DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6886#0215
WESTMINSTER ABBEY. 183
WILLIAM CURTLYNGTON..
This monk succeeded Richard de Sudbury*. He had been confidentially
employed in the affairs of the two last abbots; by the former in the business of his
household, and by the latter respecting the money to be raised for the payment
of the pope. From the manner in which he was elected, there is every reason to
presume that he was a man of approved character. He was chosen, April 24,
1315, as it was termed, per viam Spiritus Sancti; by which is to be understood, that
when a person was named as a proper object of their choice, the assembled elec-
tors should instantly and unanimously agree to it. As such a circumstance very
rarely occurred, it was supposed to be occasioned by the special influence of the
Holy Ghost, and consequently acquired this superlative denomination-f-.
In the month of July in the same year:}:, he proceeded, with the attendance of
two of his monks, Robert de Raby and John de Wanting, to Valence, in Dau-
phiny, where the cardinals held their conclave during the vacancy of the papal see..
To them he presented the attestation of a notary-public, that he came for his con-
firmation within three months, the time limited by a constitution of Pope Ni-
cholas III. He must, however, have been induced to remain there through a
considerable part of the following year, as it appears, that on May 16, 1316, the
king presented to the vicarages of Laleham and Peclesham, which were in the
patronage of the monastery.
He rebuilt the manor-house of Islip, as well as that in which Edward the
Confessor was born, adjoining the church§. He did the same by that of Sutton,
in Gloucestershire. These were two of the estates assigned to the abbot's portion..
* Flete.
+ Archives of the Church,
f Ibid,
h Flete.
WILLIAM CURTLYNGTON..
This monk succeeded Richard de Sudbury*. He had been confidentially
employed in the affairs of the two last abbots; by the former in the business of his
household, and by the latter respecting the money to be raised for the payment
of the pope. From the manner in which he was elected, there is every reason to
presume that he was a man of approved character. He was chosen, April 24,
1315, as it was termed, per viam Spiritus Sancti; by which is to be understood, that
when a person was named as a proper object of their choice, the assembled elec-
tors should instantly and unanimously agree to it. As such a circumstance very
rarely occurred, it was supposed to be occasioned by the special influence of the
Holy Ghost, and consequently acquired this superlative denomination-f-.
In the month of July in the same year:}:, he proceeded, with the attendance of
two of his monks, Robert de Raby and John de Wanting, to Valence, in Dau-
phiny, where the cardinals held their conclave during the vacancy of the papal see..
To them he presented the attestation of a notary-public, that he came for his con-
firmation within three months, the time limited by a constitution of Pope Ni-
cholas III. He must, however, have been induced to remain there through a
considerable part of the following year, as it appears, that on May 16, 1316, the
king presented to the vicarages of Laleham and Peclesham, which were in the
patronage of the monastery.
He rebuilt the manor-house of Islip, as well as that in which Edward the
Confessor was born, adjoining the church§. He did the same by that of Sutton,
in Gloucestershire. These were two of the estates assigned to the abbot's portion..
* Flete.
+ Archives of the Church,
f Ibid,
h Flete.