GOLDSMITH, Roger, of Leicester.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1386-1421, ed. J.S. Roskell, L. Clark, C. Rawcliffe., 1993
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

Family and Education

Offices Held

Biography

Goldsmith and eight others were denounced as heretics to Archbishop Courtenay when the latter visited Leicester at the end of October 1389. He and his associates, who appear to have been followers of the lollard priest, William Swynderby, and his lay disciple, William Smith, were accused of preaching against the Real Presence, tithes, images, and auricular confession, and of being in favour of the notion of the priesthood of all believers. They were summoned before the archbishop, and when they failed to appear were publicly excommunicated. After they had been further denounced by a tribunal which included Geoffrey Clerk*, an order for their arrest was sent to the mayor and bailiffs of Leicester, the town being put under interdict until they should appear. Four of the accused eventually recanted, but whether Goldsmith made his peace with the Church at this time is uncertain.1

Goldsmith was once again indicted for lollardy, this time before the court of King’s bench, in early 1414, after a number of Leicester men, including four of those accused in 1389, had taken part in Sir John Oldcastle’s* rebellion. The fact that he was imprisoned in London suggests that he joined the rebels there. Convicted of being a ‘common lollard’, he was ordered to recant before his ordinary, Philip Repingdon, bishop of Lincoln, and having done so was subsequently released.2

Ref Volumes: 1386-1421

Author: Charles Kightly

Notes

  • 1. Lambeth Pal. Lib. Reg. Courtenay, ff. 139, 142-5; Concilia Magna Brittaniae ed. Wilkins, iii. 208-12; H. Knighton, Chron. ed. Lumby, ii. 312-13.
  • 2. KB9/204/1 m. 141; KB27/613 m. 6; Add. 38525, f. 28.