Document 2/135/3 (Haddan and Stubbs, Councils, ii, I, 269-71)
- Description
- Pope Clement III writes to Bishops Jocelin of Glasgow, Matthew of Aberdeen, Richard of Moray, Abbots Arnold of Melrose and Hugh of Newbattle, and the abbots of Holyrood, Cambuskenneth and Scone, recalling the great tribulations which the church of St Andrews has suffered under the shadow of royal indignation, and the perils which Bishop John of St Andrews has endured on behalf of the liberty of the church committed to him by Clement and by two previous popes. Out of consideration of the king’s welfare, the reformation of the aforementioned church, and the peace which should be conferred to that bishop, Clement commands that they should visit King William of Scotland, and warn him to desist from his rancour towards that bishop. He should not on this account spurn the Roman church, which has long honoured him, but should permit the bishop to possess the diocese of St Andrews in peace. If, imperilling his salvation, he resists the apostolic admonitions, within twenty days they should promulgate an edict against the kingdom, the king’s person and all royal supporters, without the possibility of appeal. A similar sentence should also apply to those who supported Hugh after the apostolic see removed him permanently from the diocese of St Andrews and excommunicated him. They should publicly be proclaimed to be excommunicated and ought to be avoided until they return to the obedience of the church, prepared to seek absolution from Bishop John. The altars and chalices used by Hugh after he was excommunicated should be purified and sanctified according to the custom of the church. They should go to the church of St Andrews and investigate its organisation and status. If anything has been changed by Hugh, it should be put in proper order by Clement’s authority. Anything which needs to be corrected there should be reformed. If any of the canons rebel against receiving John they should be admonished to show him due obedience. If they are contumacious, they should suspend them from their office and benefice and excommunicate them until they obey the ecclesiastical admonitions. If all of them cannot be present throughout all that is to be done, the proceedings can be carried out by the others.
- Firm date
- 16 January 1188
- Dating Notes
- 17 kal. Feb., 6th indiction
- Place date (modern)
- Pisa
- Place date (document)
- Pisae
- Related Place
- Pisa
- Source for Data Entry
- Haddan and Stubbs, Councils, ii, I, 269-71
- Trad. ID
- Haddan and Stubbs, Councils, ii, I, 269-71
- Calendar number
- 2/135/3
- Charter type
- Papal letter
- Language
- Latin
- Notes
- No MS, only transmitted by Roger Howden