Richard of Ilchester
Encyclopedia
Richard of Ilchester also called Richard of Toclyve or Richard of Toclive, was a medieval English statesman and prelate
, however, he is found acting as a clerk in the King's court
, probably under Thomas Becket
, and he was one of the officials who assisted Henry in carrying out his great judicial and financial reforms. Richard was the first King's Remembrancer
, the oldest judicial office still in existence in England, in 1154.
In 1162, or 1163, he was appointed archdeacon
of Poitiers
, but he passed most of his time in England, although in the next two or three years he visited Pope Alexander III
and the Emperor Frederick I in the interests of the English king. He was one of the persons whom the Constitutions of Clarendon
were addressed, along with Geoffrey Ridel
and Richard de Luci
. For promising to support Frederick against Alexander he was excommunicated by Becket in 1166. Before this event, however, Richard had been appointed a baron of the exchequer
. One of Richard's duties was to oversee the making of the Pipe rolls, as well as keeping the treasurer from falling asleep. He also was responsible for an innovation in record keeping by the Exchequer, ordering a record kept of every summons made by the Exchequer. This system, however, was discontinued later.
Although totally immersed in secular business he received several rich ecclesiastical offices including treasurer of the diocese of Poitiers, and 1 May 1173 he was elected bishop of Winchester
, being consecrated at Canterbury
in October 1174. Richard still continued to serve Henry II. In 1176 he was appointed justiciary and seneschal of Normandy
, and was given full control of all the royal business in the duchy. He died on 22 December 1188, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral
. Richard owes his surname to the fact that Henry II granted him a mill at Ilchester
.
While bishop he gave an endowment to a hospital in Winchester, and allowed it to double the number of poor that it fed.
He probably was the father of the brothers Richard Poore
, who became Bishop of Durham, and Herbert Poore
, who became Bishop of Salisbury
.
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
Life
He was born in the diocese of Bath, where he obtained preferment. Early in the reign of Henry IIHenry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
, however, he is found acting as a clerk in the King's court
King's Bench
The Queen's Bench is the superior court in a number of jurisdictions within some of the Commonwealth realms...
, probably under Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
, and he was one of the officials who assisted Henry in carrying out his great judicial and financial reforms. Richard was the first King's Remembrancer
King's Remembrancer
The Queen's Remembrancer is an ancient judicial post in the legal system of England and Wales. Since the Lord Chancellor no longer sits as a judge, the Remembrancer is the oldest judicial position in continual existence...
, the oldest judicial office still in existence in England, in 1154.
In 1162, or 1163, he was appointed archdeacon
Archdeacon
An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in Anglicanism, Syrian Malabar Nasrani, Chaldean Catholic, and some other Christian denominations, above that of most clergy and below a bishop. In the High Middle Ages it was the most senior diocesan position below a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church...
of Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
, but he passed most of his time in England, although in the next two or three years he visited Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III
Pope Alexander III , born Rolando of Siena, was Pope from 1159 to 1181. He is noted in history for laying the foundation stone for the Notre Dame de Paris.-Church career:...
and the Emperor Frederick I in the interests of the English king. He was one of the persons whom the Constitutions of Clarendon
Constitutions of Clarendon
The Constitutions of Clarendon were a set of legislative procedures passed by Henry II of England in 1164. The Constitutions were composed of 16 articles and represent an attempt to restrict ecclesiastical privileges and curb the power of the Church courts and the extent of Papal authority in England...
were addressed, along with Geoffrey Ridel
Geoffrey Ridel
Geoffrey Ridel was the nineteenth Lord Chancellor of England, from 1162 to 1173.Ridel was probably the great-nephew of Geoffrey Ridel, who died in 1120 and was a royal justice. He was a royal clerk by about 1156, when he first starts witnessing charters. He was a king's clerk before he was...
and Richard de Luci
Richard de Luci
Richard de Luci was first noted as Sheriff of the County of Essex, then he was made Chief Justiciar of England.- Biography :His wife Rohese, who is named in several documents, was a sister of Faramus of Boulogne...
. For promising to support Frederick against Alexander he was excommunicated by Becket in 1166. Before this event, however, Richard had been appointed a baron of the exchequer
Exchequer of pleas
The Exchequer of Pleas or Court of Exchequer was a court that followed equity, a set of legal principles based on natural law, and common law, in England and Wales. Originally part of the curia regis, or King's Council, the Exchequer of Pleas split from the curia during the 1190s, to sit as an...
. One of Richard's duties was to oversee the making of the Pipe rolls, as well as keeping the treasurer from falling asleep. He also was responsible for an innovation in record keeping by the Exchequer, ordering a record kept of every summons made by the Exchequer. This system, however, was discontinued later.
Although totally immersed in secular business he received several rich ecclesiastical offices including treasurer of the diocese of Poitiers, and 1 May 1173 he was elected bishop of Winchester
Bishop of Winchester
The Bishop of Winchester is the head of the Church of England diocese of Winchester, with his cathedra at Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire.The bishop is one of five Church of England bishops to be among the Lords Spiritual regardless of their length of service. His diocese is one of the oldest and...
, being consecrated at Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
in October 1174. Richard still continued to serve Henry II. In 1176 he was appointed justiciary and seneschal of Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, and was given full control of all the royal business in the duchy. He died on 22 December 1188, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
. Richard owes his surname to the fact that Henry II granted him a mill at Ilchester
Ilchester
Ilchester is a village and civil parish, situated on the River Yeo or Ivel, five miles north of Yeovil, in the English county of Somerset. The parish, which includes the village of Sock Dennis and the old parish of Northover, has a population of 2,021...
.
While bishop he gave an endowment to a hospital in Winchester, and allowed it to double the number of poor that it fed.
He probably was the father of the brothers Richard Poore
Richard Poore
Richard Poore was a medieval English clergyman best known for his role in the construction of Salisbury Cathedral.-Early life:...
, who became Bishop of Durham, and Herbert Poore
Herbert Poore
Herbert Poore was a medieval English clergyman who held the post of Bishop of Salisbury during the reigns of Richard I and John.-Life:...
, who became Bishop of Salisbury
Bishop of Salisbury
The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset...
.