Robert de Graystanes
Encyclopedia
Robert de Graystanes was a fourteenth-century English Benedictine
monk, an unsuccessful candidate to become bishop of Durham around 1333, and supposed chronicler of the church of Durham
.
, the archbishop of York, promised to confirm the election; but in the meanwhile (31 October) Robert, who had visited Edward III
at 'Lutogersale' (Ludgershall in Wiltshire or Buckinghamshire?), had been told that the pope had given the see 'by provision' to Richard de Bury, 'the king's clerk'. The archbishop, however, after consulting his canons and lawyers, consecrated Robert (Sunday, 14 November), with the assistance of the bishops of Carlisle and Armagh. The new bishop was installed at Durham on 18 November, and then, returning to the king to claim the temporalities of his see, was refused an audience and referred to the next parliament for an answer. Meanwhile (14 October) the temporalities had been granted to Richard de Bury, who, having the archbishop now on his side, received the oath of the Durham clergy (10 January 1334). Robert, knowing that his convent was too poor to oppose the king and the pope, refused to continue the struggle.
He seems to have resumed his old office, and to have died about 1336. Surtees says that he 'survived his resignation scarcely a year', and died of disappointment. Richard de Bury, upon hearing of his death, apologised for the grief he showed by declaring that Graystanes was better fitted to be pope than he was to hold the least office in the church. Graystanes was buried in the chapter-house. Hutchinson has preserved his epitaph:
De Graystanes natus jacet hic Robertus humatus,
Legibus armatus, rogo sit Sanctis sociatus.
His birthplace was perhaps Greystanes three miles south-west of Sheffield.
. He takes up Coldingham's narrative with the election of King John's brother Morgan (1213), and carries it down to his own resignation. According to Wharton, however, he copied his history as far as 1285 (1283?) from the manuscript now called Cotton Julius, D. 4. His work is of considerable value, especially as it nears the writer's own time. The 'Historiæ Dunelmensis Scriptores Tres' —including Galford, Graystanes, and William de Chambre— was first printed with excisions by Wharton in 1691. The best edition is that of Raine for the Surtees Society
(1839). The chief manuscripts are (1) that in the York Cathedral Library (xvi. 1-12), which belongs to the fourteenth century; (2) the Bodleian MS. (Laud 700, which Hardy assigns to the same century), and the Cotton. MS. (Titus A. ii.) Leland had seen another manuscript in the Carmelite Library at Oxford (Collectanea, iii. 57). Wharton followed the Cotton and Laud MSS.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk, an unsuccessful candidate to become bishop of Durham around 1333, and supposed chronicler of the church of Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
.
Life
Graystanes describes himself as 'Doctor Theologicus.' He had been sub-prior of St. Mary's for twenty-six years or more when Louis de Beaumont, bishop of Durham, died on 24 September 1333. On 15 October he was elected to the vacant see, after the king's permission had been obtained. William MeltonWilliam Melton
-Life:Melton was the son of Henry of Melton, and the brother of Henry de Melton. He was born in Melton in the parish of Welton, about nine miles from Kingston upon Hull. He was a contemporary of John Hotham, Chancellor of England and Bishop of Ely...
, the archbishop of York, promised to confirm the election; but in the meanwhile (31 October) Robert, who had visited Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
at 'Lutogersale' (Ludgershall in Wiltshire or Buckinghamshire?), had been told that the pope had given the see 'by provision' to Richard de Bury, 'the king's clerk'. The archbishop, however, after consulting his canons and lawyers, consecrated Robert (Sunday, 14 November), with the assistance of the bishops of Carlisle and Armagh. The new bishop was installed at Durham on 18 November, and then, returning to the king to claim the temporalities of his see, was refused an audience and referred to the next parliament for an answer. Meanwhile (14 October) the temporalities had been granted to Richard de Bury, who, having the archbishop now on his side, received the oath of the Durham clergy (10 January 1334). Robert, knowing that his convent was too poor to oppose the king and the pope, refused to continue the struggle.
He seems to have resumed his old office, and to have died about 1336. Surtees says that he 'survived his resignation scarcely a year', and died of disappointment. Richard de Bury, upon hearing of his death, apologised for the grief he showed by declaring that Graystanes was better fitted to be pope than he was to hold the least office in the church. Graystanes was buried in the chapter-house. Hutchinson has preserved his epitaph:
De Graystanes natus jacet hic Robertus humatus,
Legibus armatus, rogo sit Sanctis sociatus.
His birthplace was perhaps Greystanes three miles south-west of Sheffield.
Works
Graystanes supposedly continued the history of the church of Durham, which had been begun by Simeon of Durham, an anonymous continuator, and Geoffrey de ColdinghamGeoffrey of Coldingham
Geoffrey of Coldingham was a late 12th and early 13th century monk and chronicler.Geoffrey is noted as the sacrist of Coldingham Priory in Berwickshire on three 14th century manuscripts of his chronicle. This work, which began with the death of William of St. Barbara in 1152, covered the history...
. He takes up Coldingham's narrative with the election of King John's brother Morgan (1213), and carries it down to his own resignation. According to Wharton, however, he copied his history as far as 1285 (1283?) from the manuscript now called Cotton Julius, D. 4. His work is of considerable value, especially as it nears the writer's own time. The 'Historiæ Dunelmensis Scriptores Tres' —including Galford, Graystanes, and William de Chambre— was first printed with excisions by Wharton in 1691. The best edition is that of Raine for the Surtees Society
Surtees Society
The Surtees Society is a learned society based at Durham in northern England. The society was established on 27 May 1834 by James Raine, following the death of renowned County Durham antiquarian Robert Surtees...
(1839). The chief manuscripts are (1) that in the York Cathedral Library (xvi. 1-12), which belongs to the fourteenth century; (2) the Bodleian MS. (Laud 700, which Hardy assigns to the same century), and the Cotton. MS. (Titus A. ii.) Leland had seen another manuscript in the Carmelite Library at Oxford (Collectanea, iii. 57). Wharton followed the Cotton and Laud MSS.