Robert Stillington
Encyclopedia
Robert Stillington was Bishop of Bath and Wells
(1465–1491) and a courtier under Edward IV of England
. He twice served as Edward#s Lord Chancellor
and in 1483, he was instrumental in the accession of Richard III
, leading to reprisals under Henry VII
.
from 1460 to 1467.
Stillington was selected as Bishop of Bath and Wells on 30 October 1465, and was consecrated on 16 March 1466. He was appointed Lord Chancellor on 20 June 1467 and held the office until 29 September 1470, when Henry VI was restored to the throne. After the return of Edward IV, he return to his former office and held it until 18 June 1473, when Edward dismissed him.
In 1478, Stillington spent some weeks in prison, apparently as a result of some association with the disgraced George, Duke of Clarence. His imprisonment was possibly due to similar revelations as the one he later made in 1483.
After Edward's death in April 1483, Stillington was a member of the council of the boy-king Edward V
. Some time in June, he divulged to Richard, Duke of Gloucester
, the Lord Protector, that the marriage of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville
had been invalid due to Edward's earlier betrothal to Lady Eleanor Talbot
. This led to their children being declared illegitimate and the Duke of Gloucester ascending the throne.
After Henry VII
defeated Richard III at Bosworth
in 1485, he immediately had Stillington imprisoned again. Henry had the bigamy charge against Edward IV reversed, and married Edward's daughter, Elizabeth of York
.
Some years after Stillington's second release, he became involved in the plot to place the impostor Lambert Simnel
on the throne in 1487. After finding refuge at Oxford University, he was eventually handed over to the king and died in prison.
Bishop of Bath and Wells
The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England.The present diocese covers the vast majority of the county of Somerset and a small area of Dorset. The Episcopal seat is located in the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew in...
(1465–1491) and a courtier under Edward IV of England
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
. He twice served as Edward#s Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
and in 1483, he was instrumental in the accession of Richard III
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...
, leading to reprisals under Henry VII
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....
.
Life
Stillington was Archdeacon of Wells when he was made Keeper of the Privy SealLord Privy Seal
The Lord Privy Seal is the fifth of the Great Officers of State in the United Kingdom, ranking beneath the Lord President of the Council and above the Lord Great Chamberlain. The office is one of the traditional sinecure offices of state...
from 1460 to 1467.
Stillington was selected as Bishop of Bath and Wells on 30 October 1465, and was consecrated on 16 March 1466. He was appointed Lord Chancellor on 20 June 1467 and held the office until 29 September 1470, when Henry VI was restored to the throne. After the return of Edward IV, he return to his former office and held it until 18 June 1473, when Edward dismissed him.
In 1478, Stillington spent some weeks in prison, apparently as a result of some association with the disgraced George, Duke of Clarence. His imprisonment was possibly due to similar revelations as the one he later made in 1483.
After Edward's death in April 1483, Stillington was a member of the council of the boy-king Edward V
Edward V of England
Edward V was King of England from 9 April 1483 until his deposition two months later. His reign was dominated by the influence of his uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who succeeded him as Richard III...
. Some time in June, he divulged to Richard, Duke of Gloucester
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...
, the Lord Protector, that the marriage of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville
Elizabeth Woodville was Queen consort of England as the spouse of King Edward IV from 1464 until his death in 1483. Elizabeth was a key figure in the series of dynastic civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. Her first husband, Sir John Grey of Groby was killed at the Second Battle of St Albans...
had been invalid due to Edward's earlier betrothal to Lady Eleanor Talbot
Lady Eleanor Talbot
Lady Eleanor Talbot was a daughter of John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury. Her alleged pre-contract of marriage with King Edward IV of England was of great significance to the final fate of the Plantagenet dynasty and outcome of the Wars of the Roses.-Marriage:In 1449, 13-year-old Eleanor married...
. This led to their children being declared illegitimate and the Duke of Gloucester ascending the throne.
After Henry VII
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....
defeated Richard III at Bosworth
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...
in 1485, he immediately had Stillington imprisoned again. Henry had the bigamy charge against Edward IV reversed, and married Edward's daughter, Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York
Elizabeth of York was Queen consort of England as spouse of King Henry VII from 1486 until 1503, and mother of King Henry VIII of England....
.
Some years after Stillington's second release, he became involved in the plot to place the impostor Lambert Simnel
Lambert Simnel
Lambert Simnel was a pretender to the throne of England. His claim to be the Earl of Warwick in 1487 threatened the newly established reign of King Henry VII .-Early life:...
on the throne in 1487. After finding refuge at Oxford University, he was eventually handed over to the king and died in prison.