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Santa Cecilia

Tomb of Cardinal Adam Easton

lso of interest to the English-speaking visitor is the tomb
of Cardinal Easton, situated on the right hand side at the
A back of the nave of the church of S. Cecilia as you enter.

Some details about Cardinal Easton
Birth: 1328/1338, Easton, Norfolk, England. Of a humble family.
His last name is also listed as Eston and Oeston. He was known as
Cardinalis Angliae or the Cardinal of England; and the Cardinal of
Norwich.

Education

After his initial studies, he entered the Order of Saint Benedict
(Benedictines) at the cathedral priory of Norwich, at a young age;
later, he studied at Oxford University and obtained a doctorate in
theology and a great reputation as a Greek and Hebrew scholar.

Priesthood and Cardinalate

Easton was ordained priest, but we are unsure of the date. He was
a witness against John Wyclif, when the latter appealed his dis-
missal from the wardenship of Canterbury Hall, Oxford, ordered
by Simon Langham, archbishop of Canterbury. Professor of theol-
ogy at Oxford University. He left England for Avignon, probably
in the retinue of Cardinal Langham; he was involved in the diplo-
matic mission in Flanders to try to agree on a peace treaty between
France and England; received some appointment in the papal
curia; when Pope Gregory XI moved to Rome, he went with the
papal court. On March 9, 1379, he was deposed at the Vatican
Apostolic Palace in an inquiry concerning the conclave that elected
Pope Urban VI. On June 1, 1381, he subscribed a papal document
by which Pope Urban VI granted the investiture to the king of
Naples; he subscribed as Brother Adam of Anglia.

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