Robert Morton (bishop)
Encyclopedia
Robert Morton was an English priest and Bishop of Worcester
. Born to William Morton, Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury
, Robert Morton was also the nephew of John Morton, the Archbishop of Canterbury
. He gained an MA from the University of Oxford
in 1458, and was awarded an LLD
by them in 1480 as a way for the university to honour his uncle.
He received the benefice
of All Saints', Huntington
in 1458, and by the time he was elected to the episcopate
in 1486 he also was also the Prebendary
of St Paul's, Salisbury, York
, Beverley
, and Wherwell Abbey
, as well as the archdeacon of Gloucester and Winchester.
On 9 January 1479 Morton became Master of the Rolls
, losing it on 22 September 1483 when his uncle opposed Richard III of England
. Morton also played a part in the campaign against Richard, and was with Henry Tudor
at the Battle of Bosworth Field
. After Henry became king, Morton was again made Master of the Rolls on 13 November 1485.
On 16 October 1486 he became Bishop of Worcester
, and he was consecrated on 28 January 1487. He was the last English Bishop of Worcester before the English Reformation
, with his successors being Italian, and served until his death in 1497. He was buried in St Paul's Cathedral
rather than his own Worcester Cathedral
. Due to the large absence of material on his life from 1458 to 1477, where he is recorded receiving a papal dispensation
, he is sometimes considered to be the same man as Robert Morton, a composer
who lived at around the same time.
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
. Born to William Morton, Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury
Shaftesbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Shaftesbury was a parliamentary constituency in Dorset. It returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1295 until 1832 and one member until the constituency was abolished in 1885....
, Robert Morton was also the nephew of John Morton, 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...
. He gained an MA from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1458, and was awarded an LLD
Legum Doctor
Legum Doctor is a doctorate-level academic degree in law, or an honorary doctorate, depending on the jurisdiction. The double L in the abbreviation refers to the early practice in the University of Cambridge to teach both Canon Law and Civil Law, the double L indicating the plural, Doctor of both...
by them in 1480 as a way for the university to honour his uncle.
He received the benefice
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
of All Saints', Huntington
Huntington
- People :* Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon* Huntington Hartford, A&P supermarket heir* Anna Hyatt Huntington, American sculptor* Arabella Huntington, wife of Collis Potter Huntington* Archer M. Huntington, scholar of Hispanic Studies...
in 1458, and by the time he was elected to the episcopate
Historical episcopate
The episcopate is the collective body of all bishops of a church. In the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Rite Catholic, Oriental Orthodox, Old-Catholic, Moravian Church, and Independent Catholic churches as well as in the Assyrian Church of the East, it is held that only a...
in 1486 he also was also the Prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
of St Paul's, Salisbury, York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, Beverley
Beverley
Beverley is a market town, civil parish and the county town of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England, located between the River Hull and the Westwood. The town is noted for Beverley Minster and architecturally-significant religious buildings along New Walk and other areas, as well as the Beverley...
, and Wherwell Abbey
Wherwell Abbey
Wherwell Abbey was an abbey of Benedictine nuns in Wherwell, Hampshire, England.-Foundation:The nunnery was founded about 986 by Ælfthryth, the widow of King Edgar. She retired there to live out her life and was buried there.-10th to 16th centuries:...
, as well as the archdeacon of Gloucester and Winchester.
On 9 January 1479 Morton became Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
, losing it on 22 September 1483 when his uncle opposed Richard III of England
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
. Morton also played a part in the campaign against Richard, and was with Henry Tudor
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
at the Battle of Bosworth Field
Battle of Bosworth Field
The Battle of Bosworth Field was the penultimate battle of the Wars of the Roses, the civil war between the House of Lancaster and the House of York that raged across England in the latter half of the 15th century. Fought on 22 August 1485, the battle was won by the Lancastrians...
. After Henry became king, Morton was again made Master of the Rolls on 13 November 1485.
On 16 October 1486 he became Bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
, and he was consecrated on 28 January 1487. He was the last English Bishop of Worcester before the English Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
, with his successors being Italian, and served until his death in 1497. He was buried in St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
rather than his own Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in Worcester, England; situated on a bank overlooking the River Severn. It is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Worcester. Its official name is The Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Mary the Virgin of Worcester...
. Due to the large absence of material on his life from 1458 to 1477, where he is recorded receiving a papal dispensation
Papal dispensation
Papal dispensation is a reserved right of the Pope that allows for individuals to be exempted from a specific Canon Law. Dispensations are divided into two categories: general, and matrimonial. Matrimonial dispensations can be either to allow a marriage in the first place, or to dissolve one...
, he is sometimes considered to be the same man as Robert Morton, a composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
who lived at around the same time.