distinguished men of his times, Robert Greathead, Bishop of Lincoln, and the mediaeval clergy rise in our estimation when we see them, as here, exercising the strength of their exclusive power of knowledge with the courage to reprove and restrain the physical strength of the armed chieftains around them. It will be seen with what a stately courtesy the bishop maintains his episcopal rights, and how vivid a picture he draws of the riotous manners of a baronial hall. When the Norman estates of the Warennes were confiscated by the French king, the manor of the Sock of Graham (now Grantham), within the diocese of Lincoln, had been given to the earl, in 1205, by King John in compensation, and confirmed by Henry III, in 1217.[1] It was here that the earl had encouraged his own chaplain to use the hall of his residence as a chapel for divine service.
"To the noble man and most dear friend in Christ, William Earl Warenne, Robert, by the grace of God Bishop of Lincoln, greeting, and sincere love in the Lord. "You have written to us, that you are much astonished, because we have decided that you and your chaplain N. should be summoned to answer and submit to the law before us and our official, adding, that the said N., your chaplain, had been suspended without any monition. The astonishment, therefore, of Your Discretion is a manifest insinuation that we have been wrongful to you and your chaplain in the said summons, and you clearly enough insinuate the same as to the manner of suspension. You appear, however, in these, your insinuations, to have wronged us, saving your reverence, since you have not yet established that we have wronged you in anything, and a father's weaknesses should be veiled rather than revealed. But that Your Discretion may know that we have not wronged you, as you insinuate, we inform you that information was brought to us by good and trustworthy persons that you caused mass to be celebrated by the said N., your chaplain, in your hall (in aula vestra) of Graham, that you even authorised him to do this by your writing, adding as a reason, that this was done necessarily, owing to the sickness of your body. Since, however, your hall is not a dedicated place, but a common habitation of men, the receptacle of eaters and drinkers, conversing frivolously, scurrilously, and perhaps often filthily (immunda), and perhaps sometimes even acting filthily, with dogs also running about it, and sleeping and often leaving their dirt there, no Christian should be unaware how unfitting it is to consecrate (conficere) and to handle there the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who was born of a most pure Virgin, suffered on the cross, was glorified in resurrection, and raised above heaven — especially since the precepts of the Old and New Testament, and canonical authorities most evidently prohibit the solemnity of masses to be celebrated elsewhere than in places dedicated and consecrated to God, unless on compulsion of the
- ↑ Rot. Claus. — Turnor's Grantham, 4to, 1806. It was valued at £110. a year. Henry III temporarily resumed the grant in 1249, but restored it.
