John de Echingham
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John de Echingham
S.T.D. The Doctor of Sacred Theology ( la, Sacrae Theologiae Doctor, abbreviated STD), also sometimes known as Professor of Sacred Theology (, abbreviated STP), is the final theological degree in the pontifical university system of the Roman Catholic C ...
(
fl. ''Floruit'' (; abbreviated fl. or occasionally flor.; from Latin for "they flourished") denotes a date or period during which a person was known to have been alive or active. In English, the unabbreviated word may also be used as a noun indicatin ...
1348, died 1371) was an
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
medieval
Chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...
of the
University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...
, who held that dignity for three consecutive years.


Family

The Echyngham family, seated at
Etchingham Etchingham is a village and civil parish in the Rother district of East Sussex in southern England. The village is located approximately southeast of Royal Tunbridge Wells in Kent and northwest of Hastings, on the A265, half a mile west o ...
in Sussex, traced an unbroken descent in the male line from Drew of Pevensey, heir of Reinbert ( Steward to the
Count of Eu Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
during the reign of
Henry I Henry I may refer to: 876–1366 * Henry I the Fowler, King of Germany (876–936) * Henry I, Duke of Bavaria (died 955) * Henry I of Austria, Margrave of Austria (died 1018) * Henry I of France (1008–1060) * Henry I the Long, Margrave of the No ...
), and were the hereditary Stewards of the
Rape of Hastings The Rape of Hastings (also known as Hastings Rape) is one of the rapes, the traditional sub-divisions unique to the historic county of Sussex in England. History Rapes are territorial divisions, peculiar to Sussex, that were used for administrat ...
and from time to time sheriffs of Sussex. Of this stem Sir William de Echyngham, a patron of (and sometimes disputant with)
Robertsbridge Abbey Robertsbridge Abbey was a Cistercian abbey in Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England. It was founded in 1176 by Alured and Alicia de St Martin. Due to its position, the Abbey lands suffered continually from the effects of the sea and it was never ri ...
, died possessed of extensive estates in 1294, leaving as his heir his eldest son Sir William, then aged 28 and recently married to Eva, daughter of Ralph de Stopham. After a distinguished military and parliamentary career this younger William died in 1326, and, having no male issue, was succeeded by his brother Robert. Robert was with Edmund of Woodstock in
Aquitaine Aquitaine ( , , ; oc, Aquitània ; eu, Akitania; Poitevin-Saintongeais: ''Aguiéne''), archaic Guyenne or Guienne ( oc, Guiana), is a historical region of southwestern France and a former administrative region of the country. Since 1 January ...
in 1324, and was sent to England to warn King
Edward Edward is an English given name. It is derived from the Anglo-Saxon name ''Ēadweard'', composed of the elements '' ēad'' "wealth, fortune; prosperous" and '' weard'' "guardian, protector”. History The name Edward was very popular in Anglo-Sa ...
of the threatened invasion of the Duchy. Robert in turn died without issue in 1329, and the inheritance passed to his brother Simon de Echyngham, rector of
Herstmonceux Herstmonceux ( , ; ) is a village and civil parish in the Wealden District of East Sussex, England, which includes Herstmonceux Castle. The Herstmonceux Medieval Festival is held annually in August. History The name comes from Anglo-Saxon ...
, who, being a cleric, also had no known issue. Here, perhaps, the name of Echyngham might have been extinguished, save that the fourth brother, Richard, who did not live to inherit the lordship, left by his wife Matilda three sons, James, Robert and John, and a daughter Petronilla. William had settled an estate in Kent upon Richard and his heirs at Michaelmas 1314, for the annual rent of one pair of gilded spurs. The later Lords of Echyngham were the posterity of Sir James who, so early as 1324, had received a grant of land in
Benenden Benenden is a village and civil parish in the borough of Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England. The parish is located on the Weald, to the west of Tenterden. In addition to the main village, Iden Green, East End, Dingleden and Standen Street settlem ...
, Kent witnessed by his three uncles, the Lords William, Simon and Robert. He married Joan (perhaps ''de Akeni''), by whom he had a son and heir William, and by 1342 took up the reins of the Echyngham inheritance through the 1340s, dying in August 1349 when William was 16 years old. It was Sir James's younger brother John de Echyngham son of Richard and Matilda de Echyngham, who became Chancellor of the University of Oxford.


Career

In 1348 John de Echyngham graduated M.A. from the
University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...
, and in June 1349 he was presented by John de Ore, of a gentry family neighbouring the Echynghams, to their
benefice A benefice () or living is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The Roman Empire used the Latin term as a benefit to an individual from the Empire for services rendered. Its use was adopted by ...
of Wodeton (Wotton), Sussex. In November of the same year Master John de Echyngham, clerk, acknowledged that he owed £80 to Bartholomew de Burghersh the elder. His nephew Sir William, meanwhile, took up his heredity as Lord of Echyngham, and, a few years later, embarked on his reconstruction of the church at Etchingham with its informative heraldic glazing, where the Echyngham monuments have for 600 years remained. In 1357, when Echyngham had further attained a Bachelor's degree in Theology, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Simon Islip Simon Islip (died 1366) was an English prelate. He served as Archbishop of Canterbury between 1349 and 1366. Early life Islip was the uncle of William Whittlesey. He was a cousin of Walter de Islip, Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer:Ball, F. E ...
collated him to the
Deanery A deanery (or decanate) is an ecclesiastical entity in the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, the Evangelical Church in Germany, and the Church of Norway. A deanery is either the jurisdiction or residenc ...
of the
Collegiate church In Christianity, a collegiate church is a church where the daily office of worship is maintained by a college of canons: a non-monastic or "secular" community of clergy, organised as a self-governing corporate body, which may be presided over by a ...
of South Malling (near
Lewes Lewes () is the county town of East Sussex, England. It is the police and judicial centre for all of Sussex and is home to Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, Lewes Crown Court and HMP Lewes. The civil parish is the centre of ...
, and in the
Diocese of Canterbury The Diocese of Canterbury is a Church of England diocese covering eastern Kent which was founded by St. Augustine of Canterbury in 597. The diocese is centred on Canterbury Cathedral and is the oldest see of the Church of England. The ''Report ...
), when that office became void by the death of John de Aylesbury. The appointment, which had the value of 60 marks (£40), received Papal confirmation in May. Five years later, in 1362, he received from
Pope Urban V Pope Urban V ( la, Urbanus V; 1310 – 19 December 1370), born Guillaume de Grimoard, was the head of the Catholic Church from 28 September 1362 until his death in December 1370 and was also a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He was the on ...
the grant of a
canonry A canon (from the Latin , itself derived from the Greek , , "relating to a rule", "regular") is a member of certain bodies in subject to an ecclesiastical rule. Originally, a canon was a cleric living with others in a clergy house or, later, i ...
, with the expectation of a
prebend A prebendary is a member of the Roman Catholic or Anglican clergy, a form of canon with a role in the administration of a cathedral or collegiate church. When attending services, prebendaries sit in particular seats, usually at the back of the ...
, of St Paul's in London, to be held together with his deanery of Malling. Sir William de Echyngham was associated with his uncle John, "clericus", in February 1362/63 in a
fine Fine may refer to: Characters * Sylvia Fine (''The Nanny''), Fran's mother on ''The Nanny'' * Officer Fine, a character in ''Tales from the Crypt'', played by Vincent Spano Legal terms * Fine (penalty), money to be paid as punishment for an offe ...
to
enfeoff In the Middle Ages, especially under the European Feudalism, feudal system, feoffment or enfeoffment was the deed by which a person was given land in exchange for a Fealty, pledge of service. This mechanism was later used to avoid restrictions o ...
Robert de Ore with the principal manors and advowson of the Echyngham lordship, together with more than a thousand acres of woodland and various rents. Robert thereby returned the whole premises to the said William and John, the
entail In English common law, fee tail or entail is a form of trust established by deed or settlement which restricts the sale or inheritance of an estate in real property and prevents the property from being sold, devised by will, or otherwise alien ...
ed fine stating how the estate was to pass to William's male descendants, or (if he had none) to those of one of his brothers, John, Robert or Richard. In the event William died in 1388 leaving male descendants of his own. ;Chancellor In June 1363, when he is described as " doctor sacrae theologie", Echyngham began his term as
Chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...
of the University of Oxford. In this first year his
Proctors Proctor's Theatre (officially stylized as Proctors since 2007; however, the marquee retains the apostrophe) is a theatre and former vaudeville house located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Many famous artists have performed there, notably ...
were Richard Sutton of
Merton College Merton College (in full: The House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, ch ...
and Walter Wandesford of
Oriel College Oriel College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Located in Oriel Square, the college has the distinction of being the oldest royal foundation in Oxford (a title formerly claimed by University College, wh ...
: and in the second year Wandesford continued but Sutton was succeeded by Walter Remmesbury (who later became
Cantor A cantor or chanter is a person who leads people in singing or sometimes in prayer. In formal Jewish worship, a cantor is a person who sings solo verses or passages to which the choir or congregation responds. In Judaism, a cantor sings and lead ...
of
Hereford Cathedral Hereford Cathedral is the cathedral church of the Anglican Diocese of Hereford in Hereford, England. A place of worship has existed on the site of the present building since the 8th century or earlier. The present building was begun in 1079. S ...
). Wood notes that there are two letters by Echyngham to King
Edward III Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England and Lord of Ireland from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring r ...
concerning the arrest of an
excommunicated Excommunication is an institutional act of religious censure used to end or at least regulate the communion of a member of a congregation with other members of the religious institution who are in normal communion with each other. The purpose ...
person, and that his letters are referred to in
Anthony Fitzherbert Sir Anthony Fitzherbert (147027 May 1538) was an English judge, scholar and legal author, particularly known for his treatise on English law, ''New Natura Brevium'' (1534). Biography Fitzherbert was the sixth son of Ralph Fitzherbert of Norbur ...
's ''
La Novelle Natura Brevium ''La Novelle Natura Brevium'' (1534) was a treatise on English law by Anthony Fitzherbert. It is often cited in judgments today across the common law world, and represents an important tract on the rules of common law in the 16th century. *On sk ...
'' concerning the privileges of the university. He was again Chancellor for the third consecutive year in 1365. ;Last years Sir Andrew de Sakeville ( Sheriff of Surrey and Sussex, 1367–1368) in 1365 had licence to
enfeoff In the Middle Ages, especially under the European Feudalism, feudal system, feoffment or enfeoffment was the deed by which a person was given land in exchange for a Fealty, pledge of service. This mechanism was later used to avoid restrictions o ...
Master John de Echyngham and three other clerics with an estate of 301 acres held in chief in
Pevensey Pevensey ( ) is a village and civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. The main village is located north-east of Eastbourne, one mile (1.6 km) inland from Pevensey Bay. The settlement of Pevensey Bay forms part of ...
, so that they should regrant it to him with a specified
entail In English common law, fee tail or entail is a form of trust established by deed or settlement which restricts the sale or inheritance of an estate in real property and prevents the property from being sold, devised by will, or otherwise alien ...
. In 1366, here described as
Doctor of Theology Doctor of Theology ( la, Doctor Theologiae, abbreviated DTh, ThD, DTheol, or Dr. theol.) is a terminal degree in the academic discipline of theology. The ThD, like the ecclesiastical Doctor of Sacred Theology, is an advanced research degree equiva ...
, Echingham had already surrendered the Chancellorship when he made petition for the enlargement of his grant of a canonry with expectation of a prebend, so as to include an elective dignity or office with
cure of souls Pastoral care is an ancient model of emotional, social and spiritual support that can be found in all cultures and traditions. The term is considered inclusive of distinctly non-religious forms of support, as well as support for people from rel ...
. Noticing that he still held the Deanery of South Malling, he declared himself willing to resign it. This petition was granted. The register of Archbishop
William Whittlesey William Whittlesey (or Whittlesea) (died 5 June 1374) was a Bishop of Rochester, then Bishop of Worcester, then finally Archbishop of Canterbury. He also served as Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge. Life Whittlesey was probably born in the Cambr ...
records that Dr Echyngham died in 1371, the same folio recording the appointment of his successor John Pateney at South Malling.'Collegiate churches: South Malling', citing Archbishop's Register Whittlesey, fol. 84.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Echingham, John de Year of birth unknown 1371 deaths Chancellors of the University of Oxford 14th-century English educators People from Etchingham