his vtmost indeuor for the aduauncement of him T. Becket vnto the Archbishoppricke Being therefore at that time in Normandy he sent Richard Lucy a counsellor of speciall trust into England with charge to effect these two things first to procure all the Nobles and best of the comminalty to sweare fealty vnto yoong Prince Henry his sonne and then to cause the Monkes of Canterbury to elect Thomas his Chauncellor Archbishop The first he quickly brought to passe the rather by the helpe of the Chauncellor that was ioined in commission with him And in the second also he bestirred him selfe so well as he caused the whole conuocation of the Clergy a wost authenticall kind of election to choose Thomas Becket for their Archbishop no one man gainesaying it except Gilbert Foliot Bishop of London He was consecrate Archbishop vpon Whitsonday being made Priest but iust the day before by the Bishop of Wintchester ann 1162. being not yet full 44. yéeres of age Presently after his consecration he altered all the whole course of his life became so graue so austere and so deuout in all outward shewe as he séemed quite another man Also he resigned his Chauncellorship certifiyng the King by letters who was then in Normandy he could not serue the Church and the Court both at once The King that euer hitherto thought to vse Thomas Becket as a schoole master to instruct and inure his sonne in matters of state and policy was now very sory that he had made him Archbishop séeing he threw off all care of temporall gouernment and considering the hawtinesse of his spirits sore doubted wherunto this strange dealing would growe at the last Another thing the King greatly disliked in him was this that being yet scarcely warme in his seate he began to looke so narrowly into the state of the land belonging to his sée and to challenge withall extremity whatsouer might séeme to pertaine vnto him as he prouoked many of all sorts of people against him who euery where exclaimed with open mouth and made their complaints thicke and thréefold vnto the King saying that hauing some authority and more knowledge in the Lawe vnder colour of defending the rights of his Church he tooke violently from euery man what he list But the maine quarrell betwixt the King and him was this The Cleargy of those times bare them selues so bold vpon the priuileges of the Church whereby in crymes neuer so haynous they claymed to be exempted from the iudgement of temporall courts as dayly infinite outrages were committed by Cleargy men murthers robberies rapes c. which temporall Judges might not meddle withall and in the spirituall courtes they were either not punished or for the most part very lightly For the amendment and preuention of this inconuenience in 〈◊〉 to come the King intended to publish a certaine declaration of the customes of England set downe long since by King Henry the first his grandfather wherein this intollerable and licencious liberty of the Cleargy was somewhat restrained And that it might not be spurned at by any the Archbishop especially he doubted he deuised to send this declaracion vnto the Pope and to craue his allowance of the same But the Archbishop hauing some inkling of the Kings intent before hand had so dealt with the Pope as it was no sooner séene but it was streight reiected Herewith the King was so incensed as after that time he bent himselfe altogether to the diminishing and breaking of all immunities and liberties of the church And the Archbishop was so farre from séeking to pacifie the Kings displeasure as daily he prouoked him more and more The particularities thereof to passe ouer the King thought good to try whether he could put in execution the contents of the foresaid declaration euen in despite of the Archbishop or no. He offered the same vnto all the Clergy gathered togither in a synode who as if they had learned all one lesson told the King seuerally in the same words that they were content to allow it 〈◊〉 ordine 〈◊〉 so farre foorth as they might without 〈◊〉 of their owne coat and calling Onely one man Hilary Bishop of Chichester was content to yéeld vnto it simpliciter and without condition but was so bayted and reuiled for his labour as it is like he often repented it Yet so the matter was handled not long after as first diuers other Bishops were content to yeeld vnto the King in this demaund and at last euen the Archbishop himselfe with all his followers So at a time appointed they met at Clarindon and theresware vnto the obseruation of the articles comprised in that declaration This notwithstanding soone after they disliking that they had done got the Pope to assoile them of this oath But the Archbishop now well assuring himselfe he had so offended the king as there was no abiding for him heere he tooke ship at Kumney intending to auoid the 〈◊〉 but missed of his purpose for he was forced by a contrarie winde to returne to land againe Presently vpon his arriuall he was apprehended and carried prisoner to Northampton where the king then held a Councell and was there accused of extortion periury treason forgery and many other crimes His owne suffragan Bishops though he had appealed vnto the Pope gaue sentence against him and warranted the king they would make proofe of these accusations vnto the Pope The next night after his condemnation he scaped away and once more hasted vnto the sea committed himselfe very desperately vnto a little bad rotten fisher boat and accompanied onely with three seruitors crossedthe sea and got into the low Countries and thence posted to the Pope at Senon who placed him in the monastery of Pontiniac While he there rested himselfe he thundred out excommunications apace against all such as did obserue the articles contayned in the declaration set foorth at Clarindon whereunto himselfe had once sworne The King as fast bestird himselfe in seasing all the goods and temporalties of the Archbishop into his hand He sent also ambassadors vnto the Earle of Flaunders the French King and the Pope praying them in no wise to foster or suffer him in their dominions requesting moreouer of the Pope that he would confirme and allow of the declaration published at Clarindon The Pope made an answere though friuolous saying he would consider of the matter But the French with whom the King of England had amity and a league of friendship at that time he thinking that this agreement betweene him and the Archbishop would bréed some stirre in England presently fell to inuading the King of Englands dominions tooke by assault certaine holds of his in Normandy The Archbishop also about the same time sent out particular excommunications against all the suffragan Bishops of his Prouince The King mightily offended with this excéeding boldnesse of the Archbishop whereunto he well knew he was hartned and animated by the Pope and the French King bethough himselfe how by all
meanes possible he might vere and grieue him First because he knew he delighted much in the monastery of Pontiniac which was an Abbey of Cistercian monkes he signified to all the monkes of that order in his dominions that he would banish them euery one if they would not procure the Archbishop to be thrust out of that monastery which for feare of so great calamity to so many men was effected Then he also droue out of the realme all his kinsfolks friends and professed welwillers of whom he suspected him to be any way aided or comforted Alexander the Pope Thomas Beckets surest card was ferited in much like sort the same time by Friderike 〈◊〉 the Emperor as he himselfe was The King therefore by the counsell of Gilbert Bishop of London determined to ioyns in league with the Emperor if possibly he might that was a professed enimy both to the French King and the Pope To this purpose he sent two ambassadors vnto him perswading him to deals with the Cardinals Lucius the Antipope being then lately dead to set vp another in his roome to whom he promised all his dominions should yéelde obedience The Pope hauing notize of this practise began presentlyto quaile sent the King word he would order all things betwéene the Archbishop and him to his 〈◊〉 liking and that out of hand Now it had hapened a little before that the Pope had graunted vnto the Archbishop a very large licence of excommunicating whom he list in England the King the Queene and a very few other excepted This authority he abused very intemperately at that time when 〈◊〉 matters were thus in hammering betwéene the Pope and 〈◊〉 King in so much as he had marred all if the Pope had not spéedly yeelded a reason thereof to the King By this time the French King the Popes onely Protector against the Emperor began to spy that he was much more cold in the defence of the Archbishop then he had beene and reprehended him sharply for it The Pope therefore not knowing which way to turne him selfe for the satisfiyng of both these potentates neither of which he could safcly offend as things stoode he determined first to labour a reconciliation betweene them and then to make the French King a mediator for the Archbishop This he effected and brought the two Kings together at Paris Thither also came Thomas Becket And sute being made vnto the King in his behalfe that he might returne be restored to his goods and reuenues arising in the time of his absence and lastly vpon his humble submission to the Kings fauour The King answered that for the rest he was contented but faith he the profites of his Archbishopricke since his banishment I can not allow him for that I haue already giuen them to others Mary recompence I will make him for them to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the French King or the Senate of Paris or else of the 〈◊〉 of the Uniuersity Presently the Archbishop was called for who falling downe vpon his knees vsed these words My Lord and soueraigne I doo here commit vnto your owne iudgement the cause and controuersie betwéene vs so farre foorth as I may sauing the honor of 〈◊〉 God The King much offended with that last exception 〈◊〉 honore Dei turned him about vnto the French King and telling him how much he had doone for the Archbishop and how he had vsed him I am quoth he at last so well acquainted with the tricks of this fellow that I can not hope for any good dealing at his hands Sée you not how he goeth about to delude me with this clause sauing the honor of God For whatsoeuer shall displease him he will by and by alleage to be preiudiciall to the honor of Almighty God But this I will say vnto you whereas there haue béene Kings of England many before me whereof some were peraduenture of greater power than I the most part farre lesse and againe many Archbishops before this man holy and notable men Looke what duty was euer perfourmed by the greatest Archbishop that euer was to the weakest and simplest of my predecessours let him yéeld me but that and it shall abundantly content me Hereunto the Archbishop answered cunningly and stoutly ynough that the times were altered his predecessors which could not bring all things to passe at the first dash were content to beare with many things and that as men they fell and omitted their duty oftentimes that which the Church had gotten was by the constancy of good Prelates whose example he would follow thus farre foorth as though he could not augment the priuileges of the Church in his time yet he would neuer consent they should be diminished This answeare being heard all men cryed shame vpon him and generally imputed the fault of these sturs vnto him But this was the issue for that time that they parted without reconciliation The King doubting what might come of these broiles caused his sonne Henry that died soone after to be crowned King in his owne life time so to assure him of the succession Afterwards comming into Fraunce againe they were vpon the point of reconciliation when the casting out of some such word or another as before marred all At length the King and he were made friends but his full restitution deferred till he had behaued himselfe quietly a while at Canterbury which he promised to doo But he was so farre from perfourming that promise as he sent into England before him diuers excommunications which the Pope had graunted out long before and committed to his discretion Amongst other the Archbishop of Yorke the Bishop of London and Salisbury were named in them together with so many as had béene dooers in the coronation of the yoong King which the Archbishop said might not be performed of any but by his appointment The men thus strucken with this holy fire hasted them ouer into Normandy to make their complaint vnto the king who infinitely grieued at this kinde of dealing cursed the time that euer he made him Archbishop or restored him to his place againe adding it was his chaunce euer to do for vnthankefull men otherwise some or other would long ere this haue made this proud priest an example to all such troublesome perturbers of his realme and state It happened amongst other fower knights to be present at this spéech of the kings who gathered thereby they should do a deed very acceptable vnto him if they killed the Archbishop Their names were Reynald Fitz-Vrse Hugh de Mortuill William de Tracy and Richard Briton In this meane time the Archbishop was come to Canterbury and was receiued there with great ioy Thence he went to London and so to Woodstocke where the yoong king then lay But before he could get to the kings presence word was brought him the kings pleasure was he should first go to Canterbury and reuoke those excommunications before he the king would talke with him So he returned againe to Canterbury without seeing the king
many gentle intreaties large praises of the new Archbishop and seasoned now and then with some touches of doubtfull threatning if he should oppose himselfe against that was then done This notwithstanding the king in great indignation banished all the monkes of Canterbury seased vpon their goods and lands and forbid Stephen Langton entrance into the realme The Pope hearing of this sent his mandate vnto thrée Bishops William of London Eustach of Ely and Mauger of Worcester wherein he willed them first to admonish and perswade the king to restore the monkes to their goods and places and to giue the Archbishops possession of his temporalties by a day then if he refused so to do to interdict the whole realme They durst not but obey and finding the king resolute in his determination at the time appointed they published the Popes interdiction and as well foreséeing the great trouble to come as the present danger got them out of the land tegether with 〈◊〉 Bishop of Bathe and Gyles of Hereford The king immediately seased all their goods and temporalties into his hands and moreouer banished all the friends and 〈◊〉 of these Bishops that were likely to yéeld them any comfort or releife During the time of this interdict all seruice ceased throughout the realme except onely Baptisme of children auricular confession and the administration of the sacrament vnto such as lay vpon the point of death The Pope séeing this course preuailed not proceeded to a particular excommunication of the king and not long after depriued him by sentence of all regal authority a thing till that time in no age euer heard of All this while the king esteemed the Popes sword blunt and vnable to wound him till at last he perceiued the French king ready to take aduantage of this sentence and prouiding busily to inuade his dominions His owne people also began to fall from him and to doubt whom in conscience they ought rather to follow their owne 〈◊〉 Prince or a forreine intruder a strange and monstrous ignorance Séeing therefore no other remedy he was faine to yéeld receiued the Archbishop restored the other Bishops the monkes and all the rest banished vnto their goods and reueneues and moreouer was content to resigne his crowne into the Popes hands vpon restitution to assure him by his letters patents a yéerely pension of a thousand markes This done he thought all troubles at an end when the worst of all was yet behind For he bare himselfe so bold vpon the Popes fauour which he had bought deerely as he doubted not to oppresse diuers of his nobility with many and continuall wrongs reuoking all former graunts of priuiledges at his pleasure vpon this point that he had receiued his kingdome from the Pope absolutely free from all entanglement of any priuiledges deriued from the same Heereupon the Barons rebelled the Archb. taking their part and when they doubted least they should not make their party good against the king the Pope stucke so close vnto him they procured Lewis the French kings eldest sonne to inuade the realme Him together with the Archbishop and all the Barons the Pope excommunicated This great hurly burly was appeased suddenly by the kings death who died some say of care sorrow some of surfet and some say he was poysoned by a monke His sonne Henry a Prince often yéeres old was receiued to the kingdome Lewis forsaken the Barons vpon promise of obedience vnto their king absolued by the Popes legate Clergy men were debarred a while from 〈◊〉 absolution that they might compound for the same which they were glad to do All things being thus quieted this our Archbishop called a conuocation at Dsney wherein many things were decreed to be seene for the most part among the principall constitutions Thither came a certaine yoong man that shewing the marks of wounds in his hands feete and side professed himselfe to be no lesse man then Jesus Christ. He brought also two women with him whereof one tooke vpon her to be our Lady the other Mary Magdalen This counterfait Christ for his labour was woorthily crucified and forced to resemble him in the manner of his death whose life and person he had 〈◊〉 immitated and sought to expresse Soone after he translated the bones of S. Thomas Becket from the place where they were first buried in the vndercraft into a goodly sumptuous shrine This was done woonderfull solemnly the king and greatest part of the nobility of all the realme being present During the time of this ceremony all passengers from London to Canterbury were allowed horsemeat at the Arthbishops charge who also caused vessels of wine to runne continually in diuers parts of the city all the day of this translation that who so list might drinke of them This solemnity prooued so chargeable vnto him as neither he nor fower of his successors were able to recouer the debt he cast his Sée and Church into He was Archbishop in all two and twentie yéeres and died July 9. 1228. at his mannor of Slyndon in Sussex from whence his body was conueighed to Canterbury and there buried in the chappell of Saint Michaell This man was admirably learned and writ many notable workes the Catalogue whereof is to be séene in Bale Amongst the rest it is especially to be noted that he first diuided the Bible into Chapters in such sort as we now account them The Archbishops pallace at Canterbury is said to haue béene built in a manner all by this Stephen Langton Moreouer it is deliuered that he bestowed great cost in making a faire horologe in the South crosse isle of the church néere which he lieth buried his monument being situate in a manner iust vnder the altar 44. Richard Magnus VVIthin a fewe daies after the death of Stephen Langton the Monkes with the Kings licence procéeded to election made choice of one Walt. de Hempsham one of their own company presented him vnto the K. who by the aduice of diuers prelates refused to allow of him Which notwithstanding he got him to Rome hoping by one meanes or other to obtaine the Popes confirmation The king hauing notize of his intent sent thither the Bishop of Chester to signifie that he was a man very vnlearned and moreouer infamous for his life and conuersation as namely that he had gotten diuers children vpon a certaine Nunne that his father was hanged for theft and that himselfe had deserued it by taking the part of the rebellious Barons All this would not stay the Pope from giuing him confirmation vntill the kings Ambassadors had promised him a tenth of all spirituall promotions in England to aide him in his wars against the Emperor That being assigned him he straight way pronounced the election voide and by reason of the insufficiency of the elect the right of nomination to be deuolued vnto him selfe by vertue of which title he tooke vpon him at the kings request to name vnto that see Richard the Chauncellor of
was buried betwéene the two pillers next vnto the stéeple on the north side of the body of the church vnder a marble stone ouer which was built a kinde of tombe or chappell of wood that by the burning of the stéeple was also consumed and quight defaced June 4. 1561. 75. Cuthbert Tonstall CVthbert Tonstall Doctor of Lawe Master of the Rolles and kéeper of the priuy Seale succéeded Richard Fitz-Iames in the Bishopricke of London and was translated to Durham March 25. 1530. Sée more of him in Durham 76. Iohn Stokesley IOhn Stokesley was inthronized July 19. 1530. and departed this life September 8. 1539. He lieth buried in the Lady Chappell vnder a marble inlaid with brasse 77. Edmund Boner EEmund Boner Doctor of Law and Archdeacon of Leycester sometimes Master of the Cardinals faculties had the Bishopricke of Hereford bestowed vpon him at what time he was out of the realme Embassador vnto the Pope from king Henry the eight for renouncing his authority here in England Soone after his returne hauing yet scarcely entred vpon Hereford he was called to London elected October 20. 1539. and installed Aprill 3. 1540. How butcherly he behaued himselfe in that place I referre you vnto the report of Master Foxe He was depriued October 1. 1549. restored by Quéene Mary August 5. 1553. and lastly displaced againe by authority of Parliament May 30. 1559. He died in the Marshalsea September 5. 1569. 78. Nicolas Ridley AFter the first displacing of Bishop Boner Nicholas Ridley Bishop of Rochester was translated to London and installed there Aprill 12. 1550. He was a gentleman of an ancient house borne in the Bishopricke of Durham brought vp in Pembrooke Hall in Cambridge where he proceeded Doctor of Diuinity consecrate Bishop of Rochester September 25. 1547. remooued to London as before is mentioned and lastly died for the constant profession of his faith October 16. 1555. the historie whereof and his whole life ye may read in Master Foxe more at large 79. Edmund Grindall BIshop Boner being the second time depriued Edmund Grindall was elected July 26. following consecrate December 1. 1559. translated to Yorke May 20. 1570. and after to Canterbury Sée more of him in Canterbury 80. Edwyn Sands EDwyn Sands Bishop of Worcester was confirmed Bishop of London July 13. 1570. He sate there about the space of sixe yeeres and was translated to Yorke Sée more in Yorke 81. Iohn Elmer IOhn Elmer Doctor of Diuinity and Archdeacon of Lincolne succéeded He sate almost eightéen yéeres died at Fulham June 3. 1594 and was buried toward the North side of the East part of the church aboue the high altar 82. Richard Fletcher THe Sée of Bristow hauing béene void many yéeres Richard Fletcher Doctor of Diuinity Deane of Peterborough and one of her Maiesties chaplaines was consecrate thereunto in December 1589. translated thence to Worcester in February 1593. and in the ende of the yéere 1594. to London He died suddenly in his house at London being to sée to well sicke and dead in one quarter of an hower June 15. 1596. and was buried in his owne Cathedrall church 83. Richard Bancroft RIchard Bancroft Doctor of Diuinity was consecrate the eight of May 1597. This Bishopricke is valued in the Queenes bookes at 1119 l. 8 s. 4 d. and yeelded the Pope from euery Bishop at his first entrance 3000. florens The Bishops of Winchester THE Cathedrall Church of Winchester according to a report that I finde was first built and erected by King Lucius who abolishing Paganisike embraced Christ the first yere of his raigne being the yéere of our Lord 180. and placing monks in the same alotted for their mainteynance large reuenewes which heretofore had belonged for the most part vnto the Flamines and other heathen priests This Church as the same Author saith was hallowed and dedicated vnto the honor of our Sauiour October 29. 189. by Faganus and Damianus Bishops About the space of 100. yéeres the Church of Christ had peace in this land viz. vntill the raigne of Dioclesian who endeuouring to roote out Christian Religion not onely killed the professors of the same but also pulled downe all Churches and Temples any where consecrate vnto the exercise thereof Amongst the rest this of Winchester at that time went to wracke the buildings thereof being ruinated and made euen with the ground and the monkes and all the officers belonging vnto it either slaine or enforced to fly for the present time and yet afterward to deny Christ. This happened Ann. 289. Not long after the death of this cruell tyrant to wit the yeere 309. it was againe reedified and that with such woonderfull for wardnesse and zeale as within one yeere and thirty daies both it and all the edifices belonging vnto it as chambers and other buildings for the monkes and officers were quite finished in very séemely and conuenient manner The 15. day of March following it was againe hallowed and dedicated vnto the honor and memory of Amphibalus that had suffred death for Christ in the late persecution by Constans Bish as my Author saith of Winchester at the request of Deadatus Abbot of this new erected Monastery 200. yéers and vpward it then continued in the same state to wit vntill the yéere 319. at which time Cerdick the first king of the West Saxons being a Pagan conuerted the Church into the temple of Dagon slew chased away all the monks and ministers of the same Thus much for the first foundation of this Church and the estate of the 〈◊〉 vntill the comming of the Saxons Now let vs procéede vnto the discourse of the Bishops whose faries and succession after this time had neuer any notable interruption or discontinuance 1. Birnius THe Prouince or kingdome of the Gewisses or West Saxons containing the West part of England was goucrned along time by one Bishop that was called the Bishop of the West Saxons This Countrey after the Saxons inuaded the same receiued first the faith of Christ in the time of King Kinigilsus by the preaching of Byroius the first Bishop who being a very zealous and deuout man obtained leaue of Honorus the Pope of Rome to aduenture himselfe in preaching Christ vnto Infidels And his promise was to trauaile vnto the most Sauage and Barbarous people in the furthermost part of this I le that amongst them he might sowe the séedes of the Gospell whereupon he was consecrated Bishop by Asterius then Bishop of Genoa But comming thither and finding the countrey of the Gewisses where he first arriued to be altogether Pagans and without any knowledge of Christianity he determined to go no farther to séeke that which euen there he had already met withall It pleased God so to blesse his labours that in a short time not onely great numbers of the common people and many of the nobles but euen Kingilsus the king himselfe beléeued in Christ and tooke on them the badge and cognisance of Christianity by Baptisme Oswald the king of
being ordered and brought to passe according to his desire he returned home leauing the Quéene with the French king her brother to perfect and finish the agréement already made She whether weary of her hust and or prouoked by the insolency of the Spencers and other fauorites about the king had long since determined to depose her husband from the kingdome if possibly she might and to set vp her sonne Prince Edward Hauing therefore rid away this Bishop whose loialty and faithfullnesse to his soueraigne she well knew was vnmooueable she began to put in practise the execution of this long plotted designement and in the end to be short exploited the same While these matters were a brewing it happened the king to take his iourney to Bristow and he thought good to commit the gouernment and custody of the citie of London to the fidelity of this Bishop At what time therefore the Quéene began to approach néere vnto the city with her power he required the Maior to send vnto him the keies of the gates The Commons who altogether fauoured the Quéenes party hearing this and perceauing the Bishop purposed to withstand her set vpon him violently drew him into Cheape side and beheaded him there together with Sir Richard Stapleton a Knight his brother Then they caried his body to his house without Temple bar and buried if basely in a heape of sand in the backside of the same house In this sort did this woorthy prelate loose his life in defence of his Prince and that by their meanes who of all other were bound in the strongest bands of duty and alleageance to haue done as he did I meane the Queene and the Prince her sonne They shortly after whether regarding his calling or destring to make semblance of disliking the manner of his death or happily mooued with some remorse of conscience commanded his body to be taken from the place where it was first 〈◊〉 and being conueighed to Exceter with all funerall pompe there to be solemnly enterred He lieth 〈◊〉 vpon the North side of the high Altar in a faire toombe of free stone And his brother before mentioned lieth ouer against him in the North wall of the North Isle This murther was committed October 15 1326. And his funerals were solemnised at Exceter March 28. following The yéere 1316. he erected two houses in Oxford for the better increase and aduancement of learning the one named Hart hall the other Stapledons Inne now called Exceter college in which he placed thirteene fellowes and a Rector whom he appointed to be chosen annually This foundation is much encreased of late yeeres by the liberality of Sir William Peter late principall Secretary and others Moreouer it is to be remembred that he was a speciall benefactor vnto the hospitall of Saint Johns in Exceter to which he impropriated for the releeuing of certaine poore children the Rectory or personage of Ernscombe IAmes Barkley descēded of the noble house of the Lord Burkley was consecrated March 15. anno 1326. by Walter Raynold Archbishop of Canterbury at the commanndement of 〈◊〉 the Queene The Pope very angry here withall did so 〈◊〉 the Archbishop as he died for griefe and anger soone after Neither did the new consecrate Bishop stay long behinde him for he died also the 24. of June following A man reputed very godly and wise He was buried as some say in his owne church but others deliuer that he neuer came hither at all IOhn Grandesson being in Italy with Pope Iohn the 22. after the death of Iohn Barkley he at the kings request bestowed this Bishopricke vpon him and caused him tobe consecrate at Rome October 18. 1327. He was borne and descended of the auncient house of the Grandessons Dukes of Burgundy His Father was named Gilbert the brother of Otho the great Lord Grandesson which Gilbert 〈◊〉 into this Land was well intertained by the king and nobility By meanes of Henry Earle of Lancaster with whom he came into England he maried the Lady 〈◊〉 daughter and one of the heires to Iohn Tregos Lord of the Castle of Ewias néere Hereford East and by her had issue fiue sonnes and foure daughters of which this Bishop was one who was borne in the parish of Aishpertone in the Dioces of Hereford He was from his childhood very studious became earned and wrote diuers bookes one intituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an other 〈◊〉 minores and a third de vitis sar ctorum He was also very graue wise and politike And thereby grew into such credit with Pope Iohn that he was not onely of his priuy counsell but also his Nuntio or Embassadour in matters of great waight and unportance to the Emperor to the king of Spaine Fraunce England and other the mightiest Princes of Christendome Being on a time sent in an Embassage to king Edward the third he so behaued him selfe that the king neuer ceased vntill he had procured him from the Pope and then he gaue him the Archbeaconry of Nothingham and other great liuings he made him one of the priuy councell and in the end preferred him to his Bishopricke After this some matter of dislike falling out betwéene Pope Clement the sixt and the King he for his approued wisedome was sent in Ambassage to the Pope ann 1343. for an intreaty of a peace and an amity betwéene 〈◊〉 to be had and with such wisedome he did his message that he obtained his purpose and made a reconciliation After his returne home to his Bishopricke he spent his time altogether in adorning and beautifying of his Church or building and erecting some good monument or other He founded the Colledge of S. Mary Otrey and endowed the same with great and goodly liuelihoods He was a liberall Benefactor to the Uicars Chorall of his owne Church as also to the Colledge of Glaseney in Peryn he builded the two last Arches in the West end of his Church vaulted the roofe of all the Church and fully ended the buildings of the same Leauing it in such sort as we sée it at this day Thē also he inriched it with plate and other ornaments of inestimable value Moreouer he built a faire house at Bishops Taingtonwhich he left full furnished vnto his successors and did impropriate vnto the same the Parsonage of Radway to the ende as he setteth downe in his Testament Vt haberent Episcopi locum vbi caput suum 〈◊〉 si forte in manum regis eorum 〈◊〉 caperentur Before his death he made his last Will wherein he gaue such large and bouteous legacies to the Pope Emperor King Queene Archbishop Bishops Colledges Churches and to sundry parsons of high estates and callings that a man would maruell considering his great and chargeable buildings and workes otherwise how and by what meanes he could haue attained to such a masse of wealth and riches He was alwaies very frugall kept no more men or horses about him then necessary and euer despised the vanity of all outward pompe But this it was
they were it was said they were of Deira God grant saith he they may be De ira dei eruti deliuered from the wrath of God and made partaker of his mercies by Christ. Hée procéeded yet further and asked how the king of that countrey was called vnderstanding his name was Elle Alleluia quoth he must néedes be sung in those parts in praise of almightie God Not long after then this good man being made Pope hée tooke especiall care of sending preachers into this land for the conuersion of the same Yet it is not to be denied and it appéereth manifestly by the letters of Saint Gregory himselfe vnto the king and Quéene of France that this care of his was much stirred vp by the forwardnes of some good Saxons that complained vnto him of the negligence of the French priestes who being so néere would neuer take any course for the planting of Christianitie amongst them and therefore praied him that he would send preachers thither He did so made choice of one Augustine a monke of greater vertue then learning vnto whom he appointed fortie other that shoulde accompanie and aide him in this holy worke Being now well onward on their way they enquired of the state of the countrey and manners of the people vnto whom they went and vnderstoode so much of their barbarous and fierce rudenes as they in a manner all vtterly renounced procéeding any farther in the voyage and as it were compelled Augustine to poste backe to Rome there to craue licence of returne Saint Gregorie much grieued with this 〈◊〉 writ his letters vnto them wherein hé vsed many reasons to perswade them in any wise to goe forward whereunto at last they yéelded They arriued at the Iste of Thanet in Kent the yéere 596. nowe iust a thousand yéeres agoe The king of that countrie his name was Ethelbert intertained them with all curtesie the rather as it is to be supposed by the persuasion of his wife Berta that was a Christian There was néere vnto the citie of Canterburie a church built of old by the Romaines and dedicated vnto S. Martin in which the Quéene was woont to pray with Lethardus her Bishop There these men were allowed to preach pray baptise and vse all maner of exercise pertaining to Christian religion The king himselfe all this while gaue them maintenance came often to heare them and at last being throughly conuerted tooke on him the badge of Christ by baptisme all his people quickly following his example He then also appointed vnto Augustine and his companions a house at Stablegate and allotted competent reuenues vnto the same The matter being thus far forward Augustine stept into France and caused himselfe there to be consecrated Archbishop of England by Etherius Archbishop of Arles Presently vpon his returne thence he sent two of his companie vnto Rome Laurence and Peter to aduertise the Pope of their good successe By them when they returned he sent Augustine a pall bookes church-ornaments and other necessaries He sent also presently vnto the king and writ diuers letters some gratulatorie to the king some vnto Augustine exhorting him to diligence in his calling and to take héede least the miracles which God wrought by him for the conuersion of this people should make him proud and lastly others vnto the Archbishop of Arles to thanke him for his good aide and assistance yéelded to these men in this businesse In the meane time Augustine had obtained of the king another church in the midst of the citie built likewise heretofore by the Romaines and dedicated the same vnto our Sauiour Christ. Soone after this good king gaue vnto him also his owne palace and chiefe seate of his kingdome remoouing himselfe vnto Rheaculf called by the Romaines Regulbium now 〈◊〉 And lastly he laid the foundation of a goodly monasterie which he dedicated to S. Peter and S. Paule knowen afterwards by the name of S. Augustines These things being thus ordered he indeuoured to make a concord and agréement betwéene the Saxons and the Welchmen who differed from the Romane church in two things the manner of baptizing and the time of the obseruation of Easter Much paines he tooke to persuade them yea wrought a myracle by healing a blinde man for confirmation of his doctrine as you may read in Beda his Eccl. 〈◊〉 lib. 2. cap. 2. But they woulde by no meanes consent to any such vnion much lesse yéeld any kinde of subiection to that authoritie which he claimed to haue ouer all this Island He gaue not ouer with one repulse but when at the first he could not preuaile he procured a second conference at what time there met him seuen Britaine Bishops and a great number of monks especially of that famous monasterie of Bannachor a place not farre from Chester wherein there liued by the labour of their owne hands 2000. monks These men before they came to the place of meeting appointed thought good to aske the counsell of a certaine Anehorite whom they reputed for a very holie and deuout man and to know of him whether he thought it best for them to yeeld to the directions of Saint Augustine He aduised them if hee were a man of God to take the course he shewed and to follow the same And when they asked how they should discerne whether he were such a one or no he pronounced this saying of our Sauiour Take my yoke vpon you and learne of me for I am meeke and humble of hart If therefore this same Augustine be a méeke and humble minded man it is a great presumption that he beareth the yoke of Christ and offereth the same vnto you But if he be stout and proud he is not of God you may be bold This therefore saith he is my aduire haue a care that he and his companie be first in the place where you meete If then you being the greater number he rise not to doe you reuerence but despise you despise you also him and his counsell Augustine therefore first entered the place with his banner and his crosse with singing procession and great pompe and when the Britayne Bishops came in neuer rose or saluted them at all This they taking verie ill gainsaid him in euery thing told him that as his opinions were allowed by Gregory so had theirs long since by Eleutherius both Bishops of Rome that they had an Archbishop then commorant at Caerlegion him they would obey and none other especially such a one as he was a man vnknowne and a stranger not onely for his person and language but much more for his opinions and strange conceits Augustine much displeased with this short answere prayed them to yéeld vnto him but in thrée things to minister Baptisme and obserue Easter according to the Roman maner to assist him in preaching Christ vnto the Saxons But when they vtterly denied to ioyne with them in any sort he denounced against them the iudgements of God for this 〈◊〉 and assured them
Lincolne This Richard was a man very wel learned wise graue well spoken and of good report stout in defending the rights and liberties of the Church and which is not altogither to be neglected of a goodly personage tall straight and well fauoured He was consecrate at Canterbury by Henry Bishop of Rochester in the presence of the king and many of the nobility June 10. 1229. A little while he enioyed that honor to wit two yéeres or there abouts In which time there happened a controuersie betwéene him and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 Earle of Kent concerning some lands of the Earle of Glocester the profits whereof the Archbishop challenged as due vnto him in the minority of the Earle Hubert was a man greatly fauored by the king for his long faithfull seruice vnto his father and him selfe namely for defending the Castle of Douer against Lewis the French man he made him Earle of Kent and chiefe iustice of England He had entred vpon these lands The Archbishop first complained of the wrong vnto the king finding no remedy at his hands excommunicated all the authors of this iniury the king onely excepted and got him to Rome The king vnderstanding thereof dispatched messengers thither also to hinder his procéedings there what might be The Pope notwithstanding delighted much with the eloquence grauity and excellent behauiour of the Archbishop graunted presently all his demandes Little ioy had he of this victory Being thrée daies iourney in his way homewards he fell sicke at the towne of Saint Genuna and there died in the Friery where also he was buried It is 〈◊〉 that soone after his buriall certaine théeues brake open his toombe and thought to haue robbed him of his 〈◊〉 rings c. wherein according to the maner of those times he was buried but that they claue so fast vnto him as by no deuice they could take them from him Beléeue it as you list It shall not be amisse also to note how that in the time of this Archbishop a great number of Italians had possessed them selues of the best benefices of England which being much spited at certaine madde fellowes tooke vpō them by force to thresh out their corne euery where and giue it away vnto the poore to rob and spoile them of their money and other goods It was done so openly and so boldly as it was manifest that some great men were at one end of that businesse The Italians after that time were not so eager vpon Euglish benefices 45. Saint Edmund THe monkes of Canterbury by this time weary of contending with the king soone after the death of the former Archbishop chose of their owne accord Ralfe Neuill Bishop of Chichester aud Chauncellor of England a man very wise and highly in fauour with the king who liking well of this election put him in possession of the temporalties by and by The Pope being requested for his approbation chaunced to inquire of Simon Langton Archdeacon of Canterbury brother vnto Stephen the Archbishop what maner of man this Ralfe Neuill should be who told him that he was a hote fellow stout subtile an olde courtier and very gratious with the king it was much to be doubted therefore he would set the king him together by the eares and cause him to deny the payment of that tribute graunted vnto him by king Iohn This was ynough without more adoo he willed the monkes to choose another neuer alleaging any matter of exceptions against him So to a second election they procéeded and chose one Iohn their Subprior He went to Rome and being examined by certaine Cardinals was adiudged fit ynough for the place Yet the Pope misliked him for his age and perswaded the good old man to forbeare to take vpon him so great a charge in his olde yéeres He yéelded and thereupon a third was elected one Richard Blundy a studient of Oxford Him also the Pope refused because forsooth he held two benefices contrary to the Canons and because it was knowen he had borrowed a great summe of money of Peter Bishop of Winchester wherewith it was thought he féed well the monkes that chose him The Pope then made request vnto such of the monkes as were at Rome to choose Edmund Treasurer of Salisbury a man very wel knowen and indéed famous for his vertue and great learning They neither durst deny the Popes request nor would doo any thing in the matter till they had vnderstood the pleasure of their Prince and conferred with the rest of their brethren He was content to take their silence for a sufficient election and without more adoo sent him the pall into England little thinking of any such matter Both the king and the Couent liking well ynough of the man he was consecrate at Canterbury by Roger Bishop of London ann 1234. He was borne as some say at London and baptised in the same font Thomas Becket his predecessor had beene But other affirme more probably that he was borne at Abingdon in Barkshire sonne vnto one Edward Rich a Merchant his mothers name was Mabell In their elder yéeres they forsooke each other by mutuall consent and betooke them selues to a monasticall life Edmund their sonne they caused to be brought vp in the Uniuersity of Oxford Hauing attained vnto reasonable perfection in the knowledge of Diuinity whereunto his study was chiefely directed he applied himselfe to preaching wherein he tooke great paines namely in the counties of Oxford Glocester and Worcester vntil such time as he was called to the Treasurership of Salisbury Being consecrate Archbishop he presently fell into the kings displeasure by opposing him selfe against the mariage of Elianor the kings sister with Simon Mountfort Earle of Leicester because vponthe death of the Earle Marshal her first husband she had vowed chastity To haue this vow dispensed withall the king procured the Pope to send a Legate into England his name was Otto a Cardinall 〈◊〉 also this good Archbishop offended and that so grieuously by reprehending his monstrous couetousnesse his bribery and extortion as euer after he sought to worke him all the mischiefe he might The monkes of Rochester had presented vnto this Archbishop one Richard de 〈◊〉 demaunding of him consecration vnto the Bishopricke of their Church The Archbishop denied to affoord the same knowing him to be a very vnlearned and vnsufficient man Héereupon the moonks appealed to Rome which the Archbishop vnderstanding of hasted him thither also Otto the Legate endeuoured to stay him at home and failing thereof did his errand so well at Rome as not onely in that sute but an other also which he had against Hugh Earle of Arundell in an other cause of appeale he was ouerthrowne and condemned in a thousand markes charges to his great disgrace and impouerishment Being at Rome he had complained of many great abuses in England and amongst the rest of the long vacacy of Bishoprickes The Pope séemed willing to redresse these things and namely concerning that matter set downe
Embassadour vnto the Pope at what time the Bishop of Winchester died and he at the request of Walter the Archbishop bestowed that Bishopricke vpon this Iohn Stratford then present with him This was done without the kings priuity who desired to haue preferred vnto that place Robert Baldock his Chauncellor Therefore taking it very ill that either the one should giue or the other dare to take it without his knowledge he was content to giue eare vnto Robert Baldock who plotted many deuises a while how to kéepe him from it and after how to make him weary of it He was consecrate vpon the Sunday called then 〈◊〉 tribulat iustorū which he thought boaded vnto him how in the whole course of his life he should find nothing but continuall trouble It fell out according to that ominous prediction Neuer I thinke any Archb. either before or after him giuing so little cause dooing his indeuour to please was more encombred with vndeserued and often crosses He had no sooner set foote into this Bishopricke of Winchester but the king who at that time was altogether ruled by the said Robert Baldock caused all his goods to be seased and his liuings to be sequestred to his vse Moreouer he caused him to be summoned by certaine strange kind of writs to appeare I know not where and when for feare he was faine to hide himselfe proclamation was made that no man should dare to harbor him or giue him any kind of entertainment by meate lodging or otherwise Hauing endured these miseries the space of a yéere he intreated the Archbishop to be an intercessor vnto the king for him who relating vnto him how dishonorable a thing it was for him to persecute a true subiect so terribly both for an other mans fault and an other mans pleasure too he was soone woonne to receiue the poore Bishop to his grace and laid all the blame of that iniury vpon Robert Baldock Being thus restored he grew dayly more and more into the kings fauour whom he serued both diligently and faithfully to the last hower When all other forsooke him euen Walter the Archbishop of whom he had deserued so notably this good Bishop would neuer be allured vnto the contrary part by any meanes in so much as the Quéene and Roger Mortimer began to deuise how they might make him away This he being certified of hid him selfe and was faine so to hold him selfe close a long time In the ende the king being dead and all his fauourites or partakers either executed or otherwise consumed the Quéene and her sonne king Edward the third wel knowing they had nothing to lay against this man but that he was true and loyall to his Prince they were content not onely to receiue him to their fauour but also to make him Lord Chauncellor of England Simon Mepham the Archbishop being then dead soone after the king was also content to write earnestly vnto the Pope to preferre him vnto that Sée of Canterbury He did so as before I haue said And the monkes thinking it good to make a vertue of necessity they forsooth elected him also About this time it hapened that King Edward the third began to lay claime vnto the crowne of Fraunce and passing the seas with a great power to iustifie his claime he thought good to commit the gouernment of the realme here at home vnto the Archbishop He beside other generall promises of faithfulnes diligence c. In the charge deliuered vnto him assured the king he should want no money to expend in this exploit whereunto all kind of people shewed them selues so willing to yéelde what helpe they possibly might as he tooke vpon him to discerne the king might commaund of them what he list He was not deceiued in this coniecture For no sooner was the king ouer the seas but infinite summes of money were collected with the very good liking of all people This money which all men thought would haue maintained the charge of that warre two or thrée yéeres the king being yoong and so easie to be either mistaken or deceiued was spent in lesse then one yeere The Archbishop meruelling thereat 〈◊〉 the king by letters to remooue from him such as had had the disposing of his treasure for that without imbesilling and falsehood it was impossible so much money should be so soone consumed The king on the other side he put the Archbishop in minde of his promise and called vpon him continually for more money He well knowing how hard it would be to collect any reasonable summe so soone after so liberall contribution as had béene lately yéelded fell to perswading the king to accept reasonable conditions which he heard the French King had offred him and to come home The king either was or seemed to be excéeding angry with this motion yet knowing there was no remedy but he must get him home his money being now spent and his credite amongst the vsurers stretched to the highest pinne He tolde his souldiers on the one side that the Archbishop had betraied him vnto the French king who no doubt had hired him to detaine their pay in his hands and on the other side made his creditors beleeue that the Archbishop had taken vpon him the discharge of all his debt as hauing now gathered money sufficient for that purpose So the discontentment of these people being either alaied or cast vpon the Archbishop it was deuised that for the farther countenance of this plot the king should step ouer into England sodainly and cast into prison the Archbishop togither with the Bishop of Chichester the Chauncelour and the Bishop of Lichfield the Treasurer To London he came secretly in a night caught the two Bishops and sent them to the Tower but the Archbishop by meere chance was gone from Lambhith elsewhether the day before and hauing some inkling afterwards of that was meant vnto him got him to Canterbury and there stood vpon his guard A knight was sent vnto him to require him to make present paiment of a certaine huge sum of mony which the king said he had taken vp of outlandish merchants vpon his the Archbi credit or else to get him ouer the seas immediately vnto them and to yéeld them his body till the debt were satisfied for that so the king had vndertaken he should being animated thereunto by his owne promise Soone after there came certaine messengers from the duke of Brabant desiring to speake with the Archbishop and when he refused to conferre with them cited him by writings to make payment of certaine great summes of money which they alleaged he ought to the Duke for money the king of England had receaued This citation they fixed vpon the high crosse at Canterbury with many ceremonies Now the Archbishop perceauing what a terrible tempest was growing toward him for he was charged not onely with the debt of many thousand pounds more then euer he should be able to make but with horrible treason that might
yet depending the Archbishop died Iuly 31. 1396. at Maidstone when he had sate 12. yéers lacking one moneth The old worke at Maidstone first built by Boniface his predecessor for an Hospitall he pulled downe and building it after a more stately manner translated it into a Colledge of secular priests which at the time of the suppression was valued at one hundred thirty nine pounds seuen shillings fixe pence by the yéere The church of Mepham quite fallen downe he repaired againe and built certaine almes houses néere it for the vse of poore people Toward the reparation of the body of his Church and cloysters he gaue 1000. marks He gaue also vnto the same Church a certaine image of siluer waighing one hundred and thréescore pounds 〈◊〉 vestments thirtéene coapes of great value besides a number of bookes He lieth buried vpon the South side of Thomas Beckets shrine at the féete of the blacke Prince in a goodly toombe of Alabaster 60. Thomas Arundell BY the Popes prouision Thomas Arondell Archbishop of Yorke was remooued to Canterbury about Christmas after William Courtneyes death His bulles were published at Canterbury Ianuary 11. Soone after his crosse was deliuered vnto him at Westminster by Henry Chillinden the Prior of Canterbury with 〈◊〉 solemnity in the presence of the king and many nobles February 10. following he receiued his pall 〈◊〉 the 19. of the same moneth he was inthronised at Canterbury with great pomp He was sonne vnto Robert Earle of Arundell and Warren first Bishop of Ely then of Yorke Sée more of him there He was scarce warme in his seate when by the kings displeasure he was dispossessed of the same In the second yéere of his translation a parliament was held at London The king there accused the Duke of Glocester the Earle of Arundell that was the Archbishops brother and diuers other of high treason Now because cleargy men were forbidden by the Canons to be present at any triall or iudgement vpon life and death the matter being once proposed all the Bishops departed the house as their maner was in like cases The Archbishop being absent vpon this occasion was condemned togither with his brother of high treason for which his brother was presently executed and he commaunded within forty daies to depart the realme vpon paine of death He thus banished got him to Rome and found such fauour with the Pope as first he was content to write earnestly vnto the king for his restitution and when he could do no good that way he translated him to the Archbishopricke of Saint Andrewes in Scotland intending to heape so much ecclesiasticall liuing vpon him by benefices c. in England as he should be able to liue in state honorable ynough The king vnderstanding of his intent writ a maruellous sharpe letter vnto the Pope telling him plainly he must repute him for his enimy if he yéelded any maner of succour vnto him whom he knew too well to hate him deadly That letter so wrought with the Pope as after that time he neuer indeuoured to prefer him farther and moreouer at the kings request made Roger Walden Deane of Yorke and treasurer of England Archbishop He was consecrate inthronised c. held Synods and did all things belonging vnto that place the space of two yéeres It hapened in the meane time that the king Richard the second wos deposed or at least inforced to resigne his crowne vnto Henry Duke of Lancaster that after possessed the same by the name of king Henry the fourth Boniface the Pope vnderstanding then of the fall of king Richard pronounced the said Roger to be an intruder and vsurper of the Archbishopricke and by his omnipotent bulles restored Thomas Arundell vnto the same againe As for Roger Walden that was now a Bishop without a Bishopricke for it is Character indelebilis he liued so a while til at last by the kind endeuor of the Archb. his charitable aduersary he was promoted vnto the Bishopricke of London which he enioyed but a short time being taken away by death within one yere after About a twelue moneth after the Archbishops restitution a conuocation was held at London whether the king sent the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland that told the cleargy they came from the king but not of that errand that courtiers were woont to be sent for to that place they came not for money but onely to signifie the kings harty and fauorable goodwill vnto them and to request their daily prayers for him and the good estate of the realme This new broome with swéeping so cleane at the first was so worne out vnto the stumpes in a yéere or two as not contented with a bare tenth the next conuocation after he was very angry that a more liberall allowance was not made vnto him and began to hearken vnto the sacrilegious motions of certaine impious politicians that intending to cast the burthen of all subsidies and other kind of tributes vpon the cleargy letted not to say openly in the parliament house how the laity was not able to yéeld any thing vnto the kings coffers for that the cleargy had all the wealth of the land in their hands And therefore the king must either take from them their temporalties or else lay all the burthen vpon them that onely were able to beare it The Archbishop that was vndoubtedly a woorthy prelate wise and very stout rose vp and prooued by manifest arguments that the contributions of the Cleargy were after the proportion of their ability much more liberall then the subsidies or other paiments of the temporalty in many respects For saith he we pay the tenth of our liuings oftener then they pay fifteenths and though we serue not in the warres our selues our seruants and tenants do neither are we altogither idle in as much as we pray daily for the king and the realme as well in time of peace as war The prolocutor of the parliament house at that time was a knight called Sir Iohn Cleyn that hauing béene a cleargyman sometimes without any dispensation forsooke the calling became a soldier This prophane Apostata was not ashamed to say it was no matter for their praiers so the king might haue their mony I sée now quoth the Arch. whither the fortune of this realme tendeth the prayers of the church being despised which should appease the wrath of God iustly kindled against vs by the daily monstrous iniquities of our age Perceauing then that the king who at his first comming to the crowne had made many open and publike protestations of his loue to the church and his intent to defend and protect the same to the vtmost that he I say began to harken somewhat too patiently to these wicked motions he turned him toward him and making lowe obeisance humbly besought him it would please his maiesty to remember those gratious and most honorable spéeches wherein he had often signified his resolute determination of protecting the church from all iniury
the Quéenes vncle But they were agréed vpon W. de Raley Bishop of Norwich and tooke exceptions against the elect of Ualentia calling him virum sanguinum When the king heard of their intent he was excéeding angry and made great hauocke of the Bishops temporalties swearing he would haue his will at last or they should neuer haue Bishop The monks then séeing him so obstinately set against the Bishop of Norwich determined to alter their purpose and were content to choose Ralfe Neuill Bishop of Chichester the kings Chauncellor wherein they were so farre from contenting him as he was much more incensed against them then before and not against them onely but the new elect also from whom immediately he tooke the great seale and gaue it to another As for the election not without great charges he caused the same to be 〈◊〉 and made void at Rome Much adoo there was for the space of fiue or sixe yéeres about this matter At last the monkes séeing no end and being resolued against the Ualentine they procéeded to election againe and chose according to their first determination the Bishop of Norwich This election was suddenly made and quickly confirmed at Rome Yet the king ceased not to spurne at the same commaunding the Mayor of Winchester to forbid the new Bishop entrance which he did and was by him excommunicate for his labor and the whole City interdicted In the meane time the Bishop fealt the burthen of the Kings displeasure so heauy vpon him in England as he thought good to flie the realme He got him into Fraunce and was honorably receiued of the king there At last by the intercession of Boniface the Archbishop and the Popes earnest letters vnto the King and the Quéene he was restored to the Kings fauor and obtained licence to returne For recompence of this benefite and his fatherly care the Bishop saith Matth. Westm. in thankfulnesse bestowed vpon the Pope 6000. markes which he in good nature tooke euery penny without disdainefull returne of one denier The payment of this money and the charges of his trouble stucke so close vnto him as though he liued very priuately in all his life long he was neuer able to recouer himselfe out of debt He died about the twentith day of September 1249. at Turon whither he had withdrawen himselfe with a very small traine almost a yéere before It is recorded of him that being néere death he had the Sacrament brought vnto him And perceiuing the Priest to enter his chamber with it he cryed out stay good friend let the Lord come no néerer vnto me it is more fit that I be drawen vnto him as a traytor that in many things haue been a traytor vnto him His seruants therefore by his commaundement drew him out of his bed vnto the place where the Priest was and there with teares he receiued the Sacrament and spending much time in prayer afterward he so ended his life when he had béene Bishop about the space of sixe yéeres for he was translated ann 1243. so that the Sée was void fiue yéeres 42. Ethelmarus THe King being certified ef his death sent immediately two of his Chaplaines to Winchester to perswade the monkes to elect Ethelmarus the sonne of Hugh Earle of March and Isabell the Quéene his mother so that he was halfe brother vnto the king a man saith M. Paris in respect of his orders yéeres and learning vtterly vnsufficient By that time they had labored the matter the space of a fortnight the king himselfe came vnto Winchester and in the Chapter house made a most earnest request in the behalfe of his brother The monkes too well remembring what great trouble sorrow they had endured for denying the kings last request some of them beaten and sore wounded many tormented with hunger and laden with chaines in long imprisonment besides continuall charges of sutes and trauaile and knowing wel they should haue no assistance at Rome so long as the Kings purse was better then theirs they resolued though they knew the man most vnfit to gratifie the King and so no man daring to say no with one consent he was elected He had at that time other spirituall liuing equiualent in reuenue to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury which that he might kéepe and yet receiue all the profits of the Bishopricke of Winchester he determined not to be consecrate at all but to hold it by his election and so did indéed for the space of 9. yéeres In the meane time he and the rest of his countreymen with whom the realme was much pestered were growen very odious as well with the nobility as the commons not onely for that their infinite wealth and immoderate preferment was much enuied but much more for their pride and insolency which a man can hardly beare in his owne friend much lesse in an alien and stranger whom men naturally dislike much sooner then their owne Countreymen Amongst the rest this 〈◊〉 bare himselfe so bold vpon the King his brother as he gaue commaundement to his seruants to force a clergy man out of the possession of a benefice whereunto he pretended some right and if he withstood them to draw him out of his possession in contumelious manner The poore man loath to loose his liuing defended it so long til by my Lord Electes men he was slaine himselfe and his people so soare beaten as within few daies one or two of them died This fact and other like brought all the Pictauians into such hatred as the realme 〈◊〉 ready to rise against them which perceiuing to auoid the tēpest growing towards them the yeere 1268. they all 〈◊〉 the realme Ethelmar sent ouer for his treasure whereof he had laide vp great store but much of it came short being intercepted at Douer and taken away from those to whom it was committed The yéere after the departure of the Pictauians viz. 1259. the monkes of Winchester thought good to procéed to the election of a new Bishop And knowing it was to no purpose to make choice of any but such as the king fauoured elected Henry de Wingham then Chauncellor of England But he although he doubted not of the kings fauour in regard that another being elected it might prooue litigious refused to consent vnto their election alleaging his owne vnwoorthines for want of learning The king was content to allow of him condicionally that some stay might be made for a time to sée whether his brother Ethelmar might attaine consecration of the Pope While the king stood vpon these vncertaine tearmes Henry de Wengham became Bishop of London the yéere 1259 2. yéeres after viz. 1261. Ethelmar died He tooke order his hart should be brought to Winchester where it was intoombed in the South wal of the presbytery as this Elogium witnesseth Obijt anno Dom. 1261. Corpus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cor nunc tenet istud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 morte 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 43. Iohn Gernsey IOhn Gernsey or Iohn of Oxford for so also I find him
called was consecrate Bishop an 1265. at Rome where it is said he paid vnto the Pope 6000. markes for his consecration and so much more vnto Iordanus the Popes Chauncellor Presently vpon his returne he was suspended by Ottobonus the Popes legate for taking part against the king in the Barons wars he enioyed a small time his honor so déerely bought the yéere 1268. he died in Italy and was buried there at Uiterbium 44. Nicholas de Ely RIchard Moore a Doctor of Diuinity was then chosen Bishop But Fryer Peckham at that time Archbishop of Canterbury tooke exception against him for holding of many benefices And said that a man of such conscience as were fit for that place would rather content himselfe with lesse liuing then load himselfe with the cure of so many soules He being refused Nicholas de Ely hauing béene scarcely one yere Bishop of Worcester was called to this church He sate 12. yéeres died an 1290. his body was buried at Wauerly his hart lieth entoombed in the South wall of the Presbytery with this inscription Intus est cor Nicholai Episcop cuius corpus est apud Wauerley One of his name was first Chauncellor then treasurer of England about the yéere 1260. I assure my selfe it was he 45. Iohn de Pontissara ABout this time the Pope began to take vpon him the bestowing of Bishoprickes for the most part euery where This Iohn de Pontissara was placed by him vpon his absolute authority He was a great enimy vnto the monkes of his church whose liuing he much diminished to encrease his owne He died the yéere 1304. hauing sate néere 24. yéeres and lyeth buried in the North wall of the Presbytery His toombe hath this Epitaphe engrauen Defuncti corpus tumulus tenet iste Ioannis Pountes Wintoniae presulis eximij Obijt anno Dom. 1304. 46. Henry Woodloke HEnry Woodloke succéeded him Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury being banished the realme by king Edward the first who charged him with treason this Bishop became an intercessor for him and in the request he made to the king in his behalfe chaunced to call him his good Lord which the king tooke so haynously as by and by he caused all the Bishops goods to be confiscate and renounced all protection of him How he recouered the kings fauour againe I finde not Not long after the said king dying by the permission of the foresaid Archbishop he crowned king Edward the second Ianuary 22. 1307. and died an 1316. the 13. yéere of his consecration 47. Iohn Sendall VVAlsingham called this man Iohn Kendall he was Chauncellor of England and died 1320. hauing scarcely sate fower yéeres 48. Reginaldus Asserius THe Pope then thrust in Reginald de Asser his legate the king being very angry that the Pope tooke so much vpon him in these things He was consecrate by the Bishop of London Walter the Archbishop refusing to afford it vnto him sate little aboue two yéeres and died an 1323. 49. Iohn de Stratford IOhn de Stratford Doctor of Law succéeded When he had continued in this seat 10. yeeres an 1333. He was translated to Canterbury Sée more of him in Canterbury 50. Adam Tarlton alias de Orlton ADam de Arlton Doctor of law borne in Hereford was consecrate Bishop of Hereford September 26. 1317. In a parliament holden at London an 1324. he was accused of treason as hauing aided the Mortimers with men and armor against the king When he should haue béene arraigned a thing till that time neuer heard of that a Bishop should be arraigned the Archbishops of Canterbury Yorke and Dublin with their Suffragan Bishops came vnto the barre and violently tooke him away Notwithstanding the accusation being found true his temporalties were seased into the kings hāds vntill such time as the king much deale by his machination and deuise was deposed of his kingdome If he which had béene a Traytor vnto his Prince before after deserued punishment for the same would soone be entreated to ioyne with other in the like attempt it is no maruell No man so forward as he in taking part with Isabel the Quéene against her husband king Edward the second Shée with her sonnes aud army being at Oxford this good Bishop stept vp into the pulpit and there taking for his text these words My head grieueth me he made a long discourse to prooue that an euill head not otherwise to be cured must be taken away Hauing gotten the king into their power he fearing least if the king at any time recouered his liberty and crowne againe they might receiue condigne punishment counselled the Quéene to make him away Whereunto she being as ready and willing as he to haue it done they writ certaine letters vnto the kéepers of the old king signifieng in couert termes what they desired They either not perfectly vnderstanding their meaning or desirous to haue somewhat to shew for their discharge pray them in expresse words to declare vnto them whether they would haue them put the king to death or no. To which question this subtill foxe framed this answere Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est If you set the point betwéene nolite and timere it forbiddeth if betwéene timere and bonum it exhorteth them to the committing of the fact whereupon the king was made away and most pitifully murthered by thrusting a hot spit into his fundament And who then so earnest a persecutor of the murtherers as this Bishop that when diuers of his letters were shewed against him eluded and auoyded them by sophisticall interpretation and vtterly denied that he was any way consenting to that haynous fact How cleanely he excused himselfe I know 〈◊〉 But sure I am he was so farre from receiuing punishment as within two moneths after viz. in Nouember 1327. he was preferred vnto the Bishopricke of Worcester sixe yéeres after that he was translated thence to winchester by the Pope December 1. 1333. at the request of the French king which king Edward taking in very ill part for that the French king and he were enimies deteined from 〈◊〉 his temporalties till that in a parliament at the sute of the whole cleargy he was content to yéeld them vnto him He sate Bishop of Winchester 11. yeeres 7. moneths and 17. daies and being a long time blind before his death departed this life July 18. 1345. 51. William Edendon THe same yeere William Edendon was consecrate Bishop a man in very great fauour with King Edward the third being treasurer of England he caused groats and halfe groats to be coyned the yeere 1350. coyne not séene in England before but they wanted some thing of the iust sterling waight which was the cause that the prices of all things rose then very much And where as many other times the like practise hath béene vsed in so much that fiue shillings hath now scarce so much siluer in it as fiue groats had 300. yéeres since no maruell if things be sold for treble the price
paine of death no man should héereafter be so hardy as to bring into the realme any kinde of writing from the Popes court Some notwithstanding contrary to this prohibition deliuered letters to the Bishop of Rochester then Treasurer of England from the Pope concerning this matter and fearing the woorst had armed themselues This 〈◊〉 they shrunke away and fled but were soone after 〈◊〉 and diuersly punished some dismembred other faire and well hanged The Pope hearing of this was so incensed that he wrote a very sharpe letter vnto the king breathing out terrible threats against him if he did not presently reconcile himselfe vnto the Bishop and cause full amends to be made him for all the losse he had sustained either by the Countesse or him in these troubles The king was too wise either to doe all he required or vtterly to despise his authority The 〈◊〉 he knew was not for his honor nor so farre had this tyrant incroched vpon the authority of princes the other for his 〈◊〉 Warned by the examples of king Iohn Henry the emperour and other he thought good not to exasperate him too 〈◊〉 and so was content to yéeld vnto somewhat But before the matter could grow to a full conclusion it was otherwise ended by God who tooke away the Bishop by death He deceased at Auinion June 23. 1361. and was there buried 〈◊〉 béen Bishop euen almost 17. yéeres 19. Simon Laugham INnocentius translated then Reginald Bryan Bishop of Worcester vnto Ely But he died before he could take benefit of the Popes gift Iohn Buckingham afterward Bishop of Lincolne was then chosen and was reiected by the Pope who preferred to this Sée Simon Laugham Abbot of Westminster He continued here but fiue yeeres being in that space first Treasurer then Chauncellor of England and was remooued to Canterbury Of his translation some merry fellow made these verses Laetentur 〈◊〉 quia Simon transit ab Ely Cuius in aduentum flent in Kent 〈◊〉 centum Sée more of him in Canterbury 20. Iohn Barnet AT what time Simon Laugham was translated to Canterbury Iohn Barnet was remooued from Bathe to succeede him in Ely He was first consecrate Bishop of Worcester 1362. and staying there but one yéere obtayned Bathe 1363. and lastly Ely 1366. He was Treasurer of England Being a very old man before his comming to Ely he liued there notwithstanding sixe yéeres in which tune he bestowed the making of fower windowes two in the South side and two in the North side of the Presbytery He died June 7. 1379. at Bishops 〈◊〉 lieth buried vpon the south side of the high altar in which place there is to be soone a goodly toombe monstrously defaced the head of the image being broken off I take that to be Barnets toombe 21. Thomas Arundell AFter the death of Iohn Barnet the king writ earnestly vnto the couent to choose Iohn Woodrone his confessor But they elected Henry Wakefield Treasurer of the kings house This election was made voide by the Pope who placed of his owne authority as I 〈◊〉 deliuered Thomas Arundell Archdeacon of Taunton sonne vnto Robert 〈◊〉 of Arundell and Warren being an aged gentleman of two and twenty yéeres old and as yet but a Subdeacon How be it some report that order being taken by parliament about this time for the ratifying of capitular elections and stopping the iniurious prouisions of the Pope that this Thomas 〈◊〉 was chosen orderly and consecrate at Otford by the Archbishop William Witlesey Aprill 6. 1375. Hauing 〈◊〉 there sowertéene yéeres thrée moneths and eightéene 〈◊〉 he was translated to Yorke and after to Canterbury He left for an implement of his house at Ely a woonderfull sumptuous and costly table decked with gold and precious stones It belonged first vnto the king of Spaine and was sold to this Bishop by the Blacke Prince for 300. markes He also bestowed the building of the great gate house in the house at Holburne Sée more of him in Yorke and Caterbury 22. Iohn Fordham THe Sée had béene void but fowertéene daies when Iohn Fordham Bishop of Durham was translated to Ely by the Pope He was first Deane of Wels consecrate Bishop of Durham May 29. 1381. and inthronized there in September 1382. He was Treasurer of England and to his great griefe was displaced from that office the yéere 1386. and Iohn Gilbert Bishop of Hereford made treasurer Seuen yéeres he continued at Durham and September 27. 1388. was by the authority of the Pope translated to Ely in which Sée he sate seuen and thirty yéeres two moneths and 24. daies He died Nouember 19. 1425. and lieth buried in the West part of the Lady chappell It appéereth by this reckoning that he was Bishop in all from the time of his first consecration 46. yéeres and vpward Sée more of him in Durham 23. Philip Morgan THe king then and manie noble men commended vnto the couent William 〈◊〉 doctor of law the kings confessor and kéeper of the priuie Seale who was after Bishop of Lincolne But they chose Peter their Prior. That election being disliked at home by the Archbishop he was fame to seeke vnto the Pope whose manner was litle or nothing to regard elections but to bestow any Bishoprick or other preferment that fell according to his owne pleasure if it were not filled before the auoidance might come to his knowledge According to this custome hauing no respect of the election of the couent of his owne authoritie he thrust in Phillip Morgan into this Bishopricke This man being doctor of law was consecrate Bishop of worcester 1419. and soone after 〈◊〉 death viz. before the end of the yeere 1425. remoued as is aforesaid vnto Ely He was a very wise man gouerned there with great commendation nine yeeres sixe moneths and fower daies And departed this life at Bishops 〈◊〉 October 25. 1434. He was buried at charter house in London 24. Lewes Lushborough PResently after his death the Monks elected Robert Fitz hugh Bishop of london who died before his translation could be perfected The king then writ for Thomas Rodburne Bishop of saint 〈◊〉 which notwithstanding they make choise of another to wit Thomas Bourchier Bishop of worcester whose election the Pope confirmed but the king vtterly refused to restore to him the temporalties of that see And so for feare of a premunire he durst not receiue the popes bulles of confirmation but renounced all his interest by this election The king then appointed this Bishopricke vnto Lewes Lushbrough Archbishoppe of Roan Cardinall and Chauncellor both of Fraunce and Normandy that was some way I know not how kinne vnto him By his meanes a dispensation was gotten of the Pope to hold Ely in commendam with his Archbishopricke He enioyed it sixe yéeres and sixe monethes and then died at Hatfild Septem 18. 1443. He is said to haue bene buried betwéene two marble pillers beside the altar of reliques 25. Thomas Bourchier THomas Bourchier being now once more chosen without
life time but many yéeres after his death 2. Robert Bloett IT happened soone after the death of 〈◊〉 the king William Rufus to fall dangerously sick at Glocester And thinking he should die began seriously to repent him of his dissolute and vicious life forepassed Especially he shewed great griefe for his Simony and sacrilegious oppression of the church and Cleargy men In this good moode he bestowed the Archbishopricke of Canterbury hauing kept it voide fower yéeres vpon Saint Anselm and Lincolne vpon Robert Bloet or Bluet his Chauncellor When he recouered he much repented his repentance wished they were in his hands againe and tell to his old practises as 〈◊〉 as euer heretofore This Robert Bloet was a man passing wise liberall 〈◊〉 curteous and very personable but vnlearned light of behauiour and much giuen to lust Bale reporteth he had a sonne named Simon base borne no doubt whom he made Deane of Lincolne He dedicated his church bestowed very much in furnishing the same with ornaments requisite Unto the 21. Prebends founded by his predecessor he added 21. more and very largely endued or as some deliuer founded the Abbey of Eynsham besides Oxford vnto the which monastery he remooued the monkes of Stow. Againe he bestowed the mannor of Charlton vpon the monkes of Bermondsey and gaue vnto the king 500 l. or as H. Huntingdon hath 5000. to cléere the title that the Archbishop of Yorke laid vnto the iurisdiction of his Sée He was consecrate the yeere 1092. sate almost 30. yéeres and died at last suddenly Ianuary 10. 1122. Riding by the kings side talking with him neere Woodstocke he shranke downe spéechlesse and being caried to his lodging died in a manner presently His bowels were buried at Eynsham his body was conueghed to Lincolne and there in his owne church solemnely interred Upon his toombe was engrauen this Epitaphe Pontificum Robertus honor quem fama superstes Perpetuare dabit non obiturus obit Hic humilis diues res mira potens pius vltor Compatiens mitis cum pateretur erat Noluit esse sui Dominus studuit pater esse Semper in aduersis murus arma suis. In decima Iani mendacis somnia mundi Liquit euigilans vera perenne vidit 3. Alexander ROger that famous Bishop of Salisbury was now so great a man with the king Henry the first as being able to do with him what he list he easily entreated him to bestow the Bishopricke of Lincolne vpon one Alexander his owne brothers sonne a Norman borne whom not long before he had made Archdeacon of Salisbury and chiefe Justice of England He was consecrate at Canterbury July 22. 1123. The next yéere after his Cathedrall church so lately built and yet scarcely finished was burnt and horribly defaced by casuall fire This man repayred it againe and added vnto it a speciall ornament a goodly vault of stone which before it had not and therefore was the more subiect vnto fire He also increased the number of his Prebends purchased vnto his church certaine mannors and other lands But his chiefe delight was in building of castels wherein he imitated his vncle the Bishop of Salisbury This humor was the vndoing of them both To leaue the other vnto his owne place Alexander built a stately castle at Banbury another at Newarke and a third at Sleford William Parâ—â—s reporteth that he also founded two monasteries but what or where I finde not These castles were such eie-sores vnto king Stephen as they prouoked him to picke a quarrell otherwise vnto the Bishops to clappe them vp in prison where the other died and to bereaue them at once of these munitions and all their treasure whereof they had hoorded vp great store They that kept the castle of Newarke refused to deliuer it at the kings summons till such time as the Bishop intreated them to yéeld signifying and it was true indeede that the king had sworne he should nether eate nor drinke before he had possession of the castle Hereupon they set open the gates vnto the king and then with much adoo hauing lyen by it certaine moneths he was at last released of his imprisonment After that 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 himselfe wholy to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his church performed that which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 made it simply the most beautifull church of England at that time He was thrice at Rome to wit the 〈◊〉 1142. and 1144. where he behaued himselfe so as he pleased both the king and the Pope very well The first time he was 〈◊〉 the Pope gaue him authority to call a 〈◊〉 as his 〈◊〉 and especially 〈◊〉 vnto him the redresse of certaine 〈◊〉 for the effecting whereof he caused 〈◊〉 canons to be made very necessary for those times A third iourney he made vnto the Pope lying then in Fraunce in the moneth of August 1147. where through immoderate heat of the weather during the time of his trauell he fell 〈◊〉 and with much 〈◊〉 getting home not long after his returne he died hauing sate Bishop about the space of 24. yéeres I 〈◊〉 in Henry Huntingdon certaine verses written in commendation of him which I thinke not amisse here to be inserted Splendor Alexandri non tam renitescit honore Quam per eum renitescit honor flos namque virorum Dando tenere 〈◊〉 thesauros cogit honoris Et gratis dare festinans ne danda rogentur Quod nondum dederit nondum se credit habere O decus ô moruoo directio quo veniente Certa fides hilaris clementia cauta potestas Lene 〈◊〉 doctrina placens correctio dulcis Libercasque decens venêre pudorque facetus Lincoliae gens magna prius nunc maxima semper Talis ille diu sit nobis tutor honoris 4. Robert de Chisuey AFter Alexander succéeded Robert Archdeacon of Leycester surnamed by some de Chisuey or Chisueto by others de Taueto Querceto or Euerceto for so diuersly I finde him called a very yoong man He was consecrate in September 1147. and died Ianuary 8. 1167. This man added one Prebend vnto those that were founded by his predecessors purchased a house for himselfe and his successors 〈◊〉 vnto the temple at London and built the Bishops pallace at Lincolne in a manner all He left his Sée indebted vnto one Aaron a Iew the summe of 300 l. a great deale of money in those daies and his successors were faine to see it discharged long after 5. Geoffry Plantagenet THe Sée of Lincolne continued then void after the death of the said Robert almost seuenteene 〈◊〉 in so much as all men were of opinion there should neuer be any more Bishop there A certaine conuert of Tame reputed a very holy man and halfe a prophet in regard of many things he had strangely foretold this man I say had giuen out that the said Robert lately deceased should be the last Bishop of Lincolne This prediction of his many men 〈◊〉 when not long after the
〈◊〉 Ianuary 2. 1346. and was buried at 〈◊〉 44. Iohn Paschall Doctor of Diuinity a Carmelite of Ipswich was a gentleman borne in 〈◊〉 of a family yet remaining there and brought vp in the Uniuersity of Cambridge By William 〈◊〉 Bishop of Norwich was made a Titulary Bishop and his Suffragan by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 From that imaginary See he was translated by the Pope to Landaff ann 1347. died 1361. and was buried at Landaff He was a man of great learning for those times and left diuers monuments thereof in writing behind him 45. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Frier Minor 46. Thomas 〈◊〉 a Frier Preacher and Doctor of Diuinity was translated to Chichester 47. William de 〈◊〉 made Bishop of Bethlehem by the Pope was translated first to Landaff and after viz. the yéere 1389. to Rochester See more of him there 48. 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 was a Doctor of Diuinity and Monke of Bury where being knowen for a man of a very pragmaticall and 〈◊〉 humour that he might not trouble them at home the Couent thought good to maintaine him at Rome for the dispatch of their ordinary businesses there taking first a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of him neuer to seeke any office or 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 house without 〈◊〉 priuity and direction This othe notwithstanding when shortly after it fell out that the Abbot died he found meanes that the Pope should by his omnipotent bulles intitle him to that Abbotship whereunto the Couent with the kings good 〈◊〉 had now already elected another man far more meete 〈◊〉 Iohn 〈◊〉 For this bad kind of dealing as also bicause those prouisory bulles had heretofore béen forbidden by Act 〈◊〉 Parliament he was committed to the Tower and there 〈◊〉 prisoner a long time Neither durst the Pope yéelde him any assistance for the iustifying of his owne gift bicause there was then an Antipope whom if the Cleargy of England should haue béene induced to follow as by the kings 〈◊〉 easily they might it must néedes haue béene to his great preiudice and hinderance At the first therefore the Pope was determined to haue made him a Bishop in Ireland and whether he did or no I well know not But this is certaine that the yéere 1389. Thomas Brinton Bishop of Rochester 〈◊〉 the Pope with the kings good liking translated the Bishop of Landaffe to Rochester and gaue Landaff to this Brumfield 49. Tydemannus Abbot of Beaulien succéeded Brumfield and if I mistake not was that Tydemannus de 〈◊〉 that ann 1395. became Bishop of Worceter 50. Andrew Barret Doctor of Law 51. Iohn Burghyll a Frier preacher being Bishop 〈◊〉 Landaff and Confessor vnto the king was translated vnto Lichfield in September 1398. 52. Thomas Peuerell a Carmelite and Doctor of Diuinity was first Bishop of Ossery in Ireland 〈◊〉 thence to Landaff 1399. and thence to Worceter 1407. See Worceter 53. Iohn la Zouche a Frier minor and doctor of Diuinitie It should séeme that this man built either a 〈◊〉 part or else happily all of the house at Mathern néere Chepstow the onely house that is nowe left the Bishop to put his head in His armes fixed in diuers places of the wals and windowes to my iudgement import so much 54. Iohn Wellys was likewise a Minorite and doctor of Diuinitie 55. Nicolas Ashby Prior of Westminster 56. Iohn Hunden a Minorite doctor of Diuinitie and Prior of kings Langley 57. Iohn Marshall doctor of Diuinitie sometime fellow of Merton colledge in Oxford was consecrated 1479. and was I take it translated to London the 〈◊〉 1489. 58. Iohn Ingleby sometime Prior of Shéene a Carthusian 59. Iohn Smyth doctor of Diuinitie died October 16. 1511. and was buried at Christ church in London in the chappell of all Saints on the north side of the altar 60. Miles 〈◊〉 sometimes 〈◊〉 to the Abbey of Abingdon and afterwards Abbot of Eynesham 61. George de Attigua a Spaniard a Frier preacher and doctor of Diuinitie was consecrated March 8. 1516. 62. Robert Holgate doctor of Diuinitie was consecrated March 25. 1537. and ann 1544. was translated to Yorke See Yorke 63. Anthony Kitchen alias Dunstan doctor of Diuinity and sometimes Abbot of Eynesham was consecrated May 3. 1545. and enduring all the tempestuous changes that hapned in the meane time continued till the 5. yeere of her Maiestie that now reigneth viz. the yeere 〈◊〉 and then died hauing first so impouerished the Bishopricke by vnreasonable demises of whatsoeuer was demisable as there was no great cause he should be so loth to leaue it 64. 〈◊〉 Iones Bacheler of Law was consecrated May 5. 1556. 65. William Blethyn Batcheler of Law was consecrate Aprill 17. 1575. 66. Geruale Babington Doctor of Diuinity was consecrate Aug. 29. 1591. in February 1594. translated to Exceter and afterward to Worceter 67. William Morgan Doctor of Diuinity was consecrate Iuly 20. 1595. and translated to Saint Assaph September 16. 1601. This Bishopricke is valued in the Exchecquer at 154 l. 14 s. 1 d. and paid to the Pope for first fruits 700. ducats For want of some instructions I can not as yet set downe a perfect Catalogue of the Bishops of Bangor and Saint Assaph And therefore leauing them till some other occasion I must now passe vnto the Prouince of Yorke which contayneth besides Yorke the Metropolitane Church three other Sees Durham Carliol and Chester The Archbishops of Yorke 1. Paulinus NOt to say any thing of the manifold Testimonies of very credible authors who witnesse that the Faith of Christ was receiued in diuers particular places of this Island presently after the ascension of Christ or at least while the Apostles yet liued it can not be denied but 〈◊〉 Bishop of Rome At the request of Lucius then K. of Britaine sent 〈◊〉 Faganus and other learned Preachers to sowe the seede of the Gospell here about the yéere of our Lord 180. And it should séeme which our histories also witnesse That God so farre foorth blessed 〈◊〉 labours That they not onely conuerted many vnto the faith of Christ themselues but also left a posterity of other which with like painfulnesse continued the same doctrine in this Island till by diuers tyrants they were in diuers places oppressed and consumed Notwithstanding whether it were that the Church by them planted had many notable wanes intermissions or rather eclipses in which the light of heauenly doctrine was altogether darkened by great persecution and so no Ecclesiasticall history preserued or whether the same being preserued was destroyed by persecutors scarcely any mention remaineth of any of their Bishops 〈◊〉 of London there are remembred 15. Archbishops and of Yorke 〈◊〉 The first of these and the first Archbishop that euer Yorke had was one named 〈◊〉 appointed by the foresaid king Lucius Againe I find it reported that king 〈◊〉 made one 〈◊〉 Archbishop there And lastly that Tadiacus was the last Archbishop before the comming of the Saxons When they had gotten possession of this Realme the Britons that were the old inhabitants being
Bishop being troubled much in mind after the performance of that action and either amased with feare of what might happen after it or ouercome with gréefe and repentance of that he had done neuer could be mery after and so by conceit was cast into a disease whereof he died September 11. 1069. This is the report of W. Malmesbury others say namely Florentius Wigorne that he was so grieued with the comming in of a Nauy of the Danes as he prayed to God to take him out of this life that he might not sée the slaughter and spoyle which he thought they would make And that this griefe was the cause of his death He was more reuerenced afterward then while he liued a great deale No English man succéeded him in many yéeres after And the Normans being odious vnto the people they gladly reprehended all their actions comparing them with such English Bishops as they could remember made most fauorable report of them One thing also encreased his credite much Vrsus Earle of Worceter had built a Castle there to some preiudice of the monks in so much as the ditch of the said Castle empaired a little of the Church yard Aldred went vnto the Earle hauing before admonished him to right the wrong and hauing demaunded of him whether it were done by his appointment which he could not deny looking 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vrse Haue thou Gods 〈◊〉 and mine and of all 〈◊〉 heads except thou 〈◊〉 away this castle and know thou assuredly that thy posterity shall not inherite the land 〈◊〉 inheritance of Saint Mary This his 〈◊〉 seemed to take effect for 〈◊〉 died 〈◊〉 after and Roger his sonne a very small time enioying his fathers honour lost the same and was saine to flye the realme for killing an officer of the kings Thus much for Aldred who after his death was buried in his owne church 25. Thomas THe king then appointed Thomas a Channon of Bayon to be his successor a Norman by birth but he was brought vp altogither in the schooles of the Saxons in Fraunce except a little time he spent in Spaine He was the sonne of a priest a married priest I take it and brother vnto Sampson Bishop of Worceter whose sonne Thomas succéeded afterwards this Thomas in this Sée of Yorke A man very learned gentle both in countenance and words of a very swéete and amiable behauiour chaste and which is not to be despised of a goodly personage being in his youth beautifull in his latter time well coloured and his haire both head and beard as white as snow At his first entrance he had some what to do with Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterbury vnto whom he would not make profession of obediencē neuer as he alledged before that time required And indéed before the comming of William the Conqueror saith one the two Metropolitanes of England were not onely in authority dignity and office but also in number of suffragane Bishops 〈◊〉 But at this time saith he they of Canterbury 〈◊〉 the new king that Yorke ought to be subiect vnto their Sée and that it was for the good and safety of the king that the church thereof should be obedient principally vnto one for that otherwise one might set the crowne vpon one mans 〈◊〉 and the other doe as much for some body else This 〈◊〉 is more at large debated in Canterbury The ende for that time was that Thomas ouerborne by the Archbishop of Canterbury Lanfranke and the king who fauoured him was faine to appeale vnto Rome both of them being there in person before the Pope they fell as commonly it happeneth in like cases from the chiefe point into by matters and articling one against another What Thomas laide against Lanfranke I find not And all that Lanfranke had to say against him was that he was a priests son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that the king for his faithfull seruice had promised him a Bishopricke before his comming into England These were so great matters in the Popes iudgement as Thomas must be depriued of his ring and crosier and not restored to them but by the entreaty of Lanfranke As for the matter of Primacy he left it to the iudgment of the king and Bishops of England who forced Thomas to yeeld Comming then to Yorke he found that estate of his whole Dioces the city church especially most miserable The Danes before mentioned comming toward Yorke the Normans that held the castle thought good to burne certaine houses neere the castle least they might be a furtherance vnto the enemy This vngentle fire would not be entreated to stay iust where they would haue it but procéeding farther then his commission destroyed the monastery and church of Saint Peter and in fine the whole city Before the fire was out the Danes came and tooke both city and castle by force putting to the sword all the Normans they found there to the number of 3000 sauing none aliue but one William Mallet his wife children and a few other Soone after the destruction of this goodly city the king came into these parts with a puissant army against the Danes not ceasing to make all manner of spoile as if he had béene in the enemies countrey So betwéene the Danes and the Normans such hauocke was made as all the land from the great riuer of Humber vnto the riuer of Tine lay waste and not inhabited by any man for the space of nine yeeres after In the church of Yorke there were onely thrée Chanons left the rest being all either dead or fled away they had left vnto them neither house to put their heads in nor any good meanes how to line and maintaine themselues All these faults this industrious Bishop endeuoured to amend First he new couered and repaired his church as well as he might to serue the turne for a time But afterwards he pulled downe all the old building and erected from the very foundation a new to wit the Minster that now standeth His channons dispersed abroad he called home againe and tooke order they should be reasonably prouided for He built them a hall and a dorter and appointed one of them to be the Prouost and gouernour of the rest Also he bestowed certaine mannors and lands vpon them and caused other to be restored that had béen taken from them The church then hauing continued in this state a good while I know not by whose aduise the Archbishop thought good to diuide the land of Saint Peters church into Prebends and so to allot a particular portion vnto euery channon whereas before they liued together vpon the common charges of the church at one table much in like sort as fellowes of houses do now in the Uniuersities At the same time also he appointed a Deane a Treasurer and a chanter and also for the Chauncellorship it was founded of him before The church newly built by him he furnished with books and all kind of ornaments necessary
but his speciall care was to furnish the same and the rest of his Dioces with learned and honest men with whom he was woont continually to conferre and reason sometime with one and sometime with another partly for his owne exercise and partly to sée what was in them and to raise them vp to a diligence in increasing their knowledge Himselfe was very learned and writ diuers things both in prose and verse He was also a very good musition and could not onely sing but play very well vpon the organs and did set many songs Hauing crowned king Henry the first August 5. 1100. with the helpe of Maurice Bishop of London because Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury liued then in banishment the 18. of Nouember following being sunday he died at Rippon and was buried at Yorke in the Minster himselfe had built next vnto Aldred his predecessor 26. Gerard. AFter the death of Thomas Gerard nephew vnto Walkenlin Bishop of Winchester and Chauncellor of England vnder William the Conquerour and Rofus his sonne hauing beene Bishop of Heresord no long time he was elected vnto Yorke but obtayned not confirmation a great while For he refused to make profession of obedience vnto Canterbury till being commaunded by the Popes letters he performed the same He sate Archbishop seuen yéeres and almost sixe moneths and died suddenly in his garden at Southwell at a time when no body was with him He was a good benefactor vnto the Church of Yorke for he was a meanes vnto the king to bestow the Church of Laxton vpon the Chapter and himselfe hauing obtayued of him the Churches of Dryfield Kilne Pockington and Burgh he gaue them all likewise to the Chapter This notwithstanding after his death they would not suffer him bying so suddenly to be buried within their church hardly in the churchyard So he was laide at the entrance of the church porch But Thomas his successor not suffering such an indignity to be offered vnto an Archbishop remooued his bones into the Church afterward and caused them to be honorably intoombed He was a man of great learning and for eloquence admirable but somewhat too eager against married Priests whom by no meanes he could abide Bale chargeth him with forcery and coniuration because forsooth that after his death there was found in his chamber a volume of 〈◊〉 who writ of Astrology indéed but of coniuration nothing that euer I heard 27. Thomas 2. A Second Thomas succéeded a Chaplain of the kings nephew vnto the former Thomas and sonne vnto Sampson Bishop of Worceter Euen as his predecessor he was very loath to make his profession vnto Caterbury Being called vpon by Anselme the Archbishop He made many 〈◊〉 Wherefore Anselme lying very 〈◊〉 and perceiuing his end to be néere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the Bishops of England commanding them not to consecrate him before he had made his 〈◊〉 laying a terrible curse and 〈◊〉 vpon whosoeuer 〈◊〉 doo it The king after 〈◊〉 death 〈◊〉 the Bishop of Worceter whose sonne he was to consecrate him But he answered that he would not haue the curse of Father 〈◊〉 for any worldly good So in the end being perswaded to yéeld as other had done before him consecration was afforded vnto him and performed by his Father 〈◊〉 the foresaid Bishop of 〈◊〉 or as other report by the Bishop of London Iune 27. 1108. This man erected 〈◊〉 newe 〈◊〉 in his Church of Yorke he placed 〈◊〉 reguler at 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 parcels of land vnto the Colledge of 〈◊〉 and purchased of the king the like liberties priuileges for them that the 〈◊〉 of Yorke 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He sate little aboue 5. yéeres and died I thinke I 〈◊〉 say 〈◊〉 Martyr Lying dangerously 〈◊〉 he was aduertised by the 〈◊〉 the nature of his disease to be such as if he vsed the company of a woman he neede not doubt of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 otherwise nothing was to be looked for but death He 〈◊〉 rather to 〈◊〉 then to 〈◊〉 so high and sacred a calling with so soule and haynous an 〈◊〉 So he ended his life February 19. 1114. and was buried beside the former Thomas his vncle 28. Thurstan THomas the Archbishop being taken away as before I haue declared Thurstan a Cannon of Paules and the Kings Chaplaine was chosen to succéed him He when he could by no meanes obtaine consecration of Ralph Archbishop of Canterbury without making profession of subiection 〈◊〉 and forsooke the 〈◊〉 of his election Yet remembring himselfe at last he went to Rome to plead his cause before the Pope and obtained letters to the king and Archbishop of Canterbury in commendation of his cause These letters preuailing nothing with the Archbishop that would be wonne by no meanes and Thurstan continuing as obstinate in his resolution The Sée remained void along time At last it fell out that a Counsell was summoned to be held at 〈◊〉 Thurstan crauing leaue of the king to goe thither could not obtaine it before he had promised that he would not receiue consecration there Which promise notwithstanding so well he followed his businesse that before the comming ouer of other English Bishops to the Counsell he was a Bishop ready consecrate as well as they and that by the hand of the Pope himselfe So he and he only I thinke of all the Archbishops of York since the Conquest neuer made profession of subiection to the Metropoliticall See of Canterbury The King hearing of this dealing was very greatly offended with Thurstan and for bad him England Neither could the Pope méeting with the King at Gisors and intreating for him so pacifie his displeasure as that he would suffer him to returne After fiue yeeres banishment the Pope writ a very sharpe letter vnto the king signifying that he would excommunicate both him and the Archbishop of Canterbury also if Thurstan were any longer kept from his See and charge Hereupon he was called home and soone after reconciled vnto the King This man is much praysed first for his learning then for his great wisedome and discretion and lastly for his industry and diligence his care and painefulnesse in well gouerning the charge committed to him He was a very kinde man to his Cannons vnto whom amongst other things he affoorded this priuiledge that the yeerely profite of their prebends being deuided into thrée parts it should be lawfull for any Canon to bequeath two parts of the yéere next ensuing his death alotting the third vnto the Fabricke that is toward the reparation of the church This order he set downe not onely at Yorke but at Beuerley also at Southwell at Rippon and at Glocester all which were colledges founded by Archbishops of Yorke Moreouer it is to be remembred that he either founded a 〈◊〉 or renued and repaired eight monasteries In the latter end of his time to wit June 4. 1137. a lamentable chaunce befell his church and city By casuall fire Saint Peters church in Yorke Saint Maries without the walles a
The king Queene eleuen other Bishops and many nobles being present He died August 27. 1285. hauing continued Archbishop scarcely 6. yeeres 38. Iohn Romano THe 28. of Nouember following viz. 1285. a cannon of Yorke was elected Archbishop and shortly after consecrate at Rome Because his father was a Romane borne he was called by the name of Iohn Romane This man was of base parentage but very learned He built the crosse I le on the North side of the church toward the pallace and a goodly steeple in the middle of the church all at his owne proper costs He built much in the hospitall of Saint Peter and with his owne hands laide the first stone of the great body of the church vpon the South side of the same He liued not to bring that noble worke to any perfection being taken away by death March 15. 1295. when he had continued in that Sée little more than 10 yéeres The yéere before he died he excommunicated Anthony Beake Bishop of Durham being one of the kings Councell and at that time beyond the seas in his seruice Whereat the king being highly displeased the Archbishop thought it his best course to put himselfe to his mercy He did so and was saine to 〈◊〉 the kings fauour with 4000. markes The indignation of a Prince is death saith the Wise man And likely ynough it is that the 〈◊〉 of his displeasure and the trouble that ensued it might soone cause some incurable disease that tooke him away He was buried in his Cathedrall church which with goodly building he had much augmented and beautified 39. Henry Newerk THe Deane of Yorke Henry de Newerk was then chosen Archbishop the seuenth day of May following He was consecrate at home in his owne church about a twelue moneth after to wit in the beginning of the yeere 1297. He had enioyed that honour but two yeeres when by death he was forced to leaue the same 40. Thomas de Corbridg AFter him succéeded Thomas de Corbridge Cannon of Yorke a great learned diuine He denied the king to haue the disposition of a certaine spirituall promotion that fell in his gift wherewith the king was so greatly displeased as he violently tooke from him three Baronies as one saith I thinke he meaneth Mannors appertaining of old vnto his See and detained them so long as this Archbishop liued which was indeede but a short time He sate in all but three yeeres seuen monethes and ten daies Whether it be that few mens minds are so great as to sustaine the burthen of a princes displeasure or that God which promiseth a reward of long life vnto those that 〈◊〉 honour vnto their superiors in his iust iudgement do soonest cut of such as are backward in this duety So surely it hath fallen out for the most part that those Bishops that haue presumed most in opposing themselues against their princes haue least time indured and euer quickly bene taken away whereof I could yeelde infinite examples This Thomas Corbridg died at Lanham the yeere 1303. and was buried at Southwell 41. William de Greenfield HE that then succéeded William de Greenfild was Canon of Yorke and Chauncellour of England vnder king Edward the first A great and wise councellor very eloquent and not vnlearned After his election he was faine to awaite the Popes pleasure two yéeres before he could obtaine consecration which at last he receiued of Pope Clement the fifth anno 1305. But it cost him 9500. markes beside the charge that he was at while he lay in the Popes court a suter By reason of these immoderate expenses he became so bare that at his first returne into England he was faine to make two collections amongst his cleargy in one yeere the first he called a beneuolence the second an aide He was a great fauourer of the templers euery where oppressed in those daies especially by the Pope Philip the french king When he had sate nine yéeres eleuen monethes and two daies he departed this 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 December 13. 1315. and was buried in his cathedrall church in the porch of Saint Nicholas 42. William de Melton SOne after Greenfields death before the end of the yéere 1315. William de Melton Prouost of Beuerly and Canon of Yorke was elected at the instance and earnest request of the king Edward the 2. With the Pope he found no more grace then his predecessor had done vnder two yéeres sute consecration coulde not be had It was at last affoorded him September 25. 1317. at Auinion Almost 23. yéeres hée gouerned the Sée of Yorke and that very woorthily attending diligently not onely the affaires and businesse of his church but also his owne priuate actions indeuoring by chastitie fasting prayer almesdaedes hospitalitie and vertuous behauior like a good pastor to teach and instruct as well by example of life as preaching and doctrine He was very good to his Tenaunts but carefull to preserue and rather to increase then any way to unpaire the state liberties and reuenues of his Church Yet was he not carelesse of the preferment of his seruants and kinred whom as occasion serued he pleasured and aduanced to very good places amongst the rest and by the Popes licence he purchased to a brothers sonne the Mannor of 〈◊〉 Kingsclere and Wentworth which till that time belonged to the Archbishops of Roan He bestowed great cost vpon the shryne of Saint William and finished the west part of the body of his church with the expences of 700. markes He enclosed also a place called the old 〈◊〉 at Yorke with a goodly wall He deceased Aprill 22. or as one deliuereth Aprill 5. 1. 340. at Cawood hauing sate 22. yéeres and almost 7. moneths in which time he had béene successiuely Treasurer and Chauncellor of England His body lieth buried néere the 〈◊〉 in Saint Peters Church 43. William de Zouche VVIlliam de la Souch Deane of Yorke succéeded He had much to doe with one William Kilsby that contended with him two whole yéeres for this Archbishopricke He was consecrate at last by Pope Clement the 6. at Auinion an 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 1346. king Edward going into France left this man his 〈◊〉 heere The Scots taking aduantage of his absence came with a great armie into England At a place called Bewre Parke néere 〈◊〉 crosse they were mette by this Archbishop and diuers of our Nobilitie October 17. where our men so valtantly behaued themselues as the Scots were cuerthrowne two Earles 21. knights and an 〈◊〉 number of other slaine many also taken prisoners and amongst the rest Dauid le 〈◊〉 then king This Bishop a little before his death began the foundation of a Chappell on the south side of the church intending to be buried in the same but being taken away before it could be brought to any perfection he was laied before the altar of Saint Edmund the Confessor He died August 8. 1352. 44. Iohn Thursby THe yéere 1349. Iohn Thursby Bishop of Saint 〈◊〉 was translated
good hap of this new elect as a little before his arriuall there I meane at Rome Pope Eugenius was dead and seene after came certaine newes thither of the death of the Archbishop also Anastasius that succeeded Eugenius without much adoo affoorded him consecration Decemb. 30. 1153. He sate Bishop a long time almost 42. yéeres in which time he built diuers houses vpon his mannors out of the ground and bestowed much in repairing of the rest He builte a faire house at Derlington He founded the Priory of Finchall he bought Sadbury of king Richard the first and gaue it vnto his Sée He built the bridge of Eluet and the Galiley at the west end of his Cathedrall church in which he placed the bones of venerable Beda Lastly he built two hospitals one at Allerton an other called Sherburne at the East end of Durham To Sherburne he alotted liberall allowance for the maintenance of 65. poore Lasers and a certaine number of priests Neubrigenses ascribeth this good worke partly vnto other men whom he enforced to become benefactors vnto this foundation being loath to be at the whole charge himselfe At what time king Richard made prouision for his iorney into the Holy land he also tooke on him the crosse and vowed to be one of that companie The king vnderstanding that he had prepared a great masse of money to carry with him perswaded him to stay at home and to afford him his money which if he would do he promised to make him Earle of Northumberland The Bishop long since repenting the vow he had made quickly condiscended to this offer accepted the same The king hauing created him an Earle turned him about vnto the companie and laughing saide he had performed a woonderfull exploit for quoth he of an old Bishop I haue made a yoong Earle Now that he might haue some colourable ercuse of not performing his vow he caused the king to alledge that he might not be spared out of the realme in his absence And to make this the more probable giuing the king 1000. markes he perswaded him with golden Rhetoricke to make him chiefe Justice of England The like Rhetoricke it was that induced the Pope to dispence with his vow vnto which the excuses before alleaged made some way but could neuer haue effected the busines without that helpe At the returne of K Richard from Hierusalem he found him not so fauourable as he expected thinking that he grudged him his Earledome resigned the same into his hands After which notwithstanding he loaded him sore with many grieuous exactions well knowing the Bishops bagges to be notably 〈◊〉 for that he had offered him a great summe of mony for the redemption of his Earledome The king therefore being beyond the seas sent vnto him for this money as condiscending to his request But the old Fox well ynough 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 humbly besought him by letters either to affoord him the Earldome first or else to suffer him to enioy his money quietly Whereupon the king that knew how to vse him in his kinde writ letters vnto him full of reuerend and gratious speeches wishing him to bring vp his money to London and there to receiue the gouernment of the whole realme which he would commit vnto him and the Archbishoppe of Canterbury Being very ioyfull of this fauour toward London he comes about Shrouetyde thinking then to take his farewell of flesh he surffetted vpon the way at Doncaster and finding himselfe sicke returned home to Houeden where he died March 3. being the saturday in cleansing weeke He was 70. yeeres old at the time of his death yet would hardly beléeue his phisitions certifying him a little before he died in what danger he was An old Heremit named 〈◊〉 esteemed of many a very holy man had told him he should be blinde seuen yéeres before his death which said our stories Godricus meant the blindnesse of his minde and he vnderstanding him of the blindnesse of his bodily eies neuer cared to prouide for death assuring himselfe he had that seuen yéeres at least to come Being yet Treasurer of Yorke he begot thrée 〈◊〉 all sonnes the first borne of a gentlewoman of great blood became a soldier the second he made Archdeacon of Durham and loaded him with many other 〈◊〉 promotions which he enioying but one yéere after his fathers death was also taken away himselfe The third whom the old Bishop loued most tenderly of all by his fathers great suit and no lesse expence became Channcellor to the French king He was so vnhappy as to see that his best beloued sonne buried Himselfe departed this world as before is said in the beginning of Lent an 1195. 34. Philip of Poitiers KIng Henry the second fauoured much one Philip borne at Poitiers in Aquitaine for the long acceptable seruice he had done vnto him In reward whereof he besought him to preferre him vnto the Bishopricke of Durham then void The king well knowing he could not doo for him any other way better cheape commended him so effectually vnto the couent as they durst not but choose him He was elected December 30. 1195. The next yéere he was sent Embassador vnto the Pope together with William Longshamp that famous Bishop of Ely who died in the way to Rome-ward There to wit at Rome he was consecrate May 12. 1197. The yeere 1200. he went in pilgrimage to Saint Iames of Compostella He was a great hartner of king Iohn against the Pope aduising him euer to make no reckoning of his excommunications The Pope vnderstanding thereof excommunicated him also together with the king Being not yet absolued he died the yéere 1208. and was buried without the church by the hands of lay men because he stood excommunicate at the time of his death This Bishop by the licence of king Richard the first set vp a Mint at Durham and began to coine mony there the yéere 1196. 35. Richard de Marisco IT séemeth the Sée was long voide after the death of Philip. For Richard de Marisco Lord Chauncellor of England and Archdeacon of Northumberland an old courtier was thrust into this Sée by Gualo the Popes Legate and consecrate by the Archbishop of Yorke the yéere 1217. During the time of the vacacy I find that one Morgan prouost of Beuerley was elected vnto this Bishopricke He was bastard brother vnto king Iohn and begotten vpon the Lady of a knight called Sir Ralf 〈◊〉 or Blewet Exceptions were taken against him that he was a bastard and so by the Canons not capable of ecclesiasticall preferment without speciall dispensation which the Pope being loath to graunt aduised him to call himselfe Blewet and to alledge that he was borne in lawfull wedlocke promising vpon that condition to affoord him consecration But he answered that for any worldly preferment whatsoeuer he would not renounce his father or deny himselfe to be of the bloud royall So he lost his Bishoprick and for ought I find neuer attained other preferment
or other auoydance without any performance of vsuall ceremonies And whether it were that he mistrusted his title to Canterbury or inercusable couetousnesse I cannot tell certaine it is that he kept Winchester also together with Canterbury euen vntill a little before his death he was forced to forgoe them both Many times he was cited vnto Rome about it but by giftes delayes and one meanes or other he droue it off neuer being able to procure his pall thence so long as king Edward liued William the Conqueror hauing slaine king Harold in the field all England yéelded presently vnto his obedience except onely Kentishmen who following the counsell of Stigand and Egelsin the abbot of S. Augustines gathered al their forces togither at Swanscombe néere Grauesend and there attended the comming of the king who doubted of no such matter euery man holding a gréene bough in his hand whereby it came to passe that he was in the midst of them before he dreamed of any such businesse toward He was greatly amased at the first till he was giuen to vnderstande by Stigand there was no hurt meant vnto him so that he would graunt vnto that contrey their ancient liberties and suffer them to be gouerned by their former customes and lawes called then and til this day Gauelkind These things he easily yeelded vnto vpon this armed intercession and afterward very honourably performed But he conceiued so profound a displeasure against Stigand for it as he neuer ceased till he had reuenged it with the others destruction A while he gaue him very good countenance calling him father méeting him vpon the way when he vnderstood of his repaire toward him and affording him all kinde of gratious and fauourable vsage both in words and behauiour but it lasted not long The first signe of his hidden rancour and hatred towarde him was that he would not suffer himselfe to be crowned by him but made choise of Aldred Archbishop of Yorke for which he alleaged other reasons as that he had not yet receiued his pall c. But the matter was he was loth in that action to acknowledge him for Archbishop Soone after his coronation he departed into Normandy carrying with him Stigand and many English nobles vnder pretence to doe them honour But in truth he stood in doubt least in his absence they should practise somewhat against him And namely Stigand he knew to be a man of a haughty spirit subtile rich gracious and of great power in his countrey Presently vpon his returne certaine Cardinals arriued in England sent from the Pope as legates to redresse as they said certaine enormities and abuses of the English clergy Stigand by and by perceiuing himselfe to be the marke that was specially shot at hid himfelfe a while in Scotland with Alexander Bishop of Lincolne and after in the Isle of Ely At last perceiuing a conuocation to be called at Winchester he came thither and besought the king in regarde of his owne honour and the promise made vnto him at Swanscombe which was not to be offended with him or any other for their attempt at that time to saue him from the calamity he saw growing toward him which he could not impute vnto any thing so probably as his vndeserued displeasure The king answered him with very gentle words that he was so farre from endeuouring to take any reuenge of that or any other matter as he loued him and wished he knew how to protect him from the danger imminent But that which was to be done at that time must be done by the Popes authoritie which he might not countermaund So do what he could he was depriued of his liuings by these legates The causes alleaged against him were these First that he had held Canterbury and Winchester both together which was no very strange thing for Saint Oswald had long before held Worceter with Yorke and S. Dunstan Worceter with London Secondly that he had inuaded the Sée of Canterbury Robert the Archbishop being yet aliue vndepriued And lastly that he presumed to vse the pall of his predecessor Robert left at Canterbury and had neuer receiued any pall but of Pope Benedict at what time he stood excommunicate for simony and other like crimes In the same conuocation many other Prelates were depriued of their promotions as 〈◊〉 Bishop of Helmham brother vnto Stigand diuers abbots and men of meaner places All which was done by the procurement of the king that was desirous to place his countrymen in the roomes of the depriued for the establishment of his new gotten kingdome Poore Stigand being thus depriued as though he had not yet harme inough was also clapt vp presently in prison within the castell of Winchester and very hardly vsed there being scarcely allowed meate inough to hold life and soule together That was thought to be done to force him to confesse where his treasure lay whereof being demaunded he protested with great othes he had no mony at all hoping belike so to procure his liberty the rather and then to make himselfe mery with that he had laid vp against such a déere yéere He died soone after of sorrow and griefe of minde or as other report of voluntary famine 17. yéeres after he first obtained the Archbishopricke After his death a little key was found about his necke the locke whereof being carefully sought out shewed a note or direction of infinite treasures hid vnder ground in diuers places All that the king pursed in his owne coffers The bones of this archbishoply entoombed at this day vpon the top of the north wall of the Presbytery of the church of Winchester in a coffin of lead vpon the north side whereof are written these words Hic iacet Stigandus Archiepiscopus he was depriued ann 1069. and died within the compasse of the same yéere 33. Lanfrank STigand being yet aliue but depriued as is beforesaid Lanfranke was consecrate Archbishop This Lanfrank was borne at Papia in Lumbardy twenty myles from Millayn where being brought vp in learning and now come vnto mans state he determined to trauaile Through France he came into Normandy prouoked by the fame and great reports he had heard of Eluin abbot of Becco Upon the way thitherward it was his hap to be encountred with théeues that spoiled him of all he had bound him and threw him into a thicket where he might haue perished with cold and hunger had not God sent some extraordinary company that way that loosed him hauing laien there onely one night Thence he got him vnto the monastery of Becco and for very want and penury was faine to become a Reader of Logike there vntill he was admitted to the place of a monke Soone after that he was made Prior of Becco whence in regard of his singular wisedome and great knowledge in all good learning that those times could affoord he was called by Duke William to be abbot of S. Stephens in Cane a monastery that the said Duke had founded Now
casting many doubts by reason of this méeting procéeded first vnto their election and chose Reginald Bishop of Bathe that was sonne to Ioceline Bishop of Salisbury but concealed it till the Bishops were come together at what time in the presence of them all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their election and withall laid hands 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there present drew him vnto the Archiepiscopall throne and violently placed him in the same Albeit at that time he withstood them what he might and with teares 〈◊〉 besought them to make choice of some other yet being asked the next day by the Archbishop of Roan whether he assented vnto the election he answered that so farre he was from ambitious desire of that place as it was a great griefe vnto him to be chosen and that he would be very glad they would take some other in his roome Howbeit quoth he if they will néeds stand to their election though with griefe and hearty sorrow I must and will accept of the same Messengers were by and by dispatched vnto the Pope who presently affoorded the pall and other vsuall ceremonies vnto this 〈◊〉 elect But before newes could be brought of his confirmation or he take possession of his new honor he died at his house of Dogmersfield in Hamshire vpon Christmas day fiftéene daies or as other deliuer the nine and fortie after his election vnto Canterbury He was buried at Bathe Sée more of him in Bathe and Wels. 42. Hubert Walter KIng Richard the first surnamed Cueur de Lyon being taken prisoner in his returne from the holy land by Leopold 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 at what time the Sée of Canterbury was yet void well knowing how notable a stay a good Archbishoppe might be vnto the whole realme in his 〈◊〉 and hauing experience of the great wisedome and other manifold vertues of 〈◊〉 Bishop of Salisbury that had attended 〈◊〉 in all that long and dangerous voyage he vsed what 〈◊〉 he might possibly to procure him to be translated thither This Hubert was borne at a place called West Derham in Norfolke and brought vp vnder Raynulph de Glandfeld chiefe Justice of England The first preferment he 〈◊〉 was the Deamy of Yorke 〈◊〉 he was called in the 〈◊〉 yéere of king Richard vnto the 〈◊〉 of Salisbury by the 〈◊〉 of Baldwyn the Archbishop who loued him 〈◊〉 in his life time and at his death trusted him with the disposition of all his goods Being yet Deane of Yorke he bought certaine land of Geoffry Fitz Geoffry in West Derham where he was borne and founded a monastery in the same for his owne soules health so himselfe speaketh in his foundation as also for the soules of his father mother Raynulphde Glandfeld and Berta his wife who brought him vp The manner of his election vnto Canterbury was this The king writ earnestly to the Couent to choose some wise quiet moderate man but refrayned to name any in regard of the former repulses taken by him and his father But his minde and particular desire could not be vnknowen vnto them He signified vnto Elianor his mother to the Archbishop of Roan and other what course he wished to be taken And so wisely they handled the matter as before any man looked for it the monkes who well saw how greatly it imported the realme in that dangerous time to haue some woorthy prelate in that place had elected him and published suddenly their election at Paules crosse to the great contentment of the Quéene and councell and no lesse ioy of all other sorts and states of people While his pall was fetching at Rome considering how odious Baldwyn had beene to his Monkes of Canterbury for not beeing a Monke as themselues were and in a manner all his predecessors had béene went to Merton and there professed him selfe a Monke in like maner as Regmald the last Archbishoppe had done Then he began to bestir him in leuiyng of money for the kings ransome So discretly he wrought as the Cleargy aud commonalty of the whole realme did very willingly yéeld a quarter of all their reuenues for one yéere which together with the plate and ornaments of Churches that were fame to be sold in this extrenuty amounted vnto 150000. marks the sum required by the Emperor The king returning made him presently Lord Chauncelor chiefe Justice of England and high gouernor of all his dominions immediately vnder him So that being already Archbishop and the Popes Logate he wanted no authority that was possible to be laid vpon him Neuer was there any Cleargy man either before or after him of so great power neuer any man vsed his authority more moderately He was blamed and much enuied for taking so many offices vpon him It is remembred that a Noble man said vnto him in scorne at what time he was made Chauncellor I haue heard of many Chauncellors made Bishops but of an Archbishop that would vouchsafe to stoup to the Chauncellorship till now I neuer heard of any With in two yéers after his first promotion to these high places the better to excuse his ambition he made a dissembling and counterfeit shew of being desirous to leaue these temporall offices in so much as he dealt effectually with the king by letters to giue him leaue to resigne them saying that the charge of his Church was worke ynough for one man whereunto onely he would hereafter gladly dedicate himselfe This he did assuring him selfe in his owne conceite that the king had no man about him so likely to manage those affaires as him selfe and not being able to want him would intreate him to retaine them still It fell out otherwise then he expected For though at first the king séemed and peraduenture was vnwilling to yéeld to this his request yet he found it so reasonable in the end as he could not any longer deny the same Here now this Archbishop manifestly bewrayed his insatiable desire of rule and gouernment Being thus taken tardy in his owne snare as though his mind and determination were sodainely altered he signified vnto the king by letters that notwithstanding his great desire of betaking himselfe onely to spirituall matters and the manifold infirmities of his age he would be content to afford his labor and diligence in his other offices yet a while longer if therein he might doo him any profitable seruice And that the king should not think it possible to prouide himselfe elsewhere of better officers he certified him withall that in these two yéeres since his preferment he had gathered for his vse 1100000. marks which he was ready to pay into his coffers augmenting it is like the summe and adding thereto out of his owne purse that so he might in cleanly sort buy a-againe those honorable and gainfull offices which his subtile dissimulation had almost lost him Setting this fault aside whereunto the greatest wits are most subiect I meane ambition he was an excellent and memorable man a bridle saith on vnto the king and an obstacle of tyranny the peace and
this order that if any cathedrall Church continued voide aboue sixe monethes it should be lawfull for the Archbishop to conferre it where he list as well as any smaller benefice The procuring of this order cost him a great sum of mony Yet no sooner was his backe turned but the Pope at the kings request reuoked the same Being thus continually vexed thwarted and disgraced he departed into voluntary exile and there bewailing the misery of his countrey spoyled and wasted by the tyranny of the Pope spent the rest of his life in continuall teares Through extreme gréefe and sorrow or as some thinke too much 〈◊〉 he fell first into a consumption and after into a strange kinde of ague Whereupon he thought good to remooue from the Abbey of Pontiniac in Fraunce where he had laien euer since his comming out of England vnto Soissy and there departed this life Nouember 16. 1236. eight yéeres after his first consecration His hart and entrailes were buried at Soissy his body at Pontiniac Within sixe yéeres after his death he was Canonised a Saint by Innocentius who appointed the foresaid day of his death for euer to be kept holy in memory of him Lewes the French king caused his body to be translated to a more honorable place then it was first laid in and bestowed a sumptuous shryne vpon him couered with golde and siluer and richly adorned with many precious stones 46. Boniface THe monks of Canterbury at the instance of the king elected vnto the Archbishopricke Boniface the sonne of Peter Earle of Sauoy and vncle vnto the Quéene a man not greatly to be commended for any thing but the nobility of his stocke and the comelinesse of his person For in other respects he was thought vtterly vnfit and vnwoorthy of that place The king therefore doubting least the Pope would reiect him caused in a manner all the Bishops and Abbots of England to write their letters commendatory in his behalfe and so sent him to Lyons where he quickly obtained consecration at the Popes owne hands At his first entrance into this Sée he found the same indebted by the ouerlashing of his predecessors to the value of 22. thousand marks which he tooke for an occasion of both absenting himselfe from his charge and also of raking money togither by all kinde of meanes Departing therefore into his owne country by felling of woods making leases and other such like meanes he made an infinite deale of money promising to imploy the same and whatsoeuer he could saue by liuing priuately at home in the payment of his churches debt By the same pretence also he induced the Pope to graunt him in Commendam the Bishopricke of Ualentia in Prouence and diuers other spirituall promotions But he gaue himselfe to warring and spent all he could make in hyring of soldiers When therefore notwithstanding all these helpes the debt was neuer the lesse he was glad by bribing the Pope with a great summe of money to procure of him a graunt of the profite of all spirituall preferments that should be void within his prouince for the space of seuen yéeres The king a while spurned at this graunt but in the end halfe for feare of the Pope of whom he stood in great awe and partly by sute and intercession he ratified and allowed of the same Hauing béene many yéeres absent he returned into England the yéere 1250. and tooke vpon him to visite all his Prouince in some extraordinarie manner All men knew it was rather to make mony then for any desire of reformation and that caused it to be taken the more odiously He began first with his owne Dioces which he so hampered with straight vnreasonable orders such as he knew men would rather buy out then endure to obserue that euery one said the monks of Canterbury were 〈◊〉 iustly rewarded for their folly in electing an vnlearned stranger that was more fit and likely to make a souldier then an Archbishop a great deale Comming then to London he tooke a small occasion to deface the Bishop there with 〈◊〉 and reprochfull spéeches and being resisted by the Deane and Chapter of Paules who had appealed from his 〈◊〉 to the Pope he made no more adoo but excommunicated them euery one Going the next day about the same businesse to the Priory of Saint Bartholomewes in Smythfield he was met very honorably by the Subprior and all the Conent in their coapes Telling them by and by he came to visite them one of the company answered him reuerently he was very welcome vnto them but they were sory he came for that purpose wherein they must disappoint him They knew their Bishop whose onely office it was to be a very sufficient man for his place and so long they must not entertaine the 〈◊〉 of any other This answere though gentle inough so enraged this lusty Archbishop as not being able to containe his anger within any bounds of discretion he ranne violently not to him that had spoken but to the Sub-prior that was next him strucke the poore old man downe to the ground kicked him beate and buffeted him pitifully tore his coape from his backe rent it into a number of péeces and when he had done stamped vpon it like a madde man In this conflict it hapned the Archbishop to stumble and fal backward by meanes whereof his apparell loosening in any perceaued a priuy coate vnder the same His seruitors and attendants taking example of their Lord gaue much like intertainment to the rest of the monks as he had giuen to the Sub-prior By this time the Londoners were vp and taking the matter very 〈◊〉 in the behalfe of their Bishop whom this iniury did originally concerne laid such wait for the Archbishop as with much adoo he stole secretly to the Thames side and was conueied by a wherry prouided for him to Lambhith If they could 〈◊〉 met with him they had surely hewen him into 1000. péeces He was no sooner come home but he thundred out his excommunications against not onely the whole Couent of Saint Bartholomew but the Bishop of London also as a fauourer of theirs They all agreeing togither determined to send the Deane of Paules a graue and wise man to Rome and by the letters of certaine Bishops they knew the Pope would credite to aduertise him of this strange disorder The Archbishop vnderstanding heereof followed thither apace and entred Rome with great pompe nothing 〈◊〉 but the King and Quéenes letters which he had brought his nobility and great linage or if all failed his purse should beare him out in this matter well inough But vnderstanding how odiously it was taken by all that heard it how hardly the Pope was informed against him he fell to intreatie of his aduersaries the Deane of Paules and the rest whom partly by faire promises and partly by threates at last he subdued and made them content to stay their complaint That matter being so ended he dealt earnestly with the
the Popes sending but to preserue their right of election were content forsooth to chose him the Pope had before appointed them He was consecrate February 26. 1272. being the first Sunday in Lent at what time the Prior of Canterbury demanded of him the summe of 3000 markes spent in the election of William Chillenden which the Pope promised the next Archbishop should repay But he loath to disburse this money began to pick holes in the Priors coate and threatning to depriue him of his place neuer linne sifting of him till he had intreated his Couent to abate 1300. of the 3000. markes In the first yéere of his consecration he renued the Statutes made by his predecessors for his Court of the Arches and contracted them briefely into fiue articles Then shortly after he visited all his Prouince and both the Uniuersities in which he disputed excellently and shewed himselfe in diuers kinds of exercise Toward the later ende of his time he made a collection for the building of a Monastery for the Frier Minors in London Men contributed so largely thereunto and he had the helpe of a certaine olde Tower which yéelded him stones without charge as he finished the same with other mens money filled his own purse well beside Hauing béene Archbishop about the space of sixe yéeres he was sent for to Rome by Pope Nicholas the third and made Cardinall of Hostia and Bishop of Portua He resigned then his Archbishopricke and getting him into Italy with in a fewe monethes after fell sicke and died of poison some say at Uiterbium where also he was buried 48. Iohn Peckham THe resignation of Robert Kilwardby once knowen the monkes mate hast to their election and with the kings good liking chose Robert Burnell Bishop of Bath at that time Chauncellor of England But the Pope who had therefore promoted Robert Kilwardby that he might place another in his roome such a one as he would be sure should serue his turne at all times perceiuing him selfe preuented in the election thrust in ex plenitudine potestatis in like sort as last time he had done Iohn Peckham another Frier He was borne of meane parentage in Susser spent his childhood in the Abbey of Lewes brought vp in Oxford where he became a Frier and succeeded Robert Kilwardby in the office of Prouinctall of their order From Oxford he went to Paris to study Diuinity and after a while to Lyons to get some knowledge in the Canon Law without the which Diuiuity was esteemed vnperfect in those daies At Lions he was chosen Canon or Prebendary of the Cathedrall Church and by that meanes being furnished with allowance to trauaile for the encrease of his knowledge in the Canon Law he went into Italy visiting personally all the Uniuersities of Italy came lastly to Rome His rare learning being soone percetued there he was made by the Pope Auditor or chiefe Iudge of his Pallace and so continued till his preferment to Canterbury He was consecrate the first Sunday in Lent which fell vpon the sixt day of March 1278. Soone after his arriuall in England the Pope his creator as he called him sent vnto him a mandate of making payment of 4000. markes vpon very short warning or else assured him to be spéedily excommunicate It shall not be amisse to set downe the wordes of his answere to this demaund Ecce me creastis saith he c. Behold you haue created me And if the creature cannot but desire naturally what perfection the creator can yéeld how can I but resort vnto you for succour in all my oppressions calamities I receiued of late certaine letters horrible to sée and fearefull to heare denouncing that except I make payment of 4000. marks that I became indebted vnto certaine Merchants of Luca at Rome within the space of a moneth after Michaelmas next I was to be excommunicate with bell booke and candle and that excommunication to be published in my Church c. Then to make short he declareth how his predecessor at his departure caried away all the mooueable goods belonging to the Sée that Boniface had left all his houses very ruinous that the King had taken vp before hand one yéeres profitte of his lands that in the meane space he was faine himselfe to liue vpon credit and that to borow to serue his necessary vses the realme being so exhaust with contiuuall payments it was excéeding hard In regard héereof he besought him whom onely in truth the matter concerned though merchants of Luca bore the name of this debt to order the matter so as he might be allowed a yéeres day of paiment which at last with much adoo was granted him by the sute of Robert Kilwardby his predecessor who died as before is rehearsed soone after The new Archbishop then became a suter vnto the Pope that he would cause to be restored vnto his Church fiue thousand markes the value whereof the said Robert had caried away with him of the goods belonging to his Sée This he was so far from obtaining as by and by the Pope began to call vpon him againe very hastily for the fower thousand marks aboue mentioned and so made him glad to hold his peace for that time and yet to pay the money at his day In the first yéere of his consecration he sommoned a Conuocation at Lambhith at what time the Archbishop of Yorke comming to London caused his crosse to be borne before him within the Prouince of Canterbury which the Archbishop of Canterbury tooke to be a great wrong vnto him and his Sée It had béene often in question heretofore whether it might be done or no and much adoo there had béene about it Therefore to redresse this abuse quickly and good cheape our Frier deuised this course to be taken He caused proclamations to be made in all places where he vnderstood the other Archbishop meant to passe in which he commaunded all men vnder paine of excommunication to affoord no manner of intertainment no not so much as bread or drinke vnto him or any of his company so long as he bare vp his crosse in that manner So except he and his traine should starue downe must the crosse there was no remedy The Conuocation ended he began a generall visitation of his whole prouince and being desirous to know the state of euery Dioces went him selfe in person to most of them vsing great lenity and gentlenesse euery where For he was a man though very stately both in his gesture gate words and all outward shew yet of an excéeding méeke farile and liberall mind He tooke great paines in labouring a peace betwéene King Edward the first and Leolin Prince of Wales vnto whom he went in person and trauailed long with him but altogether in vaine He bare a very hard hand vpon the Jewes whose Sinagogues he commaunded to be pulled downe to the ground throughout his prouince But the king was a meanes to stay the execution of that commandement so farre
as also his othe taken to the same purpose at the time of his coronation the danger and dishonour of breaking the same and lastly that he should feare to offend him by whom kings raigne and before whose tribunall all princes and monarchs neuer so great must one day come to be iudged The king seemed to be somewhat mooued with these words and desiring the Archbishop to take his place againe well quoth he howsoeuer I doe otherwise I will leaue the church in as good estate as I found it The Archbishop then turning him about vnto the proloquutor and certaine other knights of the lower house that accompanied him You it was faith he and such as you are that perswaded the last king to take into his hands all such celles in England as appertained vnto any religious houses of Fraunce or Normandy assuring him it would so stuffe his coffers as he could not want in many yéeres after and there is no question but the land belonging to such celles was woorth an infinite summe of mony Howbeit it is certaine and well inough knowne that within one yéere after he had taken that course he was not the value of halfe a marke the richer and how he thriued afterwarde otherwise I néede not tell you After that time there were no other attempts against the church in his daies But the clergy were so terrified with that wauering doubtfulnesse of the king as they durst not but grant him a tenth euery yéere after and though there were no other occasion the Archbishop was faine to call a conuocation euen for that purpose His end being as some report it was very miserable his tongue swelled so big in his mouth as he was able neither to eate drinke nor speake in many dayes before his death and died at last of hunger about the end of Ianuary 1413. when he had sate one moneth aboue 17. yéeres He lyeth buried on the North side of the body of Christchurch in Canterbury at the West end whereof toward the North he built a faire spire stéeple called to this day by the name of Arundell steeple and bestowed a goodly ring of fiue belles vpon the same the first of them he dedicated to the holy trinity the second to the blessed virgin the third to the Angel Gabriell the fourth to Saint Blase and the fift to Saint Iohn the Euangelist 61. Henry Chichley AFter the death of Thomas Arundell Henry Chichley Bishop of Saint Dauids was elected by the Couent of Canterbury to succéeds him Now though many Lawes had béene made against the Popes vsurped authority in bestowing Ecclesiasticall preferments by way of prouiston Yet durst not this man consent vnto this election so made but committed the matter vnto the Popes determination who first pronounced the election of the monkes void and then bestowed the Archbishopricke vpon him This Henry Chichley was borne at Highamferrys in Northamptonshire brought vp in New Colledge in Oxford where he procéeded Doctor of Law and first preferred vnto the Chauncellorship of Salisbury Hauing beene imployed much in Embassages and other businesses of the king wherein he euer behaued himselfe wisely and to the kings great good liking by his meanes he was made first Bishop of Saint Dauids and then Archbishop He receiued his pall at the hands of the Bishop of Winchester the 29. of July 1414. and bought of the king the fruites of the vacacy which was halfe a yéere for sixe hundred markes The yéere 1428. he was made Cardinall of Saint Eusebius the Popes Legate but refused to exercise his power Legatiue further then he was authorised thereunto by the king He was a man happy enioying alwaies his princes fauour wealth honour and all kinde of prosperity many yéeres wise in gouerning his Sée laudably bountifull in bestowing his goods to the behoofe of the common wealth and lastly stout and seuere in due administration of iustice In the towne of Nigham ferrys where he was borne he founded a goodly college for secular priests which he endowed with large reuenues He built also in the same towne an hospital for poore people which he likewise endowed liberally and his brethren Robert and Wil. Chichley citizens of London his executors gaue much land vnto the same These two foundations finished he began two other at Oxford one called Bernard College now knowne by the name of Saint Johns college and All Soules college which yet continueth in such state as he left the same one of the fairest and seemeliest of our Uniuersity He bestowed much money in repairing the library at Canterbury and then replenished the same with a number of goodly bookes He gaue vnto his Church many rich ornaments and iewels of great price and built a great part of the Tower called Oxford Tower in the said Church William Molash Prior there that I may take any occasion to record so good a déede the yéere 1430. furnished that Tower with a goodly bell called to this day Bell Dunstan The 〈◊〉 of that bell at the lowest brim is two yards and somewhat more But to returne to Henry Chichley no Archbishop euer enioied that honor so long as he did in 500. yeeres before him He sate 29. yéeres and dying Aprill 12. 1443. was laid in a very faire toombe built by him selfe in his life time standing vpon the North side of the Presbitery On it I find engrauen this Epitaph Hic 〈◊〉 Henr. Chicheley Ll. Doctor quondam Cancellarius Sarum qui anno septimo Henr. 4. Regisad Gregorium Papam 12. in Ambassiata transmissus in ciuitate Sanensi per manus 〈◊〉 Papae in Episcopum 〈◊〉 consecratus est Hic etiam Henricus anno 2. Henr. 5. Regis in 〈◊〉 sancta ecclesia in Archiepiscopum postulatus a 〈◊〉 Papa 23. ad eandem translatus qui obijt anno dom 1443. mensis Apr. die 12. Coetus sanctornm concorditer iste precetur Vt Deus ipsorum meritis sibi propiciatur 62. Iohn Stafford EVgenius 4. the Pope of his absolute authority translated then from Bathe and Wels Iohn Stafford lately also made Cardinall as I finde reported at leastwise He was sonne vnto the Earle of Stafford borne at Hooke in Dorsetshire in the parish of Abbots bury and brought vp in Oxford where also he procéeded Doctor of lawe A while he practised in the Arches euen vntill Henry Chichley the Archbishoppe made him his vicar generall there By his fauour also he obtayned the Deanry of Saint Martins in London and the prebend of Milton in the church of Lincoln King Henry the fifth a little before his death began to fauour him much found meanes to preferre him first to the Deanry of Wels then a prebend in the church of Salisbury and afterward made him one of his priuy counsell first kéeper of the priuy seale and in the ende Treasurer of England This renowmed king being taken away by vntimely death though he found not his passage so cléere yet he still went forward in the way of preferment and obtained
and to ioyne in one these two noble houses whose contention had wasted away almost all the nobility of the land How this deuice was debated betwéene the Duke and the Bishop euery Chronicle reporteth To let that passe when the Bishop sawe the Duke had waded so farre in the matter as step backe he could not and séeing how he was able to do the Earle of Richmond better seruice elsewhere then where he was he found a meanes to slip away in a night disguised neuer making his host the Duke acquainted with his departure And first he gat him into his Isle of Ely but not daring to stay there long he tooke ship and sailed into Flaunders It pleased God that as the Duke had béene a partner with the tyrant in his offence so he should be a partner also with him in the punishment For being destitute of the aduise of this wise prelate or rather I may say destitute of the assistance of God that had determined to reuenge his disloyalty vnto his naturall prince he fell soone after into the hands of his enimy the vsurping king that cut off his head and was within a short space after ouerthrowne himselfe and slame in the field by the noble Earle of Richmond who tooke vpon him the gouernment of our land by the name of king Henry the 7. He calling home this our Bishop made him Chauncellour of England and Thomas 〈◊〉 the Archbishop dying he found meanes that the monks of Canterbury elected him for successour and the Pope not only confirmed and allowed readily of their choice but also within fewe yéeres after to wit September 20. 1493. created him Cardinall of Saint Arastasia Thirtéene yéeres he enioyed quietly the Archbishopricke and died at last the yéere 1500. At his first comming he laid a great imposition vpon the Cleargy of his prouince forcing them by the Popes authority to contribute so largely toward the charges of his translation as of his owne Dioces onely which is one of the least in England he receaued 354 pound The yéere before he died with great charge he procured Anselme one of his predecessors to be Canonized a Saint He bequeathed in a manner all he had either vnto good vses or vnto such of his seruants as he had yet beene able to do nothing for He gaue vnto the king a Portuis to the Quéene a Psalter to the Lady Margaret his God daughter a cup of gold and forty pound in money to the church of Ely his miter and his crosse Unto his 〈◊〉 and other friendes he gaue nothing as hauing preferred them sufficiently in his life time His executors he bound by oath to maintaine sufficiently twenty poore schollers at Oxford and ten at Cambridge for the space of twenty yéeres after his decease He bestowed great summes in repairing and augmenting his houses at Bnoll Maydstone Alington parke Charing Ford 〈◊〉 and Canterbury and built while he liued a sumptuous chappell in the vndercrofte or vault which is vnder the quier He lieth buried in the saide chappell vnder a marble stone Howbeit a goodly 〈◊〉 is erected in 〈◊〉 of him vpon the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the chappell Sée more of him in Ely 66. Henry Deane BIshop Moorton being dead the monks of Canterbury chose Thomas Langton Bishop of Winchester for their Archbishop But he died of the plague before his translation could be perfited Then they elected Henry Deane Bishop of 〈◊〉 At what time Perkin Warbeck began to shew himselfe in the likenesse of Richard the yoong Duke of Yorke king Edwards second sonne this Henry Deane was Abbot of Lanthony King Henry the seuenth that knew him to be a wise and 〈◊〉 man made him Chauncelour of Ireland where this counterseit Duke began first to play his part By his care and diligence he was driuen out of Ireland and forced to 〈◊〉 into Scotland The rather in regard of this good seruice the king procured him to be elected vnto the Bishoprick of Bangor which by reason that Bishops had laien from it a long time holding euer some 〈◊〉 or other spirituall liuing in Commendam whereupon they liued was horribly wasted and spoiled But this man comming thither tooke great pains in recouering diuers parcels of land that by the incrochment of other for want of looking to 〈◊〉 woone from his Sée Amongst other things a certaine Island betwéene Holy-head and Anglesey called 〈◊〉 i. Moylr 〈◊〉 or the Island of Seales was vniustly detained from him by the possessors thereof He euicted the same 〈◊〉 in law and yet was faine afterwards to bring a great power of armed men thither to driue the inhabitants by force out of the same His church and pallace had béene burned and destroied long before in the time of Henry the 4. by Owen Glendowr that famous rebell He bestowed much money in repairing them but before he was able to bring theÌ„ to any perfection he was called away thence to Salisbury Being yet very destrous the worke should go forward he left vnto his successour a Myter and a Crosyer of good value vpon condition he should finish those buildings After he had béene a few monethes at 〈◊〉 the Archbishop dying he was preferred vnto Canterbury His pall was sent vnto him by Hadrian de Castello the Popes Secretary that after was Bishop of Hereford and Wels and deliuered by the Bishop of Couentry with these words Ad honorem Dei omnipotentis B. Mariae Virginis ac Bb. Petri Pauli Apostolorum D. N. Alexandri Pp. sexti S. Romanae Ecclesiae nec non Cantuariensis Ecclesiae tibi commissae tradimus pallium de corpore B. Petri sumptum plenitudinem viz. Pontificalis officij vt vtaris eo infra ecclesiam tuam certis diebus qui exprimuntur in priuilegijs ei ab Apostolica sede concessis Hauing receaued his pall he was to take his oath vnto the Pope which once for all it shall not be amisse to set downe Ego Henticus Archiep. Cantuariensis ab hac hora in antea fidelis obediens ero B. Petro sanctaeque Apostolicae Romanae Ecclesiae Domino meo D. Alexandro Pp. 6. suisque successoribus Canonice intrantibus Non ero in consilio aut concensu vel facto vt vitam perdant vel membrum seu capiantur mala captione Consilium vero quod mihi credituri sunt per se aut nuntios ad eorum damâ—â—â—â— me sciente nemini pandam Papatum Rom. regalia S. Petri adiutor ero eis ad retinendum defendendum saluo ordine meo contra omnem hominem Legatum sedis Apostolicae in eundo redeundo honorificè tractabo in suis necessitatibus adiuuabo vocatus ad Synodum veniam nisi prepeditus fuero Canonica praepeditione Apostolorum limina Rom. curia existente citra Alpes singulis annis vltra vero montes singulis biennijs visitabo aut per me aut per meum nuntium nisi Apostolica absoluar licentia Possessiones vero ad mensam mei Archiepiscopatus pertinentes
non vendam neque donabo neque impignerabo neque de nouo infeudabo velaliquo modo alienabo in consulto Rom. Pontifice sicut me Deus admuet c. With what ceremony the crosse was woont to be deliuered sée before in William Courtney pag. 104. This Archbishop died February 15. 1502. the second yéere after his translation at Lambhith His body was conueighed to Feuersam by water conducted with 33. watermen all apparelled in blacke a great number of tapers burning day and night in the boate and from thence was caried to Canterbury where it was buried in the middle of the place called the martyrdome vnder a faire marble stone inlaid with brasse He bequeathed to his Church a siluer image of 51. ounces waight and appointed 500. l. to be bestowed in his funerals He built the most part of Otford house and made the yron worke vpon the coping of Rochester bridge 67. William Warham VVIlliam Warham a gentleman of an ancient house was borne in Hamshire brought vp in the Colledge of Winchester and chosen thence to New Colledge in Oxford where he procéeded Doctor of Law Intending then to vse and put in practice the knowledge he had gotten at the Uniuersity he became an aduocate or Doctor of the Arches and soone after Master of the Rolles While he was in that office King Henry the seuenth sent him Embassador to the Duke of Burgundy to perswade him that he should not beléeue the false reports of his Duchesse and to signifie how notably she had abused him and all the world in setting vp two counterfeits against him Lambert that made himselfe the Earle of Warwicke who was then to be séene in the Tower safe ynough and Perkin Warbeck whom she had taught to name him selfe Richard Duke of Yorke that was certainly knowen to haue béene murthered by his wicked vncle long before In this businesse he behaued himselfe so wisely as the king greatly commended him for the same and the Bishopricke of London happening to be void soone after his returne home he procured him to be elected thereunto He had not beene Bishop there two whole yéeres when Henry Deane the Archbishop died to whose place also by the kings speciall indeuour he was aduaunced He was inthronised March 9. 1504. with woonderfull great solemnity The day before his comming to Canterbury the Duke of Buckingham that was his high steward came thither attended with seuen score horse to sée all things in a readinesse The said Duke had also the office of chiefe Butler and therefore being vnable to doo the duties of both he deputed Sir George Bourchier vnto the Butlership Him selfe tooke great paines to sée that nothing might be wanting requisite for the performance of this ceremony in most magnificent manner The next day which was Sunday he met the Archbishop ouer against Saint Andrewes Church and dooing low obeysance vnto him went before him to Christ church At the great gate néere the market place the Prior and Couent receiued him honorably and caried him to the Church whether he went from Saint Andrewes Church barefoote said masse there and was placed in his throne after the accustomed manner From Church he was attended by the Duke as he was thetherward The cheere at dinner was as great as for money it might be made Before the first messe the Duke him selfe came ridinginto the hall vpon a great horse bare headed with his white staffe in his hand and when the first dish was set on the table made obeysance by bowing of his body Hauing so done he betooke him to his chamber where was prouision made for him according to his state With the Archbishop sate the Earle of Esser the Bishop of Man the Lord Aburgauenny the Lord Brooke the Prior of Canterbury and the Abbot of Saint Augustines The Duke at his table was accompanied with the Lord 〈◊〉 Sir Edward Poynings the chiefe Justice of England named Phineux Sir Wilham Scot Sir Thomas Kemp and others A great many other guests were serued in other places noble men and knights at one table Doctors of Diuinity and Law at another and Gentlemen of the country at a third besides an infinite number of meaner calling placed by them selues according to their seuerall degrées But to let passe these matters and to come vnto his gouernement all the time of King Henry the seuenth vnder whom he liued Archbishop some thrée yéeres he enioyed all manner of prosperity being in so great fauor with his Prince as no man greater He dying and his sonne Bing Henry the eight succeeding Cardinall Wolsey that was then but Almosuer and Deaue of Lincolne diued so cunningly into the bosome of the yong king as by and by he ouertopped the Archbishop and quickly wound him out of all authority First by the kings meanes he got from him the Chauncellorship of England Then being Cardinall and the Popes Legate a latere by speciall commisson he set vp a new court called Curia 〈◊〉 vnder colour whereof he drewe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of iurisdiction throughout England into his owne hands and appointed Officials Registers c. in 〈◊〉 Dioces who tooke vp all causes and suffered other 〈◊〉 to whom the iurisdiction of right appertained to sitte still without either regard or profit This deiection of the Archbishop wherein men estéemed him for the time very vnhapy fell out to his great good the others immoderate greatnesse was the cause of his destruction At what time the K. 〈◊〉 to be diuorced from his first wife D. Catherine she 〈◊〉 choice of this our Archb. Nicholas West Bish. of Ely two lawyers and of I. Fisher 〈◊〉 of Rochester and Henry Standish Bishop of Assaph Doctors of Diuinity to assist and direct her in that sute they did so and behaued themselues in such sort as neither the king had cause to be offended with their ouerforwardnes nor she to blame their stacknes or negligēce But the Cardinall that was ioined with Cardinall Campeius in commission wherein they were authorised by the Pope to examine the circumstances of that cause he I say being more slacke in his procéedings then the king expected he should so incensed him against him as shortly after he was content first to take the aduantage of a Premunire against him then to cause him to be arrested of high treason whereof sée more in Yorke Soone after the Cardinals death there was a conuocation held wherein the cleargy was aduertised that they all had fallen into apremunire by yéelding vnto the Cardinals power legantine neuer allowed by the king They determined therefore to redéeme the penalty they had incurred with the paiment of 118. thousand pounds whereof the prouince of Yorke should pay eightéene thousand and Canterbury the rest which was 100000. l. When this gift was to haue béene presented they were certified that the king would not accept of the same except they declared in a Canon that he was supreame head of the church Long this matter was hammering But at last they
then rising vp began to take particular exceptions against Cardinall Poole charging him with suspition of incontinency whereof he alleaged some reasons though peraduenture 〈◊〉 as also with heresie for that he had reasoned for iustification by faith in the Councell of Trent that he preferred Ant. Flaminius a knowen Protestant and kept company much with him and other thought ill of that way and lastly that in the time he was Legate of 〈◊〉 he had béene so slacke in 〈◊〉 of heretikes vpon whom he seldome 〈◊〉 any punishment but death vpon none This accuser was the Cardinall Caraffa that afterward was Pope Paul the fourth an olde acquaintance of Cardinall Pooles many yéeres euen vntill such time as that partaking in this faction betwéene the French and Spanish sundred them Caraffa thought him selfe the likeliest of the French side and in that respect was the rather induced in this sort to deface his old friend so to set vp him selfe But he was vtterly deceiued in his expectation Cardinall Poole cléered him selfe of all those suspitions absolutely so that the next day or rather I should say the night after the next day the company were more resolute for him then they had béene before and once more elected him Pope Cardinal Farnesius the last Popes nephew was the mightiest of that 〈◊〉 For so euer all Popes lightly take order that some Cardinall of their kinne shall strike a great stroake in the election of their successor that he may be a meanes to shield the rest of his friends from that hard measure which successors are woont to 〈◊〉 vnto the fauorites of their predecessor This Cardinall Farnesius excéeding ioyfull that he had brought the matter to so good 〈◊〉 came vnto Cardinall Poole and would néedes adore him by the name of holyfather kissing his féete c. But he would not suffer him so to doo saying he would not haue their election a worke of darknesse that the day was the onely time for the orderly dispatch of such businesse and therefore he desired them to 〈◊〉 the accomplishment of their choice vntill the 〈◊〉 They were faine so to doo But whether it were that his friends were 〈◊〉 with this double delay or that they were induced otherwise to alter their determination so it fell out that the next morning they chose another the Cardinall de 〈◊〉 that named himselfe Iulius 3. He well knowing that the backwardnesse of Poole made him Pope euer after made very much of him and yéelded him all mannor of fauour And first to begin with he enforced Cardinall Caraffa to aske him forgiuenes before they departed out of the 〈◊〉 Cardinall Poole professed to be nothing at all 〈◊〉 with loosing that place which he tooke to be a burthen importable and saying his onely desire was to lead his life in quiet contemplation craued licence to depart vnto a certaine 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 replenished with monkes of Saint Benet of which order he was taken for patrone during the time of his residence in Rome He was scarcely setled there when newes came that king Edward was dead and that his sister the Lady Mary had obtained the crowne who was brought vp a great while vnder the Countesse his mother by the especiall choice and direction of Quéene 〈◊〉 her mother And many are of opinion that the Quéene committed her the rather vnto the tuition of the Countesse for that she wished some 〈◊〉 betwéene one of her sonnes the Pooles and the Lady Mary to strengthen her title to the crowne in case the king her husband should die without issue male for that as before I haue declared they were descended from Goorge Duke of Clarence the next heire male of the house of Yorke Now Cardinall Poole knowing the Queene had a speciall affection vnto him for his learning his nobility but aboue all for his religion and he was a man personable ynough longed fore homeward not doubting a dispensation for his clergy would soone be obtained of the Pope in this case and assuring himselfe that though he missed of the crowne he should not faile of the myter He procured himselfe therefore to be appointed of the Popes legate and to be dispatched into England with all spéed The Emperour by this time had 〈◊〉 to endeuour a match betwéene his sonne 〈◊〉 and Queene Mary Doubting therefore least the presence of the Cardinall should disturbe his platforme he vsed many deuises to stop and hinder his passage till such time as the mariage was concluded At last but a day after the faire ouer came this iolly legate reconciled the realme of England to the Pope caused the Archbishop of Canterbury to be depriued and degraded seating himselfe in his Sée which things and many more are discoursed of him at large by Master Foxe and therefore I passe them ouer He was consecrate March 22. 1555. in the gray Friers church at Gréenwich The Lady day following he receiued his pal in Bow church where he made a dry and friuolous sermon touching the vse profit signification and first institution of the pall March 31. he was installed by a proctor one Robert Collins his commissary While these things were a dooing Cardinall Caraffa his ancient enimy became Pope He presently discharged our Cardinall of his power legantine and made one Frier Peto first a Cardinall then his legate and bestowed the Bishopricke of Salisbury vpon him He alleaged against Cardinall Poole that he was vnwoorthy the honour of the legate Apostolicall that would suffer the Quéene to proclaime warres against the French king but the matter was the old quarrels were not yet digested this way he thought to pay him home The Quéene kept Frier Peto out of the realme by force vntill the Pope was reconciled vnto Cardinall Poole againe Two yéere and almost 8. months this man continued Archb. In the yere 1558. many old mē fel into quartaine agues a disease fatall vnto elderly folke Amongst the rest a quartane had seased vpon him and brought him to a low ebbe at what time newes being brought of Quéene Maries death strucke him quite dead For he departed this life euen the same day that she did viz. Nouember 17. 1558. being 58. yéeres of age and sixe moneths He procured in his life time the gift and patronage of 19. benefices from the Quéene vnto his Sée which he no way else benefited except by the building of a certaine gallery toward the East at Lambhith and some few roomes adioyning He purposed indéede to haue bestowed much cost vpon his pallace at Canterbury but was preuented by death He was a man of indifferent stature slender wel coloured somewhat broad visaged his eyes gray and chéerefull and his countenance milde His goods he left to the disposition of one Aloysius Priolus an Italian who bestowed them all to good vses reseruing nothing vnto him selfe but two praier bookes His body was conueighed to Canterbury aud entoombed on the North side of a litle chappell that is at the East end
his company out of all question the city was fired the greatest part thereof being burnt downe to the ground togither with the Nunnery the Monastery of Saint Grimbald and more then 20. other Churches some say 40. This hapned vpon the 2. day of August 1141. Soone after his men burnt and spoiled the Nunnery of Warwell and himselfe returning to Winch. tooke off from the crosse that was burnt in the new Monastery 500. l. of siluer 30. marke of gold thrée crownes with so many seates of fine Arabike gold set with precious stones All this he put in his owne purse Now to remember his good déedes also you shall vnderstand that he founded that woorthy Hospitall of Saint Crosse néere Winchester In which place some thing had beene built long before to some such good vse But it was destroied by the Danes and quite ruinated til this Bishop reedified it or rather laide new foundations in the same place ann 1132. and endowed it with the reuenew it now hath He also built the castell of Farnham destroied afterward by king Henry the 3. but reedified by the Bishops of Winch. He was a man as of great bloud so of a great and high minde He contended often with the Archbishop of Canterbury for superiority vnder colour that he was the Popes legate a latere and as some deliuer a Cardinall Matthew Westm. reporteth that he obtained of Pope Lucius the title of an Archbishop receauing from him a pall and authority ouer seuen churches But what or which they were I finde not In the 47. yéere of his consecration he fell sicke dangerously whereof the king Henry the 2. hearing came to visite him But he was so farre from yeelding the king thanks for this great grace as he gaue him no lookes but frowning nor spéeches but very sharpe and curst reprehending him with very bitter words as the causer of Thomas Beckets death Yet such was the great méekenesse of this prince as he not onely tooke very patiently this reproofe but long after thought much of the same And surely no great maruell The memory of a dying mans words abideth long How much more of a Bishop a graue wise and ancient prelate He departed this life August 6. 1171. where he was buried I know not 38. Richard Tocline alias More AFter the death of the former Bishop the Sée stood void thrée yéeres many other Churches likewise at the same time stoode long voide At last the yéere 1173. by the instance of two Cardinals the king granted licence of frée election vnto them all Unto Winchester was then chosen Richard Tocline Archdeacon of Poitiers by some called More by other Richard de Iuelcester He was consecrate at Lambhith the yéere following viz. 1174. togither with thrée other Bishops Geffery of Ely Robert of Herford and Iohn of Chichester He died December 22. 1187. or as his Epitaph hath 1189. He lieth entombed in the north wall of the Presbytery iust vnder Wina where is ingrauen this that followeth Obijt anno Dom. 1189. Presulis egregij pausant hic membra Ricardi Tocline cui summi gaudio sunto poli 39. Godfridus de Lucy HE was sonne vnto Richard Lucy chiefe Justice of England consecrate Bishop of Winchester Nouember 1. 1189. and died an 1204. so he sate 15. yéeres This man purchased of king Richard the first the mannors of Wergraue and Menes which in times past had belonged vnto his Sée of Winchester but I know not how had béene alienated from the same Moreouer he became a great benefactor vnto the Priory of Westwood in Kent founded by his father 40. Peter de la Roche THis man borne in Poytiers being a knight was consecrate Bishop of Winchester at Rome an 1204. A notable wise prelate and of such authority vnder king Iohn first and Henry the third after as none greater in those times He with two other Bishops viz. Philip his countreyman of Durham and Iohn Gray of Norwich animated king Iohn to withstand the Popes excommunication but they were all faine to cry peccaui at last The yéere 1214. king Iohn made him chiefe Justice of England the nobles of the realme grudging very much that a stranger borne should rule ouer them After the death of king Iohn king Henry being a childe the realme was long gouerned almost altogether by this Bishop For William Earle Marshall dying he was chosen in his roome Protector of the king and realme And afterwards the king being growen to yéeres of discretion relyed altogither vpon his counsell He had a nephew or as some say a sonne named Peter d' Orinall Treasurer of England in maruellous great fauour also with king Henry Yet as court fauours are variable so were they often disgraced and often restored againe to the height of worldly happines I meane the Princes great and entire fauour The yéere 1226 he tooke his voyage to the Holy land and being absent fiue yéeres at his returne was receiued with 〈◊〉 and all signes of great ioy He died June 9. 1238. at Faruham when he had sate Bishop the space of 24. yéeres and was buried according to his owne appointment very meanely and euen obscurely in his owne church In his death saith M. Paris the counsell of England receiued a great wound What good soeuer happened vnto the church either by peace or warre in the Holy land at the comming of the Emperour Fredericke it is specially to be ascribed vnto the wisedome of this Bishop Againe saith he when as discord betwéene the Pope and the Emperour threatned the destruction of the whole church he was the speciall meanes of compounding a peace betwéene them Now of the religious houses he built and being built enriched with reuenewes for their maintenance These be the names Hales of the order of Premonstratenses Tickford of the same order Saleburne of the order of Saint Augustine viz. Canons regular and a goodly hospitall at Portsmouth Againe he remooued the Church of S. Thomas the Martyr in the holy land from a very vnfit place vnto a more conuenient and reformed the statues of the company belonging to the Church causing the Patriark of Hierusalem to take order that whereas they were heretofore méere lay men now they should be vnder the Templers and of their society And lastly he bestowed great cost in fortifying and repayring the Towne of Joppa a notable succour and refuge of the Christians in those parts He made a worthy and memorable will giuing vnto euery of the foresaid places a huge summe of money for the least that he gaue was vnto the house of S. Thomas of Acon vnto which he beaqueathed 500. marks All this notwithstanding he left his Bishopricke very rich his houses furnished and his grounds ready Stocked for his successor Thus farre M. Paris 41. William de Raley THe Sée being thus voide by the death of Peter derupibus the king Henry the 3. dealt very earnestly with the monks of Winchester to choose in his place the Bishop elect of Ualentia
that height of tyranny that he not onely placed but displaced Bishops at his pleasure And his meanes to do it was by 〈◊〉 them to some other Bishopricke peraduenture of lesse value and peraduenture nothing woorth at all So was Alex. Neuill perforce translated from Yorke to S. Andrewes in Scotland whence wars being at that time betwéene England Scotland he was sure neuer to receiue peny And so he translated Iohn Buckingham from Lincolne to Lichfield a Bishopricke not halfe so good But he choosing rather to haue no bread then but halfe a loafe in a very malecontent humor and great chafe put on a monkes cowle at Canterbury and there liued priuately the rest of his life To his Bishopricke of Lincolne was then preferred Henry Beaufort sonne to Iohn of Gaunt by Katherine Swinford the yéere 1397. He was brought vp for the most part at Aken in Germany where he studied the ciuill and canon law many yéeres and comming home was preferred to Lincolne very yoong He continued there seuen yeres presently vpon the death of W. Wickham was translated to Winch. June 23. 1426. he was made cardinal of S. Eusebius receiued his hat with great solcÌ„nity at Calis the Lady day following A man of great frugality and therefore excéeding rich King Henry the fift in the latter ende of his raigne by great and continuall warres being waxen much behind hand and greatly indebted began to cast a couetous eye vpon the goods of the Church which at that time were growen to the full height and there wanted not many that incited him vnto the spoile of the same This wealthy Prelate best knowen by the name of the rich Cardinall supplyed his want out of his owne purse to diuert him from that sacrilegious course and lent him 20000. pound a great deale of money in those daies He was also valiant and very wise Pope Martin the fift determining to make warre vpon the Bohemians that had renounced al obedience vnto the Sée of Rome made this Cardinall his Legate into that Country and appointed such forces as he could make to be at his commandement Toward the charges of this voyage the Clergy of England gaue a tenth of all their promotions and furnished out 4000. men and more with this power he passed by Fraunce dooing there some seruice for his Prince and Countrey into Bothemia the yéere 1429. There he remained certaine moneths behauing himselfe very valiantly till by the Pope he was discharged In his youth he was wantonly giuen and gate a base daughter named Iane vpon Alice the daughter of Richard Earle of Arundell Her he maried after vnto Ed. Stradling or Easterlling a knight of Wales But this asdone before he entred into orders Toward his latter end he imployed his time altogether either in matters of Counsaile businesse of the common wealth or the seruice of God and the Church committed vnto him Amongst other good déedes it is remembred that he built an hospitall in Winchester which he presently endued with land to the value of 158. l. 13. s. 4. d. of yéerely rent He died Aprill 11. 1447. when he had beene Bishop of Winchester 43. yéeres and from the time of his first consecration 50. yéeres Except Thomas Bourchier that was Bishop 51. yéeres I read of no English man that euer enioyed that honor longer He lyeth buried in a reasonable stately toombe behind the high aulter of his Church at Winchester toward the South the inscription is much defaced of it remaineth onely this Tribularer si nescirem misericordias tuas 54. William Waynflet A Woorthy Prelate succéeded him William Waynflet Prouost of Eaton colledge then lately founded by king Henry the sixt who for his great wisedome and integrity was long Chauncellor of England He was sonne and heire vnto Richard Pattyn a gentleman of an ancient house brother vnto Iohn Pattyn Deane of Chichester and Richard Pattyn that liued at Basâ—o in Darbishire where he left as I haue heard a posterity behinde him It appéereth hereby that his name was not indéed Waynflet but Pattyn It was an ancient custome euen till those daies that cleargy men should take their surname according to the place where they were borne and amongst monkes and fryers it continued till the very suppression of monasteries This William whether Waynflet or Pattyn was brought vp first in Winchester schoole then in New colledge in Oxford His fellowship there he left to become schoolemaster of Winchester but was taken by king Henry the sixt to teach in his new college of Eaton whereof at last he made him as before is said Prouost He continued Bishop many yéeres and would haue done much more good then he did had he not béene hindred by those continuall warres betwéene the houses of Lancaster and Yorke in all which stormes he stucke alwaies vnto his patron and first preferrer king Henry the sixt And after his death king Edward the fourth knowing the faithfull affection and true hart he alwaies bore vnto Henry the sixt his enimy carried euer a hard hand vpon him Time notwithstanding and the reuenewes of that goodly Bishopricke enabled him to the foundation of that excellent and stately colledge in Oxford dedicated vnto Saint Mary Magdalene to the which I thinke the world hath not any one colledge in all perfections comparable He died as I haue béene told August 6. 1486. hauing first séene the house of Lancaster to his great ioy restored againe to the crowne in king Henry the seuenth So that betwéene the consecration of William Wickham and the death of William Waynflet his next successor sauing one it is 119 yéeres A strange thing that thrée men should hold one Bishopricke sixscore yéeres He lieth buried in the North part of the roome beyond the high Aulter ouer against the Cardinall in a very faire toombe the Epitaphe whereof is quite defaced 55. Peter Courtney IN the moneth of Nouember 1477. Peter Courtney the sonne of 〈◊〉 Philip Courtney of Powderham knight and Elizabeth his wife daughter to Walter Lord Hungerford was consecrate Bishop of Exeter whence he was translated to Winchester in the latter end of the yéere 1486. At Exeter he bestowed much money in finishing the North Tower vnto which he gaue a goodly bel called after his name Peter bell He died December the 20. 1491. hauing gouerned the Dioces of Winchester the space of fiue yéeres and was buried in his owne Church whereabouts I know not 56. Thomas Langton THe Bishopricke hauing béene voide somewhat more then one yéere Thomas Langton Bishop of Salisbury was preferred thereunto He was consecrate to Salisbury the yéere 1485 sate Bishop of Winchester seuen yéeres and was remooued to Canterbury but died of the plague an 1500. before his translation was perfited He built a very faire Chappell in the South side of the Lady Chappell in the Cathedrall Church of Winchester in the middle of which Chappell his body resteth in a very sumptuous toombe of Marble This Thomas Langton was some
the Pope to make him his Legate the obtaining whereof notwithstanding the Kings request cost him 1000. l. of ready money It is a true saying Magistratus indicat virum the man that in base fortune séemed to all men not onely wise but vertuous and humble ynough being raised vnto this height of power and authority as being either drunken and infatuate with too much and sodaine prosperity or amased with the brightnesse of his owne good fortune began presently to do many things not onely vntowardly and vndiscréetly but very arrogantly and insolently sauouring aswell of vnconscionable couetousnesse and cruelty as lacke of wisedome and policy in so great a gouernor requisite That which in our histories is most blamed and most odiously mentioned I finde no such great fault withall that calling a conuoctiou by vertue of his power Legantine at the suggestion and intreaty of Hugh Nouaunt Bishop of Chester he displaced the monkes of Couentrée put in secular Priests in their roomes Officers appointed by the king himselfe he discharged Geoffry Archbishop of Yorke the kings bastard brother at his first arriuall in England after his consecration he caused to be apprehended and drawne from the very Aulter of the Church of Saint Martins in Douer vnto prison Iohn the Kings brother and afterwards king him selfe he sought to kéepe vnder and disgrace by all meanes possible being iealous as he said least the king dying without issue he should defraude Arthur his elder brother of the kingdome and whether vnto his brother now king he would continue loyall hauing power to inuade his kingdome for certaine he wist not True it is that Iohn the kings brother began to take some what more vpon him then néeded and being 〈◊〉 a reason of some of his doings made no other answere but this I know not whether my brother Richard be aliue or not Whereunto the Chauncellor replied if he be liuing it were vntruth to take his kingdome from him if he be dead Arthur the eldest brother must enioy the same Now he that feared not to deale thus with the kings owne brother no maruell if he vsed such of the nobility farre worse that in any sort opposed themselues against him As for the commonalty he not onely gréeued them with continual and néedlesse exactions and tyrannised intollerably ouer them otherwise but offended them much also with his glorious pomp and vnreasonable proud behauiour His maner was to ride with no lesse then 1500. horse and in his trauaile to lodge for the most part at some Monastery or another to their great and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yea there was not any Church in England either 〈◊〉 or Cathedrall vnto which he was not very burdensome some way or other And his officers were such prolling companions bearing themselues bold vpon their masters absolute Authority as there was no sort of people whom they gréeued not by some kinde of extortion Yea saith Matth. Paris all the wealth of the land was come into their hands in so much as scarce any ordinary person had left him a siluer belt to gird him withall any woman either brooche or bracelet any gentleman a ring to weare vpon his finger But the Chauncellor he purchased and bestowed aswell Abbotships benefices and spirituall preferment as temporall offices all that fell where him pleased whereby his sernants and kinred were all growen 〈◊〉 rich Among other his follies it is remembred that he built the outer wall about the Tower of London and spent an infinite deale of money in making a deepe ditch about the same thinking he could haue caused the Riuer of Thames 〈◊〉 go round about it But that coste was bestowed in vaine These and many other his misbehauiours incited the people and Nobility woonderfully against him In so much as he feared greatly least some sedition being raised force would be offered vnto him He thought it therefore no lesse then néedefull in all places of any publike assembly to render reasons openly of his doings which being considered I know not whether he may iustly be thought so blamewoorthy as our Histories for the most part make him Officers placed by the king he said he discharged least the people being gréeued with so many Gouernors would 〈◊〉 that instéede of one king they now were constrained too bey many What reason he yéelded of his dealing with Earle Iohn you heard before For his exactions he said they were but such as the maintenance and incredible charge of so great a warre as the king had then in hand required and lastly for a generall defence he protested he had not taken any course in these or any other matters of importance for which he had not some particular direction from the king These excuses satisfied not men so fully but that infinite complaints were daily made vnto the king against him so that he could doe no lesse then discharge him from his place of protectorship which he did and sent ouer William Archbishop of Roan to succéede him but ioyning some other in Commission with him as finding an inconuenience in giuing so much and absolute authoritie to one man At this newes his enimies greatly reioycing and thinking him a man now easie enough to deale withall they conspire against him and causing a Conuocation to be sommoued they procure him to be excommunicate for the violence done vnto the Archbishop of Yorke and with him all other that were his aiders and ministers in that enterprize As soone as he vnderstood of these things fearing greater dangers he bethought himselfe how he might do to get ouer the seas and knowing that his enimies if they should haue any inkling of his intent would assuredly 〈◊〉 the same or worke him some mischiefe by the way He deuised to disguise himselfe in womans apparell and so went vnto the sea side at Douer muffled with a metyard in his hand and a webbe of cloth vpon his arme There he sate vpon a rocke ready to take shippe when a certaine lewde marriner thinking him to be some strumpet began to dally wantonly with him whereby it came to passe that whereas he was a stranger borne and could speake no English being not able to answere this merry marriner either in words or deedes he supposed him to be a man and called a company of 〈◊〉 who pulling off his kerchiefe and muffler found his crowne and beard shauen and quickly knew him to be that hatefull Chancellour whom so many had so long cursed and feared In great despite they threw him to the ground spitting vpon him beate him sore and drew him along the sands Whereupon a great crie being made the Burgesses of the towne tooke him away from the 〈◊〉 and though his seruants endeuoured to rescue him thrust him into a seller there to kéepe him prisoner till notize might be giuen of this his departure It is a world to sée how he that was a few moneths before honored and reuerenced of all men like an halfe God attended by noble mens sonnes and
gentlemen of great worship whom he matched vnto his néeces and kinswomen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 himselfe happy that he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be well acquainted with his porters and officers was accounted 〈◊〉 small matter This man once downe and standing in 〈◊〉 of his friends help had no man to defend him no man to speake for him no man that mooued a 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 him out of the present calamity and trouble The 〈◊〉 Iohn was 〈◊〉 to haue 〈◊〉 him some farther notable 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Neither was there any man that for his 〈◊〉 sake 〈◊〉 it The Bishops diuers of them his 〈◊〉 regarding notwithstanding his calling and place would not suffer it but causes him to be set at liberty 〈◊〉 not long after he got him ouer into Normandy where he was borne there rested himselfe after all this turmoile till the returne of king Richard with whom he made such faire weather and so 〈◊〉 excused all things obiected against him that in short time he was as greatly in fauor with him as euer heretofore The yéere 1197. he was sent Embassador to the Pope together with the Bishop of Durham and other and falling sicke by the way died at Poytiers the last day of Ianuary one 〈◊〉 aboue seuen yeere after his 〈◊〉 He was buried in a monastery of the order of the 〈◊〉 called 〈◊〉 5. Eustachius THe Sée was then 〈◊〉 one whole yéere 〈◊〉 somwhat more The ninth day of August 〈◊〉 after 〈◊〉 death Eustachius Deane of Salisbury was elected but not 〈◊〉 till the fourth Sunday in Lent the yéere following A man saith Florilogus very well séene aswel in 〈◊〉 as diuine and holy learning He was one of them 〈◊〉 pronounced the Popes excommunication against king 〈◊〉 interdicted the whole Realme For dooing thereof he 〈◊〉 the kings displeasure would lye so heauy vpon him as 〈◊〉 was no 〈◊〉 in the realme and therefore got him 〈◊〉 the seas This fell out the yéere 1208. After 〈◊〉 yéeres 〈◊〉 king Iohn being reconciled to the Pope he 〈◊〉 home 〈◊〉 the yéere 1213. and liued not long after 〈◊〉 sate 〈◊〉 yéeres wanting nine 〈◊〉 and departed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the third day of 〈◊〉 1214. The 〈◊〉 at the West end of the Cathedrall Church was of his building 6. Iohn de Fontibus AFter his death Galfridus de Burgo Archdeacon of Norwich and brother vnto Hubert de Burgo or Burrough Earle of Kent and chiefe Justice of England was elected Bishop of Ely But before the publication of this election one Robert of Yorke was also chosen who held the temporalities of the Bishopricke without consecration and disposed of benefices that fell and all things belonging to the Sée as Bishop for the space of fiue yéeres The Pope at last disanulling both these elections conferred the Bishopricks March 8. 1219. vpon Iohn Abbot of Fountney a iust and vertuous man He was Treasurer of England for flue yeeres and died the yéere 1225. He is said to be buried before the aulter of Saint Andrew 7. Geoffry de Burgo HE being dead Geoffry Burrough before mentioned was againe elected and obtayned consecration which he receiued vpon Saint Peters day the yéere 1225. Of him 〈◊〉 Virgil giueth the same testimony that Matthew Westm. doth of his predecessor Eustachius that he was vir in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 humanis literis eruditus a man well learned both in diuine and prophane literature He gaue two hundred acres of Moore in Wisbich marsh to the augmentation of the priory of Ely He continued Bishop about thrée yéeres and dying the 17. of May 1229. was buried vpon the North side of the Quier 8. Hugh NorWold HVgh Norwold Abbot of Saint 〈◊〉 succéeded him and was consecrate by Ioceline Bishop of Bathe and Wels togither with Richard Archbishop of Canterbury and Roger Bishop of London vpon Trinity sunday 1229. 〈◊〉 the tenth of June This 〈◊〉 is much commended for his house kéeping and liberality vnto the poore which may well séeme strange considering the infinite deale of 〈◊〉 spent by him in building of his church and houses The presbytery of the cathedrall church he raised from the very foundation and built a steeple of wood toward the 〈◊〉 at the West end of the church This noble worke he 〈◊〉 in seuentéene yéeres with the charge of 5350 l. 18 s. 8 d. And the seuentéene daie of September 〈◊〉 he dedicated 〈◊〉 as we commonly call it hallowed the same in the 〈◊〉 of the king Henry the third and his sonne Prince Edward the Bishops of Norwich 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and many other great personages All these and an infinite number of other people of all sorts he feasted many daies togither in his pallace of Ely which he built euery whit out of the ground and couered it with lead In Ditton and other houses belonging to his Sée he also bestowed much money He died at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 9. day of August 1254. being well contented as he professed now to depart the world after he had séene the building 〈◊〉 his church finished which 〈◊〉 so earnestly desired He sate two moneths aboue 25. yéeres and was buried in the 〈◊〉 ytery which he had built 9. William de Kilkenny ABout the middle of October following 〈◊〉 de Kelkenny that then for a time supplied the 〈◊〉 of the Chauncellor of England was elected by the monkes vnto the Sée of Ely and was consecrate the fiftéenth of August beyond the seas He was chaplaine vnto the king a councellor of speciall credit with him and as the 〈◊〉 of Ely reporteth I find it no where els Chancellor of England A goodly man of person well spoken very wise and learned in the lawes He enioyed that preserment a small time being sent Ambassador into Spaine he died there vpon Saint Mathewes day 1256. when he had béene Bishop one yeere one moneth and sixe daies He tooke order his hart should be brought vnto Ely and buried there 10. Hugh Balsam NEwes being brought vnto the Court of the death of William de Kylkeny The king by and by dispatched his letters vnto the Prior and Couent of Ely requiring them in very gratious manner to choose for their Bishop Henry de Wingham his Chauncellor vsing many reasons to perswade them thereunto But they preferring their owne knowledge before the kings cemmendations the 13. day of Nouember made choise of Hugh Balfam or de 〈◊〉 for so also I find him called their Prior one as they perswaded themselues most fitte for the place Hereat the king being greatly displeased refused to accept of their election and caused the woods of the Bishopricke to be cut downe the parks to be spoyled and 〈◊〉 to be made of all things Many times he vrged them to a new election telling them it was not fit that a place of that strength should be committed vnto a simple cloyster man that had neuer béene acquainted with matters of state The new elect therefore got him ouer the sea to Rome hoping there to obtaine that which in England would not be affoorded
him Boniface the Archbishop of Canterbury hearing thereof although hauing diligently sisted and examined him he could take no exception against him yet to gratifie the king writ 〈◊〉 letters to his friends at Roome against him and set vp one Adam de 〈◊〉 to be a countersuter to the Pope for that Bishopricke This Adam was a man of great learning and had written diuers bookes much commended But he was a very aged man and moreouer a fryer minor and therefore one that had renounced the world and all medling in worldly matters which notwithstanding he followed gladly the directions of the Archbishop and was well content to haue béene a Bishop before he died As for Henry Wingham the Chauncellor it is said that he neuer stirred at all in the matter but confessed them both more woorthy of the place then himselfe It is said likewise that the sute in his behalfe was first commenced by the king without his knowledge and that when he saw the king so earnest and deale so violently in it he went vnto him and humbly besought him to let alone the monkes in the course they had begun and to cease farther solliciting of them by his armed and imperious requests for saith he after 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 of God the grace and direction of his holy spirit they haue chosen a man more woorthy then my selfe And God forbid that I should as it were inuade by force that noble Bishopricke and vsurpe the ministery of the same with a 〈◊〉 or cauterised conscience The ende of this sute 〈◊〉 this Henry Wingham was afterward made Bishop of London Sée more of him there Hugh Balsam came home from Rome confirmed by the Pope and was consecrate March 10. 1257. He sate 28. yéeres and thrée moneths In which time he founded a colledge in Cambridge by the name of S. Peters colledge now commonly called Peter house He first began the same being yet Pryor of Ely and finished it in the yéere 1284. He departed this life June 16. 1286. at 〈◊〉 and was buried at Ely before the high Altar by Thomas Englethorp Bishop of Rochester 11. Iohn de Kyrkby AFter him succéeded Iohn de Kyrkby Deane of 〈◊〉 Archdeacon of Couentry and Treasurer of England He was once elected vnto the Sée of 〈◊〉 but the election was 〈◊〉 and disanulled by Fryer Iohn Peckham Archbishop of Canterbury who tooke exception against him for holding many seueral spirituall preferments saying that a man of so good conscience as a Bishop ought to be would rather content himselfe with a little liuing then 〈◊〉 himselfe with so many charges He was consecrate 〈◊〉 Ely at Paris the 26. or as other report the 29. of 〈◊〉 1286. And sitting Bishop of Ely but thrée yéeres and 〈◊〉 moneths died March 26. 1290. He was buried in his 〈◊〉 church by Ralph Walpoole Bishop of Norwich that 〈◊〉 succéeded him on the North part of the quier before the altar of Saint John Baptist. 12. William de Luda THe fourth day of May following was elected William 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Deane of Saint Martins Archdeacon of Durham and Treasurer of the kings house He sate seuen yoeres and 〈◊〉 buried in the South part of the church betweene two pillers at the entrance into the old Lady chappell This Bishop gaue the mannor of Oldburne with the appurtenances vnto his Sée vpon condition that his next successor should 〈◊〉 1000. marks to prouide maintenance for thrée chaplaines to serue in the chappell there 13. Ralph Walpoole 〈◊〉 adoo there was now about the election of a new Bishop The couent could not agrée within themselues one part and the greater made choice of Iohn their Pryor the rest of Iohn Langton Chauncellor of England This election being examined before the Archbishop and iudgement by him giuen for the Pryor the Chauncellour appealed vnto the Pope trauelled to Rome in his own person The Pryor hearing of his iourney 〈◊〉 him after as fast as he might neither was he long behinde him although many blocks were cast in his way Being there they were 〈◊〉 to resigne all their interest into the Popes hand He then in fauour of the couent set downe this order that they should be at liberty Notwithstanding these elections to choose againe so they chose any one Abbot in England except thrée to wit of Westminster Bury and Saint Augustines they belike were not in the Popes fauour The Proctors of the couent they would not agrée to this order so fauourable for them Wherefore the Pope being very angry vpon his owne absolute authority remoued Ralph Walpoole from Norwich vnto Ely gaue Norwich vnto the Pryor and least the Chancellor should altogether loose his labor he made him Archdeacon of Canterbury in the place of Richard Feringes that was then appointed by him Archbishop of 〈◊〉 This Ralph Walpoole was consecrat Bishop of Norwich in the beginning of the yéere 1288. and sate there 11. yéeres At Ely he continued scarce 3. yéeres but died March 22. in the beginning of the yéere 1302. He was buried in the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 before the 〈◊〉 altar 14. Robert Orford THis time they agréed better and with one 〈◊〉 chose Robert 〈◊〉 their Prior vpon the 14. day of Aprill ensuing He sate somewhat more then 7. yéeres and ended his life at Dunham Ianuary 21. 1309. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 buried in the pauement aforesaid néere R. Walpoole his predecessour 15. Iohn de Keeton AFter him followed Iohn de Keeton Almoner vnto the Church of Ely he sate likewise 7. yéeres and dying May the 14. 1316. was buried also in the same pauement 16. Iohn Hotham VVIthin the compasse of the same yéere a chapleyne of the kings named Iohn Hotham or Hothun was made Bishop of Ely and the next yéere viz. 1317. Chauncellour of England A man wise and vertuous 〈◊〉 very vnlearned He continued in that office two yéeres and 〈◊〉 giuing it ouer was made Treasurer That place also he resigned within a twelue moneth and betooke himselfe altogither to the gouernment of his church In his time the 〈◊〉 in a night fell downe vpon the quier making a most horrible and 〈◊〉 noise This stéeple now called the Lanterne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and built it in such order as now we sée it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of worke both for cost and workmanship singular It stoode him in 2406. l. 16. s. 11. d. The new building also of the Presbytery not so fully finished by Hugh Northwould but that somewhat might séeme to be wanting he 〈◊〉 in euery point bestowing vpon the same the summe of 2034. l. 12. s. 〈◊〉 d. ob as a writing yet to be séene vpon the north wall of the said Presbytery witnesseth So that vpon the very fabricke and building of the church he spent 4441. l. 9. s. 7. d. ob farthing Besides which this woorthy Benefactour gaue vnto his Couent the Mannour of Holbourne with sixe tenements belonging to the same and to his church a chalice and two crewets of pure gold very costly wrought He sate almost 20. yeeres
〈◊〉 was all that countrey which now belongeth vnto the Bishops of Winchester Lincolne Salisbury Oxford Bristow Wels Lichfield 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 and he notwithstanding that he gouerned also the Mercians or Saxons of Mid-England who for a while had not any Bishop peculiar vnto themselues he I say 〈◊〉 called the Bishop of the West Saxons Birinus was the first Bishop of this so large a territory Of him sée more in Winchester The second was Agilbert a French man In his time Kenwalchus king of the West Saxons caused this huge 〈◊〉 to be diuided into two parts the one of which he left vnto Agilbert vnto the other he caused one Wina to be consecrate appointing Winchester to be his Sée and all the West countrey his iurisdiction After Agilbert there was no other Bishop of Dorchester a long time He departing into France Wina and his successors Bishops of Winchester gouerned that Sée also or part of it at least For it happened not long after that Oswy king of Mercia erected an Episcopall 〈◊〉 at Lichfield and placed one Diuma in the same He had all Mid-England for his Dioces so had sixe or seuen of his successors butill the yéere 678. at what time a Bishop was 〈◊〉 at Sidnacester one Eadhead He dying within one yéere Ethelwine succéeded Then these Edgar Kinebert Beda calleth him Embert and acknowledgeth himselfe much holpen by him in the 〈◊〉 of his Ecclesiasticall historie He dyed 733. 733. Alwigh 751. Ealdulf he died ann 764. 764. Ceolulf he died 787. 787. Ealdulf After Ealdulf the Sée continued void many yéeres The yéere 872. Brightred became Bishop In the meane time viz. the yéere 737. another Sée was erected at Legecester now called Leicester but soone after remooued to Dorchester and one Tota made Bishop there Then these Edbertus consecrate ann 764. Werenbert He died 768. Vuwona suceeded him as hath Florilegus Other put him before Werenbert He liued ann 806. 〈◊〉 He died 851. Aldred consecrate 861. or rather as Matth. West reporteth ann 851. The yéere 873. he was depriued of his Bishopricke 〈◊〉 consecrate 873. Halard by king Alfred appointed one of the Guardians of the realme to defend it against the irruption of the Danes ann 897. Kenulfus or rather 〈◊〉 consecrate ann 905. together with sixe other Bishops by 〈◊〉 the Archbishop 〈◊〉 vnto him the Dioces of Sidnamcester was also committed which had now continued void almost fourscore yéeres and his See for both established againe at Dorchester He was a great benefactor to the Abbey Ramsey and died the yéere 959. Ailnoth consecrate 960. 〈◊〉 or Aeswy 〈◊〉 Eadnoth slaine by the Danes in battell 1016. Eadheric he died 1034. and was buried at Ramsey Eadnoth He built the Church of our Lady in Stowe and died the yéere 1050. Vlf. He was a Norman brought into England by Emma the Quéene of king Ethelred sister to Richard Duke of Normandy She commended him vnto her sonne Saint Edward and found meanes vpon the death of Eadnoth to aduaunce him though a man very vnlearned vnto this Bishopricke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1052. He and all the 〈◊〉 that through the 〈◊〉 of Quéene Emma possessed the chiefe places of 〈◊〉 in all the realme were compelled to depart the land This man amongst the rest going to the Councell of Uercels to complaine vnto the Pope of his wrongfull vanishment 〈◊〉 farre soorth bewrayed his owne weakenesse and insufficiency as the Pope was determined to haue displaced him 〈◊〉 his Bishoprick vntill with giftes and golden eloquence 〈◊〉 perswaded him to winke at his imperfections It seemeth 〈◊〉 died the yéere following 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 was consecrate the yéere 1053. 〈◊〉 1067. and was buried in his Cathedrall Church of Dor chester 1. Remingius de Feschamp THe last Bishop of Dorchester and first of Lincolne was 〈◊〉 a monke of Feschamp that as Bale noseth was the sonne of a priest Unto this man William the Conquerour for diuers good seruices done vnto him had promised long before a Bishopricke in England 〈◊〉 it should please God to send him 〈◊〉 He was as good as his word and the yéere 1070. preferred him to Dorchester voide by the death of the former Bishop The consideration of this gift comming to the Popes eare he woulde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it symony and as a 〈◊〉 actually depriued him of his Bishopricke But at the request of Lanfrank the Archbishop of Canterbury he restored him to his ring and crosyer againe Soone after his first preferment he began to build at Dorchester and intended great matters there But order being taken in a Conuocation at London by the kings procurement that Episcopall sées euery where should be remoued from obscure townes to greater cities he diuerted the course of his liberality from Dorchester to Lincolne Lincolne at that time saith William Malmsburie was one of the most populous cities of England of great resort and traffique both by sea and land Remigius therefore thinking it a fit place for a Cathedrall church bought certaine ground vpon the top of the hill neere the castle then lately built by William the conquerour and began the foundation of a goodly church The Archbishop of Yorke endcuoured to hinder the execution of this worthie designement by laying challenge to the iurisdiction of that country This allegation though friuolous was a meane of some charge vnto the Bishop who not without gifts was faine to worke the king to be a meanes of cleering that title 〈◊〉 fabrike of the church being now finished and 21. prebends founded in the same al which he furnished with Incumbents very wel esteemed of both for learning and conuersation He made great prouision for the dedication of this his new church procuring all the Bishops of England by the kings authoritie to be summoned thereunto The rest came at the time appointed which was May 9. 1092. Onely Robert Bishop of Hereford absented him selfe foreseeing by his skill in Astrology as Bale and other affirme that Remigius could not liue vnto the day prefixed which also he foretold long before It fell out according vnto his prediction that 〈◊〉 died two daies before the time appointed for this great solemnity He was buried in that his owne new built church This Remigius was a man though of so high and noble a mind yet so vnreasonable low of stature as hardly hée might attaine vnto the pitch and reputation of a dwarfe So as it séemed nature had framed him in that sort to shew how possible it was that an excellent mind might dwell in a deformed and miserable body Besides this worthy foundation at Lincoln he reedified the church and Abbey at 〈◊〉 as also the Abbey of Bardney By his perswasion king William the conquerour erected the Abbeyes of Cane in Normandy and Battell in Susser vpon the very place where he had ouerthrowne king Harold in battell and so made a passage vnto the conquest of the whole 〈◊〉 The superstitious and credulous posterity ascribe diuers miracles vnto the holinesse of this Bishop wrought not in his
chappell built for the purpose on the South side of the high altar where also it séemeth he founded a chauntry for 〈◊〉 to be sung for his soule 35. Laurent Campegius LAurentius Campegius borne in Bononia Bishop of 〈◊〉 and one of the Auditors of the Rota in Rome was made Cardinall of Saint Thomas and after of Saint 〈◊〉 June 27. 1517. The yéere 1524. he became Bishop of Salisbury and died Bishop-Cardinall of Preneste at Rome in the moneth of August 1539. He was buried in our Lady church beyond Tyber 36. Nicholas Shaxston IT should séeme that the said Cardinal might not be suffred to enioy his Bishoprick any longer whē as the Popes authority was abrogated all sute to Rome forbidden The yeere 1535. fower yeeres befere he died Nicholas Shaxston Doctor of Dunnity was consecrate vnto this Sée and sate Bishop fower yeeres He resigned it July 1. 1539. the same day that Bishop Latymer resigned Worceter 37. Iohn Capon IOhn Salcot alias Capon Doctor of Diuinity was consecrate Bishop of Bangor 1534. and translated to Salisbury 1539. He 〈◊〉 buried vpon the South side of the Quire almost behind the Bishops See 38. Iohn Iewell POpe Paule the fourth bearing an olde grudge against Cardinall Poole soone after his aduauncement vnto the Papacy bestowed a Cardinals hat vpon one Peter Petow an obseruant Fryer and a gentleman of an 〈◊〉 house whom he made also his legate a latere ex 〈◊〉 potestatis gaue him the Bishopricke of Salisbury and sent him into England to confront the said Cardinall Poole But Quéene Mary stood so stoutely in defence of her kinsman and the rather for that the knew this course to be taken in despite of her the Pope being all togither addicted vnto the French party as she would not suffer this new legate either to enter the realme as legate or to enioy the Bishopricke the Pope had assigned him While this matter hung thus in question Fryer Peto died first and Queene Mary seene after It pleased then her Majesty that now is to appoint vnto the Bishopricke of Salisbury Iohn Iewell Batcheler of Diuinity He was borne at Berynarber in Deuonshire brought vp in Oxford first in Merton colledge and then in Corpus Christi Thence he fled the yéere 1554. into Germany and after 4. yéeres 〈◊〉 returning was consecrate Bishop of this church Ianuary 21. 1559. Hauing sate here well neere 12. yéeres he died at Monketon Farley Septem 23. 1571. in the 50. yeere of his age and was buried almost in the middle of the quire 39. Edmund Gheast EDmund Gheast Doctor of Diuinity was consecrate Bishop of Rochester Ianuary 21. 1559. translated 〈◊〉 to Salisbury December 24. 1571. died February 28. 1578. the 63. yéere of his age and was buried in the quier vpon the North side of Bishop Wiuyll He writ diuers workes mentioned by Bale in his Centuries 40. Iohn Piers. IOhn Piers Doctor of Diuinity and Deane of Christchurch in Oxford succéeded Bishop Gheast both in Rochester whereunto he was consecrate March 10. 1576 and in Salisbury the yéere 1577. There he sate 11. yéeres continuing all that while the Quéenes Almoner and was translated to Yorke the yéere 1588. 41. Iohn Coldwell THe Sée hauing then continued voide 3. yéeres Iohn Coldwell Doctor of phisicke and Deane of Rochester was consecrate vnto the same December 26. 1591. He died in October 1596. and was laid in the same graue where Bishop Wiuyll had long since beene buried 42. Henry Cotton HEnry Cotton Chaplaine vnto her Maiesty was consecrate togither with the Bishops of Exceter Glocester and Bangor in Nouember 1598. The Bishopricke of Salisbury is valued at 1385 l. 5 s. ob and paide to the Pope at euery exchaunge of the Incumbent 4000. ducats The Bishops of Bathe and Welles WElles that sometimes heretofore was called 〈◊〉 is not a 〈◊〉 of any very great antiquity It seemeth not to haue béene a place of any extraordinary note vntill the yeere 704 at what time 〈◊〉 King of the West Saxons built a Church there and dedicated the same vnto S. Andrew somewhat more then 60. yéeres after Kenulphus King also of the West Saxons gaue vnto the maintenance of the Ministers belonging vnto that Church all the lands néere adioyning The very words of his Charter I haue thought good to set downe for the antiquity and some other things in the same worthy consideration In nomine Domini nostri Iesu Christi Cum constet 〈◊〉 Catholicis recte credentibus in Domino quod tempora huius temporalis vitae longe lateque per orbem 〈◊〉 ac diuersis causis quotidie transeunt nec non 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aegritudine preuenti statim vitam finiendo deserunt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 omnia fugitiua 〈◊〉 beneficia domini sine aliqua tarditate pauperibus hic tribuendo erogemus vt illic 〈◊〉 mercedis in aeterna patria sine fine cum Domino 〈◊〉 accipiamus Quapropter ego Cynewlphus occ Saxonum Rex aliquam terrae partem pro amore Dei pro 〈◊〉 delictorum meorum nec non quod verbo dolendum 〈◊〉 pro aliqua vexatione inimicorum nostrorum Corunbiorum gentis cum consensu Episcoporum atque satraparum 〈◊〉 Dei Apostolo 〈◊〉 ministro Sancto Andreae humiliter ascribendo donabo hoc est 11. manentium prope fluuium qui 〈◊〉 Weluue ad augmentum monasterij quod situm 〈◊〉 iuxta fontem magnum quem vocitant Wielea vt eo diligentius in Ecclesia Sancti Andreae Apostoli deo soli 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 territorijs circumseriptam A mendie de valle quae dicitur Asancumb in occidentali plaga in vnum fontem qui appellatur Diernanwiell deinde in collem quem incolae appellant Dornhil deinde in defertum on picelon dorn tunc vltra flumen Weluue in fontem Holanwielle inde in desertum in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quae est iuxta fontem riuuli quem incolae 〈◊〉 Sealtbroc tunc in eundem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 flumen Welwe 〈◊〉 in ripam 〈◊〉 vsque 〈◊〉 Welwe 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 publicam vsque 〈◊〉 quem vocitant Ellentrow 〈◊〉 in torrentem 〈◊〉 in vadum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per campestria inter duas petrosas vias ad supra nominatum vallem Asancumb Si quis 〈◊〉 infringere vel imminuere ausus sit sciat se coram Christo Sanctis Angelis 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 examine rationem redditurum Scripta est haec Syngrapha ann Dom. incarn 766. Inductione 12. †Ego Cynewlfus Gewisorum Rex hanc meam donationem cum signaculo Sanctae crucis roboraui †Ego Herewaldus Episcopus huius munificentiae cartulam propria manu signaui †Ego Ernchardus Episcopus huic largitati consensi 〈◊〉 1. Plegmund Aldeim ALl this while there was no Cathedrall Church there but onely a Colledge It happened then the yéere 905. that 〈◊〉 Archbishop of Canterbury by the commaundement of the King consecrated seuen Bishops in one day whereof thrée were appointed vnto Sées newly ereded Amongst the rest Aldelm Abbot of Glastonbury was ordained Bishop of Wels
since his time in honour of him doo beare his coate of armes as the coate of their See viz. G. 3. leopards heads ieasant 3. Flower-deluces O. 45. Richard de Swinfield succéeded Doctor of Diuinity a Kentish man borne a very eloquent man and a great preather He was consecrate March 7. following sate 34. yéeres and died March 15. 1316. He lieth buried on the North side of the North I le aboue the quier as an Elogium witnesseth engrauen vpon a marble that couereth his toombe 46. Adam d'Orleton Doctor of Law borne in Hereford was consecrate September 26. 1317. In the moneth of October 1327. he was translated to Worceter and after that to Winchester Sée Winchester 47. Thomas Charlton Doctor of Lawe and Cannon of Yorke was consecrate by the Popes commandement October 18. 1327 The yéere 1329. he was for a while Treasurer of England He sate 16. yéeres and died Ianuary 11. 1343. He hath a reasonable faire toombe in the North wall of the North crosse I le ouer against the clocke 48. Iohn Trillecke sate 16. yéeres and a halfe 49. Lewes Sherlton or Charlton sate 8. yéeres and died the yéere 1369. He lieth in a faire monument in the North wall of the South I le aboue the quier 50. William Courtney consecrate 1369. sate 5. yéeres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to London 1375. and afterwards 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 51. Iohn Gilbert Bishop of 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him in 〈◊〉 The yeere 1385. he was sent Ambassador into 〈◊〉 1286. he was made Treasurer of England 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1389. as one deliuereth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is 〈◊〉 he was translated to Saint 〈◊〉 about the 〈◊〉 of the yéere 1389. 52. Iohn 〈◊〉 or Trefrant a Cannon of Saint 〈◊〉 one of the Auditors of the 〈◊〉 in Rome became Bishop of Hereford the yéere 1389. The 〈◊〉 1400. he was sent ambassador to Rome to informe the Pope of the title of 〈◊〉 Henry the fourth 〈◊〉 the crowne He sate Bishop about 〈◊〉 yéeres and a 〈◊〉 died 1404. and lieth buried 〈◊〉 the South wall of the South crosse 〈◊〉 where we sée a faire and costly monument erected for him 53. Robert Mascall being yet very yoong became a 〈◊〉 Carmelite at Ludlow After that he went to Oxford where he so 〈◊〉 in learning and other vertues as he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of all 〈◊〉 King Henry the fourth 〈◊〉 choice of him for his Confessor and 〈◊〉 meanes to preferre him vnto the 〈◊〉 of Hereford He built the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of the white 〈◊〉 at London 〈◊〉 many rich 〈◊〉 vnto that house died there December 21. 1417. and there was 〈◊〉 in a goodly monument of 〈◊〉 He was often Ambassador vnto 〈◊〉 Princes and the yéere 1415. was sent to the Counsell of 〈◊〉 with two other Bishops 54. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Doctor of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 béene 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1420. Sée 〈◊〉 55. Thomas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was consecrate 1420. 〈◊〉 Bishop 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yéere and thrée 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 was remooued first to 〈◊〉 after that to 〈◊〉 Sée Worceter 56. Thomas 〈◊〉 Abbot of Saint Maries in Yorke 〈◊〉 Bishop 〈◊〉 26. yéeres 57. Richard Beauchamp hauing 〈◊〉 here two yéeres 〈◊〉 thrée moneths was 〈◊〉 to Salisbury an 1450. 58. Reynold Butler Abbot of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 two yeeres and a halfe and was translated to 〈◊〉 April 3. 〈◊〉 59. Iohn Stanbery was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 brought 〈◊〉 in the Uniuersity of Oxford where he proceeded doctor of 〈◊〉 and read the Lecture of that faculty King Henry the sixt called him thence to be the first Prouost of his new 〈◊〉 colledge at 〈◊〉 and moreouer made him this Confessor The yéere 1446. he was elected Bishop of Norwich But 〈◊〉 de la Poole Duke of Suffolke thrust in a chaplaine of his owne notwithstanding this election and so disappointed him Shortly after to wit the yeere 1448. the king found meanes to preferre him to Bangor and fiue yeeres after that to Hereford where he sate one and twenty yeeres He died at Ludlow in the house of the Carmelites May 11. 1474. and was buried in his owne church vpon the North side of the high altar in a too 〈◊〉 be of alabaster A man not only very learned whereof he left many monuments in writing but very wise exceeding well spoken and which is not to be omitted tall of stature and of a very comely presence But I 〈◊〉 his greatest commendation his constant and vnmooueable fidelity vnto his Prince for which being taken prisoner at the battle of Northampton 1460 he was committed to the castle of Warwicke and lay in durance 〈◊〉 long time Upon his toombe are fixed these barbarous verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tetra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stanbery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ioannis Doctoralis erat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 o Christe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sordem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bene sedem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 trux 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anno M. C. 〈◊〉 L. X. 〈◊〉 bino 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Qui legis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro 〈◊〉 benigna Vt sint absque mora 〈◊〉 sibigaudia digna 60. Thomas Myllyng being yet very yoong became a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and then went to Oxford where he 〈◊〉 till he became Doctor of Diuinity hauing in the meane time attayned good knowledge in the Gréeke 〈◊〉 which in those daies was geason Returning then to Westminster he was made Abbot there and shortly after 〈◊〉 vnto the Bishopricke of Hereford by king Edward the fourth vnder whom he was of the priuy counsell and was godfather vnto Prince Edward his eldest sonne He died the yéere 1493. and lieth buried at Westminster in the middle of the chappel of Saint Iohn Baptist where against the North wall there is a fleight monument erected in memory of him 61. Edmund Audeley Bishop of Rochester was 〈◊〉 to Hereford 1493. and thence to Salisbury 1502. Sée Salisbury 62. Hadrian de Castello consecrate 1502. was made 〈◊〉 the next yéere and then translated to Welles 1504. Sée Welles 63. Richard Mayo Chauncellour and Archdeacon of Oxford as also President of Magdalene colledge there for the space of 27. yéeres and Almoner vnto king Henry the 7. the yere 1501. was sent Ambassador into Spaine to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Ladie Katherine to be married vnto Prince Arthur Not long after his returne thence to wit the yéere 1504. he was 〈◊〉 vnto the Bishopricke of 〈◊〉 which he held eleuen yéeres and somewhat more He deceased Aprill 18. 1516. and was buried on the South side of the high altar where there is a goodly toombe erected in memory of him 64. Charles Boothe Doctor of Diuinity Archdeacon of Buckingham and Chauncellour of the Marches of Wales was consecrate 1516. He bestowed great cost in repayring his house at London and sate eighteene yéeres and fiue moneths He lieth entoombed in the North wall of the body of his church 65. Edward Foxe Doctor of Diuinity and 〈◊〉 vnto king Henry the eight was brought vp in Kings
yéeres died vpon Saint Lukes day 1278. He lyeth buried vnder a reasonable plaine Marble toombe in the North I le of his church of Rochester almost ouer against the Bishops Sée 43. Iohn de Bradfeild a Monke and Chaunter of the Church of Rochester was consecrate 1279. and died 1282. 44. Thomas Inglethorp Deane of Saint Paules Church in London consecrate 1282. died in the moneth of June 1291. 45. Thomas de Wuldham Prior of Rochester 46. Haymo Confessor to king Edward the second 〈◊〉 named at Heathe or rather de Heathe of the Towne of 〈◊〉 in Kent where he was borne He built much at Hawling the yeere 1323. to wit the Hall and high front of the Bishops place there now standing reedified the Wall at Holborough néere vnto it repaired the rest of the buildings in the same house as he did also at Troscliff another mannor house belonging to this Sée Moreouer in the Towne of Hithe 〈◊〉 named he founded the Hospitall of Saint 〈◊〉 for reliefe of 10. poore people endewing the same with 20. markes of yéerely reuenew The yéere 1352. he resigned his Bishopricke into the Popes hands 47. Iohn de Shepey He was made Treasurer of England the yeere 1358. 48. William Wittlesey translated to Worceter 1363 and after to Canterbury Sée Canterbury 49. Thomas Trilleck He died 1372. 50. Thomas Brinton sometime a Benedictine Monke of Norwich trauailed in many places and lastly comming to Rome preached in Latine before the Pope many learned sermons which he left in writing behind him For them other exercises wherein he shewed himselfe to his great commendation he was much admired and became very famous The Pope also made him his Penitentiary bestowed vpon him the Bishopricke of Rochester He was Confessor vnto king Richard the 2. and died 1389. 51. William de Bottlesham or Boltsham whom Walsingham Bale and other call but I doubt not falsely Iohn Bottlesham was borne at Bottlesham in Cambridgeshire from whence he tooke his name He was a Frier preacher a Doctor of Diuinitie greatly accounted of for his learning more for his eloquence and rare gift in preaching for which also he was much estéemed by king Richard the 2. preferred by his meanes vnto the Bishopricke of Landaffe and after notwithstanding the election of on Richard Barnet translated vnto Rochester He died the yéere 1401. in the moneth of May. 52. Iohn Boltsham or Bottlesham Chaplaine vnto the Archbishop of Canterbury after the time of his consecration neuer sawe his Cathedrall church 53. Richard Yoong made the windowes of the parrish church of Freindsbury 54. Iohn Kempe was translated first to Chichester 1422. then to London and after that to Yorke and Canterbury Sée Canterbury 55. Iohn Langdon a monke of Canterbury He was borne in Kent and brought vp in Oxford where he procéeded doctor of Diuinitie A man very well learned in histories and antiquities especially he was very well seene Amongst other things I finde he writ a Chronicle of England which whether it be yet extant or no I know not He died at the Councell of Basill 1434. 56. Thomas Browne He being at the Councell of Basill was elected to Norwich and shortly after translated thither before he wist of any such businesse toward See Norwich 57. William Wels Abbot of Yorke He died 1443. 58. Iohn Lowe a white Monke Doctor of Diuinitie and Prouinciall of his order was preferred vnto the Bishopricke of Saint Assaph by king Henry the 6. in regard of his great learning and painfulnesse in preaching After that hee also procured him to be translated to Rochester 1443. He writ diuers good workes very well woorth reading and was a carefull searcher after good bookes so as diuers copies of some auncient fathers had vtterly perished but for his diligence He died the yeere 1467. and lieth buried in his owne Cathedrall church ouer against Bishop Merton where he hath a same marble toombe the inscription being not yet altogether defaced 59. Thomas Rotheram translated to Lincolne 1471. and after to Yorke Sée Yorke 60. Iohn Alcocke translated to Worcester 1476. and after to Ely Sée Ely 61. Iohn Russell translated to Lincolne 1480. Sée Lincolne 62. Edmund Audley translated to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sée Salisbury 63. Thomas Sauage translated to London and Yorke 〈◊〉 Yorke 64. Richard Fitz iames translated to Chichester 1504. and after to London Sée London 65. Iohn Fisher Doctor of Diuinitie For denying 〈◊〉 acknowledge the kings supremacy in ecclestasticall matters he was executed on Tower hill June 22. 1535. being made Cardinall about a moneth before His head was set on London bridge and his body buried in Barking churchyard 66. Iohn Fisher commonly called the blacke Frier of Bristow 67. Nicholas Heath became Bishop of Rochester about the yéere 1539. was remooued to Worceter 1543. and after to Yorke Sée Yorke 68. Henry Holbech translated to Lincolne 1547. 69. Nicolas Ridley conseccated in September 1547. was translated to London 1549. Sée London 70. Iohn Poynet consecrated Aprill 3. 1549. was translated to Winchester within a yéere after See Winton 71. Iohn Scory consecrated 1550. was depriued in the beginning of Quéene Mary and by Quéene Elizabeth preferred to Hereford 72. Maurice Griffyn Archdeacon of Rochester was consecrated Aprill 1. 1554. 73. Edmund Guest consecrated Ianuary 21. 1559. was translated to Salisbury December 24. 1571. 74. Edmund Freake doctor of Diuinitie consecrated March 9. 1571. was translated to Norwich 1576. and after to Worceter 75. Iohn Piers doctor of Diuinitie Deane of Christ 〈◊〉 in Oxford consecrated March 10. 1576. was translated to Salisbury 1577 and after to Yorke 76. Iohn Yoong doctor of Diuinitie consecrated 1578. yet liueth This Bishoprick is valued in the Exchequer at 358. l. 3. s. 7. d. farthing in the Popes bookes at 1300. ducates The Bishops of Oxford ABout the yéere of our Lord 730. there liued a Duke of Oxford called Didan He had a daughter of excellent beauty named Frideswyde who though she had many importunate suters men of great wealthand nobility yet desiring to serue God in such sort as she thought might be most acceptable vnto him would néedes dedicate her selfe vnto a sole and Monasticall life Amongst the rest of her wooers there was one a yoong Gentleman of great power some say he was a King his name was Algarus He not preuayling by intreaty thought to vse force and vpon a time getting company about him had almost seased vpon his desired pray which he had so narrowly beset as she had no way to escape his hands but by flying into a wood Thither also he followed her and that so néere as leauing it she had much adoo to recouer Oxford Perceiuing then that neither she was able to fly any further for wearinesse nor yet to withstand him there she called vnto God for assistance against this importunate louer who thereupon as the story saith was miraculously stricken blind And he continued in that case till by her prayers he recouered his sight againe Upon this
〈◊〉 all of his owne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 were 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 city 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hauing continued in that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the time of his election and being a very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he determined to forsake the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pontsract which he did 〈◊〉 his Bishopricke Ianuary 25. 1140. His cowle was 〈◊〉 warme vpon his back when death appointed him the vse of an other garment 〈◊〉 daies after his resignation he died viz. February 5. the yeere aforesaid 29. Henry Murdac VVIlliam Treasurer of Yorke a kinsman of king Stephens tooke then vpon 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of that Sée A man very noble by birth and 〈◊〉 but much more noble in 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 manners 〈◊〉 obtained not onely election but 〈◊〉 also as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnto me he sent vnto Rome for his 〈◊〉 His 〈◊〉 there was not so good as he looked for By some 〈◊〉 many 〈◊〉 were taken against him whereby it came to passe not onely his sute was put of and staid for that 〈◊〉 but also processe awarded to admonish him to come thither in person to answere the accusations laied against him At his comming to Rome he found his aduersaries many 〈◊〉 mighty And amongst the rest it is remembred that Saint Bernard then liuing was very earnest against him 〈◊〉 the Pope had 〈◊〉 brought vp in the Abbey of Clareuall vnder Saint Bernard together with Henry Murdas whom Williams aduersaries had set vp to 〈◊〉 a suter for this Archbishopricke The Pope being thus caried away with the perswasion of his old acquintance and some shew of matter was content to 〈◊〉 William and to place Henry Murdac in his roome whom he caused to be consecrate presently and sent him home into England with his Pall. King Stephen hearing this newes was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which all men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 with the 〈◊〉 Archbishop 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnto him in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 manner and when he denied easily tooke occasion of displeasure against him The townesmen of Yorke that loued William excéedingly for his gentlenesse and vertuous behauiour amongst them hearing how the king was affected refused to receiue 〈◊〉 into their city For this resistance he suspendeth the city which notwithstanding Eustach the kings sonne commaunded seruice to be said as at other times was accustomed By meanes hereof as also by reason that the kings officers were very terrible and heauy enemies vnto all that had laboured for the depriuation of William seditions and 〈◊〉 were daily raised in the city amongst which a certaine Archdeacon a friend of the Archbishoppes was slaine Two or thrée yéeres these stirs continued till at last the kings wrath by meanes being appeased Yorke men were content to receiue their Archbishop peaceably He gouerned very austerely the space of ten yeeres died October 14. 1153. at Sherborne and was buried in his Cathedrall church 3. Saint William VVIlliam immediately after his depriuation got him home into England and in great patience awaiting the pleasure of God betooke himselfe to the monastery of Winchester liuing much in the company of Henry the Bishop that did first consecrate him Now ye shall vnderstand that a little before the death of Henry Murdac 〈◊〉 the Pope his old companion and Saint Bernard the Master of them bothe for they had bene his scollers were taken out of this life William then was greatly animated by his friends to make complaint vnto Anastasius the uew Pope of the wrong heretofore done vnto him and prouoked by their importunity did so indeede trauailing to Rome in his owne person He had 〈◊〉 commenced his complaint when newes was brought that Henry Murdac also his old aduersary was departed this life Following then the aduise of Gregory a Cardinall a very pollitique and subtill fellow without any great sute he was restored vnto all his honours and had the pall deliuered vnto him He was returned into England 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which he kept 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Bishop of Winchester 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 church he was 〈◊〉 vpon the way by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 who 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 into 〈◊〉 church and appealed vnto 〈◊〉 against him which he little estéemed but went forward notwithstanding All the rest of the cleargy and commonalty 〈◊〉 him with 〈◊〉 ioy 〈◊〉 Virg reporteth that passing ouer the riuer beyond 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the number of people that followed him to 〈◊〉 honour was so 〈◊〉 as the bridge being but a woden bridge brake euen inst as the Bishop was oner and throw them all into the water But the blessing and praier of this holy man he supposeth preuailed so much with God as they were all 〈◊〉 preserued from drowning Into his city he was honorably receiued and began a very 〈◊〉 and gentle gouernment shewing no token of gall or malice toward his ancient and most bitter cnimies but he was taken away by death before he could performe any great matter otherwise Soone after Whitsuntide he fell sicke as it séemed of a kinde of ague and within a day or two after departed this life The common report is that he was poysoned in the challice at masse But Newbrigensis 〈◊〉 this opinion at large li. 1. 〈◊〉 26. Certaine it is that it was 〈◊〉 suspected to be so not only after his death but also while he yet liued in his 〈◊〉 times In so much as one of his chaplaines aduised him to 〈◊〉 some 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 poyson which he also did as one 〈◊〉 but other say he answered quod antidotum dioinum non adijceret humano that he would not adde the 〈◊〉 of the body vnto the preseruatiue of the soule becanse forsooth he had then lately receined the sacrament Howsoeuer it was he died very suddenly his teeth waxing very blacke a little before his death and not without some other notes and 〈◊〉 of poyson The time of his departure was June 8. 1154. After his death he was made a Saint and the day aforesaid June 8 appointed vnto the celebration of his memory Many miracles are said to haue beene wrought at his toombe in the Cashedrall church of Yorke Beleeue it that list I cannot to sayno more me thinkes the man whose depriuation Saint Barnard procured should not be worthy to be reputed a Saint or like to worke miracles 31. Roger. NO sooner was William dead but Robert the Deane and Osbert the Archdeacon laide plots for the election of Roger Archdeacon of Canterbury and procuring the Archbishop and the Popes Legate to become suters for him with much adoo they induced the Chapter to choose him He was consecrate by Anastasius the Pope about the end of the yéere 1154. This man is not gratious in our stories yet he is confessed to haue béene very learned well spoken passing wise and a great augmenter of the state of his Bishopricke both in reuenewes and buildings The reason is he fauoured not monkes by whom in a manner all our
other of his Italians to any other promotion in his Dioces For his labour he was quickely susspended Wherewith he was so little terrified as that notwithstanding he stood still stoutly to his tackling and yeelded not one inch Iordan therefore whether doubting of good successe or wearied with trouble or in regard that he perceiued himselfe very odious in Yorke resigned his Deanry accepting a pension of 100. markes out of it This composition with Iordan nothing apeased the Popes fury Determining belike to make him an example to other he first caused his crosse in contumelious maner to be taken from him and soone after thundred on t his greatest excōmunication against him causing him to be cursed throughout England with bell booke and candle By these and infinite other vexations saith Matthew Paris he was much disgraced in the fight of the world but became no doubt far the more acceptable in the sight of God So long he denied to how his knees vnto this 〈◊〉 as ouercome with care and not induring those 〈◊〉 all molestations he died at last hart broken much better deseruing the name of a Martyr then many other to whom the church of Rome hath afforded that title Lying vpon his death bed perceiuing his end to approch with watry eies looking 〈◊〉 towards heauen in that bitternes of his soule he made this prayer which I thinke not vnworthy in this place to be inserted Lord Iesus Christ thou most iust iudge from whose 〈◊〉 wisedome nothing is hid thou knowest how the Pope vnto whom thou hast suffered the gouernment of thy church to be deliuered hath with manifold 〈◊〉 ouerwhel med my innocencie for no other cause as thou canst witnes the world doubteth not then this that I would not admit men altogether vnknowne yea and most vnfit vnto the cure and care of those churches the rule and charge whereof vnto me though vnwoorthie thou hast committed Notwithstanding least by my contempt the Popes 〈◊〉 sentence of excommunication become iust and deserued with all humilitie I craue to be absolued from the same But I appeale vnto thee the supreme and vncorruptible iudge and both heauen and earth shall be my witnesses that he hath most vniustly vexed and many waies as gréeuously as wrongfully offended me Before his end also he writ vnto the Pope a very effectuall and pithie letter wherein he laied before him at large the miserable estate into which the 〈◊〉 of him and his predecessors had brought the church praying him to haue a care to amend what was amisse to remember that Christ repeated vnto Peter thrice Feede my sheepe but not so much as once or halfe once bid him either to flay them or to sheere them much lesse to teare out their very bowels to deuours or destroy them as he did But the Pope was so farre from following this good aduise as he not onely contemned the same but first derided the good Bishop for his labor afterward grew into great choller taking it hainously that any mortall man should be so presumptuous as to admonish him of his dutie He sate Archbishop onely two yéeres in which time he reformed many things amisse in the state of his Church He caused the stipend of the ministers of Saint Sepulchres chappell to be increased and appointed them to be called Cannons He erected Uicariges in diuers impropriate churches which till that time were very ill serued and did many other things woorth memorie but more 〈◊〉 haue done if his time had béene either longer or more quiet and peaceable He died vpon or neere vnto Ascention 〈◊〉 1258. and was buried in his Cathedrall church The place of his sepulture there was much frequented of the ignorant people that esteemed him a Saint Notwithstanding the great conflicts betweene him and the Pope our monkes doubt not to father vpon him a miracle of turning water into wine by blessing it in time of his sicknesse The 〈◊〉 whereof I leaue vnto the Reader 35. Godfry de Kinton ABout this time saith Matthew Paris an order was taken at Rome that euery elect Bishop of England must before his consecration fetch the Popes approbation at Rome whence if his purse helped him not the better he was sure to returne home as wise as he went foorth The first that was inforced to this vagare was 〈◊〉 de Kinton or as other write him Godfry de Ludham He was Deane of Yorke and being elect at home trauailed to Rome where he receaued consecration September 23. 1258. This man J know not vpon what quarrell interdicted the whole city of Yorke in the beginning of lent and restored it not till the third of May following which was in the yeere 1261. He sate sixe yeeres three moneths and eigghtéene daies dying then about Twelfetide 1264. he was buried in his owne church 36. Walter Giffard AFter the death of Godfry William de Langton Deane of Yorke was elected to succéede him But the Pope for what cause I know not peraduenture because he brought not mony enough in his purse reiected him and translated Walter Giffard from Bathe and Welles to Yorke He was the Popes Chaplaine and Cannon of Welles first Treasurer then Chauncellor of England Elected to Bathe May 22. 1264. From whence he was remooued 1266. hauing continued there onely two yéeres He liued at Yorke thirtéen yéeres departed this life Aprill 25. 1279. and lieth buried there in Saint Peters church 37. William Wickwane IT shall not be amisse here to remember that Onuphrius reporteth Saint Bonauenture whom he calleth Bonauentura Fidanza to haue bene preferred about this time from the Archbishopricke of Yorke vnto the place of a Cardinall viz. in the yeere 1274. Paulus 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith that at what time diuers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 came to the Councell of Lyons to conferre with the learned men of our Westerne church concerning the difference of opinions betwéene vs and them Thomas Aquinas who then read Diuinitie at Naples was sent for as the fittest man of that age to deale with them but he died in the way Bonauenture was then appointed to supply his place and least the 〈◊〉 should despise him being but a frier 〈◊〉 The Pope offered him the Archbishopricke of Yorke He was loath saith Paulus 〈◊〉 to take so great a charge vpon him and vpon his refusall was made a Cardinall I cannot see how either of these reports should be true For the See of Yorke at that time and long both before and after was full being possessed by Walter Giffard from the yeere 1266. til 1279. Now to leaue Bonauenture as we finde him ye shall vnderstand that the Deane and Chapter of Yorke soone after the death of Walter Giffard elected for their Archbishop William Wickwane one of their owne company and Chauncellour of their church Of him little is recorded but that the first yeere of his consecration he remooued the bones of Saint 〈◊〉 his predecessor and caused them to be placed in a costly shrine with great solemnity
habitation He built or repaired with great charges Barnard Castle the Castles of Alnwike part of the L. Vessyes land which he sold afterward to H. Percy Gainsoorth Cuncliff Somerton which he gaue vnto the king and the house at Eltham bestowed as afore said vpon the Quéene Hauing sate Bishop of Durham 28. yéeres he deceased at Eltham March 28. 1311. and was buried in his owne Cathedrall Church 42. Richard Kellow RIchard Kellow 〈◊〉 Bishop fiue yéeres in which short space he bestowed very much in building at Middleham Stocton and Welhall He died the yéere 1316. 43. Lewes Beaumont THe Couent then chose for their Bishop Henry Stamford Pryor of Finchall and sent him to Rome to be confirmed by the Pope But before he could get thither at the importunate suite of the kings of England and France the Pope had giuen that Bishoprick vnto one Lewes Beaumont a French man borne and of the blood royall there He was lame 〈◊〉 both his legs and so vnlearned that he could not read the bulles and other instruments of his consecration When he should haue pronounced this word Metropoliticae not knowing what to make of it though he had studied vpon it and laboured his lesson long before after a litle pause Soyt purdit saies he let it goe for read so passed it ouer In like sort he stumbled at 〈◊〉 aenigmate When he had fumbled about it a while Par Saint Lowys quoth he il n'est pas curtois qui 〈◊〉 parolle ici escrit that is by Saint Lewes he is to blame that writ this word here Not without great cause therefore the Pope was somewhat strait laced in admitting him He obtained consecration so hardly as in fowerteene yeeres he could scarce creepe out of debt Riding to Durham to be installed there he was robbed together with two Cardinals that were then in his company vpon Wiglesden Moore neere Derlington The captaines of this route were named Gilbert Middleton and Walter Selby Not content to take all the treasure of the Cardinals the Bishop and their traine they carried the Bishop prisoner to Morpeth where they constrained him to pay a great ransom Gilbert Middleton was soone after taken at his owne castle of Nitford carried to London and there drawen and hanged in the presents of the Cardinals After this one Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his brother Robert came with a great company to diuers of the Bishop of Durhams houses in the habits of Fryers and spoyled them leauing nothing but bare wals and did many other notable 〈◊〉 for which they I meane the captaines and diuers of their company were soone after hanged at Yorke This Bishop stood very stoutly in defence of the liberties of his Sée recouered diuers lands taken away from Anthony Beake his predecessor as before is mentioned and procured this sentence to be giuen in the behalf of his church quod Episcopus Dunelmen debet habere 〈◊〉 guerrarum intra libertates sicut Rex extra that the Bishop of Durham is to haue the forfeitures of warre in as ample sort within his owne liberties as the king without He compassed the city of Durham with a wall and built a hall kitchin and chappell at Middleton But before he could quite finish the chappell he died to wit September 22 or as one deliuereth September 28. 1333. He heth buried before the high altar at Durham couered with a marble stone curiously wrought and inlayde with brasse prouided by himselfe in his life time 44. Richard de Bury IN great 〈◊〉 but with no great good spéed the 〈◊〉 of Durham procéeded vnto the election of a new Bishop the old being yet scarcely buried and they made choise of one of their owne company a monke of Durham This election the Archbishop of Yorke confirmed yea the matter grew so forward as the same Archbishop was content to giue him consecration also All this while the kings good will was not sought no nor which was a greater ouersight as the world then went the Popes neither The king therefore not onely refused to deliuer possession of the temporalties vnto this elect but also laboured the Pope ex plenitudine potestatis to conferre the Bishopricke vpon a chaplaine of his named Richard de Bury then Deane of Welles Partly to pleasure the one that requested partly to displeasure the other for not requesting he did so and commaunded the Bishop of Winchester to consecrate him which being performed at Chertsey soone after Christmasse the king presently inuested him in the temporalties belonging to that Sée Now was the monke a Bishop without a Bishopricke Hauing no other home he was faine to returne to his cloyster and therefor very griefe as it is to be supposed within a few daies after died This Richard de Bury was borne at Saint Edmunds Bury in Suffolke whence he tooke his surname for he was the sonne of one Sir Richard Angaruill knight His father died leauing him very yoong and committed him vnto the tuition of Iohn Willoughby a priest his vncle who brought him vp carefully and that for the most part in the Uniuersity of Oxford From thence he was called to teach Edward of Windsor Prince of Wales At what time the said Prince fled into Fraunce with his mother he was principall receiuer of the kings reuenewes in Gascoigne Their money failing he ayded them secretly with a great summe of that he had receiued for the king It had almost cost him his life he was so narrowly pursued by some of the kings friends that got vnderstanding of it as he was glad to hide himselfe in a steeple in Paris the space of seuen daies King Edward the third his scholler being come to the crowne made him first his Coferer then Treasurer of the Wardrobe and keeper of the priuy Seale In this last office he continued fiue yéeres in which space he was twice sent Ambassador vnto the Pope The yeere 1333. he was made Deane of Welles a goodly preferment in those daies better I thinke then the Bishopricke is now He had not enioyed that place one whole yeere when he was consecrate vnto Durham which was December 19. 1333. The yeere following he became Chauncellor and within two yeeres after that Treasurer of England Being Bishop he was often employed in embassages of the greatest importance What time of leysure he had he spent either in prayer or conference with his 〈◊〉 whereof he had many about him those great learned men or else in study wherewith he was woonderfully delighted He writ many things not yet perished Anongst the rest in one worke which he called 〈◊〉 he saith of himselfe 〈◊〉 quodam librorū amore potenter 〈◊〉 abreptū That he was mightily carried away and euen beside himselfe with immoderate loue of bookes and desire of reading And indéed his study was so well furnished as it is thought he had more bookes then all the Bishops in England beside He was much delighted with the company and acquaintance of learned men Many
of Pope Martin the fifth the Bishopricke of Bathe and Wels the yéere 1425. Eightéene yéere he continued in that Sée and August 23. 1443. was remooued to Canterbury In the meane time viz. the yéere 1431. in February he was made Chauncellor of England and held that place which you shall hardly finde any other man to haue done eightéene yéeres euen vntill the yéere 1449. Waxing weary then of so painefull a place it is likely he resigned voluntarily the same He sate Archbishop almost nine yéeres Holding a conuocation at London the yéere 1452. he fell sicke and thereupon departed to Maidstone where shortly after he died viz. July 6. He lieth buried at Canterbury in the place called the Martyrdom vnder a flat marble stone whereupon I finde written this bald Epitaphe Quis fuit enuclees quem celas saxea moles Stafford Antistes fuerat dictusque Ioannes Qua sedit sede marmor quaeso simul ede Pridem Bathoniae regnitotius inde Primas egregius Pro praesule funde precatus Aureolam gratus huic det de virgine natus Sée more of this man in Bathe and Wels. 63. Iohn Kemp. THe funerall rites and exequies of Iohn Stafford being performed the monkes with the kings licence procéeded to election of a new Archbishop and made choice of Iohn 〈◊〉 Archbishop of Yorke The Pope would not allow of the monkes election but yet not daring to put any other into the place of his owne good nature he bestowed it vpon the same man that they had chosen He receiued his crosse September 24. 1452. at London and his pall the next day at Fulham by the hands of Thomas Kemp the Bishop of London his nephew Dec. 11. following he was inthronized with great pomp and solemnity This Archbishop was born at Wye in Rent Being Doctor of lawe he was made first Archdeacon of Durham then Deane of the Arches and Wicar generall vnto the Archbishop The yéere 1418. he was rōsecrate Bishop of Rochester remooued thence to Chichester 1422. from Chichester to London the same yéere and from London to Yorke 1425. Dec. 28. 1439. he was made Cardinal of Saint Balbine and afterwards being Archbishop of Canterbury was remooued to the title of S. Kusine These his preferments are briefly expressed in this verse Bis primas ter praeses bis cardine functus He continued not at Canterbury aboue a yéere and a halfe but died a very old man March 22. 1453. In his life time he conuerted the parish church of Wye where he was borne into a colledge in which he placed secular priests to attend diuine seruice to teach the youth of the parish Their gouernor was called a Prebendary This college at the time of the suppression was valued at fowerscore and thirtéene pound two shillings by the yéere He was also a benefactor vnto our Uniuersity of Oxford He died very rich and in his life time aduanced diuers of his kinred to great wealth some to the dignity of knighthood whose posterity continue yet of great worship and reputation His body was buried in a séemely monument on the South side of the prerbytery a little aboue the Archbishops Sée Of him read more in Yorke 65. Iohn Moorton IOhn Moorton was borne at Béere or Bery in 〈◊〉 and brought vp a while in the Uniuersitie of Oxford where hauing spent some time in the study of the Ciuill and Canon law he procéeded Doctor of that faculty and then became a Doctor of the Arches By reason of his practise there the Archbishop his predecessor Thomas Bourchier got knowledge of his manifold good parts his great learning in the law his wisedome discretion and other vertues which he not onely rewarded by preferring him to much good spirituall liuing but also commended him vnto the king who made him of his priuy Counsell In all those miseries and afflictions which that good king endured he euer stucke fast vnto him by no meanes would be drawne to forsake him when all the world in a manner betooke them vnto his victorious aduersary This so notable loialty and faithfulnesse king Edward himselfe honored so much in him as king Henry being dead he neuer ceased to allure him vnto his seruice hauing woone him sware him of his Counsell and trusted him with his greatest secrets assuring himselfe belike that he that had béene so faithfull vnto his aduersary in so great 〈◊〉 would no doubt be as faithfull vnto him in the like case if occasion should serue After many yéeres tryall of him and diuers other preferments whereunto he aduanced him he procured him to be elected vnto the Bishopricke of Ely the yéere 1474. Not long after his consecration to that Sée it hapned king Edward to die who not reposing greater trust in any one then in this Bishop made him one of his executors The Duke of Yorke therefore his vnnaturall brother intending by the destruction of his children to make a passage for himselfe vnto the crowne and knowing how watchfull an eie this man caried ouer them as also how impossible it was to corrupt him and draw him to be a partner in his wicked confort accused him of many great and vnlikely treasons for which he committed him to the Tower The innocency of the man would not suffer him to lie there long Not being able to stampe vpon him any probality of such matter as he laid to his charge he tooke him thence deliuered him to the kéeping of the Duke of Buckingham who at that time lay for the most part at that castle of Brecknock in Wales This Duke was the onely instrument of displacing the children of king Edward from the crowne and procured the same to be most vniustly set vpon the head of their wicked vncle the Duke of Yorke before mentioned who was appointed Protectour of them the realme These lambs committed vnto the kéeping of such a woolfe were soone deuoured being not onely despoiled of the rule and gouernment of the kingdome which descended vnto them by inheritance but of their liues 〈◊〉 which were violently taken from them by smoothering the poore innocent children betwéene fetherbeds Now whether it were the detestation of this abhominable murther which the duke of Buckingham pretended or the vnthankfulnesse of the tyrant in not gratifying him according to his expectation which is the opinion of most men or the enuie of his so great aduancement whereof he thought himselfe better woorthy which also is likely enough certaine it is that he quickly began to grow malcontent and being egged on by the Bishop his ghest entred at last into a conspiracie against him plotted the remoouing of him and endeuoured to match the Earle of Richmond heire of the house of Lancaster with the eldest daughter of king Edward that her brethren being made away was now out of all question heire of the house of Yorke so to throwe downe headlong the tyrant from the throwne which he vsurped to restore it to them to whom of right it appertained
without the Isle to his soldiers After seuen yéeres resistance the Saxon gentlemen some vpon promise of pardon submitted them selues others betaking themselues to flight the place was deliuered into the possession of the Conqueror 〈◊〉 Reges plectuntur Achimi For the fault of these noble men the poore monkes must be punished to be restored to their lands and to enioy their Auncient priuileges quietly they were faine to giue the king 1000. marks For making which money they were constrained to sell all the platc and siluer that was in their Church The king also fearefull least from the same place the like trouble might happen vnto him hereafter appointed them to maintaine a garrison of 40. soldiers which they did vntill such time as himselfe called them away to imploy them else where which was fiue yéeres after Theodwinus was the eight Abbot Godfry the ninth and Simon the tenth After whose death the place stoode voide seuen yéeres Richard the sonne of the Earle Gilbert was then made Abbot 1. Heruaeus BY this time the reuenues of the monastery were growne to be very great Their yéerely receit was not so little as 1400. l. which summe contained then more mettall and would goe farther in those daies then 6000. l. of our money Of that 1400. l. the Abbot allowed scarce 300. vnto the monks conuerting the rest vnto his own vse This Richard therefore if his minde were any thing so great as his linage could not but disdaine to liue vnder the iurisdiction of the Bishop of Lincolne to whose Dioces Cambridgeshire at that time appertained But he had reasonable pretences for his ambition He caused the king to be told that the Dioces of Lincolne was too large for one mans gouernment that Ely were a fit place for an Episcopall Sée c. These reasons amplified with golden Rhetoricke so perswaded the king as he not onely consented himselfe that this monastery should be conuerted into a Cathedrall Church and the Abbot made a Bishop but also procured the Pope to confirme and allow of the same After that Richard the Abbot had with great paines and more cost beaten this bush a great while the birde that he had so long and earnestly thirsted after fell to another mans share Himselfe was taken away by death when the matter was growen to good perfection and ready to be finished The Bishop of Lincolne a while hindred the procéeding of this businesse but his mouth was stopt with thrée Mannors which the king being liberall of another mans purse was content to bestow vpon him such as héeretofore belonged vnto the monastery of Ely viz. Spaldwich Bickleswoorth and Bokeden these were giuen to the Sée of Lyncolne in recompence of the losse the Bishop sustained by exempting of Cambridgshire from his iurisdiction And that the reuenues of the new Bishop might notwithstanding this gift be no lesse then the Abbots were but rather greater they diuised to diminish the number of monks which were then 70. and to draw them downe vnto 40. Richard the 11. and last Abbot being thus taken away when he would most gladly haue liued King Henry the first with the consent of the monks appointed this Bishopricke vnto one Heruaeus that had beene Bishop of Bangor and agréeing ill with the Welchmen was faine to leaue his Bishopricke there and séeke abroad for somewhat elsewhere He was translated the yeere 1109. sate 22. yéeres and died August the 30. 1131. 2. Nigellus THe Sée hauing béene voide then two yéere Nigellus Treasurer of England and Nephew vnto Roger Bishop of Salisbury was placed therein May the 28. 1133. He was receaued with such ioy into his city of Ely that all the stréete where he should passe was hanged with curtaines carpets and tapestry the monks and clergy of his Church meeting him with procession By reason of his imployment in matters of state and Counsell he could not attend his pastorall charge and therefore committed the managing gouernment of his Bishoprick vnto one Ranulphus somtime a monk of Glastonbury that had now cast away his cowle a couetous wicked man For his faithfulnes vnto his patrone and first preferrer king Henry this Nigellus is much to be commended When as Stephen Earle of Bloys contrary to his oath and promise to king Henry the first his vncle vsurped the crowne due to Maude the Empresse king Henries daughter This Bishop could neuer be induced to forsake her but most constantly stucke vnto her and endured much for her sake Sée more heereof in the life of Roger Bishop of Salisbury Notwithstanding those his great troubles he found meanes to erect an hospitall for Regular Cannons in that place where Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge now standeth the foundation of which house was afterwards twise altered first by Hugh Norwold his successor who placed therein a certaine number of schollers to cohabite with the Cannons giuing allowance for their maintenance and afterwards by Margaret Countesse of Richmond and Darby who new built it partly in her life time and partly by her executors after her death endowing it with in a manner all the reuenues it possesseth and raising it vnto that beautie and perfection which now it hath This man was Bishop 36. 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 29. day of May 1169. hauing long before séene the issue of his Lord and first patrone King Henry restored to the crowne in Henry the 2. He is saide 〈◊〉 haue bene buried before the alter of Saint Crosse in his owne church Sée more of him in the discourse of Richard his sonne that was Bishop of London 3. Galfridus Rydall AFter his death the Dioces of Ely continued without a Bishop fiue yéeres The yéere 1174. Geoffry Rydell or Rydall Archdeacon of Canterbury was consecrate Bishop a very lofty and high minded man called therefore commonly the proud Bishop of Ely He bestowed great 〈◊〉 vpon the building of the new worke of his Cathedrall church toward the West and vpon the stéeple which he built 〈◊〉 vnto the battlements He died intestate at Winchester the 21. day of August 1189. a fower daies before the 〈◊〉 of king Richard the first leauing in his coffers great 〈◊〉 of ready money viz. 3060. marks of siluer and 205. marks of gold All which the king was content to take vnto 〈◊〉 tò helpe to beare the charges of his coronation He sate Bishop 14. yéeres 10. moneths and 14. daies 4. William Langchamp THe last day of December the same yéere William Langeshamp Chauncellor of England was consecrate Bishop of Ely One greatly fauoured by King Richard the first and a man very worthy of that fauour for many 〈◊〉 parts in him had not those his vertues béene matched and ouermatched with as many great and notorious 〈◊〉 When the king tooke that his famous voyage to 〈◊〉 he made this Bishop Chauncellor before chiefe Iustice of the South part of England and Protector of the Realme in his absence And least he should want any Authority that might be giuen him he procured