BISHOPS OF ROCHESTER
The archbishops had the patronage of the bishopric of Rochester until 1238, when
pope Gregory IX granted the right of free election to the prior and convent. (fn. 1)
Siward
Abbot of Chertsey (Ben., Surrey). Cons. 1058 (A.S.C. 'D', 'E' p. 134; Ann. Roff.
in Flor. Hist. 1 478). D. 1075 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 11 8). Commem. 30 Oct.
(Canterbury obit. III fo. 235v). So presum. d. c. 30 Oct. 1075.
Arnost
Monk of Le Bec-Hellouin (Ben., Eure, France). Succeeded and cons. 1075, after
Aug. ('Acta Lanfranci' in Two of the Saxon Chrons. Parallel, ed. J. Earle, revised
C. Plummer (Oxford, 1892) 1 289, 11 315; cf. Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 11 8). Prof.
obed., n.d. (Canterbury, Reg. A fo. 213v). D. 1076, before Aug. ('Acta Lanfranci' in
Two Saxon Chrons. 1 289, 11 315; cf. Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 11 8, which says he held
office for one and a half years). Commem. 15 July (Canterbury obits. II fo. 34r,
III fo. 201r).
Gundulph
Monk of Le Bec-Hellouin (Ben., Eure, France), and then of St. capÉtienne, Caen
(Ben., Calvados), and from 1070 administrative assistant to abp. Lanfranc (see R. A. L.
Smith in E.H.R. lviii (1943) 260). Appd. by abp. Lanfranc and given royal assent
('Vita Gundulfi' in Patrologia Latina, ed. J. Migne, clix col. 820; Will. Malmesbury,
G.P. p. 136). Cons. 19 March 1077 ('Vita Gundulfi' col. 820; Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist.
11 8 and (Vesp.) fo. 27v). (fn. 2) Enthr. soon after ('Vita Gundulfi' col. 820). D. after Vespers
7 March 1108 (ibid. col. 834; cf. Eadmer, H.N. p. 192). Commem. 8 March (Canterbury obits. I fo. 7r, II fo. 19r, III fo. 171r), 9 March (Belvoir obit.: Camb., Trinity
Coll. MS. O.9.25 fo. 137r).
Ralph d'Escures
(fn. 3)
Abbot of Séez (Ben., Orne, France). Nom. by bp. Gundulph before his d. ('Vita
Gundulfi' in Patrologia Latina, ed. J. Migne, clix col. 833; Orderici Vitalis Historiae
Ecclesiasticae, ed. A. Le Prévost (Paris, 1838-55) 111 309). Appd. by abp. 29 June 1108
(Eadmer, H.N. p. 196). Invested by archdcn. of Canterbury 30 June (ibid. pp. 196-7).
Cons. 9 Aug. 1108 (ibid. p. 198). Prof. obed., n.d. (Woodruff, Professions p. 167). Abp.
of Canterbury, postulated Apr. 1114, enthr. May (see above p. 3).
Ernulph
Prior of Canterbury (1096-1107) (see above p. 8), and abbot of Peterborough (Ben.,
Northants) (1107-14) (Eadmer, H.N. p. 225). Invested by abp. 28 Sept. 1114 and instal.
10 Oct. (ibid.). Cons. 26 Dec. 1115 (ibid. pp. 236-7). Prof. obed., n.d. (Woodruff,
Professions p. 167). D. March 1124 (John Worc. p. 18). (fn. 1) Commem. 15 March (Canterbury obits. I fo. 7v, II fo. 20v, III fo. 173r).
John I
Archdcn. of Canterbury (see above p. 13). El. before 12 Apr. 1125 (John Worc.
p. 19). Cons. 24 May 1125 (ibid.; Gerv. Cant. 11 381). Prof. obed., n.d. (Woodruff,
Professions p. 168). D. 20 June 1137 (Gerv. Cant. 1 100; ann. Canterbury in U.G.Q.
p. 80). (fn. 2) Commem. 22 June (Canterbury obits. II fo. 31v, III fo. 195v).
John II [of Séez]
(fn. 3)
Presum. appd. by pope during vacancy in abpric., before Jan. 1139 (see A. Saltman
in E.H.R. lxvi (1951) 72), and to be identified with unnamed bp. of Rochester who
occ. Apr. 1139 (Richard of Hexham in Chrons. of Stephen, Hen. II and Ric. I, ed.
R. Howlett (Rolls ser., lxxxii) 111 176; John of Hexham in Sym. Dun. 11 300). D. 1142
(Ann. Roff. (Vesp.) fo. 28v).
Ascelin
(fn. 4)
Prior of Dover (Ben., Kent). Cons. 1142 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 11 64). Prof. obed.,
n.d. (Woodruff, Professions p. 168). D. 24 Jan. 1148, in his 6th year (Gerv. Cant. 1
132). (fn. 5) Commem. 23 Jan. (Canterbury obits. I fo. 4r, III fo. 160v).
Walter
Archdcn. of Canterbury (see above p. 13). El. 27 Jan., prof. obed. and cons. 14
March 1148 (Woodruff, Professions p. 169; cf. Gerv. Cant. 1 132-3). D. 26 July 1182
(Ann. Roff. (Vesp.) fo. 31r; cf. Gerv. Cant. 1 302). Commem. 26 July (Canterbury obit.
III fo. 205r).
Waleran
Archdcn. of Bayeux, and clk. of Richard of Dover, abp. of Canterbury. El. 9 or 10
Oct. 1182 (Diceto 11 13 and n. 3; cf. Gerv. Cant. 1 302, where he is said to have been
appd. by abp.). Ordained pr. 18 Dec. (Diceto 11 14). Cons. 19 Dec. 1182 (ibid.; cf.
Gerv. Cant. 1 306). Prof. obed., n.d. (Woodruff, Professions p. 171). D. 29 Aug. 1184
(Gerv. Cant. 1 312). Commem. 29 Aug. (Canterbury obits. II fo. 39v, III fo. 214r).
Gilbert de Glanville
Archdcn. of Lisieux, and clk. of Baldwin, abp. of Canterbury (Gerv. Cant. 1 327).
El. 16 July 1185 (Diceto 11 38). Ordained pr. 21 Sept. (ibid.). Cons. 29 Sept. 1185 (ibid.).
Prof. obed., n.d. (Woodruff, Professions p. 171). D. 24 June 1214 (Wendover 111 281;
ann. St. Albans in U.G.Q. p. 171). Commem. 24 June (Canterbury obits. II fo. 31v,
III fo. 196r).
M. Benedict of Sawston
(fn. 6)
Precentor of London. Papal mandate ordering an el., dated 13 Sept. 1214 (Selected
Letters of Innocent III, ed. C. R. Cheney and W. H. Semple (1953) no. 71); papal
legate's mandate, dated 27 Nov. (ibid. p. 191 n. 1). El. 13 Dec. 1214 (Ang. Sac. 1
385-6). Cons. either 25 Jan. (ibid. p. 386) or 22 Feb. 1215 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist.
11 156 and (Vesp.) fo. 32r; cf. cautio in Acta S. Langton no. 12). Prof. obed. 22 Feb.
(Canterbury, Cart. Ant. C.115/81). D. 18 Dec. 1226 (ann. Dover fo. 26r), buried 21
Dec. (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 11 189).
M. Henry de Sandford
Archdcn. of Canterbury (see above p. 14). Abp.'s lic. el. sought and gr., el. 26 Dec.
1226 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 11 189). Abp.'s conf. 7 Feb. 1227 (Acta S. Langton no.
100). Cautio for his cons. outside Canterbury, May 1227 (ibid. no. 104). Cons. 9 May
1227 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 11 190; Gerv. Cant. (cont.) 11 115). (fn. 1) Prof. obed., n.d.
(Woodruff, Professions p. 173). Enthr. 16 May 1227 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 11 190;
ann. Dover fo. 27r). D. prob. 25 Feb. 1235 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 11 215 n. 2).
Richard de Wendene
(fn. 2)
Bp.'s official and rector of Bromley (Kent) (Reg. Roff. pp. 59, 185-3). El. 26 March
1235 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 11 215 and (Vesp.) fo. 33v). Abp.'s conf. withheld and
appeal to pope by 18 Aug. 1235 (Reg. Greg. IX no. 2731; cf. ibid. no. 3261 of 29 July
1236). Papal conf. 20 March 1238 and papal mandate for rest. of temps. (ibid. nos.
4194-5, 4197; Chron. Maj. 111 480). Cons. 21 Nov. 1238 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 11
230; Ann. Waverley p. 319). Prof. obed., n.d. (Woodruff, Professions p. 173). Instal.
30 Nov. 1238 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 11 230). D. 12 Oct. 1250 (ibid. p. 369; cf.
Chron. Maj. v 185).
M. Laurence de Sancto Martino
King's clk.; preb. of Chichester and Salisbury; archdcn. of Coventry. El. 19 Oct.
1250 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 11 369). (fn. 3) Abp.'s conf. 9 Feb. 1251 (ibid.). Papal conf.
before 20 Feb. (Reg. Innoc. IV no. 5139, cf. no. 5069). Cons. 9 Apr. (Ann. Roff. in
Flor. Hist. 11 376 and (Vesp.) fo. 33v). Prof. obed., n.d. (Woodruff, Professions p. 174).
Enthr. after 24 Oct. 1251 (Close R. 1247-51 p. 519). D. 3 June 1274 (Ann. Roff. in Flor.
Hist. 111 44). (fn. 4)
Walter of Merton
(fn. 5)
Royal chanc.; preb. of London. El. c. 20 July 1274 (Chrons. Edw. I and II 184). Cons.
21 Oct. 1274 (Ann. Wint. p. 117). Prof. obed., n.d. (Woodruff, Professions p. 176).
D. 27 Oct. 1277 (Ann. Oseney p. 275).
John de Bradfield
Monk and precentor of Rochester. El. 1278 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 111 50).
Temps. after 19 Jan. (Cal. Fine Rolls 1 (1911) 90). Cons. 29 May 1278 (Ann. Roff. in
Flor. Hist. 111 50). Prof. obed., n.d. (Woodruff, Professions p. 176). D. 23 Apr. 1283
(Ann. Oseney and Chron. Wykes p. 295; Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 111 59).
[John de Kirkeby
Abp.'s lic. el. gr. 29 Apr. 1283 (Reg. J. Pecham 11 195-6). Kirkeby, then archdcn. of
Coventry (Lichfield dioc.), el. before 16 June (ibid. 1 197-8; cf. Reg. G. Giffard 11 202).
Res. his el. 16 June (Reg. J. Pecham 1 197-8; ann. Dover fo. 57v). Bp. of Ely, el. July
1286, cons. Sept. (above p. 47).]
M. Thomas of Ingoldisthorpe
(fn. 1)
Dean of London. El. before 9 July 1283, when abp.'s conf. given (Reg. J. Pecham 11
204). Cons. either 26 Sept. 1283 (Gerv. Cant. (cont.) 11 292; Reg. Epistolarum J.
Peckham, ed. C. T. Martin (Rolls ser. lxxvii) 11 592-3) (fn. 2) or 3 Oct. 1283 (Ann. Roff. in
Flor. Hist. 111 59). Prof. obed., n.d. (Woodruff, Professions p. 176). D. 11 May 1291
(Ann. Oseney p. 328), 12 May 1291 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 111 72; Chron. Bury
p. 98).
Thomas de Wouldham
alias
de Southflete
(fn. 3)
Prior of Rochester (see below p. 80). El. by monks but renounced el.; lic. el. sought
and gr., and el. again by monks 6 June 1291 (Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 111 74; Gerv.
Cant. (cont.) 11 297). Temps. before 11 Dec. 1291 (C.C.R. 1288-96 p. 210). Lic. for his
cons. outside Canterbury 4 Jan. 1292 (Canterbury, Reg. A fo. 69r; cf. Cart. Ant.
C.110/6). Cons. 6 Jan. (Canterbury, Reg. A fo. 67v; Ann. Roff. in Flor. Hist. 111 74).
Prof. obed., n.d. (Canterbury, Reg. A fo. 214v). D. 28 Feb. 1317 (Ann. Roff. in Ang.
Sac. 1 357).