Talk:Robert Burnell

Good Article review

 * 1) Well-written: I've corrected a few minor infelicities. The lede says that he was "twice unsuccessfully elected to become Archbishop of Canterbury". Wouldn't it be better to say that he was successfully elected (or simply elected)? He won the election, after all; his failure to be elevated was due to papal disapproval. Also, when it says the holders of the Great and Privy Seals were not in conflict, who actually held the Privy Seal at this time? Do we know?
 * Hm.. Handbook of British Chronology says this about the Privy Seal during this time "In the later years of Edward I it was normally held by the controller of the wardrobe, but the lords ordainers insisted in 1311...". During Burnell's time those were: Philip Willoughby from the accession to 18 Oct 1274. Then Thomas Bek, (later Bishop St David's) until 20 Nov 1280, then William Louth (later Bishop of Ely) until 12 May 1290, then Walter Langton, as acting from 12 May, and appointed from 20 Nov 1290 until 1295. Let me dig through Prestwich though...and get back to you on this one. Ealdgyth | Talk 21:43, 19 February 2008 (UTC)
 * I think that's fine. Be nice to overhaul Wardrobe (government) sometime to bring it through its abolition in...let's see...1782, but I don't really have the resources for that, vide infra. Choess (talk) 22:26, 19 February 2008 (UTC)


 * 1) Factually accurate and verifiable: Well-sourced, no problems I can see.
 * 2) Broad in its coverage: seems wide-ranging, but while looking up information about the Privy Seal, The History of English Law before the time of Edward I speaks of Chancery ceasing to be a peripatetic office following the king about this time: "it seems probable that Chancellor Burnel made some noteworthy change in 1280." Perhaps a search under the alternate spelling of his name would turn up more details? It might also be well to mention some of the legal reforms passed during Burnell's tenure as Chancellor, such as the statutes of Quia emptores and Quo warranto.
 * I don't have that book, but I have a number of others on governance and such of this time (a few I've only recently acquired so they didn't get mined for this article) Let me do some digging... Ealdgyth | Talk 21:43, 19 February 2008 (UTC)
 * That book and the old DNB refer to Annales de Waverleia and Annales de Wigornia in Annales Monastici, ii. 393, iv. 477 as primary sources. Don't know if that's any help. My launch into Real Life has cut me off from most of my academic resources. Choess (talk) 22:26, 19 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Now that I look at the emendations, that's fine for present purposes, I think. Choess (talk) 22:29, 19 February 2008 (UTC)


 * 1) Neutral: no visible problems.
 * 2) Stable: no edit wars under way.
 * 3) Illustrated: the image of Acton Burnell Castle is sufficient, although a seal or coat-of-arms for Robert would be nice if any exists. I wouldn't consider that necessary for GA, though.
 * I'm horrid on images, I'll admit. I haven't found a picture of him yet, or of a tomb or a seal that's free use. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography article doesn't even have a picture of a seal or anything, nor does that article list any likenesses.Ealdgyth | Talk 21:43, 19 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Don't worry about it for GA. A pass through Google Books gives a snippet from a Heraldry Society publication, so one of his seals must survive somewhere. I've found a reference for his arms as Argent, a lion rampant sable. Choess (talk) 22:26, 19 February 2008 (UTC)

Let me know what can be done about points 1 and 3, and I think it will be ready for GA. Choess (talk) 21:29, 19 February 2008 (UTC)
 * Passed for GA

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