Confirmatio of Henry de Gower,

Archiepiscopal confirmation in Latin, dated 21 May 1328, by Henry of Eastry (d. 1331), Prior of Christ Church, Canterbury (the monastic Cathedral Chapter), validating the election of Master Henry de Gower, Archdeacon of St David's, as Bishop of St David's. The document displays the sede vacante arrangements for the archdiocese of Canterbury, with the Prior of Canterbury acting at metropolitical level during the vacancy caused by the death of Archbishop Walter Reynolds on 16 November 1327. The document refers to the presence at Canterbury of de Gower and of the proctor (official representative) of the Precentor and Chapter of St David's. It notes the roles of the Prior of St Thomas's, Haverfordwest and Master David de Buelt [of Builth], canon of Bangor, in the election process, the latter acting as Canterbury's official overseeing matters in the Diocese of St David's during the vacancy. The witness list includes the names of Hugh de Forsham, William de Wynterton, John de Grone, Stephen Steest, John de Gloucestria, and Peter Duraunt, together with the scribe, Magister [?J.] Wymburn.
Following the death of the previous incumbent, Bishop David Martin, in March 1328, Henry de Gower (1277/9-1347) had been elected bishop of St David's by the Cathedral Chapter on 21 April. This document confirmed the validity of that election, and the suitability of the bishop-elect. Gower was duly consecrated at Canterbury on 12 June by Stephen Gravesend, Bishop of London, and the election was later confirmed by Pope John XXII in December 1328. The timing of de Gower's enthronement at St David's is unclear. See further 'Henry de Gower: bishop and builder', in Glanmor Williams, The Welsh and their Religion. Historical essays (Cardiff: University of Wales Press, 1991), pp. 93-116.

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Bonhams; London; Purchased at auction, lot 125; 18 March 2015

Title based on contents.

Ink: dark brown, fading to a light brown in sections.

Incipit: In dei nomine amen. Auditis et intellectis meritis negocii electionis dudum in ecclesia Cathedrali meneuensi Cantuariensis prouincie.

Digitised at NLW, 5 April 2015.

Preferred citation: NLW MS 24068F.

Online version available on the Library’s website $$u https://www.llgc.org.uk/discover/digital-gallery/manuscripts/the-middle-ages/confirmatio-of-henry-de-gower/ (viewed April 2016)

April 2015.

Description compiled by Maredudd ap Huw (based on analysis by Dr Susan J. Davies);

Usual copyright laws apply.

Endorsed in a contemporary hand: 'Confirmacio Henrici prioris super eleccione episopi meneuensis'. The document was probably retained by the Cathedral Priory of the Holy Trinity or Christ Church, Canterbury, and may have been lost following the upheaval of the dissolution of that Benedictine house in 1540. Its whereabouts between then and 2015 is unknown: an inscription on the verso, [in a late 18 cent. hand], mis-identifies the document as 'An Ecclesiastical Instrument. Licence of election for a Bishop of St Davids to the archdeacon of that Diocese 1328'. It was reputedly kept 'for centuries' at a country-house in Kent, by the descendants of a local antiquary.

Published

Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru = The National Library of Wales