tooke the other and was consecrated Bishop of Excester vpon the tenth of March 1370. being the feast daie of Nereus and Achilles William of Worcester then Archbishop of Canturburie This Thomas was a man verie well learned and experted both in ecclesiasticall matters and in politike gouernment and in both these respects greatlie reuerenced and estéemed and for that cause at the parliament holden at Westminster in the tenth yéere of K. Richard the second he was chosen to be one of the twelue péeres of the realme vnder the King he was a benefactor to the Calenderhaie of the vicars chorall of his own church and performed and supplied in buildings and otherwise what his predecessors had left vndoone and hauing béene Bishop xxiiij yéeres he died the third of December anno 1394. and was buried in the North side of the bodie of his owne church EDmond Stafford vpon the xx daie of Iune anno 1395. was consecrated at Lambhith by William Courtwaie Archbishop of Canturburie he was borne and descended of noble parentage being brother to Ralph Lord Stafford created Earle of Stafford by K. Edward the third he was both wise and learned for his wisedome he grewe into great credit with the king and was both of his priuie counsell as also Lord Chancellor of England At the parliament holden at westminster the xxj yéere of K. Richard the second he being then speaker of the higher house made a verie learned and pithie oration to prooue the absolute authoritie of a King his theme was Rex vnus erit omnibus and hauing discoursed at large of the authoritie of a king did conclude Quod potestas regis esset sibi sola vnita annexa solida and whosoeuer did by anie meanes impeach the same Paena legis meritò esset plectendus And for the furtherance of good letters he did increase two fellowships in the colledge of Stapledons inne in Oxford reformed the statutes of the house and altered the name of it and called it Excester colledge After that he had continued Bishop in much honour about xxiij yéeres he died the fourth of September being the seuenth yéere of King Henrie the fift and lieth buried in his owne church in a verie aire tombe of Alablaster IAmes Carye Bishop of Chester being at Florence when newes was brought to Pope Martin the fift of Bishop Staffords death was then and there made Bishop of this church anno 1419. and also consecrated but long he enioied not his office for there he died and was buried EDmond Lacie Bishop of Hereford was translated from thence vnto this church in the feast of Easter and in the eight yéere of king Henrie the fift anno 1420. he was a man verie deuout and religious but subiect to flatterers who carried him to their pleasure he was a liberall benefactor to the vicar of Calenderhaie great contentions were betwéene him and the citie for liberties which by arbitriment were compounded he founded the chapter house in his owne church He was a professor of diuinitie and very well learned for in the second yéere of his Bishoprike being the ix yeare of the kings reigne there was a parliment holden at Westminster in which great complaints were made against the loose and dissolute life of the religious men and especiall the blacke moonks And this matter being brought to the conuocation house this Bishop as chéefe prolocutor of that assemblie did make a verie learned and a pithie oration before the king then of purpose present and the whole cleargie much lamenting that the religious men were so far straied from the rules of their professions and the holinesse of their predecessors And when he had at large discoursed the same he deliuered vp certeine articles in writing praieng for reformation which his spéeches were so effectuallie vttered and his articles so effectuallie penned that both the king and the clergie did not onelie with great liking and allowance praise and commend the same but also tooke order that there should be a prouinciall Councell called out of hand for a reformation which was then promised but not performed by reason of the kings death which not long after followed but yet in the waie of good spéed it was then concluded and agréed that euerie third benefice being of the gift of anie of the prelats or of anie monasterie should from thencefoorth for seauen yeres be giuen to some scholar of Oxenford or Cambridge This Bishop after he had liued xxxv yeares in this Bishoprike died and was buried in the North wall of the quier in his owne church After whose death manie miracles were said and deuised to be doone at his toombe wherevpon great pilgrimages were made by the common people to the same GEorge Neuell succéeded Edmond Lacie and was consecrated in the feast of S. Katharine anno 1455. he was of a noble parentage being the second sonne of Richard Neuell Earle of Sarisburie he finished and ended the chapter house which his predecessor had begonne And after that he had béene Bishop about ten yeares he was remooued to Yorke and made Archbishop there anno 1465. IOhn Bothe after the translation of George Neuell to Yorke was consecrated Bishop vnder Thomas Burscher Archbishop of Canturburie vpon the xxij of Februarie anno 1466. He was by profession a Ciuillian and a Batcheler of the same he gouerned his church verie well and builded as some suppose the Bishops sea in the quier but being wearie of the great troubles which were in this contrie betwéene king Edward the fourth and the Earle of Warwike he remooued from hence to his house of Horsleigh in Hamshire where in the twelfe yeare of his Bishoprike he died vpon the fift daie of Aprill anno 1478. and lieth buried at S. Clements in London PEter Courtnaie immediatlie after the death of Bothe was presented to this Bishopricke and consecrated by Thomas Archbishop of Canturburie in Nouember anno 1477. at S. Stephens in Westminster he was the sonne of Sir Phillip Courtnaie of Powderham his mother was named Elizabeth daughter to Walter Lord Hungerford he for his wisedome and good behauiour was in great credit and fauour with king Henrie the seauenth by whose meanes he was translated from this church vnto Winchester in the ninth yeare of his being Bishop here and in the fift yeare of his being there he died vpon the xx of December anno 1491. and lieth buried in his owne church He finished the North tower of S. Peters and gaue the clocke bell which is in the same and which beareth the name Peter RIchard Fox vpon the remoouing of Peter Courtnaie was consecrated Bishop of this church vnder Thomas Archbishop of Canturburie 1466. he was a verie wise man and in great credit and estimation with king Henrie the seauenth vnto whom he was a faithfull counsellour and of his priuie Councell with whom he acquainted himselfe at Paris when he was there a student For king Henrie then Earle of Richemond being at Venice and aduertised how the
nobilitie of England was bent to haue him to be their King came from thence to Paris and sought vnto Charles then king of France for aid and helpe in which the Earle his sutes this Fox was a speciall traueller and counseller and in the end God giuing the successe the Earle obteined the crowne and hauing had the triall of the fidelitie wisedome and trust of this Bishop he made him Lord priuie seale and kept and vsed him and his aduise in all his weightie matters as well at home as abroad He being Embassador sundrie times to the K. of France and Scotland and of a verie hartie good will and loue the King made him godfather to his second sonne K. Henrie the eight There was a kind of emulation betwéene this Bishop and the Earle of Surreie both of them being verie wise and of great seruice to the King and common-wealth Howbeit in some diuersitie of respects the one hauing no issue to care for did deale without anie priuate affection or singular gaine and the other hauing issue was desirous to aduance his house and honor These affections did bréed some dislike betwéene them two yet the king finding a faith vnto himselfe and a commoditie to the common-wealth misliked it not if the same excéeded his measure and they more warme than commendable for their calling estates The king then or the councell would deale betwéene them for the appeasing and pacifieng of them and to them he was both fréendlie louing and liberall The one he deliuered out of the tower pardoned him of his offenses restored him to his lands receiued him into speciall fauour made him of his priuie councell as also Lord Treasurer of England and his generall into Scotland and augmented his liuelihoods The other he first made Bishop to this church then remooued him vnto Bathe and from thence vnto Durham and lastlie vnto Winchester Erasmus in his booke intituled the Preacher or Ecclesiastes declareth how that the king vpon a time wanting some péece of monie was to borowe the same of the commons and of the clergie And for the dealings with the clergie the matter was by commission committed to this Bishop Who when they came before him vsed all the excuses that they could to shift themselues from lending of anie money some came verie séemelie and well apparrelled and awaited vpon by their men according to their liuelihoods and these alledged that they were greatlie charged in hospitalitie and house kéeping with other charges incident to the same so that they had no money and therfore could paie none Some came poorelie and barelie apparrelled and they alledged that their liueliehoods were but small and yet their charges great and by that means the world was so hard with them that they had it not to spare This bishop hauing heard all these excuses vsed this dilemme to the ritcher sort he said For as much as you are so well and séemlie apparrelled and doo kéepe so great houses and haue all things necessarie about you it is a manifest argument that you haue some store about you or els you would not doo as ye doo and therefore ye must néeds lend To the others who pretend excuse of their pouertie he thus replied vnto them that For as much as they were so bare in their apparrell and so sparing of their expenses It must néeds be that they saued their pursses and had money and therefore they must néeds paie and so adiudgeth them to lend vnto the prince As he rose by learning so he was a great fauorer and furtherer of learning and for the good increase of the same he builded and founded Corporis christi colledge in Oxenford In his latter daies he waxed and was blind and dieng in Winchester he was there buried in his owne church after that he had béene Bishop of Excester sixe yeares he was remooued to Bathe anno 1492. OLiuer King immediatlie vpon the transferring of Bishop Fox was consecrated Bishop of this church in Februarie 1492. Iohn Morton then Archbishop of Canturburie This Oliuer was chaplaine to king Henrie the seauenth and Deane of Windesor and register of the order of the Garter In his time were the rebellions of Ioseph the Blacke-smith in Cornewall and of Perken Warebeke This Bishop after that he had occupied this sea about fiue yeares he died anno 1497. and as some suppose he was buried at Windsor RIchard Redman immediatlie vpon the death of Bishop Oliuer King was translated from his Bishoprike in Wales vnto this citie but after fiue yeares he was remooued vnto the Bishoprike of Elie and installed there in September anno 1501. He was a Gentleman borne and descended of a verie worshipfull house which ioined with his wisedome and learning did much increase his credit and good report IOhn Arundell next after the translation of Bishop Redman was remooued from Couentrie and Lichféeld vnto this citie and was installed the xv of March 1501. Wherein he sought not the preferment for anie liuelihoods but rather desirous to be a dweller and resiant in his countrie where he was borne for he was descended of the Arundels of Lanherne in Cornewall a house of great antiquitie and worship He long enioied not his new Bishoprike for after two yeares after his installing he had occasion to ride vnto London and there died and was buried in Saint Clements church without Templebarre anno 1503. HEw Oldham vpon the death of Arundell by the preferment of the Countisse of Richmond and Darbie vnto whom he was Chaplaine was preferred vnto this Bishoprike and installed in the same He was a man hauing more zeale than knowledge and more deuotion than learning somewhat roughe in spéeches but fréendlie in dooings He was carefull in the sauing and defending of his liberties for which continuall sutes was betwéene him and the Abbat of Tauestoke he was liberall to the vicars chorall of his church and reduced them to the kéeping of commons and towards the maintenance thereof he gaue them certeine reuenewes and impropriated vnto them the rectorie of Cornwood he albeit of himselfe he were not learned yet a great fauourer and a furtherer of learning and of learned men Notwithstanding he was somtime crossed in his honest attempt therein He first was minded to haue inlarged Excester colledge in Oxford as well in buildings as in fellowships But after being a requester to the fellowes for one Atkins to be a fellowe in whose fauour he had written his letters and was denied he changed his mind and his good will was alienated About the same time Doctor Smith Bishop of Lincolne was building of the colledge named Brasen nose and was verie willing and desirous to ioine with him but being denied to haue the nomination of a founder his mind was changed Not long after being aduertised that Bishop Fox of Winchester was minded to erect and found a new colledge ioined with him and contributed vnto him a great masse of monie and so a colledge was builded for
matrone his house and houshold another church in which was exercised all godlinesse and vertue No one person being in his house which did not from time to time giue an account of his faith and religion and also did liue accordinglie and as he had a care for the good successe in religion so had he also for the direction of the gouernment in ecclesiasticall causes and bicause he he was not skilfull therein neither would be hindered from his godlie studies and be incombred with such worldlie matters which neuerthelesse he would haue be doone in all vprightnes iustice and equitie he sent to Oxford for a learned man to be his Chancellor and by the ministerie of the writer hereof he procured and obteined one Maister Robert weston Doctor of the ciuill lawe and afterwards Lord Chancellor of Ireland vnto whom he committed his consistorie and the whole charge of his ecclesiasticall iurisdiction allowing vnto him not onelie all the fées therevnto apperteining but also lodged and found him his wife familie horse and man within his owne house and gaue him a yéerelie pension of xl pound And surelie the Bishop was no more godlie and carefull of his part concerning preaching but this man also was as diligent and seuere in dooing of his office without reproch of being affectionated or corrupted And notwithstanding this good man now a blamelesse Bishop and liued most godlie and vertuous yet the common people whose old bottels would receiue no new wine could not brooke nor digest him for no other cause but bicause he was a preacher of the Gospell an enimie to papistrie and a married man Manie deuises were accompted against him for his confusion sometimes by false suggestions sometimes bp open railings and false libelles sometimes by secret backbitings and in the end practised his death by impoisoning but by the prouidence of God the snares were broken and he deliuered After that he had béene Bishop about thrée yéeres K. Edward died and then Quéene Marie hauing the crowne the religion was altered and he depriued And notwithstanding the malice of the Prelats and archpapists was most bitter against him and who had sworne his death yet by the goodnesse of God he was most miracouslie preserued and deliuered from out of their hands at the sute and by the meanes of the king of Denmarke who so earnestlie sewed and so often wrote to the Quéene for him that he was deliuered and sent vnto him with whom after that he had staied a while he went againe into Germanie vnto the Palsegraue who most louinglie receiued him placed him againe in his former benefice of Burghsaber where he continued vntill the death of Q. Marie And then the preaching of the Gospell being againe receiued and hauing a frée passage he returned into England but would neuer returne to his Bishoprike notwithstanding it was reserued for him and sundrie times offered him but liued a priuate life continuing in London preaching and teaching the Gospell so long as the strength of his bodie would permit and at length being verie old and striken in yéeres he died and was honourablie buried at S. Magnus church in London IOhn Voiseie after the depriuation of Miles Couerdale was restored to this church and for the better setling of the Romish religion did here staie for a while but his mind was adicted to his own countrie that he returned thither and made his onelie abode there practising there what he could to haue the making of kersies to come to seme effect but the same being more chargeable than profitable came to small effect this man being verie old died in his owne house with a pang and was buried in his parish church there anno 1555. IAmes Troblefield succéeded Bishop Voiseie and was consecrated anno 1556. he was a gentleman borne and of a good house verie gentle and courteous he professed diuinitie but most zelous in the Romish religion yet nothing cruell nor bloodie And yet that he might not séeme to doo nothing he was contented to prosecute and condemne a giltles poore séelie woman named Agnes Pirest for religion heresie who was burned in Southingham for the same it was laied to hir charge as dooth appéere by an inditement taken at Launceston Die lunae in quarta septimana quadragesimae anno Philippi Maria secundo tertio before William Stanford then iustice of the assise that she should denie the reall presence in the sacrament of the altar and that the same was but a signe and a figure of Christs bodie and that none dooth eate reallie the bodie of Christ but spirituallie He was verie carefull to recouer some part of the lands of his Bishoprike which his predecessor wasted and did obteine of Q. Marie to him and to his successors the fée ferme of the manor of Crediton After that he had béene Bishop about two yeares Q. Marie died and he was depriued and liued after a priuate life WIlliam Alleie in the second yeare of Q. Elizabeth was chosen Bishop and installed the sixt of August 1561. In all Q. Maries time which were called the Marian daies he trauelled from place to place in the North countrie where he was not knowne and sometimes by practising of phisick and sometimes by teaching of scholers he picked out a poore liuing for himselfe and his wife and so continued being not knowne to haue béene a préest during all Q. Maries time after whose death he went to London and there did reade diuinitie lecture in Paules verie learnedlie and to his great commendation and from whence he was taken and made Bishop of this citie He was verie well learned vniuersallie but his chéefe studie and profession was in diuinitie and in the toongs And being Bishop he debated no part of his former trauels 〈◊〉 spent his time verie godlie and vertuous Vpon euerie holie daie for the most part he preached and vpon the wéeke daies he would and did reade a lecture of diuinitie the residue of his time and frée from his necessarie businesse he spent in his priuate studies and wrote sundrie bookes whereof his prelections or lectures which he did reade in Paules and his poore mans librarie he caused to be imprinted the like he would haue doone with his Hebrue grammar and other his works if he had liued He was well stored and his librarie well replenished with all the best sort of writers which most gladlie he would impart and make open to euerie good scholar and student whose companie and conference he did most desire and imbrace he séemed to the first apparance to be a rough and an austere man but in verie truth a verie couetous gentle and an affable man at his table full of honest spéeches ioined with learning and pleasantnesse according to the time place and companie All his exercises which for the most part was at bowles verie merrie and pleasant void of all sadnesse which might abate the benefit of recreation loth to offend readie to forgiue void of malice full of loue bountifull in hospitalitie liberall to the poore and a succourer of the néedie faithfull to his fréend and courteous to all men a hater of couetousnesse and an enimie to all euill and wicked men and liued an honest a godlie and vertuous life Finallie he was indued with manie notable good gifts and vertues onelie he was somewhat credulous and of a hasty beléefe and of light credit which he did oftentimes mislike and blame in himselfe in his latter time he waxed somwhat grosse and his bodie full of humors which did abate much of his woonted exercises and hauing béene Bishop about eight yeares he died the first of Aprill 1570. and was buried in his own church WIlliam Bradbridge Deane of Sarisburie was the next Bishop consecrated at Lambhith by Matthew Parker Archbishop of Canturburie the 18. of March 1570. he was a professor of diuinitie but not taken to be so well grounded as he persuaded himselfe he was zelous in religion but not so forwards as he was wished to be in his latter daies he delighted to dwell in the contrie which was not so much to his liking as troublesome to his cleargie to such as had any sutes vnto him it was thought he died verie rich but after his death it prooued otherwise he died suddenlie no bodie being about him at Newton ferris the ninth yeare of his Bishopprike vpon the xxix of Iulie 1578. and was buried in his owne church IOhn VVolton now liuing next after Bradbridge was called to be Bishop of the sea and consecrated at Lambhith by Edmond Grendall Archbishop of Canturburie in August 1579. He is a professor of diuinitie and a preacher of the Gospell and vniuersallie séene in all good letters great good things are looked and hoped for at his hands and that he being now made a watchman ouer the house of Israel and a shéepheard ouer the Lords flocke to be a minister of the Gospell and a disposer of Gods holie mysteries will attend the same and performe the office of a true Bishop in preaching in season and out of season not by constraint or slowlie but willinglie and gladlie not for filthie lucre but of a readie mind by leading an vnreprooueable life to be example of good works in all sobrietie patience gentlenes and integritie And that he liuing thus godlie in this life may not onlie haue a good report to the posteritie but also looke for the blessed hope and appéering of the glorie of God and of our Sauiour Iesus Christ that when he shall present himselfe and his talent the people of God before the high and chéefe shepheard they may all enter into the Lords ioie and receiue an incorruptible crowne of glorie FINIS
time of K. Edgar for he making a progresse into those west parts to visit his father in lawe Ordogarus whose daughter he had married then Earle of Deuon and founder of the abbeie of Tauestocke came to this citie Anno 986. and he pittieng the distressed state of the said Church caused the Moonks to be sought out and to be assembled togither whom he then restored to their house and liueliehoods and appointed Sydemannus who afterwards was Bishop to be their Abbat And thencefoorth they continued togither although in great troubles vntill the time of K. Swanus the Dane for he with a great troope and armie of his Danes came to this citie anno 1019. who besieged it and at length hauing taken the same he spoiled destroied and burnt both citie and monasterie but yet shortlie after it was againe restored for K. Cahutus or Canutus being aduertised of the great cruelties doone by his father Swanus did at the request of one of his dukes named Atheldredus make restitution vnto Atheluoldus then Abbat both of lands liuings and priuiledges as appéereth by his chapter dated anno 1019. After this néere about xxx yeares K. Edward the confessor came to the citie and he by the aduise and counsell of Leophricus then Bishop of Crediton and sometimes Lord Chancellor of England and of the priuie Councell with the said King partlie for the better safetie of the Bishop and his successors and partlie to prouide a more apt place for the Moonks did remooue the Bishops sea from Crediton to this citie and sent the Moonks to westmonaster and did himselfe in his owne person togither with Quéene Edeth his wife place and install Bishop Leophricus in possession of his new Church and sea The Bishop then thus remooued from the old and placed in the new indoweth his new sea and Church with the lands and liueliehoods of his former Church and to make his sanctuarie to his mind pulleth downe the two monasteries néere adioining the one of Nunnes the other of Moonks and addeth them to his owne Church and then hauing thus brought his deuise to effect maketh ordinances lawes and orders for the good gouernment of his Church and cleargie After Leophricus death his successors following his example did euerie of them for the most part procure the augmentation increase of their church some in liueliehoods some in liberties and priuiledges and some in buildings and some in one thing or other William Warewest the third Bishop after the conquest being sometimes chapleine to the conqueror and to William and Henrie his sonnes obteined of the conqueror such grace and fauour that he gaue to this Church Plimton Brampton and S. Steeuens in Excester which his gift his foresaied two sâ—nnes by their charters did also confirme and then the said Bishop hauing the ordering and distribution thereof giueth Plimton to the regular Cannons for whom he had erected a monasterie there and where he himselfe shortlie after leauing his Bishoprike became a Cannon Bramton was reserued to the Cathedrall Church and afterwards was annexed to the Deanerie but S. Steeuens with the fée to the same he reserued to himselfe and to his successors whereby they are Barrons and Lords in the parliament Anno 1112 the said Bishop Warewest began to inlarge his Caâ—hedrall Church which at that time was no bigger than that part which is now the Ladie chappell and laid the foundation of that which is now the chore or quier Anno 1235. or there about William Brewer Bishop established and made a Deanes chapter of xxiiij prebendaries for the Deane whom he then appointed and whose name was Serlo and for his successors he appropriated gaue Brampton and Coliton Rawleigh for the prebendaries he purchased lands allotting to euerie of them the like portion of foure pound by the yéere Anno 1284. Peter Quiuill Bishop finding the chancell of his Church to be builded and finished to his hands beginneth and foundeth the lower part or bodie of his church from the quéere westwards he also appointed a chanter and a subdeane in the Church to the one he impropriated Painton and Chudleigh and to the other the personage of Egloshale in Cornewall he also impropriated the personage of S. Newlin in Cornewall of the Stokegabrill in Deuon to the Chancellor of the Church for reading of a Diuinitie lecture in his Cathedrall Church Anno 1340. Iohn Grandisson Bishop did increase the length of his Church from the foote westwards he vaulted the roofe of the whole Church and fullie ended and absolued the same and albeit from the time of K. Athelstan the first founder anno 932. vntill the death of this Grandisson which was anno 1369. there were 437. yéeres distant and in the meane time this Church builded by sundrie and diuerse men yet so vniformelie the same is compact as though it were builded at one instant Anno 1456. George Neuill then Bishop of this Church but shortlie after Archbishop of Yorke began to build the chapter house which was ended finished and absolued by his next successor Bishop Edmond Lacie but the cloister and librarie was builded by the Deane and chapter And thus much concerning the first foundation and building of this Church and the full ending of the same and now to the Catalog of the Bishops and of so manie as I can find who haue béene particular Bishops in this prouince of Deuon sithens the time of Edward the elder the sonne of K. Alphred A Catalog of the Bishops of Excester WErstanus at a prouinciall synod holden in west sex anno 905. was consecrated Bishop of Deuon and had his sea at Bishops Tawton and in the yeare following 906. he died and was buried in his owne church PVtta after the death of Werstanus was elected and consecrated Bishop and had his sea at Tawton and taking his iorneie towards Crediton to sée and visit the king or as some saie Vffa the kings lieutenant was by the said Vffas men slaine and then vpon his death the sea was remooued to Crediton EAdulphus brother to Alpsius duke of Deuon and Cornewall and founder of Launceston was consecrated Bishop of Deuon but installed at Crediton where he had his sea and continued Bishop xxij yeares and then dieng about the yeare 932. he was buried in his owne church EThelgarus anno 932. succéeded Eadulphus and in his time king Athelstane subdued the Cornish people reedified this citie and compassed the same with a stone wall he founded the monasterie of S. Peters for monkes of S. Benets order This Ethelgarus after he had béene Bishop ten yeares died and was buried in his owne church ALgarus anno 942. after Ethelgarus was constituted and installed Bishop at Crediton and hauing béene Bishop about ten yeares died and was buried in his owne church ALfwoldus as Mathew of Westminster writeth was next Bishop after Algarus and consecrated by the aduise of Dunstane anno 952. In this time Odogarus Earle of Deuon and father in lawe to