Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Richard of Wallingford
RICHARD of Wallingford (1292?–1336), abbot of St. Albans, was son of William, a smith of Wallingford, by his wife Isabella, and was probably born about 1292. Richard's father died when the son was barely ten years old, and the boy was taken care of by William de Kirkeby, prior of Wallingford. Kirkeby sent his ward to study at Oxford. According to Leland, Richard was a fellow of Merton College (cf. Digby MS. 178, f. 38); but the statement lacks authority, though Richard's skill as a mathematician favours his connection with that college. After spending six years at the university, and determining in arts, Richard, in his twenty-third year, assumed the monastic habit at St. Albans. He returned to Oxford three years later, and passed nine years in the study of philosophy and theology, graduating B.D., and being licensed to lecture in the sentences. While Richard was on a visit to St. Albans, Abbot Hugh de Eversdon died on 7 Sept. 1327. The election of a successor took place on 29 Oct., when after Richard had preached on the text ‘Eligite ex vobis virum meliorem’ (1 Samuel xvii. 8), he was chosen abbot (cf. Gesta Abbatum, iii. 159, 172–4, iii. 96, 367). After his election Richard went to the king at Nottingham, and on 23 Nov. set out for the papal court, reaching Avignon on 4 Jan. 1328. On the following day he was presented to the pope, and asked for confirmation. An informality was, however, discovered in his election, and Richard was called on to renounce his claim. He was, however, papally provided to the abbacy on 1 Feb. (Bliss, Cal. Papal Registers, ii. 269), and after a few days was hallowed by the bishop of Porto. As usual, the abbot had to pay heavily to the papal officials, but his total expenses on the journey were, owing to his economy in other matters, only 953l. 10s. 11d. Richard returned to England in April, and, after doing homage to the king at Northampton, made his entry into St. Albans on the day after Trinity Sunday. The rule of Richard's predecessor, Hugh, had been lax, and the new abbot had to contend with troubles both among his monks and the townsmen. The latter had extorted from the abbey in 1327 a charter of liberties and a common seal, but after long legal proceedings Richard succeeded in enforcing their surrender in 1332. Richard's rule of his monks was hampered by bodily affliction, for he was a leper. In 1328, on his return from Rome, he suffered from temporary blindness, but the true nature of his illness was apparently not apprehended; though quite early in his abbacy some of the younger monks began to conspire against him, on the plea of his leprosy (Gesta Abbatum, ii. 193, 199). The disease quickly grew worse, and in 1332 Richard had almost lost the power of speech. As a result of intrigues by the abbot's enemies, John XXII ordered an inquiry on 3 Nov. 1332. The king's council protested against such interference, but Richard yielded so far as to appoint a coadjutor in February 1333 (ib. ii. 284–92; Bliss, Cal. Papal Register, ii. 381, 509). Leland alleges that, owing to his leprosy, Richard had to withdraw from the monastery to a house which he built in the town. There is nothing of this in the Gesta, but it is recorded that on 29 Nov. 1334 the abbot's chamber was set on fire by lightning, and that after this his disease grew much worse. He died on Thursday, 23 May 1336 (cf. Gesta, ii. 293, 300, iii. 96; Bliss, Cal. Papal Register, ii. 531).
Richard is described as ‘circumspect and timid in prosperity, in adversity patient and magnanimous; in all things and towards all men, both in word and by example, thoughtful and kindly.’ Even the disfigurement of leprosy could not overcome the charm of his sanctity and learning (Gesta, ii. 201, 208). At St. Albans Richard restored the damage that had been done to the roof of the abbey, and commenced a new cloister and almonry. But his great work was the clock called ‘Albion’ (all-by-one), which, in addition to the times and seasons, showed the courses of the sun and moon and planets. Edward III censured the expenditure of so much money on such an object, but Richard replied that when he himself was dead there would be no one who could complete the work. Richard was the most skilful man of his time in the liberal sciences and mechanical arts; his lawyers admitted his sound knowledge of law; he was also a competent theologian. As an astrologer he claimed to forecast the weather and future events; he was credited with having foretold the death of Abbot Hugh and his own accession (ib. ii. 182–3, 207, 280–2). Man of learning though he was, Richard is said to have given Richard de Bury [q. v.] four valuable manuscripts belonging to the abbey as a bribe, and to have sold him thirty-two others (ib. ii. 200). On the other hand, Laud. MS. Misc. 264, in the Bodleian Library, which contains some of the works of St. Anselm, was presented by Richard to the abbey of St. Albans.
Richard of Wallingford wrote: 1. ‘Canones de instrumento … Albion dicto.’ Inc. ‘Albion est geometricum instrumentum.’ MSS. Laud. Misc. 657, in the Bodleian Library; Corpus Christi College, Oxford, 144; Cambr. Univ. Libr. Mm. iii. 2; and Harley, 80, in the British Museum. Leland identifies ‘Albion’ with the clock, but other references make this uncertain. Both the instrument and the ‘Canones’ were modified by Simon Tunstede. Chapter 24 of the second book of the ‘Canones’ is ‘De Saphea;’ according to Leland this portion was printed at Nuremberg. 2. ‘De arte componendi rectangulum. Inc. “Rectangulum in remedium,”’ MSS. Laud. Misc. 657; Digby, 168, f. 61; C.C.C. Oxon. 144; Cambr. Univ. Library Ee. iii. 61, f. 6; Harley 80, f. 54. This treatise was composed in the same year that Albion was made, viz. 1326. 3. ‘Ars operandi cum rectangulo,’ MSS. Laud. Misc. 657; Harley 80. 4. ‘Quadripartitum a de sinubus demonstratis,’ MSS. Digby 168 f. 1, 178 f. 15, 190 f. 90. 5. ‘De sinubus et arcubus in circulo inveniendis,’ MS. Digby 178, f. 39. 6. ‘Exafrenon prognosticorum temporis,’ or ‘De judiciis astronomicis,’ Inc. ‘Ad perfectam noticiam,’ MSS. Digby 180 f. 30, 194 f. 35, Cambr. Univ. Libr. Li, i. 1, f. 25. There is an English translation in MS. Digby 67, ff. 6–12, and another translation of chapters 1–5 in Digby Roll 3. 7. ‘De opimetris.’ 8. ‘De eclipsibus solis et lunæ.’ This is perhaps the tract of that name in MS. C.C.C. Oxon. 144. 9. ‘Decretales et constitutiones capitulorum provincialium et predecessorum suorum monasterium et ordinem concernentium’ (Gesta Abbatum, ii. 196, 207). Some of Richard's Constitutions are given in the ‘Gesta,’ ii. 203. 9. ‘Super Prologum Regulæ S. Benedicti.’ 10. ‘Privilegia Monasterii sui’ (ib. ii. 207). 11. Four prayers in ‘Gesta Abbatum,’ ii. 294–9.
[Gesta Abbatum S. Albani, ii. 181–299, iii. 96, 309, 368 (Rolls Ser.); Leland's Comment. de Script. Brit. 1709, pp. 404–5; Tanner's Bibl. Brit.-Hib. pp. 628–9; Brodrick's Memorials of Merton, p. 171; Catalogues of Laudian and Digby MSS.]