yet depending the Archbishop died Iuly 31. 1396. at Maidstone when he had sate 12. yéers lacking one moneth The old worke at Maidstone first built by Boniface his predecessor for an Hospitall he pulled downe and building it after a more stately manner translated it into a Colledge of secular priests which at the time of the suppression was valued at one hundred thirty nine pounds seuen shillings fixe pence by the yéere The church of Mepham quite fallen downe he repaired againe and built certaine almes houses néere it for the vse of poore people Toward the reparation of the body of his Church and cloysters he gaue 1000. marks He gaue also vnto the same Church a certaine image of siluer waighing one hundred and thréescore pounds 〈◊〉 vestments thirtéene coapes of great value besides a number of bookes He lieth buried vpon the South side of Thomas Beckets shrine at the féete of the blacke Prince in a goodly toombe of Alabaster 60. Thomas Arundell BY the Popes prouision Thomas Arondell Archbishop of Yorke was remooued to Canterbury about Christmas after William Courtneyes death His bulles were published at Canterbury Ianuary 11. Soone after his crosse was deliuered vnto him at Westminster by Henry Chillinden the Prior of Canterbury with 〈◊〉 solemnity in the presence of the king and many nobles February 10. following he receiued his pall 〈◊〉 the 19. of the same moneth he was inthronised at Canterbury with great pomp He was sonne vnto Robert Earle of Arundell and Warren first Bishop of Ely then of Yorke Sée more of him there He was scarce warme in his seate when by the kings displeasure he was dispossessed of the same In the second yéere of his translation a parliament was held at London The king there accused the Duke of Glocester the Earle of Arundell that was the Archbishops brother and diuers other of high treason Now because cleargy men were forbidden by the Canons to be present at any triall or iudgement vpon life and death the matter being once proposed all the Bishops departed the house as their maner was in like cases The Archbishop being absent vpon this occasion was condemned togither with his brother of high treason for which his brother was presently executed and he commaunded within forty daies to depart the realme vpon paine of death He thus banished got him to Rome and found such fauour with the Pope as first he was content to write earnestly vnto the king for his restitution and when he could do no good that way he translated him to the Archbishopricke of Saint Andrewes in Scotland intending to heape so much ecclesiasticall liuing vpon him by benefices c. in England as he should be able to liue in state honorable ynough The king vnderstanding of his intent writ a maruellous sharpe letter vnto the Pope telling him plainly he must repute him for his enimy if he yéelded any maner of succour vnto him whom he knew too well to hate him deadly That letter so wrought with the Pope as after that time he neuer indeuoured to prefer him farther and moreouer at the kings request made Roger Walden Deane of Yorke and treasurer of England Archbishop He was consecrate inthronised c. held Synods and did all things belonging vnto that place the space of two yéeres It hapened in the meane time that the king Richard the second wos deposed or at least inforced to resigne his crowne vnto Henry Duke of Lancaster that after possessed the same by the name of king Henry the fourth Boniface the Pope vnderstanding then of the fall of king Richard pronounced the said Roger to be an intruder and vsurper of the Archbishopricke and by his omnipotent bulles restored Thomas Arundell vnto the same againe As for Roger Walden that was now a Bishop without a Bishopricke for it is Character indelebilis he liued so a while til at last by the kind endeuor of the Archb. his charitable aduersary he was promoted vnto the Bishopricke of London which he enioyed but a short time being taken away by death within one yere after About a twelue moneth after the Archbishops restitution a conuocation was held at London whether the king sent the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland that told the cleargy they came from the king but not of that errand that courtiers were woont to be sent for to that place they came not for money but onely to signifie the kings harty and fauorable goodwill vnto them and to request their daily prayers for him and the good estate of the realme This new broome with swéeping so cleane at the first was so worne out vnto the stumpes in a yéere or two as not contented with a bare tenth the next conuocation after he was very angry that a more liberall allowance was not made vnto him and began to hearken vnto the sacrilegious motions of certaine impious politicians that intending to cast the burthen of all subsidies and other kind of tributes vpon the cleargy letted not to say openly in the parliament house how the laity was not able to yéeld any thing vnto the kings coffers for that the cleargy had all the wealth of the land in their hands And therefore the king must either take from them their temporalties or else lay all the burthen vpon them that onely were able to beare it The Archbishop that was vndoubtedly a woorthy prelate wise and very stout rose vp and prooued by manifest arguments that the contributions of the Cleargy were after the proportion of their ability much more liberall then the subsidies or other paiments of the temporalty in many respects For saith he we pay the tenth of our liuings oftener then they pay fifteenths and though we serue not in the warres our selues our seruants and tenants do neither are we altogither idle in as much as we pray daily for the king and the realme as well in time of peace as war The prolocutor of the parliament house at that time was a knight called Sir Iohn Cleyn that hauing béene a cleargyman sometimes without any dispensation forsooke the calling became a soldier This prophane Apostata was not ashamed to say it was no matter for their praiers so the king might haue their mony I sée now quoth the Arch. whither the fortune of this realme tendeth the prayers of the church being despised which should appease the wrath of God iustly kindled against vs by the daily monstrous iniquities of our age Perceauing then that the king who at his first comming to the crowne had made many open and publike protestations of his loue to the church and his intent to defend and protect the same to the vtmost that he I say began to harken somewhat too patiently to these wicked motions he turned him toward him and making lowe obeisance humbly besought him it would please his maiesty to remember those gratious and most honorable spéeches wherein he had often signified his resolute determination of protecting the church from all iniury
Pope Leo he was taken out of the monastery of Winchester to be king and that is all I finde of this matter worthy credit 18. Swithunus AFter him succéeded Swithunus the opinion of whose holines hath procured him the reputation of a Saint How miraculously he made whole a basket of egges that were all broken and some other things scarce woorth the rehearsall who so list may read them in Matthew Westminster in his report of the yeere 862. at what time as he writeth this Bishop died and according to his owne appointment was buried in the Church-yard Some I know not how truely make him Chauncellor of England Whatsoeuer his holines was his learning questionlesse was great in respect whereof Egbert king of the West Saxons committed vnto his gonernment that same Ethelwolfe his yoonger sonne that of a Subdeacon in the church of Winchester was afterward made king as before is declared 19. Adferthus ADferthus succéeded him in this Bishopricke a man saith Florilegus sufficiently learned and that a while discréetly and wisely gouerned this See 20. Dumbertus DVmbertus the successor of Adferthus died in the yéere 879. and left his Bishopricke vnto Denewulsus 21. Denewulsus THis Denewulsus as the fame goeth was sometimes a hogheard and dwelt in the place where the Abbey of Athelney in Sommersetshire was afterward builded It happened at that time king Alfred that famous king of the West Saxons to be so néere followed of the Danes that sought nothing more than his life as being abandoned of all his followers He knew no better or more likely course for his safety then dissembling his estate to deliuer himselfe for a time into the seruice of this hogheard dwelling in a place at that time almost inaccessible so of very little or no resort So long he continued there as his Master and Dame were almost weary of his seruice wherein he was not so ready as a man should that had had education accordingly Of her it is particularly deliuered that when the King let certaine Cakes burne that she had set him to toast she reprehended him sharply as an vnprofitable seruant in these words Vere quos cernis panes girare moraris Cum nimium gaudes hos manducare calentes These cakes that now to toast thou makest no hast When they are ready thou wilt eate too fast At last it sell out that the kings friends gathering themselues together he ioyned himselfe vnto them and his subiectes that now a great while thought him dead resorted vnto him in so great numbers as setting vpon the Danes he ouerthrew them and in a short time not onely brought them vnder his obedience but also reduced in a manner the whole Realme of England into one Monarchy Hauing thus recouered the peaceable possession of his crowne he was not vnmindfull of his olde Master in whom perceiuing an excellent sharpnesse of wit he caused him though it were now late being a man growen to study and hauing obtained some competency of learning he preferred him to the Bishopricke of Winchester Moreouer that he might shew himself thankfull vnto God aswell as man in the place where this hogheard dwelt he builte a stately Monastery the wals whereof are yet partly standing 22. Athelmus OF Athelmus that succéeded this onely is recorded that the yéere 888. he traueyled to Rome to cary thither the almes of king Alfred I find not mention of this man any where but in Matth. Westm. Bertulsus HE also reporteth that one Bertulsus Bishop of Winchester ann 897. was appointed a Gardian of the realme amongst many others by king Alfred to defend it against the Danes Elsewhere I find him not mentioned 23. Frithstane CErtaine it is that in the yéere 905. one Frithstane was consecrate with six other Bishops by Plegmund Archbishop of Canterbury at the commaundement of king Edmund the elder the occasion whereof is elsewhere set downe He was a man highly estéemed of for his learning but much morefor his great vertue and holinosse He sate a long time and at last resigned procuring one Brinstan to be his successor ann 931. the next yéere after he died viz. 932. 24. Brinstan Brinstan as is said became Bishop ann 931. and died thrée yéeres after viz. 934. 25. Elphegus Calvus HE died in the yéere 946. Of these thrée Bishops diuers miracles are reported in histories which néede not to be rehearsed 26. Elfsinus alias Alfsins HE sate till the yéeres 958. and then by bribery and great summes of money procured himselfe to be 〈◊〉 to the Sée of Canterbury of which preferment he had 〈◊〉 ioye Sée Cant. 27. Brithelmus He sate about fiue yéeres For ann 963. he died 27. Ethelwald EThelwald Abbot of Abindon continued Bishop ninetéene yéeres and died 984. Angust 1. How Brinstan his predecessor appeared vnto him challenging the honor of a Saint c. Sée Matth. Westminster in ann 965. he was a great patron of monkes and no lesse enimy vnto maried priests At his first comming 〈◊〉 expelled them out of the olde Monastery to place monks In the yéere 867. the Danes had slaine all the monkes they could finde in Winchester From which time secular priests inhabited the same being authorized by the king so to doo till the yéere 971. a company of monkes were brought from Abingdon of the Bishops old acquaintance it is like to shoulder them out of the doores Not contented thus to haue replenished his owne Church with monkes hauing bought the Isle of Ely he played the like rex in that Church not yet Cathedrall turning a long eight honest Priests into the world with their wiues and children to put in monkes And then at Thorney he built new or at leastwise repaired an old Monastery that had layen waste many yéeres I may not let passe one commendable action of this bishop that in time of a great dearth brake all the plats belonging to his Church and gaue it to the poore saying that the Church might in good time hereafter againe be prouided of ornaments necessary but the poore perished for want of foode could not be recouered 29. Elphegus ELphegus Abbot of Bathe succéeded him an honest and learned man He was translated to Canterbury ann 1006. sée more of him in Cant. 30. Kenulphus alias Elsius THis man againe is infamous for simony and aspiring by corrupt meanes to this place He was Abbot of Peterborough and hauing enioyed his deare bought preferment litle more then one yéere was called from it by death Euen so it fell out with Elsius for Canterbury to make the old saying true ill gotten goods seldome prosper Kenulphus died ann 1008. And lyeth buried in his owne Church as before is mentioned 31. Brithwold BRithwold whom Matth. Westm. séemeth to call Elthelwold was Bishop after Kenulphus It is written of him that one night being late at his prayers he chaunced to thinke of the lowe ebbe of the bloud royall of England which now was almost all consumed and brought to nothing In the middest of this
was the second Bishop of Lichfield He was a Srot as also his predecessor was After a few yéeres giuing ouer his Bishopricke he returned into his owne country 3. Trumhere TRumhere was an Englishman borne but brought vp taught and ordered among the Scots Hée had béene Abbot of Ingethling a monastery built where king Oswyn was slaine 4. Iaruman HE conuerted the East Saxons vnto Christianity againe hauing forsaken it vnder Sighere their king In his time to wit the yéere 666. the Cathedrall church of Lichfield was first founded 5. Cedda THe yéere 669. Cedda was consecrate Archbishop of Yorke in the absence of Wilfride But Wilfride returning he gaue place and liuing a while a monasticall life at 〈◊〉 accepted at last the Bishopricke of Lichfield vnder Wulfnere king of Percia ann 669. He 〈◊〉 to haue béene a godly and very denout man as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Beca his Eccl. hist. lib. 4. cap. 3. where his life and death are at large reported He died March 2. 672. hauing sate there two yéeres and a halfe and was buried at Lichfield 6. Winfride VVInfride a Chaplaine of Ceddaes was then 〈◊〉 Bishop of Lichfield a man vertuous and modest as Beda witnesseth Yet it is said that Theodore the Archbishop of Canterbury depriued him for I know not what disobedience the yéere 674. He returned vnto Catbarne a Monastery built by Cedda vnder whom he had liued in the same heretofore and there lead a very holy life many yéeres after 7. Saxulf VVInfride being displaced it was thought good his Dioces should be diuided into two parts One was allotted vnto Saxulf who continued his 〈◊〉 at Lichfield still the other was committed vnto Eadhead He and his successors of whom you may sée a Catalogue Fol. 1 sate at Sidnacester This Saxulf was the first Abbot of 〈◊〉 now called Peterborough and perswaded Wolfer king of Mercia to the foundation of that Monaster 8. Headda AFter Saxulf the Dioces was once more diuided and a Bishop placed at Leicester His name was Wilfride But he being drouen away thence after a short space Headda that before was Bishop of Lichfield recouered the Iurisdiction againe and gouerned the same in sort as his predecessor had done 9. Aldwyn AFter Headda succéeded Aldwyn that liued in the time of Beda He died the yéere 737. 10. Witta THe Countrey of Mercia was then diuided into thrée Bishoprickes One was continued at Lichfield another was appointed to sit at Leycester and the third at Dorchester Lichfield was giuen to Witta Leicester to Tota and Dorchester to Eadhead Sée more of them in Lincolne Fol. 228. After Witta succeeded these 11. Hemel He died ann 764. 12. Cuthfrid 13. Berthun 14. Aldulf Off a King of Mercia procured the Pope to make this Aldulf an Archbishop and gaue him authority ouer the Sées of Winchester Hereford Legecester Sidnacester Helmham and Dunwich He liued ann 793. Iun. 15. Humbert Matth. Westm. saith this man died the yéere 795. and calleth him Archbishop of Lichfield as he doth also Higbert his successor Howbeit I am out of doubt that Aldwin as he was the first so he was the last Archbishop that euer sate there 16. Herewin He liued ann 833. as appeareth by a Charter in Ingulfus confirmed by him Pag. 488. 17. Higbert 18. Ethelwold He died 858. 19. Humberhtus He died 164. 20. Kenferth or rather Kinebert He died 872. 21. Cumbert 22. Tunbriht or Bumfrith He died 928. By the way now it shall not be amisse to remember that Florentius Wigorn from whom William of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little biffenteth reporteth this order of succession as 〈◊〉 as I can gather 13. Berthun 14. Higbert 15. Aldulf 16. Herewyn 17. Ethelwald 18. Hunberht 19. Cineferth 20. Tunbright That wherein I differ from them I find in Matth. Westminster whom I follow the rather for that he setteth downe not their bare names but their times of consecration now and then yea and their death also After Tunbright without all controuer sie succeeded 23. Ella 24. Alfgar 25. Kinsy He liued ann 966. and 948. 26. Winsy 27. Elseth or Ealfeage 28. Godwyn 29. Leosgar 30. Brithmar He died 1039. 31. Wlsius He died 1054. 32. Leofwyn Abbot of Couentry 33. Peter THis man forsaking Lichfield remooued his 〈◊〉 Sée to Chester the yéere 1055. He was consecrate 1067. died the yéere 1086. and was buried at Chester 34. Robert de Limesey HE was consecrate the yéere 1088. translated his 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 to Couentry 1095. died September 1. 1116. and was buried at Couentry 35. Robert Peche alias Peccam RObert surnamed Peccatum or Peche and sometimes Peccam Chaplame vnto king Henry the first was consecrate 1117. died August 22. 1127. and was buried at Couentry 36. Roger de Clinton THe king then bellowed this Bishopricke vpon Roger de 〈◊〉 that was nephew vnto 〈◊〉 Lord Clinton a man of great account and authority in his time December 21. 1129. he was ordered Priest at Canterbury and consecrate Bishop the day following This man built a great part of the Church of Lichfield increased the number of his Prebends fensed the towne of Lichfield with a ditch and bestowed much vpon the castle there No part of that castle now standeth onely the ditch remayneth to be seene and the place where it stood retaineth the name of Castle field He tooke vpon him the crosse at last went to Jerusalem and died at Antioch Aprill 16. 1148. 37. Walter Durdent VVAlter Durdent Prior of Canterbury succéeded him He was consecrate 1149. died 1161. and was buried at Couentry 38. Richard Peche RIchard Peche was sonne vnto Robert Peche Bishop of Couentry By him he was preferred vnto the Archdeaconry of Couentry and the yeere 1162. succéeded him in his Bishopricke This man in his latter daies tooke on him the habite of a Chanon in the Church of Saint Thomas néere Stafford of which house some name him the founder He was buried there dying the yéere 1181. 39. Girardus Puella OF this man Robertus Montensis writeth thus Magister Girardus cognomento Puella c. Master Gerard surnamed Puella a man of great learning and vertue the yéere 1181. was chosen Bishop of Chester in England That Bishopricke hath thrée Episcopall Sées Chester Couentry and Lichfield He died Ianuary 12. 1184. and was buried at Couentry 40. Hugh Nouaunt THe yéere 1186. Hugh Nouaunt a Norman was consecrate Bishop of Lichfield He bought of king Richard the first the monastery of Couentry for 300. markes 〈◊〉 to place secular priestes in the same he came thither 〈◊〉 a power of armed men the yéere 1190. and when the monkes would not giue place inuading them with fine force chased away some beate and lamed other spoyled their house burnt their charters and euidences c. and then put in secular priests in their roomes Bale reporteth that he could not cary this matter so cléere as that it cost him not some 〈◊〉 In the conflict himselfe was wounded and that in the church iust before the high altar It séemeth he
the certaine time I know not and drawing toward his end deliuered vnto the poore with his owne hands whatsoeuer he had in the world leauing him selfe scarce clothes to couer him He was euer a great almes man and notwithstanding his great building a great house keeper also Neither was he lesse carefull of the spirituall Temple of Christ then the materiall he was a very painefull Preacher yéerely visiting his whole Dioces preaching in euery place thrice reprehending and punishing sinne seuerely and lastly performing such other pastorall duties as he thought vnto his charge might belong 4. Seffridus Abbot of Glastonbury was brother vnto Ralfe Archbishop of Canterbury He was consecrate Aprill 12. 1125. 5. Hilarius This man onely of all the Bishops in England was content absolutely to allow of the declaration after published at Clarindon without mention of that odious clause saluo ordine fuo but was shrewdly bayted of his brethren for his labor as in the life of Thomas Becket you may read more at large 6. Iohn de Greenford Deane of Chichester was elected the yéere 1173. consecrate 1174. and died 1180. 7. Seffridus the second succéeded In his time to witte October 19. 1187. the Cathedrall Church together with the whole City was once more consumed with casuall fire The Church and his owne palace he both reedified in very good sort 8. Simon de Welles was elected Bishop December 22. ann 1198. 9. Richard Poore Deane of Salisbury was consecrate 1215. translated to Salisbury 1117. and after to Durham Sée Durham 10. Ralfe first Officiall then Prior of Norwich succéeded him in Chichester He gaue to the Church a Windmill in Bishopstone and died 1222. 11. Ralfe Neuil al. de Noua villa was elected Nouember 1. 1222. and consecrate the yéere following being then lately made Chauncellor of England by the consent and good liking of the whole realme for the great opinion they had of his vprightnesse and sincerity whereof indéede he yéelded such proofe in the execution of that office as neuer any man held the same with greater commendation About the yeere 1230. he was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury but was so farre from 〈◊〉 that dignity corruptly as he refused to giue the monkes money to pay for their charges in certifying this election vnto the Pope Now he missed it see Canterbury in the life of S. Edmund After that he was elect Bishop of Winchester See the successe thereof in William de Raleigh of Winchester He died February 1. 1244. at London in that house which is now knowen by the name of Lincolnes Inne He built it from the ground to be a house of receite for himselfe and his successors when they should come to London After his time I know not by what meanes it came to the possession of Henry Lacy Earle of Lincolne who somwhat enlarged it and left it the name it now hath This Bishop moreouer builded a Chappell and dedicated it to Saint Michaell without the East gate of Chichester and was otherwise a great Benefactor vnto his owne Church 12. Richard de la Wich After the death of Ralf Neuil the Canons of Chichester to curry fauour with the king chose a Chaplaine of his for their Bishop one Robert Passelew a man wise inough and one that had done the king much good seruice but so vnlearned as the Bishops of the realme 〈◊〉 much to be ioyned with him procured his election to be disanulled and Richard de Wiche to be chosen This Richard de Wiche was borne at Wiche in Worcetershire of which place he tooke his surname and was brought vp in the vniuersities of Oxford first and Paris afterward Being come to mans state he trauailed to Bononia where hauing studied the Canon Law seuen yéeres he became publique reader of the same After that he spent some time at Orleans in France and then returning home was made Chauncellour vnto Saint Edmund Archbishop of Canterbury as also of the vniuersity of Oxford He was consecrate by the Pope him selfe at Lyons 1245. and so gouerned the charge committed to him as all men greatly reuerenced him not onely for his great learning but much more for his diligence in preaching his manifold vertues and aboue all his integrity of life and conuersation In regard of these things as also of many miracles that are fathered vpon him he was canonised and made a Saint some seuen yéeres after his death He deceased Aprill 2. 1253. the ninth yeere after his consecration and of his age the fifty sixt He was buried in his owne church and the yeere 1276 his body was remooued from the first place of buriall and laid in a sumptnous shrine 13. Iohn Clypping a Canon of Chichester succéeded him This man amongst other things gaue vnto his church the Mannour of Drungwick vpon which he built much at his owne cost euen all the Mannour house there 14. Stephen Of whom I find nothing but this that he was excommunicate the yéere 1265. for taking part with the Barons against the king 15. Gilbertus de Sancto Leofardo died the yéere 1305. He was saith Matthew Westminster a father of the fatherlesse a comforter of mourners a defender of widdowes a releeuer of the poore a helper of the distressed and a diligent visiter of the sick especially the poore vnto whom he resorted more often then vnto the rich He ascribeth also diuers miracles vnto him beléeue him as you list He raised from the foundation the Chappell of Saint Mary 16. Iohn de Langton sometimes Chauncellor of England builded a costly window in the south part of the church This Bishop or at least he that was Bishop of Chichester the yéere 1315. excommunicated the Earle Warren for adultery whereupon the Earle came vnto him with armed men and made shew of some intent to lay violent hands vpon him The Bishops men perceiuing it set vpon them and by their Masters commaundement put both the Earle and his men in prison 17. Robert Stratford Archdeacon of Canterbury Channcellor of the Uniuersity of Oxford and Lord Chauncellor of England at what time he was preferred to the Bishopricke of Chichester made suite he might with the kings good fauor giue ouer his office which was graunted him but not long after it was layd vpon him againe He died the yéere 1361. 18. William de Lenne alias 〈◊〉 Doctor of law and Deane of Chichester was translated to Worceter 1368. See Worceter 19. William Reade was sometimes fellow of Perton colledge in Oxford where he gaue himselfe most part vnto the study of that Mathematikes that to so good purpose as he hath the reputation of the most excellent Mathematician of his age In his riper yéeres he fell to Diuinity and 〈◊〉 Doctor in that faculty He built the castle of Amberly from the ground left his picture many tables and Astronomicall instruments to Merton colledge where I heare they are yet kept 20. Thomas Rushooke a Fryer preacher Doctor of Diuinity and Confessor vnto the king was first
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
or other auoydance without any performance of vsuall ceremonies And whether it were that he mistrusted his title to Canterbury or inercusable couetousnesse I cannot tell certaine it is that he kept Winchester also together with Canterbury euen vntill a little before his death he was forced to forgoe them both Many times he was cited vnto Rome about it but by giftes delayes and one meanes or other he droue it off neuer being able to procure his pall thence so long as king Edward liued William the Conqueror hauing slaine king Harold in the field all England yéelded presently vnto his obedience except onely Kentishmen who following the counsell of Stigand and Egelsin the abbot of S. Augustines gathered al their forces togither at Swanscombe néere Grauesend and there attended the comming of the king who doubted of no such matter euery man holding a gréene bough in his hand whereby it came to passe that he was in the midst of them before he dreamed of any such businesse toward He was greatly amased at the first till he was giuen to vnderstande by Stigand there was no hurt meant vnto him so that he would graunt vnto that contrey their ancient liberties and suffer them to be gouerned by their former customes and lawes called then and til this day Gauelkind These things he easily yeelded vnto vpon this armed intercession and afterward very honourably performed But he conceiued so profound a displeasure against Stigand for it as he neuer ceased till he had reuenged it with the others destruction A while he gaue him very good countenance calling him father méeting him vpon the way when he vnderstood of his repaire toward him and affording him all kinde of gratious and fauourable vsage both in words and behauiour but it lasted not long The first signe of his hidden rancour and hatred towarde him was that he would not suffer himselfe to be crowned by him but made choise of Aldred Archbishop of Yorke for which he alleaged other reasons as that he had not yet receiued his pall c. But the matter was he was loth in that action to acknowledge him for Archbishop Soone after his coronation he departed into Normandy carrying with him Stigand and many English nobles vnder pretence to doe them honour But in truth he stood in doubt least in his absence they should practise somewhat against him And namely Stigand he knew to be a man of a haughty spirit subtile rich gracious and of great power in his countrey Presently vpon his returne certaine Cardinals arriued in England sent from the Pope as legates to redresse as they said certaine enormities and abuses of the English clergy Stigand by and by perceiuing himselfe to be the marke that was specially shot at hid himfelfe a while in Scotland with Alexander Bishop of Lincolne and after in the Isle of Ely At last perceiuing a conuocation to be called at Winchester he came thither and besought the king in regarde of his owne honour and the promise made vnto him at Swanscombe which was not to be offended with him or any other for their attempt at that time to saue him from the calamity he saw growing toward him which he could not impute vnto any thing so probably as his vndeserued displeasure The king answered him with very gentle words that he was so farre from endeuouring to take any reuenge of that or any other matter as he loued him and wished he knew how to protect him from the danger imminent But that which was to be done at that time must be done by the Popes authoritie which he might not countermaund So do what he could he was depriued of his liuings by these legates The causes alleaged against him were these First that he had held Canterbury and Winchester both together which was no very strange thing for Saint Oswald had long before held Worceter with Yorke and S. Dunstan Worceter with London Secondly that he had inuaded the Sée of Canterbury Robert the Archbishop being yet aliue vndepriued And lastly that he presumed to vse the pall of his predecessor Robert left at Canterbury and had neuer receiued any pall but of Pope Benedict at what time he stood excommunicate for simony and other like crimes In the same conuocation many other Prelates were depriued of their promotions as 〈◊〉 Bishop of Helmham brother vnto Stigand diuers abbots and men of meaner places All which was done by the procurement of the king that was desirous to place his countrymen in the roomes of the depriued for the establishment of his new gotten kingdome Poore Stigand being thus depriued as though he had not yet harme inough was also clapt vp presently in prison within the castell of Winchester and very hardly vsed there being scarcely allowed meate inough to hold life and soule together That was thought to be done to force him to confesse where his treasure lay whereof being demaunded he protested with great othes he had no mony at all hoping belike so to procure his liberty the rather and then to make himselfe mery with that he had laid vp against such a déere yéere He died soone after of sorrow and griefe of minde or as other report of voluntary famine 17. yéeres after he first obtained the Archbishopricke After his death a little key was found about his necke the locke whereof being carefully sought out shewed a note or direction of infinite treasures hid vnder ground in diuers places All that the king pursed in his owne coffers The bones of this archbishoply entoombed at this day vpon the top of the north wall of the Presbytery of the church of Winchester in a coffin of lead vpon the north side whereof are written these words Hic iacet Stigandus Archiepiscopus he was depriued ann 1069. and died within the compasse of the same yéere 33. Lanfrank STigand being yet aliue but depriued as is beforesaid Lanfranke was consecrate Archbishop This Lanfrank was borne at Papia in Lumbardy twenty myles from Millayn where being brought vp in learning and now come vnto mans state he determined to trauaile Through France he came into Normandy prouoked by the fame and great reports he had heard of Eluin abbot of Becco Upon the way thitherward it was his hap to be encountred with théeues that spoiled him of all he had bound him and threw him into a thicket where he might haue perished with cold and hunger had not God sent some extraordinary company that way that loosed him hauing laien there onely one night Thence he got him vnto the monastery of Becco and for very want and penury was faine to become a Reader of Logike there vntill he was admitted to the place of a monke Soone after that he was made Prior of Becco whence in regard of his singular wisedome and great knowledge in all good learning that those times could affoord he was called by Duke William to be abbot of S. Stephens in Cane a monastery that the said Duke had founded Now
Stigand being displaced in manner aboue rehearsed the conquerour well knowing how much it behooued him to the establishment of his new erected throne in England to haue a man wise and faithfull in that place made a speciall choice of him as one in all respects most fit and woorthy which being well knowne to all men the Couent at the kings first nomination readily chose him the nobilitie and courtiers willingly assented and receaued him with great applause and lastly the Pope affoorded him his pall with extraordinary fauour It is said at his first comming the Pope rose vp vnto him and mette him telling him he yeelded him that honour not of dutie but in regard of his excellent learning whereof he had heard great fame Thomas Archbishop of Yorke was present the same time together with 〈◊〉 Bishop of Dorchester This Thomas had béene lately consecrated vnto Yorke by Lanfrank and for a certaine time refused to make profession of obedience vnto the See of Canterbury euen vntill by the commandement of the king he was inforced thereunto Now whether it were discontentment and perswasion of a wrong or else enuie at Lanfranks either vertue or good fortune that mooued him hée presently began to make complaint vnto the Pope of a great miury offered vnto his Sée in the demaund of his profession Lanfrank pleaded prescription for his right and offred to make proofe of the same The Pope therefore not willing to trouble himselfe any more with the matter committed the hearing thereof vnto the king who in the yéere 1072. iudged it for Canterbury Sée more of this quarrell in Thomas of Yorke Lanfrank himselfe was consecrated very solemnly at Canterbury all the Bishops in England being present themselues or by their proctors August 29. 1070. Almost 18. yeres he continued Archbishop gouerning his charge laudably and happily till that about the end of his time one action obscured his former praises and furthermore was the cause of many great calamities vnto him It is thought that William the Conqueror left the kingdome of England vnto his yoonger sonne William Rufus at the perswasion especially of this Archbishop who the rather wisht well vnto the yoong prince because he had béene brought vp vnder him in his childhood He is blamed much for putting the eldest sonne Robert from that which might séeme in some sort due vnto him and surely God blessed him not in that action The king thus aduanced by him fel out with him and droue him out of the realme The cause of this displeasure is diuersly reported But most men agree it was none other then this that the king thought him a little too busie in exhorting him to vertue and godlinesse and reprehending his manifold vices Being thus banished he trauatled to Rome and wandred vp and downe many countries till at last by what intercession I finde not he was suffred to come home againe Soone after his return he fell sicke of an ague and so ended his daies Iune 4. 1088. or as Houeden hath May 24. 1089. He was buried at Canterbury in his owne church vnto which he was a great benefactor He bestowed much vpon the fabrike and reparation of the same built much housing for the monkes whose number he increased from 30. to 140. restored the dignities and offices of old belonging to the monastery and recouered vnto the same 25. Mannors that had béene taken from it wrongfully in times past by Odo Bishop of Bayon and earle of Rent Moreouer he built the Archbishops pallace at Canterbury in a manner all he founded two hospitals without the citie of Canterbury and endowed them with competent reuenewes Saint Iohns and Harbaldown He bestowed large mony toward the building of the cathedrall Church of Rochester or rather indéed built it all and did much the particulars I cannot set downe for the abbey of Saint Albons He was a great student writ many learned works and which deserueth especiall remembrance tooke great paines in reforming the Bible the copies whereof were much corrupted throughout England by the negligence of the writers 34. Anselm FOwer yéeres the Sée continued void after the death of Lanfranke and the king pursed the profits thereof In what good moode I knowe not he which was woont to sell all other ecclesiastical promotions as it were by the drum bestowed this Archbishopricke fréely vpon a most woorthy man Anselm abbot of Becco This Anselm was borne at Augusta a city of Burgundy standing at the foot of the Alpes His fathers name was Gundulfe a man of great account in his country and his mothers Hemeberg He came vnto Becco of the like errand as Lanfranke had done mooued thereunto by the great fame of the said Lanfranke and professed himselfe a monke there in the 27. yéere of his age Lanfranke being called away to Cane he was made Prior and soone after Abbot Eluyn the old Abbot being dead In that place he continued 15. yéeres and then was earnestly requested by Hugh Earle of Chester lying very sicke to come into England vnto him to conferre with him and to order certaine affairesof his Hither he came and had much honour done him euery where of all forts of people The king himselfe amongst the rest beside many verball fauours made offer vnto him of the Archbishopricke of Canterbury verily hoping belike that a man giuen to monasticall contemplation and not estéeming worldly pompe would vndoubtedly haue refused the same For it is certaine that after Anselm had accepted the offer pitying belike the spoile and desolation of the church for want of a pastor the king would faine haue retracted his gift and perswaded him with many reasons to leaue it shewing him how the burthen and trouble of the place was greater then he should be able to inoure a man that had spent his time within the wals of a monastery and not experienced in managing of great affaires But he lost his labour Anselm kept fast his hold and was soone after consecrated by Walkelm Bishop of Winchester or as I finde also recorded by Thomas Archbishop of Yorke Decemb. 4. 1093. all the Bishops of the land that could possibly come being present at that solemnity Presently after his consecration the king and he fel out Not long before the king had throwen downe thirty churches to make his new forest néere Winchester This 〈◊〉 reprehended him sharply for and besought him to amend that and other faults as namely his simony his extortion his cruelty c. wherein he daily offended God gréeuously and greatly dishonoured himselfe This admonition of his displeased the king very much but his quarrell in shew was none other then this that asking leaue to go to Rome to fetch his pall he had named Vrban Pope whom the king as yet had not acknowledged for Pope and for so doing accused him of no lesse then high treason After great stirre and much adoe betwéene them about this matter it was determined that all the abbots and Bishops of England should be
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
riding straight vnto the court certified the king what he had done and there renewed the same sentence againe About the same time the king gaue commandement for the apprehending of Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent who hauing sudden notice thereof at midnight got him vp and fled into a church in Esser They to whom the businesse was committed finding him vpon his knées before the high altar with the sacrament in one hand and a crosse in the other caried him away neuertheles vnto the Tower of London The Bishop taking this to be a great violence and wrong offered vnto holy church would neuer leaue the king that was indéed a Prince religious ynough vntill he had caused the Earle to be caried vnto the place whence he was taken It is thought it was a meanes of sauing the Earles life For though order was taken he should not scape thence yet it gaue the kings wrath a time to coole and himselfe leysure to make proofe of his innocency By reason whereof he was afterward restored to the kings fauour and former places of honour This Bishop died at his mannor of Bishops hall in the parish of Stupenheath on Michaelmas day 1241. or as some report I thinke vntruly October 3. 1243. and was buried in his owne church where Matthew Paris saies diuers miracles were wrought at his toombe It standeth in the enter close or North wall of the Presbytery a little aboue the quire where is to be read this Epitaphe Ecclesiae quondam Praeful praesentis in anno M. bis C. quater X. iacet hic Rogerus humatus Huius erat manibus domino locus iste dicatus Christe suis precibus veniam des tolle reatus 45. Fulco Basset ABout Christmas following Fulco Basset Deane of Yorke was elected vnto the Sée of London but not consecrate vntill October 9. 1244. for that the king who earnestly desired to haue remooued Peter Bishop of Hereford vnto London misliked greatly their choice This our Fulco was a gentleman of a grcat house but a second brother After he had entred orders his elder brother and the onely sonne of that brother died within the compasse of a yéere leauing the inheritance vnto him Our histories blame him for not being forward ynough in the cause of the Barons that is for being too true vnto his Prince Otherwise they giue him the praise of a good man a discréet and vigilant pastor Questionlesse he was a man stout and no lesse couragious then his predecessor The yéere 1255. Rustandus the Popes legate held a connocation at London in which when he went about to lay an importable exaction vpon the cleargy and it was knowen the king was hired to winke at it this Bishop rose vp and openly professed that he would suffer his head to be chopped off before he would consent vnto so shamefull and vnreasonable oppression of the church Yea when the king stormed at this his resistance and reuiled him saying that neither he nor any of his name was euer true vnto him threatning moreouer that he would finde meanes to plague him for it In the presence of some that he knew would tell the king of it he sticked not to say a spéech I confesse not commendable but bold and couragious My Bishopricke indéed my myter and crosier the king and the Pope may take away from me though vniustly but my helmet and sword I hope they shall not He died of the plague at London the yéere 1258. and was buried in his owne church vpon Saint Urbans day 46. Henry de Wingham HEnry de Wingham Chauncellor of England chamberlaine of Gascoigne Deane of Tottenhall and S. Martins hauing béene twice Embassador into Fraunce was chosen Bishop of Winchester the yéere 1258. but refused to accept of that place Sée why in Ethelmare of Winchester The yéere following the like offer being made for London he neuer made bones of it and was consecrate about Midsommer the same yéere A small time he enioyed that preferment being taken away by death July 13. 1261. He lyeth intoombed in the South wall neere to the monument of Bishop Fauconbridge 47. Kichard Talbot SOone after the death of Henry Wingham Richard Talbot was elected and confirmed Bishop of London whether consecrate or no I can not tel Certaine it is he died vpon Michaelinas day the yéere following viz. 1262. 48. Henry de Sandwich BEfore the ende of that yéere Henry de Sandwich was consecrate Bishop So London had thrée Bishops in one yéere This man was excommunicate by Ottobonus the Popes legate as he had well deserued for taking part with the rebellious Barons against their Prince He died September 16. 1273. 49. Iohn de 〈◊〉 IOhn de Chishull Deane of Paules sometimes Archdeacon of London hauing béene first Kéeper of the great seale and then Treasurer of England was consecrate Aprill 29. 1274. He died February 10. 1279. 50. Richard de Grauesend RIchard de Grauesend Archdeacon of Northhampton was consecrate Bishop of London at Couentry August 12. 1280. He died at Fulham December 9. 1303. and was buried at London 51. Ralfe de Baldocke BY the consent of the whole Chapter Ralfe Baldocke was then chosen Bishoppe vpon Saint Matthias day following Howbeit he might not haue consecration till the Pope had confirmed the election for that thrée Canons lately depriued from their Prebends by the Archbishop being excluded from the election had appealed from the same vnto the Pope By the commandement of the Pope Clement 5. he was consecrate at Lyons Ianuary 30. 1305 by the hands of one Petrus Hispanus a Cardinall He was very well learned and amongst other things he writ as Bale recordeth an history or Chronicle of England in the Latine toong In his life time he gaue two hundred markes toward the building of the new worke of the chappell on the East end of his church now called the Lady chappell and in his will bequeathed much toward the finishing of the same And here by the way it shall not be amisse to note that in digging the foundation of this building there were found more then an hundred heads of cattell as oxen kine c. which séemeth to confirme the opinion of those that thinke the Temple of Iupiter was situate in that place before the planting of Christian religion tooke away those Idolatrous sacrifices This Bishop died at Stell July 24. 1313. and lieth buried vnder a flat marble in the said chappell 52. Gilbert Segraue GIlbert Segraue borne in Leicester shire and brought vp in Oxford was a man very well learned and left diuers good monuments of his knowledge behinde him He was consecrate Bishop of London Nouember 25. 1313. and sate about thrée yéeres 53. Richard Newport RIchard Newport was consecrate Bishop of London March 26. 1317. and died August 24. 1318. 54. Stephen Grauesend STephen Grauesend was consecrate Ianuary 14. following and sate about twenty yéeres 55. Richard Byntworth or Wentworth RIchard Byntworth had his election confirmed May 23. 1338. was
paine of death no man should héereafter be so hardy as to bring into the realme any kinde of writing from the Popes court Some notwithstanding contrary to this prohibition deliuered letters to the Bishop of Rochester then Treasurer of England from the Pope concerning this matter and fearing the woorst had armed themselues This 〈◊〉 they shrunke away and fled but were soone after 〈◊〉 and diuersly punished some dismembred other faire and well hanged The Pope hearing of this was so incensed that he wrote a very sharpe letter vnto the king breathing out terrible threats against him if he did not presently reconcile himselfe vnto the Bishop and cause full amends to be made him for all the losse he had sustained either by the Countesse or him in these troubles The king was too wise either to doe all he required or vtterly to despise his authority The 〈◊〉 he knew was not for his honor nor so farre had this tyrant incroched vpon the authority of princes the other for his 〈◊〉 Warned by the examples of king Iohn Henry the emperour and other he thought good not to exasperate him too 〈◊〉 and so was content to yéeld vnto somewhat But before the matter could grow to a full conclusion it was otherwise ended by God who tooke away the Bishop by death He deceased at Auinion June 23. 1361. and was there buried 〈◊〉 béen Bishop euen almost 17. yéeres 19. Simon Laugham INnocentius translated then Reginald Bryan Bishop of Worcester vnto Ely But he died before he could take benefit of the Popes gift Iohn Buckingham afterward Bishop of Lincolne was then chosen and was reiected by the Pope who preferred to this Sée Simon Laugham Abbot of Westminster He continued here but fiue yeeres being in that space first Treasurer then Chauncellor of England and was remooued to Canterbury Of his translation some merry fellow made these verses Laetentur 〈◊〉 quia Simon transit ab Ely Cuius in aduentum flent in Kent 〈◊〉 centum Sée more of him in Canterbury 20. Iohn Barnet AT what time Simon Laugham was translated to Canterbury Iohn Barnet was remooued from Bathe to succeede him in Ely He was first consecrate Bishop of Worcester 1362. and staying there but one yéere obtayned Bathe 1363. and lastly Ely 1366. He was Treasurer of England Being a very old man before his comming to Ely he liued there notwithstanding sixe yéeres in which tune he bestowed the making of fower windowes two in the South side and two in the North side of the Presbytery He died June 7. 1379. at Bishops 〈◊〉 lieth buried vpon the south side of the high altar in which place there is to be soone a goodly toombe monstrously defaced the head of the image being broken off I take that to be Barnets toombe 21. Thomas Arundell AFter the death of Iohn Barnet the king writ earnestly vnto the couent to choose Iohn Woodrone his confessor But they elected Henry Wakefield Treasurer of the kings house This election was made voide by the Pope who placed of his owne authority as I 〈◊〉 deliuered Thomas Arundell Archdeacon of Taunton sonne vnto Robert 〈◊〉 of Arundell and Warren being an aged gentleman of two and twenty yéeres old and as yet but a Subdeacon How be it some report that order being taken by parliament about this time for the ratifying of capitular elections and stopping the iniurious prouisions of the Pope that this Thomas 〈◊〉 was chosen orderly and consecrate at Otford by the Archbishop William Witlesey Aprill 6. 1375. Hauing 〈◊〉 there sowertéene yéeres thrée moneths and eightéene 〈◊〉 he was translated to Yorke and after to Canterbury He left for an implement of his house at Ely a woonderfull sumptuous and costly table decked with gold and precious stones It belonged first vnto the king of Spaine and was sold to this Bishop by the Blacke Prince for 300. markes He also bestowed the building of the great gate house in the house at Holburne Sée more of him in Yorke and Caterbury 22. Iohn Fordham THe Sée had béene void but fowertéene daies when Iohn Fordham Bishop of Durham was translated to Ely by the Pope He was first Deane of Wels consecrate Bishop of Durham May 29. 1381. and inthronized there in September 1382. He was Treasurer of England and to his great griefe was displaced from that office the yéere 1386. and Iohn Gilbert Bishop of Hereford made treasurer Seuen yéeres he continued at Durham and September 27. 1388. was by the authority of the Pope translated to Ely in which Sée he sate seuen and thirty yéeres two moneths and 24. daies He died Nouember 19. 1425. and lieth buried in the West part of the Lady chappell It appéereth by this reckoning that he was Bishop in all from the time of his first consecration 46. yéeres and vpward Sée more of him in Durham 23. Philip Morgan THe king then and manie noble men commended vnto the couent William 〈◊〉 doctor of law the kings confessor and kéeper of the priuie Seale who was after Bishop of Lincolne But they chose Peter their Prior. That election being disliked at home by the Archbishop he was fame to seeke vnto the Pope whose manner was litle or nothing to regard elections but to bestow any Bishoprick or other preferment that fell according to his owne pleasure if it were not filled before the auoidance might come to his knowledge According to this custome hauing no respect of the election of the couent of his owne authoritie he thrust in Phillip Morgan into this Bishopricke This man being doctor of law was consecrate Bishop of worcester 1419. and soone after 〈◊〉 death viz. before the end of the yeere 1425. remoued as is aforesaid vnto Ely He was a very wise man gouerned there with great commendation nine yeeres sixe moneths and fower daies And departed this life at Bishops 〈◊〉 October 25. 1434. He was buried at charter house in London 24. Lewes Lushborough PResently after his death the Monks elected Robert Fitz hugh Bishop of london who died before his translation could be perfected The king then writ for Thomas Rodburne Bishop of saint 〈◊〉 which notwithstanding they make choise of another to wit Thomas Bourchier Bishop of worcester whose election the Pope confirmed but the king vtterly refused to restore to him the temporalties of that see And so for feare of a premunire he durst not receiue the popes bulles of confirmation but renounced all his interest by this election The king then appointed this Bishopricke vnto Lewes Lushbrough Archbishoppe of Roan Cardinall and Chauncellor both of Fraunce and Normandy that was some way I know not how kinne vnto him By his meanes a dispensation was gotten of the Pope to hold Ely in commendam with his Archbishopricke He enioyed it sixe yéeres and sixe monethes and then died at Hatfild Septem 18. 1443. He is said to haue bene buried betwéene two marble pillers beside the altar of reliques 25. Thomas Bourchier THomas Bourchier being now once more chosen without
small profite by their places He appointed bicars to 〈◊〉 the Prebends in dooing the seruice of the Church and laid vnto the Bishopricke the mannors of Congresbury Chedder and 〈◊〉 He also and Hugh Bishop of Lincolne 〈◊〉 their purses together founded the Hospitall of S. Iohns in Welles which being suppressed by act of Parliament 〈◊〉 to the Earle of Southampton he 〈◊〉 it with Bishop Clarke for Dogmersfield Moreouer in building he bestowed inestimable summes of money He built a 〈◊〉 Chappell in 〈◊〉 pallace at Welles and an other at Owky as also many other edifices in the same houses And lastly the Church of Welles it selfe being now ready to fall to the ground notwithstanding the great cost bestowed vpon it by Bishop Robere he pulled downe the greatest part of it to witte all the West ende built it a new from the very foundation and hallowed or dedicated it October 22. 1239. Hauing continued in this Bishopricke 27. yeeres he died at last Nouember 19. 1242. and was 〈◊〉 in the middle of the 〈◊〉 that he had built under a 〈◊〉 toombe of late yeeres monsterously defared 22. Roger. NOtwithstanding the composition lately made by Bishop 〈◊〉 for the order of election the monkes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 with the Chapter of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one Roger the Chaunter of SaluÌ„bury for Bishop 〈◊〉 for that a kinsman of the Popes had the aduouson of his 〈◊〉 obtained easily consecration by the Popes meanes September 11. 1244. After long sute in law betweene the two Churches for the righting of this wrong the end was that Welles men must 〈◊〉 vp the wrong and they of Bathe yeeld assurance of performing the composition for the time to come which was done accordingly The Bishop by whose meanes this accord 〈◊〉 made not liuing long after departed this 〈◊〉 Ianuary 13. 1274. hauing sate not past foure monethes above three yéeres He onely of all the 〈◊〉 of this Church for the space of almost 600. yeeres died 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of 6 yeeres after his comming 〈◊〉 which in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath yet neuer happened to any other 〈◊〉 is the 〈◊〉 of our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at Bathe 23. William Bitton or Button THe 〈◊〉 of Bathe according to their promise now at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the Chapter of Welles William Button 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and then 〈◊〉 of Welles was with one 〈◊〉 elected This man had much to doo with the monkes of 〈◊〉 concerning those lands which by composition they had yeelded to the See of 〈◊〉 And although the Bishop had sustained great charge in diners of the kings seruices namely and especially in trauayling into the furthermost part of Spaine about his affaires Yet he fauored altogether the part of the monkes and gaue them hâ—s vttermost assistance in their sutes They were ended at by the Bishops death who deceased in the beginning of the yeere 1264. hauing first possessed his brethren and kinsfolkes of all the principall places of our Church of Welles For I finde that about this time there was another William Button his brothers sonne Archdeacon of Welles and after Bishop one Richard Button Chaunter Nicolas Button a brother of the Bishops Treasurer Iohn Button another brother of his Prouost of Coomb and Parson of Ashbery aster whose death one Thomas Button succéeded in the Prouostship and that one Thomas Button whether the same man or no I can not tell was first Archdeacon after William Button aforesaid then Deane of Welles and lastly the yéere 1292. Bishop of Exceter This Thomas Button it was that for the soule of this William Button our Bishop gaue to our Church the bell commonly called the sermon bell as in a French inscription vpon the same bell is yet to be séene He lyeth buried in the middle of our Lady Chappell vnder a Marble toombe 24. Walter Giffard VVAlter Giffard Canon of Welles and a 〈◊〉 laine of the Popes was elected May 22. 1264 and soone after consecrate by the Bishop of 〈◊〉 in the absence of Boniface the Archbishop 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. yeeres he was translated to 〈◊〉 Sée Yorke 25. William Button or Bitton VVIlliam Button 〈◊〉 of Welles and nephew to the former William Button obtained this Bishopricke the yéere 1267. A man so greatly accounted of for his holinesse saith Matthew Paris as when Robert Killwardby Archbishop of Canterbury had licence of the Pope to take consecration at the hand of any Catholique Bishop he made choice of him only in respect of his holinesse He made many good statutes by which our Church is yet gouerned Amongst other things he ordained foure generall Chapter daies in the yeere at which onely times such things should be ordred as might 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It were greatly to be wished that all other Churches were to obserue the same order He deceased in the moneth of Nouember 1274. Many 〈◊〉 people especially such as were troubled with the tooth ake were woont euen of late yeeres to frequent much the place of his 〈◊〉 being without the North side of the 〈◊〉 where we see a Marble stone hauing a 〈◊〉 image grauen vpon it He gaue vnto our Church the mannor of Bicknaller 26. Robert Burnell IN the moneth of Ianuary following Robert Burnell Archdeacon of Yorke and Canon of Welles was elected A man of great power and authoritie in those daies being first Treasurer then Chauncellor of England and alwaies of the 〈◊〉 vnder king Edward the first That gaue him meanes of gathering great wealth which he 〈◊〉 partly in building his houses as namely that goodly hall of the pallace at Welles pulled downe some fifty yeeres since by a 〈◊〉 of the court that for a 〈◊〉 reward of his 〈◊〉 soone after lost his head But his principall care was to inrich his brethren and 〈◊〉 whom he greatly advanced He was much 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 affaires from which he could be so ill spared as the king was content for a 〈◊〉 to let him 〈◊〉 his court of 〈◊〉 at Bristoll Some there be suppose the castle of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 to haue beene built by him at what time he was occasioned to hue in those parts He sate eighteene yeeres and 〈◊〉 burted in the middle of the body of his church vnder a marble stone somewhat below the pulpit 27. William de Marchia THe same yéere that Burnell dicd William de Marchio then Treasurer of England succéeded I haue séene amongst the records of our church of Welles the 〈◊〉 pies of diuers letters vnto the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 king from diuers of the nobility and the cleargy of 〈◊〉 church commending this man so far foorth for his holinesse testified as they write by many miracles as they 〈◊〉 very earnestly for his Canonisation I maruaile much at 〈◊〉 For Matthew of Westminster and Polydor virgill 〈◊〉 grieuously of him as the author of a hainous sacrilege in 〈◊〉 sing the king to spoile all the Churches and Monasteries of England of such plate and mony as lay hoorded vp in them for the paiment of his souldiers It was
yéeres died vpon Saint Lukes day 1278. He lyeth buried vnder a reasonable plaine Marble toombe in the North I le of his church of Rochester almost ouer against the Bishops Sée 43. Iohn de Bradfeild a Monke and Chaunter of the Church of Rochester was consecrate 1279. and died 1282. 44. Thomas Inglethorp Deane of Saint Paules Church in London consecrate 1282. died in the moneth of June 1291. 45. Thomas de Wuldham Prior of Rochester 46. Haymo Confessor to king Edward the second 〈◊〉 named at Heathe or rather de Heathe of the Towne of 〈◊〉 in Kent where he was borne He built much at Hawling the yeere 1323. to wit the Hall and high front of the Bishops place there now standing reedified the Wall at Holborough néere vnto it repaired the rest of the buildings in the same house as he did also at Troscliff another mannor house belonging to this Sée Moreouer in the Towne of Hithe 〈◊〉 named he founded the Hospitall of Saint 〈◊〉 for reliefe of 10. poore people endewing the same with 20. markes of yéerely reuenew The yéere 1352. he resigned his Bishopricke into the Popes hands 47. Iohn de Shepey He was made Treasurer of England the yeere 1358. 48. William Wittlesey translated to Worceter 1363 and after to Canterbury Sée Canterbury 49. Thomas Trilleck He died 1372. 50. Thomas Brinton sometime a Benedictine Monke of Norwich trauailed in many places and lastly comming to Rome preached in Latine before the Pope many learned sermons which he left in writing behind him For them other exercises wherein he shewed himselfe to his great commendation he was much admired and became very famous The Pope also made him his Penitentiary bestowed vpon him the Bishopricke of Rochester He was Confessor vnto king Richard the 2. and died 1389. 51. William de Bottlesham or Boltsham whom Walsingham Bale and other call but I doubt not falsely Iohn Bottlesham was borne at Bottlesham in Cambridgeshire from whence he tooke his name He was a Frier preacher a Doctor of Diuinitie greatly accounted of for his learning more for his eloquence and rare gift in preaching for which also he was much estéemed by king Richard the 2. preferred by his meanes vnto the Bishopricke of Landaffe and after notwithstanding the election of on Richard Barnet translated vnto Rochester He died the yéere 1401. in the moneth of May. 52. Iohn Boltsham or Bottlesham Chaplaine vnto the Archbishop of Canterbury after the time of his consecration neuer sawe his Cathedrall church 53. Richard Yoong made the windowes of the parrish church of Freindsbury 54. Iohn Kempe was translated first to Chichester 1422. then to London and after that to Yorke and Canterbury Sée Canterbury 55. Iohn Langdon a monke of Canterbury He was borne in Kent and brought vp in Oxford where he procéeded doctor of Diuinitie A man very well learned in histories and antiquities especially he was very well seene Amongst other things I finde he writ a Chronicle of England which whether it be yet extant or no I know not He died at the Councell of Basill 1434. 56. Thomas Browne He being at the Councell of Basill was elected to Norwich and shortly after translated thither before he wist of any such businesse toward See Norwich 57. William Wels Abbot of Yorke He died 1443. 58. Iohn Lowe a white Monke Doctor of Diuinitie and Prouinciall of his order was preferred vnto the Bishopricke of Saint Assaph by king Henry the 6. in regard of his great learning and painfulnesse in preaching After that hee also procured him to be translated to Rochester 1443. He writ diuers good workes very well woorth reading and was a carefull searcher after good bookes so as diuers copies of some auncient fathers had vtterly perished but for his diligence He died the yeere 1467. and lieth buried in his owne Cathedrall church ouer against Bishop Merton where he hath a same marble toombe the inscription being not yet altogether defaced 59. Thomas Rotheram translated to Lincolne 1471. and after to Yorke Sée Yorke 60. Iohn Alcocke translated to Worcester 1476. and after to Ely Sée Ely 61. Iohn Russell translated to Lincolne 1480. Sée Lincolne 62. Edmund Audley translated to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sée Salisbury 63. Thomas Sauage translated to London and Yorke 〈◊〉 Yorke 64. Richard Fitz iames translated to Chichester 1504. and after to London Sée London 65. Iohn Fisher Doctor of Diuinitie For denying 〈◊〉 acknowledge the kings supremacy in ecclestasticall matters he was executed on Tower hill June 22. 1535. being made Cardinall about a moneth before His head was set on London bridge and his body buried in Barking churchyard 66. Iohn Fisher commonly called the blacke Frier of Bristow 67. Nicholas Heath became Bishop of Rochester about the yéere 1539. was remooued to Worceter 1543. and after to Yorke Sée Yorke 68. Henry Holbech translated to Lincolne 1547. 69. Nicolas Ridley conseccated in September 1547. was translated to London 1549. Sée London 70. Iohn Poynet consecrated Aprill 3. 1549. was translated to Winchester within a yéere after See Winton 71. Iohn Scory consecrated 1550. was depriued in the beginning of Quéene Mary and by Quéene Elizabeth preferred to Hereford 72. Maurice Griffyn Archdeacon of Rochester was consecrated Aprill 1. 1554. 73. Edmund Guest consecrated Ianuary 21. 1559. was translated to Salisbury December 24. 1571. 74. Edmund Freake doctor of Diuinitie consecrated March 9. 1571. was translated to Norwich 1576. and after to Worceter 75. Iohn Piers doctor of Diuinitie Deane of Christ 〈◊〉 in Oxford consecrated March 10. 1576. was translated to Salisbury 1577 and after to Yorke 76. Iohn Yoong doctor of Diuinitie consecrated 1578. yet liueth This Bishoprick is valued in the Exchequer at 358. l. 3. s. 7. d. farthing in the Popes bookes at 1300. ducates The Bishops of Oxford ABout the yéere of our Lord 730. there liued a Duke of Oxford called Didan He had a daughter of excellent beauty named Frideswyde who though she had many importunate suters men of great wealthand nobility yet desiring to serue God in such sort as she thought might be most acceptable vnto him would néedes dedicate her selfe vnto a sole and Monasticall life Amongst the rest of her wooers there was one a yoong Gentleman of great power some say he was a King his name was Algarus He not preuayling by intreaty thought to vse force and vpon a time getting company about him had almost seased vpon his desired pray which he had so narrowly beset as she had no way to escape his hands but by flying into a wood Thither also he followed her and that so néere as leauing it she had much adoo to recouer Oxford Perceiuing then that neither she was able to fly any further for wearinesse nor yet to withstand him there she called vnto God for assistance against this importunate louer who thereupon as the story saith was miraculously stricken blind And he continued in that case till by her prayers he recouered his sight againe Upon this
much money spent in this cause 〈◊〉 him and the Archbishop of Canterbury Bernard had preuailed at the 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had not two 〈◊〉 witnesses deposed a flat 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 of the Pope Giraldus aforesaid doubteth not confidently to 〈◊〉 that the power and wealth of the Archbishops of Canterbury hath ouerborne the poore Bishops of Saint Dauids in this matter without all right This Bishop saith Giraldus was a man in some other respects praise woorthy but vnreasonable proud and ambitious as most of the Englishmen were that in those times were thrust into Welch Bishopricks Againe he was a very euill husband vnto his Church 〈◊〉 diuers landes and letting others for the tenth peny of that his predecessors made of them so thinking to make a way by gratifying of Courtiers vnto some better Bishopricke in England He was deceaued of his expectation Hauing béene Bishop of Saint Dauids about the space of 33. yéeres he died ann 1148. 46. Dauid Fitz-gerald Archdeacon of Cardigan succéeded He died the yéere 1176. 47. Peter or Piers so the Welch Chronicle calleth him a Benedictine monke Prior of Wenlock was consecrated the same yéere His Cathedrall Church dedicated vnto Saint Andrew and Saint Dauid had beene often destroyed in former times by Danes and other pyrats and in his time was almost quite 〈◊〉 He bestowed much in reedifying of the same and may in sonie sort be said to haue built the church which now standeth 48. 〈◊〉 Prior of Lanthony aregular Chanon was preserred to this See by the meanes of Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury 49. 〈◊〉 Giraldus was borne in Pembrooke shire néere Tynby of very noble parentage being neere of kinne vnto the Princes of Wales a very comely and personable man of body and for his minde wittie discrete studious vertuous and well giuen In his youth he trauailed ouer most part of Christendome At Paris he read publikely in the English Colledge with great commendation Returning home he grew into great estimation with king Henry the 2. and became Secretary vnto his sonne Iohn with whom he went into Ireland and being there writ a description of the countrey as he did also of England and Wales Some affir me he was Archdeacon of Landaff of Brecknock and Saint Dauids he was for certaine Being elect vnto this See an 1199. he made challenge vnto the title of an Archbishop at Rome which controuersie how it was debated and ended yee may read at large in R. Houeden his report of the yeere aforesaid He was once accused oftreason but happily acquitted liued till he was 70. yéeres of age and vpward and dying was buried in his owne church He writ many bookes the Catalogue whereof yee may finde in Bale 50. 〈◊〉 or Edward was consecrate 1215. 51. Alselmus 52. Thomas Archdeacon of Lincolne a Welchman and a great 〈◊〉 forsaking other good preferments accepted of this Bishopricks being a miserable poore thing at that 〈◊〉 the yeere 1247. 53. Richard Carren 54. Thomas Beck He founded two colleges one at 〈◊〉 and another at Llan dewy breuy 55. Dauid Martyn 56. Henry Gower He built the Bishops pallace at Saint Dauids and died the yeere 1347. 57. Iohn Theresby or Thorsby translated to 〈◊〉 1349. and thence to Yorke 1352. 58. Reginald Brian translated likewise to Worceter 1352. 59. Thomas Fastocke died the yéere 1361. 60. Adam Houghton founded a colledge néere to the Cathedrall church of S. Dauid He was Chauncellour of England for a time about the yéere 1376. 61. Iohn Gilbert Bishop of Bangor was translated 〈◊〉 Hereford 1376. and thence hither 1389. Sée Hereford 62. Guido de Mona died the yéere 1407. who while 〈◊〉 liued saith Walsingham was a cause of much mischiefe 63. Henry 〈◊〉 was consecrated at Siena by the Popes owne hands Iune 12. 1409. sate 5 yeeres and was translated to Canterbury Sée Canterbury 64. Iohn Keterich or Catarick sometimes Archdeacon of Surrey was translated hence to Couentry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the yéere 1415. and after to Oxceter 65. Stephen Patrington a Iacobine Fryer as one 〈◊〉 or rather a Carmelite as an other saith being at the Counsell of Constance was by the Pope translated to Chichester in December 1417. as the records of Saint Dauids 〈◊〉 affirme Howbeit other say and I take it to be true that he refused to accept of the Popes gift 66. Benet Nicols Bishop of Bangor succéeded him 67. Thomas Rodburne a man of great learning was brought vp in Oxford and became first 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 then Bishop of Saint Dauids He write diuers 〈◊〉 amongst the rest an history or Chronicle The yéere 1434. the king 〈◊〉 to translate him to Ely but could not effect it 67. William Lynwood Doctor of Law was first Chauncellor to the Archbishop of Canterbury then kéeper of the priuy seale hauing beene first imployed in Embassages to the kings of Spaine Portugall and other Princes He writ much Amongst other his works he is famous for putting in order such Prouinciall constitutions as had beene made by the Archbishops of Canterbury from the time of Stephen Langton vnto Henry 〈◊〉 He florished about the yéere 1440. but iust what time he became Bishop or when he died I can not tell He lyeth buried at Saint Stephens in Westminster 68. Iohn Longton died within 15. dayes after his consecration 69. Iohn de le Beere 70. Robert Tully a monke of Glocester This man I take to be him that by the name of Robert 〈◊〉 is said to haue beene translated to Chichester the yéere 1508. 71. Richard Martyn 72. Thomas Langton 73. Hugh Pauy He impropred to the Uicars Chorall of Saint Dauids the Church of Llan Saint Fred. 74. Iohn Morgan died in the Priory of Caermerthin and was buried in his owne Church 75. 〈◊〉 Vaughan built a new Chappell in his church of Saint Dauid 76. Richard Rawlyns 77. William Barlowe translated to Welles hauing safe here 10. yéeres about the yéere 1548. and after to Chichester See Welles 78. Robert Farrar ended his life in the fire for profession of his faith the history whereof and of his whole life are to be read in Master Foxe 79. Henry Morgan died December 23. 1559. 80. Thomas Yong staying here but a very short time was translated to Yorke February 25. 1561. See Yorke 81. Richard Dauyes Bishop of Saint Assaph 82. Marmaduke Middleton Bishop of Waterford in Ireland 83. Anthony Rudde Doctor of Diuinity borne in Yorkshire brought vp in Cambridge hauing béene for the space of 9. yéeres Deane of Glocester was consecrate Iune 9. 〈◊〉 The Bishopricke of Saint Dauids is valued in the 〈◊〉 at 426 l. 22 d. ob and in the 〈◊〉 bookes at 1500. ducates The Bishops of Landaff THe Cathedrall church of Landaff is reported to haue beene first built in the time of king 〈◊〉 about the yéere of Christ 180. But I perceiue not that any Bishop sate there before 〈◊〉 that by 〈◊〉 Bishop of Altisiodore Lupus of Trecasia two Bishops of Fraunce was remooued to the Archbishoprick of
Bishop being troubled much in mind after the performance of that action and either amased with feare of what might happen after it or ouercome with gréefe and repentance of that he had done neuer could be mery after and so by conceit was cast into a disease whereof he died September 11. 1069. This is the report of W. Malmesbury others say namely Florentius Wigorne that he was so grieued with the comming in of a Nauy of the Danes as he prayed to God to take him out of this life that he might not sée the slaughter and spoyle which he thought they would make And that this griefe was the cause of his death He was more reuerenced afterward then while he liued a great deale No English man succéeded him in many yéeres after And the Normans being odious vnto the people they gladly reprehended all their actions comparing them with such English Bishops as they could remember made most fauorable report of them One thing also encreased his credite much Vrsus Earle of Worceter had built a Castle there to some preiudice of the monks in so much as the ditch of the said Castle empaired a little of the Church yard Aldred went vnto the Earle hauing before admonished him to right the wrong and hauing demaunded of him whether it were done by his appointment which he could not deny looking 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vrse Haue thou Gods 〈◊〉 and mine and of all 〈◊〉 heads except thou 〈◊〉 away this castle and know thou assuredly that thy posterity shall not inherite the land 〈◊〉 inheritance of Saint Mary This his 〈◊〉 seemed to take effect for 〈◊〉 died 〈◊〉 after and Roger his sonne a very small time enioying his fathers honour lost the same and was saine to flye the realme for killing an officer of the kings Thus much for Aldred who after his death was buried in his owne church 25. Thomas THe king then appointed Thomas a Channon of Bayon to be his successor a Norman by birth but he was brought vp altogither in the schooles of the Saxons in Fraunce except a little time he spent in Spaine He was the sonne of a priest a married priest I take it and brother vnto Sampson Bishop of Worceter whose sonne Thomas succéeded afterwards this Thomas in this Sée of Yorke A man very learned gentle both in countenance and words of a very swéete and amiable behauiour chaste and which is not to be despised of a goodly personage being in his youth beautifull in his latter time well coloured and his haire both head and beard as white as snow At his first entrance he had some what to do with Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterbury vnto whom he would not make profession of obediencē neuer as he alledged before that time required And indéed before the comming of William the Conqueror saith one the two Metropolitanes of England were not onely in authority dignity and office but also in number of suffragane Bishops 〈◊〉 But at this time saith he they of Canterbury 〈◊〉 the new king that Yorke ought to be subiect vnto their Sée and that it was for the good and safety of the king that the church thereof should be obedient principally vnto one for that otherwise one might set the crowne vpon one mans 〈◊〉 and the other doe as much for some body else This 〈◊〉 is more at large debated in Canterbury The ende for that time was that Thomas ouerborne by the Archbishop of Canterbury Lanfranke and the king who fauoured him was faine to appeale vnto Rome both of them being there in person before the Pope they fell as commonly it happeneth in like cases from the chiefe point into by matters and articling one against another What Thomas laide against Lanfranke I find not And all that Lanfranke had to say against him was that he was a priests son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that the king for his faithfull seruice had promised him a Bishopricke before his comming into England These were so great matters in the Popes iudgement as Thomas must be depriued of his ring and crosier and not restored to them but by the entreaty of Lanfranke As for the matter of Primacy he left it to the iudgment of the king and Bishops of England who forced Thomas to yeeld Comming then to Yorke he found that estate of his whole Dioces the city church especially most miserable The Danes before mentioned comming toward Yorke the Normans that held the castle thought good to burne certaine houses neere the castle least they might be a furtherance vnto the enemy This vngentle fire would not be entreated to stay iust where they would haue it but procéeding farther then his commission destroyed the monastery and church of Saint Peter and in fine the whole city Before the fire was out the Danes came and tooke both city and castle by force putting to the sword all the Normans they found there to the number of 3000 sauing none aliue but one William Mallet his wife children and a few other Soone after the destruction of this goodly city the king came into these parts with a puissant army against the Danes not ceasing to make all manner of spoile as if he had béene in the enemies countrey So betwéene the Danes and the Normans such hauocke was made as all the land from the great riuer of Humber vnto the riuer of Tine lay waste and not inhabited by any man for the space of nine yeeres after In the church of Yorke there were onely thrée Chanons left the rest being all either dead or fled away they had left vnto them neither house to put their heads in nor any good meanes how to line and maintaine themselues All these faults this industrious Bishop endeuoured to amend First he new couered and repaired his church as well as he might to serue the turne for a time But afterwards he pulled downe all the old building and erected from the very foundation a new to wit the Minster that now standeth His channons dispersed abroad he called home againe and tooke order they should be reasonably prouided for He built them a hall and a dorter and appointed one of them to be the Prouost and gouernour of the rest Also he bestowed certaine mannors and lands vpon them and caused other to be restored that had béen taken from them The church then hauing continued in this state a good while I know not by whose aduise the Archbishop thought good to diuide the land of Saint Peters church into Prebends and so to allot a particular portion vnto euery channon whereas before they liued together vpon the common charges of the church at one table much in like sort as fellowes of houses do now in the Uniuersities At the same time also he appointed a Deane a Treasurer and a chanter and also for the Chauncellorship it was founded of him before The church newly built by him he furnished with books and all kind of ornaments necessary
histories are written He was wont to say that Thurstan neuer did a worse deede then in erecting the Monastery of Fountney And that it may 〈◊〉 he faigned not this mislike you shall find in Newbridg lib. 3. cap. 5. That a certaine religious man comming vnto him when he lay vpon his death bed requested him to confirme certaine graunts made vnto their house to whom he answered you see my friend I am now vpon the point of death it is no time to dissemble I feare God and in regard thereof refraine to satisfie your request which I protest I can not doo with a good conscience A strange doctrine in those daies but being a wise man and learned he must néedes discerne that the monkes of his time were so farre swarued and degenerate from the holinesse of those first excellent men of the primitiue Church as they resembled rather any other kinde of people then those whom they pretended in profession to succeed These men the monkes I meane to be reuenged vpon him haue stamped vpon him two notable faults one that he preferred whipping boyes vnto the chiefe dignities of the Church wherein were it true no body can excuse him The other thing they lay to his charge is manifestly false They say he was miserably couetous and how doo they prooue it Because forsooth he left a certaine deale of ready money behind him Surely in my same made no haste to receiue consecration as knowing better how to sheare his shéepe then to feed them which he knew he might do without consecration as well as with it Seuen yéeres he held the Bishoprick after that sort and at length by the perswasion of his father desirous to haue his sonne néere about him as some say or perceiuing him vnfit to make a cleargy man as other say He resigned his interest in the church of Lincolne and got him to the court where he was made Lord Chanucellour of England and held that office about eight yéeres viz. vntill the yéere 1189. at what time his father died Many Bishoprickes at that time were void and had béene some of them a long time as Yorke now ten yeeres and Lincolne seuenteene King Richard therefore vnderstanding the people murmured and grudged much at these long vacations and knowing also it imported him to see his brother prouided for he thought to stop two gaps with one bush and at once to furnish Yorke with an Archbishop and his brother with a liuing So he writ his letters vnto the chapter of Yorke in his brothers behalfe who not without some difficulty elected him He was consecrate at Tours in Fraunce in the moneth of August 1191. Presently after his consecration comming ouer into England he was imprisoned by 〈◊〉 Bishop of Ely the Chauncellour being drawen from the very altar of Saint Martins church in 〈◊〉 but he was quickly set at liberty againe And the proude Chauncellour 〈◊〉 repented him of his rashnesse and folly being excommunicate for the same and otherwise hardly ynough vsed as you may see more at large in his life This man prooued a better Bishop then was expected gouerning his Prouince if not somewhat too stoutely according to the courage 〈◊〉 in a man of so high birth and nobility very well and 〈◊〉 He is praysed much for his temperance 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 both of conntenance and behauiour All the time of his brother 〈◊〉 expecting the wrong done vnto him by the Bishop of Ely he liued quietly without 〈◊〉 or complaint of any Betweene him and king Iohn who was his brother also there was much adoe In the second yeere of his raigne he commaunded the Sheriffe of Yorkeshire to seise vpon all the goods and lands of the Archbishop and his seisure to returne into the exchecquer which was done accordingly whereupon the said Archbishop excommunicated not onely the Sherisie that had done him this violence but all those in generall that were the authors of the same and that had béene any meanes to stirre vp the kings indignation against him The cause of this trouble is diuersly reported some say that he hindered the kings officers in gathering a kind of taxe through his 〈◊〉 others that he refused to saile into Norwandy with him when he went to make a marriage for his neice and to conclude a league with the French king Whether one of these were the cause or both or none I can not tell But certaine it is that one whole yéere his temporalities were detained from him his mooueable goods neuer restored and yet moreouer he was saine to pay a thousand pound sterling for his restitution This was a greater wound then that it might easily be cured Sixe or 7. yéeres after it brake out againe to wit an 1207. King Iohn then being at Winchester required such of the cleargy Nobility as were there present to consent that payment should be made vnto him of the thirtéenth shilling of all the mooueable goods in England This motion no man gainesaid but Geffrye the Archb. his brother After this whether it were he were guilty of some greater attempt or that he vnderstood his brother to be gréeuously offended with him for withstanding this his desire well perceiuing England was too hote for him secretly he auoyded the Realme excommunicating before his departure such of his iurisdiction as either had paied the said taxe or should hereafter pay it He liued then in banishment 5. yéeres euen vntill he was called to his long home by death which was the yéere 1213. So he continued Archbishop somewhat more then 21. yéeres 33. Walter Gray THe Sée was void after the death of Geffry the space of foure yéeres In the meane space Symon de Langton brother vnto Stephen Langton Archbishop of Canterbury was elected by the Chapter of Yorke But king Iohn being lately become tributary vnto the church of Rome 〈◊〉 found meanes to Cassire and disanull that election If the old quarrell betwéene the Archbishop and him stucke yet some thing in his stomacke I maruell not but he alledged that he thought it dangerous and very inconuenient the whole Church of England should be ruled by two brethren one at Canterbury in the South an other at Yorke in the North. He laboured then very earnestly to haue Walter Gray his Counsellor remooued from Worceter to Yorke The channons there refused him for want of learning as they said but at last they were content to accept him in regard forsooth of his singular temperance and chastity they seemed to be perswaded that he had continued till that time a pure maide The matter was they durst do no other but yeeld and then thought good to make a vertue of necessity This man was first Bishop of Chester consecrate the yéere 1210. translated thence to Worceter 1214. and lastly the yéere 1216 to Yorke but vpon such conditions as I thinke he had béene better to haue staid at Worceter still The Pope would haue no lesse then 10000 l. for wresting him into the Archbishoprick