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CHAPTER XIII.
CHANCELLORS AND KEEPERS OF THE GREAT SEAL FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF
THE REIGN OF EDWARD III. TILL THE APPOINTMENT OF SIR RICHARD BOURCHIER,
THE FIRST LAY LORD CHANCELLOR.
John de Hotham again Chancellor, 210. His Death and Character, 210. Henry
de Burghersh, Chancellor, 210. New Great Seal, 210. Temporary Ascendency
of Mortimer, 211. Edward III. seizes the Reins of Government, 212. A Par-
liament, 212. King's Speech, 212. Burghersh dismissed, 212. His exile and
Death, 212. John de Stratford, Chancellor, 212. His Origin and Education,
213. Ambassador to Pope, 213. His Rise till appointed Chancellor, 214.
Punishment of Queen Isabella, 214. Measures to restore internal tranquillity,
214, Court of Chancery becomes stationary, 214. Marble Chair and Table in Court
of Chancery, 215. A Parliament, 216. Questions put to Parliament by the Chan-
cellor, 216. Chancellor returns from Embassy, 216. Separation of Lords and Com-
mons, 217. Great influence of Parliament under Plantagenets, 217. Chancellor's
Speech on Meeting of New Parliament, 217. Keepers of Great Seal appointed
by the Chancellor, 218. Richard de Bury, Chancellor, 218. His family, 218.
Education, 219. His College Life, 219. Tutor to Edward III. when Prince, 219.
His rise on Accession of Edward III., 220. His Splendour at Court of Rome,
220. Bishop of Durham, 220. His Conduct as Chancellor, 221. A Parlia-
ment, 221. Ambassador to Paris, 221. His Retirement, 221. Philobiblon,
222. His love of Books, and Mode of collecting them, 222. His Encourage-
ment to the Study of Greek, 225. His Description of the Bad Usage of Books,
Gross ignorance of the Laity, 226. Scriptural Authorities for taking great
Care of Books, 227. Death and Burial of Richard de Bury, 227. His Merit,
227. Archbishop John Strafford, Chancellor the second Time, 228. Claim of
Edward III. to the Crown of France, 228. Resignation of John de Stratford,
229. Robert de Stratford, Chancellor, 229. Bynteworth, Chancellor, 229. His
History, 230. His death, 230. John de Stratford, Chancellor the third Time,
231. A Parliament, 231. Resignation of John de Stratford, and re-appointment
of Robert, 231. Administration of the Stratfords, 231. Their Fall, 231. Em-
barrassment of the King, 231. His sudden return, 232. Imprisonment of the
Lord Chancellor, 232. Edward's Rage against the Priesthood, 232. Advantages
and Disadvantages of appointing Ecclesiastics to Office of Chancellor, 232.
225.
CHAPTER XIV.
CHANCELLORS AND KEEPERS OF THE GREAT SEAL, FROM THE APPOINTMENT OF SIR
ROBERT BOURCHIER TILL THE APPOINTMENT OF WILLIAM OF WICKHAM.
237.
Sir Robert Bourchier, Chancellor, 234. His Birth and military Career, 234. Re-
tirement and Death of Ex-Chancellor Robert de Stratford, 234. Prosecution of
Ex-chancellor John de Stratford, 235. A Parliament, 235. Writ of Summons
refused to the Archbishop, 235. His Remonstrance, 235. His Appearance in
Palace Yard, 236. Information against him in Exchequer, 236. Triumphs
over the King, 236. Spirited Conduct of House of Peers, 236. King submits,
His Death and Character, 237. Conduct of Lord Chancellor Bourchier,
237. King himself uses the Seal, 238. Complaints against Lord Chancellor
Bourchier, 238. Attempts in Parliament to regulate the Appointment of Chan-
cellor, 238. Statute for periodical Resumption of Office of Chancellor, 239.
Oath to observe the Statute, 239. Edward's perfidious Violation of the Statute,
239. Renewed Controversy between the King and Ex-chancellor John de Strat-
ford, 240. King resolves to sacrifice the Chancellor to public Discontent, 241.
Dismissal of Bourchier, 24). Death of Ex-chancellor John de Stratford, 241.
Disadvantages of Lord Chancellor Bourchier, 241. Bourchier's subsequent
Career, 242. Sir Robert Parnynge, Chancellor, 242. His legal Studies, 242.
When Chancellor, he continues to study the Common Law, 242. Use of the
Great Seal, 243. King abroad, 243. Commons pray that Chancellor may be a
Peer, 244. Sudden Death of Lord Chancellor Parnynge, 244. Robert de Sa-
dyngton, Chancellor, 245. His descent, 245. Bad Equity Judge, 245. A
Parliament, 245. Lord Chancellor Sadyngton dismissed, 246. Return to Ec-
clesiastical Chancellors, 246. John de Offord, Dean of Lincoln, Chancellor, 247.
Battle of Cressy, 247. Complaints in Parliament against Court of Chancery,
247. Death of Chancellor de Offord, 249. John de Thoresby, Chancellor, 249.
His writings, 249. Statute of Treasons, 249. Attack in Commons on equitable
Jurisdiction of Chancellor, 250. Thoresby being made Archbishop of York, re-
signs the Great Seal, 251. His Death, 251. William de Edington, Chancellor,
251. Peace of Bretigni, 252. Statute for Use of English Language, 252.
Refuses the Primacy, 253. Resignation of Lord Chancellor Edington, 253.
Simon de Langham, Chancellor, from being a Monk, 254. His rise, 254.
lated to Canterbury, 254. Quarrels with Wickliffe, 255. Custom of Chancel-
lor opening Parliament with Discourse from Text in Scripture, 255. Langham
aims at the Popedom, 255. He retires to Avignon, 256. His Death, 256.
CHANCELLORS AND
CHAPTER XV.
Trans-
KEEPERS OF THE GREAT SEAL FROM THE APPOINTMENT OF
WILLIAM OF WICKHAM TILL THE DEATH OF EDWARD III.
Made Bishop of
Complaints against him in
Sir Robert Thorpe, Chan-
Promotions in the Law, 263.
His Learning and Ability,
William of Wickham, 257. His Origin, 257. Education, 257. Introduced to
Edward III., 258. Builds Windsor Castle, 258. Order of the Garter, 259.
Inscription on Castle, 259. Wickham takes Holy Orders, 259. His Prefer- ment, 260. Engages in Politics, 260. His Income, 260.
Winchester, 261. Receives the Great Seal, 261. Impropriety of the Appoint-
ment, 261. Wickham an incompetent Judge, 262.
Parliament, 262. He is removed from Office, 262.
cellor, 262. His Birth and Education, 262. His
Popularity of Chancellor, 263. His Death, 263.
263. Sir John Knyvet, Chancellor, 264. His Origin, 264. An excellent
Judge, 265. A Parliament, 265. Chancellor's Speech, 266. The "Good
Parliament, 266. Alice Pierce, 267. Chancellor's Speech to the Parliament,
267. Vote of "Want of Confidence," 267. Prosecution of William of Wick-
ham, 268. Resignation and Death of Lord Chancellor Knyvet, 268. Adam
de Houghton, Chancellor, 269. A Parliament, 269. Death of Edward III.,
His domestic Government, 270. Jurisdiction of Court of Chancery, 271.
Character of the Chancellors of Edward III., 271. Origin of Parliamentary
Impeachments, 272. Justices of Peace, 272.
270.
CHAPTER XVI.
WICK-
CHANCELLORS AND KEEPERS OF THE GREAT SEAL FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE
REIGN OF RICHARD II. TILL THE SECOND CHANCELLORSHIP OF WILLIAM OF
НАМ,
Pro-
De Houghton continues Chancellor, 274. His Speech to Parliament, 274.
ceedings of Commons, 275. Parliament at Gloucester, 275. Sir Richard le
Scrope, Chancellor, 276. Death of de Houghton, 276. Rise of Richard le Scrope,
276. Made a Peer, 277. A Parliament, 277. Removal of Lord Scrope, and
Appointment of Simon de Sudbury as Chancellor, 278. His Origin and Edu-
cation, 278. Made Archbishop of Canterbury, 278. Lord Chancellor, 278.
He
proposes the Poll Tax, 279. Wat Tyler's Rebellion, 279. Chancellor scized
in the Tower, 279. Beheaded, 280. Miracles by the deceased Chancellor, 280.
William Courtenay, Chancellor, 280. His illustrious Descent, 281. Disputes with
John of Gaunt, 281. His Behaviour as Judge, 281. Removal on Address of
Lord le Scrope again Chancellor, 282. King quarrels with
Lord le Scrope, who is dismissed, 282. Robert de Braybroke, Chancellor, 282.
Parliament, 283. Wickliffe, 283. Michael de la Pole, Chancellor, 283. His
Conduct as Judge, 284.
Commons, 231.
In Parliament, 284. Chancellor made an Earl, 285.
Altercation in the House of Lords between the Chancellor and the Bishop of
Ely, 285. A Parliament, 286. Proceedings against the Chancellor, 287. The
Earl of Suffolk removed from the Office of Chancellor, 288. Thomas Arundel
appointed, 288. Impeachment of the Ex-chancellor, 288. His Defence, 288.
Death of the Earl of Suffolk, 289. His Character, 289. Thomas Arundel,
Chancellor, 290. His Family, 290. Education, 290. Misconduct of Richard
II., 290. Civil War, 291. A Parliament, 291. Arundel dismissed, 291.
CHAPTER XVII.
CHANCELLORS AND KEEPERS OF THE GREAT SEAL FROM THE SECOND CHANCELLOR-
SHIP OF WILLIAM OF WICKHAM TILL THE END OF THE REIGN OF RICHARD II.
William of Wickham again Chancellor, 292. His History between his two Chan-
cellorships, 292. A Parliament, 293. The Chancellor lays down his Office in
Parliament and is re-appointed, 293. Resignation of William of Wickham, 294.
His Retirement from public Life, 294. His Death, 295. His Merits, 295.
Thomas de Arundel's second Chancellorship, 295. History of John de Waltham,
296. His Invention of Writ of Subpoena, 296. Proceedings in Parliament
against the Court of Chancery, 297. Chancellor goes with King to Ireland,
297. His Death, 297. Removal of Arundel, 298. Edmund Stafford, Chan-
cellor, 298. Chancellor's Speech on opening Parliament, 298. Ex-chancellor
Arundel impeached and convicted, 298. Family of the Staffords, 299. Henry
of Bolingbroke claims the Crown, 300. John Searle, Chancellor, 300. Ex-
chancellor Arundel accompanies Henry, 301. Deposition of Richard II., 302.
Henry raised to the Throne, 303. New Parliament, 303. Celebrated Speech
for Richard by Bishop of Carlisle, 303. Fate of Richard, 304. Equitable
Jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery in Reign of Richard II., 304. Complaint
against Masters in Chancery, 305.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CHANCELLORS AND KEEPERS OF THE GREAT SEAL DURING THE REIGN OF HENRY IV.
John Searle, nominally Chancellor, 307. A Parliament, 307. Chancellor not
allowed to address the two Houses, 307. Resigns, 307. His Obscurity, 308.
Edmund Stafford restored, 308. Issues of Fact arising in Court of Chancery to
be tried in a Court of Common Law, 308. The Chancellor resigns, 309. His
Retreat and Death, 309. Cardinal Beaufort, Chancellor, 309. His Origin and
early Career, 309. His Conduct as Chancellor, 310. Attempt of House of
Commons to seize Church Property, 310. "Lack-Learning Parliament," 311.
Cardinal Beaufort removed, 312. Thomas Longley, Chancellor, 312. Attempt
to introduce Salic Law into England, 312. Proceedings in Parliament respect-
ing the Court of Chancery, 313. Archbishop Arundel restored to Office of
Chancellor, 314. Chancellor dismissed, 315. Great Seal in custody of Master
of Rolls, 315. Ex-chancellor Beaufort addresses the two Houses, 315. Church
in danger, 316. Sir Thomas Beaufort, afterwards Duke of Exeter, Chancellor,
316. His History and Conduct as Chancellor, 316. His subsequent Career
and Death, 316. Archbishop Arundel Chancellor the fifth Time, 317. Illness
of Henry IV., 317. Character of Chancellors of Henry IV., 317. Conviction
and Execution of an Archbishop, 318.
CHAPTER XIX.
CHANCELLORS DURING THE REIGN OF HENRY V.
Accession of Henry V., 319. Great Seal taken from Archbishop Arundel, and re- stored to Cardinal Beaufort, 319. Subsequent Career of Ex-chancellor Arundel,
320.
319. Sentences Lord Cobham to be burnt, 320. Renewed Attempt of the Com-
mons to seize the Property of the Church, 320. King claims Crown of France,
Chancellor's Speech at the Opening of Parliament, 322. Petition against
the Court of Chancery, 322. Petition negatived, 323. Other Proceedings of
Commons against Court of Chancery, 324. Chancellor lends Money to the King,
taking the Crown in pawn, 325. Act against the Irish, 325. Judicial Conduct
of Cardinal Beaufort, 326. Great Seal taken from Cardinal Beaufort, 326.
Longley, Chancellor the second Time, 327. A Parliament, 327. Treaty of
Troyes, 327. Death of Henry V., 328. Administration of Justice during his
Reign, 329.
CHAPTER XX.
CHANCELLORS FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE REIGN OF HENRY VI. TILL THE
DEATH OF CARDINAL BEAUFORT.
A Parlia-
Duke of Gloucester, Pro-
Court of Chancery, 331.
Disputes between Duke
deprived of Great Seal.
Death and Character of
Lord Chancellor Longley resigns Great Seal to Infant King, 330.
ment, 330. Longley reappointed Chancellor, 331.
tector, 331. Proceedings in Parliament against the
Lord Chancellor's Speech on opening Parliament, 332.
of Gloucester and Cardinal Beaufort, 332. Longley
Cardinal Beaufort Chancellor the fourth Time, 332.
Ex-chancellor Longley, 333. Henry VI., in Mother's Arms, opens Parliament,
333. Lord Chancellor Beaufort's Speech, 333. Chancellor to grant Licences
for Exportation of Butter and Cheese, 334. Riots in London caused by Chan-
cellor and Protector, 334. Chancellor's Letter to Duke of Bedford, 335. "Par-
liament of Bats," 335. Impeachment of Chancellor, 336. Chancellor and Pro-
tector reconciled, 336. Cardinal Beaufort resigns Great Seal, 337. His
subsequent History, 337. Sits on Trial of Maid of Orleans, 338. Fresh Quarrel
with Duke of Gloucester, 338. Murder of Duke of Gloucester, 339.
Cardinal Beaufort, 339. His Character, 339.
CHANCELLORS DURING THE
CHAPTER XXI.
Death of
REIGN OF HENRY VI. FROM THE APPOINTMENT OF CAR-
DINAL KEMPE TILL THE DEATH OF LORD CHANCELLOR WAYNFLETE.
Obscure Origin of Lord Chancellor Kempe, 341. His Rise, 341. His Conduct as
Chancellor, 341. Resignation of Cardinal Kempe, 342. John Stafford, Chan-
cellor, 343. His Birth and Education, 343. His long Continuance in Office,
343. Act to restrain excessive Jurisdiction assumed by Court of Chancery, 343.
Lord Chancellor Stafford's Style of Eloquence, 344. Repeal of Act for Chan-
cellor to License Exportation, 346. King's Marriage, 346. Disgraceful Treaty
with France, 347. Foundation of Eton College, 347. National Indignation on
discovering secret Article in Treaty with France, 347. A Parliament, 348.
Lord Chancellor Stafford dismissed, 348. His Death and Character, 348. Car-
dinal Kempe again Chancellor, 349. Banishment and Death of Duke of Suffolk,
349. Jack Cade's Rebellion, 349. War of the Roses, 350. Death and Cha-
racter of Lord Chancellor Kempe, 351. King's Illness, 352. The Earl of
Salisbury appointed Chancellor by the Duke of York, 353. King's Recovery,
353. Cardinal Bourchier made Chancellor by the Queen, 354. Grandson to
Edward III., 354. His good Qualities, 354. His Rise, 354. Battle of St.
Alban's, 354. Duke of York, Protector, 355. Chancellor seals Writ to super-
sede Duke of York, 356. Seal taken from Archbishop Bourchier, 357. Wil-
liam Waynflete, Bishop of Winchester, Chancellor, 357. His origin, 358.
Fellow and Provost of Eaton, 358. His Conference with Jack Cade, 358. The
Chancellor supports the Lancastrians, 359. His judicial Conduct, 359. Ap-
parent Pacification, 360. Hostilities resumed, 360. Battle of Blore Heath, 360.
A Parliament, 361. Yorkists attainted, 361. Battle of Northampton, 361.
Waynflete resigns Great Seal, 361. His subsequent Career, 361. Submits to
Edward IV., 362. Entertains Richard III. at the College founded by him, 362.
His Death and Character, 363.
CHAPTER XXII.
CHANCELLORS DURING THE REIGN OF HENRY VI. FROM THE APPOINTMENT OF GEORGE
NEVILLE, BISHOP OF EXETER, TILL THE DEATH OF LORD CHANCELLOR FORTESCUE.
Great Seal in Custody of Archbishop Bourchier, 364. George Neville, Bishop of
Exeter, Chancellor, 364. A Parliament, 364. Duke of York claims Crown,
364. Right to Crown argued at Bar of Lords, 365. Judgment for Duke of
York after Death of King Henry, 365. Battle of Wakefield, 366. Death of
Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, 366. Execution of Ex-chancellor the Earl
of Salisbury, 366. Children of Ex-chancellor Earl of Arundel, 367. Quære,
Whether Sir John Fortescue was ever Chancellor in England? 367. Supposed
to have been only Chancellor in partibus, 367. His Family, 368. His Rise at
the Bar, 368.
Towton, 369.
Chief Justice, 368. While Chief Justice fights in Battle of
Attainted by Act of Parliament, 369. Goes into Exile, 369.
Writes "De Laudibus," 369. Submits to Edward IV., 370. Writes in favour
of Title of House of York, 370. He is pardoned, 370. Exemplification of
Reversal of the Attainder of Lord Chancellor Fortescue, 370. Retires to
Ebrington, 371. Death, 372. Epitaph, 372. His celebrated Judgment on
Parliamentary Privilege, 373. Thorpe's Case, 373. Release of Manor of
Ebrington, 373. Equity Lawyer, 375. His literary Merits, 375. His Cha-
racter, 375. His Descendants, 375. End of the Reign of Henry VI., 376.
Equitable Jurisdiction of Chancery during Reign of Henry VI., 376.
State of Equity, 377.
Rude
CHAPTER XXIII.
CHANCELLORS IN THE REIGN OF EDWARD IV.
George Neville again Chancellor, 379. A Parliament, 379. Chancellor's Speech
on opening Session, 379. Acts against wearing piked Shoes, 380. Chancellor
abroad on an Embassy, 381. Edward's Rupture with Nevilles, 381. Neville
dismissed from Office of Chancellor, 381. Robert Stillington, Chancellor, 382.
Subsequent Career of Ex-chancellor Neville, 382. His Death, 383. Character
of Robert Stillington, 383. His Origin, 383. His Speech at Prorogation of
Parliament, 383. His Speech on opening next Session, 383. Invasion by Earl
of Warwick, 385. Henry VI. restored, 385. "The Hundred Days," 385.
Doubtful who was Chancellor on Restoration of Henry VI., 386. Edward IV.
restored, 386. Death of Henry VI., 386. Stillington again Chancellor, 386.
Illness and Resignation of Chancellor, 387. Ex-chancellor goes on an Embassy,
387. Quære, Whether he assisted in Usurpation of Richard III.? 387.
prisoned by Henry VII. for taking part with Lambert Simnel, 388. His Death,
388. Henry Bourchier, Earl of Essex, Keeper of Great Seal, 388. His Family,
388.
Im-
Bred a Soldier, 388. His Resignation, 388. Knight of the Garter, 388.
Lawrence Booth, Bishop of Durham, Chancellor, 388. His Rise, 389. His
Incompetency, 389. He is dismissed, 390. Rotheram, Bishop of Lincoln, Chan-
cellor, 290. A Parliament, 390. Length of Parliaments in early Times,
390. Characters of three Chancellors who presided in one Parliament, 391.
John Alcock, Chancellor a short Time, 391. Rotheram restored, 391. Chan-
cellor's Speech to Parliament, 392. Statute against Irishmen, 392. Dis-
putes between King and Clarence, 392. "Statute of Kerqueue," 398.
of Edward IV., 393. Decision of Lord Chancellor Rotheram, 394.
of Common-law Judges against Injunctions, 394. Jurisdiction established over
Trusts, 395. Equity Pleading, 396.
Death
Attempts