AdamEaston.info

After his restoration by Boniface IX in 1389, Adam tried to regain the income from his two benefices, Somersham in Huntingdonshire and the deanery at York. Unfortunately Richard II had provided his own candidates to occupy the benefices whilst Adam was been languishing in prison. Although it appears that neither of Richard’s men had yet succeeded in getting hold of the fruits of the benefices, neither was inclined to surrender his claim just because Adam had been released. Both men were courtiers and close confidentes of their king, John Boore who was awarded Somersham and Edmund Stafford the deanery of York, and relied upon Richard’s support in maintaining their position.

By 1394 increasingly heated correspondence passed between the King, Adam, Pope Boniface and Stafford. Meanwhile Adam appears to have been successful in holding onto the cash in both cases while Stafford must have felt he would be completely out of favour with his religious superiors.

So when Richard decided that he would like to appoint Stafford as bishop of Exeter he must have feared the worst. Boniface would never accept the appointment without the say so of the Cardinal of England.

However Adam was quite prepared to separate the principle of the authority of the Church over matters clerical, from the authority of the monarch over matters clerical. Stafford had been granted York by his sovereign, but York was not in his sovereign’s gift. By contrast Richard put forward Stafford for the Bishopric of Exeter seeking papal approval. There was for an advocate of Adam’s standing, a very clear distinction between the two sets of circumstances.

Transcription

Reverendissime in christo, pater et domine mi confidentissime postquam innotuit michi tam per literas amicorum quam ex relatu dilecti licenti/licitum mei Magistri Johannis Park quod vestra reverendissima paternitas summis desideriis expectabat horam in qua posset feliciter mei status exaltatonem in conspectu sedis apostolice praemonereet qualiter auditis de obitu(ii) bone memorie domini Exoniensis episcopus titulis rumoribus non quievit eadem vestram paternitas donec de prefata ecclesia apud sanctam sedem gracam obtinui satis bene praecipere poteram quod licet frequenter amara verba per litteras affate(from affatus) dominacionis acceperam que michi timorem incuterent(from incutio) finaliter tum amaritudinem illam re(p)peri in magne suavitatis dulcedine esse commisam sicut facti experiencia manifestat. De quo sinceritatis vestre constantiae regracior ex intimo cordis mei cernens me iam dicte paternitati pro tante dignationis impendis perpetuis temporibus obligatum. Nec miretur queso vestra benignitas quod non scribe vobis hac vite(vice) de negotiis vestris quoniam omni die responsum expecto michi de Romana curia transmittens quid clericus domini mei Cantuarien domino Johannes Montagu fecerit in negotio sibi commisso cuius effectus ut teneo(tenes) vobis afferre poterit comodum et quietam et michi omnia statum meum tangentia posui in suspenso semper eo positus illa perficere que sub posse meo dependeant et vestre paternitatis reverencie conservet fuit accepta suam(?) altissimus ad regimen ecclesie sue sancte.

Scriptus londonis xxi aprilis. Domino Cardinali Anglie. Orator vester Ede Stafford electus exoniensis. Reverendissimo in christo patri domino A. dei gratie tituli sancte Cecilie sacro sancte Romane ecclesie Cardinali.

Approximate translation

Reverend in Christ, father and lord. It came to my notice, both through letters from friends and from the direct reports of my friend John Park that your reverend fatherhood was eagerly looking forward to the time when you could tell me of my elevation, in sight of the apostolic throne.

There had been persistent rumours, after the death of the fondly remembered Bishop of Exeter, that your reverence would not be content [about my appointment] until I had been able to receive approval concerning that church from the holy seat. I had heard hurtful words in letters, which caused me anxiety at first, and later bitterness, but which turned into delight given how events turned out. For your good faith, I thank you from the depths of my heart, realising that I shall be forever indebted to you for your goodness. Nor should your reverence be surprised that I had not written to you about the trouble you've taken, given that I have been daily expecting a letter from the court at Rome in response to the letter that the scribe to my lord of Canterbury had written to John Montagu concerning the task allocated to him. The effect of this reply, I believe, would have been to put your mind at rest. So I have kept on hold all matters concerning my status, until I could complete those aspects within my powers and present them to the satisfaction of your reverend self as being worthy of the sacred church.

Written in London 21^st April dictated your Edmund Stafford, elect of Exeter

To the Lord Cardinal of England: Reverend in Christ, Adam, by God’s grace Holy Roman Cardinal with the title of St Cecilia.

Edinburgh University MS183 fo45v