LIST 9 ARCHDEACONS OF LEWES
ARCHDEACONRY
The four E. Suss. deaneries of Dallington, Hastings, Lewes and Pevensey,
excluding exempt deaneries of Battle and South Malling (see Hudson, 'Ancient
deaneries', cited above, list 8).
Not valued in 1291. For the revenues in 1535, see Valuation 1535 p. 163.
ARCHDEACONS
[M. Jordan de Melburne preb. unident., list 41
Not yet archdcn., occ. 1154 × 61, prob. 1154 × 55 (Acta no. 49). Perhaps
archdcn. by June 1162, when he occ. as Jordan 'of Chichester', among those who
fetched abp. Becket's pallium from pope Alexander III at Montpellier (Radulfi de
Diceto... Opera Historica, ed. W. Stubbs (RS lxviii, 1876) I 307). First certain
occ. as archdcn. of Chichester [diocese] 1164 (Materials for the History of Thomas
Becket, ed. J. C. Robertson et al. (7 vols., RS lxvii, 1875-85) III 46). Listed by
Herbert of Bosham among the 'eruditi' of abp. Thomas Becket, as 'cognomento
de Meleburna' (ibid. p. 526; see also Mayr-Harting, in English Historical Review
lxxviii (1963) 21). Also occ. as archdcn. 1154 × 4 June 1163 (Acta nos. 30, 31)
and on two occasions together with Henry archdcn. of Chichester (list 8) before
13 July 1169 (Acta no. 29; Chart. Chichester no. 308). Dean from before 6 Oct.
1174 (list 2).]
[M. Jocelin preb. unident., list 41
Chanc., last occ. 25 March × 30 Apr. 1173 (list 5). First occ. as archdcn. of
Chichester [diocese] temp. John bp-el., 1 May 1173 × 6 Oct. 1174 (Cart. Oseney,
ed. H. E. Salter, IV (Oxford Historical Soc., xcvii) 338-9). Identity with nephew
of bp. Hilary and chanc. established by ch. recording gift for his uncle's soul (Chart.
Chichester no. 385). Occ. frequently as archdcn. of Chichester [diocese], but as he
occ. together with archdcns. Matthew (Acta no. 58) and Silvester (ibid. no. 101),
he was clearly the predecessor of Eustace de Leveland, who was certainly archdcn.
of Lewes (below). Royal justice (see R. V. Turner, The English Judiciary in the Age
of Glanvill and Bracton, c. 1176-1239 (Cambridge, 1985) pp. 19, 301 etc.). Also
canon of Salisbury (1 Fasti IV 123; and see ibid. p. 35 for his companion and
probable kinsman, Richard of Wilton). Held church of Mundham in name of
Boxgrove priory 15 Jan. 1179/80 (Acta no. 60). Last certain occ. Sept. 1199 (Pipe
Roll 1 John pp. 125, 189), and perhaps still alive Sept. 1202 (ibid. 4 John p. 139;
cf. ibid. 2 John p. 245 and 3 John p. 84). Died by Sept. 1203 (ibid. 5 John p. 194).] (fn. 67)
Eustace de Leveland
(fn. 68) preb. Aldingbourne, list 10
First occ., as E. archdcn. of Lewes, together with S[ilvester] archdcn. of
Chichester, temp. bp. Simon, 11 July 1204 × 21 Aug. 1207 (Chart. Chichester no.
339). Occ. frequently with territ. title, usually as E. or Eustace. (fn. 69) Royal clerk (cf.
Cal. Charter Rolls II 34). Last occ. 8 and 25 June 1228 (Close R. 1227-31 p. 56;
Pat. R. 1225-32 p. 193) and 11 June 1229 (Chart. Chichester no. 42; cf. above,
Dating). Chanc. from soon after 11 June 1229 (list 5).
M. Reginald of Winchester
(fn. 70) preb. unident., list 41
Bp.'s official, not yet archdcn., occ. 31 Jan. 1229 (Chart. Chichester no. 44).
First occ. with full name and title soon after 11 June 1229 (ibid. no. 210; for the
date, see above, Dating), and as Reginald archdcn. 1 March 1232 (Cat. Ancient
Deeds V no. A/11537; cf. Chart. Sele no. 39). Occ. several times. Also bp.'s official
24 Feb. 1236/7 (Chart. Lewes II 110). Last occ. Nov. 1239 (Cat. Ancient Deeds
IV no. A/8010). D. by 3 March 1244 (CPR 1232-47 p. 421). (fn. 71)
Robert Passelewe preb. Mardon, list 26
Preb. of London (1 Fasti I 35, 65, 78). Appointed archdcn. of Lewes by royal
collation, sede vacante, 5 March 1244 (CPR 1232-47 p. 421). El. bp. of Chichester
1244, but el. quashed (list 1). Royal collation to preb. of Salisbury 1246; also
royal clerk (1 Fasti IV 94). Rector of Barrington (Cambs.) Apr. 1249 (cart.
Chatteris: BL, Cotton MS Julius A. i fo. 112r). Made a papal chapl. 20 March
1251 (Reg. Innoc. IV no. 5187, cal. CPL I 269). Died as archdcn. 6 June 1252
(Chron. Maj. V 299).
Simon of Climping preb. unident., list 41
Canon by 14 Apr. 1247, still 6 Oct. 1251 (list 41). First occ., as Simon archdcn.
of Lewes, temp. bp. Richard, before 3 Apr. 1253 (Chart. Chichester no. 838). Occ.
frequently. Occ. with full name and title several times (ibid. nos. 66, 241-2, 638,
825, 985). Last occ., as S. archdcn. of Lewes, 27 Dec. 1271 (Walcott, Statutes p.
222). Presum. related to John of Climping, successively archdcn. of Chichester
(1242-47), chanc. (1247-54), bp. (1254-62) (lists 8, 5, 1; also 41).
Henry preb. unident., list 41
Occ. once only, 19 Oct. 1272 × 5 Apr. 1279 (Chart. Chichester no. 637). (fn. 72)
Possibly to be identified with M. Henry of Chichester, who occ. as canon 29 June
1267 (ibid. no. 638; preb. unident., list 42).
M. Godfrey de Pecham preb. unident., list 41
Occ. several times: first occ. as Master G. archdcn. of Lewes [June] 1279 (Reg.
Pecham I 2); also occ. as Master Godfrey archdcn. of Lewes 10 Aug. 1282 (ibid.
II 190) and as Master G. de Pecham archdcn. of Lewes 26 Sept. 1283 (ibid. II
132). Presum. resigned archdcnry., but still alive, occ. as rector of Pagham
(archiepiscopal peculiar, W. Suss.) 14 June 1286 and Dec. 1287 (ibid. I 50, 241).
Almost certainly related to John Pecham (Patcham, E. Suss.), abp. of Canterbury
(1279-92) and to Clement de Pecham, unident. preb. (list 42) (D. L. Douie,
Archbishop Pecham (Oxford, 1952) pp. 2, 50).
M. Thomas of Bersted preb. unident., list 41
Canon by c. 1275 (list 41). Occ. as archdcn. of Lewes three times: 1 Aug. 1284
(Reg. Pontissara II 413); c. 1285 (Chart. Chichester no. 1022); and 18 July 1287
(ibid. no. 911). Became dean by 26 Sept. 1296, when allowed to retain church of
Bury (W. Suss.), which he had held as archdcn. of Lewes (Reg. Winchelsey I 139-
40), but prob. dean by 1 July 1296 (list 2).
Next archdcn. of Lewes is M. Thomas de Cobham, appointed 4 Apr. 1301 (2 Fasti
VII 13).