Cantilupe, Walter

Cantilupe, Walter, an English cardinal, son of lord William Cantilupe, who resided at Alergavenny, Monmouthshire, was made, by Henry III, bishop of Worcester. At that time the pope's legate visited England and complained of many persons keeping their livings against the canons; intending, says Fuller, in his usual severe way, either to force such irregular encumbents to vacate, and' so make room for the pope's favorites, or else to compound for their continuance at his price. But Walter Cantilupe told Rusland, the pope's legate (A.D. 1255), that he would prefer to be hanged rather than ever consent to such pillage of the Church; and moreover, he encouraged the barons in their civil wars, promising heaven for their reward, though this doctrine cost him excommunication from the pope. On his death-bed, however, Cantilupe was-touched with true remorse for his disloyalty, as he then considered it, and obtained absolution. He died Feb. 5, 1267. He was uncle to Thomas Cantilupe, the sainted bishop of Hereford. See Fuller, Worthies of England (ed. Nuttall), ii, 435.