Editing John Peckham (section)

===Relations with the Welsh===
{{See also|Conquest of Wales by Edward I}}
Notwithstanding his other actions, Peckham's relations with the king were generally good, and Edward sent him on a diplomatic mission to [[Llywelyn ap Gruffudd]] in Wales. In 1282 he attempted to mediate between the Welsh and King Edward, but given that Edward would not budge on the main issues, it was a hopeless mission.<ref name=Edward191>Prestwich ''Edward I'', p. 191–192</ref> In the end, Peckham excommunicated some of the Welsh who were resisting Edward. In service to King Edward, Peckham formed a low opinion of the Welsh people and laws.<ref name=Edward191/><ref name=Edward200>Prestwich ''Edward I'', p. 200</ref> Peckham visited the Welsh dioceses as part of his tour of all his subordinate dioceses. While there, Peckham criticised the Welsh clergy for their unchaste lives, conspicuous consumption, and heavy drinking. He also found the Welsh clergy to be uneducated, although he did order a Welsh-speaking suffragan bishop to be appointed to help with pastoral duties in the diocese of Coventry and Lichfield.<ref name=Walker87>Walker ''Medieval Wales'' p. 87</ref> Peckham also criticised the Welsh people as a whole, contrasting their pastoral economy with the farming-based economy of England, and finding the Welsh to be lazy and idle.<ref name=Given94>Given ''State and Society'' p. 94</ref>

As part of his diplomatic duties, Peckham wrote to Llywelyn, and in those letters the archbishop continued his criticisms of the Welsh people, this time condemning their laws as contrary to both the Old and New Testament. Peckham was particularly offended that Welsh laws sought to get parties to homicides or other crimes to settle their differences rather than the process of English law which condemned the criminal.<ref name=Given77>Given ''State and Society'' p. 77</ref>

Peckham also had problems with his subordinate [[Thomas Bek (Bishop of St David's)|Thomas Bek]], who was [[Bishop of St David's]] in Wales. Bek tried to revive a scheme to make St David's independent from Canterbury, and to elevate it to metropolitan status. This had originally been put forth by [[Gerald of Wales]] around 1200, but had been defeated by the actions of [[Hubert Walter]], then the Archbishop of Canterbury. Bek did not manage even the four-year fight that Gerald had managed, for Peckham routed him quickly.<ref name=Walker77>Walker ''Medieval Wales'' pp. 77–79</ref>