1321-10-07, Porchester

To the justiciary of Ireland, or to him who supplies his place. Whereas it lately came to the king's heari ing in full parliament that in the abbey of Mellifont, of the Cistercian order, and in other houses of that order in Ireland it has become the practice that no one is admitted to the habit of religion unless oath (fides) have been first made or unless it appear otherwise by evidence or by common fame that he is not of English race and is not related to the English, and the king for this reason wrote to the abbot of Citeaux to cause such method of admission (acceptacio) to be abolished, since it appears to be contrived not only in dissolution of charity but also in contempt of the king, in opprobrium of all his language and in subversion of his lordship ; and the abbot has written to the king in reply that the king's letters were admitted in the next chapter-general, and the abbots of Dore (Dora) and Mergan were commissioned and enjoined by authority of the chapter to go in person to Ireland and to dispose and ordain concerning the houses of the order, and to compel the abbots of the said houses to receive without distinction (éndistincte) whosoever wish to enter regular life in that order without making exception to their persons so long as they be able and suitable; the king now orders the justiciary to induce the aforesaid abbots when they arrive in Ireland to prosecute with diligence the mandate __ enjoined upon them, and to compel the other abbots of that order in those parts to obey them and fulfil the injunctions. The justiciary is ordered to complete these things and to coerce rebels and conspirators in this behalf when necessary, so far as may be done without offence of right.