〈◊〉 was all that countrey which now belongeth vnto the Bishops of Winchester Lincolne Salisbury Oxford Bristow Wels Lichfield 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 and he notwithstanding that he gouerned also the Mercians or Saxons of Mid-England who for a while had not any Bishop peculiar vnto themselues he I say 〈◊〉 called the Bishop of the West Saxons Birinus was the first Bishop of this so large a territory Of him sée more in Winchester The second was Agilbert a French man In his time Kenwalchus king of the West Saxons caused this huge 〈◊〉 to be diuided into two parts the one of which he left vnto Agilbert vnto the other he caused one Wina to be consecrate appointing Winchester to be his Sée and all the West countrey his iurisdiction After Agilbert there was no other Bishop of Dorchester a long time He departing into France Wina and his successors Bishops of Winchester gouerned that Sée also or part of it at least For it happened not long after that Oswy king of Mercia erected an Episcopall 〈◊〉 at Lichfield and placed one Diuma in the same He had all Mid-England for his Dioces so had sixe or seuen of his successors butill the yéere 678. at what time a Bishop was 〈◊〉 at Sidnacester one Eadhead He dying within one yéere Ethelwine succéeded Then these Edgar Kinebert Beda calleth him Embert and acknowledgeth himselfe much holpen by him in the 〈◊〉 of his Ecclesiasticall historie He dyed 733. 733. Alwigh 751. Ealdulf he died ann 764. 764. Ceolulf he died 787. 787. Ealdulf After Ealdulf the Sée continued void many yéeres The yéere 872. Brightred became Bishop In the meane time viz. the yéere 737. another Sée was erected at Legecester now called Leicester but soone after remooued to Dorchester and one Tota made Bishop there Then these Edbertus consecrate ann 764. Werenbert He died 768. Vuwona suceeded him as hath Florilegus Other put him before Werenbert He liued ann 806. 〈◊〉 He died 851. Aldred consecrate 861. or rather as Matth. West reporteth ann 851. The yéere 873. he was depriued of his Bishopricke 〈◊〉 consecrate 873. Halard by king Alfred appointed one of the Guardians of the realme to defend it against the irruption of the Danes ann 897. Kenulfus or rather 〈◊〉 consecrate ann 905. together with sixe other Bishops by 〈◊〉 the Archbishop 〈◊〉 vnto him the Dioces of Sidnamcester was also committed which had now continued void almost fourscore yéeres and his See for both established againe at Dorchester He was a great benefactor to the Abbey Ramsey and died the yéere 959. Ailnoth consecrate 960. 〈◊〉 or Aeswy 〈◊〉 Eadnoth slaine by the Danes in battell 1016. Eadheric he died 1034. and was buried at Ramsey Eadnoth He built the Church of our Lady in Stowe and died the yéere 1050. Vlf. He was a Norman brought into England by Emma the Quéene of king Ethelred sister to Richard Duke of Normandy She commended him vnto her sonne Saint Edward and found meanes vpon the death of Eadnoth to aduaunce him though a man very vnlearned vnto this Bishopricke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1052. He and all the 〈◊〉 that through the 〈◊〉 of Quéene Emma possessed the chiefe places of 〈◊〉 in all the realme were compelled to depart the land This man amongst the rest going to the Councell of Uercels to complaine vnto the Pope of his wrongfull vanishment 〈◊〉 farre soorth bewrayed his owne weakenesse and insufficiency as the Pope was determined to haue displaced him 〈◊〉 his Bishoprick vntill with giftes and golden eloquence 〈◊〉 perswaded him to winke at his imperfections It seemeth 〈◊〉 died the yéere following 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 was consecrate the yéere 1053. 〈◊〉 1067. and was buried in his Cathedrall Church of Dor chester 1. Remingius de Feschamp THe last Bishop of Dorchester and first of Lincolne was 〈◊〉 a monke of Feschamp that as Bale noseth was the sonne of a priest Unto this man William the Conquerour for diuers good seruices done vnto him had promised long before a Bishopricke in England 〈◊〉 it should please God to send him 〈◊〉 He was as good as his word and the yéere 1070. preferred him to Dorchester voide by the death of the former Bishop The consideration of this gift comming to the Popes eare he woulde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it symony and as a 〈◊〉 actually depriued him of his Bishopricke But at the request of Lanfrank the Archbishop of Canterbury he restored him to his ring and crosyer againe Soone after his first preferment he began to build at Dorchester and intended great matters there But order being taken in a Conuocation at London by the kings procurement that Episcopall sées euery where should be remoued from obscure townes to greater cities he diuerted the course of his liberality from Dorchester to Lincolne Lincolne at that time saith William Malmsburie was one of the most populous cities of England of great resort and traffique both by sea and land Remigius therefore thinking it a fit place for a Cathedrall church bought certaine ground vpon the top of the hill neere the castle then lately built by William the conquerour and began the foundation of a goodly church The Archbishop of Yorke endcuoured to hinder the execution of this worthie designement by laying challenge to the iurisdiction of that country This allegation though friuolous was a meane of some charge vnto the Bishop who not without gifts was faine to worke the king to be a meanes of cleering that title 〈◊〉 fabrike of the church being now finished and 21. prebends founded in the same al which he furnished with Incumbents very wel esteemed of both for learning and conuersation He made great prouision for the dedication of this his new church procuring all the Bishops of England by the kings authoritie to be summoned thereunto The rest came at the time appointed which was May 9. 1092. Onely Robert Bishop of Hereford absented him selfe foreseeing by his skill in Astrology as Bale and other affirme that Remigius could not liue vnto the day prefixed which also he foretold long before It fell out according vnto his prediction that 〈◊〉 died two daies before the time appointed for this great solemnity He was buried in that his owne new built church This Remigius was a man though of so high and noble a mind yet so vnreasonable low of stature as hardly hée might attaine vnto the pitch and reputation of a dwarfe So as it séemed nature had framed him in that sort to shew how possible it was that an excellent mind might dwell in a deformed and miserable body Besides this worthy foundation at Lincoln he reedified the church and Abbey at 〈◊〉 as also the Abbey of Bardney By his perswasion king William the conquerour erected the Abbeyes of Cane in Normandy and Battell in Susser vpon the very place where he had ouerthrowne king Harold in battell and so made a passage vnto the conquest of the whole 〈◊〉 The superstitious and credulous posterity ascribe diuers miracles vnto the holinesse of this Bishop wrought not in his
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
age bringeth forth lesse plenty of learned men then other amongst vs And it is much to befeared least our posterity will too truely say AEtas parentum peior Auis tulit Nos rudiores mox daturos Progeniem ineruditiosam To make no mention of such other reasons as might induce me to the publishing of these noses least I make my porch larger then some principall roomes of my intended building I thinke it necessary now to admonish the Reader that he expect not any ample discourse of the liues and actions of the Bishops of our owne time or neere vnto it I hane purposly auoyded to set downe any thing of them but what either I finde written by other or elseremayneth to be secne in publike record And this course I haue taken because I iudge it neither seemely to praise nor safe to reprehend how iustly soeuer those men that either by themselues their neere friends or posterity yet liuing may seeme either to haue allured me to flatter or feared me from disclosing that truth which otherwise I would haue vttered Neither do I thinke it needefull to say much of them who being either present in action or fresh in memory are sufficiently knowen vnto vs. Whereas moreouer I haue passed ouer in silence some two Sees you shal vnder stand that I haue beene forced there 〈◊〉 for want of some necessary instructions which by reason of the far distance of my place of dwelling from them I haue not had meanes to attayne although I haue endeuoured the same I would therefore earnestly pray all men that can to yeeld me helpe for the supplying of whatsoeuer may seeme to be wanting either in those Sees or any other I shall take it very thankfully at their hands In the meane time this which now I am able to affoord vnto you I wish it may be taken in good part and God grant it may in some measure prooue a meanes of the aduauncement of his glory and the good of his Church Amen The Archbishops of Canterbury 1. Augustine IT is very certaine and witnessed by many histories without exception that our Island of Britayne receiued the faith of Christ euen in the first infancie of the Church Theodoret and Sophronius Patriarke of Jerusalem affirme that Saint Paul himselfe was héere and preached the Gospell after his first imprisonment at Rome Nicephorus and some other report that Simon Zelotes came hither and was the first messenger of the glad tidings of the Gospell to our nation But it is deliuered by one consent that Saint Philip the Apostle of the Frenchmen vnderstanding how this Island from whence first sprong the superstitious religion of the Druydes was seperated from Fraunce by a small cut of a fewe houres saile thought good to send ouer hither twelue preachers the chiefe whereof was Ioseph of Arimathia that buried the bodie of our Sauiour Christ. These men arriuing héere the yéere of our Lord 63. did their best indeuour for the conuersion of our Britaines It pleased not God they shoulde preuaile with the king who in no wise would be woone from the superstition of the Druydes But of the meaner sort of people many there were that hearkened vnto them yea the king himselfe admiring their great modestie painfulnes and vertuous behauiour was content to assigne them a place of habitation where Glastonbury now standeth which was at that time and long after an Island all compassed about with lakes and standing water And another king gaue vnto euery of those twelue a hide of lande in the countrey néere adioyning which are named to this day the twelue hides of Glastonbury In this Island of Glastonbury then called Auallon Ioseph and his fellowes found meanes to build a church which after they were dead stoode desolate the whole Island being forsaken and remaining without any inhabitant many yéeres euen vntill the time of king Lucius which was about the yéere of Christ 180. It hapned then a lawe héeretofore made by Claudius Caesar as Suetonius reporteth in his life was now generally put in execution by the Romaines who ruled all this end of the world commanding that the superstitious religion of the Druydes should euery where be abolished The pulling vp of these wéedes gaue good occasion vnto the séede of the Gospell sowed long before by the preachers afore mentioned now to spring and bring foorth fruite whereunto God gaue so good increase as Lucius the king himselfe was content to put on the swéete yoke of our Sauiour which that it might be the better and the more fruitfully performed he sent Eluan a notable impe and disciple of that holy College at Auallon and Medwyin a Dutch man that were the instruments of his conuersion vnto Eleutherius the bishop of Rome requesting that he would send other preachers vnto his realme by whom he and his people might be further instructed in the way of truth He satisfied his demaund and sent vnto him two notable men 〈◊〉 and Phaganus by whose paines and industrie chiefly the whole realme was finally conuerted They sought out the ancient church at Glastonbury repaired the same and dwelled there for the space of nine yéeres after Now king Lucius being himselfe Baptised and many of his people in all parts of his dominions he caused the temples of his false gods to be dedicate to the seruice of the true God in the place of their priests he appointed preachers of the Gospel and for their Flamines Bishops to the number of 28. Of these 28. thrée were Archbishops one at London whose prouince was the south part of England Another at Caerlegion vpon Uske his prouince was Wales And a third at Yorke vnto whose iurisdiction the Bishops of Scotland and North England were subiect The Gospell hauing taken such déepe roote héere flourished a while very prosperously And albeit it were often lopped and pruned afterward yea the very maine rootes mightily strucken at by the violent indeuour of sundry tyrants that sought vtterly to destroy and abolish the same out of this land yet had it euer many constant and open professors that neuer suffred the light thereof vtterly to be extinguished Amongst manie the most terrible persecution that euer this church sustained was by the Saxons who expelled not onely Christian religion but the followers of the same into a corner of this Island Howbeit euen amongst these very barbarous Saxons there were diuers from time to time that professed Christ But our countrey being in a manner all growen ouer with Pagamsme for there was no publike allowance of Christian religion any where but in Wales it pleased God to giue this occasion of replanting the same héere againe It chanced that blessed and holy father Saint Gregory one day to espie certaine beautifull children to be sold in the stréetes of Rome and vnderstanding they were Pagans asked of what countrey they were It was answered they were Angles well may they be so called quoth he for they looke like Angels Demaunding them of what prouince
this order that if any cathedrall Church continued voide aboue sixe monethes it should be lawfull for the Archbishop to conferre it where he list as well as any smaller benefice The procuring of this order cost him a great sum of mony Yet no sooner was his backe turned but the Pope at the kings request reuoked the same Being thus continually vexed thwarted and disgraced he departed into voluntary exile and there bewailing the misery of his countrey spoyled and wasted by the tyranny of the Pope spent the rest of his life in continuall teares Through extreme gréefe and sorrow or as some thinke too much 〈◊〉 he fell first into a consumption and after into a strange kinde of ague Whereupon he thought good to remooue from the Abbey of Pontiniac in Fraunce where he had laien euer since his comming out of England vnto Soissy and there departed this life Nouember 16. 1236. eight yéeres after his first consecration His hart and entrailes were buried at Soissy his body at Pontiniac Within sixe yéeres after his death he was Canonised a Saint by Innocentius who appointed the foresaid day of his death for euer to be kept holy in memory of him Lewes the French king caused his body to be translated to a more honorable place then it was first laid in and bestowed a sumptuous shryne vpon him couered with golde and siluer and richly adorned with many precious stones 46. Boniface THe monks of Canterbury at the instance of the king elected vnto the Archbishopricke Boniface the sonne of Peter Earle of Sauoy and vncle vnto the Quéene a man not greatly to be commended for any thing but the nobility of his stocke and the comelinesse of his person For in other respects he was thought vtterly vnfit and vnwoorthy of that place The king therefore doubting least the Pope would reiect him caused in a manner all the Bishops and Abbots of England to write their letters commendatory in his behalfe and so sent him to Lyons where he quickly obtained consecration at the Popes owne hands At his first entrance into this Sée he found the same indebted by the ouerlashing of his predecessors to the value of 22. thousand marks which he tooke for an occasion of both absenting himselfe from his charge and also of raking money togither by all kinde of meanes Departing therefore into his owne country by felling of woods making leases and other such like meanes he made an infinite deale of money promising to imploy the same and whatsoeuer he could saue by liuing priuately at home in the payment of his churches debt By the same pretence also he induced the Pope to graunt him in Commendam the Bishopricke of Ualentia in Prouence and diuers other spirituall promotions But he gaue himselfe to warring and spent all he could make in hyring of soldiers When therefore notwithstanding all these helpes the debt was neuer the lesse he was glad by bribing the Pope with a great summe of money to procure of him a graunt of the profite of all spirituall preferments that should be void within his prouince for the space of seuen yéeres The king a while spurned at this graunt but in the end halfe for feare of the Pope of whom he stood in great awe and partly by sute and intercession he ratified and allowed of the same Hauing béene many yéeres absent he returned into England the yéere 1250. and tooke vpon him to visite all his Prouince in some extraordinarie manner All men knew it was rather to make mony then for any desire of reformation and that caused it to be taken the more odiously He began first with his owne Dioces which he so hampered with straight vnreasonable orders such as he knew men would rather buy out then endure to obserue that euery one said the monks of Canterbury were 〈◊〉 iustly rewarded for their folly in electing an vnlearned stranger that was more fit and likely to make a souldier then an Archbishop a great deale Comming then to London he tooke a small occasion to deface the Bishop there with 〈◊〉 and reprochfull spéeches and being resisted by the Deane and Chapter of Paules who had appealed from his 〈◊〉 to the Pope he made no more adoo but excommunicated them euery one Going the next day about the same businesse to the Priory of Saint Bartholomewes in Smythfield he was met very honorably by the Subprior and all the Conent in their coapes Telling them by and by he came to visite them one of the company answered him reuerently he was very welcome vnto them but they were sory he came for that purpose wherein they must disappoint him They knew their Bishop whose onely office it was to be a very sufficient man for his place and so long they must not entertaine the 〈◊〉 of any other This answere though gentle inough so enraged this lusty Archbishop as not being able to containe his anger within any bounds of discretion he ranne violently not to him that had spoken but to the Sub-prior that was next him strucke the poore old man downe to the ground kicked him beate and buffeted him pitifully tore his coape from his backe rent it into a number of péeces and when he had done stamped vpon it like a madde man In this conflict it hapned the Archbishop to stumble and fal backward by meanes whereof his apparell loosening in any perceaued a priuy coate vnder the same His seruitors and attendants taking example of their Lord gaue much like intertainment to the rest of the monks as he had giuen to the Sub-prior By this time the Londoners were vp and taking the matter very 〈◊〉 in the behalfe of their Bishop whom this iniury did originally concerne laid such wait for the Archbishop as with much adoo he stole secretly to the Thames side and was conueied by a wherry prouided for him to Lambhith If they could 〈◊〉 met with him they had surely hewen him into 1000. péeces He was no sooner come home but he thundred out his excommunications against not onely the whole Couent of Saint Bartholomew but the Bishop of London also as a fauourer of theirs They all agreeing togither determined to send the Deane of Paules a graue and wise man to Rome and by the letters of certaine Bishops they knew the Pope would credite to aduertise him of this strange disorder The Archbishop vnderstanding heereof followed thither apace and entred Rome with great pompe nothing 〈◊〉 but the King and Quéenes letters which he had brought his nobility and great linage or if all failed his purse should beare him out in this matter well inough But vnderstanding how odiously it was taken by all that heard it how hardly the Pope was informed against him he fell to intreatie of his aduersaries the Deane of Paules and the rest whom partly by faire promises and partly by threates at last he subdued and made them content to stay their complaint That matter being so ended he dealt earnestly with the
Northumberland was present at what time Kinigilsus receiued this Sacrament and was his Godfather being afterwards to become his sonne by the mariage of his daughter These two Kings appointed vnto Birnius the City of Dorchester for his Cathedrall Sée where spending his time in preaching aud other pastorall offices not without great an inestimable profit he died about the yeere 650. 15. yéeres after his first comming into this Countrey was buried there in his owne Church 2. Agilbertus IN the meane time it had fallen out that Kinigilsus dying kenwalchus his sonne raigned in his stéede who refusing the offer of the kingdome of heauen by refusing Christ lost also soone after his earthly kingdome He had maried the daughter of Penda king of Mercia or Mid-England vpon what occasion I know not putting her away married another For this cause Penda tooke armes against him and forced him out of his kingdome Then for succour he fled vnto Anna king of Esser a good man and very religious in whose court he liued the space of thrée yéeres and there was first brought vnto the faith of Christ. By the helpe of this good Prince he also was restored to his kingdome againe His father had pulled downe the temple of Dagon and begun the building of a very faire church in Winchester but was taken away by death before he could finish it and for maintenance of the ministers of the same had alotted al the countrey round about within seuen mile of the city This building Kenwalchus finished and not onely ratified the foresaid gift of his father but also himselfe bestowed vpon the same church the mannours of Downton Alresford and Wordiam Soone after the conuersion of Kenwalchus one Agilbertus a Frenchman borne that had spent a great time in Ireland in preaching the Gospell there came into this countrey ann 650. and of his owne accord tooke great paines in instructing the people The king being giuen to vnderstaud of his learning and painefulnesse prayed him to accept the pastorall charge of his Countrey whereunto he agréed and continued in the same a long time 3. Wina AT last it came to passe that the King misliking his spéech and vtterance as not being able to deliuer his minde but in broken and very bad English caused an other 〈◊〉 to be ordained one Wina a French man likewise but one that could speake very good English and diuiding his Countrey into two parts alotted the one vnto Agilbert who held his Episcopall Sée as before is said at Dorchester And the other vnto this same Wini appointing vnto him for his Sée the City of Winchester This matter Agilbert taking very grieuously the rather for that it was done altogether without either his consent or knowledge returned in a great chafe into his owne countrey where soone after he was made Bishop of Paris So Wini or Wina was the first Bishop of Winchester of whom some vainely suppose the City to haue taken his name He lyeth entoombed in the North part of the Presbitery vpon the top of a wall where is to be seene this inscription Hic iacent 〈◊〉 Wini Episcopi Not long after the departure of Agilbert the king I know not for what cause fell into great mislike of Wina and droue him out of his countrey who flying vnto Wulfhere king of Mercia or Mid-England bought of him for money as it is said the Bishopricke of London being the first Simonist that is mentioned in our histories 4. Elentherius THe West Saxons were then a long time without a Bishop In which meane space Kenwalchus perceiuing all things to go against the haire with him and nothing to prosper vnder his hand but crosses and mischaunces to come thicke one in the necke of another began to consider with him selfe how that by neglecting religion he first lost his kingdome and no sooner embraced Christ but he was restored to his crowne againe and therefore perswaded himselfe that his negligence in appointing a Pastor that might looke vnto the seruice of God was the cause why his worldly affaires had no better successe Hereupon he sent an Embassador into France vnto Agilbert to excuse the wrong heretofore done vnto him with all earnestnes to perswade him to returne vnto his former charge there againe This though Agilbert refused to do alleaging that he was bound by promise not to forsake the place he now held yet that he might shew his readines to gratifie the king in what he might he sent ouer with the Embassador a priest named Elentherius his owne nephew that might if so it pleased him be ordained Pastor and Bishop of that countrey testifying that for his owne part he thought him not vnworthy of the place He was honorably receiued of the king and his people and at their request consecrate Bishop by Theodorus then Archbishop of Canterbury He continued Bishop seuen yéeres 5. Headda AFter Elentherius succéeded Headda a very holy and vertuous man but one that profited more his charge in example of good life cōuersation then in often preaching vnto them for as it should seeme very learned he was not Yet if Beda say true God approued his gouernment by the testimony of many miracles 6. Daniell HE dying in the yéere 704. or as some deliuer 705. after he had sate somewhat aboue thirty yéeres it seemed good to Ina then king of the West Saxons to diuide the prouince into two parts whereof the one he committed vnto a kinsman of his owne called Aldelmus commaunding him to make Sherborne his Sée and vnto the other was ordained Daniell who following the steps of his predecessors continued at Winchester This man sate 43. yeeres and at last perceiuing himselfe vnable to gouerne by reason of old age he resigned his Bishopriche an 741. and became a monke at Meldune or Malmesbury where he lieth buried 7. Humfridus HVmfridus then gouerned this Sée for the space of eight yéeres and died an 756. 8. Kinehardus AFter him came Kinehardus of whom I finde nothing recorded 9. Hathelardus ANd after him Athelardus or Hathelardus Abbot of Meldune who the yéere 794. was translated to the Metropoliticall Sée of Canterbury Sée more in Canterbury Then these 10. Egbaldus 11. Dudda 12. Kineberthus 13. 〈◊〉 14. Wightheinus 15. Herefridus slaine of the Danes in battell ann 834. 16. Edmundus ANd Helmstanus of whom likewise little or nothing is deliuered but that he lieth buried vpon the North wall of the presbytery togither with one of his successors Kenulphus as these verses there written do shew Pontifices haec capsa duos tenet incineratos Primus Helstanus huic successorque Kenulphus ABout this time many suppose Athelwulf or Athulf that was king of the West Saxons twenty yéeres to haue béene first Bishop of Winchester by the space of seuen yeeres Others report that he was a Cardinall of Rome also Neither of these can well be true Certaine it is that being in orders viz. a Subdeacon by the dispensation of
Louell for what cause I know not that they might be sure to auoyd him as also at the request of Richard Earlé of Cornewall the kings brother elected Roger Molend one to whom the king and the said Earle were both vncles Him the king readily accepted and so March 10. 1257. he was affoorded consecration This man was borne and brought vp altogether beyond the seas 〈◊〉 reason whereof he was vtterly ignorant of the English 〈◊〉 Being therefore called vpon to be resident vpon his Bishopricke the yéere 1283. he made that his excuse but it might not serue his turne Iohn Peckham Archbishop of 〈◊〉 not onely forced him to residence but reprehended him excéeding sharply for his neglect and carelesnes of his charge He sate long and died a very old man the yéere 1295. 47. Walter de Langton THe Pope meaning a good turne vnto Iohn Bokingham Bishop of Lincolne of his absolute authority tooke vpon him to translate him to this Sée from Lincolne which was then worth thrée Lichfields He chose rather to forsake all and became a monke at Canterbury Upon his refusall Water Langton Treasurer of England was preferred thereunto and consecrate December 22 1296. He liued in great authority vnder king Edward the first that fauoured him much But his sonne Edward the second molested and disgraced 〈◊〉 all that euer he might His father dying in the North countrey commaunded this Bishop to couduct his corpse vp to London and when he had so done for reward of his 〈◊〉 he caused sir Iohn Felton Constable of the Tower to arrest him seased vpon all his goods and imprisoned him first in the Tower then in the Castle of Wallingford of which imprisonment he was not released in two yéeres after In his fathers life time he had often reprehended the yoong Prince for his insolent and dissolute behauiour which good admonitions he taking in 〈◊〉 part wronged and disgraced him many waies namely one time he brake downe his parks spoyled and droue away his deere c. The Bishop complained of this outrage vnto the king his father who being greatly displeased therewith committed the Prince his sonne for certaine daies And this was the cause of the grudge betwéene the yong king him About that same time or I thinke a litle sooner viz. the yere 1301. he was accused of certain heinous crimes before the Pope and compelled to answere the accusation at Rome in his owne person Though the proofes brought against him were either none or very slender yet well knowing whom they had in hand Nonerant 〈◊〉 prae 〈◊〉 bouem valde 〈◊〉 saith Matth. 〈◊〉 they were content to detaine him there so long as it forced him to spend an infinite deale of money and yet was neuer a whit the néerer at last For the Pope remitted the hearing of the cause to the Archbishop of Canterbury and yet referred the determination of the same vnto him selfe at last The tempests of those troubles being ouer blowen the rest of his time he liued for ought I find quietly and being happily 〈◊〉 from the Court attended onely the gouernment of his charge Unto his Church of Lichfield he was a wonderfull great benefactor He laid the first foundation of the Lady Chappell there and at his death left order with his Executors for the full finishing of it He compassed the cloyster of Lichfield with a stone wall and bestowed a sumptuous shrine vpon S. Cedda his predecessor with 2000. l. charge He ditched and walled all the Cathedrall church round about made one gate of great strength and maiesty at the West part of the close and another but a lesse on the South part He builded the great bridge beyond the Uineyard at Lichfield ann 1310. He gaue his owne house or pallace vnto the Uicars for their dwelling and built a new for him selfe at the East end of the close He 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being altogether 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 the mannour place of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉 at London He 〈◊〉 vnto the high 〈◊〉 at Lichfield 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and two 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worth 24. l. 〈◊〉 about with 〈◊〉 stones to the value of 200. l. besides many copes 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 price He 〈◊〉 vpon the 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 cup of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a pension of 20. s. by the yeere And 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both vnto them and his Church many charters and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the king He 〈◊〉 at London 〈◊〉 16. 1321. 〈◊〉 was buried in the Lady Chappell which he built 48. Roger Northbrough THe yéere 1313. Roger Northborough then kéeper of the great seale was taken prisoner by the Scots in the battell of 〈◊〉 Being afterwards clerke of the Wardrobe so I find him called and treasurer of England by great sute and the kings often 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 meanes to shoulder into this 〈◊〉 He was consecrate June 27. 1322. sate almost 38. yéeres a very long time and died in the end of the yéere 1359. 49. Robert Stretton SOone after the death of the former Bishop Robert Stretton a Canon of Lichfield by the importunity of the blacke Prince to whom he was Chaplaine was eleccted Bishop there a man very 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnworthy so high a 〈◊〉 in all respects The Pope hauing notize of his 〈◊〉 by speciall mandate prohibited his consecration Here upon the new elect was faine to make repaire vnto Rome The Pope him selfe examined him but was 〈◊〉 earnestly requested by the blacke Prince to 〈◊〉 his sute as 〈◊〉 he could not with 〈◊〉 honesty allow of him yet he was content to leaue him to the 〈◊〉 of the Archbishop of Canterbury The Archbishop would by no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 him any testimony of sufficiency At last 〈◊〉 much adoo he procured the Pope to authorise two other Bishops for the allowance or reiecting of him who they were I can not call to remembrance and they by the excéeding great importunity of the Prince admitted him to consecration which he receiued September 26. 1360. Sée more of this matter in Thomas Lylde Bishop of Ely He sate Bishop here 25. yeeres 50. Walter Skirlawe VVAlter Skirlawe Doctor of Law was consecrate Ianuary 14. 1385. remooued to Bathe and Wels the yéere following and soone after to Durham Sée more of him in Durham 51. Richard Scroope RIchard Scroope Doctor of Lawe brother vnto William Scroope Earle of Wiltshire and Tresurer of England was consecrate August ◠1386. Sate here 10. yéeres and was translated to Yorke His life and lamentable death you may sée there more at large described 52. Iohn Brughill IOhn Brughill a Frier preacher was first Bishop of Landaff and Confessor vnto king Richard the second translated to Lichfield in the moneth of September 1398. and sate there 17. yéeres 53. Iohn Keterich IOhn Keterich a Notary of Rome and Archdencon of Surry was consecrate Bishop of S. Dauids the yéere 1414. and translated thence to this Sée in the moneth of May 1415 The yéere 1417. he was at the Councell of Constance
〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 yéere of his consecration and 〈◊〉 to the Chaunter of the church of Norwich a house and certaine lands lying within the Lordship of 〈◊〉 Caerlton 〈◊〉 Granthorp and 〈◊〉 vpon condition he should procure masse daily to be said for his 〈◊〉 20. Henricus Spencer THe 〈◊〉 of his death swiftly flying beyond the Seas came vnto the eares of one Spencer A Gentleman greatly estéemed for his valour and skill in Martiall 〈◊〉 that serued the Pope at that time in his warres Of him with small intreaty be obtained this dignity for a brother of his named Henry a man of his own profession which of a soldier being made a bishop came into England March 16. 1370. was consecrate in his owne Church by the Archdeacon of Norwich Changing then his vesture but no his conditions in what manner of life he spent his youth in the same he most delighted euen in his 〈◊〉 yéeres And being a better Butcher then a Shepheard he procured the Popes authority for leauying an Army which not with standing the kings commaundement to the contrary 〈◊〉 transported into the Low 〈◊〉 And after that he has 〈◊〉 7000. 〈◊〉 an Army of 30. thousand and burnt the townes of 〈◊〉 Dunkyrke Newport with certaine others he returned againe into England where shortly after occasion was giuen of employing his valure at home to better purpose The yeere 1381. the commons of this realme arose in diuers parts and appointed them selues Captaines as Wat Tyler Iacke 〈◊〉 c. And amongst the rest the Commons of Suffolke and Norfolke made one Iohn Lyster their Leader a dier of Norwich and called him the king of the Commons This fellow endeuouring to ioyne his power with the rest that were now at London conducting them thither ward By the way they determined to haue surprised William Vfford Earle of Suffolke and hauing him to vse his name for the setting forward of their diuelish intents Missing of him they seased vpon all the knights they could find made them sweare to assist them One there was named sir Robert Sale that seeming to 〈◊〉 their dooings had his braines stricken out by one of his owne bondmen Amongst the rest that terrified by his example were glad to dissemble sir Stephen Hales a comely Gentleman was chosen to be the caruer forsooth of this goodly king But to proceede being now on their way they determined to send in a message vnto the king two knights sir W. Morley and sir Iohn Brewes with three Arch-rebels These happened to be encountred with their Bishop at a towne called 〈◊〉 not far from New market Being at his mannor of Burle neere Ockam Castle he heard of this 〈◊〉 determined to ride thither where he vnderstood they were assembled At what time he came to 〈◊〉 he had in his company but onely eight speares and a few Archers Notwithstanding the weaknesse of his forces he boldly inquired of the knights whether any of the kings traitors were there They dissembled a while for scare but after told him plainely that two notorious Rebels were at the Inne and the third was gone into the towne to take order for their dinner These he presently layed hold vpon and without more adoo cut off their heads which he caused to be set vpon poales at New market Thence he hasted toward Northwalsham where he vnderstoode the rebels had determined to make some stay By the way diuers Gentlemen that had hid themselues ioyned with him so that by that time he 〈◊〉 there he had a reasonable company 〈◊〉 him with that company such as it was he set vpon them who had 〈◊〉 themselues with trenches and 〈◊〉 very 〈◊〉 The Bishop for his part recouering the 〈◊〉 rode into the very midst of them and 〈◊〉 him selfe so manfully as if it had beene an action agréeble vnto his calling had deserued great commendation By his courage especially the victory in the end was atchieued The king Iohn 〈◊〉 and the rest of the chiefetaines were saine to leane their heads behind them and the whole Countrey reduced to a 〈◊〉 obedience Now to procéede vnto his other actions there was great contention betwéene him and his monkes for the space of fiftéene yéeres they being too weake for him at last were glad to giue him 400. markes to enioy their 〈◊〉 in like sort as heretofore they had done He sate Bishop 〈◊〉 37. yéeres and died 1406. 21. Alexander ALexander Prior of Norwich was elected Bishop by the monkes but the king so misliked their choise as he not onely kept him from his dignity but also imprisoned him at Winsor almost a whole yéere after his election At the 〈◊〉 of Thomas Arondell Archbishop of Canterbury and 〈◊〉 other of the Nobility he was released set at liberty and afforded consecration ann 1408. He sate sixe yéeres and was buried in our Ladies Chappell at the féete of Walter Surfield 22. Richard Courtney AT the earnest sute of king Henry the 〈◊〉 Richard Courtney Channcellor of the Uniuersity of Oxford a 〈◊〉 famous for his excellent knowledge in both Lawes was chosen by the Couent and consecrated at Canterbury by the Archbishop in the presence of the King and many of the Nobles A man of great nobility great learning and 〈◊〉 vertue very personable also much fauoured by the king and no lesse beloued among the common people He died of a 〈◊〉 in Normandy in the second yéere after his consecration ann 1415. his body being brought into England was honorably interred at Westminster 23. Iohn Wakering IOhn Wakering that for his life learning and wisedome was esteemed nothing inferior to his predecessor being kéeper of the 〈◊〉 seale was elected by the Couent and consecrated Bishop of Norwich by Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury ann 1416. In his time the Counsell of Constance was holden vnto the which this Bishop with many other were sent out of England by the King In that charge he so behaued him selfe that he obtained great commendation for the same He built the Cloyster which is now to be seene in the Bishops pallace pauing the same with stones of diuers colours And hauing gouerned his charge with great praise he died and was buried in the Cathedrall Church before the Aulter of Saint George 24. William 〈◊〉 ANno 1426. William 〈◊〉 Doctor of the lawes was elected Bishop and consecrated at Saint Paules church in London by the Archbishop of Canterbury and in the 10. yéere of his 〈◊〉 was translated to Lincolne Sée more of him there 25. Thomas Browne THomas Browne Bishop of Rochester being at the 〈◊〉 of Basill had the Bishopricke of Norwich cast vpon him before euer he vnderstood of any such intent toward In his time the citizens of Norwich harboring their old grudge in their enuious mindes attempted many things against the church but such was the singular wisedome and courage of this Bishop that all their enterprises came to none effect He died when he had bene Bishop nine yéeres Anno 1445. 26. Gualter
sonnes determined to builde vp this monastery in the most magnificent and stately manner he could 〈◊〉 which indéed he performed being very much holpen in the same by the contribution of Ethelred his brother as also of Kineburg and Kineswith his sisters who as W. 〈◊〉 deliuereth doo there ly buried This Monastery he dedicated vnto Saint Peter and appointed one Saxulf by whose perswasion he tooke in hand this worke to be the first 〈◊〉 of the same He afterwards became Bishop of Lichfield Two hundred yéeres after the first foundation and somewhat more it flourished in wealth and great prosperity to 〈◊〉 vntill the comming of the Danes who slew the Monkes and vtterly destroyed all those sumptuous buildings erected by Wolpher Hauing then layen desolate 109. yéeres Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester a great Patron of Monkery reedified it He had begun a new Oundale at Northampton in Northampton shire when by chaunce comming to this place he thought good to omitte that former and to bestow his cost here So he made a parish church of his building at Oundale and reedified this decayed Monastery of Medeshamstead In digging vp some of the old foundations it is remembred there were found stones of such huge greatnesse as eight yoke of Oren were scarce able to draw one of them away King Edgar holp the Bishop much in this foundation and Aldulf that was Chauncellor vnto the said king partly for deuotion partly for malcontentment and greefe that he had layen vpon his onely child and so 〈◊〉 him in his sleepe bestowed all his substance vpon it and betaking himselfe vnto a monasticall life became Abbot there After him Kenulfus another Abbot compassed about this Monastery with a strong Wall about the yéere of our Lord 1000. And then saith W. Malmsbury because it bare the shew of a towne or burrough it began to leaue the old name and to be called altogether Burgh or Burrough and sometimes because it was dedicated vnto Saint Peter Peterburrough Through the liberality of diuers Benefactors it grew to that greatnesse of wealth and possessions as all the Countrey round about belonged vnto it In that state it continued till that fatall day of all our Monasteries at what time it pleased King Henry the eight to conuert the same into a Cathedrall Church and to imploy the reuenewes vpon the maintenance of a Bishop a Deane 6. Prebendaries and other Ministers necessary for the celebration of Diuine seruice Northamtonshire and Kutlandshire were taken from Lincolne and appointed the Dioces of this newe crected Sée 1. Iohn Chambers IOhn Chambers the last Abbot of Peterborough was the first Bishop 2. Dauid Poole DAuid Poole Doctor of Law Deane of the Arches and sometimes Chauncellor of the Dioces of Lichfield 3. Edmund Scambler EDmund Scambler was consecrate Ianuary 16. 1560. and the yéere 1584. remooued to Norwich Sée Norwich 4. Richard Howland RIchard Howland Doctor of Diuinity and Master of Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge succéeded He died in the moneth of Iune 1600. 5. Thomas Doue THomas Doue Deane of Norwich and Chaplaine to her Maiesty was consecrate in the end of the yéere 1600. This Bishoprick is valued in the Exchecquer at 414 l. 19 s. 11 d. The Bishops of Bristoll RObert surnamed Fitz-Harding because his father that was sonne vnto the king of Denmarke was called Harding this Robert I say being a citizen of Bristoll and sometimes Maior there founded the monastery of Saint Augustines néere vnto the said city and placed Channons in the same the yere 1148. being the 14. yere of king Stephen This foundation was afterwards confirmed and augmented by king Henry the second who so greatly fauoured the author of the same as he preferred him to the marriage of the daughter and sole heire of the Lord Barkley Of them are descended all the Lord Barkleys since that time And many of them as challenging an interest in this foundation of their auncestors haue chosen the church there for the place of their buriall In that church it pleased king Henry the eight to erect an Episcopall Sée and to conuert the reuenues of the same vnto the maintenance of a Bishop a Deane sixe Prebendaries and other officers The Dioces of this Bishopricke is the city of Bristoll and the county of Dorset 1. Paul Bush. PAul Bush Prouinciall of the 〈◊〉 was the first Bishop of Bristoll a man well learned both in diuinity and phisicke as his workes yet extant may testifie written in both kindes some in prose some in verse In the beginning of Quéene Maries raigne he was depriued for being maried and died vnhappily a few daies before her He lieth entoombed on the North side of the quier ouer against the Bishops See in a séemely monument thus inscribed Hiciacet D. Paulus Bush primus huius ecclesiae Episcopus qui obijt 11. die Octob. an dom 1558. aetatis suae 68. cuius animae c. 2. Iohn Holyman IOhn Holyman was appointed Bishoppe of Bristoll by Quéene Mary his predecessor yet liuing and died about the same time that he did 3. Richard Cheyny RIchard Chey 〈◊〉 consecrate Bishop of Glocester Apr. 19. 1562. was allowed to how Bristoll in 〈◊〉 with Glocester and so did for the space of 16. yéeres viz. vntill his death which happened the yéere 1578. 4. Iohn Bullingham Iohn Bullingham succéeded him in both these Bishopricks 5. Richard Fletcher RIchard 〈◊〉 doctor of diuinity and Deane of 〈◊〉 was consecrate Bishop of Bristoll Bishop Bullingham yet liuing in December 1589. When as the Sée had stoode voyde otherwise then as it was held by Commendam 31. yeres In the end of the yéere 1593. he was translated to Worceter and soone after to London Sée London Bristoll is valued at 383 l. 8 s. 4 d. The Bishops of S. Dauids THe British histories doo all report that in this Island at the first planting of Christian religion here there were established 28. Episcopall Sees as in Saint Aug. of Canterbury I haue before declared Of these 28. three were Archbishoprickes London York and Carlegion or Caerlheon vpon Usk in Monmouthshire At Carleon which was then a great and populous City in the time of King Arthur sate 〈◊〉 the sonne of Eurdila a gentlewoman of great birth but who was his father it was neuer knowen He was a man of excellent learning and singular integrity in regard whereof when first he had taken great paines many yéeres as well in teaching and reading vnto his schollers whereof he had a great number as in preaching vnto the people he was appointed first Bishop of Landaff and hauing stayed there no long time was made Archbishop of all Wales by Germanus and 〈◊〉 two Bishops of Fraunce that were intreated by 〈◊〉 Ambrosius king of Britaine to come ouer and yeelde their best helpe for extinguishing the 〈◊〉 heresie that had then taken great roote in this Countrey Vther 〈◊〉 being dead he crowned Vther Pendragon and afterward that great Arthar king of this Island and waring old resigned his Bishopricke
he came to Durham or rather for so is the right name Dunholm which is compounded of two saxon words Dun signifying a hill and Holm an Island in a riuer Before his comming thither it was a place wild and not habitable being all a wood full of thicke bushes and trees sauing onely a little plaine vpon the top of the hil that was woont to be sowed aud is the very place where the church now standeth With the helpe of the country people and 〈◊〉 Earle of Northumberland he cut downe the wood cleansed the place and in short time made it habitable All the people dwelling between the riuers of Theise and Coqued came then and affoorded most readily their best helpe vnto the building of a church there neuer ceasing vntill in the time of this Bishop who principally caused the same it was quite finished He was schoolemaster vnto the children of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Edward that after raigned and is commonly called Edward the Confessor The king their father being driuen out of his kingdome by 〈◊〉 the Dane the yeere 1013 he sent him with 〈◊〉 his wife and his two sonnes before named vnto Richard Duke of Normandy their vncle How seene the Bishop returned I know not but I find that he died within three yéeres after to wit the yeere 1017. hauing continued Bishop almost nine and twenty yeeres 24. Eadmund THrée yéeres after the death of Aldwine the Sée remained voide by reason of the great troubles and continuall warres wherewith the realme was vexed by the Danes At the last God sending a more peaceable time the cleargy of Durham determined to procéede vnto an election As they were conferring about the businesse they had in hand it happened a certaine graue priest to come into the place where they were gathered together and vnderstanding what they were about to say merrily vnto them that they were best choose him These words vsed by him in iest were 〈◊〉 vnto by them in good earnest insomuch as vpon a little deliberation they agréed indéede to elect him for their Bishop and so did Matthew Westminster addeth credite him as you list that the monkes fasting thrée daies and praying vnto Saint Cutbert to shew some token of his approbation or dislike of this election there was a voice heard out of his shrine the priest being at masse that thrée times named Edmond to the Bishopricke He was elected the yéere 1020. But not consecrate in fiue yéeres after He sate alter the time of his consecration 23. yéeres and dying at Glocester anno 1048. was caried thence to his owne church of Durham and there buried William of Malmsbury commendeth him much for his industry in adorning his church and citie with buildings and otherwise 25. Eadred PResently after his death Eadred was made Bishop enioyed that honor a very short time to wit 10. monethes onely and then died 26. Egelric EGelricus a monke or as I finde also reported Abbot of Peterborough succeeded him by the meanes endeuour of Godwyn Earle of Kent He builded a church at Cuneagecester now called Chester vpon the stréete in memorie that the Bishops of Lindisfarne had rested themselues there together with the body of Saint Cutbert 113. yéeres during the time of the Danish warres In digging the foundation of this church he found such an infinite deale of money as after that time not caring for the reuenues of his Bishoprick he resigned the same vnto Egelwyn his brother returned himselfe to the monastery of Peterborough whence he came There he bestowed great cost in building repairing the church monasterie as also in making a cawsie with timber lyme and sande through the fennes betweene Deeping and Spalding a worke very necessary and of infinite charge This cawsie was called after the name of the maker Elrich-rode He resigned the yeere 1056. and hauing led a priuate life now 13 yéeres in his old age to wit the yeere 1069. he was charged I know not how iustly with treason and conspiracie against the Conquerour who drew him out of his cloyster at Peterborough and imprisoned him at Westminster There saith W. Malmsbury by continuall fasting and abundance of teares washing away the guilt of his 〈◊〉 misdéedes he wanne vnto himselfe such reputation of holinesse as the place of his buriall was much trequented after his death He died October 15. 1072. and if I mistake him not for his brother as many of our writers do who confound the historie of these men and attribute diuers actions of the one vnto the other was buried in the chappell of Saint Nicholas in Westminster 27. Egelwyn THis Egelwyn was Bishop at the comming in of the Conquerour against whom he alwaies opposed himselfe At the last séeing himselfe not able to withstande him and fearing to be too neere him he forsooke Durham in the end of the yeere 1069. and caried his clergie with him vnto the church of Lindisfarne But it was not long before they returned againe The king hauing withdrawne his forces out of that countrey and the Bishop belike being taken into fauour about the beginning of Lent the church was furnished againe and the Bishop himselfe entred the same April 6. within two yeeres after which time whether it were the auncient hatred he bore vnto the king that now reboiled in his stomacke or a vaine hope of recouering the libertie of his countrey enthralled vnto the Normans or offence taken at the vnreasonable oppression of the same and especially of clergie men as Stigand and diuers other that were depriued of their Bishoprickes and other promotions He ioyned with certaine English Noble men in a flat rebellion alleaging at first that they feared imprisonment and hard measure but indeed purposing to depose the king and set vp some English man When things succéeded not according to their expectation they were faine to hide themselues in woods and secret places doing great spoile in the countrey till at last they tooke the Isle of Ely which they defended against the kings power a long space In the meane time Egelwyn our Bishop tooke ship and departed as Matt. 〈◊〉 saith into voluntarie exile But William Malmesbury chargeth him with piracie and robberie vpon the sea In the end being taken he was committed to straight prison at Abbingdon where he died the yeere 1071. in winter refusing as Flor. Wigor deliuereth for gréefe and anger to take any sustenance Howbet other thinke his abstinence was of constraint and that he would gladly haue eaten if he could haue gotten meate It is saide he was buried in Saint Nicholas chappell at Westminster But I thinke him mistaken for his brother Agelrike 28. Walter EGelwyn yet liuing but in prison the king caused one Walter borne in Lorraine to be consecrate Bishop He attending more worldly affaires then the charge of his flocke gaue himselfe altogether to temporal busines wherein he wholy occupied himselfe He bought of the king the Earledome of Northumberland and then making himselfe a secular Iudge tooke vpon
slaughter was committed May 14. 1080. The monkes of Yarrow came and fetched away the Bishops body which they found 〈◊〉 naked and coulde hardly know it for the multitude of woundes they caried it to their monastery from whence it was 〈◊〉 to Durham and there buried on the south side of the chapterhouse but secretly for feare of the 〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉 vp and downe the towne and once assaulted the castell when they could not preuaile there they dispersed themselues and for the most part came to euill and vnhappie endes The king in the meane time hearing of this tumult sent his brother Odo Bishop of Bayon with many of his nobles and a great armie to take punishment of this murther which while they sought to reuenge they brought the whole countrey to desolation Those that were guiltie preuented the danger toward them by 〈◊〉 so as 〈◊〉 of them could be taken Of the rest that staied at home some were vniustly executed and the rest compelled to raunsome themselues to their vtter impouerishing and vndooing This Odo tooke away from the church of Durham at that time certaine ornaments of great value amongst which is especially remembred a certaine crosyer of inestimable price In this Bishops time and by his endenour secular Clerkes were displaced and the church of Durham replenished with monkes the Pope the King and the Archbishop allowing this alteration 29. William Kairlipho THe Sée of Durham hauing béene voide 6 moneths after the death of Walter to wit Nouember 9. following William Kairlipho Abbot of Saint Uincente was elected and receiued consecration at the hands of Thomas Archbishop of Yorke Ianuary 3. following at Glocester the king and almost all the Bishops of the realme being present at that solemnitie The monkes whom he fauoured much for he expelled diuers married priests out of his church of Durham whom Walter was content to beare withall and suffered onely monkes there they praise him for a man of great wisedome learning and vertue Certaine it is that he was very subtile whereby as also by the volubilitie of his toong which he had passing readie at commandement he got very farre into the fauour of the king William the Conqueror and afterward of his sonne William Rufus vnder whom he did euen what he list Unto the later ende of these he prooued very vnthankfull ioyning himselfe with Odo Bishop of Bayon in a rebellious conspiracie against him The rebels being ouerthrowne he was saine for his safegard to shutte himselfe vp within the walles of Durham The king hasting thither by great iourneies besieged 〈◊〉 and after a thort time had the towne yeelded by composition wherein it was conditioned that the Bishop and his companie should depart in safety So he got him beyond the seas and liued in 〈◊〉 three yeeres viz. vntill September 11. 1090. at what time the king comming to Durham receaued him to grace and restored him to his former dignitie that verie day three yeeres that he had departed thence After that time he omitted nothing whereby he might curry fauour with the king euer applying himselfe that way whither he sawe him to 〈◊〉 In all the 〈◊〉 betweene the king and Anselm he was the 〈◊〉 stirrer against the Archbishop hoping belike so to assure himselfe of the kings fauour and if Anselm should be displaced which he endeuored he thought no man so likely then to succeed him as himselfe But he failed in both of these purposes for the kings displeasure was his death He was summoned to appeere before the king at Glocester at a day before which time for griefe as it is thought he fel sicke When he appeered not and it was told the king he was sick he sware by Lukes face 〈◊〉 was his vsuall oath he lied he did but counterfeit he would haue him fetcht with a vengeance It appeered the excuse was true ynough for seene after viz. Ianuary 2. 1095. he died hauing been Bishop fifteene yeeres This man pulling downe to the ground the Church that 〈◊〉 had first built began to erect another far more magnificent but liued not to finish it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Scots Turgot Prior of Durham 〈◊〉 the first 〈◊〉 stones July 30. or as some deliuer Aug. 11. 〈◊〉 It is said that lying vpon his death bed as was thought past memory if not dead diuers Prelates that were in his chamber conferred of the order of his 〈◊〉 and amongst other things appointed the place of his buriall to be in the 〈◊〉 vpon the building whereof he had bestowed so much The supposed dead man ouerheard them and gathering his forces together made shift to breath out these 〈◊〉 It shall not please God saith he that you preiudice the honor of Saint 〈◊〉 by my buriall for 〈◊〉 of wham neuer any of my predecessors would enduret o be laid there Bury you me therefore in the chapter house It was performed accordingly his body was conueighed from Glocester where he died vnto Durham and on the North part of the chapter house there solemnly enterred Within a yeere or two after his first being Bishop he trauelled to Rome and obtayned there licence of Pope Gregorie the seuenth to bring the monkes from Yarrow and Wermouth into the Cathedrall church of Durham He also bestowed vpon them not onely bookes and diuers ornaments for the furnishing of their church but lands and 〈◊〉 in sundry places for the confirmation of all which gifts he procured the charter of William the Conqueror vnder Seale 30. Ranulf Flambard AFter the death of William the Sée of Durham stoode voide thrée yeeres and fower monethes The king at last bestowed it vpon one Ranulf rather for the seruice he had done him then for any speciall seruice he could hope he would doo either to God or his church For he was a very wicked man but such a one as had serued his turne notably He was first Chaplaine vnto Maurice Bishop of London and well 〈◊〉 of him but not so well as that he would let him haue the Deanery falling voide which he taking very ill in a 〈◊〉 left him and by what meanes I know not woond himselfe into the court Being passing subtile and shrewd witted faire spoken and nothing scrupulous but ready to do any thing for preferment It was no hard matter for him to obtaiue any thing of the king William Rufus a very corrupt and vicious prince His first practise was to farme the vacacies of Abbotships and Bishopricks of the king whereby he not onely enriched himselfe but brought great sommes of mony into the kings coffers that neuer were acquainted with that kinde of profite before The king perceiuing him to be a fit instrument for his purposes imploied him daily more and more and at last made him chiefe gouernour of all his realme vnder him so as he had all that authority which now the Lord Treasurer Chauncellor and diuers other officers haue diuided amongst them For it séemes vnto me that few of those offices were
they were it was said they were of Deira God grant saith he they may be De ira dei eruti deliuered from the wrath of God and made partaker of his mercies by Christ. Hée procéeded yet further and asked how the king of that countrey was called vnderstanding his name was Elle Alleluia quoth he must néedes be sung in those parts in praise of almightie God Not long after then this good man being made Pope hée tooke especiall care of sending preachers into this land for the conuersion of the same Yet it is not to be denied and it appéereth manifestly by the letters of Saint Gregory himselfe vnto the king and Quéene of France that this care of his was much stirred vp by the forwardnes of some good Saxons that complained vnto him of the negligence of the French priestes who being so néere would neuer take any course for the planting of Christianitie amongst them and therefore praied him that he would send preachers thither He did so made choice of one Augustine a monke of greater vertue then learning vnto whom he appointed fortie other that shoulde accompanie and aide him in this holy worke Being now well onward on their way they enquired of the state of the countrey and manners of the people vnto whom they went and vnderstoode so much of their barbarous and fierce rudenes as they in a manner all vtterly renounced procéeding any farther in the voyage and as it were compelled Augustine to poste backe to Rome there to craue licence of returne Saint Gregorie much grieued with this 〈◊〉 writ his letters vnto them wherein hé vsed many reasons to perswade them in any wise to goe forward whereunto at last they yéelded They arriued at the Iste of Thanet in Kent the yéere 596. nowe iust a thousand yéeres agoe The king of that countrie his name was Ethelbert intertained them with all curtesie the rather as it is to be supposed by the persuasion of his wife Berta that was a Christian There was néere vnto the citie of Canterburie a church built of old by the Romaines and dedicated vnto S. Martin in which the Quéene was woont to pray with Lethardus her Bishop There these men were allowed to preach pray baptise and vse all maner of exercise pertaining to Christian religion The king himselfe all this while gaue them maintenance came often to heare them and at last being throughly conuerted tooke on him the badge of Christ by baptisme all his people quickly following his example He then also appointed vnto Augustine and his companions a house at Stablegate and allotted competent reuenues vnto the same The matter being thus far forward Augustine stept into France and caused himselfe there to be consecrated Archbishop of England by Etherius Archbishop of Arles Presently vpon his returne thence he sent two of his companie vnto Rome Laurence and Peter to aduertise the Pope of their good successe By them when they returned he sent Augustine a pall bookes church-ornaments and other necessaries He sent also presently vnto the king and writ diuers letters some gratulatorie to the king some vnto Augustine exhorting him to diligence in his calling and to take héede least the miracles which God wrought by him for the conuersion of this people should make him proud and lastly others vnto the Archbishop of Arles to thanke him for his good aide and assistance yéelded to these men in this businesse In the meane time Augustine had obtained of the king another church in the midst of the citie built likewise heretofore by the Romaines and dedicated the same vnto our Sauiour Christ. Soone after this good king gaue vnto him also his owne palace and chiefe seate of his kingdome remoouing himselfe vnto Rheaculf called by the Romaines Regulbium now 〈◊〉 And lastly he laid the foundation of a goodly monasterie which he dedicated to S. Peter and S. Paule knowen afterwards by the name of S. Augustines These things being thus ordered he indeuoured to make a concord and agréement betwéene the Saxons and the Welchmen who differed from the Romane church in two things the manner of baptizing and the time of the obseruation of Easter Much paines he tooke to persuade them yea wrought a myracle by healing a blinde man for confirmation of his doctrine as you may read in Beda his Eccl. 〈◊〉 lib. 2. cap. 2. But they woulde by no meanes consent to any such vnion much lesse yéeld any kinde of subiection to that authoritie which he claimed to haue ouer all this Island He gaue not ouer with one repulse but when at the first he could not preuaile he procured a second conference at what time there met him seuen Britaine Bishops and a great number of monks especially of that famous monasterie of Bannachor a place not farre from Chester wherein there liued by the labour of their owne hands 2000. monks These men before they came to the place of meeting appointed thought good to aske the counsell of a certaine Anehorite whom they reputed for a very holie and deuout man and to know of him whether he thought it best for them to yeeld to the directions of Saint Augustine He aduised them if hee were a man of God to take the course he shewed and to follow the same And when they asked how they should discerne whether he were such a one or no he pronounced this saying of our Sauiour Take my yoke vpon you and learne of me for I am meeke and humble of hart If therefore this same Augustine be a méeke and humble minded man it is a great presumption that he beareth the yoke of Christ and offereth the same vnto you But if he be stout and proud he is not of God you may be bold This therefore saith he is my aduire haue a care that he and his companie be first in the place where you meete If then you being the greater number he rise not to doe you reuerence but despise you despise you also him and his counsell Augustine therefore first entered the place with his banner and his crosse with singing procession and great pompe and when the Britayne Bishops came in neuer rose or saluted them at all This they taking verie ill gainsaid him in euery thing told him that as his opinions were allowed by Gregory so had theirs long since by Eleutherius both Bishops of Rome that they had an Archbishop then commorant at Caerlegion him they would obey and none other especially such a one as he was a man vnknowne and a stranger not onely for his person and language but much more for his opinions and strange conceits Augustine much displeased with this short answere prayed them to yéeld vnto him but in thrée things to minister Baptisme and obserue Easter according to the Roman maner to assist him in preaching Christ vnto the Saxons But when they vtterly denied to ioyne with them in any sort he denounced against them the iudgements of God for this 〈◊〉 and assured them
carefull of his charge despising the world and neuer 〈◊〉 for any thing but heauen and heauenly things Hauing beene sicke a long time he died at last of the gowt and was buried beside his predecessor 4. Iustus Ivstus of whom I haue before spoken somewhat was taken from Rochester to supply the place of Melhtus after his decease wherein hauing trauelled painfully the space of twelue yeeres he departed this life Nouemb. 10. ann 634. and was buried in the porch aboue mentioned 5. Honorius AFter the death of Iustus Honorius was made Archbishop a very reuerend man He was a Romane borne very learned and sometimes a disciple of S. Gregory He was consecrate at Lincolne by Paulinus Archb of Yorke He receiued a pall from Rome with letters wherein authoritie was giuen to him and the other Archb. whensoeuer either of them did faile to consecrate another in his place without posting to Rome This man appointed diuers Bishops to diuers countries as in their seuerall places God willing shall be more at large declared He also biuided his prouince into parishes that so he might appoint particular ministers to particular congregations and hauing sate Archbishop almost 20. yeeres died the last day of Februarie or as some other deliuer of September the yeere 653. He was buried amongst his predecessors 6. Deus-dedit or Adeodatus THe Sée was voide after Honorius died the space of 18. moneths An Englishman or Saxon called sometimes Frithona famous for his learning and other vertues was then elected Archbishop and after that named Deus dedit He was consecrate by Ithamar Bishop of Rochester Yorke being then without an Archbishop and died the last day of June 664. hauing attēded that charge carefully about the space of 9. yéeres He was the first Englishman that was Archbishop and the last Archbishop that was buried in the church porch of Saint Augustines 7. Theodorus ONe Wigardus an Englishman an ancient and learned Priest was chosen to succéede Deus-dedit and sent to Rome for consecration with letters commendatorie from Egbert king of Kent and Oswy king of Northumberland who also sent presents of great value vnto Vitalianus that was then Pope It chanced he came to Rome at a time when the plague was very hot there and died of the same as did also almost all his companie that came with him The Pope vnderstanding the See had stood long void and carefull to sée it furnished made choice of one Adrian an Abbot of Italy but borne in Afrike a graue man and verie learned He would not be perswaded to take so great a charge vpon him but being importuned thereunto he promised to finde out a man that should be of greater both learning and yéeres then himselfe and in all other respects verie fit for the place He was familiarly acquainted with one Theodore a Grecian borne in Tharsus of Cilicia S. Paules countrey a man well seene in all kinde of good learning 66. yéeres of age Vitalianus notwithstanding refused to allow of him except the other would promise to go into England with him also He was content did so and at his comming thither was made Abbot of S. Augustines Theodore then was consecrate Archbishop Aprill 1. 668. when the Sée had béene voide almost fower yéeres In Maie following they set forward toward England They had many lets by the way and got not thither in a yéeres and a halfe They brought with them great store of bookes both Gréeke and Latin whereof some remaine yet to be seene at this day as namely a Homer so faire and exquisitely written as no print in the world yet extant is thought to be comparable to it either for truth or beautie and diuers other Unto this man all the British Bishops and generally all Britaine yeelded obedience and vnder him conformed themselues in all things vnto the rites and discipline of the church of Rome He was a very stont and rigorous man exercising the authoritie of his place so 〈◊〉 as many thinke it a great blot vnto him How he tooke vpon him to place and displace 〈◊〉 Bishops at his pleasure as Wilfride Cedda and other see in the beginning of Yorke In his time were held two Synods one at Hereford the Canons whereof you may see in Beda lib. 4. cap. 5. the other at Clyff beside Rochester in which he procured all the Prelates there assembled to set downe their opinions touching the heresie of 〈◊〉 wherewith his countreymen the Grecians were much infected They all detested it and gaue their approbation of those fiue famous generall Councels of Nice of Ephesus of Chalcedon and the two first of Constantinople Neuer before this time had England so happie daies nor so many learned men as vnder him and a little after Amongst a great number of other these were of his bréeding Beda Saint Iohn of Beuerley Albinus and Tobias Bishop of Rochester all excellent and very famous men He erected as some say a kind of schoole or Uniuersitie at Creeklade or rather Greekeslade in Wiltshire so called of the Grecians that taught and studied there These men soone after remoouing thence are supposed to haue laide the foundations of our Uniuersitie of Oxford He left sundrie monuments of his learning in writing behind him and appointed many Bishops in diuers parts of this land Hauing continued Archbishop 22. yéeres he died September 19. ann 690. being 88. yéeres of age vntill which time hée would often say he thought he should liue for that in a dreme it was so signified vnto him many yéeres before A litle before his death he sent for Wilfride Archbishop of Yorke and Erkenwald Bishop of London and confessing himselfe vnto them acknowledged that he had doon Wilfride great wrong insomuch as there was no one thing that lay so hard vpon his conscience as that and therefore with teares besought him to forgiue him and to pray for him He was buried within the church of Saint Augustines Abbey 8. Birhtuald ALmost two yéeres the Sée was voide after the death of Theodore Birhtuald Abbot of Reculuer which standeth vpon the mouth of the riuer Gentad was then elect Ianuarie 29. ann 692. and consecrate by Godwyn the Metropolitane of Wales or of France rather as Beda reporteth The yéere following Maie 30. he tooke possession of this his Bishopricke He was a man verie well learned both in Diuinitie and otherwise but not comparable vnto Theodore his predecessor He bare a hard hand vpon Wilfride Archbishop of Yorke as Theodore had done before him and caused his second banishment or at least was some meanes of it He was coniured by the Pope who turned him about and dealt so with him by letters as he made him more earnest for him then euer he had béene against him No Archbishop euer continued so long in this Sée as he He sate 38. yeeres and a halfe Dying then Ianuarie 9. 731. he was buried at Saint Augustines with his predecessors 9. Tatwyn THe same yéere in which Birhtwald died succéeded Tatwyn
North parts there was not séene any either monke or nunne in two hundred yéeres after viz. vntill about the middle of the raigne of William Conqueror Maried priests euery where inhabited monasteries whence for a long time after with much adoe they were hardly remooued This Athelredus as in a manner all his successors was buried in his church of Christ in Canterburie 19. Plegmund PLegmund the most excellent learned man of his time was borne in the kingdome of Mercia In his youth he first dedicated himselfe vnto a solitarie life and liued an eremite in the Island of Chester which of him as it should séeme was woont to be called Plegmundsham He was taken thence to teach Alfred that was afterward king of England Being chosen Archbishop he trauailed to Rome in person and was there consecrate Soone after his returne to requite belike the curtesie he had found there he tooke great paines in collecting the almes of al men wel disposed through the land which the king sent together with much treasure of his owne vnto the Pope by Athelmus Bishop of Winchester appointing a certaine portion of the same to be conueied vnto Ierusalem Marianus then Pope a little before had gratified the king diuers waies He had granted immunitie of tribute vnto the Saxons schoole at Rome and sent sundrie presents vnto him namely amongst other things a péece of the crosse vpon which our Sauiour was thought to haue suffered death By this contribution his kindnesse was sufficiently requited The most memorable action of this Archbishop is that the yéere 905. he consecrated seuen Bishops in one day By reason of continuall warres all the prouince of the West Saxons had béene without any Bishop seuen yéeres Which Formosus the Pope imputing vnto the negligence of the king sent out an excommunication against him He therfore caused Plegmund the Archbishop to call a conuocation wherein it was ordered that the country of the Gewisses which till that time had but two Bishops one at Winchester another at Shirburne should hereafter haue fiue viz. besides the Sées before named Welles in Sommersetshire Criditon in Deuonshire and Saint Petrocks in Cornwall Unto Winchester was appointed Frithstan to Shirburne Wolstan to Criditon 〈◊〉 and to Saint Petrocks Athelstan Moreouer at the same time were consecrate with them Burnegus Bishop of the South Saxons and Kenulsus Bishop of Dorchester Plegmund sate Archbishop 26. yéeres and dying ann 915. was buried in his owne church 20. Athelmus AThelm that had béene Abbot of Glastonburie and as before is mentioned was appointed the first Bishop of Wels was chosen to succéed Plegmund in Canterburie William of Malmesbury saith that this Archbishop laide the first foundation of the Abbey of Malmesburie but it séemeth to be more ancient then so He sate nine yéeres died ann 924. and was buried with his predecessors 21. Wlfelmus VVLfelm succéeded Athelm first in Wels and then afterwards in Canterburie also He continued there ten yéeres and died ann 934. 22. Odo Seuerus ODo was 〈◊〉 in the countrey of the 〈◊〉 Angles His 〈◊〉 were Danes of great wealth and nobilitis but 〈◊〉 and vtter enimies of Christ and Christian religion insomuch as they disinherited their sonne Odo for kéeping companie with Christians He therefore forsaking his country betooke himselfe to the seruice of a noble man in the court of king Edward the elder named Ethelelm who perceiuing in him a great forwardnesse and excellencie of wit set him to schoole where he profited excéedingly He was not baptised till he was come euen vnto mans estate Soone after his baptisme by the counsel of his Lord and Master he entred into orders and became a Deacon in which office he continued preaching very painfully vntill at last he was made priest Some report that he serued in the wars some while vnder king Edward before he became a cleargie man and it is not vnlikely For after he was Bishop he was thrise in the field did his prince notable seruice He was preferred to the Bishopricke of Wiltshire the Sée whereof was then seated at ramsbury by the special fauour of king Athelston the yéere 920. King Athelston being dead Edmund his brother that succéeded fauouring him no lesse then his brother had done vpon the death of Wlfhelm procured him to be chosen Archbishop A great while Odo refused because he was no monke to take that charge vpon him saying that neuer any man had held that place hetherto but he was a monke Therein he was deceiued For Nothelmus and two or thrée other before him were secular priests not monks But he resolute in this errour and loath to breake the dance was perswaded first to become a monke of Floriake in France and that done accepted of the election He continued Archbishop 24. yéeres in great fauour and authoritie vnder diuers princes Edmund Edward Athelstan and Eadred Towards the latter end of his time Edwyn a yoong Gentleman obtained the crowne with whom he had very ill agréement He caused him to be diuorced from his Quéene some say for consanguinity some alleage other reasons He excommunicated his concubines and causing one of them whom the king doted vnreasonably vpon to be fetcht out of the court by violence burnt her in the forehead with a hot yron banished her into Ireland These things exasperated the king much against him But he was taken away by death soone after and so deliuered from al feare of the kings displeasure He was buried on the south side of the high alter in a tombe built somewhat after the forme of a Pyramis I take it to be the tombe of ieate standing in the grate néere the steps that lead vp to S. Thomas chappell After his death which hapned the yéere 958. Elsinus Bishop of Winchester that could neuer brooke Odo in his life time by bribery corrupt meanes obtained election vnto Canterbury and comming thither spurned at his tombe despitefully vsing these spéeches now at last quoth he thou art dead old dotard and much against thy will hast left thy place vnto a man woorthier of it then thy selfe Our stories report that the next night Odo appéered vnto him in his sléepe threatning a spéedie and fearefull vengeance of this insolency According vnto which prediction it fell out that trauailing to Rome for his pall vpon the Alpes he was so oppressed with cold as he was constrained to put his féete wherewith he had so contumeliously disgraced his deceased predecessor into the bellies of his horses yet at last to die for cold Brithelm Bishop of Wels was then chosen Archbishop a vertuous and méeke man but not very fit for gouernment In regard whereof king Edgar intreated him and he easily condiscended to abide still at his old charge 23. Dunstan VVIth the approbation of all men Dunstan Bishop of London was then elected to this Metropoliticall Sée Of whom I know not how to write that which is deliuered of him is so infinite But I will hold my selfe
or other auoydance without any performance of vsuall ceremonies And whether it were that he mistrusted his title to Canterbury or inercusable couetousnesse I cannot tell certaine it is that he kept Winchester also together with Canterbury euen vntill a little before his death he was forced to forgoe them both Many times he was cited vnto Rome about it but by giftes delayes and one meanes or other he droue it off neuer being able to procure his pall thence so long as king Edward liued William the Conqueror hauing slaine king Harold in the field all England yéelded presently vnto his obedience except onely Kentishmen who following the counsell of Stigand and Egelsin the abbot of S. Augustines gathered al their forces togither at Swanscombe néere Grauesend and there attended the comming of the king who doubted of no such matter euery man holding a gréene bough in his hand whereby it came to passe that he was in the midst of them before he dreamed of any such businesse toward He was greatly amased at the first till he was giuen to vnderstande by Stigand there was no hurt meant vnto him so that he would graunt vnto that contrey their ancient liberties and suffer them to be gouerned by their former customes and lawes called then and til this day Gauelkind These things he easily yeelded vnto vpon this armed intercession and afterward very honourably performed But he conceiued so profound a displeasure against Stigand for it as he neuer ceased till he had reuenged it with the others destruction A while he gaue him very good countenance calling him father méeting him vpon the way when he vnderstood of his repaire toward him and affording him all kinde of gratious and fauourable vsage both in words and behauiour but it lasted not long The first signe of his hidden rancour and hatred towarde him was that he would not suffer himselfe to be crowned by him but made choise of Aldred Archbishop of Yorke for which he alleaged other reasons as that he had not yet receiued his pall c. But the matter was he was loth in that action to acknowledge him for Archbishop Soone after his coronation he departed into Normandy carrying with him Stigand and many English nobles vnder pretence to doe them honour But in truth he stood in doubt least in his absence they should practise somewhat against him And namely Stigand he knew to be a man of a haughty spirit subtile rich gracious and of great power in his countrey Presently vpon his returne certaine Cardinals arriued in England sent from the Pope as legates to redresse as they said certaine enormities and abuses of the English clergy Stigand by and by perceiuing himselfe to be the marke that was specially shot at hid himfelfe a while in Scotland with Alexander Bishop of Lincolne and after in the Isle of Ely At last perceiuing a conuocation to be called at Winchester he came thither and besought the king in regarde of his owne honour and the promise made vnto him at Swanscombe which was not to be offended with him or any other for their attempt at that time to saue him from the calamity he saw growing toward him which he could not impute vnto any thing so probably as his vndeserued displeasure The king answered him with very gentle words that he was so farre from endeuouring to take any reuenge of that or any other matter as he loued him and wished he knew how to protect him from the danger imminent But that which was to be done at that time must be done by the Popes authoritie which he might not countermaund So do what he could he was depriued of his liuings by these legates The causes alleaged against him were these First that he had held Canterbury and Winchester both together which was no very strange thing for Saint Oswald had long before held Worceter with Yorke and S. Dunstan Worceter with London Secondly that he had inuaded the Sée of Canterbury Robert the Archbishop being yet aliue vndepriued And lastly that he presumed to vse the pall of his predecessor Robert left at Canterbury and had neuer receiued any pall but of Pope Benedict at what time he stood excommunicate for simony and other like crimes In the same conuocation many other Prelates were depriued of their promotions as 〈◊〉 Bishop of Helmham brother vnto Stigand diuers abbots and men of meaner places All which was done by the procurement of the king that was desirous to place his countrymen in the roomes of the depriued for the establishment of his new gotten kingdome Poore Stigand being thus depriued as though he had not yet harme inough was also clapt vp presently in prison within the castell of Winchester and very hardly vsed there being scarcely allowed meate inough to hold life and soule together That was thought to be done to force him to confesse where his treasure lay whereof being demaunded he protested with great othes he had no mony at all hoping belike so to procure his liberty the rather and then to make himselfe mery with that he had laid vp against such a déere yéere He died soone after of sorrow and griefe of minde or as other report of voluntary famine 17. yéeres after he first obtained the Archbishopricke After his death a little key was found about his necke the locke whereof being carefully sought out shewed a note or direction of infinite treasures hid vnder ground in diuers places All that the king pursed in his owne coffers The bones of this archbishoply entoombed at this day vpon the top of the north wall of the Presbytery of the church of Winchester in a coffin of lead vpon the north side whereof are written these words Hic iacet Stigandus Archiepiscopus he was depriued ann 1069. and died within the compasse of the same yéere 33. Lanfrank STigand being yet aliue but depriued as is beforesaid Lanfranke was consecrate Archbishop This Lanfrank was borne at Papia in Lumbardy twenty myles from Millayn where being brought vp in learning and now come vnto mans state he determined to trauaile Through France he came into Normandy prouoked by the fame and great reports he had heard of Eluin abbot of Becco Upon the way thitherward it was his hap to be encountred with théeues that spoiled him of all he had bound him and threw him into a thicket where he might haue perished with cold and hunger had not God sent some extraordinary company that way that loosed him hauing laien there onely one night Thence he got him vnto the monastery of Becco and for very want and penury was faine to become a Reader of Logike there vntill he was admitted to the place of a monke Soone after that he was made Prior of Becco whence in regard of his singular wisedome and great knowledge in all good learning that those times could affoord he was called by Duke William to be abbot of S. Stephens in Cane a monastery that the said Duke had founded Now
Stigand being displaced in manner aboue rehearsed the conquerour well knowing how much it behooued him to the establishment of his new erected throne in England to haue a man wise and faithfull in that place made a speciall choice of him as one in all respects most fit and woorthy which being well knowne to all men the Couent at the kings first nomination readily chose him the nobilitie and courtiers willingly assented and receaued him with great applause and lastly the Pope affoorded him his pall with extraordinary fauour It is said at his first comming the Pope rose vp vnto him and mette him telling him he yeelded him that honour not of dutie but in regard of his excellent learning whereof he had heard great fame Thomas Archbishop of Yorke was present the same time together with 〈◊〉 Bishop of Dorchester This Thomas had béene lately consecrated vnto Yorke by Lanfrank and for a certaine time refused to make profession of obedience vnto the See of Canterbury euen vntill by the commandement of the king he was inforced thereunto Now whether it were discontentment and perswasion of a wrong or else enuie at Lanfranks either vertue or good fortune that mooued him hée presently began to make complaint vnto the Pope of a great miury offered vnto his Sée in the demaund of his profession Lanfrank pleaded prescription for his right and offred to make proofe of the same The Pope therefore not willing to trouble himselfe any more with the matter committed the hearing thereof vnto the king who in the yéere 1072. iudged it for Canterbury Sée more of this quarrell in Thomas of Yorke Lanfrank himselfe was consecrated very solemnly at Canterbury all the Bishops in England being present themselues or by their proctors August 29. 1070. Almost 18. yeres he continued Archbishop gouerning his charge laudably and happily till that about the end of his time one action obscured his former praises and furthermore was the cause of many great calamities vnto him It is thought that William the Conqueror left the kingdome of England vnto his yoonger sonne William Rufus at the perswasion especially of this Archbishop who the rather wisht well vnto the yoong prince because he had béene brought vp vnder him in his childhood He is blamed much for putting the eldest sonne Robert from that which might séeme in some sort due vnto him and surely God blessed him not in that action The king thus aduanced by him fel out with him and droue him out of the realme The cause of this displeasure is diuersly reported But most men agree it was none other then this that the king thought him a little too busie in exhorting him to vertue and godlinesse and reprehending his manifold vices Being thus banished he trauatled to Rome and wandred vp and downe many countries till at last by what intercession I finde not he was suffred to come home againe Soone after his return he fell sicke of an ague and so ended his daies Iune 4. 1088. or as Houeden hath May 24. 1089. He was buried at Canterbury in his owne church vnto which he was a great benefactor He bestowed much vpon the fabrike and reparation of the same built much housing for the monkes whose number he increased from 30. to 140. restored the dignities and offices of old belonging to the monastery and recouered vnto the same 25. Mannors that had béene taken from it wrongfully in times past by Odo Bishop of Bayon and earle of Rent Moreouer he built the Archbishops pallace at Canterbury in a manner all he founded two hospitals without the citie of Canterbury and endowed them with competent reuenewes Saint Iohns and Harbaldown He bestowed large mony toward the building of the cathedrall Church of Rochester or rather indéed built it all and did much the particulars I cannot set downe for the abbey of Saint Albons He was a great student writ many learned works and which deserueth especiall remembrance tooke great paines in reforming the Bible the copies whereof were much corrupted throughout England by the negligence of the writers 34. Anselm FOwer yéeres the Sée continued void after the death of Lanfranke and the king pursed the profits thereof In what good moode I knowe not he which was woont to sell all other ecclesiastical promotions as it were by the drum bestowed this Archbishopricke fréely vpon a most woorthy man Anselm abbot of Becco This Anselm was borne at Augusta a city of Burgundy standing at the foot of the Alpes His fathers name was Gundulfe a man of great account in his country and his mothers Hemeberg He came vnto Becco of the like errand as Lanfranke had done mooued thereunto by the great fame of the said Lanfranke and professed himselfe a monke there in the 27. yéere of his age Lanfranke being called away to Cane he was made Prior and soone after Abbot Eluyn the old Abbot being dead In that place he continued 15. yéeres and then was earnestly requested by Hugh Earle of Chester lying very sicke to come into England vnto him to conferre with him and to order certaine affairesof his Hither he came and had much honour done him euery where of all forts of people The king himselfe amongst the rest beside many verball fauours made offer vnto him of the Archbishopricke of Canterbury verily hoping belike that a man giuen to monasticall contemplation and not estéeming worldly pompe would vndoubtedly haue refused the same For it is certaine that after Anselm had accepted the offer pitying belike the spoile and desolation of the church for want of a pastor the king would faine haue retracted his gift and perswaded him with many reasons to leaue it shewing him how the burthen and trouble of the place was greater then he should be able to inoure a man that had spent his time within the wals of a monastery and not experienced in managing of great affaires But he lost his labour Anselm kept fast his hold and was soone after consecrated by Walkelm Bishop of Winchester or as I finde also recorded by Thomas Archbishop of Yorke Decemb. 4. 1093. all the Bishops of the land that could possibly come being present at that solemnity Presently after his consecration the king and he fel out Not long before the king had throwen downe thirty churches to make his new forest néere Winchester This 〈◊〉 reprehended him sharply for and besought him to amend that and other faults as namely his simony his extortion his cruelty c. wherein he daily offended God gréeuously and greatly dishonoured himselfe This admonition of his displeased the king very much but his quarrell in shew was none other then this that asking leaue to go to Rome to fetch his pall he had named Vrban Pope whom the king as yet had not acknowledged for Pope and for so doing accused him of no lesse then high treason After great stirre and much adoe betwéene them about this matter it was determined that all the abbots and Bishops of England should be
non vendam neque donabo neque impignerabo neque de nouo infeudabo velaliquo modo alienabo in consulto Rom. Pontifice sicut me Deus admuet c. With what ceremony the crosse was woont to be deliuered sée before in William Courtney pag. 104. This Archbishop died February 15. 1502. the second yéere after his translation at Lambhith His body was conueighed to Feuersam by water conducted with 33. watermen all apparelled in blacke a great number of tapers burning day and night in the boate and from thence was caried to Canterbury where it was buried in the middle of the place called the martyrdome vnder a faire marble stone inlaid with brasse He bequeathed to his Church a siluer image of 51. ounces waight and appointed 500. l. to be bestowed in his funerals He built the most part of Otford house and made the yron worke vpon the coping of Rochester bridge 67. William Warham VVIlliam Warham a gentleman of an ancient house was borne in Hamshire brought vp in the Colledge of Winchester and chosen thence to New Colledge in Oxford where he procéeded Doctor of Law Intending then to vse and put in practice the knowledge he had gotten at the Uniuersity he became an aduocate or Doctor of the Arches and soone after Master of the Rolles While he was in that office King Henry the seuenth sent him Embassador to the Duke of Burgundy to perswade him that he should not beléeue the false reports of his Duchesse and to signifie how notably she had abused him and all the world in setting vp two counterfeits against him Lambert that made himselfe the Earle of Warwicke who was then to be séene in the Tower safe ynough and Perkin Warbeck whom she had taught to name him selfe Richard Duke of Yorke that was certainly knowen to haue béene murthered by his wicked vncle long before In this businesse he behaued himselfe so wisely as the king greatly commended him for the same and the Bishopricke of London happening to be void soone after his returne home he procured him to be elected thereunto He had not beene Bishop there two whole yéeres when Henry Deane the Archbishop died to whose place also by the kings speciall indeuour he was aduaunced He was inthronised March 9. 1504. with woonderfull great solemnity The day before his comming to Canterbury the Duke of Buckingham that was his high steward came thither attended with seuen score horse to sée all things in a readinesse The said Duke had also the office of chiefe Butler and therefore being vnable to doo the duties of both he deputed Sir George Bourchier vnto the Butlership Him selfe tooke great paines to sée that nothing might be wanting requisite for the performance of this ceremony in most magnificent manner The next day which was Sunday he met the Archbishop ouer against Saint Andrewes Church and dooing low obeysance vnto him went before him to Christ church At the great gate néere the market place the Prior and Couent receiued him honorably and caried him to the Church whether he went from Saint Andrewes Church barefoote said masse there and was placed in his throne after the accustomed manner From Church he was attended by the Duke as he was thetherward The cheere at dinner was as great as for money it might be made Before the first messe the Duke him selfe came ridinginto the hall vpon a great horse bare headed with his white staffe in his hand and when the first dish was set on the table made obeysance by bowing of his body Hauing so done he betooke him to his chamber where was prouision made for him according to his state With the Archbishop sate the Earle of Esser the Bishop of Man the Lord Aburgauenny the Lord Brooke the Prior of Canterbury and the Abbot of Saint Augustines The Duke at his table was accompanied with the Lord 〈◊〉 Sir Edward Poynings the chiefe Justice of England named Phineux Sir Wilham Scot Sir Thomas Kemp and others A great many other guests were serued in other places noble men and knights at one table Doctors of Diuinity and Law at another and Gentlemen of the country at a third besides an infinite number of meaner calling placed by them selues according to their seuerall degrées But to let passe these matters and to come vnto his gouernement all the time of King Henry the seuenth vnder whom he liued Archbishop some thrée yéeres he enioyed all manner of prosperity being in so great fauor with his Prince as no man greater He dying and his sonne Bing Henry the eight succeeding Cardinall Wolsey that was then but Almosuer and Deaue of Lincolne diued so cunningly into the bosome of the yong king as by and by he ouertopped the Archbishop and quickly wound him out of all authority First by the kings meanes he got from him the Chauncellorship of England Then being Cardinall and the Popes Legate a latere by speciall commisson he set vp a new court called Curia 〈◊〉 vnder colour whereof he drewe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of iurisdiction throughout England into his owne hands and appointed Officials Registers c. in 〈◊〉 Dioces who tooke vp all causes and suffered other 〈◊〉 to whom the iurisdiction of right appertained to sitte still without either regard or profit This deiection of the Archbishop wherein men estéemed him for the time very vnhapy fell out to his great good the others immoderate greatnesse was the cause of his destruction At what time the K. 〈◊〉 to be diuorced from his first wife D. Catherine she 〈◊〉 choice of this our Archb. Nicholas West Bish. of Ely two lawyers and of I. Fisher 〈◊〉 of Rochester and Henry Standish Bishop of Assaph Doctors of Diuinity to assist and direct her in that sute they did so and behaued themselues in such sort as neither the king had cause to be offended with their ouerforwardnes nor she to blame their stacknes or negligēce But the Cardinall that was ioined with Cardinall Campeius in commission wherein they were authorised by the Pope to examine the circumstances of that cause he I say being more slacke in his procéedings then the king expected he should so incensed him against him as shortly after he was content first to take the aduantage of a Premunire against him then to cause him to be arrested of high treason whereof sée more in Yorke Soone after the Cardinals death there was a conuocation held wherein the cleargy was aduertised that they all had fallen into apremunire by yéelding vnto the Cardinals power legantine neuer allowed by the king They determined therefore to redéeme the penalty they had incurred with the paiment of 118. thousand pounds whereof the prouince of Yorke should pay eightéene thousand and Canterbury the rest which was 100000. l. When this gift was to haue béene presented they were certified that the king would not accept of the same except they declared in a Canon that he was supreame head of the church Long this matter was hammering But at last they
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
to institute a vniuersitie at Oxford and him selfe became the first publique 〈◊〉 there He writeth furthermore that he was 〈◊〉 Chauncellor vnto Asser the Archbishop of Saint 〈◊〉 his néere kinsman who both endured great vexation and trouble at the hands of one Hemeyd a mighty man of those parts that tyrannised intollerably ouer the cleargy there By reason thereof waring weary of his office he left his countrey and comming into England to king Alfred became schoolemaster of his children vntill such time as 〈◊〉 Bishop of Sherborne dying he was preferred to his place Unto this man the said king gaue the mannors of Wellington Buckland and Lydyard in Sommersetshyre which since haue come vnto the Bishops of Wels whereof one Buckland yet remaineth vnto that See By his exhortation also that good king did much for the Uniuersity of Oxford alotting diuers stipends vnto the readers and professors there This Bishop died the yéere 883. and was buried at Sherborne 11. 〈◊〉 or Sigelm trauelled into India to the place of Saint Thomas his buriall carried thither the almes or 〈◊〉 of king Alfred and brought home many pretious stones of great price 12. 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 He died 898. After Ethelwald the Sée of Sherborne stoode void seuen yéeres by reason of the Danish wars The yéere 905. Plegmund by the commaundement of king Edward the elder consecrate seuen Bishops in one day as I haue before mentioned in Canterbury elsewhere Thrée of them were appointed to Sees newly erected all taken out of the Dioces of Sherborne One had iurisdiction ouer Cornewall another ouer Deuonshire and a third ouer Sommersetshire Soone after that a fourth was placed in Wiltshire hauing his Sée some say at Ramsvery others say at Sunnyng and some other at Wilton So Sherborn had now left vnto it only Dorsetshire and Barkshire Of the rest we shall speake God willing seuerally in their particular places But these Bishops of Wiltshire because their See at last returned backe againe whence it first sprang I will deliuer them and their succession next after Sherborne Sherborne 13. Werstane He died 918. 〈◊〉 by the Danes in 〈◊〉 14. Ethelbald 15. Sigelm Florilegus mentioneth one Sigelm to haue been slaine by the Danes the yéere 834. I beléeue he 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 934. 16. Alfred He died 940. 17. 〈◊〉 This man was made Abbot of 〈◊〉 by Dunstan then Bishop of London Being 〈◊〉 to the Bishopricke of Sherborne he displaced 〈◊〉 priests and put in monkes It is reported that when he lay a dying he cried out suddenly I sée the 〈◊〉 open and Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God immediately after those wordes giuing vp the ghost an 958. 18. Alfwold He died 978. and was buried at Sherborne 19. Ethelrike 20. Ethelsius 21. Brithwin or Brithwicke He died 1009. 22. Elmer 23. Brinwyn or Birthwyn 24. Elfwold He was a man of great temperance and 〈◊〉 for the which in that luxurious age he was much admired After his death these two Sées 〈◊〉 againe 〈◊〉 and made one Wiltshire 1. Ethelstane He died 920. 2. Odo that became Archbishop of Canterbury the yéere 934. 3. Osulf He died 870. and was buried at 〈◊〉 4. 〈◊〉 He died 981. and was buried at Abondon 5. Alfgar or Wolfgar 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 989. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7. 〈◊〉 or Aluricius he succéeded his predecessor in Canterbury likewise the yeere 995. 8. Brithwold a monke of Glastonbury a great benefactor of that Abbey as also of the Abbey of Malmesbury He died 1045. and was buried at Glastonbury 9. Herman a Flemming Chaplaine vnto King Edward the Confessor was the last Bishop of this petty Sée He labored to haue his See remoued to Malmsbery and had once obtained it of king Edward the Confessor but by a countersute of the monkes there he was disappointed Uery angry with this repulse he left his Bishopricke and became a monke at Bertine in Fraunce But hearing soone after how that Elfwold Bishop of Sherborn was dead he returned home againe and with much adoo obtained that Sherborne and his Dioces might once more be vnited together againe 1. Herman THe fore named Herman liuing vnto the time of William Conquerour when as he gaue commaundment that all Bishops should remooue their Sees from obscure townes to the fairest cities of their Dioces made choise of Salisbury there laid the foundation of a Church which he liued not to finish Salisbury saith W. of Malmsbury is a place built on the toppe of a hill resembling rather a Castle then a Towne compassed about with a strong wall and well prouided otherwise of all commodities but wanteth water so vnreasonably as a strange kind of merchandise it is there to be sold. This place we now call old Salisbury whereof nothing remaineth at this time but certaine desert ruines How it decaied we shall haue cause hereafter to discourse 2. Osmond OSmond being a knight and a Norman by birth came into England with King William the Conquerour He had béene Captaine of Say in Normandy and by the foresaid king was made Chauncellor of England Earle of 〈◊〉 and after Hermans death Bishop of Salisbury He was a man well learned and passing wise in regard whereof he was alwaies of the 〈◊〉 counsell and might seldome be spared from the Court He continued the building begun by his predecessor and at last finished the same adding vnto it a library which he furnished with many excellent bookes This new Church at olde Salisbury was finished and in an 〈◊〉 hower dedicated very solemnly by the foresaid 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with Walkelin Bishop of Winchester and Iohn of 〈◊〉 the yéere 1092. In an euill hower I say for the very next day after the steple of the same was 〈◊〉 on fire by lightning That he afterwards repaired and furnished his Church with all maner of ornaments At last he departed this life Saterday December 3. 1099. and was buried in his owne 〈◊〉 His bones were after remoued to new Salisbury where they now lye in the middle of the Lady Chappell vnder a Marble stone bearing this onely inscription ANNO. 〈◊〉 Aboue any thing I may not forget that amongst diuers bookes he writ as the life of Saint Aldelme the first Bishop of Sherborne c. he was first Author of the ordinale secundum vsum Sarum It séemeth he was made a Saint 〈◊〉 his death For I find his name in our Calender the foresaid third day of December 3. Roger. KIng Henry the first being yet a priuate man and seruing his brother in his wars in Normandy it chaunced him and his troupe to turne into a Church in the Subburbes of Cane to heare seruice Roger that rich and mighty Bishop of Salisbury that was afterwards serued the cure there at that time for some very poore salary This 〈◊〉 Curate well knowing how to fit the deuotion of soldiers was so 〈◊〉 at his businesse as he had made an ende of his worke before some of the company were aware he had begunne They all
not that enabled him to performe these great workes and yet to leaue so much money behind him He procured an order to be taken that all Ecclesiasticall persons of his Diocesse at the time of their deaths should leaue and bequeath their goods to him or to some other in trust towards his chargeable buildings or otherwise to be bestowed in pios vsus at his discretion This was the meanes wherby he grew to this infinite wealth and riches He died July 15. 1369. hauing sate Bishop here almost 42. yeeres and was buried in a Chappell which he built in the wall of the West end of his Church His funerals by his owne commaundement were performed without any mannerof pompe or extraordinary solemnity In so much as he allowed not either his seruants Executors or néerest kinsfolkes any mourning clothes at all See more of him in Simon Mepham of Canterbury THomas Brentingham the kings 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Calis was at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chosen Bishop of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 He 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and was 〈◊〉 vnto the 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 1. of March ann 1370. He was a man very well learned expert as well in politique gouernment as ecclesiasticall matters and in both these respects greatly reuerenced and esteemed For which cause at the parliament holden at Westminster in the tenth yéere of king Richard the second he was chosen to be one of the twelue Péeres of the realme vnder the king He was a benefactor to the callenderhay of the Uicars chorall of his owne church supplied in buildings and otherwise what his predecessors had left vndone hauing been Bishop 24. yeres died at Clist the third of December an 1394 was buried in the North side of the body of his owne church in a little chappell standing betwéene two pillers EDmund Stafford brother to Ralph Earle of Stafford was consecrate Bishop of Exceter June 20. 1395. He was Chauncellor of England vnder king Edward the third At the Parliament holden at Westminster the one and twentieth yéere of king Richard the second he being speaker of the higher house made a very learned and pithie oration to proue the absolute authority of a king His theame was Rex vnus erit omnibus and hauing discoursed at large to that purpose did conclude Quod potestas regis esset sibi 〈◊〉 annexa solida and whosoeuer did by any meanes impeach the same Poena legis merito essee plectendus For the 〈◊〉 of good letters he did increase two fellowships in the colledge of Stapledons Iune in Oxford reformed the statutes of the house and altered the name of it calling it Erceter colledge After that he had continued Bishop in much honor about thrée and twenty yéeres he died the fourth of September being the seuenth yéere of king Henry the fift and lyeth buried in his owne church in a very faire tombe of Alabaster vpon the North side of the entrance into the Ladis chappell IAmes Cary Bishop of Lichfield being at Florence when newes was brought to Pope Martyn the fift of Bishop Staffords death was then and there made Bishop of this church an 1419. He inioyed not long this place for he died and was buried there EDmund Laey Bishop of Hereford was translated from thence vnto this church about Easter an 1420. A man very deuont and religious but subiect to 〈◊〉 who carried him to their pleasure Great contentions were betwéene him and the city for liberties which by arbitrement were compounded He built the chapter house in his owne church and was a liberall benefactor vnto the Uicars of Calenderhay Hauing continued in this See 35. yéeres he died 1475. and lyeth buried in the North wall of the presbytery vnder a plaine marble tombe where many miracles are said to haue beene wrought and are ascribed to his helines GEorge Neuill was consecrated Nouemb. 26. an 1455. He finished the chapter house which his predecessor had begun And after that he had beene Bishop about tenne yeeres was remooued to Yorke See more of him in Yorke IOhn Boothe Batcheler of the ciuill Law was consecrated vpon the two and twentith day of February an 1466. He gouerned his church very well and builded as some suppose the Bishops Sée in the quier but being weary of the great troubles which were in this countrey betwéene king Edward the fourth and the Earle of Warwicke he remooued from hence to his house of Horsleigh in Hampshire where he died vpon the first day of Aprill an 1478. lieth buried at Saint Elements in London PEter Courtmay Bishop of Exceter was 〈◊〉 in Nouember an 1477. at Saint Stephans in Westminster He was translated from this church vnto Winchester in the ninth yéere of his being Bishop here 〈◊〉 more in Winchester RIchard Foxe succéeded him and hauing continued Bishop here 6. yéeres he was translated first to Welles and after to Winchester See more in Winchester OLiuer King was consecrate Bishop of this church in February 1492. He also was remooued to Bathe hauing sate here thrée yéeres Sée more in Bathe RIchard Redman Doctor of diuinity and Bishop of Saint Assaph became Bishop of this church from whence he was remooued to Ely in September 1501. See more in Ely IOhn Arundell descended of the ancient and most worshipfull house of the Arundels of Lanherne in Cornewall was translated from 〈◊〉 to this Church in the ende of the yéere 1501. He died at London the yéere 1503. and was buried at Saint Clements church without Temple Barre vpon the South side of the high altar vnder a toombe of marble inlaid with brasse HVgh Oldam was preferred vnto this Bishoprick by the meanes of the Lady Margaret countesse of Richmond whose chaplaine he was A man of more zeale then knowledge and more deuotion then learning somewhat rough in spéeche but in deede and action friendly He was carefull in the sauing and defending of his liberties for which continual sutes were betwéene him and the Abbot of Tauestocke He was also liberall to the Uicars Chorall of his Church and reduced them to the kéeping of commons Towards the maintenance whereof he gaue them certaine reuenewes and impropriated vnto them the rectory of Cornwood Albeit he suere not very well learned yet a great fauourer and a furtherer of learning he was Once he had intended to haue inlarged Exceter colledge in Oxeford as well in building as in reuenewes but being denied a fellowship there which he had earnestly requested in the behalfe of one Atkins he altered his determination and contributed largely toward the foundation of Corpus Christi colledge whereof he is esteemed and worthily the principall benefactor He chanced to dye excommunicate at the sute of the Abbot of Tauistock June 25. 1519. and might not be buried vntill an absolution was procured from Rome He lyeth in a Chappel of his owne building cast out of the vppermost ende of the South wall of the Church where he hath a sumptuous faire monument IOhn 〈◊〉 otherwise Harman succéeded Oldham by the preferment
colledge in Cambridge often Ambassador in Germany Italy and elsewhere and became Bishop of Hereford the yéere 1535. A man very well learned and secretly a fauourer of religion M. 〈◊〉 doth dedicate his commentary vpon the Euangelists vnto him Himselfe also writ diuers bookes yet extant He sate onely two yeeres and seuen moneths But where he died or was buried I finde not 66. Edmund Boner hauing béene Bishop of Hereford only 7. moneths was 〈◊〉 to London See London 67. Iohn Skyp Doctor of Diuinity and Archdeacon of Dorset became Bishop of Hereford 1539. sate 4. moneths aboue 12. yeeres died at London in time of a Parliament and was buried in the church of Saint Mary Mont-hault 68. Iohn Harley sometime fellow of Magdalene colledge in Oxford was displaced by Quéene Mary and died soone after 69. Robert Parsew alias Warbington succéeded 70. Iohn Scory late Bishop of Chichester was appointed vnto this Sée by the Queenes Maiesty that now is in the beginning of her raigne He died in the beginning of the yéere 1585. 71. Herbert Westfayling Doctor of Diuinity and Cannon of Christchurch in Oxford was consecrate Decemb. 12. 1585. The Bishopricke of Hereford is valued in the Exchecquer at 768 l. 10 s. 10 d. ob farthing and yeelded the Pope for first fruits 1800. florens The Bishops of Chichester 1. WIlfride Archbishop of Yorke being banished by Egfride king of Northumberland as in Yorke you may reade more at large he thought good to occupy his talent by preaching the word of God amongst the South Saxons 〈◊〉 the king of that country a little before his comming had receaued the faith of Christ by the perswas on of Wlfhere king of Mercia He willing to increase his owne knowledge and 〈◊〉 that his subiects should be directed the way of saluation made very much of Wilfride and assigned him an habitation in Seolsey a place all compassed about with the sea except one way All that land containing eighty seuen housholds this king gaue vnto Wilfride for his maintainance He built a Monastery there and established his Cathedrall Sée in the same Now it pleased God 〈◊〉 blesse his labours as in a short time great numbers of the people being conuerted embraced Christian religion And a day being appointed for their Baptisme they had no sooner 〈◊〉 the same but immediately it rained plentifully the want whereof had caused a dearth the space of thrée yéeres before and that so great as not onely many died daily for hunger but great numbers ioyning hand in hand forty or fifty in a company threw themselues headlong into the sea choosing rather to die then to indure that torment of hunger any longer Thus it pleased God at once to deliuer these men from temporall death by famine and euerlasting destruction that their ignorance threatned vnto them Neither was this all the good that Wilfride did vnto them Their sea and riuers abounding with great store of good fish which they knew not how to take he taught them and caused great store to be caught wherewith many poore people were greatly relieued Hauing staid fiue yéeres there he was called home into his owne countrey againe and restored to his Archbishopricke of Yorke 2. Eadbert After his departure Sussex was gouerned by the Bishops of Winchester vntill the yéere 711. at what time Eadbert was consecrate Bishop of Seolsey which place before that he gouerned as Abbot 3. Eolla he being dead the Sée stood voyde vntill after the death of Beda 4. Sigga or Sigelm alias Sigfridus 5. Alubrith 6. Osa alias Bosa 7. Giselher 8. Tota 9. Wighthun 10. 〈◊〉 11. Beornege Matthew Westminster maketh mention of one Camelec Bishop of the South Saxons that as he saith was taken prisoner of the Danes the yéere 915. and afterwards redeemed with the price of 40 l. sterling by king Edward the elder 12. Coenred 13. Gutheard he died 960. 14. Alfred he died 970. 15. Eadelm 16. Ethelgar Abbot of the new Abbey at Winchester consecrate May 6. 980. translated to Canterbury 988. 17. Ordbright 18. Elmar he died 1019. 19. Ethelrike he died 1038. Nouember 5. 20. Grinketell being depriued of the Bishoprick of the East Angles for Symony obtayned this 1039. 21. Heca Chaplayne vnto king Edward the Confessor consecrate 1047. he died 1057. 22. Agelrike a man singularly commended for his skill in the lawes and customes of the realme was appointed by William the Conqueror to assist Gosfrid Bishop of Constantia in iudging a great controuersie betwéene Lanfranke the Archbishop and Odo Earle of Kent the kings brother concerning title of diuers landes and because being a very aged man he was vnable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Chichester vnto Pikenden hoath in Kent where the whole County in a manner were assembled about this matter he was brought thither in a wagon or chariot In a 〈◊〉 holden at Windsor he was 〈◊〉 and that as Florent Wigorn. supposeth 〈◊〉 the yéere 1070. and imprisoned at Marleborough 1. Stigand chaplaine vnto the Conqueror translated his Sée from Seolsey an obscure place at that time and now caten vp with the sea that euery high water 〈◊〉 it vnto Chichester in old time called 〈◊〉 so he was the first Bishop of Chichester He died an 1087. 2. William 3. Ralfe A man of very high 〈◊〉 and no lesse high of minde He stoode very stoutly in defence of 〈◊〉 the Archbishop in so much as when the king William Rufus threatned him for the same he offered him his ring and crosier saying it should better become him to leaue his place then his duety Neither could he euer be induced to forsake the said Archbishop vntill he séemed to forsake his owne cause by flying the country After that when the king was content to winke at the mariage of many Priests in the realme vnto whom the Archbishop was a grieuous and heauy aduersary and receiued of them yéerely a great summe of money for defending them against the austerity of the other I meane Anselme this Bishop resisted the collection of that money in his Dioces calling it the tribute of fornication and when notwithstanding his resistance it was paied he interdicted his owne Dioces commanding the Church doores euery where to be stopped vp with thornes The king a wise and gentle Prince Henry the first whether not vouchsafing to contend with him or taking his well meaning in good part was not onely content to pardon this disobedience but also bestowed the money so gathered in his Dioces vpon him saying it was a poore Bishopricke and néeded such helpes And certaine it is that before the comming of this man it was indéede excéeding poore He increased it wonderfully and yet notwithstanding built his Cathedrall Church of Chichester from the ground It was scarcely finished when as May the fift 1114. it was quite defaced and a great part of the City consumed with casuall fire He found meanes to repaire it againe being helped much with the liberality of the king and some other This Bishop sate many yéeres
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
in great numbers It is said that for 36. daies together he neuer rested one moment but either instructed the people by preaching that flocked continually about him or else imparted Christ vnto them in Baptisme which he ministred in the open fieldes and riuers churches being not yet built King Edwyn against the time of his owne Baptisme had caused a little church to be erected of boords in the city of Yorke and dedicated the same to Saint Peter Afterward he layd the foundation of a very stately building round about the woodden church which he being taken away by vntimely death his successor 〈◊〉 finished Sedwall king of Wales and 〈◊〉 of Mercia or Mid-England came against this good king and God in his secret iudgement permitting the same ouerthrew him in the field and slue him The countrey by reason hereof being full of trouble Paulinus that saw he might not with safety abide any longer there sixe yeeres after his comming thither returned by water into Kent againe and there was intreated to take on him the gouernment of the See of Rochester then voyd He sate 13. yeeres and October 10. 644. was called away to receiue the glorious reward of his blessed labours 19. yeeres two moneths and 21. daies after his first consecration He was a man of a tall stature as Beda describeth him a little stooping blacke haired leane faced his nose thinne and hooked of a countenance both terrible and very reuerend He was buried after his death in his Cathedrall Church of Rochester 2. Cedda AFter the departure of Paulinus the Church of Yorke was twenty some say thirty yeeres without a Pastor by reason of the continuall warres and other troubles that happened by the persecution of Pagans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Colonanus and Tuda succeeding one another in the Bishopricke of Lindisfarne gouerned all Northumberland as well as they could during the time of this troublesome vacacie At last Egfrid king of Northumberland appointed one Wilfrid vnto the Sée of Yorke sending him to Agelbert Bishop of Paris sometime of Winchester to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of him where Wilfrid staying very long and not giuing any hope of spéedy returne the same 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a very holy man without all right vnto the same to thrust 〈◊〉 into the place due to Wilfrid Pauing carefully attended that charge not pertaining to him the space of thrée yéeres he was admonished by Theodorus Archbishop of Canterbury 〈◊〉 he was not rightly and lawfully called to that Sée 〈◊〉 he presently forsooke it and was made by meanes of the same Theodorus Bishop of Lichfield 3. Wilfridus THis Wilfrid was borne in the North 〈◊〉 of meane parentage The time of his childhood he 〈◊〉 in his Fathers house being vntaught vntill he 〈◊〉 14. yéeres of age at what time not sustayning the frowardnes of his stepmother he went abroad to séeke his fortune as they say And first he light vpon certaine Courtiers that had been beholding vnto his Father for diuers 〈◊〉 By 〈◊〉 he was presented vnto the Quéene as child for wit and beauty not vnfit to doo her seruice She by questioning 〈◊〉 the inclination of the boye that he was desirous to 〈◊〉 a scholler Therefore the sent him to one Cedda that of a Councellor and 〈◊〉 to the king had 〈◊〉 a Monke at Lindisfarne By him he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being very sharp witted profited wonderfully vnder him At that time there was a great contention in the Church about the obseruation of Easter whereof this youth being desirous to be fully informed determined to go to Rome and study there a while By meanes of Eanfled the Quéene 〈◊〉 and Ercombert king of kent he was furnished for this voyage and sent along with one or two other In the way he fell acquainted with 〈◊〉 Archbishop of Lyons who made very much of him stayed him with him a time to the great increase of his knowledge Continuing then no long time at Rome in his returne homeward he was ordered by the Archbishop of Lyons aforesaid who also adopted him to be his sonne He meant not to haue returned into his owne Countrey but that this Archbishop was taken from him being 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 the Quéene that had cruelly staine 9. other Bishops before Presently vpon his returne home king Egfrid gaue him a house and maintenance and many uoblemen admiting much his learning and eloquence bestowed diuers things vpō him At last with great applause liking of all men he was chosen bishop sent into Fraunce where he was consecrate by 12. other Bishops for he refused to take consecration at the hands of the Scottish bishops that were counsed schisinatiques in not agreeing with the Church of Rome concerning the time and obseruation of Easter Beyond the Seas he stayed somewhat longer then he needed being delighted with the company of many learned men of that countrie and when he would haue returned by tempest of weather he was driuen into far countries where he wandred a long time Comming home and finding another man in his place he liued a while a priuate life In which meane space he was often inuited by 〈◊〉 king of Merce-land vnto the Bishopricke of Lichfield In the end Cedda being remooued as before is said he setled himselfe at Yarke and hosced Cedda to Lichfield Then the first thing he went about was to finish his cathedrall church left vnperfect by 〈◊〉 and since his departure very much decaied for the roofe was fallen and the walles in many places ruinous this his church I say he repaired and finished mending the walles couering it with leade glasing the windowes and moreouer beautified the same with many goodly ornaments He was so greatly beloued of all men for his gentlenesse 〈◊〉 and liberality as many men liuing but more at their death especially cleargie men would put their goods and children into his hands the one assuring themselues of a 〈◊〉 kéeper the other of a discréete and conscionable 〈◊〉 Hereby it came to passe that in short time he became exceeding rich hauing many seruitors to attend vpon him and great store of plate and other houshould 〈◊〉 very sumptuous The report whereof comming to the eares of Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury it put him in mind of the greatnesse of that dioces and the ability of the country to maintaine more Bishops Wherefore he went about to appoint two or thrée 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 VVilfride obstinately 〈◊〉 and the other ceased not to 〈◊〉 very earnestly he appealed vnto the Pope and went vnto him in person Some report I thinke vntruly that he went 〈◊〉 to perswade the Quéene to forsake her husband and 〈◊〉 take her selfe to a monastery and that the king being greatly displeased herewith first sought to diminish his authority by making more Bishops and afterward made diners 〈◊〉 vnto the Pope against him séeking to haue him 〈◊〉 Whosoeuer caused it certaine it is that to the 〈◊〉 he trauailed In passing of the sea he was driuen by a 〈◊〉 winde into Frizia and
called Lindisfarne now Holy Island where he and diuers of his successors much deale lead their liues He was Bishop seuenteene yéeres during which time he neglected no duety of a good Pastor trauelling vp and downe the countrey euen on foote to preach the Gospel giuing whatsoeuer he could get vnto the poore and by the example of his owne abstinency chastity 〈◊〉 and all manner of Episcopall vertues instructing aswell as by word and doctrine He departed this life nt August 31. an 651. for griefe as it is to be thought of the death of king Oswald that was traiterously slaine 12. daies before Beda maketh report of diuers miracles to be done by him which who so desireth to read shal find them and many things more concerning him Eccl. hist. lib. 3. c. 3. 5. 1415. 16. and 17. 2. Finan FIunanus sent likewise thither out of Scotland was Bishop of 〈◊〉 after 〈◊〉 the space of ten yéeres He first built a church for his Sée in the Island all of timber and couered it with réede He had much to doe with one Conan and other about the obseruation of Easter which they would haue had him to celebrate according to the manner of the church of Rome He would not be induced by any meanes to any alteration 3. Coleman HIs successor Coleman a Scot also was no lesse obstinate in the same matter After many priuate conflicts the yéere 664. this controuersie was discust in a solemne disputation before the king and all his nobles who adiudged the victorie vnto his aduersaries The 〈…〉 tation is set downe at large by Beda lib. 3 cap. 25. 〈…〉 induring the disgrace of this foyle 〈…〉 ricke and returned into Scotland againe 4. Tuda AMongst diuers that came out of Scotland with Coleman this Tuda was one who hauing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 for the place by diligent preaching and vertuous behauiour vnder Coleman vpon his departure was chosen to succéede him He was content to reforme the obseruation of 〈◊〉 and to yeelde to some other things which had béene stood much vpon controuerted betwéene the Scots and Saxons Hauing béene Bishop 〈◊〉 one whole yéere he died of the plague anno 665. 5. Eata MAny of the Scots that came with Coleman returning with him the rest chose Eata for their Abbot and 〈◊〉 at Mailros which place king Oswyn gaue vnto them at the request of Coleman This Eata after the death of Tuda was chosen Bishop both of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 and gouerned them iointly the space of 3. yeeres After the ende of which terme he gaue ouer 〈◊〉 vnto one Tumbert But Tumbert being deposed by a Synod gathered at a place called Twiford Cutbert was elected vnto his See of Hagustald Eata then perceiuing that Cutbert had rather be at 〈◊〉 tooke on him once more the gouernment of 〈◊〉 and resigned 〈◊〉 vnto Cutbert 6. S. Cutbert THis Cutbert is said to be descended of the blood royall of the kings of Ireland being sonne of one 〈◊〉 and Sabina his wife that was daughter vnto a king 〈◊〉 He was brought vp in the Abbey of 〈◊〉 first vnder his predecessor Eata and afterwards vnder 〈◊〉 that succéeded Eata there After the death of Boisill he was made Abbot of that Monasterie which he ruled with great care and sinceritie And not content to looke vnto those onely the gouernment of whom was especially committed vnto him He vsed often to trauell into the countrie neere adioyning 〈◊〉 on horsebacke sometimes on foote preaching diligently the word of God instructing the ignorant in the way of life and sharpely reprehending vice where he saw cause And his manner was to frequent especially the most rude and barbarous places to which he thought no body else would resort least the people there being altogether neglected might perish for want of their spirituall foode He was a very personable man well spoken and so mightie in perswading as none that euer he delt withall was able to withstand the force of his words Hauing continued this manner of life at Mailros many yéeres at the importunate request of his old master Eata he was content to leaue the place and to liue once more vnder him at Lindisfarne But affecting much an Eremiticall and solitarie life he refused to liue with the rest of the monks and seated himselfe in the Island of Farne a desert place 9 miles within the sea hauing in it neither house nor water Yet there he made a shift to liue labouring with his owne hands till he was chosen Bishop A great while he refused obstinately to forsake his solitarie life euen vntill the king himself comming ouer vnto him partly by force partly by entreatie iuduced him thereunto So with much adoo he accepted consecration at last and receaued the same at Yorke vpon Easter day at the hande of Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury 6. other Bishops assisting him the yeere 684. in the presence of king Egfride and many of his nobles After he had beene Bishop two yeeres he would needes resigne and returned to his Island againe where seene after he ended his life The day of his departure to wit March 20. is consecrate vnto his memory He was first buried at 〈◊〉 but afterwards remooued to Durham as hereafter shal be declared The myracles that are ascribed vnto him and many other things not vnwoorthy the reading you shall find in the latter end of the 4. Booke of Beda his Ecclesiasticall history 7. Eadbertus ONe yéere after the resignation of Saint Cutbert the church of Lindisfarne was without a Bishop Edbert was then chosen to succeed him He couered his Cathedrall church with lead not onely the roofe which before was thatched with réede but the walles also He sate tenne yéeres and dying May the 6. 698. was buried beside or rather vnder Saint Cutbert his predecessor whose body the monkes had now placed in a shyrne aboue the pauement of the church After Edbert followed in order successiuely these 8. Edferth or Edfride that liued in Beda his time 9. Ethelwood who died the yéere 738. 10. Kenulfus he died 781. 11. Higbald HIgbald sate twelue yéeres and died an 803. In his time the Danes often spoyled the Church and monastery of Lindisfarne so as the Bishop and monkes were faine to forsake it Taking therefore the body of Saint Cutbert with them they determined to seate themselues in Ireland but being often driuen backe by tempest so as attempting diuers times to crosse the seas they could neuer land there they gaue ouer that enterprise and rested themselues sometime in one place sometime in an other during the time of all these Bishops 12. Egbert 13. Egfredus he died an 845. 14. Eaubert he died an 854. 15. Eardulf 16. Cuthard he died an 915. 17. Tilred he died an 927. 18. Withred 19. 〈◊〉 20. 〈◊〉 21. Aldred he died an 968. 22. Alfsius he died an 990. 23. Aldhunus or Aldiuinus ABout the yéere of grace 990. this 〈◊〉 was consecrate Bishop The yeere 995. or nere thereabout
after This Richard was a very prodigall man and spent so liberally the goods of his church as the monks doubting he would vndoo them and himselfe also went about by course of law to stay him and force him to a moderation of expence But it fell out quite contrary to their expectation For he being wilfully set continued law with them appealing to Rome c. and continued his old course 〈◊〉 vntill his death The yéere 1226. in the beginning of Easter terme he rid vp to London with a troupe of Lawyers attending on him At Peterborough he was entertayned in the Abbey very honorably and going to bed there in very good health was found in the morning by his chamberlaines starke dead He deceased May the first leauing his church 40000. marks indebted A monke of Durham bestowed this ryming Epitaphe vpon him 〈◊〉 qui cupitis Est sedata sitis Qui populos regitis Quod mors immitis Vobis praepositis Quod sumvos eritis laudes pompasque 〈◊〉 si me pensare velitis memores super omnia sitis non parcit honore potitis similis fueram bene scitis ad me currendo venitis 36. Richard Poore THe king earnestly commended one Luke his Chaplaine vnto the Bishopricke of Durham now voide swearing vnto the monkes that were sent to craue a Congé d'lier they should haue no Bishop in 7. yéere after if they would not be content to elect him The couent thinking him vnwoorthy so high a preferment chose one William Scot Archdeacon of Worceter a graue learned man and the kings Chaplaine Howbeit the king offended that his desire was not satisfied refused in great displeasure to ratifie this election And vnderstanding that they sent vnto Rome to intreate the Pope to put him in possession of that Sée he sent likewise his Embassadors the Bishop of Lichfield and the Prior of Lanthony to crosse and hinder that designement which they easily performed within a yéere or two after they chose with the kings good liking Richard Poore Bishop of Salisbury a notable man He was first Deane of Salisburie consecrated Bishop of Chichester the yéere 1215. translated thence to Salisbury 1217. lastly to Durham 1228. Being Bishop of Chichester he purchased vnto that church Amport which he bought of the church of Winchester At 〈◊〉 he is famous for remoouing his Sée from old Salisbury to new Salisbury where he began the building of that stately church Sée more of him in Salisbury He founded a monasterie of Nunnes called the Charnell at Tharent in 〈◊〉 and gaue it vnto the Quéene who chose that for the place of her buriall He builded also a Hospitall for poore people néere the colledge of Uaulx in Salisburie Comming to Durham he had ynough to doe to pay the huge debt of 40000. markes that Richard de Marisco left the landes of his Sée bound for He was a man of rare learning in those times and of notable integritie for his life and conuersation A little before his death perceauing his end to draw neere he caused the people to be called together and going vp into the pulpit made a very godly spéech vnto them desiring them to marke well that his exhortation for he was now shortly to be taken from them The next day he did the like and bidding them farewell praied them if he had offended any to forgiue him and to pray for him The third day he sent for al his particular acquaintance called all his family and seruants before him and distributed vnto them presently by hand such summes of money as either he ought or was willing to bestow vpon them which done and hauing set euery thing in perfect order he tooke his leaue of his friends one after an other and then falling to his prayers when he came vnto these words saith M. Paris In pace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dormiam requiescam he gaue vp the ghost He died Aprill 15. 1237. and was buried in the Nunnery of Tharent which he had founded 37. Nicholas de Farnham THomas Prior of Durham was chosen Bishop vpon the death of Poore Through the kings backwardnes and dislike that election was cassate and disannulled A long time the monkes had laboured this sute for their Prior and had spent much money in it At last 〈◊〉 they stroue against the streame they gaue it ouer the elect himselfe first yéelding Then chose they Nicholas de Fernham one greatly commended both for his manners and learning This man spent his yoonger yeeres in Oxford and hauing furnished himselfe there with the grounds of all good learning especially Logike and naturall Philosophie he 〈◊〉 beyond the seas and studied Phisicke at Paris and Bononia a great while Returning into his natiue countrey he gaue himselfe much vnto the study of Diuinitie profited therein so well as he was esteemed woorthie to be a Doctor By the counsell of Otto the Legate the Bishop of Carlile and other the king entertained this man into his seruice And first he was as it seemeth vnto me Esquire of his body then 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 her instructer or directer in matters of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 When he had now a long time béene a Courtier it hapned the Sée of Lichfield being voide the monkes of 〈◊〉 very carefull of choosing a sufficient man because they knew their doings woulde be sifted the yéere 1239. elected him whom they knew to be a man learned graue vertuous discréete very wise well spoken which maketh a man somewhat the more gratious tal of stature personable of a goodly presence He thanked them for their good will but considering with himselfe that his title to that Bishopricke was like to prooue litigious for the Chapter of Lichfield pretended a right to the election that time as also the great burthen and charge of the office pastorall refused in any sort to accept of the same The Chapter of Lichfield who had chosen their Deane hearing of this refusall by the exhortation of the same their Deane who resigned his right for their part also elected him Which notwithstanding he persisted in his former determination telling them that he felt the burthen already so heauy of a Benefice or two which he had as he was resolued neuer to accept any greater charge of soules So they were enforced to choose another Understanding within two yeeres after how the Couent of Durham with one consent had also chosen him for their Pastor he likewise refused and that more earnestly now then the last time adding vnto the former reasons this also that if he should accept of this place men would say how the hypocrite had refused a poore Bishopricke vnder colour of conscience to stay for a better In this minde he continued till Robert Grosthead that famous Bishop of Lincolne reprehended him sharpely for this his backwardnesse Séest thou not quoth he how the monks of Durham destitute of that comfort which a good pastor should yéeld them intreate thée with teares to affoord the