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cated by his uncte, Iolin de Willoughby, holding of the fami ly
a succession of the most important ossices of state and was thus
at the very hub os affairs. Relations with Scotland and with continental princes were entrusted to him as weli as delicate negotiations with the Papacy. In 13aa he was appotnted Chamberlain os Chester and a let- ter from Iolin, Abbot of Furness, expressing deep admirationand gratitude sor services rendered indicates that atready Richard was a man os mark. Soon aster he was appotnted PrincipalReceiver of the Ling's revenues in Gascony. In the dissensions that arose belween Edward and Isabella and that ted the Queento fly with young Prince Edward to Paris, Richard took the momentous decision to apply the finds of Gascony to the support of Isabella. This step had the immediate result that he was pursued by the Ling's men and forced to take sanctuary in the Campanile of the Friars Minor in Paris. Within two years, however, Edward II was deposed and Edward III on his acces-
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III on an important mission to the Pope at Avignon and hebore with him the warmest letters of personat recommendation. At Avignon Richard had a brilliant success. Pope Iolin XXII appotnted him one of his principat chaplain s. It is
recorded that Richard was wont to malle his state visits at the Pontifical Couri attended by a retinue of twenty clerics and thirty-siX esquires. Yet he was atready known sor his literaryinterests, whicli are emphasised in the royal letter to the Pope preserring Richard 's claims to ecclesiasticat preserment. More-over on this visit to Avignon Richard mei the poet Petrarchwho has test us a thumbnail si etch of him as a man os luminous intelleci, not Unversed in letters and from his youth up
curious concerning recondite matterS.
Petrarch hoped sor insormation from Richard concerning ageographical potnt, the position of the Isiand of Thule. Hewas, however, put os with a promise-never redeemed-ofdetailed information when Richard should be once more homeamong his books. In 1333 he was again at Avignon, condUcting his royal master's aflairs with signat success. In the fame year he was appotnted to the wealthy Deanery of Welis. The nexi stage in Richard 's career is an interesting eXemplification of the conflicting interesis in s urteerith centUry England; we might say, the conflicting interesis in ecclesiasticat matters, but the episode illustrates how ecclesiasticat matters as sected the equilibrium of the nation as a whole. The Bishopricos Durham hecame vacant. The election was vested in the
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SiXteenth century chronicier of Durham, William de Chambre, the idea was first conceived by one of Richard's staff, William os Tykalt who was with him in Paris when the news arriVed of the former Bishop's death. De Chambre records that Richard rejected William's suggestion that he should stari an in- trigiae sor the episcopale among his friends of high clerical position. The victim of the affair with great reticence merelyrecor is that the Ling refused to grant the temporalities of the See to Graystanes, declining to recognise an episcopal electionthat had not yet received his royal confirmation. HaVing mean-while written on Richard 's bellais not only to the Prior and Chapter of Durham but also to the Pope, he coolly informed Graystanes that he did not wish to oppose the Papat Provisionos this candidate. Graystanes determined to refrain from un- seemly dispute which would have involved his House in great CXPCnSe as weli as controversy. He accor lingly retired to his conveni and accepted the appotniment of Richard, nor, as itappears, did he ever make difficulties in the diocese and, mostremarkable tribute to both men, a friendship was established belween Robert and Richard.
aster his elevation to the Bishopric os Durham he was ap- potnted Lord High Chancellor of England but the next yearhe relinquished this ossice to undertake important diplomaticmissions abroad. Aster the outhreali of the French war, he re-tired to his diocese, but was subsequently employed as enVoy to Scottand. No doubi Edward III relied on his remarkable abil-lty both as negotiator and administrator in a distant but cruciat part of the hingdom. Ali records that have furvived of Richard 's episcopal ruleshew an admirabie organisation and a benevolent but firm discipline. It would seem, however, that even his almost fabulous income was not entirely ade Uate to the eXpenses incurred by the bishop. We hear of a gorgeous seast at his enthronement
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against the Scot no doubi involved heavy expense. He himselfconsesses in this littie work that he never spared eXpense whenthe pUrchase of a precious manuscript was involved. The picture of his closing hours drawn by the chronicier Adam de Murimuit, even suggesis penury. Yet we would rather turn our thoughis to the happier records of his episcopale. Most remarkable were the men whom he gathered round him. De Chambre names eight who formed part of the episcopat couri and were wont to have datly readings and discussions with the bishop. They were perhaps among the doZen or Scoremost talented of the contemporaries of Richard. His numerous benefices must in ieed have brought him into contact withmost of the promising young clerks in England at the time. Moreover their association with Richard no doubi contributedio their subsequent advancement. Yet we cannot but admire
SUite. Among them were suci, men as Walter Burley, the author os attractive church poems and an Aristotelian scholar,
and astronomer as weli as a theologian. He was closely associ
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pronounce on the matter and they promulgated the decision
He was associaled with opposition to the growing power of
doubiless gained at the court of Bishop Richard. BUt we have yet to consider another member of the brilliant circle of the Bishop of Durham. This was Roberi Hothoi, a Dominican and the only friar enumeraled by de Chambre
among the members of this most remarkable court. Hothotwas brought up in the Dominican conveni at Oxsord and be- came a doctor of theology of that University. He wrote commentaries on the Song of Songs, the Book of Wisdom, Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. Many other biblicat commentaries flowedfrom his pen but his fame resis on his mathematical and astronomicat works. He also wrote a litile tract On the Game of Chess. A later generation credited Hothot also with the author-
What sori os man was the author of this work8 Mucii about himself he allows us to glean from the pages. We learn that he was not unfamiliar with the interior os a convent but that he had travelled much and that he had correspondenis in many lands and many institutions. Moreover he telis us that he was habitualty called upon to decide litigation in suits where the parties were in a position to offer him rare and precious books.
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as the author in the Prologue as weli as in the Colophon. Nodoubi Richard enlisted the hel p of his friends. The phrases in the earlier chapters of the traci that mirror passages in the Wisdom literature may have led to the attribution of the workto Hothoi. Indeed we may weli picture the Bishop inviting the comments and even the contributions of his friends, and per-haps preeminently of Hothot who probably edited the work. In the fame spirit we enlisi the hel p of Ernest Chester Thomas, the latest of the friends of the Bishop, though bornmore than sive hundred years aster the lalter's death. Thomas like his hero had travelled much on the continent. A graduate of Oxsord, he studied at Trinity College whicli occupies the site of that Durham College whicli Bishop Richard would seem toliave intended to endow with his pricetess library. Thomas had studied philosophy in Iena and in Bonn and has thus prepared his mind to appreciate the fruit of the last years of Richard d'Aungerville de Bury. The attractive and simple style of his translation is admirably sitted to convey the mood of the workas weli as iis author's gentie wit. Their combined work wenow commend to the enjoyment of the modern reader.
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TQ ALL THE FAITHFUL OF CHRISΤ to whom the tenor of these presents may come, Richard de Bury, by the divine mercy Bishop of Durham, wisheth evertastingsalvation in the Lord and to present continualty apious memorial of himself besore God, alike in his lis elimeand aster his death. What shali I render unio the Lord sor ait His benestis to-wards me Θ asks the most devout Psalmist, an invinci ble Κingand sirst among the propheis; in whicli mosi gratesul question
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ered in our own heari as weli as with others, what among thegood offices of various works of piety would most please the Almighty, and would be more beneficiat to the Church Militant. And lol there soon occurred to our contemplation a hostos Unhappy, nay, rather of elect scholars, in whom God the Creator and Nature His han imaid planted the roots of excellent morais and of famous sciences, but whom the poVerty of their circumstances so oppressed that besore the frown os adverse sortune the seeds of excellence, so fruitsul in the culti- valed fiet d of youth, not being watered by the rain that theyre Uire, are sorced to wither away. Thus it happens that bright virtve lurks buried in obscurity,V to Use the words of Boethius, and burning lights are not put under a bushel, butsor want of Oil are utierly extinguished. Thus the field, so fullos flower in Spring, has withered up besore harvest time; thias wheat degenerates to tares, and vines into the wild vines, and thus olives run into the wild olive; the tender siems rot awayaltogether, and those who might have grown Up into Strong
apostasy they return to the mechanicat aris solely to gain alivel thood, to the loss of the Church and the degradation of the whole clergy. Thus Mother Church conceiving sons is compelled to miscarry, nay, fome misshapen monster is born Un- timely frona her womb, and sor lack of that litile with whicli Nature is contented, si e loses eXcellent pupils, who mightasterwar is hecome champions and athletes of the faith. Alas,how suddenly the woos is cui, while the hand of the weaveris beginning his workl Alas, how the sun is eclipsed in thebrightness of the dawn, and the planet in iis course is hurled bachwards, an i, while it bears the nature and likeness of a star