Ralph Neville first appears in the historical record in 1207 in the service of King John. By 1213 Neville had custody of the Great Seal of England, although he was not named chancellor until 1226. He was rewarded with the bishopric of Chichester in 1222. Neville was deprived of the seal in 1238 after quarrelling with King Henry III, but continued to hold the title of chancellor until his death.
About Ralph Neville in brief
Ralph Neville first appears in the historical record in 1207 in the service of King John. By 1213 Neville had custody of the Great Seal of England, although he was not named chancellor, the office responsible for the seal, until 1226. He was rewarded with the bishopric of Chichester in 1222. Neville was deprived of the seal in 1238 after quarrelling with King Henry III, but continued to hold the title of chancellor until his death. He died in his London palace, built on a street later renamed Chancery Lane owing to his connection with the chancery. Neville, who was illegitimate, had at least three brothers: Nicholas de Neville, a canon at Chichesters Cathedral; William de Neville; and Robert de Neville. The identity of their father is unknown, but another likely sibling was Roger, who held land in Lincolnshire. Robert became Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Nicholas a baron of the exchequer. Ralph Neville was also related to Hugh de Neville,. King John of England’s chief forester. Both men claimed the other as a kinsman. Neville’s activities during the years immediately after 1207 are unknown, owing to the lack of royal records, but in December 1213 he was given custody of.
the Great seal of the kingdom. He was Dean of Lichfield by 11 April 1214, at which time he held a prebend in the diocese of London. His activities in the final period of John’s reign prior to the king’s sudden death in October 1216 are unknown. He had been keeper of the royal seal under the new king, Henry III from about 6 November 1218, and had been at the royal court since May 1218. He received a papal dispensation for his illegitimacy on 25 January 1220, on the recommendation of the king, Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Peter des Roches, the Bishop of Winchester. In late October he was named chancellor of the see of Chichester, but was consecrated on 3 November 1222, and on April 21, 1224, and consecrated bishop. In 1224 he was also briefly Archbishop-elect of Canterbury and Bishop- elect of Winchester, but both elections were set aside, or quashed, and he held neither office. In fact, if not in name, Neville was responsible for all the duties of the chancellorship and he exercised most of his power of that office.
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