Burchard du Puiset

Burchard du Puiset (died 1196) was a medieval Anglo-Norman clergyman and treasurer of the diocese of York. Either the nephew or son of Hugh du Puiset, the Bishop of Durham, Burchard held a number of offices in the dioceses of York and Durham before being appointed treasurer by King Richard I of England in 1189. His appointment was opposed by the newly appointed Archbishop Geoffrey, which led to a long dispute between Geoffrey and Burchard that was not resolved until the mid 1190s. After the death of Hugh du Puiset, Burchard was a candidate for the Hugh's old bishopric, but lost out in the end to another candidate. Burchard died in 1196.

Background and early career

Burchard was a relative of Hugh du Puiset, the Bishop of Durham. Some sources name him as Hugh's nephew,Young ''Hubert Walter'' p. 26 but other sources call him Hugh's son, including the modern biographer of Hugh.Scammell ''Hugh du Puiset'' p. 41 G. W. S. Barrow, the author of the entry for Hugh in the ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', merely states that Burchard could possibly be the son of Hugh.Barrow "Puiset, Hugh du" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' Burchard was among the most common witnesses to Hugh's charters,Scammell ''Hugh du Puiset'' p. 222 and Hugh's biographer calls Burchard the "intimate counsellor" of the bishop.

Burchard held a prebend in the cathedral chapter of York, although the exact prebend that he held is unknown.Greenway "Prebends of York" ''Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300'': Volume 6: York He then held the office of archdeacon for the East Riding, which he held along with the archdeaconry of Durham; all known mentions of his archdeaconry of the East Riding also call him archdeacon of Durham.Greenway "Archdeacons: East Riding" ''Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300'': Volume 6: York He acquired the Durham archdeaconry before 24 May 1172, when he first appears holding the office,Greenway "Archdeacons of Durham Diocese: Durham" ''Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300'': Volume 2: Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces) and held it until his death. Burchard also held a number of churches, including those at HeighingtonScammell ''Hugh du Puiset'' pp. 234–235 Alne, and Aycliffe.Barlow ''Durham Jurisdictional'' p. 33 footnote 2 Hugh is thought to have wanted the archbishopric of York for Burchard, most notably in 1189.Appleby ''England Without Richard'' p. 9

In 1172 Burchard witnessed a charter of Henry the Liberal, Count of Champagne, written at Troyes.Scamnmell ''Hugh du Puiset'' p. 23 A further charter of Henry's in 1175 mentions a "Burchard archdeacon" who is named as a relative of Henry's. This may also be Burchard du Puiset.Scammell ''Hugh du Puiset'' p. 23 footnote 4

Treasurer of York

Burchard was appointed as treasurer of York by King Richard I of England on 15 September 1189, but his appointment was at first opposed by the newly chosen Archbishop of York, Geoffrey. Along with Burchard, Richard also appointed Henry Marshal the dean; and Roger of London the abbot of Selby Abbey. Because of Geoffrey's objections, his estates were confiscated by the king until he submitted.Lovatt "Geoffrey" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' Burchard and Marshal retaliated by accusing the archbishop-elect of being a murderer as well as the son of a prostitute.Scammell ''Hugh du Puiset'' pp. 177–178 When Geoffrey visited York in October 1189, both Burchard and Marshal requested their installation in their offices, but Geoffrey refused to do so until he himself was confirmed in his archbishopric by the papacy. Geoffrey's refusal to install the royal nominees meant the archbishop-elect was out of favour with Richard, and the king refused to allow Geoffrey's officials to travel to Rome to request confirmation of the archbishopric.Appleby ''England Without Richard'' p. 23

Geoffrey accepted Burchard's appointment in December 1189, but then excommunicated Burchard in January 1190. The excommunication, which was shared with Henry Marshal, was retaliation for a dispute with the archbishop-elect that happened during a church service. The actual dispute occurred on 5 January 1190 when Burchard and Marshal were conducting vespers, either early or on time, depending on whose side was telling the story. Geoffrey appeared in the middle of their service and attempted to perform the same service, either late or on time, again depending on who was relating the story. When Burchard and Marshal finished their service, they put out all the lights in the church, leaving the archbishop in the dark. Despite that, he finished the service but then complained to the cathedral chapter of York about the incident. Attempts to mediate a dispute led nowhere, and the citizens of York soon became involved. Geoffrey attempted to keep the townspeople from abusing his two opponents, but Burchard was eventually forced to take refuge in the tomb of William of York, an earlier Archbishop of York. Hugh du Puiset then intervened with the king, and Geoffrey once more lost the royal favour. The king sent Burchard to Rome, along with Reginald fitzJocelin the Bishop of Bath, to attempt to secure the deposition of Geoffrey from York.Appleby ''England Without Richard'' p. 40 Although Burchard's efforts in Rome in mid-1190 contributed to a papal prohibition on Geoffrey's consecration by Pope Clement III, Geoffrey was not deposed. Burchard did secure his own absolution of the excommunication placed by Geoffrey in January.

Burchard, along with Marshal and other members of the chapter, were often opposed to the actions of their archbishop. They objected to the archbishop having given a large part of York's treasury towards Richard's ransom, and to some of the archiepiscopal appointments in the church of York. Burchard and the others charged Geoffrey with simony, extortion, and neglect of his duties and the archbishop in return excommunicated the ringleaders more than once, and locked the canons out of church. The disputes flared up in 1192, with Burchard facing an effort by Geoffrey to replace him in the treasurership with Hamo, but the dispute was resolved by the gift of a church to Hamo by Burchard and Hamo's relinquishing of any claim to the treasurership.Scammell ''Hugh du Puiset'' pp. 179–181 At another dispute, Geoffrey had confiscated the revenues of Burchard's offices, along with the revenues of Marshal, Peter de Ros the Archdeacon of Carlisle, and the canons Hugh Murdac and Adam of Thornover. Geoffrey refused to restore the incomes unless the offenders came barefoot into York Minster and begged for the archbishop's forgiveness. This all but Marshal did and they had their official revenues restored.Appleby ''England Without Richard'' pp. 104–105

Later life

Burchard continued to hold the treasurership until at least October 1194, when he last is mentioned in the office.Greenway "Treasurers of York" ''Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300'': Volume 6: York In 1195, after the death of Hugh du Puiset, Burchard was a candidate for the see of Durham, perhaps as part of a plan by his relative to pass the office on to his family. In June 1195 both Burchard and his rival, Philip of Poitou, were at the royal court in Le Mans, presumably both attempting to secure the bishopric.Scammell ''Hugh du Puiset'' pp. 182 and footnote 1 Philip was appointed to the see in November 1195.Fryde, et al. ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 241

Burchard died 6 January 1196.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:du Puiset, Burchard
1196 deaths
Archdeacons of Durham
Archdeacons of the East Riding
Year of birth unknown