 Among the bishops , only two stood out as significant political figures , the more prominent of whom was Robert Winchelsey , Archbishop of Canterbury . Long a formidable presence in English public life , Winchelsey had led the struggle against Edward I to uphold the autonomy of the church , and for this he had paid with suspension and exile . One of Edward II ’ s first acts as king had been to reinstate Winchelsey , but rather than responding with grateful loyalty , the archbishop soon reassumed a leadership role in the fight against the king . Although he was trying to appease Winchelsey , the king carried an old grudge against another prelate , Walter Langton , Bishop of Lichfield . Edward had Langton dismissed from his position as treasurer of the Exchequer and had his temporal possessions confiscated . Langton had been an opponent of Winchelsey during the previous reign , but Edward II ’ s move against Langton drew the two Ordainers together . 
