S.V.).
Morton, John, an English cardinal and arch- bishop, one of the most noted characters of the history of England during the IMiddle Ages, figuring promi- nently in the political history of Europe, was eldest son of Kichard ISIorton, of Milbourne St. Andrews, in Dor- setshire, and was born at Bere in that county in 1410. He received his primary education at the Benedictine abbey of his native place, and thence went to Baliol College, Oxford, to study canon and civil law ; and aft- er having become master of arts, went to London, and practiced law in the Court of Arches, retaining, how- ever, all the time his connection with the university. In 1453 he was made principal of Peckwater Inn, hav- ing been previously ordained. In 1450 he was appoint- ed subdean of Lincoln, and in 1458 he was collated to the prebend of Fordington with Writhlington, in the cathedral of Salisbury, which he resigned in 1476. In the same year he was installed prebendary of Coving- ham, in the cathedral of Lincoln. In 1472 he was col- lated by archbishop Bourchier to the rectory of St. Dunstan's-in-the-East, London; and the same year also to the prebend of Isledon, in the cathedral of St. Paul, which he exchanged in the following year for that of Chiswick. In 1473 he was appointed master of the rolls, and in 1474 archdeacon of Winchester and Chester. In the following year he became archdeacon of Huntington and prebendary of St. Decuman, in the cathedral of Wells. In Ajiril, 1476, he was installed prebendarv of South Newbald, in the metropolitan church of York, and archdeacon of IJerkshire; and in January following he was made also archdeacon of Leicester. Rarely were appointments bestowed so lib- erally upon any one as upon Morton. But the reason is easily found. While yet practicing as an advocate in the Court of Arches, his eminent qualities were a mat- ter of general comment, and brought him to the notice of cardinal Bourchier, who, besides conferring many of the above preferments on him, had introduced him to Henry VI, by whom he was made one of the privy council. To this unfortunate prince Morton adhered with so much fidelity, while others deserted him, that even his successor, Edward IV, admired and recom- pensed his attachment, took him into his council, and was principally guided by his advice. He .ilso in the same year, 147M, made him bishop of Ely and lord chan- cellor of England; and at his death he appointed him one of his executors. On this account, however, he was considered in no favorable liglit by the protector, afterwards Richard HI, and he was marked as one whose life was required to give ])eace to the sovereign. Accordingly, when Morton and others assembled in the Tower, June 13. 1483, to consult about the coronation of Edward V, the bishop, with archbishop Roiheram and lord Stanley, were taken into custotly, as known en- emies to the measures then in agitation. Morton's ex-
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edition was expected by everybody. His numerous friends, however, made bold, particularly those at the University of Oxford, and these learned men addressed king Richard "in the most courteous language of which their Latinity was capable in behalf of tlieir imprisoned patron ; and praised him and apologized with such suc- cess that the king relented so far as to direct his being sent to Brecknock, in Wales, to be in charge of the duke of Buckingham" (Williams). He was accordingly sent to the castle of Brecknock, but tlience made his escape to tlie Isle of Ely, and soon after, disguising himself, went to the Continent, to Henry, earl of Richmond. It is said that the plan of marrying Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of Edward IV, to Henry, and thus, by joining the white rose with the red, effecting a coalition be- tween tlie jarring parties of York and Lancaster, was originally suggested by Morton. In 1485 the word came to Morton, then in Flanders, that his enemy had been dethroned, and with it an invitation for his attend- ance upon the coronation of the new king, afterwards Henry VII. He returned forthwith, easily got his at- tainder reversed, and was at once admitted into the contidence of his new royal master, who was no sooner seated on his throne than he made Morton one of his privy council ; and on the death of cardinal Bourchier in 1486, secured his election to the archbishopric of Canterbur\-, a position which he honored, and in which he accomplished much for the good of his country.
Williams thus sums up his official character and con- duct {Lires of the English Cardinals [Lond, 1862, 2 vols. 8vo], ii, 167 sq.):
"In the performance of his ecclesiastical duties Morton took high ground. To a considerable extent he favored the pretensions of the papal court, but while doiug so exer- cised a vigilaut superiuteudence over the Anglican estab- lishment, and maintained a severe discipline. The objects with which the principal religions hout^es of a mixed chari- table and religious order had been founded were gradually lost sight of;' and the great abbeys and priories through- out the country, with a few honorable exceptions, had become so notorious for the luxurious and depraved liv- ing of the fraternities, as to excite satirical attacks from both clergy and laity. The archbishop of Canterbmy, knowing the scandalous practices that existed in his own diocese, as well as in others, was anxious to remedy so grave an evil. He heard the reports of various persons likely to be well informed on the subject, and then sent to Rome for iustructions. He was well aware that with- out due support from the highest quarter no amelioration of the disease, which he knew to be eating like a leprosy iuto the Church, could be effected. The immorality of the English clergy had become so flagrant in the last quarter of the fifteenth century that the primate readily procured the pope's authority for a visitation. He proceeded from one to another of the monasteries- and abbeys, and laid the result before a provincial synod. His exposure of folly and profligacy produced no great eftect upon the as- scml)ly : admonitions and cautious were bestowed upon the great oflenders, but the swarm of clerical roysterers, sportsmen, and swashbucklers were scarcely at all inter- fered with judicially. The severest thing done was the sending around to religious houses a written address di- lating on the scandalous lives that many priests were liv- ing, and exhorting them to reform.