Boniface

Boniface a noted English prelate, was the son of Thomas, count of Savoy, and uncle to Eleanor, consort of Henry III of England. To this fortunate circumstance Boniface was indebted for his advancement, at an early age, to the primacy of All England. While he was yet a sub-deacon, he was, through the influence of Gregory IX, elected to the see of Bellay, though still a youth. The fact that he was so youthful caused some disturbance. .In 1242 he visited England before his consecration, that, as soon as he had been invested with the temporalities, he might regulate his worldly affairs. The see was involved in an immense debt. He immediately enforced a rigid economy in every department in order to bring about a reform. He abolished sinecures, and dismissed all the officers of the archbishop's court and household who did not earn their living by their work. He stood in the relation of abbot to the convent of Christ Chlurch, and here he interfered in everything. In short, the poverty of the see was the wealth of Boniface. In addition to his anger with the court, for the manner in which the property of the archbishopric was dealt with during the sequestration, he was too proud and independent to succumb to the king. He took part, therefore, with the suffragans against king Henri, when the attempt was made to force Robert Passelew into the see of Chichester in 1244. Boniface insisted upon the right of the metropolitan to demand a contribution from the whole province, to liquidate the debt upon the metropolitan Church. Of what became of the surplus above the sum required, the king and the pope might possibly know. In 1247 he went to. Lyons, aand the military duties and political intrigues of the archbishop of Canterbury prevented his return to England for four years. People became indignant to learn that the income of Canterbury should be expended abroad. Accordingly, four years after his consecration, he revisited England, and on All-saints day, 1249, he was enthroned at Canterbury with great pomp and ceremony, notwithstanding his wickedness. Queen Eleanor accompanied the king on this occasion to Canterbury, and was the guest of her uncle. Boniface had endeavored, when yet on the Continent, to compel his clergy to pay procurations and visitation dues, although no visitation had been held by him in person. This unheard-of exaction his suffragans resisted. He continued these unjust requirements until the people became so disgusted and aggravated that a mob went in force and rushed upon the archbishop, and dragged and dashed him from one side of the street to the other, regardless of his cries for assistance. They threatened to tear him limb from limb, but Boniface had entered his barge, and had gone up the river to Lambeth. Here he was safe from all but the maledictions which were shouted at him from beneath the walls. The people called for vengeance upon one who, instead of watching for souls, was a robber of churches. It was added, as a consummation of his criminality, that he was even a married man. When the mob dispersed, he had an interview with the king, and obtained his permission to leave England. Retiring to France, he entered Lyons not now in military array, but in all the pomp and magnificence which he thought to be seemly in the patriarch of the West. He established his court and spent his money freely. He exhibited letters in his favor from the king of England, and these, accompanied with the usual substantial recommendations, conciliated the curia Romana. He admitted that he had been hasty; in short, the conduct of Boniface was wise, judicious, and conciliatory. In 1252 Boniface returned to England with good intentions, but the public could only judge of him by his past conduct, and his reception was anything but encouraging. It is sad to add that scarcely any one believed him to be sincere. He was still in England in 1260, and also in 1262. Feb. 15 of the last year mentioned he officiated at Southwark, in the consecration of Henry Wengham to the see of. London. Before May, 1263, he had left the country. He returned some years after, but only to continue his troubles. He died at his castle of St. Helen's, June 18, 1270. See Hook, Lives of the Archbishops of Canterbury, 3, 228 sq.