The Register Of Richard De Kellawe Bishop Of Durham 1311 - 1316
Contains 4 Volumes
Kellawe's register is the earliest surviving register for Durham. The preface begins with a history of the Episcopal Palatinate of Durham, from its founding in 635 up to Kellawe's ordination, focusing on the palatinate's bishops and their relationships to the king and the Pope. Hardy then defines a Palatinate as a territory whose proprietor exercises certain royal rights and privileges, commonly called Jura Regalia. He discusses the extent of these rights and privileges, and the history of their exercise in Durham. He then devotes attention to the manuscript of Kellawe's register and its history. Volume's preface (148pp.) discusses the miscellaneous nature of the documents in this volume, which include a collection of documents relative to the Palatinate, before and during the episcopate of Kellawe; taxation of benefices within the diocese of Durham; ordinations in and for the diocese of Durham from 1334-1345; and a portion of the register of Richard de Bury, Bishop of Durham, from 1338 to 1343. Hardy provides some miscellaneous comments about these documents and their inclusion. He then discusses the geography and history of the outlying areas of the Palatinate of Durham. He also gives a history of land holding in the area, describing the different types of tenure and the obligations required of vassal and lord. Hardy also gives background about taxation laws, to put the taxation documents into context. The remainder of the prologue provides context for the documents included in this volume, and a discussion of Kellawe's career. The preface to Volume 4 explains that this volume is an attempt to replace records that might have filled the missing pages of Kellawe's register, but whether these are the records that would have been on those pages or not is speculation. Some of these documents relate to a dispute between Kellawe and the prior of Durham Abbey. Hardy discusses his editorial practice, and some of the difficulties he faced. He then discusses a manuscript known as Richard de Bury Letter Book, which contains many letters relating to Durham; brief descriptions of those letters are given
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