Adam Easton was born in the place of that name in the County of Hereford, he was a Doctor of Theology from Oxford and wrote many works, as he was a man distinguished in learning and knowledge and uncommonly skilled in these things, learned to the highest degree in Greek and Hebrew (for which he was admired in his lifetime). Wherefore, on account of the singular and deserved gift of his mind, and without regard of any favours, he was created Cardinal with the title of St Cecilia, but it is uncertain whether by Urban as many prefer in the first year of his pontificate or (as others consider probable) by Gregory XI. Whenever it was, it is certain that the Antipope (who took the name Clement VII) was agitating against Urban and many of the cardinals deserted Urban, and he was doubtful of the faith of the others, and they were especially fearful, but the courage of the most eminent was conspicuous. Seven of them were taken on 2 January 1385 whilst at Nocera and at Genoa five of them were wrapped in sacks were brutally and roughly thrown headlong into the sea where they were abandoned until they sank.

Two of them (the seven) were saved, one of them was our Adam who ignoring his worth to the church was cruelly tortured and detained for a long time in the most foul prison, later he accepted the authority of a papal clerk to whom he was handed over to guard in a chamber. In fact in this state he passed five years until after the death of Urban, when on the translation of Boniface IX he was restored to honour as letters to King Richard II directing this testify. Urban never deprived him of the priesthood and by the same law all of his property (ie his benefices) were always kept safe for him.

Then with great praise he was released and certainly by the year 1390 was known, among others, as the great zealot of the realm. He was blessed with a further seven years of life to enjoy and departed on 19^th September 1397 and he is buried in his titular church where his tomb bears this epitaph inscribed: Skilled in all things, renowned father Adam. The great theologian, who was cardinal of England, which was his fatherland, the title of St Cecilia was given to him. He died and ascended to heaven in the year 1397, in the month of September.