Warren, W. L., 'A Reappraisal of Simon Sudbury, bishop of London (1361-75) and archbishop of Canterbury (1375-81)', The Journal of Ecclesiastical History 10 (1959), 139-152

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Quick Summary

Simon Sudbury was an architect of cooperation between the church and the English crown

  • Sudbury was killed during the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 while serving as chancellor of England
  • His poor reputation is due to the chronicler Thomas Walsingham
  • He was keen to preserve the trend of co-operation between Church and State
Key Conclusion

Warren revises existing assessments of Simon Sudbury’s ‘primacy’ (time as archbishop of Canterbury), and challenges the notion that he was ‘weak but well-intentioned’ (p. 141). The ‘low evaluation’ of Sudbury can be attributed to the chronicler Thomas Walsingham, who was ‘ignorant’ of many of the facts (p. 142). Warren concludes that, ‘contrary to the impression conveyed by Walsingham’, Sudbury was not merely a ‘pliant tool of the crown’ (p. 141). The fact that he lost his life during the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381 while serving as chancellor ‘should discredit the customary view of him as timorous and pusillanimous’ (p. 152). Sudbury was, however, keen to preserve co-operation between Church and State that had persisted since 1350.

Content Overview

When Sudbury became archbishop in May 1375, the country was heading towards political crisis. Edward III had retired from public life in 1370, and his son and heir, the Black Prince, was suffering from an illness that killed him in June 1376. The minority of Richard II left a vacuum of power at the apex of society, and England was still at war with France. This war was being managed by John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, who needed to tax clerical incomes to fund the conflict. Gaunt threatened to reduce the legal privileges of the church to keep the clergy in line. Yet, Sudbury managed to maintain ‘working relations with the government throughout the period of crisis’ (p. 140).

Further Findings

By upholding the principle of co-operation between Church and State, Sudbury ‘must be counted second only to Simon Islip as an architect of a tradition in this respect which persisted until the Reformation, and of course beyond.’ (p. 151). This inclination to ‘avoid trouble’ can be seen in Sudbury’s lenient treatment of John Wyclif – whose teachings led to the Lollard heresy movement. When obliged by a papal order to bring Wyclif to trial, Sudbury chose to let him off with a caution (p. 140). In January 1380 the commons in parliament demanded a radical reconstruction of royal government, and Sudbury’s appointment as chancellor alleviated their concerns. Sudbury served only eighteen months before being murdered in the Peasants’ Revolt of 1381.

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