and received the profit thereof to whom the King would have regiven the seale in Anno dom 1229 being the three and twentieth yeare of his raigne but Nevill would not receive it This man dyed in the yeare of Christ 1243 being Anno 27 Henry 3 at his Palace at London not farre from the new Temple Geofrey the Templer and John de Lexington were made keepers of the great Seale but shortly af er this Geofrey had the Seale taken from him because he grew in dislike of the Nobility in continually provoking them to anger Hugh Pateshall Cannon of Pauls is by Mathew Paris Fol 656 called Chancellor in Anno 23 Henry 3 Which I much doubt to be true of his man shall be more saide in the Treasurers of England Simon the Norman keeper of the great Seale in Anno 23 Henry 3 being in Anno dom 1229 he had the Seale shortly taken from him and was banished the Court because he would not seale the Patent whereby Thomas Earle of Flanders might take foure pence for every Sacke of Wooll that came out of England into Flanders This Simon dyed in the yeare of Christ 1249 being in Anno 33 Henry 3. Richard Grasse or Grossus Abbat of Evesham the said Simon expelled had the keeping of the great Seale in Anno 23 Henry 3 he kept the Seale three yeares and being chosen Bishop of Chester hee resigned the Seale in Anno dom 1242 being the 26 yeare of Henry the third he dyed being wise and learned in the Canon Law in the same yeare in Gascoigne in a Citty called in Latine Riola or Rigula where he was buried John de Lexington was againe made keeper of the Great Seale in Anno 26 Henry 3 being in Anno dom 1242 to execute that Office Ralphe Nevill being in life and still Chancellor but in the Kings disgrace shortly after which this Nevill dyed This Iohn Lexington dyed in Anno dom 1252 being in Anno 41 Henry 3. Ranulfe Briton as I read is saide to be Chancellor and Treasurer of the Chamber about the 37 yeare of Henry the third being in Anno dom 124â— I suppose that he only had the keeping of the great Seale as the rest had before him during the life of Raphe Nevill and so I leave him to the judgement of others sith Matthew Paris continually nameth him Treasurer and once Chancellor who sodainly dyed after dinner beholding players at Dice in Anno dom 1246 being in Anno 30 Henry 3 Of whom thus writeth the saide Matthew Paris in his greater history Fol. 934 Ranulphus Brito quondam Dominus familiarissimus Regi Reginae multis posthabitis nobilibus ejusdem Cancellarius specialis quum post mensalem refectionem aleatores certatim inspexisset colludentes laethalis apoplexia inexpectato vulnere corruit sugillatus Silvester de Eversden received the great Seale in Anno 29 Henry 3 being in Anno dom 1246 he was Vice-chancellor and consecrated Bishop of Carleil being a man most cunning in the custome of the Chancery in Anno dom 1247. being in Anno 31 Henry 3. Iohn Mansell Treasurer of Yorke Parson of Maidstone in Kent Parson of Wigan Chancellor of Paules Master or Ruler of Beverley Chiefe Iustice of England one of the privy Counsell to Henry the third his Chaplaine Ambassador into Spaine and a worthy souldier crossed to goe to Ierusalem who at one feast had two Kings two Queenes and I know not how many Noblemen and whose spirituall livings were about 4000 Markes of yearely revennewes â—s I have gathered he was at the will aâ—â—â—â—stance of the King made keeper of the great Seale as Vice-chancellor for Matthew Paris saith Custodiam sigilli regij accepit Cancellarij vices acturus officium about Anno 31 Henry 3 in Anno dom 1247 he built an house of regular Cannons at Rumney one of the Cinque Ports in Kent To this man King Henry the third in Anno 30 of his raigne did grant that his Towne of Wigan should be a Burrough John de Lexington being after chiefe Iâ—stice of the Forrest from the River of Trent Southward was againe keeper of the great Seale untill some part of the 32 yeare of Henry the third in Anno dom 1248. John Mansell againe keeper of the great Seale who at Woodstocke in the 32 yeare of Henry the third did receive the great Seale of the said John Lexington which he kept as I suppose and that with some good proofe untill the 33 yeare of the said King being in anno dom 1248 Of which John Mansell thus writeth an old anonymall Chronicle concerning the Barons warres Sed Johannes Mansell multarum in Anglia ecclesiarum Rector seu potius incubator reddituum quoque quorum non erat numerus possessor magnificus ita quod ditior eo clericus non videbatur in orbe episcopali puta dignitate minime insignitus metu Baronum aufugit latenter ultra mari de Turri London in qua Rex Angliae Regina sua tunc temporis tenuerunt se Quem quum Henricus filius regis Alemaniae fugientem insequeretur ipse capitur quum applicuisset Bononiae a Magistro Geâ—ardo de fines procuratore ut putabatur reginae Radulphus de Diceto was Chancellor as I reade and suppose much about this time William of Kilkenny being a modest wise and faithfull man learned in the Canon and Civill Lawes was made keeper of the great seale in Anno dom 1250. being in Anno 34 Henry 3 He was elected to the Bishopricke of Elie as saith the History of Elie the 18 Calends of September in Anno dom 1255 being about anno 39 Henry 3. But others say that he being then Vice-chancellor was elected Bishop of Elie in anno dom 1254 being anno 38 Henry 3 after that he had faithfully and to his great commendation used and borne the great seale he was consecrated to that Bishopricke in anno dom 1255 and dyed in anno dom 1256 being about anno 41 Henry 3 whose heart was buried at Elie. Henry de Wingham was made Chancellor in anno 39 Henry 3 and continued in annis 41 42 Henry 3 in which yeare as some have and in the 43 of Henry the third as others have he was chosen Bishop of Winchester upon condition that he should give place to Athelmer halfe brother to King Henry the third and sonne to Hugh Brunne Earle of Marshe and of Eleanor King Henry the third his Mother being banished by the Barons if that he should againe come into England and then leave the bishopricke of Winchester unto him which he did upon the comming againe of the said Athelmer into England and for that cause was after chosen Bishop of London in Anno dom 1259 being in Anno 33 Henry 3. and still Chancellor and is buried in Pauls on the South side of the Quire next to Eustachius Bishop of London in a Monument of Marble with this inscription on the wall to tell who it was Hic jacet Henricus de Wingham
anno 4 Edward 3 who being sent in the sixt yeare of his raigne in anno dom 1332 Ambassador beyond the Seas about the affaires of the King and Kingdome did not like Cardinall Woolsey the Chancellor in the dayes of King Henry the 8 presumptuously carry the great Seale with him beyond the seas but left the same in his absence with others who both could and would answere the well or evill using thereof whiles he was in France This man continued in the Office untill the Eight yeare of Edward the third Richard de Bury otherwise called Richard de Angervile being borne in a little village besides S Edmundsbury commonly cald the Bury Abbey was so surnamed Bury of that place had to his Father Sr. Richard Angervile Knight This man being first kept at schoole by his Vncle Sr. Iohn VVillobie Priest was afterward Treasurer of England Chancellor and Bishop of Durham to which place of Chancellor-ship hee was advanced in the yeare 1334 being in anno 8 Edward 3 which office he received by the Kings gift at VVestminster in which yeare he was inthronized being first consecrated Bishop in anno do 1333 in the Bishoprick of Durham by William Cowton Prior of Durham He kept the See 11 yeares two moneths and twelve dayes and died in the yeare 1345 and was buryed in the South angle of the Church at Durham John Stratford the second time Lord Chancellor being now Archbishop of Canterbury was installed therein at York in anno dom 1335 being the ninth yeare of the Raigne of King Edward the third Robert de Stratford or Strafford as some have written but as I thinke corruptly being Archdeacon of Canterbury which Office was first ordeined by Anselme Archbishop of the said Citty was made Chancellor of England on the 24 day of March anno dom 1336 being in anno 11 Edward 3 He was after made Bishop of Chichester desiring to be remooved from that office of Chancellorship which was granted unto him Whereupon he surrendred up the Seale unto the said King Edward 3 in the 12 yeare of his Raigne being in anno dom 1338. Richard de Bintworth chosen Bishop of London and confirmed by John Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury at Oxford the tenth kalends of Iune 1338 was at Waltham advanced to the honour of Lord Chancellor in the moneth of July in the said yeare 1338 being the 12 yeare of King Edward the third John Stratford the third time Lord Chancellor of England in which Office he did not long continue Robert Bishop of Chichester being the foresaid Robert Stratford was againe made Lord Chancellor of England in Anno dom 1340 being anno 14 of the raigne of Edward the third who was put out of that Office and should with the Treasurer of England have beene sent into France for a pledge for the payment of certaine sommes of money Robert de Bourchier borne of the honourable house of the Lord Bourchiers was in the Towre of London made Lord Chancellor of England in December in anno 14 Edward 3 being in anno dom 1340 though some say hee was made Chancellor in anno 15 of the saide King Robert Perning Pernicke or Pernwicke also Treasurer of England was made Chancellor of England in anno dom 1341 bing in anno 15 Edward 3 he dyed in the yeare 1343 being in anno 17 of the said King This man was a Serjant in the third yeare of Edward the third when he began to plead as a Serjant in which he continued untill anno 11 Edward 3 and was after that Iustice Treasurer and Chancellor and dyed in the common plees being Chancellor sitting and arguing amongest the Iustices as appeares in the Law books of those yeares of Edward the third of whom is last mention made in the 17 yeare of Edward the third where hee is named Chancellor Robert de Saddington Knight was invested with the dignity of Lord Chancellor after the death of Perning in anno dom 1343 and in anno 17 Edward 3 He was elected to be Bishop of Canterbury and so was installed but never received the Pall. There was also one Richard Saddington Knight Treasurer of England of whom I have spoken in my discourse of the Lord Treasurers John Offord or Vfford Deane of Lincolne was made Chancellor of England in anno dom 1345. being anno 19 Edward 3 Hee dyed in the moneth of May in anno dom 1349 being the 23 yeare of the Raigne of that victorious King Edward the third John Thorsby Bishop of Worcester Archbishop of Yorke and Cardinall was installed in the seat of the Lord Chancellor in anno dom 1349 being anno 23 Edward 3 who at his great suit was discharged of the Office of Chancellor by delivery of the great Seale in November in anno 30 of the said King being in anno dom 1356 after hee had kept that place almost by the space of 7 yeares He in the 10 yeare of his Bishopricke on the third kalends of August beganne the frame of the Quire in S Peters Church in Yorke and laid the first stone thereof to which he gave an Hundred poundes He dyed at Thorpe and was buryed at Yorke in anno dom 1363 or as others have 1373 after that he had beene Archbishop one and twenty yeares and one and twenty dayes William de Edington Bishop of Winchester Lord Treasurer of England was made Chancellor of England in November in anno dom 1356 in anno 30 of King Edward the third Simon Langham Abbat of Westminster Bishop of Elie Archbishop of Canterbury and Treasurer of England was made Lord Chancellor in February in anno dom 1363 being the seaven and thirthieth yeare of the governement of King Edward the third Of this Simon were these verses made when he was removed from Elie to the Bishopricke of Canterbury Exultent caeli quia Simon transit ab Eli Cujus in adventum flent in kent millia centum Of whom also because he richly endowed the Abbey of Westminster with great gifts of singular cost and value a certaine Monke compiled these verses Res es de Langham tua Simon sunt data quondam Octingentena librarum millia dena Of this man is more spoken in the following discourse of the Lord Treasurers of England William de Wickeham so called of the place of his Birth whom Leland maketh Treasurer of England which by any possible meanes cannot be so for any thing that I can yet learne This man being Bishop of Winchester and advanced to that place in anno dom 1367 in anno 41 Edward 3 in which place he sate seaven and thirty yeares was sometime keeper of the privie seale and made also Chancellor of England in Anno dom 1367 being the 41 yeare of Edward the third in which Office he remained about foure yeares and in March in the yeare 1371 being the 45 of King Edward the third did deliver up the great Seale to the King at Westminster Hee was buried in the body of Winchester Church which he new built
Templarius whom some will have Treasurer but this man is more spoken of amongst the Chancellors William Haverhull a Cannon of Pauls Church in London was made Treasurer to King Henry the third in An. Dom. 1240. being the 24. yeare of the raigne of the said King Henry in which place he continued in the 28. yeare of the raigne of King Henry the third being in An. Do. 1244 he dyed at London in An. 1252. being the 36. yeare of the raigne of King Henry the third as saith the addition to Matthew Paris fol. 1128. After which the said Author fol. 1226. laied his death in the yeare 1256. being the 39. yeare of King Henry the third such error is crept into Histories by the negligence of the transcriber but I suppose the first note of his death to bee the truer because the same is confirmed by Matthew West speaking in the said yeare 1252. of the death of this man for whose Epitaph these following verses were made Hic jacet Haverhulle jaces protothesaurarie Regis Hinc Haverhulle gemis non Paritura talem Fercula culta dabas empyrea vina pluebas A modo sit Christus cibus esca tibi I have also read a note of one William Haverhull which might be this man which saith that William Haverhull the sonne of Brithmarus de Haverhull gave houses in Cheapeside to the Abby of Westminster and that one Thomas de Haverhull was the sonne and heire of William Haverhull Richard de Barking Abbat of Westminster as witnesseth the lives of the Abbats was one speciall Counceller to Henry the third Chiefe Baron of the Exchequer and Treasurer of England who I suppose did follow William Haverhull for his death which happened on the 23. day of November in the 30. yeare of King Henry the third in An. Dom. 1246. after that he had beene Abbat 24. yeares must needes prove him to be Treasurer before Phillip Lovell yea and peradventure which is most likely before Hugh Pateshall yet Matthew Paris speaking of the death of Haverhulla wil needs have Phillip Lovel to succeed William Haverhul as after shall appeare This Richard de Barking was buried in Westminster Church before the middle of the Altar in our Ladies Chappell in a tombe of Marble which after in the time of William Colechester Abbat of that place was pulled downe by Fryer Combe a sacrist of that house of Westminster who laid a faire plaine Marble stone over him with this present Epitaph thus inscribed Richardus Barking prior postinclitus Abbas Henrici Regis prudens fuit ille minister Hujus erat prima laus insula rebus opima Altera laus eque Thorp census Ocham decimaeque Tertia Mortone castrum simili ratione Et regis quarta de multis commoda charta Clementis festo mundo migravit ab isto M. Domini C. bis xl sextoque sub anno Cui detur venia parte pia vergo Maria. Philip Luvell or Lovell was in this order advanced to the office of Treasurer as appeareth by the words of Matthew Paris upon the death of William Haverhull Et cum crederetur quod Dominus Rex Iohannem Franciscum officio Wilhelmi which was Haverhull subrogaret fabricatis rumoribus quod idem Iohannes in partibus remotis Angliae Borealibus ut contra quosdam religiosos plantaverat obiisset constituit Dominus Rex Philippum Lovell clericum virum prudentem foecundum generosum in loco memorati Wilielmi suum thesaurarium quod factum est apud sanctum Albanum procurante ut dicitur Iohanne Mansell amico Philippi speciali This man was Treasurer in the 35. and so untill the 42. yeare of Henry the third and was in the same yeare deposed by the Barons Hee dyed at Hamesley in An. Dom. 1259. whose executors were Philip Lovell and Robert de Mercenton But his goods after his death the King commanded to be confiscate Matthew Paris and Matthew Westminster mention who were the Queenes Treasurers about that time thus obijt Walterus de Brudellejusdem Reginae thesaurarius which hee placeth in An. Dom. 1255. being the 39. yeare of King Henry the third Of the second person Chacepore thus writeth Matthew West in An. Dom. 1254. Veniens autem Rex ad mare nec ventum habens prosperum apud Boloniam moratus est invitus vbi obijt Petrus Chaceporc natione Pictavensis Reginae thesaurarius Regis clericus consiliarius specialis These two Treasurers of the Queenes are supposed by some but not rightly to have beene the Kings Treasurers Iohn Crackhall Archdeacon of Bedford was Treasurer in 42 43 44. yeares of Henry the third to whom the King in the 44. of his raigne being in An. Dom. 1260. gave a Prebendary wherein being invested he was from thence removed by a former collatiō therof made to one Iohn Le Gras. The same Crackhall after died the same yeare at London Iohn Abbot of Peterborough was by the Barons in the 44. yeare of Henry the third made Treasurer as the other Officers of the King also were Nicholas of Ely was then made Chanceller and Hugh de Spencer chiefe Iustice which Office of Treasurership this Iohn continued in the 46. yeare of Henry the third 1262. Nicholas de Elic so called because he was Archdeacon of Elie was Treasurer to the King in the 47. of Henry the third being the yeare of our Lord 1263. whereof I have seene this note of Record Memorandum quod in Crastino Paschae Anno 47. Hen. Regis 3. in praesentia Rogeri le Bigot Comite Norfolke Mareschalli Angliae Hugo le Bigot Arnoldi de Berkeley Baronis de scaccario magistri Iohannis de Chisull Cancellar regis c. recepit Magister Nicholaus archidiaconus Eliensis Thesaurarius subscripta in Thesauraria domini regis c. This man as before appeareth had beene Chanceller of whom is mention made in the catalogue of the Chancellers Thomas Wimundham This man being chiefe Chanter of Lichfield was by the Barons in An. Dom. 1258. in the 41. yeare of King Henry the third made Treasurer at the Exchequer at the Seale or place where the Writts be sealed with greene waxe after which hee was Treasurer to the King in the 50 51 and 52. yeares of King Henry the third Iohn Chisull sometime Chanceller was Treasurer in the 54. yeare of Henry the third being about An. Dom. 1269. He was Deane of Pauls chosen Bishop of London in An. Dom. 1273. and consecrate to that place in the yeare of Christ 1274. in which place he continued about five yeares and died in An. Dom. 1279. being in the seventh yeare of the raigne of the victorious Prince King Edward the first of that name See more of this Chisull in the Chancellors Phillip de Elie was treasurer as appeareth by the Records of the Exchequer in the 56. yeare of King Henry the third and in the first yeare of King Edward the first partly falling in the yeare 1272. and 1273. Ioseph de Chancy whom
THE CATALOGVE OF THE CHANCELLORS OF ENGLAND THE LORD Keepers of the Great Seale AND THE LORD TREASVrers of England With a Collection of divers that have beene Masters of the Rolles By J. P. Summerset Herald Printed at London by Tho. Cotes and are to be sold by Andrew Crooke in Pauls Church-yard 1636. CRESCAM UT PROSIM CONSTANTER ET PRUDENTER The Right honble Sr Alex Campbell of Cesnok one of the Senators of the Colledge of Justice and one of the Lords of Her Maties most honble Pray Counsell Exchequer c 17â—7 To the right Honorable and excellent Lord Thomas Howard Earle of Arundell and Surrey Primer Earle and Earle Marshall of England Baron Howard Mowbray Segrave Brewes of Gower Fitzallan Clun Oswalderstree Maltravers and Greystock Iustice in Eyre of all the Kings Forrests Parkes and Chaces beyond the River of Trent Lievetenant generall to his Majestie in the Provinces of Norfolke Sussex Surrey Northumberland Westmerland and Cumberland of the Privy Councell to his Maiestie in England Scotland and Ireland and Knight of the most noble order of the Garter MY LORD I Have received many encouragements by Friends that have perused these Collections to render them to the publicke which cannot bee done without your Lordships approbation and permission to the Presse The Catalogues of the great officers in France long since printed have offorded much contentment and do worthily preserve the memory of such as merited in those places and their qualities And as I have no other but the same end in the publishing of these So I will comfort my selfe with an humble hope that it will give no discontentment The incouragements your Lordship hath conferred up on the office of Armes in generall my selfe in particular with a bountifull hand may give your Lordship just occasion to expect some fruite of our indeavours If these may passe in that estimate but for blossomes it will be more then they demerite And if your Lordship shall conceive them worthy to bee communicated to the world I most humbly crave leave that they may passe under Dedication to your Lordship which grace and favour will give them life and acceptation and very much incourage and comfort Most noble Lord To Your thrice humble and most obliged servant IOHN PHILIPOT Summerset Herald To my very loving friends the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers at Stationers Hall in London these LEt the Catalogue of the Chancellors of England the Lord Keepers of the great Seale and Lord high Treasurers of England Collected by Iohn Philipot Summerset be printed Arundell and Surry Arundell House the 16. of March 1635. CANDIDE ET CONSTANTER MErcedem meritis postponis legibus aurum Quod nunc prodigii pondus instar habet Consilio multis opibus succurris egenti The Preface THE Catalogue or Series of the Chancellors of England hath beene with much care and diligence laboured by Robert Glover Somerset Herauld of Armes and after him by Francis Thinne Lancaster Herauld whose M. S Collections J have by me and in them a thankfull commemoration is made of Mr. Thomas Talbots kinde assistance hee being Clerke of the Records in the Tower of London where the Charters and their Dates that afford the exactest testimonies of them are to be found for many Ages past So that J shall not neede to cite the vouchers and proofes at large Neither will I be so false to my selfe or my Reader as to conceale that the worthy and reverend Antiquarie Sr. Henry Spilman Knight in his Glossary hath summarily mentioned them The nature of the Office is most accurately described by him in that worke and also by Mr. William Camden Clarenceux King of Armes in his History of Great Brittaine in the description and definition of the severall Courts of Justice in this Kingdome to which J referre those that desire to be particularly informed in that kinde Pollidor Virgill would perswade us the Office and name of Chancellor was not known in this Kingdome till after the Norman Conquest and the Author of the Catalogue of Bishops is positive in that opinion speaking of Swithen Bishop of Winchester the opinion of whose piety procured him the title of a Saint But the contrary is most cleere and evident as by the Authorities hereafter mentioned will appeare to which I referre my Reader A CATALOGVE OF THE CHANCELLORS of England from the time of the SAXON Kings TVrketill was Chancellor to King Ethelbald who began his reigne in the yeere 718. this Turketill gave six Mannors to the Abbey of Croiland St. Swithen Bishop of Winchester was Chancellor and chiefe of Councell to the great Monarch King Egbert who began his reigne about the yeere 802. Wolfinus was Chancellor to King Athelstone who began his raigne in the yeare 924. This King inriched the Monastary of Malmesbury in Wiltshire with large and ample indowments and bestowed great immunities upon the Towne And in the Charter and grant of those Liberties ths Wolfinus is a witnesse with the title of Chancellor Turketill was Chancellor to the said King Athelstone and so continued under King Edmund who began his raigne in the yeare 940. and after the death of King Edmund he was Chancellor to King Edred the space of two yeares Adulthus Chancellor to King Edgar who began his raigne in Anno Dom. 959. Of this man speaketh Hugo Petro Burgensis and Leland calleth this Adulph Cancellarium Archigrammatum Chancellor or chiefe Secretary Alsius or Aelsius the second Abbat of Elie Chancellor to King Ethelred who began his raigne in Anno Dom. 979. This man being by Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester consecrated Abbat by the appointment of the said King Ethelred or Egelred and being then Abbat of Elie when Ethelred gave out his commandement that the Abbat of Elie should then and for ever be Chancellor I doubt not to place him here amongst the Chancellors the proofe of which matter I have here verbatim set downe out of the second booke of the history of Elie. Statuit which was Ethelred atque concessit quatenus ecclesiam de Elie ex tunc semper in regis curia cancellarij ageret dignitatem quod etiam alijs sancti videlicet Augustini Glasconiae ecclesijs constituit ut Abbates istorum caenobiorum vicissim adsignatis succedendo temporibus annum trifarie dividerent cum sanctuarijs caeteris ornamentis ministrando c. Leofricus Bathonicus Chancellor to Edward the Confessor in Anno Dom. 1045. and some yeares before this man was Bishop of Cridington in Cornewall which see was after translated to Excester Wifinus or Wolfinus Chancellor to Edward the Confessor in the latter end of the said yeare 1045 being the third yeare of his raigne Resenbaldus or Rembaldus for I take them both by many and ancient authorities to be all one man was Chancellor to Edward the Confessor and Seale-bearer witnesse amongst others to many Deedes which I have seene of the Confessors some dated in Anno dom 1066 and some
because I know not his surname Philip Chancellor to King Stephen about the fourth yeare of his raigne being in Anno dom 1139. witnesse to many Deeds which King Stephen made to the Monkes of Elie and to Nigellus the Bishop of that See Reinold Abbat of Walden whom I have seene in one anonymall briefe Chronicle M S to be termed Chancellor but in what time he lived or what other name he had I doe not yet know but by the course of the history much about this time John Chancellor of England in the time of King Henry the second Thomas Becket made Chancellor as some write in the first yeare of the raigne of King Henry the second others say in the fourth yeare but the best authours agree that he gave over the Seale in Anno dom 1162 being in the eight yeare of the victorious Prince King Henry the second against the will of the Prince he dyed in Anno dom 1170. Ralphe Warnevile Archdeacon of Roane and Treasurer of the Church of Yorke was made Chancellor about the yeare 1173 being in Anno 8 Henry the second Of this man speaketh Matthew Paris and Matthew Westminster Walterus de Constantijs Archdeacon of Oxford Bishop of Lincolne in Anno dom 1182 from whence he was advanced in Anno dom 1184 being in Anno 31 Henry the second unto the Arch-bishopricke of Rome Geofry the bastard sonne to King Henry the second after he had surrendred the Bishopricke of Lincolne whereof he was never consecrate Bishop but kept the place and received the revenues was made Chancellor much about Anno 26 Henry the second in Anno dom 1181. William Longchampe the proud Bishop of Elie Legat of England for the Bishop of Rome cheife Iustice of the South and West parts of England Deputy of that part of the Realm when Richard the first went to the warres of the holy Land was made Chancellor in Anno 1 Richard the first being in Anno Dom. 1191 of the sumptuous feast of whose inthronization thus writeth Ferthulphus or Ferculphus by the way of comparison Praevisis alijs Eliensia festa videre Est quasi praevisa noste videre diem He dyed in the yeare of Christ 1197 going to Rome in the Abbey of Pimie being of the Charterhouse order about which time in Anno 6 Richard the first there was a Vice-chancellor called Malus Catulus Eustachius Deane of Salisbury was Chancellor of England being elected Bishop of Ely in the third Ides of August in Anno dom 11â—6 being in Anno 9 Richard 1 Of whom thus writeth Matthew Parker in the life of Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury contrary to that which others affirme writing that Eustachius succeeded William Longchampe in the Office of Chancellor and in the Bishopricke of Ely The words of Matthew Parker in the life of Hubert be these Hubertus deposito magistratu civili ecclesiae curae totus vacabat consecravitque postea Robertum de Solopesbi episcopum Banchorensem Eustachium qui in cancellarij munere ei successit Eliensem episcopum VVestmonasterij debita accepta ab utroquesubjectionis professione Hubert Walter or Walter Hubert for such a transmutation of the name is used by authors being first Bishop of Salisbury and then Archbishop of Canterbury was made Chancellor shortly after the Coronation of King John which was in Anno dom 1199 at what time a certaine Nobleman saide unto him in scorne I have often seene of a Chancellor made a Bishop but I never before saw an Archbishop made a Chancellor Simon or rather Hugh of which is more hereafter Arch-deacon of Wels in the first yeare of King John after as I suppose that Hubert had left the Office being so disgraced and abased as he thought was witnesse to a Deed in which King John granted to the Cittizens of Yorke a guildhall hanse and other liberties as I have seene noted in the Copy of the same Charter for which cause I have set it downe as another man although in truth I am fully resolved that this Simon and the Hugh following were all one person leaving it yet for every mans Iudgement Hugh de Wels Archdeacon of Wels witnesse to the Deed in which King John in the sixt yeare of his raigne confirmed to the Monastery of Westminster Gistslep or Islep in Oxfordshire in which house Edward the Confessor was borne he was made Bishop of Lincolne about Anno 10 of the raigne of King John in Anno dom 1209 and dyed in the yeare of our Lord 1235. Walter Gray chosen Bishop of Chester in anno dom 1210 was Bishop of Worcester and after Bishop of York a man of extream age was made Chancellor in the seaventh yeare of King Iohn as one anonymal Chronicle saith to hold that Office during his life Others say that he was made Chancellor in anno dom 1209 being the tenth yeare of King John after Hugh de Wels. But I suppose hee surrendred that Patent to hold it during his life when he came to be Bishop of Yorke Richard de Marischo whom Mathew Paris termeth Tholenarius as it were Toll-gatherer or Treasurer if you list being Archdeacon of Northumberland was Chancellor in the fourth yeare of King John as appeareth by a Deed that I have seene and further he was made Chancellor in Anno 15 of King John in which Office he continued to the 17 yeare of the said King and as some do write during King John his life and died about the kalends of May in Anno dom 1226 in Anno 10 of the long raigne of King Henry the third as some have but the Booke of Durham saith that he was made Bishop of that See by Gwado the Legat and consecrated by Walter Gray Bishop of Yorke in Anno dom 1214. being about Anno 16 of King John and dyed sodainely at Peterborough the first day of May in Anno dom 1226 being the t nth yeare of King Henry the third after that he had beene Bishop of Durham nine yeares For whom this formall Epitaph was made Culmina qui cupi tis laudes pompasque sui tis Et sedata si t is si me pensare veli tis Qui populos regi tis memores super omnia si tis Quod mors immi tis non parcit honore poti tis Vobis praeposi tis similis fueram bene sci tis Quod sum vos eri tis ad me currendo veni tis Ralphe Nevill was confirmed Chancellor as it seemeth by the whole consent of the Nobility in Anno dom 1226 being about Anno 10 Henry 3 after which he was made Bishop of Chichester in Anno 11 Henry 3 being in Anno dom 1227 or as hath Mathew VVestminster he was made Bishop of Chichester in Anno dom 1223 being before Chancellor after which the King in Anno 22 of his raigne offended with Nevill tooke from him the great Seale and delivered it to Geofry of the Temple as hath Mathew Paris and Iohn de Lexington although that the said Nevill remained still Chancellor
quondam episcopus hujus ecclesiae qui multa bona contulit ministris ecclesiae sancti Pauli Walter Merton Chancellor in Anno 44 Henry 3 being in Anno dom 1260. Nicholas of Elie made Chancellor by the Barons in Anno dom 1260 and Walter Merton displaced But King Henry the third disdaining to have Officers appointed him by his subjects did in the month of October following in Anno dom 1260. or rather 1261 deprive the said Nicholas and replaced the said Walter Merton Walter Merton Bishop of Rochester the second time made Chancellor as before appeareth John de Chesill Arch-deacon of London and Treasurer of England was made keeper of the great seale in Anno dom 1264 in Anno 48 Henry 3. This man was consecrated Bishop of London in Anno dom 1274 the third Kalends of May as hath Matthew Westminster he dyed in Anno dom 1279 the fourth Ides of February in Anno 7 of King Edward the first Thomas de Cantelupe borne of the noble house of the Lords Cantelupes the sonne of William Cantelupe and Millecent which as saith Leland drew her originall from the Countesses of Yorke being Arch-deacon of Stafford was Doctor and afterward Bishop of Hereford in Anno dom 1276 and before that made Chancellor after the feast of S. Peters Chaire in Anno dom 1265 being in anno 49 Henry 3 he dyed beyond the Seas comming from the Court of Rome in anno dom 1278 being in anno 6 Edward 1 or more truely as others have in anno 1283 being anno 11 Edward 1 whose bones were brought to Hereford Walter Gifford Bishop of Bath and Wels whom many doe call William did injoy the state of the Chancellor in anno dom 1266 being anno 50 Henry 3 he was translated from Bath to Yorke in anno dom 1259 being in anno 49 Henry 3 and dyed the 7 kalends of May in the xij yeare of his Bishopricke in anno dom 1277 being in anno 6 Edward 1 or as Nicholas Trivet in anno dom 1279. being the 7 yeare of King Edward 1. Geofry Gifford was Chancellor also in anno 51 Henry 3 being in anno dom 1267 This man was Bishop of Worcester about anno dom 1299 where he sate 34 yeares 4 moneths 4 dayes and dyed in the yeare 1304 being about the 32 yeare of King Edward the first John de Chesill was the second time honoured with the place of the Chancellor in anno dom 1268 being the 53 yeare of King Henry the third Richard de Middleton so surnamed of the place where he was borne was advanced to the Office of the Chancellorship in the said anno 53 Henry 3 in the moneth of July in anno dom 1268 and was also as appeareth by a Charter which I have seene witnesse to the same Deed in anno 54 Henry 3 who as farre as I can gather dyed in August in anno dom 1271 being anno 56 of the long governement of King Henry the third John de Kirby after the death of Richard Middleton was made keeper of the great seale in the said anno 56 Henry 3 It is very probable that this was the same John Kirby which after was Bishop of Elie and Treasurer of England Walter Merton the third time made Chancellor of England in Anno dom 1273 being the first yeare of the raigne of that famous Prince King Edward the first of that name He was Bishop of Rochester and founded Merton Colledge in Oxford and dyed the yeare of Christ 1278 being the sixt yeare of the raign of King Edward the first Robert Burnell the eleaventh Bishop of Bath and Wels after the uniting of those two Sees in one by Iohn de Toures in Anno dom 1272 was made Bishop of Bath in the yeare of our Lord as saith Eversden 1274 chosen Arch-bishop of Canterbury in Anno dom 1278 but rejected by the Pope He was Chancellor in Anno 2 Edward 1 in which place it seemeth that he long continued of whom thus writeth an anonymall Chronicle Dominus Edmundus Comes Cornubiae fundavit novum studium ordinis Cisterciensis apud Oxonias monachos de Thame primo ibidem introduxit dedit eis prima donatione Manerium de Erdington secit dedicare locum Abbatiae Tertij Jdus Decembris per Dominum Robertum Burnell eposcopum Bathon Wels Cancellarium regis posuit fundamentum novae ecclesiae eodem die Northosneiae This Bishop was required with the sonne of Edward the first and Gilbert de Clare Earle of Gloucester in the time of Edward the first to bee delivered for pledges for Lheweline Prince of Wales for his safe returne if he came to the parliament whereunto he was sommoned by the said King Edward In the time of this Chancellor the Court of Chancery was kept at Bristow This man dyed in Anno dom 1293 being Anno 21 Edward 1. John de Langton was made Chancellor of England in Anno dom 1293 being the 21 yeare of the victorius King Edward the first in which office he remained untill the death of the said King being in Anno dom 1302 He was made Bishop of Chichester about Annis 26 or 27 Edward 1. being in Anno dom 1298 or rather 1299 And in the said yeare 1299 he was before chosen Bishop of Elye but rejected by the Pope who made him Archdeacon of Canterbury From which Langton King Edward did take the great seale in the thirtieth yeare before said and delivered it to John Drokenford John Drokenford keeper of the Wardrope was made keeper of the great Seale in the thirtieth yeare as before in which office he continued from about the 15 day of August untill Michaelmas William de Grinefeild Deane of Chichester and Canon of Yorke was advanced to the place of Chancellor in Anno Dom. 1302. being about Anno. 30. Edward 1. which Office was given unto him at Saint Radigunds as saith Anonymus M.S. He was after chosen Bishop of Yorke in Anno dom 1303. who in the yeare of our Lord 1308 buried the body of the said King Edward the first in Westminster though the King dyed in Anno dom 1307. This Bishop dyed in Anno dom 1315 being about the sixt yeare of King Edward the second at Cawood after that he had beene Bishop nine yeares eleaven moneths and two dayes and was buried in S. Nicholus Porch at Yorke receiving his consecration at Rome in Anno dom 1305 after that he had beene there two yeares of Pope Clement This Greinfeild was a man very eloquent and pithie and Prudent in Counsell William de Hamilton Deane of Yorke was created Chancellor of England in Anno dom 1305 being the 33 yeare of that noble prince King Edward the first this William dyed in Anno dom 1307 being about Anno 35 of the said King at the Abbey of Fontnesse in Yorkshire being a man that well deserved of the Common wealth Ralphe de Baldocke chosen Bishop of London in Anno dom 1303 was confirmed at Titneshall by Robert of Winchelsey Bishop
of Canterbury and consecrated at Lyons by Peter of Spaine Bishop of Alba the third Calends â—f February in anno dom 1305 Hee was made Lord Chancellor of England after the death of the said William Hamilton in the said 35 yeare of King Edward the first and received the great Seale in the Rogation weeke following being some foure or five weekes after he was advanced to that Office at the Exchequer shortly after which dyed King Edward the first for which cause the saide Baldocke sent the great Seale to King Edward the second then at Carliel by reason of his fathers death This Baldocke dyed on S. James Eeve in anno dom 1313 being anno 7 Edward 2. Iohn Langton Bishop of Chichester againe made Lord Chancellor of England in Anno dom 1307. being the first yeare of King Edward of Carnarvà n in which office it seemeth that he continued untill Anno dom 1310 being in Anno 3 Edward 2. William Melton having two others joyned with him had the great Seale delivered unto them for a certaine time to execute all such things as were to be done therewith during the Kings pleasure This man was a Canon of Yorke Provost of Beverly Treasurer of England and Archbishop of Yorke as saith Anonymus M.S. He was consecrated Bishop of Yorke at Rome where he tarried two yeares for the same he was a man never wearied with travell He first of all the Bishops of Yorke after a long controversie betwixt the Deane and Cannons of Yorke visited the chapter by due order he was wise rich severe in correction gentle familiar and humble he finished the West part of the Church of S. Peters in Yorke with 300 pound he was Archbishop of Yorke 22 yeares five or sixe moneths and two dayes he dyed at Cawood on S Georges Eeve in Anno dom 1330 and was buried in the Minster of Yorke neere the Font. Walter Reinolds Bishop of Worcester Treasurer of England and Archbishop of Canterbury was made keeper of the great Seale and Chancellor of England on the sixt of July Anno dom 1310 being anno 3 Edward 2. John de Sandall Clerke Bishop of Winchester and Treasurer was at Yorke made Chancellor of England in Anno dom 1314. being anno 8 Edward 2 in which place he continued two yeares and more some part thereof being after that he was made Bishop of Winchester as I gather and then delivered backe the seale at Westminster in anno dom 1317 being in anno 11 Edward 2 Of this man is more spoken in the Treasurers of England John Hotham Bishop of Elie was created Lord Chancellor of England in anno dom 1317 being in anno 11 Edward 2 In which Office he continued untill anno dom 1319 being anno 13 Edward 2 During whose governement of the See of Elie in anno dom 1341 the steeple fell downe which made such a terrible noise and shaking of the ground that it was supposed to be some earth-quake He dyed of the palsey in anno dom 1336 being anno 10 Edward 3. John Salmon Bishop of Norwich was advanced to be Chancellor in anno dom 1319 being anno 13 Edward 2 against whom the Nobles rebelled for the misdemenour of Piers Gaveston the Gascoigne Earle of Cornwall In this yeare 1319 as saith one Anonymal Chronicler M.S. was William Airemine Keeper of the seale Vice-chancellor taken prisoner by the Scots The words of the which Author for the more certainety thereof we have here set downe Episcopus Eborum episcopus Eliae thesaurarius Abbas beatae Mariae Eborum Abbas de Selbie Decanus Eborum Dominus Willielmus Arymanee Vice-Cancellarius Angliae ac dominus Johannes Dabeham cum 8000 ferme hominum tam equitum quam peditum Civibus properanter civitatem egredientes quoddam flumen Swale nuncupatum sparsis cuneis transeuntes indispositis seu potius confusis ordinibus cum adversarijs congressi sunt Scoti siquidem in Marte gnari amplitudinem eorum exercitus caute regentes in nostris agminibus strictis audacter irruerunt nostrorum denique in brevi laceratis cuneis atque dissipatis corruerunt ex nostris tam in ore gladij quam aquarum scopulis suffocati plusquam 4000. capti sunt domini Johannes de Pabeham dominus Willielmus de Arymenee ut praefertur de Cancellaria c. Which William Ayrmenee was also in the said 15 of Edward 2. one of the Keepers of the great Seale as I have seene registred Robert Baldocke Archdeacon of Middleton a man evilly beloved and whom the old English Chronicle remembers with ill attributes was made Chancellor of England in anno 17 Edward 2 at the Castle of Pickering in Yorkeshire he was after made Bishop of Norwich and did his fealty for restitution of his Temporalties in anno 19 of the said King Edward the second at Woodstocke in Oxfordshire he was apprehended in anno 20 Edward 2 being in anno dom 1326 or as others have in the yeare 1325 And first committed to the custody of Adam Tarleton or de Orleton bishop of Hereford and after was put in the prison of the Newgate of London in which 20 yeare of King Edward the second the great seale was againe delivered to William Arymenee who as I suppose was then also made Bishop of Norwich and this Baldocke deposed from that see Of which Baldocke thus writeth a Polythronicon of Durham Robertus de Baldocke Cancellarius anno 1325 captus cum Hugonibus de Despensers quia clericus fuit sacerdos in nova porta Londiniarum poni fecit Edwardus Princeps Isabella mater ejus ubi pro nimia miseria mortuus fuit infra breve John Hotham bishop of Elie the second time was at Westminster made Chancellor of England in anno dom 1326 being the first yeare of the Raigne of that King that intituled himselfe King of England and France but he continued not long in the same Office for he was removed in the second yeare of the said King being in anno dom 1328 He was elected Bishop in anno dom 1316 in which place he ruled twenty yeares and died in anno dom 1336 of the palsey at Summersham being buried in the Church of Elie under a goodly monument of stone with the Image of a bishop carved out of Alabast r upon his Tombe Henry Cliffe Master of the Rolles had the charge and Keeping of the great Seale of England in the said yeare of Christ 1328 being the second yeare of King Edward the third and was the Kings Chancellor also Henry de Burgh Burghwash or Burghurst Nephew to Sr. Bartholmew Bladismere baron of Leedes in Kent having beene Treasurer of England enjoyed the honour of the Chancellor in the second yeare of King Edward the third being in anno dom 1328. and was made Chancellor at Northampton which Office he did not long enjoy John Stratford Bishop of Winchester and after of Canterbury and sometime Treasurer of England was made Chancellor of the Realm in anno dom 1330 being in
Lord Chancellor of England at his returne from beyond the Seas in the first yeare of King Henry the seventh being in Anno Dom. 1485 after which he was advanced to the Arch-bishopricke of Canterbury he dyed in Anno Dom. 1499 in Anno 15 of Henry the seaventh as hath Matthew Parker William Warham Advocate in the Arches Master of the Rolles Bishop of London and then Archbishop of Canterbury was before his advancement to the See of Canterbury made Chancellor of England in the time of Henry the seaventh in which office he continued until about the latter end of the seaventh yeare of King Henry the Eight At what time surrendring the Seale by reason of his age and weakenesse the same was delivered to Thomas Woolsey Thomas Woolsey sometimes Chapleine to Henry Deane Archbishop of Canterbury after the Kings Almoner and Abbat of S. Austins who possessing many other Abbies and Bishoprickes was advanced to the government of the great Seale about the beginning of the 8 yeare of King Henry the eight being in Anno Dom. 1516 to hold the same during his life as I gather in which office yet he continued not above thirteene yeares untill Anno 21 of King Henry the 8 being in Anno Dom. 1529. During which time of his Chancellorship in Anno 19 of King Henry the eight being Anno Dom. 1527. he went into France representing the King of Englands Person to set order for the delivery of Pope Clement the seaventh and Francis the French King at what time he carried the great Seale over the Seas to Calis Which Seale hee left with Doctor Taylor Master of the Rolles to keepe the same at Calis untill the Cardinalls returne out of the French Dominions He died in Leicester Abbey not without suspicion of poison as was thought which he had prepared for himselfe and given to his Apothecary to deliver when hee called for it the two and twentieth of King Henry the eight in Anno Dom. 1530. Thomas More Knight Chancellor of the Dutchie of Lancaster was advanced to the honour of Chancellorship of England in Anno Dom. 1529 being in Anno 21 of King Henry the eight In which office this rare witted Knight to use Erasmus his epitheton and learned Chancellor continued not ful three yeares but in Anno 24 of the said King with much labour and earnest suit he left his office Touching which it will not be impertinent to set downe the words of Matthew Parker in the lives of the Bishops of Canterbury in the life of Thomas Cranmer writing after this manner Interearex dum Papae meditabatur excidium singulorum de papali authoritate sensus iudiciis haud obscuris collegit Inter quos Thomas Morus quia regis conatus pontificiis valde suspectus fuit Cancellarii munere venia regis aegre impetrata sese abdicavit Thomas Audeley Atturney of the Dutchie of Lancaster Serjant at the law as most affirme and speaker of the Parliament was made Knight and Keeper of the great Seale the fourth of June in Anno 24 of the raigne of King Henry the eight in Anno dom 1â—32 not long after which he was made Lord Chancellor of England This man in the tenth yeare of his Chancellorship being in Anno dom 1542 and Anno 35 Henry 8 changing the name of Buckingham Colledge in Cambridge did name it the Colledge of S. Mary Magdalen and endowed it with some possessions He dyed on May Eeve in Anno dom 1544 being in Anno 35 Henry 8. Thomas Wriothesly Knight of the Garter Sonne to William Wriothesly Yorke Herald and Grand-childe to John Wriothesly Garter King of Armes being created Baron at Hampton Court on the first day of Ianuary in the 35 yeare of the Reigne of King Henry the eight in Anno dom 1543. was after advanced to the honour of the great seale and Chancellorship of England about the beginning of May in Anno 36 Henry 8 being in Anno dom 1544 in which office hee did continue untill the death of the said King Henry the eight And in the beginning of the raigne of King Edward the sixt he was the sixt of March remooved and the seale was delivered to William Paulet Lord S. John of Basing This Thomas Lord Wriothesly being created Earle of Southampton by King Edward the sixt died at his house of Lincolne place in Holborne the 30 of Iuly in the 4 yeare of the said King Edward in the yeare 1550 and was buried at S. Andrewes in Holborne William Paulet Knight being first Steward of the lands of the Bishopricke of Winchester then Treasurer of the houshold Lord Sent-John of Basing Lord great Master of the Kings house afterwards Earle of Wiltshire Marquesse of Winchester and Treasurer of England being of the Privie Councell to King Henry the eight King Edward the sixt Queen Mary and Queene Elizabeth had the keeping of the great seale committed unto him the seaventh day of March in the yeare of our Lord 1547 being the first yeare of the raigne of the young King Edward the sixt which seale he had in Custody about seaven moneths untill the 23 or 24 of October following at what time Sr. Richard Rich was made Lord Chancellor Sir Richard Rich Knight A Gentleman well descended and alyed in Hampshire created Lord Rich was advanced to the dignity of Lord Chancellor of England about the 23 of October in Anno dom 1547 being the first yeare of the raigne of the noble King Edward the sixt in which place he remained about five yeares Thomas Goodericke or Godericke being Bishop of Elie had the great Seale delivered unto him and was made Lord Chancellor of England the 20 of December as John Stow hath noted in his Chronicle in Anno dom 1551 being Anno 5 Edward 6 in which office he continued all the life of the said King Edward who died in Iuly Anno dom 1553 being the seaventh yeare of his raigne and about one moneth after untill the 13 or 14 day of August in which Queene Mary made Stephen Gardiner her Chancellor Sir Nicholas Hare Master of the Rolles had at the comming of Queene Mary to the Crowne the great Seale after the death of King Edward as Lord Keeper by the space of a fortnight and shortly after was Stephen Gardiner made Chancellor Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester was in August in Anno dom 1553 being the first yeare of the raigne of Queene Mary made Chancellor of England This man going in ambassage unto Calis left the great seale in the custody of William Paulet Marquesse of Winchester which Bishop after his returne into England continued in that office all the time of his life which he ended the 19 of November in Anno dom 1555 being the third yeare of Queene Mary After which the great seale lying in her Majesties custody shee on the New-yeares day following made a new Chancellor Nicholas Heath Bishop of Rochester Almoner to the King Ambassador into Germany Bishop of Worcester President of Wales and Archbishop of
Yorke was upon New-yeares day in Anno dom 1555 being the third yeare of the raigne of Queene Mary advanced to the honorable dignity of Chancellorship But Queene Mary deceasing on the 17 day of November in Anno dom 1558 and the sixt yeare of her governement this Heath upon the placing of Queene Elizabeth upon the throne of the English governement was remooved from his Office and Master Bacon advanced Nicholas Bacon Esquire Atturney of the Court of Wardes was made Knight and Lord Keeper of the great seale the 22 of December in Anno dom 1558 being the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth Which name of Lord Keeper he still kept during his life and the time of his Office In whose time there was an Act of Parliament established to make the power of the Keeper of the great seale equall with the authority of the Chancellor This man continued in this office and worthily executed the same being a man of rare wit and deepe experience during the time of his life which continued untill the 20 of February in Anno dom 1578. after the Accompt of England being the one and twentith yeare of Queene Elizabeth which place this man kept eighteene yeares Thomas Bromlie the generall Sollicitor of Queene Elizabeth a Councellor of the Law and one of the Inner Temple was advanced to the dignity of Lord Chancellor on the 25 day of Aprill in Anno dom 1579 being in Anno 21 Elizabeth Sir Christopher Hatton being Vice-chamberlaine to Queene Elizabeth was constituted Lord Chancellor of England and Keeper of the graat seale upon Sunday the 29. day of Aprill in the 29 yeare of the said Queenes raigne Anno dom 1587. John Puckring Serjant at law was made Knight and sworne of the privy Councell at Greenewich upon Sunday the 28. day of May in the 34. yeare of Queene Elizabeth and at the same time was made Lord Keeper of the great seale of England Sir Thomas Egerton Knight being Master of the Rolles had the great seale of England delivered unto him at Greenewich and sworne of the Privy Councell upon the 6 of May 1596 being in the 38. of Queene Elizabeth and so continued in both those places till the first yeare of King James who created him Baron of Elsmere at Hampton Court 21 Iuly 1603 and made him Lord Chancellor and lastly created him into the dignity of Vicount Brackley the 7. day of November 1616 but severed the place of Master of the Rolles which was given to Edward Bruce Lord Kinlosse Sr. Francis Bacon Knight Atturney generall to King Iames and at the same time of the Privy Councell second sonne of Sr. Nicholas Bacon sometime Lord Keeper of the great seale upon the 7 of March 1616 in the 14 yeare of King James a few dayes before the death of the former Lord Chancellor had the great seale committed to him and being created a Baron by the title of Lord Verulam at Wansted the 12 of July 1617 was made Lord Chancellor the 4 of January following and made Vicount of St. Alban the 20 of Ianuary 1620. Vpon the removall of the Lord Chancellor Bacon who was displaced by the Parliament in Lent the 18 yeare of King Iames. The keeping of the great Seale was committed to Henry vicount Mandevile Lord President of the Councell Lodowicke Duke of Richmond and Lenox Lord Steward of the Kings house William Earle of Pembroke Lord Chamberlaine of the Kings house and Sir Iulius Caesar Knight Master of the Rols who continued the custody thereof till July following John Williams Doctor of Divinity Deane of Westminster and one of the Privy Counsell and after that consecrated Bishop of Lincolne was made Lord keeper of the great seale of England the 10 day of Iuly in the 19 yeare of King James Sir Thomas Coventry Knight eldest sonne to Sr. Thomas Coventry Knight one of the Iustices of the Common pleas being the Kings Atturney Generall was made Lord keeper of the great seale of England the first day of November in the first yeare of King Charles and Created Baron Coventry of Allesborough in the County of Worcester the 10 of Aprill in the 4 yeare of King Charles whose exempler vertues in the execution of this great office to the honour of his Majestie and the generall good of the Kingdome I cannot mention without due Attributes and fearing as I justly may that I shall rather shew mine owne defects than be able to set them forth in due characters I shall with much security discharge my selfe in this kinde by reciting the preamble of his Majesties Letters Patents for Creating his Lordship into the dignity of a Baron and Peere of this Realme Rex c. Archiepiscopis Ducibus c. ad quos praesentes literae provenerint Salutem Officio curae Regali nihil magis arbitramur convenire quam virtutum praemia viris illustribus â—itè disponere ac illos Honoribus attollere qui de Rege Republicâ optimè meruerunt Perspicimus enim Coronam nostram Regiam quam plurimum honorari locupletari cum viros cordatos Consilio prudentiâ virtutibus illustres ac praesertim in administrandâ Justicia strenuos insignes ad Honoris dignitatis gradus vocamus erigimus Nos igitur in personâ praedilecti per quam fidelis Consiliarij nostri Thomae Coventry Militis Custodis Magni Sigilli nostri Angliae gratissima dignissima servitia quae idem Consiliarius noster tam praecharissimo Patri nostro Jacobo Regi beatae memoriae per multos annos quam nobis ab ipsis Regni nostri primis auspicijs fidelissimè prudentissimè praestitit impendit indiesque impendere non desistit Nec non circumspèctionem prudentiam strenuitatem dexteritatem integritatem industriam constantiam fidelitatem ipsius Thomae Coventry Militis erga nos Coronam nostraÌ„ Animo benigno Regali intimè râ—colentes pro gratiae nostrae erga praefatum Consiliarium pignore Nec non virtutum benemeritorum ejusdem encomio posteris suis relinquendum ipsum in Procerum hujus Regni nostri Angliae numerum ascribendum decrevimus Sciatis itaque quod nos de gratia nostrâ speciali ac ex certâ scientia mero motu nostris praefatum Thomam Coventry Militem ad statum gradum dignitatem Honorem Baronis Coventry de Alesborough in Comitatu nostro Wigorniensi ereximus perficimus creavimus Jpsumque Thomam Coventry Militem Baronem Coventry de Alesborough praedicta tenore praesentium erigimus perficimus creamus Jn cujus rei c. T. R. apud Westm decimo die Aprilis Anno Regni Regis Caroli quarto per ipsum Regem FINIS Custodes Rotulorum 23. Ed. 1. ADAM de Osgodby Clerke 10. Ed. 2. William Ayremyne after Keeper of the great Seale 17. Ed. 2. Richard de Ayremyne 20. Ed. 2. Henry de Clyffe Clerke after keeper of the great Seale died the 7 of King Edward the third 7. Ed. 3.
of the Swan in the word Winchelsega thus terme Iohannes Chirchebius Episcopus Anguillarinus Regi a thesauris This man was Treasurer in the 16 17 and part of 18 of Edward the first in which yeare as it seemeth being part of An. Do. 1290. This Bishop died the 7. Kalends of Aprill after that hee had beene Bishop three yeeres some moneths and some dayes and was buried by Walpoole Bishop of Norwich in the Church of Elie on the north part of the queere before the Altar of Saint Iohn Baptist William de Marchia or Gulielmus Martius was Treasurer in Easter terme in the 18. of Edw. the first in which office he continued about 5. yeares was removed from that place in the 23. of Edward the first Peter of Leicester Baron of the Exchequer with the two Chamberlaines executed al functions of that office untill a new Treasurer was made this William de Marchia was made Bishop of Bathe and Welles in An. Do. 1293. being the 22. of Edward the first in which See hee remained almost 10. yeares and died in An. Do. 1302. being about the 32. of Edward the first was buried in the Church of VVells in the wall betweene the doore of the Cloister and the Altar of Saint Martin at whose Tombe in times past as the nature of that credulous age did hastily beleeve were many miracles done as some have left in memory to the following posterity VValter Langhstane Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry was made Treasurer after William de Marchia in 23. Edward the first in which office he continued as I gather during the life of Edward the first which fell in the 35. of his raigne being An. Do. 1307. and was then removed and imprisoned in the Tower with two men onely by Edward the second then comming to the Crowne because the said Walter Langstone had caused Edward the first to imprison and as some have to banish this new King for breaking downe the Parkes of the said Bishop During the time that this Peter de Willeby was under-Treasurer or Livetenant of the Treasury for the words be Locum tenens thesaurarij in 30. 31 and 32. Edward the first this Walter was made Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield in An. Do. 1295. being 23. yeare of Edward the first and the same yeare that he was made Treasurer he died about An. Do. 1321. being about the 14. yeare of Edward the second to which Bishop the Barons of Cobham were heires being descended from Margaret the Sister and heire of Iohn Peverell the Cosen and heire of this Walter Langhstane which Margaret was married to Sir William de La Poole of Ashby Knight from whom the Lord Cobham issue In this mans time of being Treasurer dyed King Edward the first for whom were these verses Dum viguit Rex valuit tua magna potestas Fraus latuit pax magna fuit regnavit honestas Scotos Edvardus dum vixit suppeditavit Tenuit afflixit depressit dilaniavit Walter Reynolds Schoolemaster to Edward the second Bishop of Worcester after of Canterbury and Chanceller of England was advanced to the place of Lord Treasurer of England in the first yeare of Edward the second being in An. Dom. 1307. after which in the yeare 1308. hee was made Bishop of Worcester he continued in the office of Treasurer untill some part of the 4. yeare of Edward the second at what time came in his place Iohn Sandall who was Livetennant unto the said Walter in place of the Treasurer as appeareth by many writs directed unto him by the name of Iohn Sandall Locum tenenti Willimi Episcopi Wigorniae Of him is more spoken in the Chancellors of England Iohn de Sandall being Clerke Scutifer Regis Chanceller of the Exchequer and Chanceller of England having beene before under Treasurer or Deputy for the high Treasurer came now in the fourth yeare of Edward the second to bee made chiefe Treasurer and entred into that office in Easter tearme about the beginning of the 4. yeare of Edward the 2. But in the yeare following which was in the fifth yeare of Edward the second hee gave place to another Hee was chosen Bishop of Winchester in the ninth yeare of King Edward the second being in An Do. 1316. Of whom thus writeth Anonymus M.S. Obierunt Episcopus Winton Elie viri sacra professione insigniti quorum primo successit Iohannes de Sandall Cancellarius Angliae vir cunctis affabilis necessarius communitati Secundo successit Iohannes Hothum scaccar regis vir si quidem scientiae penitus ignarus qui statim episcopatus ascenso culmine ad honorum pariter officij thesaurarij Rex in sui favorem sublimavit Walter Norwich Knight Treasurer in the 5. yeare of Edward the 2. and afterward in Easter tearme in the 8. yeare of Edward the 2. did on the third of October receive the office of Treasurership and tooke his oath before the Barons Chamberleynes of the Exchequer to behave himselfe well and faithfully in the same office which he had received by Letters Patents dated at yorke the 26. of September in the eight yeare of King Edward the second which he kept not long at that time Iohn Sandall was the second time Lord Treasurer in sixt and seventh yeare of King Edw. the second This man being Bishop of Winchester was Treasurer Of him see more in the Chancellers of England Walter de Norwich being Treasurer as before in the eight yeare of Edward the second did not long enjoy the same but as I suppose grave place to Iohn Drokensford Iohn Drokensford the 14. Bishop of Bath and Wells had as I have read the great seale delivered unto him and was also Treasurer of England but because I finde not as yet in what yeare although it were in the time of Edward the second I cannot set downe the certainety Of whom thus writeth the Register of the Bishops of Bath Iohannes Drokensford Thesaurarius 14. Bathon Episcopus post Walterum Haselshawes successit in Episcopatum Bathon annis 19. iste episcopatum pluribus aedificijs insignivit franchesias per regis episcopatus concessas non solum litterarie renovavit sed etiam ampliavit quo additationem exaltationem parentelae suae fere fuit aequalis praedicessori suo Roberto Bornell Welliae sepelitur ante altare sancti Iohannis Baptistae Iohn Hothum Bishop of Elie as is before noted out of one anonymall Chronicle obteyned the place and honour of Treasurership in the 11. yeare of Edward the second which hee did not long enjoy for in the Michaelmas Tearme in the the 12. yeare of Edward the second came William VValwaine Of this Iohn Hotham is mention made in the discourse of the Chancellers VVilliam VValwaine Treasurer of England in the 12. yeare of Edward the second about An. Dom. 1318. was as it should seeme for his negligence and unworthines removed at the Parliament at yorke in such sort as he possessed not that place as I
of England which office he held in the 35. yeare of Edward the third and 36. who being Bishop of London as hath Matthew Parker was in An. Dom. 1361. being the thirty fifth yeare of Edward the third by the Pope made Bishop of Ely where he sate five yeares and was after in An. Dom. 1366 being in the 40. yeare of Edward the third chosen Bishop of Canterbury and consecrated in An. Dom. 1367. as saith the same Matthew Parker On which day of his consecration he demanded homage of the Earle Stafford of Thomas Rosse Iohn Tirhill Robert Brockhill and Raphe Sentleger Knights for their Lands which they held of the Sea of Canterbury Shortly after which in An. Dom. 1368. being the 42. yeare of Edward the third he was made Cardinall and died at Avimere the 22 day of Iuly about An. Dom. 1376. being in the 50. yeare of King Edward the third and was buried besides Avinion in a place which he had raised from the foundation Three yeares after which his bones were brought to Westminster where at this day hee hath a worthie Tombe on the south side of the Shrine amongst the Kings on whose Tombe the Moonkes of Westminster did sometime place this Epitaphe in the remembrance of him Simon de Langham sub petris his tumulatus Istius Ecclesiae monachus fuerat prior abbas Sede vacante fuit electus Londoniensis Praesul insignis eligi sed postea primas Totius regni magnus regis que minister Nam Thesaurarius Cancellarius ejus Ac Cardinalis in Roma Presbiter iste Postque Praenestinus est factus episcopus atque Nuntius ex parte Papae transmittitur istuc Orbe dolente pater quem nunc revocare nequimus Magdalanae festo milleno septuageno Et ter centeno sexto Christi ruit anno Hunc Deus absolvat de cunctis quae male gessit Et meritis matris sibi caelica gaudia donet Of this man I have treated in the collection of all the Chancellers of England Iohn Barret made Bishop of Worcester in An. Do. 1362. being the 36. yeare of Edward the third was Treasurer of England in the 37. yeare of Edward the third in which office he continued being Treasurer in Michaelmas Tearme in the 38. yeare of Edward the third which fell in An. Dom. 1364. and so hee continued till the 43. yeare of Edward the third still Treasurer He was made Bishop of Bath in An. Dom. 1363. in which Bishoppricke he remained three yeares and was by Vrbane the 6. then Bishop of Rome translated from Bath to Elie in An. Dom. 1366. being the 40. yeare of Edward the 3. in which place hee sate sixe yeares and being a very old man and having beene Treasurer about sixe yeares hee died at Hatfield the seventh Ides of Iune in An. Dom. 1373. in the 47. yeare of Edward the third hee was buried in the Church of Elie besides the high Altar on the south part Thomas de Brantington being Treasurer for the King in the parts of Guisnes martches and Calis in An. Dom. 1367. being in the 41. yeare of Edward the third was made Bishop of Exeter by speciall Letters of the King in An. Dom. 1358. being the 43. yeare of Edward the third and was Lord Treasurer of England in the 44. and 45. yeares of Edward the third which 45. beeing in An. Dom. 1371. he was in a Parliament at the Petition of the Lords removed at which time also there passed a Law that the Chancellor Treasurer and Clarke of the Privy seale should no more be spiritual men but that secular men should have those offices Sir Richard Scroope Lord of Bolton and Chancellor of England was Treasurer of England in the 46. yeare of Edward the third and then gave place to Sir Robert Aston Knight This Richard made out of the ground the Castle of Bolton consisting of foure great strong towers of other stately lodgings which Castell was erecting 18. yeares the charges whereof came yearely unto a Thousand Marks which was 18. thousand Markes or 12000. pound which Castle hee finished before Richard the second died He bought the heire general of S. Quintine that was owner of Horneby Castle in Richmondshire which heire hee was content one Conyers a servant of his should marry and have the preferment of that ward so Horneby Castle came to the Coniers of which the first Lord was William Coniers grandfather to him that died in the time of Queene Mary without heire male whereby his inheritance came to his three daughters which William the first Lord Coniers of that name did much cost upon Horneby Castle being before but a meane thing I have read of this Lord Scroope that hee had a sonne called William whereof wee will speake more hereafter that was Earle of Wiltsshire who being beheaded in his fathers life left no issue behind him After which the father surviving was made Treasurer to the King and died in honour althoug he was not restored to his dignity of Chancellership but at what time he should be the second time Treasurer after the death of his sonne William in the time of Henry the fourth I cannot as yet certainely learne But it may bee that hee was againe Treasurer in the ninth yeare of Henry the fourth for that I finde not by any former search who then possessed that place It seemeth that he had two wives the one the daughter of the Lord Spenser the other the daughter of Michaell de la Poole Earle of Suffolke called Blanch. Hee had three sonnes for whom hee bought of the King the three daughters and heires of Robert Lord Tiptoft whereof the eldest daughter Margaret was married to Roger his second sonne the second daughter was married to William his eldest sonne the third daughter called Millescent was married to Stephen the third sonne of the said Richard Sir Robert Ashton Knight Constable of Dover Castle and Lord warden of the Cinque Ports was Lord Treasurer in the 50. and 51. yeare of King Edward the third in Michaelmas terme which was the last Michaelmas tearme wherein the King raigned being in An. Dom. 1376. of which name there was also one that was chiefe Baron in the time of Edward the second as I have read Henry Wake or Wakefield being made Bishop of Worcester in An. Do. 1375. being in the 49. yeare of Edw. the 3. was made Lord Treasurer of England in An. Dom. 1376. in the 51. yeare of Edward the third in which office hee continued part of Easter terme in the first yeare of Richard the second being in An. Dom. 1378. he died in An. Dom. 1395. as saith Walsingham Thomas Brantington Bishop of Excester was made Lord Treasurer in first yeare of Richard the second towards the latter end of Easter tearme being in An. Dom. 1378. as I compute it from which place he was shortly removed in the second yeare of Richard the second Richard Earle of Arundell and Surry made Lord Treasurer of England in the
note of An. Do. 1463. in the margent are in this order Edwardus Rex duobus jam annis faeliciter gesto regno parliamentuÌ„ West monasterij tenuit quo etiam tempore Archiepiscopus which was Thomas Bourchier the brother of Henry Bourchier Earle of Essex Clerus in synodo convenerunt In hac synodo Iohannes Comes Wigorniae Henricus Comes Essexiae D. Edmundus Grey Thesaurarius Angliae D. Humfridus Cromwell D. Wenlocke D. Iohannes Prior sancti Iohannis Robertus Stillington Legum doctor custos privati sigilli regis consiliarij allatis literis regijs petierunt a clero decerni regi ad Scotos repellendos subsidium Quod quidem gratissimis omnium animis tam munifico regi concessum est qui superiori anno ecclesiae immunitates atque jura iniquis judiciorum calumnijs uti in Iohanne Stafford antea diximus convulsa labefactata diplomate regio restauravit Besides which thus writeth Iohn Whethamstead that learned Abbat of Saint Albons of this Lord Grey declaring in what authority he was at first in the daies of Henry the sixt and then in the raigne of Edward the fourth His words be these In the 36. yeare of Henry the sixt Venerunt tres viri monachi de caenobio Cluniacensi quibus ad audiendum eorum nuntium missi sunt episcopus Dunelmensis custos privati sigilli Dominus Edmondus Grey de Ruthine Secretarius regis quibus isti viri dixerunt eorum adventum esse ob tria Primo ad aperiendum quomodo reges Angliae praecipue Henricus secundus fuerunt tam magni benefactores ad eorum ecclesiam ut potius pro nunc dicatur earum patronus praecipuus fundator Secundo venerunt ad petendum possessionem confirmationem bonorum illorum quae dicti progenitores eis contulerant per tempus non paucum jamdudum a manibus eorum detenta distracta erant Tertio ad impetrandum liberam licentiam ad ingrediendum singula loca religiosa ob eorum caenobio dependentia quae per nobiles progenitores reges posita fuerunt sub eorum regimime Sed nihil hic eis gratum fuit actum itu at tristes discederunt Out of which words of Whethamsted may other things bee gathered besides the doings of the Lord Grey as that the Kings of England and specially Henry the second have been great benefactors and founders of the Charterhouse Monkes with many moe matters contained in the same which I referre to the wise learned reader which made me the willinger to set down his words so largely Moreover the same Whethamsted continuing the Historie of Henry the sixt writeth of the battle of Northampton wherein was this Lord Gray in this sort In praelio Northamptonensi Edmundus Grey dominus Ruthine corpore licet praesens even as the Lord Stanly was in the battell fought betwixt Richard the third and Henry Earle of Richmond after King by the name of Henry the seventh in campi domini regis Henrici Sexti steterat cor tamen ejus non erat rectum in eo neque omnino fidelis habitus aut inventus fuit Nam venientibus turmis dictis ad fossam circumvallationis ipsam non multum prompte propter elevationem ver ticis in parte ulteriore ascendere valentibus occurrit ipsis dominus cum suis copijs obvians porrigendoque ipsis dextran traxit eos per manus in campum Martium juxta votum suum Thus much Whethamsted of Edmond Grey Lord Ruthine who was made Earle of Kent in the fifth yeare of Edward the fourth in An. Dom. 1464. This Edmond Grey being Lord Hastings Weisford and Ruthine before he had the honour of this Earledome did by his Deed of Indenture dated the eighteenth of November in the 25. yeare of Henry the sixt in An. Do. 1446. give to Iohn Pinchbecke Prior of Duffefield in Northamptonshire in Almes during the life of the said Prior his Feild called Challocke to keepe the obits of Sir Iohn Grey father to the said Sir Edmond and of Dame Constance the widow of the Earle Marshall and daughter of Iohn Holland Duke of Excester and Earle of Huntington mother to the said Sir Edmund with masse c. as such other Collects as the said Edmond should deliver unto the said Prior. Sir Walter Blunt Knight who was the first Lord Montjoy possessed the place of Lord Treasurership of England in the fifth yeare of Edward the fourth which fell in Anno Dom. 1465. Of this man is mention made in the Booke of the Law called Long Quinto of Edward the fourth Hee married the daughter of Sir Iohn Biron and had yssue William Iohn and Iames. Sir Richard Woodvile Knight Chamberlaine to the King and Constable of England was made Barron on the ninth of May in the second yeare of Henry the sixt in An. Dom. 1424. and was after created Earle of Rivers in the fift yeare of Edward the fourth in An. Dom. 1465. who thus advanced was after Lord Treasurer in the 6. 7. and 8. of Edward the fourth In which 8. yeare of Edward the fourth Thomas Cooke late Major of London was accused of Treason and arraigned for the same who after he had beene many times purged theref was yet at last found guilty and by this Lord Rivers then Lord Treasurer so handled as that hee could not be delivered untill hee had paid 8000. pound to the king and 800. pound to the Queene This Lord Treasurer married Iaquet the widow of Iohn Duke of Bedford daughter to Peter of Lucenburgh Earle of Saint Paule by whom hee had yssue Richard Earle Rivers Anthony Lord Scales in the right of his wife Edward Woodvile Knight slaine at the battell of Saint Albine in Britaine in â—he third yeare of Henry the seventh Lionell Bishop of Salisbury Margaret married to Thomas Earle of Arundale Margaret married to William Herbert Earle of Huntington Anna first married to William Bourchier Earle of Essex and after to George Gray Earle of Kent Iaquet married to Iohn Lord Strange Elizabeth married to Sir Iohn Greie younger son to the Lord Greie of Ruthine and after the death of the said Sir Iohn Greie to King Edward the fourth and Katherine married to Henry Duke of Buckingham Besides all which I have read of one Iohn which was sonne to this Earle Rivers which Iohn married the old Dutchesse of Norfolke and was beheaded with his father the truth wherof I leave to further triall This Richard Earle Rivers Lord Treasurer in the ninth yeare of Edward the fourth in An. Dom. 1469. was by Robert Hiltard who named himselfe Robert of Kidesdale taken in the forrest of Deane as some have others say at Grafton and from thence brought to Northhampton and there was beheaded Iohn Longstrother Prior of Saint Iohns Ierusalem in England possessed the place of Lord Treasurer of the Realme in the ninth yeare of Edward the fourth in Anno Dom. 1469. for in the same yeare hee gave place to the Bishop