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Cathedral Priory of Odense in the Middle Ages 207
bishops, and that none but the monks of St Knud might
participate. i zu A declaration to this effect was drawn
up by the bishop;':" and the prior of Dalum was obliged
to renounce all his claims. 122 After the synod of I348,
the electoral rights of the monks were not seriously
questioned, as long as the Odense chapter remained
Benedictine.
The declaration of Bishop Niels mentions that those
who had usurped the election rights were "theotonici
clerici".123 The disputed election had taken place during
the Danish interregnum when the country was ruled by
the counts, Gerard and John. This aspect of the affair
must not, however, be exaggerated. Bishop Niels was
himself a German from 51esvig. 124
The bishop of Odense's rights to enforce discipline were
bound to be resisted by a monastic chapter. In II39
and II7I Archbishop Eskil had allowed the monks of
St Knud virtual autonomy. The bishop of Odense was
not allowed to correct their faults unless his intervention
was desired by the prior and community. Then he might
enter the chapter-house and, together with the brethren,
give judgement according to the Rule of St Benedict. 125
In the archbishop's confirmation of II7I the bishop was
also prohibited from appointing the obedientiaries.P" It
seems unlikely that the bishop was ever called upon to
perform disciplinary functions, but the documents referring
to his relations with the priory are concerned with
external matters. In I348 and I36S the bishop confirmed
the monks' sole right in episcopal elections. 127 Bishop
Peter Pagh (I30I-39) occupied some land they claimed
120 DD III, 3, No. 63.
121 ibid. No. 64.
122 ibid. No. 65. See also Dnlu n: Sogns Histone I, I, 57
123 DD III, 3, No. 64.
124 Series Episcoporum. Oithoniensium, in S.R.D. VII, 230.
125 Dip], AM I, 245-6, 253-4.
12 6 ibid. 253-4. In twelfth-century English cathedral priories the bishops
usually appointed the prior. and all or some of the obedientiaries. See
Knowles, The Monastic Order in England, 626-7.
127 See above, p. 206, and S.R.D. I, 311.