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
agréed to giue vnto him this new title and inserted the same into the instrument of their gift In the conuocation many canons were made against Lutherans and many motions for renouncing the Popes authority wherein the greatest part being fearefull of resoluing either way the connocation was often prorogued After many adiournments it was once more put ouer from Aprill till October 5. In which meane space the Archbishop died at Saint Stephens néere Canterbury in the house of William Warham his kinsman Archdeacon of Canterbury That house at that time belonged vnto the Archdeaconry but by what facrilegious meanes I know not was long since nipped away from the same so that the Archdeacon except he be otherwise prouided for them by his Archdeaconry is now houselesse But to returne vnto our Archbishop he was buried without any great funerall pompe giuing mourning clothes onely to the poore and laide in a little chappell built by himselse for the place of his buriall vpon the North side of the Martyrdome and hath there a reasonable faire toombe He purchased much land for his kinred and bestowed very much in repairing and beutifying his houses with faire buildings euen to the value of thirty thousand pound as he professeth in his will for which cause he prayed his successor to forbeare sute for dilapidations against his executors They were the Duke of Norfolke and the Lord Windsor He continued Archbishop eight and twenty yéeres and died in the sommer the yéere 1532. 68. Thomas Cranmer A Famous and memorable man succéeded William Warham Thomas Cranmer Doctor of Diuinity whose life is written at large by Master Foxe and others I should loose labour therefore in writing any long discourse of the same Briefly to set downe that which I cannot omit without interrupting my course you shall vnderstand that he was borne at Arstacton in Nottingham shire of a very ancient house which as it should séeme came out of Normandy with the conquerour for it is certaine that in the time of this Archbishop a certaine French gentleman named Cranmer came into England bearing the same armes that the Archbishop did who gaue him great intertainment and did him much honour He was brought vp in Iesus colledge in Cambridge Being yet very yoong he maried and so lost his fellowship in the said colledge But his wife dying within one yéere he was receiued into his old place againe For the maner occasion of his aduancement his diuers imployments before his actions in the same his lamentable fal his heroicall and 〈◊〉 combats and lastly his constant death I will as before I said send the Reader vnto Master Foxe who hath exactly set downe all the particularities of these things Onely thus much heare that he suffered most vnworthy death at Oxford March 21. 1556. being the first Archbishop that euer was put to death by order of lawe in England except onely Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke 69. Reginald Poole CArdinal Poole was the sonne of sir Richard Poole who was cosin germaine vnto king Henry the seuenth and Margaret Countesse of Salisbury that was daughter vnto George Duke of Clarence the second brother of king Edward the fourth They caused him to spend some time in Magdalen colledge in Oxford and being yet very yoong sent him beyond sea by trauell to get both learning and experience in the world In the meane time king Henry the eight that fauored him much as being néere of kinne vnto him both by father and mother before his departure had bestowed vpon him the Deanry of Exceter He had béene in Italy lying for the most part at Padua the space of 7. yéeres at what time the king hauing abolished the Popes authority sent for him home he not comming proclaimed him Traytor and gaue away his Deanry vnto another This losse he estéemed little of Petrus Bembus an old acquaintance of his was become the Popes chiefe secretary who so commended him vnto his master that shortly after he was content to make him a Cardinall perswading himselfe belike that he would prooue a good instrument for English matters as occasion should serue And surely if he regarded the woorthinesse of the man in respect of his manifold rare and excellent partes he could not lightly preferre any man lesse obnoxious to exceptions For he was not onely very learned which is better knowen then that itnéedeth many wordes but also of such modesty in outward behauiour and integrity of life and conuersation as he was of all men both loued and reuerenced I know well that Pasquill played his parts with him and fathered a brat or two vpon him but without any probability at all He was made Cardinall Maye 22. 1536. The Pope employed him then in diuers Embassages vnto the Emperor and the French King wherein he did his best endeuour to ioine them against his owne soueraigne the King of England and not content therewith he dealt so busily with his letters amongst his friends in England wherein he dehorted them from the Kings obedience and all conformity vnto reformation as it turned many of them to great trouble and amongst the rest cost his mother her head It pleased not God that any of his platformes should take successe And therefore partly malcontent and partly also weary of the paines and continuall danger these Embassages forced him vnto he procured the Pope to make him Legate of Uiterbio where he determined to leade the rest of his life quietly But he was disappointed of his purpose The Pope Paul 3. summoned a Councell at Trent Cardinall Poole and one or two other ioyned with him must néedes be his Uicegerents there He for his part was nothing so resolute in matters of religion as men expected he would In the question of iustification he professed to be on our side and perswaded one Morell to be of his opinion a learned Spaniard that lay in the same house he did and that was sent out of Spaine of purpose to defend the Popes quarrell in disputation wherein he was estéemed excellent Soone after his returne from the Counsell it hapned the Pope to die A great faction there was at that time in the college of Cardinals some taking part with the Emperour and some with the French king Cardinall Poole was altogither Imperiall All that side and diuers that were indifferent gaue him their voices for the Papacy whereunto when they had elected him orderly he forsooth found fault with them for their rashnesse and perswaded them to take further deliberation in so great and waighty a matter Héereof the French party taking aduantage began to cry out it was reason regard should be had of many French Cardinals and other that were absent and could not possibly repaire vnto the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had lately 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it were in 〈◊〉 and that it was 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 feared if they elected any man that were altogether 〈◊〉 vnto him it would be a cause of great sturres and 〈◊〉 One of their company
Sigillo a monke of Reading or as others say Archdeacon of London to be elected and consecrate Bishop Within a yeere or two after he was taken prisoner at Fullham by 〈◊〉 de Mandeuill a captaine of king Stephens who ye may be sure could ill brooke any man that the Empresse fauoured He sate Bishop about ten yeeres 39. Richard Beauveys THe yéere 1151. Richard Beauveys Archdeacon of Middlesex and nephew vnto the former Richard Beauveys became Bishop He died ann 1162. 40. Gilbert Foliot GIlbert Foliot was first Abbot of Glocester as M. Westm. hath but Bale affirmeth he was Abbot of Leycester and not of Glocester The yéere 1149. he was consecrate Bishop of Hereford continued in that Sée almost twelue yeeres and in 1161. vpon the kings speciall request he was translated to London In all the stirres betwéene Thomas Becket and the king he stucke vnto the king very faithfully and was partaker of all his counsels Mat. Paris reporteth a strange thing of him beléeue it if you list that one night comming from the king after long conference concerning the businesse betwéene the King and the Archbishop as he lay musing of those things in his bed a terrible and an vnknowen voice sounded these words in his eares O Gilberte 〈◊〉 dum reuoluis tot tot Deus 〈◊〉 est Ascarot Taking it to be the deuill he answered boldly Mentiris Daemon Deus 〈◊〉 est Deus Sabaoth At what time the King banished certaine fauorites of the Archbishop that were Clergy men he commaunded this Bishop to receiue the fruites of their liuings into his hand For obeying the authority of his Prince herein the Archbishop excommunicated him And presently vpon the death of the said Archbishop the Pope excommunicated him also but affirming by othe he was not guilty of the murther he was absolued He died February 18. 1187. It séemeth he was not onely wise but for those times very learned He writ diuers bookes mentioned by Bale I finde in Polycraticus a note concerning him that because it expresseth very well an humour much raigning now a daies I thinke not vnnecessary to offer vnto the Reader euen as I find it Venerabilis Pater c. The reuerend father Gilbert Bishop of Hereford would sometimes discourse vnto me saith he a certaine guise of Cloyster men the experience whereof he found in him selfe When first he entred into the Monastery hote with the fire newly kindled in him he was woont to blame very much the sluggishnesse of his gouernors Being preferred him selfe he was still moued with 〈◊〉 toward his equals but spared not his betters He became first a Prior taking part then with Priors he would complaine of Abbots Afterwards being made an Abbot fauouring his fellow Abbots he ceased not to reprehend Bishops And lastly when he was a Bishop himselfe he began to see how much more easie a thing it is to find faults then to mend them I thinke not saith he that this Bishop was to be esteemed enuious but being a wise man he expressed pretily an affection as it were naturally engraffed in euery man and was the more willing to take that kind of fault vpon him selfe that he might be the better heard of others Ioan. Sarisb Polycrat lib. 7. cap. 24. A very wise and reuerend Bishop now deceased in my hearing hath often acknowledged the like humour in him selfe before his preferments and therefore adiudged it the rather to be borne withall in other men 41. Richard Fitz-neale NIgellus Bishop of Ely that was nephew to Roger Bishop of Salisbury had a sonne named Richard for whom he bought of King Henry the second the Treasurership of England and payed for the same 400. markes He held that office almost all the raigne of the said king and was so good a husband in it as that at the kings death his treasure 〈◊〉 vnto 100000. markes In the latter end of his raigne he found meanes to preferre him vnto the Bishopricke of London whereunto he was consecrate December 31. 1189. He bestowed much vpon the building of his Church and other edifices belonging to his See sate there about nine yeeres and died September 10. 1198. 42. William de Sancta Maria. VVIlliam de Sancta Maria succéeded a Canon of Paules and sometimes secretary to king Richard the first He was consecrate June 22. 1199. This Bishop was one of them that interdicted the whole realme and excommunicated king Iohn by the commaundement of the Pope They all indured fiue yéeres banishment for their labours as elsewhere is more at large declared He resigned his Bishopricke Ianuary 26. 1221. 43. Eustachius de Fauconbridge EVstachius de Fauconbridge was elected vnto the Sée of London February 25. following and then vpon Saint Markes day consecrate at Westminster The next yéere a great controuersie was ended by arbitrators betweene him and his Cathedrall church of Saint Paule on the one part and the Abbey of Westminster on the other The arbitrators were the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Winchester and Sarum Thomas Prior of Merton and Richard of Dunstaple Their order was that the Abbey of Westminster should be exempt from the iurisdiction of the Bishop of London that the church of Stanes should euer hereafter belong to Westminster the mannor and church of Sunbery vnto the Cathedrall church of Paules This Eustache had béene one of the kings Iustices Chauncellour of the exchequer Treasurer of England and twise Embassador into Fraunce He was a great benefactor vnto his Cathedrall church in which he lyeth intoombed in a faire monument of marble standing in the South wall of the East ende of the churchurch He died October 31. 1228. 44. Rogerus Niger ROger in our histories surnamed Niger Archdeacon of Colchester was chosen Bishop the yéere 1228. soone after the death of Eustachius and consecrate by loceline Bishop of Bathe Iune 10. following being Trinity Sunday togither with Richard Archbishop of Canterbury and Hugh Bishop of Ely This Roger saith M. Paris was a very reuerend man religious learned painefull in preaching eloquent a great house-kéeper of very gentle and curteous behauiour Whereunto he might haue added that he was also stout and very couragious One Rustandus the Popes Nuntio being earnest in a conuocation for setting forward a certaine prolling deuise to scrape vp money for his Master he not onely withstood him openly but cryed out vpon the vnreasonable and shamelesse couetousnes of the court of Rome and was the onely meanes of staying the course of that exaction For reuenge hereof not long after they began to frame an accusation against him at Rome alleaging matters altogither false and friuolous It forced him to trauell thither and cost him great summes of money before he could rid his hands of that brabble The yéere 1233. Walter Mauclerke Bishop of Carlile taking ship to passe ouer the seas was hindered by some of the kings officers for that he had no licence to depart the realme These officers for so doing he excommunicated and
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
his 〈◊〉 yet remaine to be séene Afterwards whether it were that time altered his 〈◊〉 or that he was ouercome 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 of trouble or hope of 〈◊〉 he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to recant his opinions at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That done 〈◊〉 Cleargy glad of gaining such a man vnto their party for 〈◊〉 was greatly reputed of for his learning 〈◊〉 vpon him all manner of preferment Being now Bishop of Lincolne the yéere 1408. he was made Cardinall of 〈◊〉 Nereus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He continued in that 〈◊〉 many yeeres and in 〈◊〉 end resigned it He lieth buried vnder a 〈◊〉 stone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grosthead 22. Richard Flemming BIshop Flemming is famous for two things one that 〈◊〉 caused the 〈◊〉 of Wickliffe to be taken vp and 〈◊〉 the yéere 1425. and the other that he founded Lincolne 〈◊〉 in Oxford 1430. When he first attained this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 what time he died I find not He was 〈◊〉 where we sée a high tombe in the North 〈◊〉 in the vpper 〈◊〉 of the church in the 〈◊〉 in which place also Robert Flemming his kinseman Deane of Lincolne lieth buried hard beside him They were bothe great learned men brought vp in Oxford bothe Doctors of Diuinity and writ diuers learned workes 23. William Gray MAy 26. 1426. William Gray was 〈◊〉 Bishop of London 〈◊〉 he was translated to Lincolne the yéere 1431. and 〈◊〉 there about the space of 〈◊〉 yéeres He founded a Colledge at Theale in Hartfordshire for a Master and fower Cannons and made it a cell to Elsing spittle in London 24. William Alnewike THe yéere 1426. William Alnewike doctor of law was consecrate Bishop of Norwich He built there a great window and a goodly faire gate at the west end of the church The yeere 1436. he was remooued vnto Lincolne He was buried in the body or west end of his church This Bishop was confessor to that vertuous king Henry the fist 25. Marmaduke Lumley VVHat time Bishop Alnewike died I finde not but certaine it is that 〈◊〉 Lumley Bishop of Carlioll succeeded him in that Sée He was some times Treasurer of England consecrate vnto Carlioll 1430. sate there 20. yeere was translated hether 1450. and hauing continued heere scarcely one yéere died at London Toward the building of Quéenes colledge in Cambridge of which vniuersity he was sometimes Chauncellour he gaue 200 l. and bestowed vpon the library of that Colledge a great many good bookes 26. Iohn Chedworth IOhn Chedworth succéeded him of whom I finde nothing but that helieth buried vnder a flat stone by Bishop Sutton néere the toombe of Bishop Flemming He was Bishop as I gather about an 18. yeeres 27. Thomas Rotheram THomas Scot alias Rotheram Bishop of Rochester was remooued to Lincolne ann 1471. and thence to Yorke nine yéeres after Sée more ofhim in Yorke 28. Iohn Russell IN the Sée of Lincolne Iohn Russell Doctor of Diuinity and 〈◊〉 of Barkshire succéeded him a wise and 〈◊〉 man A while he was Chauncellor of England by the appointment of Richard Duke of Glocester that afterward vsurped the crowne He hath a reasonable faire toombe in a chappell cast out of the vpper wall of the South part of the Church 29. William Smith THe yéere 1492. William Smith was consecrate Bishop of Couentry Lichfield He ordained there I meane at Lichfield an hospitall for a master two priestes and ten poore men He also founded a frée schoole there for the education of poore mens children and found meanes that king Henry the seuenth bestowed vpon it an Hospitall called Donhal in Chesshyre with 〈◊〉 lands belonging to it At Farmworth where he was borne he bestowed ten pound land for the maintenance of a schoolemaster there Lastly he became founder of a goodly colledge the colledge of Brasennose in Oxford ann 1513. but liued not to finish it in such sort as he intended Hauing sate but onely fower yéeres at Lichfield he was translated to Lincolne and died the yéere before mentioned 1513. He lieth buried in the West part or body of the church This Bishop was the first President of Wales and gouerned that countrey from the 17. yere of king Henry the 7. vntill the fourth yéere of king Henry the 8. at what time he died 30. Thomas Woolsey A Uery little while scarcely one whole yéere Cardinall Woolsey not yet Cardinall was Bishop of Lincoln Thence he was remooued to 〈◊〉 almost the 〈◊〉 of the yéere 1514. Sée more of him in 〈◊〉 31. William Atwater ONe William Atwater succéeded Cardinall Woolsey and sate as it seemeth to me but a very short time He lieth buried in the West end of Lincolne Pinster 32. Iohn Longland IOhn Longland Doctor of Diuinity and Confessor vnto king Henry the 8. vpon the death of William Atwater was aduannced vnto the Bishoprick of Lincolne and enioyed the same a long time being almost all that while Chauncellor of the Uniuersity of Oxford He died the yeere 1547. and is burted néere vnto Bishop Russell in a toombe very like vnto his 33. Henry Holbech HEnry Holbech Doctor of Diuinity was consecrate Bishop of Rochester the yéere 1544. translated to Lincolne 1547. and continued there about 5. yeeres 34. Iohn Tayler IOhn Tayler Doctor of Diuinity was consecrate ann 1552. and within 2. yeeres after viz. in the beginning of Queene 〈◊〉 ratgne was displaced 35. Iohn White IOhn White Doctor also of Diuinity was appointed Bishop of Lincolne by Queene Mary The yéere 1557. He was remooued to Winchester Sée more of him there 36. Thomas Watson VPon the remooue of Doctor White the Bishopricke of Lincoln was bestowed vpon Thomas 〈◊〉 Doctor of Diuinity a very austere or rather a sower and churlish man He was scarce 〈◊〉 in his 〈◊〉 when 〈◊〉 Mary dying he was 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 the same 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 himselfe vnto the happy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yeres 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 about the yéere 1584. 37. Nicholas Bullingham NIcholas Bullingham Doctor of Lawe was consecrate Bishop of 〈◊〉 Ianuary 21. 1559. He sate there 11. yéeres and was translated in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 26. 1570. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of him in 〈◊〉 38. Thomas Cooper THomas Cooper Doctor of Diuinity Deane of 〈◊〉 church in Oxford was consecrate Febr. 24. 1570. 〈◊〉 yéere 1584. he was translated to Winchester 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of him there 39. William Wickham VVIlliam Wickham succéeded Bishop Cooper immediately both in Lincolne and Winchester Sée more of him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 40. William Chaderton VVIlliam 〈◊〉 Doctor of Diuinity was consecrate Bishop of West-Chester continued there 〈◊〉 and in the 〈◊〉 of the yéere 1594. was 〈◊〉 to Lincolne where he yet 〈◊〉 The Bishoprick of Lincolne is valued in the Queenes bookes at 894 l. 18 s. 1 d. ob and paid to the Pope for first 〈◊〉 5000 ducats The Bishops of Couentry and Lichfield 1. Dwyna OSwy king of Mercia or Mid England erected 〈◊〉 Episcopall Sée at Lichfield the yéere 656. and ordained one Diuma or Dwyna Bishop there 2. Cellach CEllach
which being deliuered he departed into voluntarie exile and bewailed there the miserie of his country vntill such time as king Swanus being dead and Ethelred returning all troubles were appcased So it pleased God to suffer him at last to end his daies in peace the yéere 1020. when he had béene Archbishop about seuen yéeres 29. Agelnothus alias Aethelnotus AGelnothus surnamed The Good was the sonne of an Earle called Agelmare and is said to haue beene Deane of Christchurch in Canterbury which at that time was replenished for the most part with canons wearing the habite and garments of monks but in profession and manner of life differing much from them Therefore when as in that same terrible tithing of the Danes mentioned in the life of Elphege all the monks were slaine except onely fower the canons that were now the greater number gaue vnto their gouernour the name of Deane From this place Agelnoth was taken to be Archbishop Going to Rome to fetch his pall he bought as one reporteth an arme of that blessed father Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo for an hundred talents of siluer and bestowed it vpon the church of Couentry He sustained great paines and cost in repairing his church and monastery destroied and burnt by the Danes and by his good aduise directed king Knute that fauoured him excéedingly vnto many honourable enterprises He died at last hauing sate Archbishop 17. yéeres and vpward October 29. anno 1038. 30. Eadsin EAdsin was a seculer priest and first chapleine vnto king Harold who preferred him to the Bishopricke of Winchester Thence he was remooued to Canterbury soone after the death of Agelnoth He continued Archbishop almost 12. yéeres All which time he was so oppressed with sicknesse as he could not attend his pastoral charge but was faine to commit the same to another and he made choice of one 〈◊〉 Abbot of Abingdon whom he termed sometimes Vicarium 〈◊〉 sometimes 〈◊〉 and sometimes Archiepiscopi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He discharged not his duty according to the trust reposed in him for he abused much not onely his authoritie but also the goods yea and person also of the Archbishop that committed the same vnto him In regard whereof though 〈◊〉 besought the king and other about him very earnestly that he might succéede him not knowing belike how ill he was vsed so well as they yet they would not condescend thereunto but bestowed vpon him the Bishopricke of Rochester Henry Huntingdon saith he was consecrated Archv. But he is mistaken out of all doubt Edsinus departed this life October 28. 1050. was buried in his owne church and after his death made a Saint 31. Robert surnamed Gemeticensis RObert a Norman succéeded by the fauour of king Edward the Confessor with whom he became acquainted at what time he was exiled into Normandy He preferred him first vnto London and then presently after the death of Eadsin vnto Canterburie This man is said to haue laid the first foundation of the Normans conquest in England perswading the king to make Duke William his heire wherunto when the king had condescended himselfe became the messenger of this good tidings vnto the Duke taking Harold with him peraduenture to that purpose that he might so hamper him with an oth as indéed he did and so barre him from all possibilitie of the kingdome This oth Harold afterward broke but he sped thereafter loosing his life and ill gotten kingdome both togither The Archbishop now assuring himselfe of the fauour not onely of the king present but of him also that was to succeede could not indure that any should beare so great sway as himselfe in court and therefore began to deuise how he might ouerthrow Emma the kings mother who onely séemed to ouertop him He began therefore to beate into the kings head that was a milde soft natured gentleman how hard a hand his mother had held vpon him when he liued in Normandy how likely it was that his brother came to his death by the practise of her and Earle Godwyn and lastly that she vsed the company of Alwyn Bishop of Winchester somwhat more familiarly then an honest woman néeded The king somewhat too rashly crediting these tales without any further examination or debating of the matter seased vpon all his mothers goods and committed her to prison in the Nunry of Warwell banished Earle Godwyn and his sonnes and commanded Alwyn vpon pain of death not to come foorth of the gates of Winchester The Quéene made the best friends she could to be called to her answere But the Archbishop so possessed the king as other tryall of her innocency might not be allowed then this She must walke ouer nine plowshares red hot in the midst of the Cathedrall church of Winchester If either she perfourmed not this kind of purgation or were found any thing at all hurt she and the Bishop both should be estéemed guilty If otherwise the Archbishop was content to submit himselfe to such punishment as they should haue endured To make short the Quéene lead betwéene two Bishops in open sight of all the people perfourmed as all our histories report this hard kind of purgation and so acquit herselfe and Alwyn the Bishop of these crimes obiected The king then greatly bewailing the wrong done to his mother asked her forgiuenes vpon his knées restored both her and the Bishop vnto their goods and former places and lastly to make some satisfaction for his fault committed would needes be whipped by the hands of the Bishops there present and receauing thrée stripes of his mother was by her cléerely forgiuen and the wrong promised for euer héereafter to be forgotten Emma now and the Bishop to shew themselues thankful vnto God for this miraculous deliuerance for a perpetual memorial of the same gaue each of them vnto the monastery of S. Swithun nine Mannors in remembrance of the nine plowshares This gift of theirs the king confirmed and gaue moreouer two Mannors of his owne to wit Meones and Portland Now to returne vnto the Archbishop he doubting of the successe of this matter vnder pretence of sicknesse held himselfe at Douer and assoone as he heard how the world went well knowing England would prooue too hot for him he got him ouer into his owne country to the Abbey of Gemetica where he was brought vp and there ouercome it is like with shame and sorrow within a short time after ended his daies and was buried in the Monastery aforesaid hauing beene Archbishop about the space of two yeeres or scarcely so much 32. Stigand STigand was chaplaine vnto king Edward the Confessor and preferred by him first vnto the Bishopricke of the East Saxons at Helmham 1043. and after vnto Winchester the yeere 1047. He was a man stout and wise inough but very vnlearned as in a manner all the Bishops were of those times and vnreasonable couetous Perceiuing the king highly displeased with Robert the Archbishop he thrust himselfe into his roome not expecting either his death depriuation
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
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
riding straight vnto the court certified the king what he had done and there renewed the same sentence againe About the same time the king gaue commandement for the apprehending of Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent who hauing sudden notice thereof at midnight got him vp and fled into a church in Esser They to whom the businesse was committed finding him vpon his knées before the high altar with the sacrament in one hand and a crosse in the other caried him away neuertheles vnto the Tower of London The Bishop taking this to be a great violence and wrong offered vnto holy church would neuer leaue the king that was indéed a Prince religious ynough vntill he had caused the Earle to be caried vnto the place whence he was taken It is thought it was a meanes of sauing the Earles life For though order was taken he should not scape thence yet it gaue the kings wrath a time to coole and himselfe leysure to make proofe of his innocency By reason whereof he was afterward restored to the kings fauour and former places of honour This Bishop died at his mannor of Bishops hall in the parish of Stupenheath on Michaelmas day 1241. or as some report I thinke vntruly October 3. 1243. and was buried in his owne church where Matthew Paris saies diuers miracles were wrought at his toombe It standeth in the enter close or North wall of the Presbytery a little aboue the quire where is to be read this Epitaphe Ecclesiae quondam Praeful praesentis in anno M. bis C. quater X. iacet hic Rogerus humatus Huius erat manibus domino locus iste dicatus Christe suis precibus veniam des tolle reatus 45. Fulco Basset ABout Christmas following Fulco Basset Deane of Yorke was elected vnto the Sée of London but not consecrate vntill October 9. 1244. for that the king who earnestly desired to haue remooued Peter Bishop of Hereford vnto London misliked greatly their choice This our Fulco was a gentleman of a grcat house but a second brother After he had entred orders his elder brother and the onely sonne of that brother died within the compasse of a yéere leauing the inheritance vnto him Our histories blame him for not being forward ynough in the cause of the Barons that is for being too true vnto his Prince Otherwise they giue him the praise of a good man a discréet and vigilant pastor Questionlesse he was a man stout and no lesse couragious then his predecessor The yéere 1255. Rustandus the Popes legate held a connocation at London in which when he went about to lay an importable exaction vpon the cleargy and it was knowen the king was hired to winke at it this Bishop rose vp and openly professed that he would suffer his head to be chopped off before he would consent vnto so shamefull and vnreasonable oppression of the church Yea when the king stormed at this his resistance and reuiled him saying that neither he nor any of his name was euer true vnto him threatning moreouer that he would finde meanes to plague him for it In the presence of some that he knew would tell the king of it he sticked not to say a spéech I confesse not commendable but bold and couragious My Bishopricke indéed my myter and crosier the king and the Pope may take away from me though vniustly but my helmet and sword I hope they shall not He died of the plague at London the yéere 1258. and was buried in his owne church vpon Saint Urbans day 46. Henry de Wingham HEnry de Wingham Chauncellor of England chamberlaine of Gascoigne Deane of Tottenhall and S. Martins hauing béene twice Embassador into Fraunce was chosen Bishop of Winchester the yéere 1258. but refused to accept of that place Sée why in Ethelmare of Winchester The yéere following the like offer being made for London he neuer made bones of it and was consecrate about Midsommer the same yéere A small time he enioyed that preferment being taken away by death July 13. 1261. He lyeth intoombed in the South wall neere to the monument of Bishop Fauconbridge 47. Kichard Talbot SOone after the death of Henry Wingham Richard Talbot was elected and confirmed Bishop of London whether consecrate or no I can not tel Certaine it is he died vpon Michaelinas day the yéere following viz. 1262. 48. Henry de Sandwich BEfore the ende of that yéere Henry de Sandwich was consecrate Bishop So London had thrée Bishops in one yéere This man was excommunicate by Ottobonus the Popes legate as he had well deserued for taking part with the rebellious Barons against their Prince He died September 16. 1273. 49. Iohn de 〈◊〉 IOhn de Chishull Deane of Paules sometimes Archdeacon of London hauing béene first Kéeper of the great seale and then Treasurer of England was consecrate Aprill 29. 1274. He died February 10. 1279. 50. Richard de Grauesend RIchard de Grauesend Archdeacon of Northhampton was consecrate Bishop of London at Couentry August 12. 1280. He died at Fulham December 9. 1303. and was buried at London 51. Ralfe de Baldocke BY the consent of the whole Chapter Ralfe Baldocke was then chosen Bishoppe vpon Saint Matthias day following Howbeit he might not haue consecration till the Pope had confirmed the election for that thrée Canons lately depriued from their Prebends by the Archbishop being excluded from the election had appealed from the same vnto the Pope By the commandement of the Pope Clement 5. he was consecrate at Lyons Ianuary 30. 1305 by the hands of one Petrus Hispanus a Cardinall He was very well learned and amongst other things he writ as Bale recordeth an history or Chronicle of England in the Latine toong In his life time he gaue two hundred markes toward the building of the new worke of the chappell on the East end of his church now called the Lady chappell and in his will bequeathed much toward the finishing of the same And here by the way it shall not be amisse to note that in digging the foundation of this building there were found more then an hundred heads of cattell as oxen kine c. which séemeth to confirme the opinion of those that thinke the Temple of Iupiter was situate in that place before the planting of Christian religion tooke away those Idolatrous sacrifices This Bishop died at Stell July 24. 1313. and lieth buried vnder a flat marble in the said chappell 52. Gilbert Segraue GIlbert Segraue borne in Leicester shire and brought vp in Oxford was a man very well learned and left diuers good monuments of his knowledge behinde him He was consecrate Bishop of London Nouember 25. 1313. and sate about thrée yéeres 53. Richard Newport RIchard Newport was consecrate Bishop of London March 26. 1317. and died August 24. 1318. 54. Stephen Grauesend STephen Grauesend was consecrate Ianuary 14. following and sate about twenty yéeres 55. Richard Byntworth or Wentworth RIchard Byntworth had his election confirmed May 23. 1338. was
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
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
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
〈◊〉 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
life time but many yéeres after his death 2. Robert Bloett IT happened soone after the death of 〈◊〉 the king William Rufus to fall dangerously sick at Glocester And thinking he should die began seriously to repent him of his dissolute and vicious life forepassed Especially he shewed great griefe for his Simony and sacrilegious oppression of the church and Cleargy men In this good moode he bestowed the Archbishopricke of Canterbury hauing kept it voide fower yéeres vpon Saint Anselm and Lincolne vpon Robert Bloet or Bluet his Chauncellor When he recouered he much repented his repentance wished they were in his hands againe and tell to his old practises as 〈◊〉 as euer heretofore This Robert Bloet was a man passing wise liberall 〈◊〉 curteous and very personable but vnlearned light of behauiour and much giuen to lust Bale reporteth he had a sonne named Simon base borne no doubt whom he made Deane of Lincolne He dedicated his church bestowed very much in furnishing the same with ornaments requisite Unto the 21. Prebends founded by his predecessor he added 21. more and very largely endued or as some deliuer founded the Abbey of Eynsham besides Oxford vnto the which monastery he remooued the monkes of Stow. Againe he bestowed the mannor of Charlton vpon the monkes of Bermondsey and gaue vnto the king 500 l. or as H. Huntingdon hath 5000. to cléere the title that the Archbishop of Yorke laid vnto the iurisdiction of his Sée He was consecrate the yeere 1092. sate almost 30. yéeres and died at last suddenly Ianuary 10. 1122. Riding by the kings side talking with him neere Woodstocke he shranke downe spéechlesse and being caried to his lodging died in a manner presently His bowels were buried at Eynsham his body was conueghed to Lincolne and there in his owne church solemnely interred Upon his toombe was engrauen this Epitaphe Pontificum Robertus honor quem fama superstes Perpetuare dabit non obiturus obit Hic humilis diues res mira potens pius vltor Compatiens mitis cum pateretur erat Noluit esse sui Dominus studuit pater esse Semper in aduersis murus arma suis. In decima Iani mendacis somnia mundi Liquit euigilans vera perenne vidit 3. Alexander ROger that famous Bishop of Salisbury was now so great a man with the king Henry the first as being able to do with him what he list he easily entreated him to bestow the Bishopricke of Lincolne vpon one Alexander his owne brothers sonne a Norman borne whom not long before he had made Archdeacon of Salisbury and chiefe Justice of England He was consecrate at Canterbury July 22. 1123. The next yéere after his Cathedrall church so lately built and yet scarcely finished was burnt and horribly defaced by casuall fire This man repayred it againe and added vnto it a speciall ornament a goodly vault of stone which before it had not and therefore was the more subiect vnto fire He also increased the number of his Prebends purchased vnto his church certaine mannors and other lands But his chiefe delight was in building of castels wherein he imitated his vncle the Bishop of Salisbury This humor was the vndoing of them both To leaue the other vnto his owne place Alexander built a stately castle at Banbury another at Newarke and a third at Sleford William Parâ—â—s reporteth that he also founded two monasteries but what or where I finde not These castles were such eie-sores vnto king Stephen as they prouoked him to picke a quarrell otherwise vnto the Bishops to clappe them vp in prison where the other died and to bereaue them at once of these munitions and all their treasure whereof they had hoorded vp great store They that kept the castle of Newarke refused to deliuer it at the kings summons till such time as the Bishop intreated them to yéeld signifying and it was true indeede that the king had sworne he should nether eate nor drinke before he had possession of the castle Hereupon they set open the gates vnto the king and then with much adoo hauing lyen by it certaine moneths he was at last released of his imprisonment After that 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 himselfe wholy to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his church performed that which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 made it simply the most beautifull church of England at that time He was thrice at Rome to wit the 〈◊〉 1142. and 1144. where he behaued himselfe so as he pleased both the king and the Pope very well The first time he was 〈◊〉 the Pope gaue him authority to call a 〈◊〉 as his 〈◊〉 and especially 〈◊〉 vnto him the redresse of certaine 〈◊〉 for the effecting whereof he caused 〈◊〉 canons to be made very necessary for those times A third iourney he made vnto the Pope lying then in Fraunce in the moneth of August 1147. where through immoderate heat of the weather during the time of his trauell he fell 〈◊〉 and with much 〈◊〉 getting home not long after his returne he died hauing sate Bishop about the space of 24. yéeres I 〈◊〉 in Henry Huntingdon certaine verses written in commendation of him which I thinke not amisse here to be inserted Splendor Alexandri non tam renitescit honore Quam per eum renitescit honor flos namque virorum Dando tenere 〈◊〉 thesauros cogit honoris Et gratis dare festinans ne danda rogentur Quod nondum dederit nondum se credit habere O decus ô moruoo directio quo veniente Certa fides hilaris clementia cauta potestas Lene 〈◊〉 doctrina placens correctio dulcis Libercasque decens venêre pudorque facetus Lincoliae gens magna prius nunc maxima semper Talis ille diu sit nobis tutor honoris 4. Robert de Chisuey AFter Alexander succéeded Robert Archdeacon of Leycester surnamed by some de Chisuey or Chisueto by others de Taueto Querceto or Euerceto for so diuersly I finde him called a very yoong man He was consecrate in September 1147. and died Ianuary 8. 1167. This man added one Prebend vnto those that were founded by his predecessors purchased a house for himselfe and his successors 〈◊〉 vnto the temple at London and built the Bishops pallace at Lincolne in a manner all He left his Sée indebted vnto one Aaron a Iew the summe of 300 l. a great deale of money in those daies and his successors were faine to see it discharged long after 5. Geoffry Plantagenet THe Sée of Lincolne continued then void after the death of the said Robert almost seuenteene 〈◊〉 in so much as all men were of opinion there should neuer be any more Bishop there A certaine conuert of Tame reputed a very holy man and halfe a prophet in regard of many things he had strangely foretold this man I say had giuen out that the said Robert lately deceased should be the last Bishop of Lincolne This prediction of his many men 〈◊〉 when not long after the
was the second Bishop of Lichfield He was a Srot as also his predecessor was After a few yéeres giuing ouer his Bishopricke he returned into his owne country 3. Trumhere TRumhere was an Englishman borne but brought vp taught and ordered among the Scots Hée had béene Abbot of Ingethling a monastery built where king Oswyn was slaine 4. Iaruman HE conuerted the East Saxons vnto Christianity againe hauing forsaken it vnder Sighere their king In his time to wit the yéere 666. the Cathedrall church of Lichfield was first founded 5. Cedda THe yéere 669. Cedda was consecrate Archbishop of Yorke in the absence of Wilfride But Wilfride returning he gaue place and liuing a while a monasticall life at 〈◊〉 accepted at last the Bishopricke of Lichfield vnder Wulfnere king of Percia ann 669. He 〈◊〉 to haue béene a godly and very denout man as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Beca his Eccl. hist. lib. 4. cap. 3. where his life and death are at large reported He died March 2. 672. hauing sate there two yéeres and a halfe and was buried at Lichfield 6. Winfride VVInfride a Chaplaine of Ceddaes was then 〈◊〉 Bishop of Lichfield a man vertuous and modest as Beda witnesseth Yet it is said that Theodore the Archbishop of Canterbury depriued him for I know not what disobedience the yéere 674. He returned vnto Catbarne a Monastery built by Cedda vnder whom he had liued in the same heretofore and there lead a very holy life many yéeres after 7. Saxulf VVInfride being displaced it was thought good his Dioces should be diuided into two parts One was allotted vnto Saxulf who continued his 〈◊〉 at Lichfield still the other was committed vnto Eadhead He and his successors of whom you may sée a Catalogue Fol. 1 sate at Sidnacester This Saxulf was the first Abbot of 〈◊〉 now called Peterborough and perswaded Wolfer king of Mercia to the foundation of that Monaster 8. Headda AFter Saxulf the Dioces was once more diuided and a Bishop placed at Leicester His name was Wilfride But he being drouen away thence after a short space Headda that before was Bishop of Lichfield recouered the Iurisdiction againe and gouerned the same in sort as his predecessor had done 9. Aldwyn AFter Headda succéeded Aldwyn that liued in the time of Beda He died the yéere 737. 10. Witta THe Countrey of Mercia was then diuided into thrée Bishoprickes One was continued at Lichfield another was appointed to sit at Leycester and the third at Dorchester Lichfield was giuen to Witta Leicester to Tota and Dorchester to Eadhead Sée more of them in Lincolne Fol. 228. After Witta succeeded these 11. Hemel He died ann 764. 12. Cuthfrid 13. Berthun 14. Aldulf Off a King of Mercia procured the Pope to make this Aldulf an Archbishop and gaue him authority ouer the Sées of Winchester Hereford Legecester Sidnacester Helmham and Dunwich He liued ann 793. Iun. 15. Humbert Matth. Westm. saith this man died the yéere 795. and calleth him Archbishop of Lichfield as he doth also Higbert his successor Howbeit I am out of doubt that Aldwin as he was the first so he was the last Archbishop that euer sate there 16. Herewin He liued ann 833. as appeareth by a Charter in Ingulfus confirmed by him Pag. 488. 17. Higbert 18. Ethelwold He died 858. 19. Humberhtus He died 164. 20. Kenferth or rather Kinebert He died 872. 21. Cumbert 22. Tunbriht or Bumfrith He died 928. By the way now it shall not be amisse to remember that Florentius Wigorn from whom William of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little biffenteth reporteth this order of succession as 〈◊〉 as I can gather 13. Berthun 14. Higbert 15. Aldulf 16. Herewyn 17. Ethelwald 18. Hunberht 19. Cineferth 20. Tunbright That wherein I differ from them I find in Matth. Westminster whom I follow the rather for that he setteth downe not their bare names but their times of consecration now and then yea and their death also After Tunbright without all controuer sie succeeded 23. Ella 24. Alfgar 25. Kinsy He liued ann 966. and 948. 26. Winsy 27. Elseth or Ealfeage 28. Godwyn 29. Leosgar 30. Brithmar He died 1039. 31. Wlsius He died 1054. 32. Leofwyn Abbot of Couentry 33. Peter THis man forsaking Lichfield remooued his 〈◊〉 Sée to Chester the yéere 1055. He was consecrate 1067. died the yéere 1086. and was buried at Chester 34. Robert de Limesey HE was consecrate the yéere 1088. translated his 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 to Couentry 1095. died September 1. 1116. and was buried at Couentry 35. Robert Peche alias Peccam RObert surnamed Peccatum or Peche and sometimes Peccam Chaplame vnto king Henry the first was consecrate 1117. died August 22. 1127. and was buried at Couentry 36. Roger de Clinton THe king then bellowed this Bishopricke vpon Roger de 〈◊〉 that was nephew vnto 〈◊〉 Lord Clinton a man of great account and authority in his time December 21. 1129. he was ordered Priest at Canterbury and consecrate Bishop the day following This man built a great part of the Church of Lichfield increased the number of his Prebends fensed the towne of Lichfield with a ditch and bestowed much vpon the castle there No part of that castle now standeth onely the ditch remayneth to be seene and the place where it stood retaineth the name of Castle field He tooke vpon him the crosse at last went to Jerusalem and died at Antioch Aprill 16. 1148. 37. Walter Durdent VVAlter Durdent Prior of Canterbury succéeded him He was consecrate 1149. died 1161. and was buried at Couentry 38. Richard Peche RIchard Peche was sonne vnto Robert Peche Bishop of Couentry By him he was preferred vnto the Archdeaconry of Couentry and the yeere 1162. succéeded him in his Bishopricke This man in his latter daies tooke on him the habite of a Chanon in the Church of Saint Thomas néere Stafford of which house some name him the founder He was buried there dying the yéere 1181. 39. Girardus Puella OF this man Robertus Montensis writeth thus Magister Girardus cognomento Puella c. Master Gerard surnamed Puella a man of great learning and vertue the yéere 1181. was chosen Bishop of Chester in England That Bishopricke hath thrée Episcopall Sées Chester Couentry and Lichfield He died Ianuary 12. 1184. and was buried at Couentry 40. Hugh Nouaunt THe yéere 1186. Hugh Nouaunt a Norman was consecrate Bishop of Lichfield He bought of king Richard the first the monastery of Couentry for 300. markes 〈◊〉 to place secular priestes in the same he came thither 〈◊〉 a power of armed men the yéere 1190. and when the monkes would not giue place inuading them with fine force chased away some beate and lamed other spoyled their house burnt their charters and euidences c. and then put in secular priests in their roomes Bale reporteth that he could not cary this matter so cléere as that it cost him not some 〈◊〉 In the conflict himselfe was wounded and that in the church iust before the high altar It séemeth he
Louell for what cause I know not that they might be sure to auoyd him as also at the request of Richard Earlé of Cornewall the kings brother elected Roger Molend one to whom the king and the said Earle were both vncles Him the king readily accepted and so March 10. 1257. he was affoorded consecration This man was borne and brought vp altogether beyond the seas 〈◊〉 reason whereof he was vtterly ignorant of the English 〈◊〉 Being therefore called vpon to be resident vpon his Bishopricke the yéere 1283. he made that his excuse but it might not serue his turne Iohn Peckham Archbishop of 〈◊〉 not onely forced him to residence but reprehended him excéeding sharply for his neglect and carelesnes of his charge He sate long and died a very old man the yéere 1295. 47. Walter de Langton THe Pope meaning a good turne vnto Iohn Bokingham Bishop of Lincolne of his absolute authority tooke vpon him to translate him to this Sée from Lincolne which was then worth thrée Lichfields He chose rather to forsake all and became a monke at Canterbury Upon his refusall Water Langton Treasurer of England was preferred thereunto and consecrate December 22 1296. He liued in great authority vnder king Edward the first that fauoured him much But his sonne Edward the second molested and disgraced 〈◊〉 all that euer he might His father dying in the North countrey commaunded this Bishop to couduct his corpse vp to London and when he had so done for reward of his 〈◊〉 he caused sir Iohn Felton Constable of the Tower to arrest him seased vpon all his goods and imprisoned him first in the Tower then in the Castle of Wallingford of which imprisonment he was not released in two yéeres after In his fathers life time he had often reprehended the yoong Prince for his insolent and dissolute behauiour which good admonitions he taking in 〈◊〉 part wronged and disgraced him many waies namely one time he brake downe his parks spoyled and droue away his deere c. The Bishop complained of this outrage vnto the king his father who being greatly displeased therewith committed the Prince his sonne for certaine daies And this was the cause of the grudge betwéene the yong king him About that same time or I thinke a litle sooner viz. the yere 1301. he was accused of certain heinous crimes before the Pope and compelled to answere the accusation at Rome in his owne person Though the proofes brought against him were either none or very slender yet well knowing whom they had in hand Nonerant 〈◊〉 prae 〈◊〉 bouem valde 〈◊〉 saith Matth. 〈◊〉 they were content to detaine him there so long as it forced him to spend an infinite deale of money and yet was neuer a whit the néerer at last For the Pope remitted the hearing of the cause to the Archbishop of Canterbury and yet referred the determination of the same vnto him selfe at last The tempests of those troubles being ouer blowen the rest of his time he liued for ought I find quietly and being happily 〈◊〉 from the Court attended onely the gouernment of his charge Unto his Church of Lichfield he was a wonderfull great benefactor He laid the first foundation of the Lady Chappell there and at his death left order with his Executors for the full finishing of it He compassed the cloyster of Lichfield with a stone wall and bestowed a sumptuous shrine vpon S. Cedda his predecessor with 2000. l. charge He ditched and walled all the Cathedrall church round about made one gate of great strength and maiesty at the West part of the close and another but a lesse on the South part He builded the great bridge beyond the Uineyard at Lichfield ann 1310. He gaue his owne house or pallace vnto the Uicars for their dwelling and built a new for him selfe at the East end of the close He 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being altogether 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 the mannour place of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 at London He 〈◊〉 vnto the high 〈◊〉 at Lichfield 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and two 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worth 24. l. 〈◊〉 about with 〈◊〉 stones to the value of 200. l. besides many copes 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 price He 〈◊〉 vpon the 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 cup of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a pension of 20. s. by the yeere And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both vnto them and his Church many charters and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the king He 〈◊〉 at London 〈◊〉 16. 1321. 〈◊〉 was buried in the Lady Chappell which he built 48. Roger Northbrough THe yéere 1313. Roger Northborough then kéeper of the great seale was taken prisoner by the Scots in the battell of 〈◊〉 Being afterwards clerke of the Wardrobe so I find him called and treasurer of England by great sute and the kings often 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 meanes to shoulder into this 〈◊〉 He was consecrate June 27. 1322. sate almost 38. yéeres a very long time and died in the end of the yéere 1359. 49. Robert Stretton SOone after the death of the former Bishop Robert Stretton a Canon of Lichfield by the importunity of the blacke Prince to whom he was Chaplaine was eleccted Bishop there a man very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnworthy so high a 〈◊〉 in all respects The Pope hauing notize of his 〈◊〉 by speciall mandate prohibited his consecration Here upon the new elect was faine to make repaire vnto Rome The Pope him selfe examined him but was 〈◊〉 earnestly requested by the blacke Prince to 〈◊〉 his sute as 〈◊〉 he could not with 〈◊〉 honesty allow of him yet he was content to leaue him to the 〈◊〉 of the Archbishop of Canterbury The Archbishop would by no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 him any testimony of sufficiency At last 〈◊〉 much adoo he procured the Pope to authorise two other Bishops for the allowance or reiecting of him who they were I can not call to remembrance and they by the excéeding great importunity of the Prince admitted him to consecration which he receiued September 26. 1360. Sée more of this matter in Thomas Lylde Bishop of Ely He sate Bishop here 25. yeeres 50. Walter Skirlawe VVAlter Skirlawe Doctor of Law was consecrate Ianuary 14. 1385. remooued to Bathe and Wels the yéere following and soone after to Durham Sée more of him in Durham 51. Richard Scroope RIchard Scroope Doctor of Lawe brother vnto William Scroope Earle of Wiltshire and Tresurer of England was consecrate August ◠1386. Sate here 10. yéeres and was translated to Yorke His life and lamentable death you may sée there more at large described 52. Iohn Brughill IOhn Brughill a Frier preacher was first Bishop of Landaff and Confessor vnto king Richard the second translated to Lichfield in the moneth of September 1398. and sate there 17. yéeres 53. Iohn Keterich IOhn Keterich a Notary of Rome and Archdencon of Surry was consecrate Bishop of S. Dauids the yéere 1414. and translated thence to this Sée in the moneth of May 1415 The yéere 1417. he was at the Councell of Constance
de Mortiuall consecrate 1315 died 1329. 20. Robert Wyuyl AT the request of the Quéene the Pope was content to bestow this Bishopricke vpon Robert Wiuyll a man not onely not furnished with competent giftes of learning but so vnpersonable saith Walsingham as if the Pope had but seene him he would neuer haue cast so high a dignity vpon him He sate a long time to wit flue and forty yeeres and vpward in which it were a great maruaile he should not perfourme some thing memorable About the yéere 1355. he 〈◊〉 William Montacute Earle of Salisbury with a writ of right for the castle of Salisbury The Earle pleaded that he would defend his title by combat Whereupon at a time appointed the Bishop was faine to bring his Champion vnto the 〈◊〉 prouided for this purpose He was clothed all in white sauing that ouer the rest of his apparrell was cast the coate armor of the Bishop After him came one with a staffe and another with his target The Earle likewise brought in his Champion much in like sort and all things were now ready for them to goe together when vpon a sodaine by commaundement of the kings leters the matter was staid for a time Before the second meeting the parties fell to agréement The Bishop gaue vnto the Earle 2500. markes to leaue the castle with his apurtenances vnto him and his successors for euer Beside this he also recouered the chace of Béere and the castle of Sherborne which had beene detained from his Sée euer since king Stephen tooke it violently from Rogre his predecessor for the space of 200. yéeres He died the sixe and fortie yeere of his consecration September 4. 1375. and lieth buried vnder a faire marble stone in the middle of the quire néere the Bishops See On the South side close by him lieth Bishop lewell who as I haue heard desired to lie beside him 21. Ralfe Erghum RAlfe Erghum Doctor of law was consecrate at Brugis in Flaunders December 9. 1375. and was translated to Wels September 14. 1388. Sée more there 22. Iohn Waltham IOhn Waltham Master of the Rolles and kéeper of the prtuy 〈◊〉 succeeded The yeere 1391. he became Treasurer of England and so continued till he died king Richard the second loued him entierly and greatly bewailed his death In token whereof he commaunded that he should be buried in Westminster among the kings many men much enuying him that honour He died the yeere 1395 and lieth iust beside king Edward the first vnder a flat marble the inscription whereof is though partly defaced not yet quite perished How he resisted W. Courtney Archbishop of Canterbury in his visitation and the successe thereof sée more in the said W. Courtney 23. Richard Meltford THe yéere 1388. in the Parliament called the Parliament that wrought woonders the Barones apprehended so many of the kings fauorites as they could come by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to prison The lay 〈…〉 the most part they caused to be executed But the Cleargy men lying by it a while by the next turne of fortunes wheele were not onely set as high as they were before but some of them much higher Amongst the rest Richard Metford a man of 〈◊〉 eminent place otherwise then by the kings fauour was imprisoned a great while in the Castle of Bristow Soone after his inlargement the king found meanes first to aduance him to the Bishopricke of Chichester and then after Bishop 〈◊〉 death to translate him vnto Salisbury where he sate about 12. yéeres and died 1407. 24. Nicholas Bubwith NIcholas Bubwith Bishop of London and Treasurer of England was translated to Salisbury the yéere 1407. and from thence to Wels within the 〈◊〉 of the 〈◊〉 yéere Sée more of him in Wels. 25. Robert Halam VPon the remooue of Bishop Bubwith one Robert Halam became Bishop of Sarum Iune 6. 1411. he was made Cardinall He died at the Councell of 〈◊〉 the councell being not yet ended September 4. 1417. 26. Iohn Chaundler AT what time Bishop Halam died Martin the 〈◊〉 was not yet chosen Pope By reason whereof the Papacy being after a sort void and so the Popes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Chapter of Sarum had the liberty of a frée election and chose one Iohn Chaundler who sate Bishop about 10. yéeres 27. Robert Neuill RObert Neuill consecrate 1427. was translated to Durham 1438. 28. William Ayscoth VVIlliam Ayscoth Doctor of Lawe and Clerke of the Counsell was consecrate in the Chappell of Windsor Iuly 20. 1438. The yéere 1450. 〈◊〉 happened the commons to arise in sundry parts of the realme by the stirring of 〈◊〉 Cade naming himselfe Iohn 〈◊〉 A certaine number of lewd persons tenants for the most part to this Bishop intending to ioyne themselues to the rest of that crew came to 〈◊〉 where he was then saying of masse What was their quarrell to him I finde not But certaine it is they drew him from the altar in his albe with his stole about his 〈◊〉 to the top of an 〈◊〉 not far off and there as he 〈◊〉 on his 〈◊〉 praying they 〈◊〉 his head 〈◊〉 him to the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 shirt into a number of pieces tooke euery man a ragge to keepe for a monument of their worthy exploit The day before they had robbed his cariages of 10000. markes in ready money This barbarous murther was committed Iune 29. the yeere aforesaid 29. Richard Beauchamp RIchard 〈◊〉 succeeded He built a beautifull and sumptuous chappel on the South side of the Lady chappell and lieth buried in the same vnder a very faire toombe of marble 30. Leonell Wooduill LEonell Wooduill consecrate the yéere 1482. was sonne to 〈◊〉 Earle 〈◊〉 and brother to 〈◊〉 the Queene of Edward the fourth A neere 〈◊〉 of his hath assured me that Stephen Gardmer Bishop of Winchester was begotten by this man who to couer his fault married his mother vnto 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one of his meanest followers and caused another of better sort to bring vp the childe as it were of almes When or how he left his Bishopricke I finde not 31. Thomas Langton THomas Langton Doctor of Lawe was consecrate 1485. and translated to Winchester 1493. Sée more of him 〈◊〉 32. Iohn Blythe IOhn Blythe was consecrate February 23. 1493. and died August 23. 1499. He lieth buried vpon the backe side of the high altar and hath a faire toombe not standing after the maner of other toombes East and West but ouerthwart the church North and South for which cause some call him the ouerthwart Bishop 33. Henry Deane HEnry Deane Doctor of Diuinity Abbot of Lanthony sometimes Chauncellor of Ireland and then Bishop of Bangor was translated to Salisbury the yeere 1500. and within two yéeres after to Canterbury Sée more of him there 34. Edmund Audeley THe yéere 1480. Edmund Audeley a gentleman of the auncient house of the Lord Audeleys became Bishop of Rochester Thencs he was translated 1493. to 〈◊〉 and from Hereford the yéere 1502. vnto Salisbury He lieth buried in a goodly
robbed the cathedrall churches of England of I dare say the tone halfe of that they possessed had béene an occasion of the vtter ruine and destruction of this See if Bishop Barlow taking aduantage of the death of some men in the 〈◊〉 ende of king Edward and Bishop Bourne making vse of the zeale of Quéene Mary in tendring the state of the church had not béene the meanes of recouering what is now left vnto the same euen the lands of the Bishopricke in a manner euery whit all the land belonging to the Archdeacon of Welles and some land of the Chapter to wit the parsonages of Duluerton and Longsutton And it is supposed that this man had he stoode vp but a little while longer had recouered diuers other possessions to his See that now are thought to be lost irrecouerably He was a benefactor vnto the Uicars close to the almehouse and began the foundation of a certaine colledge in the canonicall house that standeth néere the market place but was hindered by the death of Quéene Mary and his depriuation from finishing it Being displaced for not subscribing according to order he was committed to the custody of master Carey Deane of her Maiesties chappell liued with him many yéeres and died at Sylferton in Deuonshire where he lieth buried September 10. 1569. 48. Gilbert Barkley IT pleased then the Quéenes Maiestie that now is in the beginning of her most happy raigne to nominate vnto this See one Gilbert Barkley borne in Norfolke but descended of the auncient and most honorable house of the Lord Barkley at least wise as the armes assigned vnto him by the Heraulds do seeme to testifie He sate somewhat more then 20. yéeres and growing into a lethargy which diminished much of the vigor and strength as wel of his minde as his body certaine moneths before his decease at last departed this world Nouember 2. 1581. being 80. yéeres of age and was buried vpon the North side of the high altar in his owne church where we sée a hansome monument of frée stone built ouer him 49. Thomas Godwyn THomas Godwyn my déere and most reuerend father was borne at Okingham in Barkshire and brought vp first in the frée schoole there then for a little while vnder one Doctor Layton Deane of Yorke who sent him to Dreford and so long as he liued which was not past a two or thrée yéere exhibited vnto him there He being taken away it pleased God to prouide for him otherwise by raising vp friends that procured him to be chosen fellow of 〈◊〉 colledge Towards the latter ende of king Edwards raigne forsaking that place he tooke on him the teaching of a free schoole at Brackley directing his studies partly to diuinity and partly also to Phisicke the practise whereof in Quéens Maries time when he might not be suffred to teach any longer maintained him his wife and children honestly He receiued orders and his first spirituall preferments at the hand of Bishop Bollingham then of Lincolne after of 〈◊〉 in the beginning of her Maiesties raigne that now is By her gratious appointment he became first Deane of Christchurch in Oxeford in the seuenth then of Canterbury in the ninth yeere of her raigue and lastly Bishop of Bathe and 〈◊〉 being consecrate thereunto September 13. 1584. Hauing sate fixe yéeres two moneths and sixe daies he departed this mortall life Nouember 19. 1590. at Okingham the place where he was borne and there lyeth buried vpon the South side of the chauncell vnder a marble and néere vnto a monument fixed in the wall farre more answerable vnto the ability of him that set it vp then vnto the vertues and deserts of him to whose memory it was erected 50. Iohn Styll THe Sée hauing continued voide two yéeres and somewhat more Iohn Styli Doctor of Diuinity and Master of Trinity college in Cambridge was consecrate therunto in February 1592. He yet liueth in the same This Bishopricke is valued in the Queenes bookes at 533 l. and 15 d. and paid to the Pope for an Income onely 430. slorens although in those daies it were one of the richest Sees of England The Deanry of Welles was first erected in the time of king Stephen about the yéere 1150. as before is deliuered and one Iuo made the first Deane after whom haue succeeded these 2. Richard de Spakeston 1160. 3. Alexander 4. Leonius 1205. 5. Ralph de Lechlade 6. Peter de Ciceter 7. William de Merton 1236. 8. Ioannes Sarracenus 1241. 9. Gyles de Brideport 1255. 10. Edward de la Knoll 1256. 11. Thomas de Button 1284. 12. William Burnell 1292. 13. Walter de Haselshaw 1295. 14. Henry Husee 1302. 15. Iohn de Godeley 1303. 16. Richard de Bury 1333. 17. Wibert de Luttleton elect 1334. 18. Walter de London 1336. 19. Iohn de Carlton William de Camell elect 1361. refused the place 20. Stephen de Penpel 1361. 21. Iohn Fordham 1379. 22. Thomas de Sudbury 1381. 23. Nicolas Slake 1396. 24. Thomas Stanley 1402. 25. Richard Courtney 1409. 26. Walter Metford 1413. 27. Iohn Stafford 28. Iohn Forest. 1425. 29. Nicolas Carent 1448. 30. William Witham 1467. 31. Iohn Gunthorp 1472. 32. William Cosyn 1498. 33. Thomas Winter 1525. 34. Ridhard Woolman 35. Thomas Cromwell 1537. 36. William Fitz-Williams 1540. 37. Iohn Goodman 1548. 38. William Turner 1556. 39. Robert Weston 1566. 40. Valentine Dale 1574. 41. Iohn Herbert 1589. The Bishops of Exceter This discourse following is taken for the most part Verbatim out of Master Iohn Hookers Catalogue of the Bishops of Exceter THe Countries of Deuonshire Cornwall after their conuersion vnto Christian religion were a while vnder the iurisdiction of the Bishop of the West Saxons whose See was established at Dorchester Afterwards Winchester being appointed a Cathedrall Sée about the yéere 660. All the West countrey was alotted to the gouernment of the Bishop of that Church and so continued vnder him till that the yéere 705. Sherborne was made a Cathedrall Church Two hundred yeeres they were subiect vnto the Bishop of Sherborne to wit vntill the yeere 905. At what time Plegmund Archbishop of Canterbury by the commaundement of the king as else where I haue declared more at large erected diuers new Sees namely at Welles in Somersetshire one in Cornewall another and a third in Deuonshire The See of Athelstan the Bishop of Cornwall was for a while S. Petrockes in Bodmyn and afterwards Saint Germanes Werstan Bishop of Deuonshire placed him selfe first at Tawton but soone after remooued to Credyton now called kyrton The successors of Athelstan in the Dioces of Cornwall as I find were these Conanus Ruydocus Aldredus Britwyn Athelstan he liued the yéere 966. Wolfi Woronus Wolocus Stidio Adelredus Burwoldus About the yéere 1040. or soone after Saint Peters church in Exceter was appointed the Sée for both Deuonshire and Cornwall And hath euer since that time so continued NOw to come vnto the particular history of this church you shall vnderstand that
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
not that enabled him to performe these great workes and yet to leaue so much money behind him He procured an order to be taken that all Ecclesiasticall persons of his Diocesse at the time of their deaths should leaue and bequeath their goods to him or to some other in trust towards his chargeable buildings or otherwise to be bestowed in pios vsus at his discretion This was the meanes wherby he grew to this infinite wealth and riches He died July 15. 1369. hauing sate Bishop here almost 42. yeeres and was buried in a Chappell which he built in the wall of the West end of his Church His funerals by his owne commaundement were performed without any mannerof pompe or extraordinary solemnity In so much as he allowed not either his seruants Executors or néerest kinsfolkes any mourning clothes at all See more of him in Simon Mepham of Canterbury THomas Brentingham the kings 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Calis was at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chosen Bishop of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 He 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and was 〈◊〉 vnto the 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 1. of March ann 1370. He was a man very well learned expert as well in politique gouernment as ecclesiasticall matters and in both these respects greatly reuerenced and esteemed For which cause at the parliament holden at Westminster in the tenth yéere of king Richard the second he was chosen to be one of the twelue Péeres of the realme vnder the king He was a benefactor to the callenderhay of the Uicars chorall of his owne church supplied in buildings and otherwise what his predecessors had left vndone hauing been Bishop 24. yeres died at Clist the third of December an 1394 was buried in the North side of the body of his owne church in a little chappell standing betwéene two pillers EDmund Stafford brother to Ralph Earle of Stafford was consecrate Bishop of Exceter June 20. 1395. He was Chauncellor of England vnder king Edward the third At the Parliament holden at Westminster the one and twentieth yéere of king Richard the second he being speaker of the higher house made a very learned and pithie oration to proue the absolute authority of a king His theame was Rex vnus erit omnibus and hauing discoursed at large to that purpose did conclude Quod potestas regis esset sibi 〈◊〉 annexa solida and whosoeuer did by any meanes impeach the same Poena legis merito essee plectendus For the 〈◊〉 of good letters he did increase two fellowships in the colledge of Stapledons Iune in Oxford reformed the statutes of the house and altered the name of it calling it Erceter colledge After that he had continued Bishop in much honor about thrée and twenty yéeres he died the fourth of September being the seuenth yéere of king Henry the fift and lyeth buried in his owne church in a very faire tombe of Alabaster vpon the North side of the entrance into the Ladis chappell IAmes Cary Bishop of Lichfield being at Florence when newes was brought to Pope Martyn the fift of Bishop Staffords death was then and there made Bishop of this church an 1419. He inioyed not long this place for he died and was buried there EDmund Laey Bishop of Hereford was translated from thence vnto this church about Easter an 1420. A man very deuont and religious but subiect to 〈◊〉 who carried him to their pleasure Great contentions were betwéene him and the city for liberties which by arbitrement were compounded He built the chapter house in his owne church and was a liberall benefactor vnto the Uicars of Calenderhay Hauing continued in this See 35. yéeres he died 1475. and lyeth buried in the North wall of the presbytery vnder a plaine marble tombe where many miracles are said to haue beene wrought and are ascribed to his helines GEorge Neuill was consecrated Nouemb. 26. an 1455. He finished the chapter house which his predecessor had begun And after that he had beene Bishop about tenne yeeres was remooued to Yorke See more of him in Yorke IOhn Boothe Batcheler of the ciuill Law was consecrated vpon the two and twentith day of February an 1466. He gouerned his church very well and builded as some suppose the Bishops Sée in the quier but being weary of the great troubles which were in this countrey betwéene king Edward the fourth and the Earle of Warwicke he remooued from hence to his house of Horsleigh in Hampshire where he died vpon the first day of Aprill an 1478. lieth buried at Saint Elements in London PEter Courtmay Bishop of Exceter was 〈◊〉 in Nouember an 1477. at Saint Stephans in Westminster He was translated from this church vnto Winchester in the ninth yéere of his being Bishop here 〈◊〉 more in Winchester RIchard Foxe succéeded him and hauing continued Bishop here 6. yéeres he was translated first to Welles and after to Winchester See more in Winchester OLiuer King was consecrate Bishop of this church in February 1492. He also was remooued to Bathe hauing sate here thrée yéeres Sée more in Bathe RIchard Redman Doctor of diuinity and Bishop of Saint Assaph became Bishop of this church from whence he was remooued to Ely in September 1501. See more in Ely IOhn Arundell descended of the ancient and most worshipfull house of the Arundels of Lanherne in Cornewall was translated from 〈◊〉 to this Church in the ende of the yéere 1501. He died at London the yéere 1503. and was buried at Saint Clements church without Temple Barre vpon the South side of the high altar vnder a toombe of marble inlaid with brasse HVgh Oldam was preferred vnto this Bishoprick by the meanes of the Lady Margaret countesse of Richmond whose chaplaine he was A man of more zeale then knowledge and more deuotion then learning somewhat rough in spéeche but in deede and action friendly He was carefull in the sauing and defending of his liberties for which continual sutes were betwéene him and the Abbot of Tauestocke He was also liberall to the Uicars Chorall of his Church and reduced them to the kéeping of commons Towards the maintenance whereof he gaue them certaine reuenewes and impropriated vnto them the rectory of Cornwood Albeit he suere not very well learned yet a great fauourer and a furtherer of learning he was Once he had intended to haue inlarged Exceter colledge in Oxeford as well in building as in reuenewes but being denied a fellowship there which he had earnestly requested in the behalfe of one Atkins he altered his determination and contributed largely toward the foundation of Corpus Christi colledge whereof he is esteemed and worthily the principall benefactor He chanced to dye excommunicate at the sute of the Abbot of Tauistock June 25. 1519. and might not be buried vntill an absolution was procured from Rome He lyeth in a Chappel of his owne building cast out of the vppermost ende of the South wall of the Church where he hath a sumptuous faire monument IOhn 〈◊〉 otherwise Harman succéeded Oldham by the preferment
consecrate Bishop of 〈◊〉 the yéere 1462. was translated hither 1368. This 〈◊〉 taking horse to ride vnto the Parliament the yéere 1375. was sodainly surprised with an Apoplexy whereof he 〈◊〉 soone after 57. Henry Wakefield became bishop of 〈◊〉 1375. and the yéere following Treasurer of England He made the body of his Church longer by adding two Arches 〈◊〉 it built the North Porch and died March 11. 1394. the 20. yéere after his consecration He lyeth buried vnder a great Marble in the middle of the body of his Church toward the West end 58. Tidemannus de Winchcombe Bale reporteth one William Badby Doctor of Diuinity Consessor 〈◊〉 Iohn of Gaunt Duke of 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 béene Bishop of Worceter about the yéere 1380. It can not be true and therefore I omitte him Certaine it is that Tydemannus de Winchcomb a monke and the kings 〈◊〉 was thrust into this Sée by the Pope at the kings earnest request notwithstanding that one Iohn Greene was lawfully elect thereunto the yéere 1395. Thomas Walsingham calleth this man 〈◊〉 I doubt not Robert Tideman It should seeme vnto me that this man was for a little while Bishop of Landaff before his preferment to Worceter Sée Landaff 59. Richard Clifford Archdeacon of Canterbury was consecrate 1401. and translated to London 1407. See London 60. Thomas Peuerell a Gentleman of an 〈◊〉 house borne in Suffolke and brought vp in Oxford where he procéeded Doctor of Diuinity was first a Carmelite 〈◊〉 made Bishop of 〈◊〉 in Ireland by king Richard the 〈◊〉 at his vnfortunate being there 1398. 〈◊〉 thence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1399. and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Worceter 1407. 〈◊〉 sate Bishop ten yéeres died March 1. 1417. and was buried in his owne Church 61. Philip Morgan Doctor of law was consecrate the yéere 1419. and translated vnto Ely in the end of the yéere 1425. See Ely 62. Thomas Pulton was consecrate Bishop of Hereford 1420. staying there but one yeere and three monethes was remooued to Chichester 1422. and lastly the yeere 1426. became Bishop of Worceter He died at Rome and was buried there 63. Thomas 〈◊〉 succéeded The yéere 1435. soone after his 〈◊〉 to Worceter he was elected vnto Ely but 〈◊〉 not accept of the same Long after at another 〈◊〉 he was againe chosen to wit 1443. and enioyed that place till the yéere 1454. at what time he was remooued to Canterbury See more in Ely and Canterbury 64. Iohn Carpenter This man had so great affection vnto Westbury a place néere Bristow as he not onely bestowed exceeding great cost vpon the colledge there and chose it for his place of buriall but also intended as I find reported to haue honoured it with a part of his 〈◊〉 and to haue taken vpon him the name of the Bishop of Worceter and Westbury There had bene an old colledge in that place long before He pulled it downe and in the new building 〈◊〉 it very much compassing it about with a strong wall embatteled adding a 〈◊〉 gate with diuers towers more like vnto a castle then a colledge and lastly bestowed much good land for augmenting the reuenew of the same One that hauing beene long a merchant of Bristow in the later ende of his life became Deane of this colledge built the church of Ratcliff neere Bristow a notable worke and lieth buried in the same But to returne to our Bishop who also built the 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 he died at Bishops Northweeke and was buried as before said at Westbury 65. Iohn 〈◊〉 Bishop of Rochester was translated to Worceter 1476. and thence to Ely Sée Ely 66. Robert Moorton nephew to Iohn Moorton Archbishop of Canterbury succéeded He lieth buried in the body of Saint Paules church in London 67. Iohn Gygles or de Lilijs an Italian borne in 〈◊〉 succéeded him 68. Syluester Gigles nephew vnto Iohn Gigles 〈◊〉 his vncle 69. Iolius Medices a Cardinall of Rome nephew vnto the Pope Leo 10. and afterwards Pope himselfe by the name of Clement the seuenth was Bishop of Worceter a little while in the yéere 1522. in which yéere he both accepted and resigned this Bishopricke 70. Hieronymus de Nugutijs an Italian also obtained this Bishopricke by the resignation of 〈◊〉 and enioyed it many yeeres 71. Hugh Latimer borne in Leicetershire and brought vp in Cambridge became Bishop of Worceter 1535. The yéere 1539. except he would yéeld a wicked and dissembling consent vnto the sixe Articles there was no remedy but 〈◊〉 must resigne his Bishopricke He resigned togither with 〈◊〉 Shaxton Bishop of Salisbury July 1. afterwards to wit October 16. 1555. sealed the doctrine which he had long preached with his blood ending his life in the fire for the circumstances whereof as also of his whole life and actions I refer you to Master Foxe 72. Iohn Bell Doctor of Lawe and Archdeacon of Gloceter succéeded he was of the kings counsell in the cause of his diuorce from Quéene Katherine He 〈◊〉 buried at Clarkenwell by London on the North side of the East end of the chancell vnder a marble stone whereon is fixed this Epitaph Contegit hoc marmor Doctorem nomine Bellum Qui belle rexit praesulis officium Moribus ingenio vitae probitate vigebat Laudato cunctis cultus eloquio Ann. 1556. Aug. 11. 73. Nicolas Heath Bishop of Rochester was translated to Worceter 1543. and displaced October 10. 1551. Queene Mary restored him againe in the beginning of her raigne made him first Lord President of Wales then Archbishop of Yorke the yéere 1553. and lastly Lord Chauncellor of England See Yorke 74. Iohn Hooper held Gloceter in Commendam Sée Gloceter 75. Richard Pates as it should séeme by a report that I finde became Bishop of Worceter about the yeere 1534. and being sent beyond the seas in 〈◊〉 refused to returne Whereupon his Bishopricke was bestowed vpon M. Latymer Certaine it is that he subscribed to the Councel of Trent by the name of Rich. Patus Wigorn Epis. Queene Mary least she should seeme to do him wrong hauing appointed Heath to the Archbishoprick of Yorke restored him to Worceter 76. Edwyn Sandes translated from London hither and hence to Yorke 77. Nicolas Bullingham translated from Lincolne 78. Iohn 〈◊〉 translated to Canterbury Sée Canterbury 79. Edmund Freake translated from Norwich died in the end of the yéere 1590. about the 20. of March Sée Norwich 80. Richard Fletcher translated from Bristoll to Worceter and from Worceter to London 81. Thomas 〈◊〉 translated to Winchester 82. Geruase Babington Bishop first of Landaff then of Exceter and lastly translated hither an 1597. This Bishopricke is now valued at 1049 l. 17 s. 3 d. ob farthing In the Popes bookes at 2000. ducats The Bishops of Hereford AN Episcopall Sée was first established at Hereford and Putta made the first Bishop there the yeere 680. After him these 2. Tirhtellus 3. Torteras 4. Wastold alias Walstod He began the making of a sumptuous crosse which his successor finished 5. 〈◊〉 onsecrate 736 was
A while after his comming ouer he liued a priuate monke in Canterbury afterwards became Pryor there then was preferred to the Abbotship of 〈◊〉 and lastly had the Bishopricke of Rochester giuen him by his predecessor the Archb. of Canterbury December 26. 1115. In all these places he so bestirred himselfe as he left diuers notable monuments of his industrious 〈◊〉 The vpper end of Christchurch in Canterbury built by Lanfranke being fallen down he procured to be built againe must magnificently pauing it with marble glasing and beautifying it with sundry kinde of stately ornaments At Peterborough he encreased the number of his monkes and built 〈◊〉 A little before his comming away that and all other edifices of the monastery were consumed by casuall fire Now though the diligence and long time of 〈◊〉 his predecessor left nothing very néedfull for him to performe at Rochester yet would he neuer be idle but still was either mending and repayring of old or setting vp some new building He died in the moneth of March 1124. being 84. yéeres of age I find it reported that he writ an history of the church of Rochester which if it be not perished I wish it might be my hap to see 33. Iohn Archdeacon of Canterbury was consecrate May 23. 1125. and died the yeere 1137. which yeere Iune 3. the church and city were burnt by casuall fire 34. 〈◊〉 whom some call 〈◊〉 but falsely died 1147. 35. Walter Archdeacon of Canterbury was the first that euer was elected by the monkes The Archbishop of Canterbury was woont till this time to nominate to this Bishoprick whom pleased him Theobald the Archbishop bestowed this priuiledge vpon them This Walter died in Iuly 1182. the 35. yeere after his consecration 36. Gualeranus Archdeacon of Bayon succéeded and died the yeere 1184. After his death a great controuersie arose betweene the monkes of Christchurch in Canterbury and the monkes of Saint Andrewes in Rochester they of Canterbury alledging that the Crosier of Rochester after the death of euery Bishop should lie vpon the altar with them by them to be deliuered to the next Bishop This the monkes of Rochester gainesaid in words and de facto detayned the Crosier with them till at last each party referring the matter to the Archbishop of Canterbury the monkes of Rochester deliuered into his hands the crosier which he presently deliuered ouer againe vnto the Pryor of Canterbury and he soone after vnto Gilbert Glannyll the next Bishop 37. Gilbert de Glannyll Archdeacon of Luxouia was consecrate September 29. 1185. Betweene this man and his monkes of Rochester was long and continuall debate By occasion whereof he tooke away from them all their mooueable goods all the ornaments of their church their writings and euidences yea and a great part os their lands possessions and priuiledges Wanting money to follow their suites against him they were forced to coyue the siluer of Saint Paulines shryne into money These controuersies were ended no otherwise then by his death which happened June 24. 1214. But their hatred against him was so far from dying with him as they would affoord him no maner of obsequies but buried him most obscurely or rather basely without either ringing singing or any other manner of solemnity The hospitall at Strowde néere Rochester called Neworke was built 〈◊〉 and by him endowed with those possessions it now enioyeth to wit the value of 52 l. yéerely reuenew 38 Benedictus Chaunter of Saint Paules church in London was consecrate February 22. 1214. He died 1226. 39. Henry de Sanford Archdeacon of Canterbury consecrate 1227. Within two yéeres after it happened that Richard the elect of Canterbury Hugh of Ely and Roger of London were to be consecrated Ioceline Bishop of Willes challenged the perfourmance of this ceremony as due to him for that he was the most auncient Bishop of the prouince of Canterbury But this Bishop of Rochester alledged it belonged to his Sée Canterbury being void to consecrate all the Bishops of that prouince With much adoo this agréement was made betwéene them that Rochester should consecrate the Archbishop and Ioceline of Welles the other two Another thing is remembred of this Bishop scarce woorthy the rehearsall which yet I will not omit to shew how aptmen euen of the grauest sort were to be deceaued and deluded in those times Preaching at Sittingborne before a great auditory at a time when he gaue generall orders he declared openly that God had reuealed vnto him now thrée seuerall times how that such a day the soules of king Richard the first Stephen Langton late Archbishop and another priest were deliuered out of purgatory and no more soules that day but onely they thrée He died February 24. 1235. 40. Richard de Wendouer Parson of Bromley 〈◊〉 lawfully elected Bishop of Rochester was reiected as a man vnsufficient by Edmund the Archbishop He appealing to Rome was confirmed there in despite of the Archbishop with whome the Pope was very angry for withstanding his shamelesse and intollerable exactions here He was 〈◊〉 1238. died 1250. and was buried at Westminster by the kings speciall commaundement for that he was accounted a very holy and vertuous man 41. Laurentius de Sancto Martino a Chaplaine counsellor of king Henry the third gotte a dispensation from the Pope to hold al his former liuings in commendam with this Bishopricke And yet alledging that his Bishopricke was the poorest of England much meaner then Carltoll therefore his liuing yet vnable to maintaine the port of a Bishop he neuer ceased till he had ertorted from the Cleargy of his Dioces a graunt of a fift part of all their spirituall liuings for fiue yeeres and appropriated vnto his See for euer the Parsonage of Freindsbury 〈◊〉 the Archbishop of Canterbury vsed this man hardly inuading his possessions violently taking from him without all right diuers things of old belonging to his Bishopricke He complained vnto the king vnto whose Quéene 〈◊〉 was vncle The king answered him in plaine tearmes he knew he should offend his wife much if he should become a stickler betweene them wished him to seeke some other remedy if by importunity he inforced him to interpose his authority he should doo him more hurt then good Hereupon he sought vnto the Pope but he was so neere a neighbour to the Duke of Sauoy the Archbishops brother as perceiuing quickly little good was to be done there he was fame to take patience for an amends and so sit him downe He departed this life the yeere 1274. 42. Walter de 〈◊〉 Lord Chauncellor of England long before he was Bishop to wit the yeere 1264. began the foundation of a Colledge at Maldon in Surrey but 10 yeers after changing his purpose left that erected that which we now call Merton Colledge in Oxford indewing it with in effect all the lands that now it possesseth About the same time viz. the yeere 1274. he became Bishop of Rochester and liuing there but onely foure
vnto Dauid a disciple of his He died and was buried in the Isle of Enlhi now called Bardsey where he lead a solitary life many yeeres Nouember 14. ann 612. His bones were afterwards remooued to Landaff by 〈◊〉 Bishop there May 7. 1120. 1. Saint Dauid DAuid before named was vncle vnto king Arthur 〈◊〉 son of Xantus a Prince of Wales begotten vpon one Melearia a Nunne A man very learned eloquent 〈◊〉 incredible austerity of life and conuersation He was also very tall of stature and of a comely personage By his diligence 〈◊〉 was quite rooted out and many earnest professors of the same conuerted vnto the truth With the consent of king Arthur he remooued his Sée from Caerlegion to 〈◊〉 which euer since of him is called of the Welch Twy Dewi and of vs Saint Dauids A place neither pleasant fertile or 〈◊〉 For as Giraldus Cambr. reporteth of it it is neither furnished with wood watered with riuers beautified with medowes nor inriched with any kind of fruitfull 〈◊〉 affoording plentifully nothing but rockes and barren hils vehement winds and tempests and lastly the dangers and iniuries whereunto solitary places néere the Sea are subiect by Pyrates and otherwise It séemeth he 〈◊〉 the frequency of people at 〈◊〉 as a meanes to withdraw him from contemplation whereunto that he might be more free he made choice of this place for his Sée rather then for any fitnesse of the same otherwise He sate long to witte 65. yéeres and died at last ann 642. hauing first built 12. Monasteries in the Countrey thereabout being now 146. yéeres of age as Bale out of the British histories reporteth He was buried in his owne Cathedrall Church and many hundreth yéeres after Canonised a Saint by Pope Calixtus the second Many things are reported of him incredible therefore not worth rehearsing although I doubt not but God affoorded many miracles to the first infancy of our Church neither therefore would I be so peremptory in derogating too much from such reports as we sée no reason why they may not be true Of him they say that his birth was foretold 〈◊〉 yéeres before hand that he was alwaies attended by an Angell that kept him company that he bestowed vpon the waters at 〈◊〉 that extraordinary heate they haue and to repeat no more for this is much more then any discrete man will beléeue that vpon a time preaching to a great multitude of people at Breuy the plaine ground grew vp in their sight and increased vnder his féete vnto a pretty hillocke After Saint Dauidsate successiuely these as Giraldus setteth them downe 2. Cenanc 3. Eliud or Teilau 4. Ceneu 5. Morwal 6. Haerunen or Haernurier 7. Elwaed 8. Gurnuen 9. Lendiuord 10. Gorwyst 11. Gorgan 12. Cledaue 13. Anian 14. Eluoed 15. Ethelmen 16. Elanc 17. Malscoed 18. Sadermen 19. Catellus 20. Sulhaithnay 21. Nonis 22. Etwall 23. Asser. 24. Arthuael Acertaine antiquity belonging vnto the Church of Saint Dauid reporteth a Catalogue somewhat different from this of Giraldus to wit this that followeth 1. Saint Dauid 2. Eliud 3. Theliaus 4. Kenea 5. Morwal 6. Haernurier 7. Eluaeth 8. Gurnel 9. Lendywyth 10. Gorwist 11. Gorgan 12. Cledaucke 13. Eynaen 14. Eludgeth 15. Eldunen 16. Eluaeth 17. Maelsehwyth 18. Madenew 19. Catulus 20. Syluay 21. Namys 22. Sathueney 23. Doythwall 24. Asser. 25. Athuael 26. Sampson Of these forenamed Bishops vntill Sampson there 〈◊〉 no memoriall but their names onely In his time the Sée of Saint Dauid had seuen Bishops Suffragans 〈◊〉 vnto it as the foresaid antiquity declareth to wit Exceter Bathe Hereford Landaff Bangor Saint Assaph Fernes in Ireland While he was Bishop it happened the people of all that countrey were woonderfully vexed with the Iaundise so as great numbers of them died daily of that disease By the 〈◊〉 of his cleargy and disciples he was induced to fly the countrey and sayled into Britaine where the Bishopricke of Dola being void he was straight way 〈◊〉 vnto the same He had brought thither with him the Archiepiscopall pall of Saint Dauid and vsed it during his life as did also his successors for many yéeres vntill they were 〈◊〉 by the Pope atthe suite of the Archbishop of 〈◊〉 to leaue it and make profession of obedience vnto him 〈◊〉 former times By this occasion it fell out that she successors of Sampson in Saint Dauids what for want of their pall or for pouerty or negligence or by some other occasion lost their title of Archbishop and to this day neuer recouered the same Howbeit they vsed all authority belonging to an Archbishop by consecrating of other Bishops c. Neither euer did they make profession of subiection vnto Canterbury vntil the time of Henry the 1. king of England whereof we shal speak more hereafter After Sampson succeeded these 26. Rucline 27. Rodherch 28. Elguin 29. Lunuerd or Lywarch 30. Nergu or Vergw 31. 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 32. Eneuris 33. Morgeneu This man saith Giraldus of all the Bishops of S. Dauids presumed first to eate flesh which none of them had euer done before him For punishment of which haynous offence he supposeth it fel out that afterwards he was murthered of Pirates reporting withall how that after his death he appoored to a Bishop in Ireland vsing these words Quia carnes comedi caro factus sum For eating of flesh I am now become nothing but flesh 34. 〈◊〉 35. Ieuan He continued Bishop one onely night 36. Argustell 37. Morgenueth 38. Eruyn or Hernnn a godly and learned man died an 1038. 39. Trameriu or Carmerin 40. Ioseph 41. Bleithud He died the 〈◊〉 1070. 42. Sulghein He for sooke his Bishopricke the yéere 1076. 43. Abraham The yere 1078. or therabout S. 〈◊〉 was spoyled and destroyed by strangers and Abraham the Bishop what through 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was constrained to 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 notwithstanding he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about the 〈◊〉 1085. and 1088. died being 80. yéeres of age the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 man and the greatest Clerke in al 〈◊〉 so saith the 〈◊〉 Chronicle of him 44. After him a sonne of his called Rythmarch succéeded as the Chronicle of Wales deliuereth and died about the yéere 1100. the godliest wisest and greatest Clerks that had beene heere in 〈◊〉 many yeeres before sauing his father saith the Chronicle who had brought him vp and a great number of learned disciples 45. Wylfred He died the yéere 1115. It séemeth the 〈◊〉 Chronicle calleth him Griffri 46. Bernard a Norman Chaplaine vnto king Henry the first and Chauncellour to his Queene was 〈◊〉 by the Archbishop of Canterbury July 12. 1115. not 〈◊〉 by the Clergie of Wales as hitherto had béene 〈◊〉 but forced vpon them by the king that had then newly conquered Wales This man being in great 〈◊〉 with the king and 〈◊〉 vpon the goodnesse of his 〈◊〉 beg in to take on him the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and caused his 〈◊〉 somtimes in Wales to be 〈◊〉 before him After long 〈◊〉 and
much money spent in this cause 〈◊〉 him and the Archbishop of Canterbury Bernard had preuailed at the 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had not two 〈◊〉 witnesses deposed a flat 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 of the Pope Giraldus aforesaid doubteth not confidently to 〈◊〉 that the power and wealth of the Archbishops of Canterbury hath ouerborne the poore Bishops of Saint Dauids in this matter without all right This Bishop saith Giraldus was a man in some other respects praise woorthy but vnreasonable proud and ambitious as most of the Englishmen were that in those times were thrust into Welch Bishopricks Againe he was a very euill husband vnto his Church 〈◊〉 diuers landes and letting others for the tenth peny of that his predecessors made of them so thinking to make a way by gratifying of Courtiers vnto some better Bishopricke in England He was deceaued of his expectation Hauing béene Bishop of Saint Dauids about the space of 33. yéeres he died ann 1148. 46. Dauid Fitz-gerald Archdeacon of Cardigan succéeded He died the yéere 1176. 47. Peter or Piers so the Welch Chronicle calleth him a Benedictine monke Prior of Wenlock was consecrated the same yéere His Cathedrall Church dedicated vnto Saint Andrew and Saint Dauid had beene often destroyed in former times by Danes and other pyrats and in his time was almost quite 〈◊〉 He bestowed much in reedifying of the same and may in sonie sort be said to haue built the church which now standeth 48. 〈◊〉 Prior of Lanthony aregular Chanon was preserred to this See by the meanes of Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury 49. 〈◊〉 Giraldus was borne in Pembrooke shire néere Tynby of very noble parentage being neere of kinne vnto the Princes of Wales a very comely and personable man of body and for his minde wittie discrete studious vertuous and well giuen In his youth he trauailed ouer most part of Christendome At Paris he read publikely in the English Colledge with great commendation Returning home he grew into great estimation with king Henry the 2. and became Secretary vnto his sonne Iohn with whom he went into Ireland and being there writ a description of the countrey as he did also of England and Wales Some affir me he was Archdeacon of Landaff of Brecknock and Saint Dauids he was for certaine Being elect vnto this See an 1199. he made challenge vnto the title of an Archbishop at Rome which controuersie how it was debated and ended yee may read at large in R. Houeden his report of the yeere aforesaid He was once accused oftreason but happily acquitted liued till he was 70. yéeres of age and vpward and dying was buried in his owne church He writ many bookes the Catalogue whereof yee may finde in Bale 50. 〈◊〉 or Edward was consecrate 1215. 51. Alselmus 52. Thomas Archdeacon of Lincolne a Welchman and a great 〈◊〉 forsaking other good preferments accepted of this Bishopricks being a miserable poore thing at that 〈◊〉 the yeere 1247. 53. Richard Carren 54. Thomas Beck He founded two colleges one at 〈◊〉 and another at Llan dewy breuy 55. Dauid Martyn 56. Henry Gower He built the Bishops pallace at Saint Dauids and died the yeere 1347. 57. Iohn Theresby or Thorsby translated to 〈◊〉 1349. and thence to Yorke 1352. 58. Reginald Brian translated likewise to Worceter 1352. 59. Thomas Fastocke died the yéere 1361. 60. Adam Houghton founded a colledge néere to the Cathedrall church of S. Dauid He was Chauncellour of England for a time about the yéere 1376. 61. Iohn Gilbert Bishop of Bangor was translated 〈◊〉 Hereford 1376. and thence hither 1389. Sée Hereford 62. Guido de Mona died the yéere 1407. who while 〈◊〉 liued saith Walsingham was a cause of much mischiefe 63. Henry 〈◊〉 was consecrated at Siena by the Popes owne hands Iune 12. 1409. sate 5 yeeres and was translated to Canterbury Sée Canterbury 64. Iohn Keterich or Catarick sometimes Archdeacon of Surrey was translated hence to Couentry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the yéere 1415. and after to Oxceter 65. Stephen Patrington a Iacobine Fryer as one 〈◊〉 or rather a Carmelite as an other saith being at the Counsell of Constance was by the Pope translated to Chichester in December 1417. as the records of Saint Dauids 〈◊〉 affirme Howbeit other say and I take it to be true that he refused to accept of the Popes gift 66. Benet Nicols Bishop of Bangor succéeded him 67. Thomas Rodburne a man of great learning was brought vp in Oxford and became first 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 then Bishop of Saint Dauids He write diuers 〈◊〉 amongst the rest an history or Chronicle The yéere 1434. the king 〈◊〉 to translate him to Ely but could not effect it 67. William Lynwood Doctor of Law was first Chauncellor to the Archbishop of Canterbury then kéeper of the priuy seale hauing beene first imployed in Embassages to the kings of Spaine Portugall and other Princes He writ much Amongst other his works he is famous for putting in order such Prouinciall constitutions as had beene made by the Archbishops of Canterbury from the time of Stephen Langton vnto Henry 〈◊〉 He florished about the yéere 1440. but iust what time he became Bishop or when he died I can not tell He lyeth buried at Saint Stephens in Westminster 68. Iohn Longton died within 15. dayes after his consecration 69. Iohn de le Beere 70. Robert Tully a monke of Glocester This man I take to be him that by the name of Robert 〈◊〉 is said to haue beene translated to Chichester the yéere 1508. 71. Richard Martyn 72. Thomas Langton 73. Hugh Pauy He impropred to the Uicars Chorall of Saint Dauids the Church of Llan Saint Fred. 74. Iohn Morgan died in the Priory of Caermerthin and was buried in his owne Church 75. 〈◊〉 Vaughan built a new Chappell in his church of Saint Dauid 76. Richard Rawlyns 77. William Barlowe translated to Welles hauing safe here 10. yéeres about the yéere 1548. and after to Chichester See Welles 78. Robert Farrar ended his life in the fire for profession of his faith the history whereof and of his whole life are to be read in Master Foxe 79. Henry Morgan died December 23. 1559. 80. Thomas Yong staying here but a very short time was translated to Yorke February 25. 1561. See Yorke 81. Richard Dauyes Bishop of Saint Assaph 82. Marmaduke Middleton Bishop of Waterford in Ireland 83. Anthony Rudde Doctor of Diuinity borne in Yorkshire brought vp in Cambridge hauing béene for the space of 9. yéeres Deane of Glocester was consecrate Iune 9. 〈◊〉 The Bishopricke of Saint Dauids is valued in the 〈◊〉 at 426 l. 22 d. ob and in the 〈◊〉 bookes at 1500. ducates The Bishops of Landaff THe Cathedrall church of Landaff is reported to haue beene first built in the time of king 〈◊〉 about the yéere of Christ 180. But I perceiue not that any Bishop sate there before 〈◊〉 that by 〈◊〉 Bishop of Altisiodore Lupus of Trecasia two Bishops of Fraunce was remooued to the Archbishoprick of
histories are written He was wont to say that Thurstan neuer did a worse deede then in erecting the Monastery of Fountney And that it may 〈◊〉 he faigned not this mislike you shall find in Newbridg lib. 3. cap. 5. That a certaine religious man comming vnto him when he lay vpon his death bed requested him to confirme certaine graunts made vnto their house to whom he answered you see my friend I am now vpon the point of death it is no time to dissemble I feare God and in regard thereof refraine to satisfie your request which I protest I can not doo with a good conscience A strange doctrine in those daies but being a wise man and learned he must néedes discerne that the monkes of his time were so farre swarued and degenerate from the holinesse of those first excellent men of the primitiue Church as they resembled rather any other kinde of people then those whom they pretended in profession to succeed These men the monkes I meane to be reuenged vpon him haue stamped vpon him two notable faults one that he preferred whipping boyes vnto the chiefe dignities of the Church wherein were it true no body can excuse him The other thing they lay to his charge is manifestly false They say he was miserably couetous and how doo they prooue it Because forsooth he left a certaine deale of ready money behind him Surely in my same made no haste to receiue consecration as knowing better how to sheare his shéepe then to feed them which he knew he might do without consecration as well as with it Seuen yéeres he held the Bishoprick after that sort and at length by the perswasion of his father desirous to haue his sonne néere about him as some say or perceiuing him vnfit to make a cleargy man as other say He resigned his interest in the church of Lincolne and got him to the court where he was made Lord Chanucellour of England and held that office about eight yéeres viz. vntill the yéere 1189. at what time his father died Many Bishoprickes at that time were void and had béene some of them a long time as Yorke now ten yeeres and Lincolne seuenteene King Richard therefore vnderstanding the people murmured and grudged much at these long vacations and knowing also it imported him to see his brother prouided for he thought to stop two gaps with one bush and at once to furnish Yorke with an Archbishop and his brother with a liuing So he writ his letters vnto the chapter of Yorke in his brothers behalfe who not without some difficulty elected him He was consecrate at Tours in Fraunce in the moneth of August 1191. Presently after his consecration comming ouer into England he was imprisoned by 〈◊〉 Bishop of Ely the Chauncellour being drawen from the very altar of Saint Martins church in 〈◊〉 but he was quickly set at liberty againe And the proude Chauncellour 〈◊〉 repented him of his rashnesse and folly being excommunicate for the same and otherwise hardly ynough vsed as you may see more at large in his life This man prooued a better Bishop then was expected gouerning his Prouince if not somewhat too stoutely according to the courage 〈◊〉 in a man of so high birth and nobility very well and 〈◊〉 He is praysed much for his temperance 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 both of conntenance and behauiour All the time of his brother 〈◊〉 expecting the wrong done vnto him by the Bishop of Ely he liued quietly without 〈◊〉 or complaint of any Betweene him and king Iohn who was his brother also there was much adoe In the second yeere of his raigne he commaunded the Sheriffe of Yorkeshire to seise vpon all the goods and lands of the Archbishop and his seisure to returne into the exchecquer which was done accordingly whereupon the said Archbishop excommunicated not onely the Sherisie that had done him this violence but all those in generall that were the authors of the same and that had béene any meanes to stirre vp the kings indignation against him The cause of this trouble is diuersly reported some say that he hindered the kings officers in gathering a kind of taxe through his 〈◊〉 others that he refused to saile into Norwandy with him when he went to make a marriage for his neice and to conclude a league with the French king Whether one of these were the cause or both or none I can not tell But certaine it is that one whole yéere his temporalities were detained from him his mooueable goods neuer restored and yet moreouer he was saine to pay a thousand pound sterling for his restitution This was a greater wound then that it might easily be cured Sixe or 7. yéeres after it brake out againe to wit an 1207. King Iohn then being at Winchester required such of the cleargy Nobility as were there present to consent that payment should be made vnto him of the thirtéenth shilling of all the mooueable goods in England This motion no man gainesaid but Geffrye the Archb. his brother After this whether it were he were guilty of some greater attempt or that he vnderstood his brother to be gréeuously offended with him for withstanding this his desire well perceiuing England was too hote for him secretly he auoyded the Realme excommunicating before his departure such of his iurisdiction as either had paied the said taxe or should hereafter pay it He liued then in banishment 5. yéeres euen vntill he was called to his long home by death which was the yéere 1213. So he continued Archbishop somewhat more then 21. yéeres 33. Walter Gray THe Sée was void after the death of Geffry the space of foure yéeres In the meane space Symon de Langton brother vnto Stephen Langton Archbishop of Canterbury was elected by the Chapter of Yorke But king Iohn being lately become tributary vnto the church of Rome 〈◊〉 found meanes to Cassire and disanull that election If the old quarrell betwéene the Archbishop and him stucke yet some thing in his stomacke I maruell not but he alledged that he thought it dangerous and very inconuenient the whole Church of England should be ruled by two brethren one at Canterbury in the South an other at Yorke in the North. He laboured then very earnestly to haue Walter Gray his Counsellor remooued from Worceter to Yorke The channons there refused him for want of learning as they said but at last they were content to accept him in regard forsooth of his singular temperance and chastity they seemed to be perswaded that he had continued till that time a pure maide The matter was they durst do no other but yeeld and then thought good to make a vertue of necessity This man was first Bishop of Chester consecrate the yéere 1210. translated thence to Worceter 1214. and lastly the yéere 1216 to Yorke but vpon such conditions as I thinke he had béene better to haue staid at Worceter still The Pope would haue no lesse then 10000 l. for wresting him into the Archbishoprick
to Worceter and about the middle of October 1352. being then Chauncelor of England to Yorke He was brought vp in Oxford where he was very much esteemed for his learning being a great 〈◊〉 and a very good Canonist He writ diuers things both in English and Latine amongst the rest he published an exposition vpon the ten Commandements in his mother toong which he required all the Clergy men in his Dioces to read diligently vnto their parishioners That worke I haue and keepe as a 〈◊〉 worthy to be esteemed Diuinity books in the English toong were geason in those dates I pray God they be not now too common The yaere he was Cardinall of Saint Sabine by Pope Vrban the 〈◊〉 whom I homas Walsingham repeateth to haue 〈◊〉 an English man In the 10. yéere after his 〈◊〉 he began to build 〈◊〉 the quier of his Cathedrall church laying the first stone himselfe July 29. toward the charge of which work he presently laide downe 100. l. or as some report 500. l. and promised to contribute yéerely 200. markes or as others say 200. l. till it were 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 long as he liued he faithfully performed He bestowed great cost in beautifying the Lady chappell with images and pictures of excellent workmanship and 〈◊〉 the bodies of diuers of his predecessors that lay buried else where about the church caused them to be 〈◊〉 in the said chappell in very 〈◊〉 manner leauing a place for 〈◊〉 in the middle thereof where dying Nouember 6. 1373. at Thorp he was 〈◊〉 after solemnly enterred 45. Alexander Neuill VNto this Sée the Pope then appointed Alexander Neuill a Canon of Yorke a man greatly fauoured of king Richard the second which was his destruction Diuers of the nobility malecontent tooke armes against the king caused many whom they misliked to be condemned by parliament some to death some to prison c. Amongst the rest this Archbishop was accused to be one that abused the kings youth by flattery and with whispering tales inticed him against the nobility and for this cause he was condemned to perpetuall prison and appointed vnto the castell of Rochester there to be kept But he foreséeing the tempest that grew 〈◊〉 him fled out of the realme The Pope then Vrbane the 〈◊〉 whether in commiseration thinking to relieue him or else vsing it as a meanes to make his Archbishopricke voide 〈◊〉 he might bestow it translated him from Yorke vnto 〈◊〉 Andrewes in Scotland Howsoeuer it was meant sure it fell out to be a very bad exchaunge for his part Scotland at that time refused to acknowledge Vrbane for Pope and yeelded obedience to the Antipope By meanes whereof Vrbans 〈◊〉 was not of sufficient force to inuest him in Saint Andrewes and yet quite cut him of from Yorke at home Hereby it 〈◊〉 to passe that hauing the reuenues neither of the one nor the other for very want he was 〈◊〉 to become a parish priest and so liued thrae yeere at Louane euen vntill his death He was banished the yéere 1386. liued in 〈◊〉 almost fiue yeres died 1391. and was buried in the church of the Frier Carmelites there This man bestowed much cost in repayring the castle of Cawod building diuers towers and other edifices about the same 46. Thomas Arundell ALexander Neuill being thus displaced vnder presence of preferment to a new place The Pope tooke vpon him to bestow Yorke And least if he should aduance one to it not greatly preferred before the old incumbent might chaunce in time to recouer it from him againe He thought good to bestow it so as benefiting many he might procure so many aduersaries vnto Neuill whereof any one alone might hardly saeme able to withstand him but all these together he knew very well To this end as also to gaine the more in first fruits he called Thomas Arundell from Ely to Yorke translated the Bishops of Durham to Ely Bath to Durham Salisbury to Bath and gaue Salisbury to Iohn Waltham the kings chaplaine a man very gracious with him and keeper of his priuie seale This Thomas Arundell the yéere 1396 was remooued to Canterbury the first that 〈◊〉 was translated from Yorke 〈◊〉 While he was at Yorke he bestowed much in building vpon diuers of his houses and vnto the church he gaue besides many rich ornaments two great Basons of siluer and gilt two great Censers two other Basons of siluer and two Crewettes He gaue to the vse of the Uicars a siluer Cuppe of great waight and a Bowle of siluer very massiue and costly vnto the Canons Being yet Bishop of Ely he was Lord Chauncellor of England and so continued till the yéere 1396. at what time being remooued to Canterbury he gaue ouer immediately that office See more of him in Ely and Canterbury 47. Robert Waldby RObert Waldby Bishop of Chichester succéeded Thomas Arundell in Yorke Being yet a yoong man he followed Edward the blacke Prince into Fraunce where he continued long a student and profited so much as no man in the 〈◊〉 where he liued Tholous might be compared with him for all kinde of learning He was a good Linguist very well séene in Philosophie both naturall and morall in Phyficke and the Canon Law also very eloquent an excellent Preacher and estéemed so profound a Diuine 〈◊〉 he was thought méete to be the Professor of Diuinitie or doctor of the chaire in the said Uniuersitie For these his good gifts he was much fauoured of the blacke Prince first then of king Richard his sonne and by their fauour obtayned first a Bishopricke in Gascoigne as Bale reporteth but by another antiquity that I haue seene he was first Bishop of the Isle of Man and his Epitaph saith he was first Praesul 〈◊〉 From that first preferment whatsoeuer it was he was translated an 1387. to the Archbishopricke of Dublin in Ireland thence to Chichester 1395. and the yéere following became an Archbishop once more viz. of Yorke There he sate not fully three yéeres but he died May 29. 1397. and was buriet in Westminster almost in the middle of the chappell of Saint 〈◊〉 where an Epitaph is to be séene vpon his graue partly 〈◊〉 and otherwise not worth the reciting 48. Richard Scroope RIchard Scroope that succéeded Robet Waldby though a gentleman of great bloud being brother vnto William Scroope that was Earle of Wilshire and Treasurer of England vnder king Richard yet obtained not 〈◊〉 high promotion without desert in regard of many good 〈◊〉 in him For he was incomparably learned saith Thomas Walsingham of singular integrity for his life and conuersation and which is not altogether to be neglected of a goodly and amiable personage He was brought vp in Cambridge and procéeded there first Master of Arte then doctor of Law thence he trauelled throngh Fraunce into Italy and became an aduocate in the Popes Court vntill such time as he was preferred to the Bishopricke of Couentry Lichfield whereunto he was consecrate August 9. 1386 There he
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
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
and was one of the 30. electors that chose Martyn the fift Pope authorised thereunto by the councell together with the Cardinals He sate almost 5. yéeres was translated to Exceter 54. Iames Cary. AUery little while one Iames Cary was Bishop of Couentry and Lichfield He happened to be at Florence with the Pope at what time newes was brought thither of the Bishop of Exceters death and easily obtained that Bishopricke of him being preferred vnto Lichfield but very lately He enioyed neither of these places any long time Neuer comming home to sée either the one or the other he died and was buried there 55. William Haworth WIlliam Haworth Abbot of Saint Albons was conse crate Nouember 28. 1420. and sate 27. yéeres 56. William Boothe WIlliam Boothe was consecrate July 9. 1447. sate 6 yéeres and was translated to Yorke Sée more of him there 57. Nicholas Close NIcholas Close consecrate Bishop of Carlioll 1450. was translated from Carlioll hither the yeere 1452. and died the same yéere 58. Reginald Buller REginald Buller or Butler for so some call him was consecrate Bishop of Hereford the yéere 1450. being Abbot of Glocester before He was translated to Lichfield Aprill 3. 1453. and sate there 6. yéeres 59. Iohn Halse IOhn Halse was consecrate in the moneth of Nouember 1459. sate 32. yéeres and lieth buried at Lichfield 60. William Smith WIlliam Smith was consecrate 1492. sate 4. yéeres and was translated to Lincolne See more there 61. Iohn Arundell IOhn Arundell was consecrate Nouember 6. 1496. and translated to Exceter 1502. See more in Exceter 62. Geoffry Blythe GEoffry Blythe Doctor of Lawe was consecrate September 7. 1503. The yeere 1512. he became Lord President of Walles by the appointment of king Henry the eight and continued in that place till the yeere 1524. at what time it seemes he died The yeere 1523. he was attached for treason but happily acquitted He 〈◊〉 buried at Lichfield 63. Rowland Lee. 〈◊〉 Leigh Doctor of Lawe succéeded A man samons for two things He 〈◊〉 King Henry the eight vnto Quéene Anne Bulleyn which happy marriage was the occasion of that happinesse that we now enioy vnder our noble soueraigne Queene Elizabeth their daughter Againe it is to be remembred of him that being made President of Wales the yéere 1535. in the time of his gouernment and peraduenture partly by his procurement the countrey of Wales was by Parliament incorporated and vnited to the kingdome of England the liberties lawes and other respects made common vnto the Welch with the naturall English This Bishop died Lord President the yeere 1543. and was buried at Shrewsbury 64. Richard Sampson AFter him Richard Sampson Bishop of Chichester became Bishop of Lichfield He was translated March 12 1543. This R. Sampson being a Doctor of Law and Deane of the Chappell writ some what for the kings supremacy and was aunswered by Cochloeus He writ also commentaries vpon the 〈◊〉 and vpon the Epistles to the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 He was consecrate Bishop of 〈◊〉 the yéere 1537. and presently vpon his remooue to this 〈◊〉 made President of Wales In that office he continued till the second yéere of king Edward at what time he began to shew him selfe a 〈◊〉 notwithstanding his 〈◊〉 writing 〈◊〉 against the Pope He died at 〈◊〉 September 25. 1554. 65. Ralf Bane RAlf Bayne Doctor of Diuinity borne in Yorkeshire brought vp in S. Iohns Colledge in Cambridge reader or professor of the 〈◊〉 tongue in Paris was consecrate Bishop of Lichfield soone after the death of the other He 〈◊〉 vpon the Prouerbs of Salomon and dedicated his worke vnto Francis the French king Hauing béene Bishop almost fiue yéeres he died of the stone at London and was buried in Saint Dunstans Church there 66. Thomas Bentham THomas Bentham was consecrate March 24. 1559. 〈◊〉 died February 21. 1578. 67. William Ouerton William Ouerton Doctor of 〈◊〉 succéeded This Bishopricke is valued in the Exchequer at 559. l. 17. s. 2. d. ob farthing and in the Popes bookes at 1733. ducates or Florenes The Bishops of Salisbury 1. Aldelm AFter the death of Headda the fifth Bishop of Winchester it pleased Iua king of the west Saxons to 〈◊〉 his Dioces which before contained all the country of the west Saxons into two parts The one of them he committed vnto Damell allotting vnto him Winchester for his Sée and that Dioces which now doth and euer since hath belonged vnto the same The other part containing the counties of Dorset Somerset Wiltshire Deuon and Cornwall he ordained to be gouerned by a Bishop whose Sée he established at Sherborne and appointed vnto the same one Aldhelme a neere 〈◊〉 of his owne being the sonne of Kenred his brother This Aldhelm spent all his youth in trauaile and hauing visited the most famous vniuersities of Fraunce and Italy became very learned in Poetry especially he was excellent and writ much in Gréeke and Latine prose and verse He delighted much in musicke and was very skilfull in the same But his chiefe study was diuinity in the knowledge whereof no man of his time was comparable to him After his returne he became first a monk and after Abbot of Malmsbury for the space of fower and thirty yéeres The yéere 705. he was consecrate Bishop of Sherborne and that as it séemeth vnto me at Rome For it is remembred that while he staied there for the Popes approbation the same Pope his name was Sergius was charged with getting of a bastard for which fact he was bold to reprehend his holinesse sharpely He writ diuers learned works mentioned by Beda h. 4. c. 19. and died the yéere 709. 2. Fordhere HE liued in the time of Beda who saith he also was a man very well séene in the knowledge of the scriptmes The yéere 738. he attended the Quéene of the west 〈◊〉 vnto Rome After him succeeded these 3. 〈◊〉 4. Ethelnod 5. Denefrith 6. Wilbert He was at Rome with Wlfred Archbishop of Canterbury an 815. 7. Alstane A famous warrier He subdued vnto king Fgbright the kingdomes of Kent and the East Saxons He fought many battailes with the Danes and euer 〈◊〉 had the victory namely at a place in Somersetshire then called Pedredsmouth now Comage he slue a great number of them the yéere 845. King Ethelwlf being at Rome in pilgrimage he set vp his sonne Ethelbald against him and forced the father at his returne to 〈◊〉 his kingdome with his sonne He died the yéere 867. hauing sate Bishop of Sherborne 50. yéeres A man 〈◊〉 wise valiant carefull for the good of his country and 〈◊〉 liberall He augmented the reuenues of his Bishopricke wonderfully 7. Edmund or Heahmund slaine in battell by the 〈◊〉 the yéere 872. at Meredune 8. Etheleage 9. Alssy 10. Asser. This man writ a certaine Chronicle of 〈◊〉 amongst diuers other works wherein he reporteth of him selfe that he was a disciple and scholler of that famous welchman Iohn that hauing studied long in Athens perswaded king Alfred
cryed out he was the 〈◊〉 Chaplaine for soldiers that might he found Whereupon halfe in iest halfe in earnest the yoong Prince bid him follow him He did so and albeit he was in a manner altogether vnlearned yet being very subtile 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in a short time he wound him selfe so fast into the Princes liking as he acquainted him with his most secrete affaires and vsed his counsell in matters of greatest importance Hereby it came to passe that he not onely obtained easily for him selfe the Bishopricke of Salisbury soone after the said Princes aduauncement vnto the crowne but also procured the like or greater preferments for many of his kinred He had a sonne of his owne called Roger 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom he made Chauncellor of England He had also two nephewes which he made Bishops Alexander of Lincolne and 〈◊〉 of Ely This Nigellus likewise had a sonne called Richard 〈◊〉 that long after became Bishop of London Neither was he so carefull of seruing other mens turnes as that he forgat to feather his owne neast what by the reuenewes of his Bishopricke and his temporall offices for he was Chauncellor of England and otherwise much imployed about the king he gathered together infinite treasures whereof some he bestowed very vainely and the rest that vuhappily he reserued was the cause of hie destruction He built most sumptuously two castles one at Sherborne the other at Deuises cōmonly called that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 foolishly to make them without comparison the goodliest and most magnificent buildings of England Then afterwards somewhat to 〈◊〉 the vanity of this humour he founded two monasteries also but what they were I find not All the time of king Henry he flourished in great honour viz for the space of 30. yéeres I doubt not had ended his daies in the like prosperity if his owne treachery had not prouoked the iustice of God to punish the same with the vengeance of an extraordinary calamity The said king Henry hauing lost his onely sonne and apparant heire Prince William by misfortune vpon the sea and hauing no issue lawfully begotten left to inherite his kingdome but onely Mawde the Empresse He thought good to take an oath of all the nobility wherein they promised to yéeld obedience to her after his death as their soueraigne and to none other This oath our Roger did not onely take himselfe but minister vnto the rest of the nobility for that he was Chauncellor Which notwithstanding forgetting all dueties of religion toward God of thankefulnes toward his patrone and loyalty to his Prince he was the first man the king being dead that fell to plotting 〈◊〉 the aduancement of Stephen vnto the kingdome which 〈◊〉 his perswasiou he first attempted and much deale by his vngratious counsell at last obtained Sée how the saying fell out to be true in him 〈◊〉 consilium consultori 〈◊〉 Within two or three yeeres after his comming to the crowne this vsurping periured king for he also had sworne sworne vnto Mawde the Empresse he I say lacked money for many purposes especially for the compassing of a marriage betweene Enstace his onely sonne and Constantia the French kings sister which he thought would be a great establishment of his new erected throne Now séeing no other readier meane he determined to search the coffers of this old Bishop assuring himselfe there to find that might well serue his turne Being therefore at Oxford he sent for him in very friendly manner praying him to come and affoord him his counsell in matters greatly importing him Such was the estate of the 〈◊〉 at that time that almost euery man stood vpon his gard But the Bishop being an old Foxe and suspitious of what might happen entreated his sonne and the Bishops before named his nephewes to ride with him that vnder the colour of their retinue he might carry strength ynough with him to resist the king if he should indeuour to offer him violence The king at their méeting gaue him very gratious countenance but secretly tooke order that a quarrel should be picked vnto some of his retinue So when he least suspected any such matter his people were set vpon vnder colour they had disappointed some of the kings men of their lodgings and forced to 〈◊〉 The Bishop his sonne nephewes fled also But the 〈◊〉 was made too sure beforehand for them to escape They were all taken except onely the Bishop of Ely that 〈◊〉 him to the castell of Deuises which he found very well provided and determined to hold it against the king Thither he trauelled with all spéed the king I meane carrying his prisoners with him whom he caused to ve very hardly vsed and straightly imprisoned shutting vp the one in an oxestall the other in a 〈◊〉 backe roome more loathsome then the other At his first comming he summoned the castell intending to prooue all meanes rather then he would let this occasion slippe of rifling the same Therefore when no other practise would take successe for he tryed many he set vp a faire paire of gallowes and sware he would hang Roger the Bishops sonne it the castell were not presently deliuered vp vnto him The Bishop of Ely continuing obstinate in his denyall though his vncle of Salisbury had intreated him earnestly to yeeld the halter was now about the yoong mans necke and he euen ready to trusse when his father hnmbly besought the king that he would accept his best endeuour for the effecting of his desire to saue his sonnes life was content to sweare he would neither eate nor drinke before the castell were deliuered vnto him Hereupon the execution of the sonne was staied but it cost the father his life For the Bishop of Ely his nephew notwithstanding what intreaty could be made suffred his vncle to fast three whole daies before he would giue ouer The Bishop of Salisbury being now very aged partly peraduenture by reason of griefe but partly also by reason of so long abstinence fell sicke and died rauing and taking on like a man distract of his wits certaine daies before his departure There was found in that castell of his forty thousand markes of siluer ready coyned beside gold plate and iewels of inestimable price All that the king laide hands vpon and with that money procured indéed the marriage before mentioned to be effected The Bishops sonne was kept long in prison and dealt earnestly withall to renounce the 〈◊〉 and deuote himselfe to the party of the king which he most honestly and constantly refusing with long sute obtayned at last for a great fauour that he might be banished the realme To make an ende now with this Bishop he was elected April 13. 1102. consecrate August 11. 1207. with diuers other and died December 4. 1139. So he was Bishop accounting the time from his first election almost 37. yéeres flourishing all that while in woonderful great prosperity and yet had a miserable and most vnhappyend 4. Ioceline ROger being dead K. Stephen nominated vnto
of this Church ann 1186. He was well reported of for his liberality in continuing the buildings of this Church wherein he was nothing inferior to his predecessors Hauing béene Bishop about sixe yéeres he died ann 1191. HEnry Marshall Archdeacon of Stafford and Deane of Yorke brother to William the Earle Marshall of England was consecrated Bishop by Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury an 1191. he finished the building of his church according to the plat and foundation which his predecessors had laide and that done he purchased the patronage and Lordship of Wodbery of one Albemarly which he gaue and impropriated vnto the Uicars chorall of his church After that he had liued 12. yéeres in his Bishopricke he died ann 1200. and lieth buried in the North side of the presbytery of his church in a very faire tombe of Marble SImon de Apulia Deane of Yorke was consecrated 〈◊〉 of this Sée 1206. Of him there remayneth no memoriall at all but this that hauing béene Bishop 18. yéeres he died an 1224. and was buried in his owne church In this mans time to wit the yéere 1222. the city of Exceter was diuided into parishes VVIlliam Brewer very shortly after the death of the foresaid Simon was elected Bishop and consecrated vpon Easter day an 1224. A man very well borne being brother to Sir William Brewer knight the 〈◊〉 of the eldest daughter and one of the heires to William de Verona Earle of Deuonshire founder of the Abbeyes of Tor Hartland and other monasteries He was of the priuy Councell vnder king Henry the third and greatly in fauour with him The yéere 1235. he trauelled into Germany to conduct thither the Lady Isabell the kings sister to be married vnto Fridericke the Empéror and not long after the said Emperor making a voyage into the holy land he attended him thither Being returned home and minding as his predecessors had done to leaue some good memoriall behind him he made a Deane and constituted 24. Prebendaries within his church To the one he impropriated Brampton and 〈◊〉 Rawleigh for the others he purchased so much land as out whereof he assigned to euery prebendary 〈◊〉 pound by the yéere and of these he 〈◊〉 his chapter 〈◊〉 that he had continued here ninetéene yéeres he died anno 1244. and lieth buried in his owne church vnder a plaine marble stone in the middle of the presbytery not farre from the Bishops See RIchard Blondy was consecrated 1245. This Richard was a man of a milde spirit but very flout against such as in his time did offer any imury to the church In his old yeeres being but a weake man he was much carried and ruled by such as were about him They taking the opportunity of time vsed all the meanes they might to much themselues His chiefest officers were one 〈◊〉 his chauncellor 〈◊〉 his register 〈◊〉 his official and 〈◊〉 the keeper of his scale these with other of the houshold comparred amongst themselues 〈◊〉 the Bishop was yet 〈◊〉 who then lay sicke and very weake in his bed to make vnto themselues conueyances of such liuelihoods as then lay in the Bishops disposition and accordingly made out aduousons and other such graunts as to them seemed best all which were foorthwith sealed and deliuered according to the orders among them concluded These their subtill dealings were not so closely conueyed but that the next Bishop following boulted and found the same out and did not onely rereuerse all their doings but also excommunicate them neither were they absolued vntill they had done penance for the same at Saint Peters church openly vpon Palme Sunday being the 19. day of March 1267. This Bishop in the twelfe yeere of his Bishoprick died to wit an 1257. and was buried in his owne church VVAlter Bronescome Archdeacon of Surry was consecrated vpon Passion Sunday March 10. 1257. He was borne in the city of Exeter of poore very meane parentage At the time of his electiō he was not priest and therefore not capable of any such dignity but immediately he tooke that order vpon him and foorthwith was consecrated Bishop al which was donc within fifteen 〈◊〉 So many digmties to be cast vpon one man in so shert a time had not beene lightly seene He founded the colledge of Glaseney in Perin in Cornewall and endowed the 〈◊〉 with faire possessions and reuenewes being induced thereunto by a vision or dreame as himselfe reporteth in the 〈◊〉 of the same He purchased the Barton of 〈◊〉 Clist and gaue it to the Hospitall of Saint Johns within the Eastgate of the city of Exceter He instituted in his owne church the feast called Gabriels feast and gaue a piece of land for the maintenance thereof He also did by a policy purchase the Lordship and house of Clist Sachfield and enlarged the Barton thereof by gayning of Cornish wood from his Deane and Chapter fraudulently building then a very faire and sumptuous house there he called it Bishops Clist and 〈◊〉 the same to his successors Likewise he got the patronage of Clist Fomesone now called Sowton and annexed the same to his new lordship which as it was said he procured by this meanes He had a Fryer to be his chaplaine and consellor which died in his said house of Clist and should haue beene buried at the parish church of Farryngdon because the saide house was and is in that parish but because the 〈◊〉 church was somewhat farre of the waies foule and the weather rainy or sor some other causes the Bishop commaunded the corps to be carried to the parish church of Sowton then called Clist Fomeson which is very néere and bordereth vpon the Bishops Lordship the two parishes there being diuided by a little lake called Clist At this time one 〈◊〉 a gentleman was Lord and patrone of Clist Fomeson and he being aduertised of such a buriall towards in his parish and a 〈◊〉 way to be made ouer his land without his 〈◊〉 consent required therein calleth his tenants togither goeth to the bridge ouer the lake betweene the Bishops land and his there meeteth the Bishops men bringing the said corps and forbiddeth them to come ouer the water The Bishops men nothing regarding this prohibition do presse forwards to come ouer the water and the others do withstand so long that in the end my Lords Fryer is fallen into the water The Bishop taketh this matter in such griefe that a holy Fryer a religious man his owne chaplaine and confessor should so vnreuerently be cast into the water that he falleth out with the gentleman and vpon what occasion I know not he sueth him in the law and so vereth and tormenteth him that in the end he was saine to yéeld himselfe to the Bishops deuotion and seeketh all the waies he could to curry the Bishops good will which he could not obtaine vntill for redemption he had giuen and surrendred vp his patronage of Sowton with a piece of land All which the said Bishop annexeth to his new
〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 yéere of his consecration and 〈◊〉 to the Chaunter of the church of Norwich a house and certaine lands lying within the Lordship of 〈◊〉 Caerlton 〈◊〉 Granthorp and 〈◊〉 vpon condition he should procure masse daily to be said for his 〈◊〉 20. Henricus Spencer THe 〈◊〉 of his death swiftly flying beyond the Seas came vnto the eares of one Spencer A Gentleman greatly estéemed for his valour and skill in Martiall 〈◊〉 that serued the Pope at that time in his warres Of him with small intreaty be obtained this dignity for a brother of his named Henry a man of his own profession which of a soldier being made a bishop came into England March 16. 1370. was consecrate in his owne Church by the Archdeacon of Norwich Changing then his vesture but no his conditions in what manner of life he spent his youth in the same he most delighted euen in his 〈◊〉 yéeres And being a better Butcher then a Shepheard he procured the Popes authority for leauying an Army which not with standing the kings commaundement to the contrary 〈◊〉 transported into the Low 〈◊〉 And after that he has 〈◊〉 7000. 〈◊〉 an Army of 30. thousand and burnt the townes of 〈◊〉 Dunkyrke Newport with certaine others he returned againe into England where shortly after occasion was giuen of employing his valure at home to better purpose The yeere 1381. the commons of this realme arose in diuers parts and appointed them selues Captaines as Wat Tyler Iacke 〈◊〉 c. And amongst the rest the Commons of Suffolke and Norfolke made one Iohn Lyster their Leader a dier of Norwich and called him the king of the Commons This fellow endeuouring to ioyne his power with the rest that were now at London conducting them thither ward By the way they determined to haue surprised William Vfford Earle of Suffolke and hauing him to vse his name for the setting forward of their diuelish intents Missing of him they seased vpon all the knights they could find made them sweare to assist them One there was named sir Robert Sale that seeming to 〈◊〉 their dooings had his braines stricken out by one of his owne bondmen Amongst the rest that terrified by his example were glad to dissemble sir Stephen Hales a comely Gentleman was chosen to be the caruer forsooth of this goodly king But to proceede being now on their way they determined to send in a message vnto the king two knights sir W. Morley and sir Iohn Brewes with three Arch-rebels These happened to be encountred with their Bishop at a towne called 〈◊〉 not far from New market Being at his mannor of Burle neere Ockam Castle he heard of this 〈◊〉 determined to ride thither where he vnderstood they were assembled At what time he came to 〈◊〉 he had in his company but onely eight speares and a few Archers Notwithstanding the weaknesse of his forces he boldly inquired of the knights whether any of the kings traitors were there They dissembled a while for scare but after told him plainely that two notorious Rebels were at the Inne and the third was gone into the towne to take order for their dinner These he presently layed hold vpon and without more adoo cut off their heads which he caused to be set vpon poales at New market Thence he hasted toward Northwalsham where he vnderstoode the rebels had determined to make some stay By the way diuers Gentlemen that had hid themselues ioyned with him so that by that time he 〈◊〉 there he had a reasonable company 〈◊〉 him with that company such as it was he set vpon them who had 〈◊〉 themselues with trenches and 〈◊〉 very 〈◊〉 The Bishop for his part recouering the 〈◊〉 rode into the very midst of them and 〈◊〉 him selfe so manfully as if it had beene an action agréeble vnto his calling had deserued great commendation By his courage especially the victory in the end was atchieued The king Iohn 〈◊〉 and the rest of the chiefetaines were saine to leane their heads behind them and the whole Countrey reduced to a 〈◊〉 obedience Now to procéede vnto his other actions there was great contention betwéene him and his monkes for the space of fiftéene yéeres they being too weake for him at last were glad to giue him 400. markes to enioy their 〈◊〉 in like sort as heretofore they had done He sate Bishop 〈◊〉 37. yéeres and died 1406. 21. Alexander ALexander Prior of Norwich was elected Bishop by the monkes but the king so misliked their choise as he not onely kept him from his dignity but also imprisoned him at Winsor almost a whole yéere after his election At the 〈◊〉 of Thomas Arondell Archbishop of Canterbury and 〈◊〉 other of the Nobility he was released set at liberty and afforded consecration ann 1408. He sate sixe yéeres and was buried in our Ladies Chappell at the féete of Walter Surfield 22. Richard Courtney AT the earnest sute of king Henry the 〈◊〉 Richard Courtney Channcellor of the Uniuersity of Oxford a 〈◊〉 famous for his excellent knowledge in both Lawes was chosen by the Couent and consecrated at Canterbury by the Archbishop in the presence of the King and many of the Nobles A man of great nobility great learning and 〈◊〉 vertue very personable also much fauoured by the king and no lesse beloued among the common people He died of a 〈◊〉 in Normandy in the second yéere after his consecration ann 1415. his body being brought into England was honorably interred at Westminster 23. Iohn Wakering IOhn Wakering that for his life learning and wisedome was esteemed nothing inferior to his predecessor being kéeper of the 〈◊〉 seale was elected by the Couent and consecrated Bishop of Norwich by Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury ann 1416. In his time the Counsell of Constance was holden vnto the which this Bishop with many other were sent out of England by the King In that charge he so behaued him selfe that he obtained great commendation for the same He built the Cloyster which is now to be seene in the Bishops pallace pauing the same with stones of diuers colours And hauing gouerned his charge with great praise he died and was buried in the Cathedrall Church before the Aulter of Saint George 24. William 〈◊〉 ANno 1426. William 〈◊〉 Doctor of the lawes was elected Bishop and consecrated at Saint Paules church in London by the Archbishop of Canterbury and in the 10. yéere of his 〈◊〉 was translated to Lincolne Sée more of him there 25. Thomas Browne THomas Browne Bishop of Rochester being at the 〈◊〉 of Basill had the Bishopricke of Norwich cast vpon him before euer he vnderstood of any such intent toward In his time the citizens of Norwich harboring their old grudge in their enuious mindes attempted many things against the church but such was the singular wisedome and courage of this Bishop that all their enterprises came to none effect He died when he had bene Bishop nine yéeres Anno 1445. 26. Gualter
〈◊〉 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
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