being ordered and brought to passe according to his desire he returned home leauing the Quéene with the French king her brother to perfect and finish the agréement already made She whether weary of her hust and or prouoked by the insolency of the Spencers and other fauorites about the king had long since determined to depose her husband from the kingdome if possibly she might and to set vp her sonne Prince Edward Hauing therefore rid away this Bishop whose loialty and faithfullnesse to his soueraigne she well knew was vnmooueable she began to put in practise the execution of this long plotted designement and in the end to be short exploited the same While these matters were a brewing it happened the king to take his iourney to Bristow and he thought good to commit the gouernment and custody of the citie of London to the fidelity of this Bishop At what time therefore the Quéene began to approach néere vnto the city with her power he required the Maior to send vnto him the keies of the gates The Commons who altogether fauoured the Quéenes party hearing this and perceauing the Bishop purposed to withstand her set vpon him violently drew him into Cheape side and beheaded him there together with Sir Richard Stapleton a Knight his brother Then they caried his body to his house without Temple bar and buried if basely in a heape of sand in the backside of the same house In this sort did this woorthy prelate loose his life in defence of his Prince and that by their meanes who of all other were bound in the strongest bands of duty and alleageance to haue done as he did I meane the Queene and the Prince her sonne They shortly after whether regarding his calling or destring to make semblance of disliking the manner of his death or happily mooued with some remorse of conscience commanded his body to be taken from the place where it was first 〈◊〉 and being conueighed to Exceter with all funerall pompe there to be solemnly enterred He lieth 〈◊〉 vpon the North side of the high Altar in a faire toombe of free stone And his brother before mentioned lieth ouer against him in the North wall of the North Isle This murther was committed October 15 1326. And his funerals were solemnised at Exceter March 28. following The yéere 1316. he erected two houses in Oxford for the better increase and aduancement of learning the one named Hart hall the other Stapledons Inne now called Exceter college in which he placed thirteene fellowes and a Rector whom he appointed to be chosen annually This foundation is much encreased of late yeeres by the liberality of Sir William Peter late principall Secretary and others Moreouer it is to be remembred that he was a speciall benefactor vnto the hospitall of Saint Johns in Exceter to which he impropriated for the releeuing of certaine poore children the Rectory or personage of Ernscombe IAmes Barkley descēded of the noble house of the Lord Burkley was consecrated March 15. anno 1326. by Walter Raynold Archbishop of Canterbury at the commanndement of 〈◊〉 the Queene The Pope very angry here withall did so 〈◊〉 the Archbishop as he died for griefe and anger soone after Neither did the new consecrate Bishop stay long behinde him for he died also the 24. of June following A man reputed very godly and wise He was buried as some say in his owne church but others deliuer that he neuer came hither at all IOhn Grandesson being in Italy with Pope Iohn the 22. after the death of Iohn Barkley he at the kings request bestowed this Bishopricke vpon him and caused him tobe consecrate at Rome October 18. 1327. He was borne and descended of the auncient house of the Grandessons Dukes of Burgundy His Father was named Gilbert the brother of Otho the great Lord Grandesson which Gilbert 〈◊〉 into this Land was well intertained by the king and nobility By meanes of Henry Earle of Lancaster with whom he came into England he maried the Lady 〈◊〉 daughter and one of the heires to Iohn Tregos Lord of the Castle of Ewias néere Hereford East and by her had issue fiue sonnes and foure daughters of which this Bishop was one who was borne in the parish of Aishpertone in the Dioces of Hereford He was from his childhood very studious became earned and wrote diuers bookes one intituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an other 〈◊〉 minores and a third de vitis sar ctorum He was also very graue wise and politike And thereby grew into such credit with Pope Iohn that he was not onely of his priuy counsell but also his Nuntio or Embassadour in matters of great waight and unportance to the Emperor to the king of Spaine Fraunce England and other the mightiest Princes of Christendome Being on a time sent in an Embassage to king Edward the third he so behaued him selfe that the king neuer ceased vntill he had procured him from the Pope and then he gaue him the Archbeaconry of Nothingham and other great liuings he made him one of the priuy councell and in the end preferred him to his Bishopricke After this some matter of dislike falling out betwéene Pope Clement the sixt and the King he for his approued wisedome was sent in Ambassage to the Pope ann 1343. for an intreaty of a peace and an amity betwéene 〈◊〉 to be had and with such wisedome he did his message that he obtained his purpose and made a reconciliation After his returne home to his Bishopricke he spent his time altogether in adorning and beautifying of his Church or building and erecting some good monument or other He founded the Colledge of S. Mary Otrey and endowed the same with great and goodly liuelihoods He was a liberall Benefactor to the Uicars Chorall of his owne Church as also to the Colledge of Glaseney in Peryn he builded the two last Arches in the West end of his Church vaulted the roofe of all the Church and fully ended the buildings of the same Leauing it in such sort as we sée it at this day Thē also he inriched it with plate and other ornaments of inestimable value Moreouer he built a faire house at Bishops Taingtonwhich he left full furnished vnto his successors and did impropriate vnto the same the Parsonage of Radway to the ende as he setteth downe in his Testament Vt haberent Episcopi locum vbi caput suum 〈◊〉 si forte in manum regis eorum 〈◊〉 caperentur Before his death he made his last Will wherein he gaue such large and bouteous legacies to the Pope Emperor King Queene Archbishop Bishops Colledges Churches and to sundry parsons of high estates and callings that a man would maruell considering his great and chargeable buildings and workes otherwise how and by what meanes he could haue attained to such a masse of wealth and riches He was alwaies very frugall kept no more men or horses about him then necessary and euer despised the vanity of all outward pompe But this it was
Caerleon Of that occasion of their double iourney into these parts for they were twice héere of 〈◊〉 whom former ages haue made a Saint see more in the beginning of Saint Dauids So we must account Saint 〈◊〉 the first Bishop of Landaff not that I deny any other to haue sate there before him but because he is the first whose name is remembred And it is probable he had no predecessors because the memory of all his successors is so carefully preserued 2. Saint 〈◊〉 alias 〈◊〉 the second Bishop was very nobly borne and brought vp vnder Dubritius his predecessor and 〈◊〉 together with Saint Dauid I finde deliuered that soone after his comming to this Bishopricke he was constrained by a strange disease raigning in those parts to flie into Fraunce whence after a season he returned againe bringing home with him in three ships his countrimen that had fled with him vpon the same occasion He was afterward slaine in the church of Llan Delio Fechan by a certaine noble man called 〈◊〉 His cathedral church where it séemeth he was buried hath euer since borne his name Unto it in the time of this man and his successors many kings of England and princes of Wales haue giuen much land and granted diuers notable priuiledge Amongst which these are accounted the chiefest benefactors King Iddon the sonne of Inyr gwent gaue Lanarth with all the lands there that belonged héeretofore to Saint Dubritius He gaue also Llanteilian porth halawg with the territorie vnto the same belonging Maredudd that son of Rein K. of west Wales gaue 3. 〈◊〉 Aircol Lawhir the sonne of Tryfan K. of west Wales gaue diuers lands Cadwgawn a king was also a great benefactour as were all these that follow Meuric king of Morganwg Tewdric or Theodorike a king Morgant king of Morganwg Augustus king of Brecheiniawc Iddug the sonne of 〈◊〉 a king Morgant king of Glewissig Ithael a king King 's of Erging Gwrwodius Cinuin Gwrgant Noble men of Wales called in euidences by the name of kings Clodri Lluddgwallawn Clydiawe Nogwy Hywell Gruffydd ap Owen Rys king of Glewissig kings of Gwent Arthmael Rhrodri kings of Morgannwc Rydderch Iestinap Gwrgant Caradock Gruffydd ap Llewelin king of all Wales 3. Oudoceus or Odoceus succéeded Saint Telian He was also very nobly borne and after his death reputed a Saint as was also his predecessor He died Iuly 2. the yéere I find not 4. Vbelwinus alias Vbelwin 5. 〈◊〉 6. Elgistil 7. Lunapeius 8. Gomergwinus alias Gomergius 9. Argwistil 10. Goruanus alias Guruan 11. Gwydlonius alias Gwodloiw 12. Edilbinus alias Edilbin 13. Grecielus 14. Berthgwynus 15. Trichanus alias Trycan 16. Eluogus 17. Cadgwaret 18. 〈◊〉 19. 〈◊〉 20. Pater 21. Gulfridus alias 〈◊〉 22. Nuth Nudd 23. 〈◊〉 alias 〈◊〉 He died an 927. 24. Libiauth Libiauch He died an 929. 25. Gogwanus was consecrate by 〈◊〉 Archbishop of Canterbury 982. So it seemeth this See was long void 26. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 27. 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 chosen by the kings cleargy and people of the countrey was 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 Archbishop of Canterbury 993 he died an 1022. 28. 〈◊〉 was consecrate by 〈◊〉 Archbishop of Canterbury Octob. 1. 1022. He died at Rome the yere 1046. 29. Herewald was consecrate at London by Stigand the Archbishop of Canterbury in Whitson weeke 1056. He died March 6. 1103. being 100. yeeres of age and hauing continued in this Bishopricke 48. yeeres 30. 〈◊〉 Archdeacon of Landaff was consecrate together with diuers other Bishops August 10. 1108. being then but 32. yeeree of age At his first comming he found his Bishopricke in very poore and miserable estate The church ruinated euen almost to the ground in the time of the late warres vnder 〈◊〉 Conqueror the reuenues of themselues small and yet so ill husbanded by the negligence of his predecessors as they could now scarcely maintaine two chanons beside the Bishop whereas there were woont to be 24. Complaining hereof to the Pope Calixtus the second at what time he was at the counsell of Rhemes viz. the yeere 1119. he affoorded him his letters to the king as also to the Archbishop of Canterbury and to the cleargy and gentlemen of his owne Dioces earnestly praying them to yeelde him their best 〈◊〉 for the reformation of his church so 〈◊〉 The Archbishop the rather to draw on the liberality of men in contributing toward the new building of the church tooke vpon him to release the fourth part of all penance 〈◊〉 vnto such as should bestow any thing toward the 〈◊〉 By this meanes no doubt hauing gathered great 〈◊〉 of money he began the building of that church which now standeth April 14. 1120. and hauing finished it built a new also all the housing belonging to it Then next endeuouring to recouer the lands lost or alienated from his See he chalenged diuers parcels withheld by Barnard bishop of Saint 〈◊〉 and Richard Bishop of Hereford and moreouer complayned that they had vsurped vpon the iurisdiction of these places Gwhyr Cedwely Cantref Bychan Ystrad Yw 〈◊〉 Upon depositiō of 6. witnesses that al these were of that Dioces of Landaff they were so adiudged by the Popes 〈◊〉 sentence who also writ vnto the king and Archbishop 〈◊〉 restore that right vnto the Bishop of Landaff and to 〈◊〉 to yéeld obedience to him and his successors as their Diocesan Howbeit how it commeth to passe I know not those places are now and long haue beene estéemed part of the Dioces of Saint Dauids and part of Hereford and none of them of Landaff This Bishop died beyond the 〈◊〉 trauelling betwéene this and Rome an 1133. 31. 〈◊〉 that succéeded had a daughter married to Iorwerth ap Owen ap Caradocke Lord of Caerlheon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a great and mighty man in those parts He died 〈◊〉 1141. 32. 〈◊〉 died 1153. 33. Nicolas ap 〈◊〉 died 1183. 34. William de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 35. Henry Prior of 〈◊〉 was the founder of 14. 〈◊〉 in the Church of Landaff He died 1218. 36. William Pryor of 〈◊〉 died Ianuary 28. an 1229. 37. Elis de Radnor died May 6. 1240. 38. William de Burgo chaplaine vnto king Henry the 3. was consecrate the yéere 1244. and died Iune 11. 〈◊〉 hauing liued blind 7. yéeres before his death 39 Iohn 〈◊〉 Ware Abbot of Margan died about the end of Iune 1253. 40. 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 died Ianuary 9. 1265. 41. 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 died in the ende of March 1287. and lyeth 〈◊〉 vnder a Marble engrauen in the East end of the Church of Landaff toward the North Wall 42. 〈◊〉 de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Doctor of Diuinity was consecrate February 10. 1296. at Canterbury and died Aprill 8. 1323. He lyeth in the midst of the East ende of the Church elsewhere commonly called the Lady Chappell vnder a flat Marble hauing a French inscription now somewhat defaced 43. Iohn de 〈◊〉 a Frier Preacher was consecrate at Rome and came to his Dioces of Landaff vpon the 〈◊〉 of Trinity Sunday 1223. He died at
him to sit in the court and to determine all causes at his pleasure dealing withall very corruptly and taking still the course that might be most for his owne gaine Hereby he greatly enriched his coffers but purchased vnto himselfe extreame hatred amongst the common people which was his destruction in the end There was a certaine gentleman of great account named Leolfus that married Algitha the daughter of Aldred sometime Earle of Northumberland from whom the Lord Lumly that now liueth is lineally descended This Leulfus to the end he might liue néere the church in his later time and for very deuotion came to Durham to dwell there and kept company very much with the Bishop who loued him entirely for many good parts he saw in him as namely his wisedome in descerning his equity in deciding and his discretion in ordering and handling such causes as he committed vnto him in which respect also he vsed him very 〈◊〉 imployed him often and gaue him what countenance he could Now you shall vnderstand that vnto the same Bishop belonged two men vnto whom for the most part he committed the 〈◊〉 of all his affaires 〈◊〉 or Leobwyn his chaplaine whom he trusted withall houshold matters and Gilbert a kinsman of his owne that dealt in his causes of temporall gouernment In these offices they behaued themselues so as the Bishop had cause to commend their diligence but to blame their rashnes and wilfulnes in many things Which notwithstanding he bare withall either because their industry and care of his affaires so blinded his eies as he could not espie their misbehauiour otherwise or else being loath to 〈◊〉 them whom he had once aduaunced These men and especially 〈◊〉 did greatly enuie the credit that 〈◊〉 had gotten with the Bishop and euery where opposed themselues against him not onely in wordes traducing his actions but in deedes also still thwarting and crossing his endeuours Whereby it came to passe that many tarres fell out betweene them One day amongst the rest a court being held in the presence of the Bishop 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 for so also I find him called according vnto his wonted manner gaue 〈◊〉 ill speeches which he not enduring to beare as heretofore he had done furor fit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answered this sawcy Chaplaine somewhat more roundly then he had accustomed Whereupon he rose straight from the court in great indignation 〈◊〉 I meane and calling 〈◊〉 aside with little adoo perswaded him to carry a certaine number of armed men to the house where 〈◊〉 lay and in a night to kill him which indeede he 〈◊〉 with great cruelty murthering not onely the innocent gentleman himselfe but also his seruants and whole houshold The newes of this horrible and outragions cruelty comming vnto the cares of the Bishop amased him very much and suspecting it was done by the aduice of Leofwin turning him about vnto him O Leofwin saith he thou hast already flaine me by thy toong So not doubting it would bréede much daunger vnto him he got him into his castell and presently dispatched messengers vnto the friends and kinred of Leulfus that was slaine protesting that the fact was committed without his knowledge that he was maruailous sory for it and if any man suspected him would be ready to submit himselfe to any order of law whereby he might cleere himselfe Herewith they seemed to be satisfied but for conclusion of a firme peace amongst them it was thought fit they should méete and conser of the matter They met at a place called Goates head The Bishop for his better safegard betooke himselfe vnto the church with his company The people whereof an infinite number were gathered together aboade without Messages a while passed betwéene them but the more the matter was debated being very odious of it selfe the more they were incensed At last it was told them how not onely Leofwin but also Gilbert had bene harboured in the Bishops house and affoorded countenance of him since the murther which being once heard and it was true ynough they all cried out it was manifest that the Bishop was the author of this fact It is furthermore deliuered by Matthew Paris that the Bishop not long before this amongst many intollerable exactions laide vpon the countrey by him had commaunded the summe of 400 l to be leuied at this time That being also remembred while as all the company stoode in a mammering doubting what course to take one of some special regard amongst them stept vp vsing these words Short read good read 〈◊〉 yee the 〈◊〉 Hereupon without more adoo they ran all vnto the church killed so many of the Bishops 〈◊〉 as they found without doores and with horrible noise and outcries bid him and his company to come out vnto them Too late then he repented that he had committed himselfe vnto the fury of a discontented multitude with whom he knew himselfe before that time nothing gratious But to make the best of a badde match and to try all meanes of ridding himselfe from the danger imminent he perswaded his kinsman Gilbert there present to goe foorth vnto them if happily his death which doubtlesse he had well deserued might satisfie their 〈◊〉 and purchase safetie vnto his Lord and Master Gilbert was content and issuing out with diuers of the Bishops company were all 〈◊〉 except onely two English men seruants vnto the Bishop all the rest were Normans They being not yet 〈◊〉 he besought 〈◊〉 whose life he knew well was principally 〈◊〉 to go out also But he vtterly refused so to do The Bishop therefore going vnto the church dore entreated them not to take his life from him protested himselfe to be vtterly 〈◊〉 of the bloud of 〈◊〉 and shewed them at large how dangerous it woulde be vnto them in particular and what inconueniences woulde follow vnto the whole countrey in generall if they should defile their hands in shedding his bloud an vnarmed priest a sacred and consecrate Bishop their ruler their gouernor their magistrate Hoping lastly that his very countenance his grauitie his age and the sight of his person might somewhat mooue them to compassion for he was indeed a very reuerend man to see to very tall of stature head and beard as white as snow his face fresh and well coloured and euery way 〈◊〉 personable He went out carying a greene branch in his hand that so also he might testifie his desire of peace When he sawe that all this auailed not and the people ranne furiously vpon him he cast his gowne ouer his owne head in like sort as we read 〈◊〉 Caesar did in the like case and permitting himselfe to their fury with innumerable wounds was 〈◊〉 massacred together with all his people and retinue to the number of 100. onely 〈◊〉 yet remained within the church and being often called would not come 〈◊〉 So they set the Church a fire Not 〈◊〉 the fire he leapt out at a windowe and was immediately hewen into a thousand peeces This barbarous
without the Isle to his soldiers After seuen yéeres resistance the Saxon gentlemen some vpon promise of pardon submitted them selues others betaking themselues to flight the place was deliuered into the possession of the Conqueror 〈◊〉 Reges plectuntur Achimi For the fault of these noble men the poore monkes must be punished to be restored to their lands and to enioy their Auncient priuileges quietly they were faine to giue the king 1000. marks For making which money they were constrained to sell all the platc and siluer that was in their Church The king also fearefull least from the same place the like trouble might happen vnto him hereafter appointed them to maintaine a garrison of 40. soldiers which they did vntill such time as himselfe called them away to imploy them else where which was fiue yéeres after Theodwinus was the eight Abbot Godfry the ninth and Simon the tenth After whose death the place stoode voide seuen yéeres Richard the sonne of the Earle Gilbert was then made Abbot 1. Heruaeus BY this time the reuenues of the monastery were growne to be very great Their yéerely receit was not so little as 1400. l. which summe contained then more mettall and would goe farther in those daies then 6000. l. of our money Of that 1400. l. the Abbot allowed scarce 300. vnto the monks conuerting the rest vnto his own vse This Richard therefore if his minde were any thing so great as his linage could not but disdaine to liue vnder the iurisdiction of the Bishop of Lincolne to whose Dioces Cambridgeshire at that time appertained But he had reasonable pretences for his ambition He caused the king to be told that the Dioces of Lincolne was too large for one mans gouernment that Ely were a fit place for an Episcopall Sée c. These reasons amplified with golden Rhetoricke so perswaded the king as he not onely consented himselfe that this monastery should be conuerted into a Cathedrall Church and the Abbot made a Bishop but also procured the Pope to confirme and allow of the same After that Richard the Abbot had with great paines and more cost beaten this bush a great while the birde that he had so long and earnestly thirsted after fell to another mans share Himselfe was taken away by death when the matter was growen to good perfection and ready to be finished The Bishop of Lincolne a while hindred the procéeding of this businesse but his mouth was stopt with thrée Mannors which the king being liberall of another mans purse was content to bestow vpon him such as héeretofore belonged vnto the monastery of Ely viz. Spaldwich Bickleswoorth and Bokeden these were giuen to the Sée of Lyncolne in recompence of the losse the Bishop sustained by exempting of Cambridgshire from his iurisdiction And that the reuenues of the new Bishop might notwithstanding this gift be no lesse then the Abbots were but rather greater they diuised to diminish the number of monks which were then 70. and to draw them downe vnto 40. Richard the 11. and last Abbot being thus taken away when he would most gladly haue liued King Henry the first with the consent of the monks appointed this Bishopricke vnto one Heruaeus that had beene Bishop of Bangor and agréeing ill with the Welchmen was faine to leaue his Bishopricke there and séeke abroad for somewhat elsewhere He was translated the yeere 1109. sate 22. yéeres and died August the 30. 1131. 2. Nigellus THe Sée hauing béene voide then two yéere Nigellus Treasurer of England and Nephew vnto Roger Bishop of Salisbury was placed therein May the 28. 1133. He was receaued with such ioy into his city of Ely that all the stréete where he should passe was hanged with curtaines carpets and tapestry the monks and clergy of his Church meeting him with procession By reason of his imployment in matters of state and Counsell he could not attend his pastorall charge and therefore committed the managing gouernment of his Bishoprick vnto one Ranulphus somtime a monk of Glastonbury that had now cast away his cowle a couetous wicked man For his faithfulnes vnto his patrone and first preferrer king Henry this Nigellus is much to be commended When as Stephen Earle of Bloys contrary to his oath and promise to king Henry the first his vncle vsurped the crowne due to Maude the Empresse king Henries daughter This Bishop could neuer be induced to forsake her but most constantly stucke vnto her and endured much for her sake Sée more heereof in the life of Roger Bishop of Salisbury Notwithstanding those his great troubles he found meanes to erect an hospitall for Regular Cannons in that place where Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge now standeth the foundation of which house was afterwards twise altered first by Hugh Norwold his successor who placed therein a certaine number of schollers to cohabite with the Cannons giuing allowance for their maintenance and afterwards by Margaret Countesse of Richmond and Darby who new built it partly in her life time and partly by her executors after her death endowing it with in a manner all the reuenues it possesseth and raising it vnto that beautie and perfection which now it hath This man was Bishop 36. 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 29. day of May 1169. hauing long before séene the issue of his Lord and first patrone King Henry restored to the crowne in Henry the 2. He is saide 〈◊〉 haue bene buried before the alter of Saint Crosse in his owne church Sée more of him in the discourse of Richard his sonne that was Bishop of London 3. Galfridus Rydall AFter his death the Dioces of Ely continued without a Bishop fiue yéeres The yéere 1174. Geoffry Rydell or Rydall Archdeacon of Canterbury was consecrate Bishop a very lofty and high minded man called therefore commonly the proud Bishop of Ely He bestowed great 〈◊〉 vpon the building of the new worke of his Cathedrall church toward the West and vpon the stéeple which he built 〈◊〉 vnto the battlements He died intestate at Winchester the 21. day of August 1189. a fower daies before the 〈◊〉 of king Richard the first leauing in his coffers great 〈◊〉 of ready money viz. 3060. marks of siluer and 205. marks of gold All which the king was content to take vnto 〈◊〉 tò helpe to beare the charges of his coronation He sate Bishop 14. yéeres 10. moneths and 14. daies 4. William Langchamp THe last day of December the same yéere William Langeshamp Chauncellor of England was consecrate Bishop of Ely One greatly fauoured by King Richard the first and a man very worthy of that fauour for many 〈◊〉 parts in him had not those his vertues béene matched and ouermatched with as many great and notorious 〈◊〉 When the king tooke that his famous voyage to 〈◊〉 he made this Bishop Chauncellor before chiefe Iustice of the South part of England and Protector of the Realme in his absence And least he should want any Authority that might be giuen him he procured
sonnes determined to builde vp this monastery in the most magnificent and stately manner he could 〈◊〉 which indéed he performed being very much holpen in the same by the contribution of Ethelred his brother as also of Kineburg and Kineswith his sisters who as W. 〈◊〉 deliuereth doo there ly buried This Monastery he dedicated vnto Saint Peter and appointed one Saxulf by whose perswasion he tooke in hand this worke to be the first 〈◊〉 of the same He afterwards became Bishop of Lichfield Two hundred yéeres after the first foundation and somewhat more it flourished in wealth and great prosperity to 〈◊〉 vntill the comming of the Danes who slew the Monkes and vtterly destroyed all those sumptuous buildings erected by Wolpher Hauing then layen desolate 109. yéeres Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester a great Patron of Monkery reedified it He had begun a new Oundale at Northampton in Northampton shire when by chaunce comming to this place he thought good to omitte that former and to bestow his cost here So he made a parish church of his building at Oundale and reedified this decayed Monastery of Medeshamstead In digging vp some of the old foundations it is remembred there were found stones of such huge greatnesse as eight yoke of Oren were scarce able to draw one of them away King Edgar holp the Bishop much in this foundation and Aldulf that was Chauncellor vnto the said king partly for deuotion partly for malcontentment and greefe that he had layen vpon his onely child and so 〈◊〉 him in his sleepe bestowed all his substance vpon it and betaking himselfe vnto a monasticall life became Abbot there After him Kenulfus another Abbot compassed about this Monastery with a strong Wall about the yéere of our Lord 1000. And then saith W. Malmsbury because it bare the shew of a towne or burrough it began to leaue the old name and to be called altogether Burgh or Burrough and sometimes because it was dedicated vnto Saint Peter Peterburrough Through the liberality of diuers Benefactors it grew to that greatnesse of wealth and possessions as all the Countrey round about belonged vnto it In that state it continued till that fatall day of all our Monasteries at what time it pleased King Henry the eight to conuert the same into a Cathedrall Church and to imploy the reuenewes vpon the maintenance of a Bishop a Deane 6. Prebendaries and other Ministers necessary for the celebration of Diuine seruice Northamtonshire and Kutlandshire were taken from Lincolne and appointed the Dioces of this newe crected Sée 1. Iohn Chambers IOhn Chambers the last Abbot of Peterborough was the first Bishop 2. Dauid Poole DAuid Poole Doctor of Law Deane of the Arches and sometimes Chauncellor of the Dioces of Lichfield 3. Edmund Scambler EDmund Scambler was consecrate Ianuary 16. 1560. and the yéere 1584. remooued to Norwich Sée Norwich 4. Richard Howland RIchard Howland Doctor of Diuinity and Master of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge succéeded He died in the moneth of Iune 1600. 5. Thomas Doue THomas Doue Deane of Norwich and Chaplaine to her Maiesty was consecrate in the end of the yéere 1600. This Bishoprick is valued in the Exchecquer at 414 l. 19 s. 11 d. The Bishops of Bristoll RObert surnamed Fitz-Harding because his father that was sonne vnto the king of Denmarke was called Harding this Robert I say being a citizen of Bristoll and sometimes Maior there founded the monastery of Saint Augustines néere vnto the said city and placed Channons in the same the yere 1148. being the 14. yere of king Stephen This foundation was afterwards confirmed and augmented by king Henry the second who so greatly fauoured the author of the same as he preferred him to the marriage of the daughter and sole heire of the Lord Barkley Of them are descended all the Lord Barkleys since that time And many of them as challenging an interest in this foundation of their auncestors haue chosen the church there for the place of their buriall In that church it pleased king Henry the eight to erect an Episcopall Sée and to conuert the reuenues of the same vnto the maintenance of a Bishop a Deane sixe Prebendaries and other officers The Dioces of this Bishopricke is the city of Bristoll and the county of Dorset 1. Paul Bush. PAul Bush Prouinciall of the 〈◊〉 was the first Bishop of Bristoll a man well learned both in diuinity and phisicke as his workes yet extant may testifie written in both kindes some in prose some in verse In the beginning of Quéene Maries raigne he was depriued for being maried and died vnhappily a few daies before her He lieth entoombed on the North side of the quier ouer against the Bishops See in a séemely monument thus inscribed Hiciacet D. Paulus Bush primus huius ecclesiae Episcopus qui obijt 11. die Octob. an dom 1558. aetatis suae 68. cuius animae c. 2. Iohn Holyman IOhn Holyman was appointed Bishoppe of Bristoll by Quéene Mary his predecessor yet liuing and died about the same time that he did 3. Richard Cheyny RIchard Chey 〈◊〉 consecrate Bishop of Glocester Apr. 19. 1562. was allowed to how Bristoll in 〈◊〉 with Glocester and so did for the space of 16. yéeres viz. vntill his death which happened the yéere 1578. 4. Iohn Bullingham Iohn Bullingham succéeded him in both these Bishopricks 5. Richard Fletcher RIchard 〈◊〉 doctor of diuinity and Deane of 〈◊〉 was consecrate Bishop of Bristoll Bishop Bullingham yet liuing in December 1589. When as the Sée had stoode voyde otherwise then as it was held by Commendam 31. yeres In the end of the yéere 1593. he was translated to Worceter and soone after to London Sée London Bristoll is valued at 383 l. 8 s. 4 d. The Bishops of S. Dauids THe British histories doo all report that in this Island at the first planting of Christian religion here there were established 28. Episcopall Sees as in Saint Aug. of Canterbury I haue before declared Of these 28. three were Archbishoprickes London York and Carlegion or Caerlheon vpon Usk in Monmouthshire At Carleon which was then a great and populous City in the time of King Arthur sate 〈◊〉 the sonne of Eurdila a gentlewoman of great birth but who was his father it was neuer knowen He was a man of excellent learning and singular integrity in regard whereof when first he had taken great paines many yéeres as well in teaching and reading vnto his schollers whereof he had a great number as in preaching vnto the people he was appointed first Bishop of Landaff and hauing stayed there no long time was made Archbishop of all Wales by Germanus and 〈◊〉 two Bishops of Fraunce that were intreated by 〈◊〉 Ambrosius king of Britaine to come ouer and yeelde their best helpe for extinguishing the 〈◊〉 heresie that had then taken great roote in this Countrey Vther 〈◊〉 being dead he crowned Vther Pendragon and afterward that great Arthar king of this Island and waring old resigned his Bishopricke
sate tenne yéeres and was translated to Yorke 〈◊〉 Nine yéeres he gouerned that Church landably and is commended as well for his owne priuate manners and behauiour as his publike gouernment His 〈◊〉 was vnhappy and very 〈◊〉 King Henry had lately deposed king Richard by whom this man was preferred and had cansed his brother the Earle of 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 at Bristow Whether it were desire to reuenge these wrongs done to his friendes or some other respect I know not certaine it is that the yeere 1405. he ioined with the Earle of Nothumberland the Earle Marshall the Lord Bardolph and other in a conspiracy against king Henry The Earle of Westmerland and Iohn Duke of Lancaster the kings sonne were then in the North countrey when these men began to stirre and gathering what forces they could came against them But finding the other too strong for them they inquire of them in peaceable manner what their intent is in taking armes The Archbishoppe answered that he meant nothing but good vnto the King and the Realme as he would gladly certifie him if hee had secure and safe accesse vnto him And therewithall shewed a writing vnto them containing a reason of his dooing The 〈◊〉 of Westmerland hauing reade this wrting professed to allow of their enterprise and praysed it for honest and reasonable insomuch as meeting with the Archbishop at a Parley after a very fewe speeches they seemed to become friends shaking hands together and drinking to ech other in sight of both their armies The Archbishop now 〈◊〉 of nothing suffered his men to disperse themselues for a time But the Earle contrariwise waxed stronger and stronger and at last seeing himselfe well able to deale with the Archbishop came vpon him sodemly and arrested him little thinking of any such matter The king by this time was come northward as farre as Pomfret Thither the Archbishop and other prisoners arrested with him were also brought and caried with the king backe to Yorke againe or as other deliuer to Thorpe where Sir William Fulford a knight learned in the Lawe sitting on a high stage in the Hall condemned him to be beheaded Presently after iudgement giuen he was set vpon an ill fauored Iade his face toward the horse taile and caried with great scorne and shame to a 〈◊〉 hard by where his head lastly was striken off by a fellow that did his office very ill not being able to dispatch him with lesse then fiue strokes He was executed vpon 〈◊〉 being June 8. 1405. and buried in the east part of the new works of his Church of Yorke in which place as also the 〈◊〉 where he died certaine miracles are said to haue béene done and are ascribed vnto his holinesse It is deliuered also that the king was presently striken with a 〈◊〉 after his death He was the first Bishop that I 〈◊〉 put to death by order of Law No maruell if an execution so 〈◊〉 and extraordinary performed in so odious and 〈◊〉 a manner gaue occasion of many tales and rumours The Pope excommunicated the authors of his death but was easily intreated to absolue them againe 49. Henry Bowett THe space of two yéeres and a halfe the Sée was 〈◊〉 after the death of Richard Scroope the pope had 〈◊〉 placed in the same Robert Halam Chauncellor of the 〈◊〉 of Oxford But vnderstanding that the king was greatly displeased therewith he was content according to the kings desire to gratifie Henry Bowet then Bishop of Bath with this preferment and made Halam Bishop of Salisbury This Henry Bowet was a doctor of Law and first 〈◊〉 Cannon of Wels had trauailed much in Fraunce Italy and was preferred to Bath also at first by the king who fauored him much He was consecrated to that Church Nouember 16. 1401. and translated to Yorke December 1. 1406. About the yéere 1403. he was Treasurer of 〈◊〉 the space of one yéere He continued Archbishop almost 17. yéeres in which time viz. the yéere 1417. it hapned that 〈◊〉 Henry the 5. being absent 〈◊〉 in the conquest of 〈◊〉 the Scots came with a great power into the Realme and besieged Barwicke and the castle of 〈◊〉 This Bishop was then a very aged man and so impotent as he was able neither to goe nor ride yet would he néeds accompanie his countrimen that went against the Scots and caused his men to carrie him in a chaire that so at least by words and exhortation he might do his best though he were not able to fight nay not so much as to stande or go This man is saide to be the greatest housekeeper of any Archbishop that euer sate in Yorke before him For proofe whereof it is alleaged that he spent vsually in his house of Claret wine onely 80. tunnes He departed this life at Cawood October 20. 1423. and was buried in the east part of the Minster of Yorke by the altar of all Saints which himselfe built and furnished sumptuously with all things that might belong vnto it He built also the Hall in the castell of Cawood and the kitchin of the Mannor house of Oteley 50. Iohn Kemp. THe Pope of his owne absolute authority placed then in Yorke Richard 〈◊〉 Bishop of Lincolne Many statutes and lawes had beene made to represse this tyrannicall dealing of the Pope But his excommunications were such terrible bugs as men durst rather offend the lawes of their countrey then come within the compasse of his censures Yet the Deane and chapter of Yorke taking stomack vnto them vsed such aduantage as the lawe would affoorde them and by force kept out the new Archbishop from entring his church Much adoo there was betweene them The euent was that the Pope vnable to make good his gift was saine to returne 〈◊〉 to Lincolne againe and to translate Iohn Kempe Bishop of London a man better fauoured of the Deane and chapter to Yorke This Iohn Kempe was first Bishop of Rochester consecrate the yeere 1418. remooued thence to Chichester 1422. from Chichester to London the same yeere from London to Yorke 1425. when the Sée had beene void 2. yeeres At Yorke he continued almost 28. yeres and in his old age euen one yeere before his death was content to 〈◊〉 once more viz. to Canterbury The 〈◊〉 1449. he was made Cardinall Sanctae Ruffinae and was twise Chauncellor of England See more of him in Canterbury 51. William Boothe HE that 〈◊〉 him William Boothe was sometime a student of the common lawe in Grayes Inne 〈◊〉 a sudden forsaking that course became Chauncellor of the Cathedrall church of Saint Paule in London July 9. 1447. he was consecrate Bishop of Couentry and Lichfield Hauing continued there sixe 〈◊〉 he was 〈◊〉 presently vpon the translation of Iohn Kempe vnto 〈◊〉 He sate 〈◊〉 12. yéeres died at Southwel September 20. and was buried in the chappell of our Lady there nigh to the Archbishops pallace 1464. He bestowed much cost in repairing the pallace of Yorke In the latter
same vnto them knowing well that if thou accept not the place the king will immediately thrust in some vnwoorthy stranger to their great gréefe and the no lesse dishonor of Almighty God I adiure thée therefore by the bloud of Iesus Christ that thou be content to put thy necke vnder this yoke and to imploy thy talent according to the occasion offered Perswaded thus with much adoo atlast he yéelded The king very readily allowing their choice he was consecrate at Glocester in the church of Saint Oswald by the Archbishop of Yorke Iune 9. 1241. in the presence of the king the Quéene many prelates and other personages of honor He was not more vnwilling to take this honorable burthen then ready and desirous to leaue the same The yéere 1249. he obtained licence of the Pope to resigne this his Bishopricke and about Candlemasse indeede gaue it ouer reseruing onely vnto himselfe for his maintenance during his life thrée Mannors with the appurtenances Houeden Stocton and Esington His successor began a little to wrangle with him about that reseruation but could not infringe it After he had liued a priuate life the space of eight yeeres giuing himselfe altogether to prayer and contemplation about the beginning of February 1257. he departed this world at Stocton He that is desirous to read more of this man in Matthew Paris he shall find often mention of him viz. pag. 768. where he telles how by his meanes especially the king was content to receiue into fauor Walter Marshall to giue him the Earledome of his brother lately deceased againe pag. 988. he maketh a large report of a great controuersie betwéene him and the Abbot of Saint Albones and lastly pag. 848. an incredible tale of his miraculous recouery being desperately sicke of a dropsie ioined with other diseases He lyeth buried in the Cathedrall Church of Durham which together with 〈◊〉 Melscomb Prior he couered with a new roofe the yéere 1242. 38. Walter de Kirkham NO sooner had Nicolas Farnham resigned but the king was in hand with the monks to elect for successor Ethelmare his owne halfe brother They would in no sort condiscend to this request but told him plainely yet in as good tearmes as they could deuise how that his brother was such a one as they could not with a safe conscience commit so great a charge vnto him being as yet very yong and not indued with any competency of learning The king answered that he would keepe the temporalties eight or nine yéeres in his hands and by that time quoth he he will be 〈◊〉 ynough He was not as good as his word for I 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 Walter de Kirkham was consecrate the yéere following 〈◊〉 that place almost eleuen yéeres and died 1260. 39. Robert Stitchell RObert Stitchell succéeded the same yéere He founded the hospitall of Gritham The king had seased vpon all the lands of Simon Mountford Earle of Leicester wheresoeuer But whereas he had something of good value in the Bishopricke of Durham this Bishop chalenged it as due vnto him by the Earles attainder and at last recouering it from the king by law imploied it in the erection of that hospitall He sate fowerteene yeeres and died August 4. 1274. 40. Robert de Insula ANother Robert obtained the place after him Robert de 〈◊〉 He continued in the same nine yéeres and dying Iune 13. 1283. was buried in the Chapterhouse at Durham where he is couered with a stone very curiously wrought 41. Antony Beake BEfore the end of that yéere it séemeth Antony Beake was inuested in the Bishopricke of Durham in which he so flourished as Cardinall 〈◊〉 excepted neuer I thinke any either of his prdecessors or successors came neere him He was woonderfull rich not onely in ready mony but in lands also and temporall renenues For he might dispend yeerely besides that which belonged to his Myter 5000. markes Much of that he had of the Lord 〈◊〉 who thinking so to conueigh it vnto his base sonne 〈◊〉 for that he had no other issue passed it ouer to this Bishop in trust which trust men say he neuer answered The Quéenes house at Eltham was part of that land He built the house and gaue it vnto Elianor Quéene to king Edward the first as also the castle of Sourton beside Yorke vnto the king which likewise he built A man now of this extraordinary welth must not content himselfe with ordinary titles Therefore he procured the Pope to make him Patriarke of Hierusalem and obtained of the king the principality of the Isle of Man which he held during his life The yeere 1294. being Embassador to the Emperor the Archbishop of Yorke Iohn Roman vpon what quarrell I know not excommunicated him It cost him 4000. markes fine and his life in the end He died as it is thought for sorrow See more in Yorke Great sturres there were betweene this man and his couent of Durham He informed the Pope that the Prior there was a 〈◊〉 simple and vnsufficient man to rule that house and procured the gouernment thereof for all matters both spirituall and temporall to be committed vnto him Hereupon he sent certaine officers to execute in his name that new obtained authority which when they came to the monastery were shut out of the gates and not suffred to enter The monkes appealed vnto the Pope and alleaged that the king also had required the hearing of these controuersies betweene the Prior and the Bishop This notwithstanding the Bishops officers made no more adoo but excommunicated Prior Monkes and all for not obeying their authority immediately Herewith the king greatly offended caused these officers to be fined and summoned the Bishop himselfe to appeare before him at a day appointed before which time he gotte him to Rome neuer acquainting the King with his determination The King therefore seised into his hand the Bishops liberties and appointed a new Chauncellor new Iustices and other officers He writ also vnto the Pope in fauor of the Prior who deliuering the 〈◊〉 letters himselfe was adiudged a sober and discrete man whatsoeuer the Bishop had reported of him So he was restored to his place againe but died before he could get home During the time of the Bishops disgrace amongst many other things wherein the liberties of the Bishopricke were 〈◊〉 it is specially to be remembred that the king tooke from him diuers Castles and lands forfait vnto him by Iohn 〈◊〉 king of the Scots and other but 〈◊〉 Beaumout one of his successors recouered them againe by Law These broyles ended he gaue himselfe very much to building The Auncient mannor place at Arkland he did 〈◊〉 He built the great Hall there in which are diuers pillers of blacke marble speckled with white the great Chamber likewise and many other roomes adioyning He also erected that same goodly Chappell there and placed in the same a Deane and Prebendaries alotting the quadrant in the West side of the Castle built likewise by him for their