1298-12-20, York

To Master Geoffrey, the pope's chamberlain. Although the king, as he lately informed (mandaverimus) Geoffrey, intended to send special letters to the pope in the matter of the prebend of Massham in the church of York, which John de Columpna, son of Landulph de Columpna, contends that he has by papal provision, he has for certain reasons omitted writing at present, but he desires and requests that Geoffrey will inform the pope concerning the process of the matter and the right to the collation to the prebend that pertains to the king by reason of his royal dignity, in accordance with what the king made known to him not long ago, and that he will do this in the best way that he can, superseding wholly in the meantime the execution of any process by him, since the king does not believe that it is the pope's intention to deprive the king of his rights or to derogate from them in any way, but to keep them uninjured and, if need be, to augment them. [Prynne, Ltecords, i, p. 801.]