ABSTRACT
The legal powers of a medieval bishop or abbot were extensive. Medieval church courts might therefore deal with cases of murder, assault, rape and burglary. The medieval church had its own prisons and could sentence like the temporal courts. The twelfth century is acknowledged to be the great period of medieval letter writing and one of its most distinguished exponents was Peter de Blois, Archdeacon of Bath. The control of their courts, manors, churches, hospitals, schools, almshouses, towns and other properties required much correspondence and a considerable messenger service. Records show that bishops and abbots had some use of the king’s messenger service in that the royal nuntii regularly brought letters and writs to their households. The congregations of the universities corresponded with kings, popes, bishops and nobles. The registers of Roger Martival, Bishop of Salisbury from 1315–1330, show that he had a staff of chancellor, registrar and various clerks.
