Richard de Morins

Richard de Morins [Ricardus Anglicus, Richard of Mores, Richard de Mores, Ricardus de Mores.] (c.1161-1242) was an English canon lawyer. He was Archdeacon of Bologna, and taught law at the University of Bologna. On his return to England, he was a canon of Merton Priory, before becoming prior at Dunstable Priory in 1202.

Jurist

By new methods of explaining legal proceedings, he became recognized as the pioneer of scientific judicial procedure in the twelfth century. His long-lost work "Ordo Judiciarius" was discovered in Manuscript by Wunderlich in Douai and published by Witt in 1851. A more correct manuscript was subsequently discovered at Brussels by Sir Travers Twiss. [Twiss, on evidence which seems insufficient, followed Panciroli in identifying him with Bishop Richard Poore (died 1237).]

Probably he graduated in Paris, as a Papal Bull of 1218 refers to "Ricardus Anglicus doctor Parisiensis", but there is no evidence to connect him with Oxford. He also wrote glosses on the papal decretals, and distinctions on the Decree of Gratian. He must be distinguished from his contemporary, Ricardus Anglicanus, a physician.

Prior

He was an effective leader of the Priory, early acquiring relics from Cropredy [ [http://www.cropredyvillage.info/Church%20at%20Cropredy.htm Church at Cropredy ] ] . He took over Dunstable's chronicle, continuing it until his death. [http://www.humanitiesweb.org/human.php?s=s&p=l&a=c&ID=1987&o=] He preached crusade in 1212, and attended the Fourth Lateran Council [ [http://www.dunstableparish.org.uk/ptrhistory.htm Bold type = main column ] ] .

References

*Rashdall, "Mediæval Universities", II, 750 (London, 1895);
*Twiss, "Law Magazine and Review", May, 1894;
*Sarti and Fattorini, "De claris Archigymnasii Bononiensis Professoribus";
*Blakiston in "Dict. Nat. Biog.", s. v. Poor, Richard.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13032a.htm "Catholic Encyclopedia" article]
*de icon [http://www.bbkl.de/r/ricardus_anglicus.shtml BBK page]