I am starting a new section of my blog called, “Wait…Who?” This will be various blog posts about interesting Tudor people whom we may have forgotten about, or not really paid attention to learning about.  We’re so use to reading about the Tudor monarchs and the six wives that it is easy to forget all the fascinating figures that helped shaped Tudor History.

Today’s post will be about…

John Morton

John Morton was the Archbishop of Canterbury under Henry VII; he was also the mentor to Sir Thomas More.

Though originally working for the house of Lancaster, Edward IV, the first Yorkist King, later obtained Morton under his reign.  Edward IV sent Morton on many diplomatic missions abroad, including to Hungary in 1474 and also to negotiate the Treaty of Pecquigny in 1475.   In 1479, Morton was elected Bishop of Ely.

Morton later went on to support Henry Tudor, the Earl of Richmond.  When Henry eventually won the crown, Morton became his principal adviser.  He was appointed Lord Chancellor in 1487.

As Lord Chancellor, Morton was in charge of financial matters of the royal estate.  Edward IV heavily depleted the treasury and Morton was able to replenish it through his tax policy.

This is the famous statement by Morton, called “Morton’s Fork”:

“If the subject is seen to live frugally, tell him because he is clearly a money saver of great ability he can afford to give generously to the King. If, however, the subject lives a life of great extravagance, tell him he, too, can afford to give largely, the proof of his opulence being evident in his expenditure.”

Morton took Sir Thomas More under his care and became his mentor.  He wrote a Latin history of Richard III that More translated into English.  Morton is also known as the source of the propaganda against Richard III.

In Sir Thomas More’s, “The History of King Richard III”, the accusations against Richard III were the following: it was said that Richard murdered the Princes in the Tower along with his brother, George, Duke of Clarence.  It also said that Richard forced his wife, Anne Neville, to marry him against his will.  Then there’s the story of Richard planning to marry his own niece, Elizabeth of York and accusing her mother, Elizabeth Woodville, of witchcraft.

All these stories were alleged accounts by Morton, although historians debate if Sir Thomas More rewrote them.  The stories were most likely untrue and written as a propaganda towards Richard III.

Morton was also responsible for building the Old Palace at Hatfield House, where Elizabeth I spent most of her childhood.

He died at Knole House in 1500 and was buried at Canterbury Cathedral.