Character Cards: Henry of Sandwich, Bishop of London

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I know very little about Henry of Sandwich but it's not for want of trying. He features as little more than an historical footnote across the internet, known for rebelling against the King with Simon de Montfort and for being Bishop of London, but little else.

Our Bishop was witness to the Inspeximus of Magna Carta in 1265 when King Henry promised (for the third time) to abide by its provisions. The difference this time being that the King did so following his defeat at Lewes and thus did so under sufference.

Whilst on the one hand, one might expect one of the witnesses would be the bishops assembled (eight others) so this might not necessarily signify the Bishop's political affiliations. On the other hand, he was excommunicated by the Papal Legate following immediately after the rebellion failed at Evesham, thus he was clearly identified as having been in rebellion himself.

Of the lay signatories listed are Simon de Montfort Earl of Leicester, Hugh Despenser Justiciar of England, Thomas de Clare, John de Burgh, John fitz John, Peter de Montfort, Ralph de Camoys, Adam of Newmarket, Giles de Argentein, Roger de St John, Nicholas of Seagrave, William de Munchensi, John de Vescy, William Marmion, Walter de Crepping, Robert de Lisle, Ralph of Sandwich (the Bichop of London's nephew) and others (1).

Dr Sophie Ambler confirms that this list represents the clossest afilites to the Motfortian cause (2) and that the Bishops of London Worcester (Walter de Cantilupe), Winchester (John Gervase) and Chichester (Stephen Berksted) were fellow excommunicates with Henry of Sandwich for the same offence - rebellion.

Even more so, Henry of Sandwich along with Stephen Berksted was appointed to the governing council of the Montfortian 'regime'. So, Henry of Sandwich was a true beleiver and active rebel throughout.

Acording to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Bishop Sandwich was born on or after 1205 and he died in 1273. This makes him 59 at Lewes. Given I am 59 currently and am a regular gym goer, runner and physically active, I know I could don armour and take to battle so I'm projecting the same capabilities for Henry. So, not in his prime but far from past it.

Having said that, I'm creating my 'fighting bishops' as characters who project an effect - not commanders who directly add impetus to a combat. As a Bishop, he gains the Special Rule Holy Orders which gives the rule "Stubborn 3" to any unit he is attached to, allowing a unit to re-roll a failed morale role vs shooting or melee per turn until reaching Stamina 3. The trade-off is that the unit must use the Command rating of 7 from the Bishop whilst he is attached - confusing the influence of the Ward commander. I have also given Henry of Sandwich the Special Rule Men of London with the influence of +1 morale (save) rolls if he attaches to his own London militia.

I went for the canting priest look - I have him berating someone. 


References

(1) https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/magna-carta/inspeximus-magna-carta © Reproduced by kind permission of The Magna Carta Project

(2) https://magnacarta.cmp.uea.ac.uk/read/feature_of_the_month/Mar_2014


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