tooke the other and was consecrated Bishop of Excester vpon the tenth of March 1370. being the feast daie of Nereus and Achilles William of Worcester then Archbishop of Canturburie This Thomas was a man verie well learned and experted both in ecclesiasticall matters and in politike gouernment and in both these respects greatlie reuerenced and estéemed and for that cause at the parliament holden at Westminster in the tenth yéere of K. Richard the second he was chosen to be one of the twelue péeres of the realme vnder the King he was a benefactor to the Calenderhaie of the vicars chorall of his own church and performed and supplied in buildings and otherwise what his predecessors had left vndoone and hauing béene Bishop xxiiij yéeres he died the third of December anno 1394. and was buried in the North side of the bodie of his owne church EDmond Stafford vpon the xx daie of Iune anno 1395. was consecrated at Lambhith by William Courtwaie Archbishop of Canturburie he was borne and descended of noble parentage being brother to Ralph Lord Stafford created Earle of Stafford by K. Edward the third he was both wise and learned for his wisedome he grewe into great credit with the king and was both of his priuie counsell as also Lord Chancellor of England At the parliament holden at westminster the xxj yéere of K. Richard the second he being then speaker of the higher house made a verie learned and pithie oration to prooue the absolute authoritie of a King his theme was Rex vnus erit omnibus and hauing discoursed at large of the authoritie of a king did conclude Quod potestas regis esset sibi sola vnita annexa solida and whosoeuer did by anie meanes impeach the same Paena legis meritò esset plectendus And for the furtherance of good letters he did increase two fellowships in the colledge of Stapledons inne in Oxford reformed the statutes of the house and altered the name of it and called it Excester colledge After that he had continued Bishop in much honour about xxiij yéeres he died the fourth of September being the seuenth yéere of King Henrie the fift and lieth buried in his owne church in a verie aire tombe of Alablaster IAmes Carye Bishop of Chester being at Florence when newes was brought to Pope Martin the fift of Bishop Staffords death was then and there made Bishop of this church anno 1419. and also consecrated but long he enioied not his office for there he died and was buried EDmond Lacie Bishop of Hereford was translated from thence vnto this church in the feast of Easter and in the eight yéere of king Henrie the fift anno 1420. he was a man verie deuout and religious but subiect to flatterers who carried him to their pleasure he was a liberall benefactor to the vicar of Calenderhaie great contentions were betwéene him and the citie for liberties which by arbitriment were compounded he founded the chapter house in his owne church He was a professor of diuinitie and very well learned for in the second yéere of his Bishoprike being the ix yeare of the kings reigne there was a parliment holden at Westminster in which great complaints were made against the loose and dissolute life of the religious men and especiall the blacke moonks And this matter being brought to the conuocation house this Bishop as chéefe prolocutor of that assemblie did make a verie learned and a pithie oration before the king then of purpose present and the whole cleargie much lamenting that the religious men were so far straied from the rules of their professions and the holinesse of their predecessors And when he had at large discoursed the same he deliuered vp certeine articles in writing praieng for reformation which his spéeches were so effectuallie vttered and his articles so effectuallie penned that both the king and the clergie did not onelie with great liking and allowance praise and commend the same but also tooke order that there should be a prouinciall Councell called out of hand for a reformation which was then promised but not performed by reason of the kings death which not long after followed but yet in the waie of good spéed it was then concluded and agréed that euerie third benefice being of the gift of anie of the prelats or of anie monasterie should from thencefoorth for seauen yeres be giuen to some scholar of Oxenford or Cambridge This Bishop after he had liued xxxv yeares in this Bishoprike died and was buried in the North wall of the quier in his owne church After whose death manie miracles were said and deuised to be doone at his toombe wherevpon great pilgrimages were made by the common people to the same GEorge Neuell succéeded Edmond Lacie and was consecrated in the feast of S. Katharine anno 1455. he was of a noble parentage being the second sonne of Richard Neuell Earle of Sarisburie he finished and ended the chapter house which his predecessor had begonne And after that he had béene Bishop about ten yeares he was remooued to Yorke and made Archbishop there anno 1465. IOhn Bothe after the translation of George Neuell to Yorke was consecrated Bishop vnder Thomas Burscher Archbishop of Canturburie vpon the xxij of Februarie anno 1466. He was by profession a Ciuillian and a Batcheler of the same he gouerned his church verie well and builded as some suppose the Bishops sea in the quier but being wearie of the great troubles which were in this contrie betwéene king Edward the fourth and the Earle of Warwike he remooued from hence to his house of Horsleigh in Hamshire where in the twelfe yeare of his Bishoprike he died vpon the fift daie of Aprill anno 1478. and lieth buried at S. Clements in London PEter Courtnaie immediatlie after the death of Bothe was presented to this Bishopricke and consecrated by Thomas Archbishop of Canturburie in Nouember anno 1477. at S. Stephens in Westminster he was the sonne of Sir Phillip Courtnaie of Powderham his mother was named Elizabeth daughter to Walter Lord Hungerford he for his wisedome and good behauiour was in great credit and fauour with king Henrie the seauenth by whose meanes he was translated from this church vnto Winchester in the ninth yeare of his being Bishop here and in the fift yeare of his being there he died vpon the xx of December anno 1491. and lieth buried in his owne church He finished the North tower of S. Peters and gaue the clocke bell which is in the same and which beareth the name Peter RIchard Fox vpon the remoouing of Peter Courtnaie was consecrated Bishop of this church vnder Thomas Archbishop of Canturburie 1466. he was a verie wise man and in great credit and estimation with king Henrie the seauenth vnto whom he was a faithfull counsellour and of his priuie Councell with whom he acquainted himselfe at Paris when he was there a student For king Henrie then Earle of Richemond being at Venice and aduertised how the
matrone his house and houshold another church in which was exercised all godlinesse and vertue No one person being in his house which did not from time to time giue an account of his faith and religion and also did liue accordinglie and as he had a care for the good successe in religion so had he also for the direction of the gouernment in ecclesiasticall causes and bicause he he was not skilfull therein neither would be hindered from his godlie studies and be incombred with such worldlie matters which neuerthelesse he would haue be doone in all vprightnes iustice and equitie he sent to Oxford for a learned man to be his Chancellor and by the ministerie of the writer hereof he procured and obteined one Maister Robert weston Doctor of the ciuill lawe and afterwards Lord Chancellor of Ireland vnto whom he committed his consistorie and the whole charge of his ecclesiasticall iurisdiction allowing vnto him not onelie all the fées therevnto apperteining but also lodged and found him his wife familie horse and man within his owne house and gaue him a yéerelie pension of xl pound And surelie the Bishop was no more godlie and carefull of his part concerning preaching but this man also was as diligent and seuere in dooing of his office without reproch of being affectionated or corrupted And notwithstanding this good man now a blamelesse Bishop and liued most godlie and vertuous yet the common people whose old bottels would receiue no new wine could not brooke nor digest him for no other cause but bicause he was a preacher of the Gospell an enimie to papistrie and a married man Manie deuises were accompted against him for his confusion sometimes by false suggestions sometimes bp open railings and false libelles sometimes by secret backbitings and in the end practised his death by impoisoning but by the prouidence of God the snares were broken and he deliuered After that he had béene Bishop about thrée yéeres K. Edward died and then Quéene Marie hauing the crowne the religion was altered and he depriued And notwithstanding the malice of the Prelats and archpapists was most bitter against him and who had sworne his death yet by the goodnesse of God he was most miracouslie preserued and deliuered from out of their hands at the sute and by the meanes of the king of Denmarke who so earnestlie sewed and so often wrote to the Quéene for him that he was deliuered and sent vnto him with whom after that he had staied a while he went againe into Germanie vnto the Palsegraue who most louinglie receiued him placed him againe in his former benefice of Burghsaber where he continued vntill the death of Q. Marie And then the preaching of the Gospell being againe receiued and hauing a frée passage he returned into England but would neuer returne to his Bishoprike notwithstanding it was reserued for him and sundrie times offered him but liued a priuate life continuing in London preaching and teaching the Gospell so long as the strength of his bodie would permit and at length being verie old and striken in yéeres he died and was honourablie buried at S. Magnus church in London IOhn Voiseie after the depriuation of Miles Couerdale was restored to this church and for the better setling of the Romish religion did here staie for a while but his mind was adicted to his own countrie that he returned thither and made his onelie abode there practising there what he could to haue the making of kersies to come to seme effect but the same being more chargeable than profitable came to small effect this man being verie old died in his owne house with a pang and was buried in his parish church there anno 1555. IAmes Troblefield succéeded Bishop Voiseie and was consecrated anno 1556. he was a gentleman borne and of a good house verie gentle and courteous he professed diuinitie but most zelous in the Romish religion yet nothing cruell nor bloodie And yet that he might not séeme to doo nothing he was contented to prosecute and condemne a giltles poore séelie woman named Agnes Pirest for religion heresie who was burned in Southingham for the same it was laied to hir charge as dooth appéere by an inditement taken at Launceston Die lunae in quarta septimana quadragesimae anno Philippi Maria secundo tertio before William Stanford then iustice of the assise that she should denie the reall presence in the sacrament of the altar and that the same was but a signe and a figure of Christs bodie and that none dooth eate reallie the bodie of Christ but spirituallie He was verie carefull to recouer some part of the lands of his Bishoprike which his predecessor wasted and did obteine of Q. Marie to him and to his successors the fée ferme of the manor of Crediton After that he had béene Bishop about two yeares Q. Marie died and he was depriued and liued after a priuate life WIlliam Alleie in the second yeare of Q. Elizabeth was chosen Bishop and installed the sixt of August 1561. In all Q. Maries time which were called the Marian daies he trauelled from place to place in the North countrie where he was not knowne and sometimes by practising of phisick and sometimes by teaching of scholers he picked out a poore liuing for himselfe and his wife and so continued being not knowne to haue béene a préest during all Q. Maries time after whose death he went to London and there did reade diuinitie lecture in Paules verie learnedlie and to his great commendation and from whence he was taken and made Bishop of this citie He was verie well learned vniuersallie but his chéefe studie and profession was in diuinitie and in the toongs And being Bishop he debated no part of his former trauels 〈◊〉 spent his time verie godlie and vertuous Vpon euerie holie daie for the most part he preached and vpon the wéeke daies he would and did reade a lecture of diuinitie the residue of his time and frée from his necessarie businesse he spent in his priuate studies and wrote sundrie bookes whereof his prelections or lectures which he did reade in Paules and his poore mans librarie he caused to be imprinted the like he would haue doone with his Hebrue grammar and other his works if he had liued He was well stored and his librarie well replenished with all the best sort of writers which most gladlie he would impart and make open to euerie good scholar and student whose companie and conference he did most desire and imbrace he séemed to the first apparance to be a rough and an austere man but in verie truth a verie couetous gentle and an affable man at his table full of honest spéeches ioined with learning and pleasantnesse according to the time place and companie All his exercises which for the most part was at bowles verie merrie and pleasant void of all sadnesse which might abate the benefit of recreation loth to offend readie to forgiue void of malice full of loue bountifull in hospitalitie liberall to the poore and a succourer of the néedie faithfull to his fréend and courteous to all men a hater of couetousnesse and an enimie to all euill and wicked men and liued an honest a godlie and vertuous life Finallie he was indued with manie notable good gifts and vertues onelie he was somewhat credulous and of a hasty beléefe and of light credit which he did oftentimes mislike and blame in himselfe in his latter time he waxed somwhat grosse and his bodie full of humors which did abate much of his woonted exercises and hauing béene Bishop about eight yeares he died the first of Aprill 1570. and was buried in his own church WIlliam Bradbridge Deane of Sarisburie was the next Bishop consecrated at Lambhith by Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canturburie the 18. of March 1570. he was a professor of diuinitie but not taken to be so well grounded as he persuaded himselfe he was zelous in religion but not so forwards as he was wished to be in his latter daies he delighted to dwell in the contrie which was not so much to his liking as troublesome to his cleargie to such as had any sutes vnto him it was thought he died verie rich but after his death it prooued otherwise he died suddenlie no bodie being about him at Newton ferris the ninth yeare of his Bishopprike vpon the xxix of Iulie 1578. and was buried in his owne church IOhn VVolton now liuing next after Bradbridge was called to be Bishop of the sea and consecrated at Lambhith by Edmond Grendall Archbishop of Canturburie in August 1579. He is a professor of diuinitie and a preacher of the Gospell and vniuersallie séene in all good letters great good things are looked and hoped for at his hands and that he being now made a watchman ouer the house of Israel and a shéepheard ouer the Lords flocke to be a minister of the Gospell and a disposer of Gods holie mysteries will attend the same and performe the office of a true Bishop in preaching in season and out of season not by constraint or slowlie but willinglie and gladlie not for filthie lucre but of a readie mind by leading an vnreprooueable life to be example of good works in all sobrietie patience gentlenes and integritie And that he liuing thus godlie in this life may not onlie haue a good report to the posteritie but also looke for the blessed hope and appéering of the glorie of God and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ that when he shall present himselfe and his talent the people of God before the high and chéefe shepheard they may all enter into the Lords ioie and receiue an incorruptible crowne of glorie FINIS
one of the heires to Iohn Tregos Lord of the castle of Ewas néere Hereford east and by hir had issue fiue sonnes and foure daughters of which this Bishop was one and was borne in the parish of Asheperton in the diocesse of Hereford He was from his childhood verie well affected to learning and became a good scholar and a professor of Diuinitie of which method he wrote two bookes the one intituled Pontificales maiores the other Pontificales minores He was also verie graue wise and politike and thereby grewe into such credit with Pope Iohn the xxij that he was not onelie of his priuie counsell but also Nuntius apostolicae sedis And in all matters of weight and importance an embassador for him to the emperor to the kings of Hispaine of France of England and all other the mightiest princes of Christendome and being on a time sent on in an embassage to K. Edward the third he did with such wisedome and grauitie behaue himselfe that the king was rauished in loue with him and did so tenderlie loue and fauour him that he neuer ceassed vntill he had procured him from the Pope and then he gaue him the Archdeaconrie of Notingham and bestowed great liuings vpon him He made him one of his priuie counsell and in the end preferred him to this Bishoprike After this there being some disliking betwéene Pope Clement the sixt and the king he for his approoued wisedome was sent in an ambassadge to the Pope anno 1343. for an intreatie of a peace and an amitie betwéene them to be had and with such wisdome he did his message that he obteined his purpose and made a reconciliation After his returne home to his Bishoprike he was altogether giuen in dooing some good things he builded and founded the colledge of S. Marie Otrey and endowed the same with great and goodlie liueliehoods He was a liberall benefactor to the Vicars Chorall of his owne church as also to the colledge of Glasney in Perrin he builded the two last arches in the West end of his church vaulted the roofe of all the church and fullie performed and ended the buildings of the same and then inriched his said church with plate ornaments and great riches he also builded a verie faire house in his sanctuarie at Bishops Taington which he gaue and least full furnished vnto his successors and did impropriate vnto the same the personage of Radwaie to the end as he setteth downe in his testament Vt haberent locum vndè caput suum reclinarent si fortè in manum regis eorum temporalia caperentur and which his halsening in the end came partlie to effect For not onelie the most part of the temporalities of this Bishoprike but this new builded house and impropriation are come to be the possessions and inheritances of temporall men This Bishop waxed old and féeling in himselfe a decaie of nature made his last will and testament wherein he made such large and bounteous legacies to the Pope Emperour King Quéene Archbishop Bishops colledges churches and to sundrie persons of high estates and callings that a man would maruell considering his great and chargeable buildings and works otherwise how and by what meanes he could haue atteined to such a masse of wealth and riches but his wisdome and policie considered it was easie For first he sequestrateth from himselfe and out of his house the troope of manie men and horses reteining and kéeping no more than to serue his reasonable estate his diet was frugall his receipts great his expenses no more than necessarie Moreouer he had taken and set an order with all the ecclesiastiall persons of his Diocesse that at the time of their deaths they shuld leaue bequeath all their goods to him or to some other in trust In pios vsus and towards his chargeable buildings so well he was beloued his dooings liked that they all accepted this his order by meanes whereof he grew within the course of xl yeares to infinite wealth and riches He was in all his life time a plaine man and void of all vaine glorie and pompe and preuenting that none should be vsed at his buriall commanded the same to be doone plainelie and simplie And that none of his executors Chaplaines seruants nor none of his house should weare anie moorning blacke cloths at the same but onelie their accustomable and common apparrell which then was commonlie graie coloured clothes This Bishop was no more graue and wise than stout and of courage if occasion so did require And among other things this is reported of him that about the yeare of our Lord 1331. Simon Mepham then Archbishop of Canturburie sent his mandatum vnto this Bishop that he would visit his church and diocesse vpon mondaie next after Ascension daie then following This Bishop vpon what occasion it is not written did refuse this mandatum and appealed from the same aduertising the Archbishop that he should not visit his church nor diocesse Notwithstanding the Archbishop at the time appointed came to this citie and went to S. Peters church nothing thinking that anie durst to withstand him But the Bishop knowing of his comming goeth to the church doore and méeteth the Archbishop and forbiddeth him to enter into his church and the Archbishop pressing forward as with force to enter the Bishop being then well guarded denieth and resisteth him wherevpon the Archbishop departed and after at a prouinciall councell holden at London the Archbishop complained hereof but by meanes of the like discord betwéene him and his suffraganes he preuailed not In this Bishops time one William of Excester a verie well learned man was a Canon of this church and he ioining himselfe with Nicholas de Cesena Okeham Walsingham and others did openlie preach that Christ and his apostles were but poore men and had no temporall possessions neither was anie Emperor or laie man subiect to the Pope but onelie in matters of religion But when he heard that Pope Iohn the xxiij had excommunicated and would condemne them all for heretikes this William to saue his liuings secretlie shronke away from his old companions and changed his copie and writeth certeine conclusions against them and his owne preachings Also in this Bishops time about the yéere of our Lord 1340. one Iohn of Bampton so named bicause he was borne at Bampton in this diocesse and a moonke of the order of the Carmelites was a verie good scholar and first did openlie reade Aristotle in the vniuersitie of Cambridge where he was a scholar and afterwards he studied diuinitie and was made Doctor he wrote certeine bookes which are not extant This Bishop after that he had occupied this church about xlij yéeres he died vpon S. Swithins daie 1369. and was buried in a chappell which he builded in the west wall of his owne church THomas Brentingham after the death of this Iohn Grandisson was at one instant chosen Bishop of Excester and Bishop of Hereford who refusing the one