Robert de Stratford

Robert de Stratford
Robert de Stratford
Bishop of Chichester
	Tomb of Robert de Stratford in Chichester Cathedral
Church	Catholic
Elected	between 23 July and 18 August 1337
Term ended	9 April1362
Predecessor	John Langton
Successor	William Lenn
Orders
Consecration	30 November 1337
Personal details
Born	c. 1292; Warwickshire
Died	9 April 1362 (aged 69-70); Aldingbourne, Sussex

Robert de Stratford (c. 1292 – 9 April 1362) was an English bishop and was one of Edward III of England's principal ministers.

Early life

Stratford was born into the landed Stratford Family of Stratford-on-Avon around 1292. His father was another Robert and his mother was called Isabel. He was brother to John de Stratford (Archbishop of Canterbury) and possibly Henry de Stratford and Thomas de Stratford, Archdeacon of Gloucester (he was certainly a relation to both), to the latter of whom he gifted the manor of Shottery.^[2] Robert senior has been identified as ‘Master’ Robert, co-founder and first master of the hospital of St Cross within the town, but in view of the title magister and the celibate status required, this appears unlikely. The family was related to the Hattons, important men in the town, Ralph Hatton ‘of Stratford’, the future bishop of London, being John's nephew. He was also a relative of Sir Andrew De Stratford.^[3]^[4]

Career

Stratford served for a time as deputy to his brother John.^[5] From 1329 he served as Prebend of Aylesbury^[6] and then from 1331 to 1334 he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and from March to July 1338 as Lord Chancellor.^[7] He was dismissed as chancellor in 1338^[7] but regained the office for six months in 1340.

From 1335 to 1338, Stratford was Chancellor of the University of Oxford.^[8]

From 1334–7, Stratford was Archdeacon of Canterbury.^[9] He was elected Bishop of Chichester between 23 July and 18 August 1337, and was consecrated 30 November 1337.^[10]

Death

Stratford made his will and died at his manor of Aldingbourne in Sussex on 9 April 1362.^[11] Probate was granted on the 26th. His recumbent effigy lies in the south choir aisle of Chichester Cathedral.^[4]

Citations

^ Bedford, WK Riland. "The Blazon of Episcopacy" 1858
^ 'The borough of Stratford-upon-Avon: Manors', A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 3: Barlichway hundred (1945), pp. 258-266. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=57019 Date accessed: 29 May 2014.
^ Blomefield and Parkin An essay towards a topographical history of the county of Norfolk pp. 390
^ ^a ^b Roy Martin Haines, ‘Stratford, Robert (c.1292–1362)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 28 May 2014
^ Haines, Roy. "Stratford, Robert". Retrieved 2011-12-07.
^ Lipscomb, George. The history and antiquities of the county of Buckingham (1847).
^ ^a ^b Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 86
^ Hibbert, Christopher, ed. (1988). "Appendix 5: Chancellors of the University". The Encyclopaedia of Oxford. Macmillan. pp. 521–522. ISBN 0-333-39917-X.
^ Wood, Anthony (1790). "Fasti Oxonienses". The History and Antiquities of the Colleges and Halls in the University of Oxford. Google Books. pp. 22–23.
^ Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology, p. 239.
^ Dalloway, James. "A History of the Western Division of the County of Sussex, Volume 1" 1815, p.53

References

Haines, Roy. "Stratford, Robert". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/26648. {{cite encyclopedia}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help) (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I. (1996). Handbook of British Chronology (Third revised ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-56350-X.

Political offices
Preceded by John de Stratford	Lord Chancellor 1337–1338	Succeeded by Richard Bintworth
Preceded by John de Stratford	Lord Chancellor 1340	Succeeded by Sir Robert Bourchier
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Richard de Ferings	Archdeacon of Canterbury 1334–1337	Succeeded by Simon Islip
Preceded by John Langton	Bishop of Chichester 1337–1362	Succeeded by William Lenn
Academic offices
Preceded by Hugh de Willoughby	Chancellor of the University of Oxford 1335–1338	Succeeded by Robert Paynink? or John Leech

[1] Bedford, WK Riland. "The Blazon of Episcopacy" 1858

[2] 'The borough of Stratford-upon-Avon: Manors', A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 3: Barlichway hundred (1945), pp. 258-266. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=57019 Date accessed: 29 May 2014.

[3] Blomefield and Parkin An essay towards a topographical history of the county of Norfolk pp. 390

[oxforddnb.com-4] Roy Martin Haines, ‘Stratford, Robert (c.1292–1362)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 28 May 2014

[5] Haines, Roy. "Stratford, Robert". Retrieved 2011-12-07.

[6] Lipscomb, George. The history and antiquities of the county of Buckingham (1847).

[Handbook86-7] Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 86

[hibbert-8] Hibbert, Christopher, ed. (1988). "Appendix 5: Chancellors of the University". The Encyclopaedia of Oxford. Macmillan. pp. 521–522. ISBN 0-333-39917-X.

[wood-9] Wood, Anthony (1790). "Fasti Oxonienses". The History and Antiquities of the Colleges and Halls in the University of Oxford. Google Books. pp. 22–23.

[Handbook239-10] Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology, p. 239.

[11] Dalloway, James. "A History of the Western Division of the County of Sussex, Volume 1" 1815, p.53

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v t e Bishops of Chichester
Bishops of Selsey	Wilfrid Eadberht Eolla Sigeferth Aluberht Oswald Gislhere Tota Wihthun Æthelwulf Cynered Guthheard Wighelm Beornheah Wulfhun Guthheard Ælfred Brihthelm Eadhelm Æthelgar Ordbriht Ælfmær Æthelric I Grimketel Heca Æthelric II Stigand See translated
High Medieval	Godfrey Ralph de Luffa Seffrid Hilary John of Greenford Seffrid Simon of Wells Nicholas de Aquila Richard Poore Ranulf of Wareham Ralph Neville Robert Passelewe Richard de la Wich John Climping Stephen Bersted Gilbert of St Leonard
Late Medieval	John Langton Robert de Stratford William Lenn William Reade Thomas Rushhook Richard Mitford Robert Waldby Robert Reed Stephen Patrington Henry Ware John Kemp Thomas Polton John Rickingale Thomas Brunce Simon Sydenham Richard Praty Adam Moleyns Reginald Pecock John Arundel Edward Story Richard FitzJames
Early modern	Robert Sherborne Richard Sampson George Day John Scory George Day John Christopherson William Barlow Richard Curteys Thomas Bickley Anthony Watson Lancelot Andrewes Samuel Harsnett George Carleton Richard Montagu Brian Duppa Henry King Episcopacy abolished (Commonwealth) Henry King Peter Gunning Ralph Brideoake Guy Carleton John Lake Simon Patrick Robert Grove John Williams Thomas Manningham Thomas Bowers Edward Waddington Francis Hare Matthias Mawson Sir William Ashburnham
Late modern	John Buckner Robert Carr Edward Maltby William Otter Philip Shuttleworth Ashurst Gilbert Richard Durnford Ernest Wilberforce Charles Ridgeway Winfrid Burrows George Bell Roger Wilson Eric Kemp John Hind Martin Warner