since his time in honour of him doo beare his coate of armes as the coate of their See viz. G. 3. leopards heads ieasant 3. Flower-deluces O. 45. Richard de Swinfield succéeded Doctor of Diuinity a Kentish man borne a very eloquent man and a great preather He was consecrate March 7. following sate 34. yéeres and died March 15. 1316. He lieth buried on the North side of the North I le aboue the quier as an Elogium witnesseth engrauen vpon a marble that couereth his toombe 46. Adam d'Orleton Doctor of Law borne in Hereford was consecrate September 26. 1317. In the moneth of October 1327. he was translated to Worceter and after that to Winchester Sée Winchester 47. Thomas Charlton Doctor of Lawe and Cannon of Yorke was consecrate by the Popes commandement October 18. 1327 The yéere 1329. he was for a while Treasurer of England He sate 16. yéeres and died Ianuary 11. 1343. He hath a reasonable faire toombe in the North wall of the North crosse I le ouer against the clocke 48. Iohn Trillecke sate 16. yéeres and a halfe 49. Lewes Sherlton or Charlton sate 8. yéeres and died the yéere 1369. He lieth in a faire monument in the North wall of the South I le aboue the quier 50. William Courtney consecrate 1369. sate 5. yéeres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to London 1375. and afterwards 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 51. Iohn Gilbert Bishop of 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him in 〈◊〉 The yeere 1385. he was sent Ambassador into 〈◊〉 1286. he was made Treasurer of England 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1389. as one deliuereth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is 〈◊〉 he was translated to Saint 〈◊〉 about the 〈◊〉 of the yéere 1389. 52. Iohn 〈◊〉 or Trefrant a Cannon of Saint 〈◊〉 one of the Auditors of the 〈◊〉 in Rome became Bishop of Hereford the yéere 1389. The 〈◊〉 1400. he was sent ambassador to Rome to informe the Pope of the title of 〈◊〉 Henry the fourth 〈◊〉 the crowne He sate Bishop about 〈◊〉 yéeres and a 〈◊〉 died 1404. and lieth buried 〈◊〉 the South wall of the South crosse 〈◊〉 where we sée a faire and costly monument erected for him 53. Robert Mascall being yet very yoong became a 〈◊〉 Carmelite at Ludlow After that he went to Oxford where he so 〈◊〉 in learning and other vertues as he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of all 〈◊〉 King Henry the fourth 〈◊〉 choice of him for his Confessor and 〈◊〉 meanes to preferre him vnto the 〈◊〉 of Hereford He built the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of the white 〈◊〉 at London 〈◊〉 many rich 〈◊〉 vnto that house died there December 21. 1417. and there was 〈◊〉 in a goodly monument of 〈◊〉 He was often Ambassador vnto 〈◊〉 Princes and the yéere 1415. was sent to the Counsell of 〈◊〉 with two other Bishops 54. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Doctor of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 béene 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1420. Sée 〈◊〉 55. Thomas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was consecrate 1420. 〈◊〉 Bishop 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yéere and thrée 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 was remooued first to 〈◊〉 after that to 〈◊〉 Sée Worceter 56. Thomas 〈◊〉 Abbot of Saint Maries in Yorke 〈◊〉 Bishop 〈◊〉 26. yéeres 57. Richard Beauchamp hauing 〈◊〉 here two yéeres 〈◊〉 thrée moneths was 〈◊〉 to Salisbury an 1450. 58. Reynold Butler Abbot of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 two yeeres and a halfe and was translated to 〈◊〉 April 3. 〈◊〉 59. Iohn Stanbery was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 brought 〈◊〉 in the Uniuersity of Oxford where he proceeded doctor of 〈◊〉 and read the Lecture of that faculty King Henry the sixt called him thence to be the first Prouost of his new 〈◊〉 colledge at 〈◊〉 and moreouer made him this Confessor The yéere 1446. he was elected Bishop of Norwich But 〈◊〉 de la Poole Duke of Suffolke thrust in a chaplaine of his owne notwithstanding this election and so disappointed him Shortly after to wit the yeere 1448. the king found meanes to preferre him to Bangor and fiue yeeres after that to Hereford where he sate one and twenty yeeres He died at Ludlow in the house of the Carmelites May 11. 1474. and was buried in his owne church vpon the North side of the high altar in a too 〈◊〉 be of alabaster A man not only very learned whereof he left many monuments in writing but very wise exceeding well spoken and which is not to be omitted tall of stature and of a very comely presence But I 〈◊〉 his greatest commendation his constant and vnmooueable fidelity vnto his Prince for which being taken prisoner at the battle of Northampton 1460 he was committed to the castle of Warwicke and lay in durance 〈◊〉 long time Upon his toombe are fixed these barbarous verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tetra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stanbery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ioannis Doctoralis erat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 o Christe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sordem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bene sedem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 trux 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anno M. C. 〈◊〉 L. X. 〈◊〉 bino 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Qui legis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro 〈◊〉 benigna Vt sint absque mora 〈◊〉 sibigaudia digna 60. Thomas Myllyng being yet very yoong became a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and then went to Oxford where he 〈◊〉 till he became Doctor of Diuinity hauing in the meane time attayned good knowledge in the Gréeke 〈◊〉 which in those daies was geason Returning then to Westminster he was made Abbot there and shortly after 〈◊〉 vnto the Bishopricke of Hereford by king Edward the fourth vnder whom he was of the priuy counsell and was godfather vnto Prince Edward his eldest sonne He died the yéere 1493. and lieth buried at Westminster in the middle of the chappel of Saint Iohn Baptist where against the North wall there is a fleight monument erected in memory of him 61. Edmund Audeley Bishop of Rochester was 〈◊〉 to Hereford 1493. and thence to Salisbury 1502. Sée Salisbury 62. Hadrian de Castello consecrate 1502. was made 〈◊〉 the next yéere and then translated to Welles 1504. Sée Welles 63. Richard Mayo Chauncellour and Archdeacon of Oxford as also President of Magdalene colledge there for the space of 27. yéeres and Almoner vnto king Henry the 7. the yere 1501. was sent Ambassador into Spaine to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Ladie Katherine to be married vnto Prince Arthur Not long after his returne thence to wit the yéere 1504. he was 〈◊〉 vnto the Bishopricke of 〈◊〉 which he held eleuen yéeres and somewhat more He deceased Aprill 18. 1516. and was buried on the South side of the high altar where there is a goodly toombe erected in memory of him 64. Charles Boothe Doctor of Diuinity Archdeacon of Buckingham and Chauncellour of the Marches of Wales was consecrate 1516. He bestowed great cost in repayring his house at London and sate eighteene yéeres and fiue moneths He lieth entoombed in the North wall of the body of his church 65. Edward Foxe Doctor of Diuinity and 〈◊〉 vnto king Henry the eight was brought vp in Kings
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
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
otherwise called Cadwyn and Scadwyn He was borne in Mercia A man verie religious and no lesse learned Soone after his consecration there arose a great controuersie betwéene him and the Archbishop of Yorke about the Primacie Wherein Tatwyn preuailed hauing trauailed to Rome in person and receaued his Pall there He sate thrée yéeres died July 30. 734. and was buried at Canterburie Unto this mans time Beda who died the same yéere deduceth his historie the most ancient that England hath woorthie credite 10. Nothelinus HEnry Huntingdon affirmeth one Egbright to haue succéeded Tatwyn I haue not found him mentioned else where and therefore to follow the report of the greater number I will omit him and passe vnto Nothelin He was borne at London of which citie he was Bishop till he was translated to Canterburie Beda acknowledgeth himselfe much beholding to this man for diuers things which vpon his report he inserted into his Ecclesiasticall storie He receaued his Pall at Rome ann 736. and was buried at Canterburie 11. Cuthbert or Cudbrict CVthbert an Englishman of great parentage being Bishop of Hereford the yéere 742. was translated to Canterburie Fiue yéeres after to wit 747. by the counsell of Boniface Bishop of Mentz he called a conuocation at Cliff beside Rochester to reforme the manifold enormities wherewith the Church of England at that time was ouergrowen Our kings forsaking the companie of their owne wiues in those daies delighted altogether in harlots which were for the most part Nunnes Regis ad exemplum totus componitur orbis The rest of the nobilitie therefore following their example trode also the same trace The Bishops also and other of the cleargie that should haue béene a meanes of reforming these faults in others were themselues no lesse faultie spending their times either in contentions and brabbles or else in luxurie and voluptuousnesse hauing no care of studie and seldome or neuer preaching Whereby it came to passe that the whole land was ouerwhelmed with a most darke and palpable mist of ignorance and polluted with all kinde of wickednesse and impietie in all kinde of people Cuthbert therfore endeuouring like a good Pastor by the reformation of these things to turne away the wrath of God which séemed to hang ouer this land and to threaten those plagues which shortly after fell vpon it when the Danes inuaded the same gathered together his cleargie at the place before mentioned and there after long consultation caused certaine Canons to be decréed which are to be séene at large elsewhere This man procured Eadbert king of Kent to command that the bodies of Archbishops deceased hereafter should not be buried at S. Augustines as heretofore but at Christchurch And that he might put his monkes of Christ church as it were in possession of this priuilege he tooke order his death should be concealed vntill his funerals were ended He died ann 758. and was buried according to his owne desire in Christchurch or as one reporteth in a little church néere adioyning which he had built and dedicated vnto S. Iohn Baptist meaning to settle his consistorie there and to make it a place of buriall for himselfe and his successors This church many yéeres after was consumed with fire together with Christchurch it selfe and a great part of the monasterie Christchurch was afterward reedified by Lanfranke 12. Bregwyn BRegwyn was borne of noble parentage amongst the Saxons of Germany whence he trauailed into England for the encrease of knowledge being yet verie yoong After the death of Cuthbert in regard of his modesty integritie and great learning choice was made of him as the fittest man to succéede He tooke euen the like course for his buriall as his predecessour had done He sate onely 3. yéeres 13. Lambert THe monks of S. Augustines taking it very hainously to haue the buriall of their Archbishops discontinued from them began to make their complaint vnto the Pope Now though Christchurch-men had no great reason to doubt of the Pope who had confirmed vnto them this priuilege at the sute of Bregwyn yet to make the matter the more sure they determined to elect Lambert Abbot of Saint Augustines for their Archbishop assuring themselues hée would now be as carnest a defender of their liberties as he had héeretofore béene an oppugner in the behalfe of S. Augustins and so indéed he prooued In his time Offa king of Merria erected a new Archbishopricke at Lichfield and obtained of the Pope authoritie for Eadulfus Bishop there to gouerne the Diocesses of Worcester Legecester Siuancester Hereford Helmhant and Dunwich So that Canterburie had left vnto him for his prouince onely these London Winchester Rochester and Sherborne Some say that Lambert consented vnto this alteration others report that he spared no cost to reduce things to their old estate He sate manie yéeres and perceauing his end to approch tooke order to bée buried in Saint Augustines infringing by that meanes the graunts and priuileges of the monks of Christ-church obtained for the buriall of the Archbishops amongst them He was very honorablie enterred in the Chapter-house of Saint Augustines 14. Athelard or Edelred AThelard was first Abbot of Malmesbury then Bishop of Winchester and lastly made Archbishop an 793. Offa soone after this being dead together with his sonne Egfride Athelard made earnest sute vnto Kenulfe the sonne of Cuthbert then king of Mercia that he would restore vnto the Sée of Canterbury the reuenues and iurisdiction taken from it wrongfully by Offa Hereunto Kenulfus without much adoe readily assented as also Leo the third that was then Pope He sate about an eight or nine yéeres and dying the yéere 806. was buried in Christ church to the great discontentment of the monks of S. Angustines 15. Wlfred VVLfred being a monke of Christchurch in Canterbury was made Archbishop at Rome by Leo the third Except this that the ninth yéere after his consecration he went to Rome about some businesse of his church not recorded I finde no other action of his reported He was buried at Canterburie in his owne church 16. Theologild ALittle while after Wlfred Theologild or Fleogild sometimes Abbot of Canterburie was Archbishop and dying was buried also in Christchurch One named Syred succéeded him but being taken away before he had full possession is not reckoned amongst the Archbishops 17. Celnoth CElnoth that is said to haue béene Deane of the church of Canterburie succéeded Theologild and continued Archb. 38. yéeres His time was excéeding troublesome by reason of the continuall inuasions of the Danes yet no memorie remaineth of any action of his in so long space of so memorable a time He lieth buried in Christchurch in Canterburie 18. Athelredus AThelredus a great diuine sometimes a monke of Christ church in Canterburie and then Bishop of Winchester was Archbishop after Celnoth 18. yéeres In his time all the monasteries of England were destroied by the Danes so as for the space of 90. yéeres after monkerie ceased throughout the realme yea in the
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
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
the Quéenes vncle But they were agréed vpon W. de Raley Bishop of Norwich and tooke exceptions against the elect of Ualentia calling him virum sanguinum When the king heard of their intent he was excéeding angry and made great hauocke of the Bishops temporalties swearing he would haue his will at last or they should neuer haue Bishop The monks then séeing him so obstinately set against the Bishop of Norwich determined to alter their purpose and were content to choose Ralfe Neuill Bishop of Chichester the kings Chauncellor wherein they were so farre from contenting him as he was much more incensed against them then before and not against them onely but the new elect also from whom immediately he tooke the great seale and gaue it to another As for the election not without great charges he caused the same to be 〈◊〉 and made void at Rome Much adoo there was for the space of fiue or sixe yéeres about this matter At last the monkes séeing no end and being resolued against the Ualentine they procéeded to election againe and chose according to their first determination the Bishop of Norwich This election was suddenly made and quickly confirmed at Rome Yet the king ceased not to spurne at the same commaunding the Mayor of Winchester to forbid the new Bishop entrance which he did and was by him excommunicate for his labor and the whole City interdicted In the meane time the Bishop fealt the burthen of the Kings displeasure so heauy vpon him in England as he thought good to flie the realme He got him into Fraunce and was honorably receiued of the king there At last by the intercession of Boniface the Archbishop and the Popes earnest letters vnto the King and the Quéene he was restored to the Kings fauor and obtained licence to returne For recompence of this benefite and his fatherly care the Bishop saith Matth. Westm. in thankfulnesse bestowed vpon the Pope 6000. markes which he in good nature tooke euery penny without disdainefull returne of one denier The payment of this money and the charges of his trouble stucke so close vnto him as though he liued very priuately in all his life long he was neuer able to recouer himselfe out of debt He died about the twentith day of September 1249. at Turon whither he had withdrawen himselfe with a very small traine almost a yéere before It is recorded of him that being néere death he had the Sacrament brought vnto him And perceiuing the Priest to enter his chamber with it he cryed out stay good friend let the Lord come no néerer vnto me it is more fit that I be drawen vnto him as a traytor that in many things haue been a traytor vnto him His seruants therefore by his commaundement drew him out of his bed vnto the place where the Priest was and there with teares he receiued the Sacrament and spending much time in prayer afterward he so ended his life when he had béene Bishop about the space of sixe yéeres for he was translated ann 1243. so that the Sée was void fiue yéeres 42. Ethelmarus THe King being certified ef his death sent immediately two of his Chaplaines to Winchester to perswade the monkes to elect Ethelmarus the sonne of Hugh Earle of March and Isabell the Quéene his mother so that he was halfe brother vnto the king a man saith M. Paris in respect of his orders yéeres and learning vtterly vnsufficient By that time they had labored the matter the space of a fortnight the king himselfe came vnto Winchester and in the Chapter house made a most earnest request in the behalfe of his brother The monkes too well remembring what great trouble sorrow they had endured for denying the kings last request some of them beaten and sore wounded many tormented with hunger and laden with chaines in long imprisonment besides continuall charges of sutes and trauaile and knowing wel they should haue no assistance at Rome so long as the Kings purse was better then theirs they resolued though they knew the man most vnfit to gratifie the King and so no man daring to say no with one consent he was elected He had at that time other spirituall liuing equiualent in reuenue to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury which that he might kéepe and yet receiue all the profits of the Bishopricke of Winchester he determined not to be consecrate at all but to hold it by his election and so did indéed for the space of 9. yéeres In the meane time he and the rest of his countreymen with whom the realme was much pestered were growen very odious as well with the nobility as the commons not onely for that their infinite wealth and immoderate preferment was much enuied but much more for their pride and insolency which a man can hardly beare in his owne friend much lesse in an alien and stranger whom men naturally dislike much sooner then their owne Countreymen Amongst the rest this 〈◊〉 bare himselfe so bold vpon the King his brother as he gaue commaundement to his seruants to force a clergy man out of the possession of a benefice whereunto he pretended some right and if he withstood them to draw him out of his possession in contumelious manner The poore man loath to loose his liuing defended it so long til by my Lord Electes men he was slaine himselfe and his people so soare beaten as within few daies one or two of them died This fact and other like brought all the Pictauians into such hatred as the realme 〈◊〉 ready to rise against them which perceiuing to auoid the tēpest growing towards them the yeere 1268. they all 〈◊〉 the realme Ethelmar sent ouer for his treasure whereof he had laide vp great store but much of it came short being intercepted at Douer and taken away from those to whom it was committed The yéere after the departure of the Pictauians viz. 1259. the monkes of Winchester thought good to procéed to the election of a new Bishop And knowing it was to no purpose to make choice of any but such as the king fauoured elected Henry de Wingham then Chauncellor of England But he although he doubted not of the kings fauour in regard that another being elected it might prooue litigious refused to consent vnto their election alleaging his owne vnwoorthines for want of learning The king was content to allow of him condicionally that some stay might be made for a time to sée whether his brother Ethelmar might attaine consecration of the Pope While the king stood vpon these vncertaine tearmes Henry de Wengham became Bishop of London the yéere 1259 2. yéeres after viz. 1261. Ethelmar died He tooke order his hart should be brought to Winchester where it was intoombed in the South wal of the presbytery as this Elogium witnesseth Obijt anno Dom. 1261. Corpus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cor nunc tenet istud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 morte 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 43. Iohn Gernsey IOhn Gernsey or Iohn of Oxford for so also I find him
called was consecrate Bishop an 1265. at Rome where it is said he paid vnto the Pope 6000. markes for his consecration and so much more vnto Iordanus the Popes Chauncellor Presently vpon his returne he was suspended by Ottobonus the Popes legate for taking part against the king in the Barons wars he enioyed a small time his honor so déerely bought the yéere 1268. he died in Italy and was buried there at Uiterbium 44. Nicholas de Ely RIchard Moore a Doctor of Diuinity was then chosen Bishop But Fryer Peckham at that time Archbishop of Canterbury tooke exception against him for holding of many benefices And said that a man of such conscience as were fit for that place would rather content himselfe with lesse liuing then load himselfe with the cure of so many soules He being refused Nicholas de Ely hauing béene scarcely one yere Bishop of Worcester was called to this church He sate 12. yéeres died an 1290. his body was buried at Wauerly his hart lieth entoombed in the South wall of the Presbytery with this inscription Intus est cor Nicholai Episcop cuius corpus est apud Wauerley One of his name was first Chauncellor then treasurer of England about the yéere 1260. I assure my selfe it was he 45. Iohn de Pontissara ABout this time the Pope began to take vpon him the bestowing of Bishoprickes for the most part euery where This Iohn de Pontissara was placed by him vpon his absolute authority He was a great enimy vnto the monkes of his church whose liuing he much diminished to encrease his owne He died the yéere 1304. hauing sate néere 24. yéeres and lyeth buried in the North wall of the Presbytery His toombe hath this Epitaphe engrauen Defuncti corpus tumulus tenet iste Ioannis Pountes Wintoniae presulis eximij Obijt anno Dom. 1304. 46. Henry Woodloke HEnry Woodloke succéeded him Robert Winchelsey Archbishop of Canterbury being banished the realme by king Edward the first who charged him with treason this Bishop became an intercessor for him and in the request he made to the king in his behalfe chaunced to call him his good Lord which the king tooke so haynously as by and by he caused all the Bishops goods to be confiscate and renounced all protection of him How he recouered the kings fauour againe I finde not Not long after the said king dying by the permission of the foresaid Archbishop he crowned king Edward the second Ianuary 22. 1307. and died an 1316. the 13. yéere of his consecration 47. Iohn Sendall VVAlsingham called this man Iohn Kendall he was Chauncellor of England and died 1320. hauing scarcely sate fower yéeres 48. Reginaldus Asserius THe Pope then thrust in Reginald de Asser his legate the king being very angry that the Pope tooke so much vpon him in these things He was consecrate by the Bishop of London Walter the Archbishop refusing to afford it vnto him sate little aboue two yéeres and died an 1323. 49. Iohn de Stratford IOhn de Stratford Doctor of Law succéeded When he had continued in this seat 10. yeeres an 1333. He was translated to Canterbury Sée more of him in Canterbury 50. Adam Tarlton alias de Orlton ADam de Arlton Doctor of law borne in Hereford was consecrate Bishop of Hereford September 26. 1317. In a parliament holden at London an 1324. he was accused of treason as hauing aided the Mortimers with men and armor against the king When he should haue béene arraigned a thing till that time neuer heard of that a Bishop should be arraigned the Archbishops of Canterbury Yorke and Dublin with their Suffragan Bishops came vnto the barre and violently tooke him away Notwithstanding the accusation being found true his temporalties were seased into the kings hāds vntill such time as the king much deale by his machination and deuise was deposed of his kingdome If he which had béene a Traytor vnto his Prince before after deserued punishment for the same would soone be entreated to ioyne with other in the like attempt it is no maruell No man so forward as he in taking part with Isabel the Quéene against her husband king Edward the second Shée with her sonnes aud army being at Oxford this good Bishop stept vp into the pulpit and there taking for his text these words My head grieueth me he made a long discourse to prooue that an euill head not otherwise to be cured must be taken away Hauing gotten the king into their power he fearing least if the king at any time recouered his liberty and crowne againe they might receiue condigne punishment counselled the Quéene to make him away Whereunto she being as ready and willing as he to haue it done they writ certaine letters vnto the kéepers of the old king signifieng in couert termes what they desired They either not perfectly vnderstanding their meaning or desirous to haue somewhat to shew for their discharge pray them in expresse words to declare vnto them whether they would haue them put the king to death or no. To which question this subtill foxe framed this answere Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum est If you set the point betwéene nolite and timere it forbiddeth if betwéene timere and bonum it exhorteth them to the committing of the fact whereupon the king was made away and most pitifully murthered by thrusting a hot spit into his fundament And who then so earnest a persecutor of the murtherers as this Bishop that when diuers of his letters were shewed against him eluded and auoyded them by sophisticall interpretation and vtterly denied that he was any way consenting to that haynous fact How cleanely he excused himselfe I know 〈◊〉 But sure I am he was so farre from receiuing punishment as within two moneths after viz. in Nouember 1327. he was preferred vnto the Bishopricke of Worcester sixe yéeres after that he was translated thence to winchester by the Pope December 1. 1333. at the request of the French king which king Edward taking in very ill part for that the French king and he were enimies deteined from 〈◊〉 his temporalties till that in a parliament at the sute of the whole cleargy he was content to yéeld them vnto him He sate Bishop of Winchester 11. yeeres 7. moneths and 17. daies and being a long time blind before his death departed this life July 18. 1345. 51. William Edendon THe same yeere William Edendon was consecrate Bishop a man in very great fauour with King Edward the third being treasurer of England he caused groats and halfe groats to be coyned the yeere 1350. coyne not séene in England before but they wanted some thing of the iust sterling waight which was the cause that the prices of all things rose then very much And where as many other times the like practise hath béene vsed in so much that fiue shillings hath now scarce so much siluer in it as fiue groats had 300. yéeres since no maruell if things be sold for treble the price
that they were 300. yéere agoe Hereof also it commeth to passe that the Prince and Nobility cannot possible maintaine their estates with their auncient rents and reuenewes which bring in though the wonted tale and number yet not the due waight and quantity of mettall But to returne to William Edendon he was also Chauncellor of England and once elect Archbishop of Canterbury but refused to accept it He founded a Monastery at Edendon where he was borne for a kinde of religious men called Bon-hommes he died ann 1366. when he had béene Bishop almost one and twenty yéeres and lyeth in a very faire toombe of Alabaster on the South side of the entrance into the quier whereon is engrauen this rude Epitaphe Edindon natus Willmus hic est tumulatus Praesul praegratus in Wintonia Cathedratus Qui pertransitis eius memorare velitis 〈◊〉 mitis ausit cum mille peritis Peruigil anglorum fuit adiutor populorum 〈◊〉 egenorum pater protector eorum M. C. tribus 〈◊〉 post LXV sit I. punctum His successor William Wickham sewed his Executors for dilapidations and recouered of them 1662. l. 10. s. besides 1556. head of neate 3876. weathers 4717. ewes 3521. lambes and 127. swyne all which stocke it séemeth belonged vnto the Bishopricke of Winchester at that time 52. William Wickham AT the Kings request William Wickham his Chaplaine principall Secretary and kéeper of the priuy seale soone after Edendons death was both elected by the Prior and couent of Winchester and allowed of by the Pope who now tooke vpon him to haue an interest in the disposition of all our Bishoprickes as elsewhere I haue more at large discoursed This man was the sonne of one Iohn Perot and Sibill his wife for whose place of buriall he erected a Chappell afterwards at Tichfield néere the towne of Wickham in Hampshire In that towne he was borne the yéere of our Lord 1324. and according to the manner of most cleargy men in those times of that towne the place of his birth tooke his sirname I finde also recorded that he was woont to be called sometimes by the name of Long and that as it is probably supposed for no other cause but in regard of his stature which they say was very tall He was brought vp first at Winchester and then at Oxford at the charge of a Gentleman called Nicholas Vnedall or Woodall In these places hauing first passed the rudiments of Grammer he studied Logicke Geometry Arithmetique and the French tongue but principally the Ciuill and Canon lawes In all which as he profited excéedingly for the time he spent in them so there is no doubt he would haue prooued so excellent as men are woont that doo long and painefully imploy good wits to such purposes had he not béene euen as it were violently drawne from them when his abode and continuance in the Uniuersity might séeme most requisite His Patrone and exhibitioner being appointed Constable of Winchester Castle an office of great importance in those daies he would imploy this his yoong scholler as his clarke or secretary and so tooke him from the Uniuersity when he had as yet continued there not fully sixe yéeres How long he liued so vnder him I finde not But certaine it is his seruice was very well liked of him For besides his personage which was tall and excéeding comely not to speake any thing of his learning whereof his Master could make no great vse he writ very faire penned excellently spake no man better By reason whereof he was often imployed in writing letters yea and sometimes in messages also to the Court not onely by his master but by the Bishop that a while vsed to borrow him of his master and at the last drew him to his seruice It happened then after a while king Edward the third to come to Winchester who taking speciall note of the behauiour other good partes of this yoong man would néedes haue him to serue him He imployed him much at the first in surueighing his buildings at Douer Duynborough Henly Windsor Yestanstead and elsewhere In which all other businesses committed to him he behaued himselfe so well as he soone grew into great fauour and high estimation with the king and quickly reaped those fruites that Princes fauours are woont to yéeld many rich and honorable preferments It shall not be amisse to remember how that hauing obtained diuers goodly promotions which he acknowledged to haue receiued rather as rewards of seruice then in regard of any extraordinary desert otherwise he caused to be engrauen in Winchester Tower at Windsor these words This made Wickham Whereof when some complained to the King as a thing derogating from his honor that another should seeme to beare the charge of his buildings and the king in great displeasure reprehended him for it He answered that his meaning was not to ascribe the honor of that building to himselfe but his owne honor of preferments vnto that building Not importing that Wickham made the Tower but that the Tower was the meanes of making Wickham and raising him from base estate vnto those great places of honor he then enioyed He was first Parson of Saint Martins in London then Deane of Saint Martin le graund Archdeacon successiuely of Lincolne Northampton and Buckingham all of the gift of his old acquaintance Iohn Bokingham Bishop of Lincolne with whom Simon Burleigh a knight afterwards of great honor he onely in a manner conuersed during his abode in Oxford Besides these ecclesiasticall preferments the Prouostship of Wels a number of benefices and twelue Prebends in seuerall Churches he held many temporall offices as the Secretaryship the kéeping of the priuy seale the Mastership of wardes the treasurership of the Kings reuenues in Fraunce and diuers other with whose stiles I am not acquainted But the yéerely reuenewes of his spirituall promotions onely according as they were then rated in the Kings bookes amounted vnto 876. l. 13. s. 4. d. He was consecrate Bishop of Winchester the yéere 1367. and was made soone after first treasurer then Chauncellor of England although whether he were treasurer or no I find some doubt made and I dare not 〈◊〉 it too confidently whether he were treasurer or no certaine it is that many yéeres after he was Bishop he was trusted with all the waighty affaires of the realme disposed of the kings treasure and gouerned all things at his will In this greatnesse of his authority the king found two notable commodities one that without his care all thinges were ordred so well as by a wise and trusty seruant they might the other that if any thing fell out amisse wheresoeuer the fault were the king had oportunity to cast all the blame vpon the Bishop of Winchester Now whereas long and continuall warre whereby lightly each party is a looser had consumed not that onely that many victories brought in by the raunsome of two kings and by the spoyle of diuers large
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-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-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
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
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
consecrate Archbishop and liued af ter his consecration 17. yéeres He was buried in his owne Church 10. Eanbaldus 2. ANother Eanbaldus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Priest of the Church of Yorke In the yéere 798. he called a Synod or 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 in which he caused diuers things 〈◊〉 to be reformed What time he died or how long he sate I find not 11. Wulsius A Little time Wulsius enioyed his honour and died the yéere 831. 12. Wimundus WImundus succéeded Wulsius and sate 17. yéeres He died as Matthew Westminster reporteth the yéere 854. 13. Wilferus AFter him Wilferus was Archbishop a long time 46. yéeres and vpwards The yéere 873. his 〈◊〉 droue him out of the countrey together with Egbert their king who went vnto Burrhede king of Mercia and of him were honorably intertained till that the yéere following king Egbert died and by the helpe of king Ricsinus his successor Wulferus was called home againe He deceased about the yéere of our Lord 900. or as Matthew Westminster hath it whose computation I 〈◊〉 very vncertaine 895. In his time the Danes made such hauocke in the North countrey as a great while after the Archbishopricke was little worth and was faine to be mended often times with the Commendam of Worcester 14. Ethelbalde Then followed these Ethelbald 15. Redwarde And after him Redward of whom nothing is recorded 16. Wulstanus BY the fauour of the king Athelstan Wulstanus was then preferred to this Sée In whose time the same king gaue vnto the Church of Yorke Agmundernes which he bought of the Danes This Bishop was conuict of a haynous crime forgetting the dutifull affection that he ought to beare vnto Edred his king for Athelstane his brothers sake that preferred him forgetting his oath and allegiance vnto the same king being his naturall Prince yea forgetting that he was either an Englishman or a Christian He was not ashamed to leane vnto the Danes and sauour them a heathen people and such as sought not onely to destroy his countrey but also to roote out Christian Religion For this treason deseruing a thousand deaths he was onely committed to prison the yéere 952. and a yeere after inlarged againe This is the report of William Malmesbury Matthew Westminster saith he was punished in this fort for killing diuers citizens of Thetford in reuenge of the death of one Adelm an Abbot whom they had slaine and 〈◊〉 without cause two yeeres after his enlargement he died vpon Saint Stephens day the yeere 955. He was buried at a place called Undalum Except it be Owndlc in Northhampton shire how it is now termed I cannot gesse 17. Oskitell OSkitell then succéeded a man of good life and well learned who gouerned his Sée laudably 16. yeeres and died the yéere 971. 18. Athelwold NExt followed Athelwold that hauing as it were a taste onely of this honour was quickly weary of it and after a very short time gaue it ouer choosing rather to liue obscurely so he might liue quietly 19. Oswald WIthin the compasse of one yéere viz. the yéere 971. Yorke had three Archbishoppes Oskitell that 〈◊〉 Athelwold that resigned and this Oswald He was néere of kinne vnto Oskitell his predecessor but 〈◊〉 vnto Odo Archbishop of Canterbury being his brothers 〈◊〉 By his 〈◊〉 he was made first Chanon of Winchester after 〈◊〉 for at that time the Cathedrall Church of Winchester had no monkes but maintained a company of secular priests whereof many were married men Perceiuing the 〈◊〉 onely were now in 〈◊〉 and other cleargy men little 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 of his vncle 〈◊〉 his place in Winchester and trauelled to Floriake in Fraunce where he became a monke Hauing continued there some 〈◊〉 or fire yéeres his vncle writ often very importunatly vnto him to come home but could neuer preuaile till he sent him word of his last sicknesse whereof soone after 〈◊〉 died Oswald then destrous to haue séene him once more made 〈◊〉 into England but came too late the old Archbishop was 〈◊〉 first Oskitell then his other kinsman gaue him entertainement till that by the meanes of Saint Dunstan he was preferred to the Bishoprick of Worceter viz. the yéere 960. two yéeres after his arriual in England He built there the church dedicated to the blessed virgine Mary hard by the church of Saint Peter and placed monkes in the same to the ende that the priests of Saint Peters church being continually disgraced by the people that very much reuerenced the monkes might become a weary of their places He was not deceiued of his expectation the people flocked all vnto the monkes and left the priests of S. Peters alone Partly for shame partly for griefe thereof being per aduenture molested otherwise the most of them departed thēce that rest were faine to take coules vnto them become monks The Sée of Yorke being voide King Edgar carefull to place a fit man in the North country which was then very rude and barbarous and thinking none so fit as Oswald made offer of the same vnto him and when he séemed loth to forsake Worceter was content he should hold bothe This man was the first founder of the Abbey of Ramsey in the Isle of Ely and a very liberal benefactor vnto the Abbey of Floriake where he was brought vp A great patrone of Monks and a terrible persecutor of married priests whereof there were many in those daies He died at Worceter sodainely hauing washed the féete of certaine poore men as daily he accustomed After which knéeling downe to say certaine praiers without any sicknesse precedent he gaue vp the ghost William 〈◊〉 who reporthis addeth that the day before his death he told diuers of his friends that he should die He was very learned and left some testimonies thereof in writing not yet perished for the integrity also of his life rōuersation he was much reuerenced The greatest fault I finde in him is that he was very earnest in setting foorth that doctrine of diuels that debarreth men of lawfull marriage The time of his departure was February 27 an 992. 32. yéeres after his first consecration when he had inioyed Yorke 22. yéeres He was buried at Worceter in the church himselfe had built Many miracles are reported to haue béen done at his tombe in regard whereof the posterity would néedes make him a Saint 20. Aldulfe ALdulfe Abbot of Peterborough succéeded Oswald in both his Sees viz of Yorke and Worceter a holy and reuerend man saith 〈◊〉 and one that striued with his predecessor in liberality toward the monastery of Floriake He died May 6. 1002. and was buried in Saint Maries church at Worceter 21. Wulstan 2. ANother Wulstan then by the fauour of king Knute held also both the said Sees of Yorke and Worceter for which cause Malmesbury findeth great fault with him that in Aldulf and Oswald liked it well ynough And all the exceptions he takes against him is this That he was not of so holy a profession as
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
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
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
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
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
her selfe a Nunne 〈◊〉 hauing liued so certaine yéeres suddenly married a certaine knight named Eustace Abricourt contrary to her vow and that secretly without asking of banes or dispensation he punished them seuerely for it but suffered them to liue still together and seuered them not Amongst many good déeds he is blamed for selling vnto the Earle of Arundell the right which he had vnto sixe and twenty Déere yéerely out of certaine grounds of his He had for them onely two hundred and forty markes After he had béene Archbishop sixetéene yéeres fower moneths and twelue daies he died Aprill 26. 1366. Kiding to Magfield his horse chaunced to cast him into a meiry poole Wet as he 〈◊〉 he fell a sléepe at his comming thither and waking found himselfe in a palsy whereof within a few daies after he died He bequeathed vnto his church of Canterbury a thousand shéepe his vestments which were al cloth of gold a very sumptuous coape and much plate viz. sixe dozin of siluer dishes sixe salts and fower goodly basons all enchased with his armes He lieth buried in the middle of the body of his church of Canterbury vnder a faire toombe of marble inlaid with brasse whereon is engrauen this Epitaphe Ospes sanctorum decus pie Christe tuorum Coetibus ipsorum prece iung as 〈◊〉 precor horum Simon 〈◊〉 oriens vir bina lege probatus Vt nascens moriens sic nunciacet arcte locatus Arcem qui tenuit 〈◊〉 quondam Pontificatus Clero quique fuit regno toti quoque gratus Princeps pastorum fac Simon Apostolorum Simon vt iste chorum per eos pertingat eorum Mil trecenteno sexageno modo seno Eius septeno pastoratus quoque deno Hic kal. Maij seno rupto carnis nece freno Flos cadit èfoeno coelo peto qui sit amoeno He tooke order to be buried obscurely desiring therein as in all other things to auoid superfluous expence what he might and not estéeming outward pompe 56. Simon Langham AFter the decease of Simon 〈◊〉 the monkes of Canterbury chose William Edindon Bishop of Winchester for Archbishop who refused the place The Pope then with the kings good liking remooued to Canterbury Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Treasurer of England He was first a monke of Westmin then Prior lastly Abbot there Thence he was elected Bishop of London but before he was consecrate thereunto obtayned Ely where he continued fiue yéeres He receiued his pall by the hands of the Bishop of Bathe in Saint Nicholas chappel at Westminster Nouember 4. 1366. and was inthronized the Lady day following He was Archbishop but a little while viz. two yéeres or little more and therefore did not many things very memorable There was a great strife betwéene the Londoners and their cleargy about tything which he thus composed he tooke order that they should pay their offrings personall tithes and then also for the rest a farthing of euery 10. s̄ rent From Canterbury colledge which his predecessor had founded he sequestred the fruits of the benefice of Pagham and otherwise molested the schollers there intending to displace them all and to put in monkes which in the ende he brought to passe Iohn Wickliffe was one of them that were so displaced and had withstood the Archbishop in this businesse with might and maine By the Popes fauour and the Archbishops power the monkes ouerbore 〈◊〉 and his fellowes If then 〈◊〉 were angry with Pope Archbishoppe monkes and all you cannot maruell But to returne to our Archbishop he sate here onely two yéeres For being made Cardinal of Saint Sixtus by Pope Vrban the fift September 21. 1368. he left his Archbishopricke and went to Rome where shortly after he was made Bishop Cardinall of Preneste by Gregory the eleuenth and held diuers liuings in Commendam as the Archdeaconry and Treasurership of Wels with other He liued there in great estimation about eight yeeres and died July 22. 1376. of the same disease his predecessor had done viz. a palsy wherewith he was suddenly taken as he sate at dinner He was buried first in the church of the Carthusians whose house he had founded at Auinion but after thrée yéeres his bones by his owne appointment while he liued were taken vp and buried a second time at Westminster in a goodly toombe of alabaster It is scarce credible that is reported of his woonderfull bounty and liberality to that monastery I meane Westminster When he was first made Abbot he bestowed all that he had gathered together being monke and prior in paying the debt of the house which was to the valew of two thousand and two hundred markes he discharged it euery whit and diuers other summes of money also that particular monkes did owe whom he tendered and cherished as his owne children neuer taking any thing from them but rather augmenting their portions out of that which was due to himselfe Being Chauncellor and Treasurer he purchased diuers good peices of land and gaue it vnto them When he went out of England he left them bookes to the value of 830. l. and roaps vestments c. estéemed worth 437. l. At his death he bequeathed vnto them all his plate prised at 2700. l. and all his debts any where due they amounted vnto 3954 l. thirteene shillings and fower pence He also sent vnto the said monastery the summe of one thousand markes to buy forty markes a yeere land to increase the portions os fower monks that daily should say masse for the soules of himselfe and his parents To say nothing of the monastery which he built for the Carthusians at Auinion the money that he bestowed onely vpon the Abbey of Westminster one way or other is reckoned by a monke of the same to be no lesse then 10800. l. They caused this Epitaphe to be engrauen vpon his toombe Simon de Langham 〈◊〉 petris hijs tumulatus 〈◊〉 ecclesiae monachus fuerat Prior Abbas Sede vacante fuit electus Londoniensis 〈◊〉 insignis Ely sed postea primas Totius regni magnus Regisque minister Nam Thesaurarius Cancellarius eius Ac Cardinalis in Roma Presbyter iste Postque Praenestinus est factus Episcopus atque Nuncius ex parte Papae transmittitur istuc Orbe dolente pater quem nuncreuocare nequimus Magdalenae festo milleno septuageno Et ter centeno sexto Christi ruit anno Hunc Deus absoluat de cunctis quae male 〈◊〉 Et meritis matris sibi coelica gaudia donet 57. William Wittlesey SImon 〈◊〉 was vncle vnto a yoong man named William Wittlesey whom he caused to be carefully brought vp and directed vnto the study of the Cannon law Hauing procéeded doctor in that faculty his vncle that now was become Archb. sent him to Rome that there he might both sollicite all his causes and also get experience by seeing the practise of that Court. After he had staied there a while he was called home and preferred by his vncle aforesaid vnto the place
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
depriuation of Stephen Gardiner Iohn Poynet Doctor of 〈◊〉 a kentish man borne consecrate Bishop of Rochester April 3. 1549. was translated to Winchester Quéene Mary hauing attained the crown he well knew there was no liuing for him in Englād and therfore fled the realme died at Strausburg in Germany Aprill 11. 1556. being scarce forty yéeres of age A man of great learning whereof he left diuers testimonies in writing workes yet extant both in Latine and English beside the Gréeke and Latin he was very well séene in the Italian and Dutch toong and an excellent Mathematician He gaue vnto king Henry the eight a dyall of his owne 〈◊〉 she wing not onely the hower of the day but also the day of the moneth the signe of the sonne the planetary hower yea the change of the moone the ebbing and flowing of the sea with diuers other things as strange to the great woonder of the king and his owne no lesse commendation He was preferred 〈◊〉 by king Edward in regard of certaine excellent sermons preached before him 61. Iohn White AFter the death of Stephen Gardiner Iohn White Doctor of Diuinity was translated from Lincolne He was borne in the Dioces of Winchester and was Warden of Winchester colledge till he was made Bishop of Lincolne Small time he enioyed his new honor being depriued by parliament in the beginning of her Maiestie that now raigneth 62. Robert Horne IAnuary 16. 1560. Robert Horne borne in the Bishopricke of Durham and in king Edwards daies Deane of the Church of Durham comming then newly out of Germany where he liued all Quéene Maries daies was consecrate Bishop of Winchester He sate well néere twenty yéeres but that and what else I haue to say of him let his Epitaphe declare He lieth vnder a flat marble stone neere the pulpit in the body of the church whereon I finde engrauen these wordes Robertus Horne theologiae doctor eximius quondam Christi causa exul deinde Episcopus Winton pie obijt in Domino Iun. 1. 1580. Episcopatus sui anno 19. 63. Iohn Watson SOone after his death it pleased her Maiestie to bestow the Bishopricke vpon Iohn Watson He lieth buried ouer against his predecessor on the other side of the body of the Church hauing these wordes engrauen vpon the marble stone that couereth him D. Ioannes Watson huius eccclesiae Winton Praebendarius Decanus ac deinde Episcopus 〈◊〉 pater vir optimus praecipue erga inopes 〈◊〉 obijt in Domino Ianuar. 23. anno aetatis suae 63. Episcopatus 4. 1583. 64. Thomas Cooper THomas Cooper Doctor of Diuinity succéeded him being translated from Lincolne He was consecrate Bishop there February 24. 1570. and before that was Deane of Christchurch in Oxford In the Bishopricke of Winchester he continued ten yéeres and departed this life Aprill 29 1594. A man from whose prayses I can hardly temper my pen but I am determined to say nothing of those men whose memory is yet so fresh my reason I haue else where set downe 65. William Wickham HE that succéeded him in Lincolne succéeded him in the Sée of Winchester also William Wickham whose very name I reuerence in memory of William Wickham his famous and woorthy predecessor No Bishop of Winchester euer enioyed that honor so short a time he was translated about our Lady day in the beginning of the yéere 1595. and died of the stone in the bladder or some like disease the 12. day of June following at Winchester house in Southwarke hauing not made water in fowertéene daies before 66. William Day VVIlliam Day Deane of Windsor and 〈◊〉 of Eaton colledge succéeded and holding this place little longer then his predecessor died a few daies before Michaelmas day 1596. 67. Thomas Bilson THomas Bilson Doctor of Diuinity and Warden of Winchester became Bishop of Worceter the yéere 1595. and staying there not past two yéeres was translated to Winchester where he yet liueth The Bishopricke of Winchester is valued in the Queenes bookes at 2491 l. 9 s. 8 d. ob and paid to the Pope for first fruits 12000. ducats The Bishops of Ely SAint Etheldred of whom the Cathedrall Church of Ely hath his name was the daughter of Anna King of the East Augles She was twise maried First vnto Tombert Prince of the South Angles who gaue her the Isle of Ely to her Dower And then he diyng within thrée yéeres to Egfrid king of Northumberland With him she liued twelue yéeres and at last left him and all the pomp and pleasure she might haue liued in to serue God in such sort as she thought was most acceptable vnto him She betooke her vnto her Isle of Ely and whereas Ethelbert king of Kent had long before viz. ann 607. built a Church there by the counsell of Saint Augustine she reedified the same and much increased it the yéere 677. and by the counsell of Wilfrid Archbishop of Yorke but not without the helpe of Aldulph her brother king of the East Angles conuerted it into a Monastery of Nunnes whereof she her selfe became Abbesse This Monastery was vnder her Sexbing 〈◊〉 Werburg and other Abbesses 183. yéeres vntill it was destroyed by Pagans Inguar and Hubba the yéere 890. It lay then waste a great while In the end certaine secular Priests to the number of eight began to inhabite there but were displaced by Ethelwald Bishop of Winchester who bought the whole Island of King Edgar and by his authority placed in their roomes an Abbot and monkes vnto whom he procured many great and notable priuileges Brithnod Prouost of Winchester was appointed the first Abbot ann 970. He is said to haue béene murthered by Elsticha the Quéene of King Edilred causing bodkins to be thrust into his arme holes because like an vnhappy Actaeon he had séene her in a certaine wood busie about sorcery Elfsius was the second Abbot Leofsinus the third Leofricus the fourth and another Leofsinus the 〈◊〉 He by the Kings consent let out the farmes of the monastery in such sort as they should finde the house prouision all the yéere Shalford payed 2. wéekes prouision Stableford 1. Littleberry 2. Triplaw 2. Hawkston 1. Newton 1. Melburne 2. Grantsden 2. Toften 1. Cotnam 1. Wellingham 1. Ditton 2. Horningsey 2. Stenchworth 2. Balsam 2. Cathenho 4. daies prouision and Swansham 3. Spaldwich 2. wéekes prouision Somersham 2. Blunsham 1. Colne 1. Hortherst 1. Drinkston 1. Katsden 2. Hackam 2. Berking 2. Néeding 1. Wederingseat 1. Breckham 2. Pulham 2. Thorp and Dirham 2. Norwald 2. and Feltwell 2. Merham was appointed to carry the rent to a certaine Church in Norfolke and there to intertaine commers and goers to or from the Monastery Wilfricus the sixt Abbot bought the mannor of Bereham for 25. marks of gold In the time of Thurstan the seuenth Abbot the Isle was held by many of the olde Saxon nobility against King William the Conquerer He therefore by the counsell of Walter Bishop of Hereford and other gaue all the Church goods and lands
Algarus 7. Alwynus 8. Alfricus he died 1038. 9. Alyfreius 10. Stigandus AFter that Alfreius was dead Stigandus 〈◊〉 him He enioying the place but a short time was depriued 11. Grinketellus THe like happened to Grinketellus which being conuicted to haue vsed vnlawfull meanes in obtaining this dignity was likewise depriued and Stigandus restored vnto it againe This Stigandus was after Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of Canterbury See more of him in Canterbury 12. Egelmare STigandus being so preferred found a meanes also to procure the Bishopricke of the East Saxons vnto Egelmare his brother All these vntill the time of William the conquerour had their Sées at Elmham Arfastus the first Bishop of Thetford KIng William the first substituted his Chapleine Arfastus in the place of Eglemarus by whose aduise the Sée was translated from Elmham to Thetford William Herbert last of Thetford and first Bishop of Norwich NExt after him William Herbert obtained this dignity A man very famous for his excellent learning He was borne at Oxford His father was Robert is de Losinge Abbot of Winchester This Herbertus being Pryor of the Monastery of Fiscanum in Normandy came into England at the request of William Rufus and liuing in the Court for a time behaued himselfe in such sort that he was not onely entierly beloued of the king but obtained many great gists at his hands In so much that within the space of thrée yéeres he had so feathered his nest that he bought for his Father the Abbacy of Winchester and for himselfe this Bishopricke paying to the king for the same as it is reported the summe of 1900 l. For satisfaction of which Symony this pennance was enioyned him by 〈◊〉 the Pope that he should erect diuers Churches and 〈◊〉 as hereafter it is declared He translated the See from Thetford to Norwich and built there the Cathedrall Church at his owne charges laying the first stone of the foundation with his own hands as this elogium declareth which he caused to be ingrauen vpon the Wall 〈◊〉 primum hums temph 〈◊〉 dominus Herebertus posuit in nomine patris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sancti Amen This Church he dedicated to the blessed Trinity endowing it with great lands and possessions bookes and all other necessaries Hauing finished it according to his mind he then determineth to build an house for himselfe for as yet he had none in Norwich the See being so lately remoued from Thetford and therefore on the North side of the Church he founded a stately pallace Againe he built fine Churches one ouer against the Cathedrall Church on the other side of the Riuer called Saint 〈◊〉 another at Norwich also another at Elmham a fourth at Lynne and a fist at Yermouth He departed this life July 22. in the yeere of our Lord 1119. And was buried in his Cathedrall church of Norwich by the high Aulter 2. Euerard HErbert being dead Euerard Archdeacon of Salisbury was consecrate Bishop of Norwich June 12. 1121. which dignity although he enioyed a long space yet time the deuourer of all things hath left nothing of him to our remembrance but that when he had gouerned his Church 29. yeeres he ended this life October 15. 1150. 3. William Turbus AFter him succéeded William Turbus a Norman by birth being in his youth a monke in Norwich and afterwards Prior there In his time the Cathedrall Church of Norwich was burned by casuall fire He died in the 25. yeere of his consecration the 17. of Ianuary 4. Iohannes Oxoniensis IN the yéere of our Lord 1270. Iohn of Oxford Deane of Salisbury was elect Bishop of Norwich This man finished the Church which Herbert being preuented by death had left vnperfected He builded diuers Hospitals for impotent diseased people He founded Trinity Church at 〈◊〉 and reedified diuers houses which were by fire 〈◊〉 He died the 26. yéere of his consecration June 2. 1200. and was buried neere to the high Aulter In his time the Cathedrall Church was againe defaced with fire in the second yeere of king Iohn 5. Iohannes de Grey IOhn de Grey was nert preferred to this place He was a man well seene in the Lawes of the realme wise and of great integrity In regard hereof King Iohn was very desirous to haue made him Archbishop of Canterbury Sée more of that matter in Stephen Langton of Canterbury He built that goodly hall at Gaywood and the rest of the housing adioyning Sate about 14. yeeres died néere Poytiers in his returne from Rome Nouember 1. 1214. and was buried in his owne Church 6. Pandulfus AFter the death of Iohn de Grey the Sée was 〈◊〉 for the space of seuen yéeres after which time 〈◊〉 the Popes Legate was elected to the same by the Cotent He was consecrate at Rome by Honorius the Pope ann 1222. and died the fift yéere of his consecration the 17. of August After his death the Sée was void againe for the space of thrée yéeres 7. Thomas de Blundeuill THomas de Blundeuill an officer of the Exchequer was then preferred vnto the Bishopricke of Norwich by the meanes of Hubert de Burgo that famous chiefe Justice of England and consecrate December 20. 1226. He died August 16. 1236. 8. Radulphus AFter Bishop Blundeuill William Raleigh is said to haue succeeded immediately But Matthew Westminster witnesseth that one Radulphus was consecrate October 28. 1236. and died the yéere following 9. William de Raleigh THe Bishopricke was then voyd by the space almost of 3. yeeres The couent had chosen orderly for their pastor Symon the Prior of their Church a graue and Reuerend man not iustly to be excepted against yet it pleased the King to mislike him and easily procured their election to be 〈◊〉 A Cannon of Paules William de Raleigh at last obtained the same 1239. Within a short time after the Monkes of Winchester required him for their Bishop and at last after many great 〈◊〉 obtained him the King all that euer he might resisting the same Sée more of him in Winchester Walter de Sufield WAlter de Sufield succéeded a man highly commended for his excellent learning He founded the hospitall of Saint Giles in Norwich indowing it with lands and great possessions He built also the chappell of our 〈◊〉 in the cathedrall church and in the same chappell was afterward buried Moreouer it is remembred of him that in a time of great dearth he sold his plate and distributed the money euery whit vnto the poore He was consecrate the yéere 1244. and died May 18. 1257. at Colchester but was buried as aboue said in which place diuers miracles are reported to haue béene wrought and are ascribed to his holinesse 11. Simon de Wanton SImon de Wanton the kings chaplaine and one of his Justices was consecrate Bishop of Norwich March 10. 1257. When he had sate 8. yéeres he died and was buried by his predecessor This man obtayned licence of the Pope to hold all his former liuings in
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
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