Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Chaceporc, Peter

1386343Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 09 — Chaceporc, Peter1887William Hunt

CHACEPORC or CHACEPORT, PETER (d. 1254), treasurer, a Poitevin favourite of Henry III, and nephew of a certain Hugh de Vynon, a valued servant of the king, was one of the royal clerks, and as such took part in the confirmation of the truce with France in 1243. From 1245 onwards he held the office of keeper of the king's wardrobe. He was rector of Ivinghoe, and in 1250 was made archdeacon of Wells. In that year also the king sent him to Winchester to try to persuade the monks to elect Aymer de Valence [q. v.] as bishop. His name occurs in 1252 in a scheme of composition between the king and Earl Simon of Leicester, and he was sent the same year to ask Queen Blanche to grant Henry leave to pass through France on his proposed visit to Gascony, a request the queen answered by a flat refusal. In 1253 he received, with Henry of Lexinton, the temporary charge of the great seal, was made treasurer, and was named one of the executors of the king's will. During the vacancy of the see of Lincoln in 1254 the king gave him the treasurership of that church. Later in the year he was with Henry when, on his return from Gascony, he visited Louis IX at Paris. On his homeward journey the king stayed awhile at Boulogne, and there Chaceporc died, on 24 Dec. Henry, who greatly valued him, buried him with honour in St. Mary's Church. By his will, made two days before his death, he left six hundred marks to found a house of regular canons to be chosen from Merton. The king carried out the wishes of his favourite servant by the foundation of Ravenston Priory in Buckinghamshire.

[Matthew Paris, Chronica Majora, v. 179, 335, 484, 691 (Rolls Ser.); Annales de Dunstaplia ap. Ann. Monast. iii. 194 (Rolls Ser.); Royal Letters of Henry III, ii. 385 (Rolls Ser.); Rymer's Fœdera, i. 417, 488, 502, ed. 1704; Madox's History of the Exchequer, i. 609, ii. 116, 318; Liber Niger de Scaccario, ii. 534, ed. Hearne, 1771; Le Neve's Fasti (Hardy); Foss's Judges of England, ii. 295.]

W. H.