Walter Skirlaw

Infobox bishopbiog
name =Walter Skirlaw


religion =Catholic
See =Diocese of Durham
Title = Bishop of Durham
Period = 1388–1406
Predecessor =
Successor =
ordination =
bishops = Bishop of Coventry, Bishop of Bath and Wells
post =Bishop of Bath and Wells
date of birth =
place of birth =Swine, East Riding of Yorkshire
date of death =24 March 1406
place of death =

Walter Skirlaw (also Walter de Skirlaw, Walter Skirclaw, Walter Skirlaugh, Walter Shirlagh, or Walter Skarlawe) (born Swine parish, Holderness, [ [http://www.ancestryuk.com/SecretsofHyltonCastle.htm Secrets of Hylton Castle] accessed on 23 August 2007] [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=16132 A History of the County of East Riding: Swine Parish] accessed on 23 August 2007] brought up at Skirlaugh; died 1406) was an English bishop and diplomat. He was Bishop of Durham from 1388 to 1406. He was an important adviser to Richard II of England and Henry IV of England. [ [http://www.northeasthistory.co.uk/the_north_east/history/echomemories/durham/107/240107.html The Fading Years of the Prince Bishops] accessed on 23 August 2007]

Life

He was archdeacon of Northampton, from 1381. [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=32595 Archdeacons of Northampton] accessed on 23 August 2007] In 1382 he was given custody of the privy seal, filling the office of Lord Privy Seal, which office he held until 1386.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 95] He was elected bishop of bishop of Lichfield and Coventry on 28 June 1385, and consecrated on 14 January 1386.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 253] [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=32256 Bishops of Coventry and Lichfield] accessed on 23 August 2007] Then he was translated to be bishop of Bath and Wells on 18 August 1386.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 228] On 3 April 1388 he was once again transferred, this time to the see of Durham.Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 242] He would have become archbishop of York in 1398, but Richard II overruled the cathedral chapter, insisting on Richard le Scrope. [ [http://www.goyorkshirego.com/northyorkshirepages/yorkminster.htm Welcome to York Minster] accessed on 23 August 2007]

He was employed on diplomatic missions to Italy in 1381-3, ["Concise Dictionary of National Biography"] to Calais to negotiate with the French in 1388, [May McKisack, "The Fourteenth Century", p. 463.] and to the Scots. He died on 24 March 1406.

He is described as

This was in addition to much added to Durham Cathedral, including its cloisters. [ [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=42609 Durham Cathedral Historical Survey] accessed on 23 August 2007] He is portrayed in the east stained-glass window in York Minster, [ [http://www.vidimus.org/archive/issue_6_2007/issue_6_2007-03.html Vidimus no. 6 (April 2007): Panel of the Month] accessed on 23 August 2007] which he had made. [ [http://www.salvonet.com/yorkweb/minster/b.htm York Minster: The Great East Window] accessed on 7 September 2007]

Notes

References

* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=32595 Archdeacons of Northampton]
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=32256 Bishops of Coventry and Lichfield]
* Bygate, J. E. "Bell's Cathedrals: The Cathedral Church of Durham, [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20191/20191-h/20191-h.htm Gutenberg text]
* "Concise Dictionary of National Biography"
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=42609 Durham Cathedral Historical Survey]
* [http://www.northeasthistory.co.uk/the_north_east/history/echomemories/durham/107/240107.html The Fading Years of the Prince Bishops]
*
* Glynne Jarratt "The Life of Walter Skirlaw: Medieval Diplomat and Prince Bishop of Durham" 2004
* [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=16132 A History of the County of East Riding: Swine Parish]
* McKisack, May "The Fourteenth Century"
* [http://www.ancestryuk.com/SecretsofHyltonCastle.htm Secrets of Hylton Castle]
* [http://www.vidimus.org/archive/issue_6_2007/issue_6_2007-03.html Vidimus no. 6 (April 2007): Panel of the Month]
* [http://www.goyorkshirego.com/northyorkshirepages/yorkminster.htm Welcome to York Minster]

Persondata
NAME= Skirlaw, Walter
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= de Skirlaw, Walter; Skirclaw, Walter; Skirlaugh, Walter; Shirlagh, Walter; Skarlawe, Walter
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bishop of Coventry; Bishop of Bath and Wells; Bishop of Durham
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH= Swine, East Riding of Yorkshire
DATE OF DEATH=24 March 1406
PLACE OF DEATH=