21 Facts About Ralph Neville

Ralph Neville was a medieval clergyman and politician who served as Bishop of Chichester and Lord Chancellor of England.

Ralph Neville was rewarded with the bishopric of Chichester in 1222.

Ralph Neville was deprived of the Great Seal in 1238 after quarrelling with King Henry III, but continued to hold the title of chancellor until his death.

Ralph Neville died in his London palace, built on a street later renamed Chancery Lane owing to his connection with the chancery.

Ralph Neville was related to Hugh de Neville, King John of England's chief forester.

Ralph Neville was appointed to the royal chancery in about 1214, largely through the patronage of Peter des Roches, the Bishop of Winchester and one of the king's favourites.

Ralph Neville was vice-chancellor of England under the chancellorship of Richard Marsh, who had been elected as Bishop of Durham in 1217 and spent most of his time attending to ecclesiastical affairs in his northern diocese.

The appointment was made by the great council during the minority of King Henry III, and Ralph Neville obtained a grant of the office for life.

Unlike Hubert de Burgh, who lost his offices when Henry III attained his majority and took control of the government, Ralph Neville remained chancellor with only slight disagreements until 1238, although a confirmation of the lifetime nature of his tenure was made in 1232.

Ralph Neville oversaw a number of changes in chancery procedures, splitting off the liberate rolls from the letters close in 1226 and reviving the keeping of the Charter Rolls in 1227.

Ralph Neville issued writs on his own authority, the so-called writs de cursu.

Ralph Neville received a number of gifts and privileges from the king while chancellor, including the right of exemption from the seizure of his possessions by any royal or other secular official.

Ralph Neville employed a teacher of theology for his cathedral, and supported students at schools in Lincoln, Oxford, and Douai.

Ralph Neville worked to protect the rights, lands, and privileges of his diocese and cathedral chapter from encroachment by others, both secular and clerical.

Ralph Neville's pleas prevailed for a time, but eventually de Burgh was removed from sanctuary.

This, along with the disputed election to Winchester, was the cause of Ralph Neville's fall from favour.

Ralph Neville was buried in Chichester Cathedral, behind the high altar.

Ralph Neville endowed a distribution of bread to the poor residents of Chichester, a gift that continued into the 20th century.

Ralph Neville endowed a chapel near Chichester with two clergy to pray for the soul of King John.

Many of Ralph Neville's letters survive, as they were collected by him during his lifetime.

Ralph Neville was instrumental in promoting the career of his brother William, but non-relatives benefited from his patronage: one of Ralph Neville's clerks, Silvester de Everdon, was a member of the chancery until 1246, when he was selected as Bishop of Carlisle.