IV - His personal visitations of his flock, whether people or clergy or religious.

Summary

In taking the forementioned informations of the manners of his clergy and people, our vigorous Prelate did not so rely on his archdeacons, tho men of learning and probity, as not to see with his own eyes and act with his own hands as far as lay in the power of a most active and indefatigable zeal. The Diocese of Lincoln was then very extensive and took in what now forms the three Diocese of Lincoln, Peterborough and Oxford, under eight archdeaconries, viz Lincoln, Stow, Northampton, Leicester, Huntingdon, Bedford, Bucks and Oxford. Bishop Grossetete suffered no year to pass, in which he did not visit some part, if not the whole of so wide a district, and gives his reasons for this diligence which were the continual dread of the account he was to give of them and least [sic] their blood should be required of his hands.

From the time, my unworthiness was first promoted to the episcopal charge to the present time I often ruminate, and deeply reflect, that the duty of pastors is to know their sheep, and that the just man has compassion on the souls of his beasts, and that this knowledge cannot be better acquired than by visiting them and enquiring into their lives and manners. And hence according to my poor abilities I have ever made it my great solicitude and labour to visit them and to correct according to the canons whatever interested the salvation of souls, of which I am thoroughly persuaded I may give a most strict account at the rigorous tribunal of God.

The Bishop's method in his visitations was this. Before setting off, notice was sent to the clergy of each rural deanary to meet at such a place on such a day. The like notice was given to the people to come to hear the word of God and confess their sins, and bring their children with them in order to receive Confirmation. When all were met the Bishop generally preached to the clergy himself, and the sermons above extracted seem delivered on these occasions. At the same time, some Dominican or Franciscan friar instructed the people, after which four of the said religious heard the confessions of the people and injoined them proper penances. Then the Bishop gave Confirmation the same day and the day following.