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
the Popes sending but to preserue their right of election were content forsooth to chose him the Pope had before appointed them He was consecrate February 26. 1272. being the first Sunday in Lent at what time the Prior of Canterbury demanded of him the summe of 3000 markes spent in the election of William Chillenden which the Pope promised the next Archbishop should repay But he loath to disburse this money began to pick holes in the Priors coate and threatning to depriue him of his place neuer linne sifting of him till he had intreated his Couent to abate 1300. of the 3000. markes In the first yéere of his consecration he renued the Statutes made by his predecessors for his Court of the Arches and contracted them briefely into fiue articles Then shortly after he visited all his Prouince and both the Uniuersities in which he disputed excellently and shewed himselfe in diuers kinds of exercise Toward the later ende of his time he made a collection for the building of a Monastery for the Frier Minors in London Men contributed so largely thereunto and he had the helpe of a certaine olde Tower which yéelded him stones without charge as he finished the same with other mens money filled his own purse well beside Hauing béene Archbishop about the space of sixe yéeres he was sent for to Rome by Pope Nicholas the third and made Cardinall of Hostia and Bishop of Portua He resigned then his Archbishopricke and getting him into Italy with in a fewe monethes after fell sicke and died of poison some say at Uiterbium where also he was buried 48. Iohn Peckham THe resignation of Robert Kilwardby once knowen the monkes mate hast to their election and with the kings good liking chose Robert Burnell Bishop of Bath at that time Chauncellor of England But the Pope who had therefore promoted Robert Kilwardby that he might place another in his roome such a one as he would be sure should serue his turne at all times perceiuing him selfe preuented in the election thrust in ex plenitudine potestatis in like sort as last time he had done Iohn Peckham another Frier He was borne of meane parentage in Susser spent his childhood in the Abbey of Lewes brought vp in Oxford where he became a Frier and succeeded Robert Kilwardby in the office of Prouinctall of their order From Oxford he went to Paris to study Diuinity and after a while to Lyons to get some knowledge in the Canon Law without the which Diuiuity was esteemed vnperfect in those daies At Lions he was chosen Canon or Prebendary of the Cathedrall Church and by that meanes being furnished with allowance to trauaile for the encrease of his knowledge in the Canon Law he went into Italy visiting personally all the Uniuersities of Italy came lastly to Rome His rare learning being soone percetued there he was made by the Pope Auditor or chiefe Iudge of his Pallace and so continued till his preferment to Canterbury He was consecrate the first Sunday in Lent which fell vpon the sixt day of March 1278. Soone after his arriuall in England the Pope his creator as he called him sent vnto him a mandate of making payment of 4000. markes vpon very short warning or else assured him to be spéedily excommunicate It shall not be amisse to set downe the wordes of his answere to this demaund Ecce me creastis saith he c. Behold you haue created me And if the creature cannot but desire naturally what perfection the creator can yéeld how can I but resort vnto you for succour in all my oppressions calamities I receiued of late certaine letters horrible to sée and fearefull to heare denouncing that except I make payment of 4000. marks that I became indebted vnto certaine Merchants of Luca at Rome within the space of a moneth after Michaelmas next I was to be excommunicate with bell booke and candle and that excommunication to be published in my Church c. Then to make short he declareth how his predecessor at his departure caried away all the mooueable goods belonging to the Sée that Boniface had left all his houses very ruinous that the King had taken vp before hand one yéeres profitte of his lands that in the meane space he was faine himselfe to liue vpon credit and that to borow to serue his necessary vses the realme being so exhaust with contiuuall payments it was excéeding hard In regard héereof he besought him whom onely in truth the matter concerned though merchants of Luca bore the name of this debt to order the matter so as he might be allowed a yéeres day of paiment which at last with much adoo was granted him by the sute of Robert Kilwardby his predecessor who died as before is rehearsed soone after The new Archbishop then became a suter vnto the Pope that he would cause to be restored vnto his Church fiue thousand markes the value whereof the said Robert had caried away with him of the goods belonging to his Sée This he was so far from obtaining as by and by the Pope began to call vpon him againe very hastily for the fower thousand marks aboue mentioned and so made him glad to hold his peace for that time and yet to pay the money at his day In the first yéere of his consecration he sommoned a Conuocation at Lambhith at what time the Archbishop of Yorke comming to London caused his crosse to be borne before him within the Prouince of Canterbury which the Archbishop of Canterbury tooke to be a great wrong vnto him and his Sée It had béene often in question heretofore whether it might be done or no and much adoo there had béene about it Therefore to redresse this abuse quickly and good cheape our Frier deuised this course to be taken He caused proclamations to be made in all places where he vnderstood the other Archbishop meant to passe in which he commaunded all men vnder paine of excommunication to affoord no manner of intertainment no not so much as bread or drinke vnto him or any of his company so long as he bare vp his crosse in that manner So except he and his traine should starue downe must the crosse there was no remedy The Conuocation ended he began a generall visitation of his whole prouince and being desirous to know the state of euery Dioces went him selfe in person to most of them vsing great lenity and gentlenesse euery where For he was a man though very stately both in his gesture gate words and all outward shew yet of an excéeding méeke farile and liberall mind He tooke great paines in labouring a peace betwéene King Edward the first and Leolin Prince of Wales vnto whom he went in person and trauailed long with him but altogether in vaine He bare a very hard hand vpon the Jewes whose Sinagogues he commaunded to be pulled downe to the ground throughout his prouince But the king was a meanes to stay the execution of that commandement so farre
of vicar Generall then to the Deanry of the Arches the Archdeaconry of Huntingdon the Parsonages of Croydon and Clyff and lastly the Bishopricke of Rochester From Rochester he was remooued to Worcester his vncle yet liuing and ioying much in this his aduancement the yéere 1 63. Frō thence some say he was translated to London but that I take to be mistaken Simon Sudbury was Bishop of Londō before he came to Worcester and so continued till that after his death he succeded him in Canterbury Thether this man was aduanced by the Popes onely authority presently after Simon Langham was made Cardinall viz. the yéere 1368. At two seuerall synods he preached in Latine very learnedly The later of those sermons he could hardly end for sicknesse where with he had béene so much troubled before as for two yeeres space he was faine to kéepe his chamber almost altogither Not being able to resist the force of this tedious wearing disease any longer he paid the debt of his mortality October 11. 1374. hauing continued in this Sée almost seuen yéeres He was buried ouer-against his vncle betwéene two pillers vnder a faire marble tombe inlaid with brasse which is lately defaced by tearing out the brasse I remember that some sixtéene yéeres since I read the Epitaph engrauen vpon the same This man procured the Uniuersitie of Oxford to be exempt from the iurisdiction of the Bishop of Lincolne and al authority of gouerning the same to be committed vnto the Chauncellour and Proctors 58. Simon Sudbury PResently after the death of William Wittlesey the monks of Canterbury elected for their Archbishop a certaine Cardinall that was an Englishman borne but throughly Italianate hauing lead his life in a manner altogither at Rome I take it his name was Adam Easton The king with this choice of theirs was so gréeuously offended as he determined to banish them the monks I meane out of the realme and to confiscate their goods Gregory the 11. that then was Pope though he fauoured his Cardinall to shield the poore monkes from the danger of such a tempest was content to refuse this election and to bestow the Archbishopricke by way of prouision vpon Simon Sudbury Bishop of London whom he knew the king liked well inough This Simon was the sonne of a gentleman named Nigellus Tibold so that his true name was Simon Tibold But he was borne at Sudbury a towne of Suffolke in the parish of S. George and of that 〈◊〉 tooke his name according to the manner of many cleargy men in those daies He was alwaies brought vp at schoole and being yet very yoong was sent by his father beyond the seas to study the canon lawe and hauing procéeded Doctor of that faculty became houshold Chaplein vnto Pope Innocent and one of the Judges or Auditors of his Kota The said Pope by way of prouision thrust him first into the Chancellorship of Salisbury and then afterward viz. the yéere 1364. into the Bishopricke of London He receiued the bulles of his translation thence June 6. 1375. Two synods or conuocations were held in his time at both which he preached in Latin very learnedly Sixe yeeres one month and ten daies he gouerned the Sée of Canterbury laudably and at last was most vnwoorthily slaine or rather wickedly murthered by a company of villanous rebels By the instigation of one Iohn Ball a seditions malcontent and hypocriticall preacher the baser sort of the commons arose in diuers parts of the realme and intending to destroy all gentlemen lawyers cleargymen and whosoeuer were of any account either for their riches linage or authority in the common wealth came vp to London appointing for their leaders Wat Tyler Iacke Straw Iohn Lister Robert Westhrom c. The king vnderstanding of their comming sent vnto them to know the cause of their repaire in so great numbers They answered they were to impart vnto him certaine matters greatly importing the state of the common wealth which if he would vnderstand he should spéedily resort vnto them The king hauing receiued this saury answere began to consult with his friends whether he were best to goe to them or not The greater number 〈◊〉 him to goe But the Archbishop and Sir Robert Hales Treasurer of England 〈◊〉 him saying it was a thing not onely 〈◊〉 and shamefull for a Prince to be commanded by such rascals but also dangerous vnto his person to commit himselfe to a route of seditious people that hauing once broken the bands of all duty and alleageance feared no more to violate the sacred maiesty of their annointed prince then to wrong their neighbours of farre meaner condition of whom they had already slaine spoiled and robbed an infinite number for wich cause they thought it more safe for the king more honorable and euery way more expedient to gather some power together spéedily and to set vpon them who being yet vnprouided of armour destitute of good leaders and without all skill or experience of warlike affaires would soone be dispersed and ouerthrowen This spéech of theirs I know not by what tell-tales was carried vnto the rebels who sware by and by they would haue off the heads of these cruell counsellers So in all haste to the Tower they came where the court then lay requiring with great outcries the Archbishop and the said Sir Robert Hales to be deliuered vnto them The Archbishop hauing heard some inckling of their intent the day before had spent all that might in prayer and iust when they called for him was saying of masse in the chappell of the Tower That ended and hearing of their comming Let vs now go saith he vnto his men Surely it is best to dye séeing to liue it can be no pleasure With that in came these murtherous rebels crying where is the Traytour where is the Traytor He answered I am the Archbishop whom I thinke you seeke but no Traytor With great violence then they drew him out of the chappell and caried him to the Tower hill Séeing there nothing but swords and weapons and hearing nothing but Kill kill away with the Traytor c. Yet he was not so 〈◊〉 but with great 〈◊〉 he could go about to perswade them not to imbrue their hands in the bloud of their Archbishop their chiefe 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 offended them to his knowledge nor 〈◊〉 so cruell a death at their hands assuring them that all the 〈◊〉 would be interdicted for it that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be punished 〈◊〉 or last by the temporal Law and lastly that though both these failed God the iust Iudge would 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 in this or the world to come if not both He was a man admirably wise and excéeding well spoken But these varlets were so egerly bent as the very songs of the Syrens would nothing haue mooued them at all from their intended course Séeing therefore nothing but death before his face with comfortable words forgiuing the executioner that scarce euer requested him so to doo with a very
his company out of all question the city was fired the greatest part thereof being burnt downe to the ground togither with the Nunnery the Monastery of Saint Grimbald and more then 20. other Churches some say 40. This hapned vpon the 2. day of August 1141. Soone after his men burnt and spoiled the Nunnery of Warwell and himselfe returning to Winch. tooke off from the crosse that was burnt in the new Monastery 500. l. of siluer 30. marke of gold thrée crownes with so many seates of fine Arabike gold set with precious stones All this he put in his owne purse Now to remember his good déedes also you shall vnderstand that he founded that woorthy Hospitall of Saint Crosse néere Winchester In which place some thing had beene built long before to some such good vse But it was destroied by the Danes and quite ruinated til this Bishop reedified it or rather laide new foundations in the same place ann 1132. and endowed it with the reuenew it now hath He also built the castell of Farnham destroied afterward by king Henry the 3. but reedified by the Bishops of Winch. He was a man as of great bloud so of a great and high minde He contended often with the Archbishop of Canterbury for superiority vnder colour that he was the Popes legate a latere and as some deliuer a Cardinall Matthew Westm. reporteth that he obtained of Pope Lucius the title of an Archbishop receauing from him a pall and authority ouer seuen churches But what or which they were I finde not In the 47. yéere of his consecration he fell sicke dangerously whereof the king Henry the 2. hearing came to visite him But he was so farre from yeelding the king thanks for this great grace as he gaue him no lookes but frowning nor spéeches but very sharpe and curst reprehending him with very bitter words as the causer of Thomas Beckets death Yet such was the great méekenesse of this prince as he not onely tooke very patiently this reproofe but long after thought much of the same And surely no great maruell The memory of a dying mans words abideth long How much more of a Bishop a graue wise and ancient prelate He departed this life August 6. 1171. where he was buried I know not 38. Richard Tocline alias More AFter the death of the former Bishop the Sée stood void thrée yéeres many other Churches likewise at the same time stoode long voide At last the yéere 1173. by the instance of two Cardinals the king granted licence of frée election vnto them all Unto Winchester was then chosen Richard Tocline Archdeacon of Poitiers by some called More by other Richard de Iuelcester He was consecrate at Lambhith the yéere following viz. 1174. togither with thrée other Bishops Geffery of Ely Robert of Herford and Iohn of Chichester He died December 22. 1187. or as his Epitaph hath 1189. He lieth entombed in the north wall of the Presbytery iust vnder Wina where is ingrauen this that followeth Obijt anno Dom. 1189. Presulis egregij pausant hic membra Ricardi Tocline cui summi gaudio sunto poli 39. Godfridus de Lucy HE was sonne vnto Richard Lucy chiefe Justice of England consecrate Bishop of Winchester Nouember 1. 1189. and died an 1204. so he sate 15. yéeres This man purchased of king Richard the first the mannors of Wergraue and Menes which in times past had belonged vnto his Sée of Winchester but I know not how had béene alienated from the same Moreouer he became a great benefactor vnto the Priory of Westwood in Kent founded by his father 40. Peter de la Roche THis man borne in Poytiers being a knight was consecrate Bishop of Winchester at Rome an 1204. A notable wise prelate and of such authority vnder king Iohn first and Henry the third after as none greater in those times He with two other Bishops viz. Philip his countreyman of Durham and Iohn Gray of Norwich animated king Iohn to withstand the Popes excommunication but they were all faine to cry peccaui at last The yéere 1214. king Iohn made him chiefe Justice of England the nobles of the realme grudging very much that a stranger borne should rule ouer them After the death of king Iohn king Henry being a childe the realme was long gouerned almost altogether by this Bishop For William Earle Marshall dying he was chosen in his roome Protector of the king and realme And afterwards the king being growen to yéeres of discretion relyed altogither vpon his counsell He had a nephew or as some say a sonne named Peter d' Orinall Treasurer of England in maruellous great fauour also with king Henry Yet as court fauours are variable so were they often disgraced and often restored againe to the height of worldly happines I meane the Princes great and entire fauour The yéere 1226 he tooke his voyage to the Holy land and being absent fiue yéeres at his returne was receiued with 〈◊〉 and all signes of great ioy He died June 9. 1238. at Faruham when he had sate Bishop the space of 24. yéeres and was buried according to his owne appointment very meanely and euen obscurely in his owne church In his death saith M. Paris the counsell of England receiued a great wound What good soeuer happened vnto the church either by peace or warre in the Holy land at the comming of the Emperour Fredericke it is specially to be ascribed vnto the wisedome of this Bishop Againe saith he when as discord betwéene the Pope and the Emperour threatned the destruction of the whole church he was the speciall meanes of compounding a peace betwéene them Now of the religious houses he built and being built enriched with reuenewes for their maintenance These be the names Hales of the order of Premonstratenses Tickford of the same order Saleburne of the order of Saint Augustine viz. Canons regular and a goodly hospitall at Portsmouth Againe he remooued the Church of S. Thomas the Martyr in the holy land from a very vnfit place vnto a more conuenient and reformed the statues of the company belonging to the Church causing the Patriark of Hierusalem to take order that whereas they were heretofore méere lay men now they should be vnder the Templers and of their society And lastly he bestowed great cost in fortifying and repayring the Towne of Joppa a notable succour and refuge of the Christians in those parts He made a worthy and memorable will giuing vnto euery of the foresaid places a huge summe of money for the least that he gaue was vnto the house of S. Thomas of Acon vnto which he beaqueathed 500. marks All this notwithstanding he left his Bishopricke very rich his houses furnished and his grounds ready Stocked for his successor Thus farre M. Paris 41. William de Raley THe Sée being thus voide by the death of Peter derupibus the king Henry the 3. dealt very earnestly with the monks of Winchester to choose in his place the Bishop elect of Ualentia
countries which this noble Prince subdued but other huge summes of money also gathered at home by vnusuall subsidies and taxations much grudged at by the commons all which notwithstanding the king was so bare as for the paiment of debts he was constrained to bethinke him first of some new deuice to raise money The Bishops enimies taking the aduantage of this occasion induced the king to be content that a solemne complaint might be framed against him as if by his misgouernement the kings treasure had beene either vainely wasted or falsely imbesilled for that otherwise for sooth it was impossible the king should so be fallen behind hand They charge him therefore with the receite of 1109600. l. which amounteth to more then a million of poundes besides a hundred thousand frankes paied vnto him by Galeace Duke of Millaine For all this they demaund sodainely an account and to set a better colour vpon the matter patch vp a number of other accusations partly vntrue partly friuolous yet sufficient happily to bleare the eies of the common people and diuerting the displeasure of this inconuenience from them on whom otherwise it must haue lighted to deriue it vnto him vpon whom if it fell neuer so heauily it could cast him no lower then that place frō whence the king had first raised him Amongst many enimies that gouernement and enuy had prouoked against him Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster for some other cause néedlesse here to be 〈◊〉 bare vnto him an implacable hatred The King was then old and very impotent the Duke his eldest sonne 〈◊〉 and so gouerning all thinges vnder him The Duke therefore found meanes that William Skipwith Lord chiefe Justice condemned him as guilty of those accusations procured his temporalties to be taken from him and to be bestowed vpon the yoong Prince of Wales and lastly commanded him in the kings name not to come within twenty miles of the Court The yeere 1376. happened vnto him this trouble which I may call the Prologue or 〈◊〉 of the pageant to be plaid the yéere following I meane the Parliament the chiefe end and purpose whereof was a subsidy that this Prelates vexation must make way vnto The Cleargy assembled gréeuing much at the vniust oppression of so woorthy and reuerend a man for his sidelity vnto his Prince his great care of the common good his wisedome and integrity were well inough knowen to such as vnderstoode any thing they vtterly refused to debate of any matter what soeuer till the Bishop of Winchester a principall member of that assembly might be present with them By this meanes licence was obtained for his repaire thither and thither he came glad he might be néere to the meanes of his restitution but whether it were that he wanted money to beare the charge or to the intent to mooue commiseration or that he thought it safest to passe obscurely he that was woont to ride with the greatest traine of any Prelate in England came then very slenderly attended trauelling through by-waies as standing in doubt what snares his enimies might lay for him After two yéeres trouble and the losse of ten thousand markes sustained by reason of the same with much adoo he obtained restitution of his temporalties by the mediation of Alice Piers a gentlewoman that in the last times of king Edward altogether possessed him Returning then vnto Winchester he was receiued into the city with solemne procession and many signes of great ioy Soone after his returne king Edward died and the Duke hoping by reason of the yoong kings nonage to worke some mischiefe vnto this Bishop whom of all mortall men he most hated began to rub vp some of the old accusations with additions of new complaints But the Dukes malice being as well knowen as the Bishops innocency the king thought good to be a meanes of reconciling these two personages and then was easily intreated vnder the broad seale of England to pardon all those supposed offences wherewith the Bishop had heretofore béene charged This tempest thus ouerblowen the rest of his daies he passed in great peace and quietnesse Two yéeres after his restitution he began the foundation of that woorthy monument the colledge commonly called the New colledge in Oxford laying the first stone of the same himselfe March 5. 1379. and dedicating it vnto the honor of God and the blessed virgin Mary Being finished the first warden fellowes all together tooke possession of it Aprill 14. 1386. at thrée of the clocke in the morning The very next yéere he began his other colledge néere Woluesey the Bishops pallace at Winchester laide the first stone of it March 26. 1387. and finished it also in sixe yéeres space so as the Warden and fellowes cntred into the same at thrée of the clocke in the morning March 28. 1393. Beside the charge of these two woorthy foundations he build all the body of his church of Winchester from the quier westward excepting only a little begun by Bishop Edington he procured many priuiledges and liberties vnto his Sée he bestowed 20000. markes in reparation of his house he paid the debts of men imprisoned for that cause to the summe of 2000. l. he mended all the high waies betwéene London and Winchester he purchased vnto his Sée two hundred markes land he forgaue his officers two thousand markes which they owed him he bestowed two hundred pound vpon the church of Windsor he released his tenants of 520. l. due for a reliefe at his incomme he ordayned a Chauntry of fiue priests at Southwyke he kept continually in his house fower twenty poore almesmen he maintained at the Uniuersity fifty schollers for the space of seuen yéeres before the building of his colledge he built a chappell as before is mentioned at Tichfield for the buriall of his parents lastly prouided for himselfe ten yéeres before his death a goodly monument in the body of his church All these charges notwithstanding he bequeathed legacies to the value of 6270. l. left ready money to pay them left his heire 100. l. land and all his houses furnished plentifully with most rich and sumptuons houshold stuffe After all these so memorable actions hauing runne the course of a long a happy and most honorable life he ended his daies in peace the yéere 1404 being full fowerscore yéeres of age and was laid in the toombe so long before prouided for him Upon it I finde engrauen these verses which rather for his honor then any great commendation they deserue I haue thought good to set downe Wilhelmus dictus Wickham iacet hic nece victus Istius ecclesiae praesul reparauit eamque Largus erat dapifer probat hoc cum 〈◊〉 pauper 〈◊〉 pariter regni fuerat bene dexter Hunc docet esse pium fun datio collegiorum Oxoniae primum stat Wintoniaeque secundum Iugiter oretis tumulum quicunque videtis Pro tantis meritis quod sit sibi vita perennis 53. Henry Beauforte THe Pope was now growen to
thereof vnto the poore No doubt but he that bestowed thus much in publike bestowed also very much in priuate that all the world knew not of 30. Iames Stanley IAmes Stanley Doctor of Duinity and brother vnto the Earle of Darby succeeded him Other good I finde none reported of him but rather much euill He was made Bishop the yeere 1506. and enioyed that preferment eight yeeres and a halfe of which time he spent very little or none at Ely But liued all the sommer time at Somer sham kéeping company much there with a certaine woman in very 〈◊〉 me 〈◊〉 and all the winter he would be with his brother in Darbyshire So drownd in pleasures he passed his time without doing any one thing woorthy commendation or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 31. Nicholas West IN the moneth of October 1515. Nicholas West Doctor of Diuinity became Bishop of Ely He 〈◊〉 borne néere Fulham being the sonne of one Iohn West a baker This Bishop as I finde noted kept daily in his house an hundred seruants of which to the one halfe he gaue yéerely 〈◊〉 markes wages and the rest forty shillings euery one being allowed fower yards of cloath for his winter liuery to make him a gowne and three yards and a halfe for a coat to weare insommer Daily he gaue at his gate warme meate and drinke to two hundred poore folke and moreouer in 〈◊〉 of dearth distributed diuers summes of money vnto the poore He gouerned the Dioces of Ely seuentéene yéeres and sixe moneths At last falling into the kings displeasure for some matter concerning his first marriage the griefe 〈◊〉 as it is thought cast him into a disease which being the woorse able to sustaine because of a fistula that he had néere his fundament He yéelded vnto the necessity of Nature Aprill 6. 1533. He lieth buried in a chappell very sumptuously built by himselfe in the South east part of the Presbytery of Ely 32. Thomas Gooderich AYéere and 14. daies the Sée of Ely was voide after the death of B West In which time I finde that 〈◊〉 Nicholas Hawkins Doctor of Law was elect vnto the same It is like he died before he could be consecrate for he neuer enioyed it I am sure The 20. day of Aprill 1534. Thomas Gooderich Doctor of Diuinity was consecrate and sate 20. daies aboue 20. yéeres He built a faire gallery in the North side of the pallace of Ely and otherwise in that house bestowed much cost He died at Somersham of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tenth of May 1554. and lieth buried almost in the middle of the Presbytery More would be said of him but I had rather you should heare it in other mens words then mine For I now grow néere the time of which I meane to speake little as iudging it neither safe to reprehend nor séemely to praise though truely those men whose memoryare fresh and diuers their friends liuing This therefore that I finde written vpon his toombe I will impart vnto you and concerning hun no more Thomas Goodricus annis plus minus 20. huius 〈◊〉 Episcopus hocloco 〈◊〉 est Duobus Angliae 〈◊〉 regibus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 foris 〈◊〉 apud exteros principes saepe legatus 〈◊〉 quidem cum 〈◊〉 Edwardo eius nominis sexto aliquandiu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 magnus tandem factus Angliae Cancellarius Chariorne 〈◊〉 propter singularem prudentiam an 〈◊〉 populo propter integritatem abstmentiam fuerit ad 〈◊〉 est per quam difficile In English thus Thomas Goodrich for 20. yéeres Bishop of this Church 〈◊〉 buried in this place A man very acceptable vnto two noble kings of this realme in many actions both concerning the church and common wealth For abroad he was often imployed in embassages to forraine Princes and at home after he bad béene of the priuy Councell a while vnto king Edward the sixt of that name he was made at last high Chancellor of England Whether he were more déere vnto his Prince for his singular wisedome or more beloued of the commonalty for his integrity and abstinence it is euen very hard to say He died the 10. of May 1554. 33. Thomas Thirlby AT what time it pleased king Henry the eight to make the church of Westminster a cathedrall Sée he appointed for the first Bishop of the same who also was the last Thomas Thirlby Doctor of Diuinity The yéere 1550. he was 〈…〉 by 〈…〉 vnto the Bishopricke of Ely but also 〈◊〉 of her priuy Councell After her death 〈…〉 the reformation intended by our grand 〈…〉 Elizabeth he was committed to the tower 〈…〉 from his Bishoprick by act of parlilament Hauing 〈◊〉 a time of imprisonment neither very sharpe nor very long his friends easily obtayned licence for him and the late secretary Boxall to liue in the Archbishops house where they had also the company of Bishop Tonstall till such time as he died The Archbishop intreated them all most kindly as considering no doubt the variablenes of this mutable world how possible it was for God that so lately had set him vp to cast him downe as he had done those men He liued in this sort the space of 10. yeres and vpwards taking more pleasure I assure my selfe in this time of his imprisonment for so some men will needes estéeme it then euer heretofore in the middest and fullest streame of his highest honors He departed this life at Lambhith August 26. 1570. and lieth buried in the middle of the chauncell there at the head of Bishop Tunstall vnder a marble stone 34. Richard Coxe BIshop 〈◊〉 being remooued from his place by 〈◊〉 as is before said Richard Coxe Doctor of Diuinity was appointed thereunto by her Maiesty that now 〈◊〉 and was consecrate December 21. 1559. He was borne in Buckingham shire in king Edwards daies Chauncellor of the University of Oxford Deane of Westminster and Christchurch in Oxford 〈◊〉 vnto the saide king Almosner vnto him and as Bale also reporteth of his priuy Councell All 〈◊〉 Maries time he liued in Germany He was Bishop of Ely seuen moneths aboue 21. yéeres and departed this life July 22. 1581. He lieth buried 〈◊〉 Bishop Goodrich vnder a marble stone vpon which though much of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 these 〈◊〉 Vita 〈◊〉 vale 〈◊〉 vita 〈◊〉 Corpus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Interra Christi gallus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Da Christe in coelis te sine fine sonem 35. Martyn 〈◊〉 THe Sée hauing continued voide almost 20. yéeres it pleased her Maiesty at last to appoint vnto the same Martyn Heton Doctor of Diuinity and Deane of Winchester who was consecrate in the end of the yere 1599. long and happily may he well enioy the 〈◊〉 The valuation of this Bishoprick in the Exchequer is 2134 l. 18 s. 5 d. halfe farthing and the third part of a farthing in the Popes bookes 7000. ducats The Bishops of Lincolne THe Bishop of that Dioces whereof Lincolne is now the Sée sate 〈◊〉 at 〈◊〉 a place distant from Oxford about 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉
Lordship Thus by policy he purchaseth the mannor of Bishops Clist by a deuise gayneth Cornish wood and by power wresteth the patronage of Sowton from the true ownor This Bishop after he had occupted this See about 23. yeeres died July 22. 1280. and was buried in his owne church in a sumptuous tombe of Alabaster standing vpon the South side of the entrance into the Lady chappell Upon it this Epitaphe following is yet to be séene Olim syncerus pater omni dignus amore Primus Walterus magno 〈◊〉 hic in honore Edidit hic plura 〈◊〉 laude statuta Quae tanquam 〈◊〉 seruant hic omnia tuta Atque hoc collegium quod Glaseney plebs vocat omnis Condidit egregmm pro voce data sibi somnis Quot loca construxit 〈◊〉 quot bona 〈◊〉 Quam sanctam duxit vitam vox dicere quae scit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gens Exomensis Et chorus turbae quod natus in hac fuit vrbe Plus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 festum 〈◊〉 Gabrielis Gaudeat in 〈◊〉 pater iste fidelis PEter Quiuill ann 1281. was consecrated Bishop of Erceter He first instituted a Chaunter and a Subdeane in this Church To the one he impropriated Painton Chidleigh and to the other the rectory of Eglosheyl in Cornewall He was a liberall and a speciall Benefactor to the Hospitall of Saint Iohns in Exceter as well in goods as in liuelyhoods He first began to enlarge and encrease his Church from the Chauncell downewards and layed the foundation thereof In his time ann 1285. Walter Lichlade the first Chaunter was slame in a morning as he came from the morning seruice then called the Mattens which was woont to be said shortly after midnight vpon which occasion the king earne vnto this City and kept his Christmas in the same And thereupon a composition was made betweene the Bishop and the City for inclosing of the Church yard and building of certaine gates there as appeareth by the said composition bearing date in festo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mariae 1286. The king at 〈◊〉 sute of the Earle of Hereford who at his 〈◊〉 here was lodged in the house of the Gray Friers which then was neere the house of Saint Nicholas obtained of the Bishop that they should be remooued from thence to a 〈◊〉 wholesome place without South gate whereof after the kings departure grew some controuersie because the Bishop resused to performe his promise made to the king This man also impropriated the parish of Saint 〈◊〉 and the 〈◊〉 of Stoke Gabriell and vnited the same to the office of the Chauncellor of the Cathedrall Church that the said Chauncellor should continually read a lecture within the said City of Diuinity or of the Decretals In the eleuenth yeere of his Bishopricke he died being choked in drinking of a 〈◊〉 ann 1292. He was buried in the middle of the Lady Chappell Upon his toombe is written 〈◊〉 tegit Petrum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Franciscanes or Gray Friers of this City imputed his death to his hard dealing with them For whereas he had promised the king to prouide a conuenient place sor them to build their house in and had willed their warden named Deodatus to seeke out and make inquiry for the same yet notwithstanding when he had so doone because the same was in his Sée swaruing from his said promise he vtterly denied to performe the same being diswaded by Peter Kenefield a Dominicane or a blacke Frier and 〈◊〉 vnto the said Bishop For he enuying the good successe of the Franciscanes aduiseth the Bishop that in no wise he 〈◊〉 permit them to enioy the place which they had gotten 〈◊〉 saith he as vnder colour of simplicity they créepe into the harts of the people and hinder vs poore Preachers from our gaines and liuings so be ye sure that if they put foote 〈◊〉 your Liberties they will in time find meanes to be 〈◊〉 from out of your Liberty and iurisdiction The Bishop being soone diswaded vtterly forbiddeth them to build or to doo any thing within his Sée or liberty About two yéeres after the Bishop kept a great feast vpon the Sundaynext before Saint Francis day And among others was present with him one Walter Winborne one of the kings chiefe Justices of the bench who was present when the Bishop at the request of the king made promise to further helpe the Franciscanes He now in their behalfe did put the Bishop in mind thereof and requested him to haue consideration both of his owne promise and their distresse The Bishop misliking this motion waxed angry and did not onely deny to yeeld thereunto but wished himselfe to be choked what day soeuer he did consent vnto it It fortuned that the same weeke and vpon the day of Saint Francis eue the Bishop tooke a certaine Sirope to drinke in too hasty swallowing thereof his breath was stopped and he foorthwith died The Franciscanes hearing thereof made no little adoo about this matter but blased it abroad that Saint Francis wrought this miracle vpon the Bishop because he was so hard against them THomas Bitton Deane of Welles the yere following was elected Bishop and the See of Canterbury being voyd He was consecrated by I. Roman Archbishop of Yorke He left no memoriall of any great things done by him sauing that he continued the building of his church Fourteene yéeres after that he had occupied this See he died September 21. 1307. and was buried vnder a faire Marble inlayed with brasse before the high aultar VVAlter Stapleden a man learned wise and of great parentage was consecrate Bishop of Exceter March 18 1307. The inthronization or installation of Bishops was a Ceremony of great Solemnity in these 〈◊〉 the particularity whereof it shall not be 〈◊〉 once for all to describe in this man At Eastgate he alighted from his horse and went on foote to Saint Peters church All the way where he should passe being laid and couered with black cloth on each hand he was conducted by a gentleman of great 〈◊〉 and Sir Hugh 〈◊〉 who 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉 of this 〈◊〉 went next before him At broade gate he was receaued by his Chapter and Quier in their ornaments with Te Deum and so caried into the church The vsuall Ceremonies being performed there at his pallace a great feast was prepared for the entertainement of such noblemen and other parsonages of account as repaired hither at that time It is incredible how many oxen tunnes of Ale and Wine are said to haue béene vsually spent at this kind of solemnity Euen so much as the whole yéerely reuenue at this time would not suffice to pay for This Bishop was greatly in fauour with king Edward the second who made him first of his priuy Councell then Lord Treasurer of England and imploied him in diuers Embassages of great importance The yéere 1329. he was sent Embassadour to the French king and ioyned in commission with the Quéene for the conclusion of a peace betweene these two princes That
being ordered and brought to passe according to his desire he returned home leauing the Quéene with the French king her brother to perfect and finish the agréement already made She whether weary of her hust and or prouoked by the insolency of the Spencers and other fauorites about the king had long since determined to depose her husband from the kingdome if possibly she might and to set vp her sonne Prince Edward Hauing therefore rid away this Bishop whose loialty and faithfullnesse to his soueraigne she well knew was vnmooueable she began to put in practise the execution of this long plotted designement and in the end to be short exploited the same While these matters were a brewing it happened the king to take his iourney to Bristow and he thought good to commit the gouernment and custody of the citie of London to the fidelity of this Bishop At what time therefore the Quéene began to approach néere vnto the city with her power he required the Maior to send vnto him the keies of the gates The Commons who altogether fauoured the Quéenes party hearing this and perceauing the Bishop purposed to withstand her set vpon him violently drew him into Cheape side and beheaded him there together with Sir Richard Stapleton a Knight his brother Then they caried his body to his house without Temple bar and buried if basely in a heape of sand in the backside of the same house In this sort did this woorthy prelate loose his life in defence of his Prince and that by their meanes who of all other were bound in the strongest bands of duty and alleageance to haue done as he did I meane the Queene and the Prince her sonne They shortly after whether regarding his calling or destring to make semblance of disliking the manner of his death or happily mooued with some remorse of conscience commanded his body to be taken from the place where it was first 〈◊〉 and being conueighed to Exceter with all funerall pompe there to be solemnly enterred He lieth 〈◊〉 vpon the North side of the high Altar in a faire toombe of free stone And his brother before mentioned lieth ouer against him in the North wall of the North Isle This murther was committed October 15 1326. And his funerals were solemnised at Exceter March 28. following The yéere 1316. he erected two houses in Oxford for the better increase and aduancement of learning the one named Hart hall the other Stapledons Inne now called Exceter college in which he placed thirteene fellowes and a Rector whom he appointed to be chosen annually This foundation is much encreased of late yeeres by the liberality of Sir William Peter late principall Secretary and others Moreouer it is to be remembred that he was a speciall benefactor vnto the hospitall of Saint Johns in Exceter to which he impropriated for the releeuing of certaine poore children the Rectory or personage of Ernscombe IAmes Barkley descēded of the noble house of the Lord Burkley was consecrated March 15. anno 1326. by Walter Raynold Archbishop of Canterbury at the commanndement of 〈◊〉 the Queene The Pope very angry here withall did so 〈◊〉 the Archbishop as he died for griefe and anger soone after Neither did the new consecrate Bishop stay long behinde him for he died also the 24. of June following A man reputed very godly and wise He was buried as some say in his owne church but others deliuer that he neuer came hither at all IOhn Grandesson being in Italy with Pope Iohn the 22. after the death of Iohn Barkley he at the kings request bestowed this Bishopricke vpon him and caused him tobe consecrate at Rome October 18. 1327. He was borne and descended of the auncient house of the Grandessons Dukes of Burgundy His Father was named Gilbert the brother of Otho the great Lord Grandesson which Gilbert 〈◊〉 into this Land was well intertained by the king and nobility By meanes of Henry Earle of Lancaster with whom he came into England he maried the Lady 〈◊〉 daughter and one of the heires to Iohn Tregos Lord of the Castle of Ewias néere Hereford East and by her had issue fiue sonnes and foure daughters of which this Bishop was one who was borne in the parish of Aishpertone in the Dioces of Hereford He was from his childhood very studious became earned and wrote diuers bookes one intituled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an other 〈◊〉 minores and a third de vitis sar ctorum He was also very graue wise and politike And thereby grew into such credit with Pope Iohn that he was not onely of his priuy counsell but also his Nuntio or Embassadour in matters of great waight and unportance to the Emperor to the king of Spaine Fraunce England and other the mightiest Princes of Christendome Being on a time sent in an Embassage to king Edward the third he so behaued him selfe that the king neuer ceased vntill he had procured him from the Pope and then he gaue him the Archbeaconry of Nothingham and other great liuings he made him one of the priuy councell and in the end preferred him to his Bishopricke After this some matter of dislike falling out betwéene Pope Clement the sixt and the King he for his approued wisedome was sent in Ambassage to the Pope ann 1343. for an intreaty of a peace and an amity betwéene 〈◊〉 to be had and with such wisedome he did his message that he obtained his purpose and made a reconciliation After his returne home to his Bishopricke he spent his time altogether in adorning and beautifying of his Church or building and erecting some good monument or other He founded the Colledge of S. Mary Otrey and endowed the same with great and goodly liuelihoods He was a liberall Benefactor to the Uicars Chorall of his owne Church as also to the Colledge of Glaseney in Peryn he builded the two last Arches in the West end of his Church vaulted the roofe of all the Church and fully ended the buildings of the same Leauing it in such sort as we sée it at this day Thē also he inriched it with plate and other ornaments of inestimable value Moreouer he built a faire house at Bishops Taingtonwhich he left full furnished vnto his successors and did impropriate vnto the same the Parsonage of Radway to the ende as he setteth downe in his Testament Vt haberent Episcopi locum vbi caput suum 〈◊〉 si forte in manum regis eorum 〈◊〉 caperentur Before his death he made his last Will wherein he gaue such large and bouteous legacies to the Pope Emperor King Queene Archbishop Bishops Colledges Churches and to sundry parsons of high estates and callings that a man would maruell considering his great and chargeable buildings and workes otherwise how and by what meanes he could haue attained to such a masse of wealth and riches He was alwaies very frugall kept no more men or horses about him then necessary and euer despised the vanity of all outward pompe But this it was
of K. Henry the eight whose Chaplaine he then was and Deane of his Chappell as also of his Church He was Doctor of the Lawes very well learned wise and in great fauor with the king who sent him sundry times in embassages to forraine Princes He was Lord President of Wales and had the gouernment of the kings onely daughter the Lady Mary Princesse of Wales Of all the Bishops in the land he was accounted the best Courtier and although he were well reported for his learning yet better liked for his courtlike behauior which in the end turned not so much to his credite as to the vtter ruine and spoyle of the Church For of two and twenty Lordships and Mannours which his predecessors had left vnto him of a goodly yéerely reuenew he left but thrée and them also leased out And where he found thirteene houses well furnished he left onely one house bare and without furniture and yet charged with sundry fees and Annuities By these meanes this Bishopricke which sometimes was counted one of the best is now become in temporall lands one of the meanest He was a great fauourer of learned men and especially of Diuines whom he preserred in his Church aboue others He was very bounteous and liberall vnto all men but especially vnto Courtiers vnto his owne kindred and countreymen He bestowed much also as wel paines as cost in building Sutton Coltstil the towne where he was borne in procuriug the same to be incorporate and endeuouring to set vp the making of 〈◊〉 there all which prooued to little purpose as I haue heard In his time after the death of king Henry the eight there was an alteration of religion by king Edward the sixt whereof ensued rebellion and a commotion in this Diocesse which in some part was imputed to this Bishop because he lay farre from his Diocesse and dwelled in his owne countrey Whereupon he resigned the Bishopricke into the kings hands after he had béene Bishop about thirty yéeres and liued by the rents of the temporality of the Bishopricke which when he 〈◊〉 he did reserue vnto himselfe for terme of his owne life After the depriuation of Miles Couerdale in Quéene Maries time he was restored to his Church and for the better setling of the Romish Religion did here stay for a while But his minde was so addided to his owne countrey that he returned thither shortly after and made his onely abode there practising what he could to settle there the making of 〈◊〉 But whether it were that that kind of trade fitteth not that countrey or that God would not blesse a practise founded vpon such horrible sacriledge it fell out in triall to be more chargeable then profitable and so was soone giuen ouer This man being very olde died in a pang at Sutton 〈◊〉 before mentioned the yéere 1555. and was buried there MIles Couerdale after the resignation of Voysye was by king Edward made Bishop of this city and consecrate an 1550. After that he had béene Bishop about 3. yéeres king Edward died then Quéene Mary hauing the crowne the religion was altered and he depriued For a farther discourse of his life and especially his deliuerance out of prison at the sute and importunate request of the king of Denmarke I commend the Reader vnto Master Foxe Of his death onely thus much that not caring to returne to his Bishopricke in the beginning of her Maiestie that now raigneth he setled himselfe at London and there leading a priuate life he died at last a very old man and was buried in Saint Magnus church IAmes Turbeuill a gentleman well borne Bishop Voysey being dead was consecrate an 1556. He was very careful to recouer some part of the lands of his Bishoprick which his predecessor wasted and did obtaine of Queene Mary to him and his successors the seefarme of the mannor of Crediton After that he had beene Bishop about two yeeres Quéene Mary died he was displaced and after lead a priuate life many yeeres VVIlliam Alley reader of Diuinity in the cathedrall church of Saint Paule was consecrate Bishop of Exceter an 1561. He lieth buried vnder a large marble towards the South side of the presbytery VVIlliam Bradbridge Doctor of Diuinity and Deane of Salisbury was consecrate March 18. 1570. He died in a manner suddenly at Newton Ferries June 27. 1578. and was buried in the North side of the high altar neere Bishop Lacy in which place there is a seemely monument of freestone built ouer him IOhn Wolton cannon residensary of the church of Exceter was consecrate in the beginning of Aug. 1579. He sate Bishop almost 14. yéeres died March 13. 1593. and lieth buried toward the Southside of the presbytery néer theplace where we see a monument of touch and free stone erected vnto the memory of him GEruase Babington Doctor of Diuinity and Bishop of Landaffe was translated to this church in February 1594. and hence to Worceter October 4 1597. VVIlliam Coton Doctor of Diuinity and cannon resident of Paules was consecrate in Nouember 1598. This Bishopricke by a new valuation rated in the daies of King Edward the sixt is now esteemed in the Exchequer but at 500 l. yet paid heretofore vnto the Pope after 6000. ducats Foelix first Bishop of Norwich A Catalogue of the Bishops of Norwich collected for the most part out of M. Alexander Neuill his Norwicus by R. T. SIgebert king of the East Angles after the death of Corpwald returning out of Frannce where he liued in banishment and obtayning his kingdome brought with him one Foelix a Burgundian with whom he had liued familiarly during the time of his eryle and made him Bishop of the East Angles which conuerting the people to the faith of Christ had his Sée at Dunwich When he had béene Bishop 17. yéeres he died ann 649. and was buried at Soham now called Some a monastery afterward destroied by the Danes his body was then remooued to Kamsey After him succéeded Thomas which sate fiue yeeres Bonifacius 17. yéeres Bissus after the death of Bonifacius was preferred to this dignity after whose decease the Bishopricke which before was but one was diuided into two the one hauing his Sée at Elmham the other at Dunwich The Bishops of Elmham were 1. Bedwyne 2. Northbertus 3. Headewlacus 4. Neathilferthus 5. Eanferethus 6. Athelwolph 7. Alcarus 8. Sybba 9. Humferthus 10. Humbyrctus 11. Weremundus 12. Wilredus The Bishops of Dunwich were 1. Acceius 2. Astwolfus 3. Aerdredus 4. Cutherinus 5. Aldberthus 6. Eglasius 7. Heardredus 8. Aelphunus 9. Tydferthus 10. Weremundus 11. Wylredus In this estate it remained vnto the time of Humbertus Bishop of Elmham and Wylred Bishop of Dunwich at what time it was restored to the former estate and of two vnited againe into one Athelfus being the first which enioyed the same in the time of king Edwyn and had his Sée at Elmham after whom succéeded 2. Alfridus 3. Theodredus 4. Theodredus 5. Athelstanus 6.
occasion saith William Malmsbury and the rest of our Histories the Kings of England tooke a conceite that it was not safe for any Prince to enter Oxford in so much as euery one being loath to venture the tryall of it in himselfe it was euer auoyded by them till the time that King Henry the third prooued it altogether vaine by his owne experience In this place Didan by the intreaty of his daughter built a Monastery for Nunnes and appointed her the Abbesse It happened then obout the yéere of grace 847. in the time of King Egelred that certaine Danes flying into this Monastery to saue their liues from the bloody cruelty of the English pursuing them when otherwise they could not 〈◊〉 gotten out the Monastery was 〈◊〉 and they all burnt in the same But it was reedified shortly after by the said king and further enriched with diuers possessions This notwithstanding soone after it sell into wonderfull great decay so as no body caring to inhabite the same it was giuen by William the Conqneror vnto the Abbey of Abingdon for a Cell or remoouing house They not 〈◊〉 estéeming it were content that Roger Bishop of Salisbury their Ordinary should confirme it vnto one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chaplaine vnto king Henry the first a man wise learned and religious that tooke vpon him to place Regular 〈◊〉 in the same He did so the yéere 1110. became 〈◊〉 of this new or rather renewed Monastery himselfe tooke-other vnto him repayred in very good sort the ruinous 〈◊〉 and by the fauour of King Henry the first recouered 〈◊〉 it what lands soeuer had béene giuen heretofore vnto the Nunnes In this state then it continued vntill that 〈◊〉 Woolsey gotte licence to conuert it into a Colledge 1524. calling it by the name of the Cardinals Colledge 〈◊〉 leauing it vnperfect it pleased King Henry the eight of 〈◊〉 memory to giue it a foundation by the name of Collegium 〈◊〉 exfundatione Regis Henrici Octaui and moreuer made it the Sée of a new erected Cathedrall Church placing in it not onely a Bishop but also a Deane 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 and other officers besides 100. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that he appointed to be maintained in the same of 〈◊〉 number my selfe some times was one 1. Robert King THis new erected Episcopall Sée was first established in the Abbey of Osney where Robert King the last Abbot of the same house and the first Bishop of Oxford had his Installation the yéere 1541. About fiue yéeres after to wit an 1546. it was remooued vnto Christchurch then commonly called the Cardinals colledge This Robert King being yet Abbot of Osney was consecrate a titulary Bishop by the name of Episcopus Roanensis which is a Sée in the Prouince of the Archbishopricke of Athens He was translated from this imaginary Bishopricke to Oxford the yéere 1541. as before is mensioned taken away by death December 4. 1557. and is entoombed on the North side of the East end of the quier in his owne church where is this Epitaphe to be seene Hic 〈◊〉 Robertus King S. Theologiae professor prioous Episcopus Oxon. quiobijt 4. die Decemb. 1557. 2. Hugh Curwyn HVgh Curwyn or Coren Doctor of Law first Archdeacon of Oxford and Deane of Hereford then Archbishop of Dublyn and Lord Chauncellor of Ireland was translated from thence to Oxford a place of lesse honor but more quiet October 14. 1567. Hauing sate there little more then a yeere he died at Swynbrooke néere to Burford and was buried in the parish church there Nouember 1. 1568. 3. Iohn Vnderhyll AFter his death the Bishopricke continued voyde many yéeres At last it pleased her Maiestie to bestow it vpon a chaplaine of her owne Iohn Vnderhyll doctor of diuinity and Rector of Lincolne colledge in Oxford He was consecrate thereunto in December 1589. died in the beginning of May 1592. and was buried in the middle of the quier of his Cathedrall church toward the vpper end This Bishoprick of Oxford is valued at 354 l 16 s 3 d. farthing The Bishops of Glocester OSrike king of Northumberland founded a Nunry in the city of 〈◊〉 about the yeere of our Lord 700. Kineburg Eadburg and Eua Quéenes of Mercia were Abbesses of this monastery one after another It was destroyed by the Danes and lay wasle vntill that Aldred Archbishop of Yorke began to reedifie the same about the yéere 1060. replenished it with monkes and erected from the very foundation that goodly church which is now the 〈◊〉 Sée of that Dioces Being giuen into the hands of king Henry the eight by Parliament it pleased him to alot the 〈◊〉 of it vnto the mayntenance of a Bishop a Deane sixe Prebendaries and other ministers 1. Iohn Wakeman Abbot of Teuksbury was the first Bishop of this new erection He prouided a toombe for his place of buriall at Teuksbury in the North side of a little chappell standing Southeast from the high altar Part of it yet 〈◊〉 But his body lyeth at Worthington where he died a house belonging vnto the Bishopricke of Glocester 2. Iohn Hooper Bishop of Worceter held Glocester in Commendam with Worceter by the licence of king Edward the sixt His life actions and Heroicall end are written at large by Master Foxe 3. Iames Brookes Doctor of Diuinity and Master of Baylioll colledge in Oxford succéeded him 4. Richard Cheyney Bacheler of Diuinity was consecrate April 19. 1562. He died the yéere 1578. Both he and his predecessor lye buried in one vault with Abbot Parker the 〈◊〉 Abbot His toombe standeth in a little chappell on the North side of the Presbytery almost ouer against the Bishops Sée 5. Iohn Bullingham Doctor of Diuinity was consecrate September 3. 1581. the Sée hauing beene voyd almost three yeeres He died about the 20. day of May. 1598. 6. Godfry Goldsborough Doctor of Diuinity and Archdeacon of Worceter was consecrate Nouemb. 19. 1598. The Bishopricke of Glocester is valued in the Queenes bookes at 315 l. 17 s. 2 d. The Bishops of Peterborough IN the middle of the riuer of 〈◊〉 which runneth by the south side 〈◊〉 Peterborough there is a whirlpoole of infinite depth that by reason of springs continually arising there in the coldest winter was yet neuer quite frozen ouer This place in 〈◊〉 time was called Medefwell and the towne adioyning taking name of it Medeswell 〈◊〉 or Medeshamstead Peada the sonne of Penda the first Christian king of Mercia began the foundation of a monastery there the yéere 656. but was taken away by the treachery of his wife before he could bring it to any perfection Wolpher his brother was so farre from endeuouring to finish this worke as being an obstinate Pagane he put to death 〈◊〉 and Ruffyn two of his owne sonnes for no other cause then this that they were Christians Afterwards notwithstanding it pleased God so to touch his heart as of a persecuting Saul 〈◊〉 became a good Paul and in token of his griefe and sorrow for his cruelty to his
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
habitation He built or repaired with great charges Barnard Castle the Castles of Alnwike part of the L. Vessyes land which he sold afterward to H. Percy Gainsoorth Cuncliff Somerton which he gaue vnto the king and the house at Eltham bestowed as afore said vpon the Quéene Hauing sate Bishop of Durham 28. yéeres he deceased at Eltham March 28. 1311. and was buried in his owne Cathedrall Church 42. Richard Kellow RIchard Kellow 〈◊〉 Bishop fiue yéeres in which short space he bestowed very much in building at Middleham Stocton and Welhall He died the yéere 1316. 43. Lewes Beaumont THe Couent then chose for their Bishop Henry Stamford Pryor of Finchall and sent him to Rome to be confirmed by the Pope But before he could get thither at the importunate suite of the kings of England and France the Pope had giuen that Bishoprick vnto one Lewes Beaumont a French man borne and of the blood royall there He was lame 〈◊〉 both his legs and so vnlearned that he could not read the bulles and other instruments of his consecration When he should haue pronounced this word Metropoliticae not knowing what to make of it though he had studied vpon it and laboured his lesson long before after a litle pause Soyt purdit saies he let it goe for read so passed it ouer In like sort he stumbled at 〈◊〉 aenigmate When he had fumbled about it a while Par Saint Lowys quoth he il n'est pas curtois qui 〈◊〉 parolle ici escrit that is by Saint Lewes he is to blame that writ this word here Not without great cause therefore the Pope was somewhat strait laced in admitting him He obtained consecration so hardly as in fowerteene yeeres he could scarce creepe out of debt Riding to Durham to be installed there he was robbed together with two Cardinals that were then in his company vpon Wiglesden Moore neere Derlington The captaines of this route were named Gilbert Middleton and Walter Selby Not content to take all the treasure of the Cardinals the Bishop and their traine they carried the Bishop prisoner to Morpeth where they constrained him to pay a great ransom Gilbert Middleton was soone after taken at his owne castle of Nitford carried to London and there drawen and hanged in the presents of the Cardinals After this one Sir 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and his brother Robert came with a great company to diuers of the Bishop of Durhams houses in the habits of Fryers and spoyled them leauing nothing but bare wals and did many other notable 〈◊〉 for which they I meane the captaines and diuers of their company were soone after hanged at Yorke This Bishop stood very stoutly in defence of the liberties of his Sée recouered diuers lands taken away from Anthony Beake his predecessor as before is mentioned and procured this sentence to be giuen in the behalf of his church quod Episcopus Dunelmen debet habere 〈◊〉 guerrarum intra libertates sicut Rex extra that the Bishop of Durham is to haue the forfeitures of warre in as ample sort within his owne liberties as the king without He compassed the city of Durham with a wall and built a hall kitchin and chappell at Middleton But before he could quite finish the chappell he died to wit September 22 or as one deliuereth September 28. 1333. He heth buried before the high altar at Durham couered with a marble stone curiously wrought and inlayde with brasse prouided by himselfe in his life time 44. Richard de Bury IN great 〈◊〉 but with no great good spéed the 〈◊〉 of Durham procéeded vnto the election of a new Bishop the old being yet scarcely buried and they made choise of one of their owne company a monke of Durham This election the Archbishop of Yorke confirmed yea the matter grew so forward as the same Archbishop was content to giue him consecration also All this while the kings good will was not sought no nor which was a greater ouersight as the world then went the Popes neither The king therefore not onely refused to deliuer possession of the temporalties vnto this elect but also laboured the Pope ex plenitudine potestatis to conferre the Bishopricke vpon a chaplaine of his named Richard de Bury then Deane of Welles Partly to pleasure the one that requested partly to displeasure the other for not requesting he did so and commaunded the Bishop of Winchester to consecrate him which being performed at Chertsey soone after Christmasse the king presently inuested him in the temporalties belonging to that Sée Now was the monke a Bishop without a Bishopricke Hauing no other home he was faine to returne to his cloyster and therefor very griefe as it is to be supposed within a few daies after died This Richard de Bury was borne at Saint Edmunds Bury in Suffolke whence he tooke his surname for he was the sonne of one Sir Richard Angaruill knight His father died leauing him very yoong and committed him vnto the tuition of Iohn Willoughby a priest his vncle who brought him vp carefully and that for the most part in the Uniuersity of Oxford From thence he was called to teach Edward of Windsor Prince of Wales At what time the said Prince fled into Fraunce with his mother he was principall receiuer of the kings reuenewes in Gascoigne Their money failing he ayded them secretly with a great summe of that he had receiued for the king It had almost cost him his life he was so narrowly pursued by some of the kings friends that got vnderstanding of it as he was glad to hide himselfe in a steeple in Paris the space of seuen daies King Edward the third his scholler being come to the crowne made him first his Coferer then Treasurer of the Wardrobe and keeper of the priuy Seale In this last office he continued fiue yéeres in which space he was twice sent Ambassador vnto the Pope The yeere 1333. he was made Deane of Welles a goodly preferment in those daies better I thinke then the Bishopricke is now He had not enioyed that place one whole yeere when he was consecrate vnto Durham which was December 19. 1333. The yeere following he became Chauncellor and within two yeeres after that Treasurer of England Being Bishop he was often employed in embassages of the greatest importance What time of leysure he had he spent either in prayer or conference with his 〈◊〉 whereof he had many about him those great learned men or else in study wherewith he was woonderfully delighted He writ many things not yet perished Anongst the rest in one worke which he called 〈◊〉 he saith of himselfe 〈◊〉 quodam librorū amore potenter 〈◊〉 abreptū That he was mightily carried away and euen beside himselfe with immoderate loue of bookes and desire of reading And indéed his study was so well furnished as it is thought he had more bookes then all the Bishops in England beside He was much delighted with the company and acquaintance of learned men Many
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
his vtmost indeuor for the aduauncement of him T. Becket vnto the Archbishoppricke Being therefore at that time in Normandy he sent Richard Lucy a counsellor of speciall trust into England with charge to effect these two things first to procure all the Nobles and best of the comminalty to sweare fealty vnto yoong Prince Henry his sonne and then to cause the Monkes of Canterbury to elect Thomas his Chauncellor Archbishop The first he quickly brought to passe the rather by the helpe of the Chauncellor that was ioined in commission with him And in the second also he bestirred him selfe so well as he caused the whole conuocation of the Clergy a wost authenticall kind of election to choose Thomas Becket for their Archbishop no one man gainesaying it except Gilbert Foliot Bishop of London He was consecrate Archbishop vpon Whitsonday being made Priest but iust the day before by the Bishop of Wintchester ann 1162. being not yet full 44. yéeres of age Presently after his consecration he altered all the whole course of his life became so graue so austere and so deuout in all outward shewe as he séemed quite another man Also he resigned his Chauncellorship certifiyng the King by letters who was then in Normandy he could not serue the Church and the Court both at once The King that euer hitherto thought to vse Thomas Becket as a schoole master to instruct and inure his sonne in matters of state and policy was now very sory that he had made him Archbishop séeing he threw off all care of temporall gouernment and considering the hawtinesse of his spirits sore doubted wherunto this strange dealing would growe at the last Another thing the King greatly disliked in him was this that being yet scarcely warme in his seate he began to looke so narrowly into the state of the land belonging to his sée and to challenge withall extremity whatsouer might séeme to pertaine vnto him as he prouoked many of all sorts of people against him who euery where exclaimed with open mouth and made their complaints thicke and thréefold vnto the King saying that hauing some authority and more knowledge in the Lawe vnder colour of defending the rights of his Church he tooke violently from euery man what he list But the maine quarrell betwixt the King and him was this The Cleargy of those times bare them selues so bold vpon the priuileges of the Church whereby in crymes neuer so haynous they claymed to be exempted from the iudgement of temporall courts as dayly infinite outrages were committed by Cleargy men murthers robberies rapes c. which temporall Judges might not meddle withall and in the spirituall courtes they were either not punished or for the most part very lightly For the amendment and preuention of this inconuenience in 〈◊〉 to come the King intended to publish a certaine declaration of the customes of England set downe long since by King Henry the first his grandfather wherein this intollerable and licencious liberty of the Cleargy was somewhat restrained And that it might not be spurned at by any the Archbishop especially he doubted he deuised to send this declaracion vnto the Pope and to craue his allowance of the same But the Archbishop hauing some inkling of the Kings intent before hand had so dealt with the Pope as it was no sooner séene but it was streight reiected Herewith the King was so incensed as after that time he bent himselfe altogether to the diminishing and breaking of all immunities and liberties of the church And the Archbishop was so farre from séeking to pacifie the Kings displeasure as daily he prouoked him more and more The particularities thereof to passe ouer the King thought good to try whether he could put in execution the contents of the foresaid declaration euen in despite of the Archbishop or no. He offered the same vnto all the Clergy gathered togither in a synode who as if they had learned all one lesson told the King seuerally in the same words that they were content to allow it 〈◊〉 ordine 〈◊〉 so farre foorth as they might without 〈◊〉 of their owne coat and calling Onely one man Hilary Bishop of Chichester was content to yéeld vnto it simpliciter and without condition but was so bayted and reuiled for his labour as it is like he often repented it Yet so the matter was handled not long after as first diuers other Bishops were content to yeeld vnto the King in this demaund and at last euen the Archbishop himselfe with all his followers So at a time appointed they met at Clarindon and theresware vnto the obseruation of the articles comprised in that declaration This notwithstanding soone after they disliking that they had done got the Pope to assoile them of this oath But the Archbishop now well assuring himselfe he had so offended the king as there was no abiding for him heere he tooke ship at Kumney intending to auoid the 〈◊〉 but missed of his purpose for he was forced by a contrarie winde to returne to land againe Presently vpon his arriuall he was apprehended and carried prisoner to Northampton where the king then held a Councell and was there accused of extortion periury treason forgery and many other crimes His owne suffragan Bishops though he had appealed vnto the Pope gaue sentence against him and warranted the king they would make proofe of these accusations vnto the Pope The next night after his condemnation he scaped away and once more hasted vnto the sea committed himselfe very desperately vnto a little bad rotten fisher boat and accompanied onely with three seruitors crossedthe sea and got into the low Countries and thence posted to the Pope at Senon who placed him in the monastery of Pontiniac While he there rested himselfe he thundred out excommunications apace against all such as did obserue the articles contayned in the declaration set foorth at Clarindon whereunto himselfe had once sworne The King as fast bestird himselfe in seasing all the goods and temporalties of the Archbishop into his hand He sent also ambassadors vnto the Earle of Flaunders the French King and the Pope praying them in no wise to foster or suffer him in their dominions requesting moreouer of the Pope that he would confirme and allow of the declaration published at Clarindon The Pope made an answere though friuolous saying he would consider of the matter But the French with whom the King of England had amity and a league of friendship at that time he thinking that this agreement betweene him and the Archbishop would bréed some stirre in England presently fell to inuading the King of Englands dominions tooke by assault certaine holds of his in Normandy The Archbishop also about the same time sent out particular excommunications against all the suffragan Bishops of his Prouince The King mightily offended with this excéeding boldnesse of the Archbishop whereunto he well knew he was hartned and animated by the Pope and the French King bethough himselfe how by all
that height of tyranny that he not onely placed but displaced Bishops at his pleasure And his meanes to do it was by 〈◊〉 them to some other Bishopricke peraduenture of lesse value and peraduenture nothing woorth at all So was Alex. Neuill perforce translated from Yorke to S. Andrewes in Scotland whence wars being at that time betwéene England Scotland he was sure neuer to receiue peny And so he translated Iohn Buckingham from Lincolne to Lichfield a Bishopricke not halfe so good But he choosing rather to haue no bread then but halfe a loafe in a very malecontent humor and great chafe put on a monkes cowle at Canterbury and there liued priuately the rest of his life To his Bishopricke of Lincolne was then preferred Henry Beaufort sonne to Iohn of Gaunt by Katherine Swinford the yéere 1397. He was brought vp for the most part at Aken in Germany where he studied the ciuill and canon law many yéeres and comming home was preferred to Lincolne very yoong He continued there seuen yeres presently vpon the death of W. Wickham was translated to Winch. June 23. 1426. he was made cardinal of S. Eusebius receiued his hat with great solcÌ„nity at Calis the Lady day following A man of great frugality and therefore excéeding rich King Henry the fift in the latter ende of his raigne by great and continuall warres being waxen much behind hand and greatly indebted began to cast a couetous eye vpon the goods of the Church which at that time were growen to the full height and there wanted not many that incited him vnto the spoile of the same This wealthy Prelate best knowen by the name of the rich Cardinall supplyed his want out of his owne purse to diuert him from that sacrilegious course and lent him 20000. pound a great deale of money in those daies He was also valiant and very wise Pope Martin the fift determining to make warre vpon the Bohemians that had renounced al obedience vnto the Sée of Rome made this Cardinall his Legate into that Country and appointed such forces as he could make to be at his commandement Toward the charges of this voyage the Clergy of England gaue a tenth of all their promotions and furnished out 4000. men and more with this power he passed by Fraunce dooing there some seruice for his Prince and Countrey into Bothemia the yéere 1429. There he remained certaine moneths behauing himselfe very valiantly till by the Pope he was discharged In his youth he was wantonly giuen and gate a base daughter named Iane vpon Alice the daughter of Richard Earle of Arundell Her he maried after vnto Ed. Stradling or Easterlling a knight of Wales But this asdone before he entred into orders Toward his latter end he imployed his time altogether either in matters of Counsaile businesse of the common wealth or the seruice of God and the Church committed vnto him Amongst other good déedes it is remembred that he built an hospitall in Winchester which he presently endued with land to the value of 158. l. 13. s. 4. d. of yéerely rent He died Aprill 11. 1447. when he had beene Bishop of Winchester 43. yéeres and from the time of his first consecration 50. yéeres Except Thomas Bourchier that was Bishop 51. yéeres I read of no English man that euer enioyed that honor longer He lyeth buried in a reasonable stately toombe behind the high aulter of his Church at Winchester toward the South the inscription is much defaced of it remaineth onely this Tribularer si nescirem misericordias tuas 54. William Waynflet A Woorthy Prelate succéeded him William Waynflet Prouost of Eaton colledge then lately founded by king Henry the sixt who for his great wisedome and integrity was long Chauncellor of England He was sonne and heire vnto Richard Pattyn a gentleman of an ancient house brother vnto Iohn Pattyn Deane of Chichester and Richard Pattyn that liued at Basâ—o in Darbishire where he left as I haue heard a posterity behinde him It appéereth hereby that his name was not indéed Waynflet but Pattyn It was an ancient custome euen till those daies that cleargy men should take their surname according to the place where they were borne and amongst monkes and fryers it continued till the very suppression of monasteries This William whether Waynflet or Pattyn was brought vp first in Winchester schoole then in New colledge in Oxford His fellowship there he left to become schoolemaster of Winchester but was taken by king Henry the sixt to teach in his new college of Eaton whereof at last he made him as before is said Prouost He continued Bishop many yéeres and would haue done much more good then he did had he not béene hindred by those continuall warres betwéene the houses of Lancaster and Yorke in all which stormes he stucke alwaies vnto his patron and first preferrer king Henry the sixt And after his death king Edward the fourth knowing the faithfull affection and true hart he alwaies bore vnto Henry the sixt his enimy carried euer a hard hand vpon him Time notwithstanding and the reuenewes of that goodly Bishopricke enabled him to the foundation of that excellent and stately colledge in Oxford dedicated vnto Saint Mary Magdalene to the which I thinke the world hath not any one colledge in all perfections comparable He died as I haue béene told August 6. 1486. hauing first séene the house of Lancaster to his great ioy restored againe to the crowne in king Henry the seuenth So that betwéene the consecration of William Wickham and the death of William Waynflet his next successor sauing one it is 119 yéeres A strange thing that thrée men should hold one Bishopricke sixscore yéeres He lieth buried in the North part of the roome beyond the high Aulter ouer against the Cardinall in a very faire toombe the Epitaphe whereof is quite defaced 55. Peter Courtney IN the moneth of Nouember 1477. Peter Courtney the sonne of 〈◊〉 Philip Courtney of Powderham knight and Elizabeth his wife daughter to Walter Lord Hungerford was consecrate Bishop of Exeter whence he was translated to Winchester in the latter end of the yéere 1486. At Exeter he bestowed much money in finishing the North Tower vnto which he gaue a goodly bel called after his name Peter bell He died December the 20. 1491. hauing gouerned the Dioces of Winchester the space of fiue yéeres and was buried in his owne Church whereabouts I know not 56. Thomas Langton THe Bishopricke hauing béene voide somewhat more then one yéere Thomas Langton Bishop of Salisbury was preferred thereunto He was consecrate to Salisbury the yéere 1485 sate Bishop of Winchester seuen yéeres and was remooued to Canterbury but died of the plague an 1500. before his translation was perfited He built a very faire Chappell in the South side of the Lady Chappell in the Cathedrall Church of Winchester in the middle of which Chappell his body resteth in a very sumptuous toombe of Marble This Thomas Langton was some
any great difficultie obtained full confirmation March 12. following He was brother vnto Henrie Earle of Esser forst deane of saint Martins then consecrate Bishop of worcester 1435. and sate there eight yéeres Here he continued ten yéeres fiue monethes and twelue daies and was then remoued to Canterbury Sée more of him in Canterbury 26. William Gray THe Sée hauing béene voide onely 14. daies Pope Nicholas the 5. vpon an especiall 〈◊〉 he had of William Gray doctor of Diuinity placed him in the same This William was a gentleman very well borne to 〈◊〉 of the noble and auncient house of the Lord Gray of 〈◊〉 whose friends perceiuing in him a notable 〈◊〉 and sharpnesse of witte dedicated him vnto learning He was brought vp in Baylioll Colledge in Oxford Hauing spent much time there profitably and to very good purpose 〈◊〉 the study as well of Diuinitie as Philosophy he passed ouer the seas and trauailed into Italy where he frequented much the lectures of one Guarinus of Uerona a great learned man in those daies Following thus his study and profiting exceedingly therein he grew very famous and no 〈◊〉 for to see a gentleman of great linage hauing maintenance at will to become very learned especially in Diuinity is in déede a woonder and seldome séene He writ many things both before and after his preferment whereof I thinke nothing now remaineth Neither was he a simple 〈◊〉 and a bookeman onely King Henry the 6. perceiuing him not onlylearned but very discrete no lesse industrious appointed him his Proctor for the following of all his businesse in the Popes court By this occasion hauing often recourse vnto the Pope his great learning and other excellent parts were soone 〈◊〉 by him and woorthily rewarded with this Bishopricke It was impossible such a man should not be imploted in State matters The yeere 1469. he was made Treasurer of England by king Edward the 4. 24. yeeres two moneths and 21. daies he was Bishop of this Sée In which meane space he bestowed great sums of money vpon building of the steeple at the west end of his Church and at his death which hapned at Downham August 4. 1478. he bequeathed many goodly ornaments vnto the same his church in which he was buried betweene two marble pillers 27. Iohn Moorton A Happie and memorable man succéeded him Iohn Moorton doctor of law from whose wisedome and deuise sprung that blessed coniunction of the two noble houses of Lancaster and Yorke after so many yeeres war betwéene them This man was borne at Berry néere Blandford in Dorsetshire first parson of S. Dunstans in London and prebendary of S. Decumans in 〈◊〉 as my selfe also sometimes was then Master of the Rolles lord Chauncellor of England August 9. 1478. viz. within 〈◊〉 daies after the death of Bishop Gray he was elect Bishop of Ely where he continued about eight yéeres and the yeere 1486. was translated to Canterbury Being yet Bishop of Ely he bestowed great cost vpon his house at Hatfild At 〈◊〉 castell likewise all the building of brick was of his charge As also that new leame that he caused to be made for more conuentent cariage to his towne which they say serueth now to smale purpose and many complaine that the course of the riuer Nine into the sea by Clowcrosse is very much hindred thereby See more of him in Canterbury 28. Iohn Alcock AFter the translation of Iohn Morton the Sée was void as one saith thrée yéeres Howbeit I finde that Iohn Alcock doctor of Law and Bishop of Worcester was preferred therevnto the yéere 1486. A man of admirable temperance for his life and behauiour vnspotted and from a childe so earnestly giuen to the study not onely of learning but of all vertue and godlinesse as in those daies neuer any man bare a greater opinion and reputation of holinesse He liued all his life time most soberly and chastly resisting the temptations of the flesh and subduing them by fasting studie praier other such good meanes abhorring as 〈◊〉 all foode that was likely to stir him vp vnto wantonnes He was borne at Beuerley in Yorkeshire first Deane of Saint Stephens in Westminster and Master of the Rolles consecrate Bishop of Rochester 1471. translated first to Worcester 1476. and then to Ely as I said 1486. about which time he was for a while Lord Chauncellour of England by the appointment of that prudent and most excellent prince king Henry the 7. Being yet at Worcester he founded a 〈◊〉 at kingstone vpon Hul built a chappel vpon the south side of the parish church where his parents were buried and 〈◊〉 a Chauntrey there He built moreouer from the very foundation that stately hall in the pallace of Ely togither with the gallerie and in almost euery house belonging to his Bishopricke bestowed very great cost Lastly he was the author of a goodly Colledge in Cambridge now called 〈◊〉 Colledge it was first a Monastery of Nunnes dedicated to Saint Radegund and being fallen greatly in decay the goods and ornaments of the church wasted the lands diminished and the Nunnes themselues hauing for saken it insomuch as onely two were left where of one was determined to be gone shortly the other but an infant This good Bishop obtained licence of K. Henry the 7. to conuert that same to a college wherin he placed a master 6. fellowes a certain number of schollers since augmented by other benefactors and dedicated the same vnto the honor of that holy Trinity the blessed Uirgin S. Iohn the 〈◊〉 and S. Radegund what was not expended vpon these buildings or to other good purposes of like profite he bestowed in hospitality and house keeping euery whit Hauing sate 14. yeeres and somewhat more he was taken out of this life to that place where no doubt he findeth the reward of his doings viz. vpon the first day of October 1500. He lieth buried in a chappell of his owne building on the North side of the Presbytery where is to be seene a very goodly sumptuous toombe erected in memory of him which by the barbarous and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of some body is pittifully defaced the head of the Image being broken off the compartiment and other buildings torne downe 29. Richard Redman ONe whole yéere the Bishopricke had béene voide after Alcockes death when as Richard Redman Doctor of Diuinity first Bishop of Saint Assaph then of Exeter was translated thence vnto Ely He sate there but thrée yéeres and an halfe and dying was buried betweene two pillers on the North side of the presbytery where we sée a very stately toombe of frée stone well built He was very liberall vnto the poore His manner they say was in trauelling to giue vnto euery poore person that demaunded almes of him a piece of money sixe pence at least and least many should loose it for want of knowledge of his being in towne at his comming to any place he would cause a bell to ring to giue notice
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
Richard kéeper of the Seale vnder the Chauncellour of England was consecrate at 〈◊〉 Ianuary 16. 1120. died at 〈◊〉 August 15. 1127 and was buried at Hereford the particular place I find not It was an opinion of 〈◊〉 men about this time that the Bishopricke of Hereford was a fatall 〈◊〉 and might not suffer any one man long to 〈◊〉 it 33. Robert de 〈◊〉 Prior of 〈◊〉 was consecrate at Oxford June 29. 1131. A man of great authority and much emploied by the Pope in all his 〈◊〉 within the 〈◊〉 He died April 27. 1148. and 〈◊〉 buried in the South wall ouer against the Presbitery 34. Gilbert 〈◊〉 consecrate 1149. The yéere 1161. or 〈◊〉 some deliuer 1163. he was translated to London See London 35. Robert de 〈◊〉 succéeded He died February 〈◊〉 1167. and was buried hard by Robert de 〈◊〉 36. Robert Foliot 〈◊〉 of Oxford was 〈◊〉 by the Chapter of Hereford the king granting licence of 〈◊〉 election the yéere 1173. and the yéere following he was 〈◊〉 with diuers other whose Sées likewise had stood long voide by reason of the 〈◊〉 betwéene the king and Thomas Becket Sée Richard More of Winch. He studied in 〈◊〉 vniuersities of 〈◊〉 and grew there 〈◊〉 with Thomas Becket the 〈◊〉 who 〈◊〉 much for his singular learning and other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 parts in regard whereof he also preferred him to his 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 the foundation of his aduancement to this Bishopricke He died May 9. 1186. and was buried next his pedecessor 37. William le Vere a great builder was consecrate 1186 and died December 24. 1199. He was buried 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So these 〈◊〉 lie together Robert de Betune Robert de 〈◊〉 Robert Foliot and this man Their toombs are very like and but by their place and order hardly to be distinguished 38. Gyles de Bruse the sonne of William Bruse a man of great power and nobility was consecrate September 24. 1200. In the Barons wars he tooke part with them against king Iohn and at last was faine to 〈◊〉 the realme Afterwards being suffered to returne and receaued into the kings fauour he trauailed homeward and died in the way at Gloreter Nouember 17. 1215. He left great possessions descended vnto him by his auncestors he left them I say to 〈◊〉 de Bruse his brother that maried the daughter of Llewellyn ap 〈◊〉 Prince of north-Northwales This man lieth buried vpon the North side of the Presbitery The image that lieth vpon his toombe holdeth the likenesse of a stéeple in his hand whereby it should seeme he built one of the towers or steeples 39. 〈◊〉 de Mapenore succéeded He died about Easter 1219 and lieth buried as I remember in the North wall neere the toombe of Bishop Egueblank 40. Hugh Foliot consecrate in the beginning of Nouemb. 1219. died Iul. 26. 1234. 41. Ralf de Maydenstan succéeded him This man bought of a gentleman named Monthault the house belonging to the Bishopricke of Hereford in London together with the patronage 〈◊〉 the parsonage of Saint Mary Monthault adioyning and gaue them vnto his See The yéere 1239 he resigned his Bishopricke and tooke on him the habite of a Franciscane Frier at Oxford He liued afterwards a 〈◊〉 life at Gloceter the space of fiue yéeres and then dying was buried there 42. Peter d' Egueblank borne in Sauoy was elected August 24. 1239. and consecrate soone after He is very odious in our histories for 〈◊〉 the king vnto a strange and intollerable kind of exaction the yeere 1255. such and so great as it euen quite beggered all the Cleargy of that time The yéere following he tooke great paines in canuassing for the Archbishoprick of 〈◊〉 and hauing spent much mony in procuring letters from the king and diuers other great parsonages to request in his behalfe newes was brought that the old Archbishop that he tooke to be dead and whose place he sought was yet aliue and aliues-like The yéere 1263. the Barons arrested him in his owne Cathedrall church 〈◊〉 vpon his goods deuided his treasure vnto their souldiers 〈◊〉 his face and imprisoned him a long time in the castle of Ordley He was cursed of so many saith one it was impossible that many calamities should not light vpon him Long before this captiuity his face was horribly deformed with a kind of leprosy which some call Polypus and though he left no meanes vnsought could not be cured of it till his dying day He departed this life Nouember 27. 1268. and lieth buried vnder a large and faire toombe ouer against the North doore of the quier This man gaue vnto his church two 〈◊〉 of corne of ninety sixe bushels a piece yéerely to be 〈◊〉 to the Ministers of the same for euer He also founded a Monastery at Aqua-bella in Sauoy at which place it séemeth he was borne and caused his heart to be buried there as 〈◊〉 by a monument in the church of that house yet 〈◊〉 43. Iohn Breton Doctor of bothe lawes was also very well séene in the common Lawes of the land and writ a great volume de iuribus Anglicanis He died May 12. 1275. 44. Thomas Cantilupe was a gentleman of a very 〈◊〉 and auncient house but of a much more noble and excellent mind being not only maruailous witty but euer from a 〈◊〉 very studious and painefull very harmelesse and vertuously giuen He was brought vp in the vniuersity of Oxford where he procéeded first Master of Art then studied the Cannon 〈◊〉 and as it seemeth procéeded Doctor of Law 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is and without all question that he procéeded Doctor of 〈◊〉 the yéere 1273. Robert Kilwardby with whome he was very familiarly acquainted was then Prouinciall of the 〈◊〉 Preachers and Doctor of the Chaire in Oxford when he was presented but before the time came he should stand in the 〈◊〉 the said Doctor Kilwardby was become Archbishop of Canterbury That notwithstanding he 〈◊〉 this his old friend that honour as to make a iourney downe to the vniuersity of purpose and there being Archbishop to 〈◊〉 him the ceremonies of his creation And it is reported moreouer that amongst many other praises he gaue him in his oration he signified that hauing bene long his Confessor he neuer 〈◊〉 him guilty of any mortall sinne Omnis 〈◊〉 mendax Either the Confessor or the Confessée or the reporter lied I doubt not He was consecrate Bishop of Hereford September 8. 1275. being then Archdeacon of Stafford and Chauncellor of England The yéere 1282. he was faine to trauaile to Rome about a controuersy betweene him and Iohn Peckham Archbishop of Canterbury In the way thether he died at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 August 25. 1282. His body was brought to Hereford and there solempnly enterred néere the East wall of the North crosse I le where we see a high toombe of marble Many miracles are said to haue beene wrought at the place of his buriall in regard whereof it pleased the Pope afterwards to make him a Saint and all the Bishops of Hereford
vnto Dauid a disciple of his He died and was buried in the Isle of Enlhi now called Bardsey where he lead a solitary life many yeeres Nouember 14. ann 612. His bones were afterwards remooued to Landaff by 〈◊〉 Bishop there May 7. 1120. 1. Saint Dauid DAuid before named was vncle vnto king Arthur 〈◊〉 son of Xantus a Prince of Wales begotten vpon one Melearia a Nunne A man very learned eloquent 〈◊〉 incredible austerity of life and conuersation He was also very tall of stature and of a comely personage By his diligence 〈◊〉 was quite rooted out and many earnest professors of the same conuerted vnto the truth With the consent of king Arthur he remooued his Sée from Caerlegion to 〈◊〉 which euer since of him is called of the Welch Twy Dewi and of vs Saint Dauids A place neither pleasant fertile or 〈◊〉 For as Giraldus Cambr. reporteth of it it is neither furnished with wood watered with riuers beautified with medowes nor inriched with any kind of fruitfull 〈◊〉 affoording plentifully nothing but rockes and barren hils vehement winds and tempests and lastly the dangers and iniuries whereunto solitary places néere the Sea are subiect by Pyrates and otherwise It séemeth he 〈◊〉 the frequency of people at 〈◊〉 as a meanes to withdraw him from contemplation whereunto that he might be more free he made choice of this place for his Sée rather then for any fitnesse of the same otherwise He sate long to witte 65. yéeres and died at last ann 642. hauing first built 12. Monasteries in the Countrey thereabout being now 146. yéeres of age as Bale out of the British histories reporteth He was buried in his owne Cathedrall Church and many hundreth yéeres after Canonised a Saint by Pope Calixtus the second Many things are reported of him incredible therefore not worth rehearsing although I doubt not but God affoorded many miracles to the first infancy of our Church neither therefore would I be so peremptory in derogating too much from such reports as we sée no reason why they may not be true Of him they say that his birth was foretold 〈◊〉 yéeres before hand that he was alwaies attended by an Angell that kept him company that he bestowed vpon the waters at 〈◊〉 that extraordinary heate they haue and to repeat no more for this is much more then any discrete man will beléeue that vpon a time preaching to a great multitude of people at Breuy the plaine ground grew vp in their sight and increased vnder his féete vnto a pretty hillocke After Saint Dauidsate successiuely these as Giraldus setteth them downe 2. Cenanc 3. Eliud or Teilau 4. Ceneu 5. Morwal 6. Haerunen or Haernurier 7. Elwaed 8. Gurnuen 9. Lendiuord 10. Gorwyst 11. Gorgan 12. Cledaue 13. Anian 14. Eluoed 15. Ethelmen 16. Elanc 17. Malscoed 18. Sadermen 19. Catellus 20. Sulhaithnay 21. Nonis 22. Etwall 23. Asser. 24. Arthuael Acertaine antiquity belonging vnto the Church of Saint Dauid reporteth a Catalogue somewhat different from this of Giraldus to wit this that followeth 1. Saint Dauid 2. Eliud 3. Theliaus 4. Kenea 5. Morwal 6. Haernurier 7. Eluaeth 8. Gurnel 9. Lendywyth 10. Gorwist 11. Gorgan 12. Cledaucke 13. Eynaen 14. Eludgeth 15. Eldunen 16. Eluaeth 17. Maelsehwyth 18. Madenew 19. Catulus 20. Syluay 21. Namys 22. Sathueney 23. Doythwall 24. Asser. 25. Athuael 26. Sampson Of these forenamed Bishops vntill Sampson there 〈◊〉 no memoriall but their names onely In his time the Sée of Saint Dauid had seuen Bishops Suffragans 〈◊〉 vnto it as the foresaid antiquity declareth to wit Exceter Bathe Hereford Landaff Bangor Saint Assaph Fernes in Ireland While he was Bishop it happened the people of all that countrey were woonderfully vexed with the Iaundise so as great numbers of them died daily of that disease By the 〈◊〉 of his cleargy and disciples he was induced to fly the countrey and sayled into Britaine where the Bishopricke of Dola being void he was straight way 〈◊〉 vnto the same He had brought thither with him the Archiepiscopall pall of Saint Dauid and vsed it during his life as did also his successors for many yéeres vntill they were 〈◊〉 by the Pope atthe suite of the Archbishop of 〈◊〉 to leaue it and make profession of obedience vnto him 〈◊〉 former times By this occasion it fell out that she successors of Sampson in Saint Dauids what for want of their pall or for pouerty or negligence or by some other occasion lost their title of Archbishop and to this day neuer recouered the same Howbeit they vsed all authority belonging to an Archbishop by consecrating of other Bishops c. Neither euer did they make profession of subiection vnto Canterbury vntil the time of Henry the 1. king of England whereof we shal speak more hereafter After Sampson succeeded these 26. Rucline 27. Rodherch 28. Elguin 29. Lunuerd or Lywarch 30. Nergu or Vergw 31. 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 32. Eneuris 33. Morgeneu This man saith Giraldus of all the Bishops of S. Dauids presumed first to eate flesh which none of them had euer done before him For punishment of which haynous offence he supposeth it fel out that afterwards he was murthered of Pirates reporting withall how that after his death he appoored to a Bishop in Ireland vsing these words Quia carnes comedi caro factus sum For eating of flesh I am now become nothing but flesh 34. 〈◊〉 35. Ieuan He continued Bishop one onely night 36. Argustell 37. Morgenueth 38. Eruyn or Hernnn a godly and learned man died an 1038. 39. Trameriu or Carmerin 40. Ioseph 41. Bleithud He died the 〈◊〉 1070. 42. Sulghein He for sooke his Bishopricke the yéere 1076. 43. Abraham The yere 1078. or therabout S. 〈◊〉 was spoyled and destroyed by strangers and Abraham the Bishop what through 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was constrained to 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 notwithstanding he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about the 〈◊〉 1085. and 1088. died being 80. yéeres of age the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 man and the greatest Clerke in al 〈◊〉 so saith the 〈◊〉 Chronicle of him 44. After him a sonne of his called Rythmarch succéeded as the Chronicle of Wales deliuereth and died about the yéere 1100. the godliest wisest and greatest Clerks that had beene heere in 〈◊〉 many yeeres before sauing his father saith the Chronicle who had brought him vp and a great number of learned disciples 45. Wylfred He died the yéere 1115. It séemeth the 〈◊〉 Chronicle calleth him Griffri 46. Bernard a Norman Chaplaine vnto king Henry the first and Chauncellour to his Queene was 〈◊〉 by the Archbishop of Canterbury July 12. 1115. not 〈◊〉 by the Clergie of Wales as hitherto had béene 〈◊〉 but forced vpon them by the king that had then newly conquered Wales This man being in great 〈◊〉 with the king and 〈◊〉 vpon the goodnesse of his 〈◊〉 beg in to take on him the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and caused his 〈◊〉 somtimes in Wales to be 〈◊〉 before him After long 〈◊〉 and
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
cogitation falling a sléepe it séemed vnto him he sawe Saint Peter crowning yoong Prince Edward that liued in exile at that time in Normandy and furthermore to shew how he should raigne 24. yéers and die at the last without issue This Bishop then as he thought asked him who should raigne next whereunto this answere was made The Kingdome of England is Gods Kingdome and he shall prouide a King for it This dreame reported by very Auncient writers and falling out iust according to the prediction may be an example vnto vs not altogether to neglect and despise the admonition of dreames which often fall out strangely This Bishop whether Brithwold or Ethelwold died the yéere 1015. 32. Elsinus or Eadsinus ELsinus or Ealsinus otherwise called Eadsinus was first Chaplaine vnto King Harald and by him preferred to the Bishopricke of Winchester from whence the yéere 1038. he was translated to Canterbury sée more of him in Cant. 33. Alwynus HE was of very great authority with Emma the kings mother that fauoured him so much as many suspected them for liuing ill together Robert the Archbishop of Canterbury acquainted the king with this rumor Whereupon the king presently imprisoned Alwyn and dealt little better with his mother with whom also he was otherwise offended for allowing him so scantly in time of his minority She séemed to purge her selfe by miracle offring to walke vpon nine plow shares red hotte to prooue her innocency which shée is said to haue performed and so was restored to the fauour of her sonne againe Alwyn also was set at liberty and Robert the Archbishop their accuser whether for shame or feare I cannot tell was glad to get him out of the realme What else is to be deliuered of this Bishop this his Epitaphe containeth Hic iacet Alwyni corpus qui munera nobis Contulit egregia 〈◊〉 Christe rogamus Obijt anno 1047. He lieth entoombed vpon the North wall of the Presbytery in Winchester with 〈◊〉 of his predecessors before mentioned Sée more of him in Robert Archbishop of Canter bury 34. Stigandus HE was chaplaine vnto Edward the Confessor and by him preferred to the Bishopricke of Elmham whence that Sée was shortly remooued to Norwich 1043. In the short time he staied there not past fower yéeres he had much adoo with one Grinketell that by money found meanes to cast out Stigand and placed himselfe He could not kéepe his hold long For Stigand quietly recouered it againe and held it till that the yéere 1047. he was translated to Winchester from whence also he was remooued to Canterbury in the yéere 1052. But whether he 〈◊〉 his title to Canterbury Robert the former Archbishop being yet aliue or whether insatiable couetousnes prouoked him thereunto I can not tell he retained still Winchester notwithstanding his preferment to Canterbury which was the cause of his vndoing at last For the Conqueror who came into this realme while he was Archbishop being desirous to place his owne countrey men in all roomes of speciall authority and besides hauing a priuate grudge at Stigand for forcing him to yéeld Kentish men their ancient liberties whereof sée more in Canterbury procured him to be depriued of both his Bishopricks vpon this point that he had contrary to the lawe held them both together He lieth intoombed at Winchester with Wyni the first Bishop inclosed as it séemeth to me with him in the same coffin vpon the North side thereof is written Hiciacet Stigandus Archiepiscopus He was depriued an 1069. and died a prisoner in the castle of Winchester soone after 35. Walkelyn SOone after the depriuation of Stigand Walkelyn a chaplaine of the kings was consecrate Bishop of Winchester viz. an 1070. He fauoured not monkes but displaced them where he might and put in secular priests in their roomes He died Ianuary 3. 1097. So he continued Bishop 27 yéeres In his time to wit the yéere 1079. the Cathedrall church of Winchester that now standeth began first to be built 36. William Giffard AT this time lay Princes euery where tooke vpon them to bestowe Bishoprickes giuing inuestiture and possession of them by deliuering the ring and the crosier Pope Gregory the seuenth first withstood Henry the Emperour in this case and made him at last glad to yéeld vnto canonicall elections King Henry the first taking vnto himselfe the like authority placed diuers of his chaplaines in Bishoprickes without election commanding the Archbishop to consecrate them Amongst diuers other he appointed this William Giffard Bishop of Winchester and required Anselme the Archbishop to consecrate him Anselme vtterly denied to afford consecration either vnto him or any other in the like case The king sent then vnto Girard Archbishop of Yorke whom he found nothing strange But Giffard saith Matthew Westminster timens rigorem Sancti Anselm spernit consecrationem eius stood so much in awe of Saint Anselme as he durst not but reiect the offer of the others consecration The king angry hitherto with the Archbishop onely was now much more incensed against this Giffard and in great displeasure banished him the realme In the ende the king and the Archbishop grew to this agréement that the gifts of the king already passed should be ratified and his clerkes nominated to Bishoprickes haue consecration vpon promise that hereafter he should not disturbe canonicall elections and vtterly renounce his pretended priuiledge So after much adoo he was consecrate together with diuers other an 1107. He sate 21. yéeres and dying Ianuary 25. 1128. was buried at Winchester in his owne church howbeit I sée no memoriall of him there at all 37. Henry de Bloys THis man was brother vnto king Stephen first Abbot of Bermondsey then of Glastonbury and Nouember 17. 1129. consecrated Bishop of Winchester yet not preferred to these places for fauour onely and regard of his nobility for he was very learned He writ many things both in prose and verse if Bale say true and amongst the rest one booke extant conteining an history of the finding of king Arthurs bones in the abbey of Glastonbury at what time himselfe was Abbot and a speciall dooer in that action If in all the stures and contentions betwixt his brother and Maud the Empresse concerning the kingdome he stucke close vnto his brother it is no great maruaile Yet true it is that his brother being taken prisoner by the Empresse ann 1141. he accursed and excommunicate all those that stoode against her whom no man doubted to be the true inheretrice of the crowne By his meanes notwithstanding his brother recocouered quickly his liberty and kingdome In the meane time the Empresse being iealous of the Bishop came sodainly to Winchester and the Bishop doubting her comming to be to no other end but to surprise him went out at one gate as she entred at another Within a fewe daies hauing gotten force about him he returned to Winchester in an vnhappy houre For whether by his direction or no it is not certaine but by
Edward the first 〈◊〉 prince that wanted neither wit to deuise nor courage to 〈◊〉 cute such an exploit and to lay the fault vpon another at last Yet likely inough it is that such a fault stamped vpon him how vndeseruedly soeuer might barre him out of the 〈◊〉 Calender who otherwise was not woont to be ouer dainty 〈◊〉 affoording that kind of honour where fees might be 〈◊〉 paid in for it He sate ten yeeres and lieth entoombed in 〈◊〉 South wall néere the Cloister doore In this mans time the Chapter house was built by the contribution of well disposed people a stately and sumptuous worke 28. Walter Haselshaw VVAlter Haselshaw first Deane then Bishop 〈◊〉 Welles sate ten yeeres and lieth buried vnder a huge marble in the body of the church toward the North almost ouer against the pulpit He made many statutes 29. Iohn Drokensford IOhn Drokensford kéeper of the kings Ward-robe succéeded Following the steps of his predecessor 〈◊〉 he bestowed somewhat in increasing the buildings and liberties of his See but much more vpon his 〈◊〉 He had much contention with his Chapter the story whereof is to be seene in the 〈◊〉 booke sate 19. yeeres and lieth buried vnder a reasonable saemcly toombe of free stone in the chappell of Saint Batherme which is vpon the right hand going toward the Lady chappell 30. Ralfc of Shrewsbury VVIth one cōsent of the chapter of Wels the couent of Bathe 〈◊〉 of Shrewsbury was then elected dared to be consecrate a great venture in those daies before the 〈◊〉 had allowed of him His approbation saith 〈◊〉 cost him at last a huge summe of money This man is famous for the first foundation of our 〈◊〉 close in Wels. The memory of which benefit is to be seene erpressed in a 〈◊〉 vpon the wal at the foot of the hall staires In 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to request the Bishop in these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about the 〈◊〉 we humbly pray Together through 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dwell we may He answereth them thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For your 〈◊〉 deserts do plead I will do that you craue To this purpose established here dwellings shall you haue This picture being now almost worne out at what time of late yeeres the 〈◊〉 by the gratious fauour of her Maiesty had their reuenues confirmed to them being in danger to be spoyled of them by certaine sacrilegious cormorants they likewise caused a picture of excellent workmanship to be drawen 〈◊〉 a memoriall of both the one and the other These buildings being erected toward the maintenance of some hospitality in them he gaue vnto that new Colledge the mannor of 〈◊〉 and allotted them twenty nobles yerely to be paid out of the vicarage of Chew He built moreouer a house for the Queristers and their master He built likewise the church of Winscomb and the court house at Clauerton a great chamber at Cuercrich and much other 〈◊〉 in other of his houses His pallace of Welles he inclosed with an excéeding strong wall and a large mote into which he 〈◊〉 the riuer running hard by He gaue vnto his church 〈◊〉 things of which nothing now remaineth I thinke but a great chest bound with iron in which the Chapter seale is kept Lastly it is to be remembred that with great 〈◊〉 he procured the forest of 〈◊〉 to be disparked Hauing performed these and many other things deseruing perpetual 〈◊〉 he departed this life at Wiuelescomb Aug. 14. 1363. hauing continued Bishop 34. yéeres His body was buried before the high altar vnder a goodly monument of Alabaster compassed about with grates of yron About a 60. yéeres since for what cause I know not it was remooued to the 〈◊〉 side of the presbytery but lost his grates by the way The image of Alabaster that lieth vpon it is said to be very like him 31. Iohn Barnet IOhn Barnet remooued from Worcester succéeded him sate two yéeres and was translated to Ely Sée Ely 32. Iohn Harewell EDward surnamed the Blacke Prince obtayned then of the Pope this Bishopricke for Iohn Harewell a chaplaine of his that was Chauncellour of Gascoigne 〈◊〉 was consecrate at Burdeaur March 7. 1366. by the Archbishop there He contributed the third penny toward the building of the Southwest tower at the ende of the church the Chapter bearing the rest of the charge He paid 100. markes for glasing the window at the West ende of the church 〈◊〉 gaue two great bels the bigest of which being cast fower times since I was of this church now at last serueth for 〈◊〉 greatest of a ring the goodliest for that number being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I thinke in England He died in the moneth of June 1386. hauing sate 19. yéeres and was interred ouer 〈◊〉 Burwold where we sée a toombe of alabaster that séemeth to haue béene a sumptuous piece of worke but is now much defaced 33. Walter Skirlaw VVAlter Skirlaw was translated from Lichfield hether and after two yeeres from hence to Durham See Durham 34. Ralfe Erghum RAlfe Erghum Doctor oslawe was consecrate Bishop of Salisbury at Bruges in Flanders December 9. 1375. From thence he was translated 〈◊〉 September 14. 1388. died Aprill 10. 1401. He impropred to the chapter of Welles the parsonage of Puklechurch and gaue vnto them a certaine house called the George beside certaine plate and church ornaments to the value 140 l. Moreouer he built a colledge at Welles for fowerteene priests at the ende of the lane now called Colledge-lane He lieth buried in the body of the church vpon the North side of that chappell that ioyneth to the great pulpit 35. Henry Bowet THe Bishopricke so void was conferred by the Pope vpon Richard Clifford Archdeacon of Canterbury who being denied his temporalties by the king was faine notwithstanding the Popes prouisory Bulles to giue place vnto Henry Bowet Doctor of law and Canon of Welles that with the kings fauour was lawfully elect thereunto Sée more hereof in Richard Clifford of London To Welles he was consecrate Nouemb. 16. 1401. in Saint Paules church in London the king and all the Nobility being present and was translated to Yorke December 1. 1407. See Yorke 36. Nicolas Bubwith NIcolas Bubwith being Bishop of London and Treasurer of England left both those places for Salisbury which also he was content to forsake to accept Welles within the compasse of one yéere after he was first consecrate to London This man being at the Counsell of Constance was appointed one of those thirty persons that were ioyned with the 〈◊〉 in the election of Pope Martin the fifth He built 〈◊〉 almeshouse vpon the North side of Saint Cuthberts church endowing it with good possessions for the reliefe of many 〈◊〉 persons They were much increased afterwards by 〈◊〉 Storthwayth somewhat also by Bishop Bourne and other So that now it maintaineth 24. poore people He 〈◊〉 vnto our church the parsonage of Bucklaud Abbatis He