The origin of Treasurer of England is obscure and probably arose gradually in Norman times. It may have been an office created by King Henry I.[1] The Lord High Treasurer became the third rank of State behind the Lord High Steward and Lord High Chancellor. The holder managed the country’s finances by overseeing the collection and distribution of taxes, by managing royal revenues and heading the treasury especially in times of warfare. Many holders were enriched by the office.
There have
been 5 members of the medieval cathedral who became England’s treasurer.
Bishop Hugh de Pateshull 1 June 1234 to March 1240 under
King Henry III
Canon William de Haverhill March 1240 to 23 August 1252
under King Henry III
(Archdeacon of Coventry Philip Lovel 27 August 1252 to
October 1258)
Preceptor Thomas Wymondham 23 October 1265 to 6 February
1270 under King Henry III
Bishop Walter de Langton 28 September 1295 to 22 August 1307
and again 23 January 1312 to 17 May 1312 Under King Edward I and II
Bishop Roger de Northburg 26 June 1340 to 1 December 1340
under King Edward III
Hugh de Pateshull (Pattishall)
He was the son
of Simon de Pateshull, Chief Justice of England, which must have enhanced his
elevation. It was during Pateshull’s office that great amounts of money were
extracted from the Jews of England. In 1239, King Henry III introduced
policies, possibly imitating those of Louis of France, in which Jews were
imprisoned and forced to pay fines equivalent to a third of their goods, and
any outstanding loans were to be released.[2] By
1244, huge demands for cash were made of which around two-thirds was collected
within five years so destroying the ability of the Jewish community to lend
money commercially.[3]
Effigy said
to be Bishop Hugh de Pateshull, 1241, but doubted. He was buried near St
Stephen’s altar.[4]
If this was in the north transept his burial was at the time of opening this
part of the cathedral. He was the bishop for only 2 years.
Statue of Bishop Pateshull from the west front, middle level on the right.
William de Haverhill
William
followed on from Hugh Pateshull and was treasurer for 12 years, yet little is
known about him. He was a cleric and canon at St Pauls who died in 1252 and was
buried in St Pauls.[5]
Being a canon at Lichfield might have been an honorary title. The bishop at the
time was Roger de Weseham who was probably a native of Weasenham, Norfolk and
William from Haverhill, Suffolk, was 60 miles away.
Philip Lovel of Coventry
He entered royal
service and was made justiciary of the Jews. Lovel was accused of taking
bribes from Jews and others and had to leave his office. He was pardoned and in
1252 was made the treasurer. He gained a reputation of being harsh.
Thomas de Wymondham (Wymundham) c.1200-1277
Thomas was
treasurer for 5 years. On March 2, 1245, he was described as ‘precentor of
Litchfield.’[6]
Like his predecessors he pursued the taking of money from Jews. For example, “On
October 31 1259, Thomas de Wymondham with Hugh le Bigod, justiciary of England;
William Aquilon, Constable of the Tower, and Simon Passelewe delivered on
Monday the eve of St. Simon and St. Jude to the clerks of the wardrobe, 85
marks 40 d. of gold and chattels of Salomon de Eweske, Jew, of London.”[7]
Like his predecessors he benefited from his position. For example, “On April 4
1266, Master Thomas de Wimundham, king's clerk, the treasurer was granted the
next ward that fell to him worth 50 pounds unless he should provide for him by
giving him a benefice of the value of 200 marks yearly, which was promised.”[8]
His work as
precentor in the cathedral is unknown. He died on March 24, 1277.[9]
Walter de Langton
Much
is known on how Langton changed the cathedral, The Close and the town. See the
posts, ‘Bishop Walter Langton - local benefactor’, ‘Bishop Langton's Palace’
and ‘The year 1319’. In September 1295, he became treasurer and retained it until 22 August 1307. During
this time, he had to find funding for the King’s battles in Scotland. Having
been pardoned from previous allegations he was made treasurer again in 1312,
but very quickly another set of allegations was made and he had to relinquish
this post. His knowledge of the country’s finances and his many church
benefices made him very rich.
Roger de Northburg (Norbury, Norburg)
|
Walter Langton 1243-1321 |
Roger Norbury died1358 |
|
Born 1243 in Leicestershire
but related to Derbyshire and Staffordshire families |
Born 1280s?
Probably from Norbury in Staffordshire |
|
Bishop
1296-1321 |
Bishop
1322-1358 |
|
Rector
Keighley Parish Church 1272 |
Rector in
Carlisle 1308 and in Exeter 1313 |
|
Clerk of the
wardrobe 1281-2 |
Clerk of the
wardrobe 1306-7 |
|
Keeper of the
wardrobe 1290-95 Also Bishop of Ely 1290 |
Keeper of the
wardrobe 1316-18 Also Archdeacon of Richmond 1317 |
|
He was keeper
of the realm with Edward
I's absence in Scotland 1298-1300 |
Accompanied the
king to Scotland 1311-12. In Scotland again in 1314 |
|
Treasurer
1295-1307 and again 1312 |
Treasurer
1322, 1340-2 |
|
Thought to
have been Keeper of the Seal 1290-95. |
Keeper of the
Privy Seal 1312-13 and 1315 |
|
He was in
Gascony with the king in 1286 and 1289 |
Accompanied
king to France 1312-13 |
|
|
Canon at
Wells 1316 and Canon of Lichfield 1322 before becoming the bishop |
|
|
Continued to
use Langton's suffragan, the Bishop of Magdun (Melun in France) for
confirmations |
|
Prebend of
Sandiacre 1295-6 |
Prebend of
Sandiacre 1342 |
|
Langton left
funds for his successor to complete the build of the Lady Chapel |
Northburgh
arranged in the southeast corner of the choir aisle for Langton’s tomb of
white stone and had his body translated in 1360. He then wanted to be buried
under the marble near the monument.[10]
|
The
conclusion must be the cathedral benefitted from the treasurers, but this is
difficult to confirm. Walter Langton stands out as a considerable benefactor to
the cathedral. All the treasurers gave strong support to the king.
[1]
S. B. Chrimes, An introduction in the administrative history of Medieval
England, (Oxford: 1966) 28
[2]
A. Jobson, The First English Revolution: Simon de Montfort, Henry III
and the Barons' War. (London: 2012), 3.
[3]
R, C, Stacey, "The English Jews Under Henry III: Historical, Literary and
Archaeological Perspectives". In P. Skinner, (ed.). Jews in
Medieval Britain. (Woodbridge: 2003), 49-50.
[4]
J. Wharton, Anglia Sacra. (London: 1691), 439.
[5]
A. Jobson, William of Haverhill (d.1252): administrator. (2018) https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/109667
[6]
Papal Registers - Vol. 1 - 1893 - Pages 214-221.
[7]
Calendar of Patent Rolls - Vol. 3 - 1901 - Page 98
[8]
Calendar of Patent Rolls - Vol. 3 – 1901, 580.
[9]
W. Dugdale, Warwickshire; Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae, (Oxford: 1854).
[10]
H. Wharton, Anglia Sacra (1691),i, 449.