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Comings and Goings
Vicars tended to come and go from benefices to suit the needs of their pockets, as much as to uit the needs of their flock. After collecting his tithes, money rents from peasants to whom he leased Church lands and then the income from the sale at market of crops grown by villagers obligated to give their time to work his own land, the vicar could look forward to a very acceptable standard of living. Not suprisingly the more attractive benefices encouraged a "trading" mentality amongst the more ambitious clergy. In Somersham the situation became very fuzzy in the Middle Ages because whilst the village was in the Diocese of Lincoln, the presence of a patron at Somersham Palace who just happened to be the Bishop of Ely, rather confused the natural lines of authority down at the parish church.
Item 3 is particularly interesting as whilst on the one hand both Bishop and King seem to be laying claim to having the right to make anappointment to the benefice within a couple of years of each other.
The way that clerics could trade their way up the ladder of the Church is demonstrated in item 1 by "R de Walepol", who was almost certainly the same Ralph of Walpole who became Bishop of Ely himself in 1299. The de Luda family (item 4 below) were also clearly influential churchmen in the area around Somersham one of whom, William, had also been made Bishop of Ely from 1290-1298.
Item 1 - Year nine of the reign of Robert Grosseteste Bishop of Lincoln (1244)
We, at the petition of the venerable father in Christ Hugh (Hugh of Northwold), Bishop of Ely and patron of the Church of Somersham, and William of Wenling, subdeacon, beloved son in Christ, and we admit him to the same church andinstitute him as canon and rector; saving for our beloved son Robert, chaplain and vicar of the same church who shall be possess the title vicar of the same church, saving it (ie the right of appointment) moreover to the bishopric. Dated at Bugden, Ides of January in the ninth year of our reign as bishop.
Item 2 - Rolls of Richard Gravesend Bishop of Lincoln 1272
To Master R. de Walepol archdeacon of Ely. Your honesty and devotion are deserving of favour for which you have been recommended by the testimony of many, accordingly you have laboured for a long time so you could acquire the pearl of learning, in so much as you have accomplished honour for the same Cathedral and you have earned the status of Master, and other usefulness you have shown for the same (Cathedral), our inducing and escorting you with our special grace and favour attending you, considering also the usefulness to the church of Somersham to whom the venerable father H.(Hugh de Balsham), by the grace of God Bishop of Ely, to whom you having been presented canonically, he requests that we entrust and surrender the title (of vicar of Somersham) to your rule, we entrust this to you by our pontiifical authority, and we concede the present means to you, entrusting you to be strong and free in upholding the lawful way of the Lord, - Buckden 3 Ides August 1272
Item3
Rolls of Richard Gravesend Bishop of Lincoln - Master John d'Osevile presented by W. (William of Louth) Bishop of Ely to the church of Somersham vacant by the resignation of Guy de Tilbrook. instituted by the person of master Walter de Wootton, canon of Lincoln, his proctor, Canterbury 15th March 1292.
Patent Rolls Edward I to1292, 7 May 1290 - Presentation of master John de Wodestok to the
Item 4
Institution of Magister John de Osevill priest to the church of Glatton, vacant by resignation of James de la Haye, patron, abbot and convent of Missenden. By exchange with the church of Somersham. Given at Newark, 29th May 1321. Witnessed T de Luda, chancellor, J de Malvill, H de Walmesford, R de Luda clerk.