Letters and Papers of John Shillingford: A Translation

By Davison Shillingford PhD

The Middle Ages saw numerous local conflicts between the church and the state in England. This is a translation of the documents of one of the most famous of these conflicts: that between Edmund Lacy, Bishop of Exeter and John Shillingford, Mayor of the City. In his "Yorkist Age," Paul Kendal describes this conflict as "The most remarkable battle of the age between townsmen and the Church, ... [which] resists time, because the protagonist left a racy account both of the struggle and himself." The City burgesses had long chafed under the church's claimed authority to tax and dispense justice within the city. This came to a head when City serjeants attempted to arrest a felon who had taken refuge in the Cathedral. The Church authorities stoutly resisted the City serjeants, who seemed on the verge of losing their lives, had timely help not arrived. The Bishop sued in Chancery Court, and the suit lasted several years. The "Letters and Papers" detail this historical conflict and its resolution. Unfortunately, the document is written in Middle English, and, to the layman, it is difficult to appreciate its drama and historical significance. This translation is an attempt to correct this, and make these "Letters and Papers" more accessible to the student of history and the general public.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B08Y654DYG
• ISBN13: 9798554567889
• Release Date: March 2021
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 226 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"