A.D. 1196. LETTER OF POPE CELESTINUS. 875 In the same year, on the fifth day of the Nativity of our Lord, Bertram, prior of the church of Durham, met Hubert, archbishop of Canterbury, at Alverton ; and there, in his presence, elected Master Philip, a clerk, and one of the household of the king of England, bishop of Durham. In the same year, pope Celestinus, at the urgent request of the envoys of the dean and canons of York, wrote to the following effect to Simon, dean of the church of York. The Letter of pope Celestinus to Simon, dean of York, on the administration of that diocese. " Celestinus, the bishop, servant of the servants of God, to his dearly beloved son, Simon, dean of York, health and the ApostoBc benediction. Whereas, ^sufficient as we are, the government of the universal Church has been, by the favour of the Divine grace, entrusted to ourselves, and we are bound in everything to take due precautions against casualties, and to provide for the interests of the same, so are we bound with the greatest care to use all precaution that churches may not incur any injury in things temporal or spiritual, in those matters on which it is our object to consult their honor and convenience. And whereas, on considering the merits of persons, and diligently examining into the same, a person may, according to the merits of his actions, be found deserving to be suspended by us from the exercise of his dignity, and to be removed for a time from the prelacy of churches, to the end that matter may not be furnished to private persons, placed under his pastoral care, for speaking ill of him, and that all occasions for litigation may be removed ; we are still bound in such case to provide them with a person who shall know how to decide the disputes of those engaged in litigation, and to correct the excesses of those subject to him, and, so far as the duties of his office will allow, to love and cherish them with all affection. Wherefore, inasmuch as, his deeds so requiring and his contumacy demanding it, for abusing our patience, and not ceasing from his iniquities, nor yet presenting himself before us within the term, mercifuBy, by our indulgence, granted him, the archbishop of York has been, by our authority, suspended both from the use of the pall, from the discharge of Episcopal duties, and from all ministration, in things spiritual as well as temporal, and from the receipt of aB profits thereof; we have thought proper, on the authority of these presents, to show