yéeres died vpon Saint Lukes day 1278. He lyeth buried vnder a reasonable plaine Marble toombe in the North I le of his church of Rochester almost ouer against the Bishops Sée 43. Iohn de Bradfeild a Monke and Chaunter of the Church of Rochester was consecrate 1279. and died 1282. 44. Thomas Inglethorp Deane of Saint Paules Church in London consecrate 1282. died in the moneth of June 1291. 45. Thomas de Wuldham Prior of Rochester 46. Haymo Confessor to king Edward the second 〈◊〉 named at Heathe or rather de Heathe of the Towne of 〈◊〉 in Kent where he was borne He built much at Hawling the yeere 1323. to wit the Hall and high front of the Bishops place there now standing reedified the Wall at Holborough néere vnto it repaired the rest of the buildings in the same house as he did also at Troscliff another mannor house belonging to this Sée Moreouer in the Towne of Hithe 〈◊〉 named he founded the Hospitall of Saint 〈◊〉 for reliefe of 10. poore people endewing the same with 20. markes of yéerely reuenew The yéere 1352. he resigned his Bishopricke into the Popes hands 47. Iohn de Shepey He was made Treasurer of England the yeere 1358. 48. William Wittlesey translated to Worceter 1363 and after to Canterbury Sée Canterbury 49. Thomas Trilleck He died 1372. 50. Thomas Brinton sometime a Benedictine Monke of Norwich trauailed in many places and lastly comming to Rome preached in Latine before the Pope many learned sermons which he left in writing behind him For them other exercises wherein he shewed himselfe to his great commendation he was much admired and became very famous The Pope also made him his Penitentiary bestowed vpon him the Bishopricke of Rochester He was Confessor vnto king Richard the 2. and died 1389. 51. William de Bottlesham or Boltsham whom Walsingham Bale and other call but I doubt not falsely Iohn Bottlesham was borne at Bottlesham in Cambridgeshire from whence he tooke his name He was a Frier preacher a Doctor of Diuinitie greatly accounted of for his learning more for his eloquence and rare gift in preaching for which also he was much estéemed by king Richard the 2. preferred by his meanes vnto the Bishopricke of Landaffe and after notwithstanding the election of on Richard Barnet translated vnto Rochester He died the yéere 1401. in the moneth of May. 52. Iohn Boltsham or Bottlesham Chaplaine vnto the Archbishop of Canterbury after the time of his consecration neuer sawe his Cathedrall church 53. Richard Yoong made the windowes of the parrish church of Freindsbury 54. Iohn Kempe was translated first to Chichester 1422. then to London and after that to Yorke and Canterbury Sée Canterbury 55. Iohn Langdon a monke of Canterbury He was borne in Kent and brought vp in Oxford where he procéeded doctor of Diuinitie A man very well learned in histories and antiquities especially he was very well seene Amongst other things I finde he writ a Chronicle of England which whether it be yet extant or no I know not He died at the Councell of Basill 1434. 56. Thomas Browne He being at the Councell of Basill was elected to Norwich and shortly after translated thither before he wist of any such businesse toward See Norwich 57. William Wels Abbot of Yorke He died 1443. 58. Iohn Lowe a white Monke Doctor of Diuinitie and Prouinciall of his order was preferred vnto the Bishopricke of Saint Assaph by king Henry the 6. in regard of his great learning and painfulnesse in preaching After that hee also procured him to be translated to Rochester 1443. He writ diuers good workes very well woorth reading and was a carefull searcher after good bookes so as diuers copies of some auncient fathers had vtterly perished but for his diligence He died the yeere 1467. and lieth buried in his owne Cathedrall church ouer against Bishop Merton where he hath a same marble toombe the inscription being not yet altogether defaced 59. Thomas Rotheram translated to Lincolne 1471. and after to Yorke Sée Yorke 60. Iohn Alcocke translated to Worcester 1476. and after to Ely Sée Ely 61. Iohn Russell translated to Lincolne 1480. Sée Lincolne 62. Edmund Audley translated to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sée Salisbury 63. Thomas Sauage translated to London and Yorke 〈◊〉 Yorke 64. Richard Fitz iames translated to Chichester 1504. and after to London Sée London 65. Iohn Fisher Doctor of Diuinitie For denying 〈◊〉 acknowledge the kings supremacy in ecclestasticall matters he was executed on Tower hill June 22. 1535. being made Cardinall about a moneth before His head was set on London bridge and his body buried in Barking churchyard 66. Iohn Fisher commonly called the blacke Frier of Bristow 67. Nicholas Heath became Bishop of Rochester about the yéere 1539. was remooued to Worceter 1543. and after to Yorke Sée Yorke 68. Henry Holbech translated to Lincolne 1547. 69. Nicolas Ridley conseccated in September 1547. was translated to London 1549. Sée London 70. Iohn Poynet consecrated Aprill 3. 1549. was translated to Winchester within a yéere after See Winton 71. Iohn Scory consecrated 1550. was depriued in the beginning of Quéene Mary and by Quéene Elizabeth preferred to Hereford 72. Maurice Griffyn Archdeacon of Rochester was consecrated Aprill 1. 1554. 73. Edmund Guest consecrated Ianuary 21. 1559. was translated to Salisbury December 24. 1571. 74. Edmund Freake doctor of Diuinitie consecrated March 9. 1571. was translated to Norwich 1576. and after to Worceter 75. Iohn Piers doctor of Diuinitie Deane of Christ 〈◊〉 in Oxford consecrated March 10. 1576. was translated to Salisbury 1577 and after to Yorke 76. Iohn Yoong doctor of Diuinitie consecrated 1578. yet liueth This Bishoprick is valued in the Exchequer at 358. l. 3. s. 7. d. farthing in the Popes bookes at 1300. ducates The Bishops of Oxford ABout the yéere of our Lord 730. there liued a Duke of Oxford called Didan He had a daughter of excellent beauty named Frideswyde who though she had many importunate suters men of great wealthand nobility yet desiring to serue God in such sort as she thought might be most acceptable vnto him would néedes dedicate her selfe vnto a sole and Monasticall life Amongst the rest of her wooers there was one a yoong Gentleman of great power some say he was a King his name was Algarus He not preuayling by intreaty thought to vse force and vpon a time getting company about him had almost seased vpon his desired pray which he had so narrowly beset as she had no way to escape his hands but by flying into a wood Thither also he followed her and that so néere as leauing it she had much adoo to recouer Oxford Perceiuing then that neither she was able to fly any further for wearinesse nor yet to withstand him there she called vnto God for assistance against this importunate louer who thereupon as the story saith was miraculously stricken blind And he continued in that case till by her prayers he recouered his sight againe Upon this
as also his othe taken to the same purpose at the time of his coronation the danger and dishonour of breaking the same and lastly that he should feare to offend him by whom kings raigne and before whose tribunall all princes and monarchs neuer so great must one day come to be iudged The king seemed to be somewhat mooued with these words and desiring the Archbishop to take his place againe well quoth he howsoeuer I doe otherwise I will leaue the church in as good estate as I found it The Archbishop then turning him about vnto the proloquutor and certaine other knights of the lower house that accompanied him You it was faith he and such as you are that perswaded the last king to take into his hands all such celles in England as appertained vnto any religious houses of Fraunce or Normandy assuring him it would so stuffe his coffers as he could not want in many yéeres after and there is no question but the land belonging to such celles was woorth an infinite summe of mony Howbeit it is certaine and well inough knowne that within one yéere after he had taken that course he was not the value of halfe a marke the richer and how he thriued afterwarde otherwise I néede not tell you After that time there were no other attempts against the church in his daies But the clergy were so terrified with that wauering doubtfulnesse of the king as they durst not but grant him a tenth euery yéere after and though there were no other occasion the Archbishop was faine to call a conuocation euen for that purpose His end being as some report it was very miserable his tongue swelled so big in his mouth as he was able neither to eate drinke nor speake in many dayes before his death and died at last of hunger about the end of Ianuary 1413. when he had sate one moneth aboue 17. yéeres He lyeth buried on the North side of the body of Christchurch in Canterbury at the West end whereof toward the North he built a faire spire stéeple called to this day by the name of Arundell steeple and bestowed a goodly ring of fiue belles vpon the same the first of them he dedicated to the holy trinity the second to the blessed virgin the third to the Angel Gabriell the fourth to Saint Blase and the fift to Saint Iohn the Euangelist 61. Henry Chichley AFter the death of Thomas Arundell Henry Chichley Bishop of Saint Dauids was elected by the Couent of Canterbury to succéeds him Now though many Lawes had béene made against the Popes vsurped authority in bestowing Ecclesiasticall preferments by way of prouiston Yet durst not this man consent vnto this election so made but committed the matter vnto the Popes determination who first pronounced the election of the monkes void and then bestowed the Archbishopricke vpon him This Henry Chichley was borne at Highamferrys in Northamptonshire brought vp in New Colledge in Oxford where he procéeded Doctor of Law and first preferred vnto the Chauncellorship of Salisbury Hauing beene imployed much in Embassages and other businesses of the king wherein he euer behaued himselfe wisely and to the kings great good liking by his meanes he was made first Bishop of Saint Dauids and then Archbishop He receiued his pall at the hands of the Bishop of Winchester the 29. of July 1414. and bought of the king the fruites of the vacacy which was halfe a yéere for sixe hundred markes The yéere 1428. he was made Cardinall of Saint Eusebius the Popes Legate but refused to exercise his power Legatiue further then he was authorised thereunto by the king He was a man happy enioying alwaies his princes fauour wealth honour and all kinde of prosperity many yéeres wise in gouerning his Sée laudably bountifull in bestowing his goods to the behoofe of the common wealth and lastly stout and seuere in due administration of iustice In the towne of Nigham ferrys where he was borne he founded a goodly college for secular priests which he endowed with large reuenues He built also in the same towne an hospital for poore people which he likewise endowed liberally and his brethren Robert and Wil. Chichley citizens of London his executors gaue much land vnto the same These two foundations finished he began two other at Oxford one called Bernard College now knowne by the name of Saint Johns college and All Soules college which yet continueth in such state as he left the same one of the fairest and seemeliest of our Uniuersity He bestowed much money in repairing the library at Canterbury and then replenished the same with a number of goodly bookes He gaue vnto his Church many rich ornaments and iewels of great price and built a great part of the Tower called Oxford Tower in the said Church William Molash Prior there that I may take any occasion to record so good a déede the yéere 1430. furnished that Tower with a goodly bell called to this day Bell Dunstan The 〈◊〉 of that bell at the lowest brim is two yards and somewhat more But to returne to Henry Chichley no Archbishop euer enioied that honor so long as he did in 500. yeeres before him He sate 29. yéeres and dying Aprill 12. 1443. was laid in a very faire toombe built by him selfe in his life time standing vpon the North side of the Presbitery On it I find engrauen this Epitaph Hic 〈◊〉 Henr. Chicheley Ll. Doctor quondam Cancellarius Sarum qui anno septimo Henr. 4. Regisad Gregorium Papam 12. in Ambassiata transmissus in ciuitate Sanensi per manus 〈◊〉 Papae in Episcopum 〈◊〉 consecratus est Hic etiam Henricus anno 2. Henr. 5. Regis in 〈◊〉 sancta ecclesia in Archiepiscopum postulatus a 〈◊〉 Papa 23. ad eandem translatus qui obijt anno dom 1443. mensis Apr. die 12. Coetus sanctornm concorditer iste precetur Vt Deus ipsorum meritis sibi propiciatur 62. Iohn Stafford EVgenius 4. the Pope of his absolute authority translated then from Bathe and Wels Iohn Stafford lately also made Cardinall as I finde reported at leastwise He was sonne vnto the Earle of Stafford borne at Hooke in Dorsetshire in the parish of Abbots bury and brought vp in Oxford where also he procéeded Doctor of lawe A while he practised in the Arches euen vntill Henry Chichley the Archbishoppe made him his vicar generall there By his fauour also he obtayned the Deanry of Saint Martins in London and the prebend of Milton in the church of Lincoln King Henry the fifth a little before his death began to fauour him much found meanes to preferre him first to the Deanry of Wels then a prebend in the church of Salisbury and afterward made him one of his priuy counsell first kéeper of the priuy seale and in the ende Treasurer of England This renowmed king being taken away by vntimely death though he found not his passage so cléere yet he still went forward in the way of preferment and obtained
Edward the first 〈◊〉 prince that wanted neither wit to deuise nor courage to 〈◊〉 cute such an exploit and to lay the fault vpon another at last Yet likely inough it is that such a fault stamped vpon him how vndeseruedly soeuer might barre him out of the 〈◊〉 Calender who otherwise was not woont to be ouer dainty 〈◊〉 affoording that kind of honour where fees might be 〈◊〉 paid in for it He sate ten yeeres and lieth entoombed in 〈◊〉 South wall néere the Cloister doore In this mans time the Chapter house was built by the contribution of well disposed people a stately and sumptuous worke 28. Walter Haselshaw VVAlter Haselshaw first Deane then Bishop 〈◊〉 Welles sate ten yeeres and lieth buried vnder a huge marble in the body of the church toward the North almost ouer against the pulpit He made many statutes 29. Iohn Drokensford IOhn Drokensford kéeper of the kings Ward-robe succéeded Following the steps of his predecessor 〈◊〉 he bestowed somewhat in increasing the buildings and liberties of his See but much more vpon his 〈◊〉 He had much contention with his Chapter the story whereof is to be seene in the 〈◊〉 booke sate 19. yeeres and lieth buried vnder a reasonable saemcly toombe of free stone in the chappell of Saint Batherme which is vpon the right hand going toward the Lady chappell 30. Ralfc of Shrewsbury VVIth one cōsent of the chapter of Wels the couent of Bathe 〈◊〉 of Shrewsbury was then elected dared to be consecrate a great venture in those daies before the 〈◊〉 had allowed of him His approbation saith 〈◊〉 cost him at last a huge summe of money This man is famous for the first foundation of our 〈◊〉 close in Wels. The memory of which benefit is to be seene erpressed in a 〈◊〉 vpon the wal at the foot of the hall staires In 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to request the Bishop in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about the 〈◊〉 we humbly pray Together through 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dwell we may He answereth them thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For your 〈◊〉 deserts do plead I will do that you craue To this purpose established here dwellings shall you haue This picture being now almost worne out at what time of late yeeres the 〈◊〉 by the gratious fauour of her Maiesty had their reuenues confirmed to them being in danger to be spoyled of them by certaine sacrilegious cormorants they likewise caused a picture of excellent workmanship to be drawen 〈◊〉 a memoriall of both the one and the other These buildings being erected toward the maintenance of some hospitality in them he gaue vnto that new Colledge the mannor of 〈◊〉 and allotted them twenty nobles yerely to be paid out of the vicarage of Chew He built moreouer a house for the Queristers and their master He built likewise the church of Winscomb and the court house at Clauerton a great chamber at Cuercrich and much other 〈◊〉 in other of his houses His pallace of Welles he inclosed with an excéeding strong wall and a large mote into which he 〈◊〉 the riuer running hard by He gaue vnto his church 〈◊〉 things of which nothing now remaineth I thinke but a great chest bound with iron in which the Chapter seale is kept Lastly it is to be remembred that with great 〈◊〉 he procured the forest of 〈◊〉 to be disparked Hauing performed these and many other things deseruing perpetual 〈◊〉 he departed this life at Wiuelescomb Aug. 14. 1363. hauing continued Bishop 34. yéeres His body was buried before the high altar vnder a goodly monument of Alabaster compassed about with grates of yron About a 60. yéeres since for what cause I know not it was remooued to the 〈◊〉 side of the presbytery but lost his grates by the way The image of Alabaster that lieth vpon it is said to be very like him 31. Iohn Barnet IOhn Barnet remooued from Worcester succéeded him sate two yéeres and was translated to Ely Sée Ely 32. Iohn Harewell EDward surnamed the Blacke Prince obtayned then of the Pope this Bishopricke for Iohn Harewell a chaplaine of his that was Chauncellour of Gascoigne 〈◊〉 was consecrate at Burdeaur March 7. 1366. by the Archbishop there He contributed the third penny toward the building of the Southwest tower at the ende of the church the Chapter bearing the rest of the charge He paid 100. markes for glasing the window at the West ende of the church 〈◊〉 gaue two great bels the bigest of which being cast fower times since I was of this church now at last serueth for 〈◊〉 greatest of a ring the goodliest for that number being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I thinke in England He died in the moneth of June 1386. hauing sate 19. yéeres and was interred ouer 〈◊〉 Burwold where we sée a toombe of alabaster that séemeth to haue béene a sumptuous piece of worke but is now much defaced 33. Walter Skirlaw VVAlter Skirlaw was translated from Lichfield hether and after two yeeres from hence to Durham See Durham 34. Ralfe Erghum RAlfe Erghum Doctor oslawe was consecrate Bishop of Salisbury at Bruges in Flanders December 9. 1375. From thence he was translated 〈◊〉 September 14. 1388. died Aprill 10. 1401. He impropred to the chapter of Welles the parsonage of Puklechurch and gaue vnto them a certaine house called the George beside certaine plate and church ornaments to the value 140 l. Moreouer he built a colledge at Welles for fowerteene priests at the ende of the lane now called Colledge-lane He lieth buried in the body of the church vpon the North side of that chappell that ioyneth to the great pulpit 35. Henry Bowet THe Bishopricke so void was conferred by the Pope vpon Richard Clifford Archdeacon of Canterbury who being denied his temporalties by the king was faine notwithstanding the Popes prouisory Bulles to giue place vnto Henry Bowet Doctor of law and Canon of Welles that with the kings fauour was lawfully elect thereunto Sée more hereof in Richard Clifford of London To Welles he was consecrate Nouemb. 16. 1401. in Saint Paules church in London the king and all the Nobility being present and was translated to Yorke December 1. 1407. See Yorke 36. Nicolas Bubwith NIcolas Bubwith being Bishop of London and Treasurer of England left both those places for Salisbury which also he was content to forsake to accept Welles within the compasse of one yéere after he was first consecrate to London This man being at the Counsell of Constance was appointed one of those thirty persons that were ioyned with the 〈◊〉 in the election of Pope Martin the fifth He built 〈◊〉 almeshouse vpon the North side of Saint Cuthberts church endowing it with good possessions for the reliefe of many 〈◊〉 persons They were much increased afterwards by 〈◊〉 Storthwayth somewhat also by Bishop Bourne and other So that now it maintaineth 24. poore people He 〈◊〉 vnto our church the parsonage of Bucklaud Abbatis He
robbed the cathedrall churches of England of I dare say the tone halfe of that they possessed had béene an occasion of the vtter ruine and destruction of this See if Bishop Barlow taking aduantage of the death of some men in the 〈◊〉 ende of king Edward and Bishop Bourne making vse of the zeale of Quéene Mary in tendring the state of the church had not béene the meanes of recouering what is now left vnto the same euen the lands of the Bishopricke in a manner euery whit all the land belonging to the Archdeacon of Welles and some land of the Chapter to wit the parsonages of Duluerton and Longsutton And it is supposed that this man had he stoode vp but a little while longer had recouered diuers other possessions to his See that now are thought to be lost irrecouerably He was a benefactor vnto the Uicars close to the almehouse and began the foundation of a certaine colledge in the canonicall house that standeth néere the market place but was hindered by the death of Quéene Mary and his depriuation from finishing it Being displaced for not subscribing according to order he was committed to the custody of master Carey Deane of her Maiesties chappell liued with him many yéeres and died at Sylferton in Deuonshire where he lieth buried September 10. 1569. 48. Gilbert Barkley IT pleased then the Quéenes Maiestie that now is in the beginning of her most happy raigne to nominate vnto this See one Gilbert Barkley borne in Norfolke but descended of the auncient and most honorable house of the Lord Barkley at least wise as the armes assigned vnto him by the Heraulds do seeme to testifie He sate somewhat more then 20. yéeres and growing into a lethargy which diminished much of the vigor and strength as wel of his minde as his body certaine moneths before his decease at last departed this world Nouember 2. 1581. being 80. yéeres of age and was buried vpon the North side of the high altar in his owne church where we sée a hansome monument of frée stone built ouer him 49. Thomas Godwyn THomas Godwyn my déere and most reuerend father was borne at Okingham in Barkshire and brought vp first in the frée schoole there then for a little while vnder one Doctor Layton Deane of Yorke who sent him to Dreford and so long as he liued which was not past a two or thrée yéere exhibited vnto him there He being taken away it pleased God to prouide for him otherwise by raising vp friends that procured him to be chosen fellow of 〈◊〉 colledge Towards the latter ende of king Edwards raigne forsaking that place he tooke on him the teaching of a free schoole at Brackley directing his studies partly to diuinity and partly also to Phisicke the practise whereof in Quéens Maries time when he might not be suffred to teach any longer maintained him his wife and children honestly He receiued orders and his first spirituall preferments at the hand of Bishop Bollingham then of Lincolne after of 〈◊〉 in the beginning of her Maiesties raigne that now is By her gratious appointment he became first Deane of Christchurch in Oxeford in the seuenth then of Canterbury in the ninth yeere of her raigue and lastly Bishop of Bathe and 〈◊〉 being consecrate thereunto September 13. 1584. Hauing sate fixe yéeres two moneths and sixe daies he departed this mortall life Nouember 19. 1590. at Okingham the place where he was borne and there lyeth buried vpon the South side of the chauncell vnder a marble and néere vnto a monument fixed in the wall farre more answerable vnto the ability of him that set it vp then vnto the vertues and deserts of him to whose memory it was erected 50. Iohn Styll THe Sée hauing continued voide two yéeres and somewhat more Iohn Styli Doctor of Diuinity and Master of Trinity college in Cambridge was consecrate therunto in February 1592. He yet liueth in the same This Bishopricke is valued in the Queenes bookes at 533 l. and 15 d. and paid to the Pope for an Income onely 430. slorens although in those daies it were one of the richest Sees of England The Deanry of Welles was first erected in the time of king Stephen about the yéere 1150. as before is deliuered and one Iuo made the first Deane after whom haue succeeded these 2. Richard de Spakeston 1160. 3. Alexander 4. Leonius 1205. 5. Ralph de Lechlade 6. Peter de Ciceter 7. William de Merton 1236. 8. Ioannes Sarracenus 1241. 9. Gyles de Brideport 1255. 10. Edward de la Knoll 1256. 11. Thomas de Button 1284. 12. William Burnell 1292. 13. Walter de Haselshaw 1295. 14. Henry Husee 1302. 15. Iohn de Godeley 1303. 16. Richard de Bury 1333. 17. Wibert de Luttleton elect 1334. 18. Walter de London 1336. 19. Iohn de Carlton William de Camell elect 1361. refused the place 20. Stephen de Penpel 1361. 21. Iohn Fordham 1379. 22. Thomas de Sudbury 1381. 23. Nicolas Slake 1396. 24. Thomas Stanley 1402. 25. Richard Courtney 1409. 26. Walter Metford 1413. 27. Iohn Stafford 28. Iohn Forest. 1425. 29. Nicolas Carent 1448. 30. William Witham 1467. 31. Iohn Gunthorp 1472. 32. William Cosyn 1498. 33. Thomas Winter 1525. 34. Ridhard Woolman 35. Thomas Cromwell 1537. 36. William Fitz-Williams 1540. 37. Iohn Goodman 1548. 38. William Turner 1556. 39. Robert Weston 1566. 40. Valentine Dale 1574. 41. Iohn Herbert 1589. The Bishops of Exceter This discourse following is taken for the most part Verbatim out of Master Iohn Hookers Catalogue of the Bishops of Exceter THe Countries of Deuonshire Cornwall after their conuersion vnto Christian religion were a while vnder the iurisdiction of the Bishop of the West Saxons whose See was established at Dorchester Afterwards Winchester being appointed a Cathedrall Sée about the yéere 660. All the West countrey was alotted to the gouernment of the Bishop of that Church and so continued vnder him till that the yéere 705. Sherborne was made a Cathedrall Church Two hundred yeeres they were subiect vnto the Bishop of Sherborne to wit vntill the yeere 905. At what time Plegmund Archbishop of Canterbury by the commaundement of the king as else where I haue declared more at large erected diuers new Sees namely at Welles in Somersetshire one in Cornewall another and a third in Deuonshire The See of Athelstan the Bishop of Cornwall was for a while S. Petrockes in Bodmyn and afterwards Saint Germanes Werstan Bishop of Deuonshire placed him selfe first at Tawton but soone after remooued to Credyton now called kyrton The successors of Athelstan in the Dioces of Cornwall as I find were these Conanus Ruydocus Aldredus Britwyn Athelstan he liued the yéere 966. Wolfi Woronus Wolocus Stidio Adelredus Burwoldus About the yéere 1040. or soone after Saint Peters church in Exceter was appointed the Sée for both Deuonshire and Cornwall And hath euer since that time so continued NOw to come vnto the particular history of this church you shall vnderstand that
being ordered and brought to passe according to his desire he returned home leauing the Quéene with the French king her brother to perfect and finish the agréement already made She whether weary of her hust and or prouoked by the insolency of the Spencers and other fauorites about the king had long since determined to depose her husband from the kingdome if possibly she might and to set vp her sonne Prince Edward Hauing therefore rid away this Bishop whose loialty and faithfullnesse to his soueraigne she well knew was vnmooueable she began to put in practise the execution of this long plotted designement and in the end to be short exploited the same While these matters were a brewing it happened the king to take his iourney to Bristow and he thought good to commit the gouernment and custody of the citie of London to the fidelity of this Bishop At what time therefore the Quéene began to approach néere vnto the city with her power he required the Maior to send vnto him the keies of the gates The Commons who altogether fauoured the Quéenes party hearing this and perceauing the Bishop purposed to withstand her set vpon him violently drew him into Cheape side and beheaded him there together with Sir Richard Stapleton a Knight his brother Then they caried his body to his house without Temple bar and buried if basely in a heape of sand in the backside of the same house In this sort did this woorthy prelate loose his life in defence of his Prince and that by their meanes who of all other were bound in the strongest bands of duty and alleageance to haue done as he did I meane the Queene and the Prince her sonne They shortly after whether regarding his calling or destring to make semblance of disliking the manner of his death or happily mooued with some remorse of conscience commanded his body to be taken from the place where it was first 〈◊〉 and being conueighed to Exceter with all funerall pompe there to be solemnly enterred He lieth 〈◊〉 vpon the North side of the high Altar in a faire toombe of free stone And his brother before mentioned lieth ouer against him in the North wall of the North Isle This murther was committed October 15 1326. And his funerals were solemnised at Exceter March 28. following The yéere 1316. he erected two houses in Oxford for the better increase and aduancement of learning the one named Hart hall the other Stapledons Inne now called Exceter college in which he placed thirteene fellowes and a Rector whom he appointed to be chosen annually This foundation is much encreased of late yeeres by the liberality of Sir William Peter late principall Secretary and others Moreouer it is to be remembred that he was a speciall benefactor vnto the hospitall of Saint Johns in Exceter to which he impropriated for the releeuing of certaine poore children the Rectory or personage of Ernscombe IAmes Barkley descēded of the noble house of the Lord Burkley was consecrated March 15. anno 1326. by Walter Raynold Archbishop of Canterbury at the commanndement of 〈◊〉 the Queene The Pope very angry here withall did so 〈◊〉 the Archbishop as he died for griefe and anger soone after Neither did the new consecrate Bishop stay long behinde him for he died also the 24. of June following A man reputed very godly and wise He was buried as some say in his owne church but others deliuer that he neuer came hither at all IOhn Grandesson being in Italy with Pope Iohn the 22. after the death of Iohn Barkley he at the kings request bestowed this Bishopricke vpon him and caused him tobe consecrate at Rome October 18. 1327. He was borne and descended of the auncient house of the Grandessons Dukes of Burgundy His Father was named Gilbert the brother of Otho the great Lord Grandesson which Gilbert 〈◊〉 into this Land was well intertained by the king and nobility By meanes of Henry Earle of Lancaster with whom he came into England he maried the Lady 〈◊〉 daughter and one of the heires to Iohn Tregos Lord of the Castle of Ewias néere Hereford East and by her had issue fiue sonnes and foure daughters of which this Bishop was one who was borne in the parish of Aishpertone in the Dioces of Hereford He was from his childhood very studious became earned and wrote diuers bookes one intituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an other 〈◊〉 minores and a third de vitis sar ctorum He was also very graue wise and politike And thereby grew into such credit with Pope Iohn that he was not onely of his priuy counsell but also his Nuntio or Embassadour in matters of great waight and unportance to the Emperor to the king of Spaine Fraunce England and other the mightiest Princes of Christendome Being on a time sent in an Embassage to king Edward the third he so behaued him selfe that the king neuer ceased vntill he had procured him from the Pope and then he gaue him the Archbeaconry of Nothingham and other great liuings he made him one of the priuy councell and in the end preferred him to his Bishopricke After this some matter of dislike falling out betwéene Pope Clement the sixt and the King he for his approued wisedome was sent in Ambassage to the Pope ann 1343. for an intreaty of a peace and an amity betwéene 〈◊〉 to be had and with such wisedome he did his message that he obtained his purpose and made a reconciliation After his returne home to his Bishopricke he spent his time altogether in adorning and beautifying of his Church or building and erecting some good monument or other He founded the Colledge of S. Mary Otrey and endowed the same with great and goodly liuelihoods He was a liberall Benefactor to the Uicars Chorall of his owne Church as also to the Colledge of Glaseney in Peryn he builded the two last Arches in the West end of his Church vaulted the roofe of all the Church and fully ended the buildings of the same Leauing it in such sort as we sée it at this day Thē also he inriched it with plate and other ornaments of inestimable value Moreouer he built a faire house at Bishops Taingtonwhich he left full furnished vnto his successors and did impropriate vnto the same the Parsonage of Radway to the ende as he setteth downe in his Testament Vt haberent Episcopi locum vbi caput suum 〈◊〉 si forte in manum regis eorum 〈◊〉 caperentur Before his death he made his last Will wherein he gaue such large and bouteous legacies to the Pope Emperor King Queene Archbishop Bishops Colledges Churches and to sundry parsons of high estates and callings that a man would maruell considering his great and chargeable buildings and workes otherwise how and by what meanes he could haue attained to such a masse of wealth and riches He was alwaies very frugall kept no more men or horses about him then necessary and euer despised the vanity of all outward pompe But this it was