york00orns

ROMANUS.
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settled by arbitration. The Archbishop was to \ isit,
but in propi'ia persona only, once in five years.
Canonical obedience was to be rendered by tlie Dean.
The Archbishop was to enter the chapter-house unattended
by chaplains or clerks, two canons sworn to
secrecy being the only persons allowed to act with
him. Any canon then might make his complaints.
If a fault were proved, si.K months were allowed
wherein to amend it, and in case of default the Archbishop
was to award proper punishment in the Chapterhouse
with advice of the canons.
He had also a desperate struggle with Bee, the
great Bishop of Durham, with reference to the subjection
of that see to York. Messenger after messenger
was sent with citations, which were treated
with contempt and the messengers imprisoned. The
Archbishop excommunicated the refractory prelate.
But he found that too bold a step. Bee was with the
king in Scotland, and the latter regarded it as an
insult to his own royal prerogative. Romanus was
made to understand that if he wanted his messengers
released he should have proceeded against
Bee in the king's courts. Bee was a temporal prince,
and had imprisoned the men m the exercise of his
palatine jurisdiction, with which the Archbishop could
in no wise interfere, and he was obliged to submit
himself to the king's pleasure and pay a fine of
4,000 marks.
With the commencement of the 14th century a
succession of statesmen Archbishops arose. Greenfield,
Melton, and Zouche were all of this type. The
importance of the city of York at this period was great.
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