ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



Rome which ended in his suspension, Bek saw fit to humble himself to the 

 king and received back his possessions. A new pope gave opportunity for a 

 re-trial of the case, but this pontiff was Clement V, who was a warm friend of 

 Bek, and made him Patriarch of Jerusalem in 1306."° That was the last 

 year of Edward I, who now seized certain lands forfeited by Balliol and 

 Bruce, but the young King Edward II, coming to the throne in i 307, restored 

 to the bishop the rights of his Palatinate almost intact, and made him king of 

 the Isle of Man.^"' Two or three untroubled years followed before Bek's 

 death in 131 1. He was the first bishop buried in the cathedral. Bek left 

 behind him traces of his magnificence and generosity in his buildings at 

 Auckland and Durham, his foundation of the prebendal churches at Chester- 

 le-Street and Lanchester,'"' and in gifts to the cathedral."' 



At Bek's death another stage of the convent dispute was reached, when 

 the prior seized the jurisdiction and started a controversy which it took 

 some years to settle."* The next bishop was Kellaw (131 1—16), whose 

 magnificent register,"^ with its curious history, swells out the steadily- 

 growing stream of information. It is possible for some years to chronicle 

 the history of the Palatinate with much exactitude. As Kellaw" was a 

 Durham monk the bishop and convent disputes ceased for the time. He 

 was a man of quiet character and encouraged learned men. His times were 

 not quiet. His episcopate contains the record of Scottish troubles which led 

 up to the English defeat at Bannockburn. The trace of hurrying troops is 

 on every page of the records. Time and again the bishop is commanded 

 to stay in his diocese and guard the borders."* All sorts of men were 

 requisitioned either for service or to contribute money. The clergy granted 

 a rate for the protection of the cathedral ; "^ prior and convent contributed 

 800 marks ; "^ prayers were ordered in all the churches. Meanwhile 

 marauders ran riot over the bishopric, which was in a deplorable state through 

 pillage and fear, whilst famine was rife amongst the poor. All this is the 

 darker side. The register exhibits many proofs of episcopal vigilance and 

 activity. Large ordinations were regularly held in the cathedral or at 

 Stockton, Egglescliffe, or elsewhere, by the bishop or by some other bishop 

 acting for him."^ Some of these helpers were foreigners. The whole 

 process from getting a title and testimonials until licence was given is fully 

 referred to. Sir Thomas Hardy points out among other notabilia in the 

 register the equal discipline to high and low which is characteristic of 

 Kellaw."" Eleemosynary indulgences multiplied through the century for 

 purely religious purposes, or for charitable uses, such as the building and 

 repair of churches, monasteries, or bridges for public utility. Ever since the 



"^ Bek was allowed to wear the pallium of the office, titular as the appointment really was ; Cal. Papal 

 Let. ii, 10. 



"" The chief dates are : first seizure of the Palatinate, July, 1302; summons of king to peace, M.ir. 1303; 

 restoration of the Palatinate, July, 1303 ; second seizure of Palatinate, Dec. 1305 ; Bek made Patriarch, 

 Dec. 1306 ; restoration of the Palatinate, Sep. I 307 ; and fuller grant. May, 1308. 



'"' The date is about 1 297, the year in which the pope confirmed the two foundations ; Cal. Papal Let. 

 i, 570-1. '"' Surtees Soc. Publ. ii, 12. 



'"' The prior's action led to a protest by Archbishop Greenfield ; Reg. Palat. Dun. Kellaw, i, 39. The 

 matter was settled in 13 16 on the death of Kellaw. 



'"^ In Rolls Series, Reg. Palat. Dun. See introduction of Sir T. D. Hardy, i, pp. i and xciii. 



'°* Cal. Close R. i 307-1 3, p. 568. "" Reg. Palat. Dun. i, 469. 



'"'' 'Northern Registers (Rolls Ser.), 232. "" Reg. Palat. Dun. iii, p. Ixxiii. 



"° Introduction to Reg. Patat. Dun. iii, p. cxviii. 



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