250 



Bishops of Old Sarum. 



lying* under an arch in the north-east part of the Cathedral, but soon 

 to be removed to a site which has been prepared for it in the centre of 

 the Lady Chapel. That of Bishop Roger is most probably a slab with 

 a cross inscribed upon it, lying still over what has been described as the 

 site of his burial-place, <c within an arch of the north aisle/'' That 

 of Bishop Jocelin is, without doubt, the large effigy lying near the 

 western entrance to the Cathedral on the south side, with an in- 

 scription down the centre of the chasuble and also round the slab 

 itself, on which we have made some remarks in a previous page. 1 



But Richard Poore's work at Sarum was drawing to its close — 

 not as regards the progress of the cathedral, but as concerns his 

 superintendence of it. In truth the reverent translation of the 

 bodies of his predecessors to the new fabric would seem to have been 

 the last public function performed by him as Bishop of Sarum. 

 Among those who had been present at the first dedication of his new 

 cathedral was Richard de Marisco (=Marsh) Bishop of Durham. 

 Very shortly afterwards that Bishop died suddenly at Peterborough, 

 probably on his homeward journey, and his decease was the signal 

 for the usual contests between the Church and the Crown. Several 

 were nominated for the vacant see, but were set aside by Pope or 

 King. The choice of the monks at last fell on Richard Poore. He 

 received the news with unfeigned sorrow. His own wishes were 

 over-ruled, and a decree, issued on May 14th, 1228 for his transla- 

 tion, 2 terminated a connection with his much-loved Sarum, which, 

 as Canon, Dean, or Bishop, had endured for well-nigh forty years. 



During the nine or ten remaining years of his life Richard Poore 

 held the bishopric of Durham. There also, as at Chichester, and at 

 Sarum, he left an abiding mark behind him. In truth he was a 

 real benefactor to every place with which he had relations. We have 

 seen what he did at Chichester, and at Sarum ; at Durham he had 

 the good fortune to terminate the disputes which had existed between 

 the convent and the two preceding Bishops, besides discharging an 

 immense debt — -Matthew Paris 3 calls it " debitum inestimabilef and 



1 See Wilts Mag., xvii., 190. 

 2 Anglia Sacra, i., 735. 

 3 Chronica Majora, iii., 391 (Rolls Edition). 



