time of K. Edgar for he making a progresse into those west parts to visit his father in lawe Ordogarus whose daughter he had married then Earle of Deuon and founder of the abbeie of Tauestocke came to this citie Anno 986. and he pittieng the distressed state of the said Church caused the Moonks to be sought out and to be assembled togither whom he then restored to their house and liueliehoods and appointed Sydemannus who afterwards was Bishop to be their Abbat And thencefoorth they continued togither although in great troubles vntill the time of K. Swanus the Dane for he with a great troope and armie of his Danes came to this citie anno 1019. who besieged it and at length hauing taken the same he spoiled destroied and burnt both citie and monasterie but yet shortlie after it was againe restored for K. Cahutus or Canutus being aduertised of the great cruelties doone by his father Swanus did at the request of one of his dukes named Atheldredus make restitution vnto Atheluoldus then Abbat both of lands liuings and priuiledges as appéereth by his chapter dated anno 1019. After this néere about xxx yeares K. Edward the confessor came to the citie and he by the aduise and counsell of Leophricus then Bishop of Crediton and sometimes Lord Chancellor of England and of the priuie Councell with the said King partlie for the better safetie of the Bishop and his successors and partlie to prouide a more apt place for the Moonks did remooue the Bishops sea from Crediton to this citie and sent the Moonks to westmonaster and did himselfe in his owne person togither with Quéene Edeth his wife place and install Bishop Leophricus in possession of his new Church and sea The Bishop then thus remooued from the old and placed in the new indoweth his new sea and Church with the lands and liueliehoods of his former Church and to make his sanctuarie to his mind pulleth downe the two monasteries néere adioining the one of Nunnes the other of Moonks and addeth them to his owne Church and then hauing thus brought his deuise to effect maketh ordinances lawes and orders for the good gouernment of his Church and cleargie After Leophricus death his successors following his example did euerie of them for the most part procure the augmentation increase of their church some in liueliehoods some in liberties and priuiledges and some in buildings and some in one thing or other William Warewest the third Bishop after the conquest being sometimes chapleine to the conqueror and to William and Henrie his sonnes obteined of the conqueror such grace and fauour that he gaue to this Church Plimton Brampton and S. Steeuens in Excester which his gift his foresaied two sâ—nnes by their charters did also confirme and then the said Bishop hauing the ordering and distribution thereof giueth Plimton to the regular Cannons for whom he had erected a monasterie there and where he himselfe shortlie after leauing his Bishoprike became a Cannon Bramton was reserued to the Cathedrall Church and afterwards was annexed to the Deanerie but S. Steeuens with the fée to the same he reserued to himselfe and to his successors whereby they are Barrons and Lords in the parliament Anno 1112 the said Bishop Warewest began to inlarge his Caâ—hedrall Church which at that time was no bigger than that part which is now the Ladie chappell and laid the foundation of that which is now the chore or quier Anno 1235. or there about William Brewer Bishop established and made a Deanes chapter of xxiiij prebendaries for the Deane whom he then appointed and whose name was Serlo and for his successors he appropriated gaue Brampton and Coliton Rawleigh for the prebendaries he purchased lands allotting to euerie of them the like portion of foure pound by the yéere Anno 1284. Peter Quiuill Bishop finding the chancell of his Church to be builded and finished to his hands beginneth and foundeth the lower part or bodie of his church from the quéere westwards he also appointed a chanter and a subdeane in the Church to the one he impropriated Painton and Chudleigh and to the other the personage of Egloshale in Cornewall he also impropriated the personage of S. Newlin in Cornewall of the Stokegabrill in Deuon to the Chancellor of the Church for reading of a Diuinitie lecture in his Cathedrall Church Anno 1340. Iohn Grandisson Bishop did increase the length of his Church from the foote westwards he vaulted the roofe of the whole Church and fullie ended and absolued the same and albeit from the time of K. Athelstan the first founder anno 932. vntill the death of this Grandisson which was anno 1369. there were 437. yéeres distant and in the meane time this Church builded by sundrie and diuerse men yet so vniformelie the same is compact as though it were builded at one instant Anno 1456. George Neuill then Bishop of this Church but shortlie after Archbishop of Yorke began to build the chapter house which was ended finished and absolued by his next successor Bishop Edmond Lacie but the cloister and librarie was builded by the Deane and chapter And thus much concerning the first foundation and building of this Church and the full ending of the same and now to the Catalog of the Bishops and of so manie as I can find who haue béene particular Bishops in this prouince of Deuon sithens the time of Edward the elder the sonne of K. Alphred A Catalog of the Bishops of Excester WErstanus at a prouinciall synod holden in west sex anno 905. was consecrated Bishop of Deuon and had his sea at Bishops Tawton and in the yeare following 906. he died and was buried in his owne church PVtta after the death of Werstanus was elected and consecrated Bishop and had his sea at Tawton and taking his iorneie towards Crediton to sée and visit the king or as some saie Vffa the kings lieutenant was by the said Vffas men slaine and then vpon his death the sea was remooued to Crediton EAdulphus brother to Alpsius duke of Deuon and Cornewall and founder of Launceston was consecrated Bishop of Deuon but installed at Crediton where he had his sea and continued Bishop xxij yeares and then dieng about the yeare 932. he was buried in his owne church EThelgarus anno 932. succéeded Eadulphus and in his time king Athelstane subdued the Cornish people reedified this citie and compassed the same with a stone wall he founded the monasterie of S. Peters for monkes of S. Benets order This Ethelgarus after he had béene Bishop ten yeares died and was buried in his owne church ALgarus anno 942. after Ethelgarus was constituted and installed Bishop at Crediton and hauing béene Bishop about ten yeares died and was buried in his owne church ALfwoldus as Mathew of Westminster writeth was next Bishop after Algarus and consecrated by the aduise of Dunstane anno 952. In this time Odogarus Earle of Deuon and father in lawe to
king Edger builded the Abbie of Tauestoke and king Edgar calleth home all the Monkes of S. Peters which were dispersed and without anie Abbat and made Sydemanuus Abbot who was afterwards Bishop This Alfwoldus after sixtéene yeares that he was consecrated died and was buried in his owne church ALwolfus as Dicetus affirmeth was consecrated Bishop anno 969. and after nine yeares died and was buried in his owne church SYdemannus of an Abbat was made a Bishop anno 978. in this mans time the Danes ouerranne and spoiled the whole contries of Deuon and Cornewall burned the towne of Bodmen and the cathedrall church of S. Petrokes with the Bishops house Wherevpon the Bishops sea was remooued from thence to S. Germans where the same continued vntill the remoouing and vniting thereof vnto Crediton Sydemannus in the twelfe yeare after his consecration died and was buried at Crediton in his owne church 990. ALphredus whom Dicetus calleth Alfricus Abbat of Malmesburie was consecrated Bishop and installed at Crediton he was taken for a learned man bicause he wrote two bookes the one intituled De rebus coenobij sui and the other De rerum naturis In this Bishops time king Etheldred endowed the Bishoprike of S. Germanes with lands liberties and priuiledges The Danes made a fresh inuasion in and vpon all Deuon and Cornewall burned and spoiled the Abbie of Ordolphus at Tauestoke they beséeged Excester and being remooued from thence were fought withall at Pinneho about thrée miles from the citie and ouerthrowne Alphredus after he had béene Bishop about nine yeares died anno 999. and was buried in his owne church ALwolfus as Dicetus writeth was the next Bishop In his time Sweno king of Denmarke by intisement of one Hew then Earle of Deuon came with a great hoste and besieged the citie of Excester tooke it and burned it and with great crueltie vsed the people vntill in the end Almarus then Earle of Deuon and the gentlemen did yéeld and submit themselues and so obteined peace This Alwolfus about the fiftéenth yeare of his Bishoprike anno 1014. died and was buried in his owne church ALnoldus by the report of the Archdeacon of London succéeded Alwolfus and was installed at Crediton In this mans time king Canutus gaue to Athelwode Abbat of S. Peters of this citie great gifts and sundrie priuiledges in recompense of his fathers great iniuries Arnoldus in the fiftéene yeare of his Bishoprike 1030. died and was buried in his owne church LEuigus or Leuingus Abbat of Tauistoke and nephew to Brythewaldus Bishop of Cornewall was chosen the next Bishop and according to the orders then vsed consecrated and installed He was in great fauour and credit with king Canutus vpon whome he attended in pilgrimage vnto Rome And after his vncle the Bishop of S. Germans being dead obteined of the king that the Bishops sea was remooued from S. Germanes vnto Crediton and both were thereby reduced and vnited into one Bishoprike and so hath euer sithence continued he was after the death of Brythegus Bishop of Worcester remooued to that church and there died and was buried as some suppose but some affirme that in the time of Hardicamitus the king at the accusation of Alfredus then Archbishop of Yorke for that he should be consenting to the death of Alfredus the sonne of Etheldred that he should be deposed of his Bishoprike there and so did returne vnto Tauestoke where be died but Dicetus affirmeth that he purged himselfe of this crime and by that meanes was restored both to the fauour of the king and to his Bishoprike againe and died Bishop of Worcester It is recorded that he was Bishop of Crediton fiftéene yeares LEofricus a man descended of the blood and line of Brutus but brought vp in the land of Lothoringia or Loreine was so well commended for his nobilitie wisedome and learning that king Edward the confessor had him in great fauour and made him first one of his priuie Councell and then Lord Chamberlaine of all England and lastlie the Bishoprike of this prouince being void he was made consecrated and installed Bishop of the same By him and by his meanes the Bishops sea was remooued from Crediton to this citie of Excester for at his request king Edward togither with Quéene Edith his wife came to Excester and remoouing the moonks from hence to Westminster did also remooue the Bishops sea from Crediton to his citie and did put the Bishop in the possession for he conducting the Bishop on the right hand and the Quéene on the left hand brought him to the high altar of his new church and there placed him in a seat appointed for him He suppressed sundrie houses or cels of religion within his sanctuarie and appropriated and vnited them to his owne church as also by the good liberalitie of the king obteined great reuenues possessions priuiledges and liberties to be giuen vnto the church In this mans time William Duke of Normandie made a conquest of this whole realme as also in the yeare 1068. besieged this citie of Excester which after by composition he restored to his former estate againe Also in his time Richard de Brion a noble man of Normandie the sonne of Baldwin of Brion and of Albred the néece to the conqueror was made Baron of Okehampton warden of the castell of Excester and Vicount of Deuon This Leofricus after that he had well and worthilie ruled his church and Diocesse by the space of xxiij yeares he ended his daies in peace and died anno 1073. and was buried in the cemitorie or churchyard of his owne church vnder a simple and a broken Marble stone which place by the sithens enlarging of his church is now within the south tower of the same where of late anno 1568. a new monument was erected in the memorie of so good worthie and noble a personage by the industrie of the writer hereof but at the charges of the Deane and chapter OSbertus or Osbernus a Normaine borne and brother to an Earle named William was preferred to this Bishoprike and in the yeare 1074. was consecrated and installed to the same Polydorus writeth that one Galfrid who ioined with Odo Earle of Kent and Bishop of Boion against William Rufus should be Bishop of Exon but it was not nor could not so be In this mans time William the conqueror and William Rufus his sonne died This Osbertus or Osbernus after he had béene Bishop thirtie yeares was blind and died and lieth buried in his owne church WIlliam VVarewest a Normaine borne and chaplaine both to the conqueror and his two sonnes William and Henrie was a verie graue and a wiseman and for the same was preferred by Henrie the king to this Bishoprike anno 1107. and was consecrated by Anselmus Archbishop of Canturburie in the moneth of August the same yeare He first began to enlarge his church which at that time was no bigger than that which is now called the Ladie chappell He founded and builded
was therein blinded and waxed so farre in loue with Aristotle that he preferred him before Moses and Christ. And behold Gods iust iudgement for suddenlie his memorie failed him and he waxed so forgetfull that he could neither call to remembrance anie thing that he had doone neither could he discerne read or know a letter of the booke This Henrie after that he had spent and liued twelue yeares in his Bishoprike he died and lieth buried in the North side of the Chauncell of his church in a verie faire toombe of Marble anno 1206. SImon de Apulia anno 1206. was installed Bishop of this sea of him there remaineth no memoriall at all In his time were famous Ioseph Iscanius and Alexander Neckam the one was verie well learned in the Latine and Gréeke toong and in the liberall sciences the other was Prior of S. Nicholas and was an vniuersall man being a profound philosopher an eloquent orator a pleasant Poet and a déepe diuine In this Bishops time the doctrine of eleuation adoration reseruation and praieng for the dead being established by Pope Honorius the third the parish churches within this citie were limitted anno 1222. In this mans time anno 1212. one Iohannes Deuonius so surnamed bicause he was borne in Deuon being well bent to good studies was much commended for his learning and modestie He was familiar and of great acquaintance with Baldwin Bishop of Canturburie and being made Abbat of Forde was in such fauour with king Iohn that he chose him to be his confessor and chapline he was a writer and compiled diuers bookes which were then accounted of Being dead he was buried in his Abbie the people much lamenting the want of so good a man This Bishop hauing spent xviij yeares died anno 1224. and was buried in his owne church WIlliam Brewer verie shortlie after the death of the foresaid Simon was elected Bishop and consecrated by Stephan Langton Archbishop of Canturburie anno 1224. he was borne and descended of a noble house and parentage being brother to Sir William Brewer knight the husband of the eldest daughter and one of the heires to William de Verona Earle of Deuon and who also was founder of the Abbeis of Tor and of Hartland and of other Monasteries This Bishop so wiselie and so discréetlie behaued himselfe that he was had in great reputation among all men and in speciall fauour with the king for king Henrie hauing giuen his sister Ladie Isabell to wife vnto Frederike the emperour did commend and betake hir to this Bishop to be conueighed and conducted to the emperor And such was the fame and good report spred of him that as he passed through the countries they were from place to place receiued with great honour and being come to the citie of Coleine the Archbishop there did not onelie verie honourablie receiue and entertaine them but also accompanied them vnto the citie of Wormes where the marriage was solemnized When this Bishop had séene the marriage althings performed he tooke his leaue and was dismissed with great presents and honourablie accompanied homewards by the Archbishop and others At his returne he was ioifullie receiued of all the noblemen about the king and most thankfullie by the king himselfe and whom the king vsed as his speciall and most trustie councellor in all his weightie causes This Bishop being come home to his owne house and minding as his predecessors had doone to leaue some good memoriall behind him he made a Deane and constituted xxiiij prebendaries within his church to the one he impropriated Brampton Coliton Rawley for the others he purchased so much land as out whereof he assigned to euerie prebendarie iiij pound by the yeare of these he ordeined his chapter Also in this mans time anno 1240. Gilbert Long and Robert his brother citizens of this citie builded and founded the hospitall of S. Iohns within the East gate of this citie for the sustenance of certeine poore folks called afterwards the poore children of S. Iohns gaue all their lands tenements to the same which was sufficient The yeare following the cell of S. Alexus was remooued and adioined to S. Iohns and then the founders being dead the charge and gouernment of that house was by those founders commended to the Maior of this citie and they thensefoorth were founders patrones thereof Anno 1244. there grew a contention concerning the poore lazer sicke people of the Magdalen without the south gate of this citie whose maner and vsage was then with a clapdish vpon euerie market daie to resort and come to the markets and there to beg euerie mans deuotion but by reason of their sicknesse which was lothsome and abhorred the peoples deuotion waxed short and scant against them as also euerie man murmured against their going and begging at large wherevpon the matter being brought into question betwéene the Bishop and this citie it was concluded that a permutation should be made and that therefore the Bishops should be patrones and haue the gouernment of S. Iohns and the Maior and his successors to be gardians and founders of the hospitall of the Magdalen with a prouiso that the proctor of the Magdalen should on one daie in euerie moneth come with his box to S. Peters Church at the time of seruice and there receiue and gather the deuotion of the canons which is vsed at these presents This poore house remaineth still but the other for want of good fréends was suppressed and dissolued This Bishop after that he had continued in his Church about xix yeares he died anno 1244. and lieth buried in the middle of his owne Church vnder a plaine Marble stone RIchard Blondie 1245. was consecrated and installed Bishop Bonifacius then being Archbishop of Canturburie This Richard was a man of a mild spirit but verie stout against such as in his time did offer anie iniurie to the church and in his old yeares being but a weake man he was much carried and ruled by such as were his officers and about him who taking the oportunitie of the time vsed all the meanes they might to inrich themselues his chéefest officers were one Lodesewell his chancellor Sutton his register Fitzherbert his officiall and Ermestow the kéeper of his seale These with other of the chiefe seruants of the houshold compacted amongst themselues that whilest the Bishop was yet liuing who then laie sicke and verie weake in his bed to make and conuaie vnto themselues conueiances of such liuelihoods as then laie in the Bishops disposition and accordinglie made out aduousons and other such conueiances as to them séemed best all which were foorthwith sealed and deliuered according to the orders among them concluded but these their subtill dealings were not so closelie conueied but that the next Bishop following boulted and found the same out and did not onelie reuerse all their dooings but also did excommunicate them and who were not absolued vntill they had doone their penance for
or a blacke Frier and confessor vnto the said Bishop for he enuieng the good successe of the Franciscanes persuadeth with the Bishop that in no wise he should permit them to enioie the place which they had gotten nor to build therein bicause it was within his fée for saith he as vnder colour of simplicitie they créepe in to the hearts of the people and hinder vs poore preachers from our gaines and liuings so be ye sure that if the canons put foote within your liberties they will in time so incroch vpon the same as that they will be cleane exempted from out of your libertie and iurisdiction The Bishop being soone persuaded and contented contrarie to his promise to yéeld therevnto denieth the Franciscans and vtterlie forbiddeth them to build or to do anie thing within his fée or libertie About two yeares after the Bishop kept a great feast vpon the sundaie next before Saint Francis daie and among others was present with him one Walter Winborne one of the kings chéefe iustices of the bench and who was present when the Bishop at the request of the king made promise to further and to helpe the Franciscans and who in their behalfe did now put the Bishop in mind thereof and requested him to haue consideration both of his owne promise and of their distresse The Bishop misliking these spéeches waxed somewhat warme and offended and in open termes did not onelie denie to yéeld héerevnto but wished himselfe to be choaked what daie so euer he did consent or yéeld vnto it It fortuned that the same wéeke and vpon the daie of S. Francis Eue the Bishop tooke a certeine sirop to drinke and in too hastie swallowing thereof his breath was stopped and he foorthwith died The Franciscans héering thereof made no little a doo about this matter but blased it abroad that S. Francis wrought this miracle vpon the Bishop bicause he was so hard against them THomas Bitton the yeare following was elected Bishop and the sea of Canturburie was void he was consecrated by Iohn Roman Archbishop of Yorke he left no memoriall of anie great things doone by him sauing that he continued in the building of his church as also was a fauourer of such learned men as were in his Dioces in his time namelie Robert Plimton a regular Canon of Plimpton and a professour of diuinitie and who wrote two books Walter of Exon a Franciscane Frier of Carocus in Cornewall who at the request of one Baldwin of Excester wrote the historie of Guie of Warwike William of Excester Doctor of diuinitie and warden of the Franciscan Friers in this citie Godfrey surnamed Cornewall a subtill schooleman and a reader of diuinitie sometimes in Paris This Bishop after xiiij yeares that he had occupied this sea died anno 1306. and was buried in his owne church WAlter Stapledon anno 1507. being elected Bishop of this citie was consecrated by Robert Wincelsey Archbishop of Canturburie he descended of a most noble parentage which ioined with his learning wisdome politike hed did get him great credit fauour with the King who had him not only one of his priuie counsell but also made him Lord Treasurer of England At his inthronization or installing he kept a solemne obseruation For being come first to the citie immediatlie after his consecration as soone as he came to the Eastgate he alighted from his horse and went in on foote all the streate being couered and laied with blacke cloth he was led on both sides with two men of worship and Sir Hew Courtneie Knight who claimed to be steward of his feast went next before him The feast it selfe was verie sumptuous and liberall a controuersie was betwéene him and the said Sir Hew Courtneie concerning his challenge to be his steward but it was compounded and ended This Bishop as he grew and increased in wealth so he was carefull in the well disposing of part thereof for the increase of learning he builded erected two houses in Oxford the one named Stabledons inne but sithens Excester colledge the other Harthall he was also a speciall benefactor vnto the hospitall of S. Iohns in Excester vnto the which for the reléeuing of certeine poore children therein he impropriated the rectorie or personage of Ernescome In the controuersie betwéene his maister King Edward the second and Charles the French king he was sent Embassadour to the French king and ioined in commission with the Quéene for the treatie of a peace and reconciliation which though it were obteined yet he ioining with the Spensers who fauoured not the Quéene he returned into England leauing the Quéene behind him And whereas they practised what they could to put enmitie betwéene the King and hir and to set hir besides the cushion they themselues fell into the same snares which they had laied for others For not long after the Quéene by the helpe of the Earle of Henaulde and of S. Iohn his brother came into England with a great armie whereof the King and the Spensers being afraid departed from London to Bristowe leauing this Bishop at London and made him custos of the same who requiring the keies of the gates of the citie of the Maior the commoners tooke him and beheaded him as also his brother Sir Richard Stapledon in cheapeside and carried his bodie to his house without templebarre and there buried it in a sand-hill namelie the xv of October anno 1329. But the Quéene forgetting all discourtesies and reuerencing his calling commanded his corps to some more honourable buriall wherevpon the same was taken vp and brought to this citie and with great solemnitie was buried in his owne church vpon the 28. of March where his epitaph by the writer thereof is set Thus after that he had béene Bishop about xx yeares he ended his daies IAmes Barkeleie vpon the xxvj of March anno 1327. before the buriall of his predecessor in his owne Church was consecrated Bishop of this citie he descended of the noble house of the Lorde Barkeleie and albeit he were reputed to be a verie godlie and a wise man yet he had no time to yéeld the triall thereof For he died in the fourth moneth after his consecration vpon the xxiiij of Iulie anno 1327. and was buried in his owne church as some saie but some thinke he neuer came hither at all IOhn Grandesson being in Italie with Pope Iohn the xxij after the death of Iames Barkeleie the King presented him vnto the Pope who accepted the presentation and consecrated him Bishop of this diocesse the eight of October anno 1327. he was borne and descended of the ancient house of the Grandessons Dukes of Burgundie his father was named Gilbert the brother of Otho the great Lord Grandesson which Gilbert comming into this land was well interteined by the king and nobilitie and had a good liking of the countrie that by meanes of Henrie Earle of Lancaster with whom he came into England he married ladie Sibill daughier and
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
the monasterie of Plimpton and placed therein regular Canons in his latter daies he waxed and became blind and yet notwithstanding for his wisedome the king sent him in embassage vnto Pope Paschalis the second wherein he so wiselie dealed and so discréetlie behaued himselfe in his message that he made a reconciliation betwéene the Pope and the King and returned with great praise and commendation Not long after his returne and hauing small ioie of the world he gaue ouer his Bishoprike and became one of the religious canons in his owne house of Plimpton where he died and was buried he was Bishop about twentie yeares RObert Chichester Deane of Sarisburie was consecrated Bishop vnder Anselmus Archbishop of Canrtuburie anno 1128. and the xxviij yeare of king Henrie the first he was a Gentleman borne and therefore estéemed for his zeale in religion wherein he was verie deuout according to those daies and thinking his laboures to be best emploied that waie did eftsoones go in pilgrimage sometime to Rome sometime to one place sometime to an other and euer he would bring with him some one relique or other He was a liberall contributor to the buildings of his church In his time was founded and builded the Monasterie of S. Stephens in Launceston and furthered by Reynold Earle of Cornewall but vnto it this Bishop was an aduersarie not for misliking the worke but for feare of an intrusion vpon his liberties Likewise at this time was builded the Priorie of S. Nicholas in Excester by the Abbat of Battell vnto which Abbie this Priorie was a cell In this mans time also king Henrie made William Rideuerse a Normaine and his kinseman Earle of Deuon and therewith the Lordship of Twifordtone and the honor of Plimpton togither with the third pennie of his reuenues in Deuon which in the whole was then xxx marks whereof this Earle had ten Also in this mans time king Henrie died and king Stephen entered and tooke vpon him the crowne whereof ensued great warres This Bishop after that he had occupied the place xxij yeares died and was buried in his owne church But the moonke of Westminster writeth that he should be Bishop xxvij yeares and died in the yeare 1155. but he neuer sawe the recordes of this church which are to the contrarie RObert VVarewest Nephew to William the Bishop of this church Deane of Sarisburie was consecrated Bishop by Theobaldus Archbishop of Canturburie anno 1150. he nothing degenerate from the steps of his predecessors but was altogether of the same bent and disposition In his time king Stephen died and Henrie the second was crowned king This Robert after that he had occupied this sea nine yeares or there about died and was buried at Plimpton by his vncle BArtholomeus Iscanus otherwise Bartholomew of Excester was consecrated Bishop of Excester vnder Theoldbald Archbishop of Canturburie anno 1159. he was called Iscanus of Isca which is one of the ancientest names of this citie He was a meane citizens sonne but being verie apt vnto learning his parents and fréends kept him to schoole and he so well profited therein that he came and prooued to be a verie well learned man and being Bishop he wrote sundrie bookes as of Predestination Fréewill Penence and others of all men he could not brooke nor fauor Thomas Becket Archbishop of Canturburie for his contempt and disobedience against the king for the which he sharpelie improoued rebuked and inueighed against him openlie in the parliament house holden at Northampton and with such effectuall reasons and pithie arguments he did so temper the same that the whole parliament relied vnto his iudgement and opinion herein against Thomas Becket And after his death such was the grauitie modestie and wisedome of the man that he was speciallie chosen to be Embassador for the king vnto Pope Alexander the third and so wiselie and with such discretion vsed the same that notwithstanding his cause and message had manie aduersaries yet he reconciled the Pope and the king obteined the good will and fauour of the Pope and brought his message to good effect This Bishop was in great familiaritie and acquaintance with Baldwin of Excester his countriman now Archbishop of Canturburie who was a poore mans sonne in this citie but for his learning aduanced to this estate In this Bishops time about the yeare of our Lord 1168. William Fytzralph a citizen of this citie founded a cell for moonks within this citie and dedicated the same to S. Alexius which not long after was vnited to S. Iohns within the East gate of the same citie In his time also Reynold of Courtney a nobleman of Normandie the sonne of Elorus the sonne of Lewes named Lewes le grosse king of Fraunce came into this land and married Hawise daughter and heire to Maud the daughter and heire to Adelis sister and heire to Richard de Briono the first Vicecount of Deuon and in hir right was Vicecount of Deuon This Bartholomew after he had béene Bishop about xiiii yeares anno 1184. died but where he died and where he was buried it dooth not appeare In this Bishops time about the yeare 1170. one Iohannes Corinienses a Cornish man borne was a famous learned diuine he was a Student at Rome and other places in Italie and by that meanes grue into great acquaintance with Pope Alexander the third he wrote diuers bookes and namelie one De incarnatione Christi against Peter Lombard who affirmed Quòd Christus secundum quod homo est aliquid non est and this he dedicated to Pope Alexander IOhn the Chaunter of the cathedrall church of this citie was consecrated and installed Bishop of this church anno 1184. he was well reported for his liberalitie in continuing the buildings of this church wherein he was nothing inferiour to his predecessors In his time king Henrie Fytzemprise died and he himselfe hauing béene Bishop about sixe yeares died anno 1191. HEnrie Marshall Archdeacon of Stafford the brother to Walter the Earle Marshall of England was consecrated Bishop by Hubert Archbishop of Canturburie anno 1191. he finished the building of his church according to the plat and foundation which his predecessors had laied and that done he purchased the patronage and Lordship of Woodburie of one Albemarlie which he gaue and impropriated vnto the vicars corall of his church In this mans time anno 1201. one Simon Thurnaius a Cornish man borne brought vp in learning did by diligence and studie so prosper therein that he became excellent in all the liberall sciences and in his daies none thought to be like him he left Oxenford where he had béene a studient and went to Paris and there became a priest and studied diuinitie and therein became so excellent and of so déepe a iudgement that he was made chéefe of the Sorbonistes at length he became so proud of his learning and glorified so much therein that he would be singular and thought himselfe to be another Aristotle and so much he
the same Which was doone at S. Peters Church openlie vpon Palme sundaie being the xix of March 1267. This Bishop Richard in the twelfe yeare of his Bishoprike died and was buried in his owne Church WAlter Bronescome Archdeacon of Surreie was consecrated Bishop of Canturburie vpon passion sundaie anno 1286 vnder Bonifacius then Archbishop he was borne in this citie of Exon and was the sonne of poore parents but he being of a verie towardnesse and good disposition and verie apt to learning they partlie of themselues and partlie by helpe of their friends did put him to schoole and kept him to his booke wherein he prooued and prospered so well that he was verie well learned At the time of his election he was no préest and therefore not capeable of anie such dignitie but immediatlie he tooke that order vpon him and foorthwith was consecrated Bishop all which being doone within fiftéene daies it was counted as for a miracle namelie that he should be elected Bishop then made préest and at last to be consecrated within that space For so manie dignities as they termed it to be cast vpon one man in so short a time had not béene lightlie séene He founded the colledge of Glascin in Perin in Cornewall and endowed the same with faire possessions and reuenewes He purchased the the Barton of Rokesdone and Clist and gaue it to the hospitall of S. Iohns within the Eastgate of the citie of Excester He instituted in his owne Church the feast called Gabrils feast and gaue a péece of land for the maintenance thereof he also did by a policie purchase the Lordship and house of Clist Sachisfield and by a deuise did inlarge the Barton thereof by gaining of Cornish wood from his Deane and chapter and builded then a verie faire and a sumptuous house and called it Bishops Clist which he left to his successors Likewise he got the patronage of Clist Fomeson now called Sowton and annexed the same to his new Lordship which as it was said was in this order He had a frier to be his chapline and confessour which died in his said house of Clist and should haue béene buried at the parish church of Faringdon bicause the said house was and is in that parish but bicause the parish church was somewhat farre of the waies foule and the weather rainie or for some other causes the Bishop willed and commanded the corps to be carried to the parish church of Sowton then called Clist Fomeson which is verie néere and bordereth vpon the Bishops Lordship the two parishes there being diuided by a little lake called Clist At this time one Fomeson a Gentleman was Lord and patron of Clist Fomeson and he being aduertised of such a buriall towards in his parish and a léech waie to be made ouer his land without his leaue or consent required therein calleth his tenants togither and goeth to the bridge ouer the lake betwéene the Bishops land and his and there méeteth the Bishops men bringing the said corps and forbiddeth them to come ouer the water But the Bishops men nothing regarding the same doo presse forthwards to come ouer the water and the others doo withstand and fall at strife about the matter so long that in the end my Lords Frier is fallen into the water The Bishop taketh this matter in such gréefe that a holie Frier a religious man and his owne chaplaine and confessor should so vnreuerentlie be cast into the water that he falleth out with the Gentleman and vpon what occasion I know not he sueth him in the lawe and so vexeth and tormenteth him that in the end he was faine to yéeld himselfe to the Bishops deuotion and séeketh all waies he could to currie the Bishops good will which he could not obteine vntill for his redemption he had giuen and surrendred vp his patronage of Sowton with a péece of land all which the said Bishop annexeth to his new Lordship Thus by policie he purchased the manor of Bishops Clist by a deuise gaineth Cornish wood and by power wresteth the patronage of Sowton This Bishop after he had occupied this sea about xxiij yeares died and was buried in his owne church in a sumptuous toombe of Alablaster PEter Quiuill anno 1281. was consecrated Bishop of this church vnder Iohn Archbishop of Canturburie He first instituted a Chaunter and a Subdeane in his church To the one he impropriated Painton and Chidleigh to the other the rectorie of Egloschaile in Cornewall he was a liberall and a speciall benefactor to the hospitall of S. Iohns in Excester as well in goods as in liuelihoods he first began to enlarge and increase his church from the chauncell downewards and laid the foundation thereof In his time anno 1285. Walter Lichelade the first Chaunter was slaine in a morning as he came from the morning seruice then called the Mattines which was then woont to be said shortlie after midnight Vpon which occasion the king came vnto this citie and kept his christmas in the same and therevpon a composition was made betwéene the Bishop and the citie for inclosing of the churchyard and building of certeine gates there as appéereth by the said composition bearing date in Festo annunciationis beatae Mariae 1286. The king at the sute of the Earle of Hereford who at his being here was lodged in the house of the Graie Friers which then was néere the house of S. Nicholas obteined of the Bishop that they should be remooued from thence to a more wholesome place which was to the place without Southgate whereof after the kings departure grew some controuersie bicause the Bishop refused to performe his promise made to the king This man also impropriated the parish of S. Newleine and the parish of Stoke Gabrell and vnited the same to the office of the Chauncellor of the Cathedrall church and vnder condition that the said chauncellor should continuallie read a lecture within the said citie of diuinitie or of the decretalls and if he should faile to doo this that then it might and should be lawfull to the Bishop to resigne the said parsonages impropriated and to bestowe it at his pleasure as appéereth by the said grant vnder the seales of the said Bishop Deane and Chapter dated the twelfe of the Calends of Maie 1283. This Bishop not long after and in the eleuenth yeare of his Bishoprike died being choaked in drinking of a sirrop anno 1292. and was buried in his owne church The Franciscans or Graie Friers of this citie imputed his death to his hard dealing with them for whereas he had promised the king to prouide a conuenient place for them to build their house in and had willed their warden named Deoditus to séeke out and make inquirie for the same yet notwithstanding when he had so doone bicause the same was in his fée he did swarue from his said promise and did vtterlie denie to performe the same by the persuasion of one Peter Kenefeld a Dominican
scholers and great liueliehoods prouided for them and then the house was named Corporis christi colledge Whereof the one of them bare the name of a founder and the other of a benefactor Howbeit some diuersitie was betwéene these two Bishops at the first to what vse this colledge should be imploied for the founder was of the minde that he would haue made it for a house of moonks but the benefactor was of the contrarie mind and would haue it for scholers alledging that moonks were but a sort of bussing flées and whose state could not long indure whereas scholers brought vp in learning would be profitable members to the common wealth and good ornaments to the church of God and continue for euer The founder being a wise man and of a déepe iudgement when he had well pawsed and considered hereof yéeldeth herevnto and so it was concluded betwéene them to make and build a colledge for scholers And foorthwith for the good direction guiding and gouernment of the said colledge and scholers such wise good and politike statutes and ordinances were by good aduise and counsell deuised stablished and ordeined as wherby the said colledge hath béene and yet continueth one of the best nurseries for training and instructing of good scholers in learning within that vniuersitie This bishop and the abbat of Tauestoke did still contend and continue in lawe during their liues and during which sute this bishop died being excommunicated at Roome and who could not be suffered to be buried vntill an absolution from Rome was procured for him after that he had béene Bishop about xvj yéeres he died the xxv of Iune 1519. and was buried in his owne church IOhn Voiseie otherwise Harman succéeded Oldham by the preferment of K. Henrie the eight whose chapleine he then was and Deane of his chappell as also of this church he was Doctor of the lawes verie well learned and wise and in great fauour with the king who sent him sundrie times in embassages to forreine princes he was Lord president of wales and had the gouernment of the kings onelie daughter Ladie Marie princesse of Wales Of all the Bishops in the land he was accompted the courtlikest and the best courtier and although he were well reported for his learning yet better liked for his courtlike behauiour which in the end turned not so much to his credit as to the vtter ruine and spoile of the Church for of xxij Lordships and mannors which his predecessors had and left vnto him of a goodlie yéerelie reuenewe he left but thrée and them also leased out And where he found xiiij houses well furnished he left onelie one house bare and without furniture and yet charged with sundrie fées and annuities and by these meanes this Bishopprike which sometimes was counted one of the best is now become in temporall lands one of the meanest and according to the fore-prophesieng of Bishop Grandisson a place â—arse left for the Bishop to laie and rest his hed in and yet neuerthelesse he was a great fauorer of learned men and especiallie of Diuines whom he preferred in his church aboue others He was verie bountious and liberall vnto all men but especiallie vnto courtiers vnto his owne kindred and contriemen Vpon manie he bestowed much vnto the confusion of some of them and vpon the other he spent much by building of a towne named Sutton Colshull where he was borne which he procured to be incorporated made a market towne and set vp therein making of kearsies but all which in the end came to small effect in his time after the death of King Henrie the eight there was an alteration of religion by King Edward the sixt whereof insued rebellion and a commotion in this diocesse which in some part was imputed to this Bishop bicause he laie farre from it and dwelled in his owne countrie Wherevpon he resigned the Bishoprike into the kings hands after that he had béen Bishop about xxx yéeres and liued by the rents of the temporaltie of the Bishoprike which when he alienated and discontinued he did receiue vnto him for tearme of his owne life MIles Couerdale after the resignation of Voisie was by king Edward made Bishop of this citie and consecrated at Lambeth by Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canturburie anno 1550. He was borne in the North countrie and from his childhood giuen to learning wherein he profited verie much he was one of the first which professed the Gospell in this land in the time of king Henrie the eight he translated the Bible out of the Hebrue into English and wrote sundrie bookes vpon the scriptures which doctrine being verie new and strange in those daies and he verie straightlie pursued by the Bishops made his escape and passed ouer into lowe Germanie where he printed the Bibles of his translation and sent them ouer into England and thereof made his gaine whereby he liued but the Bishops namelie Doctor Stokesley Bishop of London when he heard hereof and minding to preuent that no such bibles should be dispersed within this realme made inquirie where they were to be sold and bought them all vp supposing that by this means no more Bibles would be had but contrarie to his expectation it fell out otherwise for the same monie which the Bishop gaue for these bookes was sent ouer by the merchant vnto this Couerdale and by that meanes he was of that wealth and abilitie that he imprinted as manie more and sent them ouer into England but he was then so narrowlie sought for that he was driuen to remooue himselfe out of Flanders into Germanie and dwelled vnder the Palsgraue of Rhene where he found much fauour first he taught yoong children and hauing learned the dutch â—oong the prince Palatine gaue him a benefice named Burghâ—aber where he continued and liued verie well partlie by that benefice and partlie by the liberalitie of the Lord Cromewell who was his good Lord and reléeued him verie much At length when the religion was altered in England and the Gospell had a frée passage he returned and did verie much good in preaching of the same And when the commotion in Deuon was for religion he was appointed to attend the Lord Russell when he came to suppresse the same and verie shortlie for his learning and godlie life was made Bishop of this sea who most worthilie did performe the office committed vnto him he preached continuallie vpon euerie holie daie and did read most commonlie twise in the wéeke in some one church or other within this citie He was after the rate of his liuings a great kéeper of hospitalitie verie sober in diet godlie in life fréendlie to the godly liberall to the poore and curteous to all men void of pride full of humilitie abhorring couetousnes and an enimie to all wickednesse and wicked men whose companies he shunned and and whom he would in no wise shrowd or haue in his house and companie His wife a most sober chast and godlie