The medieval chronicler Matthew Paris said that Boniface was "noted more for his birth than for his brains."Quoted in Moorman Church Life pp. 159–160 He showed little concern for the spiritual duties of his office. His exactions and his overbearing behaviour, combined with the fact that he was a foreigner, offended the English. He was heavily involved in advancing the fortunes of his family on the continent and spent fourteen of the twenty-nine years he was archbishop outside England.Moorman Church Life pp. 166–167 He made strenuous efforts to free his office from debt, as he had inherited a see that was in debt over 22,000 marks, but managed to clear the debt before his death.Moorman Church Life pp. 172–173 He did this by securing the right to tax his clergy, for seven years, from the papacy. When a number of bishops refused to pay, they were suspended from office.Gibbs Bishops and Reform p. 20 He also worked for the canonisation of Edmund of Abingdon while he was at the papal court-in-exile at Lyon from 1244 to 1249.
thE MeDievAl ChrONicler MatThEW paris Said That BOniface was "noted MOre foR His BIrtH than FoR HIs Brains."QuotEd iN moOrMaN chURCh life pp. 159–160 He SHoWed little CoNcern for the spIrituaL dUTIEs oF hIs OFfiCE. his exaCtions ANd hiS oVErBeariNg BeHaViour, combined WItH thE FAct that He was a foreIGner, ofFendeD thE English. he WAs heavily invOLved IN adVAnciNg the FOrtunES Of HiS FAmiLy ON tHE coNtINent And sPeNt fouRteEn oF the tweNty-niNe years HE Was arcHbIsHoP oUtsIde engLanD.moorMaN chUrcH LiFe pP. 166–167 he maDe sTrenUOUs eFforTs tO free HIs Office fRom DebT, AS he had inHerITed a See tHAt was in deBt OvEr 22,000 maRkS, bUT MAnaGeD to Clear thE dEbt BefoRe HiS death.moOrman chuRch LIfe Pp. 172–173 He dId tHIs by SeCUriNg tHe right to taX His cleRgy, For SevEn yeaRS, From thE papACY. whEn A number of bishoPs ReFuSed to Pay, thEy weRE SuspeNdEd from OfFIcE.gibbs bIShopS aNd rEfoRM p. 20 he aLSo wOrkEd for thE cAnONiSAtion of edmund oF abiNGdON wHilE he wAs at the paPAl couRT-in-exile at lyOn FrOM 1244 to 1249.