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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 04 September 2015
1 A Thomas Hale, York dioc., was granted a papal dispensation in 4 Leo X (1516–1517) to hold a plurality of incompatible benefices; CPL, XX, no. 1063 (rubricella of lost letter). A Thomas Halle, rector of Suckley (Worcs.), Worcester dioc., secured a papal dispensation on 18 January 1512 to hold an additional incompatible benefice and be non-resident, and obtained a papal letter on 30 January 1516 authorizing his rectory's union with the par. ch. of St Michael the Archangel on the Hill, Bristol, Worcester dioc.; the same man as perpetual vicar of Elberton(?) (Glos.), Worcester dioc., had obtained a papal letter on 29 December 1515 authorizing his vicarage's union with the same par. ch.: CPL, XIX, no. 793; XX, nos 428, 565. Another Thomas Halle, rector of Stockton (Wilts.), Salisbury dioc., was granted a papal dispensation on 4 August 1511 to hold an additional incompatible benefice; CPL, XIX, no. 489.
2 Probably the Alan Percy, York dioc., who was granted a papal dispensation in 1 Julius II (1503–1504) to hold two benefices with cure of souls on reaching his twenty-third year and a third on reaching the legitimate age (twenty-five); another papal dispensation in 2 Julius II (1504–1505) to hold a plurality of incompatible benefices; and a papal letter in 5 Julius II (1507–1508) authorizing the union of a vicarage to a par. ch. for life: CPL, XIX, nos 963, 1305, 1688 (rubricelle of lost letters).
3 Perhaps the Thomas Bennet, Bath and Wells dioc., who obtained two papal dispensations to hold a plurality of incompatible benefices in 5 Leo X (1517–1518) and 9 Leo X (1521) respectively; CPL, XX, nos 1214, 1530 (rubricelle of lost letters).
4 A Robert Philipson, rector of South Kelsey (Lincs.), Lincoln dioc., secured a papal dispensation on 30 August 1505 to hold an additional incompatible benefice; a Robert Philipson, London dioc., obtained a papal licence in 2 Leo X (1514–1515) authorizing his non-residence by reason of study: CPL, XVIII, no. 492; XX, no. 885 (rubricella of lost letter).
5 Perhaps the John Chamber, MA, MD, physician to Henry VIII, who claimed to hold the treasurership of Wells cathedral and parish churches of Thornton Dale (N. Yorks.), York dioc., and Great Bowden (Leics.), Lincoln dioc., by virtue of a papal dispensation to hold three incompatible benefices, and obtained a further papal dispensation on 30 January 1512 to hold a fourth incompatible benefice; CPL, XVIII, no. 149. The same man, originally from Northumberland, was fellow of Merton College, Oxford, 1495–1508, and warden from 30 August 1525 to 1544; incepted as MA of Oxford University on 30 June 1495, was admitted as MD at Padua in 1505 and incorporated at Oxford on 16 November 1531; was admitted as treasurer of Wells on 18 February 1511, till May 1543, and as rector of Great Bowden and of Thornton Dale on 9 April and 4 May 1508 respectively, still holding the former in 1526 and retaining the latter till death; held numerous other ecclesiastical benefices, including canonries at Lincoln, Wells, Salisbury and St George's Chapel, Windsor; archdeaconries at Meath and Bedford; and another canonry then deanery of St Stephen's Chapel, Westminster; was appointed as physician to Henry VII in c.1506 and to Henry VIII, 1509–1546; was first President of the Barber-Surgeons’ Guild of London in 1541; and died in 1549 (BRUO, I. 385–386).
6 Probably not the John Moor’, perpetual vicar of Burlescombe (Devon), Exeter dioc., who obtained Leo X's confirmation on 19 March 1513 of a papal dispensation to hold an additional incompatible benefice, dated 26 December 1511 but never issued under Julius II; CPL, XX, no. 179.
7 Perhaps the John Denham, BTh, rector of North Kilworth (Leics.), Lincoln dioc., who was granted a papal letter on 12 October 1514 authorizing his rectory's union with Tinwell par. ch. (Rut.), Lincoln dioc.; CPL, XX, no. 290. The same man, from Durham dioc., incepted as MA of Oxford University in 1488 and was BTh by 1500; was fellow of Lincoln College, Oxford, from 1487 until he became Ingledew fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, in c.1496, still in 1499; was admitted as rector of North Kilworth and of Tinwell on 1 January 1500 and 30 January 1515 respectively; held several other ecclesiastical benefices, including a Lincoln canonry; and died in 1533 (BRUO, I. 569–570).
8 Probably not the Richard ap David, St David's dioc., who obtained a papal dispensation in 2 Julius II (1504–1505) to wear his monastic habit under any dark-coloured clerical garb; CPL, XIX, no. 1091 (rubricella of lost letter).
9 Probably not the John Griffith’, BCnL, treasurer of St David's cathedral, who was granted a papal dispensation in 5 Julius II (1507–1508) to hold an additional incompatible benefice, by virtue of which he obtained Burton Ferry par. ch. (co. Pembroke), St David's dioc., then secured a further papal dispensation on 14 March 1516 to hold a third incompatible benefice: CPL, XIX, no. 1816 (rubricella of lost letter); XX, no. 539. The latter was probably an Oxford University graduate, was a canon of St David's in 1504 and its treasurer till death, and was dead by May 1523 (BRUO, 1501–1540, 247).
10 Possibly the Robert Johnson who occurs as prior of the Gilbertine Priory of St Katharine, Lincoln, on 1 May 1509 (Heads of Religious Houses, III. 599). Probably not the Robert Johnson, BCnL, vicar of St Michael's par. ch., Derby, Coventry and Lichfield dioc., who was granted a papal dispensation on 19 August 1510 to hold an additional incompatible benefice and be non-resident; nor the Robert Johnson alias Waynslete, priest, Salisbury dioc., who secured a papal dispensation on 2 June 1512 to hold two incompatible benefices and be non-resident: CPL, XIX, nos 367, 623. The former was BCnL probably of Oxford University; admitted as rector of Glatton (Hunts.) on 25 July 1510, still in 1526, and as vicar of St Michael’s, Derby, on 19 December 1510, till death; and was dead by February 1530 (BRUO, 1501–1540, 685; cf. ibid. 321–322).
11 Perhaps the Thomas John, layman, St David's dioc., who was granted on 7 August 1505 a papal licence to choose a personal confessor; CPL, XVIII, no. 496.
12 Perhaps the John Symondi alias Tayllones, London dioc., who obtained a papal dispensation in 1 Julius II (1503–1504) to hold any benefice and was doubtless the John Symonidi, London(?) dioc., granted a papal dispensation in 2 Julius II (1504–1505) to hold a plurality of incompatible benefices; CPL, XIX, nos 1029, 1339.
13 Perhaps the Robert Thomson, BTh, rector of Corringham (Essex), London dioc., who obtained a papal dispensation on 10 November 1515 to hold an additional incompatible benefice; CPL, XX, no. 512. The latter was of Durham dioc. and fellow of Queens’ College, Cambridge, 1498–1499; incepted as MA of Cambridge University in 1499, was admitted as BTh in 1509–1510 and as DTh in 1516–1517; ordained as priest on 2 April 1496; admitted as rector of Corringham on 12 May 1506 and as vicar of Alconbury (Hunts.) on 21 January 1515, both till death; and was dead by October 1533 (BRUC, 582). Probably not the Robert Tomson, clerk, St Andrews dioc., who was granted a papal letter on 6 September 1509 awarding him a pension from Minto par. ch., Glasgow dioc.; nor the Robert Thomson, Whithorn dioc., who obtained a papal letter in 6 Julius II (1507–1508) also granting him a pension: CPL, XIX, nos 864, 1656.
14 Perhaps the Alice Broke, laywoman of Wells, defamed of practizing sorcery and poisons, who appealed to the provincial court of Canterbury against the inquiry concerning these charges conducted by the vicar general of Hadrian de Castello, bishop of Bath and Wells and cardinal priest of S. Crisogono; the vicar general counter-appealed with his bishop's support to Rome obtaining a papal commission to judges delegate on 1 December 1511: CPL, XIX, no. 751.
15 Perhaps the Robert Hood’, rector of Acton Burnell (Salop.), Coventry and Lichfield dioc., who secured a papal dispensation on 24 April 1511 to hold an extra incompatible benefice and be non-resident; CPL, XIX, no. 427.
16 Perhaps the William Grey, rector of All Saints’ par. ch., Woolfardisworthy (Devon), Exeter dioc., who gained a papal dispensation on 1 December 1505 to hold an additional incompatible benefice and be non-resident; CPL, XVIII, no. 590.
17 Perhaps the John Harrys, St David's dioc., who obtained a papal dispensation in 6 Julius II (1508–1509) to hold a plurality of incompatible benefices; CPL, XIX, no. 1819 (rubricella of lost letter).
18 Perhaps the John Langford, Worcester dioc., who obtained a papal dispensation in 2 Leo X (1514–1515) to hold a plurality of incompatible benefices; CPL, XX, no. 926 (rubricella of lost letter).
19 Probably not the Thomas Smith, rector of Calstone Wellington (Wilts.), Salisbury dioc., who was granted a papal dispensation on 20 August 1512 to hold an additional incompatible benefice and be non-resident; nor the Thomas Smith, Lincoln dioc., who secured two papal dispensations to hold a plurality of incompatible benefices in 2 Leo X (1514–1515) and 7 Leo X (1519–1520) respectively: CPL, XIX, no. 728; XX, nos 881, 1369 (rubricelle of lost letters). Even less likely to be Thomas Smyth’, canon of Maxstoke Priory (Warwicks.), OSA, Coventry and Lichfield dioc., who gained a papal dispensation on 10 February 1506 to hold any benefice as if a secular priest; CPL, XVIII, no. 655.
20 Perhaps the Richard Hill, layman, Worcester or another dioc., an executor of the will of Alice Berriman, parishioner of Stow-on-the-Wold (Glos.), who appealled to Rome against the alleged impeding of the will's execution by the bishop of Worcester's commissary general and obtained a papal letter on 13 September 1514 commissioning papal judges delegate to settle this dispute; CPL, XX, no. 279.
21 Perhaps the John Cogyn’ alias Combe, monk of the Cluniac priory of Montacute (Somerset), Bath and Wells dioc., who obtained a papal dispensation on 29 May 1511 to hold any benefice as if a secular priest; CPL, XIX, no. 487.
22 Not the John Payne, OP, DTh of Cambridge University by 1472–1473, Dominican prior provincial in England from 1474 until his provision as bishop of Meath in Ireland on 17 March 1483, till his death on 6 March 1507; an appeal from whose episcopal judgement to Rome resulted in a papal letter of 3 October 1506 commissioning papal judges delegate: BRUC, 445–456; CPL, XVIII, no. 692.
23 A William Clerk, rector of Ufford par. ch. (Northants.), Lincoln dioc., obtained a papal dispensation in 2 Julius II (1504–1505) to hold an additional incompatible benefice; a William Clerk, rector of Springfield par. ch. (Essex), London dioc., and a William Clerk, rector of Welbourn par. ch. (Lincs.), Lincoln dioc.,obtained like dispensations in 3 Julius II (1505–1506); CPL, XIX, nos 1069, 1072, 1073 (rubricelle of lost letters); cf. ibid. 1511, 1528. William Clerk, rector of Welbourn, was the same as William Clerk, MA, perpetual chaplain in Towcester par. ch. (Northants.), Lincoln dioc., who was granted a papal dispensation on 18 December 1513 to hold an additional incompatible benefice and be non-resident; probably the same William Clerk, Norwich dioc., who obtained a papal letter in 5 Leo X (1517–1518) authorizing the union of his par. ch. to another: CPL, XX, nos 9, 1176 (rubricella of lost letter). William Clerk, MA, was MA of Cambridge University by 1500, admitted as rector of Welbourn on 25 January 1506 and still in 1520, collated as warden of the Sponne chantry in Towcester ch. on 26 September 1508, and held various other ecclesiastical benefices including a canonry at St Mary’s, Warwick (BRUC, 140); not the same as William Clarke who was admitted as MA of Cambridge University in 1510–1511, incorporated at Oxford in 1516, fellow of King's College Cambridge, 1507–1524, and rector of Little Kemble (Bucks.), 1524–1531 (BRUO, 1501–1540, 120).
24 Thomas Rowland alias Penthecoste was a monk of Abingdon Abbey (Berks.), OSB, by 1504 and his election as abbot in 1511 received the royal assent on 23 February 1512; he remained abbot till the abbey's dissolution on 9 February 1538. He supplicated for BTh at Oxford University on 17 May 1514 and was granted a papal dispensation for study on 3 February 1521. He was ordained as priest on 21 September 1504 and dispensed by the Faculty Office on 12 February 1538 to hold a benefice with change of habit; he was dead by 1540 (BRUO, 1501–1540, 493; Heads of Religious Houses, III. 13).
25 Perhaps the Richard Haws, London(?) dioc., who was granted a papal dispensation in 3 Julius II (1505–1506); CPL, XIX, no. 1516 (rubricella of lost letter).
26 Perhaps John Fisher, born at Beverley (E. Yorks.) in 1469, fellow of Michaelhouse from c.1491 and master from 1496 to 1498; MA and DTh of Cambridge University by 1510; Vice-Chancellor of Cambridge University from 15 July 1501, its Chancellor from October 1514 till death, and first Lady Margaret reader in divinity from 8 September 1502. As chaplain of Henry VIII, he was provided as bishop of Rochester under papal letters of 14–15 October 1504, and as former chaplain and confessor to Lady Margaret Beaufort he was co-petitioner for the papal licence of 24 June 1510 authorizing her plans to refound St John's Hospital as St John's College, Cambridge; an author of sermons and other theological works, he wrote treatises against Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon in 1527–1532 and was executed on 22 June 1535 for refusing to swear the oath required by the Act of Succession: BRUC, 229–230; CPL, XVIII, nos 55, 63, 197–199. Or John Fisher, plaintiff in a case before the consistory court of York, from which the defendants appealed to Rome resulting in a papal letter of 8 July 1514 commissioning papal judges delegate to settle the case; CPL, XX, no. 271.
27 Perhaps the William Baker, rector of Costock par. ch. (Notts.), York dioc., who obtained a papal dispensation on 10 June 1508 to hold an additional incompatible benefice and be non-resident; or the William Marshall’ alias Baker, scholar, Coventry and Lichfield dioc., who secured a papal dispensation from defect of age on 9 January 1516 so that on becoming a clerk and reaching his nineteenth year he might hold a benefice, and on reaching his twentieth year he might hold an extra incompatible benefice and be non-resident: CPL, XIX, no. 30; XX, no. 550; cf. Appendix 4. 17.
28 ? = Appendix 4. 3.
29 Perhaps the Rigaud Philpot, clerk, Winchester dioc., allegedly of noble birth, who gained a papal dispensation on 14 July 1505 from defect of birth, then being in his tenth year or thereabouts, to hold any cathedral canonries and prebends; CPL, XVIII, no. 423.
30 A William Smith was archdeacon of Lincoln in December 1511, when he was commissioned as a papal judge delegate, and in July 1513, when an appeal to Rome from his court resulted in a papal commission of papal judges delegate: CPL, XIX, no. 752; XX, no. 218. He was BCL of Cambridge University by 1500, DCnL of Ferrara by 1506 (incorporated at Cambridge in 1505–1506), and collated as archdeacon of Northants. on 4 January 1500, resigning on his admission as archdeacon of Lincoln on 21 August 1506, till death (BRUC, 538). A William Smyth, York dioc., was MA of Cambridge University, fellow of Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, from c.1486 to 1501, and vicar of Overton Watervile par. ch. (Hunts.), Lincoln dioc., from 5 November 1500 till his death in 1532; as vicar of Overton Watervile he obtained a papal dispensation in 2 Julius II (1504–1505) to hold an additional incompatible benefice: BRUC, 537; CPL, XIX, no. 1056; cf. ibid. 1520 (rubricelle of lost letters). A William Smyth, rector of St Lawrence's par. ch., Oxhill (Warwicks.), Worcester dioc., and another William Smyth, rector of Great Catworth par. ch. (Hunts.), Lincoln dioc., secured like dispensations on 23 June and 24 July 1507 respectively; CPL, XVIII, nos 791, 843. Another William Smyth, vicar of Colwich par. ch. (Staffs.), Coventry and Lichfield dioc., secured a like dispensation in 1 Julius II (1503–1504); probably the same William Smyth, Coventry and Lichfield dioc., who was granted a papal dispensation in 2 Julius II (1504–1505) to hold a plurality of incompatible benefices: CPL, XIX, nos 932, 1336 (rubricelle of lost letters). A William Smith, Chichester dioc., gained a similar dispensation in 1 Leo X (1513–1514); and another William Smith and Mary Harris, Coventry and Lichfield dioc., obtained a marriage dispensation in 5 Leo X (1517–1518): CPL, XX, nos 756, 1234 (rubricelle of lost letters).
31 ? = Appendix 4. 91.
32 Cf. 137 above.
33 ? = Appendix 4. 65.
34 Doubtless the Griffin [ap] Davydd Duy, rector of St Giles the Abbot par.ch., Wendlebury (Oxon.), Lincoln dioc., who was granted a papal letter on 8 July 1513 authorizing his rectory's union with the perpetual vicarage of St Miliceus par. ch., Llanarth (Cardigans.), St David's dioc.; CPL, XX, no. 25. A Griffin ap David, perpetual vicar of Ystrad(?) par. ch. (Cardigans.), St David's dioc., claimed to have received a papal dispensation from defect of birth, being born of a married man and an unmarried woman, to be promoted to all, even holy, orders and hold two benefices, even one with cure of souls, and secured a further dispensation on 26 November 1503 to hold an additional incompatible benefice and be non-resident; CPL, XVIII, no. 233. A Griffin ap David, rector of Aberporth (Cardigans.), St David's dioc., similarly claimed to have secured as a clerk a papal dispensation from defect of birth, being born of unmarried parents, to be promoted to all holy, even priest’s, orders and hold a benefice even with cure of souls, and obtained a further dispensation on 15 May 1512 to hold an additional incompatible benefice and be non-resident; CPL, XIX, no. 297.
35 A Thomas Lloyd, Exeter dioc., was granted a papal dispensation in 2 Leo X (1514–1515) to hold a plurality of incompatible benefices; a Thomas Lloyd, St David's dioc., secured a similar dispensation in 8 Leo X (1520–1521): CPL, XX, nos 906, 1419 (rubricelle of lost letters).
36 Robert Salisbury was abbot of Valle Crucis Abbey (Denbigh), OCist, by 1 April 1528, and arrested for robbery and forgery in 1534, the abbey's administration being committed to the prior and four others on 4 August 1534. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London by 6 July 1535, and commissioners informed Thomas Cromwell on 1 September 1535 of their intention to deprive Salisbury of office on 4 or 5 September; he occurs as a clerk in 1542 (Heads of Religious Houses, III. 344–345).
37 ? = Appendix 4. 83.
38 Possibly Thomas Benett, DCL (of Oxford University) by 1512, who held numerous ecclesiastical benefices, including canonries at St Paul's London and Salisbury; was appointed as the bishop of Salisbury's vicar general in 1524, still in September 1533; and died in 1558 (BRUO, 1501–1540, 42–43). Probably the same as Thomas Bennet, Bath and Wells dioc., who secured two papal dispensations to hold a plurality of incompatible benefices in 5 Leo X (1517–1518) and 9 Leo X (1521) respectively; CPL, XX, nos 1214, 1530 (rubricelle of lost letters).
39 Doubtless the Robert Clerk alias Fabyan’, MA, rector of St George's par. ch., Toddington (Beds.), Lincoln dioc., who was granted a papal dispensation on 9 April 1507 to hold an additional incompatible benefice and be non-resident; a Robert Clarke alias Fabyan whom Emden identifies as rector of Toddington in 1518 (till death) incepted as MA (of Oxford University) on 14 March 1524, held several other benefices including canonries at Stoke by Clare (Suff.) and Chulmleigh (Devon), was steward of the countess of Oxford's household, and was dead by February 1534: CPL, XVIII, no. 724; BRUO, 1501–1540, 119. Probably not Robert Clerk, Winchester dioc., who obtained a papal dispensation in 4 Julius II (1506–1507); CPL, XIX, no. 1630 (rubricella of lost letter).
40 Henry Courtenay, marquess of Exeter (d. 1538); see Oxford DNB, XIII. 678–681.
41 Perhaps the John Egerton, Lincoln dioc., who was granted a papal dispensation in 1 Leo X (1513–1514) to hold a plurality of incompatible benefices; CPL, XX, no. 834 (rubricella of lost letter).
