Geoffrey de Henlaw

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Geoffrey de Henlaw
SeeSt Davids
Elected1203
Term ended1214
PredecessorPeter de Leia
SuccessorIorwerth
Previous postPrior of Llanthony Priory
Personal details
Died1214 (1215)

Geoffrey de Henlaw (died 1214) was a physician and Augustinian who served as bishop of St Davids from 1203 until his death, and as prior of Llanthony Priory from c. 1185×1189 to 1203.[1]: 289–290 [2]: 151, 206 

Early life

Geoffrey was a cleric and physician from Bristol. He is first recorded in the service of Robert Fitzharding and had probably gained a reputation as a physician before becoming an Augustinian.[2]: 206 [3]: 85 

Llanthony Priory

The ruins of Llanthony Priory

Geoffrey later entered the service of Roger of Norwich, prior of Llanthony Priory. Roger had sought Geoffrey's services after becoming paralysed in old age, rewarding him with "very large gifts", and nominating him as his successor on his deathbed. He succeeded Roger in c. 1185×1189, becoming the seventh prior of Llanthony Prima and the fifth prior of Lanthony Secunda.[2]: 151, 206 [4]: 11, 72, 97 

Gerald of Wales states that Roger resigned after falling ill, while The History of Llanthony Priory has him remaining prior until his death.[5]: 7,29 [6] The first record of Geoffrey as prior is as a witness for a c. 1185×1189 grant from Maurice of Berkeley.[5]: 29 

On 16 May 1191, Pope Celestine III addressed a papal bull to Geoffrey, placing the priory under his protection and confirming its donations, gifts, and liberties.[5]: 30  On 26 July 1197, Richard I granted the priory a charter, which he confirmed and re-sealed on 14 November 1198.[5]: 30–31  On 30 July 1199, John, King of England, granted the priory a charter confirming earlier donations, including a Gloucester schoolhouse and the church of Henlow.[5]: 31 

The History of Llanthony Priory mentions Geoffrey's time as prior, but the surviving text breaks off before providing details.[3]: xv 

Geoffrey gave Llanthony Priory a copy of Priscian's Grammatica (Lambeth Palace Library MS 195). It is the only book recorded as a donation from him to the priory, and its inscription indicates that it was given while he was bishop. No medical texts are known to have been donated by Geoffrey.[4]: 72, 98, 244 

Bishop of St Davids

St David's Cathedral, built in the 12th century.

On 29 June 1199, the chapter of St Davids elected Gerald of Wales as bishop. With royal support, Hubert Walter, the archbishop of Canterbury, refused assent and instead offered the chapter a choice between Alexander, a Cistercian abbot, and Geoffrey.[5]: 33 [7]: 385  According to Gerald, Geoffrey received Walter's support because he was Walter's physician.[2]: 207 [5]: 33 [8]: 20 

In 1203, Pope Innocent III declared Gerald's election invalid. At a new election held at the Palace of Westminster and supervised by Geoffrey fitz Peter, Geoffrey de Henlaw was elected bishop of St Davids with the support of King John. He then resigned as prior of Llanthony.[5]: 33 [7]: 387 [9]: 135  Geoffrey was consecrated bishop at Westminster on 7 November 1203.[1]: 289 

Compared to the priory of Llanthony, the bishopric was poor, worth 20 marks a year compared to the 500 of Llanthony, but according to Gerald of Wales it was sought for the greater rank it provided.[5]: 34 

After his election Gerald criticised Geoffrey for, among other matters, not speaking Welsh and being unfamiliar with Welsh customs.[10]: 99  He also claimed, in De iure et statu Menevensis ecclesiae, that Geoffrey fell into gluttony and as divine punishment became paralysed. This is a duplicate of a passage from The History of Llanthony Priory that referred to Roger of Norwich.[3]: xxix, 83 

Brian Howells describes Geoffrey as an able administrator. As bishop, he mediated ecclesiastical disputes in the Welsh Marches, including disputes between Llanthony Prima and Llanthony Secunda, and between the Llanthony and Hereford cathedral chapters.[1]: 290 

Llanthony Secunda dispute

Arms of Henry de Bohun, drawn by Matthew Paris.

Llanthony Secunda was larger and more important than Llanthony Prima, but remained a cell of its motherhouse. Its patron, Henry de Bohun, Earl of Hereford, objected to this arrangement and began to press for Llanthony Secunda's independence in c. 1204.[11]: 98–99  Gerald of Wales wrote that Geoffrey fitz Peter supported Geoffrey de Henlaw's election so that Llanthony Priory would become vacant, giving his son-in-law, Earl Henry, a freer hand in pursuing the separation.[3]: xxii–xxiii 

In September 1204, in response to an appeal from Geoffrey de Henlaw to judge the status of Llanthony Secunda, Innocent III gave Geoffrey a mandate to bring the two sides together to resolve the dispute peacefully. To hear the case Innocent III appointed Gilbert Glanville, the bishop of Rochester, and the abbots of Reading and Chertsey.[11]: 99 

Before the case was heard, the two sides negotiated with advice and counsel from the bishops of Worcester, Hereford, and St Davids. They reached a settlement, which Gilbert Glanville ratified.[11]: 99–100 

Death

Geoffrey died in 1214. He was succeeded as bishop of St Davids by Iorwerth on 21 June 1215.[1]: 289–290 

References

  1. Howells, Brian (2002). "The Bishops of St Davids from Bernard to Bec". Pembrokeshire County History. Vol. II. Pembrokeshire Historical Society.
  2. Cowley, Frederick George (1977). The monastic order in South Wales, 1066-1349. Studies in Welsh history. University of Wales. Cardiff: University of Wales Press [for] the History and Law Committee of the Board of Celtic Studies. ISBN 978-0-7083-0648-2.
  3. Bartlett, Robert (2022). The history of Llanthony priory. Oxford medieval texts - cloth (1 ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-286649-3.
  4. Bennett, Kirsty (2021). "The book collections of Llanthony Priory from foundation until dissolution (c. 1100–1538)". Kent Academic Repository. doi:10.22024/UNIKENT/01.02.86347.
  5. Langston, J. N. (1942). "Priors of Lanthony by Gloucester" (PDF). Transactions of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society. 63: 1–144.
  6. "Cotton MS Julius D X, ff 2–53". British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
  7. Richter, Michael (1973). "GERALD OF WALES: A Reassessment on the 750th Anniversary of His Death". Traditio. 29: 379–390. ISSN 0362-1529.
  8. Williams, David H. (2009). "Llanthony Prima Priory". The Monmouthshire Antiquary. 25–26: 13–50.
  9. Webster, Paul (31 December 2015), "Religion, Politics, and Reputation The Interdict and King John's Excommunication", King John and Religion, Boydell and Brewer, pp. 131–152, doi:10.1515/9781782045120-010, ISBN 978-1-78204-512-0
  10. Putter, Ad (2010). "Multilingualism in England and Wales, c. 1200: The Testimony of Gerald of Wales". In Kleinhenz, Christopher; Busby, Keith (eds.). Medieval Multilingualism: The Francophone World and its Neighbours. Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols Publishers. pp. 83–105. doi:10.1484/m.tcne-eb.3.4604. ISBN 978-2-503-52837-3.
  11. Hogan, Arlene (2006). The lands of Llanthony Prima and Secunda in Ireland 1172-1541. Trinity College Dublin.