Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Richard de Capella

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661172Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 48 — Richard de Capella1896Charles Lethbridge Kingsford

RICHARD de Capella (d. 1127), bishop of Hereford, was a clerk of the king's chapel and keeper of the seal under Ralph or Ranulf [q. v.], chancellor of Henry I (Eadmer, Hist. Nov. p. 290). Richard witnessed a charter of Henry I as ‘custos sigilli regis’ about September 1119 (Round, Geoffrey de Mandeville, p. 427). It is clear that Thynne was right in styling him keeper, and Foss was in error in stating that he was merely ‘clericus de sigillo,’ as William of Malmesbury calls him. Richard was appointed bishop of Hereford by Henry I. His election took place on 7 Jan. 1121. Archbishop Ralph d'Escures [q. v.] consecrated him at Lambeth on 16 Jan. (Eadmer, p. 291). Richard took part in the consecration of Everard, bishop of Norwich, on 12 June 1121 (ib. p. 294). After an uneventful episcopate, he died at Ledbury on 15 Aug. 1127, and was buried in the cathedral at Hereford. He is said to have built a bridge over the Wye.

[Eadmer's Hist. Novorum; William of Malmesbury's Gesta Pontificum, p. 304; Flor. Wig. ii. 75; Godwin, De Præsulibus, p. 482, ed. Richardson; Foss's Judges of England, i. 132–133.]

C. L. K.