called Lindisfarne now Holy Island where he and diuers of his successors much deale lead their liues He was Bishop seuenteene yéeres during which time he neglected no duety of a good Pastor trauelling vp and downe the countrey euen on foote to preach the Gospel giuing whatsoeuer he could get vnto the poore and by the example of his owne abstinency chastity 〈◊〉 and all manner of Episcopall vertues instructing aswell as by word and doctrine He departed this life nt August 31. an 651. for griefe as it is to be thought of the death of king Oswald that was traiterously slaine 12. daies before Beda maketh report of diuers miracles to be done by him which who so desireth to read shal find them and many things more concerning him Eccl. hist. lib. 3. c. 3. 5. 1415. 16. and 17. 2. Finan FIunanus sent likewise thither out of Scotland was Bishop of 〈◊〉 after 〈◊〉 the space of ten yéeres He first built a church for his Sée in the Island all of timber and couered it with réede He had much to doe with one Conan and other about the obseruation of Easter which they would haue had him to celebrate according to the manner of the church of Rome He would not be induced by any meanes to any alteration 3. Coleman HIs successor Coleman a Scot also was no lesse obstinate in the same matter After many priuate conflicts the yéere 664. this controuersie was discust in a solemne disputation before the king and all his nobles who adiudged the victorie vnto his aduersaries The 〈…〉 tation is set downe at large by Beda lib. 3 cap. 25. 〈…〉 induring the disgrace of this foyle 〈…〉 ricke and returned into Scotland againe 4. Tuda AMongst diuers that came out of Scotland with Coleman this Tuda was one who hauing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 for the place by diligent preaching and vertuous behauiour vnder Coleman vpon his departure was chosen to succéede him He was content to reforme the obseruation of 〈◊〉 and to yeelde to some other things which had béene stood much vpon controuerted betwéene the Scots and Saxons Hauing béene Bishop 〈◊〉 one whole yéere he died of the plague anno 665. 5. Eata MAny of the Scots that came with Coleman returning with him the rest chose Eata for their Abbot and 〈◊〉 at Mailros which place king Oswyn gaue vnto them at the request of Coleman This Eata after the death of Tuda was chosen Bishop both of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 and gouerned them iointly the space of 3. yeeres After the ende of which terme he gaue ouer 〈◊〉 vnto one Tumbert But Tumbert being deposed by a Synod gathered at a place called Twiford Cutbert was elected vnto his See of Hagustald Eata then perceiuing that Cutbert had rather be at 〈◊〉 tooke on him once more the gouernment of 〈◊〉 and resigned 〈◊〉 vnto Cutbert 6. S. Cutbert THis Cutbert is said to be descended of the blood royall of the kings of Ireland being sonne of one 〈◊〉 and Sabina his wife that was daughter vnto a king 〈◊〉 He was brought vp in the Abbey of 〈◊〉 first vnder his predecessor Eata and afterwards vnder 〈◊〉 that succéeded Eata there After the death of Boisill he was made Abbot of that Monasterie which he ruled with great care and sinceritie And not content to looke vnto those onely the gouernment of whom was especially committed vnto him He vsed often to trauell into the countrie neere adioyning 〈◊〉 on horsebacke sometimes on foote preaching diligently the word of God instructing the ignorant in the way of life and sharpely reprehending vice where he saw cause And his manner was to frequent especially the most rude and barbarous places to which he thought no body else would resort least the people there being altogether neglected might perish for want of their spirituall foode He was a very personable man well spoken and so mightie in perswading as none that euer he delt withall was able to withstand the force of his words Hauing continued this manner of life at Mailros many yéeres at the importunate request of his old master Eata he was content to leaue the place and to liue once more vnder him at Lindisfarne But affecting much an Eremiticall and solitarie life he refused to liue with the rest of the monks and seated himselfe in the Island of Farne a desert place 9 miles within the sea hauing in it neither house nor water Yet there he made a shift to liue labouring with his owne hands till he was chosen Bishop A great while he refused obstinately to forsake his solitarie life euen vntill the king himself comming ouer vnto him partly by force partly by entreatie iuduced him thereunto So with much adoo he accepted consecration at last and receaued the same at Yorke vpon Easter day at the hande of Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury 6. other Bishops assisting him the yeere 684. in the presence of king Egfride and many of his nobles After he had beene Bishop two yeeres he would needes resigne and returned to his Island againe where seene after he ended his life The day of his departure to wit March 20. is consecrate vnto his memory He was first buried at 〈◊〉 but afterwards remooued to Durham as hereafter shal be declared The myracles that are ascribed vnto him and many other things not vnwoorthy the reading you shall find in the latter end of the 4. Booke of Beda his Ecclesiasticall history 7. Eadbertus ONe yéere after the resignation of Saint Cutbert the church of Lindisfarne was without a Bishop Edbert was then chosen to succeed him He couered his Cathedrall church with lead not onely the roofe which before was thatched with réede but the walles also He sate tenne yéeres and dying May the 6. 698. was buried beside or rather vnder Saint Cutbert his predecessor whose body the monkes had now placed in a shyrne aboue the pauement of the church After Edbert followed in order successiuely these 8. Edferth or Edfride that liued in Beda his time 9. Ethelwood who died the yéere 738. 10. Kenulfus he died 781. 11. Higbald HIgbald sate twelue yéeres and died an 803. In his time the Danes often spoyled the Church and monastery of Lindisfarne so as the Bishop and monkes were faine to forsake it Taking therefore the body of Saint Cutbert with them they determined to seate themselues in Ireland but being often driuen backe by tempest so as attempting diuers times to crosse the seas they could neuer land there they gaue ouer that enterprise and rested themselues sometime in one place sometime in an other during the time of all these Bishops 12. Egbert 13. Egfredus he died an 845. 14. Eaubert he died an 854. 15. Eardulf 16. Cuthard he died an 915. 17. Tilred he died an 927. 18. Withred 19. 〈◊〉 20. 〈◊〉 21. Aldred he died an 968. 22. Alfsius he died an 990. 23. Aldhunus or Aldiuinus ABout the yéere of grace 990. this 〈◊〉 was consecrate Bishop The yeere 995. or nere thereabout
at all Soone after his returne thither the fower knights before mentioned arriued at Canterbury to wit vpon Innocents day They comming vnto the Archbishop told him the kings pleasure was he should goe to his sonne and reuerently make offer of doing homage and fealty vnto him for the Barony of his Archbishopricke secondly that he should cause all the strangers he brought into the realme with him to be sworne to his obedience and thirdly that he should retrcat those excommunications which he had caused to be denounced against the instruments of the yoong kings coronation To this 〈◊〉 he answered that neither the king nor any other mortall man should extort from him or any of his by his consent any 〈◊〉 or vnreasonable othe And as for the Bishops and other excommunicate concerning the coronation it was indeede quoth he a thing done in my behalfe and for an iniury offred to my church But it was the Act of the Pope If therefore they will sweare they shall be ready to make me amends at the Popes discretion I will absolue them otherwise not And whatsoeuer you say it was the kings pleasure I should take my best course for the redresse of this abuse by ecclestasticall authority Many other words passed betwéene them the same time they breathing out terrible threats and he continuing still the same man without 〈◊〉 one iotte At last the knights departed giuing the monkes charge in the kings name to see the Archbishop foorth comming and not to suffer him to escape away At euening prayer time the same day they came suddenly into the church with their swords drawen crying Where 's the Traytor Where 's the Traytor The Archbishop who was then going vp the steps toward the quire hearing the noyse turned backe vnto them and euery one of the fower striking mainely at him vpon the third or fourth greice of those stops was slaine His body these knights had determined to haue cast into the sea or else to haue hewen into a thousand pieces but the Prior and the monkes doubting some such thing buried it immediately in the vndercraft whence shortly it was taken vp and laid in a most sumptuous shrine in the East end of the church The Pope hearing of this massacre excommunicated immediately all that were either authors or consenters to the same The king was faine to purge himselfe by othe and yet could not be absolued before he had done certaine strange penance as first that he should pray deuoutly at the tombe of this new Martyr that he should be whipt in the chapter house receiuing of euery monke one lash that he should maintaine 200. soldiers for the space of one yeere at Jerusalem lastly reuoke the declaration published at Clarindon that originally gaue the occasion of this murther All this such were those times the king was faine to performe 39. Richard IN the moneth of February following the death of Thomas Becket which was December 28. 1170. one Robert Abbot of Becco was chosen Archbishop But he liking better a quiet life chose rather to sit 〈◊〉 where he was then to aduenture him selfe in a place subiect to the blasts of such terrible tempests as Thomas Becket was tossed withall The king then dealt earnestly with the Couent of Canterbury to choose some mild and soft spirited man to preuent such broiles as had béene raised by the last Archbishop They followed his direction 〈◊〉 elected one Richard a Benedictine Monke Prior of the Monastery of Saint Martins in Douer who was presently allowed of the king and the Pope and soone after consecrate He was a man very liberall gentle and passing wise So he handled the matter that in all his time he neuer was out either with the Pope or the king The Pope be entertained with often gifts and money the kings fauour he retained by yéelding and 〈◊〉 him selfe to his pleasure This man continued Archbishop about the space of ten or eleuen yeeres In all which time there happened not any thing concerning him woorthy memory except peraduenture the stir betwéen him and the Archbishop of Yorke Roger. The olde quarrell chaunced to be renued betwéene these two Archbishops concerning the Primacy And one Hugocio the Popes Legate comming into England both of them requested him to heare and iudge this controuersie betweene them Upon this and other occasions a Conuocation was summoned at Westminster where was a stately throne prouided for the Legate At the time appointed the Legate came and tooke his place and the Archbishop of Canterbury sate him downe next vnto the Legate vpon the right hand After this in came Roger Archbishop of Yorke and would néedes haue displaced 〈◊〉 to sit aboue him that when the other would not suffer he sate him 〈◊〉 in his lap The other Bishops present amased at this strange behautor of the Archbishop of Yorke cried out all vpon him the Archbishop of Canterburies men by violence drew the other out of his ill chosen place threw him dewne 〈◊〉 his robes almost from his backe trode vpon him beate him and vsed him so despitefully as the Legate whether for shame or for doubt what might happen to him selfe in such a 〈◊〉 got him out and went his way The Archbishop of Yorke all ragged as he was bloudy and 〈◊〉 went to the king who first was exceeding angry but when he heard the truth laught merily at it and said he was well ynough ferued Much adoo there was long after at Rome about this and the old controuersie the ende whereof at last was that much money was spent and neither party euer a whit the néerer The end of this man is thus reported how that being a sléepe at his mannor of Wrotham there séemed to come vnto him a certaine terrible personage demaunding of him who he was whereunto when for feare the Archbishop answered nothing Thou art he quoth the other that hast destroied the goods of the Church and I will destroy thée front of the earth This hauing said he vanished away In the morning betime the Archbishop got him vp and taking his iourney toward Rochester related this fearefull vision vnto a friend of his by the way He had no sooner told the tale but he was 〈◊〉 sodainly with a great cold stifnesse in his limmes so that they had much adoo to get him so farre as Halling a house belonging to the Bishop of Rochester There he tooke his bed and being horribly tormented with the cholike and other gréefes vntill the next day the night following the sixtéenth of February he gaue vp the Ghost ann 1183. His body was caried to Canterbury and honorably interred in the Lady Chappell 40. Baldwin AFter the death of Richard the Archbishop a controuersie grew betwéene the Couent of Christs Church in Canterbury and the Suffragan Bishops of the Prouince of Canterbury who of right ought to choose the Archbishop For it had béene often done by both as in that which I haue before deliuered you may perceiue The
confidently as saith Beda of some great calamitie shortly to fall vpon their nation that they which would not haue peace with their brethren should haue warre with their enimies and should finde death by their swords vnto whom they refused to preach the way of life It came to passe according to his prediction that Edelfride king of Northumbers a Pagan Saxon came against them shortly after with a huge armie ouerthrew them in battaile and slew besides an infinite number of souldiers and men of armes a great many monkes to the number of 1200. that were gathered togither there to fight by praier onely fiftie persons saued themselues by flight Soone after this battaile which some say Augustine liued not to sée he died hauing béene Archbishop 16. yéeres to wit May 25. which day is dedicated to his memorie in our Kalender the yéere 611. or as some deliuer ann 605. He was a man of excéeding tall stature well fauoured and of a very 〈◊〉 countenance His body at first was buried without doores néere the church of his monasterie because the church was not yet finished but afterwards was remooued into the north porch of the said church in which place all the bodies of the Archbishops following were laid vntill Theodore who was first buried in the church because the porch was full Upon the tombe of this our apostle was engrauen this epitaph Hic requiescit Diuus Augustinus Dorobernensis Archiepiscopus qui olim huc a Beato Gregorio Romanae vrbis Pontifice directus a Deo operatione 〈◊〉 suffultus Ethelbertum Regem gentem illius ab Idolorum cultu ad fidem Christi perdoxit Héere resteth the body of S. Augustine the first Archbishop of Dorobernia that was sent into this land by Saint Gregory Bishop of the citie of Rome approoued of God by the working of miracles and that brought Ethelbert the king and his people from the worshipping of idols vnto the faith of Christ. 2. Laurence SAint Augustine before his death had appointed to succéede him one Laurence a Romaine borne a very godly and well learned man He tooke great paines not onely with his owne charge but also in labouring to reduce the Britons of Wales the Scots and Irishmen to one consent in matters of religion It is likely his diligence might haue done good but that he was disturbed by the death of that good king Ethelbert Eadbald his sonne succeeded him in the kingdome who being a vitious yong man was not ashamed to marrie the wife of his late deceased father This and other enormities when Laurence like a good Iohn Baptist doubted not to reprehend him for he first began to fall out with him and afterwards euen with Christian religion which awhile he seemed to like of well inough but now at last vtterly renounced The people as commonly it commeth to passe following the example of their king they likewise returned to the filthie vomite of their abominable idolatrie although the Archbishop like a good Pastor ceased not by earnest exhortations and what other meanes possibly he might to stay them from this horrible relapse Perceiuing at last that his words did no good but rather incited the king to a more desperate hatred of him and religion He determined to follow Mellitus and Iustus into France that as anon you shall haue occasion to reade were lately banished by the wicked sonnes of good Sebert king of the East Saxons The night before the day of his intended departure he caused his bed to be made in the very church of his monasterie where after many teares and sighes he recommended vnto God the miserable state of his poore church and so sel sléepe It seemed vnto him saith Beda that S. Peter came vnto him and first expostulated the matter with him after chid and reprehended him sharply 〈◊〉 purposing to forsake the church committed vnto him and lastly whipped his naked body so terribly as when he waked finding it more then a dreame all his body was gore blood He went immediately vnto the king shewing him his wounds and togither related vnto him the occasion of them This strooke such a terror into the king as by and by he renounced his idols put away his incestuous wife caused himselfe to be baptised and for a farther testimonie and assurance of his vnfained conuersion builded a church in the monastery of S. Peter and dedicated the same vnto the blessed Uirgine Laurence very ioyful of this alteratiō sent presently for Mellitus and 〈◊〉 into France who comming vnto him one of them Iustus Bishop of Rochester he returned vnto his old charge the other he retained with him hoping to finde meanes he also might be restored to his Sée againe In the meane time euen the same yéere that king Eadbald became a Christian himselfe I meane Laurence died and was buried beside Augustine his predecessor 3. Mellitus AT what time the Britaines refused to ioine with Augustine in preaching of Christ he writ vnto S. Gregorie certifying him that the haruest here was great but the labourers very few and therefore requested him to appoint some that might assist him in this worke of the Lord. He did so and sent vnto him Mellitus an Abbot of Rome Iustus Paulinus Rufinianus and others who arriued in England the yéere 601. To leaue the rest vnto their owne places Mellitus about thrée yéeres after was consecrate by him Bishop of London where king Ethelbert built a goodly church and dedicated the same vnto S. Paul The fourth yéere of his consecration he went to Rome to conferre with Boniface the Pope about diuers things and was by him honourably intertained A yeere or two after his returne died both Ethelbert king of Kent and 〈◊〉 that vnder him ruled the East Saxons vnto whose iurisdiction London appertained This Sebert left behinde him thrée wicked sonnes that being neuer baptised came notwithstanding one day vnto the church at Communion time and asked the Bishop what he meant that he deliuered not of that same fine bread vnto them as he was woont to doe vnto their father Saba and did yet vnto the rest of the people He answered that if they would be washed in the water of life as he was and the rest of the people there present then would he 〈◊〉 vnto them of this bread also but otherwise neither was it lawfull for him to deliuer nor them to receiue it This notwithstanding they would haue enforced him and when they could not preuatle were so enraged as they expelled him their dominion hardly holding their hands from doing him violence at that time He being thus exiled went first vnto Laurence the Archbishop of Canterburie and finding him in little better case then himselfe was at London departed into France together with Iustus Bishop of Rochester Being sent for soone after by Laurence as aboue said it happened the same yeere that the said Laurence died and he was appointed to succeede him He was a man of great birth but of greater minde excéeding
carefull of his charge despising the world and neuer 〈◊〉 for any thing but heauen and heauenly things Hauing beene sicke a long time he died at last of the gowt and was buried beside his predecessor 4. Iustus Ivstus of whom I haue before spoken somewhat was taken from Rochester to supply the place of Melhtus after his decease wherein hauing trauelled painfully the space of twelue yeeres he departed this life Nouemb. 10. ann 634. and was buried in the porch aboue mentioned 5. Honorius AFter the death of Iustus Honorius was made Archbishop a very reuerend man He was a Romane borne very learned and sometimes a disciple of S. Gregory He was consecrate at Lincolne by Paulinus Archb of Yorke He receiued a pall from Rome with letters wherein authoritie was giuen to him and the other Archb. whensoeuer either of them did faile to consecrate another in his place without posting to Rome This man appointed diuers Bishops to diuers countries as in their seuerall places God willing shall be more at large declared He also biuided his prouince into parishes that so he might appoint particular ministers to particular congregations and hauing sate Archbishop almost 20. yeeres died the last day of Februarie or as some other deliuer of September the yeere 653. He was buried amongst his predecessors 6. Deus-dedit or Adeodatus THe Sée was voide after Honorius died the space of 18. moneths An Englishman or Saxon called sometimes Frithona famous for his learning and other vertues was then elected Archbishop and after that named Deus dedit He was consecrate by Ithamar Bishop of Rochester Yorke being then without an Archbishop and died the last day of June 664. hauing attēded that charge carefully about the space of 9. yéeres He was the first Englishman that was Archbishop and the last Archbishop that was buried in the church porch of Saint Augustines 7. Theodorus ONe Wigardus an Englishman an ancient and learned Priest was chosen to succéede Deus-dedit and sent to Rome for consecration with letters commendatorie from Egbert king of Kent and Oswy king of Northumberland who also sent presents of great value vnto Vitalianus that was then Pope It chanced he came to Rome at a time when the plague was very hot there and died of the same as did also almost all his companie that came with him The Pope vnderstanding the See had stood long void and carefull to sée it furnished made choice of one Adrian an Abbot of Italy but borne in Afrike a graue man and verie learned He would not be perswaded to take so great a charge vpon him but being importuned thereunto he promised to finde out a man that should be of greater both learning and yéeres then himselfe and in all other respects verie fit for the place He was familiarly acquainted with one Theodore a Grecian borne in Tharsus of Cilicia S. Paules countrey a man well seene in all kinde of good learning 66. yéeres of age Vitalianus notwithstanding refused to allow of him except the other would promise to go into England with him also He was content did so and at his comming thither was made Abbot of S. Augustines Theodore then was consecrate Archbishop Aprill 1. 668. when the Sée had béene voide almost fower yéeres In Maie following they set forward toward England They had many lets by the way and got not thither in a yéeres and a halfe They brought with them great store of bookes both Gréeke and Latin whereof some remaine yet to be seene at this day as namely a Homer so faire and exquisitely written as no print in the world yet extant is thought to be comparable to it either for truth or beautie and diuers other Unto this man all the British Bishops and generally all Britaine yeelded obedience and vnder him conformed themselues in all things vnto the rites and discipline of the church of Rome He was a very stont and rigorous man exercising the authoritie of his place so 〈◊〉 as many thinke it a great blot vnto him How he tooke vpon him to place and displace 〈◊〉 Bishops at his pleasure as Wilfride Cedda and other see in the beginning of Yorke In his time were held two Synods one at Hereford the Canons whereof you may see in Beda lib. 4. cap. 5. the other at Clyff beside Rochester in which he procured all the Prelates there assembled to set downe their opinions touching the heresie of 〈◊〉 wherewith his countreymen the Grecians were much infected They all detested it and gaue their approbation of those fiue famous generall Councels of Nice of Ephesus of Chalcedon and the two first of Constantinople Neuer before this time had England so happie daies nor so many learned men as vnder him and a little after Amongst a great number of other these were of his bréeding Beda Saint Iohn of Beuerley Albinus and Tobias Bishop of Rochester all excellent and very famous men He erected as some say a kind of schoole or Uniuersitie at Creeklade or rather Greekeslade in Wiltshire so called of the Grecians that taught and studied there These men soone after remoouing thence are supposed to haue laide the foundations of our Uniuersitie of Oxford He left sundrie monuments of his learning in writing behind him and appointed many Bishops in diuers parts of this land Hauing continued Archbishop 22. yéeres he died September 19. ann 690. being 88. yéeres of age vntill which time hée would often say he thought he should liue for that in a dreme it was so signified vnto him many yéeres before A litle before his death he sent for Wilfride Archbishop of Yorke and Erkenwald Bishop of London and confessing himselfe vnto them acknowledged that he had doon Wilfride great wrong insomuch as there was no one thing that lay so hard vpon his conscience as that and therefore with teares besought him to forgiue him and to pray for him He was buried within the church of Saint Augustines Abbey 8. Birhtuald ALmost two yéeres the Sée was voide after the death of Theodore Birhtuald Abbot of Reculuer which standeth vpon the mouth of the riuer Gentad was then elect Ianuarie 29. ann 692. and consecrate by Godwyn the Metropolitane of Wales or of France rather as Beda reporteth The yéere following Maie 30. he tooke possession of this his Bishopricke He was a man verie well learned both in Diuinitie and otherwise but not comparable vnto Theodore his predecessor He bare a hard hand vpon Wilfride Archbishop of Yorke as Theodore had done before him and caused his second banishment or at least was some meanes of it He was coniured by the Pope who turned him about and dealt so with him by letters as he made him more earnest for him then euer he had béene against him No Archbishop euer continued so long in this Sée as he He sate 38. yeeres and a halfe Dying then Ianuarie 9. 731. he was buried at Saint Augustines with his predecessors 9. Tatwyn THe same yéere in which Birhtwald died succéeded Tatwyn
North parts there was not séene any either monke or nunne in two hundred yéeres after viz. vntill about the middle of the raigne of William Conqueror Maried priests euery where inhabited monasteries whence for a long time after with much adoe they were hardly remooued This Athelredus as in a manner all his successors was buried in his church of Christ in Canterburie 19. Plegmund PLegmund the most excellent learned man of his time was borne in the kingdome of Mercia In his youth he first dedicated himselfe vnto a solitarie life and liued an eremite in the Island of Chester which of him as it should séeme was woont to be called Plegmundsham He was taken thence to teach Alfred that was afterward king of England Being chosen Archbishop he trauailed to Rome in person and was there consecrate Soone after his returne to requite belike the curtesie he had found there he tooke great paines in collecting the almes of al men wel disposed through the land which the king sent together with much treasure of his owne vnto the Pope by Athelmus Bishop of Winchester appointing a certaine portion of the same to be conueied vnto Ierusalem Marianus then Pope a little before had gratified the king diuers waies He had granted immunitie of tribute vnto the Saxons schoole at Rome and sent sundrie presents vnto him namely amongst other things a péece of the crosse vpon which our Sauiour was thought to haue suffered death By this contribution his kindnesse was sufficiently requited The most memorable action of this Archbishop is that the yéere 905. he consecrated seuen Bishops in one day By reason of continuall warres all the prouince of the West Saxons had béene without any Bishop seuen yéeres Which Formosus the Pope imputing vnto the negligence of the king sent out an excommunication against him He therfore caused Plegmund the Archbishop to call a conuocation wherein it was ordered that the country of the Gewisses which till that time had but two Bishops one at Winchester another at Shirburne should hereafter haue fiue viz. besides the Sées before named Welles in Sommersetshire Criditon in Deuonshire and Saint Petrocks in Cornwall Unto Winchester was appointed Frithstan to Shirburne Wolstan to Criditon 〈◊〉 and to Saint Petrocks Athelstan Moreouer at the same time were consecrate with them Burnegus Bishop of the South Saxons and Kenulsus Bishop of Dorchester Plegmund sate Archbishop 26. yéeres and dying ann 915. was buried in his owne church 20. Athelmus AThelm that had béene Abbot of Glastonburie and as before is mentioned was appointed the first Bishop of Wels was chosen to succéed Plegmund in Canterburie William of Malmesbury saith that this Archbishop laide the first foundation of the Abbey of Malmesburie but it séemeth to be more ancient then so He sate nine yéeres died ann 924. and was buried with his predecessors 21. Wlfelmus VVLfelm succéeded Athelm first in Wels and then afterwards in Canterburie also He continued there ten yéeres and died ann 934. 22. Odo Seuerus ODo was 〈◊〉 in the countrey of the 〈◊〉 Angles His 〈◊〉 were Danes of great wealth and nobilitis but 〈◊〉 and vtter enimies of Christ and Christian religion insomuch as they disinherited their sonne Odo for kéeping companie with Christians He therefore forsaking his country betooke himselfe to the seruice of a noble man in the court of king Edward the elder named Ethelelm who perceiuing in him a great forwardnesse and excellencie of wit set him to schoole where he profited excéedingly He was not baptised till he was come euen vnto mans estate Soone after his baptisme by the counsel of his Lord and Master he entred into orders and became a Deacon in which office he continued preaching very painfully vntill at last he was made priest Some report that he serued in the wars some while vnder king Edward before he became a cleargie man and it is not vnlikely For after he was Bishop he was thrise in the field did his prince notable seruice He was preferred to the Bishopricke of Wiltshire the Sée whereof was then seated at ramsbury by the special fauour of king Athelston the yéere 920. King Athelston being dead Edmund his brother that succéeded fauouring him no lesse then his brother had done vpon the death of Wlfhelm procured him to be chosen Archbishop A great while Odo refused because he was no monke to take that charge vpon him saying that neuer any man had held that place hetherto but he was a monke Therein he was deceiued For Nothelmus and two or thrée other before him were secular priests not monks But he resolute in this errour and loath to breake the dance was perswaded first to become a monke of Floriake in France and that done accepted of the election He continued Archbishop 24. yéeres in great fauour and authoritie vnder diuers princes Edmund Edward Athelstan and Eadred Towards the latter end of his time Edwyn a yoong Gentleman obtained the crowne with whom he had very ill agréement He caused him to be diuorced from his Quéene some say for consanguinity some alleage other reasons He excommunicated his concubines and causing one of them whom the king doted vnreasonably vpon to be fetcht out of the court by violence burnt her in the forehead with a hot yron banished her into Ireland These things exasperated the king much against him But he was taken away by death soone after and so deliuered from al feare of the kings displeasure He was buried on the south side of the high alter in a tombe built somewhat after the forme of a Pyramis I take it to be the tombe of ieate standing in the grate néere the steps that lead vp to S. Thomas chappell After his death which hapned the yéere 958. Elsinus Bishop of Winchester that could neuer brooke Odo in his life time by bribery corrupt meanes obtained election vnto Canterbury and comming thither spurned at his tombe despitefully vsing these spéeches now at last quoth he thou art dead old dotard and much against thy will hast left thy place vnto a man woorthier of it then thy selfe Our stories report that the next night Odo appéered vnto him in his sléepe threatning a spéedie and fearefull vengeance of this insolency According vnto which prediction it fell out that trauailing to Rome for his pall vpon the Alpes he was so oppressed with cold as he was constrained to put his féete wherewith he had so contumeliously disgraced his deceased predecessor into the bellies of his horses yet at last to die for cold Brithelm Bishop of Wels was then chosen Archbishop a vertuous and méeke man but not very fit for gouernment In regard whereof king Edgar intreated him and he easily condiscended to abide still at his old charge 23. Dunstan VVIth the approbation of all men Dunstan Bishop of London was then elected to this Metropoliticall Sée Of whom I know not how to write that which is deliuered of him is so infinite But I will hold my selfe
Stigand being displaced in manner aboue rehearsed the conquerour well knowing how much it behooued him to the establishment of his new erected throne in England to haue a man wise and faithfull in that place made a speciall choice of him as one in all respects most fit and woorthy which being well knowne to all men the Couent at the kings first nomination readily chose him the nobilitie and courtiers willingly assented and receaued him with great applause and lastly the Pope affoorded him his pall with extraordinary fauour It is said at his first comming the Pope rose vp vnto him and mette him telling him he yeelded him that honour not of dutie but in regard of his excellent learning whereof he had heard great fame Thomas Archbishop of Yorke was present the same time together with 〈◊〉 Bishop of Dorchester This Thomas had béene lately consecrated vnto Yorke by Lanfrank and for a certaine time refused to make profession of obedience vnto the See of Canterbury euen vntill by the commandement of the king he was inforced thereunto Now whether it were discontentment and perswasion of a wrong or else enuie at Lanfranks either vertue or good fortune that mooued him hée presently began to make complaint vnto the Pope of a great miury offered vnto his Sée in the demaund of his profession Lanfrank pleaded prescription for his right and offred to make proofe of the same The Pope therefore not willing to trouble himselfe any more with the matter committed the hearing thereof vnto the king who in the yéere 1072. iudged it for Canterbury Sée more of this quarrell in Thomas of Yorke Lanfrank himselfe was consecrated very solemnly at Canterbury all the Bishops in England being present themselues or by their proctors August 29. 1070. Almost 18. yeres he continued Archbishop gouerning his charge laudably and happily till that about the end of his time one action obscured his former praises and furthermore was the cause of many great calamities vnto him It is thought that William the Conqueror left the kingdome of England vnto his yoonger sonne William Rufus at the perswasion especially of this Archbishop who the rather wisht well vnto the yoong prince because he had béene brought vp vnder him in his childhood He is blamed much for putting the eldest sonne Robert from that which might séeme in some sort due vnto him and surely God blessed him not in that action The king thus aduanced by him fel out with him and droue him out of the realme The cause of this displeasure is diuersly reported But most men agree it was none other then this that the king thought him a little too busie in exhorting him to vertue and godlinesse and reprehending his manifold vices Being thus banished he trauatled to Rome and wandred vp and downe many countries till at last by what intercession I finde not he was suffred to come home againe Soone after his return he fell sicke of an ague and so ended his daies Iune 4. 1088. or as Houeden hath May 24. 1089. He was buried at Canterbury in his owne church vnto which he was a great benefactor He bestowed much vpon the fabrike and reparation of the same built much housing for the monkes whose number he increased from 30. to 140. restored the dignities and offices of old belonging to the monastery and recouered vnto the same 25. Mannors that had béene taken from it wrongfully in times past by Odo Bishop of Bayon and earle of Rent Moreouer he built the Archbishops pallace at Canterbury in a manner all he founded two hospitals without the citie of Canterbury and endowed them with competent reuenewes Saint Iohns and Harbaldown He bestowed large mony toward the building of the cathedrall Church of Rochester or rather indéed built it all and did much the particulars I cannot set downe for the abbey of Saint Albons He was a great student writ many learned works and which deserueth especiall remembrance tooke great paines in reforming the Bible the copies whereof were much corrupted throughout England by the negligence of the writers 34. Anselm FOwer yéeres the Sée continued void after the death of Lanfranke and the king pursed the profits thereof In what good moode I knowe not he which was woont to sell all other ecclesiastical promotions as it were by the drum bestowed this Archbishopricke fréely vpon a most woorthy man Anselm abbot of Becco This Anselm was borne at Augusta a city of Burgundy standing at the foot of the Alpes His fathers name was Gundulfe a man of great account in his country and his mothers Hemeberg He came vnto Becco of the like errand as Lanfranke had done mooued thereunto by the great fame of the said Lanfranke and professed himselfe a monke there in the 27. yéere of his age Lanfranke being called away to Cane he was made Prior and soone after Abbot Eluyn the old Abbot being dead In that place he continued 15. yéeres and then was earnestly requested by Hugh Earle of Chester lying very sicke to come into England vnto him to conferre with him and to order certaine affairesof his Hither he came and had much honour done him euery where of all forts of people The king himselfe amongst the rest beside many verball fauours made offer vnto him of the Archbishopricke of Canterbury verily hoping belike that a man giuen to monasticall contemplation and not estéeming worldly pompe would vndoubtedly haue refused the same For it is certaine that after Anselm had accepted the offer pitying belike the spoile and desolation of the church for want of a pastor the king would faine haue retracted his gift and perswaded him with many reasons to leaue it shewing him how the burthen and trouble of the place was greater then he should be able to inoure a man that had spent his time within the wals of a monastery and not experienced in managing of great affaires But he lost his labour Anselm kept fast his hold and was soone after consecrated by Walkelm Bishop of Winchester or as I finde also recorded by Thomas Archbishop of Yorke Decemb. 4. 1093. all the Bishops of the land that could possibly come being present at that solemnity Presently after his consecration the king and he fel out Not long before the king had throwen downe thirty churches to make his new forest néere Winchester This 〈◊〉 reprehended him sharply for and besought him to amend that and other faults as namely his simony his extortion his cruelty c. wherein he daily offended God gréeuously and greatly dishonoured himselfe This admonition of his displeased the king very much but his quarrell in shew was none other then this that asking leaue to go to Rome to fetch his pall he had named Vrban Pope whom the king as yet had not acknowledged for Pope and for so doing accused him of no lesse then high treason After great stirre and much adoe betwéene them about this matter it was determined that all the abbots and Bishops of England should be
many gentle intreaties large praises of the new Archbishop and seasoned now and then with some touches of doubtfull threatning if he should oppose himselfe against that was then done This notwithstanding the king in great indignation banished all the monkes of Canterbury seased vpon their goods and lands and forbid Stephen Langton entrance into the realme The Pope hearing of this sent his mandate vnto thrée Bishops William of London Eustach of Ely and Mauger of Worcester wherein he willed them first to admonish and perswade the king to restore the monkes to their goods and places and to giue the Archbishops possession of his temporalties by a day then if he refused so to do to interdict the whole realme They durst not but obey and finding the king resolute in his determination at the time appointed they published the Popes interdiction and as well foreséeing the great trouble to come as the present danger got them out of the land tegether with 〈◊〉 Bishop of Bathe and Gyles of Hereford The king immediately seased all their goods and temporalties into his hands and moreouer banished all the friends and 〈◊〉 of these Bishops that were likely to yéeld them any comfort or releife During the time of this interdict all seruice ceased throughout the realme except onely Baptisme of children auricular confession and the administration of the sacrament vnto such as lay vpon the point of death The Pope séeing this course preuailed not proceeded to a particular excommunication of the king and not long after depriued him by sentence of all regal authority a thing till that time in no age euer heard of All this while the king esteemed the Popes sword blunt and vnable to wound him till at last he perceiued the French king ready to take aduantage of this sentence and prouiding busily to inuade his dominions His owne people also began to fall from him and to doubt whom in conscience they ought rather to follow their owne 〈◊〉 Prince or a forreine intruder a strange and monstrous ignorance Séeing therefore no other remedy he was faine to yéeld receiued the Archbishop restored the other Bishops the monkes and all the rest banished vnto their goods and reueneues and moreouer was content to resigne his crowne into the Popes hands vpon restitution to assure him by his letters patents a yéerely pension of a thousand markes This done he thought all troubles at an end when the worst of all was yet behind For he bare himselfe so bold vpon the Popes fauour which he had bought deerely as he doubted not to oppresse diuers of his nobility with many and continuall wrongs reuoking all former graunts of priuiledges at his pleasure vpon this point that he had receiued his kingdome from the Pope absolutely free from all entanglement of any priuiledges deriued from the same Heereupon the Barons rebelled the Archb. taking their part and when they doubted least they should not make their party good against the king the Pope stucke so close vnto him they procured Lewis the French kings eldest sonne to inuade the realme Him together with the Archbishop and all the Barons the Pope excommunicated This great hurly burly was appeased suddenly by the kings death who died some say of care sorrow some of surfet and some say he was poysoned by a monke His sonne Henry a Prince often yéeres old was receiued to the kingdome Lewis forsaken the Barons vpon promise of obedience vnto their king absolued by the Popes legate Clergy men were debarred a while from 〈◊〉 absolution that they might compound for the same which they were glad to do All things being thus quieted this our Archbishop called a conuocation at Dsney wherein many things were decreed to be seene for the most part among the principall constitutions Thither came a certaine yoong man that shewing the marks of wounds in his hands feete and side professed himselfe to be no lesse man then Jesus Christ. He brought also two women with him whereof one tooke vpon her to be our Lady the other Mary Magdalen This counterfait Christ for his labour was woorthily crucified and forced to resemble him in the manner of his death whose life and person he had 〈◊〉 immitated and sought to expresse Soone after he translated the bones of S. Thomas Becket from the place where they were first buried in the vndercraft into a goodly sumptuous shrine This was done woonderfull solemnly the king and greatest part of the nobility of all the realme being present During the time of this ceremony all passengers from London to Canterbury were allowed horsemeat at the Arthbishops charge who also caused vessels of wine to runne continually in diuers parts of the city all the day of this translation that who so list might drinke of them This solemnity prooued so chargeable vnto him as neither he nor fower of his successors were able to recouer the debt he cast his Sée and Church into He was Archbishop in all two and twentie yéeres and died July 9. 1228. at his mannor of Slyndon in Sussex from whence his body was conueighed to Canterbury and there buried in the chappell of Saint Michaell This man was admirably learned and writ many notable workes the Catalogue whereof is to be séene in Bale Amongst the rest it is especially to be noted that he first diuided the Bible into Chapters in such sort as we now account them The Archbishops pallace at Canterbury is said to haue béene built in a manner all by this Stephen Langton Moreouer it is deliuered that he bestowed great cost in making a faire horologe in the South crosse isle of the church néere which he lieth buried his monument being situate in a manner iust vnder the altar 44. Richard Magnus VVIthin a fewe daies after the death of Stephen Langton the Monkes with the Kings licence procéeded to election made choice of one Walt. de Hempsham one of their own company presented him vnto the K. who by the aduice of diuers prelates refused to allow of him Which notwithstanding he got him to Rome hoping by one meanes or other to obtaine the Popes confirmation The king hauing notize of his intent sent thither the Bishop of Chester to signifie that he was a man very vnlearned and moreouer infamous for his life and conuersation as namely that he had gotten diuers children vpon a certaine Nunne that his father was hanged for theft and that himselfe had deserued it by taking the part of the rebellious Barons All this would not stay the Pope from giuing him confirmation vntill the kings Ambassadors had promised him a tenth of all spirituall promotions in England to aide him in his wars against the Emperor That being assigned him he straight way pronounced the election voide and by reason of the insufficiency of the elect the right of nomination to be deuolued vnto him selfe by vertue of which title he tooke vpon him at the kings request to name vnto that see Richard the Chauncellor of
this order that if any cathedrall Church continued voide aboue sixe monethes it should be lawfull for the Archbishop to conferre it where he list as well as any smaller benefice The procuring of this order cost him a great sum of mony Yet no sooner was his backe turned but the Pope at the kings request reuoked the same Being thus continually vexed thwarted and disgraced he departed into voluntary exile and there bewailing the misery of his countrey spoyled and wasted by the tyranny of the Pope spent the rest of his life in continuall teares Through extreme gréefe and sorrow or as some thinke too much 〈◊〉 he fell first into a consumption and after into a strange kinde of ague Whereupon he thought good to remooue from the Abbey of Pontiniac in Fraunce where he had laien euer since his comming out of England vnto Soissy and there departed this life Nouember 16. 1236. eight yéeres after his first consecration His hart and entrailes were buried at Soissy his body at Pontiniac Within sixe yéeres after his death he was Canonised a Saint by Innocentius who appointed the foresaid day of his death for euer to be kept holy in memory of him Lewes the French king caused his body to be translated to a more honorable place then it was first laid in and bestowed a sumptuous shryne vpon him couered with golde and siluer and richly adorned with many precious stones 46. Boniface THe monks of Canterbury at the instance of the king elected vnto the Archbishopricke Boniface the sonne of Peter Earle of Sauoy and vncle vnto the Quéene a man not greatly to be commended for any thing but the nobility of his stocke and the comelinesse of his person For in other respects he was thought vtterly vnfit and vnwoorthy of that place The king therefore doubting least the Pope would reiect him caused in a manner all the Bishops and Abbots of England to write their letters commendatory in his behalfe and so sent him to Lyons where he quickly obtained consecration at the Popes owne hands At his first entrance into this Sée he found the same indebted by the ouerlashing of his predecessors to the value of 22. thousand marks which he tooke for an occasion of both absenting himselfe from his charge and also of raking money togither by all kinde of meanes Departing therefore into his owne country by felling of woods making leases and other such like meanes he made an infinite deale of money promising to imploy the same and whatsoeuer he could saue by liuing priuately at home in the payment of his churches debt By the same pretence also he induced the Pope to graunt him in Commendam the Bishopricke of Ualentia in Prouence and diuers other spirituall promotions But he gaue himselfe to warring and spent all he could make in hyring of soldiers When therefore notwithstanding all these helpes the debt was neuer the lesse he was glad by bribing the Pope with a great summe of money to procure of him a graunt of the profite of all spirituall preferments that should be void within his prouince for the space of seuen yéeres The king a while spurned at this graunt but in the end halfe for feare of the Pope of whom he stood in great awe and partly by sute and intercession he ratified and allowed of the same Hauing béene many yéeres absent he returned into England the yéere 1250. and tooke vpon him to visite all his Prouince in some extraordinarie manner All men knew it was rather to make mony then for any desire of reformation and that caused it to be taken the more odiously He began first with his owne Dioces which he so hampered with straight vnreasonable orders such as he knew men would rather buy out then endure to obserue that euery one said the monks of Canterbury were 〈◊〉 iustly rewarded for their folly in electing an vnlearned stranger that was more fit and likely to make a souldier then an Archbishop a great deale Comming then to London he tooke a small occasion to deface the Bishop there with 〈◊〉 and reprochfull spéeches and being resisted by the Deane and Chapter of Paules who had appealed from his 〈◊〉 to the Pope he made no more adoo but excommunicated them euery one Going the next day about the same businesse to the Priory of Saint Bartholomewes in Smythfield he was met very honorably by the Subprior and all the Conent in their coapes Telling them by and by he came to visite them one of the company answered him reuerently he was very welcome vnto them but they were sory he came for that purpose wherein they must disappoint him They knew their Bishop whose onely office it was to be a very sufficient man for his place and so long they must not entertaine the 〈◊〉 of any other This answere though gentle inough so enraged this lusty Archbishop as not being able to containe his anger within any bounds of discretion he ranne violently not to him that had spoken but to the Sub-prior that was next him strucke the poore old man downe to the ground kicked him beate and buffeted him pitifully tore his coape from his backe rent it into a number of péeces and when he had done stamped vpon it like a madde man In this conflict it hapned the Archbishop to stumble and fal backward by meanes whereof his apparell loosening in any perceaued a priuy coate vnder the same His seruitors and attendants taking example of their Lord gaue much like intertainment to the rest of the monks as he had giuen to the Sub-prior By this time the Londoners were vp and taking the matter very 〈◊〉 in the behalfe of their Bishop whom this iniury did originally concerne laid such wait for the Archbishop as with much adoo he stole secretly to the Thames side and was conueied by a wherry prouided for him to Lambhith If they could 〈◊〉 met with him they had surely hewen him into 1000. péeces He was no sooner come home but he thundred out his excommunications against not onely the whole Couent of Saint Bartholomew but the Bishop of London also as a fauourer of theirs They all agreeing togither determined to send the Deane of Paules a graue and wise man to Rome and by the letters of certaine Bishops they knew the Pope would credite to aduertise him of this strange disorder The Archbishop vnderstanding heereof followed thither apace and entred Rome with great pompe nothing 〈◊〉 but the King and Quéenes letters which he had brought his nobility and great linage or if all failed his purse should beare him out in this matter well inough But vnderstanding how odiously it was taken by all that heard it how hardly the Pope was informed against him he fell to intreatie of his aduersaries the Deane of Paules and the rest whom partly by faire promises and partly by threates at last he subdued and made them content to stay their complaint That matter being so ended he dealt earnestly with the
of vicar Generall then to the Deanry of the Arches the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon the Parsonages of Croydon and Clyff and lastly the Bishopricke of Rochester From Rochester he was remooued to Worcester his vncle yet liuing and ioying much in this his aduancement the yéere 1 63. Frō thence some say he was translated to London but that I take to be mistaken Simon Sudbury was Bishop of Londō before he came to Worcester and so continued till that after his death he succeded him in Canterbury Thether this man was aduanced by the Popes onely authority presently after Simon Langham was made Cardinall viz. the yéere 1368. At two seuerall synods he preached in Latine very learnedly The later of those sermons he could hardly end for sicknesse where with he had béene so much troubled before as for two yeeres space he was faine to kéepe his chamber almost altogither Not being able to resist the force of this tedious wearing disease any longer he paid the debt of his mortality October 11. 1374. hauing continued in this Sée almost seuen yéeres He was buried ouer-against his vncle betwéene two pillers vnder a faire marble tombe inlaid with brasse which is lately defaced by tearing out the brasse I remember that some sixtéene yéeres since I read the Epitaph engrauen vpon the same This man procured the Uniuersitie of Oxford to be exempt from the iurisdiction of the Bishop of Lincolne and al authority of gouerning the same to be committed vnto the Chauncellour and Proctors 58. Simon Sudbury PResently after the death of William Wittlesey the monks of Canterbury elected for their Archbishop a certaine Cardinall that was an Englishman borne but throughly Italianate hauing lead his life in a manner altogither at Rome I take it his name was Adam Easton The king with this choice of theirs was so gréeuously offended as he determined to banish them the monks I meane out of the realme and to confiscate their goods Gregory the 11. that then was Pope though he fauoured his Cardinall to shield the poore monkes from the danger of such a tempest was content to refuse this election and to bestow the Archbishopricke by way of prouision vpon Simon Sudbury Bishop of London whom he knew the king liked well inough This Simon was the sonne of a gentleman named Nigellus Tibold so that his true name was Simon Tibold But he was borne at Sudbury a towne of Suffolke in the parish of S. George and of that 〈◊〉 tooke his name according to the manner of many cleargy men in those daies He was alwaies brought vp at schoole and being yet very yoong was sent by his father beyond the seas to study the canon lawe and hauing procéeded Doctor of that faculty became houshold Chaplein vnto Pope Innocent and one of the Judges or Auditors of his Kota The said Pope by way of prouision thrust him first into the Chancellorship of Salisbury and then afterward viz. the yéere 1364. into the Bishopricke of London He receiued the bulles of his translation thence June 6. 1375. Two synods or conuocations were held in his time at both which he preached in Latin very learnedly Sixe yeeres one month and ten daies he gouerned the Sée of Canterbury laudably and at last was most vnwoorthily slaine or rather wickedly murthered by a company of villanous rebels By the instigation of one Iohn Ball a seditions malcontent and hypocriticall preacher the baser sort of the commons arose in diuers parts of the realme and intending to destroy all gentlemen lawyers cleargymen and whosoeuer were of any account either for their riches linage or authority in the common wealth came vp to London appointing for their leaders Wat Tyler Iacke Straw Iohn Lister Robert Westhrom c. The king vnderstanding of their comming sent vnto them to know the cause of their repaire in so great numbers They answered they were to impart vnto him certaine matters greatly importing the state of the common wealth which if he would vnderstand he should spéedily resort vnto them The king hauing receiued this saury answere began to consult with his friends whether he were best to goe to them or not The greater number 〈◊〉 him to goe But the Archbishop and Sir Robert Hales Treasurer of England 〈◊〉 him saying it was a thing not onely 〈◊〉 and shamefull for a Prince to be commanded by such rascals but also dangerous vnto his person to commit himselfe to a route of seditious people that hauing once broken the bands of all duty and alleageance feared no more to violate the sacred maiesty of their annointed prince then to wrong their neighbours of farre meaner condition of whom they had already slaine spoiled and robbed an infinite number for wich cause they thought it more safe for the king more honorable and euery way more expedient to gather some power together spéedily and to set vpon them who being yet vnprouided of armour destitute of good leaders and without all skill or experience of warlike affaires would soone be dispersed and ouerthrowen This spéech of theirs I know not by what tell-tales was carried vnto the rebels who sware by and by they would haue off the heads of these cruell counsellers So in all haste to the Tower they came where the court then lay requiring with great outcries the Archbishop and the said Sir Robert Hales to be deliuered vnto them The Archbishop hauing heard some inckling of their intent the day before had spent all that might in prayer and iust when they called for him was saying of masse in the chappell of the Tower That ended and hearing of their comming Let vs now go saith he vnto his men Surely it is best to dye séeing to liue it can be no pleasure With that in came these murtherous rebels crying where is the Traytour where is the Traytor He answered I am the Archbishop whom I thinke you seeke but no Traytor With great violence then they drew him out of the chappell and caried him to the Tower hill Séeing there nothing but swords and weapons and hearing nothing but Kill kill away with the Traytor c. Yet he was not so 〈◊〉 but with great 〈◊〉 he could go about to perswade them not to imbrue their hands in the bloud of their Archbishop their chiefe 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 offended them to his knowledge nor 〈◊〉 so cruell a death at their hands assuring them that all the 〈◊〉 would be interdicted for it that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be punished 〈◊〉 or last by the temporal Law and lastly that though both these failed God the iust Iudge would 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 in this or the world to come if not both He was a man admirably wise and excéeding well spoken But these varlets were so egerly bent as the very songs of the Syrens would nothing haue mooued them at all from their intended course Séeing therefore nothing but death before his face with comfortable words forgiuing the executioner that scarce euer requested him so to doo with a very
then rising vp began to take particular exceptions against Cardinall Poole charging him with suspition of incontinency whereof he alleaged some reasons though peraduenture 〈◊〉 as also with heresie for that he had reasoned for iustification by faith in the Councell of Trent that he preferred Ant. Flaminius a knowen Protestant and kept company much with him and other thought ill of that way and lastly that in the time he was Legate of 〈◊〉 he had béene so slacke in 〈◊〉 of heretikes vpon whom he seldome 〈◊〉 any punishment but death vpon none This accuser was the Cardinall Caraffa that afterward was Pope Paul the fourth an olde acquaintance of Cardinall Pooles many yéeres euen vntill such time as that partaking in this faction betwéene the French and Spanish sundred them Caraffa thought him selfe the likeliest of the French side and in that respect was the rather induced in this sort to deface his old friend so to set vp him selfe But he was vtterly deceiued in his expectation Cardinall Poole cléered him selfe of all those suspitions absolutely so that the next day or rather I should say the night after the next day the company were more resolute for him then they had béene before and once more elected him Pope Cardinal Farnesius the last Popes nephew was the mightiest of that 〈◊〉 For so euer all Popes lightly take order that some Cardinall of their kinne shall strike a great stroake in the election of their successor that he may be a meanes to shield the rest of his friends from that hard measure which successors are woont to 〈◊〉 vnto the fauorites of their predecessor This Cardinall Farnesius excéeding ioyfull that he had brought the matter to so good 〈◊〉 came vnto Cardinall Poole and would néedes adore him by the name of holyfather kissing his féete c. But he would not suffer him so to doo saying he would not haue their election a worke of darknesse that the day was the onely time for the orderly dispatch of such businesse and therefore he desired them to 〈◊〉 the accomplishment of their choice vntill the 〈◊〉 They were faine so to doo But whether it were that his friends were 〈◊〉 with this double delay or that they were induced otherwise to alter their determination so it fell out that the next morning they chose another the Cardinall de 〈◊〉 that named himselfe Iulius 3. He well knowing that the backwardnesse of Poole made him Pope euer after made very much of him and yéelded him all mannor of fauour And first to begin with he enforced Cardinall Caraffa to aske him forgiuenes before they departed out of the 〈◊〉 Cardinall Poole professed to be nothing at all 〈◊〉 with loosing that place which he tooke to be a burthen importable and saying his onely desire was to lead his life in quiet contemplation craued licence to depart vnto a certaine 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 replenished with monkes of Saint Benet of which order he was taken for patrone during the time of his residence in Rome He was scarcely setled there when newes came that king Edward was dead and that his sister the Lady Mary had obtained the crowne who was brought vp a great while vnder the Countesse his mother by the especiall choice and direction of Quéene 〈◊〉 her mother And many are of opinion that the Quéene committed her the rather vnto the tuition of the Countesse for that she wished some 〈◊〉 betwéene one of her sonnes the Pooles and the Lady Mary to strengthen her title to the crowne in case the king her husband should die without issue male for that as before I haue declared they were descended from Goorge Duke of Clarence the next heire male of the house of Yorke Now Cardinall Poole knowing the Queene had a speciall affection vnto him for his learning his nobility but aboue all for his religion and he was a man personable ynough longed fore homeward not doubting a dispensation for his clergy would soone be obtained of the Pope in this case and assuring himselfe that though he missed of the crowne he should not faile of the myter He procured himselfe therefore to be appointed of the Popes legate and to be dispatched into England with all spéed The Emperour by this time had 〈◊〉 to endeuour a match betwéene his sonne 〈◊〉 and Queene Mary Doubting therefore least the presence of the Cardinall should disturbe his platforme he vsed many deuises to stop and hinder his passage till such time as the mariage was concluded At last but a day after the faire ouer came this iolly legate reconciled the realme of England to the Pope caused the Archbishop of Canterbury to be depriued and degraded seating himselfe in his Sée which things and many more are discoursed of him at large by Master Foxe and therefore I passe them ouer He was consecrate March 22. 1555. in the gray Friers church at Gréenwich The Lady day following he receiued his pal in Bow church where he made a dry and friuolous sermon touching the vse profit signification and first institution of the pall March 31. he was installed by a proctor one Robert Collins his commissary While these things were a dooing Cardinall Caraffa his ancient enimy became Pope He presently discharged our Cardinall of his power legantine and made one Frier Peto first a Cardinall then his legate and bestowed the Bishopricke of Salisbury vpon him He alleaged against Cardinall Poole that he was vnwoorthy the honour of the legate Apostolicall that would suffer the Quéene to proclaime warres against the French king but the matter was the old quarrels were not yet digested this way he thought to pay him home The Quéene kept Frier Peto out of the realme by force vntill the Pope was reconciled vnto Cardinall Poole againe Two yéere and almost 8. months this man continued Archb. In the yere 1558. many old mē fel into quartaine agues a disease fatall vnto elderly folke Amongst the rest a quartane had seased vpon him and brought him to a low ebbe at what time newes being brought of Quéene Maries death strucke him quite dead For he departed this life euen the same day that she did viz. Nouember 17. 1558. being 58. yéeres of age and sixe moneths He procured in his life time the gift and patronage of 19. benefices from the Quéene vnto his Sée which he no way else benefited except by the building of a certaine gallery toward the East at Lambhith and some few roomes adioyning He purposed indéede to haue bestowed much cost vpon his pallace at Canterbury but was preuented by death He was a man of indifferent stature slender wel coloured somewhat broad visaged his eyes gray and chéerefull and his countenance milde His goods he left to the disposition of one Aloysius Priolus an Italian who bestowed them all to good vses reseruing nothing vnto him selfe but two praier bookes His body was conueighed to Canterbury aud entoombed on the North side of a litle chappell that is at the East end
high toombe by the window of the vault or vndercroft now called if I mistake not Saint Faiths church 24. Wulstan 25. Brithelm he died the yéere 958. 26. Dunstan See more of him in Canterbury 27. Alfstan he liued 966. and 996. 28. Wulfstan 29. Albun he taught the children of king Ethelred and carried them into Normandy the yéere 1013. 30. Alwy 31. Elfward before he was Bishop Abbot of Eueshain being Bishop held still his Abbotship in Commendam waxing olde he intended to resigne his Bishopricke and returning thither againe to spend the rest of his daies there but the monkes refused to receiue him whereupon he tooke from them many bookes and rich ornaments that he had sent thither yea some also that other men had bestowed and gaue them vnto the Abbey of Kanisey where he lieth buried He died Iuly 25. ann 1044. 32. Robert he was translated to Canterbury 1050. Sée more there 33. William BY what meanes I know not Spearheafocus Abbot of Abingdon set foote into the Bishopricke of London Robert being translated But the king displaced him would not suffer him to be consecrate and bestowed the same vpon one William that was a Norman as his predecessor was and came into the realme with Quéene Emma his I meane the Confessors mother Unto this man the city of London acknoledgeth it selfe greatly beholding for that king William the Conquerour by his meanes instant sute graunted vnto them all kind of liberties in as ample manner as they enioyed them in the time of his predecessor In thankfulnesse hereof the citizens haue caused to be engrauen this Epitaphe vpon his graue which is in the middle of the body of his church Guilielmo viro sapientia vitae sanctitate claro qui primum Diuo Edwardo Regi Confessori familiaris nuper in Episcopum Londinensem erectus nec multo post apud inuictissimum Principem Guilielmum Angliae Regem eius nominis primum ob prudentiam fidemque singularem in consilium adhibitus amplistima huic vrbi celeberrimae priuilegia ab eodem impetrauit Senatus populusque Londinensis benè merenti posuit Sedit Episcopus ann 20. Decessit an a Christo nato 1070. Haec tibi clare pater posuerunt marmora clues Praemia non meritis aequiparanda tuis Namque sibi populus te Londinensis amicum Sensit huic vrbi non leue praesidium Reddita libertas duce te donataque multis Te duce resfuerat publica muneribus Diuitias genus formam breuis opprimit hora Haec tua sed pietas benefacta manent 34. Hugh d' Oriuall AFter the death of Bishop William the Conquerour aduaunced vnto this Sée one Hugh d' Oriuall a Norman Within a short space after his preferment he fell into a leprosie for cure whereof by the counsell of phisitions he was gelded It little auailed him that notwithstanding he continued a leper all his life and so died Ianuary 12. ann 1085. 35. Mauritius MAuritius Chaplaine and Chauncellor to the Conqueror was consecrate Bishop of London the yéere 1087. A man not of the best report for his life but famous for his memorable endeuour of building Paules Church in London It happened the yéere 1086. the whole City of London in a manner to be consumed with fire The Cathedrall church amongst the rest going to wrack Maurice the yéere following which was the first yéere of his consecration intending to reedifie the same laid the foundation of so huge a plot as all men thought it would neuer be finished The same fire destroyed a great Castle standing in that place where Robert Killwardby Archbishop of Canterbury did afterwards build the Blacke Friers The ruines of this castle the K. was content should be imployed vpon Paules Church He gaue also vnto the Bishop and his successors for euer the Castle of Scortford with the Appurtenances Notwithstanding these and many other helps this Bishop dooing his vtmost endeuor for the aduancement of this noble worke in twenty yéeres that he sate was not able to bring it to any perfection He deceased September 26. 1107. 36. Richard Beauveys RIchard Beauveys sirnamed Rufus by some for difference I thinke of his nephew of the same name that afterward succéeded him was consecrate vnto the Sée of London at Pagham the yéere 1108. He purchased diuers whole stréetes and much housing néere to his Cathedrall Church all which he pulled downe and leauing the ground vnbuilt for a Cemitery or Churchyard enclosed the same with a wall which yet for the most part remaineth but so couered with houses as it cannot be séene but here and there This man sitting as his 〈◊〉 did twenty yéeres and employing all his reuenewes vpon this fabrike almost all his time was nothing néere able to finish it Toward his latter end waxing weary of that tedious worke he gaue it ouer and endeuoured the foundation of a Monastery at Saint Osythes in Essex which place he procured giuing Ladsworth in exchange for it Diuers times he was about to resigne his Bishopricke that he might become a regular Chanon in his owne new built Monastery and that the rather because being taken with a desperate and irrecouerable palsey he wel knew his time to be short But he deferred so long the execution of this intent from day to day that he was surprised by death before he could performe it viz. Ianuary 16 1127. 37. Gilbertus Vniuersalis A Canon of Lyons was then preferred to this Sée one Gilbert surnamed Vniuersalis vir probus grandaevus saith Florent Wigorn avery aged but a very good man Other report of him that he was a very couetous man and a very rich man but a very learned man It séemeth he was a man of some note in those daies Saint Barnard writeth diuers Epistles vnto him He died the yéere 1133. trauayling toward Rome 38. Robertus de Sigillo AFter the death of Bishop Gilbert one 〈◊〉 Abbot of 〈◊〉 nephew to Saint Anselme was elected Bishop of London and had his election confirmed at Rome But presently such exceptions were taken against him as thereupon he was not onely stayed from consecration but depriued also of his Abbotship His electors were William the Deane of 〈◊〉 Ralfe Langford and Richard 〈◊〉 the same I beleeue that afterwards was Bishop The King who very much mistiked this election hauing made request for some other amongst other effects of his displeasure caused the wiues of these Canons as Bale reporteth to be imprisoned and otherwise shainefully intreated True it is that a little before this time euen vntill Anselme was Archbishop many Clergy men had wiues But he so farre foorth restrained them as if any were maried afterwards they were very fewe and durst not in any wise be acknowen of it By reason of the 〈◊〉 that were about this election the Sée continued void a long time The yeere 1140. Mawde the Empresse hauing taken King Stephen prisoner came to London and finding the Bishopricke void caused one Robert de
called was consecrate Bishop an 1265. at Rome where it is said he paid vnto the Pope 6000. markes for his consecration and so much more vnto Iordanus the Popes Chauncellor Presently vpon his returne he was suspended by Ottobonus the Popes legate for taking part against the king in the Barons wars he enioyed a small time his honor so déerely bought the yéere 1268. he died in Italy and was buried there at Uiterbium 44. Nicholas de Ely RIchard Moore a Doctor of Diuinity was then chosen Bishop But Fryer Peckham at that time Archbishop of Canterbury tooke exception against him for holding of many benefices And said that a man of such conscience as were fit for that place would rather content himselfe with lesse liuing then load himselfe with the cure of so many soules He being refused Nicholas de Ely hauing béene scarcely one yere Bishop of Worcester was called to this church He sate 12. yéeres died an 1290. his body was buried at Wauerly his hart lieth entoombed in the South wall of the Presbytery with this inscription Intus est cor Nicholai Episcop cuius corpus est apud Wauerley One of his name was first Chauncellor then treasurer of England about the yéere 1260. I assure my selfe it was he 45. Iohn de Pontissara ABout this time the Pope began to take vpon him the bestowing of Bishoprickes for the most part euery where This Iohn de Pontissara was placed by him vpon his absolute authority He was a great enimy vnto the monkes of his church whose liuing he much diminished to encrease his owne He died the yéere 1304. hauing sate néere 24. yéeres and lyeth buried in the North wall of the Presbytery His toombe hath this Epitaphe engrauen Defuncti corpus tumulus tenet iste Ioannis Pountes Wintoniae presulis eximij Obijt anno Dom. 1304. 46. Henry Woodloke HEnry Woodloke succéeded him Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury being banished the realme by king Edward the first who charged him with treason this Bishop became an intercessor for him and in the request he made to the king in his behalfe chaunced to call him his good Lord which the king tooke so haynously as by and by he caused all the Bishops goods to be confiscate and renounced all protection of him How he recouered the kings fauour againe I finde not Not long after the said king dying by the permission of the foresaid Archbishop he crowned king Edward the second Ianuary 22. 1307. and died an 1316. the 13. yéere of his consecration 47. Iohn Sendall VVAlsingham called this man Iohn Kendall he was Chauncellor of England and died 1320. hauing scarcely sate fower yéeres 48. Reginaldus Asserius THe Pope then thrust in Reginald de Asser his legate the king being very angry that the Pope tooke so much vpon him in these things He was consecrate by the Bishop of London Walter the Archbishop refusing to afford it vnto him sate little aboue two yéeres and died an 1323. 49. Iohn de Stratford IOhn de Stratford Doctor of Law succéeded When he had continued in this seat 10. yeeres an 1333. He was translated to Canterbury Sée more of him in Canterbury 50. Adam Tarlton alias de Orlton ADam de Arlton Doctor of law borne in Hereford was consecrate Bishop of Hereford September 26. 1317. In a parliament holden at London an 1324. he was accused of treason as hauing aided the Mortimers with men and armor against the king When he should haue béene arraigned a thing till that time neuer heard of that a Bishop should be arraigned the Archbishops of Canterbury Yorke and Dublin with their Suffragan Bishops came vnto the barre and violently tooke him away Notwithstanding the accusation being found true his temporalties were seased into the kings hāds vntill such time as the king much deale by his machination and deuise was deposed of his kingdome If he which had béene a Traytor vnto his Prince before after deserued punishment for the same would soone be entreated to ioyne with other in the like attempt it is no maruell No man so forward as he in taking part with Isabel the Quéene against her husband king Edward the second Shée with her sonnes aud army being at Oxford this good Bishop stept vp into the pulpit and there taking for his text these words My head grieueth me he made a long discourse to prooue that an euill head not otherwise to be cured must be taken away Hauing gotten the king into their power he fearing least if the king at any time recouered his liberty and crowne againe they might receiue condigne punishment counselled the Quéene to make him away Whereunto she being as ready and willing as he to haue it done they writ certaine letters vnto the kéepers of the old king signifieng in couert termes what they desired They either not perfectly vnderstanding their meaning or desirous to haue somewhat to shew for their discharge pray them in expresse words to declare vnto them whether they would haue them put the king to death or no. To which question this subtill foxe framed this answere Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est If you set the point betwéene nolite and timere it forbiddeth if betwéene timere and bonum it exhorteth them to the committing of the fact whereupon the king was made away and most pitifully murthered by thrusting a hot spit into his fundament And who then so earnest a persecutor of the murtherers as this Bishop that when diuers of his letters were shewed against him eluded and auoyded them by sophisticall interpretation and vtterly denied that he was any way consenting to that haynous fact How cleanely he excused himselfe I know 〈◊〉 But sure I am he was so farre from receiuing punishment as within two moneths after viz. in Nouember 1327. he was preferred vnto the Bishopricke of Worcester sixe yéeres after that he was translated thence to winchester by the Pope December 1. 1333. at the request of the French king which king Edward taking in very ill part for that the French king and he were enimies deteined from 〈◊〉 his temporalties till that in a parliament at the sute of the whole cleargy he was content to yéeld them vnto him He sate Bishop of Winchester 11. yeeres 7. moneths and 17. daies and being a long time blind before his death departed this life July 18. 1345. 51. William Edendon THe same yeere William Edendon was consecrate Bishop a man in very great fauour with King Edward the third being treasurer of England he caused groats and halfe groats to be coyned the yeere 1350. coyne not séene in England before but they wanted some thing of the iust sterling waight which was the cause that the prices of all things rose then very much And where as many other times the like practise hath béene vsed in so much that fiue shillings hath now scarce so much siluer in it as fiue groats had 300. yéeres since no maruell if things be sold for treble the price
paine of death no man should héereafter be so hardy as to bring into the realme any kinde of writing from the Popes court Some notwithstanding contrary to this prohibition deliuered letters to the Bishop of Rochester then Treasurer of England from the Pope concerning this matter and fearing the woorst had armed themselues This 〈◊〉 they shrunke away and fled but were soone after 〈◊〉 and diuersly punished some dismembred other faire and well hanged The Pope hearing of this was so incensed that he wrote a very sharpe letter vnto the king breathing out terrible threats against him if he did not presently reconcile himselfe vnto the Bishop and cause full amends to be made him for all the losse he had sustained either by the Countesse or him in these troubles The king was too wise either to doe all he required or vtterly to despise his authority The 〈◊〉 he knew was not for his honor nor so farre had this tyrant incroched vpon the authority of princes the other for his 〈◊〉 Warned by the examples of king Iohn Henry the emperour and other he thought good not to exasperate him too 〈◊〉 and so was content to yéeld vnto somewhat But before the matter could grow to a full conclusion it was otherwise ended by God who tooke away the Bishop by death He deceased at Auinion June 23. 1361. and was there buried 〈◊〉 béen Bishop euen almost 17. yéeres 19. Simon Laugham INnocentius translated then Reginald Bryan Bishop of Worcester vnto Ely But he died before he could take benefit of the Popes gift Iohn Buckingham afterward Bishop of Lincolne was then chosen and was reiected by the Pope who preferred to this Sée Simon Laugham Abbot of Westminster He continued here but fiue yeeres being in that space first Treasurer then Chauncellor of England and was remooued to Canterbury Of his translation some merry fellow made these verses Laetentur 〈◊〉 quia Simon transit ab Ely Cuius in aduentum flent in Kent 〈◊〉 centum Sée more of him in Canterbury 20. Iohn Barnet AT what time Simon Laugham was translated to Canterbury Iohn Barnet was remooued from Bathe to succeede him in Ely He was first consecrate Bishop of Worcester 1362. and staying there but one yéere obtayned Bathe 1363. and lastly Ely 1366. He was Treasurer of England Being a very old man before his comming to Ely he liued there notwithstanding sixe yéeres in which tune he bestowed the making of fower windowes two in the South side and two in the North side of the Presbytery He died June 7. 1379. at Bishops 〈◊〉 lieth buried vpon the south side of the high altar in which place there is to be soone a goodly toombe monstrously defaced the head of the image being broken off I take that to be Barnets toombe 21. Thomas Arundell AFter the death of Iohn Barnet the king writ earnestly vnto the couent to choose Iohn Woodrone his confessor But they elected Henry Wakefield Treasurer of the kings house This election was made voide by the Pope who placed of his owne authority as I 〈◊〉 deliuered Thomas Arundell Archdeacon of Taunton sonne vnto Robert 〈◊〉 of Arundell and Warren being an aged gentleman of two and twenty yéeres old and as yet but a Subdeacon How be it some report that order being taken by parliament about this time for the ratifying of capitular elections and stopping the iniurious prouisions of the Pope that this Thomas 〈◊〉 was chosen orderly and consecrate at Otford by the Archbishop William Witlesey Aprill 6. 1375. Hauing 〈◊〉 there sowertéene yéeres thrée moneths and eightéene 〈◊〉 he was translated to Yorke and after to Canterbury He left for an implement of his house at Ely a woonderfull sumptuous and costly table decked with gold and precious stones It belonged first vnto the king of Spaine and was sold to this Bishop by the Blacke Prince for 300. markes He also bestowed the building of the great gate house in the house at Holburne Sée more of him in Yorke and Caterbury 22. Iohn Fordham THe Sée had béene void but fowertéene daies when Iohn Fordham Bishop of Durham was translated to Ely by the Pope He was first Deane of Wels consecrate Bishop of Durham May 29. 1381. and inthronized there in September 1382. He was Treasurer of England and to his great griefe was displaced from that office the yéere 1386. and Iohn Gilbert Bishop of Hereford made treasurer Seuen yéeres he continued at Durham and September 27. 1388. was by the authority of the Pope translated to Ely in which Sée he sate seuen and thirty yéeres two moneths and 24. daies He died Nouember 19. 1425. and lieth buried in the West part of the Lady chappell It appéereth by this reckoning that he was Bishop in all from the time of his first consecration 46. yéeres and vpward Sée more of him in Durham 23. Philip Morgan THe king then and manie noble men commended vnto the couent William 〈◊〉 doctor of law the kings confessor and kéeper of the priuie Seale who was after Bishop of Lincolne But they chose Peter their Prior. That election being disliked at home by the Archbishop he was fame to seeke vnto the Pope whose manner was litle or nothing to regard elections but to bestow any Bishoprick or other preferment that fell according to his owne pleasure if it were not filled before the auoidance might come to his knowledge According to this custome hauing no respect of the election of the couent of his owne authoritie he thrust in Phillip Morgan into this Bishopricke This man being doctor of law was consecrate Bishop of worcester 1419. and soone after 〈◊〉 death viz. before the end of the yeere 1425. remoued as is aforesaid vnto Ely He was a very wise man gouerned there with great commendation nine yeeres sixe moneths and fower daies And departed this life at Bishops 〈◊〉 October 25. 1434. He was buried at charter house in London 24. Lewes Lushborough PResently after his death the Monks elected Robert Fitz hugh Bishop of london who died before his translation could be perfected The king then writ for Thomas Rodburne Bishop of saint 〈◊〉 which notwithstanding they make choise of another to wit Thomas Bourchier Bishop of worcester whose election the Pope confirmed but the king vtterly refused to restore to him the temporalties of that see And so for feare of a premunire he durst not receiue the popes bulles of confirmation but renounced all his interest by this election The king then appointed this Bishopricke vnto Lewes Lushbrough Archbishoppe of Roan Cardinall and Chauncellor both of Fraunce and Normandy that was some way I know not how kinne vnto him By his meanes a dispensation was gotten of the Pope to hold Ely in commendam with his Archbishopricke He enioyed it sixe yéeres and sixe monethes and then died at Hatfild Septem 18. 1443. He is said to haue bene buried betwéene two marble pillers beside the altar of reliques 25. Thomas Bourchier THomas Bourchier being now once more chosen without
life time but many yéeres after his death 2. Robert Bloett IT happened soone after the death of 〈◊〉 the king William Rufus to fall dangerously sick at Glocester And thinking he should die began seriously to repent him of his dissolute and vicious life forepassed Especially he shewed great griefe for his Simony and sacrilegious oppression of the church and Cleargy men In this good moode he bestowed the Archbishopricke of Canterbury hauing kept it voide fower yéeres vpon Saint Anselm and Lincolne vpon Robert Bloet or Bluet his Chauncellor When he recouered he much repented his repentance wished they were in his hands againe and tell to his old practises as 〈◊〉 as euer heretofore This Robert Bloet was a man passing wise liberall 〈◊〉 curteous and very personable but vnlearned light of behauiour and much giuen to lust Bale reporteth he had a sonne named Simon base borne no doubt whom he made Deane of Lincolne He dedicated his church bestowed very much in furnishing the same with ornaments requisite Unto the 21. Prebends founded by his predecessor he added 21. more and very largely endued or as some deliuer founded the Abbey of Eynsham besides Oxford vnto the which monastery he remooued the monkes of Stow. Againe he bestowed the mannor of Charlton vpon the monkes of Bermondsey and gaue vnto the king 500 l. or as H. Huntingdon hath 5000. to cléere the title that the Archbishop of Yorke laid vnto the iurisdiction of his Sée He was consecrate the yeere 1092. sate almost 30. yéeres and died at last suddenly Ianuary 10. 1122. Riding by the kings side talking with him neere Woodstocke he shranke downe spéechlesse and being caried to his lodging died in a manner presently His bowels were buried at Eynsham his body was conueghed to Lincolne and there in his owne church solemnely interred Upon his toombe was engrauen this Epitaphe Pontificum Robertus honor quem fama superstes Perpetuare dabit non obiturus obit Hic humilis diues res mira potens pius vltor Compatiens mitis cum pateretur erat Noluit esse sui Dominus studuit pater esse Semper in aduersis murus arma suis. In decima Iani mendacis somnia mundi Liquit euigilans vera perenne vidit 3. Alexander ROger that famous Bishop of Salisbury was now so great a man with the king Henry the first as being able to do with him what he list he easily entreated him to bestow the Bishopricke of Lincolne vpon one Alexander his owne brothers sonne a Norman borne whom not long before he had made Archdeacon of Salisbury and chiefe Justice of England He was consecrate at Canterbury July 22. 1123. The next yéere after his Cathedrall church so lately built and yet scarcely finished was burnt and horribly defaced by casuall fire This man repayred it againe and added vnto it a speciall ornament a goodly vault of stone which before it had not and therefore was the more subiect vnto fire He also increased the number of his Prebends purchased vnto his church certaine mannors and other lands But his chiefe delight was in building of castels wherein he imitated his vncle the Bishop of Salisbury This humor was the vndoing of them both To leaue the other vnto his owne place Alexander built a stately castle at Banbury another at Newarke and a third at Sleford William Parâ—â—s reporteth that he also founded two monasteries but what or where I finde not These castles were such eie-sores vnto king Stephen as they prouoked him to picke a quarrell otherwise vnto the Bishops to clappe them vp in prison where the other died and to bereaue them at once of these munitions and all their treasure whereof they had hoorded vp great store They that kept the castle of Newarke refused to deliuer it at the kings summons till such time as the Bishop intreated them to yéeld signifying and it was true indeede that the king had sworne he should nether eate nor drinke before he had possession of the castle Hereupon they set open the gates vnto the king and then with much adoo hauing lyen by it certaine moneths he was at last released of his imprisonment After that 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 himselfe wholy to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his church performed that which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 made it simply the most beautifull church of England at that time He was thrice at Rome to wit the 〈◊〉 1142. and 1144. where he behaued himselfe so as he pleased both the king and the Pope very well The first time he was 〈◊〉 the Pope gaue him authority to call a 〈◊〉 as his 〈◊〉 and especially 〈◊〉 vnto him the redresse of certaine 〈◊〉 for the effecting whereof he caused 〈◊〉 canons to be made very necessary for those times A third iourney he made vnto the Pope lying then in Fraunce in the moneth of August 1147. where through immoderate heat of the weather during the time of his trauell he fell 〈◊〉 and with much 〈◊〉 getting home not long after his returne he died hauing sate Bishop about the space of 24. yéeres I 〈◊〉 in Henry Huntingdon certaine verses written in commendation of him which I thinke not amisse here to be inserted Splendor Alexandri non tam renitescit honore Quam per eum renitescit honor flos namque virorum Dando tenere 〈◊〉 thesauros cogit honoris Et gratis dare festinans ne danda rogentur Quod nondum dederit nondum se credit habere O decus ô moruoo directio quo veniente Certa fides hilaris clementia cauta potestas Lene 〈◊〉 doctrina placens correctio dulcis Libercasque decens venêre pudorque facetus Lincoliae gens magna prius nunc maxima semper Talis ille diu sit nobis tutor honoris 4. Robert de Chisuey AFter Alexander succéeded Robert Archdeacon of Leycester surnamed by some de Chisuey or Chisueto by others de Taueto Querceto or Euerceto for so diuersly I finde him called a very yoong man He was consecrate in September 1147. and died Ianuary 8. 1167. This man added one Prebend vnto those that were founded by his predecessors purchased a house for himselfe and his successors 〈◊〉 vnto the temple at London and built the Bishops pallace at Lincolne in a manner all He left his Sée indebted vnto one Aaron a Iew the summe of 300 l. a great deale of money in those daies and his successors were faine to see it discharged long after 5. Geoffry Plantagenet THe Sée of Lincolne continued then void after the death of the said Robert almost seuenteene 〈◊〉 in so much as all men were of opinion there should neuer be any more Bishop there A certaine conuert of Tame reputed a very holy man and halfe a prophet in regard of many things he had strangely foretold this man I say had giuen out that the said Robert lately deceased should be the last Bishop of Lincolne This prediction of his many men 〈◊〉 when not long after the
was a man learned stouts and wise ynough but not so straight and carefull a censurer of his owne manners and conuersation as he should be No doubt our monkes that were the onely writers of those times speake no better of him then he deserues yet they commend him much for his religious and penitent ende he made Trauelling toward Rome in his owne countrey of Normandy he fell sicke and perceiuing his end to approch sent for diuers religious persons vnto whom he acknowledged the loosenesse of his life and with continuall teares greatly lamented the same hartily requested them to pray for him gaue all his money and goods vnto the poore and lastly put on a monkes cowle thereby thinking to make the monks amends for all the trouble vexation he had wrought them He died at Beccummer hill or as R. Homden reporteth at Betherleuin March 27. 1199. and was buried at Cane in the 14. yéere of his troublesom gouernment The yéere 1193. he was robbed of an infinite deale of treasure néere Canterbury trauelling toward king Richard that was then prisoner in Germany And not long after being banished the realme for taking part with king Iohn rebelling against his brother king Richard then prisoner in Germany he was saine to buy restitution vnto his place with the summe of 5000. markes 41. Geffry de Muschamp THe monkes soone after the death of Bishop Hugh recouered their places againe got them a new Pryor and procéeding to the election of a Bishop made choice of one Geffry de Muschamp Archdeacon of Cleueland He was consecrate at Westminster saith one March 15. 1199. But Matthew Paris whom I rather beleeue saith it was at Canterbury June 21. He died the yéere 1208. and was buried at Lichfielde 42. Walter de Gray THe yéere 1210. Walter de Gray was elected vnto this Sée translated to Worcester the yéere 1214. and afterwards to Yorke Sée more of him there 43. William de Cornehull HE was consecrate Ianuary 25. 1215. died Iune 19. 1223. and was buried at Lichfield 44. Alexander de Sauensby ALexander de Sauensby whom Bale calleth Alexander Wendocke spent much time in diuers Uniuersities as namely in Tholouse Bononia and others in which he had the reputation of a great Philosopher and a profound Dinine He writ diuers workes well esteemed of in times past In them he maketh report of diuers visions strange apparitions he had séene 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He was consecrate at Rome vpon Easter day 1224. In his time a great controversie was raised betwéene the monkes of Chester and the Cannons of 〈◊〉 about the election of their Bishoppe which euer since the remoouing of the Sée from 〈◊〉 had belonged vnto the monkes After the spending of much money vpon this sute in the court of Rome the matter was ordered there by diffinitiue sentence in this sort It was agreed that they should choose alternis vicibus the monkes one time and the cannons of Lichfield the next But in all elections as well at Lichfield as at Couentry the prior of Couentry was allowed to giue a voice and it must be the first voice This Bishop was founder of a house for the Gray fryers in the Southwest part of Lichfield died at Andeuer December 26. 1238. and was buried at Lichfield 45. Hugh de Pateshull SOone after the death of the forenamed Alexander the monkes of Couentry with the good liking of the cannons of Lichfield elected for their Bishop one William Raleigh About the same time the Couent of Norwich that Sée also being voide chose him likewise and he accepting the second offer as the better of the two left Lichfield By reason hereof a new controuersie arose betwéene the monkes of 〈◊〉 and the chapter of Lichfield whether the turne of Couentry wer serued in this election or no. Each party standing vpon their title Lichfield men elected their Deane and the monks one Nicholas 〈◊〉 that was afterwards bishop of Durham Sée more of him there This Nicholas Fernham hauing notice of the election presently renounced the same The Deane that was a very good man hearing great 〈◊〉 of the said Fernham and thinking he refused to consent vnto the election because the title séemed doubtful and litigious neuer ceased importuning his chapter till they also 〈◊〉 named him This notwithstanding Nicholas Fernham 〈◊〉 in his 〈◊〉 both parties through the kings 〈◊〉 were induced to consent vnto the choice of Hugh Pateshull Treasurer of Paules that had béene Treasurer and was at that time Chauncellor of England He was sonne vnto Simon Pateshull sometime Lord chiefe Iustice of Englane In the beginning of the yéere 1240. he was consecrate Being yet in his best age and full strength he was taken away by vntimely death December 7. 1241. hauing sate not fully two yéeres A man for his life conuersation vnblamable and not vnlearned yet misliked in our histories because in that little time he gouerned he shewed himselfe more fauourable vnto his cannons of Lichfield then the monkes of Couentry 46. Roger de Weseham THe king now made earnest request for the election of Richard Abbot of Euesham and keeper of the great Seale Some chose him but the greater part agréed vpon a monke thot was chaunter of Couentry The Abbot by the meanes of the king and his owne purse notwithstanding the insufficiency of his election had now obtained the Popes fauour for his consecration at what time he was taken away by death in Riola a city of Gascoigne hauing first resigned the custody of the great seale into the kings hand After his death with consent of all parties there was chosen one William de Monte Pessulano a vertuous and learned man him also the king misliked Once more they procéeded to election and by perswasion of Robert Grosthead Bishop of Lincolne made choise of Roger de Weseham Deane of Lincolne a man very commendable saith Matthew Paris both for life learning There had beene much ado in former times betweene the Deanes and the Bishops of Lincolne This Bishop thinking the reason thereof to be the greatnes of their liuing endeuoured the more earnestly to preferre this man that the Deanry being void he might somewhat weaken 〈◊〉 same by disposing elsewhere the parsonage of Aylsbery that heretofore belonged vnto it This Roger Weseham was allowed of by the Pope consecrate at Lyons the yéere 1245. before the king euer heard of any such thing toward For they had concealed it from him of purpose thinking if he might once get notice of it the businesse was like neuer to be effected Hauing sate about 11. yéeres and being now waren old and very sickely he resigned his Bishopricke vpon 〈◊〉 day 1256. Two yeeres after he died of a palsey whereof he had laine sicke a long time 47. Roger de Molend alias Longespe VPon his resignation the king laboured earnestly to preferre Philip Louell his Treasurer vnto this Bishopricke The Monkes of Couentry that of all other men could not like of the said
of his funerals but also the building of his toombe Chappell and all did also see toombe and Chappell destroyed and the bones of the Bishop that built them turned out of the lead in which they were interred Concerning this man many other Bishops of this Church if any desire to vnderstand more I must referre them to a discourse heretofore written by me in Latin of them which is in many mens hands though neuer published 40. Richard Foxe Soone after the death of Bishop Stillington Richard Foxe Bishop of Exceter was appointed his successor and so continuing for thrée yéeres was translated first to Durham and after to Winchester Sée Winchester 41. Oliuer King OLiuer King Doctor of Law and principall Secretary to the king became Bishop of Exceter the yéere 1492. and succeeding him in this Church as well as Exceter was translated hither Nouember 6. 1495. He pulling downe the old Church of the Abbey of Bathe began the foundation of a faire and sumptuous building but at the time of his death left it very vnperfect His successor bestowed some cost on it and William Bird the last Prior there endeuouring what he might by him selfe other to see it finished had euen brought it to perfection when the dissolution of the Abbey had almost ouerthrowen what before was set vp It is great pitty that some good man or other whom God hath enabled vndertaketh not the finishing of it a worke then which I thinke nothings is to be performed with so little cost that were more likely to be pleasing to Almighty God acceptable vnto men memorable with all 〈◊〉 This man sate Bishop eight yéeres and is thought to lye buried at Windsor in a little Chappell vpon the South side of the Quier ouer against which place vpon the enterclose of the Quier I find written vnder the pictures of king Henry the sixt and his sonne king Edward the fourth and Henry the seuenth this that followeth Orate pro domino Olmero King iuris professore ac illustri Edwardi primogeniti Henry Sexti 〈◊〉 Regum Edw. quarti Edw. quinti Henr. 7. principali Secretario 〈◊〉 ordinis Garterij Registrario huius Sancti Collegij Canonicqanno Dom. 1489. postea per dictum illustrillimum Regein Henry 7. ann 1492. ad sedem Exon. commendato 42. Hadrian de Castello POpe Innocent the eight hearing of a certaine dangerous 〈◊〉 raised vp against Iames the third king of Scots thought good to send into Scotland one Hadrian de Castello as a man for his wisedome and other good parts likely to appease those 〈◊〉 Being at London he was certified of the king of Scots death whom his own subiects had 〈◊〉 in battell So resting him selfe a while there he grew into acquaintance with Iohn Moorton the Archbishop of Canterbury He much delighted with his learning and discreete cariage commended him so effectually vnto the king Henry the seuenth as he thought good to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his Proctor for the dispatch of all his causes at Rome In that place he behaued him selfe so as the King at 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 of his paines and fidelity was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnto the Bishopricke of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the yeere 1503. and then the yeere following of this See Pope Alexander the sixt in the meane time a little before his translation hither had made him Cardinall Here he continued 12. yeeres vntill that the yeere 1518. he was depriued of this and all other promotions vpon this occasion A Cardinall of Rome called Alfonso Petruccio consptred with certaine other Cardinals the death of Pope Leo 10. Amongst them this our Hadrian was content to make one mooued thereunto as P. Iouius affirmeth not by any grudge or priuate displeasure but onely by an ambitious 〈◊〉 that surely he should be Pope 〈◊〉 were once dead A certaine witch or wise woman as we call them hauing heretofore foretold him very strangely diuers things that had happened to him selfe other of his friends tooke vpon her to assure him that after the death of Pope Leo it should come to passe that a certaine old man named Hadrian borne of meane parentage preferred onely for his learning wisedome and other good parts should be aduaunced vnto the Papacy These particularities Hadrian was perswaded could agree to none other but him selfe For he being borne at Corneto a poore fisher towne of Hetruria of meane or rather very base parentage onely by vertue and good deserts rose by many degrees vnto the preferments before mentioned The witches prediction fell out true but in an other For Hadrian a Dutchman the sonne of a Erelver of Utright that had beene schoolemaster to Charles the fift 〈◊〉 fell out to be the man that succeeded Leo by the name of 〈◊〉 the sixt What became of this Hadrian afterward or when he died I find not 43. Thomas Woolsey VPon the depriuation of Hadrian Cardinall Woolsey held this Bishopricke in Commendam fower yéeres euen till that resigning it he tooke Durham Sée more of this man in Yorke 44. Iohn Clerke IOhn Clarke Doctor of Diuinity and Master of the 〈◊〉 was consecrate the yéere 1523. A man much emploied 〈◊〉 embassages He died in the end of the yeere 1540. being poisoned as it was supposed in Germany when he went Embassadour to the Duke of Clyue to render a reason of the 〈◊〉 diuorce from the Lady Anne of Cleue his sister He is 〈◊〉 in the Mineries at London 45. William Knight VVIlliam Knight Doctor of Lawe and Archdeacon of Richmund a man likewise much emploied in embassages by king Henry the eight sate sixe yéeres died September 29. 1547. and was buried vnder the great Pulpit which he caused to be built for his toombe In the 〈◊〉 place of Welles there is a goodly crosse erected partly by this man as this inscription engrauen witnesseth Ad honorem 〈◊〉 omnipotentis commodom pauperum mercatum Welliae freqnentantium impensis Gulielmi Knight Episcopi Richardi Wooleman huius ecclesiae Cathedralis olim Decani hic locus erectus est Laus Deo pax viuis requies defunctis Amen Ann. Dom. 1542. 46. William Barlowe VVIlliam Barlowe Doctor of Diuinity sometimes 〈◊〉 Chanon of Saint Osythes hauing béene Bishop of Saint Dauids the space of tenne yéeres or there abouts was translated hether to succéede Bishop Knight and continued here all the daies of R. Edward In the beginning of Queene Mary he was forced to leaue his countrey Bishopricke and all to liue exiled in Germany vntill that by her death the most happy aduauncement of our now Soueraigne he was at once restored to his Countrey and preferred to the Bishoppricke of Chichester There he liued about the space of tenne yeeres and dying the yéere 1569. was buried in his owne Church 47. Gilbert Bourne BIshop Barlow being forced to forsake his Bishopricke here Gilbert Bourne Doctor of Diuinity was appointed thereunto by Queene Mary The nonage of that good king Edward the sixt giuing opportunity to those horrible sacrileges that
of K. Henry the eight whose Chaplaine he then was and Deane of his Chappell as also of his Church He was Doctor of the Lawes very well learned wise and in great fauor with the king who sent him sundry times in embassages to forraine Princes He was Lord President of Wales and had the gouernment of the kings onely daughter the Lady Mary Princesse of Wales Of all the Bishops in the land he was accounted the best Courtier and although he were well reported for his learning yet better liked for his courtlike behauior which in the end turned not so much to his credite as to the vtter ruine and spoyle of the Church For of two and twenty Lordships and Mannours which his predecessors had left vnto him of a goodly yéerely reuenew he left but thrée and them also leased out And where he found thirteene houses well furnished he left onely one house bare and without furniture and yet charged with sundry fees and Annuities By these meanes this Bishopricke which sometimes was counted one of the best is now become in temporall lands one of the meanest He was a great fauourer of learned men and especially of Diuines whom he preserred in his Church aboue others He was very bounteous and liberall vnto all men but especially vnto Courtiers vnto his owne kindred and countreymen He bestowed much also as wel paines as cost in building Sutton Coltstil the towne where he was borne in procuriug the same to be incorporate and endeuouring to set vp the making of 〈◊〉 there all which prooued to little purpose as I haue heard In his time after the death of king Henry the eight there was an alteration of religion by king Edward the sixt whereof ensued rebellion and a commotion in this Diocesse which in some part was imputed to this Bishop because he lay farre from his Diocesse and dwelled in his owne countrey Whereupon he resigned the Bishopricke into the kings hands after he had béene Bishop about thirty yéeres and liued by the rents of the temporality of the Bishopricke which when he 〈◊〉 he did reserue vnto himselfe for terme of his owne life After the depriuation of Miles Couerdale in Quéene Maries time he was restored to his Church and for the better setling of the Romish Religion did here stay for a while But his minde was so addided to his owne countrey that he returned thither shortly after and made his onely abode there practising what he could to settle there the making of 〈◊〉 But whether it were that that kind of trade fitteth not that countrey or that God would not blesse a practise founded vpon such horrible sacriledge it fell out in triall to be more chargeable then profitable and so was soone giuen ouer This man being very olde died in a pang at Sutton 〈◊〉 before mentioned the yéere 1555. and was buried there MIles Couerdale after the resignation of Voysye was by king Edward made Bishop of this city and consecrate an 1550. After that he had béene Bishop about 3. yéeres king Edward died then Quéene Mary hauing the crowne the religion was altered and he depriued For a farther discourse of his life and especially his deliuerance out of prison at the sute and importunate request of the king of Denmarke I commend the Reader vnto Master Foxe Of his death onely thus much that not caring to returne to his Bishopricke in the beginning of her Maiestie that now raigneth he setled himselfe at London and there leading a priuate life he died at last a very old man and was buried in Saint Magnus church IAmes Turbeuill a gentleman well borne Bishop Voysey being dead was consecrate an 1556. He was very careful to recouer some part of the lands of his Bishoprick which his predecessor wasted and did obtaine of Queene Mary to him and his successors the seefarme of the mannor of Crediton After that he had beene Bishop about two yeeres Quéene Mary died he was displaced and after lead a priuate life many yeeres VVIlliam Alley reader of Diuinity in the cathedrall church of Saint Paule was consecrate Bishop of Exceter an 1561. He lieth buried vnder a large marble towards the South side of the presbytery VVIlliam Bradbridge Doctor of Diuinity and Deane of Salisbury was consecrate March 18. 1570. He died in a manner suddenly at Newton Ferries June 27. 1578. and was buried in the North side of the high altar neere Bishop Lacy in which place there is a seemely monument of freestone built ouer him IOhn Wolton cannon residensary of the church of Exceter was consecrate in the beginning of Aug. 1579. He sate Bishop almost 14. yéeres died March 13. 1593. and lieth buried toward the Southside of the presbytery néer theplace where we see a monument of touch and free stone erected vnto the memory of him GEruase Babington Doctor of Diuinity and Bishop of Landaffe was translated to this church in February 1594. and hence to Worceter October 4 1597. VVIlliam Coton Doctor of Diuinity and cannon resident of Paules was consecrate in Nouember 1598. This Bishopricke by a new valuation rated in the daies of King Edward the sixt is now esteemed in the Exchequer but at 500 l. yet paid heretofore vnto the Pope after 6000. ducats Foelix first Bishop of Norwich A Catalogue of the Bishops of Norwich collected for the most part out of M. Alexander Neuill his Norwicus by R. T. SIgebert king of the East Angles after the death of Corpwald returning out of Frannce where he liued in banishment and obtayning his kingdome brought with him one Foelix a Burgundian with whom he had liued familiarly during the time of his eryle and made him Bishop of the East Angles which conuerting the people to the faith of Christ had his Sée at Dunwich When he had béene Bishop 17. yéeres he died ann 649. and was buried at Soham now called Some a monastery afterward destroied by the Danes his body was then remooued to Kamsey After him succéeded Thomas which sate fiue yeeres Bonifacius 17. yéeres Bissus after the death of Bonifacius was preferred to this dignity after whose decease the Bishopricke which before was but one was diuided into two the one hauing his Sée at Elmham the other at Dunwich The Bishops of Elmham were 1. Bedwyne 2. Northbertus 3. Headewlacus 4. Neathilferthus 5. Eanferethus 6. Athelwolph 7. Alcarus 8. Sybba 9. Humferthus 10. Humbyrctus 11. Weremundus 12. Wilredus The Bishops of Dunwich were 1. Acceius 2. Astwolfus 3. Aerdredus 4. Cutherinus 5. Aldberthus 6. Eglasius 7. Heardredus 8. Aelphunus 9. Tydferthus 10. Weremundus 11. Wylredus In this estate it remained vnto the time of Humbertus Bishop of Elmham and Wylred Bishop of Dunwich at what time it was restored to the former estate and of two vnited againe into one Athelfus being the first which enioyed the same in the time of king Edwyn and had his Sée at Elmham after whom succéeded 2. Alfridus 3. Theodredus 4. Theodredus 5. Athelstanus 6.
successors he had recouered againe whatsoeuer was taken from his Sée Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterbury assisted very fauourably his cause vrgens aemulum 〈◊〉 potentiae saith W. Malmbury the rather no doubt saith he because he thought it best in policy to weakē the see of York what he might that contended with him in authority greatnes This Wulstan was borneat Hichenton in Warwickshire His Father and Mother whose names were Eatstan and 〈◊〉 long before their death seuered them selues by mutuall consent and lead a Monasticall life Then as though heauen were not to be entred without a monks cowle they not onely caused 〈◊〉 sonne to be taught and brought vp in the Monastery of Peterborough but also exhorted him earnestly especially his Mother in any wise to become a monke He did so followed their direction professed himselfe a monke at Worceter vnder Brittegus his predecessor He was by by much admired for the straight life he led and for the opinion men had of his holinesse so estéemed as no preferment might 〈◊〉 whereof he was capable but immediately it was cast vpon him He was first made 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Treasurer of the Church after 〈◊〉 there the 〈◊〉 of Glocester and lastly Bishop of that 〈◊〉 It is said he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 consent vnto his election 〈◊〉 time protesting he had rather lay his head vpon a 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 off then to take so great a 〈◊〉 vpon him No man could perswade him to 〈◊〉 vntill that one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him sharply for his backwardnes 〈◊〉 him he offended God much in the same His excuse was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 learning And certaine it is that his defect that way was so notable as in the time of 〈◊〉 Conquerour 〈◊〉 all English Prelates were sifted to the 〈◊〉 he was called 〈◊〉 question for insufficiency and had beene depriued as it is thought at least wise if he had not beene found somewhat more sufficient then was expected He was consecrate September 8. 1062 by Aldred Archbishop of Yorke 〈◊〉 being then suspended But that he might acquite him selfe from vsurpation of any right belonging to Canterbury he not onely required him to make his othe of profession vnto Canterbury but also renounced all right of pretended iurisdiction vnto the Dioces of Worceter acknowledging the same to belong not to Yorke as some of his predecessors had 〈◊〉 but to Canterbury as to the Metropolitane of the same New to come vnto his gouernment we are to remember especially two things memorable of him One the building of the Cathedrall church which he raised from the foundation At what time it was come vnto such perfection as that the monkes forsaking their old habitation 〈◊〉 them selues vnto this new built the other Fabrike whereof 〈◊〉 was Author as in Yorke you may read more at large was pulled down Which Wulstan seeing burst out into teares and being demaunded a reason thereof by some that told him he had rather cause to reioyce Our predecessors saith he whose monuments we deface rather I doubt to set vp the 〈◊〉 of our vaine glory then to glorifie God they indeed quoth he were not acquainted with such stately buildings but euery place was a Church sufficient for them to offer them selues a reasonable holy and liuely sacrifice vnto God We contrariwise are double diligent in laying heapes of stones so to frame a materiall Temple but are too too negligent in setting forward the building of that liuely Temple the Church of God The other thing that I determined to mention is a notable testimony of his 〈◊〉 fidelity vnto his Prince All most all the Nobility of England rebelled against the king William 〈◊〉 the first yeere of his 〈◊〉 Certaine of them Roger Earle of Mount-gomery 〈◊〉 Newmarket Roger Lacy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and other attempted to take the City of Worceter This Bishop not onely 〈◊〉 them and by continuall 〈◊〉 in preaching and otherwise contained them in very 〈◊〉 obedience but also arming such a number of people as the City 〈◊〉 affoord caused them to 〈◊〉 out and set vpon the 〈◊〉 whom they 〈◊〉 killing and taking a number of them prisoners He died being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yeeres of age 1095. Ianuary 19. which day afterwards 〈◊〉 being 〈◊〉 was made a holy day appointed vnto the celebration of his memory He was buried in his owne Church 〈◊〉 the Church being burnt his 〈◊〉 onely escaped the violence of the fire how he appeared vnto his old 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bishop of 〈◊〉 being at Creeklade at the 〈◊〉 of his death 〈◊〉 the same vnto him and many things more strange if any man desire to read them let him 〈◊〉 them in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and other that discourse them at large This for my part I thinke 〈◊〉 if not too much 25. 〈◊〉 a Canon of Bayon was consecrate Bishop of Worcester at Canterbury June 15. 〈◊〉 A man well learned very eloquent a great house keeper He tooke away 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the monkes that 〈◊〉 had placed there and died afterwards at that place May 5. 1112. He was buried in the body of his Church 〈◊〉 before the roodlost He had an elder brother named 〈◊〉 then Archbishop of York and a sonne that afterwards was 〈◊〉 Archbishop there Of them and some other matter 〈◊〉 him see more in Yorke Soone after his death to wit May 20. 〈◊〉 the Cathedrall Church 〈◊〉 and City of Worceter were burnt and quite 〈◊〉 with casuall 〈◊〉 One monke three seruants of the Monastery and 〈◊〉 townesmen perished in that fire 26. Theulphus a Canon of Bayon likewise was elected Bishop of Worceter December 28. 1113. but not 〈◊〉 vntill Iune 27. 1115. He died at his mannor of 〈◊〉 October 21. 1123. and was buryed hard by 〈◊〉 his predecessor in that place I doubt not where vpon one Marble lying iust before the 〈◊〉 doore we see the defaced images of two Bishops 27. Simon Chaplaine and Chauncellor vnto Quéene Adelicia the second wife of King Henry the first was consecrate May 23. 1125. He was liberall according to the proportion of his ability affable and very courteons 28. Alured After Symon W. 〈◊〉 that liued in those daies placeth Alured for his next successor 〈◊〉 some put Iohn 〈◊〉 before him and Florent Wigorn leaueth him quite out of the reckening 29. Iohn Pagham He gaue Bibery vnto the Abbey of 〈◊〉 and the mannor of Elme Bishop vnto his owne See 30. Roger sonne vnto the Earle of Glocester died August 9. 1179. at Tours in Fraunce and was buryed there 31. Baldwyn Abbot of Ford consecrate 1181. was translated to Canterbury 1184. Sée more there 32. William de Northale consecrate September 21. 1186. died 1190. 33. Robert a Canon of Lincolne sonne vnto William Fitz-Ralf Seneschall of Normandy became Bishop of Worceter 1191. and died the yeere following 34. Henry Abbot of Glastonbury was made Bishop of Worceter that Sanarike Bishop of Bathe and Wels 〈◊〉 vnite that Abbey to his Sée Sée more of that matter in Wels. He
consecrate Archbishop and liued af ter his consecration 17. yéeres He was buried in his owne Church 10. Eanbaldus 2. ANother Eanbaldus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Priest of the Church of Yorke In the yéere 798. he called a Synod or 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 in which he caused diuers things 〈◊〉 to be reformed What time he died or how long he sate I find not 11. Wulsius A Little time Wulsius enioyed his honour and died the yéere 831. 12. Wimundus WImundus succéeded Wulsius and sate 17. yéeres He died as Matthew Westminster reporteth the yéere 854. 13. Wilferus AFter him Wilferus was Archbishop a long time 46. yéeres and vpwards The yéere 873. his 〈◊〉 droue him out of the countrey together with Egbert their king who went vnto Burrhede king of Mercia and of him were honorably intertained till that the yéere following king Egbert died and by the helpe of king Ricsinus his successor Wulferus was called home againe He deceased about the yéere of our Lord 900. or as Matthew Westminster hath it whose computation I 〈◊〉 very vncertaine 895. In his time the Danes made such hauocke in the North countrey as a great while after the Archbishopricke was little worth and was faine to be mended often times with the Commendam of Worcester 14. Ethelbalde Then followed these Ethelbald 15. Redwarde And after him Redward of whom nothing is recorded 16. Wulstanus BY the fauour of the king Athelstan Wulstanus was then preferred to this Sée In whose time the same king gaue vnto the Church of Yorke Agmundernes which he bought of the Danes This Bishop was conuict of a haynous crime forgetting the dutifull affection that he ought to beare vnto Edred his king for Athelstane his brothers sake that preferred him forgetting his oath and allegiance vnto the same king being his naturall Prince yea forgetting that he was either an Englishman or a Christian He was not ashamed to leane vnto the Danes and sauour them a heathen people and such as sought not onely to destroy his countrey but also to roote out Christian Religion For this treason deseruing a thousand deaths he was onely committed to prison the yéere 952. and a yeere after inlarged againe This is the report of William Malmesbury Matthew Westminster saith he was punished in this fort for killing diuers citizens of Thetford in reuenge of the death of one Adelm an Abbot whom they had slaine and 〈◊〉 without cause two yeeres after his enlargement he died vpon Saint Stephens day the yeere 955. He was buried at a place called Undalum Except it be Owndlc in Northhampton shire how it is now termed I cannot gesse 17. Oskitell OSkitell then succéeded a man of good life and well learned who gouerned his Sée laudably 16. yeeres and died the yéere 971. 18. Athelwold NExt followed Athelwold that hauing as it were a taste onely of this honour was quickly weary of it and after a very short time gaue it ouer choosing rather to liue obscurely so he might liue quietly 19. Oswald WIthin the compasse of one yéere viz. the yéere 971. Yorke had three Archbishoppes Oskitell that 〈◊〉 Athelwold that resigned and this Oswald He was néere of kinne vnto Oskitell his predecessor but 〈◊〉 vnto Odo Archbishop of Canterbury being his brothers 〈◊〉 By his 〈◊〉 he was made first Chanon of Winchester after 〈◊〉 for at that time the Cathedrall Church of Winchester had no monkes but maintained a company of secular priests whereof many were married men Perceiuing the 〈◊〉 onely were now in 〈◊〉 and other cleargy men little 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 of his vncle 〈◊〉 his place in Winchester and trauelled to Floriake in Fraunce where he became a monke Hauing continued there some 〈◊〉 or fire yéeres his vncle writ often very importunatly vnto him to come home but could neuer preuaile till he sent him word of his last sicknesse whereof soone after 〈◊〉 died Oswald then destrous to haue séene him once more made 〈◊〉 into England but came too late the old Archbishop was 〈◊〉 first Oskitell then his other kinsman gaue him entertainement till that by the meanes of Saint Dunstan he was preferred to the Bishoprick of Worceter viz. the yéere 960. two yéeres after his arriual in England He built there the church dedicated to the blessed virgine Mary hard by the church of Saint Peter and placed monkes in the same to the ende that the priests of Saint Peters church being continually disgraced by the people that very much reuerenced the monkes might become a weary of their places He was not deceiued of his expectation the people flocked all vnto the monkes and left the priests of S. Peters alone Partly for shame partly for griefe thereof being per aduenture molested otherwise the most of them departed thēce that rest were faine to take coules vnto them become monks The Sée of Yorke being voide King Edgar carefull to place a fit man in the North country which was then very rude and barbarous and thinking none so fit as Oswald made offer of the same vnto him and when he séemed loth to forsake Worceter was content he should hold bothe This man was the first founder of the Abbey of Ramsey in the Isle of Ely and a very liberal benefactor vnto the Abbey of Floriake where he was brought vp A great patrone of Monks and a terrible persecutor of married priests whereof there were many in those daies He died at Worceter sodainely hauing washed the féete of certaine poore men as daily he accustomed After which knéeling downe to say certaine praiers without any sicknesse precedent he gaue vp the ghost William 〈◊〉 who reporthis addeth that the day before his death he told diuers of his friends that he should die He was very learned and left some testimonies thereof in writing not yet perished for the integrity also of his life rōuersation he was much reuerenced The greatest fault I finde in him is that he was very earnest in setting foorth that doctrine of diuels that debarreth men of lawfull marriage The time of his departure was February 27 an 992. 32. yéeres after his first consecration when he had inioyed Yorke 22. yéeres He was buried at Worceter in the church himselfe had built Many miracles are reported to haue béen done at his tombe in regard whereof the posterity would néedes make him a Saint 20. Aldulfe ALdulfe Abbot of Peterborough succéeded Oswald in both his Sees viz of Yorke and Worceter a holy and reuerend man saith 〈◊〉 and one that striued with his predecessor in liberality toward the monastery of Floriake He died May 6. 1002. and was buried in Saint Maries church at Worceter 21. Wulstan 2. ANother Wulstan then by the fauour of king Knute held also both the said Sees of Yorke and Worceter for which cause Malmesbury findeth great fault with him that in Aldulf and Oswald liked it well ynough And all the exceptions he takes against him is this That he was not of so holy a profession as
but his speciall care was to furnish the same and the rest of his Dioces with learned and honest men with whom he was woont continually to conferre and reason sometime with one and sometime with another partly for his owne exercise and partly to sée what was in them and to raise them vp to a diligence in increasing their knowledge Himselfe was very learned and writ diuers things both in prose and verse He was also a very good musition and could not onely sing but play very well vpon the organs and did set many songs Hauing crowned king Henry the first August 5. 1100. with the helpe of Maurice Bishop of London because Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury liued then in banishment the 18. of Nouember following being sunday he died at Rippon and was buried at Yorke in the Minster himselfe had built next vnto Aldred his predecessor 26. Gerard. AFter the death of Thomas Gerard nephew vnto Walkenlin Bishop of Winchester and Chauncellor of England vnder William the Conquerour and Rofus his sonne hauing beene Bishop of Heresord no long time he was elected vnto Yorke but obtayned not confirmation a great while For he refused to make profession of obedience vnto Canterbury till being commaunded by the Popes letters he performed the same He sate Archbishop seuen yéeres and almost sixe moneths and died suddenly in his garden at Southwell at a time when no body was with him He was a good benefactor vnto the Church of Yorke for he was a meanes vnto the king to bestow the Church of Laxton vpon the Chapter and himselfe hauing obtayued of him the Churches of Dryfield Kilne Pockington and Burgh he gaue them all likewise to the Chapter This notwithstanding after his death they would not suffer him bying so suddenly to be buried within their church hardly in the churchyard So he was laide at the entrance of the church porch But Thomas his successor not suffering such an indignity to be offered vnto an Archbishop remooued his bones into the Church afterward and caused them to be honorably intoombed He was a man of great learning and for eloquence admirable but somewhat too eager against married Priests whom by no meanes he could abide Bale chargeth him with forcery and coniuration because forsooth that after his death there was found in his chamber a volume of 〈◊〉 who writ of Astrology indéed but of coniuration nothing that euer I heard 27. Thomas 2. A Second Thomas succéeded a Chaplain of the kings nephew vnto the former Thomas and sonne vnto Sampson Bishop of Worceter Euen as his predecessor he was very loath to make his profession vnto Caterbury Being called vpon by Anselme the Archbishop He made many 〈◊〉 Wherefore Anselme lying very 〈◊〉 and perceiuing his end to be néere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the Bishops of England commanding them not to consecrate him before he had made his 〈◊〉 laying a terrible curse and 〈◊〉 vpon whosoeuer 〈◊〉 doo it The king after 〈◊〉 death 〈◊〉 the Bishop of Worceter whose sonne he was to consecrate him But he answered that he would not haue the curse of Father 〈◊〉 for any worldly good So in the end being perswaded to yéeld as other had done before him consecration was afforded vnto him and performed by his Father 〈◊〉 the foresaid Bishop of 〈◊〉 or as other report by the Bishop of London Iune 27. 1108. This man erected 〈◊〉 newe 〈◊〉 in his Church of Yorke he placed 〈◊〉 reguler at 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 parcels of land vnto the Colledge of 〈◊〉 and purchased of the king the like liberties priuileges for them that the 〈◊〉 of Yorke 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He sate little aboue 5. yéeres and died I thinke I 〈◊〉 say 〈◊〉 Martyr Lying dangerously 〈◊〉 he was aduertised by the 〈◊〉 the nature of his disease to be such as if he vsed the company of a woman he neede not doubt of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 otherwise nothing was to be looked for but death He 〈◊〉 rather to 〈◊〉 then to 〈◊〉 so high and sacred a calling with so soule and haynous an 〈◊〉 So he ended his life February 19. 1114. and was buried beside the former Thomas his vncle 28. Thurstan THomas the Archbishop being taken away as before I haue declared Thurstan a Cannon of Paules and the Kings Chaplaine was chosen to succéed him He when he could by no meanes obtaine consecration of Ralph Archbishop of Canterbury without making profession of subiection 〈◊〉 and forsooke the 〈◊〉 of his election Yet remembring himselfe at last he went to Rome to plead his cause before the Pope and obtained letters to the king and Archbishop of Canterbury in commendation of his cause These letters preuailing nothing with the Archbishop that would be wonne by no meanes and Thurstan continuing as obstinate in his resolution The Sée remained void along time At last it fell out that a Counsell was summoned to be held at 〈◊〉 Thurstan crauing leaue of the king to goe thither could not obtaine it before he had promised that he would not receiue consecration there Which promise notwithstanding so well he followed his businesse that before the comming ouer of other English Bishops to the Counsell he was a Bishop ready consecrate as well as they and that by the hand of the Pope himselfe So he and he only I thinke of all the Archbishops of York since the Conquest neuer made profession of subiection to the Metropoliticall See of Canterbury The King hearing of this dealing was very greatly offended with Thurstan and for bad him England Neither could the Pope méeting with the King at Gisors and intreating for him so pacifie his displeasure as that he would suffer him to returne After fiue yeeres banishment the Pope writ a very sharpe letter vnto the king signifying that he would excommunicate both him and the Archbishop of Canterbury also if Thurstan were any longer kept from his See and charge Hereupon he was called home and soone after reconciled vnto the King This man is much praysed first for his learning then for his great wisedome and discretion and lastly for his industry and diligence his care and painefulnesse in well gouerning the charge committed to him He was a very kinde man to his Cannons vnto whom amongst other things he affoorded this priuiledge that the yeerely profite of their prebends being deuided into thrée parts it should be lawfull for any Canon to bequeath two parts of the yéere next ensuing his death alotting the third vnto the Fabricke that is toward the reparation of the church This order he set downe not onely at Yorke but at Beuerley also at Southwell at Rippon and at Glocester all which were colledges founded by Archbishops of Yorke Moreouer it is to be remembred that he either founded a 〈◊〉 or renued and repaired eight monasteries In the latter end of his time to wit June 4. 1137. a lamentable chaunce befell his church and city By casuall fire Saint Peters church in Yorke Saint Maries without the walles a
〈◊〉 all of his owne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 city 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hauing continued in that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the time of his election and being a very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he determined to forsake the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pontsract which he did 〈◊〉 his Bishopricke Ianuary 25. 1140. His cowle was 〈◊〉 warme vpon his back when death appointed him the vse of an other garment 〈◊〉 daies after his resignation he died viz. February 5. the yeere aforesaid 29. Henry Murdac VVIlliam Treasurer of Yorke a kinsman of king Stephens tooke then vpon 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of that Sée A man very noble by birth and 〈◊〉 but much more noble in 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 manners 〈◊〉 obtained not onely election but 〈◊〉 also as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnto me he sent vnto Rome for his 〈◊〉 His 〈◊〉 there was not so good as he looked for By some 〈◊〉 many 〈◊〉 were taken against him whereby it came to passe not onely his sute was put of and staid for that 〈◊〉 but also processe awarded to admonish him to come thither in person to answere the accusations laied against him At his comming to Rome he found his aduersaries many 〈◊〉 mighty And amongst the rest it is remembred that Saint Bernard then liuing was very earnest against him 〈◊〉 the Pope had 〈◊〉 brought vp in the Abbey of Clareuall vnder Saint Bernard together with Henry Murdas whom Williams aduersaries had set vp to 〈◊〉 a suter for this Archbishopricke The Pope being thus caried away with the perswasion of his old acquintance and some shew of matter was content to 〈◊〉 William and to place Henry Murdac in his roome whom he caused to be consecrate presently and sent him home into England with his Pall. King Stephen hearing this newes was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which all men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 with the 〈◊〉 Archbishop 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnto him in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 manner and when he denied easily tooke occasion of displeasure against him The townesmen of Yorke that loued William excéedingly for his gentlenesse and vertuous behauiour amongst them hearing how the king was affected refused to receiue 〈◊〉 into their city For this resistance he suspendeth the city which notwithstanding Eustach the kings sonne commaunded seruice to be said as at other times was accustomed By meanes hereof as also by reason that the kings officers were very terrible and heauy enemies vnto all that had laboured for the depriuation of William seditions and 〈◊〉 were daily raised in the city amongst which a certaine Archdeacon a friend of the Archbishoppes was slaine Two or thrée yéeres these stirs continued till at last the kings wrath by meanes being appeased Yorke men were content to receiue their Archbishop peaceably He gouerned very austerely the space of ten yeeres died October 14. 1153. at Sherborne and was buried in his Cathedrall church 3. Saint William VVIlliam immediately after his depriuation got him home into England and in great patience awaiting the pleasure of God betooke himselfe to the monastery of Winchester liuing much in the company of Henry the Bishop that did first consecrate him Now ye shall vnderstand that a little before the death of Henry Murdac 〈◊〉 the Pope his old companion and Saint Bernard the Master of them bothe for they had bene his scollers were taken out of this life William then was greatly animated by his friends to make complaint vnto Anastasius the uew Pope of the wrong heretofore done vnto him and prouoked by their importunity did so indeede trauailing to Rome in his owne person He had 〈◊〉 commenced his complaint when newes was brought that Henry Murdac also his old aduersary was departed this life Following then the aduise of Gregory a Cardinall a very pollitique and subtill fellow without any great sute he was restored vnto all his honours and had the pall deliuered vnto him He was returned into England 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which he kept 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Bishop of Winchester 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 church he was 〈◊〉 vpon the way by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 who 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 into 〈◊〉 church and appealed vnto 〈◊〉 against him which he little estéemed but went forward notwithstanding All the rest of the cleargy and commonalty 〈◊〉 him with 〈◊〉 ioy 〈◊〉 Virg reporteth that passing ouer the riuer beyond 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the number of people that followed him to 〈◊〉 honour was so 〈◊〉 as the bridge being but a woden bridge brake euen inst as the Bishop was oner and throw them all into the water But the blessing and praier of this holy man he supposeth preuailed so much with God as they were all 〈◊〉 preserued from drowning Into his city he was honorably receiued and began a very 〈◊〉 and gentle gouernment shewing no token of gall or malice toward his ancient and most bitter cnimies but he was taken away by death before he could performe any great matter otherwise Soone after Whitsuntide he fell sicke as it séemed of a kinde of ague and within a day or two after departed this life The common report is that he was poysoned in the challice at masse But Newbrigensis 〈◊〉 this opinion at large li. 1. 〈◊〉 26. Certaine it is that it was 〈◊〉 suspected to be so not only after his death but also while he yet liued in his 〈◊〉 times In so much as one of his chaplaines aduised him to 〈◊〉 some 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 poyson which he also did as one 〈◊〉 but other say he answered quod antidotum dioinum non adijceret humano that he would not adde the 〈◊〉 of the body vnto the preseruatiue of the soule becanse forsooth he had then lately receined the sacrament Howsoeuer it was he died very suddenly his teeth waxing very blacke a little before his death and not without some other notes and 〈◊〉 of poyson The time of his departure was June 8. 1154. After his death he was made a Saint and the day aforesaid June 8 appointed vnto the celebration of his memory Many miracles are said to haue beene wrought at his toombe in the Cashedrall church of Yorke Beleeue it that list I cannot to sayno more me thinkes the man whose depriuation Saint Barnard procured should not be worthy to be reputed a Saint or like to worke miracles 31. Roger. NO sooner was William dead but Robert the Deane and Osbert the Archdeacon laide plots for the election of Roger Archdeacon of Canterbury and procuring the Archbishop and the Popes Legate to become suters for him with much adoo they induced the Chapter to choose him He was consecrate by Anastasius the Pope about the end of the yéere 1154. This man is not gratious in our stories yet he is confessed to haue béene very learned well spoken passing wise and a great augmenter of the state of his Bishopricke both in reuenewes and buildings The reason is he fauoured not monkes by whom in a manner all our
the kings inclination followed euer that course which he saw him willing to haue taken and aduanced earnestly that part whereunto the king inclined without respect vnto the matter otherwise Agame whereas the rest of the Counsell called oft vpon the the king to acquaint himselfe with matters of state by resorting to the Counsell and affoording his presence at their deliberations he would aduise him to follow his pleasures let Counsell matters alone to him assuring him that at night he should heare as much of him in one quarter of an houre as if he had been present all day at those tedious wearisome consultations By this trick he won himselfe such authority with the king as he did euen what he list a long time No maruell now if what preferment soeuer fell stood at his refusall The Bishopricke of Tourney in France which city the king had lately taken falling voide 〈◊〉 was elected thereunto Within lesse then one yéere after fell first Lincolne whereunto he was preferred the yeere 1514. and then immediately after Yorke which also was presently bestowed vpon him Following the streame still of this good fortune and thinking it best to take his time he procured the Pope to make him first his legate a Latere and soone after viz. the yeere 1515 Cardinall He handled the matter also in such sort with the king as he was content to discharge the Archbishop of Canterbury from the office of Chauncellor and bestowed it vpon him Then as though the Archbishopricke of Yorke and Chauncellorship of England were not sufficient for maintenance of a Cardinall he tooke also vnto him the Bishopricke of Bathe the yéere 1518 holding it and the abbey of Saint Albons with diuers other 〈◊〉 liuings in Commēdam Fower yéeres and seuen monethes he held Bathe and then resigned it to take Durham Durham also he lastly gaue ouer the yéere 1529. in exchange for Winchester Now yow sée him at the highest It was impossible this greatnesse should be able to beare his owne burthen Presently after his acceptation of Winchester he began to fall and fell so fast as 〈◊〉 death had not happily staid him he had quickly fallen 〈◊〉 much to much lesse then nothing The king vpon a displeasure how iust God knoweth discharged him sodainly 〈◊〉 the office of Chauncellor His goods were all seased to 〈◊〉 kings vse and himselfe ready to be attaint by parliament had not Thomas Cromwell after Earle of Essex then his seruant taken great paines in defending him When that 〈◊〉 succéeded not he was charged to haue fallen into a Premunire by exercising his power Legantine without the kings licence Hereunto he answered that he had authority thereunto front the king vnder his broad seale as it was well ynough knowen he could prooue though that amongst the rest of his writings were now in the hands of his enemies But quoth he I will neuer stand vpon that point Whatsoeuer I haue I haue it from the king if it be his pleasure to haue me in a Premunire let it be so I must and will be at his mercie Almost halfe a yéere he liued néere London in great penurie one while at Asher a house belonging to the Bishopricke of Winchester and an other while at Richmond the which house the king had lately giuen him in exchange for Hampton court All which time he had scarce a cuppe 〈◊〉 drinke in or a bed to lie in but what was 〈◊〉 him for 〈◊〉 mooueables and houshold stuffe of inestimable valew were all taken away to the kings vse At last he was sent downe into Yorkeshire and there liued all a sommer in reasonable good sort About the beginning of Nouember that yéere which was 1530. the Earle of Northumberland 〈◊〉 him of high treason and tooke order to haue him brought 〈◊〉 to London but he fell sicke by the way and died in the 〈◊〉 of Leicester as it should séeme of a 〈◊〉 whereunto a continuall feauer was ioyned When he had béene sicke the space of 8. daies he died Nouember 29. 1530. hauing beene Archbishop 15. yeeres and being within a 4. moneths of 60. yéeres of age His last words are said to be these If I had serued 〈◊〉 as diligently as I haue done the king he would not haue giuen me ouer in my gray haires but this is the iust 〈◊〉 that I must receiue for the paines and study that I haue had to do him seruice not regarding my seruice to God but onely to satisfie his pleasure In his flourishing time he began the building of two most stately colledges one at Ipswich the other at Oxford and it is great pittie he finished them not Had they beene perfected I thinke they woulde haue béene two of the 〈◊〉 monuments of the world And surely it were a woonder that any priuate man should take two such péeces of worke in hand at one time whereof any one might seeme a great matter for a prince to finish had not his receits beene infinite and his helpes otherwise very great I thinke verily and am able to yéeld good reason of my 〈◊〉 that if one man had now in his hands the reuenues of all the Bishopricks and 〈◊〉 also in England his rents 〈◊〉 not arise to so high a reconing as the yeerely receits of this Cardinall Yet was it not his owne purse that gaue him courage to so great an enterprise for his bounty was such as he could not but spend all he receiued The number of his seruants daily attending in his house were well néere 〈◊〉 hundred of which there were one Earle nine Lords a great number of Knights and 〈◊〉 I reckon not all this while his seruants seruants which it is though grew to a far greater number He obtayned leaue of the Pope to dissolue forty small monasteries the spoile whereof furnished him principally for the building of his colledges but opened a gap withall to king Henry to destroy all the rest as soone after he did The lands he had prouided for his colledge in Oxford though confiscate by his 〈◊〉 the king was content to leaue 〈◊〉 that colledge or at least wise other for them and became the founder thereof calling it Collegium 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who so desireth to know more of this great and famous Cardinall let him haue recourse vnto master Stowes Annales of England where his whole life and actions are largely described And I 〈◊〉 myselfe beholding to him amongst many other helpes for the greatest part of this discourse which I haue much 〈◊〉 gathered thence and would gladly haue inserted the whole but that it very much 〈◊〉 my determined proportion To make an end this our Cardinal was buried in the Abbey of Lecester where he died in the body of the church before the quier doore 58. Edward Lee. THe Sée hauing bene void by the death of Cardinall Woolsey almost one yeere the king preferred vnto the same Edward Lee his Almoner a great Antagonist of Erasmus He was well learned but
no fit match for him He was much emploied in embassages both before his preferment and after He sate Archbishop thirtéene yéeres and dying September 13. 1544. was buried in his owne church where is this Epitaphe to be séene engrauen vpon his toombe Edwardus Leus Archiepiscopus Ebor. Theologus eximius atque omni literarum genere longe eruditislimus sapientia vitae sanctitate clarus Euangelicae doctrinae praeconem semper agens pauperibus beneficus omnibus ordinibus iuxta charus magno de se apud omnes desiderio relicto hic sepultus iacet Sedit Archiepiscopus annos paulo minus 13. obijt Ibid. Septaetatis suae anno 62. anno Christi 1544. In English thus Edward Lee Archbishop of Yorke a great diuine and very well séene in all kind of learning famous aswell for wisedome 〈◊〉 vertue and holinesse of life a continuall preacher of the gospell a man very liberall vnto the poore and greatly beloued of all sorts of men who greatly misse and bemoane the want of him lieth buried in this place He deceased September 10. in the sixty two yéere of his age the yéere of our 〈◊〉 1544. 59. Robert Holgate BEfore the end of the same yéere Robert Holgate Doctor of Diuinity was translated from Landaff in 〈◊〉 where he had béene seuen yéeres Bishop vnto Yorke and continued there vntill the beginning of Quéene Mary who caused him to be depriued and that as I take it for 〈◊〉 married 60. Nicolas Heath ABout the yéere 1539. Nicolas Heath a Londoner borne 〈◊〉 of Diuinity and Almoner vnto the king was made Bishop of Rochester Within 〈◊〉 yéeres he was remooued to Worceter the yeere 1551 he was displaced and Master Hooper made Bishop there But Quéene Mary restored him againe in the beginning of her raigne and made him President of Wales Soone after to wit the yere 1553 he was translated to Yorke and vpon the death of Stephen Gardiner made Lord Chauncellor of England These places he held vntill the happy raigne of our Soneraigne the Quéene that now is at what time he thought good to resigne them both and liued afterwards vpon some lands that heretofore he had purchased being much fauoured by her 〈◊〉 in regard of his diligent and faithfull 〈◊〉 for her establishment in the throne royall which her sister Mary being dead no man doubted to be due onely vnto her He did but his 〈◊〉 calling together the nobility and commons in the Parliament then assembled he certified them of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 death and for that he was Lord Chauncellor gaue order for the proclayming of the Lady Elizabeth This it pleased her Maiesty of her gratious clemency to take in so good part as she was content the rather to beare with faults of his otherwise intollerable 61. Thomas Yoong THomas Yoong sometime Bishop of Saint 〈◊〉 was the first Bishop of Yorke in this Quéenes daies He was confirmed therein February 25. 1561. and about the same time made Lord President of the north This man for what cause or purpose I know not pulled downe the great hall in the pallace of Yorke ann 1562. which was sumptuously built by Thomas the elder his predecessor almost 500. yéeres 〈◊〉 He died June 26. 1568. at Sheffield and was buried in the Minster of Yorke 62. Edmund Grindall VPon the depriuation of Edmund Boner Edmund Grindall was appointed vnto the Sée of London whereunto he was elected July 26. 1559. and sate there about 11. yéeres May 22. 1570. he was translated thence to Yorke there he continued till the yéere 1575. at what time he was promoted vnto the Archbishopricke of Canterbury Sée more of him in Canterbury 63. Edwyn Sandes EDwyn Sandes doctor of Diuinitie was Uicechauncellor of the Uniuersitie of Cambridge at what time the Ladie Iane was proclaimed Quéene about which matter he endured much trouble and long imprisonment The historie whereof is reported at large by Master Foxe vnto whom I remit the reader In the beginning of this Quéenes raigne to wit December 21. 1559. he was consecrate Bishop of Worceter and succéeded Edmund Grindall both in London whereunto he was confirmed July 13. 1570. and also in Yorke He continued there Archbishop about 〈◊〉 yéeres and dying August 8. 1588. was buried at Southwell 64. Iohn Piers. IOhn Piers Doctor of Diuinitie being Deane of Christ church in Oxford was made Bishop of Rochester and Almoner the yéere 1576. translated to Salisbury continuing still Almoner the yéere following and vpon the death of Bishop Sands preferred to Yorke This man liued alwaies vnmaried and departed this life September 27. or thereabouts 1594. 65. Mathew Hutton IN the beginning of March following Mathew Hutton doctor of Diuinitie first Deane of Yorke and consecrate Bishop of Durham the yéere 1589. was aduanced to the Metropoliticall See of Yorke and as yet continueth in the same The Bishops of Durham 1. Aidanus THe noble vertuous Prince 〈◊〉 hauing attained the kingdome 〈◊〉 Northumberland the yéere 634. and desirous that his countrimen and 〈◊〉 should not onely be gouerned by the sword for their temporall good but also directed by the word and preaching of the gospell to the euerlasting saluation of their soules he sent his Embassador vnto his neighbours the Scots amongst whom were then many 〈◊〉 and well learned preachers requesting them to send vnto him some good man that might instruct his people in the 〈◊〉 and feare of Christ. To this his most reasonable request they quickly condiscended and sent vnto him first a man that doing his best endeuour a while amongst them and perceauing he could do no good returned shortly into his owne country againe complaining that they were a barbarous and 〈◊〉 people amongst whom he had bene and such as he thought he could not spend his time worse then in séeking to instruct them that séemed neither desirous nor capable of knowledge They that sent him very sory for this tidings and consulting amongst themselues what course were now to be taken it chanced one of them named Aidanus to vse these words It séemeth to me quoth he that this our brother dealt somewhat to roughly with his vnlearned auditors not 〈◊〉 them first with the milke of gentle words and easie doctrine according to the councell of the Apostle vntill such time as they were enabled to digest stronger meat And this I take to be the cause of the ill successe his preaching had amongst them All the rest of the company thought it very probable which he had said and these his words occasioning them to remember besides his learning and godlines his notable discretion and knowen wisedome they agréed all that 〈◊〉 no man was so likely to amend that fault as he that had so quickly found and discerned it in the other and so with one consent ordained him Bishop of Northumbers This Aidanus an humble minded man a louer of silence and pouerty saith William Malmesbury auoiding of purpose the pomp and frequency of Yorke chose for his See a little Island