Editing Walter Langton (section)

===Servant of King Edward I===
Though [[Lord Chancellor]], Bishop [[Robert Burnell]] of [[Bishop of Bath and Wells|Bath and Wells]] was also [[Archdeacon]] of York. It may be supposed through his duties in York he became a friend of William Langton and through the two men, Walter Langton was introduced to the King. The King must have liked the young man, for he selected him for his service and in later years Langton became "unquestionably Edwards's first minister and almost his only real confidant".

Appointed a clerk in the royal [[Lord Chancellor|chancery]], Langton became a favourite servant of [[Edward I of England|Edward I]], and was appointed [[Keeper of the wardrobe]] from 1290 to 1295. He took part in the suit over the succession to the Scottish throne in 1292, and visited France more than once on diplomatic business.<ref name="EB1911">{{EB1911|inline=y|wstitle=Langton, Walter|volume=16|page=179}}</ref> In 1293 he rushed to Lambeth to obtain a charter transferring the Isle of Wight to the king from [[Isabella de Fortibus]] who was near to death.<ref>Barbara English, [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/47209 ''Forz , Isabella de, suo jure countess of Devon, and countess of Aumale (1237–1293)''], Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, September 2004; online edition (subscription required), January 2008.  Accessed: 5 January 2011</ref> He became [[Lord High Treasurer|Treasurer]] from 1295 to 1307<ref name=Handbook104>Fryde ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 104</ref> and obtained several ecclesiastical preferments,{{Citation needed|date=February 2008}}. On 20 February 1296 he was elected [[bishop of Lichfield]], being consecrated on 23 December.<ref name=Handbook253>Fryde ''Handbook of British Chronology'' p. 253</ref> As bishop he rebuilt the diocesan seat, [[Eccleshall Castle]], in a more lavish style.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.eccleshallguide.com/index.php/history-of-eccleshall|title= History of Eccleshall|access-date = 5 November 2013}}</ref>

Having become unpopular, the barons in 1301 vainly asked Edward to dismiss Langton; about the same time he was accused of murder, [[adultery]] and [[simony]]. Suspended from his office, he went to [[Rome]] to be tried before [[Pope Boniface VIII]], who referred the case to [[Robert Winchelsey|Winchelsea, archbishop of Canterbury]]; the archbishop, although Langton's lifelong enemy, found him innocent, and this sentence was confirmed by Pope Boniface in 1303.<ref name="EB1911"/> Little is said about the nature of the charges of witchcraft against Bishop Walter Langton.<ref>See {{in lang|fr}} Julien Théry-Astruc, [https://www.academia.edu/18639151/_Exc%C3%A8s_et_affaires_d_enqu%C3%AAte._Les_proc%C3%A9dures_criminelles_de_la_papaut%C3%A9_contre_les_pr%C3%A9lats_de_la_mi-XIIe_%C3%A0_la_mi-XIVe_si%C3%A8cle._Premi%C3%A8re_approche_dans_La_pathologie_du_pouvoir_vices_crimes_et_d%C3%A9lits_des_gouvernants_dir._P._Gilli_Leyde_Brill_2016_p._164-236 "'Excès' et 'affaires d’enquête'. Les procédures criminelles de la papauté contre les prélats, de la mi-XIIe à la mi-XIVe siècle. Première approche"], in ''La pathologie du pouvoir : vices, crimes et délits des gouvernants'', ed. by Patrick Gilli, Leyde : Brill, 2016, p. 164-236, at p. 183, 197, 204, 217.</ref> By inference Pope Boniface VIII was charged, about the same time with ''Invocation, consultation of diviners, and other offenses'', by officials of King [[Philip IV of France]], about which more information is available.<ref>See {{in lang|fr}} Jean Coste, ''Boniface VIII en procès. Articles d'accusation et dépositions des témoins (1303–1311)'', Rome, "L'Erma" di Bretschneider, 1995.</ref>

Accounts by historians say little about how Langton escaped the charges of witchcraft at the tribunal at the Vatican over the 2 years he had to defend himself there. But a strong protest from King Edward I saw Pope Boniface refer the case back to English jurisdiction. Langton was allowed to return to England and his was eventually found innocent. This incident represents a political struggle between the Archbishop Robert Winchelsea, the King and his councillor.

Throughout these difficulties, and also during a quarrel with the prince of Wales, afterwards [[Edward II of England|Edward II]], the treasurer was loyally supported by the king. Visiting [[Pope Clement V]] on royal business in 1305, Langton appears to have persuaded Clement to suspend Winchelsea; after his return to England he was the chief adviser of Edward I, who had already appointed him the principal executor of his will.<ref name="EB1911"/><ref>Denton, J. H. (1980) ''Robert Winchelsey and the Crown (1284–1313). A Study in the Defense of Ecclesiastical Liberty'', London, New York, Melbourne, Cambridge University Press.</ref>