Bishop Of Bath

Bath. 12 recorded holders. religious office ← all offices

The succession the rolls themselves record for this office, earliest first — a finding aid drawn from the roll text, not an authoritative fasti. Spelling variants of one holder now fold together where the volumes' own printed indexes attest them (“Burghers” and “Burghersh” are one man when the editors say so); the opposite case — one name hiding two men — is proposed from the same indexes and from matched identities, and separates only after human confirmation. Until then a shared name lists as one holder, and the list can be checked against printed succession lists (Fasti / VCH).

1. Robert Burnel 1274–1292 ×48
   • 1274-11-08 — Maiuhite to Arnold Johannis de Contivo, bailiff of the islands of Guernsey and Jer.sey, to collect and keep in safe custody, until further orders, all tlie issu…
   • 1275-10-25 — The prior of Brackel[eye], who is going to parts beyond sea by the king's licence, attorned before the king brother John de Kane[ia] or Reginald Caperun in all …
   • 1275-10-30 — Mandate to Arnold Johannis de Contivo, bailiff of the islands of Guernsey and Jersey, to collect and keep in safe custody, until further orders, all the issues …
   • 1276-05-06 — To the barons of the exchequer. Whereas Robert Burnel, bishop of Bath and Wells, has acknowledged before the king that he received, when he held the king's plac…
   • 1276-05-24 — de Berkwey, who is going to Ireland by the king's licence, puts in Robert le Marescal and William Molle in all pleas for u year, he return from Ireland. abbot o…
   • 1280-01-06 — MEMJiUANB 2Q. Testification to a charter of Robert Burnell, bishop of Bath and Wells, granting to Otto de Grandisono in tail general, with reversion, in default…
   • 1280-01-06 — Testification to a charter of Robert Burnell, bishop of Bath and Wells, granting to Otto de Grandisono in tail general, with reversion, in default of issue, to …
   • 1280-06-10 — . 57 . Schedule and the other chief ministers. In this manner the king and his may be able to attend the great affairs of his realm and of his foreign without c…
2. Walter Giffard 1275
   • 1275-08-17 — Memorandum, that Martin de la Lade came into chancery, on Friday the eve of St. Bartholomew, and quit-claimed to R. bishop of Bath and Wells his right and claim…
3. William de Marchia 1301–1306 ×3
   • 1301-03-02 — Order to the mayor and sheriffs of London to arrest all goods of William de Saltu, burgess of Bayonne, until he restore the goods and wares arrested by order of…
   • undated — Writ of venire facias in pursuance to the sheriff of Northumberland. Inquisition : Ildirton. Wednesday after St. Gregory the Pope. William de Medilton, who late…
4. John de Drokenesford 1309–1329 ×38
   • 1309-09-12 — Grant, at the instance of Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester and Hertford, John de Britannia, earl of Richmond, and Peter de Gavaston, earl of Cornwall, to Jo…
   • 1315-09-01 — Vacated because elsewhere on the Close Roll of the same year. Promise of repayment to John de Hothum, king's clerk, of the sum of 1312. 184d. before the octave …
   • 1317-02-20 — Thomas de Maydenstan acknowledges that he owes to James Beauflour 14/.; to be Jevied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in the county of Kent. Jo…
   • 1317-02-22 — John de Drokenesford, bishop of Bath and Wells, acknowledges that he owes to Robert de Hungerford, executor of the will of Adam atte Stock, 661. 13s. 4d.; to be…
   • 1317-04-10 — Grant to the king's yeoman Oliver de Burdegala, and the heirs of his body, of all the lands and tenements of Foly Johan and Hyremere, lying within the metes of …
   • 1317-04-18 — Grant to Oliver de Burdegala, king's yeoman, and tke heirs of his body of all the lands and tenements of Foly Johan and Hyremere, lying within the metes of Wind…
   • 1318-03-17 — Cancelled on payment. Stephen Houel, knight, acknowledges that he owes to John le Hauker 20/.; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in…
   • 1318-03-17 — Cancelled on payment. Stephen Houel, knight, acknowledges that he owes to John le Hauker 20/.; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in…
5. Johu de Drokenesford 1321 ×2
   • 1321-07-29 — Johu de Drokenesford, bishop of Bath and Wells, acknowledges that he owes to William Peverel 100 marks; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and ch…
   • 1321-07-29 — Johu de Drokenesford, bishop of Bath and Wells, acknowledges that he owes to William Peverel 100 marks; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and ch…
6. Ralph de Salopia 1339
7. John de Harewell 1377–1378 ×3
   • 1377-02-18 — Memorandum of acknowledgment, 18 February. 18. Robert Trenewhit to John Dovy citizen of London. Recognisance for 200/., to be levied, in default of payment, of …
   • 1377-07-20 — Pardon, for 40s. paid in the hanaper by John Harewell, bishop of Bath and Wells, to him and Thomas Mount and John Waryn, clerks, for acquiring in the time of th…
   • 1378-03-17 — Licence for the alienation in mortmain by John de Harewell, bishop of Bath and Wells, of an acre of land in Meriet and the advowson of the church there, which h…
8. Henry Bowet 1403
   • 1403-05-12 — Grant to the king's knight Hugh Waterton, in repayment of 800/. lent by him to Henry Bowet, bishop of Bath and Wells, late treasurer of England, for the king's …
9. John de Stafford 1430–1440 ×5
   • 1430-07-10 — Licence, for 40 marks paid in the hanaper, for John, earl of Huntingdon, to enfeoff in his manors of Stevynton and Bereford St. Martin, which are held in chief,…
   • 1430-11-18 — Licence, by advice of the Council, for John, earl of Huntyngdon, to grant the castle, town and manor of Berstaple, the manors of Toryton, Fremyngton, Combemarty…
   • 1435-11-08 — Henry, bishop of Winchester, Thomas, bishop of Durham, Thomas, earl of Dorset, John Tiptot, chivaler, William Beauchamp, chivaler, John Durward, Geoffrey Louthe…
   • 1438-07-10 — Licence, at the request of John Stafford, bishop of Bath and Wells and chancellor of England, for the dean and chapter of the cathedral church of St. Andrew, We…
   • 1440-07-08 — It was found by inquisition before William Burgoyne, escheator in the county of Cambridge, that Walter de la Pole, chivaler, deceased, wae seised in his demesne…
10. Thomas Bekyngton 1446
    • 1446-06-26 — Licence for Thomas Bekyngton, bishop of Bath and Wells, Thomas Chamburleyn, John Colpays, clerk, Henry Lynby, Thomas Gardener and John Clement to grant in mortm…
11. Thomas Bekynton 1446–1450 ×2
    • 1446-06-26 — Licence for Thomas Bekynton, bishop of Bath and Wells, and Nicholas Osulbery, William Mownter, Thomas Holte and John Rowdowne, clerks, and Thomas Haydoke to gra…
    • 1450-08-20 — Licence for Thomas Bekynton, bishop of Bath and Wells, and Nicholas Qsulbury, William Mownter, Thomas Holte and John Rowedowne, clerks, and Thomas Haydoke to gr…
12. Robert Stillyngton 1466–1475 ×4
    • 1466-03-17 — General pardon to Robert Stillyngton, bishop of Bath and Wells, dean of the king's free chapel of St. Martin le Grand, London, and keeper of the privy seal, of …
    • 1471-01-25 — General pardon to Master Robert Stillyngton, bishop of Bath and Wells, dean of the king's free chapel of St. Martin le Grand, London, late keeper of the privy s…
    • 1472-02-25 — General pardon to Master Robert Stillyngton, bishop of Bath and Wells, dean of the king's free chapel of St. Martin le Grand, London, late keeper of the privy s…
    • 1475-05-02 — Licence for the king's brother George, duke of Clarence, whois going to the sea with the king on his voyage and service, to grant the manor and of Tyverton, the…

Ordered by the first date each holder appears with the office — where a holder is undated they sort last. Dates are the roll entries' own, not tenure dates.
Cite: “bishop of Bath”, Reading the Rolls, https://readingtherolls.com/office/bishop-of-bath, accessed 2026-07-25. Derived from the printed calendars of the medieval English royal records.