John Kirkby
Encyclopedia
John Kirkby was an English ecclesiastic and statesman.
during the reign of King Henry III of England
. When Henry's son Edward I
came to the throne, Kirby was given the title vice-chancellor, because he often had custody of the Great Seal
when the Chancellor
, Robert Burnell
, was absent from England. Often considered Burnell's protege, Edward used Kirkby in 1282 as a collector of moneys for the king's Welsh campaigns. Edward rewarded him with a number of benefice
s, although Kirkby had not yet been ordained a priest. One such benefice was Archdeacon of Coventry.
Kirkby was Lord Treasurer from January 1284 to his death. Kirkby was probably behind the reforms that took place in the treasury and exchequer. Book-keeping methods were updated, information on sources of income improved, and efforts to collect debts to the crown intensified. Kirkby's Quest is the name given to a survey of various English counties which was made under Kirkby's direction in 1285 as part of this effort. The inquest investigated debts owed to the king, the status of vills, and the holding of knight's fees. Also in 1285, Edward I appointed Kirkby to oversee a judicial commission investigating disorder in London. Kirkby summoned the lord mayor and the aldermen of London to the Tower of London
to appear before the commission. When the lord mayor of London resigned in protest at Kirkby's summons, Kirkby occupied the city and no lord mayor took office until 1298.
In 1283 Kirkby was elected Bishop of Rochester
, but the Archbishop of Canterbury
, John Peckham
, opposed the appointment and Kirkby did not become bishop there. Pecham objected to his being bishop of Rochester because Kirkby was a pluralist
. On 26 July 1286 he was elected Bishop of Ely
, and was ordained as a priest and then consecrated on 22 September 1286 by Peckham, who did not object on pluralism grounds this time. He was enthroned at Ely Cathedral
on 24 December 1286.
Kirkby died at Ely on 26 March 1290, after a botched attempt to bleed him. He was buried in Ely Cathedral. When he died, he left a brother William as his heir and four married sisters. Kirkby was a benefactor to his see, to which he left some property in London, including Ely Place. A marble tomb slab, now located in the north choir aisle, may possibly be from his tomb.
Life
Kirkby first appears in the historical record in the chanceryCourt of Chancery
The Court of Chancery was a court of equity in England and Wales that followed a set of loose rules to avoid the slow pace of change and possible harshness of the common law. The Chancery had jurisdiction over all matters of equity, including trusts, land law, the administration of the estates of...
during the reign of King Henry III of England
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
. When Henry's son Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
came to the throne, Kirby was given the title vice-chancellor, because he often had custody of the Great Seal
Great Seal of the Realm
The Great Seal of the Realm or Great Seal of the United Kingdom is a seal that is used to symbolise the Sovereign's approval of important state documents...
when the Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
, Robert Burnell
Robert Burnell
Robert Burnell was an English bishop who served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1274 to 1292. A native of Shropshire, he served as a minor royal official before entering into the service of Prince Edward, the future King Edward I of England...
, was absent from England. Often considered Burnell's protege, Edward used Kirkby in 1282 as a collector of moneys for the king's Welsh campaigns. Edward rewarded him with a number of benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
s, although Kirkby had not yet been ordained a priest. One such benefice was Archdeacon of Coventry.
Kirkby was Lord Treasurer from January 1284 to his death. Kirkby was probably behind the reforms that took place in the treasury and exchequer. Book-keeping methods were updated, information on sources of income improved, and efforts to collect debts to the crown intensified. Kirkby's Quest is the name given to a survey of various English counties which was made under Kirkby's direction in 1285 as part of this effort. The inquest investigated debts owed to the king, the status of vills, and the holding of knight's fees. Also in 1285, Edward I appointed Kirkby to oversee a judicial commission investigating disorder in London. Kirkby summoned the lord mayor and the aldermen of London to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
to appear before the commission. When the lord mayor of London resigned in protest at Kirkby's summons, Kirkby occupied the city and no lord mayor took office until 1298.
In 1283 Kirkby was elected Bishop of Rochester
Bishop of Rochester
The Bishop of Rochester is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Rochester in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the west of the county of Kent and is centred in the city of Rochester where the bishop's seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin...
, but the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, John Peckham
John Peckham
John Peckham was Archbishop of Canterbury in the years 1279–1292. He was a native of Sussex who was educated at Lewes Priory and became a Franciscan friar about 1250. He studied at Paris under Bonaventure, where he later taught theology. From his teaching, he came into conflict with Thomas...
, opposed the appointment and Kirkby did not become bishop there. Pecham objected to his being bishop of Rochester because Kirkby was a pluralist
Religious pluralism
Religious pluralism is a loosely defined expression concerning acceptance of various religions, and is used in a number of related ways:* As the name of the worldview according to which one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus that at least some truths and true values...
. On 26 July 1286 he was elected Bishop of Ely
Bishop of Ely
The Bishop of Ely is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Ely in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese roughly covers the county of Cambridgeshire , together with a section of north-west Norfolk and has its see in the City of Ely, Cambridgeshire, where the seat is located at the...
, and was ordained as a priest and then consecrated on 22 September 1286 by Peckham, who did not object on pluralism grounds this time. He was enthroned at Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral
Ely Cathedral is the principal church of the Diocese of Ely, in Cambridgeshire, England, and is the seat of the Bishop of Ely and a suffragan bishop, the Bishop of Huntingdon...
on 24 December 1286.
Kirkby died at Ely on 26 March 1290, after a botched attempt to bleed him. He was buried in Ely Cathedral. When he died, he left a brother William as his heir and four married sisters. Kirkby was a benefactor to his see, to which he left some property in London, including Ely Place. A marble tomb slab, now located in the north choir aisle, may possibly be from his tomb.