A HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE 



on the friars' cemetery, it having been proved that such action was con- 

 trary to the papal privileges granted to this order. 1 



During the short episcopate of Bishop Asserio (1320-3), who 

 was so constantly absent from England, the affairs of the diocese were 

 chiefly administered by Peter, Bishop of Corbavia. This bishop was a 

 Franciscan who had been consecrated to act as suffragan in the diocese 

 of London, but also fulfilled many episcopal duties in the dioceses of 

 Winchester, Rochester, and Canterbury. The fact of this active suf- 

 fragan being a Franciscan naturally gave considerable prominence to the 

 friars. 



In August, 1321, license was granted to the Carmelite friars to 

 preach in the cathedral church every third turn in conjunction with 

 the Dominicans and the Franciscans. They were also authorized by the 

 same license to preach the Word of God, ' verbum Dei,' in the parish 

 churches throughout Hampshire and the rest of the diocese. As this 

 license however stipulated that the friars were not to preach in the 

 cathedral church if one of the monks of St. Swithun desired to do so, it 

 may naturally be concluded that the same rule applied to the parish 

 churches, and that Hampshire incumbents (provided they were them- 

 selves licensed preachers) were not obliged to yield their pulpits to the 

 friars if they desired personally to occupy them. 2 A fortnight later in 

 the same month, a further license was granted to those of the Carmelite 

 friars whom the provincial chapter might select for the purpose of hearing 

 confessions within the diocese, with the usual exception of reserved cases, 

 and with an indulgence of thirty days of all who availed themselves of 

 their ministrations. On 13 September, 1321, Nicholas de Morton, an 

 Austin friar, was appointed penitentiary for the diocese till fifteen days 

 after the ensuing Easter. 



In November, 1322, license was granted to William de Corfe, a 

 Franciscan, to hear the confessions of Sir James de Norton, Sir Nicholas 

 de Spurshot and Sir Robert de Harnhull, as well as those of nine other 

 manorial lords and their wives who were all of first rank among the 

 county families. Sir James de Norton, who was lord of the manors of 

 Norton, Nutley, and East Tisted, was sheriff of the county on two 

 separate occasions. Sir Nicholas de Spurshot was one of the knights of 

 the shire from 1309-13, and was also steward of the abbey of Hyde. 

 The license also authorized the Franciscan to hear the confessions of the 

 rectors of Amport, Abbots Anne and Compton. . 



A similar license was granted on the same day to Adam de Stokes, 

 a Dominican, to hear the confessions of Sir John de Insula, his wife and 

 children. Sir John was one of the barons of the Exchequer and gover- 

 nor of the Isle of Wight, and he had been sheriff of the county. 



In 1325 Bishop Stratford formally authorized certain friars of each 



F the four orders in his diocese to preach and hear confessions, and 



instructed the parochial clergy to grant them the necessary facilities. 



1 Winton. Epi5. Reg., Sandale, ff. 3 ob, 3,, 3 ,b. Ibid. Asserio, ff. 5 b, 8. 



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