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Some Sermons at Hereford Attributed to Archbishop John Stratford
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 March 2011
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1 I examined this manuscript some years ago in the chained library at Hereford Cathedral. In September 1981 my preliminary findings were given in a paper at the Durham colloquium of the Commission internationale d’histoire ecclésiastique compareée. At that time, although aware that one of the sermons was Harclay’s (thanks indirectly to Bishop Kemp) and having discovered the copy at Lambeth independently, I had not had the opportunity to read the Hereford collection with sufficient thoroughness. This I have now done with the aid of a microfilm. I am grateful to the honorary librarian of the cathedral, Miss Penelope Morgan, for her assistance.
2 ‘Sermons for the festivals of St. Thomas Becket, etc. Probably by Archbishop Stratford’, EHR, viii (1893), 85–91CrossRefGoogle Scholar.
3 The chantry which he founded at Stratford in 1331 (augmented in 1336) was dedicated to St Thomas. For this foundation and other aspects of Stratford’s career see my forthcoming book, Archbishop Stratford (Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies, Toronto).
4 E.g. McKisack, M., The Fourteenth Century (Oxford 1959), 169 n. 4Google Scholar; Lapslcy, G. T., ‘Archbishop Stratford and the parliamentary crisis of 1341’, EHR, xxx (1915), 15 n. 53Google Scholar. Both suggest that Stratford was probably the author.
5 The king landed at Tower Steps on the night of 30 November 1340. Stratford was at Charing (a manor of his) on 1 December, at Canterbury the following day.
6 For the question of authorship see Tait, J., Chronica Johannis de Reading el Anonymi Cantuariensis 1346–1367, Manchester 1914, 63–75Google Scholar; Gransden, A., Historical Writing in England, II, c. 1307 to the early sixteenth century, London 1982, 70 n. 71Google Scholar. For the text of ‘Birchington’, see Wharton, H., Anglia Sacra, London 1691, i. 19–41 (Lambeth ms 99, fosGoogle Scholar. 136r-46v). A shortened version of ‘Birchington’ is in BL Cotton MS Julius B III, fo. 31 r el seq. The latter is attributed to William Rede, bishop of Chichester.
7 Anglia Sacra, i. 21 (Lambeth MS 99, fo. 137r): ‘In suo sermone per gradus S. Thomam multipliciter commendavit’.
8 Owst, G. R., Literature and Pulpit in Medieval England, Oxford 1961, 131Google Scholar. The St Thomas sermon is discussed at pp. 126–32; see also, Ibid., 453–4.
9 ‘History and action in the sermons of a medieval archbishop’, in The Writing of History in the Middle Ages, R. H. C. Davis and J. M. Wallace-Hadrill (eds.), Oxford 1981, 349–65; Lambeth MS 61, fos. 143r-7v.
10 For whom see Emden, A. B., A Biographical Register of the University of Oxford to 1500, Oxford 1957–9Google Scholar, s.v. Harkeley; Balic, C., ‘Henricus Harclay et Iohannes Duns Scotus’, in Mélanges offerts à Etienne Gilson, Toronto-Paris 1959, 93–121Google Scholar.
11 Kemp, ‘History and action’, 349; BL Cotton MS Cleopatra D iii (Hales Chronicle), fo. 56V.
12 Whom he calls ‘John’ of Lausanne. For bibliography and a list of sermons attributed to him, see J. B. Schneyer, Repertorium der Lateinischen Sermones des Mittelalters für die Zeit von 1150–1350: Bciträge zur Ceschichte der Philosophie und Theologie des Mittlelalters, Münster, Westfalcn 1971, 43 pt. 3, s.v. Jacobus de Losanna. See also idem, ‘Eine Sermonesliste des Jacobus von Lausanne O.P.’, in Recherches de Théologie Ancienne et Médiévale, Louvain 1929-, xxvii (1960), 67–132Google Scholar; Dictionnaire de Théologie Catholique, A. Vacaut, E. Magenot and E. Amann (eds.), Paris 1947, 8i., 298–9; J. Quétif-J.Echard, Scriptores Ordinis Praedicatorum, Paris 1917–21, i. 547; Smalley, B., English Friars and Antiquity in the Early Fourteenth Century, Oxford 1960, 248–50Google Scholar. Item [569/48] (67) in a grant of books (1374) by Bishop Rede is ‘Sermones Iacobi de Losanna’. H. W. Garrod (cd. J. R. L. Highfield), ‘An indenture between William Rede, bishop of Chichcster, and John Bloxham and Henry Stapilton, fellows of Merton College, Oxford’, Bodleian Library Record, x (1978), 9–19Google Scholar.
13 Kemp, ‘History and action’, 362–3: the Lausanne sermon runs ‘parallel for the first twenty-six lines of the Hereford text’; Wharton, Anglia Sacra, i. 23 (Lambeth MS 99, fo. 138r; Schneyer, Repertorium, 123 T18/4 (Paris BN, MS lat. 3552, fo. 52vb; 18181, fo. 4irb). Cf. (for MS 18181), Inventairc des manuscrits latins de Nôtre-Dame et d’autres fonds, L. Delislc (ed.), Paris 1871, 84; (for MSS 3552, 3553), Bibliothèque Nationale, catalogue général des manuscrits latins, Paris 1975, vi. 72–7, 77–80Google Scholar.
14 Schneyer, Repertorium, 753 C19 (Paris BN., MS lat. 18181, fo. 317rb). As Schneyer, ‘Eine Sermonesliste’, shows (pp. 85, 130), the themes for sermons 7, 9, 11 and 17coincide with those for the corresponding sermons attributed to Lausanne.
15 Schneyer, Repertorium 752 C19 (BN MS lat. 18181, fo. 316ra).
16 Ibid., 747 C16 (BN MS lat. 18181, fo. 318va).
17 Ibid., 180 T24 (BN MS lat. 18181, fo. 66vb).
18 Cited Kemp, ‘History and action’, 363 n. 2, as indebted to BN MS lat. 18183, fo. 14V. But this is not listed among the sermons attributed to Lausanne by Schneyer, Cf. Inventaire des manuscrits latins, 85.
19 Hereford MS P. 5 xii, fos. 89v-90r; 111v-12r.
20 Ibid., fo. 111v: ‘Propter quod sciendum est quod conciliorum quedam sunt universalia, quedam particularia seu provincialia, quedam vero episcopalia. Universale concilium est quod a papa vel eius legato… particulare seu provinciate est quod metropolitanus vel primas facit cum suis suffraganeis… metropolitans tamen potest facere concilium sine auctoritate primatis…Cantuariensis vero metropolitanus est et primas et apostolice sedis legatus, et idcirco «MS iccirco» de eo dubium non est nee hactenus fuit quin provinciale concilium potent convocare.’ Cf. fo. 114r.
21 Sec Churchill, I. J., Canterbury Administration, London 1933, i. 153–60Google Scholar, for discussion of the archbishop’s titles.
22 Anglia Sacra i. 27 (Lambeth MS 9 9, fo. 139V). Cf, Hereford MS P. 5 xii, fo. 114.V. The Gelasian dictum is incorporated in Gratian, Decretum D. 96, c. 10. Stratford was a doctor of civil law of Oxford.
23 Hereford MS P. 5 xii, fo. 113V. Stratford’s letter is in various sources, e.g., Foedera, T. Rymer (ed.), The Hague 1739–45, II, ii. 43 (in French), Chronicon domini Walteri de Hemingburgh, H. C. Hamilton (ed.), London 1849, ii. 363, et seq. Rehoboam is also cited in sermon no. 4 (at fo. 69r); see below p. 430.
24 On the care with which Stratford observed the canon law distinctions, sec Kemp, E. W., Counsel and Consent, London 1961, 100–6Google Scholar.
25 The preacher merely declares (fo. gov): ‘Karissimi, hie sumus congregati quasi membra Christi’, and later, ‘Respiciamur et profundo intellectu consideremus ecclesie, regis et regni pericula’.
26 Kemp, ‘History and action’, 361; Hereford Cathedral MS P. 5 xii. fo. gov: ‘Recordantes scilicet pristine condicionis et belli, depauperacionis terre, clericorum videlicet et populi, regalis indigencie et lesionis libertatis ecclesiastice, commocionis maritime, que iam omnia preterita sunt, quorum preteritorum attenta causa precaveamus’. Another possible occasion would be the convocation of October 1346. The ‘periculis ecclesie et regno Anglie undique imminentibus’ of the summons (e.g. The Register of John Trillek, Hereford 1910Google Scholar, J. H. Parry (ed.), 285), echoes the phrase on fo. gov (n. 18 above). However, this is a common form of words. There was another assembly (of bishops only) in May 1346.
27 For the royal prohibition see PRO. SC1/39/198. A text is given in Wilkinson, B., The Chancery under Edward III, Manchester 1929, 118 n. 1Google Scholar. For summonses by Stratford: Winchester Reg. Edyndon 2, fos. 11v-12r; Lincoln Reg. Gynwell 2 (Reg. 9), fo. 24r-v; Ely Reg. Lisle, fos. 63V-4T; Register of John Trillek, 306–8.
29 Hereford MS P. 5 xii, fo. 111r: ‘Ut talia in presenti concilio tractari valeant et ordinary que in ipsius et ecclesie sue sancte laudem tendere valeant et honorem et in quietem et comodum tocius cleri et populi Anglicani.’
29 Salisbury Reg. Wyville I, fo. 128r. Cf., Concilia Magnae Britanniae et Hiberniae, D. Wilkins (ed.), London 1737, ii. 102.
30 Dated Lambeth 11 May 1342. Lambeth Palace Library, Black Book of the Arches, fos. 66r-85v; Concilia ii. 681–95.
31 Historia Roffensis, BL Cotton MS Faustina B. V, fo. 79V. The king ‘ad modum Christi morti et omni periculo corpus suum exponit, fratrem, notos, et amicos’. I take this to mean that Eltham was still alive. Hereford MS P. 5 xii, fo. 80v.
32 Hereford MS P. 5 xii, fos. 80r, giv.
33 The summary by the archbishop’s biographer of the sermon’s conclusion reads like a clarion call to defend the church’s liberties. The mood of sermon 22, though equally self-reproachful, is reflective; its tone one of humility and self-effacement. A sequel involving the pronouncement of sentences of excommunication would be incongruous. See above, p. 426.
34 Hereford MS P. 5 xii, fo. 6gr. Compare Ibid. fo. 68v with fo. 89r (sermon 21).
35 Compare Ibid., fos. 75V, 91v.
page 432 note 1 ‘Birchington’ states that Stratford was at Canterbury continuously from 2 December 1340 until 17 April 1341 (the latter date supported by Canterbury Cathedral Library, Chart. Antiqu. R. 20). There is a letter of his dated 23 March from Maidstone in Literae Cantuariensis (Rolls Series 1880), ii. 238 no. 704 (C.C.L. Reg. L, fo. 75v). The editor, J. B. Sheppard, ascribes this to 1341, a date accepted by Lunt, W. E., Financial Relations of the Papacy with England 1327–1534, Cambridge, Mass. 1962, 625Google Scholar. ‘Birchington’ notes that sermons were preached by Stratford on 29 December and on 18 February, Ash Wednesday. His texts are given respectively as In diebus suis non timuit principem (Ecclus. xlviii. 13) and Convertimini ad me in toto corde vestro (Joel ii. 1 2 ). H. Wharton (ed.), Anglia Sacra i. 21, 23, 38 (Lambeth MS 99, fos. 137r, 138r, 145r).
page 432 note 2 Rom. xv. 30.
page 432 note 3 Ecclus. xxix. 2.
page 433 note 4 Prov. xxx. 8.
page 433 note 5 Rom. xii. 13.
page 433 note 6 Acts iv. 35.
page 433 note 7 P.L., xxxv. 2040 (Tract 8, cap. 4).
page 433 note 8 Gal. vi. 10.
page 433 note 9 I Tim. v. 8.
page 433 note 10 I John iii. 17.
page 433 note 11 Ecclus. xxxviii. 1.
page 433 note 12 For ‘animarum’.
page 433 note 13 2 Cor. ix. 7.
page 433 note 14 Luke xxiv. 17: ‘Et estis tristes’.
page 433 note 15 Ps. xvii. 7; cf. cxvii. 5.
page 433 note 16 Ps. cxix. 1.
page 433 note 17 Ps. xxiv. 17.
page 433 note 18 Ex. xiv. 8, 22ff.
page 433 note 19 Ps. li. 7.
page 433 note 20 Ps. xxxiii. 22.
page 433 note 21 Ps. xxxiii. 20.
page 433 note 22 Job xlii; Tob. xiii.
page 433 note 23 A paraphrase of Ez. xviii. 23, xxxii (cf. xxxiii. 11–12).
page 433 note 24 Ps. xxxi. 10.
page 433 note 25 Tob. iii. 13.
page 433 note 26 Prov. xv. 27.
page 433 note 27 Daniel only has 14 chapters. Cf. Dan. iii. 29~30ff; ix. 5ff.
page 434 note 28 Deut. xxxii. 15.
page 434 note 29 Sap. xi. 24.
page 434 note 30 In margin: ‘Nota, ante graciam’. This passage apparently refers to Stratford’s involvement in secular affairs.
page 434 note 31 P.L., xxxvii. 1319–21.
page 434 note 32 P.L., xxxvii. 1086 (Enarratio in Psalmum, lxxxv).
page 434 note 33 This marks the beginning of a lengthy passage which occurs with only slight variation in sermon no. 15, fo. 80r.
page 434 note 34 Ecclus. iii. 4.
page 434 note 35 Ps. xxxi. 6.
page 434 note 36 Is. i. 15.
page 434 note 37 P.G., lvi. 20 (Commentary on Isaiah). 38 Ps. exxviii. 3. ‘Est eciam ille nuncius discretus ad petendum’ follows this citation at fo. 80r.
page 434 note 39 I Pet. iv. 7.
page 434 note 40 Lam. iii. 8.
page 434 note 41 Mark. xi. 25. A confusion with the next reference? Incorrectly also at fo. 80r.
page 434 note 42 Matt. v. 44.
page 434 note 43 Luke xxiii. 34.
page 434 note 44 Lev. xix. 18.
page 434 note 45 Matt. xx. 20.
page 435 note 46 3 Kings iii «vv. 9–11» at fo. 80r; cf. 3 Kings iv. 29. In sermon no. 15 the citation is followed by ‘Est eciam «nuncius» sollicitus ad impetrandum’.
page 435 note 47 Luke xviii. 1.
page 435 note 48 Acts i. 14, correctly at fo. 80r. For the ‘bravium ‘see 1 Cor. ix. 24.
page 435 note 49 Tob. xii. 12.
page 435 note 50 1 Kings i. 13ff, 20.
page 435 note 51 Tob. xii. 8.
page 435 note 52 Col. iv. 2.
page 435 note 53 Ps. 1. 19. This citation marks the divergence from the parallel passage in sermon no. 15, fo. 80r.
page 435 note 54 I am unable to trace this reference.
page 435 note 56 Ps. xvi. 5. At this point comes a passage found in sermon no. 10, fo. 74V, from which the emendations below are taken.
page 435 note 56 Dan. ii. 32; cf. Ibid. iii. iff. See also Ovid, Metamorphoses i. 89ff; Dante, Inferno, canto xiv; and sermon no. 10, fo. 75V.
page 435 note 57 Prov. ii. 15.
page 435 note 58 Ex. xvii. 8ff. What follows is also in sermon no. 10, fo. 75v, which has ‘impugnat’ correctly.
page 436 note 59 Ex. xxiv. 14.
page 436 note 60 Job xxxvii. 16.
page 436 note 61 Sermon no. 10, fo. 75v, has ‘perfecti religiosi’.
page 436 note 62 Ps. Ixxvii. 14.
page 436 note 63 Is. lx. 8.
page 436 note 64 Job xxx. 15. This citation closes the passage which is duplicated in sermon no. 10, fo. 75V.
page 436 note 65 See Proverbs, Sentences and Proverbial Phrases, B. J. Whiting, (ed.) Cambridge, Mass.-London 1968, 357: (a 1470) ‘It is a comon proverbe that a shorte prayer thyrleth heven. Oracio brevis penetrat celum ‘(Henry Parker, Dives et Pauper, 1496). The earliest (English) reference noted there is dated 1400 (The Cloud of Unknowing). 66 Prov. iv. 18.
page 436 note 67 This passage is also in sermon no. 10, fo. 76r. I cannot find a wholly apposite reference among Augustine’s many discussions of ‘lux’. One of the longest of these is P.L., xxxiv. 227–31. Cf. xlii. 35–6, 404–5, 609.
page 436 note 68 John i. 5.
page 437 note 69 Joel ii. 10.
page 437 note 70 Rev. ii. IO. With this citation the parallel passage in sermon no. 10 ends (closing that sermon).
page 437 note 71 See Luke xi. 9.
page 437 note 72 Ps. cxix. 1.
page 437 note 73 See, for instance, Ez. xvii. 24; xxiv. 14; xxxvii. 14.
page 437 note 74 Ps. xxx. 2.
page 437 note 75 Rom. xv. 31.
page 437 note 76 Sap. ii. 10.
page 437 note 77 See previous note.
page 437 note 78 2 Es. iv.
page 437 note 79 John viii. 32.
page 437 note 80 This quotation was used by Stratford in his response to the ‘Libellus famosus’. Vitae, 31 (Lambeth MS. 99, fo. 141 v).
page 437 note 81 Zach. xi. 17.
page 437 note 82 Zach. x. 2.