You may have thought that being a member of the clergy in the 13th and 14th century meant that you had a quiet life tending to your parishioners and community. For some nothing was further from the truth and their lives were as colourful as their Kings and Queens. Our story this week tells of such a man who began life in a village in north Herefordshire, whose rise through the hierarchy of the church and his loyalty to one of the prominent Marcher Lords put him at odds with the King of England and almost cost him his life.
Our tale starts in Orleton, where there once lived a young lad called Adam. He was clever, street wise and ambitious and he made it his goal to impress the powerful lord of Wigmore Edmund Mortimer. Through his hard work, deeds and actions he caught the attention of Edmund who could see Adam’s potential and was prepared to invest in a top notch education for him. Adam was sent to one of the finest schools in Paris where he excelled and his ambitions were fulfilled. He rose quickly through the hierarchy of the church much to the delight of his benefactor.
Adam did not return to England in a hurry as he was not required. The King of the day Edward II preferred to spend time with more interesting folk, not boring clerics. You know, the sort who could tell a good story and who liked to indulge in the temptations of the day. So Adam decided to stay at the Papal Court in Avignon where he spent his time discussing and negotiating the canonisation of Thomas Cantilupe. His work paid off as he was championed by Pope John XXII who then took a keen interest in his progression through the church and in 1317 appointed him Bishop of Hereford. A position he was thoroughly proud of. King Edward however disapproved of his appointment and didn’t mind letting people know.
During the time that Adam had been away his benefactor Edmund Mortimer had been succeeded by his son Roger who was Adam’s childhood friend. Their friendship was to be truly tested however when Roger and the Marcher lords decided to rebel against the King. To support his friend, Adam provided some of his own men to assist in the battle not imagining that the Marcher lords would be defeated, but much to his dismay this indeed happened at the Battle of Boroughbridge. Roger Mortimer was immediately taken to London and imprisoned in the tower and many of his men were executed for treason. The King took great pleasure in hearing of Adam’s involvement and ordered his arrested for high treason. It was the very first time that a senior cleric had faced such a charge. But Adam had decided that he was not going to play the King’s game, he had other plans. As his trial progressed he refused to plead his innocence or his guilt but claimed clerical immunity instead.
And as if straight out of a sketch from Monty Python’s Spanish inquisition, a sea of clergy burst into his trial interrupting proceedings and protesting loudly. Holding crosses in front of them, the three archbishops and ten bishops seized Adam and spirited him away to safety. Angry and full of resentment the King dispatched his men to Hereford to seize Adam’s possessions. But Adam being the clever chap that he was knew how the predictable King would behave and arranged for his friends to hide most of his valuables so that they remained out of the clutches of the King.
Since his escape Adam’s life changed, he found himself a wanted man, an outcast who travelled alone and barely survived. But his fortunes were about to change. Roger Mortimer escaped from the tower of London after drugging his guards and fled to France where he had allies and would be safe. King Edward suspected that Adam, the Bishop of Hereford had some involvement in Roger’s escape but could not take action against him as he could not prove it. Over time and after King Edward II’s abdication Adam ingratiated himself with the new King, Edward III. Although many years later Roger Mortimer was captured by King Edward III and ordered to be hung, drawn and quartered, Adam remained in favour and finished his days as Bishop of Winchester.
So if you ever thought that the life of a clergyman was dull in medieval England, think again.
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