"Venerabilis frater noster Nigellus Elyensis episcopus quamvis quibusdam criminibus in presentia nostra notatus fuerit, nec tamen convictus neque confessus est. Unde nos ipsum cum gratia nostra ad sedem propriam remittentes nobilitati tue mandamus ut eum pro beati Petri et nostra reverentia honores, diligas, nec ipse sibi vel ecclesie sue iniuriam vel molestiam inferas nec ab aliis inferri permittas. Si qua etiam ... ab hominibus tuis ei ablata sunt cum integritate restitui facias" (fol. 117).
The above "crimina" are those referred to in the Historia Eliensis as brought forward at the Council of London in 1143:—
"Quidam magni autoritatis et prudentiæ visi adversus Dominum Nigellum Episcopum parati insurrexerunt: illum ante Domini Papæ præsentiam appellaverunt, sinistra ei objicientes plurima, maxime quod seditiones in ipso concitaverat regno, et bona Ecclesie sue in milites dissipaverat; aliaque ei convicia blasphemantes improperabant" (p. 622).
A second letter of the same date "Ad clerum elyensem de condempnatione Symonie Vitalis presbyteri" deals with the case of Vitalis, a priest in Nigel's diocese, who had been sentenced to deprivation of his living, for simony, and whose appeal to the Council of London in 1143 had been favourably received by the legate.[1190] The pope had himself reheard the case, and now confirmed Nigel's decision:—
"Dilectis filiis Rodberto Abbati Thorneie et capitulo elyensi salutem etc. Notum vobis fieri quia iuditium super causa, videlicet symonia, Vitalis presbyteri in synodo elyensi habitum in nostra presentia discussum est et retractatum. Quod nos rationabile cognoscentes apostolice sedis auctoritate firmavimus," etc., etc. (fol. 117).
Then come two letters, also of the same date, one to Theobald and the English bishops, the other to the Archbishop of Rouen, both to the same effect, beginning, "Venerabilis frater noster Nigellus elyensis episcopus ad sedem apostolicam veniens, nobis conquestus est quod," etc. (fol. 116 b):[1191] the fifth document of the 24th of May (1144) is a general confirmation to Ely of all its privileges and possessions (fols. 114 b-116 b).
Last of all is the letter referring to Geoffrey de Mandeville, which must, from internal evidence, have been written in reply to a letter from Nigel after his return to England (ante, p. 215).
[1189] "Et negotium strenuissime agentes, acceperunt ab excellentiâ Romanæ dignitatis ad Archiepiscopum et episcopos Angliæ et ad Rothomagensem Archiepiscopum literas de restituendo Nigello episcopo in sedem suam" (Hist. Eliensis, p. 621).
[1190] "Presbyter quidam Vitalis nomine conquestus est coram omnibus quod Dominus Elyensis episcopus eum non judiciali ordine de suâ Ecclesiâ expulerit. Huic per omnia ille Legatus favebat" (Hist. Eliensis, p. 622).
[1191] See ante, p. 215, for Nigel's complaint.