Thomas Beckington
Encyclopedia
Thomas Beckington was the Bishop of Bath and Wells
and King's Secretary in medieval England.
in Somerset
, and was educated at Winchester
and New College, Oxford
. Having entered the Church he held many ecclesiastical appointments, and became dean of the Arches
in 1423; then devoting his time to secular affairs he was sent on an embassy to Calais
in 1439, and to John IV, count of Armagnac, in 1442.
At this time Beckington was acting as secretary to Henry VI
, and soon after his return in 1443 he was appointed Lord Privy Seal
until 1444. He was consecrated bishop of Bath and Wells
on 13 October 1443. The bishop erected many buildings in Wells and elsewhere, probably altering the rectory
at Sutton Courtenay
in Berkshire
(now Oxfordshire
), an early preferment. The most important results of Beckington's missions to France were one Latin
journal, written by himself, referring to the embassy to Calais; and another, written by one of his attendants, relating to the journey to Armagnac
. He died at Wells
on 14 January 1465.
Beckington is buried at Wells Cathedral
and has an unusual monument there, his effigy is depicted twice; one above the other in a two tier arrangement, the bottom effigy depicting his decaying corpse whilst unwrapped from its shroud, and the effigy above depicting him wearing his attire that one can assume would have been worn in his duties as bishop. When his tomb was opened during Victorian times he was found to be buried very simply (as depicted on his tomb) and the only ornament that he was buried with was his Bishop's ring – this was removed and is now in a museum.
Beckington played a leading role as architect of the legal aspects of Henry VI's foundation of Eton College
in 1440; he is commemorated in the name of the school's central refectory, 'Bekynton'.
(1835); and the other journal in the Official Correspondence of Thomas Bekynton, edited by G. Williams for the Rolls Series
(1872), which contains many interesting letters. This latter journal has been translated into English by N. H. Nicolas (1828). See G. G. Perry, Bishop Beckington and Henry VI., in the English Historical Review (1894).
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
and King's Secretary in medieval England.
Life
Beckington was born at BeckingtonBeckington
Beckington is a village and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, across the River Frome from Lullington about three miles north of Frome...
in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, and was educated at Winchester
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. Having entered the Church he held many ecclesiastical appointments, and became dean of the Arches
Dean of Arches
The Dean of Arches is the judge who sits at the ecclesiastical court of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. This appeal court is commonly called the Arches Court....
in 1423; then devoting his time to secular affairs he was sent on an embassy to Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
in 1439, and to John IV, count of Armagnac, in 1442.
At this time Beckington was acting as secretary to Henry VI
Henry VI of England
Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars...
, and soon after his return in 1443 he was appointed Lord Privy Seal
Lord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. The office is one of the traditional sinecure offices of state...
until 1444. He was consecrated bishop of Bath and Wells
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
on 13 October 1443. The bishop erected many buildings in Wells and elsewhere, probably altering the rectory
The Abbey, Sutton Courtenay
The Abbey at Sutton Courtenay is a courtyard house of c. 1320, and later remodelled, in the English county of Oxfordshire ....
at Sutton Courtenay
Sutton Courtenay
Sutton Courtenay is a village and civil parish on the River Thames south of Abingdon and northwest of Didcot. It was part of Berkshire until the 1974 boundary changes transferred it to Oxfordshire.-Today:...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
(now Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
), an early preferment. The most important results of Beckington's missions to France were one Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
journal, written by himself, referring to the embassy to Calais; and another, written by one of his attendants, relating to the journey to Armagnac
Armagnac (region)
The hilly countship of Armagnac , in the foothills of the Pyrenées between the Adour and Garonne rivers, is a historic countship of the Duchy of Gascony, established in 601 in Aquitaine...
. He died at Wells
Wells
Wells is a cathedral city and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Although the population recorded in the 2001 census is 10,406, it has had city status since 1205...
on 14 January 1465.
Beckington is buried at Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral
Wells Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral in Wells, Somerset, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Bath and Wells, who lives at the adjacent Bishop's Palace....
and has an unusual monument there, his effigy is depicted twice; one above the other in a two tier arrangement, the bottom effigy depicting his decaying corpse whilst unwrapped from its shroud, and the effigy above depicting him wearing his attire that one can assume would have been worn in his duties as bishop. When his tomb was opened during Victorian times he was found to be buried very simply (as depicted on his tomb) and the only ornament that he was buried with was his Bishop's ring – this was removed and is now in a museum.
Beckington played a leading role as architect of the legal aspects of Henry VI's foundation of Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
in 1440; he is commemorated in the name of the school's central refectory, 'Bekynton'.
Works
Beckington's own journal is published in the Proceedings of the Privy Council, vol. v., edited by Nicholas Harris NicolasNicholas Harris Nicolas
Sir Harris Nicolas, KCMG, KH was an English antiquary.-Life:The fourth son of John Harris Nicolas , he was born at Dartmouth. Having served in the navy from 1812 to 1816, he studied law and was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1825...
(1835); and the other journal in the Official Correspondence of Thomas Bekynton, edited by G. Williams for the Rolls Series
Rolls Series
The Rolls Series, official title The Chronicles and Memorials of Great Britain and Ireland during the Middle Ages, is a major collection of British and Irish historical materials and primary sources, published in the second half of the 19th century. Some 255 volumes, representing 99 separate...
(1872), which contains many interesting letters. This latter journal has been translated into English by N. H. Nicolas (1828). See G. G. Perry, Bishop Beckington and Henry VI., in the English Historical Review (1894).