A HISTORY OF YORKSHIRE 



consecrated in St. Paul's, 27 June 1 109, by the Bishop of London, during the 

 vacancy at Canterbury."' The terms of his profession, made to no archbishop 

 in person, were safeguarded by the king's order ; and the Bishop of Durham 

 declared publicly that it was allowed by royal dispensation only, without 

 prejudice to any future archbishop.*' The legate attempted, now that 

 matters were settled, to bring Thomas to book for making his profession, but 

 without success.'" Thomas lived for less than five years after his consecration. 

 His biographers praise his virtues." While adding to the possessions of the 

 church of York ^^ his chief activity lay in regulating the chapter of South- 

 well and founding their church, the ecclesia matrix of Nottinghamshire, 

 and in establishing canons at Hexham," which had passed to the see of York 

 after the disgrace of Bishop Flambard. Under Turstin, Augustinian Canons 

 were established in St. Wilfrid's northern basilica. 



Six months after the death of Thomas II, Turstin, a sub-deacon, canon of 

 St. Paul's and secretary to the king, was promoted to the see, which he ruled 

 for twenty-six years (11 14-40)." He received deacon's orders from the 

 Bishop of Winchester ; but, anxious to avoid receiving the priesthood in the 

 province of Canterbury, he was ordained priest in Normandy by Ranulf 

 Flambard.^' Before visiting Normandy he was enthroned at York by the 

 Bishop of Chester. ^^ In Ralph d'Escures, the new Archbishop of Canterbury, 

 he found an astute opponent who had influence with the king. The 

 controversy about the profession dragged on through Turstin's pontificate. 

 At Salisbury ( 1 1 1 6) Turstin formally resigned his see to the king ; " but 

 Henry was unwilling to appoint, and the chapter of York to receive, 

 another archbishop." In 11 18 the king gave him back the see; and 

 Turstin revisited York." But Ralph, in spite of papal mandates, refused to 

 consecrate. Calixtus II summoned Ralph and Turstin to a council at Reims 

 (11 19), and ordered Ralph to consecrate without delay. "^ Eventually, in 

 October 1 1 1 9, Calixtus himself consecrated Turstin at Reims, and invested 

 him with the pall." The king forbade Turstin to return to England,*^ and 

 for some two years he remained with the pope in France." At Gap, in March 

 1 1 19— 20, Calixtus forbade any profession of obedience to Canterbury,'* and 

 gave power to the suffragans of York to consecrate their metropolitan, if the 



" Hugh, Hist. Ch. York (Rolls Ser.), ii, 124, 125. 



" Ibid. The profession is given in Hist. Ch. York (Rolls Ser.), iii, 33, 34. " Ibid, ii, 126, 127. 



" Ibid, ii, 128. See the glowing character of Thomas given by the chapter of York in their petition 

 for consecration (flist. Ch. York [Rolls Ser.], iii, 33), and the stoiy told by Hoveden, Chrm. (Rolls Ser.), i, 

 168—9. Thomas was still young when he died. 



" Hugh, Hist. Ch. York (Rolls Ser.), ii, 127. 



" Ibid. At Hexham, two secular canons were sent to assist the hereditary priest, Eilaf, in restoring his 

 church and its services ; see Savage and Hodges, Hexham Abbey Record (1907), 28. Turstin visited ' Hes- 

 toldesham' immediately after his enthronement (Hugh, Hist. Ch. York [Rolls Ser.], ii, 130). 



" Ibid, ii, 129. Thomas died 19 Feb. 1 1 13-14, according to Hugh ; 24 Feb. according to Hoveden, 

 op. cit. i, 168. Turstin was appointed 16 Aug. 11 14. 



" Hugh, Hist. Ch. York (Rolls Ser.), ii, 129, 130, 132. «« Ibid 130 



"Ibid. 137. "Ibid. 140. 



" Ibid. 149, 150. Turstin had gone to Normandy with Henry in 1 1 17 (ibid. 140). 



" See letters, ibid. 159, 160. A long letter of complaint from Ralph to Calixtus about Turstin (MS. 

 Cotton, Claudius, E v.) is printed Hist. Ch. York (Rolls Ser.), ii, 228 seq. 



" Ibid. 164, 165. The pall was granted on the twelfth day after the consecration (ibid 167^ 



" Ibid. 166, 167. ^ ''■ 



^'Hugh speaks of the honour in which he was held by the pope and cardinals (ibid 17^) • 'in 

 conciliis, et causis, et judicus erat inter illos quasi unus ex illis,' &c. See also ibid. I?? 176 



" Ibid. 179. /J> / • 



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