Document 2/150/6 (Theiner, no. 270)
- Description
- Pope Nicholas III commands the bishops of St Andrews and Aberdeen, and the minister provincial of the Friars Minors in Scotland to persuade R[ichard], dean of Caithness, who has been elected to that see, to renounce all right he may have acquired by it. Henry of Nottingham, procurator of the dean and chapter, petitioned that the dean had an illegitimate son, 30 years old, and was reported to have another, and said that he had consented to the election, and was conducted to the high altar, and received the canons with the accustomed kiss, and was present in the chapter when their mandate was made to their procurator to petition for confirmation of the election, though he did not prove it; and that he was said to be paralysed, and unable, from age, to perform his duties; the pope, considering the above, and also that the dean’s consent was not proved to have been given within a month of his election, as it should be according to the constitution of the council of Lyon, and that confirmation was not sought within three months, declares the election null, but, to spare the dean, orders the above to lay these particulars before him, and persuade him to renounce his right, so that the chapter may provide another pastor. If he does not resign, he is to be cited to appear personally before the pope, to be examined as to his learning and bodily strength.
- Firm date
- 9 March 1279
- Dating Notes
- 7 id. Mar., pontifical year 2
- Place date (modern)
- Rome (St Peter's)
- Place date (document)
- Rome apud Sanctum Petrum
- Related Place
- Rome
- Source for Data Entry
- Theiner, Monumenta, no. 270
- Trad. ID
- Theiner, no. 270
- Calendar number
- 2/150/6
- Charter type
- Papal letter
- Language
- Latin