Bradwardine, THOMAS

Bradwardine, THOMAS, was born in England not later than 1290. His birthplace is uncertain; in his chief work he mentions that his father lived at Chichester. He studied theology, philosophy, and mathematics with distinguished success at Merton College, Oxford, and in 1325 was one of the proctors of the university. His fame as a theologian was founded on the theological lectures he delivered for a series of years at Oxford, and now rests on his De Causa Dei contra Pelagium, et de virtute causarum, libri tres (edited by Henry Savile, Lond. 1618), an able defence of the Augustinian doctrines of grace, fully proving his right to the scholastic title of 'Doctor profundus.' Called to the court of Edward III. by Stratford, Archbishop of Canterbury, he became confessor to the king, canon of Lincoln, and chancellor of the cathedral church of St Paul in London. From 1339 he accompanied Edward III. on his campaigns in France. On the death of Stratford in 1348, Bradwardine was elected his successor by the chapter of Canterbury. The king and the pope preferred John Ufford; but Ufford dying in May 1349, before he had been consecrated, Bradwardine was appointed archbishop, and was consecrated in July by Cardinal Bertrand at Avignon. Returning to England, he died on the 26th August in that year. Bradwardine wrote also Arithmetica Speculativa (Paris, 1502); Geometria Speculativa (ib. 1512); and a Tractatus Proportionum (Venice, 1505).