Legal Definitions - collatione heremitagii

The term collatione heremitagii refers to a historical legal instrument used in England during the medieval period. It was a specific type of writ, or formal written order, issued by the Crown (the reigning monarch).

This writ served as the official means by which the King or Queen would grant the responsibility for overseeing and maintaining a hermitage to a designated clergyman. A hermitage was typically a secluded dwelling, often associated with religious reclusion, where a hermit or a small community of religious individuals lived a life of prayer and contemplation. Essentially, a collatione heremitagii was a royal appointment bestowing the stewardship of such a religious retreat upon a chosen cleric.

• Example 1: Imagine a medieval hermitage, St. Agnes's Cell, which has fallen into disrepair after its previous occupant passed away. The local bishop, concerned about the neglect of the sacred site, petitions the King to intervene. The King, wishing to ensure the hermitage is properly maintained and continues its spiritual purpose, issues a collatione heremitagii. This writ formally appoints Father Benedict, a respected local priest known for his administrative skills, as the new keeper, granting him the authority and responsibility to manage the property and its spiritual affairs.

  Explanation: This scenario illustrates the Crown using the writ to confer the "keeping" (management and maintenance) of a hermitage (St. Agnes's Cell) on a "clerk" (Father Benedict) to ensure its continued function and preservation.

• Example 2: In the 13th century, a wealthy noble establishes a new hermitage on his vast estate, intended as a place of quiet contemplation for scholarly monks. To give it official standing and ensure its long-term spiritual integrity under royal patronage, he requests the King's formal endorsement. The King agrees and, through a collatione heremitagii, formally appoints Brother Michael, a learned and pious monk from a nearby abbey, as the first official keeper of this newly founded hermitage.

  Explanation: Here, the writ is used to formally grant the "keeping" of a newly established hermitage to a "clerk" (Brother Michael), signifying royal endorsement and the official appointment of its first manager.

• Example 3: A remote hermitage, known for its ancient collection of illuminated manuscripts, becomes vacant when its long-serving hermit retires due to advanced age. The Crown recognizes the historical and cultural importance of preserving these valuable texts. To ensure the library and the hermitage itself are cared for by a suitable scholar, the King issues a collatione heremitagii, appointing Master Alaric, a clergyman renowned for his knowledge of ancient texts and his meticulous nature, to take charge of the hermitage and its precious collection.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates the writ being used to appoint a "clerk" (Master Alaric) to the "keeping" of a hermitage, specifically highlighting the responsibility for its valuable assets (the library) and its overall management, ensuring continuity and proper stewardship.