Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 37.djvu/242

 in the papacy between the death of Clement V and the election of John XXII, but also to intrigues among the cardinals. It was not till 25 Sept. 1317 that Melton was consecrated at Avignon by Pope John XXII (, p. 415; 11 Sept. according to, p. 26). He returned to England on 24 Nov., and had his cross borne before him through Kent and London to St. Martin-le-Grand (Chron. Edward I and II, i. 281). Early in Advent he was at Beverley, but was not enthroned at York till 13 Feb. 1318 (, p. 416). The early years of Melton's episcopate were much disturbed through the troubles with the Scots (cf. Letters from the Northern Registers, 273–279). On 18 March 1318 he was one of the commissioners to treat with Bruce, and in June one of the keepers of the marches. In the summer of 1319 the Scots broke past the king at Berwick and began to ravage Yorkshire. Melton in conjunction with John Hotham [q. v.] and other northern ecclesiastics mustered what forces they could, and met the Scots at Myton-on-Swale on 12 Sept. The English were utterly routed, and the archbishop and other leaders escaped with difficulty. Melton's banner was saved only by the valour of its bearer. In ridicule of the ecclesiastical soldiers Barbour says this battle was called The Chaptour of Mytoun, for thar Slane sa many prestis war. On 19 Jan. 1321 Melton again appears as a commissioner for peace with Scotland (Fœdera, ii. 441). On 28 June he attended the meeting held by Earl Thomas of Lancaster and the northern lords at Sherburn in Elmet, but he did not accompany the barons to London, and in the following spring sided with the Despensers against the earl (Flores Historiarum, iii. 190, 206). Yet, on the other hand, Melton was on 9 April 1322 censured for inducing his clergy to grant two thousand marks to Thomas of Lancaster (Parl. Writs, i. 556); and in 1323 gave his protection to Adam Orleton [q. v.], bishop of Hereford (, p. 141). However, on 7 Aug. 1323 he prohibited the worship of Thomas as unauthorised (Letters from the Northern Registers, 323–6).

On 18 June 1323 Melton appears as justiciar for Nottinghamshire, and on 8 Nov. as commissioner to treat with the Scots. On 3 June 1325 he was appointed treasurer of England, an office which he held till January 1327, when he was displaced by the government of the young king, Edward III. Melton refused to be present at Edward's coronation, but he was nevertheless sent on a mission to Scotland in April (Cal. Pat. Rolls, Edward III, p. 95). He would indeed seem to have accepted the change of government to the full, for on 24 Feb. he had written to the pope in favour of the canonisation of Thomas of Lancaster (Letters from the Northern Registers, 339–342). Melton also officiated at the marriage of Edward to Philippa of Hainault on 24 Jan. 1328. Nevertheless he seems to have entered into the plot of Edmund of Woodstock, earl of Kent [q. v.], in the beginning of 1329, in the belief that Edward II was still alive. The earl's confession distinctly alleges that Melton had promised to contribute 5,000l. towards the undertaking (, App. p. 255); on the other hand, although Melton was indicted for his share in the plot, he was acquitted, and obtained a writ of conspiracy against his accusers (Rot. Parl. ii. 31, 54). After the overthrow of Mortimer, Melton was once more made treasurer on 28 Nov. 1330, but only held office till 1 April following. On 16 Feb. 1331 he was one of the justiciars for enforcing observance of the truce with Scotland, and on 1 Dec. 1332 had power to open parliament at York (Fœdera, ii. 802, 848). From 10 Aug. 1333 to 13 Jan. 1334 he was keeper of the great seal during the temporary absence of John de Stratford [q. v.]

This was the end of Melton's official life, but he survived till 1340, when he died on 4 or 5 April at Cawood, and was buried in York Minster, near the font. His tomb was opened during the last century, when his skeleton, about six feet long, was found; the chalice and paten were then removed from the tomb (, Eboracum, p. 433). One incident of his episcopal administration was a long dispute with Walter Reynolds [q. v.], archbishop of Canterbury, as to his right to bear the cross in the southern province; on this ground Reynolds opposed Melton's appointment as treasurer in 1325 (Chron. Edw. I and II, ii. 283–4). Melton was also involved in a dispute with his chapter as to his rights of visitation, but this was settled in February 1329. Another quarrel, which began in 1328, was with Louis de Beaumont [q. v.], bishop of Durham, as to the rights of visitation in Allertonshire. Beaumont resisted his superior by force, but after excommunication and suspension, the matter was at length compromised in 1331. On Beaumont's death, on 24 Sept. 1333, Melton was engaged in a fresh trouble, for he confirmed and consecrated Robert de Graystanes [q. v.] as bishop, although the pope had provided Richard de Bury [q. v.] to the see, and the king had not given his assent; in the issue Graystanes had to resign. Melton's register, which is very full, is preserved at York; numerous