A HISTORY OF YORKSHIRE 



presentee and his supporters, who in 1280 seized Ferriby Church and made 

 it a centre for their depredations;" and the monks of Pontefract, whom 

 Wickwane excommunicated for holding the church of Silkstone with an 

 armed force against his nominee.''^ In 1284 Silkstone Church was 

 appropriated to the priory, and a vicarage ordained, the collation to which 

 was reserved to the archbishop.^ Among instances of casual lawlessness are 

 a case of bloodshed in the church of Ainderby Steeple' and an affray between 

 two men at the door of PauU Church.' Robert Berley incurred a whipping 

 from the pope's penitentiary for beheading certain clerks *; a priest named 

 Robert Carnaby cut off the ear of another priest and laid violent hands on 

 other clerks,' and there are one or two cases of clerical immorality.' 



Wickwane did his best to check the exactions of his officers. The clergy 

 of Holderness complained to him of the unnecessary pomp with which his 

 official and their dean came to hold chapters.''"" In May 1 28 i, writing to his 

 official, who had requested him to appoint a common Serjeant, he inclosed 

 some such complaints, with words of reproof, declining to multiply such 

 offices to the impoverishment of the clergy, and ordering the rural deans to 

 perform the duties of apparitors and sequestrators." His directions for an 

 ordination at Blyth show his anxiety at the reluctance of the beneficed clergy 

 to take priest's orders." In 1284 he censured the misbehaviour of certain 

 clerks attending the theological school."" He issued a commission on 

 plurality, and summoned pluralists to appear before him." He endeavoured 

 to promote the preaching of the friars, and warned the Cistercian proctors 

 in Scarborough Church against opposing the Franciscans in their sacred 



mission." 



At the translation of St. William, which took place in York Minster on 

 9 January 1283-4,''^ Edward I and his queen were present, and on the same 

 day Wickwane consecrated Anthony Bek, who had done much to procure the 

 translation. Bishop of Durham."* Towards the end of 1284 '^^ archbishop 

 went abroad, and died at Pontigny on 26 August 1285." His zeal and piety 

 gained him the reputation of a saint,"" and while he lacked the geniality of 

 Giffard, the practical side of his character may be noted in his arrangements 

 for stocking the farms on his various lordships." 



The diocesan energy of Wickwane was continued under his successor, 

 John le Romeyn, better known as Romanus, a son of the celebrated treasurer. 



" A large number of documents refer to this case, especially Tork Reg. Wickwane (Surt. Soc. cxiv), 98- 

 105. Wickwane visited Ferriby himself, and found that the intruding rector, Richard Vcscy, and his accomplices 

 had turned the church into acastle. A mandate of sequestration was issued on 13 Nov.; ibid. 105, 106. 



"" Ibid. %I3, 214, 273, 274. ' Ibid. 292-4. 



* Ibid. 28. The Bishop of Moray was commissioned to reconcile the church, 15 Nov. 1283. 



'Ibid. 91,92. * Ibid. 37, 38. ' Ibid. 85, 86. 



° Ibid. 93. This is the worst example. '"" Ibid. 248, 249. " Ibid. 214, 215. 



"Ibid. 219. Cf. 90. "Ibid. 308. "Ibid. 95, 96. 



" Lett. N, Reg. (Rolls Ser.), 79. 



" Stubbs, Hist. Ch. Tork (Rolls Ser.), ii, 407 ; Vork Reg. Wickwane (Surt. Soc. cxiv), 294 ; Hist. Ch. York 

 (Rolls Ser.), iii, 210, 211 ; Lett. N. Reg. (Rolls Ser.), 80, 81. 



"Stubbs, H//A a. Tork (Rolls Ser.), ii, 407, 408; Graystanes, Hist. Dunelm. Script. Tres. (Surt. Soc), 64, 

 says that, immediately after consecrating Bek, Wickwane tried to make him excommunicate the Prior of 

 Durham. Bek very properly refused. 



" Stubbs, Hist. Ch. Tork (Rolls Ser.), ii, 408. 



" Stubbs (ibid. 407) calls him St. William Wickwane. Fuller {Cb. Hist. bk. iii, \vi, par. 14) says that 

 he was ' esteemed a petty saint in that age.' 



" Hist. Ch. York (Rolls Ser.), iii, 210 seq. 



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