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
meanes possible he might vere and grieue him First because he knew he delighted much in the monastery of Pontiniac which was an Abbey of Cistercian monkes he signified to all the monkes of that order in his dominions that he would banish them euery one if they would not procure the Archbishop to be thrust out of that monastery which for feare of so great calamity to so many men was effected Then he also droue out of the realme all his kinsfolks friends and professed welwillers of whom he suspected him to be any way aided or comforted Alexander the Pope Thomas Beckets surest card was ferited in much like sort the same time by Friderike 〈◊〉 the Emperor as he himselfe was The King therefore by the counsell of Gilbert Bishop of London determined to ioyns in league with the Emperor if possibly he might that was a professed enimy both to the French King and the Pope To this purpose he sent two ambassadors vnto him perswading him to deals with the Cardinals Lucius the Antipope being then lately dead to set vp another in his roome to whom he promised all his dominions should yéelde obedience The Pope hauing notize of this practise began presentlyto quaile sent the King word he would order all things betwéene the Archbishop and him to his 〈◊〉 liking and that out of hand Now it had hapened a little before that the Pope had graunted vnto the Archbishop a very large licence of excommunicating whom he list in England the King the Queene and a very few other excepted This authority he abused very intemperately at that time when 〈◊〉 matters were thus in hammering betwéene the Pope and 〈◊〉 King in so much as he had marred all if the Pope had not spéedly yeelded a reason thereof to the King By this time the French King the Popes onely Protector against the Emperor began to spy that he was much more cold in the defence of the Archbishop then he had beene and reprehended him sharply for it The Pope therefore not knowing which way to turne him selfe for the satisfiyng of both these potentates neither of which he could safcly offend as things stoode he determined first to labour a reconciliation betweene them and then to make the French King a mediator for the Archbishop This he effected and brought the two Kings together at Paris Thither also came Thomas Becket And sute being made vnto the King in his behalfe that he might returne be restored to his goods and reuenues arising in the time of his absence and lastly vpon his humble submission to the Kings fauour The King answered that for the rest he was contented but faith he the profites of his Archbishopricke since his banishment I can not allow him for that I haue already giuen them to others Mary recompence I will make him for them to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the French King or the Senate of Paris or else of the 〈◊〉 of the Uniuersity Presently the Archbishop was called for who falling downe vpon his knees vsed these words My Lord and soueraigne I doo here commit vnto your owne iudgement the cause and controuersie betwéene vs so farre foorth as I may sauing the honor of 〈◊〉 God The King much offended with that last exception 〈◊〉 honore Dei turned him about vnto the French King and telling him how much he had doone for the Archbishop and how he had vsed him I am quoth he at last so well acquainted with the tricks of this fellow that I can not hope for any good dealing at his hands Sée you not how he goeth about to delude me with this clause sauing the honor of God For whatsoeuer shall displease him he will by and by alleage to be preiudiciall to the honor of Almighty God But this I will say vnto you whereas there haue béene Kings of England many before me whereof some were peraduenture of greater power than I the most part farre lesse and againe many Archbishops before this man holy and notable men Looke what duty was euer perfourmed by the greatest Archbishop that euer was to the weakest and simplest of my predecessours let him yéeld me but that and it shall abundantly content me Hereunto the Archbishop answered cunningly and stoutly ynough that the times were altered his predecessors which could not bring all things to passe at the first dash were content to beare with many things and that as men they fell and omitted their duty oftentimes that which the Church had gotten was by the constancy of good Prelates whose example he would follow thus farre foorth as though he could not augment the priuileges of the Church in his time yet he would neuer consent they should be diminished This answeare being heard all men cryed shame vpon him and generally imputed the fault of these sturs vnto him But this was the issue for that time that they parted without reconciliation The King doubting what might come of these broiles caused his sonne Henry that died soone after to be crowned King in his owne life time so to assure him of the succession Afterwards comming into Fraunce againe they were vpon the point of reconciliation when the casting out of some such word or another as before marred all At length the King and he were made friends but his full restitution deferred till he had behaued himselfe quietly a while at Canterbury which he promised to doo But he was so farre from perfourming that promise as he sent into England before him diuers excommunications which the Pope had graunted out long before and committed to his discretion Amongst other the Archbishop of Yorke the Bishop of London and Salisbury were named in them together with so many as had béene dooers in the coronation of the yoong King which the Archbishop said might not be performed of any but by his appointment The men thus strucken with this holy fire hasted them ouer into Normandy to make their complaint vnto the king who infinitely grieued at this kinde of dealing cursed the time that euer he made him Archbishop or restored him to his place againe adding it was his chaunce euer to do for vnthankefull men otherwise some or other would long ere this haue made this proud priest an example to all such troublesome perturbers of his realme and state It happened amongst other fower knights to be present at this spéech of the kings who gathered thereby they should do a deed very acceptable vnto him if they killed the Archbishop Their names were Reynald Fitz-Vrse Hugh de Mortuill William de Tracy and Richard Briton In this meane time the Archbishop was come to Canterbury and was receiued there with great ioy Thence he went to London and so to Woodstocke where the yoong king then lay But before he could get to the kings presence word was brought him the kings pleasure was he should first go to Canterbury and reuoke those excommunications before he the king would talke with him So he returned againe to Canterbury without seeing the king
as also his othe taken to the same purpose at the time of his coronation the danger and dishonour of breaking the same and lastly that he should feare to offend him by whom kings raigne and before whose tribunall all princes and monarchs neuer so great must one day come to be iudged The king seemed to be somewhat mooued with these words and desiring the Archbishop to take his place againe well quoth he howsoeuer I doe otherwise I will leaue the church in as good estate as I found it The Archbishop then turning him about vnto the proloquutor and certaine other knights of the lower house that accompanied him You it was faith he and such as you are that perswaded the last king to take into his hands all such celles in England as appertained vnto any religious houses of Fraunce or Normandy assuring him it would so stuffe his coffers as he could not want in many yéeres after and there is no question but the land belonging to such celles was woorth an infinite summe of mony Howbeit it is certaine and well inough knowne that within one yéere after he had taken that course he was not the value of halfe a marke the richer and how he thriued afterwarde otherwise I néede not tell you After that time there were no other attempts against the church in his daies But the clergy were so terrified with that wauering doubtfulnesse of the king as they durst not but grant him a tenth euery yéere after and though there were no other occasion the Archbishop was faine to call a conuocation euen for that purpose His end being as some report it was very miserable his tongue swelled so big in his mouth as he was able neither to eate drinke nor speake in many dayes before his death and died at last of hunger about the end of Ianuary 1413. when he had sate one moneth aboue 17. yéeres He lyeth buried on the North side of the body of Christchurch in Canterbury at the West end whereof toward the North he built a faire spire stéeple called to this day by the name of Arundell steeple and bestowed a goodly ring of fiue belles vpon the same the first of them he dedicated to the holy trinity the second to the blessed virgin the third to the Angel Gabriell the fourth to Saint Blase and the fift to Saint Iohn the Euangelist 61. Henry Chichley AFter the death of Thomas Arundell Henry Chichley Bishop of Saint Dauids was elected by the Couent of Canterbury to succéeds him Now though many Lawes had béene made against the Popes vsurped authority in bestowing Ecclesiasticall preferments by way of prouiston Yet durst not this man consent vnto this election so made but committed the matter vnto the Popes determination who first pronounced the election of the monkes void and then bestowed the Archbishopricke vpon him This Henry Chichley was borne at Highamferrys in Northamptonshire brought vp in New Colledge in Oxford where he procéeded Doctor of Law and first preferred vnto the Chauncellorship of Salisbury Hauing beene imployed much in Embassages and other businesses of the king wherein he euer behaued himselfe wisely and to the kings great good liking by his meanes he was made first Bishop of Saint Dauids and then Archbishop He receiued his pall at the hands of the Bishop of Winchester the 29. of July 1414. and bought of the king the fruites of the vacacy which was halfe a yéere for sixe hundred markes The yéere 1428. he was made Cardinall of Saint Eusebius the Popes Legate but refused to exercise his power Legatiue further then he was authorised thereunto by the king He was a man happy enioying alwaies his princes fauour wealth honour and all kinde of prosperity many yéeres wise in gouerning his Sée laudably bountifull in bestowing his goods to the behoofe of the common wealth and lastly stout and seuere in due administration of iustice In the towne of Nigham ferrys where he was borne he founded a goodly college for secular priests which he endowed with large reuenues He built also in the same towne an hospital for poore people which he likewise endowed liberally and his brethren Robert and Wil. Chichley citizens of London his executors gaue much land vnto the same These two foundations finished he began two other at Oxford one called Bernard College now knowne by the name of Saint Johns college and All Soules college which yet continueth in such state as he left the same one of the fairest and seemeliest of our Uniuersity He bestowed much money in repairing the library at Canterbury and then replenished the same with a number of goodly bookes He gaue vnto his Church many rich ornaments and iewels of great price and built a great part of the Tower called Oxford Tower in the said Church William Molash Prior there that I may take any occasion to record so good a déede the yéere 1430. furnished that Tower with a goodly bell called to this day Bell Dunstan The 〈◊〉 of that bell at the lowest brim is two yards and somewhat more But to returne to Henry Chichley no Archbishop euer enioied that honor so long as he did in 500. yeeres before him He sate 29. yéeres and dying Aprill 12. 1443. was laid in a very faire toombe built by him selfe in his life time standing vpon the North side of the Presbitery On it I find engrauen this Epitaph Hic 〈◊〉 Henr. Chicheley Ll. Doctor quondam Cancellarius Sarum qui anno septimo Henr. 4. Regisad Gregorium Papam 12. in Ambassiata transmissus in ciuitate Sanensi per manus 〈◊〉 Papae in Episcopum 〈◊〉 consecratus est Hic etiam Henricus anno 2. Henr. 5. Regis in 〈◊〉 sancta ecclesia in Archiepiscopum postulatus a 〈◊〉 Papa 23. ad eandem translatus qui obijt anno dom 1443. mensis Apr. die 12. Coetus sanctornm concorditer iste precetur Vt Deus ipsorum meritis sibi propiciatur 62. Iohn Stafford EVgenius 4. the Pope of his absolute authority translated then from Bathe and Wels Iohn Stafford lately also made Cardinall as I finde reported at leastwise He was sonne vnto the Earle of Stafford borne at Hooke in Dorsetshire in the parish of Abbots bury and brought vp in Oxford where also he procéeded Doctor of lawe A while he practised in the Arches euen vntill Henry Chichley the Archbishoppe made him his vicar generall there By his fauour also he obtayned the Deanry of Saint Martins in London and the prebend of Milton in the church of Lincoln King Henry the fifth a little before his death began to fauour him much found meanes to preferre him first to the Deanry of Wels then a prebend in the church of Salisbury and afterward made him one of his priuy counsell first kéeper of the priuy seale and in the ende Treasurer of England This renowmed king being taken away by vntimely death though he found not his passage so cléere yet he still went forward in the way of preferment and obtained
A CATALOGVE of the Bishops of England since the first planting of Christian religion in this Island together with a briefe History of their liues and memorable actions so neere as can be gathered out of antiquity By F. G. Subdeane of Exceter Bona quae facereipsi negligimus haec ad correctionem nobis Deus ab alijs fieri demonstrat vt qui praeceptum non attendimus saltem exemplis excitemur atque in appetitu rectitudinii nil sibi mens nostra difficile existimes quod perfecte peragi ab alijs videt Greg. Moral lib. 9. Mementote praepositorum vestrorum qui vobis loquuti sunt verbum Dei quorum intuentes exitum conuersationis imitamini fidem Heb. 13. 7. LONDINI Impensis Geor. Bishop 1601. TO THE RIGHT Honorable Sir THOMAS SACKVYLL Baron of Buckhurst Knight of the most noble order of the Garter Lord high Treasurer of England and Chauncellor of the Vniuersitie of Oxford THis worke right Honorable such as it is I haue thought it no lesse then my duty to present vnto your Lordship not onely in regard of my selfe whom by many great and vndeserued fauours you haue so bound vnto you as except I wil be very vnthankfull I must at all times be ready to tender my selfe and all my poore ability vnto your seruice but also in respect of the matter which as if it had light vpon a writer worthy of it might haue yeelded a discourse not altogether vnwoorthy your Honorable regard So being but as it is a memoriall of the liues and actions of the most memorable and famous learned men that our countrey from time hath brought foorth Me thinkes I cannot commend it vnto a more likely patron then your selfe that are not onely learned but also vnder her Maiesty the Supreame gouernour of one of those two welsprings of learning and learned men our 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doubt 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnto the worlds ende continuall matter for the like argument of this that in this present worke I haue handled I humbly beseech your Lordship insteed of some better assurance to accept it as a pledge and token of a heart and minde in all duety faithfully affected vnto your Honour for the aduauncement whereof in all happinesse I will not cease as I am by duty bound continually to pray vnto Almighty God Your Lordships Chaplayne euer humbly at commandement FRANCIS GODWYN To the Reader I Cannot deny but my delight in the study of histories and antiquities hath beene somewhat greater then was needfull for a man that had dedicated himselfe and his labours vnto the seruice of Gods church in the Ministery Which 〈◊〉 acknowledging in my selfe and being vnable wholy to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quemque voluptas and I would to God that 〈◊〉 the woorst might be said of me I endeuoured long since in some sort to reforme the same by restrayning my selfe within the compasse of such antiquities as seemed to concerne but seasticall causes or persons My collections the one way I meane concerning matters ecclesiasticall can adde nothing vnto that large and painefull worke of Master Foxe In the other kinde concerning ecclesiasticall persons what many yeeres reading obseruation could yeeld vnto me some seuen or eight yeeres since I comprised in a volume which being perswaded therunto by diuers my friends no lesse godly then wise I haue at last condiscended after some conuenient augmentation of the same to publish The principall reason that mooued me thereunto is in effect but that which Tacitus saith euery historiographer should propose vnto himselfe Ne virtutessileātur vtque prauis dictis factisque ex posteritate infamia metus sit In the latter of these the faults of those men of whom I am to write I need not greatly to paine my selfe For it is not to be denied that the most part of the Chroniclers historiographers of our age haue borne a hand hard ynough at least vpon the Prelates and Cleargy of former times euery where like Chams discouering the nakednes of these fathers but seldome or neuer indeuouring with Sem to hide the same much lesse affoording vnto them any honorable mention neuer so well deserued This kinde of dealing though happily intended to good purposes might not expect that successe and blessing at Gods hand that the plame and sincere truth is wont to finde As Marcellus Bishop of Ancyra Socrates reports it labouring a little too earnestly against one Asterius an Arrian and so derogating impiously from the person and dignity of our Sauiour Christ byforcing some reasons of Paulus Samosatenus that swaruing as farre on the other side dispoyled the same our Sauiour of his humanity he fell at last himselfe and drew many others into those pernicious impious errors of the Samosatenians Stulti dum vitant vitia in contraria currunt Euen so these men inioyning somewhat too furiously the superstition and errors which the Cleargy of former times much deale of ignorance did teach and defend whilest that the rather to discredit their doctrine they depraued their persons it hath pleased God that this vncharitable course should sort to some other effect then was intended and that such as without his great mercy was like to haue caused an inconuenience of little lesse importance I will not say greater then that which our late reformation hath redressed For in the vulgar sort which distinguish not so easily betweene persons and things it bred a conceit not onely that the men were wicked and so their doctrine corrupt although I know the consequēce to be weake but also their functions and callings to be vtterly vnlawful Antichristian which opinion once receiued in the minds of the multitude gaue occasion of diuers plots coloured with the plausible shew of reformation but indeed principally ayming at the goods and reuenues of the church the temporall rewards of learning which being once taken away what confusion is like to follow we may easily see by the effects it bringeth foorth elsewhere Those countries that heretofore haue yeelded great plenty of able-worke-folkes for the Lords vineyard now that brood is spent which attayned learning the rewards yet standing whole they hardly can shew a man able to set pen to paper in defense of the truth Yea euen amongst vs although the godly and excellent care of her Maiestie hath preseraed the state of this our church in such sort as I thinke no other reformed Church of Christendome any thing neere comparable vnto it yet the example of other the knowen 〈◊〉 of so many sacrilegious cormorāts as await daily the destruction of the same and the doubt least it will decay for that we cannot hope for the like piety in all succeeding Princes it so far foorth discourageth men from the study of diuinity as the best wits dayly refuse the Vniuersities or Diuinity at the least which in some other countries is accounted the surest way to aduauncement and rather betake themselues to any other kind of life Hereof it commeth to passe that euery
of Pope Martin the fifth the Bishopricke of Bathe and Wels the yéere 1425. Eightéene yéere he continued in that Sée and August 23. 1443. was remooued to Canterbury In the meane time viz. the yéere 1431. in February he was made Chauncellor of England and held that place which you shall hardly finde any other man to haue done eightéene yéeres euen vntill the yéere 1449. Waxing weary then of so painefull a place it is likely he resigned voluntarily the same He sate Archbishop almost nine yéeres Holding a conuocation at London the yéere 1452. he fell sicke and thereupon departed to Maidstone where shortly after he died viz. July 6. He lieth buried at Canterbury in the place called the Martyrdom vnder a flat marble stone whereupon I finde written this bald Epitaphe Quis fuit enuclees quem celas saxea moles Stafford Antistes fuerat dictusque Ioannes Qua sedit sede marmor quaeso simul ede Pridem Bathoniae regnitotius inde Primas egregius Pro praesule funde precatus Aureolam gratus huic det de virgine natus Sée more of this man in Bathe and Wels. 63. Iohn Kemp. THe funerall rites and exequies of Iohn Stafford being performed the monkes with the kings licence procéeded to election of a new Archbishop and made choice of Iohn 〈◊〉 Archbishop of Yorke The Pope would not allow of the monkes election but yet not daring to put any other into the place of his owne good nature he bestowed it vpon the same man that they had chosen He receiued his crosse September 24. 1452. at London and his pall the next day at Fulham by the hands of Thomas Kemp the Bishop of London his nephew Dec. 11. following he was inthronized with great pomp and solemnity This Archbishop was born at Wye in Rent Being Doctor of lawe he was made first Archdeacon of Durham then Deane of the Arches and Wicar generall vnto the Archbishop The yéere 1418. he was rōsecrate Bishop of Rochester remooued thence to Chichester 1422. from Chichester to London the same yéere and from London to Yorke 1425. Dec. 28. 1439. he was made Cardinal of Saint Balbine and afterwards being Archbishop of Canterbury was remooued to the title of S. Kusine These his preferments are briefly expressed in this verse Bis primas ter praeses bis cardine functus He continued not at Canterbury aboue a yéere and a halfe but died a very old man March 22. 1453. In his life time he conuerted the parish church of Wye where he was borne into a colledge in which he placed secular priests to attend diuine seruice to teach the youth of the parish Their gouernor was called a Prebendary This college at the time of the suppression was valued at fowerscore and thirtéene pound two shillings by the yéere He was also a benefactor vnto our Uniuersity of Oxford He died very rich and in his life time aduanced diuers of his kinred to great wealth some to the dignity of knighthood whose posterity continue yet of great worship and reputation His body was buried in a séemely monument on the South side of the prerbytery a little aboue the Archbishops Sée Of him read more in Yorke 65. Iohn Moorton IOhn Moorton was borne at Béere or Bery in 〈◊〉 and brought vp a while in the Uniuersitie of Oxford where hauing spent some time in the study of the Ciuill and Canon law he procéeded Doctor of that faculty and then became a Doctor of the Arches By reason of his practise there the Archbishop his predecessor Thomas Bourchier got knowledge of his manifold good parts his great learning in the law his wisedome discretion and other vertues which he not onely rewarded by preferring him to much good spirituall liuing but also commended him vnto the king who made him of his priuy Counsell In all those miseries and afflictions which that good king endured he euer stucke fast vnto him by no meanes would be drawne to forsake him when all the world in a manner betooke them vnto his victorious aduersary This so notable loialty and faithfulnesse king Edward himselfe honored so much in him as king Henry being dead he neuer ceased to allure him vnto his seruice hauing woone him sware him of his Counsell and trusted him with his greatest secrets assuring himselfe belike that he that had béene so faithfull vnto his aduersary in so great 〈◊〉 would no doubt be as faithfull vnto him in the like case if occasion should serue After many yéeres tryall of him and diuers other preferments whereunto he aduanced him he procured him to be elected vnto the Bishopricke of Ely the yéere 1474. Not long after his consecration to that Sée it hapned king Edward to die who not reposing greater trust in any one then in this Bishop made him one of his executors The Duke of Yorke therefore his vnnaturall brother intending by the destruction of his children to make a passage for himselfe vnto the crowne and knowing how watchfull an eie this man caried ouer them as also how impossible it was to corrupt him and draw him to be a partner in his wicked confort accused him of many great and vnlikely treasons for which he committed him to the Tower The innocency of the man would not suffer him to lie there long Not being able to stampe vpon him any probality of such matter as he laid to his charge he tooke him thence deliuered him to the kéeping of the Duke of Buckingham who at that time lay for the most part at that castle of Brecknock in Wales This Duke was the onely instrument of displacing the children of king Edward from the crowne and procured the same to be most vniustly set vpon the head of their wicked vncle the Duke of Yorke before mentioned who was appointed Protectour of them the realme These lambs committed vnto the kéeping of such a woolfe were soone deuoured being not onely despoiled of the rule and gouernment of the kingdome which descended vnto them by inheritance but of their liues 〈◊〉 which were violently taken from them by smoothering the poore innocent children betwéene fetherbeds Now whether it were the detestation of this abhominable murther which the duke of Buckingham pretended or the vnthankfulnesse of the tyrant in not gratifying him according to his expectation which is the opinion of most men or the enuie of his so great aduancement whereof he thought himselfe better woorthy which also is likely enough certaine it is that he quickly began to grow malcontent and being egged on by the Bishop his ghest entred at last into a conspiracie against him plotted the remoouing of him and endeuoured to match the Earle of Richmond heire of the house of Lancaster with the eldest daughter of king Edward that her brethren being made away was now out of all question heire of the house of Yorke so to throwe downe headlong the tyrant from the throwne which he vsurped to restore it to them to whom of right it appertained
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
life time but many yéeres after his death 2. Robert Bloett IT happened soone after the death of 〈◊〉 the king William Rufus to fall dangerously sick at Glocester And thinking he should die began seriously to repent him of his dissolute and vicious life forepassed Especially he shewed great griefe for his Simony and sacrilegious oppression of the church and Cleargy men In this good moode he bestowed the Archbishopricke of Canterbury hauing kept it voide fower yéeres vpon Saint Anselm and Lincolne vpon Robert Bloet or Bluet his Chauncellor When he recouered he much repented his repentance wished they were in his hands againe and tell to his old practises as 〈◊〉 as euer heretofore This Robert Bloet was a man passing wise liberall 〈◊〉 curteous and very personable but vnlearned light of behauiour and much giuen to lust Bale reporteth he had a sonne named Simon base borne no doubt whom he made Deane of Lincolne He dedicated his church bestowed very much in furnishing the same with ornaments requisite Unto the 21. Prebends founded by his predecessor he added 21. more and very largely endued or as some deliuer founded the Abbey of Eynsham besides Oxford vnto the which monastery he remooued the monkes of Stow. Againe he bestowed the mannor of Charlton vpon the monkes of Bermondsey and gaue vnto the king 500 l. or as H. Huntingdon hath 5000. to cléere the title that the Archbishop of Yorke laid vnto the iurisdiction of his Sée He was consecrate the yeere 1092. sate almost 30. yéeres and died at last suddenly Ianuary 10. 1122. Riding by the kings side talking with him neere Woodstocke he shranke downe spéechlesse and being caried to his lodging died in a manner presently His bowels were buried at Eynsham his body was conueghed to Lincolne and there in his owne church solemnely interred Upon his toombe was engrauen this Epitaphe Pontificum Robertus honor quem fama superstes Perpetuare dabit non obiturus obit Hic humilis diues res mira potens pius vltor Compatiens mitis cum pateretur erat Noluit esse sui Dominus studuit pater esse Semper in aduersis murus arma suis. In decima Iani mendacis somnia mundi Liquit euigilans vera perenne vidit 3. Alexander ROger that famous Bishop of Salisbury was now so great a man with the king Henry the first as being able to do with him what he list he easily entreated him to bestow the Bishopricke of Lincolne vpon one Alexander his owne brothers sonne a Norman borne whom not long before he had made Archdeacon of Salisbury and chiefe Justice of England He was consecrate at Canterbury July 22. 1123. The next yéere after his Cathedrall church so lately built and yet scarcely finished was burnt and horribly defaced by casuall fire This man repayred it againe and added vnto it a speciall ornament a goodly vault of stone which before it had not and therefore was the more subiect vnto fire He also increased the number of his Prebends purchased vnto his church certaine mannors and other lands But his chiefe delight was in building of castels wherein he imitated his vncle the Bishop of Salisbury This humor was the vndoing of them both To leaue the other vnto his owne place Alexander built a stately castle at Banbury another at Newarke and a third at Sleford William Parâ—â—s reporteth that he also founded two monasteries but what or where I finde not These castles were such eie-sores vnto king Stephen as they prouoked him to picke a quarrell otherwise vnto the Bishops to clappe them vp in prison where the other died and to bereaue them at once of these munitions and all their treasure whereof they had hoorded vp great store They that kept the castle of Newarke refused to deliuer it at the kings summons till such time as the Bishop intreated them to yéeld signifying and it was true indeede that the king had sworne he should nether eate nor drinke before he had possession of the castle Hereupon they set open the gates vnto the king and then with much adoo hauing lyen by it certaine moneths he was at last released of his imprisonment After that 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 himselfe wholy to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of his church performed that which 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 made it simply the most beautifull church of England at that time He was thrice at Rome to wit the 〈◊〉 1142. and 1144. where he behaued himselfe so as he pleased both the king and the Pope very well The first time he was 〈◊〉 the Pope gaue him authority to call a 〈◊〉 as his 〈◊〉 and especially 〈◊〉 vnto him the redresse of certaine 〈◊〉 for the effecting whereof he caused 〈◊〉 canons to be made very necessary for those times A third iourney he made vnto the Pope lying then in Fraunce in the moneth of August 1147. where through immoderate heat of the weather during the time of his trauell he fell 〈◊〉 and with much 〈◊〉 getting home not long after his returne he died hauing sate Bishop about the space of 24. yéeres I 〈◊〉 in Henry Huntingdon certaine verses written in commendation of him which I thinke not amisse here to be inserted Splendor Alexandri non tam renitescit honore Quam per eum renitescit honor flos namque virorum Dando tenere 〈◊〉 thesauros cogit honoris Et gratis dare festinans ne danda rogentur Quod nondum dederit nondum se credit habere O decus ô moruoo directio quo veniente Certa fides hilaris clementia cauta potestas Lene 〈◊〉 doctrina placens correctio dulcis Libercasque decens venêre pudorque facetus Lincoliae gens magna prius nunc maxima semper Talis ille diu sit nobis tutor honoris 4. Robert de Chisuey AFter Alexander succéeded Robert Archdeacon of Leycester surnamed by some de Chisuey or Chisueto by others de Taueto Querceto or Euerceto for so diuersly I finde him called a very yoong man He was consecrate in September 1147. and died Ianuary 8. 1167. This man added one Prebend vnto those that were founded by his predecessors purchased a house for himselfe and his successors 〈◊〉 vnto the temple at London and built the Bishops pallace at Lincolne in a manner all He left his Sée indebted vnto one Aaron a Iew the summe of 300 l. a great deale of money in those daies and his successors were faine to see it discharged long after 5. Geoffry Plantagenet THe Sée of Lincolne continued then void after the death of the said Robert almost seuenteene 〈◊〉 in so much as all men were of opinion there should neuer be any more Bishop there A certaine conuert of Tame reputed a very holy man and halfe a prophet in regard of many things he had strangely foretold this man I say had giuen out that the said Robert lately deceased should be the last Bishop of Lincolne This prediction of his many men 〈◊〉 when not long after the
the certaine time I know not and drawing toward his end deliuered vnto the poore with his owne hands whatsoeuer he had in the world leauing him selfe scarce clothes to couer him He was euer a great almes man and notwithstanding his great building a great house keeper also Neither was he lesse carefull of the spirituall Temple of Christ then the materiall he was a very painefull Preacher yéerely visiting his whole Dioces preaching in euery place thrice reprehending and punishing sinne seuerely and lastly performing such other pastorall duties as he thought vnto his charge might belong 4. Seffridus Abbot of Glastonbury was brother vnto Ralfe Archbishop of Canterbury He was consecrate Aprill 12. 1125. 5. Hilarius This man onely of all the Bishops in England was content absolutely to allow of the declaration after published at Clarindon without mention of that odious clause saluo ordine fuo but was shrewdly bayted of his brethren for his labor as in the life of Thomas Becket you may read more at large 6. Iohn de Greenford Deane of Chichester was elected the yéere 1173. consecrate 1174. and died 1180. 7. Seffridus the second succéeded In his time to witte October 19. 1187. the Cathedrall Church together with the whole City was once more consumed with casuall fire The Church and his owne palace he both reedified in very good sort 8. Simon de Welles was elected Bishop December 22. ann 1198. 9. Richard Poore Deane of Salisbury was consecrate 1215. translated to Salisbury 1117. and after to Durham Sée Durham 10. Ralfe first Officiall then Prior of Norwich succéeded him in Chichester He gaue to the Church a Windmill in Bishopstone and died 1222. 11. Ralfe Neuil al. de Noua villa was elected Nouember 1. 1222. and consecrate the yéere following being then lately made Chauncellor of England by the consent and good liking of the whole realme for the great opinion they had of his vprightnesse and sincerity whereof indéede he yéelded such proofe in the execution of that office as neuer any man held the same with greater commendation About the yeere 1230. he was chosen Archbishop of Canterbury but was so farre from 〈◊〉 that dignity corruptly as he refused to giue the monkes money to pay for their charges in certifying this election vnto the Pope Now he missed it see Canterbury in the life of S. Edmund After that he was elect Bishop of Winchester See the successe thereof in William de Raleigh of Winchester He died February 1. 1244. at London in that house which is now knowen by the name of Lincolnes Inne He built it from the ground to be a house of receite for himselfe and his successors when they should come to London After his time I know not by what meanes it came to the possession of Henry Lacy Earle of Lincolne who somwhat enlarged it and left it the name it now hath This Bishop moreouer builded a Chappell and dedicated it to Saint Michaell without the East gate of Chichester and was otherwise a great Benefactor vnto his owne Church 12. Richard de la Wich After the death of Ralf Neuil the Canons of Chichester to curry fauour with the king chose a Chaplaine of his for their Bishop one Robert Passelew a man wise inough and one that had done the king much good seruice but so vnlearned as the Bishops of the realme 〈◊〉 much to be ioyned with him procured his election to be disanulled and Richard de Wiche to be chosen This Richard de Wiche was borne at Wiche in Worcetershire of which place he tooke his surname and was brought vp in the vniuersities of Oxford first and Paris afterward Being come to mans state he trauailed to Bononia where hauing studied the Canon Law seuen yéeres he became publique reader of the same After that he spent some time at Orleans in France and then returning home was made Chauncellour vnto Saint Edmund Archbishop of Canterbury as also of the vniuersity of Oxford He was consecrate by the Pope him selfe at Lyons 1245. and so gouerned the charge committed to him as all men greatly reuerenced him not onely for his great learning but much more for his diligence in preaching his manifold vertues and aboue all his integrity of life and conuersation In regard of these things as also of many miracles that are fathered vpon him he was canonised and made a Saint some seuen yéeres after his death He deceased Aprill 2. 1253. the ninth yeere after his consecration and of his age the fifty sixt He was buried in his owne church and the yeere 1276 his body was remooued from the first place of buriall and laid in a sumptnous shrine 13. Iohn Clypping a Canon of Chichester succéeded him This man amongst other things gaue vnto his church the Mannour of Drungwick vpon which he built much at his owne cost euen all the Mannour house there 14. Stephen Of whom I find nothing but this that he was excommunicate the yéere 1265. for taking part with the Barons against the king 15. Gilbertus de Sancto Leofardo died the yéere 1305. He was saith Matthew Westminster a father of the fatherlesse a comforter of mourners a defender of widdowes a releeuer of the poore a helper of the distressed and a diligent visiter of the sick especially the poore vnto whom he resorted more often then vnto the rich He ascribeth also diuers miracles vnto him beléeue him as you list He raised from the foundation the Chappell of Saint Mary 16. Iohn de Langton sometimes Chauncellor of England builded a costly window in the south part of the church This Bishop or at least he that was Bishop of Chichester the yéere 1315. excommunicated the Earle Warren for adultery whereupon the Earle came vnto him with armed men and made shew of some intent to lay violent hands vpon him The Bishops men perceiuing it set vpon them and by their Masters commaundement put both the Earle and his men in prison 17. Robert Stratford Archdeacon of Canterbury Channcellor of the Uniuersity of Oxford and Lord Chauncellor of England at what time he was preferred to the Bishopricke of Chichester made suite he might with the kings good fauor giue ouer his office which was graunted him but not long after it was layd vpon him againe He died the yéere 1361. 18. William de Lenne alias 〈◊〉 Doctor of law and Deane of Chichester was translated to Worceter 1368. See Worceter 19. William Reade was sometimes fellow of Perton colledge in Oxford where he gaue himselfe most part vnto the study of that Mathematikes that to so good purpose as he hath the reputation of the most excellent Mathematician of his age In his riper yéeres he fell to Diuinity and 〈◊〉 Doctor in that faculty He built the castle of Amberly from the ground left his picture many tables and Astronomicall instruments to Merton colledge where I heare they are yet kept 20. Thomas Rushooke a Fryer preacher Doctor of Diuinity and Confessor vnto the king was first
the kings inclination followed euer that course which he saw him willing to haue taken and aduanced earnestly that part whereunto the king inclined without respect vnto the matter otherwise Agame whereas the rest of the Counsell called oft vpon the the king to acquaint himselfe with matters of state by resorting to the Counsell and affoording his presence at their deliberations he would aduise him to follow his pleasures let Counsell matters alone to him assuring him that at night he should heare as much of him in one quarter of an houre as if he had been present all day at those tedious wearisome consultations By this trick he won himselfe such authority with the king as he did euen what he list a long time No maruell now if what preferment soeuer fell stood at his refusall The Bishopricke of Tourney in France which city the king had lately taken falling voide 〈◊〉 was elected thereunto Within lesse then one yéere after fell first Lincolne whereunto he was preferred the yeere 1514. and then immediately after Yorke which also was presently bestowed vpon him Following the streame still of this good fortune and thinking it best to take his time he procured the Pope to make him first his legate a Latere and soone after viz. the yeere 1515 Cardinall He handled the matter also in such sort with the king as he was content to discharge the Archbishop of Canterbury from the office of Chauncellor and bestowed it vpon him Then as though the Archbishopricke of Yorke and Chauncellorship of England were not sufficient for maintenance of a Cardinall he tooke also vnto him the Bishopricke of Bathe the yéere 1518 holding it and the abbey of Saint Albons with diuers other 〈◊〉 liuings in Commēdam Fower yéeres and seuen monethes he held Bathe and then resigned it to take Durham Durham also he lastly gaue ouer the yéere 1529. in exchange for Winchester Now yow sée him at the highest It was impossible this greatnesse should be able to beare his owne burthen Presently after his acceptation of Winchester he began to fall and fell so fast as 〈◊〉 death had not happily staid him he had quickly fallen 〈◊〉 much to much lesse then nothing The king vpon a displeasure how iust God knoweth discharged him sodainly 〈◊〉 the office of Chauncellor His goods were all seased to 〈◊〉 kings vse and himselfe ready to be attaint by parliament had not Thomas Cromwell after Earle of Essex then his seruant taken great paines in defending him When that 〈◊〉 succéeded not he was charged to haue fallen into a Premunire by exercising his power Legantine without the kings licence Hereunto he answered that he had authority thereunto front the king vnder his broad seale as it was well ynough knowen he could prooue though that amongst the rest of his writings were now in the hands of his enemies But quoth he I will neuer stand vpon that point Whatsoeuer I haue I haue it from the king if it be his pleasure to haue me in a Premunire let it be so I must and will be at his mercie Almost halfe a yéere he liued néere London in great penurie one while at Asher a house belonging to the Bishopricke of Winchester and an other while at Richmond the which house the king had lately giuen him in exchange for Hampton court All which time he had scarce a cuppe 〈◊〉 drinke in or a bed to lie in but what was 〈◊〉 him for 〈◊〉 mooueables and houshold stuffe of inestimable valew were all taken away to the kings vse At last he was sent downe into Yorkeshire and there liued all a sommer in reasonable good sort About the beginning of Nouember that yéere which was 1530. the Earle of Northumberland 〈◊〉 him of high treason and tooke order to haue him brought 〈◊〉 to London but he fell sicke by the way and died in the 〈◊〉 of Leicester as it should séeme of a 〈◊〉 whereunto a continuall feauer was ioyned When he had béene sicke the space of 8. daies he died Nouember 29. 1530. hauing beene Archbishop 15. yeeres and being within a 4. moneths of 60. yéeres of age His last words are said to be these If I had serued 〈◊〉 as diligently as I haue done the king he would not haue giuen me ouer in my gray haires but this is the iust 〈◊〉 that I must receiue for the paines and study that I haue had to do him seruice not regarding my seruice to God but onely to satisfie his pleasure In his flourishing time he began the building of two most stately colledges one at Ipswich the other at Oxford and it is great pittie he finished them not Had they beene perfected I thinke they woulde haue béene two of the 〈◊〉 monuments of the world And surely it were a woonder that any priuate man should take two such péeces of worke in hand at one time whereof any one might seeme a great matter for a prince to finish had not his receits beene infinite and his helpes otherwise very great I thinke verily and am able to yéeld good reason of my 〈◊〉 that if one man had now in his hands the reuenues of all the Bishopricks and 〈◊〉 also in England his rents 〈◊〉 not arise to so high a reconing as the yeerely receits of this Cardinall Yet was it not his owne purse that gaue him courage to so great an enterprise for his bounty was such as he could not but spend all he receiued The number of his seruants daily attending in his house were well néere 〈◊〉 hundred of which there were one Earle nine Lords a great number of Knights and 〈◊〉 I reckon not all this while his seruants seruants which it is though grew to a far greater number He obtayned leaue of the Pope to dissolue forty small monasteries the spoile whereof furnished him principally for the building of his colledges but opened a gap withall to king Henry to destroy all the rest as soone after he did The lands he had prouided for his colledge in Oxford though confiscate by his 〈◊〉 the king was content to leaue 〈◊〉 that colledge or at least wise other for them and became the founder thereof calling it Collegium 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who so desireth to know more of this great and famous Cardinall let him haue recourse vnto master Stowes Annales of England where his whole life and actions are largely described And I 〈◊〉 myselfe beholding to him amongst many other helpes for the greatest part of this discourse which I haue much 〈◊〉 gathered thence and would gladly haue inserted the whole but that it very much 〈◊〉 my determined proportion To make an end this our Cardinal was buried in the Abbey of Lecester where he died in the body of the church before the quier doore 58. Edward Lee. THe Sée hauing bene void by the death of Cardinall Woolsey almost one yeere the king preferred vnto the same Edward Lee his Almoner a great Antagonist of Erasmus He was well learned but