Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Ullerston, Richard

by Mary Bateson

ULLERSTON, RICHARD (d. 1423), theological writer was born in the Duchy of Lancaster. He was taught by his relative, Richard Courtenay [q. v.], and on 19 Dec. 1383 he took orders. He took the degree of doctor of theology at Oxford. In 1407–8 he was chancellor of Oxford, and on 1 June 1407 he was made rector of Beford, Yorkshire. Anthony à Wood calls him a fellow of Queen's and canon of York (cf. Hennessy, Novum Repertorium, cixiv, 321).

He wrote in 1408 at the request of Hallam [q. v.], bishop of Salisbury, sixteen ‘Petitiones pro Ecclesiæ Militantis Reformatione,’ which have been printed in Von der Hardt's ‘Concilium Constantiense’ (i. 1126). In 1409 he wrote a work on the creed which was reissued with commentaries by John Stanbridge [q. v.] in 1463. His commentary on the Psalms, written in 1415, was dedicated to Henry Chichele or Chicheley [q. v.]; it is extant among Lord Mostyn's manuscripts (Hist. MSS. Comm. 4th Rep. App. p. 349). His ‘De Officio Militari,’ written at Courtenay's request to Henry, prince of Wales, is in the library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge (clxxvii. 26). In 1415 he wrote ‘Expositions on the Song of Songs,’ based on Nicholas de Lyra, of which there is a copy in the Magdalen MS. cxv. A copy of his ‘Defensorium Dotationis Ecclesiasticæ’ (per Constantinum) is in Exeter Cathedral library (No. 46, according to Oudin); it was seen there by Leland (Comm. iii. 151).

[Tanner's Bibliotheca; Wood's Hist. Antiq. Oxon. ii. 117; Le Neve's Fasti, iii. 466.]

M. B.

Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.269
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line

Page	Col.	Line
21	i	16	Ullerston, Richard : for (fl. 1415) read (d. 1423)
		20-21	⁠for He took the degree . . . Oxford, read He was fellow of Queen's College, Oxford, from 1391 to 1403, junior bursar 1391-2, and senior bursar 1396-7, graduating D.D. in 1394. On 25 March 1403 he became prebendary of Axford in Salisbury Cathedral.
		23	⁠for Beford read Beeford
		24-26	⁠for Anthony à Wood . . . cxxxiv. 321). read By his will, dated 15 Aug. and proved 12 Sept. 1423, he desired to be buried on the south side of the choir of Salisbury Cathedral.