Arms of the Bishop of Hereford: Gules, three leopard's faces jessant-de-lys reversed or[1] These were the arms of Bishop Thomas Cantilupe (c.1218-1282)
Formerly Bishop of Rochester (669–676). As the refounder of Hereford Cathedral, he was recorded as Bishop of Uuestor Elih, although may not have actually held the office of Bishop of Hereford, but was considered to have been such by c. 800.
Also recorded as Leovegard. Previously chaplain to Harold Godwinson. Consecrated in March 1056. Died in office on 16 June 1056. Canonised Saint Leovegard.
Also recorded as Robert of Lorraine; Robert the Lotharingian. Probably formerly a canon of Liège. Consecrated on 29 December 1079. Died in office on 26 June 1095.
Also recorded as Reinhelm; Reinelm. Formerly Chancellor to the Queen Matilda, wife of King Henry I. Invested with the bishopric, probably after Christmas 1102, but resigned it to the king before 29 March 1103. Consecrated on 11 August 1107. Died in office on 27 or 28 October 1115.
Formerly keeper of the king's seal under the Lord Chancellor. Elected on 7 January and consecrated on 16 January 1121. Died in office on 15 August 1127.
Also recorded as Hugh de Mapenore. Formerly Dean of Hereford (1207–16). Elected on 3 February, received possession of the temporalities on 9 December, and consecrated on 18 December 1216. Died in office on 16 April 1219.
Formerly Archdeacon of Shropshire (1178–19). Elected in June, received possession of the temporalities on 2 July, and consecrated on 27 October 1219. Died in office on 7 August 1234.
Also recorded as Ralph Maidstone. Formerly Dean of Hereford (1231–34). Elected sometime between 21 August and 30 September and consecrated on 12 November 1234. Resigned on 17 December 1239 and died on 27 January 1245.
Also recorded as Peter de Egueblank, Peter de Egeblaunch; Peter of Savoy; Peter D'Aquablanca. Formerly Archdeacon of Shropshire (1240). Elected on 24 August, received possession of the temporalities on 6 September, and consecrated on 23 December 1240. Died in office on 27 November 1268.
Also recorded as John Breton. Elected circa 6 January, received possession of the temporalities on 20 April, and consecrated on 2 June 1269. Died in office on 12 May 1275.
Previously Lord Chancellor of England (1264–65). Elected on 14 June, received possession of the temporalities on 26 June, and consecrated on 8 September 1275. Died in office on 25 August 1282. Canonized Saint Thomas de Cantilupe by Pope John XXII on 17 April 1320.
Also recorded as Richard de Swinfield. Elected on 1 October 1282, received possession of the temporalities on 8 January 1283, and consecrated on 7 March 1283. Died in office on 15 March 1317.
Appointed on 15 May, consecrated on 22 May, and received possession of the temporalities on 24 July 1317. Also Lord Treasurer (1327). Translated to Worcester on 25 September 1327.
Previously Lord Privy Seal (1316–20). Appointed on 25 September, consecrated on 18 October, and received possession of the temporalities on 21 December 1327. Also was Lord Treasurer (1328) and Lord Chancellor of Ireland (1337–38). Died in office on 11 January 1344.
Also recorded as Lewis Charlton. Formerly a canon of Hereford and Chancellor of Oxford University. Appointed on 10 September, consecrated on 3 October, and received possession of the temporalities on 14 November 1361. Died in office on 23 May 1369.
Formerly a prebendary of York. Appointed on 17 August 1369, consecrated on 17 March 1370, and received possession of the temporalities on 19 March 1370. Translated to London on 12 September 1375.
Translated from Bangor. Appointed on 12 September and received possession of the temporalities on 4 December 1375. Translated to St David's on 5 May 1389.
Also recorded as Thomas Treffnant & Trefnant.[6] Formerly a canon of St Asaph and Lincoln. Appointed on 5 May, consecrated on 20 June, and received possession of the temporalities on 16 October 1389. Died in office on 29 March 1404.
Also recorded as Robert Maschal. Formerly confessor to the King Henry IV. Appointed on 2 July, consecrated on 6 July, and received possession of the temporalities on 25 September 1404. Died in office on 22 December 1416.
Also recorded as Edmund Lacy. Formerly a canon of Windsor. Elected sometime between 21 January and 17 February, consecrated on 18 April, and received possession of the temporalities on 1 May 1417. Translated to Exeter on 15 July 1420.
Formerly Dean of York (1416–20). Appointed on 15 July, consecrated on 21 July, and received possession of the temporalities on 9 November 1420. Translated to Chichester on 17 November 1421.
Formerly Abbot of St Mary's, York (1405–21) and Bishop-elect of Rochester (1421). Appointed on 18 November 1421, consecrated on 24 May 1422, and received possession of the temporalities on 25 May 1422. Resigned before 4 December 1448.
Formerly Archdeacon of Suffolk (c.1441–48). Appointed on 4 December 1448, received possession of the temporalities on 31 January 1449, and consecrated on 9 February 1449. Translated to Salisbury on 14 August 1450.
Formerly Abbot of Gloucester (1437–50). Appointed on 18 September, received possession of the temporalities on 23 December 1450, and consecrated on 14 February 1451. Translated to Coventry & Lichfield on 7 February 1453.
Also recorded as John Stanbury. Translated from Bangor. Appointed on 7 February and received possession of the temporalities on 26 March 1453. Died in office on 11 May 1474.
Also known as Thomas Milling. Formerly Abbot of Westminster (1469–74). Appointed on 22 June, received possession of the temporalities on 15 August, and consecrated on 21 August 1474. Died in office before 12 January 1492.
Also recorded as Edmund Touchet. Translated from Rochester. Appointed on 22 June and received possession of the temporalities on 26 December 1492. Translated to Salisbury on 10 January 1502.
Not resident; also recorded as Adrian de Castello; Adriano of Castelli; Hadrian de Castello. Formerly a prebendary of St Paul's, London. Appointed on 14 February 1502, consecrated before May 1502, and received possession of the temporalities on before 8 August 1502. Translated to Bath & Wells on 4 August 1504.
Also recorded as Richard Mayeu; Richard Mayo. Appointed on 9 August, consecrated on 27 October, and received possession of the temporalities on 1 November 1504. Also was Vice-Chancellor (1484–85) and Chancellor (1502–06) of the University of Oxford, and President of Magdalen College, Oxford (1480–1507). Died in office on 18 April 1516.
Also recorded as Edward Fox. Nominated by King Henry VIII on 20 August, elected on 25 August, and consecrated on 26 September 1535. Also was Provost of King's College, Cambridge (1528–38). Died in office on 8 May 1538.
Formerly Archdeacon of Leicester (1535–38). Nominated by King Henry VIII on 5 October, elected on 26 October, and confirmed on 17 December 1538. Without being consecrated translated to London in 1539.
Also recorded as John Skippe or Skip. Nominated by King Henry VIII on 13 October, elected on 24 October, and consecrated on 23 November 1539. Also was Archdeacon of Dorset. Died in office on 30 March 1552.
Formerly a prebendary of Worcester. Nominated by King Edward VI on 26 March and consecrated on 26 May 1553. Deprived on 15 March 1554 for being married, and died 1558.
Also recorded as Robert Purfoy; Robert Wharton. Translated from St Asaph. Nominated by Queen Mary I on 17 March, confirmed by Pope Julius III on 6 July, and received possession of the temporalities on 24 April 1554. Died in office on 22 September 1557.
Also recorded as Robert Bennett. Formerly Dean of Windsor (1595–1602). Nominated on 7 January and consecrated on 20 February 1603. Died in office on 20 October 1617.
Also recorded as George Cook. Translated from Bristol. Nominated on 13 June and confirmed on 2 July 1636. Deprived of the see when the English episcopy was abolished by Parliament on 9 October 1646. Died on 10 December 1646.
Formerly a canon of Windsor (1641–62) and Dean of Hereford (1644–61). Elected on 21 January and consecrated on 9 February 1662. Died in office on 18 May 1691.
Formerly a canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Nominated on 11 December 1847, confirmed on 11 January 1848, and consecrated on 26 March 1848. Died in office on 23 April 1868.
Formerly Headmaster of Clifton College. Nominated on 20 February and consecrated on 25 March 1895. Resigned on 31 October 1917 and died on 3 December 1918.
Arms of various Bishops of Hereford, Plate 17, Fasti Herefordenses, 1869Arms of various Bishops of Hereford, Plate 18, Fasti Herefordenses, 1869
Knowledge of the coats of arms of Bishops of Hereford is necessary for the identification of the patrons or instigators of building works, manuscripts, stained glass windows and other art-works, which frequently bear heraldic imagery with no further identifying marks.
The following list of the blazons of the arms of the Bishops of Hereford (with his sources) was compiled by Rev. Francis T. Havergal (Vicar-Choral and Sub-Treasurer of Hereford Cathedral) in his Fasti Herefordenses of 1869;[30] all arms before the start of the age of heraldry (c.1200-1215) are attributed arms, some, like de Vere, being the arms later adopted by his family:
29th Bishop, Gerard, 1096–1100. Gules, on a saltier Arg., another humette of the field; in chief a mitre coroneted, stringed Or. MS. Rawlinson, 158 Bodleian. (attributed arms)
33. Robert de Betun, 1131–48. Arg. two pallets Sable, each charged with three crosslets fitchy Or. (attributed arms). Arms of De Betton of Salop.
34. Gilbert Foliott, 1148–63. Barry of six Arg. and Gules, a bend S. Heralds' College. (attributed arms)
36. Robert Foliott, 1174–86. Gules a bend Argent. MS. Brit. Mus. Add. 12,443. (attributed arms). Also a modern shield over his effigy in south choir aisle.
37. William de Vere, 1186–99. Quarterly, Gules and Or, in 1st quarter a mullet Argent. Harley MS 4056. (attributed arms). Also a modern coloured shield on his tomb in the cathedral.
38. Giles de Braose or Bruce, 1200–16. Az., three bars vaire, ermine and Gules. British Library Harley MS 2275 & Add MS 12443.
40. Hugh Folliott, 1219–34. Arg. a lion rampant double queued Purpure, crowned Or. Harley MS 5814.
41. Ralph de Maidstone, 1234–39. Arg. a lion rampant, Az. crowned with a coronet of four balls Or. British Library Add MS 12443.
43. John le Breton, 1269–75. Quarterly, per fess indented, Gu. and Arg., in first quarter a mullet Sable.
44. Thomas de Cantilupe, 1275–82. Gu. three leopards' faces reversed, jessant de lys Or. Planche's Pursuivant of Arms.
46. Adam de Orleton, 1317–27. Three hogsheads, two and one. Gent. Magazine, viii. 238. The colour of the field is not known; the tuns were probably proper.
47. Thomas Charleton or Cherlton, 1327–44. Or, a lion rampant Gules. His official seal, but British Library Add MS 12443 adds the mitre on shoulder. Formerly painted in several windows of the cathedral.
48. John Trilleck, 1344–60. Arg. three bends Az. on a chief Gules, three fleur-de-lys Arg. Authority for colours from Mr. Henry Beddoe.
49. Lewis de Charleton, 1361–69. Or, a lion rampant Gules. This is the only remaining shield on his tomb, also on the White Cross. Rawlinson describes another shield as given by Bedford, which is now lost – Seme de cross crosslets fitche, a lion rampant Gules. Bedford gives no colours. The second and third quarters should be coloured as above.
50. William Courtenay, 1374–75. Or, three torteaux; on a label Az. three mitres of the field. MSS. Lambeth, 555.
52. John Trevenant, 1389–1404. Or, within a bordure engrailed Az. three lions' heads erased, Gules. This shield, formerly beneath his effigy in the South Transept, has been placed in error under the effigy of Dean Harvey in the S.E. Transept.
53. Robert Mascall, 1404–16. Sab. three mitres Argent (Or, according to Bedford). Heralds' College.
54. Edmund Lacy, 1417–20. Arg. three shovellers' heads erased, Or. Monument in Exeter Cathedral.
55. Thomas Polton, 1420–22. Arg. three mullets of six points, pierced, Sable.
56. Thomas Spofford, 1422–48. Az., two pastoral staves in saltier, and a mitre in chief, Or. Window in Ludlow Church, and stone vaulting of South Transept of the cathedral.
57. Richard Beauchamp, 1449–50. Gu. a fess between six martlets Or; a bordure Arg. entoyre of six bells Sable. Other authorities give his shield quarterly. Monument at Salisbury; Lansdowne MS. 874.
58. Reginald Boulers or Butler, 1451–53. Or, a chief dancette Az.
59. John Stanbery, 1453–74. Az. two chevronels engrailed between three mullets pierced Arg. Tomb and chantry in the cathedral.
60. Thomas Milling, 1474–92. Ermine, on a saltier engrailed Purpure five martlets Or. Ashm. MS. 8569.
61. Edmund Audley, 1492–1502. Quarterly first and fourth Gules, a fret Or; second and third Ermine a chevron Gu. MS. College of Arms. Roof of Lincoln College Chapel, Oxford. Screen of Chantry and glass in upper windows, Hereford Cathedral.
62. Adrian de Castello, 1502–4. Argent, three bendlets crenelle, Sa. Roof of Bath Abbey. Coles' MS. Addl. 5798.
63. Richard Mayo, 1504–16. Arg. on a fess Sa. between three roses Gu., a lily of the first. On his monument, and Audley Screen in Hereford Cathedral.
64. Charles Booth, 1516–35. Arg. three boars' heads erased erect Sa., a rose in fess point. Monument in the cathedral.
65. Edward Fox, 1535–38. Quarterly 1st and 4th Arg. on a bend Gu. three dolphins . embowed Or. 2d and 3d Or a chevron between three foxes' heads erased Gu. Coles' MS. Addl. 5802.
66. John Skipp, 1539–52. Az. on a chevron between three estoiles Or, two roses stalked and slipped proper. Coles' MS. Addl. 5798.
67. John Harley, 1553–54. Or, on a bend cotised Sa. a fleur-de- lys of the field, a bon dure engrailed Gules. Harley MS 1359.
68. Robert Parfew or Wharton, 1554–57. Gules, two arms and hands clasped in fess proper, between three hearts, Or. MS. Parl. Roll of Edward VI. A.D. 1553.
69. John Scory, 1559–85. Or, three pelicans' heads erased Sable, on a chief Az., a fleur-de-lys between two mullets of the first. Plate in Parker's Antiquities MSS. Brit. Mus. Addl. 12,443 [now British Library Add MS 12443], gives it otherwise, on a chevron five cinquefoils. I have a MS. which states that "this bishop was descended from an ancient family, but being ignorant of his descent, he had assigned him for Arms, per chevron embattled Or and Sable, three pelicans' heads counterchanged, on a chief Az. a fleur-de-lys between two estoiles of the first. His own, which his family retook and bore, were Or, on a saltire Sable, 5 cinquefoils of the first". Duncumb gives, chevron crenelle between three pelicans' heads erased.
70. Herbert Westfaling, 1586–1602. The arms granted to this Bishop, Eliz. 24, were; Az. a cross between four caltrops Or. Formerly on his monument. Harley MS 4056.
71. Robert Bennett, 1603-I 7. Quarterly 1st and 4th Argent a cross between four demilions rampant Gu., 2d and 3d, paly of six, Arg. and Vert. (Arms of Langley.) On his monument in the cathedral. Harley MS 4056.
72. Francis Godwin, 1617–33. Or, two lioncels passant Gu. on a canton S. three plates or bezants. Glass in window of Bodleian Library.
74. Matthew Wren, 1635. Arg. a chevron between three lions' heads erased, Gu. on a chief sable three crosslets of the first. A MS. of my own gives the lions' heads Sable. Blomefield's Norfolk.
75. Theophilus Field, 1636. Sable, a chevron between three garbs Or. Rawlinson, 2 x 7. Formerly on his monument.
76. George Coke, 1636–46. Gules, three crescents and a canton Or. Formerly on his tomb, but the shield is now on the west wall of N.E. Transept.
77. Nicholas Monk, 1661. Gules, on a chevron between three lions' heads, erased Arg., a mullet pierced for difference. MS. Ashmole, 8585.
78. Herbert Croft, 1662–91. Quarterly per fess indented Az. and Arg. in first quarter a lion passant guardant, Or. MS. College of Arms. Tombstone in Cathedral.
79. Gilbert Ironside, 1691–1701. Quarterly Arg. and Gules, a cross flore Or. Tombstone in Cathedral.
80. Humfrey Humphries, 1701–12. Quarterly, first, Gules, a lion rampant Arg.; second, three eagles displayed in fess; third, three lions passant; fourth, three children's heads couped at the neck with a serpent proper. Rawlinson's Hereford. Tombstone in the cathedral.
81. Philip Bisse, 1712–21. Sable, three escalops in pale Argent. Duncumb's History. I am informed that since 1848 these arms were in the hall of the Palace with the field Gules.
82. Benjamin Hoadly, 1721–24. Quarterly Az. and Or, in first quarter a pelican in piety Argent. Confirmation by Deputy Earl Marshal, 1716.
83. Henry Egerton, 1724–46. Argent, a lion rampant Gules between three pheons and a mullet Sable. Richardson's Godwin. Official seal.
84. Lord James Beauclerk, 1746–87. Quarterly first and fourth. France and England quarterly. 2. Scotland. 3. Ireland. Over all a sinister baton Gules, charged with three roses Arg., barbed and seeded Vert. Porny's Heraldry, 1787. On carved oak now in N.E. Transept, formerly in the Choir.
85. John Harley, 1787–88. Or, on a bend cotised Sable, a crescent for difference. Described thus by Bedford. His official seal bears quarterly first and fourth Or, a bend cotised Sable, second and third two lions in pale passant guardant; no crescent.
86. John Butler, 1788–1802. Gules, a bend between three covered cups Or. Official seal.
87. Folliott Cornewall, 1803–8. Quarterly first and fourth Argent, a lion rampant Gu., ducally crowned Or within a bordure Az. bezante; two party per pale Az. and Gules, three lions rampant Or; three Gu. a cross raguly between four lions' heads erected and erased ducally crowned Or. Official seal.
88. John Luxmoore, 1808–15. Argent, a chevron between three moorcocks proper. Official seal.
89. George Huntingford, 1815–32. Per fess Sa. and erminois, a fess per fess nebulee counterchanged, in chief three crosses patee fitchee, Argent, the base fretty Gu. College of Arms. Memorial window in Hereford Cathedral.
90. Hon. Edward Grey, 1832–37. Gules, a lion rampant in a bordure engrailed Argent. Official and private seal.
91. Thomas Musgrave, 1837–47. Azure, six annulets in pile, Argent. Official seal.
92. Renn Dickson Hampden, 1847–68. Argent, four wands interlaced in saltier, between four eagles displayed, Azure. Official seal.
93. James Atlay, 1868. Argent, a fess Sable between three crescents Sable. Official sea1.
Fryde, E. B.; Greenway, D. E.; Porter, S.; Roy, I., eds. (1986). Handbook of British Chronology (3rd, reprinted 2003 ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN0-521-56350-X.
