Thomas Langton

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Thomas Langton
Bishop of St David's
  • Bishop of Salisbury
  • Thomas Langton (died 27 January 1501) was chaplain to

    .

    Early life

    Langton was born in

    Queen's College, Oxford, but soon removed to Cambridge, probably to Clare Hall, on account of the plague. In 1461 he was elected fellow of Pembroke Hall, serving as proctor in 1462. While at Cambridge he took both degrees in canon law
    , and was afterwards incorporated in them at Oxford.

    In 1464 he left the university, and some time before 1476 was made chaplain to

    King Edward IV. Langton was in high favour with the king, who trusted him much, and sent him on various important embassies. In 1467 he went as ambassador to France, and as king's chaplain was sent to treat with Ferdinand II, king of Aragon, on 24 November 1476. He visited France again on diplomatic business on 30 November 1477, and on 11 August 1478, to conclude the espousals of Edward's daughter Elizabeth and Charles, son of the French king. Two years later he was sent to demand the fulfilment of this marriage treaty, but the prince, now Charles VIII, king of France, refused to carry it out, and the match was broken off.[1]

    Career

    Meanwhile, Langton received much ecclesiastical preferment. In 1478 he was made treasurer of

    consecrated in August or September.[5]

    Langton's prosperity did not decline with Edward V's deposition. He was sent on an embassy to Rome and to France by

    Queen's College, Oxford, on 6 December 1487, a post which he seems to have retained till 1495. He was a considerable benefactor to the college, where he built some new sets of rooms and enlarged the provost's lodgings. In 1493 King Henry VII transferred him from Salisbury to Winchester,[9][10] a see
    which had been vacant over a year.

    During the seven years that he was bishop of Winchester Langton started a school in the precincts of the palace, where he had youths trained in grammar and music. He was a good musician himself, used to examine the scholars in person, and encourage them by good words and small rewards. Finally, a proof of his ever-increasing popularity, Langton was elected Archbishop of Canterbury on 22 January 1501,[11][12] but died of the plague on the 27th,[11] before the confirmation of the deed. He was buried in a marble tomb within 'a very fair chapel' which he had built south of the lady-chapel in Winchester Cathedral.[1]

    Death

    Before his death he had given 10

    marks were bequeathed. An annual pension of eight marks was set aside to maintain a chapel at Appleby-in-Westmorland for a hundred years to pray for the souls of Langton, his parents, and all the faithful deceased at Appleby-in-Westmorland.[1]

    Citations

    1. ^ a b c Bradley, Emily Tennyson (1892). "Langton, Thomas" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 32. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
    2. ^ Horn, J. M. (1962). "Treasurers of Exeter". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300 – 1541: Volume 9: Exeter Diocese. British History Online. pp. 10–12.
    3. ^ Jones, B (1964). "Prebendaries of St Decuman's". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300 – 1541: Volume 8: Bath and Wells Diocese. British History Online. pp. 61–62.
    4. ^ King, H. P. F. (1962). "Prebendaries of North Kelsey". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300 – 1541: Volume 1: Lincoln Diocese. British History Online. pp. 98–100.
    5. ^ a b c Fryde et al. 1986, p. 298.
    6. ^ Jones, B. (1965). "Bishops of St David's". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300 – 1541: Volume 11: The Welsh Dioceses. British History Online. pp. 53–56.
    7. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 271.
    8. ^ Horn, J. M. (1962). "Bishops of Salisbury". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300 – 1541: Volume 3: Salisbury Diocese. British History Online. pp. 1–3.
    9. ^ Fryde et al. 1986, p. 277.
    10. ^ Jones, B. (1962). "Bishops of Winchester". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300 – 1541: Volume 4: Monastic Cathedrals (Southern Province). British History Online. pp. 45–47.
    11. ^ a b Fryde et al. 1986, p. 234.
    12. ^ Jones, B. (1962). "Archbishops of Canterbury". Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300 – 1541: Volume 4: Monastic Cathedrals (Southern Province). British History Online. pp. 3–5.

    References

    Catholic Church titles
    Preceded by
    Bishop of St David's

    1483–1485
    Succeeded by
    Preceded by Bishop of Salisbury
    1485–1493
    Succeeded by
    Preceded by Bishop of Winchester
    1493–1501
    Succeeded by
    Preceded by
    John Morton
    (archbishop)
    Archbishop-elect of Canterbury
    1501
    Succeeded by
    Henry Deane (archbishop)