Dis-

is likewise made Chancellor of Ireland, 129. And Guardian of Realm, 130.

Disappointed of Primacy, 130. Triumph of Peter de Rupibus, 130. De Neville

deprived of Great Seal, 131. "SIMON THE NORMAN," Chancellor, 131.

missed for Honesty, 131. De Neville restored to the Office of Chancellor, 132.

His Death, 132. His Character, 132. Statute of Merton, 132. Attempt by

Parliament to acquire Right of appointing Chancellor, 133. Ranulph Briton,

Chancellor, 134. John Maunsel, Chancellor, 135. Origin of the Dispensing

Power in England, 135. This Chancellor the greatest Pluralist on Record, 135.

John de Lexington, Chancellor, 135. Complaint in Parliament that Chancellor

not more consulted, 136. Petition to remove him, 136. King's Answer, 136.

CHAPTER VIII.

LIFE OF QUEEN ELEANOR, LADY KEEPER OF THE GREAT SEAL.

Wit and Beauty, 137.

Queen Eleanor, Lady Keeper, 137. Her Parentage, 137.

Marriage with Henry, 138. Her Unpopularity, 139. Quarrels with the Citizens

of London, 139. Birth of Edward I., 140. She receives the Great Seal,

6th August, 1253, 140. Her Conduct as Lady Keeper, 140. Her Accouchement,

140. Her Exaction of " Queen Gold," 141. A Parliament, 141. She resigns

the Great Seal, 141. Ballads upon her, 142. Pelted by the London Mob, 142.

She flies abroad, 143. Returns to England, 143. Takes the Veil, 143. Her

Death, 143. Her Character, 143.

CHAPTER IX.

LORD CHANCELLORS FROM THE RESIGNATION OF LADY KEEPER QUEEN ELEANOR

TILL THE DEATH OF HENRY III.

William de Kilkenny, Chancellor, 145. Reprimand to the Clergy, 145. Kil-

kenny's Resignation, 145. Embassy to Spain, 146. Death, 146. Henry de

Wengham, 146. Mad Parliament, 146. "Provisions of Oxford," 146. Ni-

cholas de Ely made Chancellor by the Barons, 147. King recovers his Authority,

147. A Parliament, 147. Walter de Merton, Chancellor, 148. History of De

Merton, 149. Keepers of Seal, 149. Public Confusion, 149. Writs for Simon

de Montfort's Parliament, 49 Henry III., 150. Reference to King of France,

150. His Award, 151. Battle of Lewes, 151. Meeting of Simon de Mont-

ford's Parliament, 151. Origin of House of Commons, 152. Thomas de Can-

tilupe, Chancellor, 153. His Salary, 153. Battle of Evesham, 154. Death of

Cantilupe, 154. Walter Giffard, Chancellor, 154. Resigns, being made Arch-

bishop of York, 155. Godfrey Giffard, Chancellor, 155. Removed for Incom-

petency, 155. John de Chishull, Chancellor, 156. Richard de Middleton,

Chancellor, 156. Prince Edward in the Holy Land, 157. John de Kirby,

Keeper of Great Seal, 157. Character of Chancellors during reign of Hen-

ry III., 158. Bracton, Merits of, 158. Abolition of Office of Chief Jus-

ticiary, 159. Disruption of Aula Regia, 160. Chancellor now Head of Law,

160.

CHAPTER X.

CHANCELLORS AND KEEPERS OF THE GREAT SEAL DURING THE REIGN OF EDWARD 1.

TILL THE DEATH OF LORD CHANCELLOR BURNEL.

Walter de Merton, Chancellor, 161. His Conduct and Character, 162. Robert
Burnel, Chancellor, 162. Birth and Education, 163. Accompanies Prince
Edward to the Holy Land, 163. Law Reform, 164. Statute of Westminster
the First, 164. Provisions of the Code, 164. Its Omissions, 165. Conquest of
Wales, 165. Judgment against Llewellyn, 166. Lord Chancellor employed in
Government of Principality, 166. Parliament held in Chancellor's Castle at
Acton Burnel, 167. His Plan for Government of Ireland, 168. Vice-chancellor
Kirby, 168. Prosecution by Chancellor of the Judges for Bribery and Cor-
Dispute about Succession to Crown of Scotland, 170. Chancellor

ruption, 169.

addresses the Scottish Nobles in French, 170.

gives Judgment in Favour of Baliol, 171.

racter, 172.

His Dexterity, 170. Chancellor

Death of Burnel, 172. His Cha-

CHAPTER XI.

CHANCELLORS AND KEEPERS OF THE GREAT SEAL FROM THE DEATH OF LORD CHAN-

CELLOR BURNEL DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE REIGN OF EDWARD I.

John de Langton, Chancellor, 173. His Origin, 173. His Conduct, 173. Or-

dinance for Despatch of Business, 173. Appeal of Earl of Fife v. King of Scots,

174. Parliament at Berwick, 174. King goes abroad, 175. Parliament at

Westminster, 175. "Confirmation of the Charters," 175.
"Articuli super

Chartas," 176. Chancellor elected Bishop of Ely, 177. Goes to Rome, 177.

Resignation of Langton, 177. Adam de Osgodebey, Keeper of Great Seal, 178.

William de Grenefield, Chancellor, 179. His Family, 179. Attempt in Par-

liament to make Office of Chancellor elective, 179. Letter to the Pope respect-

ing Independence of Scotland, 180. Resignation of De Grenefield, 180. His

Journey to Rome, 181. His Death, 181. William de Hamilton, Chancellor,

181. Statute De Tallagio non concedendo," 182. Conviction and Execution

of Sir William Wallace for Treason, 182. Death of the Chancellor, 183.

Ralph de Baldock, Chancellor, 183. His Education and Rise, 184. Death of

Edward I., 184. Accession of Edward II., 184. Removal of De Baldock, 184.

His Death, 185. Jurisdiction of Chancellor in the Reign of Edward I., 185.

Improvements in Law, 185. Law Books, 186.

194.

66

CHAPTER XII.

CHANCELLORS DURING THE REIGN OF EDWARD II.

King himself uses the

The Chancellor resigns,

Abeyance, 190. Walter

Accession of Edward II., 188. John de Langton, Chancellor the second Time,

188. King abroad, 189. King goes to Boulogne, 189.

Great Seal, 189. Revolution in the Government, 190.

190. His Character, 190. Office of Chancellor in

Reynolds, Chancellor, 191. Tutor to Edward II., 191. His conduct as Chan-

cellor, 191. His Resignation, 191. Execution of Gaveston, 191. Reynolds,

the Ex-chancellor, made Keeper of the Great Seal, 192. Battle of Bannock-

burn, 192. Council at York, 193. Resignation of Reynolds, 193. His sub-

sequent Career, 193. His Death, 193. Chancellor still Chief of Chapel

Royal, 193. John de Sandale, Chancellor, 194. Keepers of Seal concurrently,

De Sandale removed, 194. Epicurism of Lord Chancellor De Sandale,

195. John de Hotham, Chancellor, 195. Ascendency of Earl of Lancaster,

195. Resignation of Chancellor, 196. John de Salmon, Chancellor, 196.

Chancellor goes to France with King, 196. Surrender of Great Seal by De

Salmon, 197. Great Seal in Custody of Queen Isabella, 197. Isabella not

Lady Keeper," 197. De Salmon again acts as Chancellor, 198. Chancellor

opposes Earl of Lancaster, 198. Execution of Earl of Lancaster, 198. Ed-

ward's incurable Love of Favourites, 198. Resignation of the Chancellor, 198.

Robert de Baldock, Chancellor, 199. Civil War, 199. Landing of Queen,

199. The Bishop of Exeter beheaded by the Mob, 200. Fate of the Spensers,

200. Sentence on younger Spenser, 200. Chancellor Baldock seized by the

Mob, and thrown into Newgate, 201. Dies of his Wounds, 201. Prince Ed-

ward chosen Custos of the Kingdom, 201. Imprisonment of Edward II., 201.

King sends Great Seal to Queen, 202. Queen's Proclamation, 202. Edward

II. deposed, 202. Murder of Edward II., 203. Adam de Orleton acts as

Chancellor, 203. His equivocal Line respecting the Murder of the King, 203.

Origin of Office of Master of the Rolls, 203. Complaints in Parliament of the

Court of Chancery, 204. Jurisdiction of the Court in Reign of Edward II., 204.

Letters of Marque and Reprisals granted by Chancellor, 205. Year Books, 205.

Establishment of Inns of Court, 206.

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, 291. Their Fall, 231.

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.

Em-

CHANCELLORS AND KEEPERS OF THE GREAT SEAL, FROM THE APFOINTMENT OF SIR
ROBERT BOURCHIER TILL THE APPOINTMENT OF WILLIAM OF WICKHAM,

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,

237. 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, 241. 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.

Great Seal, 243. King abroad, 243. Commons pray that Chancellor may be a

Use of the

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. Trans-

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.

CHAPTER XV.

CHANCELLORS AND KEEPERS OF THE GREAT SEAL FROM THE APPOINTMENT OF

WILLIAM OF WICKHAM TILL THE DEATH OF EDWARD III.

His Origin, 257.

Complaints against him in

Sir Robert Thorpe, Chan-

Promotions in the Law, 263.

His Learning and Ability,

William of Wickham, 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. Made Bishop of

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

HAM.

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 seized

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

Commons, 281. 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. 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, 303. 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, 31 2. 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,