Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 55.djvu/44

 jeantry of weigher (ponderator) in the receipt of the exchequer, which he handed over to his brother William as his deputy. Another brother, Henry, was apparently keeping warm for him the lucrative office of deputy-chamberlain, to which he was formally presented by the Countess of Albemarle in person in the first year of Edward I's reign (1272–3).

With the new king Adam de Stratton found such favour that he was not only retained and confirmed with larger powers in his office of the works at Westminster, but he was even allowed to obtain from his patroness a grant in perpetuity of the chamberlainship of the exchequer, together with all the lands pertaining thereto. This was in 1276, and Stratton had now reached the turning-point of his career. So far all had prospered with him. From private deeds and bonds still preserved among the exchequer records, it appears that, thanks to official perquisites and extortions and usurious contracts, he had become one of the richest men in England. Just as the crown connived at the malpractices of Jews and Lombards with the intent to squeeze their ill-gotten gains into the coffers of the state, so the unscrupulous official of the period enjoyed a certain protection as long as his wealth and abilities were of service to his employers.

In 1279 Stratton was dismissed from his office of clerk of the works, and proclamation was made for all persons defrauded by him to appear and give evidence. He was also suspended in his offices at the exchequer, while he was at the same time convicted at the suit of the abbot and monastery of Quarr for forgery and fraud in connection with their litigation with the Countess of Albemarle. In spite of this exposure, Adam de Stratton found the usual means to make his peace with the crown, and his exchequer offices were resumed by him in the same year. Ten years later a fresh scandal provoked a more searching inquiry, which resulted in his complete disgrace. On this occasion it was the monastery of Bermondsey that was victimised by his favourite device of tampering with the seals of deeds executed by his clients. At the same time he figured as the chief delinquent in the famous state trials of 1290, which led to the disgrace of the two chief justices and several justices, barons, and other high officials. The charges brought against the accused, and particularly against Stratton, reveal an almost incredible audacity and callousness in their career of force and fraud. Stratton at least defended himself with courage, but he was convicted on a charge of sorcery, and his ruin was complete. It is said that the treasure which he had amassed, with his other property in lands and goods, exceeded the whole treasure of the crown, and he had besides valuable advowsons in almost every diocese.

Even after this final disgrace Stratton was still secretly employed by the crown on confidential business, and it was whispered that he was engaged to tamper with the deeds executed by the Countess of Albemarle on her deathbed, in order to obtain for the crown a grant of the Isle of Wight to the disinheritance of the countess's lawful heirs. However this may be, after 1290 Stratton is mentioned in public documents only as an attainted person whose estates were administered in the exchequer. His name does indeed occur as sheriff of Flint, a distant employment that might denote his continued disgrace. A beneficed clerk of his name is referred to in a papal letter of 1327, and there is some reason for supposing that he was still alive at this date.

[The authorities for Adam de Stratton's life and times are set out in detail in the Red Book of the Exchequer (Rolls Series), pt. iii. pp. cccxv–cccxxx, including a large number of references to contemporary records and chronicles. The few printed notices that have appeared are inaccurate.] 

STRATTON, JOHN PROUDFOOT (1830–1895), surgeon, son of David Stratton, a solicitor in practice at Perth, was born in the parish of Caputh, near Dunkeld, on 2 July 1830. He was educated in his native town and afterwards at North Shields, where he was apprenticed about 1840 to Dr. Ingham. He was admitted a licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1851, bachelor of medicine of the university of Aberdeen in 1852, and M.D. in 1855. At Aberdeen University he gained the medal or a first-class in every subject of study.

In May 1852 he gained, by competitive examination, a nomination offered to the university of Aberdeen by the chairman of the East India Company. After holding various posts in the Indian medical service (Bombay) from 1852 onwards, he was appointed in December 1854 residency surgeon in Baroda, where he took an active part in founding the gaekwar's hospital and in vaccinating the native population. In May 1857 he was, in addition to the medical charge, appointed to act as assistant resident. He performed the duties with ability during the trying years of the mutiny, and received the thanks of the resident, Sir Richmond Campbell Shakespear [q. v.] On the latter's departure for England, Stratton acted as resident until the arrival of Col. (Sir) R. Wallace. In 1859 he was selected to take political charge of