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
yet depending the Archbishop died Iuly 31. 1396. at Maidstone when he had sate 12. yéers lacking one moneth The old worke at Maidstone first built by Boniface his predecessor for an Hospitall he pulled downe and building it after a more stately manner translated it into a Colledge of secular priests which at the time of the suppression was valued at one hundred thirty nine pounds seuen shillings fixe pence by the yéere The church of Mepham quite fallen downe he repaired againe and built certaine almes houses néere it for the vse of poore people Toward the reparation of the body of his Church and cloysters he gaue 1000. marks He gaue also vnto the same Church a certaine image of siluer waighing one hundred and thréescore pounds 〈◊〉 vestments thirtéene coapes of great value besides a number of bookes He lieth buried vpon the South side of Thomas Beckets shrine at the féete of the blacke Prince in a goodly toombe of Alabaster 60. Thomas Arundell BY the Popes prouision Thomas Arondell Archbishop of Yorke was remooued to Canterbury about Christmas after William Courtneyes death His bulles were published at Canterbury Ianuary 11. Soone after his crosse was deliuered vnto him at Westminster by Henry Chillinden the Prior of Canterbury with 〈◊〉 solemnity in the presence of the king and many nobles February 10. following he receiued his pall 〈◊〉 the 19. of the same moneth he was inthronised at Canterbury with great pomp He was sonne vnto Robert Earle of Arundell and Warren first Bishop of Ely then of Yorke Sée more of him there He was scarce warme in his seate when by the kings displeasure he was dispossessed of the same In the second yéere of his translation a parliament was held at London The king there accused the Duke of Glocester the Earle of Arundell that was the Archbishops brother and diuers other of high treason Now because cleargy men were forbidden by the Canons to be present at any triall or iudgement vpon life and death the matter being once proposed all the Bishops departed the house as their maner was in like cases The Archbishop being absent vpon this occasion was condemned togither with his brother of high treason for which his brother was presently executed and he commaunded within forty daies to depart the realme vpon paine of death He thus banished got him to Rome and found such fauour with the Pope as first he was content to write earnestly vnto the king for his restitution and when he could do no good that way he translated him to the Archbishopricke of Saint Andrewes in Scotland intending to heape so much ecclesiasticall liuing vpon him by benefices c. in England as he should be able to liue in state honorable ynough The king vnderstanding of his intent writ a maruellous sharpe letter vnto the Pope telling him plainly he must repute him for his enimy if he yéelded any maner of succour vnto him whom he knew too well to hate him deadly That letter so wrought with the Pope as after that time he neuer indeuoured to prefer him farther and moreouer at the kings request made Roger Walden Deane of Yorke and treasurer of England Archbishop He was consecrate inthronised c. held Synods and did all things belonging vnto that place the space of two yéeres It hapened in the meane time that the king Richard the second wos deposed or at least inforced to resigne his crowne vnto Henry Duke of Lancaster that after possessed the same by the name of king Henry the fourth Boniface the Pope vnderstanding then of the fall of king Richard pronounced the said Roger to be an intruder and vsurper of the Archbishopricke and by his omnipotent bulles restored Thomas Arundell vnto the same againe As for Roger Walden that was now a Bishop without a Bishopricke for it is Character indelebilis he liued so a while til at last by the kind endeuor of the Archb. his charitable aduersary he was promoted vnto the Bishopricke of London which he enioyed but a short time being taken away by death within one yere after About a twelue moneth after the Archbishops restitution a conuocation was held at London whether the king sent the Earles of Northumberland and Westmerland that told the cleargy they came from the king but not of that errand that courtiers were woont to be sent for to that place they came not for money but onely to signifie the kings harty and fauorable goodwill vnto them and to request their daily prayers for him and the good estate of the realme This new broome with swéeping so cleane at the first was so worne out vnto the stumpes in a yéere or two as not contented with a bare tenth the next conuocation after he was very angry that a more liberall allowance was not made vnto him and began to hearken vnto the sacrilegious motions of certaine impious politicians that intending to cast the burthen of all subsidies and other kind of tributes vpon the cleargy letted not to say openly in the parliament house how the laity was not able to yéeld any thing vnto the kings coffers for that the cleargy had all the wealth of the land in their hands And therefore the king must either take from them their temporalties or else lay all the burthen vpon them that onely were able to beare it The Archbishop that was vndoubtedly a woorthy prelate wise and very stout rose vp and prooued by manifest arguments that the contributions of the Cleargy were after the proportion of their ability much more liberall then the subsidies or other paiments of the temporalty in many respects For saith he we pay the tenth of our liuings oftener then they pay fifteenths and though we serue not in the warres our selues our seruants and tenants do neither are we altogither idle in as much as we pray daily for the king and the realme as well in time of peace as war The prolocutor of the parliament house at that time was a knight called Sir Iohn Cleyn that hauing béene a cleargyman sometimes without any dispensation forsooke the calling became a soldier This prophane Apostata was not ashamed to say it was no matter for their praiers so the king might haue their mony I sée now quoth the Arch. whither the fortune of this realme tendeth the prayers of the church being despised which should appease the wrath of God iustly kindled against vs by the daily monstrous iniquities of our age Perceauing then that the king who at his first comming to the crowne had made many open and publike protestations of his loue to the church and his intent to defend and protect the same to the vtmost that he I say began to harken somewhat too patiently to these wicked motions he turned him toward him and making lowe obeisance humbly besought him it would please his maiesty to remember those gratious and most honorable spéeches wherein he had often signified his resolute determination of protecting the church from all iniury
called together to iudge of this controuersy They met at Rochingham castell and the matter being proposed by the king for feare or flattery they all assented vnto him and forsooke their Archbishop except onely Gundulphus Bishop of Rochester A while 〈◊〉 indured to liue in continuall seare and disgrace euen vntill he was commanded out of the realme by the king Being at Douer ready to take ship all his carriages were searcht his goodes there and elsewhere soeuer taken from him and sold to the kings vse his temporalties seased and himselfe set aland in France in a manner naked He trauailed presently to Lyons and was sent for thence by the Pope At his first comming to Rome he had all manner of fauour But by that time the king with golden eloquence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him of the cause his entertainment began to wax colder He determined therfore to haue returned to Lyons but was staied by the Pope whose pleasure while he was content to await a while longer the Pope died Soone after him the king died also being chaunceably slain by the glaunce of an arrow as he was hunting in that forest for the making whereof Anselm had reprehended him He was a very vitious man couetous in getting and prodigall in spending the most sacrilegious symonist that euer raigned in England Reioycing in the gain he made that way he would often say Panis Christi panis pinguis His death as some report was miraculously signified vnto Anselme in France A paper was put into the hand of one of his chaplaines no man knew how in which was found written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 occisus est Within a few daies after certaine word was brought of the tyrants death and this notice taken as sent from heauen Henry the first succéeded William Rufus in the kingdome who presently called home Anselme and restored him to his former place The first thing he did at his returne he called a conuocation at London wherein he depriued many prelates of great place for their seuerall offences Guy abbot of 〈◊〉 Eldwyn of Ramsey for symony Geftry of Peterburgh Haymo of Cheswel Egelric of Middleton for not being in orders Richard of Ely Robert of S. Edmunds all abbots for other enormities Diuers canons were agréed vpon in the same conuocation too long to rehearse Some of them tended to the restraining of clergy men from mariage which notwithstanding many maried daily many that came for orders refused vtterly to make profession of chastity as we may sée reported by Girard Archbishop of Yorke in an epistle written by him vnto Anselm in the end of S. Anselmes Epistles The falling out also of Anselm with the king which happened presently after was a great weakning vnto these canons All the time that the Archbishop was absent which was three yéeres the king had disposed of all Bishopricks that fell at his pleasure giuing inuestiture and possession of them by deliuery of the staffe and the ring And in deed the princes in a maner of all christendom had taken this kind of authority vnto themselues euery where about this time Bishops thus appointed demanded consecration of Anselm which he vtterly denied vnto them professing withall that he would neuer receaue or repute them for Bishops that were already cōsecrated by other vpon such election aleaging how it was lately forbidden in a councel held by Pope Vrban 2. that any clerke should take inuestiture of any spiritual preferment at the hand of any king prince or other lay man The king vpon Anselms refusall required Gerard Archbishop of Yorke to giue these Bishops consecration whereunto he readily assented But William Gifford nominated to Winchester stoode so in awe of Anselm as that he durst not accept consecration at Gerards hands This incensed the king woonderfully so as presently he commanded Giffards goods to be confiscate and himselfe banished the Realme Great adoo now there was about this matter throughout the realm some defending the kings right others taking part with the Archbishop In the end the king doubting what might come of it and being loth to giue occasion of tumult considering that himselfe was a stranger borne and that his father by force and much bloudshed had not many yéeres since obtained the rule of this land he determined to send an Ambassador to the Pope togither with the Archbishop so to grow to some reasonable conclusion The Pope Palchalis 2. would not yéeld one iote vnto the king insomuch as when the kings Embassador William Warelwast after Bishop of Excester said he knew the king would rather loose his crowne then this priuilege he answered yea let him loose his head also if he will while I liue he shall neuer appoint Bishop but I will resist him what I may So without dooing any good homeward they came But the king vnderstanding before hand how the world went sent a messenger to forbid Anselm entrance into the realme and presently seised all his goods mooueable and unmooueable into his hands Thrée yéeres more this good man spent in exile all which time he liued with Hugh Archbishop of Lyons At last it pleased God to open this passage of his reconciliation to the king Adela Countesse of Bloys the kings sister fell dangerously sicke in those parts where it chanced the Archbishop to abide He went to visite her and yéelded so great comfort vnto her in that time of her distresse as recouering afterward she neuer ceased importuning her brother vntill she had wrought an agréement betwéene them the conditions whereof were these First that Anselm should be content to consecrate the Bishops alreadie nominated by the king And then that the king should renounce all right to such nomination or inuestiture for the time to come These conditions were allowed by the Pope and the Archbishop restored not onely to his place but to all his goods and fruites gathered in the time of his absence Two yeeres he liued after this his last returne in which time he persecuted married priests very extremely Dunstan Oswald Ethelwald and other enimies to the mariage of clergie men had onely expelled them that out of monasteries that had wiues But Anselm vtterly forbidding them mariage depriued them of their promotions that were maried confiscated their goods vnto the Bishop of the Dioces adiudged them and their wiues adulterers and forced al that entred into orders to vow chastity Halfe the clergy of England at this time were either maried men or the sonnes of maried priests The king therefore pitying the generality of this calamity sought to protect them a while from Anselms seuerity in this point But he I meane Anselm was a little to resolute in all his determinations in so much as he might neuer be perswaded to yéeld one iot in any thing he once intended So notwithstanding the kings inclination to succour so many distressed poore families the canons of the Conuocation before mentioned were generally put in execution throughout England About this time it hapned Gerard Archbishop of
king desirous to haue some honest quiet man dealt first with the Couent praying them to make choice of such a one as he might haue cause to like and after made the same request vnto the Bishops The Monkes though mooued thereto would in no wise ioyne with the Bishops but perceiuing the Bishops began indéede to set foote into the matter appealed to Rome Much adoo there was there about it the space of nine monethes At last the Bishops got a mandate wherein the Monkes and they were commaunded to ioyne together The day of election was appointed but the Monkes for curst hart would not come vnto it So the Bishops procéeded and made choice of Baldwin Bishop of Worcester This election the monkes labored mightily to disanul professing that they liked the man elect very well but they must not indure such a president The king therefore who fauoured Baldwin exceedingly wrought so with one party and the other as the Monkes were content to elect him vpon condition he would renounce all benefite of his former election and the Bishops themselues would confesse the same to be void and of no effect All this was done and he receiued into quiet and peaceable possession of this Metropoliticall sée This Baldwin was a poore mans sonne and borne in Excester He was first a schoolemaster then entred into orders and became an Archdeadon his Archdeaconry he voluntarily resigned and intending to forsake the world became a Cistercian or white Monke Hauing liued so a certaine space he was made Abbot of Ford in Deuonshire From thence he was called to the Bishopricke of Worcester consecrate thereunto the yéere 1181. translated to Canterbury in the end of the yéere 1184. and solemnely installed there May 19. 1185. being the first white Monke that euer was Archbishop Giraldus Cambr. describeth the person of the man in this sort He was of complexion somewhat swarthy his countenance simple and like a plaine meaning man but very comely his stature indifferent well made of body but slender timbred For his maners he was modest and sober of such abstinence as fame durst neuer stamp any sinister report vpō him of few words slowe to anger and very studious from his very childhood It is a woonder that a man of this disposition should be so much troubled as he was with the King he alwaies agreed very well But betwéene the Monkes of Canterbury and him there was much and continuall debate The occasion thereof was this The king greatly misliking the insolency of the Monkes thought to wrest from them the preheminence of choosing the Archbishop in time to come by this deuice He gaue direction vnto Baldwin their Archbishop to beginne the foundation of a Colledge at Hackington now called Saint Stephens being distant from Canterbury about halfe a mile This Colledge it was deuised should haue one prebend erected by the king and by euery seuerall Bishop of that prouince of Canterbury one other which should euer be of the gift and patronage of their founders As for the Archbishop the building of the church and other edifices was appointed vnto him for his share which he intended to performe with great magnificence The ende of this foundation was none other then this that it might be a meane of traducing the right of election of the Archbishop a matter greatly importing the king and the whole realme from the monkes men of little learning lesse discretion and smalest experience in matters of gouernment yet very obstinate and altogether wedded to their owne wils to other men in whom the king and the rest of the Bishops as being their patrones might chalenge an interest For the better execution of this plot it was ordained that this colledge should be dedicated vnto Saint Thomas who was now growen so famous throughout the world as euery man thought himselfe happy that could do any thing to his honor In regard hereof they made no doubt but the Pope would soone be intreated to take from Christ vnto whose name the monastery of Canterbury was consecrate all priuiledge of election and to confer the same with many other vpon Saint Thomas that famous martyr The matter was now very forward and growen to good perfection in so much as the foundations were digged stone timber and other prouision laide ready in place for the building when as the subtile monkes suspecting wherunto this great forwardnesse of the king and Bishops tended made their complaint at Rome That notwithanding on went the worke The church partly built was solemnely consecrate and diuers secular priests such Saint Thomas himselfe was instituted and installed into their prebends when the monks that neuer linne laying on load by requests gifts and al maner of importunate sute to disturbe this platforme procured the Pope to set downe an order that this corporation should be dissolued the buildings thereof rased and made euen to the ground Such were the times the Popes pleasure was aneuitable necessity it must be and was performed It happened then soone after that Vrban the Pope died who was a great protector of the monkes cause Gregory the eight succéeded a man with whom Baldwyn might do very much He determined therfore once more to set on foote his former deuise but in another place He procured of the Bishop and Couent of Rochester for exchange of other land a certaine quantity of ground at Lambhith where the Archbishops pallace and house of chiefe residence is now situate Thither he caused to be brought by water all the prouision of stones timber c. that was intended to the building of the colledge at Hackington and began the foundation of a goodly church there which he liued not to finish King Richard the first to expiate the fault of his rebellion disobedience vnto his father determined to carry a great power into the holy land Baldwyn would néedes attend him thither and did so By preaching counsell liberall almes and continuall erample of a most vertuous life he did great good there vntill at last in the siege of the city of Acon being taken with a grieuous sicknesse he died when he had béene Archbishop euen almost seuen yéeres and was buried there He gaue all his goods vnto the soldiers to be diuided amongst them at the discretion of Hubert the Bishop of Salisbury that soone after succeeded him 41. Reginald Fitz-iocelinc PResently after the death of Baldwyn the King dispatched a messenger from Acon with letters wherein he earnestly prayed the monkes to make election of some such man to succéed as he might haue cause to like And the rather to bring the same to passe he wrote vnto the Archbishop of Roan who the Bishop of Ely being then newly displaced gouerned the realme in his absence to cause all the Bishops of the prouince of Canterbury to méete at Canterbury and to take the best course they might for the placing of some fit man in that Sée The monkes who were excéeding ioyfull to heare of the Archbishops death
her selfe a Nunne 〈◊〉 hauing liued so certaine yéeres suddenly married a certaine knight named Eustace Abricourt contrary to her vow and that secretly without asking of banes or dispensation he punished them seuerely for it but suffered them to liue still together and seuered them not Amongst many good déeds he is blamed for selling vnto the Earle of Arundell the right which he had vnto sixe and twenty Déere yéerely out of certaine grounds of his He had for them onely two hundred and forty markes After he had béene Archbishop sixetéene yéeres fower moneths and twelue daies he died Aprill 26. 1366. Kiding to Magfield his horse chaunced to cast him into a meiry poole Wet as he 〈◊〉 he fell a sléepe at his comming thither and waking found himselfe in a palsy whereof within a few daies after he died He bequeathed vnto his church of Canterbury a thousand shéepe his vestments which were al cloth of gold a very sumptuous coape and much plate viz. sixe dozin of siluer dishes sixe salts and fower goodly basons all enchased with his armes He lieth buried in the middle of the body of his church of Canterbury vnder a faire toombe of marble inlaid with brasse whereon is engrauen this Epitaphe Ospes sanctorum decus pie Christe tuorum Coetibus ipsorum prece iung as 〈◊〉 precor horum Simon 〈◊〉 oriens vir bina lege probatus Vt nascens moriens sic nunciacet arcte locatus Arcem qui tenuit 〈◊〉 quondam Pontificatus Clero quique fuit regno toti quoque gratus Princeps pastorum fac Simon Apostolorum Simon vt iste chorum per eos pertingat eorum Mil trecenteno sexageno modo seno Eius septeno pastoratus quoque deno Hic kal. Maij seno rupto carnis nece freno Flos cadit èfoeno coelo peto qui sit amoeno He tooke order to be buried obscurely desiring therein as in all other things to auoid superfluous expence what he might and not estéeming outward pompe 56. Simon Langham AFter the decease of Simon 〈◊〉 the monkes of Canterbury chose William Edindon Bishop of Winchester for Archbishop who refused the place The Pope then with the kings good liking remooued to Canterbury Simon Langham Bishop of Ely and Treasurer of England He was first a monke of Westmin then Prior lastly Abbot there Thence he was elected Bishop of London but before he was consecrate thereunto obtayned Ely where he continued fiue yéeres He receiued his pall by the hands of the Bishop of Bathe in Saint Nicholas chappel at Westminster Nouember 4. 1366. and was inthronized the Lady day following He was Archbishop but a little while viz. two yéeres or little more and therefore did not many things very memorable There was a great strife betwéene the Londoners and their cleargy about tything which he thus composed he tooke order that they should pay their offrings personall tithes and then also for the rest a farthing of euery 10. s̄ rent From Canterbury colledge which his predecessor had founded he sequestred the fruits of the benefice of Pagham and otherwise molested the schollers there intending to displace them all and to put in monkes which in the ende he brought to passe Iohn Wickliffe was one of them that were so displaced and had withstood the Archbishop in this businesse with might and maine By the Popes fauour and the Archbishops power the monkes ouerbore 〈◊〉 and his fellowes If then 〈◊〉 were angry with Pope Archbishoppe monkes and all you cannot maruell But to returne to our Archbishop he sate here onely two yéeres For being made Cardinal of Saint Sixtus by Pope Vrban the fift September 21. 1368. he left his Archbishopricke and went to Rome where shortly after he was made Bishop Cardinall of Preneste by Gregory the eleuenth and held diuers liuings in Commendam as the Archdeaconry and Treasurership of Wels with other He liued there in great estimation about eight yeeres and died July 22. 1376. of the same disease his predecessor had done viz. a palsy wherewith he was suddenly taken as he sate at dinner He was buried first in the church of the Carthusians whose house he had founded at Auinion but after thrée yéeres his bones by his owne appointment while he liued were taken vp and buried a second time at Westminster in a goodly toombe of alabaster It is scarce credible that is reported of his woonderfull bounty and liberality to that monastery I meane Westminster When he was first made Abbot he bestowed all that he had gathered together being monke and prior in paying the debt of the house which was to the valew of two thousand and two hundred markes he discharged it euery whit and diuers other summes of money also that particular monkes did owe whom he tendered and cherished as his owne children neuer taking any thing from them but rather augmenting their portions out of that which was due to himselfe Being Chauncellor and Treasurer he purchased diuers good peices of land and gaue it vnto them When he went out of England he left them bookes to the value of 830. l. and roaps vestments c. estéemed worth 437. l. At his death he bequeathed vnto them all his plate prised at 2700. l. and all his debts any where due they amounted vnto 3954 l. thirteene shillings and fower pence He also sent vnto the said monastery the summe of one thousand markes to buy forty markes a yeere land to increase the portions os fower monks that daily should say masse for the soules of himselfe and his parents To say nothing of the monastery which he built for the Carthusians at Auinion the money that he bestowed onely vpon the Abbey of Westminster one way or other is reckoned by a monke of the same to be no lesse then 10800. l. They caused this Epitaphe to be engrauen vpon his toombe Simon de Langham 〈◊〉 petris hijs tumulatus 〈◊〉 ecclesiae monachus fuerat Prior Abbas Sede vacante fuit electus Londoniensis 〈◊〉 insignis Ely sed postea primas Totius regni magnus Regisque minister Nam Thesaurarius Cancellarius eius Ac Cardinalis in Roma Presbyter iste Postque Praenestinus est factus Episcopus atque Nuncius ex parte Papae transmittitur istuc Orbe dolente pater quem nuncreuocare nequimus Magdalenae festo milleno septuageno Et ter centeno sexto Christi ruit anno Hunc Deus absoluat de cunctis quae male 〈◊〉 Et meritis matris sibi coelica gaudia donet 57. William Wittlesey SImon 〈◊〉 was vncle vnto a yoong man named William Wittlesey whom he caused to be carefully brought vp and directed vnto the study of the Cannon law Hauing procéeded doctor in that faculty his vncle that now was become Archb. sent him to Rome that there he might both sollicite all his causes and also get experience by seeing the practise of that Court. After he had staied there a while he was called home and preferred by his vncle aforesaid vnto the place
Sigillo a monke of Reading or as others say Archdeacon of London to be elected and consecrate Bishop Within a yeere or two after he was taken prisoner at Fullham by 〈◊〉 de Mandeuill a captaine of king Stephens who ye may be sure could ill brooke any man that the Empresse fauoured He sate Bishop about ten yeeres 39. Richard Beauveys THe yéere 1151. Richard Beauveys Archdeacon of Middlesex and nephew vnto the former Richard Beauveys became Bishop He died ann 1162. 40. Gilbert Foliot GIlbert Foliot was first Abbot of Glocester as M. Westm. hath but Bale affirmeth he was Abbot of Leycester and not of Glocester The yéere 1149. he was consecrate Bishop of Hereford continued in that Sée almost twelue yeeres and in 1161. vpon the kings speciall request he was translated to London In all the stirres betwéene Thomas Becket and the king he stucke vnto the king very faithfully and was partaker of all his counsels Mat. Paris reporteth a strange thing of him beléeue it if you list that one night comming from the king after long conference concerning the businesse betwéene the King and the Archbishop as he lay musing of those things in his bed a terrible and an vnknowen voice sounded these words in his eares O Gilberte 〈◊〉 dum reuoluis tot tot Deus 〈◊〉 est Ascarot Taking it to be the deuill he answered boldly Mentiris Daemon Deus 〈◊〉 est Deus Sabaoth At what time the King banished certaine fauorites of the Archbishop that were Clergy men he commaunded this Bishop to receiue the fruites of their liuings into his hand For obeying the authority of his Prince herein the Archbishop excommunicated him And presently vpon the death of the said Archbishop the Pope excommunicated him also but affirming by othe he was not guilty of the murther he was absolued He died February 18. 1187. It séemeth he was not onely wise but for those times very learned He writ diuers bookes mentioned by Bale I finde in Polycraticus a note concerning him that because it expresseth very well an humour much raigning now a daies I thinke not vnnecessary to offer vnto the Reader euen as I find it Venerabilis Pater c. The reuerend father Gilbert Bishop of Hereford would sometimes discourse vnto me saith he a certaine guise of Cloyster men the experience whereof he found in him selfe When first he entred into the Monastery hote with the fire newly kindled in him he was woont to blame very much the sluggishnesse of his gouernors Being preferred him selfe he was still moued with 〈◊〉 toward his equals but spared not his betters He became first a Prior taking part then with Priors he would complaine of Abbots Afterwards being made an Abbot fauouring his fellow Abbots he ceased not to reprehend Bishops And lastly when he was a Bishop himselfe he began to see how much more easie a thing it is to find faults then to mend them I thinke not saith he that this Bishop was to be esteemed enuious but being a wise man he expressed pretily an affection as it were naturally engraffed in euery man and was the more willing to take that kind of fault vpon him selfe that he might be the better heard of others Ioan. Sarisb Polycrat lib. 7. cap. 24. A very wise and reuerend Bishop now deceased in my hearing hath often acknowledged the like humour in him selfe before his preferments and therefore adiudged it the rather to be borne withall in other men 41. Richard Fitz-neale NIgellus Bishop of Ely that was nephew to Roger Bishop of Salisbury had a sonne named Richard for whom he bought of King Henry the second the Treasurership of England and payed for the same 400. markes He held that office almost all the raigne of the said king and was so good a husband in it as that at the kings death his treasure 〈◊〉 vnto 100000. markes In the latter end of his raigne he found meanes to preferre him vnto the Bishopricke of London whereunto he was consecrate December 31. 1189. He bestowed much vpon the building of his Church and other edifices belonging to his See sate there about nine yeeres and died September 10. 1198. 42. William de Sancta Maria. VVIlliam de Sancta Maria succéeded a Canon of Paules and sometimes secretary to king Richard the first He was consecrate June 22. 1199. This Bishop was one of them that interdicted the whole realme and excommunicated king Iohn by the commaundement of the Pope They all indured fiue yéeres banishment for their labours as elsewhere is more at large declared He resigned his Bishopricke Ianuary 26. 1221. 43. Eustachius de Fauconbridge EVstachius de Fauconbridge was elected vnto the Sée of London February 25. following and then vpon Saint Markes day consecrate at Westminster The next yéere a great controuersie was ended by arbitrators betweene him and his Cathedrall church of Saint Paule on the one part and the Abbey of Westminster on the other The arbitrators were the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Winchester and Sarum Thomas Prior of Merton and Richard of Dunstaple Their order was that the Abbey of Westminster should be exempt from the iurisdiction of the Bishop of London that the church of Stanes should euer hereafter belong to Westminster the mannor and church of Sunbery vnto the Cathedrall church of Paules This Eustache had béene one of the kings Iustices Chauncellour of the exchequer Treasurer of England and twise Embassador into Fraunce He was a great benefactor vnto his Cathedrall church in which he lyeth intoombed in a faire monument of marble standing in the South wall of the East ende of the churchurch He died October 31. 1228. 44. Rogerus Niger ROger in our histories surnamed Niger Archdeacon of Colchester was chosen Bishop the yéere 1228. soone after the death of Eustachius and consecrate by loceline Bishop of Bathe Iune 10. following being Trinity Sunday togither with Richard Archbishop of Canterbury and Hugh Bishop of Ely This Roger saith M. Paris was a very reuerend man religious learned painefull in preaching eloquent a great house-kéeper of very gentle and curteous behauiour Whereunto he might haue added that he was also stout and very couragious One Rustandus the Popes Nuntio being earnest in a conuocation for setting forward a certaine prolling deuise to scrape vp money for his Master he not onely withstood him openly but cryed out vpon the vnreasonable and shamelesse couetousnes of the court of Rome and was the onely meanes of staying the course of that exaction For reuenge hereof not long after they began to frame an accusation against him at Rome alleaging matters altogither false and friuolous It forced him to trauell thither and cost him great summes of money before he could rid his hands of that brabble The yéere 1233. Walter Mauclerke Bishop of Carlile taking ship to passe ouer the seas was hindered by some of the kings officers for that he had no licence to depart the realme These officers for so doing he excommunicated and
paine of death no man should héereafter be so hardy as to bring into the realme any kinde of writing from the Popes court Some notwithstanding contrary to this prohibition deliuered letters to the Bishop of Rochester then Treasurer of England from the Pope concerning this matter and fearing the woorst had armed themselues This 〈◊〉 they shrunke away and fled but were soone after 〈◊〉 and diuersly punished some dismembred other faire and well hanged The Pope hearing of this was so incensed that he wrote a very sharpe letter vnto the king breathing out terrible threats against him if he did not presently reconcile himselfe vnto the Bishop and cause full amends to be made him for all the losse he had sustained either by the Countesse or him in these troubles The king was too wise either to doe all he required or vtterly to despise his authority The 〈◊〉 he knew was not for his honor nor so farre had this tyrant incroched vpon the authority of princes the other for his 〈◊〉 Warned by the examples of king Iohn Henry the emperour and other he thought good not to exasperate him too 〈◊〉 and so was content to yéeld vnto somewhat But before the matter could grow to a full conclusion it was otherwise ended by God who tooke away the Bishop by death He deceased at Auinion June 23. 1361. and was there buried 〈◊〉 béen Bishop euen almost 17. yéeres 19. Simon Laugham INnocentius translated then Reginald Bryan Bishop of Worcester vnto Ely But he died before he could take benefit of the Popes gift Iohn Buckingham afterward Bishop of Lincolne was then chosen and was reiected by the Pope who preferred to this Sée Simon Laugham Abbot of Westminster He continued here but fiue yeeres being in that space first Treasurer then Chauncellor of England and was remooued to Canterbury Of his translation some merry fellow made these verses Laetentur 〈◊〉 quia Simon transit ab Ely Cuius in aduentum flent in Kent 〈◊〉 centum Sée more of him in Canterbury 20. Iohn Barnet AT what time Simon Laugham was translated to Canterbury Iohn Barnet was remooued from Bathe to succeede him in Ely He was first consecrate Bishop of Worcester 1362. and staying there but one yéere obtayned Bathe 1363. and lastly Ely 1366. He was Treasurer of England Being a very old man before his comming to Ely he liued there notwithstanding sixe yéeres in which tune he bestowed the making of fower windowes two in the South side and two in the North side of the Presbytery He died June 7. 1379. at Bishops 〈◊〉 lieth buried vpon the south side of the high altar in which place there is to be soone a goodly toombe monstrously defaced the head of the image being broken off I take that to be Barnets toombe 21. Thomas Arundell AFter the death of Iohn Barnet the king writ earnestly vnto the couent to choose Iohn Woodrone his confessor But they elected Henry Wakefield Treasurer of the kings house This election was made voide by the Pope who placed of his owne authority as I 〈◊〉 deliuered Thomas Arundell Archdeacon of Taunton sonne vnto Robert 〈◊〉 of Arundell and Warren being an aged gentleman of two and twenty yéeres old and as yet but a Subdeacon How be it some report that order being taken by parliament about this time for the ratifying of capitular elections and stopping the iniurious prouisions of the Pope that this Thomas 〈◊〉 was chosen orderly and consecrate at Otford by the Archbishop William Witlesey Aprill 6. 1375. Hauing 〈◊〉 there sowertéene yéeres thrée moneths and eightéene 〈◊〉 he was translated to Yorke and after to Canterbury He left for an implement of his house at Ely a woonderfull sumptuous and costly table decked with gold and precious stones It belonged first vnto the king of Spaine and was sold to this Bishop by the Blacke Prince for 300. markes He also bestowed the building of the great gate house in the house at Holburne Sée more of him in Yorke and Caterbury 22. Iohn Fordham THe Sée had béene void but fowertéene daies when Iohn Fordham Bishop of Durham was translated to Ely by the Pope He was first Deane of Wels consecrate Bishop of Durham May 29. 1381. and inthronized there in September 1382. He was Treasurer of England and to his great griefe was displaced from that office the yéere 1386. and Iohn Gilbert Bishop of Hereford made treasurer Seuen yéeres he continued at Durham and September 27. 1388. was by the authority of the Pope translated to Ely in which Sée he sate seuen and thirty yéeres two moneths and 24. daies He died Nouember 19. 1425. and lieth buried in the West part of the Lady chappell It appéereth by this reckoning that he was Bishop in all from the time of his first consecration 46. yéeres and vpward Sée more of him in Durham 23. Philip Morgan THe king then and manie noble men commended vnto the couent William 〈◊〉 doctor of law the kings confessor and kéeper of the priuie Seale who was after Bishop of Lincolne But they chose Peter their Prior. That election being disliked at home by the Archbishop he was fame to seeke vnto the Pope whose manner was litle or nothing to regard elections but to bestow any Bishoprick or other preferment that fell according to his owne pleasure if it were not filled before the auoidance might come to his knowledge According to this custome hauing no respect of the election of the couent of his owne authoritie he thrust in Phillip Morgan into this Bishopricke This man being doctor of law was consecrate Bishop of worcester 1419. and soone after 〈◊〉 death viz. before the end of the yeere 1425. remoued as is aforesaid vnto Ely He was a very wise man gouerned there with great commendation nine yeeres sixe moneths and fower daies And departed this life at Bishops 〈◊〉 October 25. 1434. He was buried at charter house in London 24. Lewes Lushborough PResently after his death the Monks elected Robert Fitz hugh Bishop of london who died before his translation could be perfected The king then writ for Thomas Rodburne Bishop of saint 〈◊〉 which notwithstanding they make choise of another to wit Thomas Bourchier Bishop of worcester whose election the Pope confirmed but the king vtterly refused to restore to him the temporalties of that see And so for feare of a premunire he durst not receiue the popes bulles of confirmation but renounced all his interest by this election The king then appointed this Bishopricke vnto Lewes Lushbrough Archbishoppe of Roan Cardinall and Chauncellor both of Fraunce and Normandy that was some way I know not how kinne vnto him By his meanes a dispensation was gotten of the Pope to hold Ely in commendam with his Archbishopricke He enioyed it sixe yéeres and sixe monethes and then died at Hatfild Septem 18. 1443. He is said to haue bene buried betwéene two marble pillers beside the altar of reliques 25. Thomas Bourchier THomas Bourchier being now once more chosen without
after to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7. 1234. 〈◊〉 then he was 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Church 10. Robert Grosse-teste IUne 11. following to wit the yéere 1235. Robert Grossetest or Grosthead Archdeacon of Leycester was consecrate Bishop of Lincolne A man famous for his excellent learning and vertues otherwise He was borne in Suffolke of very meane or rather base parentage In his youth according vnto the maner of all students in those times he trauelled into Fraunce partly to increase his knowledge in other learning but especially to attaine the French toong which was then almost as common here as the English At his returne he was made Archdeacon of Leycester and afterwards as before is mentioned Bishop of Lincolne In his time the tyranny of the Pope was now growen to the full height and 〈◊〉 What for appeales vnto Rome bribes at Rome no iurisdiction here could punish any fault neuer so 〈◊〉 No iurisdiction or other preferment was likely to fall but the Popes reseruation would take it vp before hand and bestow it at last vpon some stranger happily a childe that would neuer come néere it all his life long The yéere 1252. notice being taken of this matter the spiritual promotions of strangers within this realme were found to amount vnto the summe of 70000. markes by the yéere whereas the kings yeerely reuenewes at that time came not to the third part of that summe At these and other intollerable abuses he repining very much thought good in person to go to Rome acquaint that Pope with his grieues He did so was heard with saire promises dismissed But when at his return he found no maner of redresse of those things he complained he feared not to write vnto the Pope a very sharpe Satyricall letter shewing how farre he had degenerated from the holinesse of his predecessors and exhorting him earnestly to reforme the monstrous enormities that flowing from Rome as from a corrupt and poysoned fountaine infected the whole Church This Epistle if any man desire to sée it is to be found in Matth. Paris The Pope hauing read it grew into great choller and breathing out many threats intended some terrible reuenge of this so intollerable a reproch as he tooke it vntill such time as one Gyles a Cardinall of Spaine 〈◊〉 vnto him vsed these words Holy father it shall not doo well in my opinion to take any hard or extreme course against this man It is but too true that he hath written He is 〈◊〉 religion a Catholike as well as we but for life and conuersation so farre 〈◊〉 vs as it is thought Christendome hath not his like Againe he is knowen to to be a great learned man an excellent Philosopher well séene in the Gréeke tongue as well as the Latine a profound Diuine and a diligent preacher These things are well knowen to all the Cleargy both of Fraunce and England We haue no iust matter against him we are not able to touch him yea though we were it 〈◊〉 not wisedome We shall doo well to remember how 〈◊〉 it is quod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 est ventura that there shall one day be a departure and let vs take héede that we giue not the occasion My aduice therefore is that we 〈◊〉 content to winke at this matter and euen let him alone Some say his counsell was followed and the matter passed ouer in silence Howbeit it is also reported and both may be true that afterwards vpon some new quarrell 〈◊〉 he was suspended at Rome excommunicate and horribly persecuted And indéede it is certaine that he would neuer be iuduced to obey any of those monstrous and vnreasonable bulles Of 〈◊〉 discoursing sometimes with his familiars he would very confidently affirme that the Pope was an Heretike yea and Antichrist So Matth. Paris 〈◊〉 Notwithstanding these broyles he was a continuall and diligent Preacher writ bookes to the number of all most 200. l. the Catalogue whereof you may finde in Bale and yet tooke infinite paines in attending matters of gouernment and iurisdiction so farre 〈◊〉 as by the Pope he was not hindred He died at last at his mannour of Buckden October 9. 1253. giuing all his bookes an excellent library vnto the Frier Minors at 〈◊〉 He lyeth buried in the 〈◊〉 South 〈◊〉 of his Cathedrall Church hath a goodly 〈◊〉 of marble with an image of brasse 〈◊〉 it The Pope not 〈◊〉 to persecute him after his death was once of the mind 〈◊〉 digge vp his body againe vntill by the perswasion of 〈◊〉 other his mind was altered But sée the iust iudgement of God vpon this wicked Pope it was Innocent 4. Lying at Naples in his way toward 〈◊〉 the kingdome whereof in hope he had now deuoured this bishop appeared vnto him in the night strake him a great blow vpon the left side which shewed all bloudy in the morning and soone after the Pope died This Bale reporteth out of Ranulfus Fabian and others Matthew Paris ascribeth diuers myracles vnto him doubtteth not to account him a Saint although the Pope ought him not so much goodwill as to affoord him Canonisation Doubtlesse he was an excellent man and deserueth the commendation giuen vnto him by the consent of all writers Not to trouble my selfe with any longer discourse concerning him I will set downe this briefe Elogium of Matthew Paris He was saith he Domini Papae Regis redargutor manifestus Praelatorum correptor Monachorum corrector Presbiterorum director clericorū instructor scholarium sustentator populi predicator incontinentium persecutor scripturarum sedulus perscrutator Romanorum 〈◊〉 contemptor In mensa refectionis corporalis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hilaris 〈◊〉 In mensa vero spirituali deuotus lachrymosus contritus In officio pontificali sedulus venerabilis 〈◊〉 Much more you may reade of him in Master Foxe 11. Henry Lexinton THe King now was very earnest with the Chapter of Lincolne to elect Petet d'Egueblank Bishop of Hereford vnto that their Sée They alleaged he was a stranger vnderstood not the English tongue and was moreouer an euill man not gouerning well the charge already committed vnto him In regard hereof they humbly besought the king to hold them excused and made choice of Henry Lexinton their Deane He was chosen December 30. 1253. consecrate May 17. following died August 8. 1258. was buried at Lincolne in his owne Church The yéere before his death he offred some kind of hard measure vnto the Uniuersity of Oxford by 〈◊〉 certaine liberties that of old belonged vnto it For redresse hereof they were forced to make their complaint vnto the King lying then at Saint Albons 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Matthew Paris a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of their petition and as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bold to 〈◊〉 vnto the king vsing these 〈◊〉 vnto 〈◊〉 in priuate I beseech your grace euen for Gods sake to haue compassion vpon the Church now tottering and in great danger of vtter subuersion
and was one of the 30. electors that chose Martyn the fift Pope authorised thereunto by the councell together with the Cardinals He sate almost 5. yéeres was translated to Exceter 54. Iames Cary. AUery little while one Iames Cary was Bishop of Couentry and Lichfield He happened to be at Florence with the Pope at what time newes was brought thither of the Bishop of Exceters death and easily obtained that Bishopricke of him being preferred vnto Lichfield but very lately He enioyed neither of these places any long time Neuer comming home to sée either the one or the other he died and was buried there 55. William Haworth WIlliam Haworth Abbot of Saint Albons was conse crate Nouember 28. 1420. and sate 27. yéeres 56. William Boothe WIlliam Boothe was consecrate July 9. 1447. sate 6 yéeres and was translated to Yorke Sée more of him there 57. Nicholas Close NIcholas Close consecrate Bishop of Carlioll 1450. was translated from Carlioll hither the yeere 1452. and died the same yéere 58. Reginald Buller REginald Buller or Butler for so some call him was consecrate Bishop of Hereford the yéere 1450. being Abbot of Glocester before He was translated to Lichfield Aprill 3. 1453. and sate there 6. yéeres 59. Iohn Halse IOhn Halse was consecrate in the moneth of Nouember 1459. sate 32. yéeres and lieth buried at Lichfield 60. William Smith WIlliam Smith was consecrate 1492. sate 4. yéeres and was translated to Lincolne See more there 61. Iohn Arundell IOhn Arundell was consecrate Nouember 6. 1496. and translated to Exceter 1502. See more in Exceter 62. Geoffry Blythe GEoffry Blythe Doctor of Lawe was consecrate September 7. 1503. The yeere 1512. he became Lord President of Walles by the appointment of king Henry the eight and continued in that place till the yeere 1524. at what time it seemes he died The yeere 1523. he was attached for treason but happily acquitted He 〈◊〉 buried at Lichfield 63. Rowland Lee. 〈◊〉 Leigh Doctor of Lawe succéeded A man samons for two things He 〈◊〉 King Henry the eight vnto Quéene Anne Bulleyn which happy marriage was the occasion of that happinesse that we now enioy vnder our noble soueraigne Queene Elizabeth their daughter Againe it is to be remembred of him that being made President of Wales the yéere 1535. in the time of his gouernment and peraduenture partly by his procurement the countrey of Wales was by Parliament incorporated and vnited to the kingdome of England the liberties lawes and other respects made common vnto the Welch with the naturall English This Bishop died Lord President the yeere 1543. and was buried at Shrewsbury 64. Richard Sampson AFter him Richard Sampson Bishop of Chichester became Bishop of Lichfield He was translated March 12 1543. This R. Sampson being a Doctor of Law and Deane of the Chappell writ some what for the kings supremacy and was aunswered by Cochloeus He writ also commentaries vpon the 〈◊〉 and vpon the Epistles to the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 He was consecrate Bishop of 〈◊〉 the yéere 1537. and presently vpon his remooue to this 〈◊〉 made President of Wales In that office he continued till the second yéere of king Edward at what time he began to shew him selfe a 〈◊〉 notwithstanding his 〈◊〉 writing 〈◊〉 against the Pope He died at 〈◊〉 September 25. 1554. 65. Ralf Bane RAlf Bayne Doctor of Diuinity borne in Yorkeshire brought vp in S. Iohns Colledge in Cambridge reader or professor of the 〈◊〉 tongue in Paris was consecrate Bishop of Lichfield soone after the death of the other He 〈◊〉 vpon the Prouerbs of Salomon and dedicated his worke vnto Francis the French king Hauing béene Bishop almost fiue yéeres he died of the stone at London and was buried in Saint Dunstans Church there 66. Thomas Bentham THomas Bentham was consecrate March 24. 1559. 〈◊〉 died February 21. 1578. 67. William Ouerton William Ouerton Doctor of 〈◊〉 succéeded This Bishopricke is valued in the Exchequer at 559. l. 17. s. 2. d. ob farthing and in the Popes bookes at 1733. ducates or Florenes The Bishops of Salisbury 1. Aldelm AFter the death of Headda the fifth Bishop of Winchester it pleased Iua king of the west Saxons to 〈◊〉 his Dioces which before contained all the country of the west Saxons into two parts The one of them he committed vnto Damell allotting vnto him Winchester for his Sée and that Dioces which now doth and euer since hath belonged vnto the same The other part containing the counties of Dorset Somerset Wiltshire Deuon and Cornwall he ordained to be gouerned by a Bishop whose Sée he established at Sherborne and appointed vnto the same one Aldhelme a neere 〈◊〉 of his owne being the sonne of Kenred his brother This Aldhelm spent all his youth in trauaile and hauing visited the most famous vniuersities of Fraunce and Italy became very learned in Poetry especially he was excellent and writ much in Gréeke and Latine prose and verse He delighted much in musicke and was very skilfull in the same But his chiefe study was diuinity in the knowledge whereof no man of his time was comparable to him After his returne he became first a monk and after Abbot of Malmsbury for the space of fower and thirty yéeres The yéere 705. he was consecrate Bishop of Sherborne and that as it séemeth vnto me at Rome For it is remembred that while he staied there for the Popes approbation the same Pope his name was Sergius was charged with getting of a bastard for which fact he was bold to reprehend his holinesse sharpely He writ diuers learned works mentioned by Beda h. 4. c. 19. and died the yéere 709. 2. Fordhere HE liued in the time of Beda who saith he also was a man very well séene in the knowledge of the scriptmes The yéere 738. he attended the Quéene of the west 〈◊〉 vnto Rome After him succeeded these 3. 〈◊〉 4. Ethelnod 5. Denefrith 6. Wilbert He was at Rome with Wlfred Archbishop of Canterbury an 815. 7. Alstane A famous warrier He subdued vnto king Fgbright the kingdomes of Kent and the East Saxons He fought many battailes with the Danes and euer 〈◊〉 had the victory namely at a place in Somersetshire then called Pedredsmouth now Comage he slue a great number of them the yéere 845. King Ethelwlf being at Rome in pilgrimage he set vp his sonne Ethelbald against him and forced the father at his returne to 〈◊〉 his kingdome with his sonne He died the yéere 867. hauing sate Bishop of Sherborne 50. yéeres A man 〈◊〉 wise valiant carefull for the good of his country and 〈◊〉 liberall He augmented the reuenues of his Bishopricke wonderfully 7. Edmund or Heahmund slaine in battell by the 〈◊〉 the yéere 872. at Meredune 8. Etheleage 9. Alssy 10. Asser. This man writ a certaine Chronicle of 〈◊〉 amongst diuers other works wherein he reporteth of him selfe that he was a disciple and scholler of that famous welchman Iohn that hauing studied long in Athens perswaded king Alfred
they that is he was not a monke Hauing béene Archbishop 20. yéeres he died the yéere 1023. and was buried at Ely 22. Alfricus Puttoc ONe Leoffius then obtayned Worceter Alfricus Puttoc 〈◊〉 of Winchester being made Archbishop of Yorke He was very angry with Worceter men for not admitting him to that Sée also which thrée of his predecessors had held in Commendam before him And in reuenge of this repulse caused Hardeknute the king with whom he could do much At a time when they had béen somwhat backwards in payments to be made vnto him to fire that goodly city He is blamed also for another barbarous part of the same king that caused the dead body of his owne brother Harold to be digged vp beheaded then cast into the Thames This they say was done by Alfricus the Archbishops councell He bestowed much money vpon the colledge of Beuerley first in a new sumptuous shrine for the body of Saint Iohn his predecessor and then in purchasing lands to increase the reuenewes thereof viz. some at Milton other at 〈◊〉 and againe at 〈◊〉 He died at Southwell the yéere 1051. and was buried at Peterborough 23. Kinsius AChaplaine of king Edward the Confessor one Kinsius succeeded Alfrike He built very much at Beuerley to wit the Hall the Church and diuers other edisices gaue many bookes and ornaments to Shyrestone and other churches of his Dioces sate 10. yéeres died at Yorke 1059. December 22. and was buried at Peterborough where he had sometimes lined a monke 24. Aldredus THe Sée of Yorke falling void by the death of Kinsius Aldredus that being first a Monke of Winchester then Abbot of Tauestock was consecrate Bishop of Worceter the yeere 1046. making his way by money and bribes liberally bestowed amongst Courtiers found a meanes to 〈◊〉 and abuse the simplicity of king Edward the Confessor and by alleadging the example of his predecessors that had held Worceter in commendam with Yorke obtained licence of him to hold them both wherein so holy a man as 〈◊〉 Edward me thinkes should haue beene more precise Hauing preuailed thus farre he went to Rome for his pall together with the Earle 〈◊〉 brother to the Quéene Giso after Bishop of Welles and Walter of Hereford The Pope at that time was Nic. the second a great enimy to simony which in this age began to grow very rise Whether he had heard somwhat of Aldredes bribing in obtaining this preferment or whether he fisht it out by strict examination which is deliuered he not onely refused to establish him in his Archbishopricke but also depriued him of the Bishopricke he had before Homewards they came together in one company but with diuers affections Gilo and Walter ioyfull for the honor newly done vnto them for being found men not onely learned 〈◊〉 of good conuersation and not culpable of any corruption They were consecrate at Rome with all fauor and honor that might be 〈◊〉 the Earle peasiue for his friend whose bribes he had receiued to the others ouerthrow and lastly Aldred almost desperate for so great a calamity as was fallen vpon him Sée the power of Almighty God that not onely raiseth as it were in a moment from the bottome of misery vnto the toppe of happinesse But also doth it by such meanes oftentimes as we thinke more likely to cast vs down farther then to relieue vs any thing at all This iolly company trauailing from Rome toward the Alpes by the way were encountred with a company of good fellowes in a happy hower for Aldred that spoyled them of all they had about them leauing them neither horse nor money nor any thing money worth but their apparrell So there was no remedy but backe to Rome they must againe to furnish them a new for their iourney There Tosti with open mouth exclaimed against the Pope saying there was no reason that farre remote nations should sogreatly stand in awe of his excōmunications which théeues and robbers cared not a halfpenny for but contemned openly and derided euen vnder his derided that amongst poore Priests he would play Rex but let rebellious varlets doo what they list If by his meanes quoth he our goods be not restored to vs againe let him giue vs leaue to say that by his fault and misgouernment we haue lost them and we hope that our King will haue such consideration of vs as in the end this iniury if he heare of it shall prooue a greater losse to the Pope then to vs. For my part I will not faile to certifie him of the truth and to 〈◊〉 him daily for recompence which out of the tribute the Pope hath of England will soone be made And except he 〈◊〉 it better why he should haue any at all I see not Partly by meanes of these threats partly in commiseration and pitie partly by importunity of suite Aldred at last obtained his Archbishopricke had his pall giuen him vpon condition that he should leaue Worceter Into which Sée at his returne he wrought 〈◊〉 but hampered him so as heretained almost all the commodity to himselfe leauing Wulstan only 12. mannors to maintaine his state In defence of which dealing he alledged that the lands possessions of the Archbishopricke were so wasted and spoyled by the Danes and other in the time of Wulfere as since that they yéelded little or no profit It could not be altogether true For Alfrike and Kinsius as before you heard built and purchased much hauing no commendam at all This Aldred likewise built much A Hall for the Cannons to dine in together at Yorke and another at Southwell At Beuerley the Hall begun by his predecessors left vnperfect he finished the Presbytery there he raised frō the very foundation as also a goodly church at Glocester euen the same which is now the Cathedrall Church This likewise is commended in him that whereas the Cleargy of those times were very vndecently appareled nothing differing from Lay men he brought all the ministery of his prouince to an vniforme and séemely kinde of habit Not many yéeres after his returne king Edward the Confessor died and Harold inuading the dignity royall no way 〈◊〉 vnto him was crowned by Aldred Wallian the Conqueror also refusing to receiue the Crowne at Stigands hands whom he called the vsurper of Canterbury desired him to performe that solemnity which he did requiring first an oath of him to defend the Church minister iustice and amongst other things to vse English men as fauorably as Normans This oath it séemed vnto Aldred the king had broken and therefore like a couragious Prelate he stucke not to thunder out an excommunication against him saying that now worthily he had cursed whom once vnworthily he had blessed This bold pranke being reported vnto the king incensed him very much at first but thinking better of it he determined to giue faire words a while and so sent some to entreat for his absolution These messengers came too late for the
but his speciall care was to furnish the same and the rest of his Dioces with learned and honest men with whom he was woont continually to conferre and reason sometime with one and sometime with another partly for his owne exercise and partly to sée what was in them and to raise them vp to a diligence in increasing their knowledge Himselfe was very learned and writ diuers things both in prose and verse He was also a very good musition and could not onely sing but play very well vpon the organs and did set many songs Hauing crowned king Henry the first August 5. 1100. with the helpe of Maurice Bishop of London because Anselm Archbishop of Canterbury liued then in banishment the 18. of Nouember following being sunday he died at Rippon and was buried at Yorke in the Minster himselfe had built next vnto Aldred his predecessor 26. Gerard. AFter the death of Thomas Gerard nephew vnto Walkenlin Bishop of Winchester and Chauncellor of England vnder William the Conquerour and Rofus his sonne hauing beene Bishop of Heresord no long time he was elected vnto Yorke but obtayned not confirmation a great while For he refused to make profession of obedience vnto Canterbury till being commaunded by the Popes letters he performed the same He sate Archbishop seuen yéeres and almost sixe moneths and died suddenly in his garden at Southwell at a time when no body was with him He was a good benefactor vnto the Church of Yorke for he was a meanes vnto the king to bestow the Church of Laxton vpon the Chapter and himselfe hauing obtayued of him the Churches of Dryfield Kilne Pockington and Burgh he gaue them all likewise to the Chapter This notwithstanding after his death they would not suffer him bying so suddenly to be buried within their church hardly in the churchyard So he was laide at the entrance of the church porch But Thomas his successor not suffering such an indignity to be offered vnto an Archbishop remooued his bones into the Church afterward and caused them to be honorably intoombed He was a man of great learning and for eloquence admirable but somewhat too eager against married Priests whom by no meanes he could abide Bale chargeth him with forcery and coniuration because forsooth that after his death there was found in his chamber a volume of 〈◊〉 who writ of Astrology indéed but of coniuration nothing that euer I heard 27. Thomas 2. A Second Thomas succéeded a Chaplain of the kings nephew vnto the former Thomas and sonne vnto Sampson Bishop of Worceter Euen as his predecessor he was very loath to make his profession vnto Caterbury Being called vpon by Anselme the Archbishop He made many 〈◊〉 Wherefore Anselme lying very 〈◊〉 and perceiuing his end to be néere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all the Bishops of England commanding them not to consecrate him before he had made his 〈◊〉 laying a terrible curse and 〈◊〉 vpon whosoeuer 〈◊〉 doo it The king after 〈◊〉 death 〈◊〉 the Bishop of Worceter whose sonne he was to consecrate him But he answered that he would not haue the curse of Father 〈◊〉 for any worldly good So in the end being perswaded to yéeld as other had done before him consecration was afforded vnto him and performed by his Father 〈◊〉 the foresaid Bishop of 〈◊〉 or as other report by the Bishop of London Iune 27. 1108. This man erected 〈◊〉 newe 〈◊〉 in his Church of Yorke he placed 〈◊〉 reguler at 〈◊〉 he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 parcels of land vnto the Colledge of 〈◊〉 and purchased of the king the like liberties priuileges for them that the 〈◊〉 of Yorke 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He sate little aboue 5. yéeres and died I thinke I 〈◊〉 say 〈◊〉 Martyr Lying dangerously 〈◊〉 he was aduertised by the 〈◊〉 the nature of his disease to be such as if he vsed the company of a woman he neede not doubt of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 otherwise nothing was to be looked for but death He 〈◊〉 rather to 〈◊〉 then to 〈◊〉 so high and sacred a calling with so soule and haynous an 〈◊〉 So he ended his life February 19. 1114. and was buried beside the former Thomas his vncle 28. Thurstan THomas the Archbishop being taken away as before I haue declared Thurstan a Cannon of Paules and the Kings Chaplaine was chosen to succéed him He when he could by no meanes obtaine consecration of Ralph Archbishop of Canterbury without making profession of subiection 〈◊〉 and forsooke the 〈◊〉 of his election Yet remembring himselfe at last he went to Rome to plead his cause before the Pope and obtained letters to the king and Archbishop of Canterbury in commendation of his cause These letters preuailing nothing with the Archbishop that would be wonne by no meanes and Thurstan continuing as obstinate in his resolution The Sée remained void along time At last it fell out that a Counsell was summoned to be held at 〈◊〉 Thurstan crauing leaue of the king to goe thither could not obtaine it before he had promised that he would not receiue consecration there Which promise notwithstanding so well he followed his businesse that before the comming ouer of other English Bishops to the Counsell he was a Bishop ready consecrate as well as they and that by the hand of the Pope himselfe So he and he only I thinke of all the Archbishops of York since the Conquest neuer made profession of subiection to the Metropoliticall See of Canterbury The King hearing of this dealing was very greatly offended with Thurstan and for bad him England Neither could the Pope méeting with the King at Gisors and intreating for him so pacifie his displeasure as that he would suffer him to returne After fiue yeeres banishment the Pope writ a very sharpe letter vnto the king signifying that he would excommunicate both him and the Archbishop of Canterbury also if Thurstan were any longer kept from his See and charge Hereupon he was called home and soone after reconciled vnto the King This man is much praysed first for his learning then for his great wisedome and discretion and lastly for his industry and diligence his care and painefulnesse in well gouerning the charge committed to him He was a very kinde man to his Cannons vnto whom amongst other things he affoorded this priuiledge that the yeerely profite of their prebends being deuided into thrée parts it should be lawfull for any Canon to bequeath two parts of the yéere next ensuing his death alotting the third vnto the Fabricke that is toward the reparation of the church This order he set downe not onely at Yorke but at Beuerley also at Southwell at Rippon and at Glocester all which were colledges founded by Archbishops of Yorke Moreouer it is to be remembred that he either founded a 〈◊〉 or renued and repaired eight monasteries In the latter end of his time to wit June 4. 1137. a lamentable chaunce befell his church and city By casuall fire Saint Peters church in Yorke Saint Maries without the walles a
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