Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Mardisley, John
MARDISLEY, JOHN (d. 1386?), Franciscan, was probably a native of Yorkshire. He incepted as D.D. of Oxford before 1355. In this year he disputed in the chancellor's schools at York in defence of the Immaculate Conception against the Dominican, William Jordan. His manner of disputation gave offence to his opponents, but the chapter of York issued letters testifying to his courteous behaviour. In 1374 he was summoned with other doctors to a council at Westminster, over which the Black Prince and the Archbishop of Canterbury presided. The subject of discussion was the right of England to refuse the papal tribute. The spiritual counsellors 'advised submission to the pope. The old argument about the two swords was used. Mardisley retorted with the text, 'Put up again thy sword into his place,' and denied the pope's claim to any temporal dominion. The next day the papal party yielded. Mardisley about this time became twenty-fifth provincial minister of the English Franciscans, but had ceased to hold the office in 1380. According to Bale, he died in 1386 and was buried at York.
[Tanner's Bibliotheca, p. 509; Monumenta Franciscana, vol. i.; Eulogium Historiarum, iii. 337-8; Engl. Hist. Review, October 1891.]