PREFACE.

The collection of letters by Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln, which is presented here, consists of one hundred and twenty-seven epistles. Many of these are now published for the first time. It is a matter of regret that the collection is not more complete. There is little doubt that the Bishop wrote many other letters which have either perished or remain hidden in libraries as yet unexamined. However, those that have been recovered provide a significant view into the character, the studies, and the administrative labors of one of the most remarkable men of the thirteenth century.

A woodcut illustration depicts the episcopal seal of Robert Grosseteste, showing a bishop in full vestments with a crozier, surrounded by a decorative border of geometric leaf patterns.

Grosseteste was a man of intense intellectual activity. His correspondence reveals his deep involvement in the ecclesiastical politics of his time, his efforts to reform the discipline of the clergy, and his unwavering defense of the rights of his see. He frequently engaged with the highest authorities, including the Pope and the King, always maintaining a stance of moral rigor. His influence extended beyond the borders of England, reaching the centers of learning in Paris and the papal court itself.

The letters also document his relationships with his contemporaries, including his support for the mendicant orders. He maintained a correspondence with the Franciscan brothers, particularly Adam Marsh, whose letters original: "Epistolae Adae de Marisco" are often found in association with those of the Bishop. These documents serve as a vital record for the historian of the medieval church and the development of scholastic thought in England.