Richard Stapledon

Monument and effigy of Sir Richard de Stapledon, Exeter Cathedral

Sir Richard de Stapledon (d.1326) of Annery in the parish of Monkleigh, North Devon, England, was a judge and the elder brother of Walter de Stapledon (1261-1326) Bishop of Exeter. His effigy and monument survive in Exeter Cathedral.

Origins

Stapledon was probably born at Annery, the eldest son and heir of Sir Richard Stapledon, descended from a noble stock. The Stapledons originated at the estate of Stapledon, in the parish of Cookbury, near Holsworthy in Devon. His younger brother was Walter de Stapledon (1261-1326) Bishop of Exeter and twice Lord High Treasurer of England, who founded Exeter College, Oxford.

Career

Sir Richard de Stapledon was a lawyer and a judge. Few records have survived concerning his career.

Death & burial

On 5 October 1326 Richard Stapledon was murdered in the City of London, whilst trying to rescue his brother the Bishop from an angry mob, which shortly afterwards murdered the latter also. The events were as follows. Bishop Stapledon was associated in the popular mind with the misdeeds of King Edward II. On fleeing London before the advancing troops of Queen Isabella, that king appointed Stapledon Custos or "Keeper" of the City of London, the population of which was mostly in favour of the Queen. Forseeing her forced entry into the City, Stapledon demanded from the Lord Mayor of London the keys to the gates, in order to lock her out. However, when the population heard of this they "lay in wait to surprise the bishop", who fled for safety from this mob into St Paul's Cathedral. According to Prince (d.1723), Sir Richard was with his brother at the time and attempted to save him from the mob. However, as he rode (presumably from the Bishop's Palace, Exeter House on The Strand) into the City towards St Paul's, through the gate now called Cripplegate, a cripple took hold of one of the forelegs of his horse and by crossing it threw the horse and rider to the ground, whereupon Sir Richard was murdered by the mob. The Bishop reached St Paul's, but found no safety there as the mob entered and dragged him out and proceeded to beat and wound him and dragged him to the Great Cross at Cheapside "where those sons of the devil most barborously murdered him" on 5 October 1326. The Bishop was eventually given an honourable burial on the north side of the chancel of Exeter Cathedral, where his effigy and monument survive.

Monument in Exeter Cathedral

Sir Richard was also buried in Exeter Cathedral, near his brother the bishop, against the north wall across the north ambulatory from the Bishop's tomb. His tomb is marked by an elaborate monument comprising a recessed ogee shaped niche set into the wall, containing his recumbent effigy, in the form of a cross-legged knight, which style supposedly represens crusaders. Next to his effigy is a small statue of a horse and a man holding its reins. According to Prince (d.1723) this refers to the tradition of the cripple who seised the foreleg of Sir Richard's horse at Cripplegate and thereby threw him off his horse into the hands of the murderous mob.