Page "Ealdred (bishop)" Paragraph 19

In 1061 Ealdred travelled to Rome to receive the pallium, the symbol of an archbishop's authority.

Journeying with him was Tostig, another son of Earl Godwin, who was now earl of Northumbria.

William of Malmesbury says that Ealdred, by " amusing the simplicity of King Edward and alleging the custom of his predecessors, had acquired, more by bribery than by reason, the archbishopric of York while still holding his former see.

" On his arrival in Rome, however, charges of simony, or the buying of ecclesiastical office, and lack of learning were brought against him, and his elevation to York was refused by Pope Nicholas II, who also deposed him from Worcester.

The story of Ealdred being deposed comes from the Vita Edwardi, a life of Edward the Confessor, but the Vita Wulfstani, an account of the life of Ealdred's successor at Worcester, Wulfstan, says that Nicholas refused the pallium until a promise to find a replacement for Worcester was given by Ealdred.

Yet another chronicler, John of Worcester, mentions nothing of any trouble in Rome, and when discussing the appointment of Wulfstan, says that Wulfstan was elected freely and unanimously by the clergy and people.

John of Worcester also claims that at Wulfstan's consecration, Stigand, the archbishop of Canterbury extracted a promise from Ealdred that neither he nor his successors would lay claim to any jurisdiction over the diocese of Worcester.

Given that John of Worcester wrote his chronicle after the eruption of the Canterbury – York supremacy struggle, the story of Ealdred renouncing any claims to Worcester needs to be considered suspect.