John Russell, Bishop of Lincoln.

Name and Titles: John Russell, Bishop of Lincoln (former Bishop of Rochester and Lord Privy Seal), Chancellor of the Exchequer and Chancellor of Oxford University).

Born: Unknown.

Died: The Bishop’s Palace at Nettleham, 30 December 1494.

Buried: Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire.

John Russell: Life Under the House of York

Since I was in Lincoln Cathedral this very morning, I thought I’d strike while the proverbial iron was hot and capture this tomb and its associated chantry chapel here on our Tudor tombs page. It is the final resting place of John Russell, who held several significant secular and clerical appointments through the turbulent years defined in England by the Wars of the Roses and in the early years of the fledging Tudor dynasty.

His date of birth is not known. However, we might hazard a guess. The first we hear of John is his admission to Winchester College in the 1440s. As the College admitted boys between the ages of 12-18, we might surmise that he was born somewhere in the late 1420s or early 1430s.

After completing his education at Winchester, he attended New College in Oxford as a Fellow. When Russell died in 1494, he was Chancellor of Oxford University, suggesting he maintained links with the city and university throughout his life.

Russell was a well-educated man. In time, Sir Thomas More made reflection on Russell’s life and character, calling him ‘ a wise man of much experience and one of the most learned men England had at this time‘ while Dominic Mancini concurred with More’s opinion; in 1483, he described Russell as a man of ‘great learning and piety‘.

Russell’s talents were put to good use after he entered royal service sometime around 1462, just a year after the Yorkist forces had roundly defeated their Lancastrian opponents at the Battle of Towton. In service to King Edward IV, Russell was sent abroad on diplomatic missions to the court of Charles the Bold in 1467 and 1468. Since Edward IV signed the marriage treaty between his sister Margaret and Charles in April of the latter year, one imagines Russell played a central role in those negotiations, representing the York King.

Perhaps in recognition of a job well done, in 1474, John Russell was appointed Edward’s Lord Privy Seal and was consecrated as Bishop of Rochester on 22 September 1476 before finally being appointed to the post of Bishop of Lincoln on 7 July 1480; this would be the most senior clerical position he was to attain. Russell kept this appointment until his death while picking up the post of Lord Chancellor along the way. It was a position he held under Richard III until he was dismissed just a month before the latter’s untimely death, which given the story that follows, is intriguing, to say the least!

It would be easy to skip over this period in Russell’s life – and his royal service, particularly if you are not a well-read scholar of the Wars of the Roses and the life of Richard III. But as we stand in front of Russell’s tomb, we should remember that he was Lord Chancellor to Richard III during the succession crisis that followed the death of Edward IV and the subsequent disappearance of the so-called ‘Princes in the Tower’.

There is an excellent article that details the close relationship between Richard III and his Lord Chancellor here. However, the author reminds us that at the time, the office of Lord Chancellor was one of the most important and influential posts at court. It wielded immense power. The holder was, in effect, the monarch’s principal first minister whose daily business linked the Crown with Parliament and whose dealings reached deep into England’s affairs. Just how much did John Russell know of the disappearance of the heirs to the York throne? It’s intriguing to muse upon!

John Russell: A Life Under the Tudors

One of the reasons I was so interested in recording this tomb is that it was Bishop John Russell who greeted Henry VII when he stayed at Lincoln during the King’s first Northern Progress. Henry arrived in the city on 23 March 1486. It was part of a strategic show of majesty and power meant to impress upon Henry’s subjects that he was now the rightful ruler of England. The King spent the entire Holy Week of Easter at Lincoln hearing Mass at the cathedral while enjoying the Bishop’s hospitality in the adjacent bishop’s palace.

Before concluding our story, I also wanted to highlight Russell’s role in rebuilding part of one of the many palaces belonging to the bishopric: Buckden Palace (now Buckden Towers) in Cambridgeshire. This was one of a series of residences that acted as staging posts between the bishopric headquarters in Lincoln and the epicentre of Crown and state business, London. From a Tudor point of view, Buckden Towers is most noted as the penultimate residence of Katherine of Aragon after she was exiled from court in the early 1530s. If you visit today, you can still see some of the typical red-bricked buildings we associate with the Tudor period. ‘The coat of arms of Bishop Russell can be seen on the Inner Gatehouse and the south gable front…comprising of azure or, between three roses argent.’

That aside, Russell continued to be entrusted with Crown business but never on the scale or with the prestige he had enjoyed under the Yorks. In 1494, John Russell died while residing at the Bishop’s country house at Nettleham, just four miles north east of Lincoln. He was probably in his mid-sixties. Sadly, that manor house was first damaged during the Lincolnshire rising of 1536 (part of The Pilgrimage of Grace) and was entirely demolished by 1650, with ‘only traces of foundations remaining on the site now called Bishop’s Palace Field’.

John Russell had seen much of life during his time. He successfully navigated the Wars of the Roses (and avoided being cast into the Tower or worse!), negotiated a royal wedding, and became a king’s principal minister and deeply trusted confidante. He witnessed two turbulent succession crises that saw the mysterious disappearance of two young princes and a king slain on the battlefield. I suspect he was relieved, if not amazed, to die peacefully in his own bed!

The Tomb

John Russell’s tomb is a simple marble chest located at the cathedral’s east end. The heraldic arms and colourful paint that likely once adorned it have been stripped away or eroded over time. Beyond the tomb, and through a beautifully carved, ancient oak door, is the tiny chantry chapel where prayers were once said for the bishop’s soul.

Architectural features speak of the period, such as the shallow Tudor arched design of the ceiling. However, the walls have been repainted with modern murals and, in my opinion, do nothing to enhance the space. You can tell me if you agree with me in the comments below!

Visitor Information:

Lincoln is a bustling city; its suburbs tumble down the south-facing hillside from the high plateau upon which the Roman city was initially founded. I usually arrive by car from the southwest; the flat lowlands of Lincolnshire ensure that the Norman Cathedral is visible at some distance from the city. It is breathtaking. The nearly thousand-year-old building standing regally against the raised skyline. Indeed, there is something comforting in the sense of continuity it invokes, connecting us over millennia to the dawn of medieval England.

In many ways, Lincoln is a tale of two cities. You may enjoy the low-lying harbour and surrounding shops, but if you are delighted by historic buildings, you will most likely find your ease in The Cathedral Quarter. However, if you have any issues with mobility, we strongly urge you to find accommodation close to the cathedral; otherwise, the strenuous climb up the charming but aptly named ‘Steep Hill’ may prove a challenge.

At the top of the plateau, the Norman castle, the old abbey gatehouse, the cathedral and the old Bishop’s Palace are within a stone’s throw of one another, the medieval central marketplace being a daily hub of activity that connects them all. Here you will also find the local tourist information centre located in a typical wattle and daub house, which was built just two years after the visit of  Henry VIII and Catherine Howard in 1543.

Lincoln Cathedral: 

Entry to the cathedral is free of charge. You can enjoy a fine view of the nave from just inside the great west door. Visiting the Morning Chapel for private devotions or the cathedral shop is also permissible. But if you want to explore further or join one of several different tours, a fee is payable, except on Sundays, when there are no tours, but there is no entrance charge equally!

While in the cathedral, you must look out for the tombs of Katherine Swynford and her daughter, Joan Beaufort, Countless of Westmoreland. These medieval noble women were both ancestors of Henry VIII: through his mother, Elizabeth of York, Henry was the great-great-grandson of Joan, and on his father’s side (Henry VII), he was the great-great-grandson of Katherine’s son, John Beaufort. Henry VIII’s sixth wife, Katherine Parr, was also descended from Joan Beaufort. Sadly, the tombs were stripped of their brass effigies and decorated shields during the English Civil War. Only the plain stone sarcophagi remain behind.

Please note that parking is minimal around the cathedral. Castle Car Park is the closest but only has 27 spaces (Postcode: LN1 3AA). Alternatively, just a 5-minute walk away is Westgate parking, with circa 100 spaces (Postcode: LN1 3BG.)

Postcode for Lincoln Cathedral: LN2 1PX.

Check out the Web site for Lincoln Cathedral here.

The Old Bishop’s Palace: 

Adjacent to the cathedral, on its south side, lies the now ruinous Bishop’s Palace, currently owned by English Heritage. There is an excellent audio tour of the ruins, along with helpful information boards whose illustrations are useful in bringing the once luxurious splendour of the rooms to life.

For those of us following in the footsteps of Henry VII and Henry VIII, most of the palace is of interest as the king must have used many of the rooms during his stay. However, if you wish to read more detail about the palace and the visit of Henry VII, you can do so here.

The Bishops’ Palace has been closed for works to undertake an ‘extensive conservation project’ over the last few years, and as I write this, it is unclear when it will reopen. Check the English Heritage website for the latest details.

Refreshments in Lincoln – My Favourites

Cafes, restaurants and toilet facilities abound both at the locations mentioned and in the vicinity of the market square. Our favourite tea room was the quintessentially English, Mrs Bunty’s (18 Steep Hill; Postcode: LN2 1LT.), which recreates the flavour of 1940s England; tea is served in old fashion china alongside a variety of delicious cakes. Just make sure you leave room to indulge yourself after all your sightseeing!