Richard Marsh (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Richard Marsh also called Richard de Marisco, served as Lord Chancellor
of England and Bishop of Durham.
of Exeter Cathedral
before becoming Archdeacon of Northumberland by 1 November 1211. He was also Archdeacon of Richmond
. During that time he was also serving in the financial administration. In 1210 he earned a mention as one of the king's "evil councilors."
During 1212 Marsh held the office of Sheriff of Somerset
and Dorset
. Stephen Langton
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
, threatened Marsh with excommunication over Marsh's exactions from the Church during the interdict of John's reign. Marsh went to Rome in 1213, to negotiate on both his own behalf and on his king's behalf, and succeeded in getting much more lenient terms from the pope than had originally been given. He served as Chancellor from 29 October 1214 until his death. However, his title was mostly honorary after his election as a bishop, for he no longer attended court all the time, and Ralph Neville
, who had custody of the king's seal, did most of the actual work of the office of chancellor.
Marsh was elected Bishop of Durham about 27 June 1217 and consecrated probably on 2 July 1217. His election had been promoted by the papal legate, Guala Bicchieri
, and his consecration was performed by Archbishop Walter de Gray
of York at Gloucester
.
In 1224, when Fawkes de Breauté kidnapped a royal justice and held him in Bedford Castle
, Marsh voluntarily contributed to the carucage
that had been voted by the clergy of the ecclesiastical province of Canterbury, even though he was a member of the province of York. This carucage was voted to help with the expenses of the siege and taking of Bedford Castle. Marsh continued the quarrel between the cathedral chapter and the bishops over the revenues and rights of the monks.
Marsh died on 1 May 1226, quite suddenly at Peterborough Abbey while on his way to London for a hearing in the lawsuit between the monks and himself. His nephew, Adam Marsh
, was his heir, and received his large library as a bequest.
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
of England and Bishop of Durham.
Life
Marsh attended a university, as he was styled magister, but which university it was is unknown. His ancestry and upbringing likewise are unknown. He was a royal clerk and canonCanon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
of Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral
Exeter Cathedral, the Cathedral Church of Saint Peter at Exeter, is an Anglican cathedral, and the seat of the Bishop of Exeter, in the city of Exeter, Devon in South West England....
before becoming Archdeacon of Northumberland by 1 November 1211. He was also Archdeacon of Richmond
Archdeacon of Richmond
The Archdeacon of Richmond is an archdiaconal post in the Church of England. It is under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Chester.-History:It was created around the year 1088, and was endowed by Thomas, Archbishop of York. It had the valuable impropriations of Easingwold, Bolton, Clapham, and...
. During that time he was also serving in the financial administration. In 1210 he earned a mention as one of the king's "evil councilors."
During 1212 Marsh held the office of Sheriff of Somerset
High Sheriff of Somerset
The Office of High Sheriff of Somerset is an ancient High Sheriff title which has been in existence for over one thousand years. The position was once a powerful position responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing law and order in Somerset a county in South West England. In modern times the...
and Dorset
High Sheriff of Dorset
The High Sheriff of Dorset is an ancient High Sheriff title which has been in existence for over one thousand years. The position was once a powerful position responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing law and order in Dorset. In modern times the sheriff has become a ceremonial role, presiding...
. Stephen Langton
Stephen Langton
Stephen Langton was Archbishop of Canterbury between 1207 and his death in 1228 and was a central figure in the dispute between King John of England and Pope Innocent III, which ultimately led to the issuing of Magna Carta in 1215...
, the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, threatened Marsh with excommunication over Marsh's exactions from the Church during the interdict of John's reign. Marsh went to Rome in 1213, to negotiate on both his own behalf and on his king's behalf, and succeeded in getting much more lenient terms from the pope than had originally been given. He served as Chancellor from 29 October 1214 until his death. However, his title was mostly honorary after his election as a bishop, for he no longer attended court all the time, and Ralph Neville
Ralph Neville
Ralph Neville was a medieval clergyman and politician who served as Bishop of Chichester, Keeper of the Great Seal and Lord Chancellor of England...
, who had custody of the king's seal, did most of the actual work of the office of chancellor.
Marsh was elected Bishop of Durham about 27 June 1217 and consecrated probably on 2 July 1217. His election had been promoted by the papal legate, Guala Bicchieri
Guala Bicchieri
Guala Bicchieri was an Italian diplomat and papal official, and Cardinal. He was the papal legate in England from 1216 to 1218, and took a prominent role in the politics of England during King John’s last years and Henry III’s early minority....
, and his consecration was performed by Archbishop Walter de Gray
Walter de Gray
Walter de Gray was an English prelate and statesman who rose to be Archbishop of York and Lord Chancellor.-Life:Gray was the son of John de Gray the Elder of Eaton in Norfolk and nephew of John de Gray , Bishop of Norwich. His sister, Hawise, married the Justiciar of England, Philip Basset...
of York at Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
.
In 1224, when Fawkes de Breauté kidnapped a royal justice and held him in Bedford Castle
Bedford Castle
Bedford Castle was a large medieval castle in Bedford, England. Built after 1100 by Henry I, the castle played a prominent part in both the civil war of the Anarchy and the First Barons' War. The castle was significantly extended in stone, although the final plan of the castle remains uncertain...
, Marsh voluntarily contributed to the carucage
Carucage
Carucage was a medieval English land tax introduced by King Richard I in 1194, based on the size—variously calculated—of the estate owned by the taxpayer. It was a replacement for the danegeld, last imposed in 1162, which had become difficult to collect because of an increasing number of exemptions...
that had been voted by the clergy of the ecclesiastical province of Canterbury, even though he was a member of the province of York. This carucage was voted to help with the expenses of the siege and taking of Bedford Castle. Marsh continued the quarrel between the cathedral chapter and the bishops over the revenues and rights of the monks.
Marsh died on 1 May 1226, quite suddenly at Peterborough Abbey while on his way to London for a hearing in the lawsuit between the monks and himself. His nephew, Adam Marsh
Adam Marsh
Adam Marsh was an English Franciscan, scholar and theologian.-Biography:He was born about 1200 in the diocese of Bath, and educated at Oxford under the famous Grosseteste....
, was his heir, and received his large library as a bequest.