The archbishop's mandate for a convocation on 31 May

Venerabili in Christo patri Domino Wulstano, Dei gratia Wigorniensi episcopo, Radulphus eadem permissione Londoniensis episcopus salutem et sincerae dilectionis continuum incrementum. Mandatum recepimus continens hunc tenorem:

Iohannes, permissione divina Cantuariensis archiepiscopus, totius Angliae primas et apostolicae sedis legatus, venerabili fratri nostro Domino Radulpho, Dei gratia Londoniensi episcopo, salutem et fraternam in Domino caritatem. Praesentis mensis Aprilis die vicesima quinta [25 April 1344] literas recepimus regias quarum tenor talis est:

Quocirca vestrae fratemitati committimus et mandamus quatenus venerabiles fratres nostros coepiscopos electos et confirmatos et suffraganeos nostrae Cantuariensis ecclesiae absentiumque, vicarios si qui fuerint citetis seu citari faciatis peremptorie et per eos decanos et priores ecclesiarum cathedralium, abbates etiam et priores aliosque electivos sub se plenum conventum habentes, necnon archidiaconos, capitula, conventus et universa collegia non exempta, clerumque cuiuslibet diocesis nostrae provinciae antedictae citari peremptorie faciatis,

The first royal writ

Rex venerabili in Christo patri Simoni, eadem gratia archiepiscopo Cantuariensi, totius Angliae primati salutem. De vestrae sinceritatis et benevolentiae puritate firmam fiduciam obtinemus quodque defendendum et recuperandum coronae nostrae regiae viribus nobis vigilanter velitis assistere et in opportunitatibus quantum ad vos pertinet efficaciter opem ferre, salve vestra paternitas bene novit qualiter nuper ad partes marchiae Scotiae de vestro et aliorum praelatorum ac magnatum et procerum regni nostri consilio nos transtulimus pro defensione partium illarum contra inimicos si qui forsan hostiliter invadere vellent fines regni nostri et ad quae postmodum contigerint ibidem et quomodo quampluriumum noti de hostibus continualiter dementia Salvatoris ipsa declarat operis evidentia et si vobis incognitum non existit. Verum quia dum in partibus illis moram faceremus cum exercitu nostro innumerabiles et quasi infinitos sumptus nos effundere oportuit et decuit in tanto negotio pro honore regio et utilitate etiam conservandis et nihilominus alia postmodum emerserunt negotia in quibus vestro et aliorum praelatorum ac cleri regni nostri consilio et auxilio indigemus, vos rogamus attente vobis nihilominus in fide et dilectione quibus nobis tenemini firmiter iniungentes quatenus praelatos et clerum vestrae provinciae apud Londonias die Lunae proximo post festum Sancti Martini proximo futurum [ 15 November 1333] convocari facere, ita quod tarn vos quam dicti praelati personaliter et clerus per procuratores idoneos tune ibidem intersitis super dictis negotiis quae vobis ibidem ex parte nostra plenius exponentur tractaturi vestrumque et suum consilium et auxilium impensuri, et hoc sicut nos et honorem nostrum ac pacem et tranquillitatem regni nostri diligitis nullatenus omittatis. Teste rege apud Odiham, decimo tertio die Septembris [13 September 1333]. Per breve de privato sigillo.

The second royal writ

This was identical to the above, except that the date was put back a week to the Monday ‘post octabas’ of the feast ofSt Martin (22 November 1333). The writ was dated at Haver ing-atte-Bower on 6 October 1333. It was nullified by the death of Archbishop Simon Mepham on 12 October 1333.

The third royal writ

Edwardus, Dei gratia rex Angliae, dominus Hiberniae et dux Aquitaniae, dilecto sibi in Christo priori ecclesiae Christi Cantuariensis custodi spiritualitatis archiepiscopatus Cantuariensis sede vacante salutem.

Royal writ of summons dated 3 December 1832, for 30 January 1833.

Archbishop's commission to William Cockburn, Edward Rice, Leveson Vernon Harcourt, Robert Markham, William Vernon Harcourt, Charles Hawkins, William Henry Dixon and Henry Kitchingman, dated 25 January 1833.

Wednesday 30 January 1833

[Bishops:]

The lord archbishop of York [Edward Vernon Harcourt].

William [van Mildert], lord bishop of Durham. George Townsend, M. A., his proctor appeared etc.

John Bird [Sumner], lord bishop of Chester.

Hugh [Percy], lord bishop of Carlisle.

William [Ward], lord bishop of Sodor and Man. William Cockburn his proctor.

[The deans of]

York: William Cockburn, D. D.

Durham: John [Banks Jenkinson] bishop of St David's. George Townsend, M. A., his proctor appeared.

Chester: George Davys, D. D.

Carlisle: Robert Hodgson, D. D.

[The archdeacons of:]

York: Robert Markham clerk, M. A.

Nottingham: George Wilkins, D. D. James Richardson, M. A., his proctor.

East Riding: Francis Wrangham, M. A., appeared.

Cleveland: Henry John Todd clerk, M. A.

Durham: Charles Thorp, B. D. George Townsend (as above).

Northumberland: Thomas Singleton, D. D. Townsend (as above).

Chester: Unwin Clarke clerk, M. A.

Richmond: John Headlam, M. A.

Carlisle: William Goodenough clerk, M. A.

Sodor and Man: Benjamin Philpot, M. A. William Cockburn their proctor.

[The chapters of]

York: William Vernon Harcourt clerk, M. A., Charles Hawkins LL. B.

Durham: George Townsend, M. A., etc.

Chester: George Beecher Blomfield, M. A.

Carlisle: Robert Markham clerk, M. A.

Southwell: Charles Boothby, M. A., their proctor. James Richardson, M. A., his substitute appeared.

Ripon: George Henry Webber, M. A.

[The clergy of the archdeaconries of:]

York: Robert Affleck, M. A., William Henry Dixon, M. A.

Nottingham: James Jarvis Cleaver, M. A., John Burnside, M. A., their proctors.

James Richardson, M. A., and William Richardson, M. A., their substitutes.

East Riding: William Harry Edward Bentinck, William Canning.

Cleveland: William Henry Lord Viscount Dawney, Henry Edward John Howard, M. A.

Durham: Edward Davison, M. A., Thomas Richard Shipperdson MA; Townsend etc.

Northumberland: John Dodd, Henry Deer Griffith, M. A. Townsend etc.

Chester: James Slade, M. A., their proctor.

Richmond: Thomas Monson, M. A., rector of Bedale.

Carlisle: Walter Fletcher.

Sodor and Man: William Cockburn their proctor.

Clergy of the jurisdiction of the dean and chapter of York: Archibald Hamilton Cathcart, M. A., Walter Levett, M. A.

Clergy of the jurisdiction of the chapter of Southwell: John Thomas Becher, M. A.

James Richardson their substitute.

The archbishop's mandate for the convocation

[93v] Reverendo in Christo patri ac domino Domino Iohanni Dei gratia Lincolniensi episcopo, Thomas, permissione divinaLondoniensis episcopus salutem et fraternae dilectionis continuum incrementum. Literas reverendissimi in Christo patris ac domini Domini Thomae, Dei gratia Sancti Ciriaci in Thermis sacrosanctae Romanae ecclesiae presbyteri cardinalis, Cantuariensis archiepiscopi, totius Angliae primatis et apostolicae sedis legati, decimo die instantis mensis Februarii [10 February 1483] in haec verba recepimus reverenter:

Thomas, miseratione divina Sancti Ciriaci in Thermis sacrosanctae Romanae ecclesiae presbyter cardinalis, Cantuariensis archiepiscopus, totius Angliae primas et apostolicae sedis legatus, venerabili fratri nostro Thomae, Dei gratia Londoniensi episcopo, salutem et fraternam in Domino caritatem. Literas domini nostri regis sigillo suo sigillatas nuper recepimus in haec verba:

Quocirca fraternitati vestrae committimus et mandamus quatenus omnes et singulos dictae ecclesiae nostrae Cantuariensis suffraganeos infra dictamprovinciamnostram constitutos ac absentium episcoporum vicarios in spiritualibus generales citetis peremptorie. Et per eos decanos et priores ecclesiarum cathedralium et singula capitula earundem, archidiaconos, abbates, prioresque conventus sub se habentes et alios ecclesiarum praelatos, exemptos et non exemptos,

A letter from Bishop John Moore of Norwich to the archbishop of Canterbury about the 1701 convocation

May it please your grace, on Monday morning I received the instrument from my lord of London for calling a convocation, and have this morning sent instruments to have clerks for the diocese chosen on Tuesday the 28th of this instant. I could with humble submission wish there might be no licence for business this first session, for if there should be, it will be thought the effect of Mr A[tterbury]’ s book, and they will not greatly regard the strength of any answer while they carry their chief point; it is also to be suspected they will vote it their right and privilege to sit and do business as often as the houses of parliament do. But if a good answer to that book shall precede the sitting of the convocation, persons will probably meet with more settled and easy minds and fall more kindly to business, and also suppose there was more than ordinary reason for their meeting. It grieves me to hear of the illness of my worthy old friend Mrs Gipping; he case seems to have great danger in it. I pray God to support and comfort her. Her friends would lose much by the death of so good a woman, but I believe her well prepared to die. My wife begs your grace's blessing. We both present our humble service to my good lady. I am your grace's most obliged, humble servant, J. Norwich.

Complaint of the upper house about the behaviour of the lower

1. That if the lower house does not reflect with exceeding grief, yet they ought to be very sensible apprehensive that a principal cause of preventing the dispatch of business has been their not conforming to those rules of convocation by which their predecessors in all times governed themselves, that the filling papers with censures and reflexions on the bishops, for which there will not appear any just ground, as it is a practice very unsuitable to the order and duty of presbyters, so it must tend to the weakening and abating the authority episcopal, and rendering the bishops less able to preside over the church and discharge their pastoral care.

The archbishop's mandate for the convocation

Reverendo in Christo patri ac domino Domino Iohanni, Dei gratia Lincolniensi episcopo, Thomas, permissione divina Londoniensis episcopus, salutem et fraternae dilectionis continuum incrementum. Literas reverendissimi in Christo patris ac domini Domini Thomae, Dei gratia Sancti Ciriaci in Thermis sacrosanctae Romanae ecclesiae presbyteri cardinalis, Cantuariensis archiepiscopi, totius Angliae primatis et apostolicae sedis legati, vicesimo secundo die instantis mensis Decembris [22 December 1483] in haec verba recepimus reverenter:

Thomas, miseratione divina Sancti Ciriaci in Thermis sacrosanctae Romanae ecclesiae presbyter cardinalis, Cantuariensis archiepiscopus, totius Angliae primas et apostolicae sedis legatus, venerabili fratri nostro Thomae, Dei gratia Londoniensi episcopo, salutem et fraternam in Domino caritatem. Literas domini nostri regis sigillo suo sigillatas nuper recepimus in haec verba:

Quocirca fraternitati vestrae committimus et mandamus quatenus omnes et singulos dictae ecclesiae nostrae Cantuariensis suffraganeos infra dictam provinciam nostram constitutes ac absentium episcoporum vicarios in spiritualibus generales citetis peremptorie. Et per eos decanos et priores ecclesiarum cathedralium et singula capitula earundem, archidiaconos,

Royal writ of summons dated 29 December 1834, for Friday 20 February 1835.

Archbishop's commission to William Cockburn, Edward Rice, Leveson Vernon Harcourt, Robert Markham, William Vernon Harcourt, Charles Hawkins, William Henry Dixon, Henry Kitchingman, dated at London 31 January 1835.

Friday 20 February 1835

[Bishops:]

The lord archbishop of York [Edward Vernon Harcourt].

William [van Mildert], lord bishop of Durham. George Townsend, M. A., his proctor appeared etc.

John Bird [Sumner], lord bishop of Chester.

Hugh [Percy], lord bishop of Carlisle.

William [Ward], lord bishop of Sodor and Man. William Cockburn his proctor.

[The deans of]

York: William Cockburn, D. D.

Durham: John [Banks Jenkinson] bishop of St David's. George Townsend, M. A., his proctor appeared.

Chester: George Davys, D. D.

Carlisle: Robert Hodgson, D. D.

[The archdeacons of:]

York: Robert Markham clerk, M. A.

Nottingham: George Wilkins, D. D. James Richardson, M. A., his proctor appeared

East Riding: Francis Wrangham, M. A., appeared.

Cleveland: Henry John Todd clerk, M. A.

Durham: Charles Thorp, B. D. George Townsend (as above).

Northumberland: Thomas Singleton, D. D. George Townsend (as above).

Chester: Unwin Clarke clerk, M. A.

Richmond: John Headlam, M. A.

Carlisle: William Goodenough clerk, M. A.

Sodor and Man: Benjamin Philpot, M. A. William Cockburn their proctor.

[The chapters of]

York: William Vernon Harcourt clerk, M. A., Charles Hawkins LL. B.

Durham: George Townsend, M. A., etc.

Chester: Francis Wrangham, M. A.

Carlisle: William Henry Dixon clerk, M. A., appeared.

Southwell: Charles Nixon B A their proctor. James Richardson, M. A., his substitute appeared.

Ripon: Robert Sutton, M. A., appeared.

[The clergy of the archdeaconries of:]

York: Stuart Corbett, D. D., Theophilus Barnes, M. A.

Nottingham: Fitzgerald Wintour, Henry Spencer Markham, M. A., their proctors. James Richardson, M. A., and William Richardson, M. A., their substitutes appeared.

East Riding: William Harry Edward Bentinck, William Canning.

Cleveland: William Henry Lord Viscount Dawney, Leveson Vernon Harcourt, M.A.

Durham: Edward Davison senior, M. A., Edward Davison junior, M. A.;700

Townsend etc.

Northumberland: Robert Green, M. A., William Dodd, M. A. Townsend etc.

Chester: Francis Wrangham, M. A., their proctor.

Richmond: Thomas Monson, M. A., rector of Bedale.

Carlisle: Walter Fletcher, John Fawcett, M. A.

Sodor and Man: William Cockburn their proctor.

Clergy of the jurisdiction of the dean and chapter of York: Archibald Hamilton Cathcart, M. A., Walter Levett, M. A.

Royal writ of summons 4 September 1780.

Archbishop's mandate

William, by divine providence lord archbishop of York, primate of England and metropolitan, president of the synod or convocation of the prelates and clergy of the whole province of York, to the right worshipful John Fountain, D. D., dean of the cathedral and metropolitical church of Saint Peter in York, and also the reverend William Mason, precentor of the same church, William Berdmore, M. A., William Cayley, M. A., and Anthony Fountain Eyre, M. A., residentiaries of the same church, Richard Kaye LL. D., archdeacon of the archdeaconry of Nottingham, Francis Blackburn, M. A., archdeacon of the archdeaconry of Cleveland, Robert Oliver, archdeacon of the archdeaconry of the East Riding, William Cooper, D. D., archdeacon of the archdeaconry of York, Pearson Lloyd, D. D., chancellor of the same church, John Marsden, D. D., and John Dealtary, M. A., prebendaries of the same church jointly and severally greeting. We do by these presents commit unto you all or to any one or more of you our office and authority and full power and faculty together with the power of any canonical and ecclesiastical coercion whatsoever, to preside in the said synod or convocation in our stead, place and name when and as often as we shall chance to be absent, and to expound and interpret the causes and matters of the said synod or convocation, to hear them so expounded and declared, and together with the said prelates and clergy of our province of York, to treat, confer and conclude of and concerning the same, together with whatsoever matters and things are incident to, arising from, depending upon, annexed and connexed to them, and to assent to those things which shall happen to be then and there determined and ordained by common advice and counsel, and to authorize the same, or to dissent from them and to pronounce all and singular contumacious who shall not make their appearance, and to correct and punish their respective contumacies canonically and according to the exigence of law and to do, exercise, perform and despatch all and singular the other matters and things which belong to us, our authority and jurisdiction, in and during this convocation aforesaid, and which we ourself if we were personally present in the said convocation could do, perform or of right and custom might exercise and despatch.

The royal mandate for the convocation

Edmundus, permissione divina Londoniensis episcopus, reverendo in Christo patri et confratri nostro Domino Mauritio, eadem permissione Roffensi episcopo, salutem ac fraternam in Domino caritatem. Vigore et auctoritate quarundam literarum a decano et capitulo ecclesiae metropoliticae Cantuariensis necnon cuiusdam brevis sive mandati illustrissimorum principium Philippi et Mariae, Dei gratia regis et reginae Angliae, Franciae, Neapolis, Ierusalem et Hiberniae fidei defensorum, principum Hispaniarum et Siciliae, archiducum Austriae et ducum Mediolani, Burgundiae et Brabantiae, comitum Haspurgi [Habsburgi], Flandriae et Tyrollis, de dato tertio die Octobris annis regnorum suorum primo et secundo [3 October 1554] pro sacra synodo et convocatione provinciali praelatorum et cleri totius provinciae Cantuariensis habenda et celebranda in eisdem contenti emanatarum et directarum, vos reverendum patrem peremptorie citamus et praemonemus, vestraeque paternitati reverendae rogando mandamus quatenus vos, decanum et capitulum ac archidiaconos ecclesiae vestrae cathedralis Roffensis, necnon ecclesiarum praelatos, exemptos et non exemptos, ac clerum vestrae diocesis peremptorie etiam citari faciatis et praemoneatis, quod vos, praefatus reveren dus pater, decanusque dictae veatrae ecclesiae cathedralis ac ceteri praelati personaliter, et capitulum eiusdem ecclesiae per unum, clerusque dictae vestrae diocesis per duos sufficientes procuratores compareant in ecclesia cathedrali Divi Pauli Londoniarum, decimo tertio die iam proximo futuri mensis Novembris [13 November 1554], cum continuatione et prorogatione dierum extunc sequentium et locorum, si et quatenus expediat, ad tractandum, consentiendum et concludendum super arduis et urgentibus negotiis securitatem et defensionem Ecclesiae Anglicanae ac pacem et tranquillitatem, bonum publicum et defensionem regni Angliae et subditorum eiusdem concernentibus, ipsis tune ibidem seriosius exponendis, vestraque et sua consilia et auxilia super eis imponenda, ac ulterius facienda, recipienda et solvenda quod tenor et effectus brevis sive mandati huiusmodi de se exigunt et requirunt. Vobis insuper reverendo patri (ut supra) rogando mandamus et iniungimus quod per literas vestras patentes harum seriem una cum schedula eisdem annexa, nomina omnium et singulorum per vos seu auctoritate vestra in hac parte citatorum et praemonitorum plene continentes et habentes sigillo vestro sigillatas, de omni eo quod in praemissis et circa ea negotia feceritis dictis die et loco praesidem sive locum tenentem dictae sacrae synodi et convocationis quemcunque qui pro tempore fuerit, debite certificare curetis. Datum in palatio nostro Londoniis vicesimo quinto die mensis Octobris anno Domini millesimo quingentesimoLIIIIetnostraetranslationisannoquintodecimo [25 October 1554].