Robert de Stratford

Robert de Stratford
Bishop of Chichester

Tomb of Robert de Stratford in Chichester Cathedral
Church Catholic
See Diocese of Chichester
In office 1337–1362
Predecessor John Langton
Successor William Lenn
Personal details
Born c.1292
Warwickshire
Died 9 April 1362
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

Robert 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.[1] 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 the Bishop Andrew De Stratford.[2][3]

Career

Stratford served for a time as deputy to his brother John.[4] From 1329 he served as Prebend of Aylesbury[5] and then from 1331 to 1334 he served as Chancellor of the Exchequer and from March to July 1338 as Lord Chancellor.[6] He was dismissed as chancellor in 1338[6] but regained the office for six months in 1340.

From 1335 to 1338, he was Chancellor of the University of Oxford.[7]

From 1334–7, Stratford was Archdeacon of Canterbury.[8] He was elected Bishop of Chichester between 23 July and 18 August 1337, and was consecrated 30 November 1337.[9]

Death

He made his will and died at his manor of Aldingbourne in Sussex on 9 April 1362. Probate was granted on the 26th. His recumbent effigy lies in the south choir aisle of Chichester Cathedral.[3]

References

  1. '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.
  2. Blomefield and Parkin An essay towards a topographical history of the county of Norfolk pp. 390
  3. 3.0 3.1 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
  4. Haines, Roy. "Stratford, Robert". Retrieved 2011-12-07.
  5. Lipscomb, George. The history and antiquities of the county of Buckingham (1847).
  6. 6.0 6.1 Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology p. 86
  7. Hibbert, Christopher, ed. (1988). "Appendix 5: Chancellors of the University". The Encyclopaedia of Oxford. Macmillan. pp. 521–522. ISBN 0-333-39917-X.
  8. Wood, Anthony (1790). "Fasti Oxonienses". The History and Antiquities of the Colleges and Halls in the University of Oxford. Google Books. pp. 22–23.
  9. Fryde, et al. Handbook of British Chronology, p. 239.

Bibliography

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