GRAY, JOHN DE (d. 1214), bishop of Norwich, entered Prince John's service, and at his accession (1199) was rapidly promoted in the church till he became bishop of Norwich in Sep tember 1200. King John by attempting to force him into the primacy in 1205 started the long and fatal quarrel with Pope Innocent III. who quashed his election in favour of Langton. De Gray was a hard-working royal official, using his position to enrich himself and his family. In 1209 he was sent to Ireland as justiciar. He attempted to extend. the English frontier northward and westward, and fought a number of campaigns on the Shan non and in Fermanagh. But in 1212 he was defeated by Art O'Maelsechlainn. He assimilated the coinage of Ireland to that of England, and tried to effect a similar reform in Irish law. De Gray was a good financier, and could always raise money : this probably explains the favour he enjoyed from King John. In 1213 he brought over from Ireland Soo knights to the great muster at Barham Downs, when Philip Augustus was threatening to invade England. After John's reconciliation with Innocent he was exempted from the general pardon, and was forced to go in person to Rome to obtain it. He so completely won over Inno cent that the pope sent him back with papal letters recommending his election to the bishopric of Durham (1213) ; but he died Oct. 18, 1214, at St. Jean d'Audely in Poitou on his homeward journey. For the contest with the papacy over the see of Canterbury see