in his service, to undertake the mission with Master Anselm of Eastry, the rector of Eastry. To avoid further delay he asked that the bearer of his letter might bring back an answer from the bishop and from Master Hamo.
On 12 December an order was sent from the king to the warden of the Cinque Ports to permit Master Anselm of Eastry and Master Hamo of Gatton [sic] to pass from the port of Dover to ports beyond the seas with their servants and things.[1] They took with them letters to ten cardinals, asking them for help and advice so that their business concerning the petition might have a quick and happy ending.[2] For over six months there is no record of the messengers except that on 1 April Hamo of Gateley was at Rome and secured a dispensation from the pope to hold a second benefice with cure of souls.[3] On 24 July 1298 the archbishop wrote to the two envoys to tell them that as they were in need of more money he had placed £100 to their credit with the Florentine merchants of the firm of the Pulci and Rembertini, which would be paid to them for their expenses.[4] The money for the mission was raised by the levy of a halfpenny in the mark on the Taxation of Pope Nicholas, and as the archbishop had not received it, he was obliged to borrow. He told them that he was amazed at their extravagant expenditure, and remonstrated seriously with them for quarrelling with each other. So long as their expenses were moderate he would see that they were not short of money. Before the end of 1298 Hamo of Gateley was back in England, and on 10 January 1299 the archbishop wrote to the bishop of Norwich asking him to persuade Hamo to return to the curia.[5] After taking counsel with the bishops and clergy of the province it had been decided to send presents to the pope, cardinals, officials, and servants of the curia to expedite the business, and it was urgent that Hamo, who had promoted it before the pope and cardinals, should now bring it to a successful conclusion. Moreover there was a rumour that Anselm of Eastry was in despair at the curia and he might return, because he was ignorant of the remedy which was near at hand. In a letter of the same date from his palace at Mayfield, the archbishop urged Hamo to visit him as soon as possible to receive further instructions.[6] On 24 January he wrote to Anselm of Eastry to tell him that he had appointed Master Reginald of St. Albans as his proctor at the curia, and telling him not to withdraw until he had received the archbishop's commands.[7]
