For other people with the same name, see James Stanley.
James Stanley (c. 1465–1515), scion of a distinguished aristocratic family, was Bishop of Ely from 1506 to 1515. He was the third son of Thomas Stanley, 1st Earl of Derby.[1] Described as the tallest man in England and reputed to be some 6 feet 7 inches tall, he took holy orders after university study, but, although regarded as a popular man, was not considered either a natural scholar or celibate. (There is an apocryphal story of Erasmus turning him down as a pupil.[2]) Like most senior churchmen of his period, he was a pluralist[3] and is believed to have lived with a woman, fathering at least one illegitimate child. Besides being renowned as a skilled soldier and an enthusiastic huntsman, he is also credited with a great interest in cockfighting.[4] He was cited in Protestant propaganda of later centuries as an example of the corruption of the Medieval Church, although his decision to take orders can hardly have been voluntary, but rather a further means of consolidating the dynastic ambitions of his already powerful family. His appointment as bishop was made by papal bull of Pope Julius II.
He held the office Master or St James and St John Hospital at Brackley from 1472 [1] and of Archdeacon of Richmond from 1500 to 1506.[5]
He was buried in a tomb in what is now Manchester Cathedral, then a collegiate church, patronised by several generations of the Stanley family, and which he had enriched as Warden. The tomb, together with the Ely Chapel that housed it, was destroyed during the Blitz although the original, contemporary brass memorial has survived. There is also a memorial for the safe return of his alleged son (and certainly kinsman) Sir John Stanley from the Battle of Flodden in 1513;[6] the St John the Baptist chapel, which incorporates the original site of the Ely Chapel, was built by James and John.[7] The Stanley coat of arms can still be seen decorating the roof of this chapel, which is now dedicated to the memory of the Manchester Regiment.
He died on 22 March 1515 and was later remembered thus:
A goodlie tall man as was in all England
And sped well all matters that he took in hand King Harrye the VIIth a prynce noble and sage Made him Bishop for wisdom and Parentage Of Ely. Many a day was he bishopp there He builded Sommersome the byshoppe's chief manner A great vyander as any in his days For Byshoppes that then was, this is no dispraise. Because he was a priest I dare do no lesse But telle, as I know not, of his hardiness What proud priest hath a blowe on the ear sodenlye Turneth the other ear likewise for humilitye He could not so do by the crosse in my purse Yet I trust his soule fareth never the worse. He did end his life in merry Manchester And right honorablye lieth he buried there In his chapel, which he began of freestone Sir John Stanley built it out when he was gone God send his soule to the heavenlye companye
Farewell godlye James Byshopp of Elye.
From the Ancient Metrical History of the House of Stanley.
References
Concise Dictionary of National Biography
Jones, B. . Institute for Historical Research. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
^Jones Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300-1541: volume 6: Northern province (York, Carlisle and Durham): Archdeacons: Richmond 2012-03-09 at the Wayback Machine
^UK National Inventory of War Memorials : J Stanley, Bishop of Ely and Sir J Stanley - Thanksgiving
^. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
james, stanley, bishop, other, people, with, same, name, james, stanley, james, stanley, 1465, 1515, scion, distinguished, aristocratic, family, bishop, from, 1506, 1515, third, thomas, stanley, earl, derby, described, tallest, england, reputed, some, feet, in. For other people with the same name see James Stanley James Stanley c 1465 1515 scion of a distinguished aristocratic family was Bishop of Ely from 1506 to 1515 He was the third son of Thomas Stanley 1st Earl of Derby 1 Described as the tallest man in England and reputed to be some 6 feet 7 inches tall he took holy orders after university study but although regarded as a popular man was not considered either a natural scholar or celibate There is an apocryphal story of Erasmus turning him down as a pupil 2 Like most senior churchmen of his period he was a pluralist 3 and is believed to have lived with a woman fathering at least one illegitimate child Besides being renowned as a skilled soldier and an enthusiastic huntsman he is also credited with a great interest in cockfighting 4 He was cited in Protestant propaganda of later centuries as an example of the corruption of the Medieval Church although his decision to take orders can hardly have been voluntary but rather a further means of consolidating the dynastic ambitions of his already powerful family His appointment as bishop was made by papal bull of Pope Julius II He held the office Master or St James and St John Hospital at Brackley from 1472 1 and of Archdeacon of Richmond from 1500 to 1506 5 He was buried in a tomb in what is now Manchester Cathedral then a collegiate church patronised by several generations of the Stanley family and which he had enriched as Warden The tomb together with the Ely Chapel that housed it was destroyed during the Blitz although the original contemporary brass memorial has survived There is also a memorial for the safe return of his alleged son and certainly kinsman Sir John Stanley from the Battle of Flodden in 1513 6 the St John the Baptist chapel which incorporates the original site of the Ely Chapel was built by James and John 7 The Stanley coat of arms can still be seen decorating the roof of this chapel which is now dedicated to the memory of the Manchester Regiment He died on 22 March 1515 and was later remembered thus A goodlie tall man as was in all EnglandAnd sped well all matters that he took in hand King Harrye the VIIth a prynce noble and sage Made him Bishop for wisdom and Parentage Of Ely Many a day was he bishopp there He builded Sommersome the byshoppe s chief manner A great vyander as any in his days For Byshoppes that then was this is no dispraise Because he was a priest I dare do no lesse But telle as I know not of his hardiness What proud priest hath a blowe on the ear sodenlye Turneth the other ear likewise for humilitye He could not so do by the crosse in my purse Yet I trust his soule fareth never the worse He did end his life in merry Manchester And right honorablye lieth he buried there In his chapel which he began of freestone Sir John Stanley built it out when he was gone God send his soule to the heavenlye companyeFarewell godlye James Byshopp of Elye From the Ancient Metrical History of the House of Stanley References EditConcise Dictionary of National Biography Jones B Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300 1541 volume 6 Northern province York Carlisle and Durham Archdeacons Richmond Institute for Historical Research Archived from the original on 9 March 2012 Retrieved 16 August 2010 Notes Edit thePeerage com Person Page 1386 WINWICK Its History and Antiquities The parish of Winwick Introduction church and charities British History Online Untitled Document Archived July 23 2011 at the Wayback Machine Jones Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1300 1541 volume 6 Northern province York Carlisle and Durham Archdeacons Richmond Archived 2012 03 09 at the Wayback Machine UK National Inventory of War Memorials J Stanley Bishop of Ely and Sir J Stanley Thanksgiving Welcome to Manchester Cathedral Archived from the original on 6 February 2008 Retrieved 21 February 2008 External links EditBiography at Tudor Place http www isle of man com manxnotebook people lords elyb htmCatholic Church titlesPreceded byRichard Redman Bishop of Ely1506 1515 Succeeded byNicholas West Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Stanley bishop amp oldid 1140406225, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
