Simon de Langham - Village Boy to Cardinal Bishop

Description

One of the many strange things about the life of Simon de Langham is how little he is known or appreciated, given how important he was in the affairs of both church and state in England during the middle years of the 1300s. Which other figure began life as a Benedictine monk, became Abbot of Westminster and then in turn Treasurer of the Exchequer, Bishop of Ely, Chancellor of England, Archbishop of Canterbury and finally a Cardinal Bishop by papal appointment? Perhaps even more extraordinary is the fact that Simon de Langham was not high-born or well-connected but came from humble beginnings in the village of Langham in Rutland.