The history of the worthies of England who for parts and learning have been eminent in the several counties : together with an historical narrative of the native commodities and rarities in each county / endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

King Henry VI.

23 JOHN BASKET, Esq.]

High-sheriffe of this County in the twenty third of King Henry the sixth. He is memo∣rable on this account, that a solemn dispensation granted unto him from the Court of Rome, acquainteth us with the form of those Instruments in that Age, not unworthy our perusall.

Nicholaus miseratione divinâ, &c. Sanctae Crucis in Jerusalem Presbyter Cardinalis; Dilectis in Christo nobilibus Johanni Basket Scutifero, & Aliciae ejus Uxori, Sarisburiensis Diocesis, Salutem in Domino. Solet annuere Sedes Apostoli∣ca piis votis, & honestis petentium preci∣bus, maximè ubi salus requiritur anima∣rum, favorem benevolum impartiri. Cum igitur ex parte vestra nobis fuerit humili∣ter supplicatum, ut in animarum vestra∣rum solatium, eligendi Confessorem ideo∣neum vobis licentiam concedere dignare∣mur. Nos vestris supplicationibus favo∣rabiliter annuentes, Authoritate Domini Papae, cujus * 1.1 primariae curam gerimus, & de ejus speciali mandato super hoc vivae vocis oraculo nobis facto, devotioni vestrae concedimus quatenus liceat vobis idoneum & discretum Presbyterum in Confessorem eligere, qui super peccatis quae sibi confite∣bimini (nisi talia sint propter quae sit dicta Sedes consulenda) authoritate praedicta vobis provideat de absolutionis debitae beneficio, & paeni•…•…tia salutari quam∣diu vixeritis, quotiens fuerit opportu∣num.

Vota ver•…•… peregrinationis & absti∣nentiae si qua emisistis, quae commodè ser∣vare non potestis, ultra marina (beatorum Petri, & Pauli, atque Jacobi, Apostolo∣rum votis duntaxat exceptis) commutet vo∣bis idem Confessor in alia opera pietatis.

Dat. Florentiae, sub sigillo officii Pria∣riae, 3. Non. Aprilis Pontificatus Domini Eugenii Papae 4. Anno Decimo.

Nicholas by divine mercy, &c. Priest Car∣dinal of St. Crosses in Jerusalem; To the be∣loved in Christ the worshipfull John Basket Esq. and Alice his Wife, of the Diocess of Sa∣lisbury, Greeting in the Lord. The See Aposto∣lick useth to grant the pious desires, and ho∣nest requests of petitioners, chiefly where the health of souls requireth courteous favour to be bestowed upon them. Seeing therefore on your behalf you have supplicated humbly un∣to us, that for the comfort of your souls we would vouchsafe to grant you license tochuse for your selves a Confessor, we favourably yeilding to your request by the authority of our Lord the Pope, the Charge of whose Pri∣mary we bear, & from his Special Command in this case made unto us by the Oracle of his mouth, doe grant to your devotion, so far forth as it may be lawfull for you, to chuse a fit & discreet Priest for your Confessor, who as touching the sins which ye shall confess unto him (except they be such for which the said See is to be consulted with) may by au∣thority aforesaid provide for you concerning the benefit of due absolution, & wholesome Penance, so long as ye live, so often as there shall be occasion. But if ye have made any forraign vows of pilgrimage and fasting, which ye cannot conveniently keep (vows to blessed Peter, Paul, and James, Apostles onely excepted,) the same Confessor may commute them for you into other works of piety.

Given at Florence, under the seal of the office of the Primary, 3. Non. of April the 13. year of the Popedome of Pope Euge∣nius the fourth.

The tenth of Pope Eugenius falleth on the twentieth of King Henry the sixth, Anno Domini 1440. Why it should be higher and harder to dispence with vows made to Saint James, then to Saint John, (his brother, and Christs beloved disciple,) some Courtier of Rome must render the reason. The posterity of this Master Basket in the next generation remov'd in Dorset-shire, where they continue at this day in a worshipfull condition, at Divenish.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Thus it is written in the Original which we have englished, & request the learned Rea∣ders bette•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 struction.