Chronicon Manniae et Insularum

(Chronicle of Man and the Isles) - 1249-1374

[please note Munch's footnotes, textual readings and the latin text are still to be added and/or corrected]

Anno MCCXLIX.1 (1249). Coepit Reginaldus Olavi filius regnare in Mannia pridie nonas Maji; et tricesima die mensis ejusdem, tertio videlicet kal. Junii, occisus est ab Yuaro milite, et a suis, in prato quodam prope ecelesiam Sanctæ Trinitatis in Russin ad australem partem ejusdem ecelesiæ, sepultusque est in ecelesia Sanctæ Marite de Russin. Quo mortuo, Haraldus filius Godredi Don cepit regnare in Mannia.

Eodem tempore2 Alexander rex Scotiæ coadunavit navium multitudinem copiosam, subjicere*1 sibi volens regnum omnium insularum; cumque pervenisset ad insulam, quæ vocatur Kerwaray, ibi febre correptus mortuus est. Cujus*2 corpus ad monasterium Melrosense translatum, ubi honorifice tradi tum est sepulturæ. Coepitque Alexander filius ejus, cum adhuc puer esset, regnare pro eo.

Haraldus igitur filius Godredi Don nomen regis et dignitatem sibi usurpans in Mannia, omnes fere principes Haraldi regis Olavi filii exules fecit; et profugos ejus principes et optimates pro eis constituit.

In the year 1249, Reginald began to reign on the 6th of May, and on the 30th of the same month was slain by the knight Ivar and his accomplices, in a meadow near the church of the Holy Trinity at Rushen. He was buried in the church of St. Mary of Rushen. After his death Harold, son of Godred Don, began to reign in Man.

At the same time Alexander, King of Scotland, collected a large number of ships, with the view of subduing the whole kingdom of all the islands. He reached the island called Kerrera, where he was attacked by fever and died. His body was carried to the monastery of Melrose, and there intombed with honour. His son Alexander, yet a boy, succeeded him.

Harold, the son of Godred Don, usurping the name and dignity of king in Man, drove out nearly all the chiefs of Harold, Olave's son, and in their stead made the fugitives who had joined him chiefs and nobles.

Miraculum de Sancta Maria.

Fuit3 quidam Princeps Dofualdus nomine vir grandtevus et nobilis, qui prte ~ ceteris specialis exstitit ~ Haraldo Olavi filio. Hic igitur insecutionem Haraldi flu Godredi Don fugiens, vemmit cum filio suo puerulo 6 ad monasterium Sanette Marite de Russin. Venit et prtedictus Haraldus post eum ad monasterium; et quia vim ei in loco sancto inferre non potuit, blandis ac deceptoriis ~ verbis eum allocutus est dicens "Ut quid sic fugere voluisti? Nihil mali tibi inferre cogito," et mediante juramento promisit ei securitateni, et ut ]ibere quocummque vellet iret per patriamn persuasit. Credidit homo juramento regis et fidei, et secutus est eum de monasterio. Post modicum temporis rex iniquo usus consilio, sui et jura menti oblitus et fidei, prtedictum hominem comprehendi fecit et vinciri, ac vinctum duci in insulam quandam, qute sita est in bosco m de Mirescohcj deputatis ei multis custodibus. Erat igitur prtedictus princeps fiduciam magnam habens in Domino. Quotiens vero opportune potuit, genua fiectebat Domino ut eum intercessione beatte Marite virginis matris ejus, de cujus inonasterio fraudulenter ereptus fuerat, a vinculis liberaret. Nec defuit ei divinum auxilium. Quadem nempe 2 die, cum sederet in domo cum duobus solis homini bus, ceteris egressis ad negotia sna, subito catena ~ de pede ejus cecidit, et liberam ei fugiemidi tribuit facultatem, sed ~ cogitans secumn, quod expeditius in nocte dormientibus custodibus fugere potuisset, in catenam pedem reponere cogitabat, sed minime potuit. Perpendens igitur quod hoc divino nutu gestum esset, striuxit se tunica et clmlamyde,5 et foras exiliens fngain petiit. Videns alter enin ~ custodum, qui pistons gerebat officium, surrexit subito et secutus est eum; cunique paululum processisset, cupiens comprehendere fugientem, cecidit super quendam truncum ligni, et semifracto crure, qui paulo ante currere conabatur, manifesta dei virtute imune stare non potuit. Homo autem per dei gratiam liberatus venit tertia die ad monasterium Sanette Marite de Russin, gratias agens deo et misericordissimte matri ejus pro libera tione sua. Htec sicut ab ore ejus didicimnus, scripsimnus

The Miracle of St. Mary.

There was a certain aged chief of the name of Donald, a particular friend of Harold son of Olave. To escape the persecution of King Harold, son of Godred Don, he fled with an infant son to the monastery of St. Mary of Rushen. Harold followed him to the monastery, and unable to use force within the holy precincts, addressed him with gentle and deceitful speech, "Why dost thou thus fly from me? I intend thee no injury," and promnised on oath that he should be unmolested, and allowed to go wheresoever he chose in his country. The man, trusting the oath and honour of the king, followed him out of the monastery. After a short interval, the king, led on by evil thoughts, and forgetful of his oath and word, ordered the said man to be seized, bound, and imprisoned in an island in the forest of Mirescog, and  guarded by numerous keepers. The above named chief, however, had great confidence in the Lord. Whenever it could be done conveniently, he besought the Lord on his knees to deliver him from his bonds, through the intercession of his Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary, from whose monas tery he had been treacherously taken. Nor did divine assistance fail him. One day when he was sitting in the house with only two guards, the rest having gone out to look after their own affairs, all at once the chains fell from his foot, and left him free to escape. Reflecting, however, that he would have a better chance of success if he fled in the night while his guards were asleep, he endeavoured to replace his foot in the chain, this, however, he was not able to do. Considering, therefore, that what had happened was the effect of divine interposition, he girded himself in his tunic and cloak, and hastening out from the house fled away. One of the guards, who was engaged in baking, perceiving his attempt, rose and followed, but had not gone far when, anxious to arrest the fugitive, he stumbled over a log and nearly broke his leg, so that, instead of continuing to run, he had become, through the power of God, unable to stand. The prisoner, thus liberated by the divine favour, came on the third day to the nionastery of St. Mary of Rushen, thanking the Almighty, and his most compassionate mother for his freedom. We have written the above as we had it from his own lips.

 Anno MCCL. Haraldus ~ filius Godredi Don vocatus per literas adiit curiam domini regis Norwegite, iratusque est ci rex eo quod regnum sibi non debitum usurparet arripere,7 detinuit que eumn in Norwegia; in proposito habens, ut ei5 ad Sodorenses partes ultra redire non permitteret. Eodem anno Magnus Olavi films etc Johannes films Dngaldi9 et quidam Norvetimensesvenerunt ad Manniam, applicueruntque apud portumn, qui dicitur Rognalswaht ~ misitqne Johannes films Dugaldi nuntios ad populum Mannite, qui dicebant: "Htec et htec mandat vobis Johannes rex insularum." Quod cum audissent Mannenses, Johannem regem insularum nomi nan, et non Magnum, filium Olavi, indignati sunt valde; et ultra verba nuntiorum audire noluerunt. Reversi 2 nuntii indicavernut htec domino suo Johanni, qui statim, indignatus non modice, fecit omnem snum arinari exercitum, et armatum insulam Sancti Michaclis ascendere, dispositumque per tur mas seriatim sedere fecerat, quasi mox profecturi essent ~ ad prtelium, jussitque omnibus ut subsequentis diei primo dilu cub parati forent congredi cum Mannensibus, nisi quicquid ab eis petierint ultro spoponderint ~ se daturos. Manuenses igitur contra se directas cernentes acies, audaciter ad littus ~ accesserant; et se e contra per turmas disponentes eventum rei viriliter exspectabant. Recedente autem mans rheumate,6 quo insulte aditus claudebatur, prtedictus Johannes et qui cumn ipso fuerant navibus suis recepti sunt, multis tamen adhuc per insulam evagantibus, aliis vero qute victui ~ neces saria fimerant prteparantibus. Advesperascente autem die, ecce quidam juvenis,~ qui Yuarum militem comitabatur, cum multis de popubo Insularum ingressi sunt et quosdam in ipso impetu homines occiderunt. Multi vero ad naves fugientes enatando submersi sunt. Hoc eis evenisse non ambigo merito superbite et magnanimitatis sute, quia oblatam sibi pacem a popubo terrte recusabant accipere. Mandavit enim eis ~ populus Mannite prima hora diei per internuntios dicens:

"Quotquot a latere Domini regis Norwegite missi estis literas ejus nobis ostendentes terrain secuni ascendite, et quicquid nobis a sua dementia muandatum fuenit libenti animo facie mus." Sed ipsi nec literas ostenderunt, nec responsum pacis dederunt, nec quicquam, quod us a populo terrte oblatum fuerat, recipere voluerunt; crastina autem die cum imidigna tione magna m de Mannia recedentes multos nobiles exorta tenipestate naufragio perdiderunt.

In the year 1250, Harold son of Godred Don was summoned, amid went to time Court of the Lord King of Norway; for the king was displeased with his having usurped a king dom to which he had no title, and intended not to allow his return to the Sodor Islands. In the same year Magnus son of Olave, and John son of Dugald, with some Norwegians, came to Man, and put in at the port of Ronaldsway. John, son of Dugald, sent messengers to the people of Man to say "This, and Thus, does John King of the Isles command you." When the Manxmen heard John styled king of the Isles, instead of Magnus, Olave's son, they became indignant, and refused to hear anything further from the messengers, who returned and reported all to their master. John, greatly exasperated, immediately ordered his followers under arms, and led them up to St. Michael's isle, where he marshalled them in troops, and made them sit down in ranks prepared to engage in battle, and ordered all to be in readiness to commence the attack at break of day, unless the Manxmen would spontaneously promise to yield all he should ask from them. The Manxmen, seeing the troops drawn up in hostile array, descended boldly to the shore, and arranging themselves in corresponding bodies manfully awaited the result. During the ebb of the tide which barred the approach to the island, John and his followers betook themselves to their ships, leaving many however, who were dispersed through the island, or who were engaged in preparing provisions. In the evening a certain young follower of Sir Ivar with many of the men of the Isles entered the island and slew at the first onset many, while others were drowned in endeavouning to swim to the ships. This happened to them I have no doubt on account of their pride and insolence in refusing to accept the terms of peace offered by the natives; for the people of Man sent messengers at the first hour of day to say to them, "Let those from amongst you who are sent by the King of Norway come on shore without fear, and exhibit to us the royal letters, and we will cheerfully do whatever his Clemency commands. But they neither showed the letters nor made any overtures for peace, nor received any that were offered by the Manx people; and retiring next day in great wrath from Man they lost many of their chiefs by shipwreck in a storm which arose.

Anno MCCLII. Venit iterum Magnus films Olavi ad Mani'miam, et susceperunt euin omnes Mannenses cum gaudio regem que sibi constituerunt.

Anno MCCLIII. Magnus Oluvi films profectus est ad curiam domini regis Norwegite et honorifice susceptus est ab eo, mansitque apud eum uno anno.

Anno MCCLIv. Haco rex Norvegite constituit Magnum filiuin Olavi regein super omnes insulas, quas 2 antecessores ejus jure htereditario possidebant, et eas ci et successoribus suis hteredibus, ut melius Haraldo fratri ejus, sigilli sui munimine in perpetuum confirmavit. Audiebant et vide bunt htec adversarii ejus, et consternati animo contabescebant pereunte spe illorum. Ma.gnus igitur rex Mannite et Insula rum constitutus a domino rege Norvegite cumn magno honore dimissus venit ad propria.

Anno MCCLvI.5 Magnus rex Mannite et Insularum adiit curium domini regis Anglite, quem dominus rex Anglite gra tanter et honorifice susceptum militem fecit, et cum multo honore ac preciosis muneribus dimnisit ad propria.

Anno MCCLVII. Dedicata est ecclesia3 Sanette Marite de

Russin a venerabili domino ac patre Ricardo, Soderensi

Episcopo, anno pontificatus ejus quinto, prtesente Domino

Magno rege Mannite et Insularumn unno regni ejus quinto,

Abbate autem domino Symone.e

dAnno domino MCCLXIII. Venit Hdco6 rex Norwegite ad partes Scotite, et nihil expediens reversus est ad Orcades, et ibidem apud Kyrkewa4 mortuns, et sequenti vernali tempore delatus est in Norvegiam,' et sepnltus2 est in ecelesia Sanette Trinitatis apud Bergam.3

In the year 1252 Magnus, son of Olave, returned to Man, where all received him with great joy, amid appointed him king.

In the year 1253 Magnus, son of Olave, went to the Court of the Lord King of Norway, where he was received with great distinction, and remained a year.

In the year 1254 Haco, King of Norway, appointed Magnus, son of Olave, king over all the islands held by his pre decessors, in virtue of hereditary right, and confirmed the grant under the royal seal to him and to his successors by inheritance, for ever, as had been previously done in the case of his brother Harold. When the enemies of Magnus saw and heard all this, they were confounded and dismayed by the destruction of their hopes. Magnus was thus appointed King of Man and the Isles, by the Lord King of Norway, by whom he was dismissed with great honour, and returned home.

In the year 1256 Magnus, King of Man and the Isles, visited the Court of the Lord King of England, by whom he was very graciously received, made knight, and loaded with distinction, and splendid gifts on his departure.

In the year 1257 the church of St. Mary of Rushen was dedicated by the venerable Lord and Father Richard, Bishop of the Isles, in the fifth year of his episcopacy, in presence of the Lord Magnus King of Man and the Isles, in the fifth year of his reign, while Lord Simon was abbot.

In the year of our Lord 1263, Haco, King of Norway came to Scotland, but effecting nothing returned to the Orkneys, and died at Kirkwall. In the following spring his body was taken to Norway, and buried in the church of the Holy Trinity at Bergen.

 Anno Domini MCCLXV. viii kal. Decembris obiit Mag nus, films Olavi regis4 Mannite et Insularum, apud Castellum de Russyn, et sepultus est in Abbatia Sanette Marite de Russin.

Anno MCCLXVI. Translatum est regnum Mannite et Insu larum ad Alexandrum regem Scottorum.

Anno MCCLXXIV. Coronatus est Edwardus rex Anglite apud Londoniam.5 Eodem anno celebratum est consilium generale apud Lugdunum sub Gregorio decirno. Eodem anno obiit Margareta regina Scottite, filia Henrichi6 regis Anglite, soror Edwardi regis. Jacet apud Dunfermeri 7

aAnno domini MCCLXXV. Septima53 die mensis Octobris applicuit naviginum Domini Alexandri regis Scottite apud Rognalwath 8 et sequenti die, ante solis ortum, commissum est praelium inter Mannenses et Scottos ; 9 et Scotti victores existentes occiderunt de Mannensibus in illo conflictu quingentos et triginta septem viros, unde quidam versificator:

L. decies, X. ter, et penta duo cecidere,
Mannica gels de te dampna10 futura cave.

 In the year 1265, on November 24, died Magnus, son of Olave, King of Man and the Isles, at Rushen castle; he was buried in the abbey of St. Mary of Rushen.

In the year 1266, the kingdom of Man and the Isles was transferred to Alexander King of the Scots.

In the year 1274, Edward King of England was crowned at London. In the same year a General Council was held at Lyons under Gregory 10th. In the same year died Margaret, Queen of Scotland, daughter of Henry King of England, sister of King Edward; she lies buried at Dunfermline.

In the year 1275, on the 7th day of the month of October, a fleet of the Lord Alexander King of Scotland, put into Ronaldsway, and on the following day, before sunrise, a battle was fought between the Manxmen and the Scots, in which the Scots prevailing slew 537 Manxmen, hence the versifier's distich:

Ten L, thrice X, with five and two did fall,
Ye Manx beware of future evil's call.


Anno domini MCCCXIII. Dominus C Robertus rex Scotite applicuit apud Ramsa1m videlicet xviii die Maji, cum multitu dine navium; et die dominica sequenti transivit ad Moniales de Dufglas, ubi pernoctavit; et die Lunte sequenti fecit obsessionem circa castrum de Russyn,12 quod castrum domninus Dungalli (!) 13 Mac Dowyltm4 tenuit contra prtedictu m Dominum regem usque diem Martis proximam post festum Sancti Bar nabre apostoli, et ipsa die dictus Dominus rex dictum castel lum recepit.'5

In the year 1313, on the 18th of May, Lord Robert, King of Scotland, put in at Ramsay with a large number of ships, and on the following Sunday went to the nunnery at Douglas, where he spent the night, and on Monday laid siege to the castle of Rushen, which was defended by the Lord Dungall MacDowyle against the said Lord King till the Tuesday after the feast of St. Barnabas the apostle, on which day the said Lord King took the castle.

Anno domini MCCCXVI. Die ascensionis Dominicte mane ad ortum solis Ricardus le Mandevile et fratres ejus cum aliis magnatibus et malefactoribus de Hybernia applicuerunt ad portum de Ranaldwath' cum navium multitudine; et exer citumn ad terrain imposuerunt cum armis et vexillis et magno apparatu et terrain petierunt vel sibi ministrari subsidium de victualibus, animalibus et argento, quia deprtedati erant per hostes super eos continue debellantes. Sub hac forma ad terrte comumunitatem nuntios miserunt talia petentes. At communitas respondit se eisdem nihil velle dare sed eis in campo obviare debellando. Hi vero qui erant ab Hybernicis revertentes retulerunt qualiter Mannenses responderunt. Tune irati Hybernici cantum2 subito cecinerunt, et confestim paraverunt se ad prtelium, et fecerunt sibi duas tunas5 pro cesseruntque erga Mannenses quousque venerunt sub latere inontis de Warchfel (~) ~ in campo ubi quidam manebat nomine Johannes Mandevil, et ibi adinvicem5 obviaverunt et coni missum est bellum. In prima vero aggressione adinvicem6 terga verterunt Mannenses, et ceciderunt in illo conflictu fere xl yin. Et Hybernici persecuti sunt eos in pedibus et in equis, et occiderunt et vulneraverunt magnani multitudinem, et spoliaverunt terrain de melioribus bonis omnibus, et argen turn multum din absconditum in pluribus locis pace mnvene runt. Post htec venerunt ad Abbatiam de Russyn, et earn spoliaverunt tam de supellectilibus quam de bobus et ovib~s, nihil omnino relinquentes ; et cumn taliter per mensem per endinassent, impleverunt naves suas de melioribus rebus terrte, et ad propnia sunt reversi.

In the year 1316, on Ascension Day, at sunrise, Richard de Mandeville, with his brothers, and many others of note, and a body of malefactors from Ireland, put into the port of Ronaldsway with a large number of ships, and disembarking the troops, arms, banners, and appointments, demanded either a grant of land, or a supply of provisions, cattle, and money, because they had been ruined by the perpetual inroads of enemies. In this guise they sent messengers to the inhabitants, to present their demands. The people replied that they would give nothing, but were prepared to resist them in the open field; the Irish messengers returned and reported the answer they had received; upon this the Irish, roused to anger, immediately set up their war song, prepared for the contest, and advanced in two bodies against the Manxmen till they came along the side of Wardfel, to an open spot, where was the residence of one John Mandeville. Here the hostile parties met and fought. At the first onset the Manxmen turned and fled, leaving forty nearly men dead on the field. The Irish pursued, some on foot, and others on horse back, killing and wounding great numbers, plundering the country of its valuables, and. discovering at leisure much money that had been long concealed in various places. They came afterwards to the abbey of Rushen which they plundered, seizing both the furniture and the herds and flocks, leaving absolutely nothing. When they had spent a month in this fashion, they loaded their ships with the choice plunder of the country and returned home.

[List of Bishops]54

Hi fuerunt Episcopi qui episcopalem cathedram in Mannia susceperunt a tempore Godredi Cronan et aliquanto tempore ante.

Priums exstitit7 antequam Godredus Cronan8 regnare coepisset Roolwerb Episcopus qui jacet apud ecclesiamn Sancti Machuti. Multi quidem a tempore beati Patricii, qui primus fidem catholicam praedicasse fertur Mannensibus, exstiterunt episcopi, sed ab ipso sufficit episcoporum memoriam inchoasse. Sufficit, dicimus, quod qui vel vel quales ante ipsum episcopi exstiterunt penitus ignoramus, quia nec scriptura invenimus, nec certa relatione seniorum didicimusa.

Post Roolwer exstitit Willelmus Episci

Post Willelmum in diebus Godredi 4 Hamondus filius Iole Mannicus genere episcopalem1 suscepit cathedramb.

Huic successit in episcopatum Gamali qui jacet apud Petarborch in Anglia.

Post hunc Ragnaldus Norwegiensis2 ecelesiam gubernandam suscepit. Huic primo tertiae ecclesiarum Manniae a personis concessae fuerunt , ut deinceps liberi ab omni episcopali exactione fore potuisse

Huic successit in episcopatum Cristininere qui jacet in Benchorensi monasterio.

Post hunc Michael Mannensis genere lis, et clams mitis~ monachus quidem actu turn susceperat; et hic ultimum vitte diei finiens apud Fontanas honorifice jacet.

The following were the bishops who occupied the Episcopal See in Man from the time of Godred Cronon, and some short time before.

Roolwer was the first bishop before the time when Godred Crouan began to reign. He lies buried in the church of St. Maughold. There were, indeed, many bishops from the time of blessed Patrick, who is said to have been the first to preach the catholic faith to the Manxmen, but it is sufficient to have begun the account of the bishops from Roolwer. We say sufficient, because we are entirely ignorant who or what were the bishops before Roolwer's time ; for we neither find any written documents on the subject, nor have we any certain accounts handed down by our elders.

After Roolwer, William was bishop.

After William, in the days of Godred Crouan, - Hamond, son of Iole, a Manxman, held the Episcopal see.

He was succeeded by Gamaliel an Englishman, who is buried at Peterborough, in England.

After him, Reginald, a Norwegian, received the government of the church of Man. He was the first to whom the incuni bents in Man gave the thirds of the churches, that they might thence be free from any episcopal exactions.

He was succeeded by Christian, an Argyllshire man, who lies in the monastery of Bangor.

After him Michael of Man, a person of irreproachable life and distinguished merits, a monk in deed as well as in habit, received the episcopacy. He ended his days at a good old age, and is honourably interred at Fountains.


Huic successit Nicolaus Erchadiensis 1 genere qui jacet in monasterio Bencorensi.2

Post hunc Reginaldus vir nobilis de regali genere consecra tus ~ episcopus, strenue gubernabat ecclesiamn, qui et diuturna infirmitate fatigatus sed in languore continuo non deficiens, sed gratias agens Deo ultimum in confessione bona exhalavit spiritum, sepultusque est in Abbatia Sanctte Marite de Russin.

Huic successit Johannes films Hefare in episcopatum qui per quoddam miserabile ignis infortunium et per incuriam4 servientium suorum vitamn finiens jacet apud Jerewos in Anglia.

b Post hunc Symon5 Erchadiensis genere vir magute dis cretionis et in sacris scripturis peritus Sodorensem rexit ecclesiam; et hic apud ecelesiam Sancti lVlichaelis in senec tute bona defunctus, et jacet in ecclesia Sancti Germani quam ipse ~dificare coeperat, post cujus obitum vacabat episcopatus ferme6 sex annis.

C Post Symonem d vero venerabilem Sodorensem episcopum Ricardus genere Anglicus Romte ab Archiepiscopo Nidro siensi consecratus Sodorensem rexit ecelesiam per viginti tres annos.7 Et hic veniens a generali concilio MCCLXXIIII obiit apud Langalyver in Coplandia sepultusque est in monas terio Sanette Marite de Furness.

Post hunc Marcus genere ~ Galuadiensis 8 Sodorensem rexit ecelesiam per viginti quatuor annos nobilissinme.9 Exulatus ~ tum erat per Mannenses ob quam causam inter- dicta erat terra per tres annos. Postea autem rediit revocatus, et pro relaxatione 10 diette sententite dederunt de qualibet fumigante unuin denarium, quod tamen donarium" adhuc redditur antiq ua ex consvetudine cuilibet antistiti succedenti redeunti de insulis. Prtedictus autem Marcus dapsilis et urbanus in senectute bona obiit; ctecus erat ac sepultus in ecelesia Sancti Germani in insula de Holm.

He was succeeded by Nicholas of Argyll, who is buried in the monastery of Bangor.

After him Reginald, a nobleman of the royal race, was consecrated bishop, and governed the diocese with energy. Labouring under constant infirmity, but never yielding to fatigue, giving thanks to God, he breathed his last, witnessing by his life to his faith, and was buried in the abbey of St. Mary of Rushen.

He was succeeded by John, son of Hefare, who through a melancholy accident, and the negligence of his servants, perished by fire, and lies buried at Jerewos in England.

After him Simon from Argyll, a man of great prudence, and well versed in Holy Writ, governed the Sodor church. Dying at a good old age at the church of St. Michael, he lies buried in the church of St. German, which he had himself begun. After his death the see was vacant for nearly six years.

After the venerable Sodor Bishop Simon, Richard, an Englishman, consecrated at Rome by the Archbishop of Dron theim, governed the Sodor diocese for twenty-three years. Returning from the general council, in the year 1274, he died at Langalyver, in Copeland, and was buried in the monastery of St. Mary of Furness.

After him Mark, a Galloway man, governed the Sodor diocese right nobly for twenty-four years, when lie was driven out by the Manxmen, and on this account the island was placed under interdict for three years ; after which he was recalled, and the Manxumen paid one penny for every house with a fireplace, in consideration of the interdict being removed. This grant is still made, by ancient usage, to every succeeding bishop returning from the Isles. Mark was a liberal and courteous man. He died at a good old age, when he had become blind; and was buried in the church of St. German, in the island of Holm.


Post hunc Alanus ~' genere Galvediensis Sodorenseni rexit ecelesiam honorifice, qui obiit xv die mensis Februarii A.D. MCCCXX, et sepultus est in ecelesia beatte Marite de Rothersay in Buth.

Gui successit Gillebertus MacLelan Galvediensis genere. Episcopus fuit Sodorensis per duos annos ~et dimidium et sepultus in ecclesia prtedicta de Both.

Postea successit Bernardus C natione Scotus et sepultus est in monasterio de Kilwynyn in Scotia. Vixit in episcopatu quotuor annis.

Huic successit Thomas genere Scotus. Vixit in episco patu octodecim annos et sepultus est in Scona in Scotia; obiit autem vigesimo die mensis Septembris A.D. MCCCXLVIII.

d Hic primus viginti solidos nomine procurationum de ecclesiis Mannite extorsit.

Hic fuit primus qui decimas omnium alienorum de pisca tura alecum rectoribus extorsit insuhe prtelibatte.

Anno domini MCCCXLVIII. Wilhelmus Russell e natione Mannicus Abhas monasterii Sanctte Marite de Russyn electus est per clerum insuhe Mannite in pastorem ecclesite Sodorensis in ecclesia cathedrali Sancti Germani in Mannia in Holmo1 et consecratus est Avinione a Clemente Papa VI., atque primus electus Sodorensis ecclesire fuit consecratus per sedem aposto licam et confirmatus; namn omnes sui antecessores ab archie piscopo Nidrosiensi videlicet metropolitano confirmari et con secrari assueverunt.

Obiit~ autem vigesimo primo die mensis Apriis MCCCLXXIV, apud Ramsheved et sepultus est in monasterio Sanctte Marite de Furness, qui quidem fuit Abbas de Russyn xviii annis et vixit episcopus Sodorensis xxvi annis.

After him Allen, a Galloway man, governed with credit the diocese of Sodor, and died on the 15th day of the month of February, in the year 1320, and was buried in the church of the Blessed Mary of Rothesay, in Bute.

Gilbert MacLelan, a Galloway man, succeeded hm. He was bishop of the diocese of Sodor for two years and a half, and was buried in the aforesaid church of Bute.

Bernard, a Scotchman, succeeded, and was buried in the monastery of Kilwinning, in Scotland. He lived four years in the episcopate.

He was succeeded by Thomas, a Scotchman, who held the episcopate eighteen years, and was buried at Scone, in Scotland, having died on the 21st day of September A.D. 1348.

He was the first to exact from the churches of Man twenty shillings for visitation dues.

He was also the first who exacted from the parochial Rectors the tythes received by them from strangers engaged in the herring fishery.

In 1348, William Russell, a Manxman, abbot of the monastery of St. Mary of Rushen, was elected pastor of the Sodor diocese, by the clergy of the island of Man, in the cathedral church of St. German, in Holm of Man, and was consecrated at Avignon by Pope Clement VI. He was the first Sodor bishop-elect consecrated and confirmed by the Apostolic see; for all his predecessors had been wont to be confirmed and consecrated by the Archbishop of Drontheim, that is the metropolitan.

He died on the 21st day of the month of April 1376, at Ramsheved, and was buried in the monastery of St. Mary of Furness. He was abbot of Rushen eighteen years, and bishop of the Sodor diocese twenty-six.


Pridie mensis Junii die Jovis, festo videlicet corporis Christi, in ecciesia cathedrali Sancti Germani in Mannia, A.D. MCCCLXXIV, Johannes Donkan Mannensis quidam per clerum Mannite est electus in pastorem et episcopum Sodorensem. Et in festo scilicet Sancti Leonardi proximo sequenti est Avenione per papam Gregorium XI. confirmatus; et in festo Sanctte Catherinte proximo sequenti apud fratres prtedicatores per Cardinalem Prtenestinum dudum Archiepiscopum Can tuariensem 16 est solemniter cum aliis octo Episcopis conse cratus. In festo autem conversionis Sancti Pauli KP. MCCCLXXVI et sute consecrationis tertio, in dicta sna ecclesia cathedrali fuit solempuiter installatus, maximis oblationibus dicto die in sna prima missa pontificali acquisitis,2 nam interim fuit apud Boloniam in [Pic] ardia strictis carcere et vinculis f .

On Thursday the 31st of May, A.D. 1374, which happened to be the festival of Corpus Christi, John Duncan, a Manxman, was elected by the clergy of Man to be pastor and bishop of Sodor, in the cathedral of St. German. On the following festival of St. Leonard he was confirmed by Pope Gregory XI., and on that of St. Catherine he was solemnly consecrated, with eight other bishops, at the church of the Friars' Preachers, by the Cardinal of Palestrina, formerly Archbishop of Canter bury. On the feast of the conversion of St. Paul, in the year of our Lord 1376, the third after his consecration, he was solemnly installed in his above-mentioned cathedral, receiving many very great offerings on that day, at his first pontifical mass. In the interval he had been kept in close confinement at Boulogne, in Picardy . . . but was afterwards liberated on payment of ... marks ...


 

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