A HISTORY OF NORFOLK 



expenses at the papal see ' ; ^ and Walpole's proctor at Rome, Messer 

 Bartolomeo Ferentino, had to borrow 1,500 marks and 200//. in his 

 principal's name for the same purpose.^ 



The new bishop was consecrated at Canterbury by Archbishop 

 Winchelsev 5 November, 1299, and early the following month was in his 

 diocese. His career also was rather that of a counsellor in political affairs 

 than of an ecclesiastical administrator. He was constantly employed both by 

 Edward I and Edward II on important negotiations' in the kingdom and 

 abroad, and in 1320 was appointed chancellor in full Parliament. On 

 12 November, 1322, we find him empowered to open the Parliament at 

 York on the following Sunday, and continue the discussion concerning the 

 realm, as the king could not be present.* A letter from the bishop to the 

 prior of Norwich, preserved in the registers of the dean and chapter, and 

 dated at York 25 November, 13 18,' shows that it was much against his will 

 he was so frequently away from his diocese. 



Although he had good grounds for lamenting his frequent absences, 

 and the heavy expenses in which he was involved by his continuous employ- 

 ment on diplomatic and parliamentary business, his faithful and loyal service 

 to the crown stands out as especially meritorious in view of the discreditable 

 part played by so many of the clergy in the reign of Edward II. In 

 favourable contrast to their intrigues with Mortimer and the queen was also 

 the behaviour of Robert de Baldok who, at Bishop Salmon's death on 6 July, 

 1325, was chosen to succeed him. Queen Isabella had already deserted the 

 king, and Edward counted Robert de Baldok, then archdeacon of Middlesex, 

 who had succeeded Bishop Salmon in the chancellorship in 1323, among his 

 rare friends, when the latter was elected to the bishopric 21 July, 1325, and 

 gladly gave his assent to the appointment. But William de Ayermin, a clerk 

 of the Treasury, who secretly favoured the designs of the queen, and had been 

 chosen for the vacant see of Carlisle on 7 January, was at the time engaged on 

 an embassy in France, and the pope annulled his appointment to Carlisle, and 

 nominated him to the richer see of Norwich. Baldok, whose adherence to the 

 king ultimately led to his imprisonment and miserable death in Newgate 

 prison, resigned on 3 September, and William de Ayermin, who was still in 

 France, was consecrated at St. Germain des Pres on the 15th of the month. 



The king's resentment at the papal interference was so great that he sent 

 some of his guards to seize Ayermin on landing, but he evaded them, and 

 managed to arrive in safety at Norwich, where he took refuge in the cathedral, 

 whence he wrote a submissive letter to Edward, who felt that there was no 

 course open but to accept him. The king did not, however, restore the bishop's 

 temporalities to him, and their restitution was one of the first acts of Edward III, 

 who loaded him with honours, and employed him repeatedly in important 

 negotiations with France.* His brother, Adam de Ayermin, was archdeacon 

 of Norfolk, and vicar-general during his absence.'' The letters of protection 



' Cal. Papal Letters, i, 582-3. 'Ibid. 590. 



' Rishanger, Ckron. (Rolls Ser.), 199 ; Chron. EJu: I and Edw. II (Rolls Ser.), i, 144, 267, and 282 ; 

 Rymer, Foedera, ii, 11. 



* Pat. 16 Edw. II, pt. i, m. 16. ' D. and C. Reg. ix, No. 123. 



'Pat. I Edw. Ill, pt. i, m. 21, and pt. ii, m. 10 ; 3 Edw. Ill, pt. ii, m. 22 ; 4 Edw. Ill, pt. i, m. 3 I 

 and m. 50, and pt ii, m. 1 1 ; 6 Edw. Ill, pt. iii, m. 16 ; 7 Edw. Ill, pt. ii, m. 22. 



'Pat 4 Edw. Ill, pt. ii, m. 24. 



238 



