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You can read this book here in pdf - Electric Scotland

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FROM ENGLISH CHRONICLERS 137<br />

1119<br />

LETTER OF POPE CALIXTUS II TO THE BISHOPS OF SCOTLAND,<br />

IN RAINE'S YOKK, VOL. Ill, PP. 40-41. l<br />

Bishop Calixtus, servant of the servants of God, to all the<br />

bishops throughout <strong>Scotland</strong>, suffragans of the church of<br />

York, greet<strong>in</strong>g and apostolic benediction.<br />

A certa<strong>in</strong> grave and perilous presumption is said to prevail<br />

<strong>in</strong> your parts, to wit that, without consult<strong>in</strong>g your metro-<br />

politan and other fellow-bishops, one is consecrated as bishop<br />

by another. But concern<strong>in</strong>g <strong>this</strong> undoubted presumption<br />

pay heed diligently to what the great Nicene synod has de-<br />

term<strong>in</strong>ed, <strong>in</strong> its fourth chapter. .<br />

T<strong>here</strong>fore by apostolic authority we command you that<br />

none be consecrated henceforth as bishop <strong>in</strong> your churches<br />

except by your metropolitan the archbishop of York, or by<br />

his permission.<br />

Moreover we <strong>in</strong>struct and command your fraternity that<br />

sett<strong>in</strong>g every pretext aside you<br />

offer <strong>can</strong>onical obedience to<br />

our venerable brother Thurstan, consecrated archbishop of<br />

York by God's grace, and as if by the hands of St. Peter ;<br />

even as <strong>in</strong> the time of Gerard, archbishop of the same church,<br />

was commanded by the lord of holy memory our predecessor,<br />

pope Paschal.<br />

And if you obey our commands may the div<strong>in</strong>e mercy<br />

keep you, and lead you to eternal life.<br />

1 Cf. Calixtus's letter of the same date given by H.S., Abps. of Yk., <strong>in</strong><br />

Ra<strong>in</strong>e's York, ii,<br />

167-168:<br />

" Letters of the same pope to all the bishops of<br />

<strong>Scotland</strong>, subject to the metropolitan church of York :<br />

" '<br />

Bishop Calixtus, servant of the servants of God, to the venerable<br />

brethren Ranulf [Flambard] of Durham, Ralph [Nowel] of Orkney, [John]<br />

of Glasgow, and all the bishops throughout <strong>Scotland</strong>, suffragans of the church<br />

of York, greet<strong>in</strong>g and apostolic benediction. . . .<br />

" We t<strong>here</strong>fore command your Fraternity by authority of the present<br />

letters that you be very diligently heedful to love and honour our brother<br />

Thurstan aforesaid as your metropolitan, and to show him henceforth due<br />

obedience and honour, sett<strong>in</strong>g every pretext aside.<br />

" '<br />

Given at Beauvais on the twelfth before the kalends of December.' "<br />

Contrast with <strong>this</strong> claim the letter of Alexander, supra, s.a. 1115 ; and<br />

compare G. of M., H.Br., IV, 19 ; R. de D., Abbr. Chr., i, 66 ; a copyist of<br />

W. of M., <strong>in</strong> G.P., p. xxvi the ; declaration of Thomas to Lanfranc, W. of M.,<br />

G.P., 43.<br />

For the compact made between the two archbishops v. H. & S., ii, 159 :<br />

"<br />

And the metropolitan of Canterbury has granted to the archbishop of<br />

York and his successors to possess for ever the subjection of the bishop of<br />

Durham, that is, of L<strong>in</strong>disfarne ; and of all districts from the boundaries of<br />

the bishop of Lichfield and that of the great river Humber even to the farthest<br />

borders of <strong>Scotland</strong> ; and whatever on the other side of the aforesaid river<br />

rightly perta<strong>in</strong>s to the territory of the church of York."<br />

In support of the Canterbury claim to the subjection of the Scottish

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