Henry Standish
Encyclopedia
Henry Standish was an English Franciscan
, who became Bishop of St. Asaph. He is known as an opponent of Erasmus in particular, and humanists in general.
He was a Doctor of Divinity
of the University of Oxford
. He was Guardian of the Franciscan Friary in London, and in 1505 Franciscan minister provincial for England. He preached for Henry VIII
.
In 1515 Richard Kidderminster, Abbot of Winchcombe, attacked a 1512 Act of Parliament restricting the benefit of clergy
, to those in major orders
. The House of Lords
refused to pass the bill from the Commons that would renew the law, which was close to expiration. Standish defended it, and won the decision, at a meeting called at Blackfriars of a royal committee called to look into the issue. Anti-clerical feelings were running high at the time, in the case of Richard Hunne
, with its coroner's jury verdict of murder in a bishop's prison from February 1515. Convocation
then proceeded with charges of heresy against Standish. In the end the King’s influence was brought to bear: the charges against Standish were not pressed, but the Act was not renewed in the Lords. Thomas Wolsey asked to have the case sent for papal judgement, but was overruled.
Standish's criticisms of the Greek New Testament of Erasmus was part of a wider controversy around 1520, that drew in Edward Lee, Archbishop of York. Erasmus hit back satirically. Standish is described as essentially a combatant and an inheritor of the tradition of the friars of Wyclif's day, at once opposed to doctrinal innovations and clerical privilege, and a conservative of the type of Stokesley
and Tunstall
He was classed also with Richard Fitzjames
and Edmund Birkhead, as an opponent to the English humanism of John Colet
.
He was one of the court who convicted Thomas Bilney
of heresy. In 1528 he acted as one of the counsel for Catherine of Aragon
in her divorce case. He was one of the group of clerics targeted in 1530 by Henry VIII with praemunire
charges.
He held the Lancashire parish of Standish
, right at the end of his life.
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
, who became Bishop of St. Asaph. He is known as an opponent of Erasmus in particular, and humanists in general.
He was a Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. He was Guardian of the Franciscan Friary in London, and in 1505 Franciscan minister provincial for England. He preached for Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
.
In 1515 Richard Kidderminster, Abbot of Winchcombe, attacked a 1512 Act of Parliament restricting the benefit of clergy
Benefit of clergy
In English law, the benefit of clergy was originally a provision by which clergymen could claim that they were outside the jurisdiction of the secular courts and be tried instead in an ecclesiastical court under canon law...
, to those in major orders
Major orders
The term major orders or sacred orders was a part of the clerical terminology of the Roman Catholic Church until shortly after the Second Vatican Council, when the use widely disappeared due to reform of the clerical structure. During the Counter-reformation, the Council of Trent issued a decree...
. The House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
refused to pass the bill from the Commons that would renew the law, which was close to expiration. Standish defended it, and won the decision, at a meeting called at Blackfriars of a royal committee called to look into the issue. Anti-clerical feelings were running high at the time, in the case of Richard Hunne
Richard Hunne
Richard Hunne was a merchant tailor with Lollard sympathies. He was charged with heresy in London in 1514.-Life:In March 1511, Hunne refused to pay the standard mortuary fee, the baby's christening robe, to the rector of St. Mary Matfelon in Whitechapel after the funeral of his dead baby...
, with its coroner's jury verdict of murder in a bishop's prison from February 1515. Convocation
Convocation of the English Clergy
The Convocation of the English Clergy is a synodical assembly of the Church of England consisting of bishops and clergy.- Background and introduction :...
then proceeded with charges of heresy against Standish. In the end the King’s influence was brought to bear: the charges against Standish were not pressed, but the Act was not renewed in the Lords. Thomas Wolsey asked to have the case sent for papal judgement, but was overruled.
Standish's criticisms of the Greek New Testament of Erasmus was part of a wider controversy around 1520, that drew in Edward Lee, Archbishop of York. Erasmus hit back satirically. Standish is described as essentially a combatant and an inheritor of the tradition of the friars of Wyclif's day, at once opposed to doctrinal innovations and clerical privilege, and a conservative of the type of Stokesley
John Stokesley
John Stokesley was an English church leader who was Catholic Bishop of London during the reign of Henry VIII.He was born at Collyweston in Northamptonshire, and became a fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford in 1495, serving also as a lecturer. In 1498 he was made principal of Magdalen Hall, and in...
and Tunstall
Cuthbert Tunstall
Cuthbert Tunstall was an English Scholastic, church leader, diplomat, administrator and royal adviser...
He was classed also with Richard Fitzjames
Richard FitzJames
Richard FitzJames was a medieval Bishop of Rochester, Bishop of Chichester and Bishop of London.FitzJames was Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in 1481 and 1491....
and Edmund Birkhead, as an opponent to the English humanism of John Colet
John Colet
John Colet was an English churchman and educational pioneer.Colet was an English scholar, Renaissance humanist, theologian, and Dean of St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. Colet wanted people to see the scripture as their guide through life. Furthermore, he wanted to restore theology and rejuvenate...
.
He was one of the court who convicted Thomas Bilney
Thomas Bilney
Thomas Bilney was an English Christian martyr.- Education :Bilney was born in or after 1495 at or near Norwich. He was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, graduating LL.B. and taking holy orders in 1519...
of heresy. In 1528 he acted as one of the counsel for Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon
Catherine of Aragon , also known as Katherine or Katharine, was Queen consort of England as the first wife of King Henry VIII of England and Princess of Wales as the wife to Arthur, Prince of Wales...
in her divorce case. He was one of the group of clerics targeted in 1530 by Henry VIII with praemunire
Praemunire
In English history, Praemunire or Praemunire facias was a law that prohibited the assertion or maintenance of papal jurisdiction, imperial or foreign, or some other alien jurisdiction or claim of supremacy in England, against the supremacy of the Monarch...
charges.
He held the Lancashire parish of Standish
Standish, Greater Manchester
Standish is a village within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England. It is located on the A49 road between the towns of Chorley and Wigan, a short distance from Junction 27 of the M6 motorway....
, right at the end of his life.