Page images
PDF
EPUB
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

LIVES

OF THE

ARCHBISHOPS OF CANTERBURY

BOOK III.-Continued.

CHAPTER X.

JOHN STRATFORD.

Born at Stratford-upon-Avon.-Parentage.-Educated at Merton College, Oxford.-Graduates in Law.-Counsel for the University against the Dominicans.-Early Ecclesiastical Preferments.-Eminent as a Lawyer. An M.P.-A Clerk in Chancery.-Dean of the Court of Arches A Diplomatist.-Embassy to John XXII.-Bishop of Winchester. His Appointment opposed by the Government.-Restored to favour.-Takes part in the Revolution of 1327.-His Conduct towards Edward II.-Assists at the deposition of the King.-Persecuted by Isabella and Mortimer.-Obliged to conceal himself.— Restored to power by the Counter Revolution.-Pilgrimage to France. -Lord Chancellor.-Eminence as a Diplomatist and Statesman.— Parliamentary Reform.-Formation of a separate House of Commons. —A Law Reformer.-Translation to Canterbury.-Peculiarities of his appointment. Encourages trade.-His Policy as chief Adviser of the King. Disagreement with Benedict XII.-His View of the French War.-Vigour of the Minister.-Intrigues against the Ministry of Stratford.-Perplexities of Government.-His Quarrel with the King. -Libellus Famosus.-Spirited but temperate conduct of the Archbishop. Summoned to Parliament.-Persecuted by the new Ministry.

[blocks in formation]

CHAP.

X.

John

1333-48.

-Acquitted by the King.-Restored to power.-Was Prime Minister till his Death.-Attends to ecclesiastical affairs.-Holds two Councils. Important regulations.-Foppery of some of the Clergy censured.-Misconduct of Archdeacons.-Banns of Marriage.-Wakes. -Monks bad patrons of livings.-Archbishop chief counsellor to Prince Lionel when Regent.-Measures adopted against papal provisions and Reservations.-Controversy with the Pope.-Anti-papal Proceedings of the Archbishop.-Good understanding of Clergy and people on subject of provisions.-Modification of the Statute of Mortmain.- Battle of Cressy.-Retreat of Stratford.-Life at Mayfield.Charities at Stratford-upon-Avon of John, Robert, and Ralph de Stratford. His Will.-Dies at Mayfield.

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON was, towards the close of the thirteenth century, the birth-place of two brothers, both of Stratford. whom were bishops, one of whom was Archbishop of Canterbury, both of them Lord High Chancellors of England. Stratford-upon-Avon is now the most celebrated spot in all England-one of the most celebrated in the civilised world; but even before the birth of Shakspeare, it had become a town of considerable importance. It was antecedently to the conquest, and for some centuries afterwards, the property of the Bishops of Worcester. By the Conqueror's survey, it appears that Stratford, then in possession of Wulfstan, the celebrated Bishop of Worcester, was rated at fourteen hides and a half, there being at that time a church, and also a mill yielding ten shillings a year and a thousand eels. The value of the whole extended to

Authorities:-The materials for this life are ample. Birchington in the Anglia Sacra has given a detailed account of his primacy, and narrated minutely the circumstances of his conflict with Edward III. The domestic history of that great monarch can scarcely be said to exist, all modern historians having directed their attention to the warlike splendours of his reign. It is very difficult therefore to decide on the merits of the Archbishop's controversy with Edward III. What is here stated is deduced from a comparison of the Libellus Famosus, with the Archbishop's Excusatio. The other authorities are Adam de Murimuth, Walsingham, Dugdale, and the public documents, to which special reference is made. Barnes is full of information respecting the reign of Edward, though badly arranged.

X.

John

twenty-five shillings. Richard I. gave it a weekly market, CHAP. and King John an annual fair. In this record it is named Stradford, from its providing the traveller on the great Stratford. street or road between Henley-in-Arden and London, with 1333-48. a ford over the Avon.

The parents of our Archbishop were Robert and Isabel. They were nearly related to another distinguished Stratford man, Ralph Hatton de Stratford, Bishop of London. It has been supposed, though not positively asserted, that Ralph and the elder Robert were brothers. If this were the case, there must have been a great difference between the ages of the two brothers; for Ralph was nearly contemporary with the sons of Robert.*

The two sons of Robert and Isabel were sent, at the proper age, to the University of Oxford. John became a Fellow of Merton, and his name appears frequently on the Bursars' Books. He took his degree of Doctor of Civil Law about 1312, and is said to have acquired a great reputation for his proficiency in the civil and canon law.†

While John was yet a Fellow of Merton, a controversy arose between the University and the Dominicans. The Dominicans claimed for their scholars exemption from certain exercises, and a right to confer degrees independently of the University authorities. As the Friars rested their claim upon certain privileges conferred generally upon their order by the pope, the suit was, in the first instance, to be tried in the papal court.

Among the advocates and proctors appointed to maintain the cause of the University, we find the name of Mr. John de Stratford. The case was most probably heard at Avignon, though Wood inclines to think that it was at Rome.

* He is mentioned by Wood in a note to Robert Stratford. Colleges, 14. Newcourt, i. 18, makes the Bishop of London nephew to the Archbishop.

† Wood, ibid., Legum doctor eximius. Ang. Sac. i. 19.

CHAP.

X.

John Stratford.

The proctors of the University contended that it was an English case, and ought to be tried in the English courts; and they succeeded. Certain commissioners 1333-48. having been appointed, both parties were heard, and a compromise seems to have been the result, which placed the Dominican houses in a position very similar to that which was occupied in our own times by New College in Oxford, and by King's College in Cambridge. The founders of these secular institutions probably urged the precedent set by the Friars, to obtain exclusive privileges for their respective establishments.

At what time Stratford was ordained, where, and by whom, I have not discovered; but he was certainly in holy orders before the year 1319, for he then became Archdeacon of Lincoln, and he was soon after a Canon of York. These preferments he held, performing the duties by deputy, in order to secure for himself an income while pursuing his studies or performing his duties as a lawyer.

As a lawyer, he soon rose to eminence in the King's courts; and during the years 1317 and 1318 he was summoned, with other lawyers, before the Council to give his opinion, as an expert, on various important subjects.† In the following year, he sat in the House of Commons as a member of Parliament, and from the place in which his name occurs, it is conjectured by Mr. Foss that he was either an officer of the Exchequer, or perhaps a clerk in Chancery.§ In 1321 he became a judge, Archbishop Walter Reynolds having appointed him Dean of

* Ang. Sac. i. 316.

In Fœdera, ii. 464, he is styled "Juris civilis professor." At p. 463 there is a letter from Edward II. to the pope, in which the name of Master John de Stratford, Archdeacon of Lincoln, occurs. He is frequently mentioned in the letters of the period. At p. 509 there is a letter addressed to himself.

Parl. Writs, II. pt. ii. 1471.

§ Foss, iii. 515,

1

« PreviousContinue »