 In 1202 the new Bishop of Worcester Mauger attempted to investigate Norreis 's conduct , but under the leadership of Thomas of Marlborough the monastic community refused to allow the bishop to visit , claiming that Evesham was exempt from episcopal visitation and oversight . According to Thomas , Norreis offered to renounce the abbey 's claim to exemption in return for money , but the bishop refused . Norries then fled the monastery , while the monks continued to refuse the bishop and were excommunicated , a sentence that Norreis was spared . Between early September and mid @-@ October the dispute was heard by three ecclesiastical tribunals , Mauger was supported by Eustace , Bishop of Ely , and Giles de Braose , Bishop of Hereford . The monks and Norreis then made common cause , each vowing to stand by the other in resisting Mauger . As well as these two cases , there was a dispute between the monks and the bishop over the ownership of some properties . The monks and Norreis then obtained the right for their case to be heard by papal judge @-@ delegates , but Mauger objected to the fact that the appointed judges were all Benedictine monks , and travelled to Rome to appeal . 
