Archbishop Romeyn’s Preaching Campaign in the Diocese of York 1291

As the Muslim army of Qalawun threatened the removal of the Franks from Jerusalem in the lead-up to 1291, there was a desperate attempt to recruit new Christian forces from across Europe to defend Christianity’s last grasp of control in the region. As Archbishop of York, John le Romeyn was given the task of rallying support for the divine cause within the various parishes of his diocese. He asked for the help of both the Dominicans and Franciscans in the preaching campaign, and outlined a specific target area for each of the houses supplying preachers. Sermons were to be held at the same time across the region on the day of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, 14 September. Locations were chosen that would draw large enough crowds to be impactful, whilst at the same time ensuring that people from different social and economic classes were present.