxon’ de tempore in tempus penitus expelli

faciatis, Et hoc sub incumbenti periculo nullatenus omittatis. Teste Rege

apud Oxoniam tercio die Augusti.

11

William Woodford: confirmation of his privileges by Boniface IX, A. D.

1396.

MS. New College 156.

This document is bound up at the beginning of vol. 156 of the New College

MSS. The first half of the last two lines has been torn away. Compare the

letter of Innocent VI to Roger de Conway in Wadding _Annales_, vol. viii.

p. 457.

Bonifacius episcopus servus servorum dei Dilecto filio Wilhelmo Wodford

ordinis fratrum Minorum professori, in Theologia Magistro, Salutem et

apostolicam benedictionem. Religionis zelus, litterarum sciencia, vite ac

morum honestas, aliaque laudabilia probitatis et virtutum merita, super

quibus apud nos fidedigno commendaris testimonio, nos inducunt ut te

favoribus apostolicis et graciis prosequamur. Exhibita siquidem nobis

nuper pro parte tua peticio continebat, quod quidam locus in Conventu

domus fratrum Minorum londonien’ quem obtines, et nonnulla aliqua

privilegia et gracie per superiores tuos tibi fuerunt concessa. Quare pro

parte tua nobis fuit humiliter supplicatum, ut tibi, quod locum

quoadvixeris cum omnibus Cameris et pertinenciis suis retinere valeas,

concedere ac huiusmodi privilegia confirmare de benignitate apostolica

dignaremur. Nos igitur tuis in hac parte supplicacionibus inclinati, tibi,

ut predictum locum cum omnibus Cameris et pertinenciis suis quoadvixeris

retinere et possidere, et quod ab eo absque rationabili causa nullatenus

amoveri valeas, auctoritate apostolica concedimus ac huiusmodi privilegia

et gracias, si alias rite tibi concessa fuerint, confirmamus per

presentes, Constitucionibus apostolicis ac statutis et consuetudinibus

dicti ordinis contrariis non obstantibus quibuscunque. Nulli ergo omnino

hominum liceat hanc paginam nostre concessionis et confirmacionis

infringere vel ei ausu temerario contraire. Si quis autem hoc attemptare

presumpserit indignacionem om... et Pauli Apostolorum ejus se noverit

incursurum. Dat’ Rome apud sanctum petrum.... Pontificatus nostri Anno

septimo.

12

Appointment of a lecturer to the Convent at Hereford, c. 1400.

Harl. MS. 431, fol. 100 b.

This letter illustrates the educational organisation--the ‘University

Extension System’--of the Franciscans. Friar John David, the lecturer

mentioned, was D.D. of Cambridge[1952] and does not appear to have studied

at Oxford; but original documents relating to the subject are so scarce

that no apology will be necessary for inserting the letter here.

The writer, John Prophet, was Dean of Hereford from 1393 to 1407[1953].

John David was Provincial Minister in 1425[1954].

Scribit J. Prophete Prouinciali et Capitulo generali (_sic_) ad

admittendum quemdam fratrem J. Dauid in Lectorem et Regentem Domus

Hereford’.

Venerabiles ac religiosi viri in Christo carissimi. Post votiue salutis ac

salutacionis affectum: cum omnes de conuentu fratrum vestrorum hereford’

in votis iam habeant ac desideriis intensis affectent, vt instruor,

fratrem Johannem Dauid, cum prepollens virtutibus ac litterarum sciencia

preditus et acceptus, vt dicitur, existat eisdem, suum ibidem habere

lectorem eciam et regentem anno proximo iam futuro, vt ex sua inibi per

tanti temporis interuallum exhibenda presencia feliciori valeat gubernari

regimine. Vestram reuerenciam presentibus censui deprecandum ex corde,

quatinus, desiderijs atque votis huius predicti Conuentus graciosius

annuentes de predicto fratre Johanne, sub quo prefatus Conuentus maximam

in religione ac scolastica disciplina dinoscitur obtinere proficiendi

fiduciam, in hoc venerabili prouinciali vestro Capitulo eidem Conuentui

eciam harum precium mearum intuitu dignemini, si placeat, prouidere; claro

si libeat considerantes intuitu, quod Conuentus ille predictus, qui in

perfeccione religionis et fame consueuerat hactenus haberi prefulgidus

nisi celerius prouideatur eidem, ad lamentabilem, vt informor, in breui

videbitur deuenire ruinam: Quod siquidem per ipsius confratris Johannis

presenciam, vt speratur a multis Conuentui predicto beneuolis et amicis,

apcius quam per alium poterit euitari. Ad scribendum communi vestro cetui

venerando pro expedicione felici votiui desiderij supradicti Conuentus,

pro tanto quod in fratrem de Conuentu predicto receptus existo, ac de

cognacione mea non pauci Conuentui predicto beneuoli pro bono inibi

exercendo regimine ad idem videre desiderant, et parentes mei et alij de

genere meo multi in Conuentuali ibidem tumulantur ecclesia, multo

procliuior sum effectus. Itaque super isto, vt vtilis effectus inde exequi

videatur, cogitare dignetur vestra reuerencia prelibata. Omnia conseruare

etc.

13

Decree of the General Chapter at Florence, A. D. 1467.

In the _Definitio studiorum_ quoted by Sbaralea (Wadding, Sup. ad Script.

p. 717) from the Acts of this Chapter, occurs the following clause.

Ad provinciam Anglie possunt mittere omnes provincie Ordinis, scil. ad

Studium Oxoniarum, Cantabrigie, et ad alia studia ejusdem provincie.

14

Recovery of debt from a Sheriff, A. D. 1488.

Exchequer of Pleas; Plea Roll, 3 Hen. VII, m. 35.

Pro Ricardo Salford querente versus Johannem Paston Militem nuper

vicecomitem Comitatuum Norff’ et Suff’ defendentem in placito debiti per

billam.

Ricardus Salford Gardianus ffratrum Minorum Oxon’ venit coram Baronibus

huius Scaccarii vicesimo die Maii hoc termino per Jacobum Bartelot

attornatum suum et queritur per billam versus Johannem Paston Militem

nuper vicecomitem Comitatuum Norff’ et Suff’ presentem hic in Curia eodem

die, super compoto suo de officio suo predicto hic ad hoc Scaccarium

reddendo, per Edmundum Dorman’ attornatum suum, de eo quod predictus nuper

vicecomes ei debet et iniuste detinet decem libras decem et octo solidos

argenti; Et pro eo iniuste, quod, cum dictus Rex nunc pro diuersis debitis

in quibus indebitatus fuerat prefato querenti, inter alia assignasset

eidem querenti decem libras decem et octo solidos predictos per quandam

talliam curie his ostensam eandem summam continentem leuatam ad Receptam

Scaccarii dicti domini Regis apud Westmonasterium, terciodecimo die Maii

anno regni dicti domini Regis tercio, pro ffratribus Minoribus Oxon’,

prefato querente tunc Gardiano ffratrum Minorum predictorum existente, de

et super prefato iam defendente per nomen Johannis Paston nuper

vicecomitis dictorum Comitatuum Norff’ et Suff’ percipiendam de ipso de

exitibus balliue sue et de pluribus debitis suis; Et licet predictus

querens decimo septimo die Maii dicto anno tercio apud villam

Westmonasterium in Comitatu Midd’ per quendam Jacobum Bartelot adtunc

seruientem suum monstrauerit et ad deliberandum optulerit talliam

predictam cuidam Edmundo Dorman’ adtunc attornato predicti nuper

vicecomitis iam defendentis super compoto ipsius nuper vicecomitis hic ad

hoc Scaccarium faciendo pro solucione decem librarum decem et octo

solidorum predictorum habenda secundum effectum tallie predicte, ac tunc

et ibidem ipse querens requisiuit prefatum nuper vicecomitem iam

defendentem ad ei soluendum x{li} xviij{s} predictos iam in demanda; Quo

quidem decimo septimo die Maii ipse iam defendens ibidem satis habuit in

manibus suis de dictis exitibus balliue sue predicte prouenientibus et de

pluribus debitis predictis, vnde ipse tunc soluisse potuit prefato

querenti x{li} xviij{s} predictos secundum effectum tallie predicte; Ipse

tamen nuper vicecomes iam defendens x{li} xviij{s} illos siue aliquam inde

parcellam prefato querenti nondum soluit, set hoc facere contradixit et

adhuc contradicit; et vnde predictus querens deterioratur et dampnum habet

ad valenciam decem librarum. Et hoc offert etc.

Et predictus nuper vicecomes, per predictum attornatum suum presens etc.,

petit auditum bille predicte, et ei legitur etc.: qua audita dicit quod

ipse ad presens non est auisatus ad respondendum prefato Ricardo Salford

in premissis. Et petit diem inde loquendi vsque Octavis sancte Trinitatis

citra quem etc.: quod per curiam concessum est ei. Et idem dies datus est

prefato Ricardo Salford hic etc.--Ad quem diem (xxv die Junii, _in

margin_) predictus Ricardus Salford venit hic per predictum attornatum

suum et petit quod predictus nuper vicecomes ei respondeat in premissis.

Et super hoc idem nuper vicecomes ad respondendum prefato Ricard Salford

in premissis hic solempniter exactis etc., non venit set fecit defaltam

etc. Et super hoc idem Ricardus Salford petit iudicium suum in premissis

et debitum suum predictum vna cum dampnis suis predictis sibi in hac parte

adiudicari etc. Super quo, visis premissis per Barones predictos habitaque

inde deliberacione pleniori inter eosdem, consideratum est per eosdem

Barones quod predictus Ricardus recuperet versus prefatum nuper

vicecomitem debitum suum predictum decem librarum decem et octo solidorum

predictorum, et dampna sua, tam occasione iniuste detencionis debiti

predicti, quam pro misis custagiis et expensis suis circa sectam suam

predictam in hac parte appositis (?), taxata per eosdem Barones ad viginti

sex solidos et octo denarios, que quidem summe in toto se attingunt ad

summam duodecim librarum quatuor solidorum et octo denariorum; et quod

predictus nuper vicecomes sit in misericordia domini Regis, etc.

15

Documents relating to the lease of a garden at the Grey Friars to Richard

Leke, A. D. 1513-1514.

Acta Curiae Cancellarii, Oxford Univ. Archives, ~F~, fol. 194, 197, 210,

212.

Eodem die (June 10, 1510) dominus doctor Kynton accepit sibi in seruientem

Ricardum Leke pandaxatorem promittens sibi 6{s} 8{d} annuatim aut unam

robam, quem juratum ad privilegia admisimus (fol. 194).

Eodem die gardianus fratrum minorum Oxon’ promisit, quod ab isto die de

cetero, donec maior communicacio in causa, que euidencius in quadam

indentura inde confecta liquet, inter prefatum gardianum et Ricardum Leke

habeatur, non impediet, aut impediri procurabit per se aut per alium,

quominus predictus Ricardus Leke uti valeat jure et libertate sibi

concessis secundum effectum dictarum indenturarum prefato Ricardo

concessarum (_ibid._).

Eodem die gardianus predictus promisit in verbis sacerdocii quod litem

istam et causam motam non trahet ad extra que pendet inter prefatum

gardianum et Ricardum Leke predictum (_ibid._).

6{o} die Julii comparuit coram nobis doctor Goodefyld ordinis minorum et

olim gardianus eiusdem loci, qui fide media confessus est Ricardum Leke

recepisse in firmam ab eodem, tempore prioratus sui, et conuentu eiusdem

loci, quemdam ortum infra cepta sua secundum tenorem cuiusdam indenture

inde confecte, quam indenturam affirmat eadem fide fuisse legittime

factam. Hoc idem testificante fratre vocato Brown bacallario sacre

theologie eiusdem loci (_ibid._).

(Aug. 12). Gardianus fratrum Minorum promisit fide data quod seruabit

pacem domini regis pro se et suis, quantum in illo est, aduersus Ricardum

Leke, et si contingat fratres suos perturbare predictum Ricardum, quod

retinebit eos in salua custodia quousque res maturius possit examinari, si

possit deuenire in noticiam eorum (fol. 197{b}).

(Jan. 23, 1513/4). Comparuit coram nobis gardianus fratrum minorum et

constituit suum procuratorem Magistrum Carew cum clausulis necessariis,

etc. (fol. 210).

Eodem die Mr. Carew nomine procuratoris pro ecclesia fratrum minorum

petiit restitucionem in integrum aduersus quemdam contractum indentatum

inter predictos fratres et Richardum Leke cuius datum est, etc., et causa

est quia predicta Ecclesia ut asseruit est grauiter lesa et in futuro

erit, ad quod probandum accepit terminum viz. istum diem ad octo dies

(_ibid._).

(Feb. 19). Comparuit coram nobis eodem die Ricardus Leke, et conquestus

est de fratre Johanne Haruey, gardiano fratrum minorum, de et super quodam

contractu indentato inter eos pro quodam gardino et expensis factis circa

idem infra precinctum fratrum predictorum: et post multa communicata

amicabilia inter partes predictas, tandem compromiserunt se expectare

laudum, arbitramentum, et determinacionem Johannis Cokkes, legum doctoris,

et Willelmi Balborow, utriusque juris bachularii, in alto et in basso, in

omnibus causis, negociis, et querelis, motis vel mouendis, inter predictos

fratrem et Ricardum, concernentibus se et conuentum suum, pro predicto

gardino, edificio murorum, et occasione eorundem, a principio mundi usque

in presentem diem; ita quod feratur sentencia siue laudum per predictos

arbitros citra festum annunciationis B. Virginis ... (fol. 212{b}).

16

Extracts from the will of Richard Leke, A. D. 1526.

Prerog. Court of Canterbury, Register Porch, quire 9.

In the name of God amen. In the yere of our Lorde god a Thousand fyve

hundred twenty and six; The first day of May, I Richard Leke, late Bruer

of Oxford, beying of hole and perfite mynde and sike of body, make my

testament and last wille in this maner and fourme folowing, ffirst I

bequethe my soule to almighty god to our blissed lady saint marye and to

all the holy company of hevyn, my body to be buried w{t} in the graye

ffreres in Oxford before the awter where the first masse is daily vsed to

be saide.... Item I will that my body be first brought to the Church of

saint Ebbe, and there dirige and masse to be songe for me. Item I bequeth

to two hundred prestes two hundred grotes to say dirige and masse at saint

Ebbys and at the gray freres with other parishe Churches the day of my

burying.... Item I bequeth to euery gray frere being prest w{t}in the gray

freres in Oxford iiij{d}, and to euery gray frere there being noo prest

ij{d}, to dirige and masse for my soule the day next after my burying.

Item I bequeth to the said gray freres vj{s} viij{d} to make a dyner in

their owne place, and also other vj{s} viij{d} to the wardeyn of the same

gray freres to prouide for the premisses. Item I bequeth to the said

wardeyn of the gray freres xx{s} to prouide the awters to be prepared and

ornated w{t} apparell for prestes to say masse w{t}in the said freres.

Item I bequeth to euery oon of the foure orders of freres in Oxford x{s}

to be paid after the maner and fourme folowing, that is to say, at my

burying iij{s} iiij{d}, at my monethes mynde iij{s} iiij{d}, and att my

yeres mynde iij{s} iiij{d}. And also to bringe me to Churche I woll the

foresaid iiij orders, and there to synge dirige and masse for my soule and

to receyue their money after the manner aboue expressed....

The will was proved on the 26th of July, 1526.

17

An ex-warden called to account, A. D. 1529.

Acta Curiae Cancellarii, EEE, fol. 124 b.

(_Secundo die Sept._) Comparuit coram nobis (sc. Commissario) Johannes

Bacheler ordinis minorum Oxon’ vicegardianus eiusdem ordinis, qui petiit,

nomine gardiani eiusdem domus, a patre Johanne Harwey S.T.B., eiusdem

ordinis et loci dudum gardiano, quosdam fideiussores produci ad reddendum

compotum super omnibus et singulis que eidem obicientur ex parte gardiani

moderni; qui pater Johannes in fideiussores produxit Willelmum Symcokes et

Willelmum Plummer Oxon’, qui pro predicto Johanne Harwey fideiubebant in

summa x librarum sterlingorum, dicto gardiano et ordinis prefati conuentui

soluendorum, si dictus Johannes Harwey citra festum Pasche proximum

legittime compotum non reddidit secundum formam petitionis prefati

gardiani, cum ab eo requisitus et licite monitus.

APPENDIX C.

CONTROVERSY BETWEEN THE FRIARS PREACHERS AND FRIARS MINORS AT OXFORD, A.

D. 1269.

This curious treatise, here printed for the first time, is preserved in

Vol. 3119 (ff. 86-88) of the Phillipps MSS. at Thirlestaine House. The

MS., a folio with two columns on each page, is written in a clear upright

hand of the late 13th or early 14th century. The work, which appears to

have been unknown to Wood, is attributed by Bale and Pits to Eccleston,

probably merely because it is bound up with a copy of Eccleston’s

Chronicle: the MS. itself gives no clue as to the author, and the style

bears no close resemblance to that of Eccleston. It is clearly the work of

an Oxford Minorite who was an eyewitness of, and probably a participator

in, the events which he records. The treatise is interesting as affording

a glimpse from the inside into the life of the Oxford friars, and as

showing the shifts and quibbles to which the Franciscans were compelled to

have recourse in order to establish their claim to be professors of

‘perfect poverty.’

_Impugnacio fratrum Minorum per fratres Predicatores apud Oxoniam._

A. D. MCCLXIX circa quadragesimam venerunt fratres predicatores de

conventu Oxon’, viz. Salomon de Ingeham et Robertus de novo Mercato[1955]

pro quibusdam negociis expediendis ad domum fratrum Minorum Oxon’. Cumque

tractarent de negociis suis cum tribus fratribus minoribus, viz. Waltero

de Landen, Willelmo Cornubienci, Alano de Wakerfelde, nacta quacumque

occasione, dixit frater Salomon: ‘Vos fratres Minores peccuniam recipitis

per interpositas personas sicut nos in personis propriis.’ Respondens

frater Alanus dixit: ‘Noli, frater, ita dicere, quia nobis est verbum hoc

verbum scandali et religioni nostre cedit in derogacionem et nobis omnibus

in manifestam offensionem; cum non recipiamus nec recipere possimus, et

certi sumus de nostra veritate quod non recipimus.’ Ffrater Salomon cum

impetu sponte[1956] (?) manum suam ad crucem in pariete depictam juravit

dicens: ‘In crucifixo juro quod vos recipitis;’ et adjecit: ‘Ergo non sum

magnus clericus nec homo magne litterature, et tamen constanter hoc

affirmo, et in presencia pape, si necesse fuerit, affirmabo.’ Et cum esset

pluries increpatus ut taceret, sepius idem replicans affirmabat. Hec in

presencia duorum predicatorum et trium Minorum quos supra memoravimus

facta sunt, ideo certam probacionem habent.

Post hec fratres Minores, hiis non obstantibus, caritatis obsequia

predictis predicatoribus exhibuerunt, et accepto caritatis indicio, versus

domum suam conduxerunt. Cumque starent in porta fratrum Minorum, frater

Alanus ait, qui solus ibi tunc aderat cum predicatoribus: ‘Ffrater

Salomon, rogo in lege fraterne caritatis, ut verbum istud offensionis et

scandali de cetero de ore tuo non procedat, quia plane tibi facio

constare, quod non recipimus peccuniam per nos nec per alios; nec de

professione nostra recipere possumus.’ Respondit frater Salomon: ‘Ex

verbis tuis sic arguo: vos de non recipiendo peccuniam votum fecistis; hec

est major; assumo--et recepistis; ac concludo; ergo vos estis in statu

dampnacionis.’ Ad hec frater Alanus respondit: ‘Majorem concedimus,

minorem negamus, quia simpliciter falsa est; et ideo non est mirum si

conclusio sit falsa.’ Hiis dictis recesserunt fratres. Ad hec non modicum

fratres turbati, tum propter imposicionem tum propter imponendi modum.

Habita ergo deliberacione diligenti, de consilio discretorum, missi sunt

duo de minoribus ad predicatores, rogantes humiliter errata corrigi et

delinquentem regulariter emendari. Post modicum temporis spacium, missi

sunt duo de predicatoribus ad minores pro pace reformanda, viz. frater

Vincencius le Sauvage et frater Robertus de novo Mercato; qui fratribus

minoribus in unum convocatis hoc inicium proposuerunt. ‘Ffratres nostri

petunt, quod vos doceatis fratrem Salomonem errasse et falsum vobis

imposuisse, et extunc fratres nostri manum correctionis apponent et

delinquentem juxta peccata regulariter emendabunt.’

Ex parte minorum fuit responsum sic: ‘Vos affirmatis nos peccuniam

recipere, et ideo partem affirmativam tenetis; nos negamus, et negativam

tenemus. Unde, si ad probacionem accedendum sit, vestrum est probare, non

nostrum; quia affirmative, non negative, incumbit probacio.’ Quo dicto

tacuerunt predicatores. Hec de substancia nuncii.

Extra ordinarie proposita fuerunt ista verba, dicente fratre Roberto de

novo Mercato: ‘Videtur sic posse persuaderi quod vos recipitis peccuniam

per interpositas personas ad minus. Pono quod aliquis moriatur et in

testamento suo unam summam peccunie vobis leget. Quero cujus sit illa

peccunia. Defuncti non est, quia nichil proprietatis in ea aut in re alia

defunctus habet aut habere potest; vivencium enim et non moriencium est

jus et proprietatem in rebus habere, et in eis dominium vendicare.

Executorum non est, constat. Ergo aut omnino nullius erit, aut vestra

erit.’

Ad hec frater Minor dupliciter respondit; primo per instanciam sic:

‘Ponatur quod illa peccunia legaretur alicui fabrice alicujus ecclesie;

quero, cujus esset illa peccunia. Non executorum, constat; et secundum te

non est defuncti. Sed qua racione non est defuncti? Si defunctus unde

defunctus nichil proprietatis in rebus habet, nec fabrice illius ecclesie

erit, ut videtur; cum non sit major racio a parte fabrice non viventis,

quam a parte defuncti non viventis, ut videtur. Non est ergo necessarium

dicere quod legatum semper transit in dominium legatarii. Et ideo peccunia

quamvis nobis legetur, non est necesse dicere quod sit nostra. Ad quod

accedit quod nunquam in dominium consensimus, et nobis invitis et

contradicentibus nullo modo in dominium nostrum transire potest: vero

ipsam tanquam nostram petere possimus aut debemus nullo jure. Ex quo patet

quod racio vestra non valet.’

Secundo fuit sic responsum, quod, secundum diffinicionem jurisperitorum,

peccunia legata in bonis annumeratur defuncti, quousque transierit in

dominium et proprietatem legatarii. ‘In jus autem nostrum aut dominium

nullo modo potest transire, nobis invitis et non consentientibus. Unde,

qualitercumque peccunia ab executoribus deponatur seu apud quemcumque pro

fratribus reponatur, quam diu manet inexpensa, semper in bonis defuncti

annumeratur, et possunt eam executores, auctoritate propria vel defuncti,

repetere quando volunt. Quomodo[1957] ergo dicetur nostra? nullo modo.’

Ad hec predicatores, ut suam contra minores sentenciam roborarent, plures

casus personales proposuerunt, in quibus asserebant fratres minores non

posse excusari quin peccuniam per se vel per alios recepissent. Ad hec

frater minor respondit, dicens quod hoc in nullo modo derogat communitati;

quia communitas religionis a principio tales transgressores punit et

parata est semper punire, ubicumque fuerint inventi. Item transgressio

talium nullo modo probare potest, quod fratres stent cum transgressione

sue professionis, sicut vero[1958] lapsus carnis aut contumax

inobediencia, si contingeret, quod absit, alicujus persone singularis.

Circa hanc ergo materiam verbis cessantibus, dictum est a parte Minorum:

‘Mirum est, cum tot sint status religiosorum et tot status secularium tam

in clero quam in populo, sicut cernimus, quare diligencius et curiosius

(in) statum nostrum quam aliorum exploratur, et omnibus aliis tacentibus

vos soli verba de statu nostro tintinatis[1959] (?) et de professione

discutitis.’ Respondit frater Vincencius le Sauvage, ‘Hec est,’ inquit,

‘racio. Veniunt ad nos diversi seculares et religiosi, comparacionem inter

statum et statum facientes, statum vestrum extollentes, et nostrum in hoc

deprimentes, quod nos peccuniam recipimus, vos autem non recipitis,

judicantes nos in hoc minus perfectos mundi contemptores. Nos modo in

declaracionem veritatis et status nostri exaltacionem, dicimus vos hoc

facere per interpositas personas quod nos facimus in propriis personis.’

Et cum inculcando quereretur a fratre Vincencio, quare in ista materia

haberent contra minores faciem sic obstinatam, respondit: ‘Quia nunquam

duos fratres minores in hoc articulo inveni consencientes.’ Cui cum esset

responsum ex parte minorum; ‘En octo sumus congregati omnes unanimes et

uno corde et ore idem sencientes et asserentes;’ respondit, ‘Certe verum

est, sed si seorsum vos haberem in privata collacione, non ita esset;

eciam vos duos,’ demonstratis fratribus Willelmo de Wykham et Dyonisio,

‘habita seorsum collacione, invenirem discordes et de vobis diversa

elicerem.’ Ista turbato animo et impetu sponte[1960] (?) proferens, non

minus fratri suo proprio quam eciam ipsis fratribus minoribus offensionis

materiam dedit. Quod cum averteret, ad pedes fratrum se projecit in

terram, culpam confitendo. Cui frater suus proprius, verba contumeliosa

equanimiter non ferens, sic ait: ‘Cum mihi capud fregeris, penam[1961]

dabis.’ Quo dicto domum redierunt fratres.

Hic transeo unum diem in quo miserunt fratres minores ad predicatores

iterum postulantes sibi satisfieri, et errata regulariter corrigi; quibus

erat pacifice et mansuete responsum a parte predicatorum et de emenda

humiliter facienda promissum. Set in solucione promissi inventi sunt minus

habentes, unde tantum[1962] facta fuit negocii dilacio.

Cum vero pendente tempore predicatores juxta promissa nichil facerent,

minores injuriam personalem non multum ponderantes, sed injuriam

communitatis sue conniventibus oculis dissimulare non poterant, et ideo de

consilio discretorum miserunt ad predicatores iterum, duo postulantes.

Primum est, quod principalis transgressio facta per fratrem Salomonem

emendaretur; secundum est, quod fratres pacifici et mansueti ex parte

eorum ad tractandum de negocio pacis et amoris mitterentur. Quo petito,

habita deliberacione, missi sunt quatuor predicatores ad minores, quorum

principalis fuit frater Willelmus de Stargil. Qui, convocatis minoribus,

hoc nuncium ex parte fratrum suorum proposuerunt: ‘Ffrater Vincencius, qui

insolenter apud vos se habuit in nuncio faciendo, fuit in nostro capitulo

a proprio socio fratre Roberto de novo mercato accusatus, a suo superiore

correptus, et secundum exigenciam sue religionis punitus.’ Quo dicto,

siluit: et cum expectarent minores de principali responsum, sc. de facto

fratris Salomonis, nihil est auditum. Et cum peterent responsum sibi dari

de principali, responsum istud secundarium non multum ponderantes,

respondit frater Willelmus de Stargil predicator pro se et suis sociis, se

non esse ad hoc missos. Hec de substancia nuncii.

Extra ordinarie autem proposita ista verba fuerunt, dicente fratre Thoma

de Docking: ‘Mirum est, quod vos non cessatis nos impugnare in articulo de

recepcione peccunie, et hac racione, vos dicitis quod nos recipimus per

interpositam personam; nos e contra (?) negamus et dicimus quod non. Mota

est ergo lis et controversia inter nos et vos, et ideo oportuit per

judicem determinari, quia per nos non potuit. Demigravimus ad judicem non

quemcumque sed summum pontificem, et ad illum qui regulam nostram dictavit

et mentem beati francisci, eodem papa sibi ipsi testante, novit. Ipse pro

nobis sentenciavit. Quid ultra queritis? quid impugnatis?’ Et adjecit idem

frater Thomas de Docking, dicens: ‘Occurrit racio idem dictans, talis

peccunia a quocumque data seu quocumque titulo pro fratribus apud

quemcumque deposita nunquam est nostra; ergo nunquam recepimus eam nec per

nos nec per interpositam personam.’

Ad hoc respondit frater W. de Stargil, predicator, dicens: ‘Sic possem

arguere de capa quam porto que nunquam fuit mea, nec erit nec est; et

tamen ego recepi eam.’ Ad hoc obvium fuit instanciam non valere; Sic,

‘quamvis tu non habeas personalem proprietatem in capa tua, ordo tamen

tuus totus et communitas ordinis tui in ea proprietatem habet; sed nec

persona nec communitas ordinis nostri aliquam proprietatem habet nec

habere potest in peccunia a quocumque oblata, data, seu deposita. Preterea

in assercione vestra hoc inconveniens incurritis. Nos habemus regulam qua

utimur secundum declaracionem domini pape qui eam juxta mentem beati

francisci declaravit. In sua declaracione dicit, quod nos ipsam

declaracionem cum regula observando peccuniam non recipimus per

interpositam personam. Vos ergo, si insistitis contrarium asserendo, notam

mendacii, ut videtur, domino pape inponitis.’ Respondit frater predicator:

‘Absit a nobis hec presumpcio, sed plane videtur quod dominus papa non

declaravit regulam juxta mentem beati francisci et ipsius regule.’ Ad hec

frater Thomas de Docking sic opposuit: ‘Papa in sua declaracione dicit

quod intencionem beati francisci plenius novit, et ad hoc persuadendum

idem papa in sua declaracione tres raciones posuit: prima, quia longam

familiaritatem cum eo traxit, in qua solent homines secreta cordium suorum

mutuo communicare; secunda, quia in condendo predictam regulam sibi

astitit cum esset in minori officio constitutus; tercia, quia in optinendo

ipsius regule confirmacionem eciam sibi non defuit. Si ergo papa dicit et

racionibus convincit, se nosse intencionem beati francisci, ex quo eciam

sequitur declaracionem factam juxta intencionem ejusdem sancti, quid

dicetis?’

Ad hoc quidam predicator dixit: ‘Nullo modo videtur quod papa novit

intencionem beati francisci, quod probo sic. Voluntas testamentaria fuit

beati francisci, quod fratres nullo modo quererent litteras expositorias a

sede apostolica, sed hoc non obstante quesierunt et papa annuente

optinuerunt. Non solum ergo fratres sed et papa contra intencionem ejus

fecerunt; ex quo videtur quod intencionem ejus non noverunt; quia si ipsam

novissent contra ipsam non fecissent.’

Ad hoc frater Minor: ‘Esto quod racio sit bona, cum illacio sit satis

mirabilis. Ex hac racione probatur papam vel mentitum esse vel falsum

dixisse; ipse enim dixit, plenius novimus intencionem ipsius sancti.

Preterea, ut ad unum sit dicere de testamento suo quod non novimus, non

respondemus, sed regulam quam observare promisimus parati sumus defendere.

Accedit ad hoc, quod nec fratres nec dominus papa fecerunt contra

intencionem beati francisci, quam in condendo regulam habuit, sed contra

intencionem petende declaracionis. Nec in hoc pape potuit in aliquo

prejudicari in facienda declaracione, maxime cum apud eum resideat plena

potestas et auctoritas tocius ecclesie gubernande. Quo etiam in sua

declaracione dicente et probante, ut patet inspicienti, hoc non potest nec

debet in aliquo fratribus prejudicari.’

Inter hec et alia que proponebantur, ait frater W. de Stargil: ‘Scimus

quidem quia regulam et regule declaracionem ab eo qui potuit declarare,

habetis et utramque observatis; hoc et nobiscum confitemur. Sed quomodo

vos peccuniam non recipiatis, non videmus.’ Ad hoc ffrater Thomas Docking

sic respondit: ‘Frater karissime, audeo plane dicere, quod si habitum

secularem haberes quem ante habitum tue religionis portabas, facillime

veritatem mee professionis tibi persuaderem; et ad spacium vii psalmorum

quam nos videmus luce ipse clarius videres.’

Hiis ergo transactis transivimus ad principale, petentes iterum quod ipsi

responderent nobis de principali, ipsum accessorium de quo factum est

nuncium non ponderantes. Respondit frater W. sicut prius, dicens se non

posse nec debere hoc facere, cum non esset ad hoc missus; tamen peticionem

nostram libenter fratribus suis nunciaret. Quo facto domum redierunt

fratres.

Hic transeo alium diem, in quo missi sunt de minoribus duo ad

predicatores, quibus facte fuerunt multe promissiones de correctione

facienda, sed in solvendo promissum inventi sunt iterum minus habentes, ut

videtur: unde tantum fuit dilacio negocii. Interim pendente tempore et

fratribus predicatoribus nichil respondentibus, supervenit prior

provincialis predicatorum[1963] Oxoniam. Ffratres Minores pro pace mutua

reconsilianda[1964] et servanda miserunt[1965] ad eum, cum humilitate

postulantes, excessum corrigi et sibi regulariter satisfieri. Prior vero

provincialis, habita deliberacione et facta diligenti inquisicione per

fratres suos, sic respondit: ‘Ego claudam os fratris de cetero ne presumat

talia dicere contra vos, et ego ipse dicam sicut vos ipsi, cum de illo

articulo agitur, dicitis; et ut alii fratres sic dicant, pro viribus

inducam. Fratrem vero Salomonem, quem vos esse transgressum (dicitis),

aliter punire non possum, quia plane sicut dixit ita et sentit, nec induci

potest ad contrarium, quia sua consciencia est quod vos estis receptores

peccuniarum ad minus per interpositas personas; unde ego contra leges

consciencie non possum. Misissem autem ipsum pro culpa dicenda sua ad vos,

sed timui ne ipse plus vos provocasset et fierent novissima pejora

prioribus.’ Hic nota quod frater non dixit ex surrepcione, sed ex plena

deliberacione. Hec de substancia nuncii.

Extra ordinarie autem allocutus priorem predicatorum quidam de minoribus

cum mansuetudine predicatoris[1966] et obsecrans, ut ipse partes suas de

pace lesa reparanda et reparata jam fovenda vigilanter juxta discrecionem

a deo sibi datam interponeret. Adjecit autem dictus frater minor cum

mansuetudine dicens: ‘Mirum est quod ita extranee de re nobis manifesta

quidam de vestris senciunt, maxime cum peccunia a quocumque legata seu

donata nunquam ad dominium nostrum transeat. Et propterea nullo modo dici

possumus receptores non per nos nec per interpositas personas.’ Respondit

prior provincialis cum mansuetudine dicens: ‘Unum est quod videre non

possumus. Cum peccunia in usus vestros quocumque titulo deputata

multociens sit apud multos deposita, et cum post deposicionem transeat a

dominio conferentis nec cedat in dominium depositarii--hoc, inquam, est

quod videre non possumus, quin peccunia illa in vestrum cedat dominium.’

Ad hoc respondit frater minor, quod peccunia, quocumque titulo ad usus

fratrum deputata, nunquam in eorum dominium transeat juxta declaracionem

domini pape, sed possunt fratres in suis necessitatibus recursum habere ad

recipientem, qui auctoritate domini principalis potest fratribus, si vult

et non aliter, subvenire; quia jure debiti nullo modo fratribus tenetur,

nec nomine depositi aliquid[1967] exigere possunt ab eodem. Auctoritas

ergo et dominium peccunie quocumque titulo tradite permanet penes ipsum

tradentem, intantum quod nunquam transit nec transire potest in fratrum

dominium ullo jure: unde dicit[1968] dominus papa quod principalis potest

eam repetere si vult, quamdiu manet inexpensa.

Ad hoc prior: ‘Quid si peccunia penes ipsum recipientem est centum annis

aut plus remanserit?’ Ad hoc frater Minor: ‘Non plus juris habent fratres

nostri in peccunia in fine C annorum aut cujuscumque alterius spacii quam

in fine prime diei. Et hoc parati sumus probare, et pro loco et tempore

mundo manifestare.’

Ad hoc attonitus prior cum admiracione dixit: ‘Vere si hoc constaret,

mundo non sic habundaretis sicut habundatis.’ Respondit frater Minor:

‘Quomodocumque habundancia se habeat, veritatem professionis narro.’ Tunc

exclamans quidam predicator, cujus nomen ad presens ex causa retineo,

factum eorum ut videtur non approbans, ait: ‘Eya, domine deus, verba que

de vobis facimus ex malis que de nobis dicitis occasionem[1969] sumunt.’

Interim dum hec agebantur, fratres minores inter se contulerunt, et habito

consilio miserunt ad priorem provincialem gratias agentes de sua

oblacione, rogantes quod frater Salomon, ex quo conscienciam suam non

deponit nec culpam suam recognoscere proponit, pro mutua pace concilianda

et servanda, de loco, ex quo pacem perturbavit, amoveretur. Respondit

prior se super hoc velle deliberare. Habita vero deliberacione,

sollempnes nuncios de ordine suo mittens, sic respondit: ‘Frater Salomon

pro conventu Oxon’ fratribus suis est multum necessarius et utilis sicut

bonus et ministerialis, in tantum eciam ut difficile esset mihi invenire

alium eis ita utilem et necessarium, et ideo grave esset ipsum amovere.

Item pro peccato privato, publica pena non debet adjungi. Hoc autem fieret

si frater Salomon de loco suo ad alium locum amoveretur. Unde peticio de

dicto fratre amovenda non videtur consona racioni. Nec debetis turbari,

quia peticionem vestram in hac parte non fulcio, quia, ut videtur, id quod

vobis primo optuli debet sufficere, viz. quod os ejus per obedienciam

claudatur, et ne de cetero a(liqua) sinistra contra puritatem regule

vestre dicere presumat.’

Ffacta ista responsione nuncii ex parte prioris tres faciebant peticiones.

Prima fuit, quod pro dicto unius stulti communitas fratrum minorum non

turbaretur; secunda fuit, quod caritas mutua ut olim omnimodis signis

ostenderetur. Tercia fuit quod regula nostra cum exposicione vel

exposicionibus eis ad tempus ostenderetur, ab illis tantummodo et non ab

aliis quam nos nominare decrevimus inspicienda. Hec de substancia nuncii.

Extra ordinarie autem facta sunt verba ista, dicente fratre Minore: ‘Si

stultus de sua stulticia corrigendus est, mirum est quod fratrem Salomonem

non corrigitis, qui in sua stulticia manet; quem eciam vos ipsi stultum

nominatis, cum petitis quod propter dictum unius stulti communitas fratrum

minorum non turbetur. Item si peccatum est corrigendum, maxime vobis qui

estis professores veritatis, mirum est quod fratrem Salomonem non

corrigitis, quem peccasse probatis, cum pro eo allegatis quod pro peccato

privato publica pena non sit injungenda.’