Innocentius episcopus . . . archiepiscopo Eboracensi. Ex parte dilectorum. filiorum abbatis et conventus monasterii de Furnesio Cistercian. ordinis, Eboracensis dieecesis, fuit proposi tum toram nobis, quod licet ipsi, ad quos solummodo jus eligen-di episcopum in ecclesia cathedrali de Mannia de antiqua et approbata consuetudine hactenus pacifice observata pertinet, virum idoneum ad eam quotiens ipsum vacare contingit eligant in pastorem, pro eo tamen quod electum ipsum oportet cum , ad seam consecrationem accedit, quem interdum Eboracensis, alioquin vero Nidrosiensis archiepiscopus consecrate pro varie-tate temporum consuevit, mare periculosum et long um non absque apparenti et inevitabili dispendio transmeare, vix aut nunquam invemunt qui præbere velit, pro eo maxime quod ec-clesia Nidrosiensis multam est ab eadem ecclesia periculosissimi maris interjectione remota, electioni de se factæ consensurn,sicque praefata ecclesia remanens occasion- hujusmodi viduata, sustinet maximum in spiritualibus detrimentum. Quare proefati abbas et conventus nobis humiliter supplicarunt, ut ne pro defectu pastoris gregem dominicum lupus rapax invadat, obviare tanto discrimini paterna providentia curaremus. Quia vero ex hujus-modi vacationibus gravia damna consueverunt ecclesiis provenire, fraternitatem tuam rogandam duximus attentius et hortandam per apostolica tibi scripta mandantes quatenus, si est ita, de assensu venerabilis fratris nostri [Sigurdi] arehiepiscopi Nidrosi-ensis, cui super hoc dirigimus scripta nostra, quotieus tibi election-em præseutari ab eisdem contigerit, ipsam, si eam inveneris canonice de persona idonea celebratam, confirmare ac electo munus consecrationis impendere non postponas. Datum Laterani xv. Kal. Martii, anno primo.

Innocent Bishop . . . to the Archbishop of York. It has been submitted to Us by Our beloved children the abbot and community of the monastery of Furness of the Cistercian order situate in the diocese of York that although they, who have the sole right of electing a bishop for the cathedral church of Man in accordance with an ancient and approved custom hitherto peacefully observed, select a suitable person for its pastor as often as it becomes vacant, still, because it is requisite for the bishop-elect (whom sometimes the Archbishop of York other-wise the Archbishop of Nidaros has been in the habit of consecrating according to the change of times), to undertake a long and perilous passage by sea at manifest and unavoidable inconvenience when he goes to receive consecration, they scarcely ever find any one who will accept his election, chiefly because the church of Nidaros is very remote from the church of Man, and separated from it by a most dangerous sea ;and thus the said church remaining without a pastor suffers great spiritual detriment.

Wherefore, the aforesaid abbot and community have humbly implored Us to take measures in Our paternal providence against this untoward state of things, lest the flock of the Lord, being deprived of its pastor should be assailed by the ravening wolf.

Now as churches suffer great loss from such vacancies, We have considered it right earnestly to request, and exhort you, brother, directing you by these Apostolic Letters that, if such be the case, with the assent of Our venerable brother (Sigurd), the Archbishop of Nidaros to whom We have written upon the subject, as often as an election shall be presented to you by the aforesaid persons, if you find that it has been canonically celebrated and a fit person selected, you would confirm it, and not delay to confer the rite of consecration upon the bisbop-elect.

Given at the Lateran, on the 15th of February, in the first year.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor
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