Duchess of Lauderdale, dated Ham, 20 Feb. 1697, in Stillingfleet MSS.), and from that time his health rapidly failed. He had a dangerous fit at Hartlebury early in 1698 (ib., letter from Dr. Stanley, dean of St. Paul's), and died at his house in Park Street, Westminster, on 27 March 1699. He was buried in Worcester Cathedral, and his epitaph is from the pen of his chaplain, Richard Bentley. By his first wife he had one son, Edward (father of Benjamin Stillingfleet [q. v.]), and two daughters; by his second, seven children, of whom James became dean of Worcester and rector of Hartlebury.
His valuable library was offered for sale. The historical manuscripts were bought by Robert Harley (afterwards Earl of Oxford), and the books, after lengthy negotiations, by Narcissus Marsh [q. v.], archbishop of Armagh, in 1704 (it is stated that there were over two thousand folios). ‘He is supposed to have paid over 6,000l. for the books and manuscripts, in the collection of which all over the learned world he spared no cost, … and the choiceness of the collection and fewness of common books appears very remarkable and hard to be equalled’ (ib.)
No bishop of his day was more prominent or more famous than Stillingfleet; but the reputation which his remarkable industry, wide knowledge, and popular gifts gave him among contemporaries was not enduring. Although the publication of his complete works did not enhance his fame (cf. Hearne, Diaries, ed. Doble, ii. 373, iii. 251), his power as a writer and the accuracy of his historical and antiquarian knowledge are unquestionable.
His works were published in 1710 in six volumes, with a ‘Life’ by Richard Bentley, who had been his chaplain. The most important have been mentioned above. To these may be added his ‘Miscellaneous Discourses on Several Occasions,’ published by his son in 1735, which show him in his most practical aspect.
He was a handsome man, of a high colour and bright vigorous expression. He was nicknamed ‘the beauty of holiness.’ Portraits of him are numerous. Among the best are a half-length and a beautiful miniature in the possession of the Stillingfleet family. Engravings exist by R. White and Blooteling, fine copies commanding a high price (Evans, Cat. No. 9995).
[MSS. in possession of Mrs. Stillingfleet, of Grafton Lodge, Hereford; Bentley's Life; Burnet's own Time; Bentley's Corresp.; Baker's St. John's Coll., Cambridge, ii. 698–703, ed. Mayor; cf. Notes and Queries, 9th ser. ii. 223.]
STILLINGTON, ROBERT (d. 1491), bishop of Bath and Wells, and lord chancellor, was son of John Stillington, who held property at Nether Acaster, near York (Rot. Parl. vi. 256). Stillington was educated at Oxford, and is sometimes alleged to have been a fellow of All Souls' College; but the latter statement seems to be an error, which originated from Stillington having resided at the college during his disgrace (Wood, Colleges and Halls, p. 273). He graduated as doctor of the civil and canon law, and was principal of Deep Hall in 1442 (Anstey, Munimenta Academica, p. 528). On 2 Aug. 1445 he became canon of Wells, was chancellor of that church on 6 June 1447, and archdeacon of Taunton on 20 April 1450. Stillington had already entered on an official career, having been one of the commissioners to treat with Burgundy on 25 Oct. 1448 (Fœdera, xi. 218). Other ecclesiastical preferments quickly followed. He received the prebend of Fenton, York, on 21 March 1450, which he exchanged for that of Wetwang on 28 May 1459; at Southwell he held the prebend of Oxton and Cropwell from 9 July 1457 to 28 May 1459; he became dean of St. Martin's, London, in 1458, archdeacon of Colchester in 1460, of Berkshire on 9 March 1464, and of Wells on 28 Feb. 1465. He had attached himself to the Yorkist party, and through their influence was made keeper of the privy seal on 28 July 1460 (ib. xi. 458). After the death of John Phreas or Free [q. v.] in 1465, he was elected bishop of Bath and Wells; his election was confirmed on 11 Jan. 1466, the temporalities were restored on 29 Jan., and on 16 March he was consecrated at Westminster by George Neville [q. v.], archbishop of York (ib. xi. 559; Anglia Sacra, i. 574).
On 20 June 1467 Stillington was made lord chancellor. The seal was in the king's hands for a short time in March–May 1470 (Fœdera, xi. 651). On the Lancastrian restoration Stillington was deprived of his office, but was again made chancellor on the return of Edward IV, receiving a pardon for any past offences on 25 Feb. 1472 (ib. xi. 736). He was absent from the parliament of October 1472 through illness, and during 1473 temporary keepers of the seal were appointed to act for him (cf. Cont. Croyland Chron. ap. Gale, Scriptores, i. 557). Stillington resigned the chancellorship on 25 July 1475. Later in the year he was employed in an unsuccessful attempt to obtain the surrender of Henry of Richmond from the Duke of Brittany. About
