Archdeacons: Bath

LIST 10 ARCHDEACONS OF BATH

ARCHDEACONRY

Archdcnry. covered northern part of dioc. and in 1291 comprised the deaneries of Bath and Redcliff (Taxatio p. 199).

Church of Weston (Som.), previously belonging to the monks of Bath, was alienated to the archdcns. of Bath perhaps temp. bp. Robert (EEA X p. xlii, no. 182).

Valuation 1291 £10 (Taxatio p. 199b).

ARCHDEACONS

M. Martin

First occ. as Martin archdcn. June/July 1141 × c. 1142 (EEA X no. 21). Also occ. c. 1143 × 1147 (ibid. no. 10, for which see below, app. 1); 1146/7 (EEA X no. 24); and n.d. (Chart. Bath II 60 (no. 273)). Last certain occ. 1153/4 (Earldom of Gloucester Chs., ed. R. B. Patterson (Oxford, 1973) no. 5). Called M. Martin archdcn. together with Eustace archdcn. [of Wells] and Hugh [of Tournai] archdcn. [of Taunton] (Cart. Athelney no. 187). Occ. as Martin archdcn. of Bath once only, together with Eustace archdcn. of Wells and Hugh de Tournai archdcn. beyond the Parrett [Taunton], c. 22 March 1136 × 4 Nov. 1159 (EEA X no. 37). (fn. 1) Prob. to be identified with Master M. who occ. as a leading member of chapter 1145 × June 1155 (Dean Cosyn p. 87 = Cal. I 30). Occ. prob. as can. before 31 Aug. 1166 (EEA X nos. 27, 36, 51) and c. 1184 × 29 Sept. 1188 (ibid. no. 152; and see ibid. p. 216).

Thomas

First occ. as archdcn., together with Robert archdcn. [of Wells], 1153 × 4 Nov. 1159 (Cal. I 53). (fn. 2) Occ. several times (e.g. EEA X nos. 33, 50, 55). Last occ., called Thomas archdcn. of Bath, 14 March 1165 (Cal. I 39).

M. Baldwin

Occ. as Baldwin archdcn. once only, 14 March 1165 × 31 Aug. 1166, together with archdcn. Robert (EEA X no. 34). (fn. 3) Called M. Baldwin, said c. 1167 to have been appd. archdcn. of Bath, with papal conf., before d. of bp. Robert, 31 Aug. 1166, but his office was usurped by John Cumin after bp. Robert's d. (Materials for Becket VI 422-3 (no. 415) = Jaffé no. 11399; see M. G. Cheney, Roger, Bishop of Worcester (Oxford, 1980) pp. 32-3).

M. John Cumin (fn. 4)

Seized archdcnry. by royal favour 31 Aug. 1166 × c. 1167; papal mandate that he is to surrender it c. 1167 (Materials for Becket VI no. 415 = Jaffé no. 11399). In possession of a preb. worth 40s, s.v. 1166-7, 1167-8 (Pipe Roll 13 Hen. II p. 202, 14 Hen. II p. 168; unident. preb., list 67). Owing debts on rents of archdcnries. (ibid. 14 Hen. II p. 168 to 21 Hen. II p. 103). Occ. as archdcn. twice only, in early 1170s, both times as John archdcn. of Bath and both times attesting royal chs. (Recueil des actes de Henri II, ed. L. V. Delisle and E. Berger (4 vols. Paris, 1909- 27) I nos. 442, 447, pp. 574, 579). Royal envoy (cf. Materials for Becket V 59, VI 68, 84, 146, 147, VII 237, 476). Occ. without title in two royal chs.: Aug. 1177 or early Apr. 1179 and May 1175 × 6 Sept. 1181 (Recueil ... Henri II II nos. 539, 560-1, pp. 116, 141), and without title in episcopal ch. 8 July 1175 × 9 Aug. 1179 (EEA X no. 61). Prob. gave up claim to archdcnry. by 1176 (see E. S. Cohn, 'The manuscript evidence for the letters of Peter of Blois', EHR xli (1926) 43- 60, at 58-60, partially rebutting Robinson, SHE pp. 96-7, 80n). Also preb. of London (1 Fasti I 55). Abp. of Dublin, el. 6 Sept. 1181, cons. at Velletri 21 March 1182 (Gesta Hen. II I 280-1, 287); d. 1212 (Ann. Worc. p. 401; Chartularies of St Mary's Abbey Dublin, ed. J. T. Gilbert (2 vols., RS lxxx, 1884) II 279, 312).

For M. Richard and M. Ralph of Lechlade who both occ. as archdcn. 'of Bath', see below, list 12, archdcns. of Taunton.

M. Peter of Blois (fn. 5)

Chanc. of abp. Richard of Dover from late 1175 to 1183 or early 1184 (EEA II p. xxvi). First certain occ. as Peter archdcn. of Bath March × June 1182 (ibid. no. 227; for date see Robinson, SHE p. 114) and as M. Peter archdcn. 'Baptoniensis' 6 Jan. × 9 Oct. 1182 (EEA II no. 206; cf. ibid. nos. 85, 137, 146, also before Oct. 1182). A friend of Reginald Fitz Jocelin, archdcn. of Wilts., (fn. 6) who became bp. of Bath, el. c. Apr. 1173, cons. 23 June 1174 (list 1); present, as chanc. of abp., at Lateran council 5-19 March 1179, which was also attended by bp. Reginald (for Peter, see Extra III 22. 3 (in Corpus Iuris Canonici, ed. E. Friedberg (2 vols., Leipzig, 1879-81) II); for Reginald, see Mansi, Concilia XXII 217, 467), but not likely to have been appd. archdcn. before Sept. 1181. (fn. 7) Occ. as archdcn. of Bath frequently. Also can. of Rouen by 1172 (D. S. Spear, 'Les chanoines de la cathédrale de Rouen pendant la période ducale', Annales de Normandie, xli (1991) 135-74, at p. 147); can. of Chartres from 1176 × 79 (R. W. Southern, 'The necessity for two Peters of Blois', in Intellectual Life in the Middle Ages: Essays presented to Margaret Gibson, ed. L. Smith and B. Ward (1992) pp. 103-18, at pp. 109-10; Epistolae, in Patrologia Latina, ed. J-P. Migne, ccvii ep. 70); preb. of Bayeux (The Later Letters of Peter of Blois, ed. E. Revell (British Academy 1993) p. xxvii, and no. 76); preb. of Salisbury by c. 1198 (1 Fasti IV 126), perhaps earlier (cf. Epistolae ep. 224, before 1173). Archdcn. of London by c. Jan. 1202 (1 Fasti I 10, 56), but continued to hold archdcnry. of Bath. Last occ., as P. archdcn. of Bath, at el. of bp. Jocelin, early 1206 (below, app. 2 no. 7). Possibly res. archdcnry. of Bath soon after, if it was gr. to John of Colchester March 1208 × 1209 (below). Last occ. as archdcn. of London 31 May 1208 (Letters of Innocent III no. 797 A), but at St Paul's 1209 (Later Letters nos. 20, 24, of Jan. 1209 and Jan. × Oct. 1209). Thereafter in France, his last letters written 1210-11 (ibid. p. xxviii, and nos. 44, 46). D. as archdcn. of London, certainly before May 1212, prob. before March (1 Fasti I 10). Commem. at Chartres 30 Nov. (Cartulaire de Notre-Dame de Chartres, ed. E. de Lépinois and L. Merlet (3 vols., Chartres, 1862-5), III 215, wrongly given as 29 Nov. in 1 Fasti IV 126). (fn. 8) So prob. d. Nov. 1211 (see Later Letters p. xxix). Writer of letter-collection, sermons, theology etc. (Sharpe, Handlist no. 1171).

? John of Colchester

Occ. holding archdcnry. of Bath, presum. this archdcnry., March 1208 × 1209, and still holding it 1212; perhaps farmer rather than archdcn. (Book of Fees I 82). Possibly to be identified with M. John of Colchester, can. of Hereford in 1180s and 1190s (see 1 Fasti VIII Hereford (forthcoming)).

Hugh of Wells

Can. by 1200 (unident. preb., list 67). Presum. occ. as Hugh archdcn. of Bath 20 Jan. 1214 (Curia Regis Rolls VII 64), though not yet sworn in as archdcn. when occ. 11 July 1215 (Cal. I 67). Also preb. of Lincoln from before 8 Apr. 1220 (1 Fasti III 88); (fn. 9) preb. of Salisbury by 29 Sept. 1225 (ibid. IV 107-8). Occ. frequently as archdcn. of Bath. D. late 1234 or early 1235, before 14 Feb. (Ann. Tewkes. pp. 94, 95; CPR 1232-47 p. 93). His houses opposite the front of church of Wells (Cal. II 559 (no. 60)). Patron of leper hosp. of St John, Lechlade (Glos.), 3 June 1233 (Sayers, Original Papal Docs. no. 182). Presum. related to bp. Jocelin and Hugh of Wells bp. of Lincoln (cf. Cal. I 491-2).

Nicholas de Neville

Royal clerk (Diplomatic Documents I, ed. P. Chaplais (1964) nos. 219, 239 n. (p. 159 n. 34)); dean of secular college of Tettenhall (Staffs.), appd. 3 Nov. 1232 (CPR 1232-47 p. 1). Appd. archdcn. of Bath on d. of Hugh of Wells late 1234 or early 1235 (Ann. Tewkes. p. 95). Last occ. as archdcn. 3 Feb. 1236 (CPR 1232-47 p. 135). Occ. without title 23 Aug. 1236 (Close Rolls 1234-7 p. 306). Prob. still alive 20 Nov. 1237 (CPR 1232-47 p. 205). Had been succeeded before 7 May 1238 (below). Also preb. of Chichester by 11 June 1229 (1 Fasti V 63-4). D. before 28 Feb. 1245 (CPR 1232-47 pp. 448-9). Brother of Ralph de Neville, bp. of Chichester (1224-44) (Pat. Rolls 1225-32 p. 246). Perhaps to be identified with Nicholas de Neville rector of Walton [? on Thames, Surrey], who was ordered to res. benefices which he held without papal disp. 25 Feb. 1239, the abp. to dispense as he thought fit (CPL I 178 = Reg. Grég. IX no. 4725).

M. Henry Tessun

Preb. of Salisbury by 1220 (1 Fasti IV 46, 65; cf. EEA XVIII p. lxxxv and n. 152). Not called can. of Wells, occ. as rector of [Sturminster] Newton (Dorset) 31 Dec. 1236 (Chart. Glastonbury I 62-3). First occ. as archdcn. of Bath before 7 May 1238 (Cart. Bruton no. 205). Occ. several times. Last occ. 24 May 1246 (below, app. 3 no. 14 A) and 2 July 1246 (Westminster Abbey Muniment Book 11 ('Domesday') fos. 388v-389r), and had been succeeded by 19 Jan. 1247 (below). Prec. by 6 July 1247 (list 4).

M. Nicholas Tessun (fn. 10)

Preb. of Lincoln by 10 Nov. 1244 (1 Fasti III 105). Occ. as archdcn. of Bath several times: first 19 Jan. 1247 (Cal. I 78-9; cf. Cal. of Roll of Justices on Eyre, 1247, ed. G. H. Fowler (Beds. Hist. Rec. Soc. xxi, 1939) p. 141) and last 11 June 1248 (Rot. Roberti Grosseteste, ed. F. N. Davis (CYS x and Lincoln Rec. Soc. xi, 1914) p. 237; cf. ibid. p. 491). Also preb. of Salisbury by 7 March 1248 (1 Fasti IV 54). Still alive [1267], not called archdcn. (Medieval Archives of Christ Church, ed. N. Denholm-Young (Oxford Hist. Soc. xcii) p. 33). Brother of M. Henry Tessun (Cal. I 131-2).

Robert de Chaury or Chause

Prob. controller of queen's wardrobe Apr. 1243 (Tout, Chapters V 235). Rector of Badsworth (Yorks., W.R.), royal gr. 26 Jan. 1255 (CPR 1247-58 p. 396). Occ. as archdcn. of Bath 22 Jan. 1257 and 13 July 1257 (Close Rolls 1256-9 pp. 28, 76), and 12 Feb. 1257, when given royal assent to his el. as bp. of Carlisle (CPR 1247-58 p. 541, cf. ibid. p. 580; cf. also Reg. Alex. IV no. 2039 = CPL I 346-7; 1 Fasti II 20-1), but not on 18 June 1253 or 26 Jan. 1255 (CPR 1247-58 pp. 199, 396).

M. John de Cheham (fn. 11)

Proctor of suffragans of Canterbury to papal Curia 6 Nov. 1251 (Cal. II 563 (no. 82)). Preb. of London from before March 1252/3 (1 Fasti I 31). Papal chapl., clerk of bp. William of Bitton I 17 Feb. 1256 (Chart. Bath II 34-5 (no. 159), 54- 5 (no. 238)). Proctor of chapter of Wells to papal Curia 18 May 1256, called can. of St Paul's, London (Cal. I 137). Described as papal chapl. and archdcn. of Bath when prov. to bpric. of Glasgow, by 13 June 1259 (Sayers, Original Papal Docs. no. 628, cf. no. 633).

Walter of Merton (fn. 12)

Preb. of London, gr. 15 June 1259 (1 Fasti I 37, 50); preb. of Salisbury by 4 Oct. 1262 (ibid. IV 108, cf. ibid. p. 61). Occ. as archdcn. of Bath twice only: 5 Jan. 1264 (CPR 1258-66 p. 376) and ? 1266 (Close Rolls 1264-8 p. 238). Not called archdcn., occ. as preb. Litton 12 Apr. 1269, and occ. as can. 2 Feb. 1266 (list 46). Also can. of Exeter and Lincoln (Early Rolls of Merton pp. 46-9; not in 1 Fasti III). Royal chanc. 1261-3 and 1272-4 (Tout, Chapters VI 5-6). Bp. of Rochester, el. c. 20 July 1274, cons. 21 Oct., d. 27 Oct. 1277 (1 Fasti II 77).

M. Thomas (fn. 13)

Occ. twice only: 1268 (Merton Muniments, ed. P. S. Allen and H. W. Garrod (Oxford, 1928) p. 20) and 29 Sept. 1269 (Early Rolls of Merton p. 37).

M. Ralph de Wicham or Wikham

First occ. as archdcn. of Bath and bp.'s commissary 26 Jan. 1277 (Chart. Bath II 63 (no. 291)). Occ. as archdcn. several times. Not called archdcn. but can. 30 Oct. 1284 (Cal. I 403). Last occ. as archdcn. 2 Jan. 1285 (CCR 1279-88 p. 348), after 15 Nov. 1284 (Cal. II 580 (no. 154); (fn. 14) cf. ibid. p. 575 (no. 134)). Master, vicar-general 22 Jan. 1289 (CPR 1281-92 p. 311). Not known if he is to be identified with bp.'s official of this name, not called Master, who occ. 2 Apr. 1285 (Chart. Glastonbury I 47-8, cal. from another text Cal. I 521) and c. 1289 (Chart. Bath II 134 (no. 702)).

Thomas of Axbridge

Clerk and proctor of Bath priory (Cart. Bath II 63 (no. 292). First occ. as archdcn. of Bath 23 Feb. 1292 (ibid. p. 96 (no. 486)). Occ. several times (cf. Cal. I 530, cf. ibid. p. 529). Last occ. 30 March 1294 (ibid. p. 108).

Iterius Bochard of Angoulême

Royal clerk; constable of Bordeaux; director of Gascon treasury 10 June 1289 - 30 June 1293 (Tout, Chapters VI 66). Can. of Wells by 3 March 1279 (unident. preb., list 67). Rector of Overton (Hants), did not res. on becoming archdcn. of Bath (Reg. Pontissara II 765). Occ. as archdcn., going abroad 3 Oct. 1295 (CPR 1292-1301 p. 150), 1 Jan. 1296 (Foedera, ed. T. Rymer (1816) I (2) 834), and 18 Feb. 1297 (CPR 1292-1301 p. 235). Can. of Dublin, occ. 22 Feb. 1297 (ibid. p. 264). Said never to have kept residence (Cal. I 192).

Next identified archdcn. of Bath is Henry of Sandwich, 1309-33 (2 Fasti VIII 14).