Robert Rochester

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Sir Robert Rochester, K.G., (c. 1494 – November 28, 1557) was an English Catholic and employee of Mary I.

Rochester was born at Terling, Essex, England, the third son of John Rochester of Terling and Grisold, daughter of Walter Writtle, of Bobbingworth. Before 1551, he had received the appointment of comptroller of Princess Mary Tudor's household. In that year, the Privy Council ordered him to stop any priest from saying mass in the princess's household; however, Rochester refused and was put in the Tower. The next year, he was released to retire to the county because of his health. He was soon allowed to resume his post as comptroller.

When the princess assumed the throne as Mary I, she rewarded Rochester for his faithful service, making him Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and letting him enter the inner circle of the Privy Council. He served as a parliamentary delegate from Essex, 1553-1555, and was buried at the charterhouse at Sheen.

Rochester's younger brother, Blessed John Rochester, was a Carthusian priest and martyr, who was executed in York in 1537 and beatified in 1888.

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.