Burchard du Puiset

Background and early career

Burchard was a relative of Hugh du Puiset, the Bishop of Durham. Some sources name him as Hugh's nephew, but other sources call him Hugh's son, 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. Burchard was among the most common witnesses to Hugh's charters, 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. 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. He acquired the Durham archdeaconry before 24 May 1172, when he first appears holding the office, and held it until his death. Alne, Hugh is thought to have wanted the archbishopric of York for Burchard, most notably in 1189.

In 1172 Burchard witnessed a charter of Henry the Liberal, Count of Champagne, written at Troyes. 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.

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. Burchard and Marshal retaliated by accusing the archbishop-elect of being a murderer as well as the son of a prostitute.{{efn|That this sort of accusation was not uncommon in ecclesiastical affairs is borne out by G. V. Scammell's description of the charges as an "almost customary defamation".

Geoffrey accepted Burchard's appointment in December 1189, but then excommunicated Burchard in January 1190. 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.{{efn|The church was the one at Alne previously held by Burchard.

Later life

Burchard continued to hold the treasurership until at least October 1194, when he last is mentioned in the office. 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. Philip was appointed to the see in November 1195.

Burchard died 6 January 1196.

Notes

Citations

References

References

1. Turner and Heiser ''Reign of Richard Lionheart'' p. 95
2. Appleby ''England Without Richard'' p. 239
3. Young ''Hubert Walter'' p. 26
4. including the modern biographer of Hugh.Scammell ''Hugh du Puiset'' p. 41
5. Scammell ''Hugh du Puiset'' pp. 312–313
6. Barrow "Puiset, Hugh du" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography''
7. Hugh had a brother named Burchard also, besides his eldest brother Evrard.LaMonte "Lords of LePuiset" ''Speculum'' chart between pages 100 and 101
8. Scammell ''Hugh du Puiset'' p. 222
9. Greenway "Prebends of York" ''Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300'': Volume 6: York
10. Greenway "Archdeacons: East Riding" ''Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300'': Volume 6: York
11. Greenway "Archdeacons of Durham Diocese: Durham" ''Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300'': Volume 2: Monastic Cathedrals (Northern and Southern Provinces)
12. Burchard also held a number of churches, including those at [[Heighington, County Durham
13. and [[Aycliffe Village
14. Appleby ''England Without Richard'' p. 9
15. Scamnmell ''Hugh du Puiset'' p. 23
16. Scammell ''Hugh du Puiset'' p. 23 footnote 4
17. Turner and Heiser ''Reign of Richard Lionheart'' pp. 89–90
18. Scammell ''Hugh du Puiset'' pp. 177–178
19. }} 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
20. Clanchy ''England and its Rulers'' pp. 118–119
21. The disputes flared up in 1192, with Burchard facing an effort by Geoffrey to replace him in the treasurership with [[Hamo (Dean of York)
22. Greenway "Treasurers of York" ''Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1066–1300'': Volume 6: York
23. Scammell ''Hugh du Puiset'' pp. 182 and footnote 1
24. Fryde, et al. ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 241