Anniversary Address. 25 



APPENDIX lY. 



Magister Willielmus de Stechil, Archdiaconus Wigorniensis, 

 (Worcester), was so esteemed by the Prior and Convent of 

 Durham that he was nominated by them for election to that 

 See, which had been vacant for more than two years, after 

 the death of Eicardus de Marisco in r226.^^ 



Their nomination was declared null and void. An irregularity 

 in the proceedings was alleged as the pretext, whereas, in realitj^ 

 King Henry III desired the monks to elect his chaplain, 

 Lucas, Dean of St. Martin le Grand, and threatened, on their 

 refusal, tliat the vacancy would last for seven years longer.^^ 

 Resenting the royal interference, they persisted in their election 

 of Archdeacon Stichill, who, in the Annals of Tewkesbury, is 

 called Willielmus Scotus. On the King's appeal to Rome, Pope 

 Honorius III., apparently after some reluctance, pronounced 

 the election void. He sent a commission to the Archbishop 

 of York to examine into the illegalities and circumstances of 

 Stichill's nomination, with instructions to report within two 

 months. In the commission the testimony of the monks of 

 Durham, in favour of Archdeacon Stichill's character, is 

 quoted " quern de providentia, honesta literatura et morum 

 compositione commendant.'"-*^ In the narrative of Graystanes 

 it is stated "quod electio non fuit facta communiter ab 

 omnibus, sed singulariter a singulis, et ideo non inspirationem, 

 (aspirationem in M.S. Ebor.), unde et eam irritamus."^* 



It is of interest that Lucas did not receive the appointment, 

 but upon the monks making a second election of Eicardus 

 le Pauper, Bishop of Salisbury, the Pope issued a decree 

 of Translation in his favour to the See of Durham, 14th 

 May 1228. 



The other monk named from the Parish is Eobertus de 

 Stichill, who was consecrated Bishop of Durham on 13th 

 February 1261. 



The tradition bears that he was probably born in Stichill, 

 and was the son of the priest.^"-' 



^* Historige Dnnelmensis Tres Scriptores (Surtees* Society) p. 36. 



98 Hntchinson's Durham, Vol. i., p. 199. 



3' Tres Scriptores, App. LI. 



«8 Do. p. 36. 



39 Sartees' Durham, Vol. i., p. xxix. 



