Lord Chancellor of England at his returne from beyond the Seas in the first yeare of King Henry the seventh being in Anno Dom. 1485 after which he was advanced to the Arch-bishopricke of Canterbury he dyed in Anno Dom. 1499 in Anno 15 of Henry the seaventh as hath Matthew Parker William Warham Advocate in the Arches Master of the Rolles Bishop of London and then Archbishop of Canterbury was before his advancement to the See of Canterbury made Chancellor of England in the time of Henry the seaventh in which office he continued until about the latter end of the seaventh yeare of King Henry the Eight At what time surrendring the Seale by reason of his age and weakenesse the same was delivered to Thomas Woolsey Thomas Woolsey sometimes Chapleine to Henry Deane Archbishop of Canterbury after the Kings Almoner and Abbat of S. Austins who possessing many other Abbies and Bishoprickes was advanced to the government of the great Seale about the beginning of the 8 yeare of King Henry the eight being in Anno Dom. 1516 to hold the same during his life as I gather in which office yet he continued not above thirteene yeares untill Anno 21 of King Henry the 8 being in Anno Dom. 1529. During which time of his Chancellorship in Anno 19 of King Henry the eight being Anno Dom. 1527. he went into France representing the King of Englands Person to set order for the delivery of Pope Clement the seaventh and Francis the French King at what time he carried the great Seale over the Seas to Calis Which Seale hee left with Doctor Taylor Master of the Rolles to keepe the same at Calis untill the Cardinalls returne out of the French Dominions He died in Leicester Abbey not without suspicion of poison as was thought which he had prepared for himselfe and given to his Apothecary to deliver when hee called for it the two and twentieth of King Henry the eight in Anno Dom. 1530. Thomas More Knight Chancellor of the Dutchie of Lancaster was advanced to the honour of Chancellorship of England in Anno Dom. 1529 being in Anno 21 of King Henry the eight In which office this rare witted Knight to use Erasmus his epitheton and learned Chancellor continued not ful three yeares but in Anno 24 of the said King with much labour and earnest suit he left his office Touching which it will not be impertinent to set downe the words of Matthew Parker in the lives of the Bishops of Canterbury in the life of Thomas Cranmer writing after this manner Interearex dum Papae meditabatur excidium singulorum de papali authoritate sensus iudiciis haud obscuris collegit Inter quos Thomas Morus quia regis conatus pontificiis valde suspectus fuit Cancellarii munere venia regis aegre impetrata sese abdicavit Thomas Audeley Atturney of the Dutchie of Lancaster Serjant at the law as most affirme and speaker of the Parliament was made Knight and Keeper of the great Seale the fourth of June in Anno 24 of the raigne of King Henry the eight in Anno dom 1â—32 not long after which he was made Lord Chancellor of England This man in the tenth yeare of his Chancellorship being in Anno dom 1542 and Anno 35 Henry 8 changing the name of Buckingham Colledge in Cambridge did name it the Colledge of S. Mary Magdalen and endowed it with some possessions He dyed on May Eeve in Anno dom 1544 being in Anno 35 Henry 8. Thomas Wriothesly Knight of the Garter Sonne to William Wriothesly Yorke Herald and Grand-childe to John Wriothesly Garter King of Armes being created Baron at Hampton Court on the first day of Ianuary in the 35 yeare of the Reigne of King Henry the eight in Anno dom 1543. was after advanced to the honour of the great seale and Chancellorship of England about the beginning of May in Anno 36 Henry 8 being in Anno dom 1544 in which office hee did continue untill the death of the said King Henry the eight And in the beginning of the raigne of King Edward the sixt he was the sixt of March remooved and the seale was delivered to William Paulet Lord S. John of Basing This Thomas Lord Wriothesly being created Earle of Southampton by King Edward the sixt died at his house of Lincolne place in Holborne the 30 of Iuly in the 4 yeare of the said King Edward in the yeare 1550 and was buried at S. Andrewes in Holborne William Paulet Knight being first Steward of the lands of the Bishopricke of Winchester then Treasurer of the houshold Lord Sent-John of Basing Lord great Master of the Kings house afterwards Earle of Wiltshire Marquesse of Winchester and Treasurer of England being of the Privie Councell to King Henry the eight King Edward the sixt Queen Mary and Queene Elizabeth had the keeping of the great seale committed unto him the seaventh day of March in the yeare of our Lord 1547 being the first yeare of the raigne of the young King Edward the sixt which seale he had in Custody about seaven moneths untill the 23 or 24 of October following at what time Sr. Richard Rich was made Lord Chancellor Sir Richard Rich Knight A Gentleman well descended and alyed in Hampshire created Lord Rich was advanced to the dignity of Lord Chancellor of England about the 23 of October in Anno dom 1547 being the first yeare of the raigne of the noble King Edward the sixt in which place he remained about five yeares Thomas Goodericke or Godericke being Bishop of Elie had the great Seale delivered unto him and was made Lord Chancellor of England the 20 of December as John Stow hath noted in his Chronicle in Anno dom 1551 being Anno 5 Edward 6 in which office he continued all the life of the said King Edward who died in Iuly Anno dom 1553 being the seaventh yeare of his raigne and about one moneth after untill the 13 or 14 day of August in which Queene Mary made Stephen Gardiner her Chancellor Sir Nicholas Hare Master of the Rolles had at the comming of Queene Mary to the Crowne the great Seale after the death of King Edward as Lord Keeper by the space of a fortnight and shortly after was Stephen Gardiner made Chancellor Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester was in August in Anno dom 1553 being the first yeare of the raigne of Queene Mary made Chancellor of England This man going in ambassage unto Calis left the great seale in the custody of William Paulet Marquesse of Winchester which Bishop after his returne into England continued in that office all the time of his life which he ended the 19 of November in Anno dom 1555 being the third yeare of Queene Mary After which the great seale lying in her Majesties custody shee on the New-yeares day following made a new Chancellor Nicholas Heath Bishop of Rochester Almoner to the King Ambassador into Germany Bishop of Worcester President of Wales and Archbishop of
Yorke was upon New-yeares day in Anno dom 1555 being the third yeare of the raigne of Queene Mary advanced to the honorable dignity of Chancellorship But Queene Mary deceasing on the 17 day of November in Anno dom 1558 and the sixt yeare of her governement this Heath upon the placing of Queene Elizabeth upon the throne of the English governement was remooved from his Office and Master Bacon advanced Nicholas Bacon Esquire Atturney of the Court of Wardes was made Knight and Lord Keeper of the great seale the 22 of December in Anno dom 1558 being the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth Which name of Lord Keeper he still kept during his life and the time of his Office In whose time there was an Act of Parliament established to make the power of the Keeper of the great seale equall with the authority of the Chancellor This man continued in this office and worthily executed the same being a man of rare wit and deepe experience during the time of his life which continued untill the 20 of February in Anno dom 1578. after the Accompt of England being the one and twentith yeare of Queene Elizabeth which place this man kept eighteene yeares Thomas Bromlie the generall Sollicitor of Queene Elizabeth a Councellor of the Law and one of the Inner Temple was advanced to the dignity of Lord Chancellor on the 25 day of Aprill in Anno dom 1579 being in Anno 21 Elizabeth Sir Christopher Hatton being Vice-chamberlaine to Queene Elizabeth was constituted Lord Chancellor of England and Keeper of the graat seale upon Sunday the 29. day of Aprill in the 29 yeare of the said Queenes raigne Anno dom 1587. John Puckring Serjant at law was made Knight and sworne of the privy Councell at Greenewich upon Sunday the 28. day of May in the 34. yeare of Queene Elizabeth and at the same time was made Lord Keeper of the great seale of England Sir Thomas Egerton Knight being Master of the Rolles had the great seale of England delivered unto him at Greenewich and sworne of the Privy Councell upon the 6 of May 1596 being in the 38. of Queene Elizabeth and so continued in both those places till the first yeare of King James who created him Baron of Elsmere at Hampton Court 21 Iuly 1603 and made him Lord Chancellor and lastly created him into the dignity of Vicount Brackley the 7. day of November 1616 but severed the place of Master of the Rolles which was given to Edward Bruce Lord Kinlosse Sr. Francis Bacon Knight Atturney generall to King Iames and at the same time of the Privy Councell second sonne of Sr. Nicholas Bacon sometime Lord Keeper of the great seale upon the 7 of March 1616 in the 14 yeare of King James a few dayes before the death of the former Lord Chancellor had the great seale committed to him and being created a Baron by the title of Lord Verulam at Wansted the 12 of July 1617 was made Lord Chancellor the 4 of January following and made Vicount of St. Alban the 20 of Ianuary 1620. Vpon the removall of the Lord Chancellor Bacon who was displaced by the Parliament in Lent the 18 yeare of King Iames. The keeping of the great Seale was committed to Henry vicount Mandevile Lord President of the Councell Lodowicke Duke of Richmond and Lenox Lord Steward of the Kings house William Earle of Pembroke Lord Chamberlaine of the Kings house and Sir Iulius Caesar Knight Master of the Rols who continued the custody thereof till July following John Williams Doctor of Divinity Deane of Westminster and one of the Privy Counsell and after that consecrated Bishop of Lincolne was made Lord keeper of the great seale of England the 10 day of Iuly in the 19 yeare of King James Sir Thomas Coventry Knight eldest sonne to Sr. Thomas Coventry Knight one of the Iustices of the Common pleas being the Kings Atturney Generall was made Lord keeper of the great seale of England the first day of November in the first yeare of King Charles and Created Baron Coventry of Allesborough in the County of Worcester the 10 of Aprill in the 4 yeare of King Charles whose exempler vertues in the execution of this great office to the honour of his Majestie and the generall good of the Kingdome I cannot mention without due Attributes and fearing as I justly may that I shall rather shew mine owne defects than be able to set them forth in due characters I shall with much security discharge my selfe in this kinde by reciting the preamble of his Majesties Letters Patents for Creating his Lordship into the dignity of a Baron and Peere of this Realme Rex c. Archiepiscopis Ducibus c. ad quos praesentes literae provenerint Salutem Officio curae Regali nihil magis arbitramur convenire quam virtutum praemia viris illustribus â—itè disponere ac illos Honoribus attollere qui de Rege Republicâ optimè meruerunt Perspicimus enim Coronam nostram Regiam quam plurimum honorari locupletari cum viros cordatos Consilio prudentiâ virtutibus illustres ac praesertim in administrandâ Justicia strenuos insignes ad Honoris dignitatis gradus vocamus erigimus Nos igitur in personâ praedilecti per quam fidelis Consiliarij nostri Thomae Coventry Militis Custodis Magni Sigilli nostri Angliae gratissima dignissima servitia quae idem Consiliarius noster tam praecharissimo Patri nostro Jacobo Regi beatae memoriae per multos annos quam nobis ab ipsis Regni nostri primis auspicijs fidelissimè prudentissimè praestitit impendit indiesque impendere non desistit Nec non circumspèctionem prudentiam strenuitatem dexteritatem integritatem industriam constantiam fidelitatem ipsius Thomae Coventry Militis erga nos Coronam nostraÌ„ Animo benigno Regali intimè râ—colentes pro gratiae nostrae erga praefatum Consiliarium pignore Nec non virtutum benemeritorum ejusdem encomio posteris suis relinquendum ipsum in Procerum hujus Regni nostri Angliae numerum ascribendum decrevimus Sciatis itaque quod nos de gratia nostrâ speciali ac ex certâ scientia mero motu nostris praefatum Thomam Coventry Militem ad statum gradum dignitatem Honorem Baronis Coventry de Alesborough in Comitatu nostro Wigorniensi ereximus perficimus creavimus Jpsumque Thomam Coventry Militem Baronem Coventry de Alesborough praedicta tenore praesentium erigimus perficimus creamus Jn cujus rei c. T. R. apud Westm decimo die Aprilis Anno Regni Regis Caroli quarto per ipsum Regem FINIS Custodes Rotulorum 23. Ed. 1. ADAM de Osgodby Clerke 10. Ed. 2. William Ayremyne after Keeper of the great Seale 17. Ed. 2. Richard de Ayremyne 20. Ed. 2. Henry de Clyffe Clerke after keeper of the great Seale died the 7 of King Edward the third 7. Ed. 3.
a white Lyon the beast which he beare before as the proper Ensigne of that house standing over a Red Lion the peculiar note of the Kingdome of Scotland and tearing the same Red Lyon with his pawes This Tho. Duke of Norfolke married two wives his first wife was Elizabeth the daughter of Fredericke Tilney Knight by whom he had issue Thomas Earle of Surrey after Duke of Norfolk Edward slaine at Brest Admiral of England and Edmond Howard with Elizabeth married to Thomas Bulline Earle of Wiltshire and Muriell married to Iohn Grey Lord Lisle His second wife was Agnes daughter of Philip Tilney Knight by whom he had yssue William Lord Howard of Effingham with many others This Thomas Duke of Norfolke died in the 16. yeare of King Henry the 8. in An. Dom. 1544. and was buried at Thetford in Norfolke Thomas Howard sonne to the said Thomas Duke of Norfolke being Earle of Surrey possessed the place of the Lord Treasurer in the 15. yeare of Henry the 8. in An. Dom. 1523. the which office he continued in the 38. yeare of the said King in An. Dom. 1546. in the which yeare on the 28. of Ianuary the said King Henry died so that this Duke and his father were Lord Treasurers of England almost 48. yeares But about some few daies more then a Moneth before the death of the said King that is to say on the 12. day of December this Duke with his sonne Henry Earle of Surrey were committed to the Tower the one by water the other by land Shortly after which the said Henry was beheaded at Tower-hill the 19. day of Ianuary about 9. dayes before the death of the King And the Duke remained as condemned to perpetuall prison till the beginning of the Raigne of Queene Mary who then set him at liberty He married for his first wife Anne the daughter of King Edward the fourth but had Thomas that died young after he married Elizabeth daughter to Edward Duke of Buckingham by whom hee had yssue Henry Earle of Surrey beheaded as before Thomas Viscount Bindon and Mary married to Henry Fitzroy Duke of Richmond Hee died about the beginning of the Raigne of Queene Mary Edward Seymer Earle of Hartford was after the death of King Henry the 8. made Lord Treasurer of England in the first yeare of King Edward the sixt in An. Dom. 1546. in which yeare hee was also made protector of England and Duke of Somerset of whom thus writeth Matthew Parker calling him Regni Camerarium in the life of Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury in these words pag. 397. In testamento meaning King Henry the 8. Edwardo Principi minori novem annis nato haeredi suo Sexdecem tutores ex Episcopis solos Thomam Cranmerum Cantuariensem archiepiscopum Cuthbertum Tonstallum Dunelmensem Episcopum dedit And a little after pag. 398. followeth Verum pluribus ut diximus ei minori that was King Edward a patre constitutis curatoribus ne numero suo atque multitudine ad dissentiones faciles essent proclives unus electus est qui ex consilijs reliquorum impuberis regis tutelam solus administraret Is futit Edwardus Seimerus Comes Herefordiensis totius regni Camerarius regisque Auunculus Qui suscepta tutela regis totius regni atque dominiorum suorum proctteor Somerseti Dux nuncupatus atque creatus est This Duke of Somerset being Treasurer of England continued in the same office untill his death which was more then 4. yeares and was beheaded in the fift yeare of Edward the sixt in An. Dom. 1551. Sir William Paulet Knight Marquesse of Winchester was made Lord Treasurer upon the death of the Duke of Somerset in the fift yeare of Edward the sixt in An. Dom. 1551. Which office hee kept by the space of Twenty yeares and more a longer time then ever any other Treasurer had done before except the two last Dukes of Norfolke This man being a man of extreame age as attaining to the yeares Ninetie Seven died Lord Treasurer of England the tenth of March in An. Dom. 1571. being the 14. yeare of the Raigne of the famous Queene Elizabeth at his Mannor of Basing Hee in his life time did see the Children of his Childrens Children growne to the number of One Hundred and Three a rare blessing of God to men of his calling He maried Elizabeth the daughter of Sir William Capell Knight by whom he had issue Iohn Marquesse of Winchester Thomas Chidiocke and Giles Alice married to Richard Stowell Margaret married to Sir William Berkeley Margery married to Richard Waller and Eleanor married to Sir Richard Perckshall Sir William Cecill Knight principall Secretary of State created Lord Burghley upon the death of the Marquesse of Winchester was made Lord Treasurer of England the 13. Iuly 1572. being in the 14. yeare of the reigne of Queene Elizabeth and continued in that office during his life being also elected unto that most noble Order of the Garter Chancellor of the Vniversity of Cambridge and a Commissioner for the Office of Earle Marshall of of England Thomas Sackvill Barron Buckhurst heire Male of that ancient Familie that have flourished in a continued series from the Conquest and comming over out of Normandie deserved Nobly in that action was made Lord Treasurer the 15. of May in the 41. yeare of Queene Elizabeth and continued in that office during his life Hee was after by King Iames Created Earle of Dorcet the 13. of March 1603. being Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter and Chancellor of the Vniversity of Oxford Sir Robert Cecill second son to William Lord Burghley being Principal Secretary of State to Queene Elizabeth and after to King Iames was by the said king created Baron Cecill of Essendon the 13. of May 1603. vicount Cranborne the 20. of August 1604. and Earle of Salisbury the 4. of May in the sixt yeare of King Iames and upon the death of the Earle of Dorcet hee was made Lord Treasurer of England and continued in the place till his death Thomas Lord Howard of Walden second sonne to Thomos Howard Duke of Norfolke created Earle of Suffolke by King Iames being then Lord Chamberlaine and Knight of the Garter was made Lord Treasurer of England the 12. of Iuly in the 12. yeare of the raigne of King Iames. Sir Henry Montague Knight Lord chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench was made Lord Treasurer of England the 14. of December in the 18. yeare of King Iames and the 19. day of the same moneth and yeare he was Created Baron of Kimolten Castle in Huntington-shire and Vicount Mandevile and immediately after the Coronation of King Charles he was created Earle of Manchester Lyonell Lord Cranfield of Cranfield in the County of Bedford so created by Letters Patents bearing date the 9. of Iuly 1621. was made Lord Treasurer the 19. of October following and created Earle of Middlesex the 19. of October 1622. Sir Iames Ley Knight and Baronet Lord Cheife Iustice of the Kings Bench was made Lord Treasurer of England the 22. of December in the 22. yeare of the raigne of King Iames and upon the 31. day of the same Moneth he was created Baron Ley of Ley in Devonshire and immediately after the Coronation of King Charles he was created Earle of Marleburgh in Wiltsshire Richard Lord Weston Chancellor of the Exchequer upon the remove of the Earle of Marleburgh was made Lord Treasurer of England upon the 15. day of Iuly in the 4. yeare of King Charles and was after that created Earle of Portland in Dorcetshire by Letters Patents bearing date the 17. day of February in the eighth yeare of the raigne of King Charles Vpon the death of the said Earle of Portland his Majestie appointed Commissioners for the said office viz. William Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace Henry Earle of Manchester Lord Privie Seale Francis Lord Cottington Chancellor of the Exchequer Sir Iohn Cooke and Sir Francis Windebank Knights Principall Secretaries of State The right reverend Father in God William Iuxon first Lord Bishop of Hereford then translated to London and made deane of the Kings Chappel and called to be of the Privy Councell and was made Lord Treasurer of England the Ninth day of March 1635. FINIS
THE CATALOGVE OF THE CHANCELLORS OF ENGLAND THE LORD Keepers of the Great Seale AND THE LORD TREASVrers of England With a Collection of divers that have beene Masters of the Rolles By J. P. Summerset Herald Printed at London by Tho. Cotes and are to be sold by Andrew Crooke in Pauls Church-yard 1636. CRESCAM UT PROSIM CONSTANTER ET PRUDENTER The Right honble Sr Alex Campbell of Cesnok one of the Senators of the Colledge of Justice and one of the Lords of Her Maties most honble Pray Counsell Exchequer c 17â—7 To the right Honorable and excellent Lord Thomas Howard Earle of Arundell and Surrey Primer Earle and Earle Marshall of England Baron Howard Mowbray Segrave Brewes of Gower Fitzallan Clun Oswalderstree Maltravers and Greystock Iustice in Eyre of all the Kings Forrests Parkes and Chaces beyond the River of Trent Lievetenant generall to his Majestie in the Provinces of Norfolke Sussex Surrey Northumberland Westmerland and Cumberland of the Privy Councell to his Maiestie in England Scotland and Ireland and Knight of the most noble order of the Garter MY LORD I Have received many encouragements by Friends that have perused these Collections to render them to the publicke which cannot bee done without your Lordships approbation and permission to the Presse The Catalogues of the great officers in France long since printed have offorded much contentment and do worthily preserve the memory of such as merited in those places and their qualities And as I have no other but the same end in the publishing of these So I will comfort my selfe with an humble hope that it will give no discontentment The incouragements your Lordship hath conferred up on the office of Armes in generall my selfe in particular with a bountifull hand may give your Lordship just occasion to expect some fruite of our indeavours If these may passe in that estimate but for blossomes it will be more then they demerite And if your Lordship shall conceive them worthy to bee communicated to the world I most humbly crave leave that they may passe under Dedication to your Lordship which grace and favour will give them life and acceptation and very much incourage and comfort Most noble Lord To Your thrice humble and most obliged servant IOHN PHILIPOT Summerset Herald To my very loving friends the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers at Stationers Hall in London these LEt the Catalogue of the Chancellors of England the Lord Keepers of the great Seale and Lord high Treasurers of England Collected by Iohn Philipot Summerset be printed Arundell and Surry Arundell House the 16. of March 1635. CANDIDE ET CONSTANTER MErcedem meritis postponis legibus aurum Quod nunc prodigii pondus instar habet Consilio multis opibus succurris egenti The Preface THE Catalogue or Series of the Chancellors of England hath beene with much care and diligence laboured by Robert Glover Somerset Herauld of Armes and after him by Francis Thinne Lancaster Herauld whose M. S Collections J have by me and in them a thankfull commemoration is made of Mr. Thomas Talbots kinde assistance hee being Clerke of the Records in the Tower of London where the Charters and their Dates that afford the exactest testimonies of them are to be found for many Ages past So that J shall not neede to cite the vouchers and proofes at large Neither will I be so false to my selfe or my Reader as to conceale that the worthy and reverend Antiquarie Sr. Henry Spilman Knight in his Glossary hath summarily mentioned them The nature of the Office is most accurately described by him in that worke and also by Mr. William Camden Clarenceux King of Armes in his History of Great Brittaine in the description and definition of the severall Courts of Justice in this Kingdome to which J referre those that desire to be particularly informed in that kinde Pollidor Virgill would perswade us the Office and name of Chancellor was not known in this Kingdome till after the Norman Conquest and the Author of the Catalogue of Bishops is positive in that opinion speaking of Swithen Bishop of Winchester the opinion of whose piety procured him the title of a Saint But the contrary is most cleere and evident as by the Authorities hereafter mentioned will appeare to which I referre my Reader A CATALOGVE OF THE CHANCELLORS of England from the time of the SAXON Kings TVrketill was Chancellor to King Ethelbald who began his reigne in the yeere 718. this Turketill gave six Mannors to the Abbey of Croiland St. Swithen Bishop of Winchester was Chancellor and chiefe of Councell to the great Monarch King Egbert who began his reigne about the yeere 802. Wolfinus was Chancellor to King Athelstone who began his raigne in the yeare 924. This King inriched the Monastary of Malmesbury in Wiltshire with large and ample indowments and bestowed great immunities upon the Towne And in the Charter and grant of those Liberties ths Wolfinus is a witnesse with the title of Chancellor Turketill was Chancellor to the said King Athelstone and so continued under King Edmund who began his raigne in the yeare 940. and after the death of King Edmund he was Chancellor to King Edred the space of two yeares Adulthus Chancellor to King Edgar who began his raigne in Anno Dom. 959. Of this man speaketh Hugo Petro Burgensis and Leland calleth this Adulph Cancellarium Archigrammatum Chancellor or chiefe Secretary Alsius or Aelsius the second Abbat of Elie Chancellor to King Ethelred who began his raigne in Anno Dom. 979. This man being by Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester consecrated Abbat by the appointment of the said King Ethelred or Egelred and being then Abbat of Elie when Ethelred gave out his commandement that the Abbat of Elie should then and for ever be Chancellor I doubt not to place him here amongst the Chancellors the proofe of which matter I have here verbatim set downe out of the second booke of the history of Elie. Statuit which was Ethelred atque concessit quatenus ecclesiam de Elie ex tunc semper in regis curia cancellarij ageret dignitatem quod etiam alijs sancti videlicet Augustini Glasconiae ecclesijs constituit ut Abbates istorum caenobiorum vicissim adsignatis succedendo temporibus annum trifarie dividerent cum sanctuarijs caeteris ornamentis ministrando c. Leofricus Bathonicus Chancellor to Edward the Confessor in Anno Dom. 1045. and some yeares before this man was Bishop of Cridington in Cornewall which see was after translated to Excester Wifinus or Wolfinus Chancellor to Edward the Confessor in the latter end of the said yeare 1045 being the third yeare of his raigne Resenbaldus or Rembaldus for I take them both by many and ancient authorities to be all one man was Chancellor to Edward the Confessor and Seale-bearer witnesse amongst others to many Deedes which I have seene of the Confessors some dated in Anno dom 1066 and some
of England which office he held in the 35. yeare of Edward the third and 36. who being Bishop of London as hath Matthew Parker was in An. Dom. 1361. being the thirty fifth yeare of Edward the third by the Pope made Bishop of Ely where he sate five yeares and was after in An. Dom. 1366 being in the 40. yeare of Edward the third chosen Bishop of Canterbury and consecrated in An. Dom. 1367. as saith the same Matthew Parker On which day of his consecration he demanded homage of the Earle Stafford of Thomas Rosse Iohn Tirhill Robert Brockhill and Raphe Sentleger Knights for their Lands which they held of the Sea of Canterbury Shortly after which in An. Dom. 1368. being the 42. yeare of Edward the third he was made Cardinall and died at Avimere the 22 day of Iuly about An. Dom. 1376. being in the 50. yeare of King Edward the third and was buried besides Avinion in a place which he had raised from the foundation Three yeares after which his bones were brought to Westminster where at this day hee hath a worthie Tombe on the south side of the Shrine amongst the Kings on whose Tombe the Moonkes of Westminster did sometime place this Epitaphe in the remembrance of him Simon de Langham sub petris his tumulatus Istius Ecclesiae monachus fuerat prior abbas Sede vacante fuit electus Londoniensis Praesul insignis eligi sed postea primas Totius regni magnus regis que minister Nam Thesaurarius Cancellarius ejus Ac Cardinalis in Roma Presbiter iste Postque Praenestinus est factus episcopus atque Nuntius ex parte Papae transmittitur istuc Orbe dolente pater quem nunc revocare nequimus Magdalanae festo milleno septuageno Et ter centeno sexto Christi ruit anno Hunc Deus absolvat de cunctis quae male gessit Et meritis matris sibi caelica gaudia donet Of this man I have treated in the collection of all the Chancellers of England Iohn Barret made Bishop of Worcester in An. Do. 1362. being the 36. yeare of Edward the third was Treasurer of England in the 37. yeare of Edward the third in which office he continued being Treasurer in Michaelmas Tearme in the 38. yeare of Edward the third which fell in An. Dom. 1364. and so hee continued till the 43. yeare of Edward the third still Treasurer He was made Bishop of Bath in An. Dom. 1363. in which Bishoppricke he remained three yeares and was by Vrbane the 6. then Bishop of Rome translated from Bath to Elie in An. Dom. 1366. being the 40. yeare of Edward the 3. in which place hee sate sixe yeares and being a very old man and having beene Treasurer about sixe yeares hee died at Hatfield the seventh Ides of Iune in An. Dom. 1373. in the 47. yeare of Edward the third hee was buried in the Church of Elie besides the high Altar on the south part Thomas de Brantington being Treasurer for the King in the parts of Guisnes martches and Calis in An. Dom. 1367. being in the 41. yeare of Edward the third was made Bishop of Exeter by speciall Letters of the King in An. Dom. 1358. being the 43. yeare of Edward the third and was Lord Treasurer of England in the 44. and 45. yeares of Edward the third which 45. beeing in An. Dom. 1371. he was in a Parliament at the Petition of the Lords removed at which time also there passed a Law that the Chancellor Treasurer and Clarke of the Privy seale should no more be spiritual men but that secular men should have those offices Sir Richard Scroope Lord of Bolton and Chancellor of England was Treasurer of England in the 46. yeare of Edward the third and then gave place to Sir Robert Aston Knight This Richard made out of the ground the Castle of Bolton consisting of foure great strong towers of other stately lodgings which Castell was erecting 18. yeares the charges whereof came yearely unto a Thousand Marks which was 18. thousand Markes or 12000. pound which Castle hee finished before Richard the second died He bought the heire general of S. Quintine that was owner of Horneby Castle in Richmondshire which heire hee was content one Conyers a servant of his should marry and have the preferment of that ward so Horneby Castle came to the Coniers of which the first Lord was William Coniers grandfather to him that died in the time of Queene Mary without heire male whereby his inheritance came to his three daughters which William the first Lord Coniers of that name did much cost upon Horneby Castle being before but a meane thing I have read of this Lord Scroope that hee had a sonne called William whereof wee will speake more hereafter that was Earle of Wiltsshire who being beheaded in his fathers life left no issue behind him After which the father surviving was made Treasurer to the King and died in honour althoug he was not restored to his dignity of Chancellership but at what time he should be the second time Treasurer after the death of his sonne William in the time of Henry the fourth I cannot as yet certainely learne But it may bee that hee was againe Treasurer in the ninth yeare of Henry the fourth for that I finde not by any former search who then possessed that place It seemeth that he had two wives the one the daughter of the Lord Spenser the other the daughter of Michaell de la Poole Earle of Suffolke called Blanch. Hee had three sonnes for whom hee bought of the King the three daughters and heires of Robert Lord Tiptoft whereof the eldest daughter Margaret was married to Roger his second sonne the second daughter was married to William his eldest sonne the third daughter called Millescent was married to Stephen the third sonne of the said Richard Sir Robert Ashton Knight Constable of Dover Castle and Lord warden of the Cinque Ports was Lord Treasurer in the 50. and 51. yeare of King Edward the third in Michaelmas terme which was the last Michaelmas tearme wherein the King raigned being in An. Dom. 1376. of which name there was also one that was chiefe Baron in the time of Edward the second as I have read Henry Wake or Wakefield being made Bishop of Worcester in An. Do. 1375. being in the 49. yeare of Edw. the 3. was made Lord Treasurer of England in An. Dom. 1376. in the 51. yeare of Edward the third in which office hee continued part of Easter terme in the first yeare of Richard the second being in An. Dom. 1378. he died in An. Dom. 1395. as saith Walsingham Thomas Brantington Bishop of Excester was made Lord Treasurer in first yeare of Richard the second towards the latter end of Easter tearme being in An. Dom. 1378. as I compute it from which place he was shortly removed in the second yeare of Richard the second Richard Earle of Arundell and Surry made Lord Treasurer of England in the
and received the profit thereof to whom the King would have regiven the seale in Anno dom 1229 being the three and twentieth yeare of his raigne but Nevill would not receive it This man dyed in the yeare of Christ 1243 being Anno 27 Henry 3 at his Palace at London not farre from the new Temple Geofrey the Templer and John de Lexington were made keepers of the great Seale but shortly af er this Geofrey had the Seale taken from him because he grew in dislike of the Nobility in continually provoking them to anger Hugh Pateshall Cannon of Pauls is by Mathew Paris Fol 656 called Chancellor in Anno 23 Henry 3 Which I much doubt to be true of his man shall be more saide in the Treasurers of England Simon the Norman keeper of the great Seale in Anno 23 Henry 3 being in Anno dom 1229 he had the Seale shortly taken from him and was banished the Court because he would not seale the Patent whereby Thomas Earle of Flanders might take foure pence for every Sacke of Wooll that came out of England into Flanders This Simon dyed in the yeare of Christ 1249 being in Anno 33 Henry 3. Richard Grasse or Grossus Abbat of Evesham the said Simon expelled had the keeping of the great Seale in Anno 23 Henry 3 he kept the Seale three yeares and being chosen Bishop of Chester hee resigned the Seale in Anno dom 1242 being the 26 yeare of Henry the third he dyed being wise and learned in the Canon Law in the same yeare in Gascoigne in a Citty called in Latine Riola or Rigula where he was buried John de Lexington was againe made keeper of the Great Seale in Anno 26 Henry 3 being in Anno dom 1242 to execute that Office Ralphe Nevill being in life and still Chancellor but in the Kings disgrace shortly after which this Nevill dyed This Iohn Lexington dyed in Anno dom 1252 being in Anno 41 Henry 3. Ranulfe Briton as I read is saide to be Chancellor and Treasurer of the Chamber about the 37 yeare of Henry the third being in Anno dom 124â— I suppose that he only had the keeping of the great Seale as the rest had before him during the life of Raphe Nevill and so I leave him to the judgement of others sith Matthew Paris continually nameth him Treasurer and once Chancellor who sodainly dyed after dinner beholding players at Dice in Anno dom 1246 being in Anno 30 Henry 3 Of whom thus writeth the saide Matthew Paris in his greater history Fol. 934 Ranulphus Brito quondam Dominus familiarissimus Regi Reginae multis posthabitis nobilibus ejusdem Cancellarius specialis quum post mensalem refectionem aleatores certatim inspexisset colludentes laethalis apoplexia inexpectato vulnere corruit sugillatus Silvester de Eversden received the great Seale in Anno 29 Henry 3 being in Anno dom 1246 he was Vice-chancellor and consecrated Bishop of Carleil being a man most cunning in the custome of the Chancery in Anno dom 1247. being in Anno 31 Henry 3. Iohn Mansell Treasurer of Yorke Parson of Maidstone in Kent Parson of Wigan Chancellor of Paules Master or Ruler of Beverley Chiefe Iustice of England one of the privy Counsell to Henry the third his Chaplaine Ambassador into Spaine and a worthy souldier crossed to goe to Ierusalem who at one feast had two Kings two Queenes and I know not how many Noblemen and whose spirituall livings were about 4000 Markes of yearely revennewes â—s I have gathered he was at the will aâ—â—â—â—stance of the King made keeper of the great Seale as Vice-chancellor for Matthew Paris saith Custodiam sigilli regij accepit Cancellarij vices acturus officium about Anno 31 Henry 3 in Anno dom 1247 he built an house of regular Cannons at Rumney one of the Cinque Ports in Kent To this man King Henry the third in Anno 30 of his raigne did grant that his Towne of Wigan should be a Burrough John de Lexington being after chiefe Iâ—stice of the Forrest from the River of Trent Southward was againe keeper of the great Seale untill some part of the 32 yeare of Henry the third in Anno dom 1248. John Mansell againe keeper of the great Seale who at Woodstocke in the 32 yeare of Henry the third did receive the great Seale of the said John Lexington which he kept as I suppose and that with some good proofe untill the 33 yeare of the said King being in anno dom 1248 Of which John Mansell thus writeth an old anonymall Chronicle concerning the Barons warres Sed Johannes Mansell multarum in Anglia ecclesiarum Rector seu potius incubator reddituum quoque quorum non erat numerus possessor magnificus ita quod ditior eo clericus non videbatur in orbe episcopali puta dignitate minime insignitus metu Baronum aufugit latenter ultra mari de Turri London in qua Rex Angliae Regina sua tunc temporis tenuerunt se Quem quum Henricus filius regis Alemaniae fugientem insequeretur ipse capitur quum applicuisset Bononiae a Magistro Geâ—ardo de fines procuratore ut putabatur reginae Radulphus de Diceto was Chancellor as I reade and suppose much about this time William of Kilkenny being a modest wise and faithfull man learned in the Canon and Civill Lawes was made keeper of the great seale in Anno dom 1250. being in Anno 34 Henry 3 He was elected to the Bishopricke of Elie as saith the History of Elie the 18 Calends of September in Anno dom 1255 being about anno 39 Henry 3. But others say that he being then Vice-chancellor was elected Bishop of Elie in anno dom 1254 being anno 38 Henry 3 after that he had faithfully and to his great commendation used and borne the great seale he was consecrated to that Bishopricke in anno dom 1255 and dyed in anno dom 1256 being about anno 41 Henry 3 whose heart was buried at Elie. Henry de Wingham was made Chancellor in anno 39 Henry 3 and continued in annis 41 42 Henry 3 in which yeare as some have and in the 43 of Henry the third as others have he was chosen Bishop of Winchester upon condition that he should give place to Athelmer halfe brother to King Henry the third and sonne to Hugh Brunne Earle of Marshe and of Eleanor King Henry the third his Mother being banished by the Barons if that he should againe come into England and then leave the bishopricke of Winchester unto him which he did upon the comming againe of the said Athelmer into England and for that cause was after chosen Bishop of London in Anno dom 1259 being in Anno 33 Henry 3. and still Chancellor and is buried in Pauls on the South side of the Quire next to Eustachius Bishop of London in a Monument of Marble with this inscription on the wall to tell who it was Hic jacet Henricus de Wingham
his raigne by his Letters Patents to confirme the said house to the said William and his successors Masters of the Rolles And whereas by the Patent of Edward the third the Master of the Rolles was appointed and installed in that house by the Chancellor it is to be noted that the same manner of induction and instalment continued as long as the Master of the Rolles was of the Clergy as I have seene set downe by others and as the Presidents of those instalments and the Writts themselves extant of record doe well prove Sir Richard Scroope Knight Lord of Bolton having beene Lord Treasurer in the time of the deceased King Edward the third was now in October about the latter end of the yeare 1378 or the beginning of the yeare 1379. being the second yeare of the after deposed King Richard the second made Lord Chancellor and had the great Seale delivered unto him who in the third yeare of the said King at a Parliament did surrender up his office Of this man is more set downe in the discourse of the Treasurers Simon Sudbury so surnamed of the place of his birth but by descent called Tibold the sonne of Nicholas Tibold descended of a gentleman like race dwelling at Sudbury in Suffolke This Simon was Archbishop of Canterbury and made Chancellor about the yeare of Christ 1380. in the third yeare of Richard the second and was by the Rebells beheaded in the Tower of London in the fourth yeare of the disquieted government of that unfortunate but valiant King Richard the second After whom in the fifth yeare of the said King was R. Bishop of London whereof I have seene and taken a note which Bishop was as I conjecture and have some authority to prove Robert Braybrooke which followeth and was made Chancellor againe after Sir Richard Scroope R. Bishop of London Chancellor the fifth yeare of King Richard the second at which time Robert Braybrooke was Bishop of London Sir Richard Scroope Knight Lord of Bolton made Chancellor againe about the latter end of November by the Lords of the Parliament as I take it in the fifth yeare of the raigne of King Richard last mentioned and was the yeare following being about Anno dom 1383 againe deposed from his office and the King receiving the seale kept it a certaine time and therewith sealed such grants and writings as pleased him and in the end delivered the same to Robert Braybrooke Of this man see more in the Treasurers Robert Braybrooke Bishop of London made Lord Chancellor in September following the moneth of July when Sir Richard Scroope was deposed was advanced to that dignity on S. Matthews Eeve in the sixt yeare of the raigne of the said King Richard the second in which he continued not longer then the March following as hath Anonymus M.S. he was consecrated Bishop of London the fifth of January Anno dom 1381 he dyed the 17. of August in Anno dom 1404 being the fifth yeare of King Henry the fourth Michael de la Poole or at Poole as hath Thomas Walsingham was made Chancellor in the moneth of March in Anno 6. of the said King Richard the second and was made Earle of Suffolke in the ninth yeare of the said King being after deposed from his office of Chancellorship at his owne and earnest request in the tenth yeare of the said King This man having fled the Realme for that he was pursued by the Nobility dyed at Paris in Ann. 13. of Richard the second being in Anno dom 1389 of whom that worthy Poet Sir John Gower living at that time in his Booke intituled Vox Clamantis composed these verses Est comes elatus fallax cupidus sceleratus Fraudes per mille stat Cancellarius ille Hic proceres odit eorum nomina rodit Morsibus a tergo fit tandem profugus ergo Sic Deus in caelis mala de puteo Michaelis Acriter expurgat ne plus comes ille resurgat Thomas Arundell of the noble house of the Earles of Arundell was first Bishop of Elie and then of Yorke and lastly of Canterbury he was made Lord Chancellor of England in Anno 10 of the raigne of the unfortunate King Richard 2 which was about Anno dom 1386 in which office he remayned about two yeares William Wickham was againe made Lord Chancellor of England in Anno 12 Richard 2 but was in the end remooved from thence in September in the 15 yeare of the troublesome governement of the said King Richard Thomas Arundell aforesaid was the second time created Lord Chancellor of England in the saide 15 yeare of Richard 2 in place of William Wickham in which office he remained about five yeares and was deposed and banished the Realme in the 20 yeare of the said King Richard John Scarle Scirlee or Serle Master of the Rolles of the Chancery and Keeper of the great Seale hee was Chancellor or in the place of Chancellor in the first yeare of the raigne of King Henry the fourth being in Anno dom 1399. Edmund Stafford Keeper of the Privie Seale Bishop of Excester and sometime Bishop of Rochester and lastly Bishop of Yorke and borne of the noble house of the Staffords was made Lord Chancellor of England about the moneth of March in Anno dom 1400 being about the second yeare of the usurping King Henry the fourth in which Office hee continued untill Anno dom 1403 being in Anno 4 of the said King Henry the fourth he being Keeper of the Privy Seale was made Bishop of Excester the 20 of June in Anno dom 1395 being the 21 yeare of Richard 2. Hee was consecrated at Lambeth and kept the See of Excester three and twenty yeares Hee increased two fellowship in Stapletons Inne in Oxford reformed the Statutes of the house and called it Excester Colledge Hee died the fourth of September in the seaventh yeare of King Henry the fift being in Anno dom 1419. Henry Beuford the son of John of Gaunt by Katherine Swineford made Bishop of Lincolne in Anno dom 1398 as hath Ypodigma was advanced to the dignity of Chancellor in Anno dom 1403 being the fourth yeare of King Henry the fourth his elder Brother by the daughter of the Earle of Hereford in which office he was in the fift yeare of King Henry the fourth and sixt of the same King as our Chonicles doe remember he was made Bishop of Winchester in Anno dom 1404 being the fift yeare of King Henry the fourth Thomas Langley Priest and Bishop of Durham was at Westminster made Chancellor in Anno dom 1405 being in Anno 6. of Henry the fourth in which office he continued as far as I know untill he was made Bishop of Durham which was on the 7. of May in Anno 7. of King Henry the fourth being in Anno dom 1406 he was Bishop one and thirty yeares and dyed in Anno dom 1437 being the 16. yeare of King Henry the sixt See more following Thomas Fitzalen brother to