Biography of Bishop Richard Poore -1237

Chronica Majora by Matthew Paris. 15th April 1237. About the same time, namely on the 15th of April, died Richard, the second bishop of Durham of that name; a man of unparalleled piety and profound learning, who had strenuously ruled over three episcopal churches; namely, those of Chichester, Salisbury, and, finally, that of Durham, which he had presided over with all prosperity, and had released it from a heavy debt, incurred by the first Richard, surnamed Marsh, his predecessor. The sum of money which the aforesaid bishop, the second Richard, paid by way of settlement of the debt, was reckoned at more than four thousand marks. It also redounds to his immortal praise, that he transferred the church of Salisbury from a hollow, dry place in the neighbourhood of the earl's castle, to a fitting situation, and by the help of some famous architects, whom he had summoned from distant provinces, he laid a large foundation, and himself placed the first stone; to promote which work, not only the bishop, but also the king, and a great many nobles, lent a helping hand. Hence some versifier gives, - "Rex largitur opes, fert prsesul opem, lapicidae Dant operam; tribus his est opus, ut stet opus. [The king finds money, the stonemason hands. The bishop aids, and so the building stands.]

Besides this, he founded an establishment of nuns, at Tarent, and gave it to the queen, where he chose his burial-place. When the time of his dissolution drew nigh, the bishop, seeing that the hour was come for him to pass from this world, preached a special discourse to the assembled people, and told them that his death was at hand; on the following day, as his disease gained ground, he again assembled the people, and repeated his discourse, bidding them all farewell, and asking pardon of whomsoever he had offended. On the third day he summoned his family, and those to whom he was bound particularly to afford protection, and divided amongst them whatever appeared necessary to be distributed, to each one according to his deserts; and, having arranged and completed all his affairs with proper deliberation, and taken leave of his friends one by one, and, finally, performing the midnight devotions, he uttered the verse, "I will both lay me down in peace and sleep," and fell asleep in the Lord in all happiness. The monks of Durham, then, after invoking assistance from above, elected their prior, Thomas, a religious and discreet man, as their bishop and pastor of their souls.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough. Nor was it a wonder, it is believed, that the dispute arose over the manner of visitation, for they fell into the snare which they had long before prepared. For the canons of Durham had refused for many years to admit the visitation of the Archbishop of York, whoever held that office, though they ought to have received it obediently and as dutiful sons. For Archbishop Walter Giffard, wishing to make a visitation, was turned away. His successor, William Wickwane, continuing the same business, sent letters for the purpose of making a visitation during the time of Robert de Insula, then Bishop of Durham, but was diverted therefrom. For the chapter, raising exceptions, declared that according to the form of that constitution Romana ecclesia, De Censibus, Exactionibus, et Procurationibus,¹ they were ready to receive him, but only if he had first visited his own church and province; since he had not done so, they appealed and refused to admit him. He, in turn, excommunicated them and departed. When at length the said Robert de Insula died, the same Archbishop William sent his letters there in order to make a visitation, not as archbishop, but as bishop, since during the time of vacancy the spiritual jurisdiction belonged to him. But they replied that they were ready to admit his visitation only according to a certain agreement made between themselves and one Richard le Poor,² formerly Bishop of Durham, namely, that he should visit with only a single cleric, both for himself and for his successors, and not otherwise. Unaware of this agreement, he came there and requested admission on the sixth day before the Ides of August [8th August], in the year of our Lord 1282.

Nec fuit mirum, ut creditur, quod propter visitationis formam fiebat altercatio, quia ceciderunt in laqueum quem diu ante contexerant. Visitationem enim domini archiepiscopi Eborum, qui pro tempore fuerit, quam obedienter et filialiter recepisse debuerant, multis retro temporibus noluerunt admittere Dunolmenses. Archiepiscopus enim Walterus Giffard visitare volens, repulsus est. Successor autem ejus Willelmus Wikkewan idem continuando negotium, missis literis causa visitationis faciendæ, tempore Roberti de Insula, tunc Dunolmensis episcopi, declinavit ibidem. Qui excipiendo proponentes, quod secundum formam illius constitutionis "Romana ecclesia," De Censibus, Exactionibus, et Procurationibus, parati erant recipere eum, si tamen primo suam ecclesiam et provinciam visitasset; sed quia non fecerat hoc, appellarunt, et eum admittere noluerunt. Ipse vero excommunicavit eos, et recessit. Mortuo tandem prædicto Roberto de Insula, idem archiepiscopus Willelmus direxit ibidem literas suas ut visitaret non tanquam archiepiscopus sed tanquam episcopus, eo quod tempus vacationis pertinebat ad eum in spiritualitate. At illi responderunt ei, quod parati erant visitation of eum admittere secundum quandam formam inter ipsos et quendam Ricardum le Pover, quondam Dunolmensem episcopum, initam, (quæ fuit, quod cum uno solo clerico visitaret) pro se et successoribus suis, et alias non. Qui, hujus compositionis ignorans, venit ibidem, et petiit se admitti, sexto scilicet idus Augusti, anno Domini MCCLXXXII.

Note 1. See the Liber Sextus Decretalium domini Bonifacii Papæ VIII, lib. 3.20, Nurem. 1486.

Note 2. This bishop, generally known as Richard Poore, was translated from Salisbury to Durham on the 22nd of July, 1228, and died on the 15th of April, 1237.