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 CHICHESTER

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CHICHESTER

diall, in the Diocese of St. Asaph, was his first living, and he held in succession the rectory of St. Stephen's, Walbrook, the archdeaconry of I torset, together with a prebend of Salisburj I 1397), a canonry in the collegi- ate church of Aberguilly (1400), a canonry of Lich- field (Horn, the archdeaconry of Salisbury (1402), the chancellorship of Salisbury, together with the liv- ing of Odiham in the Diocese of Winchester (1403), and the livings of Melcombe and Sherston in the Dio- cese of Salisbury. Following upon these came his appointment by provision to the Bishopric of St. David by Gregory XII, who consecrated him at Lucca (17 June, 1408).

Early in his career In' was admitted an advocate in the( Jourt of Arches and for a time acted as the lawyer for Richard Mitford, Bishop of Salisbury. His skill in legal matters attracted the king's notice, and in July. 1405, he was sent with Sir John Cheyneon a mis- sion to Innocent VII. Later in the same year he treated with the King of France as a commissioner of peace, and in 1 1(17 he journeyed again to Italy on an embassy to Gregory XII, then at Siena. It was on this occasion that he received the Bishopric of SI David from the pope, with the king's approval. lb- was again in Italy at the Council of Pisa (1409), and it was not until May. 1411, that he first visited his diocese and was enthroned. The Diocese of St. David must have seen very little of him, for he went as king's ambassador to France with the Earl of Warwick in 141.'!. and early in the following year, on the death of Arundel, the king nominated him to the See of Canterbury (1!) February, 1414), to which he was elected on the 4th of March. As arch- bishop lie was the king's trusted friend and councillor. He seems to have favoured the policy of war with France, collecting much money for its support; in 1419 and again in 1420 he accompanied Henry V into France. A keen and skilful lawyer, he was active in all legislative matters, particularly with regard to ec- clesiastical affairs, and vigorous in searching out and suppressing the Lollards. His loyalty to the pope's policy of opposing the statutes of Provisors and Prse- munire has been doubted; the opponents of the Catho- lic Church have looked upon him as the upholder of the independence of the national Church against the claims of Rome. He certainly displeased Martin V, who slighted him by offering a cardinal's hat and the powers of a legate ./ latere to Henry Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester. The pope again passed him by in 1 CIO, when Kemp, Archbishop of York, was created cardinal and given precedence over him in Parlia- ment in spite of Chichele's appeal against such treat- ment. On two occasions, in 1421 and 1422, Martin Y severely reprimanded ( 'hichele for his weakness in not ing tin- abolition of the obnoxious statutes. The pope charged him with hindering the liberties of the Church, and suspended him from the office of legate which pertained to his see. Though he ap- pealed from the pope to the judgment of a future council we find him submitting to the pope's wishes ii ing to persuade the Commons to cease withstanding the pope (1428).

Chichele was a munificent benefactor to his birth- place, his university, and his cathedral church. At lligham Ferrers lie built and endowed a college for eight priests, lour clerks, and six choristers; he founded also a hospital there for twelve poor men. He gave two hundred marks for the relief of poor

students at Oxford; this sum was preserved in a chest known I -t ". To New College he

gave a similar sum "I money. He built the Cister- cian College of St. Bernard, now St. John's, Oxford,

but his greatest work for his university was the foun- dation of tic- College of All Souls for a warden and forty fellows, who were to spend their time in prayer

and study. HI- name is still perpetuated in Oxford, for the one who fills the chair of modern history is III.—42

known as the "Chichele Professor". The last years of his life were chiefly spent at Oxford superintend- ing his great foundation there. Old age and infirmity prompted him to suggest his resignation to the pope (1442), but before the necessary arrangements could be made he died.

Hook, Archbishops of Canterbury (London, 1800-73), V. 1-129; Duck, Life of H. Chichele (1699); Wilkins, Concilia, III; Anstet, Mummenta Academica (Rolls Series), 291; Le Neve, Fasti Eccl. Anglicanm; Miluan, Latin Christianity. VIII, 326, 328.

G. E. Hind.

Chichester, Ancient Catholic Diocese op (Cicestrensis), in England. This see took its rise in consequence of the decree passed at the Council of London in 107.5, requiring all bishoprics to be re- moved from villages to towns. The old see of the South Saxons, which had been founded towards the end of the seventh century by St. Wilfrid of York, had been filled by a long line of bishops whose cathe- dral church was at Selsea. In consequence of the new decree, Stigand, Bishop of Selsea, transferred the see to Chichester in 1082. This town, called Regnum by the Romans, obtained its present name from Cissa, son of ^Elle, the Saxon chieftain who landed in 477. the town becoming Cissa's Ceaster, or fort (castrum), and, in time, Chichester. The most nota- ble of the early bishops was Ralph de Luffa (1091- 1123), who built the cathedral; much of the structure as it still exists was his work. In 1108 he was able to consecrate at least a part of it, but in 1114 the first fire occurred, and extensive rebuilding was necessary. The cathedral was completed and consecrated in 1184, but in 1186 it was again greatly damaged by fire. Bishop Seyffrid II (11S0-1204), who had com- pleted the building, now undertook its reconstruc- tion, making considerable changes and introducing Early English work into the Norman building, which accounts for the composite character of the nave. His successor, Simon Fitz Robert of Wells (1204- 1207), being a favourite of King John, obtained many important privileges for the see, but after his death John kept it vacant for many years. The next bishop was Richard Poore (1215-1217), known as the builder of Salisbury cathedral. After him came Ranulf of Warham (1217-1224) and Ralph Neville, the Chancellor (1224-1244), who was re- markable as a statesman. On his death there was a contest over the appointment to the see, which the pope settled by naming and consecrating Richard of W'ych (1245-1253), better known as St. Richard of Chichester, the friend and chancellor of St. Edmund. King Henry III, enraged at this, refused him the temporalities of his see. Having for a time been compelled to live on the alms of his own clergy, St. Richard ultimately succeeded in overcoming the king's anger, and for eight years ruled the see with wisdom and holiness, his last act being to consecrate a church at Dover in honour of his friend and master, St. Edmund. In 1270, during the pontificate of Stephen of Berghsted (1262-1288), he was canon- ized, and his relies were enshrined above the high altar.

Chichester had another saintly prelate in Gilbert de S. I.cophardo (1288-1305), who added to the Lady Chapel. William Rede (1369-1385) was a scholar- bishop who collected the early records of the see, and his namesake, Robert Rede (1397-1415) compiled the earliest register now existing. Bishops suc- ceeded one another rapidly, many being transferred to i her sees. Among them Reginald Pecock (1450- 1459), famous for his learning, was accused of heresy and resigned his see. His successor, John Arundel (1459-1478), built the rood screen in the cathedral. But the diocese fell into bad condition, as is shown by the register of the next bishop, Edward Storey (1478- 1503), a wise administrator who founded the Chiches-