became Deane of Lincoln In the beginning then of the yéere 1577. he was aduaunced vnto the Bishopricke of Worcester in September following had the gouernment of the Principality of Wales committed vnto him and held the same two yeeres and a halfe euen all the time that Sir Henry Sydney the President liued in Ireland as Lord Deputy Sixe yéeres and almost a halfe he had beene at Worcester whē he was called vnto the metropolitical Sée of Canterbury which he yet holdeth Upon Candlemas day 1585. he was sworne of her Maiesties priuy counsell God graunt him long and happily to enioy these honorable places to his glory and the good of his Church Amen The Archbishopricke of Canterbury is valued in the Queenes bookes at 3093 l. 18. s. 8. d. ob farthing and was woont to pay to the Pope 1000. ducats at euery income besides 5000. for his pall The old corporation of Prior and Couent of Christchurch being dissolued king Henry the eight made a new of a Deane and 12. Prebendaries The names of the Deanes I haue thought not amisse here to set downe 1. Nicolas Wotton Doctor of Lawe 2. Thomas Godwyn Doctor of Diuinity 1566. 3. Richard Rogers Bishop of Douer 1584. 4. Thomas Neuyll Doctor of Diuinity 1597. The Bishops of London AT what time Christian religion was first publikely receaued in this Island there were established in the same 28. Sées or Cathedrall churches whereof thrée were Archbishopricks Yorke whose prouince was Scotland and the North of England Caerlegion now called Caerleon vpon Usk to which the Churches of Wales were subiect and lastly London that had iurisdiction ouer the rest of England To speake of the Archbishops of London with whom onely we haue now to do there is not any precise Catalogue or continuate history deliuered of them Some I finde mentioned Sparsim in our histories their names I will set downe and the Reader must content him selfe with them 1. Thean It is said he built Saint Peters church in Cornhill with the helpe of one Cyran chiefe butler vnto king Lucius and made it his Metropoliticall Sée 2. Eluanus is named the second Archbishop He built a Library néere vnto the same church and conuerted many of the Druydes to Christian religion 3. Cadar 4. Obinus 5. Conan 6. Paladius 7. Stephan 8. Iltut 9. Theodwyn or Dedwyn 10. Thedred 11. Hillary 12. Guiteline 13. Restitutus he was present at the Counsell of Arles in Fraunce the yéere 326. vnder Constantius the sonne of Constantine the great and subscribed vitto the Decrées of the same Counsell which he brought ouer with him One Decrée amongst the rest was that if a Deacon at the time of his ordering did protest he intended to mary it should be lawfull for him so to do Restitutus himselfe was maried 14. Fastidius Gennadius in his Catalogue illustrium virorum mentioneth him by the name of Fastidius Britanniarum Episcopus and commendeth certaine works of his 15. Vodinus he was slaine ann 436. by the procurement of Hengist first king of the Saxons for reprehending king Vortigers vnlawfull mariage with Rowen Hengists daughter his Quéene and lawfull wife being yet aliue After the comming in of the Saxons the succession of Archbishops was stil continued in London for the space of thrée hundreth yeeres but secretly euen vntill the time that Saint Gregory sent Augustine hither I finde onely one of them named viz. 15. 〈◊〉 that being first Bishop of Glocester forsooke it and tooke the charge of London vpon him the yéere 553. 1. Mellitus SAint Augustine hauing established his Metrapoliticall See at Canterbury for that it was the seate of the king of Kent who commanded the kings of the East and South Saxons as his vassals and holding their kingdomes at his pleasure He thought good to appoint a Bishop at London and he made choice of Mellitus whom he consecrated ann 604. This Mellitus conuerted vnto the faith of Christ Sebert king of East Saxons who soone after built the church of Westminster and dedicated it to Saint Peter In his time also Ethelbert king of Kent built the Cathedrall church of Saint Paule that being often increased by Erkenwald and other was burnt at last downe to the ground some 500. yéeres after and built a new in that stately forme it now hath by Mauritius Bishop of London and his successors King Ethelbert moreouer gaue Tillingham and other lands vnto this church Of Mellitus sée more in Canterbury whether he was translated 2. Ceadda AFter the departure of Mellitus the Church of London was long without a Pastor euen vntill that Sigebert obtaining the kingdome of the East Saxons by the perswasion of Oswy king of Northumberland he became a Christian and procured Ceadda a vertuous and Godly priest to be consecrate Bishop of his countrey That charge he attended painfully many yéeres At last building a Monastery in the North country called Lestinghen the same was scarcely finished when the infection of the plague being brought thither tooke away not onely this Bishop the founder but almost all the monks that were now newly placed in the same Of this man Beda writeth much in his Eccl. historie Lib. 3. cap. 22. 23. He was buried in the foresaid Monastery of Lestinghen 3. Wina ABout the time that Ceadda died it hapned Kenwalchus K. of the West Saxons to fall out with Wina the Bishop of his countrey insomuch as he forced him to flie vnto Wlfher king of Mercia of whom being now destitute of liuing he bought for money the Bishopricke of London Sée more in Winchester 4. Erkenwald VVIna being dead Erkenwald the sonne of Offa king of East Saxons a very deuout and vertuous man became Bishop of London His owne patrimony he bestowed in building of two monasteries one for monkes at Chertsey another for Nunnes at Barking making Edelburg his sister the first Abbesse there He conuerted vnto the faith of Christ Sebba king of the East Saxons He bestowed much vpon building in his Cathedrall church of Saint Paule encreased much the reuenues of the same and obtained for it of diuers princes many notable and important priuileges Hauing sate 11. yéeres he died about the yéere of our Lord 685. and after his death was honoured for a Saint His body was laied in a very sumptuous shryne which not many yéeres since stoode in the East part of the church aboue the high altar After Erkenwald sate these in order successiuely 5. Waldhere of him Beda maketh mention Hist. eccles lib. 4. cap. 11. 6. Ingwald this man liued in the time of Beda and died 744. 7. 〈◊〉 8. Wighed 9. Eadbright 10. Eadgar 11. Kenwalch 12. Eadbald 13. Hecbert or Heathobert He died the yéere 802. 14. Osmund or Oswyn he liued 833. 15. Ethelnoth 16. Ceolbert 17. Renulf or Ceorolf 18. Swithulf he liued the yéere 851. 19. Eadstan liued 860. 20. Wulfsius 21. Ethelward 22. Elstan he died an 898. or as Asserius saith an 900. 23. Theodred surnamed the Good His body was laid in a
of K. Henry the eight whose Chaplaine he then was and Deane of his Chappell as also of his Church He was Doctor of the Lawes very well learned wise and in great fauor with the king who sent him sundry times in embassages to forraine Princes He was Lord President of Wales and had the gouernment of the kings onely daughter the Lady Mary Princesse of Wales Of all the Bishops in the land he was accounted the best Courtier and although he were well reported for his learning yet better liked for his courtlike behauior which in the end turned not so much to his credite as to the vtter ruine and spoyle of the Church For of two and twenty Lordships and Mannours which his predecessors had left vnto him of a goodly yéerely reuenew he left but thrée and them also leased out And where he found thirteene houses well furnished he left onely one house bare and without furniture and yet charged with sundry fees and Annuities By these meanes this Bishopricke which sometimes was counted one of the best is now become in temporall lands one of the meanest He was a great fauourer of learned men and especially of Diuines whom he preserred in his Church aboue others He was very bounteous and liberall vnto all men but especially vnto Courtiers vnto his owne kindred and countreymen He bestowed much also as wel paines as cost in building Sutton Coltstil the towne where he was borne in procuriug the same to be incorporate and endeuouring to set vp the making of 〈◊〉 there all which prooued to little purpose as I haue heard In his time after the death of king Henry the eight there was an alteration of religion by king Edward the sixt whereof ensued rebellion and a commotion in this Diocesse which in some part was imputed to this Bishop because he lay farre from his Diocesse and dwelled in his owne countrey Whereupon he resigned the Bishopricke into the kings hands after he had béene Bishop about thirty yéeres and liued by the rents of the temporality of the Bishopricke which when he 〈◊〉 he did reserue vnto himselfe for terme of his owne life After the depriuation of Miles Couerdale in Quéene Maries time he was restored to his Church and for the better setling of the Romish Religion did here stay for a while But his minde was so addided to his owne countrey that he returned thither shortly after and made his onely abode there practising what he could to settle there the making of 〈◊〉 But whether it were that that kind of trade fitteth not that countrey or that God would not blesse a practise founded vpon such horrible sacriledge it fell out in triall to be more chargeable then profitable and so was soone giuen ouer This man being very olde died in a pang at Sutton 〈◊〉 before mentioned the yéere 1555. and was buried there MIles Couerdale after the resignation of Voysye was by king Edward made Bishop of this city and consecrate an 1550. After that he had béene Bishop about 3. yéeres king Edward died then Quéene Mary hauing the crowne the religion was altered and he depriued For a farther discourse of his life and especially his deliuerance out of prison at the sute and importunate request of the king of Denmarke I commend the Reader vnto Master Foxe Of his death onely thus much that not caring to returne to his Bishopricke in the beginning of her Maiestie that now raigneth he setled himselfe at London and there leading a priuate life he died at last a very old man and was buried in Saint Magnus church IAmes Turbeuill a gentleman well borne Bishop Voysey being dead was consecrate an 1556. He was very careful to recouer some part of the lands of his Bishoprick which his predecessor wasted and did obtaine of Queene Mary to him and his successors the seefarme of the mannor of Crediton After that he had beene Bishop about two yeeres Quéene Mary died he was displaced and after lead a priuate life many yeeres VVIlliam Alley reader of Diuinity in the cathedrall church of Saint Paule was consecrate Bishop of Exceter an 1561. He lieth buried vnder a large marble towards the South side of the presbytery VVIlliam Bradbridge Doctor of Diuinity and Deane of Salisbury was consecrate March 18. 1570. He died in a manner suddenly at Newton Ferries June 27. 1578. and was buried in the North side of the high altar neere Bishop Lacy in which place there is a seemely monument of freestone built ouer him IOhn Wolton cannon residensary of the church of Exceter was consecrate in the beginning of Aug. 1579. He sate Bishop almost 14. yéeres died March 13. 1593. and lieth buried toward the Southside of the presbytery néer theplace where we see a monument of touch and free stone erected vnto the memory of him GEruase Babington Doctor of Diuinity and Bishop of Landaffe was translated to this church in February 1594. and hence to Worceter October 4 1597. VVIlliam Coton Doctor of Diuinity and cannon resident of Paules was consecrate in Nouember 1598. This Bishopricke by a new valuation rated in the daies of King Edward the sixt is now esteemed in the Exchequer but at 500 l. yet paid heretofore vnto the Pope after 6000. ducats Foelix first Bishop of Norwich A Catalogue of the Bishops of Norwich collected for the most part out of M. Alexander Neuill his Norwicus by R. T. SIgebert king of the East Angles after the death of Corpwald returning out of Frannce where he liued in banishment and obtayning his kingdome brought with him one Foelix a Burgundian with whom he had liued familiarly during the time of his eryle and made him Bishop of the East Angles which conuerting the people to the faith of Christ had his Sée at Dunwich When he had béene Bishop 17. yéeres he died ann 649. and was buried at Soham now called Some a monastery afterward destroied by the Danes his body was then remooued to Kamsey After him succéeded Thomas which sate fiue yeeres Bonifacius 17. yéeres Bissus after the death of Bonifacius was preferred to this dignity after whose decease the Bishopricke which before was but one was diuided into two the one hauing his Sée at Elmham the other at Dunwich The Bishops of Elmham were 1. Bedwyne 2. Northbertus 3. Headewlacus 4. Neathilferthus 5. Eanferethus 6. Athelwolph 7. Alcarus 8. Sybba 9. Humferthus 10. Humbyrctus 11. Weremundus 12. Wilredus The Bishops of Dunwich were 1. Acceius 2. Astwolfus 3. Aerdredus 4. Cutherinus 5. Aldberthus 6. Eglasius 7. Heardredus 8. Aelphunus 9. Tydferthus 10. Weremundus 11. Wylredus In this estate it remained vnto the time of Humbertus Bishop of Elmham and Wylred Bishop of Dunwich at what time it was restored to the former estate and of two vnited againe into one Athelfus being the first which enioyed the same in the time of king Edwyn and had his Sée at Elmham after whom succéeded 2. Alfridus 3. Theodredus 4. Theodredus 5. Athelstanus 6.
age bringeth forth lesse plenty of learned men then other amongst vs And it is much to befeared least our posterity will too truely say AEtas parentum peior Auis tulit Nos rudiores mox daturos Progeniem ineruditiosam To make no mention of such other reasons as might induce me to the publishing of these noses least I make my porch larger then some principall roomes of my intended building I thinke it necessary now to admonish the Reader that he expect not any ample discourse of the liues and actions of the Bishops of our owne time or neere vnto it I hane purposly auoyded to set downe any thing of them but what either I finde written by other or elseremayneth to be secne in publike record And this course I haue taken because I iudge it neither seemely to praise nor safe to reprehend how iustly soeuer those men that either by themselues their neere friends or posterity yet liuing may seeme either to haue allured me to flatter or feared me from disclosing that truth which otherwise I would haue vttered Neither do I thinke it needefull to say much of them who being either present in action or fresh in memory are sufficiently knowen vnto vs. Whereas moreouer I haue passed ouer in silence some two Sees you shal vnder stand that I haue beene forced there 〈◊〉 for want of some necessary instructions which by reason of the far distance of my place of dwelling from them I haue not had meanes to attayne although I haue endeuoured the same I would therefore earnestly pray all men that can to yeeld me helpe for the supplying of whatsoeuer may seeme to be wanting either in those Sees or any other I shall take it very thankfully at their hands In the meane time this which now I am able to affoord vnto you I wish it may be taken in good part and God grant it may in some measure prooue a meanes of the aduauncement of his glory and the good of his Church Amen The Archbishops of Canterbury 1. Augustine IT is very certaine and witnessed by many histories without exception that our Island of Britayne receiued the faith of Christ euen in the first infancie of the Church Theodoret and Sophronius Patriarke of Jerusalem affirme that Saint Paul himselfe was héere and preached the Gospell after his first imprisonment at Rome Nicephorus and some other report that Simon Zelotes came hither and was the first messenger of the glad tidings of the Gospell to our nation But it is deliuered by one consent that Saint Philip the Apostle of the Frenchmen vnderstanding how this Island from whence first sprong the superstitious religion of the Druydes was seperated from Fraunce by a small cut of a fewe houres saile thought good to send ouer hither twelue preachers the chiefe whereof was Ioseph of Arimathia that buried the bodie of our Sauiour Christ. These men arriuing héere the yéere of our Lord 63. did their best indeuour for the conuersion of our Britaines It pleased not God they shoulde preuaile with the king who in no wise would be woone from the superstition of the Druydes But of the meaner sort of people many there were that hearkened vnto them yea the king himselfe admiring their great modestie painfulnes and vertuous behauiour was content to assigne them a place of habitation where Glastonbury now standeth which was at that time and long after an Island all compassed about with lakes and standing water And another king gaue vnto euery of those twelue a hide of lande in the countrey néere adioyning which are named to this day the twelue hides of Glastonbury In this Island of Glastonbury then called Auallon Ioseph and his fellowes found meanes to build a church which after they were dead stoode desolate the whole Island being forsaken and remaining without any inhabitant many yéeres euen vntill the time of king Lucius which was about the yéere of Christ 180. It hapned then a lawe héeretofore made by Claudius Caesar as Suetonius reporteth in his life was now generally put in execution by the Romaines who ruled all this end of the world commanding that the superstitious religion of the Druydes should euery where be abolished The pulling vp of these wéedes gaue good occasion vnto the séede of the Gospell sowed long before by the preachers afore mentioned now to spring and bring foorth fruite whereunto God gaue so good increase as Lucius the king himselfe was content to put on the swéete yoke of our Sauiour which that it might be the better and the more fruitfully performed he sent Eluan a notable impe and disciple of that holy College at Auallon and Medwyin a Dutch man that were the instruments of his conuersion vnto Eleutherius the bishop of Rome requesting that he would send other preachers vnto his realme by whom he and his people might be further instructed in the way of truth He satisfied his demaund and sent vnto him two notable men 〈◊〉 and Phaganus by whose paines and industrie chiefly the whole realme was finally conuerted They sought out the ancient church at Glastonbury repaired the same and dwelled there for the space of nine yéeres after Now king Lucius being himselfe Baptised and many of his people in all parts of his dominions he caused the temples of his false gods to be dedicate to the seruice of the true God in the place of their priests he appointed preachers of the Gospel and for their Flamines Bishops to the number of 28. Of these 28. thrée were Archbishops one at London whose prouince was the south part of England Another at Caerlegion vpon Uske his prouince was Wales And a third at Yorke vnto whose iurisdiction the Bishops of Scotland and North England were subiect The Gospell hauing taken such déepe roote héere flourished a while very prosperously And albeit it were often lopped and pruned afterward yea the very maine rootes mightily strucken at by the violent indeuour of sundry tyrants that sought vtterly to destroy and abolish the same out of this land yet had it euer many constant and open professors that neuer suffred the light thereof vtterly to be extinguished Amongst manie the most terrible persecution that euer this church sustained was by the Saxons who expelled not onely Christian religion but the followers of the same into a corner of this Island Howbeit euen amongst these very barbarous Saxons there were diuers from time to time that professed Christ But our countrey being in a manner all growen ouer with Pagamsme for there was no publike allowance of Christian religion any where but in Wales it pleased God to giue this occasion of replanting the same héere againe It chanced that blessed and holy father Saint Gregory one day to espie certaine beautifull children to be sold in the stréetes of Rome and vnderstanding they were Pagans asked of what countrey they were It was answered they were Angles well may they be so called quoth he for they looke like Angels Demaunding them of what prouince
they were it was said they were of Deira God grant saith he they may be De ira dei eruti deliuered from the wrath of God and made partaker of his mercies by Christ. Hée procéeded yet further and asked how the king of that countrey was called vnderstanding his name was Elle Alleluia quoth he must néedes be sung in those parts in praise of almightie God Not long after then this good man being made Pope hée tooke especiall care of sending preachers into this land for the conuersion of the same Yet it is not to be denied and it appéereth manifestly by the letters of Saint Gregory himselfe vnto the king and Quéene of France that this care of his was much stirred vp by the forwardnes of some good Saxons that complained vnto him of the negligence of the French priestes who being so néere would neuer take any course for the planting of Christianitie amongst them and therefore praied him that he would send preachers thither He did so made choice of one Augustine a monke of greater vertue then learning vnto whom he appointed fortie other that shoulde accompanie and aide him in this holy worke Being now well onward on their way they enquired of the state of the countrey and manners of the people vnto whom they went and vnderstoode so much of their barbarous and fierce rudenes as they in a manner all vtterly renounced procéeding any farther in the voyage and as it were compelled Augustine to poste backe to Rome there to craue licence of returne Saint Gregorie much grieued with this 〈◊〉 writ his letters vnto them wherein hé vsed many reasons to perswade them in any wise to goe forward whereunto at last they yéelded They arriued at the Iste of Thanet in Kent the yéere 596. nowe iust a thousand yéeres agoe The king of that countrie his name was Ethelbert intertained them with all curtesie the rather as it is to be supposed by the persuasion of his wife Berta that was a Christian There was néere vnto the citie of Canterburie a church built of old by the Romaines and dedicated vnto S. Martin in which the Quéene was woont to pray with Lethardus her Bishop There these men were allowed to preach pray baptise and vse all maner of exercise pertaining to Christian religion The king himselfe all this while gaue them maintenance came often to heare them and at last being throughly conuerted tooke on him the badge of Christ by baptisme all his people quickly following his example He then also appointed vnto Augustine and his companions a house at Stablegate and allotted competent reuenues vnto the same The matter being thus far forward Augustine stept into France and caused himselfe there to be consecrated Archbishop of England by Etherius Archbishop of Arles Presently vpon his returne thence he sent two of his companie vnto Rome Laurence and Peter to aduertise the Pope of their good successe By them when they returned he sent Augustine a pall bookes church-ornaments and other necessaries He sent also presently vnto the king and writ diuers letters some gratulatorie to the king some vnto Augustine exhorting him to diligence in his calling and to take héede least the miracles which God wrought by him for the conuersion of this people should make him proud and lastly others vnto the Archbishop of Arles to thanke him for his good aide and assistance yéelded to these men in this businesse In the meane time Augustine had obtained of the king another church in the midst of the citie built likewise heretofore by the Romaines and dedicated the same vnto our Sauiour Christ. Soone after this good king gaue vnto him also his owne palace and chiefe seate of his kingdome remoouing himselfe vnto Rheaculf called by the Romaines Regulbium now 〈◊〉 And lastly he laid the foundation of a goodly monasterie which he dedicated to S. Peter and S. Paule knowen afterwards by the name of S. Augustines These things being thus ordered he indeuoured to make a concord and agréement betwéene the Saxons and the Welchmen who differed from the Romane church in two things the manner of baptizing and the time of the obseruation of Easter Much paines he tooke to persuade them yea wrought a myracle by healing a blinde man for confirmation of his doctrine as you may read in Beda his Eccl. 〈◊〉 lib. 2. cap. 2. But they woulde by no meanes consent to any such vnion much lesse yéeld any kinde of subiection to that authoritie which he claimed to haue ouer all this Island He gaue not ouer with one repulse but when at the first he could not preuaile he procured a second conference at what time there met him seuen Britaine Bishops and a great number of monks especially of that famous monasterie of Bannachor a place not farre from Chester wherein there liued by the labour of their owne hands 2000. monks These men before they came to the place of meeting appointed thought good to aske the counsell of a certaine Anehorite whom they reputed for a very holie and deuout man and to know of him whether he thought it best for them to yeeld to the directions of Saint Augustine He aduised them if hee were a man of God to take the course he shewed and to follow the same And when they asked how they should discerne whether he were such a one or no he pronounced this saying of our Sauiour Take my yoke vpon you and learne of me for I am meeke and humble of hart If therefore this same Augustine be a méeke and humble minded man it is a great presumption that he beareth the yoke of Christ and offereth the same vnto you But if he be stout and proud he is not of God you may be bold This therefore saith he is my aduire haue a care that he and his companie be first in the place where you meete If then you being the greater number he rise not to doe you reuerence but despise you despise you also him and his counsell Augustine therefore first entered the place with his banner and his crosse with singing procession and great pompe and when the Britayne Bishops came in neuer rose or saluted them at all This they taking verie ill gainsaid him in euery thing told him that as his opinions were allowed by Gregory so had theirs long since by Eleutherius both Bishops of Rome that they had an Archbishop then commorant at Caerlegion him they would obey and none other especially such a one as he was a man vnknowne and a stranger not onely for his person and language but much more for his opinions and strange conceits Augustine much displeased with this short answere prayed them to yéeld vnto him but in thrée things to minister Baptisme and obserue Easter according to the Roman maner to assist him in preaching Christ vnto the Saxons But when they vtterly denied to ioyne with them in any sort he denounced against them the iudgements of God for this 〈◊〉 and assured them
agréed to giue vnto him this new title and inserted the same into the instrument of their gift In the conuocation many canons were made against Lutherans and many motions for renouncing the Popes authority wherein the greatest part being fearefull of resoluing either way the connocation was often prorogued After many adiournments it was once more put ouer from Aprill till October 5. In which meane space the Archbishop died at Saint Stephens néere Canterbury in the house of William Warham his kinsman Archdeacon of Canterbury That house at that time belonged vnto the Archdeaconry but by what facrilegious meanes I know not was long since nipped away from the same so that the Archdeacon except he be otherwise prouided for them by his Archdeaconry is now houselesse But to returne vnto our Archbishop he was buried without any great funerall pompe giuing mourning clothes onely to the poore and laide in a little chappell built by himselse for the place of his buriall vpon the North side of the Martyrdome and hath there a reasonable faire toombe He purchased much land for his kinred and bestowed very much in repairing and beutifying his houses with faire buildings euen to the value of thirty thousand pound as he professeth in his will for which cause he prayed his successor to forbeare sute for dilapidations against his executors They were the Duke of Norfolke and the Lord Windsor He continued Archbishop eight and twenty yéeres and died in the sommer the yéere 1532. 68. Thomas Cranmer A Famous and memorable man succéeded William Warham Thomas Cranmer Doctor of Diuinity whose life is written at large by Master Foxe and others I should loose labour therefore in writing any long discourse of the same Briefly to set downe that which I cannot omit without interrupting my course you shall vnderstand that he was borne at Arstacton in Nottingham shire of a very ancient house which as it should séeme came out of Normandy with the conquerour for it is certaine that in the time of this Archbishop a certaine French gentleman named Cranmer came into England bearing the same armes that the Archbishop did who gaue him great intertainment and did him much honour He was brought vp in Iesus colledge in Cambridge Being yet very yoong he maried and so lost his fellowship in the said colledge But his wife dying within one yéere he was receiued into his old place againe For the maner occasion of his aduancement his diuers imployments before his actions in the same his lamentable fal his heroicall and 〈◊〉 combats and lastly his constant death I will as before I said send the Reader vnto Master Foxe who hath exactly set downe all the particularities of these things Onely thus much heare that he suffered most vnworthy death at Oxford March 21. 1556. being the first Archbishop that euer was put to death by order of lawe in England except onely Richard Scroope Archbishop of Yorke 69. Reginald Poole CArdinal Poole was the sonne of sir Richard Poole who was cosin germaine vnto king Henry the seuenth and Margaret Countesse of Salisbury that was daughter vnto George Duke of Clarence the second brother of king Edward the fourth They caused him to spend some time in Magdalen colledge in Oxford and being yet very yoong sent him beyond sea by trauell to get both learning and experience in the world In the meane time king Henry the eight that fauored him much as being néere of kinne vnto him both by father and mother before his departure had bestowed vpon him the Deanry of Exceter He had béene in Italy lying for the most part at Padua the space of 7. yéeres at what time the king hauing abolished the Popes authority sent for him home he not comming proclaimed him Traytor and gaue away his Deanry vnto another This losse he estéemed little of Petrus Bembus an old acquaintance of his was become the Popes chiefe secretary who so commended him vnto his master that shortly after he was content to make him a Cardinall perswading himselfe belike that he would prooue a good instrument for English matters as occasion should serue And surely if he regarded the woorthinesse of the man in respect of his manifold rare and excellent partes he could not lightly preferre any man lesse obnoxious to exceptions For he was not onely very learned which is better knowen then that itnéedeth many wordes but also of such modesty in outward behauiour and integrity of life and conuersation as he was of all men both loued and reuerenced I know well that Pasquill played his parts with him and fathered a brat or two vpon him but without any probability at all He was made Cardinall Maye 22. 1536. The Pope employed him then in diuers Embassages vnto the Emperor and the French King wherein he did his best endeuour to ioine them against his owne soueraigne the King of England and not content therewith he dealt so busily with his letters amongst his friends in England wherein he dehorted them from the Kings obedience and all conformity vnto reformation as it turned many of them to great trouble and amongst the rest cost his mother her head It pleased not God that any of his platformes should take successe And therefore partly malcontent and partly also weary of the paines and continuall danger these Embassages forced him vnto he procured the Pope to make him Legate of Uiterbio where he determined to leade the rest of his life quietly But he was disappointed of his purpose The Pope Paul 3. summoned a Councell at Trent Cardinall Poole and one or two other ioyned with him must néedes be his Uicegerents there He for his part was nothing so resolute in matters of religion as men expected he would In the question of iustification he professed to be on our side and perswaded one Morell to be of his opinion a learned Spaniard that lay in the same house he did and that was sent out of Spaine of purpose to defend the Popes quarrell in disputation wherein he was estéemed excellent Soone after his returne from the Counsell it hapned the Pope to die A great faction there was at that time in the college of Cardinals some taking part with the Emperour and some with the French king Cardinall Poole was altogither Imperiall All that side and diuers that were indifferent gaue him their voices for the Papacy whereunto when they had elected him orderly he forsooth found fault with them for their rashnesse and perswaded them to take further deliberation in so great and waighty a matter Héereof the French party taking aduantage began to cry out it was reason regard should be had of many French Cardinals and other that were absent and could not possibly repaire vnto the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had lately 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it were in 〈◊〉 and that it was 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 feared if they elected any man that were altogether 〈◊〉 vnto him it would be a cause of great sturres and 〈◊〉 One of their company
then rising vp began to take particular exceptions against Cardinall Poole charging him with suspition of incontinency whereof he alleaged some reasons though peraduenture 〈◊〉 as also with heresie for that he had reasoned for iustification by faith in the Councell of Trent that he preferred Ant. Flaminius a knowen Protestant and kept company much with him and other thought ill of that way and lastly that in the time he was Legate of 〈◊〉 he had béene so slacke in 〈◊〉 of heretikes vpon whom he seldome 〈◊〉 any punishment but death vpon none This accuser was the Cardinall Caraffa that afterward was Pope Paul the fourth an olde acquaintance of Cardinall Pooles many yéeres euen vntill such time as that partaking in this faction betwéene the French and Spanish sundred them Caraffa thought him selfe the likeliest of the French side and in that respect was the rather induced in this sort to deface his old friend so to set vp him selfe But he was vtterly deceiued in his expectation Cardinall Poole cléered him selfe of all those suspitions absolutely so that the next day or rather I should say the night after the next day the company were more resolute for him then they had béene before and once more elected him Pope Cardinal Farnesius the last Popes nephew was the mightiest of that 〈◊〉 For so euer all Popes lightly take order that some Cardinall of their kinne shall strike a great stroake in the election of their successor that he may be a meanes to shield the rest of his friends from that hard measure which successors are woont to 〈◊〉 vnto the fauorites of their predecessor This Cardinall Farnesius excéeding ioyfull that he had brought the matter to so good 〈◊〉 came vnto Cardinall Poole and would néedes adore him by the name of holyfather kissing his féete c. But he would not suffer him so to doo saying he would not haue their election a worke of darknesse that the day was the onely time for the orderly dispatch of such businesse and therefore he desired them to 〈◊〉 the accomplishment of their choice vntill the 〈◊〉 They were faine so to doo But whether it were that his friends were 〈◊〉 with this double delay or that they were induced otherwise to alter their determination so it fell out that the next morning they chose another the Cardinall de 〈◊〉 that named himselfe Iulius 3. He well knowing that the backwardnesse of Poole made him Pope euer after made very much of him and yéelded him all mannor of fauour And first to begin with he enforced Cardinall Caraffa to aske him forgiuenes before they departed out of the 〈◊〉 Cardinall Poole professed to be nothing at all 〈◊〉 with loosing that place which he tooke to be a burthen importable and saying his onely desire was to lead his life in quiet contemplation craued licence to depart vnto a certaine 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 replenished with monkes of Saint Benet of which order he was taken for patrone during the time of his residence in Rome He was scarcely setled there when newes came that king Edward was dead and that his sister the Lady Mary had obtained the crowne who was brought vp a great while vnder the Countesse his mother by the especiall choice and direction of Quéene 〈◊〉 her mother And many are of opinion that the Quéene committed her the rather vnto the tuition of the Countesse for that she wished some 〈◊〉 betwéene one of her sonnes the Pooles and the Lady Mary to strengthen her title to the crowne in case the king her husband should die without issue male for that as before I haue declared they were descended from Goorge Duke of Clarence the next heire male of the house of Yorke Now Cardinall Poole knowing the Queene had a speciall affection vnto him for his learning his nobility but aboue all for his religion and he was a man personable ynough longed fore homeward not doubting a dispensation for his clergy would soone be obtained of the Pope in this case and assuring himselfe that though he missed of the crowne he should not faile of the myter He procured himselfe therefore to be appointed of the Popes legate and to be dispatched into England with all spéed The Emperour by this time had 〈◊〉 to endeuour a match betwéene his sonne 〈◊〉 and Queene Mary Doubting therefore least the presence of the Cardinall should disturbe his platforme he vsed many deuises to stop and hinder his passage till such time as the mariage was concluded At last but a day after the faire ouer came this iolly legate reconciled the realme of England to the Pope caused the Archbishop of Canterbury to be depriued and degraded seating himselfe in his Sée which things and many more are discoursed of him at large by Master Foxe and therefore I passe them ouer He was consecrate March 22. 1555. in the gray Friers church at Gréenwich The Lady day following he receiued his pal in Bow church where he made a dry and friuolous sermon touching the vse profit signification and first institution of the pall March 31. he was installed by a proctor one Robert Collins his commissary While these things were a dooing Cardinall Caraffa his ancient enimy became Pope He presently discharged our Cardinall of his power legantine and made one Frier Peto first a Cardinall then his legate and bestowed the Bishopricke of Salisbury vpon him He alleaged against Cardinall Poole that he was vnwoorthy the honour of the legate Apostolicall that would suffer the Quéene to proclaime warres against the French king but the matter was the old quarrels were not yet digested this way he thought to pay him home The Quéene kept Frier Peto out of the realme by force vntill the Pope was reconciled vnto Cardinall Poole againe Two yéere and almost 8. months this man continued Archb. In the yere 1558. many old mē fel into quartaine agues a disease fatall vnto elderly folke Amongst the rest a quartane had seased vpon him and brought him to a low ebbe at what time newes being brought of Quéene Maries death strucke him quite dead For he departed this life euen the same day that she did viz. Nouember 17. 1558. being 58. yéeres of age and sixe moneths He procured in his life time the gift and patronage of 19. benefices from the Quéene vnto his Sée which he no way else benefited except by the building of a certaine gallery toward the East at Lambhith and some few roomes adioyning He purposed indéede to haue bestowed much cost vpon his pallace at Canterbury but was preuented by death He was a man of indifferent stature slender wel coloured somewhat broad visaged his eyes gray and chéerefull and his countenance milde His goods he left to the disposition of one Aloysius Priolus an Italian who bestowed them all to good vses reseruing nothing vnto him selfe but two praier bookes His body was conueighed to Canterbury aud entoombed on the North side of a litle chappell that is at the East end
was buried betwéene the two pillers next vnto the stéeple on the north side of the body of the church vnder a marble stone ouer which was built a kinde of tombe or chappell of wood that by the burning of the stéeple was also consumed and quight defaced June 4. 1561. 75. Cuthbert Tonstall CVthbert Tonstall Doctor of Lawe Master of the Rolles and kéeper of the priuy Seale succéeded Richard Fitz-Iames in the Bishopricke of London and was translated to Durham March 25. 1530. Sée more of him in Durham 76. Iohn Stokesley IOhn Stokesley was inthronized July 19. 1530. and departed this life September 8. 1539. He lieth buried in the Lady Chappell vnder a marble inlaid with brasse 77. Edmund Boner EEmund Boner Doctor of Law and Archdeacon of Leycester sometimes Master of the Cardinals faculties had the Bishopricke of Hereford bestowed vpon him at what time he was out of the realme Embassador vnto the Pope from king Henry the eight for renouncing his authority here in England Soone after his returne hauing yet scarcely entred vpon Hereford he was called to London elected October 20. 1539. and installed Aprill 3. 1540. How butcherly he behaued himselfe in that place I referre you vnto the report of Master Foxe He was depriued October 1. 1549. restored by Quéene Mary August 5. 1553. and lastly displaced againe by authority of Parliament May 30. 1559. He died in the Marshalsea September 5. 1569. 78. Nicolas Ridley AFter the first displacing of Bishop Boner Nicholas Ridley Bishop of Rochester was translated to London and installed there Aprill 12. 1550. He was a gentleman of an ancient house borne in the Bishopricke of Durham brought vp in Pembrooke Hall in Cambridge where he proceeded Doctor of Diuinity consecrate Bishop of Rochester September 25. 1547. remooued to London as before is mentioned and lastly died for the constant profession of his faith October 16. 1555. the historie whereof and his whole life ye may read in Master Foxe more at large 79. Edmund Grindall BIshop Boner being the second time depriued Edmund Grindall was elected July 26. following consecrate December 1. 1559. translated to Yorke May 20. 1570. and after to Canterbury Sée more of him in Canterbury 80. Edwyn Sands EDwyn Sands Bishop of Worcester was confirmed Bishop of London July 13. 1570. He sate there about the space of sixe yeeres and was translated to Yorke Sée more in Yorke 81. Iohn Elmer IOhn Elmer Doctor of Diuinity and Archdeacon of Lincolne succéeded He sate almost eightéen yéeres died at Fulham June 3. 1594 and was buried toward the North side of the East part of the church aboue the high altar 82. Richard Fletcher THe Sée of Bristow hauing béene void many yéeres Richard Fletcher Doctor of Diuinity Deane of Peterborough and one of her Maiesties chaplaines was consecrate thereunto in December 1589. translated thence to Worcester in February 1593. and in the ende of the yéere 1594. to London He died suddenly in his house at London being to sée to well sicke and dead in one quarter of an hower June 15. 1596. and was buried in his owne Cathedrall church 83. Richard Bancroft RIchard Bancroft Doctor of Diuinity was consecrate the eight of May 1597. This Bishopricke is valued in the Queenes bookes at 1119 l. 8 s. 4 d. and yeelded the Pope from euery Bishop at his first entrance 3000. florens The Bishops of Winchester THE Cathedrall Church of Winchester according to a report that I finde was first built and erected by King Lucius who abolishing Paganisike embraced Christ the first yere of his raigne being the yéere of our Lord 180. and placing monks in the same alotted for their mainteynance large reuenewes which heretofore had belonged for the most part vnto the Flamines and other heathen priests This Church as the same Author saith was hallowed and dedicated vnto the honor of our Sauiour October 29. 189. by Faganus and Damianus Bishops About the space of 100. yéeres the Church of Christ had peace in this land viz. vntill the raigne of Dioclesian who endeuouring to roote out Christian Religion not onely killed the professors of the same but also pulled downe all Churches and Temples any where consecrate vnto the exercise thereof Amongst the rest this of Winchester at that time went to wracke the buildings thereof being ruinated and made euen with the ground and the monkes and all the officers belonging vnto it either slaine or enforced to fly for the present time and yet afterward to deny Christ. This happened Ann. 289. Not long after the death of this cruell tyrant to wit the yeere 309. it was againe reedified and that with such woonderfull for wardnesse and zeale as within one yeere and thirty daies both it and all the edifices belonging vnto it as chambers and other buildings for the monkes and officers were quite finished in very séemely and conuenient manner The 15. day of March following it was againe hallowed and dedicated vnto the honor and memory of Amphibalus that had suffred death for Christ in the late persecution by Constans Bish as my Author saith of Winchester at the request of Deadatus Abbot of this new erected Monastery 200. yéers and vpward it then continued in the same state to wit vntill the yéere 319. at which time Cerdick the first king of the West Saxons being a Pagan conuerted the Church into the temple of Dagon slew chased away all the monks and ministers of the same Thus much for the first foundation of this Church and the estate of the 〈◊〉 vntill the comming of the Saxons Now let vs procéede vnto the discourse of the Bishops whose faries and succession after this time had neuer any notable interruption or discontinuance 1. Birnius THe Prouince or kingdome of the Gewisses or West Saxons containing the West part of England was goucrned along time by one Bishop that was called the Bishop of the West Saxons This Countrey after the Saxons inuaded the same receiued first the faith of Christ in the time of King Kinigilsus by the preaching of Byroius the first Bishop who being a very zealous and deuout man obtained leaue of Honorus the Pope of Rome to aduenture himselfe in preaching Christ vnto Infidels And his promise was to trauaile vnto the most Sauage and Barbarous people in the furthermost part of this I le that amongst them he might sowe the séedes of the Gospell whereupon he was consecrated Bishop by Asterius then Bishop of Genoa But comming thither and finding the countrey of the Gewisses where he first arriued to be altogether Pagans and without any knowledge of Christianity he determined to go no farther to séeke that which euen there he had already met withall It pleased God so to blesse his labours that in a short time not onely great numbers of the common people and many of the nobles but euen Kingilsus the king himselfe beléeued in Christ and tooke on them the badge and cognisance of Christianity by Baptisme Oswald the king of
since his time in honour of him doo beare his coate of armes as the coate of their See viz. G. 3. leopards heads ieasant 3. Flower-deluces O. 45. Richard de Swinfield succéeded Doctor of Diuinity a Kentish man borne a very eloquent man and a great preather He was consecrate March 7. following sate 34. yéeres and died March 15. 1316. He lieth buried on the North side of the North I le aboue the quier as an Elogium witnesseth engrauen vpon a marble that couereth his toombe 46. Adam d'Orleton Doctor of Law borne in Hereford was consecrate September 26. 1317. In the moneth of October 1327. he was translated to Worceter and after that to Winchester Sée Winchester 47. Thomas Charlton Doctor of Lawe and Cannon of Yorke was consecrate by the Popes commandement October 18. 1327 The yéere 1329. he was for a while Treasurer of England He sate 16. yéeres and died Ianuary 11. 1343. He hath a reasonable faire toombe in the North wall of the North crosse I le ouer against the clocke 48. Iohn Trillecke sate 16. yéeres and a halfe 49. Lewes Sherlton or Charlton sate 8. yéeres and died the yéere 1369. He lieth in a faire monument in the North wall of the South I le aboue the quier 50. William Courtney consecrate 1369. sate 5. yéeres 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to London 1375. and afterwards 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 51. Iohn Gilbert Bishop of 〈◊〉 a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 him in 〈◊〉 The yeere 1385. he was sent Ambassador into 〈◊〉 1286. he was made Treasurer of England 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1389. as one deliuereth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is 〈◊〉 he was translated to Saint 〈◊〉 about the 〈◊〉 of the yéere 1389. 52. Iohn 〈◊〉 or Trefrant a Cannon of Saint 〈◊〉 one of the Auditors of the 〈◊〉 in Rome became Bishop of Hereford the yéere 1389. The 〈◊〉 1400. he was sent ambassador to Rome to informe the Pope of the title of 〈◊〉 Henry the fourth 〈◊〉 the crowne He sate Bishop about 〈◊〉 yéeres and a 〈◊〉 died 1404. and lieth buried 〈◊〉 the South wall of the South crosse 〈◊〉 where we sée a faire and costly monument erected for him 53. Robert Mascall being yet very yoong became a 〈◊〉 Carmelite at Ludlow After that he went to Oxford where he so 〈◊〉 in learning and other vertues as he was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of all 〈◊〉 King Henry the fourth 〈◊〉 choice of him for his Confessor and 〈◊〉 meanes to preferre him vnto the 〈◊〉 of Hereford He built the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of the white 〈◊〉 at London 〈◊〉 many rich 〈◊〉 vnto that house died there December 21. 1417. and there was 〈◊〉 in a goodly monument of 〈◊〉 He was often Ambassador vnto 〈◊〉 Princes and the yéere 1415. was sent to the Counsell of 〈◊〉 with two other Bishops 54. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Doctor of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 béene 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1420. Sée 〈◊〉 55. Thomas 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was consecrate 1420. 〈◊〉 Bishop 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yéere and thrée 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 was remooued first to 〈◊〉 after that to 〈◊〉 Sée Worceter 56. Thomas 〈◊〉 Abbot of Saint Maries in Yorke 〈◊〉 Bishop 〈◊〉 26. yéeres 57. Richard Beauchamp hauing 〈◊〉 here two yéeres 〈◊〉 thrée moneths was 〈◊〉 to Salisbury an 1450. 58. Reynold Butler Abbot of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 two yeeres and a halfe and was translated to 〈◊〉 April 3. 〈◊〉 59. Iohn Stanbery was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 brought 〈◊〉 in the Uniuersity of Oxford where he proceeded doctor of 〈◊〉 and read the Lecture of that faculty King Henry the sixt called him thence to be the first Prouost of his new 〈◊〉 colledge at 〈◊〉 and moreouer made him this Confessor The yéere 1446. he was elected Bishop of Norwich But 〈◊〉 de la Poole Duke of Suffolke thrust in a chaplaine of his owne notwithstanding this election and so disappointed him Shortly after to wit the yeere 1448. the king found meanes to preferre him to Bangor and fiue yeeres after that to Hereford where he sate one and twenty yeeres He died at Ludlow in the house of the Carmelites May 11. 1474. and was buried in his owne church vpon the North side of the high altar in a too 〈◊〉 be of alabaster A man not only very learned whereof he left many monuments in writing but very wise exceeding well spoken and which is not to be omitted tall of stature and of a very comely presence But I 〈◊〉 his greatest commendation his constant and vnmooueable fidelity vnto his Prince for which being taken prisoner at the battle of Northampton 1460 he was committed to the castle of Warwicke and lay in durance 〈◊〉 long time Upon his toombe are fixed these barbarous verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tetra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stanbery 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ioannis Doctoralis erat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 o Christe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sordem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bene sedem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mors 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 trux 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anno M. C. 〈◊〉 L. X. 〈◊〉 bino 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Qui legis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pro 〈◊〉 benigna Vt sint absque mora 〈◊〉 sibigaudia digna 60. Thomas Myllyng being yet very yoong became a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and then went to Oxford where he 〈◊〉 till he became Doctor of Diuinity hauing in the meane time attayned good knowledge in the Gréeke 〈◊〉 which in those daies was geason Returning then to Westminster he was made Abbot there and shortly after 〈◊〉 vnto the Bishopricke of Hereford by king Edward the fourth vnder whom he was of the priuy counsell and was godfather vnto Prince Edward his eldest sonne He died the yéere 1493. and lieth buried at Westminster in the middle of the chappel of Saint Iohn Baptist where against the North wall there is a fleight monument erected in memory of him 61. Edmund Audeley Bishop of Rochester was 〈◊〉 to Hereford 1493. and thence to Salisbury 1502. Sée Salisbury 62. Hadrian de Castello consecrate 1502. was made 〈◊〉 the next yéere and then translated to Welles 1504. Sée Welles 63. Richard Mayo Chauncellour and Archdeacon of Oxford as also President of Magdalene colledge there for the space of 27. yéeres and Almoner vnto king Henry the 7. the yere 1501. was sent Ambassador into Spaine to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Ladie Katherine to be married vnto Prince Arthur Not long after his returne thence to wit the yéere 1504. he was 〈◊〉 vnto the Bishopricke of 〈◊〉 which he held eleuen yéeres and somewhat more He deceased Aprill 18. 1516. and was buried on the South side of the high altar where there is a goodly toombe erected in memory of him 64. Charles Boothe Doctor of Diuinity Archdeacon of Buckingham and Chauncellour of the Marches of Wales was consecrate 1516. He bestowed great cost in repayring his house at London and sate eighteene yéeres and fiue moneths He lieth entoombed in the North wall of the body of his church 65. Edward Foxe Doctor of Diuinity and 〈◊〉 vnto king Henry the eight was brought vp in Kings
colledge in Cambridge often Ambassador in Germany Italy and elsewhere and became Bishop of Hereford the yéere 1535. A man very well learned and secretly a fauourer of religion M. 〈◊〉 doth dedicate his commentary vpon the Euangelists vnto him Himselfe also writ diuers bookes yet extant He sate onely two yeeres and seuen moneths But where he died or was buried I finde not 66. Edmund Boner hauing béene Bishop of Hereford only 7. moneths was 〈◊〉 to London See London 67. Iohn Skyp Doctor of Diuinity and Archdeacon of Dorset became Bishop of Hereford 1539. sate 4. moneths aboue 12. yeeres died at London in time of a Parliament and was buried in the church of Saint Mary Mont-hault 68. Iohn Harley sometime fellow of Magdalene colledge in Oxford was displaced by Quéene Mary and died soone after 69. Robert Parsew alias Warbington succéeded 70. Iohn Scory late Bishop of Chichester was appointed vnto this Sée by the Queenes Maiesty that now is in the beginning of her raigne He died in the beginning of the yéere 1585. 71. Herbert Westfayling Doctor of Diuinity and Cannon of Christchurch in Oxford was consecrate Decemb. 12. 1585. The Bishopricke of Hereford is valued in the Exchecquer at 768 l. 10 s. 10 d. ob farthing and yeelded the Pope for first fruits 1800. florens The Bishops of Chichester 1. WIlfride Archbishop of Yorke being banished by Egfride king of Northumberland as in Yorke you may reade more at large he thought good to occupy his talent by preaching the word of God amongst the South Saxons 〈◊〉 the king of that country a little before his comming had receaued the faith of Christ by the perswas on of Wlfhere king of Mercia He willing to increase his owne knowledge and 〈◊〉 that his subiects should be directed the way of saluation made very much of Wilfride and assigned him an habitation in Seolsey a place all compassed about with the sea except one way All that land containing eighty seuen housholds this king gaue vnto Wilfride for his maintainance He built a Monastery there and established his Cathedrall Sée in the same Now it pleased God 〈◊〉 blesse his labours as in a short time great numbers of the people being conuerted embraced Christian religion And a day being appointed for their Baptisme they had no sooner 〈◊〉 the same but immediately it rained plentifully the want whereof had caused a dearth the space of thrée yéeres before and that so great as not onely many died daily for hunger but great numbers ioyning hand in hand forty or fifty in a company threw themselues headlong into the sea choosing rather to die then to indure that torment of hunger any longer Thus it pleased God at once to deliuer these men from temporall death by famine and euerlasting destruction that their ignorance threatned vnto them Neither was this all the good that Wilfride did vnto them Their sea and riuers abounding with great store of good fish which they knew not how to take he taught them and caused great store to be caught wherewith many poore people were greatly relieued Hauing staid fiue yéeres there he was called home into his owne countrey againe and restored to his Archbishopricke of Yorke 2. Eadbert After his departure Sussex was gouerned by the Bishops of Winchester vntill the yéere 711. at what time Eadbert was consecrate Bishop of Seolsey which place before that he gouerned as Abbot 3. Eolla he being dead the Sée stood voyde vntill after the death of Beda 4. Sigga or Sigelm alias Sigfridus 5. Alubrith 6. Osa alias Bosa 7. Giselher 8. Tota 9. Wighthun 10. 〈◊〉 11. Beornege Matthew Westminster maketh mention of one Camelec Bishop of the South Saxons that as he saith was taken prisoner of the Danes the yéere 915. and afterwards redeemed with the price of 40 l. sterling by king Edward the elder 12. Coenred 13. Gutheard he died 960. 14. Alfred he died 970. 15. Eadelm 16. Ethelgar Abbot of the new Abbey at Winchester consecrate May 6. 980. translated to Canterbury 988. 17. Ordbright 18. Elmar he died 1019. 19. Ethelrike he died 1038. Nouember 5. 20. Grinketell being depriued of the Bishoprick of the East Angles for Symony obtayned this 1039. 21. Heca Chaplayne vnto king Edward the Confessor consecrate 1047. he died 1057. 22. Agelrike a man singularly commended for his skill in the lawes and customes of the realme was appointed by William the Conqueror to assist Gosfrid Bishop of Constantia in iudging a great controuersie betwéene Lanfranke the Archbishop and Odo Earle of Kent the kings brother concerning title of diuers landes and because being a very aged man he was vnable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Chichester vnto Pikenden hoath in Kent where the whole County in a manner were assembled about this matter he was brought thither in a wagon or chariot In a 〈◊〉 holden at Windsor he was 〈◊〉 and that as Florent Wigorn. supposeth 〈◊〉 the yéere 1070. and imprisoned at Marleborough 1. Stigand chaplaine vnto the Conqueror translated his Sée from Seolsey an obscure place at that time and now caten vp with the sea that euery high water 〈◊〉 it vnto Chichester in old time called 〈◊〉 so he was the first Bishop of Chichester He died an 1087. 2. William 3. Ralfe A man of very high 〈◊〉 and no lesse high of minde He stoode very stoutly in defence of 〈◊〉 the Archbishop in so much as when the king William Rufus threatned him for the same he offered him his ring and crosier saying it should better become him to leaue his place then his duety Neither could he euer be induced to forsake the said Archbishop vntill he séemed to forsake his owne cause by flying the country After that when the king was content to winke at the mariage of many Priests in the realme vnto whom the Archbishop was a grieuous and heauy aduersary and receiued of them yéerely a great summe of money for defending them against the austerity of the other I meane Anselme this Bishop resisted the collection of that money in his Dioces calling it the tribute of fornication and when notwithstanding his resistance it was paied he interdicted his owne Dioces commanding the Church doores euery where to be stopped vp with thornes The king a wise and gentle Prince Henry the first whether not vouchsafing to contend with him or taking his well meaning in good part was not onely content to pardon this disobedience but also bestowed the money so gathered in his Dioces vpon him saying it was a poore Bishopricke and néeded such helpes And certaine it is that before the comming of this man it was indéede excéeding poore He increased it wonderfully and yet notwithstanding built his Cathedrall Church of Chichester from the ground It was scarcely finished when as May the fift 1114. it was quite defaced and a great part of the City consumed with casuall fire He found meanes to repaire it againe being helped much with the liberality of the king and some other This Bishop sate many yéeres