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A01802 A catalogue of the bishops of England, since the first planting of Christian religion in this island together with a briefe history of their liues and memorable actions, so neere as can be gathered out of antiquity. By F.G. subdeane of Exceter. Godwin, Francis, 1562-1633. 1601 (1601) STC 11937; ESTC S103158 367,400 560

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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
but his speciall care was to furnish the same and the rest of his Dioces with learned and honest men with whom he was woont continually to conferre and reason sometime with one and sometime with another partly for his owne exercise and partly to sée what was in them and to raise them vp to a diligence in increasing their knowledge Himselfe was very learned and writ diuers things both in prose and verse He was also a very good musition and could not onely sing but play very well vpon the organs and did set many songs Hauing crowned king Henry the first August 5. 1100. with the helpe of Maurice Bishop of London because Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury liued then in banishment the 18. of Nouember following being sunday he died at Rippon and was buried at Yorke in the Minster himselfe had built next vnto Aldred his predecessor 26. Gerard. AFter the death of Thomas Gerard nephew vnto Walkenlin Bishop of Winchester and Chauncellor of England vnder William the Conquerour and Rofus his sonne hauing beene Bishop of Heresord no long time he was elected vnto Yorke but obtayned not confirmation a great while For he refused to make profession of obedience vnto Canterbury till being commaunded by the Popes letters he performed the same He sate Archbishop seuen yéeres and almost sixe moneths and died suddenly in his garden at Southwell at a time when no body was with him He was a good benefactor vnto the Church of Yorke for he was a meanes vnto the king to bestow the Church of Laxton vpon the Chapter and himselfe hauing obtayued of him the Churches of Dryfield Kilne Pockington and Burgh he gaue them all likewise to the Chapter This notwithstanding after his death they would not suffer him bying so suddenly to be buried within their church hardly in the churchyard So he was laide at the entrance of the church porch But Thomas his successor not suffering such an indignity to be offered vnto an Archbishop remooued his bones into the Church afterward and caused them to be honorably intoombed He was a man of great learning and for eloquence admirable but somewhat too eager against married Priests whom by no meanes he could abide Bale chargeth him with forcery and coniuration because forsooth that after his death there was found in his chamber a volume of 〈◊〉 who writ of Astrology indéed but of coniuration nothing that euer I heard 27. Thomas 2. A Second Thomas succéeded a Chaplain of the kings nephew vnto the former Thomas and sonne vnto Sampson Bishop of Worceter Euen as his predecessor he was very loath to make his profession vnto Caterbury Being called vpon by Anselme the Archbishop He made many 〈◊〉 Wherefore Anselme lying very 〈◊〉 and perceiuing his end to be néere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the Bishops of England commanding them not to consecrate him before he had made his 〈◊〉 laying a terrible curse and 〈◊〉 vpon whosoeuer 〈◊〉 doo it The king after 〈◊〉 death 〈◊〉 the Bishop of Worceter whose sonne he was to consecrate him But he answered that he would not haue the curse of Father 〈◊〉 for any worldly good So in the end being perswaded to yéeld as other had done before him consecration was afforded vnto him and performed by his Father 〈◊〉 the foresaid Bishop of 〈◊〉 or as other report by the Bishop of London Iune 27. 1108. This man erected 〈◊〉 newe 〈◊〉 in his Church of Yorke he placed 〈◊〉 reguler at 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 parcels of land vnto the Colledge of 〈◊〉 and purchased of the king the like liberties priuileges for them that the 〈◊〉 of Yorke 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He sate little aboue 5. yéeres and died I thinke I 〈◊〉 say 〈◊〉 Martyr Lying dangerously 〈◊〉 he was aduertised by the 〈◊〉 the nature of his disease to be such as if he vsed the company of a woman he neede not doubt of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 otherwise nothing was to be looked for but death He 〈◊〉 rather to 〈◊〉 then to 〈◊〉 so high and sacred a calling with so soule and haynous an 〈◊〉 So he ended his life February 19. 1114. and was buried beside the former Thomas his vncle 28. Thurstan THomas the Archbishop being taken away as before I haue declared Thurstan a Cannon of Paules and the Kings Chaplaine was chosen to succéed him He when he could by no meanes obtaine consecration of Ralph Archbishop of Canterbury without making profession of subiection 〈◊〉 and forsooke the 〈◊〉 of his election Yet remembring himselfe at last he went to Rome to plead his cause before the Pope and obtained letters to the king and Archbishop of Canterbury in commendation of his cause These letters preuailing nothing with the Archbishop that would be wonne by no meanes and Thurstan continuing as obstinate in his resolution The Sée remained void along time At last it fell out that a Counsell was summoned to be held at 〈◊〉 Thurstan crauing leaue of the king to goe thither could not obtaine it before he had promised that he would not receiue consecration there Which promise notwithstanding so well he followed his businesse that before the comming ouer of other English Bishops to the Counsell he was a Bishop ready consecrate as well as they and that by the hand of the Pope himselfe So he and he only I thinke of all the Archbishops of York since the Conquest neuer made profession of subiection to the Metropoliticall See of Canterbury The King hearing of this dealing was very greatly offended with Thurstan and for bad him England Neither could the Pope méeting with the King at Gisors and intreating for him so pacifie his displeasure as that he would suffer him to returne After fiue yeeres banishment the Pope writ a very sharpe letter vnto the king signifying that he would excommunicate both him and the Archbishop of Canterbury also if Thurstan were any longer kept from his See and charge Hereupon he was called home and soone after reconciled vnto the King This man is much praysed first for his learning then for his great wisedome and discretion and lastly for his industry and diligence his care and painefulnesse in well gouerning the charge committed to him He was a very kinde man to his Cannons vnto whom amongst other things he affoorded this priuiledge that the yeerely profite of their prebends being deuided into thrée parts it should be lawfull for any Canon to bequeath two parts of the yéere next ensuing his death alotting the third vnto the Fabricke that is toward the reparation of the church This order he set downe not onely at Yorke but at Beuerley also at Southwell at Rippon and at Glocester all which were colledges founded by Archbishops of Yorke Moreouer it is to be remembred that he either founded a 〈◊〉 or renued and repaired eight monasteries In the latter end of his time to wit June 4. 1137. a lamentable chaunce befell his church and city By casuall fire Saint Peters church in Yorke Saint Maries without the walles a
〈◊〉 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
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
meanes possible he might vere and grieue him First because he knew he delighted much in the monastery of Pontiniac which was an Abbey of Cistercian monkes he signified to all the monkes of that order in his dominions that he would banish them euery one if they would not procure the Archbishop to be thrust out of that monastery which for feare of so great calamity to so many men was effected Then he also droue out of the realme all his kinsfolks friends and professed welwillers of whom he suspected him to be any way aided or comforted Alexander the Pope Thomas Beckets surest card was ferited in much like sort the same time by Friderike 〈◊〉 the Emperor as he himselfe was The King therefore by the counsell of Gilbert Bishop of London determined to ioyns in league with the Emperor if possibly he might that was a professed enimy both to the French King and the Pope To this purpose he sent two ambassadors vnto him perswading him to deals with the Cardinals Lucius the Antipope being then lately dead to set vp another in his roome to whom he promised all his dominions should yéelde obedience The Pope hauing notize of this practise began presentlyto quaile sent the King word he would order all things betwéene the Archbishop and him to his 〈◊〉 liking and that out of hand Now it had hapened a little before that the Pope had graunted vnto the Archbishop a very large licence of excommunicating whom he list in England the King the Queene and a very few other excepted This authority he abused very intemperately at that time when 〈◊〉 matters were thus in hammering betwéene the Pope and 〈◊〉 King in so much as he had marred all if the Pope had not spéedly yeelded a reason thereof to the King By this time the French King the Popes onely Protector against the Emperor began to spy that he was much more cold in the defence of the Archbishop then he had beene and reprehended him sharply for it The Pope therefore not knowing which way to turne him selfe for the satisfiyng of both these potentates neither of which he could safcly offend as things stoode he determined first to labour a reconciliation betweene them and then to make the French King a mediator for the Archbishop This he effected and brought the two Kings together at Paris Thither also came Thomas Becket And sute being made vnto the King in his behalfe that he might returne be restored to his goods and reuenues arising in the time of his absence and lastly vpon his humble submission to the Kings fauour The King answered that for the rest he was contented but faith he the profites of his Archbishopricke since his banishment I can not allow him for that I haue already giuen them to others Mary recompence I will make him for them to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the French King or the Senate of Paris or else of the 〈◊〉 of the Uniuersity Presently the Archbishop was called for who falling downe vpon his knees vsed these words My Lord and soueraigne I doo here commit vnto your owne iudgement the cause and controuersie betwéene vs so farre foorth as I may sauing the honor of 〈◊〉 God The King much offended with that last exception 〈◊〉 honore Dei turned him about vnto the French King and telling him how much he had doone for the Archbishop and how he had vsed him I am quoth he at last so well acquainted with the tricks of this fellow that I can not hope for any good dealing at his hands Sée you not how he goeth about to delude me with this clause sauing the honor of God For whatsoeuer shall displease him he will by and by alleage to be preiudiciall to the honor of Almighty God But this I will say vnto you whereas there haue béene Kings of England many before me whereof some were peraduenture of greater power than I the most part farre lesse and againe many Archbishops before this man holy and notable men Looke what duty was euer perfourmed by the greatest Archbishop that euer was to the weakest and simplest of my predecessours let him yéeld me but that and it shall abundantly content me Hereunto the Archbishop answered cunningly and stoutly ynough that the times were altered his predecessors which could not bring all things to passe at the first dash were content to beare with many things and that as men they fell and omitted their duty oftentimes that which the Church had gotten was by the constancy of good Prelates whose example he would follow thus farre foorth as though he could not augment the priuileges of the Church in his time yet he would neuer consent they should be diminished This answeare being heard all men cryed shame vpon him and generally imputed the fault of these sturs vnto him But this was the issue for that time that they parted without reconciliation The King doubting what might come of these broiles caused his sonne Henry that died soone after to be crowned King in his owne life time so to assure him of the succession Afterwards comming into Fraunce againe they were vpon the point of reconciliation when the casting out of some such word or another as before marred all At length the King and he were made friends but his full restitution deferred till he had behaued himselfe quietly a while at Canterbury which he promised to doo But he was so farre from perfourming that promise as he sent into England before him diuers excommunications which the Pope had graunted out long before and committed to his discretion Amongst other the Archbishop of Yorke the Bishop of London and Salisbury were named in them together with so many as had béene dooers in the coronation of the yoong King which the Archbishop said might not be performed of any but by his appointment The men thus strucken with this holy fire hasted them ouer into Normandy to make their complaint vnto the king who infinitely grieued at this kinde of dealing cursed the time that euer he made him Archbishop or restored him to his place againe adding it was his chaunce euer to do for vnthankefull men otherwise some or other would long ere this haue made this proud priest an example to all such troublesome perturbers of his realme and state It happened amongst other fower knights to be present at this spéech of the kings who gathered thereby they should do a deed very acceptable vnto him if they killed the Archbishop Their names were Reynald Fitz-Vrse Hugh de Mortuill William de Tracy and Richard Briton In this meane time the Archbishop was come to Canterbury and was receiued there with great ioy Thence he went to London and so to Woodstocke where the yoong king then lay But before he could get to the kings presence word was brought him the kings pleasure was he should first go to Canterbury and reuoke those excommunications before he the king would talke with him So he returned againe to Canterbury without seeing the king
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 thē 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 dam●●●● 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
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
consecrate afterwards at Lambhith by the Bishop of Chichester and died December 8. 1339. 56. Ralfe Stratford RAlfe Stratford was consecrate at Canterbury March 12. 1348. He purchased the péece of ground called No-mans-land beside Smithfield and dedicated it to the vse of buriall He was borne at Stratford vpon Avon where he builded the Chappell of Saint Thomas and died at Stupenheath hauing sate Bishop about the space of fourtéene yéeres 57. Michaell Northbrooke MIchaell Northbrooke Doctor of Law had his election confirmed July 7. 1355. and died the yéere 1361. 58. Simon Sudbury SImon Sudbury alias Tibald Doctor of Law succéeded He sate Bishop about fiftéene yéeres and was translated to Canterbury Sée more of him there 59. William Courtney THe yéere 1375. at what time Bishop Sudbury was remooued to Canterbury William Courtney Bishop of Hereford was called to London and afterwards succéeded the same man in Canterbury also viz. in the end of the yéere 1381. Sée more of him in Canterbury 60. Robert Braybrooke RObert Braybrooke was consecrate Ianuary 5. 1381. In Sept. 1382. he was made Lord Chauncellor but held not that office past halfe a yéere He died August 27. 1404. or as his Epitaphe reporteth 1405. and lyeth buried in the middle of the Lady Chappell vnder a faire Marble stone in laid with letters made euery one of a seuerall péece of brasse 61. Roger Walden ONe Thomas Langley was then elected Bishop October 20. following But the Pope little regarding this election of his méere authority according to his manner bestowed this Bishopricke December 10. 1404. vpon Roger Walden that for a time had held the place and authority of Archbishop of Canterbury Neuer had any man better experience of the variable vncertainty of worldly felicity From the estate of a very poore man he was sodainly raysed to be Treasurer of England hauing béene first Secretary to the king Deane of Yorke and Treasurer of the Towne of Calis and then made Archbishop of Canterbury That honor he enioied not past two yéeres but he was remooued from the same and forced to lead a priuate life a great while At last being once more lift vp into a place of honor he was not suffred to enioy the same any long time within the compasse of a yéere after he was made Bishop of London he died and was buried in the Priory of S. 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 See more of him in T. Arundell of Canterbury 62. Nicholas Bubwith IN the beginning of the yéere 1406. Nicholas Bubwith was consecrate Bishop of London Within little more then the compasse of that one yéere he was twice translated first to Salisbury and then to Bathe Sée more of him in Bathe 63. Richard Clifford THe Pope had bestowed the Bishopricke of Bathe by way of prouision vpon Richard 〈◊〉 Archdeacon of Canterbury the yéere 1401. But king Henry the fourth then newly come to the crowne being very desirous of preferring another man to that place assured him he would neuer giue him possession of his temporalties yet promised him his fauour in some other matter Hereupon he was content to let go this hold and begin a new sute for Worcester which in the ende of the same yéere he easily obtained There he sate about sixe yéeres and October 13. 1407. was translated to London The yéere 1414. he trauayled to the Counsell of Constance and preached in Latine before the Emperor and other estates there assembled In that Counsell the long schisme was ended and Martin the fift chosen the sole Pope The Counsell thinking it méete that thirty persons should be added to the Cardinals in this election this Bishop was one of that number In which also there were that named him vnto the Papacy Himselfe was the first that named the Cardinall Columna who thereupon the rest consenting was immediately elected This Bishop lyeth buried néere the place where the shrine of Saint Erkenwald stood toward the South to wit hard by the monument of Sir Christofer Hatton 64 Iohn Kemp. AFter him the yéere 1422. succéeded Iohn Kemp first Bishop of Rochester then of Chichester The yéere 1425. he was translated from London to Yorke and afterwards to Canterbury Sée more of him in Canterbury and Yorke 65. William Gray VVIlliam Gray Deane of Yorke was consecrate May 26. 1426. and the yéere 1431. translated to Lincolne Sée Lincolne 66. Robert Fitz-hugh RObert Fitz-hugh Doctor of Lawe and Archdeacon of Northampton was consecrate September 16. 1431. This man had béene twice Embassadour once into Germany and another time to Rome The yéere 1435. he was elected Bishop of Ely but died before his intended translation could be perfected viz. vpon S. Maurices day 1435. and lyeth buried in the Presbitery a little aboue the Bishops Sée vnder a Marble stone inlaid with brasse 67. Robert Gilbert RObert Gilbert Doctor of Diuinitie and Deane of Yorke was consecrate the yéere 1432. and died 1448. 68. Thomas Kemp. THe Pope of his absolute authoritie bestowed the Bishopricke of London vpon T. Kemp the yéere 1449. He was consecrate at Yorke place now called White Hall February 8. 1449. by the handes of his vncle Iohn Kemp then Archbishop of Yorke This man sate Bishop almost 40. yéeres He died March 28. 1489. and was buried in the vpper end of the body of his church betwéene two pillers where he caused to be built ouer his tombe a sumptuous chappell and erected as I take it a Chauntry in the same He built Paules crosse in forme as now it standeth was a benefactor of our Uniuersity of Oxford the particularity how farre foorth I know not 69. I ohn Marshall THe Chapter elected for their Bishop one Richard Hyll August 19. 1489. But I finde that Iohn Marshall by the Popes appointment no doubt became Bishop of London the same yeere and died the yéere 1493. This man if I be not deceiued was Bishop of Landaff before his preferment to London 70. Richard Hyll MArshall being dead the forenamed Richard Hyll whether by vertue of his old election or no I know not obtained consecration the same yéere 1493. He lieth buried in the body of the church vnder a marble stone bearing yet the title of his name though euen almost worne out 71. Thomas Sauage THomas Sauage was first Bishop of Rochester translated thence to London 1496. and from London to Yorke 1501. Sée more of him in Yorke 72. William Warham VVIlliam Warham Doctor of Law became Bishop of London in the beginning of the yéere 1503. In the end of 1504. he was translated to Canterbury Sée more of him there 73. William Barnes IN the beginning of 1505. William Barnes was made Bishop of London and died before the end of the same yéere 74. Richard Fitz-Iames RIchard Fitz-Iames Doctor of Lawe brought vp in Merton college in Oxford was consecrated Bishop of Rochester the yéere 1496. translated thence to Chichester 1504. from Chichester to London 1506. He died the yéere 1521. A gentleman of an ancient house learned and very vertuous He
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
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
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
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 solc̄nity 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 Bas●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
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 Par●●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
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
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
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
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
Bishop being troubled much in mind after the performance of that action and either amased with feare of what might happen after it or ouercome with gréefe and repentance of that he had done neuer could be mery after and so by conceit was cast into a disease whereof he died September 11. 1069. This is the report of W. Malmesbury others say namely Florentius Wigorne that he was so grieued with the comming in of a Nauy of the Danes as he prayed to God to take him out of this life that he might not sée the slaughter and spoyle which he thought they would make And that this griefe was the cause of his death He was more reuerenced afterward then while he liued a great deale No English man succéeded him in many yéeres after And the Normans being odious vnto the people they gladly reprehended all their actions comparing them with such English Bishops as they could remember made most fauorable report of them One thing also encreased his credite much Vrsus Earle of Worceter had built a Castle there to some preiudice of the monks in so much as the ditch of the said Castle empaired a little of the Church yard Aldred went vnto the Earle hauing before admonished him to right the wrong and hauing demaunded of him whether it were done by his appointment which he could not deny looking 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vrse Haue thou Gods 〈◊〉 and mine and of all 〈◊〉 heads except thou 〈◊〉 away this castle and know thou assuredly that thy posterity shall not inherite the land 〈◊〉 inheritance of Saint Mary This his 〈◊〉 seemed to take effect for 〈◊〉 died 〈◊〉 after and Roger his sonne a very small time enioying his fathers honour lost the same and was saine to flye the realme for killing an officer of the kings Thus much for Aldred who after his death was buried in his owne church 25. Thomas THe king then appointed Thomas a Channon of Bayon to be his successor a Norman by birth but he was brought vp altogither in the schooles of the Saxons in Fraunce except a little time he spent in Spaine He was the sonne of a priest a married priest I take it and brother vnto Sampson Bishop of Worceter whose sonne Thomas succéeded afterwards this Thomas in this Sée of Yorke A man very learned gentle both in countenance and words of a very swéete and amiable behauiour chaste and which is not to be despised of a goodly personage being in his youth beautifull in his latter time well coloured and his haire both head and beard as white as snow At his first entrance he had some what to do with Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterbury vnto whom he would not make profession of obediencē neuer as he alledged before that time required And indéed before the comming of William the Conqueror saith one the two Metropolitanes of England were not onely in authority dignity and office but also in number of suffragane Bishops 〈◊〉 But at this time saith he they of Canterbury 〈◊〉 the new king that Yorke ought to be subiect vnto their Sée and that it was for the good and safety of the king that the church thereof should be obedient principally vnto one for that otherwise one might set the crowne vpon one mans 〈◊〉 and the other doe as much for some body else This 〈◊〉 is more at large debated in Canterbury The ende for that time was that Thomas ouerborne by the Archbishop of Canterbury Lanfranke and the king who fauoured him was faine to appeale vnto Rome both of them being there in person before the Pope they fell as commonly it happeneth in like cases from the chiefe point into by matters and articling one against another What Thomas laide against Lanfranke I find not And all that Lanfranke had to say against him was that he was a priests son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that the king for his faithfull seruice had promised him a Bishopricke before his comming into England These were so great matters in the Popes iudgement as Thomas must be depriued of his ring and crosier and not restored to them but by the entreaty of Lanfranke As for the matter of Primacy he left it to the iudgment of the king and Bishops of England who forced Thomas to yeeld Comming then to Yorke he found that estate of his whole Dioces the city church especially most miserable The Danes before mentioned comming toward Yorke the Normans that held the castle thought good to burne certaine houses neere the castle least they might be a furtherance vnto the enemy This vngentle fire would not be entreated to stay iust where they would haue it but procéeding farther then his commission destroyed the monastery and church of Saint Peter and in fine the whole city Before the fire was out the Danes came and tooke both city and castle by force putting to the sword all the Normans they found there to the number of 3000 sauing none aliue but one William Mallet his wife children and a few other Soone after the destruction of this goodly city the king came into these parts with a puissant army against the Danes not ceasing to make all manner of spoile as if he had béene in the enemies countrey So betwéene the Danes and the Normans such hauocke was made as all the land from the great riuer of Humber vnto the riuer of Tine lay waste and not inhabited by any man for the space of nine yeeres after In the church of Yorke there were onely thrée Chanons left the rest being all either dead or fled away they had left vnto them neither house to put their heads in nor any good meanes how to line and maintaine themselues All these faults this industrious Bishop endeuoured to amend First he new couered and repaired his church as well as he might to serue the turne for a time But afterwards he pulled downe all the old building and erected from the very foundation a new to wit the Minster that now standeth His channons dispersed abroad he called home againe and tooke order they should be reasonably prouided for He built them a hall and a dorter and appointed one of them to be the Prouost and gouernour of the rest Also he bestowed certaine mannors and lands vpon them and caused other to be restored that had béen taken from them The church then hauing continued in this state a good while I know not by whose aduise the Archbishop thought good to diuide the land of Saint Peters church into Prebends and so to allot a particular portion vnto euery channon whereas before they liued together vpon the common charges of the church at one table much in like sort as fellowes of houses do now in the Uniuersities At the same time also he appointed a Deane a Treasurer and a chanter and also for the Chauncellorship it was founded of him before The church newly built by him he furnished with books and all kind of ornaments necessary
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
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
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
age bringeth forth lesse plenty of learned men then other amongst vs And it is much to befeared least our posterity will too truely say AEtas parentum peior Auis tulit Nos rudiores mox daturos Progeniem ineruditiosam To make no mention of such other reasons as might induce me to the publishing of these noses least I make my porch larger then some principall roomes of my intended building I thinke it necessary now to admonish the Reader that he expect not any ample discourse of the liues and actions of the Bishops of our owne time or neere vnto it I hane purposly auoyded to set downe any thing of them but what either I finde written by other or elseremayneth to be secne in publike record And this course I haue taken because I iudge it neither seemely to praise nor safe to reprehend how iustly soeuer those men that either by themselues their neere friends or posterity yet liuing may seeme either to haue allured me to flatter or feared me from disclosing that truth which otherwise I would haue vttered Neither do I thinke it needefull to say much of them who being either present in action or fresh in memory are sufficiently knowen vnto vs. Whereas moreouer I haue passed ouer in silence some two Sees you shal vnder stand that I haue beene forced there 〈◊〉 for want of some necessary instructions which by reason of the far distance of my place of dwelling from them I haue not had meanes to attayne although I haue endeuoured the same I would therefore earnestly pray all men that can to yeeld me helpe for the supplying of whatsoeuer may seeme to be wanting either in those Sees or any other I shall take it very thankfully at their hands In the meane time this which now I am able to affoord vnto you I wish it may be taken in good part and God grant it may in some measure prooue a meanes of the aduauncement of his glory and the good of his Church Amen The Archbishops of Canterbury 1. Augustine IT is very certaine and witnessed by many histories without exception that our Island of Britayne receiued the faith of Christ euen in the first infancie of the Church Theodoret and Sophronius Patriarke of Jerusalem affirme that Saint Paul himselfe was héere and preached the Gospell after his first imprisonment at Rome Nicephorus and some other report that Simon Zelotes came hither and was the first messenger of the glad tidings of the Gospell to our nation But it is deliuered by one consent that Saint Philip the Apostle of the Frenchmen vnderstanding how this Island from whence first sprong the superstitious religion of the Druydes was seperated from Fraunce by a small cut of a fewe houres saile thought good to send ouer hither twelue preachers the chiefe whereof was Ioseph of Arimathia that buried the bodie of our Sauiour Christ. These men arriuing héere the yéere of our Lord 63. did their best indeuour for the conuersion of our Britaines It pleased not God they shoulde preuaile with the king who in no wise would be woone from the superstition of the Druydes But of the meaner sort of people many there were that hearkened vnto them yea the king himselfe admiring their great modestie painfulnes and vertuous behauiour was content to assigne them a place of habitation where Glastonbury now standeth which was at that time and long after an Island all compassed about with lakes and standing water And another king gaue vnto euery of those twelue a hide of lande in the countrey néere adioyning which are named to this day the twelue hides of Glastonbury In this Island of Glastonbury then called Auallon Ioseph and his fellowes found meanes to build a church which after they were dead stoode desolate the whole Island being forsaken and remaining without any inhabitant many yéeres euen vntill the time of king Lucius which was about the yéere of Christ 180. It hapned then a lawe héeretofore made by Claudius Caesar as Suetonius reporteth in his life was now generally put in execution by the Romaines who ruled all this end of the world commanding that the superstitious religion of the Druydes should euery where be abolished The pulling vp of these wéedes gaue good occasion vnto the séede of the Gospell sowed long before by the preachers afore mentioned now to spring and bring foorth fruite whereunto God gaue so good increase as Lucius the king himselfe was content to put on the swéete yoke of our Sauiour which that it might be the better and the more fruitfully performed he sent Eluan a notable impe and disciple of that holy College at Auallon and Medwyin a Dutch man that were the instruments of his conuersion vnto Eleutherius the bishop of Rome requesting that he would send other preachers vnto his realme by whom he and his people might be further instructed in the way of truth He satisfied his demaund and sent vnto him two notable men 〈◊〉 and Phaganus by whose paines and industrie chiefly the whole realme was finally conuerted They sought out the ancient church at Glastonbury repaired the same and dwelled there for the space of nine yéeres after Now king Lucius being himselfe Baptised and many of his people in all parts of his dominions he caused the temples of his false gods to be dedicate to the seruice of the true God in the place of their priests he appointed preachers of the Gospel and for their Flamines Bishops to the number of 28. Of these 28. thrée were Archbishops one at London whose prouince was the south part of England Another at Caerlegion vpon Uske his prouince was Wales And a third at Yorke vnto whose iurisdiction the Bishops of Scotland and North England were subiect The Gospell hauing taken such déepe roote héere flourished a while very prosperously And albeit it were often lopped and pruned afterward yea the very maine rootes mightily strucken at by the violent indeuour of sundry tyrants that sought vtterly to destroy and abolish the same out of this land yet had it euer many constant and open professors that neuer suffred the light thereof vtterly to be extinguished Amongst manie the most terrible persecution that euer this church sustained was by the Saxons who expelled not onely Christian religion but the followers of the same into a corner of this Island Howbeit euen amongst these very barbarous Saxons there were diuers from time to time that professed Christ But our countrey being in a manner all growen ouer with Pagamsme for there was no publike allowance of Christian religion any where but in Wales it pleased God to giue this occasion of replanting the same héere againe It chanced that blessed and holy father Saint Gregory one day to espie certaine beautifull children to be sold in the stréetes of Rome and vnderstanding they were Pagans asked of what countrey they were It was answered they were Angles well may they be so called quoth he for they looke like Angels Demaunding them of what prouince
one Christian name 50. Walter Raynolds RObert Winchelsey being dead the monks of Canterbury elected for his successour one Thomas Cobham that was Deane of Salisbury and Prebendary of Yorke a man of such vertue and learning as he was commonly called by the name of the good Clerke The king Edward the second was desirous to preferre vnto that place Walter Raynolds Bishop of Worcester whom he fauoured singularly for his assured fidelity and great wisedome Before therefore that the saide Thomas Cobham could get away to Rome the king vnderstanding of his election sent thither in all post haste earnestly requesting the Pope to finde meanes that this Walter might be made Archbishop He glad of such an occasion to exercise the vtmost of his vsurped authority without any more adoo thrust in the said Walter Raynolds into that Sée pretending that he had reserued the gift of the Archbishoprick for that time vnto himselfe before it fell Cobham a while stoode vpon the right of his election but perceauing to how little purpose it was to stirre with so mighty aduersaries as the Pope and the king both at once was content to accept of the Bishopricke of Worcester which the other left This Walter had béene a Courtier a long time Chapleyne first vnto Edward the first and Parson of Wimberton then by Edward the second whose schoolemaster some say he was made Treasurer and Chauncellour of England and preferred to the Bishopricke of Worcester the yéere 1308. The buls of his translation were published in Bowe Church Ianuary 4. 1313. He receaued his pall Febr. 17. following and was installed with great pompe and solemnity April 19. in the presence of the king the Quéene and many nobles The first thing he did after his comming to Canterbury was to take order by giuing pensions and diuers sums of money at Rome that appeales made from him to the court there should finde no fauourable intertainment He precured also eight seuerall Buls containing so many great and extraordinarie priuileges The first gauc him authority of visiting all his prouince so as he should haue procurations euery where and yet his charges borne The second to visite monasteries and all other exempt places The third to absolue and restore to their former state two hundred Cleargy men that had incurred irregularitie The fourth to dispense with the Minoritie of a hundred Clearks and enable them to take spirituall liuings The fifth to absolue a hundred of such as by striking any Cleargy man had fallen into the danger of excommunication The sixt to grant forty pluralities The seuenth to require the gift of any one dignitie or spirituall promotion in any church or college where he should visite The eight to grant pardon of a hundred daies in any place where he should visite preach giue almes or kéepe hospitality Being thus armed he perfourmed his visitation trauailing himselfe in the same till by the Barons wars he was hindered and sent for vnto the Court by the king That warre being ended and execution done vpon diuers of the nobles that had rebelled Adam Tarlton Bishop of Hereford was apprehended and brought to the barre to be arraigned for the like fault All the Bishops of England almost were then at London The Archbishops of Canterbury Yorke and Dublin hearing of it in great haste hied them thither and hauing their crosses borne before them entred the court by violence tooke the prisoner from the barre and carried him away with them Much adoo there was about this matter a good while the stir was not quight ended when the Quéene rising against her husband and setting vp her sonne to 〈◊〉 the kingdome at last procured him to be deposed This our Archb. then shewed himselfe a very weake man He was content a while outwardly to stand with the king as beside the common duty of a subiect he was bound to do by benefites receaued infinite but first vnderhand he aided the Queene with great sums of money and at last vtterly for sooke him his lawfull prince his master his patron that had aduaunced him by so many degrées vnto an estate so honorable It pleased God that 〈◊〉 timorousnesse should be his destruction By the Quéene aforesaid of whom he stood so greatly in awe he was commanded to consecrate one Iames Barkley elected Bishop of Excester He did so but for his labor was so threatned taunted and reuiled by the Pope that saide he had reserued the gift of that Bishoprick vnto himselfe as for griefe and anger togither he died when he had sate Archbishop 13. yéeres 9. moneths and thrée wéekes He was buried in the south wall of Christs church in Canterbury néere the Quier where his tombe is yet to be seene with an inscription which I haue read long since but I thinke is now defaced This man was but meanly learned yet very wise of good gouernment except when for feare and want of courage he neglected his dutie He gaue vnto his Couent the Manour of Caldcote and the wood of Thorlehot 51. Simon Mepham SImon Mepham Doctor of Diuinitie Canon of Chichester Prebendary of Landaff and Parson of Tunstall a Kentish man borne one very well learned as learning went in those daies was then elected by the monks approoued by the king and affoorded consecration by the Pope at Auinion the yéere 1327. The first thing he did at his returne home was that he excommunicated all the authors of the death of Walter Stapleton Bishop of Excester as they had well deserued Soone after he began to wrangle with his monks of Canterbury about certaine land They complained them vnto the Pope who sent a Nuncio to Canterbury to heare and determine of this controuersie He condemned the Archbishop in seuen hundred pound charges After this he began to visite his prouince in like sort as his predecessors had done before him The Bishop of Excester Iohn Graundson resisted him for what cause I finde not appealed to Rome and would not suffer him so much as to enter into his Cathedrall Church much lesse to visite in the same These two repulses he tooke so tenderly as being yet scarcely returned home he fell sicke and died October 12. 1333. at Magfield His body was conueighed to Canterbury and laid in a marble fombe vpon the North side of Saint Anselmes chappell He sate Archbishop fiue yéeres and somewhat more 52. Iohn Stratford THe Pope who now tooke vpon him to dispose of all Bishoprickes at his pleasure was content at the kings request to nominate vnto Canterbury Uoid by the death of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iohn Stratford Bishop of Winchester This Iohn Stratford hauing long and to good purpose studied the Canon and ciuill Law was called to the Archdeaconry of Lincolne Being famous for his learning and good gouernment of that iurisdiction Walter the Archbishop made him his principall Officiall and Deane of the Arches and king Edward the second shortly after that appointed him Secretary and so one of his priuy counsell It chaunced he was
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
gentlemen of great worship whom he matched vnto his néeces and kinswomen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 himselfe happy that he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be well acquainted with his porters and officers was accounted 〈◊〉 small matter This man once downe and standing in 〈◊〉 of his friends help had no man to defend him no man to speake for him no man that mooued a 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 him out of the present calamity and trouble The 〈◊〉 Iohn was 〈◊〉 to haue 〈◊〉 him some farther notable 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Neither was there any man that for his 〈◊〉 sake 〈◊〉 it The Bishops diuers of them his 〈◊〉 regarding notwithstanding his calling and place would not suffer it but causes him to be set at liberty 〈◊〉 not long after he got him ouer into Normandy where he was borne there rested himselfe after all this turmoile till the returne of king Richard with whom he made such faire weather and so 〈◊〉 excused all things obiected against him that in short time he was as greatly in fauor with him as euer heretofore The yéere 1197. he was sent Embassador to the Pope together with the Bishop of Durham and other and falling sicke by the way died at Poytiers the last day of Ianuary one 〈◊〉 aboue seuen yeere after his 〈◊〉 He was buried in a monastery of the order of the 〈◊〉 called 〈◊〉 5. Eustachius THe Sée was then 〈◊〉 one whole yéere 〈◊〉 somwhat more The ninth day of August 〈◊〉 after 〈◊〉 death Eustachius Deane of Salisbury was elected but not 〈◊〉 till the fourth Sunday in Lent the yéere following A man saith Florilogus very well séene aswel in 〈◊〉 as diuine and holy learning He was one of them 〈◊〉 pronounced the Popes excommunication against king 〈◊〉 interdicted the whole Realme For dooing thereof he 〈◊〉 the kings displeasure would lye so heauy vpon him as 〈◊〉 was no 〈◊〉 in the realme and therefore got him 〈◊〉 the seas This fell out the yéere 1208. After 〈◊〉 yéeres 〈◊〉 king Iohn being reconciled to the Pope he 〈◊〉 home 〈◊〉 the yéere 1213. and liued not long after 〈◊〉 sate 〈◊〉 yéeres wanting nine 〈◊〉 and departed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the third day of 〈◊〉 1214. The 〈◊〉 at the West end of the Cathedrall Church was of his building 6. Iohn de Fontibus AFter his death Galfridus de Burgo Archdeacon of Norwich and brother vnto Hubert de Burgo or Burrough Earle of Kent and chiefe Justice of England was elected Bishop of Ely But before the publication of this election one Robert of Yorke was also chosen who held the temporalities of the Bishopricke without consecration and disposed of benefices that fell and all things belonging to the Sée as Bishop for the space of fiue yéeres The Pope at last disanulling both these elections conferred the Bishopricks March 8. 1219. vpon Iohn Abbot of Fountney a iust and vertuous man He was Treasurer of England for flue yeeres and died the yéere 1225. He is said to be buried before the aulter of Saint Andrew 7. Geoffry de Burgo HE being dead Geoffry Burrough before mentioned was againe elected and obtayned consecration which he receiued vpon Saint Peters day the yéere 1225. Of him 〈◊〉 Virgil giueth the same testimony that Matthew Westm. doth of his predecessor Eustachius that he was vir in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 humanis literis eruditus a man well learned both in diuine and prophane literature He gaue two hundred acres of Moore in Wisbich marsh to the augmentation of the priory of Ely He continued Bishop about thrée yéeres and dying the 17. of May 1229. was buried vpon the North side of the Quier 8. Hugh NorWold HVgh Norwold Abbot of Saint 〈◊〉 succéeded him and was consecrate by Ioceline Bishop of Bathe and Wels togither with Richard Archbishop of Canterbury and Roger Bishop of London vpon Trinity sunday 1229. 〈◊〉 the tenth of June This 〈◊〉 is much commended for his house kéeping and liberality vnto the poore which may well séeme strange considering the infinite deale of 〈◊〉 spent by him in building of his church and houses The presbytery of the cathedrall church he raised from the very foundation and built a steeple of wood toward the 〈◊〉 at the West end of the church This noble worke he 〈◊〉 in seuentéene yéeres with the charge of 5350 l. 18 s. 8 d. And the seuentéene daie of September 〈◊〉 he dedicated 〈◊〉 as we commonly call it hallowed the same in the 〈◊〉 of the king Henry the third and his sonne Prince Edward the Bishops of Norwich 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and many other great personages All these and an infinite number of other people of all sorts he feasted many daies togither in his pallace of Ely which he built euery whit out of the ground and couered it with lead In Ditton and other houses belonging to his Sée he also bestowed much money He died at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 9. day of August 1254. being well contented as he professed now to depart the world after he had séene the building 〈◊〉 his church finished which 〈◊〉 so earnestly desired He sate two moneths aboue 25. yéeres and was buried in the 〈◊〉 ytery which he had built 9. William de Kilkenny ABout the middle of October following 〈◊〉 de Kelkenny that then for a time supplied the 〈◊〉 of the Chauncellor of England was elected by the monkes vnto the Sée of Ely and was consecrate the fiftéenth of August beyond the seas He was chaplaine vnto the king a councellor of speciall credit with him and as the 〈◊〉 of Ely reporteth I find it no where els Chancellor of England A goodly man of person well spoken very wise and learned in the lawes He enioyed that preserment a small time being sent Ambassador into Spaine he died there vpon Saint Mathewes day 1256. when he had béene Bishop one yeere one moneth and sixe daies He tooke order his hart should be brought vnto Ely and buried there 10. Hugh Balsam NEwes being brought vnto the Court of the death of William de Kylkeny The king by and by dispatched his letters vnto the Prior and Couent of Ely requiring them in very gratious manner to choose for their Bishop Henry de Wingham his Chauncellor vsing many reasons to perswade them thereunto But they preferring their owne knowledge before the kings cemmendations the 13. day of Nouember made choise of Hugh Balfam or de 〈◊〉 for so also I find him called their Prior one as they perswaded themselues most fitte for the place Hereat the king being greatly displeased refused to accept of their election and caused the woods of the Bishopricke to be cut downe the parks to be spoyled and 〈◊〉 to be made of all things Many times he vrged them to a new election telling them it was not fit that a place of that strength should be committed vnto a simple cloyster man that had neuer béene acquainted with matters of state The new elect therefore got him ouer the sea to Rome hoping there to obtaine that which in England would not be affoorded
〈◊〉 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
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
other of his Italians to any other promotion in his Dioces For his labour he was quickely susspended Wherewith he was so little terrified as that notwithstanding he stood still stoutly to his tackling and yeelded not one inch Iordan therefore whether doubting of good successe or wearied with trouble or in regard that he perceiued himselfe very odious in Yorke resigned his Deanry accepting a pension of 100. markes out of it This composition with Iordan nothing apeased the Popes fury Determining belike to make him an example to other he first caused his crosse in contumelious maner to be taken from him and soone after thundred on t his greatest excōmunication against him causing him to be cursed throughout England with bell booke and candle By these and infinite other vexations saith Matthew Paris he was much disgraced in the fight of the world but became no doubt far the more acceptable in the sight of God So long he denied to how his knees vnto this 〈◊〉 as ouercome with care and not induring those 〈◊〉 all molestations he died at last hart broken much better deseruing the name of a Martyr then many other to whom the church of Rome hath afforded that title Lying vpon his death bed perceiuing his end to approch with watry eies looking 〈◊〉 towards heauen in that bitternes of his soule he made this prayer which I thinke not vnworthy in this place to be inserted Lord Iesus Christ thou most iust iudge from whose 〈◊〉 wisedome nothing is hid thou knowest how the Pope vnto whom thou hast suffered the gouernment of thy church to be deliuered hath with manifold 〈◊〉 ouerwhel med my innocencie for no other cause as thou canst witnes the world doubteth not then this that I would not admit men altogether vnknowne yea and most vnfit vnto the cure and care of those churches the rule and charge whereof vnto me though vnwoorthie thou hast committed Notwithstanding least by my contempt the Popes 〈◊〉 sentence of excommunication become iust and deserued with all humilitie I craue to be absolued from the same But I appeale vnto thee the supreme and vncorruptible iudge and both heauen and earth shall be my witnesses that he hath most vniustly vexed and many waies as gréeuously as wrongfully offended me Before his end also he writ vnto the Pope a very effectuall and pithie letter wherein he laied before him at large the miserable estate into which the 〈◊〉 of him and his predecessors had brought the church praying him to haue a care to amend what was amisse to remember that Christ repeated vnto Peter thrice Feede my sheepe but not so much as once or halfe once bid him either to flay them or to sheere them much lesse to teare out their very bowels to deuours or destroy them as he did But the Pope was so farre from following this good aduise as he not onely contemned the same but first derided the good Bishop for his labor afterward grew into great choller taking it hainously that any mortall man should be so presumptuous as to admonish him of his dutie He sate Archbishop onely two yéeres in which time he reformed many things amisse in the state of his Church He caused the stipend of the ministers of Saint Sepulchres chappell to be increased and appointed them to be called Cannons He erected Uicariges in diuers impropriate churches which till that time were very ill serued and did many other things woorth memorie but more 〈◊〉 haue done if his time had béene either longer or more quiet and peaceable He died vpon or neere vnto Ascention 〈◊〉 1258. and was buried in his Cathedrall church The place of his sepulture there was much frequented of the ignorant people that esteemed him a Saint Notwithstanding the great conflicts betweene him and the Pope our monkes doubt not to father vpon him a miracle of turning water into wine by blessing it in time of his sicknesse The 〈◊〉 whereof I leaue vnto the Reader 35. Godfry de Kinton ABout this time saith Matthew Paris an order was taken at Rome that euery elect Bishop of England must before his consecration fetch the Popes approbation at Rome whence if his purse helped him not the better he was sure to returne home as wise as he went foorth The first that was inforced to this vagare was 〈◊〉 de Kinton or as other write him Godfry de Ludham He was Deane of Yorke and being elect at home trauailed to Rome where he receaued consecration September 23. 1258. This man J know not vpon what quarrell interdicted the whole city of Yorke in the beginning of lent and restored it not till the third of May following which was in the yeere 1261. He sate sixe yeeres three moneths and eigghtéene daies dying then about Twelfetide 1264. he was buried in his owne church 36. Walter Giffard AFter the death of Godfry William de Langton Deane of Yorke was elected to succéede him But the Pope for what cause I know not peraduenture because he brought not mony enough in his purse reiected him and translated Walter Giffard from Bathe and Welles to Yorke He was the Popes Chaplaine and Cannon of Welles first Treasurer then Chauncellor of England Elected to Bathe May 22. 1264. From whence he was remooued 1266. hauing continued there onely two yéeres He liued at Yorke thirtéen yéeres departed this life Aprill 25. 1279. and lieth buried there in Saint Peters church 37. William Wickwane IT shall not be amisse here to remember that Onuphrius reporteth Saint Bonauenture whom he calleth Bonauentura Fidanza to haue bene preferred about this time from the Archbishopricke of Yorke vnto the place of a Cardinall viz. in the yeere 1274. Paulus 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith that at what time diuers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 came to the Councell of Lyons to conferre with the learned men of our Westerne church concerning the difference of opinions betwéene vs and them Thomas Aquinas who then read Diuinitie at Naples was sent for as the fittest man of that age to deale with them but he died in the way Bonauenture was then appointed to supply his place and least the 〈◊〉 should despise him being but a frier 〈◊〉 The Pope offered him the Archbishopricke of Yorke He was loath saith Paulus 〈◊〉 to take so great a charge vpon him and vpon his refusall was made a Cardinall I cannot see how either of these reports should be true For the See of Yorke at that time and long both before and after was full being possessed by Walter Giffard from the yeere 1266. til 1279. Now to leaue Bonauenture as we finde him ye shall vnderstand that the Deane and Chapter of Yorke soone after the death of Walter Giffard elected for their Archbishop William Wickwane one of their owne company and Chauncellour of their church Of him little is recorded but that the first yeere of his consecration he remooued the bones of Saint 〈◊〉 his predecessor and caused them to be placed in a costly shrine with great solemnity
The king Queene eleuen other Bishops and many nobles being present He died August 27. 1285. hauing continued Archbishop scarcely 6. yeeres 38. Iohn Romano THe 28. of Nouember following viz. 1285. a cannon of Yorke was elected Archbishop and shortly after consecrate at Rome Because his father was a Romane borne he was called by the name of Iohn Romane This man was of base parentage but very learned He built the crosse I le on the North side of the church toward the pallace and a goodly steeple in the middle of the church all at his owne proper costs He built much in the hospitall of Saint Peter and with his owne hands laide the first stone of the great body of the church vpon the South side of the same He liued not to bring that noble worke to any perfection being taken away by death March 15. 1295. when he had continued in that Sée little more than 10 yéeres The yéere before he died he excommunicated Anthony Beake Bishop of Durham being one of the kings Councell and at that time beyond the seas in his seruice Whereat the king being highly displeased the Archbishop thought it his best course to put himselfe to his mercy He did so and was saine to 〈◊〉 the kings fauour with 4000. markes The indignation of a Prince is death saith the Wise man And likely ynough it is that the 〈◊〉 of his displeasure and the trouble that ensued it might soone cause some incurable disease that tooke him away He was buried in his Cathedrall church which with goodly building he had much augmented and beautified 39. Henry Newerk THe Deane of Yorke Henry de Newerk was then chosen Archbishop the seuenth day of May following He was consecrate at home in his owne church about a twelue moneth after to wit in the beginning of the yeere 1297. He had enioyed that honour but two yeeres when by death he was forced to leaue the same 40. Thomas de Corbridg AFter him succéeded Thomas de Corbridge Cannon of Yorke a great learned diuine He denied the king to haue the disposition of a certaine spirituall promotion that fell in his gift wherewith the king was so greatly displeased as he violently tooke from him three Baronies as one saith I thinke he meaneth Mannors appertaining of old vnto his See and detained them so long as this Archbishop liued which was indeede but a short time He sate in all but three yeeres seuen monethes and ten daies Whether it be that few mens minds are so great as to sustaine the burthen of a princes displeasure or that God which promiseth a reward of long life vnto those that 〈◊〉 honour vnto their superiors in his iust iudgement do soonest cut of such as are backward in this duety So surely it hath fallen out for the most part that those Bishops that haue presumed most in opposing themselues against their princes haue least time indured and euer quickly bene taken away whereof I could yeelde infinite examples This Thomas Corbridg died at Lanham the yeere 1303. and was buried at Southwell 41. William de Greenfield HE that then succéeded William de Greenfild was Canon of Yorke and Chauncellour of England vnder king Edward the first A great and wise councellor very eloquent and not vnlearned After his election he was faine to awaite the Popes pleasure two yéeres before he could obtaine consecration which at last he receiued of Pope Clement the fifth anno 1305. But it cost him 9500. markes beside the charge that he was at while he lay in the Popes court a suter By reason of these immoderate expenses he became so bare that at his first returne into England he was faine to make two collections amongst his cleargy in one yeere the first he called a beneuolence the second an aide He was a great fauourer of the templers euery where oppressed in those daies especially by the Pope Philip the french king When he had sate nine yéeres eleuen monethes and two daies he departed this 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 December 13. 1315. and was buried in his cathedrall church in the porch of Saint Nicholas 42. William de Melton SOne after Greenfields death before the end of the yéere 1315. William de Melton Prouost of Beuerly and Canon of Yorke was elected at the instance and earnest request of the king Edward the 2. With the Pope he found no more grace then his predecessor had done vnder two yéeres sute consecration coulde not be had It was at last affoorded him September 25. 1317. at Auinion Almost 23. yéeres hée gouerned the Sée of Yorke and that very woorthily attending diligently not onely the affaires and businesse of his church but also his owne priuate actions indeuoring by chastitie fasting prayer almesdaedes hospitalitie and vertuous behauior like a good pastor to teach and instruct as well by example of life as preaching and doctrine He was very good to his Tenaunts but carefull to preserue and rather to increase then any way to unpaire the state liberties and reuenues of his Church Yet was he not carelesse of the preferment of his seruants and kinred whom as occasion serued he pleasured and aduanced to very good places amongst the rest and by the Popes licence he purchased to a brothers sonne the Mannor of 〈◊〉 Kingsclere and Wentworth which till that time belonged to the Archbishops of Roan He bestowed great cost vpon the shryne of Saint William and finished the west part of the body of his church with the expences of 700. markes He enclosed also a place called the old 〈◊〉 at Yorke with a goodly wall He deceased Aprill 22. or as one deliuereth Aprill 5. 1. 340. at Cawood hauing sate 22. yéeres and almost 7. moneths in which time he had béene successiuely Treasurer and Chauncellor of England His body lieth buried néere the 〈◊〉 in Saint Peters Church 43. William de Zouche VVIlliam de la Souch Deane of Yorke succéeded He had much to doe with one William Kilsby that contended with him two whole yéeres for this Archbishopricke He was consecrate at last by Pope Clement the 6. at Auinion an 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 1346. king Edward going into France left this man his 〈◊〉 heere The Scots taking aduantage of his absence came with a great armie into England At a place called Bewre Parke néere 〈◊〉 crosse they were mette by this Archbishop and diuers of our Nobilitie October 17. where our men so valtantly behaued themselues as the Scots were cuerthrowne two Earles 21. knights and an 〈◊〉 number of other slaine many also taken prisoners and amongst the rest Dauid le 〈◊〉 then king This Bishop a little before his death began the foundation of a Chappell on the south side of the church intending to be buried in the same but being taken away before it could be brought to any perfection he was laied before the altar of Saint Edmund the Confessor He died August 8. 1352. 44. Iohn Thursby THe yéere 1349. Iohn Thursby Bishop of Saint 〈◊〉 was translated
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
then so precisely distinguished as soone after This authority he abused very impudently not caring whom he offended so he might 〈◊〉 either the king or himselfe Many times when the king gaue commandement for the leuying of a certaine summe of mony amongst his subiects he would require of the commons twise so much whereat the king being very well content would laugh and say that 〈◊〉 was the onely man for his turne who cared not whom he displeased so he might please his Master It was impossible but he should be very odious both vnto the common people and nobility also And no maruaile if many complaints were made vnto the king of him against all which he shut his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When therefore that way succeeded not some of those his discontent aduersaries determined to wreake their mallice vpon him by killing him They famed a message from the Bishop of London his old Master saying that he was very sick and ready to depart the world that he was wonderfull desirous to speake with him and to the end he might make the better spéede had sent him a barge to 〈◊〉 him vnto his house being then by the water side He suspecting no fraude went with them in great hast attended onely by his secretary and some one or two other they hauing him thus in their clutches caried him not to the appointed staires but rowed 〈◊〉 on say he what he would till they came vnto a ship prouided for him ready to set saile As seene as he perceiued how he was intrapped he cast away his ring or manuel seale and after his great scale whether the broad Seale of England or no I know not into the riuer least they might giue oportunity of forging false graunts and conueyances Then he fel to intreating and perswading but all to no purpose for they were determined he should dye They had appointed two 〈◊〉 to dispatch him either by knocking out his braines or tossing him a liue 〈◊〉 for doing whereof they were promised to haue his clothes These executioners could not agree vpon the diuision of this reward for his gowne was better woorth then all the rest of his apparell While they were reasoning vpon that point it pleased God to raise a terrible and fearefull tempest such as they looked euery minute to die themselues and therefore had no very good leasure to thinke of putting an other man to death Ranulf then omitting no opportunitie of his deliuerance like an other 〈◊〉 by the musicke of his eloquence seeketh to alay their malice and to diswade them from the execution of their bloudie determination laying diligently before them the danger that was like to ensue vnto them by so cruell a murther which could not be hid promising mountaines of golde if they saued his life and lastly wishing them to consider how God by raising this tempest had threatned to reuenge his death and had as it were set the image of his vengeance before their eies Whether it were the feare of God or of man or else the hope of reward that wrought with them of such effect were these his perswasions as first diuers of the companie refused to be pertakers of his murther one of them then stept foorth vowed to defend him to his power so as he would liue or die with him And at length his greatest enimies were so pacified as Gerald the author of this conspiracie was content to set him a land and to conduct him to his owne house But not trusting a reconciled foe assoone as he had so done he got him out of the realme and durst neuer come in England after So by one danger this man escaped another and might well say as Themistocles when banished his countrey he found better entertainment of his enimie the king of Persia then he could haue giuen himselfe at home Perijssem 〈◊〉 perijssem I had indeede béene vtterly vndone had I not béene vpon the point to be vndone Seene after his returne from this braue voyage to wit the yéere 1099. he was consecrate Bishop of Durham in the Cathedrall church of Saint Paule He was scarce warme in his seate when his master the king being slaine by the glance of an arrow as he was a hunting Henry his brother succéeded in the kingdome This prince not able to withstand the importunitie of his nobles and the innumerable complaints daily made against this our Bishop clapt him vp in the Tower But he so enchanted his kéepers with money and 〈◊〉 words as they were content to let him go and to runne away with him themselues Into Normandie he got him in the beginning of February 1101. and did neuer linne buzzing into the eares of Robert Duke of Normandy telling him the kingdome of England was his by right till he prouoked him to attempt the inuasion of this realme but to small purpose as in the Chronicles you may see more at large How long he liued in exile I finde not it seemeth not to be long for he had leisure to bring many great things to passe at home afterwards He raised the walles of the body of his church vnto the roofe he translated the reliques of Saint Cutbert into the new Church and bestowed a shryne vpon him he compassed the 〈◊〉 with a wall he caused a number of houses to be pulled downe that were neere the church and might haue béene either noisome vnto it or dangerous by fire hapning among them he continued diuers banks along the riuer of Were with great charge built the castell of Norham vpon a steepe hill neere the riuer of Tweede the hospitall of kepar the bridge of Frwgewallate and performed same other things woorthie commendations Hauing sate Bishop 29. yéeres or thereabouts he died September 5. 1128. 31. Geoffry Rusus GEoffry surnamed Rufus Chauncellour of England was then preferred vnto the See of Durham in which he sat 13. yéeres and died ann 1141. 32. Will. de Sancta Barbara NExt after him succéeded William de Sancta Barbara Deane of Yorke a 〈◊〉 and very religious man He continued in this Sée 9. yéeres and died 1152. 33. Hugh Pusar HVgh Pusar Pudsey or de Putuaw for thus diuerfly I find him called Treasurer of Yorke and Archdeacon of Winchesier was elected vnto the Sée of Durham after the death of the foresaid William rather in respect of his nobility and greatnesse of bloud then of any speciall worthinesse otherwise For king Stephen was vncle vnto him He was very wise in ordering of temporall matters and 〈◊〉 he was not very learned woonderfull eloquent excéeding couetous and as cunning in gathering money as thirstie and desirous of it Henry Murdac Archbishop of Yorke not onely refused to consecrate him himselfe taking exceptions both against his 〈◊〉 of yéeres and lightnes of behauiour But also sent to Rome to haue a Caueat laid in against him there Eugenius was Pope at that time an old acquaintance of the Archbishops who both were brought vp at Clareual vnder S. Bernard But such was the
called together to iudge of this controuersy They met at Rochingham castell and the matter being proposed by the king for feare or flattery they all assented vnto him and forsooke their Archbishop except onely Gundulphus Bishop of Rochester A while 〈◊〉 indured to liue in continuall seare and disgrace euen vntill he was commanded out of the realme by the king Being at Douer ready to take ship all his carriages were searcht his goodes there and elsewhere soeuer taken from him and sold to the kings vse his temporalties seased and himselfe set aland in France in a manner naked He trauailed presently to Lyons and was sent for thence by the Pope At his first comming to Rome he had all manner of fauour But by that time the king with golden eloquence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him of the cause his entertainment began to wax colder He determined therfore to haue returned to Lyons but was staied by the Pope whose pleasure while he was content to await a while longer the Pope died Soone after him the king died also being chaunceably slain by the glaunce of an arrow as he was hunting in that forest for the making whereof Anselm had reprehended him He was a very vitious man couetous in getting and prodigall in spending the most sacrilegious symonist that euer raigned in England Reioycing in the gain he made that way he would often say Panis Christi panis pinguis His death as some report was miraculously signified vnto Anselme in France A paper was put into the hand of one of his chaplaines no man knew how in which was found written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 occisus est Within a few daies after certaine word was brought of the tyrants death and this notice taken as sent from heauen Henry the first succéeded William Rufus in the kingdome who presently called home Anselme and restored him to his former place The first thing he did at his returne he called a conuocation at London wherein he depriued many prelates of great place for their seuerall offences Guy abbot of 〈◊〉 Eldwyn of Ramsey for symony Geftry of Peterburgh Haymo of Cheswel Egelric of Middleton for not being in orders Richard of Ely Robert of S. Edmunds all abbots for other enormities Diuers canons were agréed vpon in the same conuocation too long to rehearse Some of them tended to the restraining of clergy men from mariage which notwithstanding many maried daily many that came for orders refused vtterly to make profession of chastity as we may sée reported by Girard Archbishop of Yorke in an epistle written by him vnto Anselm in the end of S. Anselmes Epistles The falling out also of Anselm with the king which happened presently after was a great weakning vnto these canons All the time that the Archbishop was absent which was three yéeres the king had disposed of all Bishopricks that fell at his pleasure giuing inuestiture and possession of them by deliuery of the staffe and the ring And in deed the princes in a maner of all christendom had taken this kind of authority vnto themselues euery where about this time Bishops thus appointed demanded consecration of Anselm which he vtterly denied vnto them professing withall that he would neuer receaue or repute them for Bishops that were already cōsecrated by other vpon such election aleaging how it was lately forbidden in a councel held by Pope Vrban 2. that any clerke should take inuestiture of any spiritual preferment at the hand of any king prince or other lay man The king vpon Anselms refusall required Gerard Archbishop of Yorke to giue these Bishops consecration whereunto he readily assented But William Gifford nominated to Winchester stoode so in awe of Anselm as that he durst not accept consecration at Gerards hands This incensed the king woonderfully so as presently he commanded Giffards goods to be confiscate and himselfe banished the Realme Great adoo now there was about this matter throughout the realm some defending the kings right others taking part with the Archbishop In the end the king doubting what might come of it and being loth to giue occasion of tumult considering that himselfe was a stranger borne and that his father by force and much bloudshed had not many yéeres since obtained the rule of this land he determined to send an Ambassador to the Pope togither with the Archbishop so to grow to some reasonable conclusion The Pope Palchalis 2. would not yéeld one iote vnto the king insomuch as when the kings Embassador William Warelwast after Bishop of Excester said he knew the king would rather loose his crowne then this priuilege he answered yea let him loose his head also if he will while I liue he shall neuer appoint Bishop but I will resist him what I may So without dooing any good homeward they came But the king vnderstanding before hand how the world went sent a messenger to forbid Anselm entrance into the realme and presently seised all his goods mooueable and unmooueable into his hands Thrée yéeres more this good man spent in exile all which time he liued with Hugh Archbishop of Lyons At last it pleased God to open this passage of his reconciliation to the king Adela Countesse of Bloys the kings sister fell dangerously sicke in those parts where it chanced the Archbishop to abide He went to visite her and yéelded so great comfort vnto her in that time of her distresse as recouering afterward she neuer ceased importuning her brother vntill she had wrought an agréement betwéene them the conditions whereof were these First that Anselm should be content to consecrate the Bishops alreadie nominated by the king And then that the king should renounce all right to such nomination or inuestiture for the time to come These conditions were allowed by the Pope and the Archbishop restored not onely to his place but to all his goods and fruites gathered in the time of his absence Two yeeres he liued after this his last returne in which time he persecuted married priests very extremely Dunstan Oswald Ethelwald and other enimies to the mariage of clergie men had onely expelled them that out of monasteries that had wiues But Anselm vtterly forbidding them mariage depriued them of their promotions that were maried confiscated their goods vnto the Bishop of the Dioces adiudged them and their wiues adulterers and forced al that entred into orders to vow chastity Halfe the clergy of England at this time were either maried men or the sonnes of maried priests The king therefore pitying the generality of this calamity sought to protect them a while from Anselms seuerity in this point But he I meane Anselm was a little to resolute in all his determinations in so much as he might neuer be perswaded to yéeld one iot in any thing he once intended So notwithstanding the kings inclination to succour so many distressed poore families the canons of the Conuocation before mentioned were generally put in execution throughout England About this time it hapned Gerard Archbishop of
Yorke to decease and a second Thomas to be elected for his successor What adoo there was betwéene him and Anselm about profession of obedience and how it was ended see in the historie of the said Thomas To make an end at last with this Archbishop the yéere 1109. he fell extremely sicke at Saint Edmundsbury and thence got him to Canterbury where he lay languishing a long time and at last departed this life Aprill 21. in the 16. yéere of his gouernment and of his age 76. He was buried at the head of his predecessor Lanfrank in his owne church vpon the building and beautifying whereof he had bestowed very much mony This Archbishop was a man of great learning as his works yet extant testifie and for integrity of life and conuersation admirable That he was more peremptory in diuers of his resolutions then became him and so hote against Clergy mens mariage I impute it but to a blind zeale far from any malicious intent of dooing wrong Undoubtedly notwithstanding these imperfections he was a good and holy man and as woorthy the honor of a Saint as any I thinke that euer was Canonised by the Pope since his time In fauour of him to note that by the way the Pope affoorded vnto his sée this honour that whereas the Archbishop of Canterbury was woont to sit next the Bishop of Saint Ruffine in all generall Councels hereafter his place should be at the Popes right foote and with all vsed these words Includamus hunc in orbe nostro tanquam alterius orbis Papam 35. Rodolphus THe King well remembring how troublesome the authority of Anselme had beene vnto him and knowing it greatly imported him to make choise of some quiet tractable man to succéed in that place tooke foure or fiue yéers deliberation before he would appoint any thereunto He was once resolued vpon one Farecius Abbot of Abindon But vpon what consideration I know not chaunging his determination aduanced Ralfe Bishop of Rochester to that sée This Ralfe or Rodolph was a Norman borne a Monke first of the order of Saint Benet and a disciple of Lanfranke in the Abbay of Cane Then he became Abbot of Say was called thence by Saint Anselm vnto the Bishopricke of Rochester consecrate thereunto August 11. 1108. and remooued to Canterbury in Iune 1114. His pall was very solemnely deliuered vnto him by Anselm Abbot of Saint Sauines nephew vnto Saint Anselm June 27 at Canterbury In this mans time 〈◊〉 obtained consecration of the Pope vnto the Archbishop of Yorke without making the vsuall profession of obediēce About this matter there was long time much adoo This our Archbishop being an aged and sickly man much troubled with the 〈◊〉 and lame in his féete would yet néeds trauaile to Rome in person about this matter Sée the end of this controuersie in Thurstan of Yorke Eight yéeres Ralfe continued Archbishop behauing himselfe well in the place but that he was sometimes wayward and péenish in matters of small moment Generally he was a very affable and courteous man willing to pleasure and not especially noted with any great vice Onely some blame him for being more delighted with iesting 〈◊〉 merry toyes then became the grauitie of his age and place in regard whereof some haue giuen vnto him the surname or rather nickname of 〈◊〉 Thrée yéeres before his decease he was continually held of a palsie whereof at last he died Octob. 20. 1122. and thrée daies after was buried in the middle of the body of Christ church in Canterbury 36. William Corbell VVIlliam Corbel or Corbois was first a secular priest then a monke of the order of Saint Benet and lastly prior of Saint Sythes in 〈◊〉 From thence he was taken to be Archbishop of Canterbury and the Popes legate vpon Candlemas day 1122. This man in the yéere 1126. called a conuocation at Westminster where 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 the Popes legate 〈◊〉 most bitterly against the mariage of priests and was the next night taken in bed with a common strumpet for shame whereof he presently got him away 〈◊〉 all his 〈◊〉 at sixe and seuen neuer taking leaue of any body In this Synode more Canons were 〈◊〉 against the mariage of Clergy men which notwithstanding the Archbishop that in déede was but a weake man not able to restraine them of his time from taking wiues prayed ayd of the King who either set them all to a yéerely pension so many as were maried or else tooke some large summe of present money to beare with them The yéere 1130. Christchurch in Canterbury that had lately béene new built by Lanfranke soone after fell downe a great part of it at least and was quickly repaired by the industry of Eardult the Prior was now I know not by what chaunce all burnt consumed with fire This Archbishop found meanes to repaire it and in Rogation weeke the yéere following did dedicate the same 〈◊〉 solemnely in the presence of the King the Quéene Dauid King of Scottes and a great number of the nobility of both realmes King Henry dying that did prefer him he was content to betray his daughter Mawd the Empresse and contrary to his othe to ioine with Stephen Earle of Bloys whom he crowned with his owne hands but with such feare and terror of conscience as it is noted that the consecrate host fell out 〈◊〉 his hand in the middle of masse by reason of his trembling and fearefull amasednesse Soone after he died viz. the yeere 1136. hauing sate almost 14 yéeres and lieth buries in his owne church the particular place I find not 37. Theobald IN a Conuocation held at London by the commandement of Albert Bishop of Hostia the Popes legate Theobald was chosen Archbishop by the suffragan Bishops of his owne Prouince and consecrate in the same conuocation or synode by the legate afore named He receiued his pall at Rome of Innocentius the second who also indued him and his successors for euer with the title of Legatus natus This Theobald was first a Bendictine monke and then till he was chosen Archbishop Abbot of Becco A man of no great learning but of so gentle and swéete behauiour being very wise withall as he was greatly 〈◊〉 of high and lowe Kings nobles and commons With the Pope he had often much adoe One Sylnester a man infamous for many notorious offences was presented vnto the Abbotship of Saint Augustines in Canterbury whon in respect of his knowen vnworthines the Archbishop 〈◊〉 to admit But the Popes letters came so thicke and thréefold in fauour of him that after many delaies excuses and allegations against him at last he was faine to receiue him There was at the same time one Ieremy prior of that Abbey an olde acquaintance and friend of the Archbishops whom notwithstanding vpon some great occasion it is like the Archbishop 〈◊〉 and remooued from his place In the behalfe of this man also the Pope who neuer was woont to faile where he 〈◊〉 be well