Robert Papelew
Encyclopedia
Robert Passelewe was a medieval Bishop of Chichester
elect as well as being a royal clerk and Archdeacon of Lewes.
, bishop of Winchester
, household in 1218, and he also served the papal legate Cardinal Guala Bicchieri
before that. After the cardinal left England in 1218, Robert often went to Rome
to deliver the cardinal's pension payments. On one of these trips, after a request from des Roches, Robert obtained in 1222 a declaration from Pope Honorius III
that King Henry III
was of legal age. This service for the bishop of Winchester put Passelewe in the opposite party of Hubert de Burgh, who was des Roches' opponent in the minority government of Henry III, and who had not wished the king to be declared of age.
Because of Passelewe's service for des Roches, in 1224 Robert was exiled from England and his property was seized. He managed to regain his property and return to England in 1226, partly through the efforts of the pope, but he remained out of favor at the royal court while Hubert de Burgh remained in power through 1232. By 1233 he was serving as Peter de Rivaux
's deputy at the treasury, when he was threatened with excommunication
by the bishops of England for his service to des Roches. In 1234, when des Roches fell from power, Robert once more lost most of his property. His offices and lands were confiscated by the Council of Gloucester in May of 1234. With the offer of 500 marks, Robert regained the king's favor in 1235, although he did not hold office again until 1242, when the king appointed him Sheriff of Hampshire
and put him in charge of the building at Westminster Abbey
. He also was instrumental in the forest eyre of 1244 and 1245 that was widely considered to be oppressive.
Passelewe was appointed archdeacon of Lewes in 1244. He was elected to the see of Chichester about 18 April 1244, but was never consecrated as his election was quashed on 3 June 1244. Boniface of Savoy prevented his consecration because Passelewe was ignorant of theology. Another reason was likely that he had served as a royal justice of the forest, which was a post that many bishops, including Robert Grosseteste
, bishop of Lincoln
, felt to be unsuited for the clergy. Robert himself was more royal servant than clerk, as he was not ordained until December of 1249. He left royal service in 1250 after a quarrel over Robert's presentation to a benefice the king had desired to go to Henry's half brother Aymer de Lusignan. The king forgave Robert, however, by December of 1250.
Passelewe died at Waltham
on 6 June 1252. He had two brothers, Hamo and Simon, and a sister. Hamo served as sheriff of Norfolk and of Suffolk, and Simon was a royal clerk. Their sister married William of Holwell, who was sheriff of Hertfordshire.
Bishop of Chichester
The Bishop of Chichester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chichester in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers the Counties of East and West Sussex. The see is in the City of Chichester where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity...
elect as well as being a royal clerk and Archdeacon of Lewes.
Life
Passelewe was a clerk of Fawkes de Breauté, before becoming a clerk in Peter des RochesPeter des Roches
Peter des Roches was bishop of Winchester in the reigns of King John of England and his son Henry III. Roches was not an Englishman, but a Poitevin.-Life:...
, 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...
, household in 1218, and he also served the papal legate Cardinal 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....
before that. After the cardinal left England in 1218, Robert often went to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to deliver the cardinal's pension payments. On one of these trips, after a request from des Roches, Robert obtained in 1222 a declaration from Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III
Pope Honorius III , previously known as Cencio Savelli, was Pope from 1216 to 1227.-Early work:He was born in Rome as son of Aimerico...
that King Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
was of legal age. This service for the bishop of Winchester put Passelewe in the opposite party of Hubert de Burgh, who was des Roches' opponent in the minority government of Henry III, and who had not wished the king to be declared of age.
Because of Passelewe's service for des Roches, in 1224 Robert was exiled from England and his property was seized. He managed to regain his property and return to England in 1226, partly through the efforts of the pope, but he remained out of favor at the royal court while Hubert de Burgh remained in power through 1232. By 1233 he was serving as Peter de Rivaux
Peter de Rivaux
Peter de Rivaux or Peter de Rivalis was an influential Poitevin courtier at the court of Henry III of England. He was related to Peter des Roches, being a nephew ....
's deputy at the treasury, when he was threatened with excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
by the bishops of England for his service to des Roches. In 1234, when des Roches fell from power, Robert once more lost most of his property. His offices and lands were confiscated by the Council of Gloucester in May of 1234. With the offer of 500 marks, Robert regained the king's favor in 1235, although he did not hold office again until 1242, when the king appointed him Sheriff of Hampshire
High Sheriff of Hampshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Hampshire, the title was often given as High Sheriff of the County of Southampton until 1959.-List of High Sheriffs:*1070–1096: Hugh de Port *1105: Henry de Port *1129: William de Pont de l'Arche...
and put him in charge of the building at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
. He also was instrumental in the forest eyre of 1244 and 1245 that was widely considered to be oppressive.
Passelewe was appointed archdeacon of Lewes in 1244. He was elected to the see of Chichester about 18 April 1244, but was never consecrated as his election was quashed on 3 June 1244. Boniface of Savoy prevented his consecration because Passelewe was ignorant of theology. Another reason was likely that he had served as a royal justice of the forest, which was a post that many bishops, including Robert Grosseteste
Robert Grosseteste
Robert Grosseteste or Grossetete was an English statesman, scholastic philosopher, theologian and Bishop of Lincoln. He was born of humble parents at Stradbroke in Suffolk. A.C...
, bishop of Lincoln
Bishop of Lincoln
The Bishop of Lincoln is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury.The present diocese covers the county of Lincolnshire and the unitary authority areas of North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire. The Bishop's seat is located in the Cathedral...
, felt to be unsuited for the clergy. Robert himself was more royal servant than clerk, as he was not ordained until December of 1249. He left royal service in 1250 after a quarrel over Robert's presentation to a benefice the king had desired to go to Henry's half brother Aymer de Lusignan. The king forgave Robert, however, by December of 1250.
Passelewe died at Waltham
Waltham
-Horology:* Waltham Watch Company, American watch manufacturer, pioneer in the industrialisation of the manufacturing of watch movements** Waltham International, Swiss subsidiary-Places:In Canada:*Waltham, QuebecIn England:...
on 6 June 1252. He had two brothers, Hamo and Simon, and a sister. Hamo served as sheriff of Norfolk and of Suffolk, and Simon was a royal clerk. Their sister married William of Holwell, who was sheriff of Hertfordshire.