ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 



long period while the diocese was without a bishop the endowments 

 were at the sole arbitrament of the prior and convent, and the canons 

 came to regard them as belonging exclusively to the priory. In due 

 course they were disillusioned. While the nation was torn asunder by 

 the indefensible conduct of King John, political feeling in Cumberland 

 was on the side of the barons, who invited the Scottish king to espouse 

 their cause, and offered to deliver up the city of Carlisle and the castles 

 of the county to him. 1 When Alexander seized the county the bishopric 

 was vacant by the death of Bishop Bernard. The canons not only re- 

 ceived the King to communion, though he was in a state of excommuni- 

 cation, but also committed the dark deed of electing a Scotsman to the 

 vacant bishopric at Alexander's suggestion/ The act of treason brought 

 a doom on the priory. On complaint of King John and the bishops to 

 Rome, the papal legate in England was instructed to take extreme 

 measures for the punishment of the offenders. The canons were forth- 

 with expelled from Carlisle in 1218 and placed in other regular churches ; 

 their election of a bishop was declared void ; and other canons, faithful 

 to the English king, were appointed in their room. 3 



It is evident that the treason of these unfortunate churchmen was 

 made the occasion of effecting a radical change in the relation of the 

 bishop of Carlisle to his chapter. The time was opportune, as the see 

 was vacant. Not only were the offending canons to be sent into exile, 

 but the possessions and rents of their church were to be distributed 

 between the bishop and the new canons, the complainants having urged 

 that such measures would tend to tranquillity, as the priory, being near 

 the Border, exercised much influence either for or against the King and 

 realm. The papal mandate came into force soon after the consecration 

 of Bishop Hugh de Beaulieu, which took place in February 1218-9. 

 From this time onward through the episcopates of Hugh, Walter and 

 Silvester de Everdon, a sordid controversy raged between those bishops 

 and the canons on the division of the property of the church. Two 

 legates in succession, Gualo and Pandulf, were arbitrators between the 

 parties, with the assistance of local commissioners to arrange the details. 

 The burden of the partition fell chiefly on the abbot of Holmcultram 

 and the prior of Hexham, but various officials, lay and clerical, from 

 the sheriff of the county to the rural deans, were employed from time 

 to time to bring about an amicable arrangement. 4 It is unfortunate that 



1 Ayloffe, Calendar of Ancient Charters and Scottish Rolls, pp. 327-8 ; Chron. de Lanercost (Maitland 

 Club), pp. 17-18, 25. 



3 Chron. de Lanercost, p. 27. 



a Cal. of Papal Letters, i. 48, 57, 68, 81. The King's complaint to the pope will be found on Pat. 

 I Hen. III. m. 3d. The pope's mandate for the expulsion of the canons has been printed by Rymer 

 (Fotdera [new edition], i. 147). 



* Honorius III., in May 1223, confirmed to Bishop Hugh and his successors, 'in accordance with 

 letters of Popes Innocent and Adrian, the bishopric and parish of Carlisle, as defined by Turstin, archbishop 

 of York, at the request of the chapter, with the consent of King Henry; namely the episcopal see in St. 

 Mary's church, Carlisle, called of old ' Lugubalia,' in which are to be observed all the customs of other 

 bishoprics in England ; the prebend of St. Peter's, York, granted by Turstin ; the church of Meleburn ; 

 the land of Barou-on-Trent ; 5.1. daily by gift of the said King ; and all other lands, houses, and goods 

 granted or that shall be granted by kings of .England or others ; also the ordinance of possessions and 



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