THE ELECTION OF STAPELDON, 1307–8

Bishop Bytton had probably been ailing for some time. He died on 21 September 1307 and was buried five days later. On the day of his burial canons William de Sancta Elena and Richard Morcester were sent to procure the royal licence to elect. This they obtained on 6 October and exhibited it at Exeter eight days later. The election was fixed for 13 November and the canons called into residence. The electors met on that date and decided to proceed per viam scrutinii. Fifteen votes were cast for Stapeldon, three for the dean, John Lechlade, three for canon Thomas Cherleton and two for canon John Godeley, dean of Wells. Stapledon was thereupon declared elected by the maior et sanior pars. On 3 December the royal assent was obtained.

However, the election was disputed. Richard Plympstoke, rector of Exminster and Uffculme, appealed to the Roman curia against nine of the canons who had participated in the election, including all the candidates with the exception of Godeley. Plympstoke was a man of some position and influence. Since 1293, when he first occurs as magister, he had held the valuable prebend of Scamblesby at Lincoln and by March 1297 he was a canon of Wells. In 1300 he was chaplain to Boniface VII's nephew, Cardinal Francis Gaetani. We know this because Plympstoke, then still a subdeacon, had acquired his plurality of benefices and prebends without a dispensation and it was Gaetani who acquired him one.