Aspects of Kentish Local History

make restitution to the rightful rector, Thomas of Chartham. Master Martin was instructed to publish the sentence on Sundays and festivals in Reculver and the chapels and other churches in the neighbourhood. The penalty of the greater excommunication was threatened for failure to withdraw within three days and to make restitution of spoils.
   The chancellor's men and servants stayed in possession of Reculver. On March 8th, 1300, after taking counsel with the lawyers of his court, the Archbishop pronounced that John de Langton had come under the penalty of the greater excommunication, and was thereby deprived of all the benefices which he held in England. The Bishop of London received a mandate to publish the judgment, and to notify the patrons of Langton's benefices that these were vacant.¹ There can be little doubt that Bishops of other dioceses in the province of Canterbury had similar instructions.
   Nevertheless, John de Langton's men were still in possession at Reculver on May 8th, when the Archbishop told his commissary to go in person before June 11th and remove the intruders from Reculver, its chapels and buildings.² No evidence of their ejection has come to light. John de Langton's appeal through his proctor, John de Kybbeworth, was favourably considered at the Curia; Pope Boniface VIII instructed the Bishops of Salisbury and Rochester and the Dean of St. Paul's to act as judges delegate in the case between the Archbishop and the Archdeacon of Canterbury, and

in the case of the rival rectors of Reculver.³ So great were the delays that it was not until June 24th, 1301, that the judges appointed the Archdeacons of London and Colchester and two canons of St. Paul's to act for them.
   It is probable that John de Langton had ceased to claim Reculver some months earlier. There is an entry on the Patent Roll dated November 15th, 1300, that Edward I sanctioned the grant in mortmain to Thomas of Chartham, described as rector of Reculver, of fifteen acres of land in that parish.⁴ In the few years of peaceful enjoyment of the fruits of his benefice, he erected fine and spacious buildings at great labour and expense and with the Archbishop's help and advice.⁵ He died early in 1306. His nephew and executor sold the buildings to a layman, contrary to the late rector's intentions.
   John de Langton was consecrated Bishop of Chichester on September 19th, 1305, and the archdeaconry of Canterbury fell vacant. Almost ten weeks had elapsed between the Archbishop's confirmation of his election and the consecration, and Winchelsey hoped to appoint a man of peace as archdeacon. His choice fell on Simon of Faversham
  ¹ Winchelsey, II, pp. 891-5.
   ²  Ibid., I, p. 388.
   ³  Register of Simon of Gaunt, I, p. 58 (Canterbury and York Society).
   ⁴  Calendar of Letters Patent 1293-1300, p. 542.
   ⁵  Winchelsey, II, pp. 1056-8.