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On. 


THE    LIVES 

OF  THE 


FROM 

BIRINUS, 

THE  FIRST  BISHOP  OF  THE  WEST  SAXONS, 
TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME. 


f 


BV 


THE  REV.  STEPHEN  HYDE  CASSAN,  A.M. 

Curate  of  Mere  and  West  Knoyle,  Wilts ;  Chaplain  to  the  Earl  ot 

Caledon,  K.  P.  Author  of  the  Lives  of  the  Bishops  of 

Salisbury,  aud  Sermous  oa  vaiious  subjects. 


IN   TWO   VOLUMES. 

VOL.  I. 

CONTAINING    THE    LIVES   OF 

THE  ROMAN  CATHOLIC  BISHOPS. 


LONDON: 

PUBLISHED    BY   C.    AND   J.    FaVINGTON  ; 

JACOS  AND  JOHNSON,  WINCHESTER  ;    BRODIE  AND  DOWDING,  SALISBURY  ; 
,         PARKEK,  OXFORD  ;   AND  DEIGHTON,  CAMBRIDGE. 
€rockerS(  S'rinters,  Frome. 

1827. 


V 


-v 


O 


-v 


To  Him,  who  has  rendered  the  Episcopal  station  doubly  venerable  .-—To 
Him,  the  polished  Scholar— the  sound  Divine — the  steady  and  uncom- 
promising Patriot — the  courteous  and  condescending,  the  amiable  and 
unaffectedly,  pious  Christian  Prelate ;— To  Him,  who  has  most  essentially 
promoted  the  best  interests  of  true  Religion,  and  con/erred  on  theological 
Students,  the  Clergy,  and  Society  in  general,  a  lasting  service  by  his 
admirable  publications,  "  Tlie  Elements  of  Christian  Knowledge,"  and 
"Tlie  Refutation  of  CaMnism,"  and  thereby  transmitted  his  name  with 
imperishable  glory  to  posterity  as  an  orthodox  and  fostering  FATHER  OF 
THE  CHURCH  :  To  Him,  who  by  rearing  the  towering  mind  and  giving 
direction  to  the  splendid  talents  of  The  Immortal  Pitt,  and  who,  by  thus 
mainly  contributing  to  raise  Great  Britain  to  its  present  proud  pre-eminence, 
and  to  secure  its  happiness  on  the  principles  of  an  enlightened  and  rational 
Polity,  has  entitled  himself,  with  equal  justice,  to  be  hailed  as  a  FATHER 
OF  HIS  COUNTRY :  To  Him,  the  Right  Reverend 

SIR  GEORGE  PRETYMAN  TOMLINE,  Bart,  D.D.  F.R.S. 

LORD    BISHOP   OF    WINCHESTER, 
PRELATE    OF   THE   MOST    NOBLE    ORDER    OF    THE    GARTER, 

These  Memoirs  of  his  predecessors  in  the  See  of  TVinchester,  of  whom, 
great  as  they  are,  he  has,  by  the  happy  union  of  Protestantism  in  the 
Church,  and  Toryism  in  the  State,  proved  himself  "  THEIPOXOS 
EMMENAI   AAAiiN," 

Are  inscribed  as  an  humble  tribute  of  respect. 
By  his  Lorship's 
Most  devoted  and  faithful  Servant, 

THE    AUTHOR, 

Vicarage,  Mete,  Wilts,  Julj  1827. 


178211 


Previously  to  entering  at  large  upon  the 
Lives  of  the  Bishops  of  Winchester,  I  shall 
lay  before  the  Reader  the  promised  re-print 
of  Gale's  "  History  of  the  Antiquities  of  the 
Cathedral  Church  of  Winchester,"  which  will 
both  serve  as  an  introduction  to  the  Memoirs 
of  the  Prelates,  and  tend  to  illustrate  several 
passages  of  the  main  work.  Although  this 
may  be  considered  as  a  faithful  re-print,  it 
will  be  found  that  many,  both  of  Gale's  and 
Lord  Clarendon's  inaccuracies  have  been 
corrected. 


THE  HISTORY  AND  ANTIQUITIES 

OF  THE 

€at][jctiral  €i[)urc|)  of  Wint^t^tttf 

Coiitaiuing  all  the  Ini5criiitions  upon  the  Tombs  and  IMonuments  ;  with  an 

account  of  all  the  Bishops,  Priors,  Deans,  and  Prebendaries; 

also,  the  History  and  Antiquities  of  Hyde-Abbey. 


BEGUN  BY  THE  RIGHT  HONOURABLE  HENRY  LATE  EARL  OF 

CLARENDON,  AND  CONTINUED  TO  THIS  TIME 

BY  SAMUEL  GALE,  GENT. 


London:  printed  for  E.  Curll,  at  the  Dial  and  Bible  against  St.  Dunstan's 
Church  in  Fleet-Street.    M.DCC.XV. 


PREFACE. 

The  following  Book  owes  its  present  foundation  to  a 
small  manuscript  preserved  amongst  other  papers  of  the 
late  Hemy  Earl  of  Clarendon,  beaiing  this  title  : — 

Some  Account  of  the  Tombs  and  Monuments  in  the 
Cathedral  Church  q/' Winchester,  Jinished  this  17 th.  day 
of  February,  1683.  Byrne  H.  Clarendon. 

To  which  there  is  now  added,  a  continuation  of  all  the 
inscriptions  in  the  Church  to  this  time,  and  the  succession 
of  the  Bishops,  Priors,  Deans,  and  other  Dignitaries, 
from  the  Registers  of  this  Church,  with  the  History  of 
the  Abbey  of  Hyde,  writ  by  a  very  learned  antiquary. 

The  work  being  thus  far  advanced,  I  very  readily  con- 
tributed  such    historical   collections    as    I    had   by   me, 
relating  to  the  Church  of  Winton,  and  which  I  hope  may 
give  some  light  into  the  antiquity  of  the  fabric.     The 
Charters  belonging  to  this  Church,  kept  in  the  Tower  of 
London,  being  large  and  numerous,  it  would  have  been  a 
tedious  undertaking  to  transcribe  them ;  therefore  I  have 
here  given  such  a  methodical  catalogue  of  them,  that  they 
may  be  resorted  to  with  the  greatest  facility  in  the  Record 
Office.     For  these  I  am  obliged  to  the  favour  of  Mr.  G. 
Holmes,  Deputy  Record- Keeper  of  the  Tower ;  as  I  am 
also  for  the  draughts  of  several  of  the  monuments,  &.C.  to 
others  my  very  good  friends. 
VOL.  I.  B 


I  must  now  take  occasion  to  mention  the  aniient  story 
of  l.ucius,   the  first  Clnistian  King  of  the  Britians,  his 
tomidmg  and  largely  endowing  the  Church  of  Winton    by 
his  turnmg   a  heathen  'l^eiuple   into   a  Christian  Church 
«'ind  substitutmg  a  Bishop  and  Monks  in  the  room  of  a 
I'Jamen  and  Pagan  Priests,  about   the  year    I69,   which 
bemg  a  matter  of  much   uncertainty,   and  to  give  it  the 
lanest    plea,    only    a  tradition,  I  have    omitted,    in  the 
subsequent  history;    rather  chusing   to   pass   it   over  in 
silence,  than  to  build  on  so  weak  a  basis.     For  as  to  the 
time  of  King  Lucius's  conversion,  bv  the    Mission   from 
-LIutherius  the    12th.    Bishop  of  Rome,  at    that    King's 
desire,   there  is    no    agreement  amongst  our  historians. 
Venerable  Bede  placeth  it  about  the  year  I06,  but  he  writ 
his  history  above  five  hundred  years  after  the  time  when 
King  Lucius  IS  said  to  have  lived :   and  Gildas,  the  most 
antient  of  all   the  British  historians,  who   writ  near  two 
hundred  years  before  Bede,  (and  one  would  think,  should 
know  more  of  the  affairs  of  his   own  country  than  those 
who  m  other  matters  write  after  him)  hath  not  one  word 
of  any  such  person  as  Lucius,  but  on  tlu  contrary  makes 
It  appear  that  Christianity  was  received  in  this  islaiid  more 
early;    and  even   in    the    reign  of  the    Emperor   Nero. 
Indeed    Geffrey    of  Monmouth,    and  others   after  him, 
make  King  Lucius  to  have  done  so  many  things,  to  have 
founded  and  endowed  so  many  Churches  (besides  this  of 
Winton)    and  with  such  improbable  circumstances,  that 
they  render  this  part  of  tiie  British  History  very  doubtful 
and  suspicious. 

The  following  passage  from  the  Annals  of  Winton,  I 
thought  more  proper  to  insert  here,  than  in  the  history. 
^  ''Anno  12()4,  4o-  Nonas  Maii  W^intoniensis  contra 
^^  Prioram  &  Conventum  S.  Swithuni  insurrexerunt,  & 
portam  Priora.tus,  &  portam  quae  vocatur  Kingate,  cum 
^^  Lcclesia  S.  Swithuni  supra,  &  universis  aedificiis  & 
redditibus  Prioris  &  Conventus  prope  Murum  com- 
*'  busserunt." 

This  accident  of  the  burnhig  the  church  of  St.  Swithun, 
as  here  described,  I  think  cannot  be  taken  to  comprehend 
the  total  devastation  of  the  fabric,  but  only  the  roof  or 
upper  part  of  timber;  for  so  the  word  supra  signifies. 
And  there  are  several  antient  monuments  entire  to  this 
day  in  and  about  the  east  part  of  the  church  or  choir  (the 
antiquity  of  which  1  would  vindicate)  that  were  erected 


3 

long  before  the  date  of  this  conflagration.     Nor  do  I  find 
the  least  notice  taken  of  any  reparations  in  this  part   of 
the  Church,  from  the  time  of  its  foundation  in  the  reign 
of  the    Conqueror,    till    Richard    Fox,   Bishop   of  this 
see,   in   the  reign  of  King  Henry  the  seventh,  beautified 
and  covered  the  old  choir  and  side  aisles,  with  a  fair  arch 
of  stone,  and  other  ciuious  workmanship  ;  and  where  his 
arms  are  still  to  be  seen  carved  in  several  places.     As  for 
the  repairing  the  timber  roof  that  was   burned,  we  may 
easily  suppose  that  to  have  been  soon  done,  it  being  but 
an  inconsiderable  business,  when   compared   to  the  vast 
works  of  those  times,  and  not  worth  nientionino;.     But  to 
put  this  matter  out  of  dispute,  the  above  cited   annals 
relate,  that  in  1268,  which  is  but  four  years  after  the  fire, 
Nicholas  de  Ely,  the  new  Bishop  of  Winton,  was  received 
there,    with   a    solemn    procession   inthroned,    and    that 
Missam  solenniter  ce/ebravit,  which  I   think  could  not 
well  have  been  done,  had  not  the  roof  of  the   fabric  been 
already  repaired;  much  less  if  the  whole  was   in  ruins; 
neither  can  it  be    supposed,  that  such  a  stately   fabric 
could  be  built  from  the  ground,  and  finished  in   so  short 
a  time.     The  building  of  the  north  and  south  cross  of  the 
church  may  very  probably  have  arisen  from   the  repar- 
ations made  by  Godfrey  de  Lucy,  Bishop  of  this  See,  a 
little  after  the  year  1202,  or  by  his  next  successor,   who 
was  a  great  benefactor. 

The  copies  of  Rudborue,  and  the  Annals  of  Winton, 
which  I  ha\e  cited,  are  those  published  by  Mr.  Wharton, 
in  his  Anglia  Sacra. 

If  the  following  remarks  upon  this  antient  and  famous 
cathedral  prove  acceptable  to  the  curious,  it  will  be  a 
satisfaction  to  me,  that  the  leisure  time  I  have  thus 
employed,  hath  not  been  altogether  mis-spent. 

S.   G[ale]. 
London,  Sept.  8>  1715. 


B  2 


THE  HISTORY  AND  ANTIQUITIES,  Sec. 


Whoever  rettjins  a  chic  veneration  for  sacred  antiquity, 
or  desires  to  honour  the  memory  of  our  renowned  ances- 
tors ;  niay  yet  trace  out  their  magnificence,  their  love  to 
tlieir  country,  their  immense  charity,  their  piety,  and 
devotion,  in  those  stupendous  and  no  less  beautiful 
structures,  which  they  erected  and  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  God  and  religion,  in  which  no  nation  exceeds 
us.  And  which  neither  various  revolutions,  nor  wars, 
nor  time  itself  (ever  injurious  to  monuments)  has  yet 
been  able  to  demolish,  but  they  still  remain  to  us,  rather 
to  be  admired  than  possibly  imitated.  And  whether 
we  consider  their  architecture,  or  their  number,  it  is  to 
be  lamented,  that  in  so  copious  a  subject,  so  few  writers 
have  been  employed,  that  to  this  day  many  of  our 
cathedral  churches  have  lain  in  such  obscurity,  as  to 
have  had  no  particular  notice  taken  of  them,  and  should 
this  incurious  humour  prevail,  posterity  might  justly 
deplore  our  negligence  and  the  want  of  those  antiquities 
■we  so  slightly  esteem.  Much  time  has  been  already  lost, 
and  their  beauty  extremely  diminished,  as  well  as 
numberless  records  of  their  foundation  and  endowments, 
perished  beyond  retrieve,  both  by  the  Reformation, 
and  the  unhappy  civil  wars.  And  if  timely  care  is  not 
taken,  the  remains  both  of  one  and  the  other,  may 
undergo  the  same  fate.  Amongst  all  the  sacred  temples 
of  our  country,  the  Cathedral  Church  of  \\  inchester 
presents  itself  with  a  most  surprizing  grandeur.  It  rises 
with  such  a  venerable  aspect  that  one  no  sooner  sees  it, 
but  he  is  struck  with  a  religious  awe. 

But  before  1  come  to  treat  particularly  of  this  Church, 
it  may  not  be  amiss  to  give  tMO  or  three  remarks 
concerning  the  city  of  Winchester,  where  our  church  to 
this  day  Hourisheth.  This  city  is  undoubtedly  one  of 
the  most  antient  in  Britain.  *  Ptolemy  mentions  it  by 
the  name  of  Ousvra,  Venta.      The  Romans  whWe  they 


*  Gtogra.  lib.  ii.  cap.  Ill 


d 

govenied  here,  more  distinctly  Venta  Belgarum,  af5 
appears  by  the  Itinerary,  and  that  this  was  one  of  their 
stations  ([)robably  a  city)  the  Roman  coins  and  ruins  of 
baths,  discovered  not  long  since  in  repairing  the  castle, 
do  sufficiently  evince. 

Upon  the  decay  of  the  Roman  empire  in  Britain,  the 
Saxons  took  possession  of  it,  and  made  it  the  royal  seat 
of  the  West  Saxon  Kings,  and  called  it  FinranceayTejT; 
■svhich  names  are  easily  derived  from  the  British  Caei- 
Gweut,  i.e.  White  City,  it  being  situated  in  a  white 
chalky  soil.  The  learned  Camden  has  so  accurately 
described  this  city,  that  I  shall  only  further  mention  that 
it  is  honoured  with  a  royal  palace,  begun  by  King  Charles 
the  lid.  of  a  regular  architecture,  consisting  of  a  mag- 
nificent front,  with  pavilions  in  brick,  adorned  with  co- 
lumns of  the  Corinthian  order.  Which  by  its  situation 
on  a  f  very  high  hill,  and  the  ruins  of  the  old  castle, 
enjoys  a  fine  air,  and  a  glorious  prospect  over  the  city, 
and  adjacent  country.  May  we  not  hope,  his  iSIajesty 
King  George,  will  finish  this  house,  and  make  it  again 
the  royal  residence  of  the  Saxon  Kings. 

Descending  from  the  palace,  I  now  revisit  the  church, 
in  order  to  take  a  nearer  view  of  it. 

As  to  its  origin,  our  historians  agree,  that  Christianity 
flourished  here  in  the  time  of  the  Romans,  and  that  there 
were  several  churches  and  monasteries  erected  to  the 
honour  and  service  of  God  by  the  British  converts  who 
lived  under  them.  Accordingly  we  find  mention  of  a 
college  of  monks  at  Winton,  from  whence  Constans 
was  taken,  and  declared  Emperor  by  his  father  Con- 
stantin,  who  merely  from  the  hopes  of  his  name,  was 
saluted  Emperor,  and  successfully  opposed  Honorius, 
A.  C.  408.  And  'tis  not  improbable,  that  those  vast 
*ruins  of  old  walls,  in  which  are  several  windows  still 
to  be  seen  at  the  west  end  of  the  cathedral,  are  the  re- 
mains of  this  very  college.  How  long  this  monastery 
and  churcli  might  have  cofttinued  ift  splendour,  under 
the  Christian  Britains,  is  impossible  to  determine,  but  I 
look  upon  it  to  be  a  right  conjecture,  that  it  was  reduced 


t  Antoaini.  Itiiier  T.  G.  p.  104. 

*  Bmtou'B  Coiuuieut.  on  Antouin.  Itinerary,  p.  221,  and  Camden's  Brit, 
in  Wiut. 


to  its  fatal  catastrophe  by  Cenlic,  the  first  Pagan  King 
of  the  West  Saxons,  who  arrived  in  Britain,  A.  C  * 
495 :  who  after  several  battles  fought  with  the  Britains 
in  these  parts,  in  which  they  were  overthrown  and  van- 
quished,f  began  his  reign  A.C.  519:  at  which  time 
he  either  slew  or  expelled  all  the  Monks  at  Winchester, 
and  set  up  his  own  idolatrous  worship. 

The  church  of  Winchester  being  thus  miserably 
eclipsed  by  Pagan  darkness,  continued  in  that  state 
during  the  reign  of  Cerdic,  and  his  four  successors, 
Cynric  his  son,  Ceawlin,  Ceol,  and  Ceolwulf,  till  the 
time  of  King  Kynegils  Avho  began  his  reign  A.  C.  611, 
and  was  at  length  converted  to  the  Christian  faith,  by  the 
preaching  of  the  holy  Birinus,  by  whom  he  was  baptized, 
and  Oswald  King  of  the  Northumbrians  being  present, 
was;]:  godfather  to  the  King,  A.  C.  635.  After  this 
King  Kynegils  gave  to  Birinus  the  city  of  Dorchester, 
for  his  episcopal  see.  King  Oswald  confirming  the 
donation.  This  was  done  by  the  King  for  the  present, 
he  intending  to  found  the  principal  church  in  the  royal 
city  of  Winchester,  and  to  that  end  had  prepared  all 
materials  for  the  fabric,  §and  gave  all  the  land  within 
seven  miles  round  that  city,  to  the  maintenance  of  its 
ministers. 

^But  the  King  was  not  able  to  perform  his  religious 
design,  being  seized  by  a  fatal  sickness.  He  however 
called  his  son  to  him,  and  made  him  swear  before 
Birinus,  that  he  would  build  a  church  fit  for  an  episcopal 
See,  and  offer  to  God,  and  confirm  for  ever,  the  land 
he  had  measured  out  and  allotted  to  the  support  of  the 
said  church. 

**Cenwalch  succeeding  him  in  the  kingdom,  A.  C. 
643,  commanded  a  noble  church  to  be  builded,  and 
gave  and  confirmed  to  it,  all  the  land  which  his  father 
had  before  vowed  to  bestow  upon  it.  This  sacred  struc- 
ture was  finished  six  years  afterward,  and  dedicated  to  St^ 


*  Chron.  Sax.  Gibs,  p.  25. 

t  Tho.  Rudborne  Hist.  Maj.  Wint.  lib.  II.  c  1. 

t  Bedae  Hist.  Eccl.  lib.  3.  c.  7. 

§  R.  Higd.  Polyc. 

•I  Annal.  Eccl.  Wint.  p.  288.  •*  Cliro.  Sax.  p.  31. 


Peter,  says  the  Saxon  Chronicle.  But  *Rudborne, 
the  Monk  of  Winton,  to  the  Holy  Trinity,  byBirinus  the 
Bishop  and  Apostle  of  the  West  Saxons.  The  King 
gave  the  new  See  to  Wina,  after  the  departure  of  Agil- 
bert,  successor  of  Birinus,  having  removed  it  from 
Dorchester,  A.  C.  660. 

And  as  a  farther  mark  of  his  royal  affection  fas  his 
own  proper  gift,  added  three  manors  to  the  Church  of 
Winton,  viz.  Duntun,   Alresford,    and    AVorthy.       King 
Cenwalch+  died  A.  C  672,  and  was  honourably  interred, 
m   the   church    he   had    finished.      There  is  very  little 
mention    in    our  historians  concernins;  the   fabric,  from 
tins  period,  till  the   Norman  conquest,  but  all  agree  it 
continued    in    a   flourishing    condition ;    being  enriched 
and  endowed  by  the  Saxon  and  Danish  Kings,  and  other 
Princes,  with  rich  presents  and  large  donation  of  lands. 
Amongst  others  Queen  Emma,  in  gratitude   for  her  de- 
livery from  the  fiery  trial   df  ,the  nine  burning  plough- 
shares,  by  which  her  innocence  was  vindicated,  as  to  her 
crime  with  Bishop  Alwyu,§  gave  nine  manors,  viz,  Bran- 
desbury,    Bergcfield,     Fyffhyde,     Hoghtone,     Mychel- 
meryshe,  Joyngeho,  AVycombe,  Weregravys,  and  Halynge. 
Bishop  Alwyn   also  at  the  same  time  gave  nine  manors 
more,  viz.   Stoneham,  Estmeone,  Westmeone,  Hentone, 
Wytneye,  Yelynge,   Mylbroke,   Polhamptone,  and  Ho- 
dyngtone.     And  King  Edward  three,  viz.  Portlond,Wyk- 
helewelle,  and  Waymuthe.   This,  as  our  Chronicles  relate, 
happened   about  the  year    1043.      The   present  church 
M'liich  ^^as  built  at  several  times,  had  its  foundation  laid 
m  the   reign  of  William  the  Conqueror,   by  Walkelyn, 
Bishop  of  Winton^,  a  Norman  and  the  King's  relation, 
A.  C.    1079.     The  work  was  carried  on  with  so  much 
application,  that  we  find  the  monks,  in  the  presence  of 
almost  all  the  Bishops  and  Abbots  of  England,  came  in 
great  joy  and  triumph  from  the  old  monastery  to  the  new 
one,    A.  C.   1093,  and  at  the  feast  of  St.  Swithun,  the 
shrine  of  that  saint  w  as  in  solemn  procession,  translated 
from  the  old  to  the  new  church,   and  there  with  much 
devotion  placed.     The  next  day  Bishop  Walkelyn's  men 


•  Hist.  Maj.  P.  190. 

t  Annales  Eccl.  Wiiit.  p.  232.  t  Chro.  Sax. 

^  Tho,  Rud.  Hist.  Maj.  p.  235.  If  Annal.  Wiut. 


8 

began  to  demolish  the  old  monastery,  wlilcliM'as  all  pulled 
down  that  year,  excepting  one  porch,  and  the  great  tower 
in  the  middle  of  the  church,  are  doubtless  the  work  of 
Bishop  Walkelyn,  for  thus  Rudborne,  speaking  of  this 
great  Prelate,  says,  Fieri  fecit  Turrim  Ecdesia,  Wintoni- 
ettsis,  ut  modo  cernitur.     And  in  the  choir  we  see  to  this 
day  the  tomb   of  William   llufus,  who  was  slain  in  the 
New  Forest,  A.  C.  1 100,   and  interred  here  before  the 
high   altar  ;    but  two  years    after  the   death   of  Bishop 
Walkelyn,  which  was  A.  C.  1098,  he  having  continued 
Bishop  nineteen   years   since   his   laying   the   foundation 
of  this  church,  and  from  his  election  twenty-seven.     The 
work  of  the  fabric  was  promoted  by  several  Bishops  his 
successors.     In  the  year  *1'200,  I  find  mentioned  also,  a 
tower  of  the  church  of  Winton,  said  to  be  then  began  and 
finished  during  the  pontifical  of  Godfrey  de   Lucy,  and 
that  the  same  Bishop,  A.  C.  1202,  instituted  a  confrater- 
nity to  collect  alms,  for  five  years  and  no  longer,  towards 
the  repair  of  the  church.      The  next  Bishop  who  appears 
to  have  done  any  thing  to  the  church,  by  his  benefactions, 
is  William  de  Edyndon,  ordained  A.  C.  1345,  being  then 
^treasurer,  and   twelve  years  after  made  ;|:chancellor  of 
England.     §  He  began  the  nave  of  the  church,  but  living 
not  to  finish  it,  he  commanded  by  his  last  will,  that  part  of 
the  money  arising  from  his  goods,  should  be  applied  to 
the  perfecting  of  that  work,  and  the  maintenance  of  a 
chantry  by  him  founded  at  Edyndon.     The  rest  he  left  to 
several  religious  houses,  and  his  servants.      He  died  7th. 
October,  1366,  and  lies  interred  under  a  magnificent  tomb 
on  the  south  side  of  the  nave,  near  the  entrance  into  the 
choii-,  on  which  we  have  this  monkish  epitaph. 

Edindon  hiatus  Willmus  hie  est  tiimulatus,  &c.^ 

The  next  Bishop  that  succeeded  was  William  Wickham, 
[Wykeham]  at  that  time  keeper  of  the  privy  seal  to  King 
Edward  HI.  being  unanimously  chosen  by  the  Prior  and 
Convent  of  Winton**   A.  C.    1369-      To  the  liberality 


*  Annal.  Wint.  Ecc.  p.  304  and  305. 

t  Rot.  Pat.  18  Ed.  3.  pt.  m.  22.  Will,  de  Edington  constitutus  Thesaurar. 
10  Apiil  1345.  X  Claus.  in  doiso  raenib.  4.  Will,  de  lidington, 

Winton  Episcopu.s,    constitutus  Cancellarius,  liabult  magnum  Sigillum 
sibi  tiaditum,  19  Feb.  1357,  $  Cont.  Hist.  Wint.  p.  317. 

\  See  hereafter.  »*  Hist,  Univ,  O.xon,  Wood.  p.  121. 


and  munificence  of  this  great  prelate  we  owe  the  building 
and  finishino-  of  the  nave,  and  the  west  front  of  the 
Cathedral,  where  his  statue  is  placed  m  a  niche,  standing 
above  the  great  window,  on  the  height  of  the  Church ; 
the  whole  work  being  by  him  completed  about  the  year 
1394.  The  many  honours  and  preferments  that  King 
Edward  conferred  upon  this  great  and  good  man,  are 
plain  indications  of  the  high  esteem  he  had  of  his  excellent 
parts,  industry,  and  fidelity.  The  first  employment  which 
he  executed  under  the  King  was  that  of  surveyor  of  Dover, 
Windsor,  and  Hadley  Castles,  and  several  of  his  Manors; 
and  to  his  direction  was  the  building  of  Windsor  Castle 
committed.  In  the  year  1361,  he  went  into  holy  orders 
by  the  King's  command,  and  was  soon  after  made  Rector 
of  St.  Martin  in  the  Fields,  and  Dean  of  St.  Martin  le 
Grand  in  London,  and  Arch-deacon  of  Lincoln,  North- 
ampton, and  Buckingham.  He  was  also  Dean  of  Wells, 
and  had  twelve  Prebends  in  several  Churches.  The  King 
still,  as  a  farther  reward  to  his  merit,  made  him  (as  is 
afore-mentioned)  keeper  of  the  privy  seal.  Bishop  of 
Whiton,  and*  soon  after  Lord  High  Chancellor  of 
England.  And  now  our  Bishop  endowed  with  a  mind 
not  inferior  to  his  fortune,  began  to  think  of  employing 
his  vast  treasure  to  the  honour  of  God,  by  some  noble 
act  of  charity  ,•  to  this  end  he  founded  the  magnificent 
structure  of  new  college  in  Oxford,  the  first  stone  being- 
laid  A.  C.  1379,  which  being  finished  in  1386,  the 
warden  and  fello\^'s  had  possession  given  them,  after  a 
solemn  procession  and  prayers  made  the  14th  of  ^^pril, 
about  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  same  year.  This 
college  was  no  sooner  built  but  that  he  began  another 
near  VVolveseye  (the  Bishop's  Palace)  at  Winton,  laying 
the  first  stone  A.  C.  1387,  which  being  finished  in  six 
years,  he  designed  it  as  a  nursery  for  his  other  college  at 
Oxon.  One  hundred  and  five  persons  being  maintained 
tlierein,  besides  servants,  viz.  One  warden,  ten  fellow- 
priests,  one  school-master,  one  usher,  three  chaplains, 
fceventy  scholars,  sixteen  choristers,  and  three  clerks  ;-j- 
besides  the  vast  expences  of  these  two  stately  foundations, 

*  In  Officio  Canccllatus  confirmatus  17<>  Sept.  Cart.  41.  Ed.  III.  Pat. 
12.  R.  II.  pt.  2.  m.  7ma  itcrum  constitutus  Caucellarius  4  Mail. 

t  Hist.  &  Antiq.  Uuiv.  Vid.  Autiq.  Eccl.  Brit,  per  Parker,  in  vita  Sim. 
Sudbury. 


10 

and  that  of  the  Churcli.  He  procured  to  his  See  many 
privileges  ancj/  innnunities;  he  gave  farther,  twenty 
thousand  marks  to  the  reparation  of  his  houses  ;  the  debts 
of  tliose  who  were  imprisoned  on  that  account  he  paid, 
amounting  to  two  thousand  pounds.  He  repaired  all  the 
high  ways  between  London  and  Winton.  He  gave  two 
hundred  pounds,  to  the  Church  of  Windsor.  He 
ordained  a  chauntry  of  live  Priests  at  Southwyke.  He 
supported  continually  in  his  house  twenty-four  almsmen. 
He  maintained  at  the  university  fifty  scholars  for  seven 
years  before  the  building  of  his  college ;  and  did  many 
other  charitable  acts.  He  also  provided  for  himself  ten 
years  before  his  death,  a  magnificent  monument  in  the 
body  of  the  Church,  representing  him  in  his  pontificalibus, 
two  angels  kneeling  at  his  head,  and  three  monks  at  his 
feet  praying  devoutly  for  his  soul,  very  exquisitely 
performed.  After  all  these  expences,  he  lelt  legacies  in 
money  above  six  thousand  pounds,  to  his  heir,  one 
hmidred  pounds  in  land  a  year,  and  all  his  houses  richly 
furnished.  He  died  A.C.  1404,  and  was  interred  in  the 
monument  which  he  built  for  himself,  upon  the  verge  of 
which  is  this  Inscription  : 

AVilbelmus  dictus  Wykeham  Jace^  hie  nece  yictus,  &c.* 

The  church  being  thus  finished  by  the  munificence  of 
Bishop  Wykeham,  appears  to  be  one  of  tlie  largest  in 
England,  and  regular,  after  the  Gothic  manner,  the 
arches  being  all  angled,  and  supported  by  several  small 
columns  of  the  same  diameter  at  the  base  as  at  the  chapiter 
set  together,  which  way  of  building,  though  not  to  be 
compared  w  ith  the  Roman  architecture,  yet  has  something 
in  it  solemn  and  magnificent;  and  the  windows  being 
generally  of  antient  painted  glass,  add  much  to  the  beauty 
of  the  prospect ;  as  our  countryman,  Milton,  hath  happily 
described  it. 

But  let  my  due  feet  never  fall 
To  walk  the  studious  cloysters  pale, 
And  love  the  high  embowed  roof; 
JVith  antique  pillars  massy  proof ; 
And  storied  ivindows  richly  dig'ht 
Casting  a  dim  religious  light : 


•  See  hereafter. 


11 

There  let  the  pealing  organ  blow. 

To  the  full  voic'd  choir  below. 

In  service  high  and  anthems  clear 

As  may  with  siveetness  through  mine  ear 

Dissolve  vie  into  extasies, 

And  bring  all  heave7i  before  mine  eyes. 

IL  Penseroso. 

The  great  tower,  vhich  stands  in  the  middle  of  the 
fabric  is  somewhat  too  Iom-,  but  would  admit  of  a  super- 
structure, which  is  all  that  seems  wanting  to  render  it  more 
august. 

If  we  take  a  more  particular  view  of  the  inside,  we  shall 
find  it  handsomely  ornamented,  and  not  without  several 
curiosities,  as  well  as  a  great  number  of  noble  and  autient 
monuments. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  nave  of  the  church  there  stands 
a  veiy  antique  font.  'Tis  a  large  square  stone,  a  sort  of 
black  marble,  in  which  is  cut  a  circular  basin  for  the 
water,  and  is  supported  by  a  plain  stone  pedestal,  being 
three  foot  three  inches  over.  The  sides  of  the  square  are 
set  off  with  bass-relieves,  representing  probably  the 
miracles  of  some  saint  belonging  to  this  church.  T\\& 
work  I  esteem  not  later  than  tlie  Saxon  times,  and  might 
probably  have  been  removed  hither  from  the  old  monas- 
tery ;  the  different  views  of  which  I  have  here  inserted,  for 
the  satisfaction  of  the  curious. 

In  the  south  cross  there  is  an  old  tomb  of  William  de 
Basynge,  some  time  Prior  of  this  church  ;  an  indulgence 
is  granted  for  three  years  and  fifty  days,  to  all  who  shall 
pray  for  his  soul,  as  is  mentioned  upon  his  tomb.  There 
were  two  Priors  successively  of  this  name  ;  the  first  died* 
A.  C.  1288,  the  second  1295. 

Under  the  stairs  leading  up  to  the  organ,  there  is  a  bust 
(by  tradition)  of  Ethelmarus  the  Bishop,  who  died  A.  C. 
1261  ;  who  nevertheless,  seems  to  have  been  interred  in 
anotherf  place  ;  for  I  find  his  heart  was  buried  in  the 
south  wall  of  the  presbyteiy,  where  this  inscription  is  still 
visible. 

Ohiit  Anno  Domini  1261. 

Corpus  Ethelmari  cujus  Cor  nunc  tenet  istud  Saxum  Parisiis 

morte  datur  Tumulo. 

*  Registr.  de  Poutoys.  Ep.  Wint. 

ft  He  was  bmied  at  St.  Genevieve,    Edit.J 


12 

We  are  now  approaching  to  the  choir,  to  which  from 
the  nave  of  the  churcli,  there  is  a  handsome  ascent  of 
steps ;  it  is  separated  from  the  rest  of  the  clnirch  by  a 
beautiful  frontispiece  of  stone,  built  between  tlie  two 
great  piUars  ol  the  arch  of  the  tower,  'Tis  of  the  Com- 
posite order,  and  on  each  side  of  the  gate,  which  is 
arched,  there  is  a  niche  ;  in  that  on  the  north,  is  placed  a 
statue  of  King  Charles  1.  in  the  other  on  the  south  side, 
that  of  King  James  1.  both  in  brass,  and  well  performed. 
These  statues,  during  the  civil  wars,  lay  concealed,  and 
by  that  means  escaped  the  fury  of  the  rebels,  who  com- 
mitted many  outrages  on  this  church,  too  long  to  be  here 
related.  This  structure  was  erected  by  King  Charles  I. 
who  was  a  great  benefactor  to  this  and  many  other 
churches.  As  soon  as  you  enter  you  see  the  seats  and 
stalls  of  the  Dean  and  Prebendaries,  which  are  very  neat, 
but  antieut,  and  adorned  with  spire-work  gilded.  In  the 
middle  of  the  choir  there  is  an  eagle  standing  on  a  high 
pedestal  all  of  brass,  on  which  the  lessons  are  read  at 
divine  service. 

At  the  upper  end,  on  the  south  side,  there  is  a  new 
throne,  which  was  built  for  the  present  Bishop,  the  Right 
Reverend  Father  in  God,  Sir  Jonathan  Trelawny. 
The  pediment,  which  is  adorned  with  a  mitre,  and  the 
arms  of  the  See,  impaling  those  of  his  family,  is 
supported  by  fluted  columns  of  the  Corinthian  order. 

*in  the  area  the  ascent  to  the  altar  is  a  raised  monu- 
ment of  greyish  marble,  in  which  lay  interred  William 
Rufus,  before  it  was  broke  open,  and  rifled  in  the  late 
Rebellion, 

On  each  side  of  the  altar  there  is  a  fine  partition-wall 
curiously  wrought  in  stone,  which  composes  the  two  sides 
of  the  presbytery  that  separate  it  from  the  north  and  south 
aisles  ;  on  the  top  of  each  wall,  which  is  of  a  considerable 
height,  are  placed  three  shrines  or  chests  finely  caned, 
painted  and  gilded,  with  a  crown  upon  each  ;  in  which 
are  deposited  the  bones  of  several  of  the  West  Saxon 
Kings,  Bishops,  and  some  later  Princes  ;  which  had  been 
buried  in  divers  parts  of  the  Church,  and  were  thus 
carefully  collected  and  preserved  \^'ith  honourable  mention 
of  their    names   on   each  shrine  in   letters  of  gold,    by 


Annales  Waverleieuies  p.  141. 


13 

Richard  Fox,  Bishop  of  Winton,  who  died  A.C.  1528, 
and  lies  interred  under  a  fair  monument,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  high  altar,  now  called  Fox's  Chapel.  It  was  this 
Bishop  who  covered  the  choir  of  \Vinton,  the  presbyteiy, 
and  the  aisles  adjoining  with  a  fair  vault  of  stone,  in  \\  hich 
his  arms  are  cut  in  several  places  ;  and  new  glazed  all 
the  windows  of  this  part  of  the  Church,  and  gave  it  that 
beauty  in  which  it  appears  at  this  time,  and  was  also  the 
founder  of  Corpus  Christi  College  in  Oxford,  A.  C. 
1516'.* 

The  ascent  to  the  altar,  of  marble  steps,  and  the 
pavement  are  very  curious,  being  inlaid  with  different 
coloured  marbles  in  various  figures.  The  altar  piece  is 
a  very  handsome  design  of  wood-work,  which  forms  a 
lofty  canopy,  projecting  over  the  table,  with  vast  festoons 
hangins  down  from  it,  and  all  over  beautified  with 
exquisite  foliage.  Behind  this,  there  is  a  very  high 
skreen  or  partition  of  stone,  the  work  of  Bishop  Fox,  full 
of  antique  carving  and  niches,  where  formerly  were  statues, 
but  they  being  demolished,  the  vacancies  are  filled  with 
large  vases  or  urns,  which  add  an  extraordinary  grandeur 
to  the  whole.  This  ornament  was  the  gift  of  W  illiam 
Harris,  D.D.  who  by  his  will  bequeathed  eight  hundred 
pounds  towards  it,  A.C.  1700. 

Leaving  the  choir,  and  passing  by  Bishop  Fox's 
oratorv,  we  ascend  the  great  area  at  the  east  end  of  tiie 
Chuirh,  which  place  in  antient  times  was  esteemed  very 
sacred,  for  under  it  was  the  Ko/^7]T7;6j&i/,  or  resting  place, 
of  the  Saints  and  Kings,  who  were  interred  there,  with 
great  honours ;  at  present,  behind  the  high  altar  there  is 
a  transverse  wall,  against  which  we  see  the  marks  where 
several  statues,  being  very  small,  were  placed,  with  their 
names  under  each  pedestal,  being  in  a  row. 

Kinigilsiis  Rex.  Sanct.  Biiinus  Ep.  Kinwald  Rex.  Egbertus 
R,  Adulphus  R.  Elured  R.  Fil.  ejus.  Edward  R.  Junior. 
Adhelstanus  R.  Fil.  ejus.  Sta.  Maria.  D.  Jesns.  Edredus 
R.  Ethgarus  R.  Emma  Reg.  Aluynus  Ep.  Ethelred  R. 
Sta.  Edward  R.  Fil.  ejus.  Cuutus  Rex.  Hardecanutus  R. 
Fil.  ejus. 


•  Hist.  &.  Autiq.  Univ.  Ox.  lib.  2.  p.  230. 


u 

Underneath^  upon  a  fillet,  are  these  verses  : 

COxMPORA    SANCTORUM    HIC    SUNT    IN 

PACE  SEPULTA. 

EX  MERITIS   QUORUM    FULGENT 

MIRACULA  MULTA. 

At  tlie  foot  of  these  a  little  eastwards,  is  a  large  flat 
grave-stone,  which  had  the  effigies  of  a  Bishop  in  brass, 
said  to  be  that  of  St.  Swithun,  and  near  this  last  an  old 
tomb  erected  by  tradition  for  King  Lucius. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  last  is  a  magnificent  tomb  of 
William  Waiufleet,  Bishop  of  \V  inton,  *lord  chancellor, 
and  founder  of  Magdalen  College  in  Oxford,  he  is  repre- 
sented in  his  pontificalibus,  and  died  A.  C.  1486. 

On  the  south  side  is  another  fair  and  stately  monument 
of  Henry  Beaufort,  son  to  John  of  Gaunt,  Duke  of  Lan- 
caster, Bishop  of  this  see,  Cardinal  of  St.  Eusebius,  and 
several t  times  lord  chancellor  of  England.  He  is  in  his 
cardinal's  habit. 

At  the  east  end  of  the  north  side  aisle,  is  a  fine  statue  of 
brass,  in  a  cumbent  posture,  of  the  lord  treasurer  Weston, 
and  at  the  east  end  of  the  south  aisle,  an  antient  chapel  and 
tomb  of  Thomas  Langton,  Bishop,  who  died  A.  C.  1500. 

The  great  east  window  is  very  remarkable  for  the  anti- 
quity and  fineness  of  its  painted  glass,  which  contains  the 
portraits  of  several  Saints  and  Bishops  of  this  church,  and 
is  very  entire,  as  well  as  that  at  the  west  front,  being  in 
like  manner  curiously  painted  ;  which  art  is  now  almost 
extinguished.  All  that  may  be  further  added  to  the 
description  of  the  church,  I  shall  conclude,  in  its  dimen- 
.sions  ;  which  being  already  taken  by  the  Earl  of  Claren- 
don, are  in  the  following  work. 

This  cathedral  was  at  first  dedicated  to  St.  Peter,  after- 
wards,;]: A.  C.  980,  to  St.  Swithun,  and  a  third  time  to  the 
Holy  Trinity,  by  King  Henry  VIH.  at  the  reformation, 
A.  C.  1540. 

The  Bishops  of  Wlnton  had  formerly  an  antient  castle 
or  palace  in  the  city,  called  Wolveseye,  which  was  §built 


*  Coustitutns  Cancell.  11  Oct.  1457.    Clau.  35.  H.  6.  M  10.  in  dorso. 

t  Hen.  Ep.  Whit.  Constitut.  Cancell.  and  habuit  mag.  Sigilhim  Regni 
Custodiend.  anno.  1404.    5  H.  4. 1414.  1  H.  5.  1417.    4  H.  5.  1424.    2  H. 

<i.  RISS.  i)eues  me. 

t  Tho  Rudbonie  Hist.  Majoj-  Wiut.  p.  223.  §  lb.  p.  284. 


15 

by  Henry  de  Bloys,  Bishop  of  this  See,  nephew  to  King 
Henry  I.  and  brother  to  King  Stephen,  A.C.  1138.  This 
Palace  being  demolished  during  the  late  civil  wars,  and 
nothing  left  but  the  high  walls  of  the  old  chapel ;  Bishop 
Morley,  alter  the  restoration,  built  a  fair  and  convenient 
house  for  his  successors,  that  which  we  now  see  near  the 
ruins  of  the  old  one,  and  to  which  the  present  Bishop, 
Sir  Jonathan  Trelawny,  hath  added  very  great  improve- 
ments. 

About  a  mile  south  of  the  city,  there  is  a  very  noble 
hospital,  which  contains  two  squares  of  building,  to  which 
you  enter  by  very  magnificent  gates.  In  the  innermost 
court  is  the  great  Church  belonging  to  it,  bviilt  like  a 
Cathedral,  which  also  was*  founded  and  endowed,  A.  C. 
1138,  by  the  above  mentioned  Henry  de  Bloys,  by  the 
name  of  St.  Cross,  for  the  relief  of  thirteen  brothers,  and 
all  poor  travellers  for  ever.  The  habit  is  a  black  gown, 
with  a  silver  cross  on  the  breast.  The  structure  is  in 
good  repair,  and  its  revenue  well  managed. 

This  Bishop  also  began  to  build  the  stately  -f-castle  and 
palace  at  Farnham,  in  Surry ;  the  castles  of  Merdon, 
Waltham,  Dunton,  and  Taunton,  the  same  year. 

Another  antient  palace  belonging  to  the  See,  was  that 
of  Winchester-House  in  Southwark,  built  by  William 
Gyflfard,  Bishop,  in  the  reign  of  King  Henry  I.  It  is 
situated  on  the  bank  of  the  Thames,  near  the  west  end 
of  St.  Mary  Overy's  Church,  but  is  now  gone  to  decay, 
and  divided  into  several  tenements.  j:This  Bishop  also 
founded  the  said  Church  of  St.  Mary  of  Southwark,  for 
canons  regular,  A.  C.  1106. 


*  Tho.  Rudborne,  Hist.  Major  Wint.  p.  284. 
t  Annalcs  Eccl.  Wiut.  p.2S9. 
t  Hist.  Maj.  p.  276. 


^Donationc^  OTccraram 

ECCLESIJE     WIN  TON. 


*  K.  Inegylsus  VI.  Rex  West  Sax.  incessit  fundare 
Ecclesiam  VVinton  quinto  Conversionis  suae  anno ;  sed 
morte  praeventus  miuime  coinplere  potuit.  Sepultus  est 
in  eadem  Ecclesia.  Dedit  Deo  ibidem  servientibus 
€\)iltitcumht. 

Successit  Kinewaldus  Fratri,  Ecclesiam  Wint,  ab  eo 
inceptam  complevit.  Deditque  eidem  tria  maneria, 
Sounton,  ^rc^foiD,  and  2Bort(if)am.  Regnavit  annis  32 
&  regnum  Sexburgze  relignit.  Sepultus  est  in  Ecclesia 
Wint.  sub  summo  altari,  anno  Dom.  671. 

Egbertus  primus  jVIonarcha  regnare  c^epit  anno  Dom. 
800.  regnavit  37  annis,  sepultus  est  in  Ecclesia  Cathedrali 
Winton,  cui  dedit  quatuor  maneria,  23rofeen!Sfovtl,  U^QXf 
iitl;am,  Stlucltotui,  &  JSttiljainptoiT. 

Atlielwulfus  tilius  Egberti,  regnavit  annis  20. 8c  sepultus 
est  in  Ecclesia  Winton.  anno  857.  Hie  restituit  manerium 
de  CI) ittfcumbt  ablatum. 

Edwardus  senior  Rex  Angllae  dedit  E.  Winton.  quatuor 
maneria,  (©bcrtont,  f^albornt,  ^tofet,  &  WL\)ittd)uvcih 

Ethelstanus  Rex  dedit  Wint.  tria  maneria,  Cljilboltoun, 
iHncfortJc,  &  lijamtri^hjoiljf. 

Edredus  Rex  dedit  Wint.  duo  maneria,  Souiitonc,  & 

Edgarus  Rex  monachos  qui  per  Danos  destructi  erant 
iterum  in  Wint.  instituit  &,  dedit  eis  unum  manerium, 
scilicet  !3fbingtonr. 

Ethelrcdus  Rex  lil.  Edgari  dedit  E.  Wint.  manerium 
de  f^abontc  (forsan  ?l?al)ant.) 

Canutus  Rex  dedit  magna  signa  E.  Wint.  &  f  terram 
trium  hidarum  quie  vocatur  l^tllc,  anno  1035. 

Hardecanutus  Rex  dedit  E.  Wint.  duo  maneria, 
iSippc^mtnstic  &  MtiStluotJf. 


*  Lelandi  Coll.  vol.  p.  613.    Vid.  iMon.  Aug.  vol.  1. 
t  Aunal.  Wint. 


1? 

Sanctus  Edwardus  Rex  &  Confessor,  dedit  quatuoi* 
maneria  E.  Wint.  i9ortlant(t,  ^ifee,f§otlucn,&®!3ai?mittIje* 

Astanus  Dux,  fil.  Ethelredi,  dedit  E.  VViut.  duo 
maneria,  iHcilJfne  tt  iEggrbwn. 

Agelwynus  Dux  dedit  Cleram  E.  Wint. 

Elphegus  Prsefectus  dedit  E.  Wint.  nianerium  de 
CruutJalf. 

Athelwoldus  Dux  contulit  tSB[i?lfee  E.  Wint. 

Tunbertus  Ep.  Wint.  tertius  a  Swithuno  dedit  suae  Ecc, 
ad  Fabricam  ejusdem  manerium  de  ^usirijcltng;. 

Alvvynus  Ep.  Wint.  dedit  eidem  Eccl.  novem  maneria 
^tond^im,  duas  iHcones,  J^rutoii,  Wiitmw,  fitting,  iilcl* 
broil,  ^olljampton,  &  ^^oliingtou. 

Henricus  Blessensis,  frater  Regis  Stephani,  Ep. 
Winton*  dedit  eidem  Eccl.  Ctibc  &  maxima  ornamenta. 

Richardus  Tochliv,  Ep.  ,Wint.  iiJamnu  redemit,  & 
3£nocl  emit^  &  suae  Eccl.  Wint.  dedit. 

Wotwynus  monachus  Winton,  dedit  E.  Wint.  manerium 
de  33utermfrf. 

Dominus  Simon  de  Wint.  Miles,  contulit  ^inl;alc 
E.  Winton. 

Eritheswitha  Regina,  mater  Sanctae  Frethelwithoe  Vir- 
ginis  dedit  E.  Wint.  manerium  de  Cauntone  in  qua  re- 
quiescit  humata. 

Emma  mater  Edwardi  ConfesSoris  dedit  novem  maneria 
Winton.  Eccl.  ?3vanUf Sbuvi,  JScici^cfeltif,  f^olDtI)tont,dr»ftUt, 
iBccl)tlmtid)t,  ^utiigco,  tiSatcombt,  Mcrcgrabc,  &  f^anlingr. 

Getha,  uxor  Godwini  Ducis,  dedit  E.  Wint.  JSXelJonc 
et  Craucumbc. 

Alwara  dedit  SHluartJc^tofec,  3£xton,  &  l^iOti)am,  pro 
anima  Leowini  viri  sui. 

Edgyva  dedit  iSoiliingljam. 


J-V  THE  TOWER  OF  LONDON, 

Relating  to  the  Church  of  Winton,  several  Religious 
Houses,  Chapels,  Colleges  and  Hospilals,  in  and  about 
that  Citi/.  ' 


Ecclesia  sive  Episcopus   Winton. 

W  inton.    Ep.    Conflrmatio    amplissinia    cartarum    8c 
libertatum.     Pat.  2.  E.  4.  p.  G.  ni.  12. 

Winton.  Ecclesiae  confnmationis,  carte  anno  9.  E.  3. 
num.  40. 

Ep.  &  Prior  confirmationis  carte  ann.  2.  H.  5.  ps.  1. 
No.  13.  &  aim.  21.  H.  6.  No.  12.  &  ann.  1.  H.4.  ps.2. 
No.  9.  Sc  ann.  4.  Rich.  2.  num.  7,  9,  10,  12,  13,  &  ann.  , 
23.  E.  3.  No.  2.  &  ann.  10.  E.  2.  num.  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  Sc6. 
Winton.  Ep.  carte  ann.  12.  E.  1.  num.  30,  31,  32,  33, 
34,  35,  8c  ann.  13,  num.  47,  98,  &  99. 

Winton.  Ep.  &  Prior  S.  Swithuni  explanatio  &  conflr- 
matio libertatum,  &c,  carte  ann.  24.  H.  6.  No.  12.  m.  14. 
Winton.  Ep.  &  Prior  S.  Swithani  conflrmatio  amplis- 
sima  concessionum  Franchesiarum,  &c.  Pat.  ann.  2.  H  6. 
ps.  2.  m.  II.  &  ann.  3.  E.  3.  pars  2.  m.  12.  Recorda 
ann.  8.  R.  2.  pro  libertatibus  allocatis  in  Southwerk. 

Ep.  de  manerio  de  Menes  &  ecclesia  de  Menestoke,  & 
hospitali  Sancti  Johaunis  Baptiste  de  Portsmouth  con- 
cessis,  &,  quod  homines  &c.  Maneriorum  suorum  de 
Bitterne,  Falele,  Ore,  &  Stanham,  intendant  &  respon- 
deant,  hundredo  ipsius  Episcopi  de  Wantham,  &c» 
Pat.  a.  12  Ed.  I.  m.  II. 

Ep.  quod  liospitale  Sancti  Johannis  apud  Portsmouth 
pertinet  eidem.  Claus.  a.  7.  Ric  2.  dors.  m.  (  •) 
Inquisitio  de  Feria  apud  montem  Sancti  Egidii  per 
ipsum  singulis  annis  tenenda,  &  de  amplissimis  liber- 
tatibus &,  privilegiis  eidem  pertinentibus,  tam  in  civitate 
Winton.  8c  Southampton,  quam  per  spatium  7  leucarum 
proxime  adjacentium.  Esch.  an.  23.  E.  3.  pars.  2.  m.  42. 
i!v  pat.  an,  2  H.  G.  conflrmatio  pro  eodem  Episcopo, 


19 

Ep.  de  libertate  su-A,  viz.  quod  habeat  Chaceas  suas  in 
Dominicis  suis  ik.  Feodorum  suorum  &  hoiriinum  suorum, 
&  in  terris  &  feodis  Prions  Sancti  Swithuni  ibidem,  cum 
allocatione  coram  Justiciariis  itinerantibus  ad  placita 
foreste  in  forestis  de  Beckholt,  Clarendon,  Grovele,  & 
Melchet.     Brevia  Regis  anno  2  Ric.  2.  No.  27.  pars  I. 

Ep.  Quod  ipse  &  Ministri  in  boscis  &  chaceis  suis 
pro  voluntate  sua  venationem  capere  &  boscos  suos 
assartare  poterit  secundum  formaui  carte  Regis  pridem 
facte,  8cc.  Lib.  Parliam,  anno.  IB  Ed.  I.  fol.  7.  &^  fol.  8. 
Placitum  inter  dictum  Episcopum  8c  Custodem  Castri  de 
Porcestria. 

Pro  venatione  in  forestis  Regis,  Pat.  16.  H.  3.  M.6. 
Breve  de  allocatione  libertatis  de  Quietancia  Theolonii, 
&c.  pro  se  8c  tenentibus  suis  per  totum  Regnum  Claus. 
ann.  I.  H.  4.  pars  I.    Vide  anno  38.  E.  3.  claus.  m.  17. 

De  12d.  annui  redditus  concessis  sibi  8c  successoribus 
exeuntibus  de  tenemento  Bernardi  Brocas,  in  Eldstoke, 
de  feodo  pra^fati  Episcopi,  dors.  Claus.  anno  8.  Ric.  2. 
m.  8. 

Inquisitio  de  quodam  annuo  redditu  exeunte  de  diversis 
tenementis  in  warda  de  Dowgate,  London.  Inquisit 
anno  L  H.  4.  No.  27. 

A\inton.  Ep.  Dominus  ville  de  Gaunton  habet  Visum 
Franci  Plegii. 

Exemplilicatio  Recordi,  8cc.  8c  Conventionis  inter 
ipsum  8c  Abbatem  de  Hida,  Pat.  anno  23,  E.  3.  pars  3» 
m.  16\ 

Exemplificatio  certificationis  ^  libro  de  Doomsday,  pro 
maneriis  de  Monesto  8c  Menes,  in  comitatu  Southamp- 
tonie,  8cc.     Pat.  anno  17.  Ed.  3.  pars  I.  m.  23. 

Pro  tenementis  in  Northwood  m  parochiis  de  Conham 
Sc  in  Esshere  8c  Watervile.  Pat.  anno  47.  E.  3.  pars  L 
m.  28. 

Exemplificatio  Recordi,  &c.  &  pro  redditibus  exeuntibus 
de  Archidiaconatu  Surriae.  Pat.  anno.  21.  Ed.  pars  L 
m.  9.  8c  pars  2.  m.  12. 

Pro  Staun  perpetuo  ibidem.  Pat.  anno  5.  Ed.  3. 
pars  3.  m.  3. 

Pro  81  acris  terrae  in  Farnham.  Pat.  anno  I.  Ric.  2. 
pars  2.  m.  36. 

Pro  xl  /.  redditus  exeuntibus  annuatim  de  maneriis  de 
Jenington  8c  Heghton,  (Sussex).  Pat.  anno.  l^.  Ric.  2. 
pars  1.  m,  1 0^ 

c2 


20 

AVintou,  Eplscopalus  temporalia  ejustlem  in  niani- 
bus  Ivcgis  certis  de  causis  e\i.stentia  extendebaiitur 
DCCCCXLVHI/.  Xlllls.  VW.  ub.  preter  ly  Quar- 
tena  Aveue  iiou  appieciata,  Pat.  anno.  5.  E.  3.  pars  1. 
m.  30. 

Ep.  pro.  quibiisdam  terris  in  Essliere  &  alibi,  in  recom- 
pensationeni  tcnaiiun  ix  ccclesiarum  collegio  Oxon.  in 
Wiulon.     Pat.  anno  13.  ilic.  '2,  ps.  3.  m.  1. 

De  uno  messuagio  cum  cnrtiiagio  vocato  Hall-place,  4 
\  irgatis  terras,  &,  1  molendino  aquatico  in  Hanunby, 
coucessis  per  eundeni  Episcopum.i.  Barber,  &  ha^rodibus 
reddendo  per  annum  XLlili.  1111;:/.  l^  rcleviuni,  Pat. 
anno  22.  Jl.  6.  pars  2.  m.  17.  confirm. 

Pro  tenemento  in  Sutton  Episcopo  accepto  in  excambio, 
Pat.  I.  Flic.  2.  pars  2.  m.  18. 

RexmisitVV.  L,  venatorem  suuni  ad  currendum  cum 
canibus  suis  in  warenna  pia;dicti  Episcopi  ad  capiendum 
7-vel  8  capreolas  ad  opus  Regis,  &.c,  Claus.  anno,  14. 
H.  3.  m.  14. 

Winton,  Ep.  &  ecclesia  Sancti  Switlumi,  confirmatio 
donationis  &  tenementorum  in  Northwood  bL  Teruchcroft 
in  parochia  de  Covenham,  &  manerii  de  Esshere,  & 
molendini  vocati  molendiaum  Vicecomitis,  &c.  Pat. 
anno  10.  Ed.  2.  pars  2.  m.  L  in  Cedula. 

Ep.  de  manerio  de  Norton,  perquirendo  de  Ricardo 
Harwedon,  8cc.  in  manum  mortuam,  Pat.  anno  II.  Ed. 
pars  2.  m.  13. 

Ep.  habet  feriam  apud  montem  Sancti  Egidii,  extra 
civitatem  Winton.  per  \6  dies  duraturam  in  vigilia  Sancti 
Egidii,  &  de  nonnullis  libertatibus  &  privilegiis,  Pat.  anno 
1?.  Ed.  3.  pars  L  m.  l6.  dors. 

Quod  ecclesiaj  de  Estmanes  &,  Hamedon  annexantur 
Episcopatui  pra;dicto  ut  res  spirituals,  Pat.  anno  I.  Ed. 
3.  pars  I.  m.  o. 

Ep.  de  finibus  &  amerciamentis  tenentium  suorum 
licentia  concordandi  anno  die  &.  vasto  &  nonnullis  aliis 
libertatibus  concessis  olim  A  Episcopo  ibidem  anno  8. 
Ed.  3.  modo  allocandis  Willielmo  Wickham  Episcopo, 
Claus.  a.  44.  Ed.  3.  m.  12.  &  17. 

Winton.  Ep.  habet  chaseam  de  Whitteney  Infra 
forestam  Regis  de  Whichwood,  &  libertatem  Venationis 
8v  assart,  ibidem  dieto  Episcopo  pertinentes.  Pat.  anno 
18.  Ed.  I.  m.  17.  &  18. 

Chacea  8c  Warenna  in  omnitus  terris  &  boscis  suis  infra 


<?1 

Mietas   foreste,   &   placita    intra    Johannem    Episcopitm 
Winton.  &  Johannem  Gifford,  an.  ".  R.  2. 

Ep.  concessit  Thomae  Boteler  camerario  sno  I 
messiiagium  &  I  virgatum  terrae  cnm  pertinentiis  in 
Forewell,  qu^  ad  manus  pra^dicti  Episcopi  devenerunt 
per  felouiam  Johannis  Baret,  hahenda  dicto  Thomje 
Boteler  pro  termino  vitte,  reddendo  per  annum  Vis.  & 
3  bushels  &  3  pecks  frumenti  pro  Chershot.  Pat.  anno 
12.  Ed.  2.  pars  2.  m.  12. 

Ep.  concessit  Willielmo  Parcar  custodiam  serjancia^ 
hundredoruni  suorum  de  Farnham  &  Crundaie  habendam 
sibi  &  hieredibus  cum  feodis,  mortuo  bosco,  &  aliis  proti- 
cuispertinentibus,  &c.  Pat.  anno  14.  Ed.  2.  pars  I. 
m.  15. 

Ep.  concessit  Waltero  de  Abberbury,  &  Ricardo  filio 
suo  I  messuagium  96  acras  terras  cum  pertinentiis  in 
Abberbury,  habenda  sibi  &  ha^redibus  per  servitiuni 
homagium  &  XXX Vis.  per  annum  solvendos  sibi  & 
subcessoribus  suis,  &c.  Pat.  anno  17.  Ed..  2.  pars  I. 
ui.  23. 

Ep.  confirmatio  quarundam  donationum  per  ipsiim 
facturum  ^Viilielnio  de  Overton,  de  certis  parcellis  terra? 
&  communia  pastur^e,  in  la  lioyhey  Sutton  Episcopi  in 
loco  vocato  Mnlcroft,  &c.  Pitt,  anno  17-  Ed.  2.  pars  2. 
m.  32. 

.  Ep.  de  tenementis  suis  in  Crundaie  vocatis  Danceslond 
concessis  Johanni  Clere,  ik,  hatred ibus  in  Excambio  pro 
tenementis  ejusdem  Johannis  ibidem  vocatis  Rumbaldes- 
field,  reddendo  dicto  Episcopo  &,  successoribus  suis  3s. 
Dors.  Claus.  anno  44.  E.  3.  m.  21. 

De  redditu  annuo  XI If/,  concesso  per  Bernardum 
Brocas  exeunte  de  Tenement,  in  Eldestoke  concesso  per 
dictum  Bernardum  cantariie  per  ipsum  fundandae  in 
ecclesia  parochiali  de  Cleware.  Dorso  Clausarum  anno 
8.  Ric.  2.  m.  8.  ^ 

Johannis  de  Pontisera  nuper  Episcopus  ibidem  con- 
cessit Willielmo  de  Leech,  valletto  suo  XI  acras  terras 
arabilis  de  dominicis  suis  in  Abberbury,  vocati  Aldstones- 
crolt,  cum  quadum  pastura  adjacente  habend'  sibi  & 
ha^redibus  reddendo  per  annum  dicto  episcopo  &  succes- 
soribus suis  XIIIIs.  ad  quatuor  terminos,  nunc  contirmat 
per  Regem.      Pat.  anno  3.  Ed.  3.  pars  I.  m.  38. 

^Vinton.  Episcopatus  in  manus  Regis  scisitus  Principi 
AVallije      conuuissus,      extendcns      MDLXXXVlll  , 


22 

XIIIIs.  VI(f.  ob.  praeter  avenas.      Pat.  aiino51.Ed.  3. 
m.  30. 

Ep.  confirmatio  &  explanatio  libcrtatis,  quod  sit 
quietus  de  escapiis  prisonaiium  non  vokuitaiiis.  Pat. 
anno  35.  H.  6.  pars  2.  ni.  (I)  &  pat.  6.  Ed.  4.  pars  C. 
m.  15. 

Prior  Sancti  Sivithuni. 

Winton.  pro  Priore  Sancti  Switliuni  ibidem  confir- 
matio amplissima  &  antiquissiuia  cartaruni,  douationuni  & 
libertatum.  Pat.  anno  2.  Ed.  4.  p.  6.  m.  (i.  vel.  12. 
&  anno  9.  Ed.  3.  pars.  2.  m.  30.  &  an.  4.  H.  4.  pars  2. 
m.  15. 

Prior  Sancti  Switliuni  confirniationis  charte  anno  5. 
Ed.  3.  No.  85.  &  anno  10.  Ed.  2.  num.  7,  9- 

Prior  S.  S.  exemplificatio  conventionis  inter  ipsum  & 
Episcopum  ibidem,  &  de  consuetudinibus  predicto 
Episcopo  debitis  de  peuitentiariis  ipsorum,  Pat.  anno  13. 
Ric.  2.  pars  3.  m.  6. 

Prior  &  Ep.  confirniationis  carte,  anno  13.  Ed.  1. 
num.  97,  98,  &  99-  &  18.  Ed.  1.  num.  23.  &  28.  &  27. 
Ed.  I.  No.  19.  quatenus  teueautur  ad  reparationem 
murorum  civitatis  predicte  Brevia  Regis,  anno  17.  Ric.  2. 
•  Prior  S.  S.  pro  tenementis  in  Worton,  &  Church 
Akelegh.     Pat.  anno  12.  H.  4.  m.  18. 

Vs  inchester  monastrv  confinnatio  cartarum,  &c.  Carte 
an.  1.  H.  4.  pars  1.  No.  9.  Episcopus  &  Prior  ibidem. 
Carte  anno  2.  H.  5.  pars  I.  No.  13. 

Prior  S.  S.  pro  tenemento  in  eadem  Civitate  &  Soca. 
Pat.  anno  40.  Ed.  3.  pars  2.  m.  15. 

Pro    quibusdam    terris    pratis   &    Boscis   in 

Westmeon.     Pat.  anao  6.  Ric.  2.  pars  3.  ra.  7. 

Pro  manerio  de  Lenington  &  manerio  de  Drayton,  &c. 
concessis.     Pat.  anno  2.  H,  5.  pars  3.  m.  27.  (Southton.) 

Pro  manerio  de  Upsuuburne.  Pat.  anno  8.  Ric.  2. 
pars  2.  m.  32. 

Exemplificatio  libertatum  &  privilegiorum  in  hundredo 
de  Ellestubbe  coram  Solomone  de  Roifa  &  sociis  ejus 
tempore,  Ed.  1.  Pat.  anno  20.  H.  6.  pars  3.  m.  S3. 

Pro  3,  messuagiis  &  3.  curtilagiis  ibidem.  Pat.  anno 
Ric.  2.  pars  3.  m.  14. 

^\  inton.  Prior  de  via  publica   pro  clausura  ipsorimi 
divertenda.     Pat.  anno  48.  Ed.  3.  pars  I.  m.  5.  vel.  8. 

Prior  S.  S.  assisa  versus  eum  per.  H.  de  Ospringe  dc 
tenementis  in  Crundale.     Pat.  2.  Ed.  I.  ra.  I.  dorso. 


23 

Prior  S.  S.  assisa  versus  eum  per  Johannem  Everly  de 
tenementis  in  Brokhampton.  Pat.  anno  3.  Ed.  I.  m.  30. 
dorso  &  m.  29.  de  tenementis  in  Alwarstoke,  &  in  27.  de 
tenementis  in  Winton,  de  fossato  Regis  extra  portam  bor- 
ealem  ibidem  custodiendo  &  piscibus  instaurandis  ad 
commodiim  Regis.    Pat.  anno  4.  Ed.  I.  m.  31. 

De  60  acris  terre,  4  acris  prati,  5  acris  bosci  in  West- 
wode,  perquirendis  de  Jolianne  Westpray.  Pat.  anno  4. 
Ed.  3.  pars  2.  m.  22. 

De  sex  acris  prati  in  Winchelesmersh  perquirendis,  de 
Thoma  Whitney.     Pat.  anno  7.  Ed.  2.  pars  I.  m.  7- 

De  XXX  niarcis  percipiendis  de  redditu  feria?  Sancti 
Egidii  juxta  Wiutouiam  a  thesaurario  Episcopi  ibidem  de 
Woivesey  confirmatio.     Pat. anno  10.  Ed.  2.pars2.  m.  23. 

Prior  S.  S.  confirmatio  terraram  &  donationum  in  villa 
&  manerio  de  Bledune  Westwood,  &  confirmatio  pasture 
vocate  Somerlese  in  villa  de  Wuluricheston.  Pat.  anno 
10.  Ed.  2.  pars  2.  m.  25. 

Prior  ibidem,  percipere  debet  singulis  annis.  XLs.  de 
exitibus  nundinarum  Sancti  Egidii  extra  Winton.  Claus. 
pars  unica  anno  10  Ed.  2.  m,  26. 

De  1  messuagio  5  virgatis  terre  &  6  acris  prati  in  Ariur 
ton  tentis  de  ipso  in  villenageo  &  sibi  liberandis,  &c. 
Claus.  anno  il.  Ed.  2.  m.  25. 

De  1  messuagio,  duobus  virgatis  terre,  3  parte  unius 
virgate  terre  &.X.d.  redditus  in  Winemanston  perquirendis 
de  Willielmo  Batisford.     Pat.  anno  13.  Ed.  2.  m.  25. 

De  maneriis  de  Bradisberry,  &  ....  perquirendis  de 
W  illiehno  Yeleburne,  qui  ilia  tenuit  de  predicto  Priore  ad 
feod.  finnam,  reddendo  per  aimum  XIX  marcas.  Pat. 
anno  14.  Ed.  2.  m.  10. 

De  1  messuagio  uno  molendino  2  acris  prati  in  Overton 
Prior,  &  3  acris  terre  in  Husborne  perquirendis  de  Jo. 
Shirfeld.     Pat.  anno  15.  Ed.  2.  pars  I.  m.  22. 

Prior  S.  S  de  uno  messuagio,  1  carrucata  &  dimid. 
terre  in  Sparkeford,  Horseley  &  Compton,  juxta  Hinton, 
perquirendis  de  Nicholas  de  Maidston.  Pat.  anno  l6. 
Ed.  2.  pars  2.  m.  10. 

De  1  messuagio  ibidem  perquirendo  de  Pliilippo  Mody. 
Pat.  anno  19.  Ed.  2.  pars  1.  m.22. 

Confij-matio  terraram  &  donationum.  Pat.  anno  10. 
Ed.  2.  pars.  2.  m.  5. 

Prior  S.  S.  contra  eum  de  Amensuratione  pasture  in 
Hamme.     Claus,  anno  13.  H.  3.  m.  14,  dorso. 


24 

Colk'gium  B.  Mfiria,   Wlnton. 

Winton.  Collegium  beatte  Marie  ibidem  vocatum  Saint 
Mary's  College,  coiiflrmatio  Caitarum  &  Donationum. 
Pat.  aimo  I.  Ed.  4.  pars  7.  m.  31.  &  Pat.  amio  6.  H.  6. 
pars  2.  m.  4.  &  Pat.  14.  Jlic.  2.  pars  2.  m.  10,  11,  12. 

De  nonnullis  libertatibus  &  privilegiis  concessis. 
Carte  anno  22.  H.  6.  No.  26. 

Carte  anno  1  H.  4.  pars  I.  No,  II.  &  anno  I,  H.  5, 
pars  I.  No.  II.  &  anno  2.  H,  G.  No.  20.  &  anno  18. 
Ric,  2.  No.  8.  &  anno  I.  Ed.  3.  No.  60. 

De  seisina,  &c.  liberanda  de  nonnuliis  terris  &  tene- 
mentis  in  Hermondseworth,  Sibston,  Southcoteron,  & 
Longford.     Dors,  clans,  anno  8  H,  0,  m.  10.  vcl.  20. 

Pro  Priore  de  Audone  alienigena  &  aliis  conlirmatlo. 
Pat.  2.  ft.  5.  pars  3.  in.  27. 

Pro  manerio  de  Shawe  in  comitatu  Berks.  Pat.  anno 
6.  H.  4.  pars  I.  m.  22. 

Pro  maneriis  de  Hamele  Herniondesworth,  Priore  de 
Blj^he,  &  aliis  nonnullis.  Pat,  anno  14.  Ric.  2.  pars  2. 
m,  I.  &  10,  11,  &  32. 

Pro  tenementis  in  Hermondesworth,  Sibston,  South- 
coteron, &  Longforth,      Pat.  anno  8.  H.  6.  pars  2.  m.25. 

Pro  maneriis  de  Farnhall  &  Aldington.  Pat.  anno  23. 
H.  6.  pars.  2.  m.  3.  &  pro  manerio  de  Burton  in  insula 
Vpctis  &  tenementis  in  Southcoteron.  Pat.  anno  17.  H.(i, 
pars  2,  m.  25. 

De  licentia  perquirendi  centum  marcas  terre  ratione 
deperditornm  suoruni  in  combustione  villarum  de  An- 
dover  &  nova  Alreford.     Pat.  anno  21 .  H.  6.  pars  I.  m,  8, 

Pro  tenementis  in  Otterton  &  Andover.  Pat.  anno  24. 
H.  6.  pais  2.  m.  19.  &  ibidem  qro  manerio  de  Farnhall  & 
medietate  manerii  de  Aldington, 

Pro  tenementis  in  Wippingham,  &Careshrok,  in  insula 
Vectis  Rornesey,  Stanbridge,  Okley,  Mayhenston,  Welles, 
&  Ashfield,  Huniel  in  the  Rise,  &  in  civitate  &  soca 
Winton.  &  Wyhale.  Pat.  33.  H.  6.  pars  2,  m.  4.  Et 
pro  tenementis  in  Meonestoke,  Roppele,  Sutton,  Drai- 
ton,  Wynhale,  &  Medestoke,  in  nova  Alresford,  &c.  Pat. 
anno  15.  Ric.  2.  pars  2,  m.  9.  &  pro  tenementis  in  Ces- 
treton,  m.  14.  (Cantebr.) 

Pro  manerio  de  Djrington  appropriato.  Pat.  anno.  3. 
Ric,  2.  pars  3,  m.  22 

Pro  manerio  de  Meonestoke  in  comitatu  Southamp- 
toni*,  &■  manerio  d(?  Eling,  &  manerio  de  Windsore,  m 


25 

codem  comitatu,  &  Combe  Basset  in  comitatu  Wiltesiie, 
Pat.  anno  8.  Ric.  2.  pars  2.  m.  4.  Et  pro  maneriis  de 
Aulton  &  Shaw  in  comitatu  Berks,  Wheton  in  comitatu 
Bucks,  &c.  m.  6.  Et  Ecclesia  de  Dounton. 

De  manerio  de  Burton,  alias  Berton  in  insula  Vectis 
concesso  per  W.  T.  Archipresbiterum  oratorii  sancte 
Trinitatis  ibidem.  Dors.  Clausar.  anno  19.  H.  6. 
m.  So. 

Fratres  Ordinis  Angustini. 

Winton.  Fratres  ordinis  Sancti  Augustini.  Exempli- 
ficatio  ampla  Inquisitionis  de  tenementis  ipsorum  ibidem 
&  redditibus  inde  exeuntibus.  Dors.  Claus.  anno  l6. 
JLd.  3.  pro  situ  Domus,  &c.  m.  20. 

De  processu  &judicio  redditis  in  cancellaria  contra 
ipsos  de  tenementis  perquisitis  infra  civitatem  praedictam 
in  deceptionem,  domini  Regis  de  terris  ville,  &c.  Dors. 
Claus.  anno  22.  Ed.  3.  m.  20. 

De  1  messuagio  &  12  perticis  terre  in  longitudine,  &  6 
perticis  in  latitudiue  in  suburbio  Winton.  concessis  per 
Hugonem  Tripacy  pro  manso  suo  elargando.  Pat.  anno 
7,  Ed.  2.  pars  J.  m.  8. 

Abbatissa  Beatcc-  Maria   Winton. 

Winton.  Abbatia.  conlirmationis  carte,  anno  12.  Ed.  2. 

No.  36.  !  .      ..     . 

Winton,  abbatissa  De  libertatibus  &  privilegiis  infra 
jnanerium  de  Gretford.  Pat.  anno  G.  Ed.  4.  pars  2. 
m.   14. 

De  1  virgata  terre  &  1  parva  pastura  in  Froile  tentis 
de  Abbatissa  predicta  per  servitium,  VIIs.  Hid.  &  secte 
curie  dicte  Abbatisse  de  Froile.  Esch.  anno  41.  Ed.  3. 
post  mortem  Richardi  de  Windsore.  No.  7. 

De  2  messuagiis,  uno  molendino,  3  virgatis  dimid. 
terre,  &  Yis.  Wild,  redditus  perquisitis  de  Editha  uxore 
Roberti  Dreux,  &c.     Claus.  anno  6.  Ed.  3.  m.  33. 

Pro  visu  Franci  Plegii,  &  aliis  privilegiis  habendis  in 
maneriis  de  Erchefford  &  Caninges.  Pat.  anno  21.  H. 
C.  pars  2.  m.  26. 

Winton.  priorissa  Sancti  Marie  Magdalene,  Confir- 
mationis  Carte,  anno  II.  Ed.  3,  No.  62. 

Pro  tenementis  in  Erchefonte.  Pat.  anno  2.  Ed.  3. 
pars  t.  m.  II. 

De  visu  Franci  Plegii  &  allis  libertatibus  infra  villas  de 
Erchesfout  &  Caninges.  Pat.  anno  8.  Ed.  pars  3.  m.  3. 
^  de  libertatibus  &  privilegiis  in  villis  predictis  &  iufra 


25 

Hundredum  Regis  de  Stodfield  alias  Swanburgli.      Pat. 
16.  Ed.  4.  pars  I.  m.  20. 

Contirmatio  libertatum  concessarum  tenentibus  suis  in 
Villa  de  Gretford.  Pat.  anno  2.  H.  5.  pars  2.  m.  3.  & 
anno  45.  Ed,  3.  pars  2.  m.  38. 

Will  ton.  Abbatissa,  B.  M.  pro  tenementis  in  eadem 
villa.      Pat.  anno  35.  Ed.  3.  pars  I.  m.  16. 

Winton.  Priorissa  arraniavit  assisam  versus  Jo.  de  C. 
in  Minchen  Cheverell.     Pat.  anno  2.  Ed.  I.  ni,  23. 

Assisa  versus  earn  de  communia  pasture  Alhekaning. 
Pat.  anno  4.  Ed.  I.  m.  34.   Dors. 

Abbatissa  B.  M.  de  uno  inessuagio,  24  acris  terre,  8 
acris  prati,  XXs.  redditus  in  Gretford,  perquirendis  de 
Nicholao  Stanford.     Placita  anno  5.  Ed.  2.  pars  2.  m.  7. 

De  9  niessuagiis  cum  pertinentiis  in  Winton.  &  in 
guburtiis  perquirendis  de  Rogero  Inkepenne. 

De  IXs.  id.    reddit  in  Erchesfont,  perquirendis  de  Jo. 
Shene.     Pat.  anno  9.  Ed.  2.  pars  I.  m.  13. 
Capella  S.  Trinitatis. 

Winton.  capella  Sancte  Trinitatis  in  Cimitorio  Beate 
Marie,  fundata  per  Ricardum  Inkepenne,  civem  civitatis 
predicte,  ConlinTiatio  ordinationuni  factarum  per  Epis- 
copum  Wintoniensem.     Pat.  anno  12.  Ed. 2. pars  I.  m.  13. 

Pro  Cantaria  in  capella  Sancte  Trinitatis  in  cimiterio 
nionasterii  ibidem  &  tenementis  ibidem  &  in  Southton,  & 
Sarum.     Pat.  26.  Ed.  3.  pars  I.  m.  24. 

Gustos  capelle  Sancte  Trinitatis  ibidem  De  9  messua- 
giis  in  suburtiis  concessis  per  Johannem  Inkepenne.  Pat. 
anno  II.  Ed.  2.  pars  I.  m.  I. 

De  VII  marcis,  redditus  annui  concessis  per  Rogerum 
Inkepenne  in  Winton.  pro  cantaria  ibidem  facienda. 
Pat.  anno  19.  Ed.  2.  pars  I.  m.  18. 

Collegium  W.  de   Wickham. 

Winton.  de  CoUegio  in  soca  ibidem  fundando  per 
Willielmum  de  Wickham,  Episcopum  Wintoniensem. 
Pat.  anno  6.  Ric.  2.  pars  I.  m.  9- 

Ecclesia  St.  Georgii. 

Winton.  Parsona  ecclesie  Sancti  Georgii  ibidem,  de 
uno  messuagio  ibidem  sibi  concesso  pro  anniversario 
tenendo.     Pat.  8.  H.  4.  pars  2.  m.  4. 

Ecclesia  Omnium  Scnictorum. 

Winton.  Parsona  ecclesie  omnium  Sanctorum  ibidem. 
Pro  uno  messuagio  iu.£adem  villa.  Pat.  anno  3.  H.  5. 
pars  2.  m.  Q. 


o 


27 

Ahbatia  B.   Petri. 
Winton.  juxta,  Abbatia  beati  Petri.     Pro  ecclesia    de 
CoUington   appropriata.     Pat.  auno  26.  H.    6.   pars  I. 
m.  10. 

Prior  &  fratres  frateniitatis  Sancti  Petri  in  ecclesia, 
Sancli  Manricii  &  Collegio  beate  Marie  de  Kalendis 
ibidem  inquisitio  ampla  de  tenementis  shopis,  &c. 
pertinentibus  in  civitate  predicta  Esch.  anno  2(j.  Ed. 
3.  No.  44. 

Capella  St.  EUzabethec  juxta  Winton. 

Winton.  juxta,  Capella  Sancte  Elizabethe  tilie  quondam 
Regis  Hungarie  fundata  ante  portani  castri  de  Wolvesey 
de  statutis  &  ordinationibus  ejusdem.  Pat.  anno  13.  Ed. 
2.  &.  ibidem  iterum  pro  nianerio  de  Norton  Sancti 
Wallerici,  vide  pro  eadem  capella.  Pat.  33.  Ed.  I.  pars 
I.  m.  ]  '2. 

Capella  Sancte  Elizabethe  pro  manerio  de  Botele  & 
advocatione  ecclesie  ejusdem  ville,  Sc  uno  messuagio  &  2 
carrucatis  terre  in  Kings  Clere,  &,  manerio  de  Culmeston' 
Gymmings,  &  I  messuagio,  &  I  carrucata  terre  in  Shides- 
field,  &  XX?.  Redditus  in  Molendino  in  Tichefeld  con- 
cessis  per  diversos,  &  de  fundatione  ejusdem.  Pat.  anno 
I.  Ed.  2.  pars  I.  m.  9.  De  parva  Warrenna  in  parte 
orientali  ville  ejusdem,  &  de  Metis  &  Bundis  ejusdem, 
exemplificatio  inquisitionis,  &c.  Pat.  anno  2.  Ed.  4.  pars 
6.  ni.  4.  Et  confirmatio  pro  priore  Sancti  Swithuni 
Winton.      Pat.  anno  2.  H.  6.  pars  2.  m.  II. 

Capelle  Sancte  Elizabethe  iilie  quondam  Regis  Hun- 
garie confirmatio  ampla.  Pat.  13.  Ed.  2.  m.  13.  &  auno 
14.  Ed.  2.  m.  25. 

De  maneriis  de  Norton  Sancti  Wallerici,  Pat.  anno 
— .  Ed.  2.  pars  I.  m.  I. 

Confirmatio  niercati  &  ferie  &  libere  Wanenne  in 
manerio  de  Bottele.  Pat.  anno  25.  H.  6.  pars  I.  m.  13. 
&  pro  manerio  de  Norton  Sancti  Wallerici,  mutatio 
servitii.     Pat.  anno  29.  Ed.  3.  pars  3.  m.  II. 

De  manerio  de  Norton  Sancti  Wallerici  perquirendo 
de  Willielmo  Staunford.  Pat.  anno  6.  Ed.  2,  pars  I.  ni.  I. 
&  pars  2.  m.  II.  &  15. 

De  Ecclesia  de  Crundale  perquirenda  &  approprianda. 
Pat.  anno  12.  Ed.  2.  pars  I.  m.  20. 

Prior  St.  Mauritii. 

Winton.  Prior  Sancti  Mauritii  &  Sancte  Marie  de 
Kalend.  ibidem,     Pat.   anno  20.    Ed.  3.  pars  3.   m.  9. 


28 

Ilospitalc  S.  MarifC  Mngdalencr. 

Wintonian  jiixta,    Gustos    Hospilalis     Saiicte    Marie 
Magdelene,  pro  tenomentis  ibidem.     Pat.  anno  35.  Ed.  ?j 
pars  3.  m.  G'2. 

Hospitnle  S.   Criins. 

Winton.  juxta,  de  rundatione  &  Dotatione  Hospitalis 
vSancte  Crucis  olim  per  H.  Cardinalem*  factis  ik  similiter 
de  Fundatione  &  Donatione  Hospitalis  sivi  Domus  Ele- 
mosinarie  nobilis  paupertatis  H.  Cyrdinahs  &  Kpiscopi 
Vymtonup,  Fdii  nobilis  memorie  Johannis  Ducis  Lancas- 
tne.  Pat.  anno  33.  H.  6.  pars  2.  m.  3.  &  18.  amplissinia 
carta. 

De  hcentia  perquirendi  quingentas  lil>ras  terre  de  H. 
Cardniah  Anglie.     Pat.  21.  II.  6.  pars  2.  m.  31. 

Custodia  domfis  Sancte  Crucis  ibidem  concessa  per 
regem  G.  Walesford  ad  vitam,  &  mandatum  est  fratribus 
&  sororibus  ibidem,  quod,  &c.  Pat.  anno  13.  Ed.  2. 
m.  25. 

Hospitale  S.  Crucis  ad  collationem  Episcopi  ibidem 
pertmens.     Pat.  anno  l6.  Ed.  2.  pars  2.  m.  3. 
Abbatia  de  Hida. 

Winton.  juxta,  Abbatia  de  Hida  pro  Ecclesiis  de  Pidde 
Trenthide,  Chiseldon,  &  Stanham,  appropriandis.     Rot. 
Home,  anno  4.  Ed.  3,  m.  4.  &  anno  20.  Ed.  3.  m.  I. 
Preposiius  Ecclesia  Co/legiafce  Winton. 

Wmton.  prepositus  ecclesie  collegiate  ibidem.  De  I 
messuagio  &  terris  cum  pertinentiis  in  Overlond  juxta 
Wmgliam,  perquiiendis  de  Nicholao  BradM-as.  Pat.  anno 
11.  Ed.  2.  pars  1.  m.  5. 

Winton  Civilas. 
Wmton.  civitas,  concessio  ipsis  facta  domorun  &  place- 
arum  ibidem  pcrquisitarum  per  fratres  Sancti  Augustini, 
wne  hceutia  regis.     Pat.  anno  16.  Ed.  3.  pars  I.  m.  26. 


...E*  .^^'V'l'^''"^*^'"*'  'Cardinal  of  England,'  the  lJ)th.  Bishop  ofWinches,- 
-EdT        ^^"^l"*^*'— ^t-e  his  life  in  u  subsequent  jjart  of  this  work. 


An  Account  of  the  Sale  of  the  Church  Lands  belonging  to 
this  See,  during  the  time  of  the  Civil  Wars,  commu- 
nicated by  Thomas  Rawlinson,  of  the  Middle  Temple, 
Esq.  from  a  valuable  Manuscript  of  his,  containing 
likewise  the  Sale  of  the  Lands  of  all  the  rest  oj  the 
Cathedrals  in  En <y land 


September  27,    1646.      The  manor  of    £.      «.      d 
Waltham  in  Hants,    was  sold  to   Robert 
Reynolds,  Esq.  for  the  sum  of 7999   14   iql 

The   Manor  of  Droxford,  in  the  same  * 

county,  sold  to  Francis  i\llen,  Esq.  for 7675   13     7 

October  21,  1646.  Catwavis  Farm,  in 
Berkshire,  sold  to  Richard  Elderlicld,  for     120     4     0 

January  14, 1647.  The  Park  in  South- 
M'ark  in  Surry,  sold  to  George  Thompson, 
^^^~      1191     3     4 

A  Brew-House,  the  Bear-Garden,  &c. 
on  the  Bank-side  in  Suny,  sold  to  Sarah 

^tT'&'   1783   15     0 

IheJVJanorofBishops-Stoke,  in  Hamp- 
shne,  sold  to  Thomas  Cox  and  Malachi 
Dudley,  for IgOl     4     g 

January  19, 1647.  Lollingdon  Farm,  in 
Berkshire,  sold  to  Richard  Hutchingson  for     720     0     0 

February  4,  1647.  Curbridge  Farm, 
parcel  of  the  Manor  of  Witney  in  Oxford- 
shire, sold  to  William  Wells  and  Robert 
^']!ti",for 259     5     0 

February 7, 1647.  Downeton-MiUs,  &c. 
in  Hampshire,  sold  to  William  Eyre,   for     257     5     0 

February  21,  1647.  The  Manor  of 
Havant,  sold  to  William  Wolgar,  for l662 

February  28,  1647.  Rympton  Farm  in 
Berkshne,  sold  to  John  Payne,  for 179     0     0 

March  1,  1647.  Sotwell  Farm,  sold  to 
William  Leaver,  for j  00 

March  18,  1647.  The  '  *Manor  *  o'f 
Rympton  in  Somersetshire,  sold  to  John 
Payne,  Thomas  laylor,  and  Thomas 
Uothier,  for ^     4^5    7     ^ 


5     4 


12     0 


50 

March  20,    l647.       The  Castle    and      £,     «.    </. 
Manor  of  Taunton  in  Somersetshire,  sold 
to  Brampton  Gurdon  and  Jolni  Hill,  for..   9210  17     Oi 

March  22, 1647.  The  Manor  of  Bishops 
Sutton  in  Hampshire,  sold  to  Sir  John 
Evelyn,  for 2727   13    9 

March  24,  l647.  The  Scite  of  the  Manor 
of  Han^ell  in  Berkshire,  sold  to  Edmund 
Wiseman,  for , 542     0    0 

March  24,  l647.  The  Manor  of  Adder- 
bury  in  Hampshire,  sold  to  Edw.  Ashe,  for  2905   11     4 

March  24,  l647.  Honnycroft  Mead, 
parcel  of  the  Manor  of  Taunton  in  Somer- 
setshire, sold  to  Roger  Hill,  for 44     0     0 

March  24,  1647.  The  Falcon  on  the 
Stewes  Bankside,  Surry,  sold  to  Thomas 
Rollinson,  for    484     0    0 

April  12,  1648.  The  Scite  of  the  Manor 
of  Bishop's  Sutton  in  Wiltshire,  sold  to 
Lawrence  Lambard,  for 53     0     0 

May  10,  1648.  Several  Parcels  of  the 
Manor  of  Taunton-Dean  in  Somersetshire, 
soldtoBramptonGurdonand  John  Hill  for     345     0     3 

June  14,  l648.  Parcel  of  the  Manor 
of  East-Meon  in  Hampshire,  sold  to  Na- 
thaniel Hallows,  for 848   15    0 

June  23,  l648.  The  Manor  of  Alresford 
in  Hampshire,  sold  to  Thomas  Hussey,  for  2683     9     1|: 

June  26,  1648.  Longwood  AVarren  in 
Hampshire,  sold  to  Thomas  Hussev,  for. .      351     3     4 

July  5,  1648.  The  Manor  of' North- 
Walton  in  Hampshire,  sold  to  George 
Wither,   Thomas  xVllen,  &  al.  for 964  13     6 

July  20,  1648.  The  Borough  of 
Taunton  in  Somersetshire,  sold  to  George 
Searl  and  Samuel  Whetcombe,  for 868   14     7 

August  11,  l648.  The  Borough  and 
Farm  of  Fareham  in  Hampshire,  sold  to 
Peter  Wilkins,  for 909  14    8 

August  18,  1648.  Willersley- Warren  in 
Hampshire,  sold  to  Thomas  Hussey,  for. .      226     9     0 

September  22,  l648.  The  Manors  of 
Newton  and  Widhay  in  Hampshire,  sold  to 
James  Storey,  for 8^3     4    6 


Q 


1 


September  25,  l648.     The   Manor  of       £.    s.     d. 
Bentley  and  Alverstock,  and  Borough  of 
Gosport   in  Hampshire,    sold  to   George 
Wither  and  Elizabeth  his  [wife]  for 11 85     4     5i 

July  14,  1648.  South  Fann  in  Hamp- 
shire, sold  to  Richard  Dannald,  for IIGI     5     2 

September  25,  1648.  The  Manor  and 
Castle  of  Farnham  in  Hampshire,  sold  to 
John  Farwell  and  James  Gold,  for 8145     8     0 

September  28,  1648.  The  Manor  of 
Itchinswell  and  Northampton  Farm,  sold 
to  Nicholas  Love  and  George  Wither,  for     1756     9     1 

September  28,  1648.  The  Scite  and 
Demesnes  of  the  Manor  of  Woodhay  in 
Hampshire,  sold  to  Lislibone  Long  and 
John  Goddard,  for   527     4    0 

September  28,  1648.  The  Manor  of 
Beaworth  in  Hampshire,  sold  to  Stephen 
Estwicke,  for     748     6     6| 

December  15  1  648  The  Manor  of 
Droyse-Court  and  Macknage  Farm  in 
Gloucestershire  and  Hampshire,  belonging 
partly  to  Gloucester,  and  partly  to  Win- 
chester Cathedral,  sold  to  Robert  Gale, 
for ]76  10     » 

December  28,  1648.  The  Manor  of 
Brightwell  in  Berkshire,  sold  to  Robert 
Gale,  for   1780  12  10 

January  10,  1649.  The  Manor,  Town, 
and  Borough  of  Witney,  in  Oxfordshire, 
sold  to  William  Bassitt  and  Edward  War- 
cupp,  for 4916  18  11| 

January  12,  1649.  The  Manors  of 
Trotiscliffe,  West-Courte,  and  Fareham,  in 
Kent  and  Hampshire,  belonging  to  this  See, 
and  that  of  Rochester,  sold  to  Nicholas 
Bond,  for 1632  12     7| 

February  7,  1649.  The  Manor  of 
Fountell  in  Hampshire,  sold  to  John  Dove, 
Esq.for     609  11     4 

March  12,  1649.  Pepper  Poundisford 
Farm  in  Somersetshire,  sold  to  Sir  John 
Seymer,  Thomas  Hodges,  sen.  and  Thomas 
Hodges,  jim.  for    292  15    2 


o^ 


March  12,  1649.    The  Manor  of  Craw-      £.    s.    d, 
lev  in  Hampshire,  sold  to  John  Pigeon,  for      836  11     6 

'  iMarch  21,1 649,     The  Manor  of  Morton 
in  Hampshire,  sold  to  Richard  Hunt,  for..     1175     0     0 

June  20,  1649.     The  Manor  of  Bkterne 
in  Hampshire,  sold  to  John  Baikstecd,  for      1716     6    8 

J  uly  13,1 649.     The  Manor  of  Ashmers- 
Morth  in  Hampshire,  sold  to  Ohadiah  Sedg- 

wicke,  for 655     4     7 

Augnst  1, 1649.     The  Manor  of  Milland 
in  Hampshire,  sold  to  Nich.  Love,  Esq.  for     2949  10     7 

Augusts,  1649.   The  Manor  of  Overton 
in  Hampshire,  sold  to  Thos.  Andrews  for    2195     3     1 

August  8,  1649.     Several  Lands  in   ihj 
Manor  ot  Sutton  in  Hampshire,  sold  to  Sir 

John  Evelyn,  for 1717     7     6 

August  24,  1 649.  Stoke  Park  in  Hamp- 
shire, sold  to  Thomas  Cox  and    Malachi 

Dudley,  for    221   18     4 

September  19,  1 649.  The  Manor  of  East 
Meon  in  Hampshire,  sold  to  Eras.  Allen, 

Esq.  for 3114     6     5 

September  26,  1649.  The  Manor  of 
Southwark  and  W  inchester  House,  sold  to 

Thomas  Walker,  for 4380     8     3 

September  29,  1649.  The  Manor  of 
Bishop's  Hanwell  in    Berkshire,    sold  to 

Daniel  Blagrave,  for     333     0     0 

Jar.uary  15,  1650.  The  Manor  of  Withy- 
ton  in  Downetou,  sold  to  Thomas  Andrews 

and  Francis  Warner,  for 1491     0     5 

February  1,  1650.  The  Manor  and 
Fann  of  Cold  Henbeigh,  sold  to  Thomas 

Hussey,  for 130  12    0 

February  22,  1650.  The  Manors  of 
Knoyle  &  Upton,  and  Borough  of  Hindon, 
sold  to  Edmund  Ludlowe,  Esq.  for    ....      4668  12     7r 

March  20,  1650.  The  Manor  and  Farm 
of  Easton,    sold  to  Adoniram  Byfeild,  for      352     5     0 

March  23,  1650.  The  Manor  of  Haul- 
den,  sold  to  George  Wither,  for 3796  IS  1 1 

March  23, 1 650.  The  Scite  of  the  Manor 
of  Bishop's  Stoke,  and  other  Lands,  sold  to 
Thomas  Cox,  for 479     3     4 


+ 


33 

September  27,   1650.      Stallage-Croff,      £.    s.     d. 
and  other  Lands,  parcel  of  the  Manor  of 
Brightwell   in  Berkshire,    sold  to  Robert 
Gale,  for   50  10     0 

March  12,  1651.  Several  Lands, 
Tenements,  Houses,  and  Buildings,  be- 
longing to  the  Manor  of  Southwark,  in 
Surr}-,  sold  to  Thomas  Walker,  for 465  13     4 


Sum  total,  i'101,188   10     9? 


The  Dimensions  of  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Winchester. 

The  length,  from  east  to  west,  is  545  feet,  whereof  our 
Lady's  Chapel  at  the  east  end,  is  54  feet.  From  that 
chapel  to  the  iron  door  above  the  steps,  near  the  entrance 
into  the  choir,  is  1 60  feet.  From  that  iron  door  to  the 
porch  at  the  west  end,  is  35 1  feet.  The  full  breadth  of 
the  church  is  87  feet.  The  choir  is  in  length  136  feet, 
and  in  breadth  40  feet. 


The  Tombs  and  Monuments  in  this  Cathedral. 

From  the  altar,  on  the  top  of  the  wall  are  now  six 
chests,  three  on  either  side  ;  wherein  are  the  bones  of 
some  Saxon  and  Danish  Kings,  as  also  of  some  Bishops. 

On  the  south  side,  the  first  chest  hath  this  inscription  : 

iE"BrttJu;S  3^tx,  obiit  anno  955. 
Wc  ptug  in  tumulo  Btx  1Etlrt"DuS  requic^cit 
(Qui  i;ag  Scitonum  ttxxni  rextrat  cg-rcgvit. 

The  second  chest  hath  this  inscription : 

iStJmuntJuiS  Btx,  obiit  *** 

(Qutm  tijeca  ]^ac  rttinct  i£t(munl>um  siu^ctpe  Cl^rtiStc 

(Qui  bibtnU  ^atrt  rcgia  gteptra  tulit. 


34 

The  third  chest  did  formerly  contain  the  bones  of 
Canutus  and  William  Rufus.  The  tomb  for  the  latter, 
of  grey  marble,  is  raised  about  two  feet  from  the  pave- 
ment in  the  middle  of  the  upper  part  of  the  choir,  before 
the  high  altar,  and  the  bones  being  chested,  were  set  up 
over  the  door  on  the  top  of  the  wall,  on  the  south  side  as  you 
come  into  the  choir.  On  that  chest  was  formerly  this 
inscription  : 

^ff  jaccnt  o^^a  CitutoniJi  ft  Mtllitlmi  3£lufi. 
And  lately  this  inscription  is  put  thereon : 

In  hac  et  altera  t  regione  cista  reliqiim  sunt  ossium 
Caniiti  et  Riiji  Regum ;  Emmcs  liegince,  WincE  et 
Alwini  EpiscopoTum. 

In  the  tomb  of  William  Rufus,  which  was  broke  open 
by  the  rebels  in  the  time  of  the  civil  wars,  was  found  the 
dust  of  that  king,  some  relics  of  cloth  of  gold,  a  large 
gold  ring,  and  a  small  silver  chalice. 

On  the  north  side  are  likewise  three  chests  on  the  top  of 
the  Mall ;  the  first  from  the  altar  hath  this  inscription  on  it : 

lacx  Hmgulgus  oftiit  641. 

On  the  choir  side  of  the  same  chest : 

atJuIp]^tig  aaex  obtit  857. 

Bingtl^i  t«  ciiU  \)ac  ^imul  osi^a  jacmt  tt  ^tJuIpl^i  (untfator, 

i)ic  hniffactor  trat. 

The  second  chest  hath  this  inscription : 

jKcniilpJjusi  i^tx  oiiit  754. 

On  the  choir  side  : 

iSsbntu^  obitt  837. 
Wc  Bfx  iEgbntuiS  pausiat  cum  S^cge  5KnTuIp]^o 
i^obii  tgrcflu  murcra  utcrq ;  tultt. 

The  third  chest  contained  formerly  the  bones  of  Bishop 
Wina,  w  ith  this  inscription : 

^ic  jactnt  (f^iSn  W^ina  iSpigfopt. 

With  Bishop  Wina's,  was  enclosed  the  body  of  Stigand, 
first  Bishop  of  W  inchester,  then  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury ;  and  ou  the  north  side  of  the  coffin  was  this  in- 
scription : 


35 

^M  jactt  ^tigaiitJug  ^rdjiepi^copu^. 

But  now  this  inscription  is  upon  it : 

In  hac  cistdA.  D.  I66I.  promiscue  recondita  sunt  Ossa 
Priitcipirm  Sf  Fmlatorum,  Sacnlegd  barbarie  dispersa, 
A.  D.  1642. 

Under  the  second  chest  on  the  south  wall,  is  this 
inscription  : 

fntug  f^t  corpus;  lairavtii  Millitlmi  Conque^torisi  filti  et 

?3corntae  tjuct^. 

On  the  same  wall  is  entombed  the  heart  of  Ethelmarus, 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  with  this  inscription  : 

©tilt  anno  1261. 

Corpus  iEtljtImari,  fujug    cor  nunc  tenet    i5tu^   ^ariim, 

^ari^it^  mortc  tfatur  tumulo. 

From  the  westward  in  the  same  wall  is  this  inscription  : 

Jhxtu5  tit    cor.   ^icTjoIai    oltm   Clinton    iSpiscopi    c\x)Mi 
corpug  c^t  aput(  Ma&crXw. 

In  the  south  wall,  eastward,  lies  the  body  of  Richard 
Fox,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  by  whose  care  the  bones  of 
the  Saxon  Kings  were  chested.  He  was  the  founder  of 
Corpus  Christi  College  in  Oxford,  and  a  great  benefactor 
in  repairing  the  upper  part  of  this  choir. 

Near  unto  this  monument  is  a  small  private  oratory, 
which  he  usually  frequented  for  his  devotion,  and  which 
is  still  called  Bishop  Fox's  study. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  wall  was  formerly  a  fourth 
chest,  containing  the  bones  of  Bishop  Elmstan  and 
Bishop  Kynulphus,  with  this  inscription  : 

^onttficcs  fjacc  cap^a  Uuosi  tenet  incincratoiS  primus  i£Im)Sta;f 
nuiS,  l)uic  iSuccesi^orq  ;  35DnuIpf)u:S. 

Bishop  Alfimus's  monument  was  on  the  same  wall 
eastward  from  Bishop  Elmston,  with  this  inscription  : 

^fimug  plumljo  pre^iil  requiesicit  in  ijito. 

Under  Kingulstus's  chest  in  the  same  wall,  is  this 
inscription  : 

(Qui  jacet  l)ic  2^egni  ^ceptrum  tulit  l^artJi^camitu^ 

3£minac  Cnutoni^  gnatuiS  et  ip^c  fuit. 

©bitt  ^.  S.  IIIIo. 

d2 


SQ 


In  the  same  wall,  this 


mioinug  oMt,  ^.  S.  1047. 
Wc  jarct  !Hlli3hu  corpuiS,  quimiiufra  tvdbii 
Contulit  SSgvegia,  pavctto  CijviStc  pio. 


In  the  same  wall,  within  the  choir,  is  this  inscriptioB 
for  Queen  Eniina : 

^ic  3Smmam  fiiSta  ifltcjiuam  ronttnet  i^U  Mmit  ^ti)eVtivetiui 

2iUx  Ijauc,  tt  po^tca  Cnuitusi ; 

lEtJluaitlum  parit  ijaer,  ac ^avtst^fanutum (Quatuor  'i)o^%tQti 

\)^tc  Wait  ^reptra  tcncntc^  ; 

^nglorum  3degcm  fuit  Ijacc  ^ic  mater  ft  uxor. 

In  the  same  wall,  without  the  choir,  eastward,  lieth  the 
body  of  Stephen  Gai  diner,  sometime  Bishop  of  Win- 
chester. 

This  monument  was  much  abused  in  the  times  of  the 
late  rebellion. 

Under  the  monument  of  Bishop  Alfimus,  on  the  north 
side,  was  this  inscription  : 

Mt  functi  corpus  tuiiuiIuS  tcntt    i^te    3)oIjanni5   ^Potntesf, 

OTiutontac  iBrafi^uIig  eximii. 

(©biit  amto  1304. 

In  the  wall  on  the  north  side,  under  the  chest  of  Wina, 
is  the  monument  of  Bishop  Toclive,  with  this  inscription  : 

Prac^itltg  tgvcgif  pau^ant  l^ic  mtmlbra  iiicarUi 

CoUj)iK,  cni  gumtiit  gautJia  iSunto  poXi. 

(BUit  amto  1189. 

Behind  the  choir  on  the  north  side,  lieth  a  warlike 
person,  whose  figure  is  much  defaced,  with  this  inscription  : 

flic  jacct  MtlUclimiS  ComtJi  Kc  ir\Mn 
mam  alias  Mincall. 

On  the  north  side,  under  the  stairs  which  lead  to  the 
organ,  was  found  some  few  years  since,  the  heart  (as  is 
supposed)  of  Hugh  le  Brune,  some  time  Prior  of  St. 
Swithin's,  in  a  box  of  tin.  His  effigies  in  stone  is  now 
upon  the  place  where  the  heart  was  deposited. 

In  the  utmost  wall  of  the  choir  eastward,  was  the 
entrance  into  the  vault  in  which  the  Saxon  Kings  were 
first  buried.     Over  it  is  this  inscription : 

S^ancta  Plaria,  (t  l^ominu^  3t&us, 


37 

On  one  side  of  the  entrance  are  these  names : 
Bpngul^tug  J.Ux  ^.  ?Stnmi£J  iSpiiSfopug 

3£titDar'Du5  iitx  ^miot.  ^tl)cy tanujsi  i^cx  ftliusi  fjii^. 

On  the  other  side  the  entrance,  are  these  names : 

lElirelius il^ci.  lEtigatMci.  IHmma  Kectina.'glltDinuslEptscopu? 
?£ti)£HircDu&Kci.  ^.IHDtoacDusJflex  fiUusi  cjU9.  CTanutusiJlEX. 

Underneath  is  this  inscription  : 

Corpora  <Santoium  gunt  \)ic  in  pare  scpulta, 
laxmecitig  quorum  fulgent  mtiacula  multa. 

In  the  middle  of  the  space  above  the  choir,  is  a  monu- 
ment raised  somewhat  higher  than  the  pavement,  said  tQ 
be  that  of  Lucius  tlie  first  Christian  King ;  but  there  is  no 
inscription  upon  it. 

On  the  south  side  of  that  space  behind  the  high  altar, 
is  erected  to  the  memory  of  Henry  Beaufort,  Cardinal  of 
St.  Eusebius,  and  Bishop  of  Winchester,  a  fair  and  stately 
exalted  monument,  with  his  effigies  in  his  habit ;  the 
inscription  is  now  wholly  obliterated,  this  being  all  that 
appeared  legible  above  one  hundred  years  ago. 

Cribularcr  jSi  nfsfftvfm  nu'siericovtiiaS  tua;S. 

He  deceased  upon  the  11th.  day  of  April,  anno  1447, 
having  been  Bishop  of  Winchester  43  years,  and  from  the 
time  of  his  first  consecration  50  years. 

Among  other  good  deeds,  it  is  to  be  remembered  that 
he  built  an  hospital  in  Winchester,  near  St.  Crosse's, 
which  he  presently  endowed  with  land  to  the  value  of 
^158.  13s.  4d.  yearly  rent;  and,  moreover,  gave  unto  it 
the  Hospital  of  St.  John  de  Fordingbridge.  in  it  was  to 
be  maintained  a  master,  two  chaplains,  thirty-five  poor 
men,  and  three  women. 

On  the  north  side  is  a  fair  monument  of  William  AYain- 
fleet.  Bishop  of  Winchester,  holdmg  his  heart  between 
his  hands  :  he  was  founder  of  Magdalen  College  in  Ox- 
ford ;  but  it  has  no  inscription  upon  it. 

At  the  east  end  of  this  Church,  are  three  Chapels.  In 
the  midst  is  that  of  the  blessed  Virgin :  in  it  Queen  Mary 
was  married  to  King  Philip.  The  chair  in  which  she  »at 
is  still  there. 


35 

On  the  north  side  is  a  small  Chapel,  wherein  is  the 
monument  of  Kichard  late  Earl  of  Portland,  vith  this 
inscription : 

Dcpositum 

Ricardi  Westou,  Comitis  Portland, 

Magui  Angliae  Thesaurarii 

quo  inunere  fungi 

cocpit 

Anno  Regis  Caroli  quarto, 

Idq;  simul  cum  vita  exult 

Anno  praedicti  Domini  Regis 

Decimo, 

Annoq  ;  Domini  Rederaptoris  1634. 

Decimo  tertio  die  Martii. 

On  the  south  side  is  a  little  Chapel,  in  which  is  a  mon- 
ument of  Thomas  Langton,  Bishop  of  Winchester. 

Near  the  door  of  the  Chapel,  is  a  fair  black  marble, 
raised  a  little  above  the  pavement,  under  which  lyetli 
Frances,  late  Countess  Dowager  of  Exeter,  with  this 
inscription : 

Honoralissima  Domina 

Francesca 

Thomse  Comitis  Exon.  relicta, 

Bonorum  operum,  pariter  ac  dierum 

plena, 

Obdormivit  in  Domino 

.         /Domini  MDCLXIII. 

-^^"^liEtatis  suae  LXXXVII. 

Going  down  from  the  south  door  of  the  choir,  at  the 
bottom  of  the  steps,  on  the  left  hand,  are  two  old  monu- 
ii'ients  ;  the  one  hath  no  inscription,  the  other  has  this 
about  it: 

l^ic  jacct  22aiUteImug  tc  23as(ng,  quonliam  ^rtor  tsitiug 
^fcksiac,  cujus  antmat  propttietur  IBem,  ct  qui  pro  anima 
C5US  ocabctit,  tres  annog  et  quinquaginta  Dies  Unliulgcntiae 
ycrciptft. 

At  the  end  of  the  cross  aisle,  southwards,  is  the  chapter- 
house ;  above  stairs  are  the  library  and  audit-house,  built 
in  1668. 

At  the  entrance  into  the  choir,  at  the  great  door,  on  one 
side,  is  the  statue  of  King  James,  in  brass  ;  oh  the  other 
side,  is  that  of  King  Charles  the  first,  in  whose  time 
this  screen  was  erected. 


39 

In  the  body  of  the  church,  near  the  pulpit,  is  a  stone 
with  this  inscription  : 

MillUImus  ItinggmeU,  i^tiot  uUimug,  Uecanus 

printug  &cc\eiiae 

©bitt  1548 

Likewise  upon  a  flat  marble  stone,  near  the  pulpit,  is 
this  inscription : 

J^obcrtug  ^OKtit  '^l)eo\o^iat  doctor 
ntmtus,  quontJam  C|)rtstt  causa 
txnl,  DcinDe  Ck'piscopus  fiJainton  : 
pic  obilt  in  33omino  %\xn.  I,  1580. 
lEpigcopatug  gut  anno  19. 

Upon  another  marble  stone,  opposite  to  the  former,  is 
this  inscription : 

13.  gjoannca  Mat^nn  ]^ujug  CEccIcgtae  S^Iinton  : 
^SraebcnDaritig.  SStcanug,  ac  DeinDc  ^pigtopug, 
^tulicnti$55imus  ^ater,  bit  optimum, 
^raetipue  erga  inopes  mtgeticorg. 
C^biit  in  SBomino  3)anuat :  23. 
Slnno  aftatig  guac  63,  €Fptscopatug  4, 

1583. 

Below  the  steps  towards  the  choir,  on  the  south  side, 
is  the  tomb  of  Bishop  Edyndon,  with  this  epitaph  ; 

(CflgnDon  natits  a!2ailf)elmti;Ei  !)ic  est  titntulatugi 
Prae^iil  praegr.Uu^,  in  aiSlintonia  Catlj£Dratu;e(, 
€lut  pet  tran;5iti£(,  ejus  m:morare  ijelitis 
JDroijiDus  £t  mitiji,  ausit  mm  milk  perittsi 
PertJigil  3inglonim  fuit,  anjutoc  poputorum 
£)ulci3  egmomm  P't^f,  ^f  Protector  eomm 
^,  C.  tribus  functum  post  %%  ml  punctitm 
SDctaba  sanctum  notat  ijuuc  SDctobpi^  inunctum. 
1366. 

Near  the  little  south  door  in  the  body  of  the  Church,  is 
the  tomb  of  William  Wyckham,  Bishop  of  Winchester, 
founder  of  Winchester  College,  and  of  New  College  in 
Oxford  ;  and  repairer  of  the  west  part  of  this  Church. 
With  this  epitaph : 

Saill^elmus  cictw^  tmitiSjsm  facet  bic  nece  bictu^ 
3l0tiii5  ©celesta  praesul ;  rzparabit  catnque 
iLargus  erat,  tjapifer,  probat  boc  cum  flitJit?  pauper, 
Congibis  paritjr  rsgni  fuerat  bciu  oeicter. 


40 

0\\nc  Dotet  mt  piiim  fimtiatfo  coflcgtorum 
iSDjconia:  primum  st.U,  aEHiutoniaq;  emmBum, 
Jugitcr  orcti<5,  tiinmlum  (i»in»"f!  5  vjiBJtisi 
^0  tantis  raeriti^,  qiioD  sit  sibi  Vita  percnniA 

Next  to  the  Countess  of  Exeter's  monument,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  upper  part  of  the  Cathedral  Church, 
under  a  black  marble  stone,  lies  buried  the  Lord  Henry 
Powlett,  with  these  arms ;  viz.  Three  daggers  with  the 
points  downwards.  The  crest,  is  a  falcon  with  a  coronet 
round  his  neck,  and  a  bell  on  each  leg,  with  a  mantling 
round  the  coat,  and  a  half-moon  between  two  of  the 
daggers,  and  the  following  inscription  : 

Hie  Conditum  sub  hoc 
Marmore  est  corpus 
Ornatissimi  Domini 

Heurici 

Powlett.  Evocati  ex 

Hac  Vita  IIo  die  Mali 

Anno  Dom.  1672. 

Next  to  him  lies  Sir  Thomas  Higgons,  under  a  large 
stone,  with  these  arms  ;  viz.  Three  eagles'  heads  erased 
in  the  field,  and  this  inscription : 

Here  lieth  the  Body  of 

Sir  Thomas  Higgons, 

who  died  the  24th. 

of  November, 

1692. 

And  on  the  south  side,  lies  the  Countess  of  Essex,  under 
a  grey  marble,  with  two  coats  of  arms,  viz,  Essex's  im- 
paling Powlett's,  and  this  inscription  : 

Quicquid  Reliquum  est 
Eliz.  Essexiae  Comitissse 

Hie  Deponitur, 

Filia  fuit  Gul.  Pawlett  Mil 

&  Robert!  Essexiae  Com.  Conjux 

I  ost  cujus  obitum  transiit 

in  alias  Nuptias. 

Cum  Thoma  Higgons  Mil. 

Obiit  Penult.  Augusti  A.  D.  1656. 

&  hie  Sepulta,  Oratione 

Funebri  a  Marito  ipso. 

More  Prisco  Laudata  Tuit. 


41 

Next  to  the  Countess  of  Essex's  monument  and  adjoin- 
ing to  the  south  wall,  under  a  large  marble  stone  enclosed 
with  iron  rails,  lies  Bishop  Leving,  with  the  arms  of  the  See 
of  the  Bishopric  of  the  isle  of  Man,  and  three  escollop 
shells  between  two  bendlets ;  with  this  inscription  : 

Baptista  Leving 
S.  T.  P. 

Episcopus  Sodorensis  &  Imjus  Ecclesiae  Praebendarius 

Patre  Gulielmo  Leving  de  Eventia  in  Comit.  Nortbarapt. 

Armigero  Ortus 

Oxonij  in  Collegio  B.  M.  Magdalenae  Edncatus 

Patriae  suae,  Academiae,  Ecclesiae,  &  baeculi  Ornamentura 

ob  integritatem,  &  sanctimoniam  vitoe,  morum  gravitatem, 

Et  candorum  &  virtutes  vere  Christianus 

olim  spectabilis,  semper  memorandus, 

naturae  &  Gratiae  Dotibus  illustris. 

Corporis  elegantis,  ^'u]tus  decori.  Mentis  eximiae 

(Nusqaam  splendidius  habitavit  Philosophia) 

Literaturae,  qua  humance  qua  Divinae,  oiuni 

genere  Instructus ; 

Theodoxae  Religionis  Praeco  atq  ;  propuguator 

Validissimus,  Deo  probatus  operarius  ainwa'anvlos- 

Episcopale  muuus  modeste 

Admisit,  prudenter,  &  Benefice  adininistravit, 

Primaevos  &  Apostolicos  Pastures  imitatus,  & 

Qualem  posteri  imitentur. 

Vixit 

Multis  Idoneus  ;  Omnibus  Dilectus  ; 

Bene  de  aliis  merendi  studiosus,  &  apprime  Gnarus  ; 

Erga  Egenos  li'oeralis,  simulq  ;  Kei  familiaris  providus  j 

Hospitalis  sine  Luxu,  &  inter  Lautitias  abstemius. 

In  templo,  juxta  ac  privatis  in  yEdibus  Deum 

assidue  &  sincere  Veneratus  j 

In  precibns  &  jejuniis  frequens,  C'oali  appetens, 

Febre  Correptus,  bonus  servus  &  fidelis 

Domini,  sui  Gaudium  ingressus  est 

Die  XXXI  January 

An.  Dora.  MDCXCH. 

^tat.  Suae  49. 

Viro  optimo  Desideratissimoqj 

Maria  uxor  Delectissima 

H.  M.     M.  P. 

On  a  flat  stone,  northward,  adjoining  to  the  middle  of 
the  former,  are  two  coats  of  arms,  viz.  the  Powletts'  and 
the  Napers',  with  this  inscription  : 


42 

Francisca 

Nath.  Naper  Equitis  Aurati  filia 

Essexlj  Powlett  Armigeri  Conjux 

Exuvias  Mortalitatis 

(Heu  quara  Pulchras  !) 

Hie  deposuit 

Pridie  Cal.  Sextil. 

^rse  Christianae 

MDCLXVII. 

On  the  north  side,  adjoining  to  the  same,  on  a  flat 
stone,  is  the  following  inscription,  with  the  Powletts' 
coat  of  arms,  and  a  half-moon  between  two  of  the  daggers  : 

Here  lyeth  the  body 

of  Essex  Powlett,  Esq ; 

who  died  the  17th 

of  September, 

1682. 

Under  the  south  wall,  a  little  below  Bishop  Leving's 
monument,  is  a  spacious  monument,  with  the  statue,  of 
Sir  John  Clobery,  and  on  the  pedestal. 

Sir  John  Clobery,  was  born  at 
Broadston,  in  Devon. 

Under  the  same,  is  the  follow  ing  inscription : 

M.  S. 
Johannis  Clobery  Militis, 
Vir  in  omni  re  eximius, 

Artem  Bellicam 

Non  tantum  optime  novit, 

Sed  ubiq  ;  Faelissiine  exercuit 

Ruentis  patriae  simul  &  Stuartorum  Domus 

Stator  Auspicatissimus 

Quod  Monchius  &  ipse 

Prius  in  Scotiae  Animo  agitaverant 

Ad  Londin'-.m  Venientes 

Facile  effectum  dabant  j 

Unde 

Pacem  Angliae,  Carolura  Secundum  Solio, 

(Universo  populo  plaudente) 

Restituerunt. 

Inter  Armorum  negotiorumq  ;  Strepitum 

(Res  raro  militibus  usitata) 

Hunianioribus  literis  sedulo  incubuit 

Et  Singulares  animi  Do^es 


43 

Tam  exqulsita  eruditione  expolivit 

Ut  Athenis  potius  quam  Castris  j 

Semisse  videretur 

Sed  corpore  demum  morbo  languescente 

Se  tacite  AJundi  motibus  subduxit 

ut  Coelo,  quod  per  totam  vitam 

Ardentius  anhelaverat  unicil  vacaret 

r\i.'-^  A  {  Salutis,  1687. 

Obut  Anno,  ■{  x?,.  4.-       „   co 

'  I  Atatis  suae,  63. 

Hoc  Monumentum  Charissima  Defuucti 

Relicta  ceu  ultinum  Araoris 

Indicium  poni  curavit. 

Northward  of  the  said  monument,  lie  buried  three  of 
his  children,  John  his  only  son,  Frances  and  Elizabeth 
two  of  his  daughters. 

Between  Sir  John  Clobery's  monument,  and  his  three 
children,  under  a  black  marble  stone,  lies  buried  the  Earl 
of  Castlehaven,  with  this  coat  of  arms,  quarterly ;  viz. 
first,  in  the  field  a  chevron  between  nine  ermines  ;  second- 
ly, a  frett ;  the  third,  as  the  second  ;  the  fourth,  as  the 
first.  The  crest  is  a  swan  in  a  coronet,  with  a  baron's 
coronet  over  his  neck,  and  crowned  with  another  coronet, 
with  this  inscription ; 

Here  lieth  the  Body  of 

The  Right  Honourable  James 

Touchett,  Barou  Audley, 

and  Earl  of  Castlehaven, 

in  the  kingdom  of  Ireland, 

Obiit  Aug.  12. 

1700. 

Below  Sir  John  Clobery's  monument,  is  buried  the  wife 
of  Dr.  Fulham,  Archdeacon  •  of  Winchester,  and  Pre- 
bendary of  the  Church ;  and  on  his  grave,  lies  a  square 
black  marble,  with  the  following  inscription : 

S.  I. 

Catharina  Conjux 

Georgij  Fulham 

S.  T.  P. 

hujus  Ecclesiaa 

Praebendarij, 

1699. 

Against  the  south  wall  is  a  mural  monument,  with  this 
inscription ; 

M.S. 
Catharinse  filiae  primogenitae 
ac  Cohseredis  Georgii  Evelyn 


44 

de  WottoTi  in  Comitatu  Surria?  Arinigeri 

Conjugis  Georgii  Fulhain,  S.  T.  P. 

liujus  Ecclesiae  Praebeudarij 

Exoptatissima  haec  Facmina 

Eximiutu  a  teneris  Annis  pietatem, 

Singularem  Vlrtutem,  Prudentiam,  Benignitatem 

ac  Moruin  Candorem  prae  se  ferens 

Summa  cum  Gratia  Vitam  excoluit  ; 

Amicis  Carissima,  Omnium  Laudem  promerita 

Circiter  quatriduum  a  PartuNati  secundi 

Morbo  Ceplialico  perculsa,  ex  imraaturo  occubuit. 

Semper  lugenda  ;  Nisi  Paratissiraa  vixisset. 

Obiit  vicesirao  tertio  Die  Octobris, 

Anno  MDCXCIX. 

Juxta  Matrem  recubit  Gulielmus  Fulliam 

lufans  Bimestris. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  Church,  and  at  the  east  end 
in  the  Lord  Treasurer  Weston's  vault,  is  buried  Bishop 
Mews  ;  and  on  liis  grave  is  a  small  square  stone,  with  this 
inscription : 

Petrus  Mews 

Winton  :  Epus. 

Obiit  9no.  Novembris 

1706. 

This  Bishop's  death  is  said  to  have  been  foretold  by  a 
youth  of  Winchester  school,  who  also  foretold  the  time 
of  his  own. 

On  the  same  side,  below  the  Lord  Treasurer's  monu- 
ment, on  a  black  Hat  marble  stone,  are  these  arms  ;  viz. 
three  crescents  in  tiie  field,  and  a  crescent  for  a  difference, 
w  ith  this  inscription  : 

Hie  jacet  Henricus  Perin 

E.  Coll.  S.  Stae-  Trin.  Apud 

Oxoniensis  M.  B.  Denatus 

4to  die  Junij  Anno  iEtatis  32. 

Dom:  1694. 

Marmor  hoc  in  Memoriam  Norainis 

posuit  maereus  Uxor. 

Near  the  wall  of  the  south  side  of  the  upper  part  of 
the  Church,  under  a  large  stone,  lies  buried  the  Lady 
Mason ;  with  these  coats  of  arms,  viz.  a  lion  with  two 
heads.  Mason,  empal.  in  a  field  lozengie  on  a  bend,  three 
goats'  heads  erased.  The  crest  is  a  raermaid,  and  this 
inscription ; 


45 

Lector 
Exuviae  heic  sunt  cultisslraae 
Catliarioa 
r  Joan.  Vaux.  Med.  Dns 
Relicta  <  Tho.  Husey  Armig. 

iRob.  Masou  Equ,  Aurati 

(A  quo  nee  in  morte  separata  est) 

Pia^  Chasta,  Pulchra,  Munifica, 

Bonoruin  opeium  quam  dierum  senior 

Decessit  Idib.  Octob. 

Ano.  ^tatis  LXII. 

Saiutis  CI^^^CLxxv. 

On  her  right  hand  lies  her  son,  with  the  Masons'  coat 
of  arms,  and  this  inscription  : 

HSE 

Robertus  Mason  Armiger 

Roberti  Mason  Militis 

&  Catharinse 

(juxta  depositorum) 

Filius 

Valiolarum  Morbus 

Cum  vitae,  turn  Genti  suae 

Finem  dectit 

vv  V  1      r  K  A   o  /Dni  MDCLXXXI. 
XV.Kal.    Feb.  Ano.  I  ^^^^.^^^jj^ 

On  a  plain  stone  on  the  south  side  of  Bishop  Wain- 
fleet's  monument,  is  this  inscription,  the  long  way  of  the 
stone  : 

Cui  dedit  Oxonium  Mammas,  Vigornia  Cunas, 

Hie  sua  Christopherus  Busta  Perinus  habet. 
Sacra  Dei  docuit  Triginta  sednlus  Annos, 

Dignus,  in  hac  illo  quern  tulit  aede,  loco. 
Angelus  in  terris  vita  fuit,  Angelus  Ore, 

Pars  est  Angelici  nunc  quoq  ;  magna  Chori. 
Conjugio  Foelix,  Bis  sena  prole  Beatus, 

Hanc  illi  Conjux  Elizabetba  tulit. 
Obiit  13  Die  Octobris,  Anno  Dni.  1612. 

Near  the  same  place,  on  the  south  side,  with  the 
Symonds's  amis,  viz.  a  crescent  between  three  trefoils, 
and  on  the  chevron  a  crescent  for  a  difference,  with  this 
inscription : 

Here  lyeth  William  Syraonds,  Gentleman, 
Of  Winchester  twice  Mavor  and  Alderman. 


46 

Alice  his  wife  lies  buried  by  his  side  ; 
The  one  in  June,  in  July  th'  other  died  ; 
On  the  18th  day  1601  Shee, 
On  the  27th  day  1606  Hee. 
His  Merit  doth  inherit  Life  and  Fame  ; 
For  whilst  this  City  stands,  Symonds  his  name. 
In  poor  men's  hearts  shall  never  be  forgotten  ; 
For  poore's  prayers  rise,  when  flesh  lies  rotten. 

At  the  head  of  Bishop  Wainfleet's  monument,  on  the 
same  side,  under  a  black  marble  stone,  lies  buried  Dr. 
Taylor,  and  these  arms,  viz.  a  chevron  charged,  three 
roundels,  between  as  many  griffins'  heads  erased.  The 
crest,  a  dragon's  head,  with  this  inscription  : 

H     S    E 

Arthurus  Taylor  Medicinae  Dr. 
Ecclesiae  Anglicanae  Filius 
Qui 
Ultra  Annos  Triginta 
Arti  suae  operam 
Hac  in  urbe  felicitur  impendit 
Et 
Cum  vivere  ;  amplius  docere  non  posset 
jam  tandem  hie  docet  niori 

Obiit  Xo  die  Augusti 
.         fDni  MDCLXXIV. 
^""n^tatisLXI. 

Opposite  to  the  last,  under  the  south  wall,  is  a  black 
marble  stone,  with  these  coats  of  arms  per  pale ;  the  first 
is  the  field,  with  a  bordure  round  engrailled,  a  bend  with 
three  leopard's  heads  ;  the  second  is  a  bordure  round  the 
field,  with  eight  cinquefoils,  and  two  crosses  in  the  field, 
with  this  inscription  : 

H  S  E 
Gulielmus  Coker 
Generosa  prosapia  satus 
In  Agro  Dorset  ; 
Per  viginti  sex  Annos  Medicinae  Professor, 
Ac  is  erat  qui  Deum  supra  naturam 
Et  agnovit  &  sanctissime  coluit  : 
Quod  si  lapis  iste  siluerit 
Ennarabunt  Te  fere  pietatis  Monumenta 
Quot  in  hac  Urbe  vagantur  Pauperes 

Quos  sibi  scilicet  devinxit 

Gravitate  turn  valetudinis,  turn  inopiae, 

Et  (quod  majus  erat)  inscientiae  levando. 

Obiit  Jan.  XIII.  MDCCIV^ 

iEtatis  suae  50. 


47 

In  the  south  aisle  of  the  church,  opposite  to  the  choir, 
under  a  large  stone,  lies  buried  Prebend  Mews,  witli  the 
arms  of  the  family,  viz.  paly  of  six,  and  three  cross  cross- 
lets  in  chief,  with  this  inscription  : 

TT    G    p 

Sam.  Mews.  STB 
Hujusce  et  Ecclesiee  VVellensis  Praebendarius 
Parochiae  de  Estington  ia  Agro 

Gloucestriensi  Rector, 
Pius,  Doctus,  Comis,  Facetus, 
Et  quodcunq  ;  alii  videre  voliint 
Revera  fuit. 
Heu  !  fuit. 
Obiit  IXo  Die  Junii 
.         /DniMDCCVI 
^"''^'liEtatissuaiLXXV. 

A  little  farther  southward,  on  a  black  marble  stone^, 
lies  Dr.  Hawkins ;  his  arms  are  sab.  on  a  point  wavee,  a 
lion  pass,  or,  in  chief,  three  roundels  on  a  canton  gold, 
an  escallop  between  two  daggers,  with  this  inscription  : 

HSE 

Guliehnus  Hawkins 

S  T  P 

Hugis  Ecclesiffi  Praebendarius, 

Qui  obiit  Jul.  17o 

Anno  Domini  1691. 

j^Etatis  suaj  58. 

Southward,  next  adjoining  to  the  same,  on  a  large 
black  marble  stone,  with  these  arms,  viz.  three  boars' 
heads  couped,  empaling  a  chevron  in  a  lozenge,  and  this 
inscription : 

Here  lietli  the  body  of  Madam  Mary  Davies,  daughter  of  Sir 
Jonathan  Trelawney,  of  Trelawuey  in  the  County  of  Cornwall, 
Baronet.  A  Lady  of  excellent  endowments  and  exemplary 
virtue,  of  courage  and  resolution  above  her  sex,  and  equal  to 
the  generous  stock  whence  she  sprang.  She  was  Maid  of 
Honour  to  Mary  Princess  of  Orange,  and  Relict  of  Lieut. 
Coll.  Davies,  wlio,  at  the  siege  of  Naraur,  mounting  the 
trenches  at  the  head  of  the  grenadiers  of  the  first  Regiment 
of  Guards,  was  the  first  that  threw  the  fascines,  (which  others 
used  to  cover  themselves  with  in  their  attack)  over  the  ditch, 
and  with  his  men  past  it,  beating  the  French  out  of  their 
works  ;  which  was  a  gallant  action,  and  greatly  contributed 
towards  the  taking  of  the  tovvn.     In  performing  of  which,  he 


48 

received  the  wound,  of  which  he  died ;  and  gained  so  just  an 
esteem  for  the  boldness  and  success  of  it,  with  the  King,  that 
he  designed  him  tlie  great  honour  of  a  visit  the  morning  on 
■which  lie  died  ;  and  being  informed  of  his  death,  in  kind  and 
honourable  terms  expressed  his  concern  and  sorrow  for  the 
loss  of  so  brave  and  deserving  an  officer. 

She  died  the  xxiiiith  of  September^  in  the  year  MDCCVII. 

A  little  distance  from  the  south  wall  of  the  church,  on 
a  black  marble  stone,  are  these  arms,  viz.  on  a  chief,  two 
griffins'  heads  erased.  In  the  field,  three  stags'  heads 
couped.  The  crest  is  a  griffin's  head,  with  this  in- 
scription : 

HSE 

Shadrach  Lyne  Gen. 

Vir  Pius 

Subdidus  Fidelis, 

Plurimis  charus, 

Obiit  Octob.  XXIV. 

.         f  Salutis  MDCCI. 

'^'^''^t^tatisLXXVI. 

In  a  small  chapel  in  the  douth  aisle,  on  a  black  marble 
stone,  is  this  coat  of  arms,  viz.  a  mullet  between  two 
roundels  on  a  chief,  empaling  five  crescents  in  the  fonn  of 
a  cross,  and  in  a  canton  an  ostrich's  feather.  The  crest 
is  a  griffin's  head,  with  this  inscription : 

Here  is  layd 

The  precious  Body 

of  Elizabeth 

The  intirely  beloved  AVife 

of  Cliarles  Dingley,  Esq  j 

Son  of  Sir  .John  Dingley 

of  Woolverton, 

In  the  Isle  of  Wight. 

She  dyed  February  the  5th,  1  683. 

In  the  same  chapel,  near  the  former,  on  a  black  square 
marble  stone,  is  this  inscription  : 

Here 

lieth  the  Body 

of  Charles  Dingley,  Esq  ; 

Husband  of  Elizabeth  Dingley, 

who  also  lieth  buried  near  this 

Place,  who  departed  this 

Life  September  the 

Twenty  eighth 

1700. 


49 

In  the  same  chapel,  near  the  same  place,  under  a  large 
black  marble  stone,  with  these  arms,  three  piles  in  pale, 
points  downward,  charged  with  as  many  annulets  impal- 
ing a  cross,  on  which  is  a  leopard's  head,  is  this  in- 
scription : 

Here  lyetli  the  Body  of 

Mrs.  Mary  Young,  the  Wife 

of  James  Young,  Esq  ;  who 

was  a  Gentleman  of  the 

Privie  Chamber  unto 

King  Charles  the  First, 

And  dyed  a  Collonell 

In  his  sayd  Mat't^s  Service. 

She  was  the  Daughter  of 

W™  Bridges,  the  Son  of 

Thomas  Bridges,  Baron 

Chandris  of  Sudley.     She 

dyed  the  1 4th  Day  of  December 

1687.    Aged  80. 

In  a  chapel  in  the  south  aisle,  (next  adjoining  to  the 
last)  called  Prior  Silksteed's  chapel,  on  a  large  black  flat 
marble  stone,  is  this  inscription  : 

Here  resteth  the  Body  of 
Mr.  Isaac  Watton 
who  dyed  the  15th  of  December 
1683. 
Alas  !  He's  gone  before. 
Gone  to  return  no  more. 
Our  pauting  Breasts  aspire 

After  their  aged  Sire, 
Whose  well-spent  Life  did  last 
Full  ninety  Yeares  and  past. 

But  now  he  hath  begun 
That  which  will  ne'er  be  done, 
Crown'd  with  eternal  Bliss 
We  wish  our  Soids  with  his. 

Votis  modestis  sic  flerunt  liberi 

Under  the  south  wall  of  the  same  chapel,  on  a  black 
marble  stone,  are  these  arms,  viz.  three  Cornish  choughs 
between  a  bar,  impaling  five  ermines  checquy,  calthorpes, 
the  crest  is  a  castle,  on  the  top  a  Cornish  chough  dis- 
played, with  this  inscription : 

£ 


5a 

H.  S.E. 

Johannes  Nicholas 

S.T.  P. 

Collegij  BeatK  Marise  Wlntoa 

Prope  VVinton 

Custos, 

Hujus  Ecclesiffi  &  Sarisburiensis 

Prfebendarius. 

Obiit  Feb.  27. 

.  rSabitis^i  1711. 

^°"n.^tatis|      74. 

On  the  south  corner  of  the  wall  is  a  monument  of 
marble  erected,  with  this  inscription  : 

H.  S.  E. 

Johannes  Nicholas,  S.  T.  P, 

Hujus  Ecclesiae  Pra-bendarius  zvi^riTris 

Utrumq ;  Collegij  Wiccamici 

Scholaris,  &  Socius,  &  Custos, 

In  utroq  ;  reliquit  perennia 

MunificentifE  suae  Monumenta, 

Collegia  discipline  excoluit, 

ifEdificiis  auxit,  &  exornavit, 

Scholam  suis  pene  sumptibus  extruxit, 

Wiccamo  suo  sanii  dignissiniam. 

Inter  baec  omnia  Pauperibus 

Largus  Bonorura  Erogator 

Et  Praesentissimum  Levamen. 

Haec  opera  verfe  magna 

Magnum  loquuntur  Authorem 

Et  serse  Posteritati  enarrabunt 

Diem  suum  Obiit  Feb.  27. 


.         fDom,  ■)  1711. 
^^"n^tat./     74. 


Next  to  Dr.  Nicholas's,  on  a  large  flat  black  marbl6 
stone,  the  arms  the  same  as  the  last,  with  this  in- 
scriptiou : 

H.  S.  E. 

Henrietta  Maria  Nicholas, 

Filia  Jacobi  Calthorp  de  Arapton, 

In  Agro  Suffolciensi,  Armigeri, 

Uxor  Johannis  Nicholas,  SS.  KP. 

Coll.  Bt«.  Maria?  Winton,  Custodis, 

Qus8 


51 

Unico  superstlte  filio 

secundo  puerperio  obiit 

A         rSalutis  MDCLXXXIII. 

^"""^l^tatisXXXVI. 

Adeo  a  laudibus  abliorruit  posthumis 

Ut  ipsius  moriturse  votis  dandum  est 

Quod  virtutes  alias  atq  ;  alias 

Relligio  sit  silere. 

Next  adjoining  to  the  last,  on  a  large  black  flat  marble 
stone,  are  these  arms,  viz.  a  lion  rampant,  impaling  three 
Cornish  choughs,  with  the  following  inscription  : 

H,  S.  E. 

EHzabetha  Morapesson, 
Thomae  Mompesson  (de  Sarum)  Equitis  Aurati 
Relicta, 
Matthcei  Nicholas  (Divi  Pauli 
Apud  Londinenses  Decani) 
Filia,  natu  maxima, 
quae 
Postquam  totam  pietati,  castis  moribus, 
Et  multifariis^  quotidianisq  ;  pauperam  beneficiis 
Vitam  impendisset, 
Senectutis  maturae  finem  implevit, 
Nov.  XXIX. 
.„„^ /DniMDCCIX. 
-^""""liEtatisLXXV. 

Under  the  east  wall  of  the  north  aisle,  on  a  plain  grey 
marble  stone,  is  this  inscription; 

H.  S.  E. 

Etheldreda 

Filia  CI.  Edw.  Pocock 

S.  T.D. 

Linguas  Hebraicae 

In  Academia  Oxon 

Professoris  Regij 

Linguae  Arabicae  ibidem 

Praelectoris  Primi, 

Conjux  charissima 

Gulielmi  Emes 

CoUegij  prope  Winton  Socii 

Quae  obiit  5to  Die  Novembris 

A         n         ("1698. 
Anno  Dom.<  ^ct.  *•  An 

Ciiitatis  suae  A9. 

e2 


52 

Near  the  south  w^all  of  the  same  aisle,  on  a  black  marble 

stone,  with  these  arms,  viz.  in  the  field,  a  chevron  ermine 

bet\\een  three  urchins,  is  this  inscription  : 

H.  S.E. 

Richardus  Harris  Eques  Auratus 

Reverendi  admodum  Johannis  Harris,  S,  T,  P, 

(Collegij  VVintoniensis  Custodis)  Filius ; 

Qui  Tali  Conjugem  amore  coluit, 

Qualem  ab  ilia  sperabat,  quali  fruebatur 

Numerosae  Prolis  Felix  ;  &  Pius  Pater, 

Nectamen  Pauperuin  minus,  quam  suorura  meraor. 

Dies  ac  noctes  Clientum  negotiis  vacabat, 

Quietem  alienam  semper  anteponeus  suae. 

Regis  Idem  Patriaeq  ;  fidelissimns  servus  ; 

Honores,  quibus  erat  cumulatus. 

Nemo  minus  ambiit,  nemo  meruit  magis. 

Quantae  erat  in  Deum  pietatis, 

Vel  exhinc  licet  auspicari  . 

Precibus  publicis 

(Paucissimas  ante  mortem  horas) 

luterfuit 

In  Ecclesia  vovens  anlmam  Deo 

Ad  quem  illico  erat  abiturus. 

r^u",  A        VTT    A         rDniMDCXCVIII. 
Obut  Aug.  XII.  Anno  <   j..   .  •  »  yo 

'=>  I  iLtatis  suae  LX^ 

Near  the  steps,  in  the  same  aisle,  on  a  plain  flat  stone, 

is  this  inscription ; 

H.  S.  E. 

Randolph  Jewett 

Generosus. 

Ob.  Jul.  3.  An.  Mt.  72.  Dom. 

1675. 

And  next  adjoining  to  the  same,  on  the  like  stone,  is 

this  inscription  : 

D. 

Anna  Jewett 

Quae  quondam  Uxor,  Rand.  Jewett. 

Hujus  Ecclesiae  Organistae 

9^  Liberorura  mater, 

Olim  marito,  &  pluribus 

Tandem  Ben.  tunc  Unico  Orbata 

Uitam  senio  &  lucta  confectam 

Lubentiss.  exhalavit 

Margabergae  V^I.  Id.  Aug. 

An.  D.  MDCXCII. 

iEtat.  XC. 

Jaxta  Fil.  Benj. 

In  eodera  recubat  sepulchro] 


5S 

In  the  same  aisle,  on  the  other  side  of  Mr.  Jewett,  on 
a  large  black  marble  stone,  is  this  coat  of  arms,  viz.  in  the 
iield,  five  flower-de-luces  in  a  cross,  the  crest  a  dove;  and 
this  inscription : 

Deborah 

Uxor  Gulielmi  Over  Med, 

Randolphi  &  Annae  Jewett  Filia 

Obiit  Puerpera  Aug.  9.  A.  D.  1G86. 

Mtat  33. 

Gulielmus  Randolplms 

Filius  ejus  Primogenitus 

Variolarum  Tabe  Correptus. 

Interiit  Jan.  23.  A.  D.  1685. 

iEtat.  1. 

Gulielmus 

Filius  natu  secundus 

25<^  Die  a  Nativitate  sua 

Fatis  concessit,  Aug.  28o  1686. 

In  the  same  aisle,  southward,  even  with  the  last,  on  a. 
plain  stone,  is  this  inscription  : 

Exuvife 

Benjamimi  Jewett.  A.  M. 

Rectoris  de  Mildenhall 

In  Com.  Wilt. 

Qui  post  XLV  Annos 

Pie  &  honeste 

Exactos. 

Obiit  Margabergaj  VI  Decern. 

Annee  Mree  Christianas 

MDCXCI. 

In  the  same  north  aisle,  on  a  plain  stone,  is  this 
inscription : 

Heie  lyeth  the  Body  of 

Mr.  William  Taylour,'  bred 

In  the  College,  near  Winton,  and 

Chaplain  there  20  years. 

Petty  Cannon  of  this 

Cathedral  46  years, 

Chantor  34  years 

who  died 

Febru.  2^  Ao  Dom,  1667.      ' 

Aged  69. 

Awake  and  sing,  ye  that 

Dwell  in  the  Dust. 


54 

Next  to  the  last,  on  a  plain  narrow  stone,  is  this  in- 
scription : 

H.S.E. 

Kadulphus 

Taylor  Clericus 

Ecelesiaj  S  S  Trinitatis        * 

Canonicus  minor. 

Rector  de  Winhali, 

Qui  obiit 

Calendis  Apiilis 

Salutis  MDCLXXXVII. 

.^tatis  LXXVII. 


Anno  <  '^ 


Near  the  north  wall  of  the  said  north  aisle,  on  a  plain 
stone,  the  long  way  of  the  stone,  is  this  inscription  : 

Marthae  Brexton  Filiae  raaximae  natu  Thoraae 

Et  Marise  Brexton  Tumulus. 

Consurgunt  Foliis  Candentia  Lilia  Quinis 

Spirant  Purpureis  intus  Amcena  Crocis 

flinc  Crocus  est  Pietas  Foliis  Circundata  Quinis 

Justitia  Cura  Pace  Lepore  Fide. 

Sept.  1673. 

At  the  side  of  the  steps  before  the  ascent  into  the  choir, 
between  the  pillars  opposite  to  Bishop  Edington's  mon- 
ument, is  a  large  vault  erected,  about  four  feet  high, 
wherein  is  buried  Bishop  Morley,  and  Dr.  Morley  his 
nephew :  and  on  the  middle  of  the  said  vault  is  a  large 
black  marble  stone,  (inclosed  round  with  iron  rails) 
whereon  is  Bishop  Morley 's  coat  of  arms,  with  the  arms 
of  the  See  of  the  Bishopric  of  Winchester,  and  his  pater- 
nal coat,  inclosed  in  a  mitred  garter,  viz.  in  the  field  two 
lions  rampant ;  with  this  inscription,  made  by  himself,  in 
the  80th  vear  of  his  as:e. 


•o^ 


In  spe  Resurrectionis  ad  ^'^itam  iEternam 
Georgius  Episcopus  Wiiitouiensis  hie  jacet. 
Qui  Postquaro  pro  Rege  &  Martyre  Carolo  primo 
Et  cum  Rege  &  Exile  Carolo  secundo, 
Exiiium  in  partibus  transmarinis  hie,  illic, 
Duodecim  plus  minus  annorum  exegisset, 
Redux  cum  Rege  tandem  in  Patriam  suam, 
Munificeiitia  niagis  Kegia,  quctm  illo  sui  ipsius 
(Tam  in  sublimimus  in  Ecclesia  gradibus)  patri  merit* 
Priinum  ex  Uuo  Canonicorum,  Ecclesiae  Christ! 
Oxoniensis  factus  est  Decanus  ;  breviq  j  postea 
la  iicclesite  Vigorniensis  Preesulatum  est 


53 

Evectus ;  taudemq  ;   (sic  volente  Deo  &  Rege) 
In  Imjus  inclytse  Wiutoniensis  Ecclesise 
Episcopatuin  est  Transtatus  :   et  jam  plus 
Quam  OctogenariuSj  hoc  sibi  Epitaphium 
Scripsit,  &  huic  siii  deposito  apponi  iussit. 
Obiit  vero  Anno  Domini  MDCLXXXIV. 
Mensis  Octobris  die  XXIXo-  Anno 
-^tatis  suae  LXXXVIIo;  postquam 
In  liac  Episcopali  Cathedra 
Sederat  Annos  XXII,  Menses  quinq. 

Against  the  pillar,  at  the  head  of  Bishop  Morley's 
tomb,  is  an  oval  mural  monume-iit  erected,  of  white 
marble,  with  the  same  coat  of  arms  as  the  last,  and  this 
inscription  thereon : 

Franciscus  Morley  Georgii  Episcopi  Pronepos 

S.  Th.  Pr.  Hujus  Eccle^iae  Praebendarius 

Fracta  valetudine  admonitus  vitse  corruentis 

Et  mortis  V'icinium  infracta  pace  contemplans 

Juxta  venerabiles  Praepatrui  Reliquias 

Suas  hie  subtus  deponi  curavit 

Beatam  una  peraus  efava.-ao-fv 

ObiitloOctob.{i"/^''"^-^^96. 

l^^t.  suae.        41. 

In  the  same  north  aisle,  northward  of  the  lower  part  of 
Bishop  IVIorley's  vault,  on  a  laige  black  marble  stone,  are 
these  arms,  viz.  two  lions  passant  between  a  bar,  the  crest 
a  lion's  head  erased,  with  this  inscription  : 

H.  S.  E. 

Gulielmus  Pain  S.  T.  P. 

Istlus  Ecclesise  XXIIII.  per  Annos 

Prcebendarius 

Rector  de  Martyr  Worthy 

Qui  vitam. 
(Divinis  ministeriis  deditara 
Ad  humaniora  officia  paratam) 
Cum  morte  Foiliciter  commutavit 
Sept.  26- 
,         f.Etatis  LXXIIL 
^^^'^  X  Salutis  MDCLXXXIX. 

Next  adjoining  to  the  last,  northward,  on  the  like  stone, 
nyith  these  arms,  viz.  those  of  Pain,  as  before,  impaled 
■«'ith  his  wife's,  viz.  a  chevron  between  three  dogs'  heads 
erased;  is  this  inscriptiou : 


Maria 

Uxor  Gulielnii  Paj-nc, 

S.  T.  P. 

Et  hujus  Ecclesiae 

Praebenclarii 

Obiit  XXo  die  Mali 

AoDni  1093. 

In  the  same  north  aisle,  northward  of  the  upper  part  of 
Bishop  Morley's  vault,  on  a  plain  flat  stone,  is  this 
inscription : 

Hie  jacet  Thomas  Garrard 

Ambiens  in  Sepultura  Vicinum 

Reverendlssimi  Patris  Georgii 

Cui  per  quinqtie 

Lustra  astitit  ;\  secretis 

Pomino  diguissimo  servus  dignus. 

Obiit  140  Decembris  Anno 

1697. 

Next  adjoining,  northward,  on  a  black  marble  stone, 

with  these    arms,  viz.  three   lions   passant  between    ten 

ermines  in  this  field,  impaling  tive  ermines  in  a  chevron 

engrailed,  is  this  inscription  : 

H  S  E 

Christiana 

Uxor  Matthaei  Combe;,  M.  D. 

Optiinc  merita 

Quae  postquani  precibus  publicis 

privatisqj   assidoo  invigilando 

Rem  familiareni  prudenter 

Administrando 

Pauperes  sabievando 

Omnibus  se  Comem  &  benignam  prsebendo 

Sibi  ac  suis,  Vicinia)  &  Ecclesiaj 

Utilissima  vixerat 

Variolarum  morbu  tandem  correpta 

Mortem,  quam 

Nee  Mariti  Ars  et  assiduitas 

Nee  Filise  Unicse  pietas 

Nee  utriusq  ;  Amor,  vota,  &  lachrymae 

avertere  valuereut. 

Obiit 

Av,     Yirr    A    n  fDniMDCCXII. 
Apr.  XVI.  Ano  <  ^,  ..  .  .r.jx 

'■  I /fhtatis  suae  Lv  III. 

Next  adjoining,  northward,  on  a  black  marble  stone, 
with  these  arms,  viz.  three  lions  passant,  between  twenty- 
four  eimuies  in  a  lozenge,  is  this  inscription: 


57 

H  S  E 

Flnetta  Catharina 

Filia  Mattliaei  Combe,  M.  D. 

Quae  inorte  obiit  repentina 

Et  sibi  uni  non  immatura, 

J"^>  31- An^J^tatissuee  XVIII. 

Matri  optimse  adjacet 

Filia  Don  degener  j 

Viveutis  Comes  individua 

VitcE  imitatrix  sedula 

In  morte  etiam  heu  !  nimis  propinqua 

Filiee  carissimse 

Quod  contra  ab  ilia  sibi 

et  decuit  et  in  votis  fuit 

Hoc  Amoris  pariter  et  doloris 

Monumentum  Pater 

M.  P. 

A  little  farther  westward,  in  the  same  north  aisle,  on  a 
black  marble  stone,  are  th^se  aims,  viz.  a  chief  ermine,  a 
chevron  in  the  field  between  three  choughs.  The  crest 
a  hand  holding  a  dragon's  head,  with  this  inscription  : 

H  S  E 

Thomas  Sayer 
S  T  P 

Arcbidiaconus  Surriae 

Et 

Hujus  Ecclesiae  Prcebendavius 

Qui  obiit  Jun.  3. 

Anno  Domini  1710. 

iEtatis  suae  58. 

Near  the  north  wall  of  the  same  aisle,  a  little  farther 
westward,  on  a  black  marble  stone,  with  these  arms,  viz. 
the  field  ermine,  three  griffins  in  a  chief  rampant ;  the 
crest,  a  griffin  passant,  and  this  inscription  : 

Robertas  Pescod  Armiger 

Prothonotarius  Curiae 

Cancellaria?  Dni  i'egis 

Obiit  27o  die  Februa'iii 

Anno  Dni  1633. 

iEtatis  suae  67** 

A  little  distance  farther  in  the  same  aisle,  on  a  long 
plain  stone,  is  this  inscription : 

Spe  Resurgendi. 
Here  lyeth  the  Body  of 
George  Pemerton  Gent. 


58 

Who  was  twice  Mayor 

Of  this  Citie, 

And  here  well  knovvne 

to  be  a  good  Magistrate, 

and  a  liberal  Benefactor 

Both  to  his  Friends  and  Allie 

And  also  the  Poore 

of  divers  Places, 

Which  can  truly  testifie 

To  Posteritie 

His  well  devoted 

And  pious  Charitie, 

The  best  Badge  of  a  good 

Christian's  Synceritie, 

February  Ao  Do  1 640. 

Here  also  lyeth 

Ann  his  Wife, 

Who  departed  this  Life 

The  28th  of  February 

Anno  Domini  1627. 

At  the  south  east  side  of  the  pillar  at  the  head  of 
Bishop  Morley's  vault,  on  a  square  piece  of  brass,  (fixed 
against  the  pillar)  is  this  inscription : 

A  Memoriall 
For  this  Renowned  Martialist  Richard  Boles,  of  the  Right 
Worshipful  Family  of  the  Bolses  in  Linckhorne  Sheire, 
Collonell  of  a  Ridgraent  of  Foot  of  1300,  who  for  his  gracious 
King  Charles  the  First  did  Wounders  at  the  Battle  of  Edge- 
hill.  His  last  Action,  to  omit  all  others,  was  at  Alton,  in 
this  County  of  Southampton,  was  surprized  by  five  or  six 
thousand  of  the  Rebels  ;  which  caused  him,  there  quartered, 
to  fly  to  the  Church  with  near  fourscore  of  his  men,  who 
there  fought  them  six  or  seaven  Hours  ;  and  then  the  Rebells 
breaking  in  upon  him.  He  slew  with  his  sword  six  or  seaven 
of  them,  and  then  was  slain  himself,  with  sixty  of  his  Men 
about  him.  His  gracious  Sovereign  hearing  of  his  death 
gave  him  his  high  Commendation,  in  that  passionate 
expression. 

Bring  me  a  Moorning  Scarf,  I  have  lost 
One  of  the  best  Commanders  in  the  Kingdorae. 

Alton  will  tell  you  of  tliat  famous  Fight 

Which  this  Man  made,  and  bade  this  World  good  nightj 

His  vertuous  Life  fear'd  not  Mortalyty  j 

His  Body  niust^  his  vertues  cannot  die 


59 

Becaiise  his  Blood  was  there  so  nobly  spent ; 
This  is  his  Tombe,  that  Church  his  Monument. 

Richardus  Boles  Wiltoniensis  in  Art,  Mag. 

Coinposuit  posnitq  ;  Dolens 

An.  Dni.  1689. 

Near  the  same  pillar,  southward,  in  the  middle  or 
body  of  the  church,  on  a  large  stone,  are  these  anns,  viz. 
six  ciuquefoils,  with  a  mullet  between  them.  The  crest 
is  a  goat's  head,  with  the  following  inscription : 

H.  S.  E. 

Walterus  Dayrell  S.  T.  P.  Archidiaconus  Winton. 

&  hujus  Ecclesiae  PraebendariuSj 

Qui  obiit  29  Die  Martii, 

.         fiEtatis  74. 

^""nSalutis  1G84. 

Near  the  same  place,  a  little  farther  southward,  on  a 
large  black  marble  stone,  are  these  aims.  Two  coats 
impaled  ;  the  first  is  three  escoUop  shells  in  bend  ;  the 
second  a  chevron,  with  three  cinquetoils  between  three 
pelicans  ;    the  crest  a  stag  issuing ;  with  this  inscription : 

Here  lyet.h  the  Body 

of  Jacob  Webb,  Gent. 

Merchant  Adventurer 

of  England, 

And  Citizen  of  London, 

Who  died  the  13th  of  March  1684. 

Aged  74  Years. 

Near  the  north  side  of  Bishop  Edington's  monument, 
en  a  plain  stone,  is  this  inscription  : 

Joannes  Harfell  Gen. 

Clericus  Scriba,  ac  Registrarius 

Capituli  hujus  Ecclesise 

Et  Barbara  ejusdeni  Uxor 

Postquam  Annos  in  hac  Vita  71 

Conjugio  47  Numerassent 

Divortium  Ultra  Quatriduura 

Haud  sustinentes 

Ultimum  hie  Cubile 

Simul  posuerunt. 

Ilia  24  In  f  K   rkk    /A.  D. 

Ipse  29/ ^'^"^•^^•11680. 


60 

A  little  distance  westward  of  the  last,  on  a  pkin  stone, 
is  tliis  inscription  : 

M.  M.  S. 
Abigail  Uxoris  Edvaidi  Harfell  Gen. 
&  Johannis  eoruadem  Filii  qui  pia 
(Uti  speramus) 
Occubuerunt 
Holocausta  Deo. 
Obiit 
Hie  J  2"  Aug.^  x-Illa  22o  Sept. 
Anno  #  V  Dni 
16  W35. 
JEt  \  f  atis 
16 -'^47. 
Corripuit  Febris  natum  minorem 
Abstnlit  Hydrops 
Igne  Prior  Fatls 
Altera  Cessit  Aqna. 

A  little  farther  northward  of  the  last,  on  a  black  marble 
stone,  are  these  arms,  viz.  two  coats  impaled  ;  the  first  is 
three  lions  rampant  crowned  ;  the  second  in  a  chief  in- 
dented, are  three  stags'  heads  cabossed,  in  the  field  three 
eagles'  legs  erased ;  the  crest  is  a  lion  rampant  crowned ; 
with  this  inscription  : 

Here  lieth  the  Body  of 

John  Forde,  Esq  ;  Son  of  Sir 

"William  Forde,  Kt.  of  Harting  ia 

Sussex,  who  died  the  2cl  Day 

of  December,  in  the  Year  of 

our  Lord,  1G81.  in  the  76 

Year  of  bis  Age. 

And  near  him,  lies  buried 

his  Wife,  and  several  of  his 

Children. 

A  little  farther  northward,  on  a  black  marble  stone,  is 
this  coat  of  arms,  viz.  in  the  field  are  two  stags'  heads  in 
a  chief,  cabossed  with  a  mullet ;  the  crest  a  stag's  head 
erased  ;  with  the  following  inscription  : 

In  spe  Resurrectionis 

ad  vitam  JEteruam 
H  S  E 

Georgius  Popham 
De  Barwicke  Basset,. 


6l 

iu  Comitatu  Wilts, 
Generosus 
Qui  obiit  XXIV  Die  Januarij 
A        /Domini  MDCLXXXVII. 
^""'^liEtatis  suffi  XXVIII. 

A  little  farther  westward,  in  the  same  middle  aisle  or 
body  of  the  church,  on  a  plain  stone,  is  this  iuscriptioa : 

Gulielmus  Downes,  Gent, 
postquam  Vitara 
Relatis  >.  /-  Indulgentem 
Amicus  #  V  Gratum 
Pauperibus  >  <  Liberam 
Sibi  V  #  Sobriam 
Omnibus-'  ^lunocuam. 
lustituisset ; 
(Ne  dicam  Peregisset)  medeo 
Javentutis  Curriculo  anima 
Variolarum  rabie 
Intempestive  discussa 
Reliquas  mortalitatis  Suae 
Exuvias  huic  repositorio 
dicavit 
Obiit7o  Aug.  1678. 
iEtatis  23. 

A  little  farther  southward,  iu  the  same  aisle,  on  a 
plain  stone,  is  this  inscription  : 

H  J 

Myrth  AVafferer,  S.  T.  P. 

&  Hujus  Ecclesiae 

Praebendarius 

Obnt  Anno ■<  ^.  .    -j  j-NoFemb.  5. 

In  the  same  aisle,  near  the  stone  pulpll,  on  a  grey 
stone,  are  these  arms,  viz.  in  the  field  three  crosses  patee 
fitched ;  in  the  foot  between  two  bendlets  engrailed  ; 
with  this  inscription : 

H  S  E 

Edward  Traffics  Gen. 
Huic  Sanctae  Ecclesiae 

(Dum  vixit)  Auditor 

Computorum  &  Dno. 
Archidiacono  Winton. 
Regristrarius 

Qui  Laboriosissitoo 


62 

Vitffi  stadeo  fidellter 
Emenso,  raetam  obtinuit 
&  (uti  spes  est)  Coronam 

40  Die  Novembris. 

.„„^  rSalutis  1675. 
Anno  i  37.  , .  „- 

l/fcitatis  suae  63. 

Next  to  him  lies  buried  his  Wife 
Catherine. 

In  the  middle  of  the  same  aisle,  a  little  below  the  stone 
pulpit,  on  a  plain  stone,  is  this  inscription : 

Here  resteth  the  Body 

Of  Thomas  Gumble, 

D.  D.  Chaplain  to  his 

Majesties  Life  Guard, 

and  Prebend  of  this 

Cathedral, 

Who  departed  this 

Life  September  the  9th 

1676. 

Aged  50  Years. 

In  the  same  aisle,  a  little  farther  westward,  on  a  large 
black  marble  stone,  is  this  inscription  : 

Albiit  non  obiit,  praeiit  non  periit. 

In  meraoriam  Dilectiss.  Mariti  sui 

Gulielmi  Say  Collegij  Omnium 

Animarum  in  Academia  Oxon.  quondam 

Socij  utriusq  ;   Juris  Baccalaurci 

Hujus  Ecclesise  Canonici  nee  non 

Reverendorum  in  Christo  patrum 

Johannis  Watsoni  &  Thomas  Cooperi 

Hujus  Dioceseos  Episcoporum  Cancellarij, 

Integerrimi,  posuit  Conjux  pia  Margareta 

Hoc  Amoris  sui  Monuraentum. 

Excessit  e  vivis,  10  Die  Julij  Ao  Salutis 

Humanse  1613.     iEtatis  suae  71. 

Near  the  same  place  in  the  same  aisle,  a  little  towards 
the  south  west,  on  a  plain  black  marble  stone,  is  thia 
inscription : 

Here  lyeth  the  Body  of 

John  Haslewood,  Doctor 

Of  Divinity,  and  Rector  of  St. 

Olaves  Parish  in  Southwark, 

Who  dyed  in  this  City  August  16th 

1708^  in  the  61st  year  of  his  Age. 


63 

Near  the  east  part  of  William  of  Wickham's  monument, 
on  a  black  marble  stone,  are  these  arms :  in  the  tield  two 
bendlets  ;  with  the  following  inscription : 

H  S  E 

Henricus  Bradshaw 

S  TP 

Hujus  Ecclesiae 

Praebendarius 

i-wu-i.  A         r Domini  16901   .        ,„  ' 
•      ObntAQno{^t^tj3  74      j  Apr.  13. 

Near  the  west  end  of  William  of  Wickham's  monu- 
ment, in  the  same  aisle,  on  a  whitish  stone,  the  arms  thus, 
in  the  field  three  flower-de-luces  in  a  fess,  engrailed 
between  three  lions  passant ;  the  crest  is  a  flower-de-luce, 
with  this  inscription  : 

Here  lyeth  the  Body  of  Mr. 
William  Smith,  of  this  Citty, 

Who  departed  this  Life 
The  14th  of  October,  Ao  Dni 

1671,  being  aged  63.  . 

Near  him  lies  buried,  Anne  his  Wife. 

Betsveen  William  of  Wickham's  monument  and  the 
south  wall  of  the  south  aisle  of  the  church,  on  a  plain 
black  marble  stone,  is  the  following  inscription  : 

H  S  E 

Godson  Penton,  Wintoniae 

Civis  Patricius  Civitatisque 

Prsefectura  Honorifice  ter 

Functus  Est 

Obiit  August!  XVo 

.         JiEtatis,  64. 

'^°°*'\Salutis,  1700. 

Near  the  west  end  of  William  of  Wickham's  monu- 
ment, in  the  same  south  aisle,  on  a  little  square  white 
marble  stoue,  is  this  inscription  : 

Hie 

Sepultus  est 

Guliclmus  Harris 

S.  T.  P. 


64 

And  on  the  pillar  at  the  head  of  the  said  stone,  is  a 
mural  monument  erected  of  white  marble,  whereon  is 
this  inscription  : 

M.  S. 

Gulielmi  Harris,  S.  T.  P.  Hujus  Ecclesiae 

Prsebendarij,  &  Collegij  Bte  M^'ae  Winton  prope  fuudati 

Scholaris,  Socij,  Archidasculi 

Viri  inter  Prima  Gentis  Wicchamica? 

Nomina  memorandi,  &  Fundatori  Optimo 

Cum  Tumulo,  tum  pietate  &  Munificentia 

Conjunctissirai. 

Utpote  Qui  in  hac  Ecclesia  Orientalem 

Chori  partem  (legatis  in  id  unum  Octingentis 

libris)  Adornandum  Curavit.  Collegiis 

Wiccharaicis,  saepius  utriq  j   beuefactionem 

libras  ultra  Quingentas  dedit,  &  Colerniae 

Suae  Natalis  in  Agro  Wilts  pauperitus  in  perpetuum 

Sublevandis  trecentas  libras  irapendit. 

Caetera  quse  Clam  erogavit  plurima 

Palam  aliquando  rependit  Deus. 

Obllt  9"o  Die  Novembris  Anno  {  ^"'at^i^^sL  52. 

Near  the  west  end  of  the  south  aisle,  on  a  black  marble 
stone,  are  three  arms,  viz.  in  the  field,  three  eagles'  legs 
erased,  and  three  stags'  heads  cabossed  in  a  chief  in- 
dented ;  the  crest  is  an  eagle's  head,  holding  in  his  mouth 
an  eagle's  leg  erased  j  with  this  inscription  : 

H.  S.   E. 

Nicholaus  Stanley,  M.  D. 

Quid  cum  plures  Annos  summa 

Fide  MediciniE  praxi  Operara 

Navasset  morbo  iueluctabili 

Oppressus  fate  succubit  12o 

Septembris  Anno  Dni.  1687. 

iEtatis  58. 

Vita'-  integritate  inter  Homines 

Suae  Professionis  nulli  secundus. 

Near  him  lies  buried  his  Wife  Cecilia. 

On  the  south  side  of  the  choir,  near  the  Bishop's  seat,, 
is  this  inscription,  on  a  brass  plate^  round  a  stone ; 


> 


65 

Wc  I'afct  Cljomag  Cooptr  oli'm  Etncolnwnsisf, 

{^uprr  2;2aiutoutnTgi!S  iEpi^toptis'  fHuniftccntisi^imujf 

Soctt^^imug,  Ttgtlanti£i^tmu5,  pvcfiulq;  c^ui 

i^tligiosiigsimc  in  Bomino  obiit  flpiiliiS 

29.  ^n.  Mom.  1594. 

On  the  middle  of  the  marble  are  these  verses  : 

Cijf^aiu'uiS  CJ^roniforttm,  Coopcri  rattra  gcrtpta 
Sum  remanent,  fflebvi^  Coopcri  fama  manebit. 
©xonicn^i^  erat,  ©locc^trcn^i^qut  SfcamtiS 
Conttnmtg  prima  Vict  Canccllariu^  mbii, 
Cum  itincolnimsii^  fit  pra^ul,  tt  intic  mobetur 
©jaintoniam,  "Dcno^  iiU  ^ctJit  3£pigfopu5  anno^, 
^ummc  "Doftug  fvat,  Summtquf  bcnignu^  tgcni^, 
3Et  gummo  ^tutlio  Uibina  oracula  panUit 
Ccrra  tcgit  forpusi,  s'fU  ^ptrituiS  f£it  ^upcr  aiStva 
Ctele^te^  animae  ctelc^ti  pac«  fruentur. 

A  little  lower,  this : 

in  obitmx  S.  Cijoma  Cooprrt  Macrae  Cijcolosis 
^rofcsigorig  Wi.  ^.  aix^^-'x^k 

And  near  the  same  place,  lies  buried  Nicholas,  son  of 
the  aforesaid  Nicholas  Stanley,  under  a  black  marble 
stone,  with  the  same  arms  as  the  last,  and  this  inscription : 

Nicholaus  Stanley 

M.  D. 

Obiit  50  Septembris, 

Anno  Dora.  1710. 

&  Suae  iEtatis  52. 

Abi  Lector, 

Hoc  breve  mihi  suflficit  Epitaphium 

&  placet  si  legas,  nee  tui  jam 

sis  Immemor  Sepulcbri 

Near  the  west  door  of  the  south  aisle,  on  a  black 
marble  stone,  are  these  anns,  viz.  in  the  field  a  lion 
rampant,  between  ten  flower-de-luces ;  the  crest  is  a  lien 
passant  J  with  this  inscription : 

H.  S.  E. 

Georgius  Beaumont 
S.   T.  P. 
Hujus  Ecclesiffi  Prsebendarius 
Obiit  Aug.  50 
Anno  Dora,  1687.  iEtatis  suae  83. 


60 

Near  the  last,  a   little   farther  east^vard,  on  a  black 

marble  stone,  the  same  arms  and  crest  with  the  last,  i» 

tins  inscription : 

H  S  E 

Georgiiis  Beaumont.  A.M. 

CoUegij  Bia;  M"3e  VVintou. 

Proj)e  Wintou 

Socius 

Filius  Natu  Maxiraus 

Georgij  Beaumont,  S.  T.  P. 

juxta  6epulti 

rn'-i.  1 -r.  rk-    c     h.u  A         f  Domini  1688, 
Ubnt  lao  Die  Sepoii=>  Anuo-J   t-.  ,.  .,^ 

*  lu^Titatis  suae  o6. 

Near  the  west  door  of  the  same  aisle,  on  a  plain  grey 
marble  stone,  is  this  inscription  : 

Johannes  Warner 

A.  M. 

Hujus  Eccl.  Prsebendarius 

Et 

Uxor  ejus  Margarita. 

H.  I. 

^^»^{lllalOmo}0^t°- 
A.  D.  1704. 

In  St.  Mary's  Chapel,  at  the  east  end  of  the  church,  is 
the  following  inscription,  engraven  on  a  large  stone  on  the 
left  side  of  the  altar,  erected  in  memory  of  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Laylield,  who  paved  the  altar-place  with  a  sort  of  grey 
stone,  brought  from  Sussex,  called  heath  stone,  very 
much  resembling  grey  marble. 

.         f  Sal.  Humanae,  1705. 
C^-Etatis  suae  58. 

Carolus  hunc  posuit  lapidem  Layfieldus  inanem 
Praesenti  Exequias  dura  parat  ipse  sibi 

Si  taraen  hie  nolit  Deus  illius  ossa  jacere 
Dura  teneat  vacuus  Nomen  inane  Lapis. 

Opposite  to  this  stone  is  another  of  the  same  form, 
left  blank. 

Near  the  west  end  of  the  middle  aisle,  is  (just  laid)  a 
plain  black  marble  stone,  with  this  inscription  ; 

Siste,  Viator, 
Et  dura  splendida  miraris  Sepulchra 
HuQiile  hoc  ne  pratereas  marmor  j 


67 


Sub  quo  ponuntur  Exuviae 
Thomao  Fletcher,  S.  T.  P. 
Quo  vix  alium  Sublimiorem  invenles. 
Hie  cum  foBCundissimam  Indolem, 
Humanioribus  exercitatam  studiis, 
Divinarum  rerum  ditasset  scientia 
Teiiera  Gregis  Wicchamici  Ingenia 
In  pietate,  bonisque  instituit  Literis  ; 
Et  CTiin  diserte  fari,  ('oelestia  sapere  docuit. 
Laudem  quain  in  Juventute  Instituenda  meruit 
Ista,  quas  loqui  fecit  efferant  LingufE, 
Quam  fidelis  S.  Scripturarum  Interpres, 
Quam  foelix  &  potens  earundem  Praeco, 
lieec  Silente  Auditore,  testentur  Msenia. 

Riiras  hasce  Irigenii  sui  dotes 

Nee  pra>sens,  nee  ventnra  celabit  dies  : 

Eruditionis  enim  &  Pietatis  Insolentiarn 

Snavissimus  adco  temperavit  Moribus, 

Ut  maloriiin  decliuavit  Invidiam, 

Bonorum  Benevolentiam  attraxerit. 

Hunc  omnibus  ranneris  absolutum^ 

lustructorem  Scholares  ; 

Amicum  Propinqui  ; 

Patrem  Nati ; 

Marituni  Uxor  j 

Decus  Collegium  j 

Columen   Ecclesia  j 

Diu  plorabunt. 

Natus   AvintonifE  Prope  Winton. 
Ecclesiae  Wellensis  Prebendarius  ,  ^ 
Scholae  Winton.    Didascalus. 
Obiit 


F  2 


SOME  ACCOUNT  OF  THE 


25i30f]j0p^,  5^cior^,  HDcaitjSf,  aiiti  JDrclJentianej^ 


OF   THE    SEE   OF   ^V1^XHESTER. 


BISHOPS. 


Birlnus  was  made  Bishop  of  this  See  about  the  year 
635,  and  died  about  the  year  650. 

Agilbertus  about  the  year  650  was  made  Bishop  here, 
by  King  Kynewaldus.  Upon  the  expulsion  of  this  Bisliop, 
who  was  drove  into  France,  his  own  country,  where  he 
was  afterwards  made  Archbishop  of  Paris, 

Wina,  a  monk  of  this  place  succeeded  in  662,  or,  accord- 
ing to  CardmfU  Beaufort's  Register,  in  650,  and  being 
drove  hence,  he  became  the  first  instance  of  a  Simoniac, 
in  England,  by  purchasing  the  Bishopric  of  Loudon 
from  VVulphere  King  of  the  Mercians. 

Klutherius,  after  a  vacancy  of  four  vears,  Mas  consecrated 
Bishop  of  this  See,  byTheodorus,  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, at  the  request  of  the  late  expelled  Bishop  Agilbert : 
he  continued  here  about  seven  years,  and  died  in  674. 

Headda,  or  Hedda,  in  (SI'S.  He  translated  the  body 
of  St.  Birinus,  and  the  See,  hither  in  676,  and  died 
about  703. 

Daniel,  succeeded  in  704,  sat  42  years,  and  by  reason 
of  his  old  age,  finding  his  inability  to  govern,  he  resigned 
his  Bishopric  in  741,  and  became  a  Monk  of  Malms  bury 
in  Wiltshire,  where  he  died  in  745. 

Humfridus,  succeeded  in  744,  and  governed  here  eight 
years,  and  died  anno  756. 

Kinebard,  succeeded  in  754,  or  756,  according  to 
Cardinal  Beaufort's  Register. 

Athelard,  Abbot  of  Malmsbury,  translated  to  Canter- 
bury, anno,  790,  or,  according  to  Beaufort's  Register, 
in  794. 

Egbaldus. 

Dudda. 

Kynebirthus,  anno  799,  went  to  Rome,  with  Athe- 
lardus,  then  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 

Almund,  was  Bishop  here  in  803,  he  sitting  iu  that 
capacity  in  the  council  of  Clives-Ho, 


G9 

Wigthenlus,  sat  in  the  council  of  Clives-Ho  in  824, 
and  died  before  829, 

Herefiidus  was  killed  in  a  Battle  against  the  Danes, 
together  with  Sigelni  Bishop  of  Sherburn,  anno  833, 
tho'  Beaufort's  Register  says,  834. 

Edmund,  was  Bishop  here  in  836,  for  a  very  short 
time,  and  died  in  852. 

Helmstan  succeeded,  and  was  tutor  to  Ethelwolf, 
youngest  Son  of  King  Egbert.  He  was  a  Monk  of 
Winchester,  and  recommended  his  royal  pupil  to  St. 
Swithun,  then  Prior  here ;  from  whom  he  received  the 
habit  of  a  monk,  and  was  afterwards  admitted  into  the 
order  of  Sub-deacons,  by  him.     He  died  anno  837, 

Ethelwolf  succeeded  his  tutor  here,  for  about  seven 
years,  was  a  great  benefactor  to  the  Church  and 
Monastery,  and  by  the  dispensation  of  Pope  Leo,  was 
taken  hence  to  be  crowned  King  of  England,  after  the 
death  of  his  father,  whose  place  he  tilled  two  and 
twenty  years. 

Swithun  succeeded  in  852,  and  died  in  862.  He  is 
said  to  have  been  Chancellor  of  England,  and  has  many 
trifling  miracles  recorded  as  performed  by  him,  from 
Matthew  Westminster. 

Adferthus  succeeded  in  862,  or  (according  to  Beaufort's 
Register)  in  863,  and  was  translated  to  Canterbury. 

Dumbertus  succeeded,  and  gave  the  Manor  of  Stushe- 
ling  to  the  building  of  this  Church,  and  died  in  879. 

Denewulph,  a  swine-herd,  who  lived  in  the  place  where 
the  celebrated  Abbey  of  Athelney  in  Somersetshire  after- 
wards stood.  1  he  story  runs,  that  he  preserved  for  some 
time.  King  Alfred  in  a  disguise,  whom  the  victorious 
Danes  had  forced  to  great  streights.  In  this  concealment 
the  Kmg  is  pretended  to  have  been  his  tutor,  and  to  have 
then  fitted  him  for  what  he  afterwards  promoted  him  to, 
viz.  this  See,  which  he  did  after  a  great  victory  obtained 
over  the  Danes,  and  re-settlement  in  his  throne,  as  a  piece 
of  gratitude  to  him  for  his  late  favours.  The  ridiculous- 
ness of  this  fable,  will  easily  appear  to  any  the  least  skilled 
in  chronology.  He  governed  this  diocese  twenty-four 
years,  and  at  his  death,  was  buried  in  his  own  Church. 

Athelmus  succeeded  in  880,  and  in  anno  888  went  to 
Rome,  to  carry  a  present  from  King  Alfred. 

Bertulphus  in  897,  he  is  said  to  have  been,  with  many 
more,  constituted  a  guardian  of  the  kingdom,  by  King 
Alfred,  against  the  Danes. 


70 

Biitliestane  was  consecrated  in  905,  sat  many  years 
here,  resigned  anno  9'31,  and  died  in  93'2. 

Brinstan  was  Bishop  in  931,  and  died  934. 

Elphegus  Calvus,  a  Monk  of  Glastonbury,  to  the  great 
satisfaction  of  the  clergy,  king,  and  people,  succeeded  in 
934,  and  died  in  951,  (or  according  to  Beaufort's  register, 
946.) 

Kllinus,  or  Alfinus,  succeeded  in  946,  afterwards,  by 
bribes  and  simony,  removed  himself  to  Canterbury. 

Brithelmus  succeeded  in  958,  and  died  anno  963. 

Ethelwald,  consecrated  on  St.  Andrew's  Eve,  963,  by 
St.  Dunstan,  then  Archbishop  of  Canterbury ;  under 
whose  government  he  was  then  a  monk  of  Glastonbury, 
from  whence  he  became  Abbot  of  Abingdon,  and  after 
nineteen  years' government  here,  he  died  Aug.  1,984,  and 
was  buried  here,  on  the  north  side  of  the  high  altar. 

Elphege,  Abbot  of  Bath,  consecrated  November  984, 
and  installed  on  St.  Simon  and  Jude's  day  following, 
translated  to  Canterbury  in  1006. 

Kenulphus,  alias  Elfius,  in  1006,  who  dying,  was 
buried  in  this  Cathedral  in  1008. 

Brithwold,  alias  Ethelwold,  succeeded  in  1008,  who 
dying  in  1013,  was  buried  in  this  Cathedral. 

Alsimus,  Chaplain  to  King  Harrold,  by  whom  he  was 
advanced  to  this  See  in  1015,  where  he  sat  twenty-two 
years,  and  was  translated  to  Canterbury. 

Alwyn,  a  monk  of  ^V^inchester,  was  consecrated  in  1038, 
died,  and  was  buried  here,  1047. 

Stigand,  Chaplain  to  Edward  the  Confessor,  made 
Bisliop  of  Elmham,  then  removed  to  Norwich,  where  a 
powerful  rival  displaced  him,  from  whom  he  shortly  after 
recovered  it  again ;  from  thence  he  was  translated  hither 
in  1047,  which  be  held  with  Canterbury  in  1052.  These 
two  Sees  were  deemed  incompatible  to  be  held  together, 
and  the  tenure  of  them  judged  illegal ;  so  that  this  Arch' 
bishop  and  Bishop  being  deprived  in  1069,  he  died  a 
prisoner  in  the  castle  belonging  to  this  city,  and  was  buried 
with  one  of  his  predecessors.  Bishop  Wina. 

Walkelin,  Cliaplain  and  relation  to  William  the  Con- 
queror, a  Norman  by  birth,  (on  the  deprivation  of  Stigand) 
was  nominated  on  Whitsunday  1070,  and  consecrated  the 
Sunday  following  by  Armenfrid,  the  Pope's  Legate :  he 
died  Jan,  3,  1098;  and  was  esteemed  a  man  of  very  great 
learning. 


71 

William  Glffard,  nominated  1100,  (the  See  being  kept 
in  the  King's  hands  from  lO.yS)  but  not  consecrated  upon 
accoimt  of  a  quarrel  between  the  King  and  Anselm,  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  till  1 107.  Here  he  sat  twenty-one 
years,  during  which  he  built  a  house,  formerly  the  seat  of 
the  Bishops  of  this  See,  in  Southwark,  near  London,  in 
Surry,  which  being  now  converted  into  streets  of  dwelling- 
houses,  is  a  revenue  appropriated  to  this  See  :  he  died 
Jan.  25,  1 128,  and  was  buried  in  his  own  Cathedral. 

Henry  de  Blois,  brother  of  King  Stephen,  first  Abbot 
of  Bermondsey,  then  of  Glastonbury,  and  nominated  to 
this  Bishopric  in  October  1 129,  and  consecrated  here  by 
William,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  on  Nov,  17,  follow- 
ing. He  was  a  firm  friend  to  his  brother,  and,  1 141,  made 
use  of  the  Church's  thunder  against  the  Empress,  the  true 
heiress  of  the  crown.  The  burning  of  the  city,  monastery, 
and  twenty  other  churches,  is  laid  to  his  charge,  the  spoils 
of  which  he  is  said  to  have  put  in  his  own  pocket.  The 
Hospital  of  St.  Crosse,  near  this  place,  once  destroyed  by 
the  Danes,  was  new  founded  and  endowed  by  him  in  1 132, 
(or,  according  to  Rudborne's  Hist,  Maj.  Wint.  in  1136.) 
He  built  Farnham  Castle  in  Surry,  afterwaids  destroyed 
by  King  Henry  III  :  he  died  Aug.  6,  1171,  and  was 
buried  in  this  Church,  before  the  high  altar.  [Here  is 
added  in  the  Errata,  —  He  was  a  very  good  man,  and  an 
extraordinary  character  is  given  of  him  in  the  Annales 
V\  int.  and  Godwin  :  the  former  speaks  that  he  had  a  de- 
sign to  make  Winchester  an  Archbishopric,  and  convert 
Hyde  Abbey  into  a  Cathedral,  and  subject  that  and 
Chichester  to  it;  he  forsook  his  brother  King  Stephen,  and 
was  the  means  of  mediating  peace  between  him  and  the 
Empress.  He  was  not  buried  at  Winchester,  but  'tis 
thought  rather  at  Ivinghoe  in  Bucks,  in  which  parish  he 
founded  a  Nunnery.  There  is  a  statue  in  that  church, 
which  the  inhabitants  have  a  tradition  is  his;  and,  he 
having  a  palace  there,  might  probably  decease  there.] 

Richard  Toclyv,  Archdeacon  of  Poictiers,  (after  three 
years'  vacancy)  was  chosen  Bishop  here,  1 1 73  ;  and,  con- 
trary to  all  precedents,  installed  before  his  consecration,  at 
Lambeth,  anno  1 174,  He  died  Dec.  22,  1 187,  or  rather, 
according  to  the  inscription  on  his  chest  wherein  his  bones 
are,  in  1 189- 

Godfrey  de  Lucy,  son  of  Rich.  Lucy,  Chief  Justice  of 
England,    consecrated     Bishop  here  Nov.    IIBQ,   and. 


7^. 

dying  anno  1204,  he  was  interred  in   our   Lady's-Chapel 
here. 

Peter  de  Rupibus,  a  knight,  was  consecrated  Bishop  of 
this  See,  at  Rome,  anno  1204;  afterwards  made  Chief 
Justice  of  England  by  King  John,  and  no  less  in  repute 
was  he  during  the  minority  of  King  Henry  III.  being 
Protector  on  the  demise  of  William  Earl  Marshall :  he 
died  at  Farnham,  June  9,  1238. 

Will,  de  Raley,  Bp.  of  Norwich,  elected  by  the  monks, 
anno  1238,  contrary  to  the  King's  command,  in  favour  of 
the  Bishop  elect  of  Valentia,  which  so  much  incensed  him 
that  after  much  trouble  and  confusion,  the  election  was 
nulled  at  Rome  ;  and,  when  upon  a  new  one,  the  monks 
renewed  their  former  election,  13  Sept.  1243,  there  fol- 
lowed much  disturbance,  tho'  at  last  he  was  confirmed  by 
the  King  in  April  1244,  and  installed  Nov.  20,  following, 
where  he  continued  to  his  death  in  1250. 

Ethelmarus,  son  of  Hugh  Earl  of  March,  at  the  King's 
desire,  elected  Bishop  here,  but  in  nine  years'  time  never 
consecrated  :  he  afterwards,  having  by  his  large  prefer- 
ments, amassed  a  great  sum  of  money,  left  the  nation, 
and  dying  at  Paris,  was  there  buried. 

John  Gerncey,  (on  the  modest  refusal  of  Henry  de 
AVingham,  then  Chancellor  ol  England,  elected  Bishop 
here  in  1259)  was  consecrated  at  Rome  in  1265,  after- 
wards suspended  by  Ottobonus,  the  Pope's  Legate,  for 
siding  with  the  Barons  in  their  rebellion  against  King 
Henry  III  :  he  afterwards  died  at  Viterbo,  near  Rome, 
20  Jan.  1268, 

Nicholas  de  Ely,  Bishop  of  Worcester,  translated  hither 
the  last  day  of  April,  and  installed  in  June  on  the  Whit- 
sunday following,  1268,  and  dying  in  1280,  his  body  was 
buried  at  Waverley,  and  his  heart  in  this  Church, 

John  de  Pointes,  placed  here  by  the  arbitrary  power  of 
the  Pope,  being  elected  Juu.  9,  1282,  and  died  Dec.  3, 
1304. 

Henry  Woodlock,  Prior  of  Winchester,  elected  by  the 
monks  Bishop,  in  the  beginning  of  Febr.  1305,  had  the 
temporalities  given  him  by  the  King,  March  12,  was  con- 
secrated by  the  Archbishop  in  the  Cathedral  of  Canter- 
bury May  30,  and  installed  Oct.  10,  1305.  He  died  at 
Farnham' 28  or  29  Jun.  1316. 

John  de  Sandale,  admitted  Canon  of  York,  May  6, 
1314,  Chancellor  of  England  1315,  and  iu  August  1316, 


/J 


elected  Bishop  of  this  See,  where  he  continued  'till  his 
death  at  his  seat  in  Southwaik,  2  Nov.  1319,  and  buried 
in  the  church  of  St.  Mary  Overy. 

Reginald  de  Asserio,  Canon  of  the  Church  of  Orleans, 
and  the  Pope's  Legate,  was,  by  his  master's  usurped  au- 
thority, consecrated  at  St.  Alban's,  on  the  Archbishop's 
refusal,  by  the  Bishops  of  London,  Ely,  and  Rochester, 
Nov.  16,  1320:  he  died  at  Avignon  April  20,  1323. 

John  de  Stratford,  Archdeacon  of  Lincoln,  and  Canon 
of  York,  Mas  consecrated  for  this  See  26  Jun.  1323.  On 
Jun.  1333,  he  was  translated  to  Canterbury,  and  made 
Chancellor  of  England. 

Adam  de  Orleton,  Bishop  of  Hereford,  translated  to 
Worcester  in  Nov.  1327,  thence  hither  Dec.  1,  1333. 
He  is  remarbable  for  making  those  ambiguous  verses 
which  destroyed  his  prince  King  Edward  II.  and  died 
blind  July  18,  1345. 

William  de  Edyngdon,  Treasurer  of  England,  elected 
to  this  See  April  10,  1345,  was  made  Chancellor  of  Eng- 
land Feb.  19,  1357,  elected  Archbishop  of  Canterbury 
May  10,  1366,  which  he  refused,  saying,  '*  Tho'  Canter- 
bury had  the  highest  Rack,  yet  Winchester  had  the  deep- 
est Manger."  He  was  a  great  benefactor  to  this  Church, 
and  died  Oct.  8,  1366. 

WiUiam  Wykham,  elected  Bishop  Jul.  12,  1367. 
Afterwards  Chancellor  of  England,  a  noble  benefactor  to 
this  Church,  and  founder  of  two  Colleges,  dedicated  to 
St.  Mary  ;  one  near  this  place,  and  another  at  Oxford  : 
he  died  Sept.  27,  1404. 

Henry  Beaufort,  natural-son  of  John  Duke  of  Lan- 
caster, made  Bishop  of  Lincoln  in  1397,  translated  hither 
1405,  made  Cardinal  of  St.  Eusebius  by  Pope  Martin, 
Jun.  23,  1426.  He  was  a  person  of  great  frugality,  very 
rich,  and  no  less  charitable  :  he  died  April  11,  1447, 
and  left  legacies  of  plate  and  jewels  to  almost  all  our 
English  Cathedrals,  more  particularly  to  that  of  Wells. 

William  Waynfleet,  bred  at  Winchester,  chosen  school- 
master of  Eton  School,  afterwards  made  provost  of  that 
College  by  the  Founder  King  Henry-  VL  consecrated 
July  30,  1447,  to  this  See.  He  was  a  firm  friend  to  his 
master  King  Hemy  VL  and  suffered  not  a  little  for  his 
loyalty  from  his  master's  rival  Edward  IV.  He  was 
founder  of  St.  Mary  Magdalen  College,  and  the  Hall 
adjoining,  iq  Oxford,  which  he  endowed  liberally,  and 


74 

lived  to  see  the  line  of  Lancaster  reviving  in  the  person  of 
King  Henry  VII.  to  his  great  satisfaction  :  he  died  Aug. 
t),  1486,  and  was  buried  in  this  Catlicdral. 

Peter  Courtney,  Bishop  of  Exeter,  translated  hither  by 
the  Pope's  bull,  dated   1487,  Jan.  CQ  ;   elected   by  the 
monks  in  the  Febr.  following,  and  died  September  149'2. 
Thomas  Langton,  Bishop  of  Salisbury,  (after  a  year's 
vacancy)  translated  hither  24  Jun.   1493.     This  worthy 
prelate  erected  a  fair  chapel  on  the  south  side  of  that 
dedicated  to  the  blessed  virgin  ;  in  the  middle  of  which  his 
body,  in  1504,  was  laid  in  a  noble  tomb.     He  was  de- 
signed for  the  See  of  Canterbury,  vacant  by  the  death  of 
John  Morton,  but  his  deadi  put  a  stop  to  the  translation. 
Richard   Fox,  D.  1).  lirst,  Bishop  of  Exeter,  then  of 
Bath  and  Wells,  afterwards  of  Durham,  and  at  last  tran- 
slated hither ;  a  liberal  benefactor  to  this  Church,  a  great 
assistant  to  Henry  the  seventh's  advancement  to  the  crown, 
and  a  particular  favorite  of  that  wise  king  :  he   died   here 
14  Sept.  1528,   and  was  buried  in  a  chapel  erected  for 
himself  in  this  church. 

Thomas  Wolsey,  Archbishop  of  York,  held  this  See  in 
commendam,  as  he  did  several  other  ecclesiastical  and 
secular  preferments.     He  was  installed  here  by  proxy,  1 1 
.  April  1529,  and  died  Nov.  29.  1530. 

Stephen  Gardiner,  L.  L.  D.  (after  a  vacancy  of  four 
years)  was  consecrated  to  this  See  1534,  deprived  by  King 
Edward  VI.  Feb.  14,  1550,  restored  and  made  Lord 
Chancellor  of  England  in  Aug.  1553,  and  died  Nov.  13, 
1555. 

John  Poynet,  D,  D.  succeeded  upon  the  deprivation  of 
Bishop  Gardiner.  He  was  Bishop  of  Rochester  in  1549, 
and  translated  hither  afterwards.  On  Queen  Mary's 
accession  to  the  throne,  he  left  the  nation,  and  lived  and 
died  an  exile  at  Strasburg  in  Germany,  April  11,  1556. 

John  White,  D.  D.  Master  of  Winchester  School, 
then  Warden  of  that  College,  elected  Bishop  of  Lincoln, 
on  the  deprivation  of  Dr.  John  Tayler,  and  soon  after, 
in  May  1557,  translated  hither.  At  length  he  was 
deprived  of  his  Bishopric  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  Juiie 
1559,  whence  he  retired  to  South-Warnborough  in 
Hampshire,  and  dying  Jan.  11.  1559,  he  was  buried  in 
this  Cathedral. 

Robert  Home,  Dean  of  Durham,  consecrated  in  1561. 
He  died  Jun.   1,    1580;  and  left  this   Character  behind 


75 

him  ;  given  in  a  book  intituled,  the  ancient  rites  and 
monuments  of  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Durham,  Lond. 
1672.  8vo.  pag.  122,  wrote  by  one  belonging  to  that 
Church,  who  (speaking  of  his  demolishing  several  antieut 
monuments  of  that  Church  during  the  time  of  his  Deanery) 
acquaints  ns,  "  that  he  could  never  abide  any  antient 
monuments,  acts,  or  deeds,  that  gave  any  light  of,  or  to 
Godly  Religion. " 

John  Watson,  made  Bishop  of  this  See  much  against 
his  inclinations,  and  consecrated  September  18,  1580: 
he  was  a  liberal  benefactor  to  several  public  places,  and 
died  January  23,  1583,  and  was  buried  opposite  to  his 
predecessor,  in  this  Church. 

Thomas  Cooper,  D.D.  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  translated 
to  Winchester  in  1584  :  he  was  the  author  of  the  book 
intituled  *  Thesaurus  Linguae  Romanae  Britannicae,'  folio, 
London,  1565,  which  was  so  much  esteemed  by  Queen 
Elizabeth,  that  ever  after  she  made  it  her  business  to 
advance  the  author  as  high  in  the  church  as  she  could  : 
he  died  29th.  April,  1594,  and  was  buried  here. 

William  Wickham,  bred  at  Eton  School,  was  succes- 
sively fellow  of  the  colleges  of  King's  in  Cambridge,  and 
Eton  in  Bucks,  1556,  Pra^bend  of  Westminster,  anno 
1570,  Canon  of  Windsor,  1571,  Dean  of  Lincoln,  1557, 
afterwards  Bishop  of  the  same  See,  from  whence  he  was 
translated  hither  about  the  latter  end  of  March,  1595, 
where  he  continued  till  his  death  at  Winchester-House  in 
Southwark,  which  happened  on  June  the  12th.  following, 
and  was  buried  in  St.  Mary  Ovei^'s  church. 

AV^illiam  Day,  elected  Provost  of  Eton  College,  June 
5,  156l,  and  installed  Dean  of  Windsor,  August  31, 
1572,  advanced  to  this  See  in   1595,  and  died  in  1596. 

Thomas  Bilson,  consecrated  Bishop  of  Worcester, 
June  13,  1596,  and  translated  hither  in  1597,  and  made 
one  of  the  Privy  Council  to  King  James  I.:  he  died  June 
18,  l6l6,  and  was  buried  on  the  south  side  of  West- 
minster-Abbey, near  the  monument  of  King  Richard  IL 
not  far  from  the  entrance  into  St.  Edmund's  Chapel. 

James  Montague,  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells, 
translated  hither  in  16 1 7,  and  dying  July  20,  l6l8,  he 
was  buried  on  the  north  side  of  the  body  of  the  Church 
dedicated  to  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  at  Bath,  where,  over 
his  grave,  between  two  pillars,  is  a  high  altar  monument 
with  his  propoi  tion  lying  on  it. 


76 

Lancelot  Andrews.  D.  D.  BIsliop  of  Chichester,  then 
of  Ely,  and  at  last  translated  hither  22  of  February,  I6I8, 
where  he  continued  'till  death  overtaking  him  in  Win- 
chester-House in  Southwark,  26  of  September,  I626  : 
he  was  buried  in  St.  Saviour's  near  that  place,  and  has  a 
noble  monument  erected  there  to  his  memory. 

Richard  Neile,  successively  Dean  of  Westmmster, 
Bishop  of  Rochester,  I6O8  ;  Litchfield  and  Coventry, 
1610  ;  Lincoln,  l6l3  ;  Durham,  l6l7  ;  came  hither  in 
1628;  and  left  this  place  for  the  Archbishopric  of  York, 
in  1631  ;  where  he  died  31  of  October,  1641,  and 
was  interred  in  Westminster  Abbey. 

Walter  Curie,  D.D.  became  Chaplain  to  King  James  L 
Dean  of  Lichfield  in  June,  1621,  Bishop  of  Rochester  in 
1627,  was  translated  thence  to  Bath  and  Wells  in  1629, 
thence  to  Winchester  in  1637.  He  was  Lord  Almoner  to 
lung  Charles  I.  and  died  about  the  year  1647,  having 
been  a  great  sufferer  for  his  loyalty  to  King  Charles  the 
martyr. 

Brian  Duppa,  D.D.  Bishop  of  Chichester,  removed  to 
Salisbury  in  l64],  and  hither  September  24,  I66O.  He 
died  March  26,  1662,  and  was  buried  in  the  arch  of 
Westminster  Abbey,  on  the  north  side  of  King  Edward 
the  Confessor's  Chapel. 

George  Morley,  D.D,  Dean  of  Christ-Church,  in 
Oxford,  consecrated  Bishop  of  Worcester,  October  28, 
1660,  was  translated  hither,  and  confirmed  May  14, 1662  : 
he  died  29  Oct.  1684,  and  was  interred  in  this  church. 

Peter  Mews,  L.  L.  D.  was  born  at  Purscandle  in  Dor- 
setshire, March  2,5,  I6IB,  educated  in  Merchant-Taylors' 
School,  London,  thence  elected  scholar,  and  afterwards 
fellow  of  St.  John- Baptist's  College,  Oxford;  after  which 
he  was  an  officer  in  the  army  of  King  Charles  I.  during 
the  whole  rebellion, 'till  the  murder  of  that  prince  in  l648, 
thence  he  went  to  Holland,  and  lived  in  exile  in  King 
Charles  H's.  service  'till  the  Restoration,  and  then  returned 
to  his  college,  by  whose  favor  he  became  Rector  of  South 
Warnborough  in  Hants,  afterwards  of  St.  Mary's  in  Read- 
ing, Canon  of  Windsor,  and  Prebendary  of  St.  David's, 
Archdeacon  of  Berks,  and  President  of  his  College,  Aug. 
5,  1667  :  he  was  nominated  Vice-Chancellor  of  Oxford, 
Sept.  1669,  was  some  time  Dean  of  Rochester,  and  on 
Feb.  2,  ](J72-3,  during  the  time  of  his  Vice-Chancellor- 
ship, made  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells ;  upon  which  he 


77 

resigned  his  Presidentship  in  October  1663.  In  this 
diocese  lie  \vas  much  beloved  by  all  the  loyal  gentlemen, 
much  esteemed  for  his  generous  hospitality,  and  very 
much  lamented  when  he  was  removed,  though  to  their 
loss,  yet  to  his  own  benefit,  hither,  November  22,  1684. 
In  June  following  he  did  signal  service  against  the  rebel- 
lious Duke  of  Monmouth,  then  in  arms  in  the  west.  To 
conclude,  after  having  sat  here  22  years,  he  died  at  Farn- 
ham  Castle  in  Surry,  November  9,  in  the  89th,  year  of  his 
age,  and  was  buried  in  his  own  cathedral. 

Sir  Jonathan  Trelawny,  created  D.D.  by  diploma, 
from  the  University  of  Oxford,  consecrated  Bishop  of 
Bristol,  November  8,  l68o,  removed  to  Exeter,  and 
thence  translated  hither  in  1 706. 

This  Bishopric  was  formerly  valued  in  the  King's, 
books,  at  388o£.  3s,  3d.  now  at  2793o£'.  4s.  2d.  though, 
according  to  another  account,  it  is  said  to  be  rated  at 
249  lo£.  9s.  8d.  and  before  the  reformation,  paid  to  the 
Pope,  for  the  first-fruits,  12000  Ducats.  This  Diocese 
contained  the  Counties  of  Surry,  and  Southampton,  and 
the  Isle  of  Wight,  to  which  Queen  Elizabeth  added  the 
Isles  of  Jersey,  Guernsey,  Sark,  and  Aldeniey,  once 
appendages  of  the  Bishopric  of  Constance  in  Normandy. 
The  Bishops  of  this  See  are  Chancellors  of  the  See  of 
Canterbury,  and  Prelates  of  the  most  noble  Order  of 
the  Garter;  which  last  was  vested  in  them,  at  its  first 
institution,  by  King  Edward, 

PFtlORS. 

Brithonus,  Abbot  of  Ely,  Prior  here  about  970. 

Elsicus,  translated  to  York  in  1023. 

Wulfsigius,  died  in  t06o. 

Simon,  brother  of  Bishop  Walkelin,  succeeded  in 
1065,  and  afterwards  by  his  brother's  interest,  was  made 
Abbot  of  Ely,  1082. 

Godfrey,  a  monk  of  this  place,  born  in  Cambray,  suc- 
ceeded in  1382:  he  was  esteemed  a  good  scholar,  wrote 
a  book  of  epistles,  some  satirical  epigrams,  and  other 
pieces  of  poetry.  In  the  Cotton  library  is  a  book  of 
epigrams,  wrote  by  him,  under  Vitellius's  head,  A.  12 : 
he  died  1 107. 

Gaufridus,  a  monk  here,  succeeded  anno  1107,  and 
was  deposed  by  Bishop  William  Giffard,  an.  1111, 

Gaufridus  II.  put  into  the  place  of  the  last  mentioned, 


78 

by  Bishop  Giffard,  IIII.  made  Abbot  of  Bruton  in  1114, 
and  died  August  2,  ]  151. 

Eustachius,  died  in  the  year  1 120. 

Hugh,  succeeded  in  1120. 

Gaufridus  II.  died  in  1 126. 

Robert,  afterwards  elected  Abbot  of  Glastonbury  in  1 1 71 

AV'alter,  aftenvards  lemoved  to  the  Abbey  of  Westmin- 
ster, in  the  year  11/5  or  11/6. 

John,  died  1187. 

Robert  II.  succeeded  in  1187,  afterwards  elected  Abbot 
of  Bruton,  and  confirmed  by  the  King  there,  Jan,  23,  1214. 

Roger,  a  Norman,  in  1215. 

Walter  II.  died  November  10,  1231;. 

Andrew,  forced  upon  the  monks  by  the  King,  in  1239, 
that  he  might  influence  the  approaching  election  of  a 
bishop,  in  favour  of  the  Bishop  of  V  alentia  :  he  died  in  1 243 . 

Walter  III.  placed  here  in  1243  ;  he  was  excom- 
municated by  Bishop  Raley,  resigned  his  office  April  3. 

1247. 

John  de  Chauce,  succeeded  in  1247,  made  afterwards 
in  1249,  Abbot  of  Peterborough. 

William  de  Tanton,  put  in  the  room  of  Chauce,  anno 
1249;  chose  Abbot  of  Middleton,  in  the  middle  of  the 
year  1256,  and  afterwards,  by  the  monks  here,  elected 
Bishop  of  this  See,  3  of  Februarj^,  1261,  but  being 
rejected  by  the  Pope,  he  let  fall  his  plea. 

Andrew  de  Loudonia,  put  in  here,  against  the  incli- 
nations of  the  Convent  m  1256,  by  Bishop  Ethelmar, 
afterwards  an  expensive  suit  given  against  the  monks, 
and  another  prior  they  had  elected,  by  the  Pope,  who 
liad  been  corrupted  by  Ethelmar's  Golden  Arguments. 
Upon  the  banishment  of  Ethelmar,  his  patron,  he  resigned 
his  office,  12  of  July  1258,  and  was  the  same  day 
re-elected  by  those  monks  who  had  formerly  refused  him, 
and  unwillingly  accepted  of  it,  being  again  forced  to 
resign,  by  Boniface,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  in  1261. 

Ralph  Russell,  succeeded,  and  died  July  8,  1265. 

Valentine,  succeeded  July  21,  1265,  and  resigned  about 
the  middle  of  the  year  1267.  Re-elected  in  July  1268, 
and  resigned  again  1276,  afterwards  restored  once  more, 
by  Nicholas  de  Ely,  then  Bishop,  August  1,  and  in  the 
very  same  year,  on  December  3,  deprived  by  the  same 
Prelate. 

John  de  Durevillc;  put  in  against  the  consent  of  the 


79 

Convent,  by  Bishop  Ely,  in  1 2/6,  and   died  December 
3,  1278. 

Adam  de  Farnham,  succeeded  in  1279,  who,  durinw" 
the  vacancy  of  this  See,  refiismg  to  submit  to  the  visi- 
tation of  John,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  was,  for  dis- 
obedience, excommunicated  July  10,  1282,  but  was 
pardoned,  upon  his  submission,  August  31,  1282,  and  died 
in  1284. 

William  de  Basynge,  succeeded,  resigned  1284,  and 
died  April  3,  1288. 

William  de  B.isynge  II.  elected  by  the  Convent,  and 
confirmed  August  25,  1284,  by  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
bury:  he  died  in  May  1295. 

Henry  Wodelock,  elected  here  January  6,  1295,  and 
afterwards  elected  Bishop  of  this  See,  in  1305. 

Nicholas  de  Tarente,  confirmed  here  by  Bishop  Wode- 
lock, July  29,  1305,  and  died  in  July  1309. 

Richard  de  Enford,  confirmed  by  Bishop  W^odelock, 
August  25,  1309. 

Alexander  was  Prior  here  in  1332  and  1346. 

Hugh  de  Basynge  was  Prior  here  in  1366  and  1382. 

Robert  Roddeburne  was  Prior  here  1385,  and  1393. 

Thomas  Nevyle  m  as  Prior  of  this  place  at  the  Metro- 
political  Visitation  of  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
October  17,  1404. 

Thomas  Shyrebourne. 

William  Aulton  was  Prior  here  1444  and  1447. 

Richard  Marlborough  succeeded  in  1447. 

Thomas  Huuton. 

Henry  Berle,  1457. 

Thomas  Silkested,  in  this  person's  time,  there  beino-  a 
vacancy  in  the  Sees  of  Canterbury  and  Winchester,  the 
convent  of  Canterbury,  made  a  Visitation  of  this  place,  2 
of  February,  1501  ;  at  which  time  here  were  35  monks, 
and  a  revenue  of  lOOOof.  per  annum  belonging  to  them. 

Henry  Brooke. 

William  Kingesmyll  was  Prior  here  at  the  dissolution, 
and  delivered  up  his  trust  November  15,  1539,  to  Kino- 
Henry  VIII.  who  procured  an  act  of  parliament  to 
dissolve  all  the  religious  houses  in  this  nation :  he  after- 
wards, on  March  28,  in  the  thirty-second  year  of  his 
reign,  founded  this  Church,  and  instituted  a  Dean  and 
Chapter,  of  twelve  Prebendaries,  and  dedicated  the  same 
to  the  holy  and  undivided  Trinity. 


80 

DEANS. 

William  Kingesmyll,  the  last  Prior,  was  made  the  first 
Dean  on  the  new  foundation. 

Sir  John  Mason,  Knt.  made  Dean,  and  installed  Oct. 
9,  1549.  He  being  a  Lay-man,  and  yet  eating  the  bread 
of  Clergymen,  was  very  justly  termed  by  our  learned 
antiquary,  a  great  intruder  into  ecclesiastical  livings  :  he 
resigned  in  1553. 

Edmund  Steward,  L.L.D.  installed  March  22,  1553, 
and  continued  here  to  1559. 

John  Warmer,  M.D.  Prebend  of  Ulfcomb,  in  the 
church  of  Sarum,  and  in  this  church  too ;  made  Dean 
here,  October  15,  1559,  and  died  March  21,  1564. 

Francis  Newton,  S.  T.  P.  admitted  March  21,  1565, 
and  died  1572. 

John  Watson,  M.D.  admitted  Feb.  14,  1572,  and  after- 
wards made  Bishop  of  this  See,  in  1580. 

Lawrence  Humphrey,  D.D.  admitted  October  24, 
1580. 

Martin  Heton,  S.  T.  P.  Vice-Chancellor  of  the 
University  of  Oxford,  nominated  to  this  Deanery,  and 
installed  March  20,  1588,  afterwards  being  removed  to 
the  See  of  Ely,  (which  had  lain  void  for  above  20  years, 
and  its  Revenues  applied  to  secular  uses)  he  was  conse- 
crated February  3,  1599,  where  he  died  July  14,  1609. 

George  Abbot,  S.  T.  P.  admitted  March  6.  1599, 
consecrated  Bishop  of  Litchfield  and  Coventry,  Dec.  3, 
1609,  translated  to  London,  at  the  latter  end  of  January 
followhig,  in  1610,  thence  translated  to  Canterbury. 

Thomas  Morton,  S.  T.  P.  admitted  January  3,  1609, 
afterwards  translated  to  Litchtield  and  Coventry,  1618, 
and  thence  to  Durham,  July  12,  1632. 

John  Young,  S.  T.  P.  installed  July  8.  1616. 
Alexander  Hyde,  L.L.D.  Sub- Dean  of  Salisbury,  in 
May  1637.  Upon  the  restoration  of  King  Charles  I[.  by 
the  interest  of  Sir  Edward  Hyde,  then  Lord  Chancellor 
of  England,  he  was  not  only  made  Dean  of  this  church, 
and  installed  August  8,  1660,  but  consecrated  to  the  See 
of  Salisbury  Dec.  31,  1665,  where  he  died,  and  was  buried 
in  1667. 

William  Clark,  S.  T.  P.  succeeded  in  1665,  and  was 
installed  February  1 :  he  was  also  Canon  of  Windsor,  and 
Rector  of  St.  Olave's,  Soulhwark. 


SI 

Richard  Meggott,  D.D.  Canon  of  Windsor,  Rector  of 
St.  Olave's,  Southwark,  and  Vicar  of  Twickenham  in 
Middlesex,  was  installed  here  October  9,  1679,  on  the 
death  of  Dr.  Clark. 

John  Wickart,  D.D.  the  present  Dean,  installed  here 
Jan.  14,  1692,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Meggott:  he  is  also 
Canon  of  Windsor. 

PREBENDARIES 

Of  the  Cathedral,  v:ho  take  place  according  to  the  times  of 
their  installatioti  in  this  Church,  have  been  as  follows: 

Edmund  Steward,  L.L.D.  about  the  year  1541,  after- 
wards Dean  here. 

John  Crayford,  S.T.P.  Arch-deacon  of  Berks,  about 
the  vear  1541. 

John  Dean,  S.T.P. 

John  Draper,  Clerk. 

Henry  Milles,  Clerk. 

Thomas  Runcorne,  M.D.  made  ona  of  the  first  Pre- 
bendaries by  King  Heniy  VIII. 

V^'^illiam  Medowe,  Presbyter. 

Richard  Ryder,  Presbyter. 

Peter  Langrick,  M.A.  made  one  of  the  first  Pre- 
bendaries. 

Thomas  White,  L.L.D.  Arch-deacon  of  Berks  and 
Chancellor  of  Salisbury,  about  1541. 

Anthony  Barker,  Presbyter. 

John  White. 

The  before  mentioned  twelve,  I  take  to  be  those  who 
were  at  first  put  in  upon  the  new  foundation,  by  the  King, 
and  were  succeeded  by  the  persons  following,  upon  their 
promotions  or  deaths, 

Cuthbert  Oxley,  L.L.B.  installed  June  17,  37  Henry 
VIII.  ^ 

Richard  Vernon,  clerk,  installed  October  9,  1547. 

John  Warner,  M.D.  installed  March  15,  1549,  and 
afterwards  made  Dean  here. 

Leonard  Bdson,  M.A.  installed  July  7,  1551 
John  Rudd,  S.T.B.  installed  September  7,  1551. 

John  Watson,  M.  A.  Arch-deacon  of  Surry,  and 
Chancellor  of  St.  Paul's  made  Prebendary  here  after- 
wards, December  14,  1551,  successively  Dean  and  Bishop 
of  this  See, 

6 


&2 

John  Seyton,S.T.P.  March  19,  1553. 
Stephen  Cheston,  Iv.L.D.  Aicl-.-citucon  of  Winchester, 
mstalled  April  II,  1  jo4,  died  in  1j7I. 

Richard  iulon,  S.T.13.  installed  June  21,  lao4. 
Richard  Martiall,  S.  l\P.  Dean  of  Christ  Church,  in 
Oxford,  installe'l  liere  Julv  '2,  1554. 

Thomas  White,  L.L.D.  Arch-deacon  of  Berks,  Chan- 
cellor of  Sarum,  and  ni-italled  Jidy  21,  1554,  Prebendary, 
Thomas  Hardyng,  S,  r.P.  installed  July  25,  1554. 
Edmund  Marvm,  M.A.  Arch-deacon  of  Surry,  ejected 
fey  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  ni-italled  here  Sept,  20,  1554. 
Thomas  Hyde,  M.A.  installed  June  23,  1556, 
John  Watson,  M.xV.  installed  August  2(),  1559. 
Thomas  Eanglie,  S.  P. B.  installed  Oct,  15,  1559. 
William  Overton,  S.T.B.  installed  Dec.  20,  1559- 
Walter    W^right,     L.L.D.    Arch-deacon    of   Oxford, 
installed  January  II,  1559. 

Edward  Haydon,  M.A.  Rector  of  Crawley,  near 
Winchester,  installed  in  the  year  1559,  the  Register 
mentions  not  the  month  or  day. 

Michael  Renniger,  installed  August  3,  1560 
Thomas  Odyl,  xVLA.  installed  June  8,  1561. 
Thomas  Stemp,  L.L.D. 

James  Turbervyle,  S.T.P.  elected  hence,  and  conse- 
crated to  the  see  of  Exeter,  September  8,  1555,  was 
deprived  by  Queen  Elizabeth,  in  1559. 

Robert  Hill,  Clerk.  The  installations  of  the  three  last 
mentioned,  are  not  entered  into  the  register. 

Robert  Reynolds,  L.L.D.  installed  November  25, 
1558. 

Robert  Ryve,  L.L.B.  installed  September  7,  1559. 
John    Ebden,   S.T.P.    Arch-deacon   of  Winchester, 
installed  December  7,  1562 

David  Padye,  M.A.  no  date  specified  in  the  register. 
John  Bridges,  S.T.P.  August  19,  1565. 
"William  Cole,  S.T.P.  installed  May  31,  1572. 
John  Sprint,  S.T.P.   Arch-deacon   of  Wiltshire,  and 
Dean  of  Bristol,  installed  March  4,  1572,  in  the  room  of 
Dr.  John  Watson,  promoted  to  this  see. 

John  Chaundler,  S.T.P.  installed  Sept.  3,  1574,  upon 
the  resignation  of  Dr,  White. 

.,    Thomas  Bilson,  S.T.P.  installed  Jan.  12,  1576,  after- 
wards Bishop  of  this  see. 

Henry  Cotton,  D,D.  installed  April  12,  1577,  on  the 


> 


as 

de^hof  Mr.  Padye,  afterwards  on  Nov.  12,  1598^,  con- 
secrated Bishop  of  Salisbury. 

John  Constantine,  M.A.  installed  February  12,  1579, 
on  the  resionation  of  Mr.  William  Cole. 

Michael  Renniger,  S.T.P.  installed  April  9,  1581,  on 
the  death  of  Mr.  Edward  Haydon,  Rector  of  Crawley, 
and  Arch-deacon  of  Winchester. 

Abraham  Browne,  S.T.B.  installed  April  10,  1581, 
on  the  death  of  jMr.  Thomas  Stemp. 

AVilliam  Barlow,  B.A.  installed  April  11,  1581,  on  the 
resignation  of  Mr.  Michael  Renniger,  Arch-deacon  of 
Salisbury. 

William  Harward,  M.A.  installed  December  3],  1581, 
on  the  death  of  Mr.  Thomas  Langlie. 

Christopher  Perrin,  M.A.  installed  October  4,  1583, 
on  the  resignation  of  M  r.  J  ohn  Sprint. 

William  Say,  L.L.B.  installed  October  29,  1583,  on 
the  death  of  Mr.  John  Constantine. 

John  Harmer,  L.L.B.  Warden  of  Winchester  College, 
installed  January  10,  1594,  on  the  death  of  Mr.  John 
Chaundler. 

Robert  Bennet,  S.T.P,  installed  here  August  1 5,  1595, 
on  the  death  of  Dr.  Robert  Reynolds;  was,  after  many 
great  preferments,  made  Bishop  of  Hereford. 

Theodore  Price,  S.T.P.  installed  Sept.  9,  1596,  on  the 
promotion  of  Dr.  Bilson  to  the  see  of  Worcester.  He 
M  as  master  of  the  hospital  of  St.  Crosse,  and  sub-dean  of 
W^estminster. 

George  Ryyes,  S.T.P.  installed  November  17,  1598, 
on  the  promotion  of  Dr.  Henry  Cotton  to  the  Bishopric 
of  Salisbury. 

Robert  ivercher,  S.T.B.  installed  February  27,  1602, 
on  the  promotion  of  Dr.  Robert  Bennet  to  the  see  of 
Hereford. 

Ralph  Barlow,  S.T.P.  installed  Jan.  12,  l6lO.  on  the 
resignation  of  Dr.  John  Bridges,  Bishop  of  Oxford.  He 
was  Arch-deacon  of  Winchester,  and  made  Dean  of  Wells 
in  September  16'21. 

Nicholas  Love,  D.D.  installed  Oct.  15,  l6lO,  on  the 
death  of  Mr.  Christopher  Penn.  He  was  Warden  of 
Winchester  College. 

Robert  Moore,  S.T.P.  installed  June  4,  l6l3,  on  the 
death  of  Dr.  George  Ryves,  and  died  Feb.  20,  1639. 

Francis  Alexander,  L.L.D.  installed  Oct.  14,  l6l3, 
on  the  death  of  Dr.  John  Harmer. 

g2 


86 

George  Beaumont,  D.D.  rector  of  Alresford,  installed 
Sept,  C9,  1666,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Richard  Hyde. 

Thomas  Kenn,  D.D.  installed  April  20.  I669,  on  the 
death  of  Dr.  Gulston,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Bath  and 
Wells. 

Thomas  Sutton,  D.D.  rector  of  Wolverton,  installed 
Jan,  \5,  1672,  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Hugh  Haswell. 

Seth  Ward,  M.A.  Sept.  15,  I676,  on  the  death  of  Dr. 
Thomas  Gumble,  also  arch-deacon  of  Wiltshire,  chancellor 
of  Sarum,  and  rector  of  Brightwell,  Berkshire,  installed 
here,  and  resigned  in  I68I. 

I.  Abraham  Markland  S.T.P.  now  master  of  the 
hosj)ital  of  St.  Crosse,  rector  of  Meon-Stoke,  installed  here 
July  4,  1679,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  William  Burt. 

Samuel  Woodford,  D.D.  rector  of  Hartly  Maurdit, 
installed  November  8,  I68O,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Myrth 
Wafferer. 

William  Harrison,  D.D.  rector  of  Ch^rrington,  master 
of  the  hospital  of  St.  Crosse,  installed  prebendary  here 
Kovember  3,  I68I,  on  the  resignation  of  Mr  Ward. 

John  Nicholas,  D.D.  warden  of  Winchester  College, 
installed  prebendary  here  April  2,  l684,  on  the  death  of 
Dr.  Day  re  11. 

Francis  Morley  D.D.  installed  prebendary  here,  April 
5,  1684,  (on  the  resignation  of  Dr.  George  Beaumont^ 
by  his  Uncle,  Bishop  Morley.  He  was  also  rector  of 
Bishop's- W^iltham. 

Samuel  Palmer,  !M.A.  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Sharrock, 
was  installed  July  14,  1684,  and  was  rector  of  Crawley. 

Gyles  Thornburgh,  M.A.  rector  of  Cranley,  in  Surry, 
installed  March  6,  1684,  on  the  promotion  of  Dr.  Kenn 
to  the  see  of  Bath  and  Wells. 

II.  Charles  Laytield,  S.T.P.  rector  of  Chilbolton, 
installed  Dec.  23,  l687,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Thornburgh. 

Samuel  Mews,  B.D.  canon  of  Wells,  installed  October 
5,  1689,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Paine. 

Edward  Waple,  B.D.  mstalled  prebendary  here,  April 
29,  1690,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Bradshaw.  He  was  also 
installed  prebendary  of  Kilverton  Prima,  viz.  the  golden 
prebend  or  the  church  of  Wells,  m  May  1680.  Installed 
arch-deacon  of  Taunton,  April  22,  1682,  and  on  the  death 
of  Dr.  Bell,  July  26,  1683,  he  was  made  vicar  of  St. 
Sepulchie's,  London,  where  he  continued  to  his  death,  on 
June  8,  1712,  from  whence  being  brought  from  London, 


87 

he  was  on  the  11th.  of  the  same  month  interred  in  a  neat 
brick  grave  in  the  outer  chapel  of  St.  Jolm's  College,  in 
Oxford,  over  which  against  the  west  wall,  is  erected  a  fair 
marble  tablet,  by  his  executor,  Mr.  Robert  Waple,  with  a 
peculiarly  modest  and  humble  inscription  on  it,  composed 
by  himself,  as  appears  by  his  last  will*  in  the  Prerogative 
Court  of  Canterbuiy,  in  which  are  mentioned  several 
benefactions,  which  deserve  not  to  be  passed  over  in 
obscurity,  viz.  a  legacy  of  o£'700.  to  this  college,  the  place 
of  his  education  and  patrons  of  his  living,  beside  a  gift  of 
c£500.  in  his  life-time.  He  also  gave  to  the  beautifying 
of  St.  Sepulchre's  Church  „£'200.  and  an  excellent  and 
most  judicious,  as  well  as  numerous  collection  of  books, 
to  the  library  belonging  to  Siou-College,  for  the  use  of  the 
clergy  of  London. 

Baptista  Levinz,  D.D,  canon  of  Wells,  installed  here, 
August  5,  1691,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Hawkins.  H^e  was 
afterwards  made  Bisop  of  the  Isle  of  Man. 

George  Fulham,  D.D.  arch-deacon  of  Winchester, 
rector  of  St.  Mary's,  near  Southampton,  installed  here 
February  5,  1692,  on  the  death  of  Bishop  Levinz. 

John  Warner,   M.A.  rector  of ,  in  Co-  Bucks,  was 

installed    here  August    \S,   1694,  on  the   "eath   of  Dr. 
William  Harrison. 

William  Harris,  D.D.  installed  here,  January  8,  1695, 
on  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Beeston.  He  was  school- 
master of  Winchester-College,  and  a  generous  benefactor 
to  this  church,  to  which  he  gave  ^'800.  to  the  beautifying 
the  high  altar. 

in.  William  Louth,  S.T,B.  rector  of  Buriton,  Hants, 
installed  October  8,  I696,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Morley. 

Welbore  Ellis,  D.D.  installed  November  7,  I696,  on 

the  death  of  Dr.  Sutton,  now  Bishop  of  Kildare  in  Ireland. 

Thomas    Sayer,  D.D.    rector   of  Wonston,   installed 

November  13,  1700,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  William  Harris. 


*  Hie  jacet  Edvardus  Waple, 
Hujus  CoUeffii  quondam  Socius, 
Chribti  Minister  indignissimus, 
Suo  merito  Ptccatorum  niaximus, 
Dei  gratia  Pcenitentium  minimus, 
Inveniat  JVIisericordiam  in  illo  die, 
Stet  Lector  Poeuiteutialis  haec  Tabella, 
Obiit  octavo  die  Mensis  Junii, 
Anno  Dora.  MDCXII. 

Aimoque  /Etatis  suse  Sexagcsimo  primo, 


IV  Robert  Eyre,  S.T.P.  rector  of  Avington  and 
Martyr  Worthy,  installed  January  15,  1700,  on  the 
death  of  Dr.  Woodford. 

V,  William  Delaune,  S.T.P.  lately  for  four  years 
together  successively  vice-chancellor  of  the  University  of 
Oxford,  installed  here  March  4,  1701,  on  the  death  of 
Mr.  Samuel  Palmer.  He  is  at  present  president  of  St. 
John  Baptist's  College  in  Oxford,  and  rector  of  Long- 
Hanhorough,  in  Oxtordshiie. 

VI.  Ihomas  Rivers,  L.L.D.  fellow  of  All-Souls 
College,  in  Oxford,  installed  Dec.  8,  1702,  on  the  death 
of  Dr.  Fulham. 

Alexander  Forbes,  D.D.  rector  of  Compton,  near 
Guilford  in  Surry,  and  Havant  in  Hampshire,  installed 
October  7,  1704,  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Warner,  and  was 
unfortunately  drowned  in  the  river  near  Guilford,  in  the 
time  of  a  great  tiood  in  1712. 

VII.  Charles  Woodroff,  L.L.D.  rector  of  Upham, 
installed  June  12,  1706,  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Samuel 
Palmer. 

VIII.  Richard  West,  S.T.P.  piesented  by  the  crown  on 
the  promotion  of  Dr.  Ellis  to  the  see  of  Kildare,  Ireland, 

IX.  Mainwairing  Hamond,  S.T.P.  rector  of  Duck- 
lington  in  Oxfordshire,  installed  here  J  une  12,  1713,  on 
the  death  of  Dr.  Sayer. 

X.  Thomas  Sprat,  A.M.  installed  here  November  18, 
1712,  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Nicholas.  He  is  arch-deacon 
of  Rochester,  and  prebendary  of  Westminster. 

XI.  Thomas  Newy,  S.'I.P.  chanter  of  the  cathe- 
dral of  Exeter,  rector  of  Wonston  in  Hampshire,  installed 
here  June  23,  1712,  on  the  death  of  Mr.  Waple. 

XI I.  John  Cook,  M.A,  rector  of  the  Sine-Cure  of 
Overton  in  Hampshne,  installed  November  17,  1712,  on 
the  decease  of  Dr.  Forbes. 

The    Names    of    CHANCELLORS    or     VICARS- 
GENERAL  oj  this  ISee,  mentioned  in  the  Church 

Registers. 

John  Dowman,  L.L.D.  anno  1501. 
Nicholas  Harpsheld,  L.L.D.  1533. 
Edmund  Steward,  L.L.D.  1537. 
Robert  Reynolds,  L.L.D.  1556, 
John  Kingsmill,  M.A.  1576. 
William  Say,  L.L.B.  1580» 


m 

Sir  Robert  Ridley,  Knt.  L.L.D.  admitted  September 

7,  1596. 

Sir  Robert  Mason,  Knt.  L.L.D.  admitted  April  30, 

1628. 

Sir  Moundeford    Bramston,    Knt.    L.L.D.   admitted 

July  15,  1662. 

Sir  Charles  Morley,  Knt.   L.L.B.  admitted  October 

15,  1679. 

Sir  Peter  Mews,  Knt.  L.L.B.  admitted  August  20, 

1698,  the  present  chancellor. 

ARCR'BEACONS  of  Winchester. 

Vincent  Clement,  died  in  1474. 

John  Morton,  afterwards  arch-bishop  of  Canterbury, 
succeeded  in  1474. 

Robert  Frost  resigned  in  1502 

John  Frost  succeeded  and  resigned  in  1511 

Hugh  Asheton  succeeded  and  resigned  in  1519. 

John  Fox,  L.L.B,  succeeded  and  resigned  in  1526. 

Richard  Pates,  A.M.  succeeded  in  1526,  and  resigned 

in  1528 

William  Bolen  succeeded  in  1528. 

John  Philpot,  temp.  Edward  VI,  and  was  burned  for 
religion,  December  18,  1555, 

Stephen  Cheston,  L.L.B.  succeeded  and  died  in  1571. 

Dr.  John  Ebden  resigned  in  1575. 

Michael  Renniger,  D.D.  succeeded  in  1575,  and  died 
August  26,  1609. 

Ralph  Barlow,  S.T.B.  installed  October  3,  I609. 

Edward  Burbey,  D.D.  installed  Sept.  24,  1631. 

George  Roberts,  D.D.  installed  August  9,  \660,  on 
the  death  of  Dr.  Burbey,  and  died  March  1 7,  1661. 

Dr.  Thomas  Gorges,  installed  March  l*;,  l661,on  the 
death  of  Dr.  George  Roberts. 

Walter  Day rell,  D.D.  installed  May  3,  1666,  by  the 
resignation  of  Dr.  Ihomas  Gorges,  and  died  March  29, 
1684. 

Robert  Sharrock,  L.L.D.  installed  April  2l,  1684,  on 
the  death  of  Dr.  Dayrell. 

Thomas  Clutterbuck,  D.D.  installed  July — ,  1684,  on 
the  death  of  Dr.  Sharrock. 

George  Fulham,  D.D,  installed  Nov.  l7,  1700,  on  the 
death  of  Dr.  Clutteibuck. 

Ralph  Bridecake,  M.A.  Dec.  1,  1702,  on  the  death 


90 

of  Dr.  Fulham.      He  is  the  present  arch-deacon,  and 
rector  of  St.  Mark's,  near  Southampton. 

ARCH-DEACONS  of  Surry. 

William  Smyth,  arch-deacon  of  Surry,  installed  about 
1460,  afterwards  made  Bishop  of  Litchfield  and  Coventry, 
from  thence  translated  to  the  see  of  Lincoln  in  1495.  He 
was  alsochief  founder  of  Brasen- Nose  College  in  Oxford. 

John   Stokeslie,    chaplain   to    Ric.    Fox,    Bishop  of 
Winchester,  was  by  him   made  arch-deacon  of  Surry. 

John  Watson,  was  arch-deacon  of  Suny,  about  the 
time  of  Queen  Elizabeth's  accession  to  the  crown. 

John  Fox  was  about  1523,  arch-deacon  of  Surry. 

James  Cottington,  D.D.  died  at  the  latter  end  of  the 
year  l605. 

Arthur  Lake,  D.D.  installed  October  IQ,  l605. 

George  Hakewill,  D.D.  installed  February  7,  l6l6. 

John  Pearson,  D.D.  installed  September  26,  l660, 
afterwards  made  Bishop  of  Chester. 

Richard  Oliver,  B.D.  admitted  July  30,  l686,  on  the 
death  of  Bishop  Pearson. 

Thomas  Sayer,  D.V).  admitted  Sept.  28,  l689,  on  the 
death  of  Mr.  Oliver. 

Edmund  Gibson,  S.T.P.  rector  of  Lambeth  in  Surry, 
installed  June  9>  1740,  on  the  Archbishop  ofCanterbui-y's 
option  upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Sayer,  and  is  the  present 
arch-deacon. 


At  the  foundation  of  this  Cathedral  Church  by  King 
Henry  VIIL  anno  regni  sui  S'2P-  there  was  given  to  the 
Dean  and  Chapter,  and  their  successors,  for  ever,  a 
schochen  [escutcheon]  with  signs  and  tokens  in  manner  and 
form  following,  that  is  to  say,  a  minster  or  church  silver 
masoned  table.  In  the  gate  of  the  church  the  holy  image 
of  the  blessed  Trinity,  gold  and  silver,  crowned  imperial 
with  a  diadem  gokl  of  the  most  high  and  mighty  prince  the 
king  their  founder,  a  canton  partie  per  pale  gules  and  silver 
with  a  rose,  with  the  sun  beams  celestial  counter-changed 
of  the  field,  the  seed  pomely  gold,  with  these  words  of 
poesy : 


91 
ADDENDA. 

ARCU-BEACOlSiS  of  Winchester,  from  1231  to  \459. 

Rogenis  Archidiaconus  Winton.  ob.  1231, 

Bartholomeus  Archidiac.  Wiut,  Temp.  Hen.  III.  circ. 
1240. 

Hugo  de  Rupibus  Archidiac.  Wint.  ob.  A.D.  1253. 

Richardus  de  la  Moore  Archidiac.  Wint,  A.D.  1280. 
Robertas   Wikeford,   L.L.D.   Archidiac.  Wint.  temp, 
Ed.  HI.  postea  archiepiscopus  Dublin,  Hibern.  1375. 

Rogerus  de  Walden  resignavit  A.D.  1395,  postea  Epus 
Lond,  et  Arpus  Cant. 

Willielmus  Danyell  accolitus,  Archidiac.Wint.  February 
1395. 

Johannes  Pakenham,  L.L.B.  Archidiac.  Wint,  Resig. 
3439. 

ARCH-DEACONS  of  Surry. 

R arch-deacon  in  the  reign  of  Hen.  II.  or  Rich.  I. 

Walter  Bronescombe  arch-deacon,  A.D.  1257. 
afterwards  Bishop  of  Exeter. 

Lucas,  arch-deacon  about  the  year  1260. 

Mr.  Peter  de  Sancto  Mario,  ob.  ante  A.D.  1297. 

Philip  de  Barton  about  the  year  1300.  ob.  circ.  1320. 

Oliver  Dynham,  brother  to  the  last  Lord  Dynham, 
arch-deacon  in  King  Henry  VI I. 's  time,  died  May  1500. 

Christopher  Baynbrigge,  arch-deacon  January  25,  1500, 
afterwards  Bishop  of  Durham  and  Archbishop  of  York. 

Edmund  Marvyn,  M.A.  arch-deacon  of  Suny,  was  in 
Queen  Mary's  time,  an.  1554,  Sept.  20,  installed  a  so 
prebendary  of  Winchester,  but  was  ejected  on  Queen 
Elizabeth's  accession  to  the  crown. 


€8e  l^i^torp  of  J^pbc  %hUp. 

Next  to  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Whichester,  the 
Abbey  of  Hyde  deserves  an  especial  remembrance,  on 
account  of  its  being  originally  founded  within  the  precincts 
of  the  cathedral  cemitery,  where  it  continued  for  200 
years,  till  it  was  from  thence  transplanted  to  Hyde. 

The  tirst  denomination  this  monastery  had,  was 
Newminster,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  cathedral  called  in 
those  days  Oldminster  after  the  building  of  this ;  which 
name  it  lost  on  its  removal,  which  was  occasioned  by 
the  differences  the  too  near  neighbourhood  these  great 
churches  bred. 

This  foundation  was  begun  by  King  Edward  the  elder, 
in  pursuance  of  his  father  King  Alfred's  will,  in  which  at 
the  finishing  and  consecration  of  the  same,  anno  903,  he 
placed  secular  canons,  designing  to  appoint  S.  Giimbald 
to  preside  over  them,  but  his  death  prevented  it.  These, 
after  60  years  continuance,  were  turned  out  to  give  place 
to  monks,  anno  9^4,  by  Athehvold,  Bishop  of  Winchester, 
and  the  college  changed  into  a  monastery;  the  abbots  of 
which  stiled  of  Newminsler,  before  the  translation  of  it  to 
Hyde,  as  before  obsei-ved,  (which  was  done  by  King 
Henry  I.  and  William  Giffard,  Bishop  of  Winchester) 
had  large  privileges,  as  being  honoured  with  a  mitre,  and 
having  place  in  parliament  as  peers  of  the  realm,  &c. 
Neither  were  their  revenues  less  considerable,  for  a  little 
before  the  dissolution,  anno  26.  Hen.  VHI.  the  lands  of 
tliis  monastery  were  rated  at  =£865.  18s,  per  annum. 
• — But  besides  the  founder,  King  Athelsan,  King 
Edmund,  King  Edred,  King  Edgar,  King  Edmund 
Ironside,  King  Edward  the  Confessor,  King  William  the 
Conqueror,  and  particularly  KingHemy  I.  and  Q.  Maud, 
(as  appears  by  the  charters  in  the  Monasticon)  were  great 
benefactors.  However,  this  house  was  not  without  its 
misfortunes;  for  William  the  Conqueror  at  his  coming, 
finding  the  abbot  and  twelve  of  his  monks  in  arms  against 
him,  seized  upon  their  estate,  and  held  it  above  two  years; 
and  in  the  reign  of  King  Stephen,  Henry  de  Blois  his 
brother,  then  Bishop  of  Winchester,  was  so  oppressive, 
that  he  got  from  the  monks  almost  all  their  church  plate, 
and  dispersed  them  so,  that  of  40  monks  there  remained 
but  ten. 


In  this  abbey  were  buried,  before  the  removal  of  it  to 
Ityde,  King  Edward,  and  his  son  Prince  Alfred,  and  S. 
Eadburga,  daughter  of  King  Edward  the  founder,  and 
Alfred  son  of  King  Edulf,  whose  remains  were,  no  doubt, 
translated  to  Hyde.  But  of  all  these  and  divers  other 
memorable  persons  interred  there,  viz,  at  Hyde,  are  not 
the  least  remains  ;  and  of  the  grandeur  of  this  magnificent 
abbey,  is  nothing  left  but  the  name,  the  very  ruins  being 
as  it  were  perished,  and  not  so  much  as  the  walls  standing 
of  this  goodly  church,  which  stood  just  without  the  City- 
Gate,  and  was  dedicated  to  the  Holy  Trinity,  S.  Peter,  and 
S.  Grimbald. 

Touching  the  names  of  those  who  have  been  abbots 
hereof,  I  shall  in  like  manner  as  done  before  of  the 
Bishops,  &c.  of  Winchester,  subjoin  a  catalogue,  which 
because  they  sat  at  Newminster,  before  at  Hyde,  I  shall 
divide  the  series  into  two  parts,  viz,  of  Newminster  and 
Hyde. 

Abbots  of  Newmi7ister, 

1.  Athelgarus,  anno  964,  was  made  by  Bishop  Athel- 
vvold,  the  first  abbot ;  he  was  promoted  to  the  bishopric 
of  Selsey,  anno  980,  and  8  years  after  removed  to  the 
arch-bishopric  of  Canterbury,  but  2  years  before  his 
translation  to  Selsey. 

2.  Alsinus,  anno  978,  became  abbot ;  he  sat  till  the 
year  99-5,  when 

3.  Brightwoldus  was  instituted,  which  he  held  till 
loos,  in  which  year 

4.  Brithmerus  occurs ;  after  whom 

5.  Alnothus,  anno  l02i,  to  whom  succeeded 

6.  Alwynus,  anno  1035,  and 

7.  Alfnotus,  anno  1057 ;  upon  whose  death  or 
resignation 

8.  Alwynus,  anno  l0G3,  called  in  the  Monasticon  : — ■ 
Godwin,  uncle  to  Harold,  after\vards  King  of  England, 
was  preferred  to  the  abbey.  This  person,  anno  1066, 
appearing  in  behalf  of  his  nephew  King  Harold  in  arms 
against  the  Norman  invasion,  with  twelve  of  his  monks 
was  slain  in  the  field  of  battle,  which  so  enraged  the 
Conqueror,  that  he  for  some  time  held  this  abbey  in  his 
hands,  but  at  length  restoring  it, 

9.  Wlfric  or  Wlvric,  anno  1069,  was  constituted 
abbot  who  being  deposed,  anno  107l, 


94 

10.  Rualdus  called  in  the  An.  Wint.  Revelanus,  anna 
1071,  succeeded;  he  occurs  abbot,  anno  1071,  after 
whom  I  find 

1 1 .  Radulphus  said  to  be  abbot,  upon  whose  death, 
which  happened  anno  1087,  as  the  Annales  Wint.  inform 
us,  King  William  Kufus  committed  this  abbey  to  Ralph 
Passefiabere  his  chaplain  for  some  time ;  but  not  long  after, 
viz.  anno  lOQl,  this  abbey  was  bought  of  the  King  by 
Herbert,  first  Bishop  of  Norwich,  for  his  father. 

12.  Robert  de  Losinga,  which  occasioned  this  verse, 

Filius  est  PrcBsul,  Pater  Ahhas,  Simon  uterque ; 

alluding  to  the  simony,  how  long  he  held  it  I  find  not,  or 
whether  on  his  death,  which  is  likely,  but  Passeflabere, 
to  whom  the  King  committed  all  vacant  preferments  for 
his  use,  obtained  the  custody  of  it  a  second  time ;  and 
held  it  anno  1100,  when,  upon  the  accession  of  Henry  I. 
to  the  crown,  this  Ralph  Passeflabere,  for  several  illegal 
practices,  was  thrown  into  prison  ;    and 

13.  Hugh,  monk  of  this  place,  was  appointed  abbot, 
after  whom,  anno  J  206, 

14.  Galfridus  occurs  abbot  in  whose  time,  anno 
1121,  this  abbey  was  as  aforesaid,  removed  to  Hyde,  aud 
the  abbots  from  henceforth  entituled, 

Abbots  of  Hyde. 

15.  The  first  of  which,  after  the  death  of  Galfridus, 
was  Osbertus,  anno  1124,  who  succeeded  three  years 
after  the  removal,  took  care  of  compleating  what  his 
predecessor  had  begun.  He  died  anno  1135,  the  first  of 
King  Stephen.  After  his  death,  this  monastery  was 
much  oppressed  by  Henry  de  Blois,  Bishop  of  Winchester, 
as  aforesaid,  who  appointed,  says  the  Monasticon, 

16.  Hugh  Schorcheoyleyn  abbot  hereof.  This  Hugh, 
called  in  the  annals  of  VVinton,  Hugh  de  Lens,  was  much 
accused  and  appealed  against,  as  was  the  Bishop  who 
endeavoured  to  pervert  the  state  of  the  abbey  ;  and  about 
the  year  1 143,  tried  to  prevail  with  the  Pope  to  make  his 
see  an  arch-bishopric,  and  this  abbey  a  bishopric,  and 
subject  that  and  Chichester  to  it.  These  controversies 
against  the  bishop  and  abbot,  ended  in  deposing  abbot 
Hugh,  anno  1 149.  after  whom 

17-  Salidus  was  abbot ;  after  ^Yhose  death,  which  is 
said  to  happen  1171, 


95 

18.  Thomas,  Prior  of  Montacute,  was  elected  abbot, 
though  I  have  not  seen  that  he  was  consecrated  so  before 
the  year  1174  ;  he  resigned  anno  1180,  and 

19.  John,  Prior  of  Cluny,  succeeded,  who  dyin^  anno 
1222,  ° 

20.  Walter  de  Astone  was  made  abbot ;  he  died  anno 
1249,  and 

21.  Roger  de  S.  Waleric  the  same  year  was  elected 
abbot;  upon  whose  death,  anno  1263, 

22.  William  de  Wigornia  succeeded:  he  died  anno 
1282,  and 

23.  Robert  de  Popham  became  abbot,  as  did 

24.  Simon  de  Caninges,  anno  1292:  upon  whose 
death,  anno  1304, 

25.  GefFry  de  Ferynges  succeeded ;  and  on  his  surren- 
der or  resignation,  anno  1317, 

26.  William  de  Odiham  was  elected  abbot ;  but  he 
held  It  not  long,  for  anno  1319, 

27.  Walter  de  Fifhyde  succeeded  him ;  how  long  he 
held  It  I  have  not  seen,  but 

28.  Thomas  Peithy,  anno  1362,  occurs  abbot,  on 
whose  death  or  surrender, 

29.  John  Eynesham,  about  the  year  1381,  was  made 
abbot;  he  died  anno  1394,  and 

30.  John  Letcombe  or  Lattecombe,  succeeded,  after 
whom 

3 1 .  John  London,  anno  1407  occurs  abbot,  who  dvino- 
anno  1413,  ^    ° 

32.  Nicholas  Strode  was  elected  abbot  next,  after 
whom  I  lind 

33.  Thomas  Bromele,  anno  1440,  to  occur  abbot, 
which  he  held  till  about  the  year  1460,  when 

34.  Henry  Bonvile  occurs  abbot,  who  was  succeeded  by 

35.  Thomas  Wyrscetur,  anno  1471,  on  the  first  of 
December;  when  he  died  I  find  not,  but  anno  1480,  he 
occurs  abbot,  and  so  probably  did  till  the  year  148  j,  when 

36.  Thomas  Forte  was  elected  abbot,  which  he  held 
not  long ;  for  anno  1 489, 

37.  Richard  Hall  was  elected  abbot;  he  occurs  abbot 
anno  loOO,  and  probably  continued  so  for  near  40  years  ; 
for  after  him  I  find  no  other  abbot  before  the  year  1528  • 
about  which  time,  ' 

38.  John  Salcot,  alias  Capon,  D.D.  of  Cambrid^^e, 
was  translated  from  the  abbey  of  Holme  in  Norfolk,  °to 


96 

tliis  place.  He  was  the  last  abbot ;  and  (as  a  reward  for 
having  been  very  instrumental  in  procuring  in  his  own 
university  the  passing  the  king's  divorce)  anno  1534, 
April  I9,  he  obtained  to  hold  with  this  abbacy  incommen- 
dam  the  bishopric  of  Bangor ;  and  for  his  good  services  at 
the  dissolution,  anno  1539,  and  readily  yielding  his  abbey 
to  the  king,  in  the  surrender  of  which  he  procured  his 
monks,  21  in  number,  to  join,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
bishopric  of  Salisbury,  which  he  held  for  20  years,  not 
dying,  it  seems,  till  the  year  1559.* 

The  Arms  of  Hyde  Abbey  were  argent,  a  lion  rampant 
sable,  on  a  chief  of  the  second  2  keys  indorsed  argent. 


{Here   terminates  the   Reprint   of  Calebs    History    of 

Winchester.l 


*  See  memoirs  of  him  in  Cassan's  Lives  of  the  Bishops  of  Salisbury, 


ijcforc  t^t  Conque.at, 
BISHOPS    OF    DORCHESTER. 

I.     BIRINUS. 

Appointed  A.D.  634  or  635.  — Died  before  A.D.  650. 

The  accounts  of  the  first  introduction  of  Christianity 
into  this    island,  are  so  involved  in  obscurity  and  mixed 
up  \Aith  fable,  as  to  render  it  impossible  to  make  any 
statements  on  the  subject  with  any  degree  of  historical 
accuracy.     I  shall  therefore  pass  over  the  very  question- 
able traditions  respecting  King  Lucius*  and  others,  and 
proceed  to  the  narrative  of  Venerable  Bede,  ^vho  informs 
us  that  Christianity  was  published  among  the  Geviss^f 
or  West-Saxons,  by    Birin,    "  dubium   unde  oriundus" 
(Ma/m.  (k  Ponfif.  lib.  2.;—"  natus  Rom^,"  (Leland. 
If  in.    1.    p.    93.)  who  visited    Britain    for   the    express 
purpose,  under  the  auspices  of  Pope  Ilonorius,    havincr 
received  episcopal  consecration  at  the  hands  of  Asterius° 
Bishop  of  Genoa.     The  precise  period  of  Bishop  Birin's 
arrival  is   not  fixed,  but  may  be  correctly  ascertained  by 
reference    to    the    Saxon   Chronicle,    ^^hose   author,    as 
\V  harton  justly  observes,    is   entitled    to    especial   credit 
m  all  that  relates  to  the  West-Saxons,  from  his  connexion 
Mith   that  district  of    Britain.       That  work   places    the 
arrival  of  Bishop  Birin  at  the  year  634.1 


maufj  fnti^B.-r'^-^"^^  supposed  to  have  introduced  the  great  liglit  (lever 

+  Gevissae  is  synonymous  with  Western.  The  Gevissje  means  the 
C^tuf^""'.^  ^''"'  V.si-(Jotl.s,  the  Western  Goths.  The  Saxo.>  particle 
oe  being  in  the  former  case  prehxed.  The  Sa.^ous  were  so  called  from 
StUXt,  a  crooked  sword. 

J  Radulphus  Dicetensis  says  633,  X  Script,  p.  438,  I  invariably  prefer 
the  authority  of  the  Sa.\ou  Chronicle  and  ilede,  which  I  concelv* 
paramount.  •""»• 

H 


98  BIRIN. 

The  narrative  of  Birin's  ministry  is  thus  given  by  Bede 
(lib.  3.  cap.  7.)  *'  Eo  tempore  (Jccidentahum  Saxonum 
qui  antiquitus  Geviss*  vocabantur,  regnante  *Cynrgilsa 
fidem  Christi  suscepit,  prvedicante  illis  verbum  Birino 
Episcopo,  qui  cum  consilio  Pap*  Honorii  venerat  Brit- 
taniam  ;  promitteus  quidem  se  illo  praesente  in  intimis 
ultro  Anglorum  partibus  quo  nuUus  Doctor  praicessisset, 
sancta;  tider  semina  esse  sparsurum.  Unde  et  jussu 
ejusdem  Pontificis  per  Asterium  Genuensem  Episcopum 
in  Episcopatus  consecratus  est  gradum.  Sed  Brittaniam 
pei-venieus,  ac  primum  Gevissorum  gentem  ingrediens, 
cum  omnes  ibidem  Paganissimos  inveniret,  utilius  esse 
ratus  est  ibi  potius  verbum  praedicare,  quam  ultra  progi'e- 
diens,  eos  quibus  praedicaie  deberet,  inquirere. 

**  Itaque  evangelizante  illo  in  praefata  provincia,  cum 
Rex  ipse  catechizatus,  fonte  Baptismi  cum  sua  gente 
ablueretur  contigit  tunc  temporis  sanctissimum  ac  victori- 
osissimum  Regem  Nordanhymbrorum  (Northumbrians) 
Osualdum  adfuisse,  eumque  de  lavacro  exeuntem  suscep- 
isse,  ac  pulcherrimo  prorsus  et  Deo  digno  consortio, 
cujus  erat  filiam  accepturus  in  conjugem  ipsum  prius 
secunda  generatione  Deo  dicatum  sibi  accepit  in  filium." 
With  regard  to  the  episcopal  see  assigned  to  Bishop 
Birin,  Bede  thus  proceeds  : — 

"  Dbnaverunt  autem  ambo  reges  eidem  Epo  civitatem 
quae  vocatur  Dorcic,t  ad  faciendum  inibi  sedem  episco- 
palem,  ubi  factis  dedicatisque  ecclesiis,  multisque  ad 
Dominum  pio  ejus  labore  populis  advocatis,  migravit  ad 
Dominum,  sepultusque  est  in  eadem  civitate." 

Here  we  must  express  our  regret  that  the  historian  did 
not  more  particularly  define  the  place  of  the  episcopal  see, 
for  it  has  been  doubted  whether  Dorchester  in  Dorset,  or 
Dorchester  in  Oxfordshire,  be  intended.  The  learned 
editor  of  Bede  explains  it  as  referring  to  the  latter. 

I  have  already  alluded  to  the  dubious  traditions  of  the 
early  existence  of  Christianity  in  West-Saxony.  The 
Saxon  Chronicle  by  the  adoption  of  one  word,  overthrows 
the  opinion  at  once,  that  the  Christian  faith  had  an  earlier 


*  Cvnegils  beean  to  reign  611,  and  filled  the  throne  31  years,  being  the 
6th.  from  Cerdic,  who  founded  the  kingdom  of  the  Visi-Saxons  in  519. 

t  "  Iste  dedit  S.  Birino,  civitatem  Dorcacestriam  ut  sederet  interim  m 
ea,  donee  conderet  ecclesiam  tanto  pontifice  dignam  lu  regia  civitatc  . 
Annales  Ecc.  fVint.—Angl.  Sac.  1. 288. 


AGILBERT.  99 

date  in  those  parts  than  A.D.  634.  For  the  benefit  of 
those  who  do  not  understand  Saxon,  I  shall  quote  the 
words  of  the  English  translation  :  "  This  year  Bishop 
Birinus^Vs^  preaciied  baptism  to  the  A^'est-Saxons  under 
King  Cynegils."  Now  baptism  being  the  initiatory 
sacrament  of  Christianity,  the  *<  first  preaching  of 
baptism  is  equivalent  to  the  tirst  introduction  of  the 
Gospel." 

But  little  more  at  this  distant  period  can  be  gleaned 
respecting  Birin.  The  events  with  which  he  was  con- 
nected are  thus  stated  by  the  Saxon  Chronicle: — ''Birinus 
was  sent  hither  by  the  command  of  Pope  tlonorius,  and 
he  was  Bishop  there  to  the  end  of  his  life." 

A.D.  635.  This  year  King  Cynegils  was  baptized  by 
Bishop  Birinus,  at  Dorchester. 

A.D.  639,  This  year  Birinus  baptized  King  Cuthred, 
at  Dorchester,  and  received  him  as  his  son. 

After  this  date  1  tind  nothing  more  of  him.  His  day 
in  the  Roman  Catholic  Calendar,  is  kept  December  3. 
Preferring  contemporaiy  to  posthumous  accounts  of 
miracles  (for  the  reasons  given  by  the  excellent  Paley)  I 
pass  over  the  wretched  fictions  related  by  Malmesbury, 
which  Bede  widi  more  sense  and  taste  has  omitted.  The 
reader,  however,  who  may  have  a  relish  for  such  absur- 
dities, may  find  the  detail  lib.  2.  p.  241.  De  Pontif.  and 
in  Capg/ave's  Legenda  Sanct.  Angl.  Bishop  Birin 
must  have  died  anterior  to  650,  as  we  then  tind  him 
succeeded  in  that  year.  ''Birinus  sepultus  Dorcasteriaj." 
Leland.  It  in.  1.  p.  93. 


II.     AGILBERT. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  650.— Ejected  A.  D.  6Q0. — Died 
Bishop  of  Paris. 

"A.  D.  650.  This  year,  Egelbert  from  Gaul,  after 
Birinus  the  Romish  Bishop,  obtained  the  Bishopric  of 
the  West-Saxons." — Saxon  Chron. 

King  Cynegils  was  succeeded  by  his  Son  Coinualch  in 
C43.  This  Coiimalch,  who  at  first  declined  embracing 
the  Christian  Faith,  was  driven  from  his  dominions  by 
Penda,  King  of  the  Mercians,  whose  sister  he  had  man  ied 

h2 


100  AGILBERT. 

and  repudiated.  Having  taken  refuge  with  the  King 
of  the  East-Angles,  he  through  his  medium,  as  it  would 
appear  from  Bede,  was  brought  to  a  better  way  of 
thinking,  and  at  length,  in  650,  at  once  recovered  his 
Kingdom  and  embraced  Christianity ;  and  so  great  was 
his  attachment  to  the  sacred  cause,  as  to  induce  him  to 
order  that  the  Old*  Church,  or  rather  Pagan  Temple,  at 
Winchester,  should  be  re-built  in  the  name  of  St.  Peter. 
By  him  we  find  Agilbert  appointed  to  the  Bishopric. 

Agilbert  was  by  birth  a  Frenchman,  but  had  latterly 
come  to  this  country  from  Ireland,  where  he  had  been 
studying  the  Scriptures.  It  seems  he  had  of  his  owa 
accord  attached  himself  to  the  King,  in  the  quality  of 
Chaplain  or  Confessor,  and  the  latter  observing  his 
learning,  industry,  and  talents,  promoted  him  to  the 
Prelacy. 

<S^      Thus  early  we  may  observe,   en   passant,  that 

though  the  Church  of  England  derives  from  that  of  Rome 

a  genuine  episcopal  succession  from  the  apostolic  source, 

yet  the  latter  did  not,  at  this  early  period,  intermeddle  at 

all   with,    much   less   claim   as   a   right  peculiar  to  the 

"  apostolic  see,"  the    nomination  to    vacant  Bishoprics, 

but  left  the  concerns  of  the  Church,  quoad  hoc,  in  the 

power  of  the  King  :  thus  tacitly  recognizing  the  orthodox 

and  constitutional  principle,  that  the  latter  is  the  Head  of 

the  Church  in  these  dominions.      For  had  any  other  idea 

then  prevailed  at  Rome,  doubtless,  so  accurate  an  historian 

and  conscientious  an  individual  as  Bede,  would  not  have 

failed  to  have  recorded   the  fact.     But  here,  without  the 

smallest  reservation  of  any  power  elsewhere,  he  candidly 

says,  "  Rex  rogavit  eum,  accepta  ibi  sede  episcopali,  suae 

genti  manere  Pontificem:"  and  adds  that  the  Bishop  on 

his  part,  "precibus  ejus  adnuens  eidem  sacerdotali  juri 

prffifuit:"     Not  a  syllable  of  sending  to  Rome  for  the 

papal   consent,   or  even  confirmation.     So  entirely  and 

absolutely  were  these  matters  left  where  they  now  are  and 

ever  ought  to  be. 

But  to  return.     The  King  who  spoke  only  the  Saxon 
language,    at    length    it   seems,   grew  tired  of  Bishop 


•  This  epithet  ('  old')  says  the  Translator  of  the  Saxou  Chronicle, 
appears  to  have  been  inserted  in  some  copies  of  the  Saxon  Chronicle,  so 
early  as  the  10th.  Century,  to  distinguish  the  old  church  or  minster  at 
Wiutou  from  the  new,  consecrated  A.D.  903. 


AGILBERT.  101 

Agilbert's  frenchified  pronunciation  of  the  Saxon  tongue, 
(pertaesus  barbarae  loquclae,  as  Bede  has  it)  and  being 
determined  to  have  a  more  polished  preacher  for  his  royal 
city,  he  appointed  in  his  place  Vini  or  Wina.  The  King 
now  divided  the  Bishopric  into  two  portions,  and 
nominated  Wina  to  the  portion  called  Winchester!  In 
consequence  of  this  partition  of  the  Diocese,  Agilbert 
mdicrnantly  retired  to  France,  where  he  became  Bishop  of 
Paris  and  attained  to  a  considerable  age. 

Bede    thus   relates   the   foregoing   circumstances  : 

*'  Tandem  Rex  subintroduxit  in  provinciam  alium  suae 
linguae  episcopum  vocabulo  Wini  et  ipsum  in  Gallia 
ordinatum,  dividensque  in  duas  parochias,  provinciam, 
huic  in  civitate  Venta,  qua  agente  Saxonum  Vintancaestri 
appellatur,  sedem  episcopalem  tribuit  :  unde  offensus 
graviter  Agilberctus,  quod  hoc,  ipso  inconsulto  ageret 
Rex,  rediit  Galliam  et  accepto  Episcopatu  Parislacae 
civitatis  ibidem  senex  ac  plenum  dierum  obiit." 

<^  The  word 'ipso/ in  the  foregoing  passage  is  stront^. 
His  indignation  arose  not,  as  some  modern  Romall 
Catholic  writers  would  have  us  imagine,  from  his 
ejectment  being  effected  by  the  King  on  his  own 
authority,  and  without  the  consent  or  approbation  of  the 
holy  see.  Had  the  Pope  arrogated  to  himself,  at  this 
period,  the  jurisdiction  to  which  in  after  times  he  set  up  a 
claim,  Bede,  the  accurate  and  Catholic  Bede,  would  not 
have  said  merely  '  ipso  inconsulto,'  thus  making  it  a  matter 
of  mdividual  feeling,  but  *'  Sede  apostolicd  inconmltd,'* 
as  an  insult  to  and  infringement  of  the  divine  rio^hts  of  the 
Papal  dominion.  But  Bede  understood  the  consti- 
tution of  the  Romish  Church  better  than  it  has  since 
been  understood  by  the  aspiring  and  encroaching  members 
of  that  communion. 

It  is  really  amusing  to  read  the  obiter  observations  of 
Bishop  Milner  on  Agilbert's  retirement  to  France,  and  to 
observe  the  gravity  with  which  he  insinuates  the  claims  of 
the  holy  see  :  "  Being  well  acquainted  with  the  irre<'u- 
larity  and  invalidity  of  this  measure,"  (i.  e.  the  Kin^g's 
division  of  the  diocese,  which  "  he  ventured  to  do  on  his 
own  authority")  he  resigned  his  see  entirely,  and 
returned  to  liis  native  country,"  &c. 


BISHOPS    OF   WINCHESTER. 


I.     WIN  A  or  VINI. 

Appointed  A.  D.  660.— Ejected  663.— Died  Bishop 

OF  London. 

The  Editor  of  Bede  is  in  error  when  he  places  664  in 
the  margin  as  the  period  of  Agilbert's  loss  of  the  royal 
favor,  and  the  substitution  of  Wina  in  his  room,  for  the 
Saxon  Chronicle  thus  records  those  events  under  the 
year  660 :  "  This  year  Bishop  Egelbert  departed  from 
kemval,  and  Wina  held  the  Bishopiic  three  years." 

This  Prelate,  in  his  turn,  lost  the  Bishopric  (pulsus 
est  Vini  ab  eodem  rege  de  Episcopatu.  Bede.)  and 
going  over  to  Wulfere,  King  of  the  Mercians,  is  recorded 
by  Bede  to  have  bought  the  Bishopric  of  London,  where 
he  sat  till  his  death.  Thus  the  diocese  of  West-Saxony 
must  have  been  without  a  Bishop  for  some  years,  viz.  from 
663  to  670. 

Bede  (lib.  3.  p.  137)  has  a  remarkable  passage  relative 
to  this  Bishop.  Speaking  of  Ceadda,  Archbishop  of 
York,  he  says,  "  Unde  diverterunt  ad  provinciam  occi- 
dentalium  Saxonum  ubi  erat  Uini  Epus  et  ab  illo  est  yir 
praifatus  (Ceadda)  consecratus  antistes,"  &c.  ^ow  enim 
erat  tunc  ullus  excepto  illo  Vine  in  tola  Britannia  canonice 
ordinatus  Epus. 

Rudborne  in  his  Hist.  Maj.  Wint.  in  Angl.  Sacra. 
vol.  1.  p.  192,  writes,  "  Expulso  Agilberto,  Wynus, 
natione  Anglus  ac  monachus  Wyntoniensis  ecclesiae  suc- 
cessit  in  episcop.  A.  D.  662*'  et  anno  regis  Kynewaldi 
14  ut  habetur  per  vigilantiam  in  libro  de  Basilica  Petri. 
Qui  Winus  post  bienniumf  per  regem  Kynewaldum  simi- 


»  660.    Sax.  Chr.  ut.  sup. 


t  The  discrepancy  iu  the  chronological  statements  of  the  monkish 
historians  is  unaccountable.    The  Sax.  Chr,  says  three  years. 


LEUTHERIUS.  103 

liter  expulsus  emit  a  lege  Merciorum  Wilfero,  (Here, 
again,  Rudborne,  a  thorough  paced  Catholic,  in  naming 
the  appointment  by  the  King,  says  not  a  word  of  the 
regal  usurpation  of  the  Papal  right)  sedem  London  : 
civitatis;  ubi  longo  tempore  cathedram  tenuit  Pontifi- 
cialem.  Sed  triennio  ante  mortem  suam  peenitenti^ 
ductus  pro  Symonia,*  (not,<i3p  propeccato  ejus,  auctoritate 
Papae  despecta,  as  he  would  have  said  had  the  right,  at 
that  time,  been  deemed  to  belong  to  the  Pope)  episco- 
patum  deserens,  reliquam  partem  vitae  suai  in  Wyntoniensi 
ecclesia,  ubi  et  primo  iufulatus  est,  sub  monastica  conver- 
satione  peregit,  in  qua  corpus  ejus  decentissime  traditur 
sepulturJe,  ut  scribit  Florentius  in  Florario  Historiali 
lib.  3.  cap.  6,  semper  apud  semet  ipsum  haec  verba 
ruininabat,  Erravimm  juvenes ,  emendemus  senes. 

Misfortunes,  those  best  correctives  of  our  faults,  seem 
to  have  brought  Kins  Coinualch  to  his  senses.  When  he 
denied  Christianity,  his  enemies  were  permitted  to  take 
his  kingdom.  When  he  wantonly  deposed  the  Prelates 
of  the  Church,  or  caused  them,  by  his  arbitrary  conduct, 
to  become  self-exiled,  his  enemies  were  again  permitted 
to  have  the  ascendant.  Ingenuous  enough,  however,  to 
perceive  that  this  was  the  finger  of  God,  and  that  when 
his  kingdom  was  destitute  of  its  Bishop,  it  was  also 
destitute  of  the  divine  presence,  he  sent  an  embassy  to  the 
exiled  Agilbert,  in  France,  soliciting  his  return.  The 
venerable  and  injured  Bishop,  pleading  his  connexion 
with  his  present  Bishopric,  declined  returning  to 
England,  but  recommended  to  the  notice  of  the  King, 
his  (Agilbert's)  nephew,  who  accordingly  received 
consecration  from  Theodore,  Archbishop  of  Dover,  in  tiie 
year  670. 


II.    I^EUTHERIUS. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  670. — Died  A.  D.  676 

The  see  had  been  vacant  seven  years,  if  the  chronology 
of  the  Saxon  Chronicle  is  correct,  or  four  years  if  Rud- 
borne is  correct,  p.  192. 

•  Bishop  Wina  was  the  first  whom  historical  writers  brand  with  the 
criaie,  that  by  a  strange  misaomer  is  called  Simony. 


104  ST.  IIEADDA. 

The  Saxon  Chronicle,  under  the  year  670,  observe* 
that  Lothere,  the  nephew  of  Bishop  Egelbert,  succeeded 
to  the  Bishopric  over  the  land  of  the  W  est-Saxons,  and 
held  it  seven  years.  There  must  be  some  mistake  here  iri' 
the  Saxon  Chronicle.  This  assertion  is  contradicted  under 
the  year  676,  which  is  the  year  fixed  for  Headda's 
succession.  He  appears  to  have  been  consecrated  at 
Winton  ('in  ipsa  civitate  consecratus/  Bede.) 

Bede  (lib.  4.  cap.  12.  p.  154.)  records  "  Qwartus  occi- 
dentalium  Saxouum  Antistes  Leutherius  fuit.  Siquidem 
primus  Birinus,  secundus  Agilberctus,  tertius  exstitit 
Vini.  Cumque  mortuus  esset  Coinvalch,  quo  regnante 
idem  Leutherius  Epus  factus  est,  acceperunt  subreguli 
regnum  gentis  et  divisum  inter  se  tenuerunt  annis  circiter 
decern :  ipsisque  regnantibus  defunctus  est  ille,  ex- 
episcopatu  functus  est  Headdi  pro  eo.  Rudborne  adds 
from  Will,  of  Malm.  **  Hie  cum  S.  Adelmo  fundavit 
caenobuim  Meldunense."  This  was  formerly  the  hermitage 
of  St.  Aldhelra's  master,  Maydulph,  and  subsequently  the 
famous  Abbey  of  Malmesbury.  See  article  of  Bishop 
Aldhelm  in  the  Lives  of  the  Bishops  of  Salisbtiry. 
Bede  gives  his  character  thus;  "sediilo  moderamine  epis- 
eopatum  gessit." 


in.     ST.  HEADDA. 

Succeeded  A.D.  676. — Died  A.  D.  703,  Sax.  Chron. 

or  705,  UT  al: 

"  A.  D.  676.  This  year  Hedda  succeeded  to  his 
Bishopric,"*  Sax.  Ch.  He  was  consecrated  by  Arch- 
bishop Theodore,  in  London.  Bede,  lib.  4.  cap.  12. 
p.  154. 

He  had  before  been  a  Monk  and  Abbot.  William  of 
Malmesbury  de  gest.  Pontif.  lib.  2.  De  Epis.  occi. 
Bede's  editor  says  he  had  been  Abbot  of  Streaneshalch, 
but  quotes  no  authority.  He  should  have  quoted  Rud- 
borne, who  in  A/igl.  Sac.    1.   p.   192.  says,  **Prius  fuit 


*  We  were  before  told  by  the  Sax.  Chr.  that  Headda's  predecessor  suc- 
ceeded in  670  (see  that  year,)  and  held  the  bishopric  seven  years.  How 
tliea  could  the  successor  come  in  iu  the  year  676,  as  here  stated  ? 


ST.  HEADDA.  105 

monachus  et  Abbas  in  monasterio  quod  tunc  Streneshalce 
sed  nunc  Whyteby  nuncupatur."     (Whitby.) 

His  character  is  thus  drawn  by  Bede  : — "  Bonus 
quippe  erat  vir  et  Justus,  et  episcopalem  vitam,  sive 
doctrinam  magis  insito  sibi  virtutum  amore  quam  lectioni- 
bus  institutus  exercebat." — Lib.  5.  cap.  18. 

William  of  Malmesbury  declares  that  his  letters  which 
he  had  seen  in  the  monastery  there,  addressed  to  Aldhelm, 
prove  him  to  have  been  no  contemptible  scholar.  (De 
gest,  Pont.  lib.  Q,.) 

It  appears  that  Bishop  Headda  both  translated  the  see 
from  Dorchester   and    also   the    body  of  Bishop   Birin, 
<Bede,  lib.  3.  cap.  7.     Gul.  Malm,  and  Rudb.     Leland. 
Itin,  1.  p.  93.  "  Hedda  Epus  transtulit  corpus  Birini  ad 
Ventanam  civitatem,)  where  the  former  was  also  buried, 
according   to   Rudborne,    himself  a  Wintonian.       What 
seems  to  have  determined  Bishop  Headda  in  removing 
the  see,  was  that  the  kingdom  of  the  Mercians  in  which 
his   predecessors    had    hitherto    maintained   an    authority 
being  now    converted,    four  several  Bishoprics  were  by 
the   authority  of  the   metropolitan  erected,    so   that    the 
West-Saxon   Bishop   having    no    longer    any    authority 
there,  had  no  occasion  to  reside  at  Dorchester.     Headda 
departed  this  life  in  703,  if  we  follow  the  Saxon  Chron. 
though  Bede  and  others  after  him,  have  fixed  his  decease 
at  705.     The  fonner  authority  in  noticing  his  death,  adds, 
**  having  held  the  see  of  Winchester  twenty-seven  winters,'* 
while  Malmesbury,  "  he  held  the  see  above  thirty  years," 
and    after   him    Butler   in   his   Saints,   makes    the   same 
record.     The  latter  also  adds  that  he  was  a  Monk  of  St. 
Hilda,  but  quotes  no  authority. 

Richardson,  the  editor  of  Bishop  Godwin,  adopts  a 
curious  but  ve)y  confused  mode  of  quotation,  by  mixing 
up  two  authorities,  as  to  two  separate  facts  under  the 
quotation  of  one  author.  Thus,  for  instance,  he  says, 
"  Sedit  (Headda)  annos  '27  et  obiit  Wintonia?,  A.D. 
703  ;"  for  both  which  facts  he  quotes  Chron-Sax.  Now 
that  work  says  nothing  of  his  dying  at  Winchester. 

Headda's  day  in  the  Roman  Calendar,  is  kept  July  7. 
Miracles  are  said  to  have  been  performed  at  his  tomb. 
See  Bede,  lib.  5.  cap.  19-  though  Bede  himself  does  not 
say  so.  Bishop  Godwin  is  wrong  in  saying  that  Bede 
mentions  the  performance  of  miracles  during  Headda's 
prelacy.     **  Deus  praesuhitum  ejus  miraculis  non  paucis 


106  DANIEL. 

illustravit."  Bede  asserts  no  such  thing.  He  only  quotes 
Pecthelm  as  having  asserted  it. — Bede,  lib.  5.  cap.  18. 

Headda's  prelacy  was  rendered  memorable,  chiefly  for 
the  translation  of  the  see,  though  the  precise  period  seems 
not  to  be  settled.  The  Anna les  breves  Winton:  record, 
*'  Sedes  Episcoporum  W.  Saxonum  in  Ecclesia  de 
Dorcestria  mansit  per  spatium  42  annorum,  usque  ad 
tempora  Heddee,  qui  quinto  loco  S.  Birino  in  Epispm 
successit;  qui  sedem  transtulit  de  Dorcestria  una  cum 
corpore  sand"''  patris  nostri  Birini  in  Ecclih  Summae 
Triuitatis  tunc,  modo  Apostolorum  Petri  et  Pauli  VVin- 
toniae  anno  gratiae  683,  anno  Pontiticatus  suiX,anno  vero 
Escuini  Regis  W.  Saxonum  III." 

On  this,  Wharton  remarks — "  Verius  Hedda  Episco- 
patum  sortitus  est  triennio  post  Kynewaldi  Regis  obitum, 
anno  ultimo  Escuini  Regis,  X'"  vero  676,  consecratus 
Londonize  a  Theodoro  Epo.  Annum  exhibet  Chron.  Sax. 
locum  Beda,  1.  4.  c,  12.  Sedit  annos  27.  Obiit  Win- 
toniae,  anno  703,  teste  eadem  Chronologia  cui  fidem 
astruit  Beda,  1.  5,  c.  19." — No,  not  exactly.  Bede 
would  rather  lead  us  to  suppose  he  died  in  705,  as  the 
following  passage  would  shew : — ''Anno  dominica^  incar- 
nationis  705  Aldfrid  Rex  Nordanhymbrorum  defunctus 
est,  anno  regni  sui  20  necdum  impleto  ;  cui  succedens  in 
imperium  filius  suus  Osred  regnavit  annis  11.  Hujus 
regni  principio  (viz.  705).  Antistes  Occid.  Sax.  Haeddi 
ca-lestem  migravit  ad  vitam." — Lib.  5    c.  n8 

Bishop  Headda  appears  to  have  stood  high  in  the 
estimation  of  King  Ina,  since  the  exordium  of  nine  of  Ina's 
Statutes,  as  recorded  in  Wilkins's  Concilia,  vol.  1.  p.  58, 
under  the  year  693,  states  that  they  were  formed  by  the 
advice  and  assistance  of  that  Prelate. 

To  the  foregoing  we  have  only  to  add  from  Archbishop 
Usher's  Antiquities,  p.  59  ;  "  Haeddi  Epus  in  superiore 
coemiterio  monachorum  in  Pyramide  saxea  quondam 
nobiliter  exsculpta  adhuc  requiescit. 


IV.    DANIEL. 

Succeeded  A.  D^,  703. — Resigned  A.  D.  744. — Died 

A.  D.  745. 

On  Headda's  death,  the  diocese  of  Winchester  wati 


DANIEL.  107 

divided  into  two  portions.  The  one  retaining  its  fonner 
name  and  the  other  receiving  that  of  Sherborne,  and 
which,  in  process  of  time,  became  known  as  the  diocese 
of  Salisbury. 

^'  Quo  defuncto  (Headda)  Episcopatus  provinciae 
illius  in  duas  parochias  divisus  est,  Una  data  Daniheli, 
quam  usque  hodie  regit,  altera  Aldhehno." — Bede,  lib.  5. 
c.  18. 

"  Remanserunt  antem  EpoWint.  duae  provincias  tantuni, 
Hamptonensis  sc.  et  Suthriensis,  alteri  vero  provinciai, 
Wiltunensis,  Dorsetensis,  Berucensis,  Somersetensis, 
Devoniensis,  Cornubiensis." — Matt.  Westm.  a°"  704. 

**  Synodali  concilio,  diocaesis,  ultra  modum  protensa, 
in  duas  sedes  divisa." — Will.  Malm,  in  Vt.  S.  Aldhelm. 
Aiigl.  Sax.  vol.  2.  p.  20. 

'j'o  both  the  Bishoprics  of  Winton  and  Sherborne, 
were  appointed  men  of  the  greatest  character  in  the 
kingdom  for  learning  and  pietj',  who  were  also  both  of 
them  monks  of  the  new  monastery  and  school  of  Malmes- 
bury.  Daniel  had  such  a  reputation  for  sacred  literature, 
that  Ven.  Bede  did  not  think  it  beneath  him  to  receive 
literary  assistance  from  him,  which  he  acknowledges  in 
Pnejat.  Eccl.  Hist.  Vossius,  de  histoiicis  Latinis, 
lib.  2.  cap.  28.  records  the  follovnng  works  of  this 
Prelate  : — ''Condidit  Historian!  su£e  provinciae. — Austra- 
lium  Saxonum  gesta. — Res  insulae  Vectae. — VitamCeddae 
EpT. — Historian!  de  obitu  Adhelmi,  et  alia." — The  last 
writer  adds,  ''Epistola  ejus  catechetica,  de  ratione  institu- 
endi  infideles,  ad  S.  Bonifacium,  Anglorum  Apostolunj 
missa,  apud  Baronium  legitur." 

His  prelacy  is  rendered  remarkable  by  a  devout  pil- 
grimage to  Rome,  which  is  thus  noticed  by  Cressy. 
Church  Hist,  of  Brittany,  vol.  2.  p.  oQo  : — "  The  same 
year,  721,  is  recorded  the  devout  pilgrimage  of  Daniel, 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  to  Rome,  who  is  supposed  by 
some  to  have  subscribed  to  a  synod,  about  this  time 
assembled  there,  in  which  a  heavy  anathema  is  pronounced 
against  all  such  as  presume  to  associate  to  themselves  in 
marriage  any  virgins  or  other  women  consecrated  to  God, 
or  those  [women]  whose  matrimonial  society,  men  being 
promoted  to  such  orders  have,  according  to  the  church's 
discipline,  been  obliged  to  forsake." — Ste  Bk.Q,Q..  ch.  11. 

In  744,  Bishop  Daniel  resigned  the  see  and  became  a 
monk,  which  circumstances,  together  with  his  death  shortly 


lOS  DANIEL. 

after,  are  thus  noticed  by  Cressy: — "  The  year  following 
(744)  the  Reverend  and  Holy  Bishop  of  Winchester, 
Daniel,  having  spent  foity-three  years  in  the  adminis- 
tration of  that  diocese,  to  the  end  he  might  conclude  his 
long  lasting  age  in  quiet  repose,  surrendered  his  Bishopric 
and  became  a  monk  of  Malmesbury,  from  the  ancient 
tradition  of  his  own  monastery.  But  his  repose  on  earth 
continued  a  short  time,  for  the  year  following  he  happily 
attained  to  an  eternal  repose  in  heaven.  Though  by  his 
great  virtues  he  well  deserved  a  name  among  our  saints, 
yet  we  do  not  find  him  recorded  in  our  calendar.'* 
^Bk.  23.  ch.  13.  p.  601. 

There  is  the  usual  discrepancy  among  the  old  writers 
as  to  chronology,  respecting  Daniel.  The  Saxon  Chron. 
says,  '^  Forty-three  winters  had  then  elapsed  (viz.  in  744) 
since  he  received  the  episcopal  function."  Rudborne 
has  these  words: — "  Daniel  qui  post  beatissimum  Patrem 
Heddam  in  Wyntoniensi  Ecclesia  annis  34  (probably  a 
mis-print  for  43)  strenue  pontificavit,  senio  confectus 
Meldunum  rediit,  cujus  monasterii  monachus  fuerat :  ubi 
residuum  vitae  sub  monastica  religione  consumpsit  et 
sanctus  reputatur."  These  latter  words  are  directly 
conflicting  with  the  assertion  of  the  accurate  Cressy  on 
that  subject.  Vid.  sup.  Vossius  says>  "  Decessit  sub 
Sigeberto  Visi  Saxonum  rege,  anno  episcopatus  sui  42." 
Malmesbui-y  asserts  that  this  prelate  was  buried  at 
Malmesbury,  which  seems  probable,  although  he  admits 
that  the  Wintonians  claim  him ;  but  he  adds  they  are 
unable  to  shew  any  tomb  to  his  memory,  whether  real  of 
fictitious. 

Wharton  thus  sums  up  the  dates  with  which  Daniel 
was  connected  : — **  Daniel  sedem  Wint.  adeptus  post 
Heddae  mortem,  anno  703,  tenuit  annis  42,  anno  721 
Roman  adiit;  anno  731  Tatwinum  Arpuin  consecravit; 
anno  744  Episcopatu  cessit ;  anno  745  defunctus  est. 
Ista  tradit  Chronologia  Saxonica ;  cui  de  cessione  con- 
venit  Florentius,  de  obitu,  Huntindoniensis.  Obitum 
tamen  in  anno  746.  Mailrosensis  cum  Floiilego  coUo- 
cavit ;  et  unum  plus  justo  annum  Malmsburiensis  Ponti- 
ficatui  dedit.' 


HUMFERTH,  &c.  109 

V.    HUMFERTH,  HUMFRID,  or 
HUMPHREY. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  744. — Died  A.  D.  754. 

The  Saxon  Chronicle  states  the  dates  of  his  succession 
and  death,  but  nothing  more.  Rudborne  tacet.  Mahnes- 
bury  merely  says,  "  Cujus,  memoria  fit  in  concilio  Cuth- 
berti  ArchpT."  Cressy  says,  *'His  (Daniel's)  successor 
was  Humfrid,  whose  name  we  find  among  the  subscrip- 
tions to  a  synod  assembled  at  Cloveshoe,  the  second  time, 
shortly  after." — Cressy  ut.  sup. 

Of  this  prelate  and  several  of  his  successors,  nothing 
whatever  is  to  be  gleaned  beyond  the  dates  of  their  suc- 
cession and  death. 


VI.     CYNCARD. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  754. — Sax.  Chron. 


VH.    ATHELARD. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  754.     Wharton. — Translated 
A.  D.  790  TO  Dover. 

Rudborne    records    that    he    had    been   a   monk   of 
Malmesbury. 


VIH.     EGBLADUS  or  EGBALDUS. 

I  find  nothing  of  him  except  his  subscription  to  a 
charter  given  by  King  Offa  to  Croyland,  in  793. — See 
Jngulphus. 


IX.     DUDDA  or  CUD. 


no  CYNBERT,  &c. 

X.     CYNBERT. 

The  Saxon  Chronicle  records  his  journey  to  Rome 
uith  Archbishop  Ethelbert,  in  799-  In  806,  he  appears 
signing  a  charter  of  King  Kenulph  to  Croyland,  in 
Ingulph,  but  the  monastic  charters  are  so  frequently  not 
genuine,  that  we  can  place  but  little  reliance  on  them  in 
a  chronological  point  of  view. 


XI.     ALMUND. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  SOS- 
He  was  at  the  Council  of  Cliff  in  that  year.     He  is 
also  said  to  have  been  at  that  of  Bapchild,   in  79B. — 
Wilkins's  Concil. 


XII.  WIGBERT,  WIGHTIN,  or  WYDERGIN. 

Had  been  a  monk  of  Glaston.    He  went  to  Rome  with 
Wilfred,  in  Q\<2..—Sax.  CAr.— Died  before  8'29. 


XIII.     HEREFRID. 

Succeeded  in  or  before  A.  D.  8G9. — Died  A.  D.  835. 

I  have  thus  placed  his  succession,  because  he  made  his 
profession  to  Archbishop  Wilfred,  who  died  in  that  year. 
He  was  killed  in  battle  with  the  Danes,  together  with 
Sigelm,  Bishop  of  Sherborne,  in  SSS.— Saxon  C/non.— 
Bishop  Godwin  erroneously  has  it  834. 


XIV.     EDMUND. 

The  three  first  of  these,  says  Richardson,  are  buried  in 
the  cr>-pt  and  the  four  last  'in  the  nave  of  the  church. 
Edmund  near  the  entrance  of  the  choir,  as  says  Vigilantius. 
— MS.  Barloxc, 


HELMSTAN,  &c.  ill 

XV.     HELMSTAN. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  833. — Died  852. 

He  appears  signing  a  charter  to  Croyland,  in  Ingulph, 
in  833.  Rudborne  says,  that  he  had  been  a  monk  of 
Winchester,  and  that  King  Egbert  entrusted  to  him  as  a 
pupil,  his  son  Atulph,  p.  199-  Godwin  places  his  death 
at  A.  D.  837,  but  Rudborne  says  852.  He  was  buried 
according  to  a  MS.  of  Barlow,  quoted  by  Richardson,  in 
his  own  church  before  the  high  altar.  He  adds,  "  Sed 
modo  in  locello  plumbeo  positus,  ex  boreali  plaga  altaris 
supra  tumulum  Ric.  Toclivii  EpT."  Godwin  says  he  lies 
buried  with  Kenulph,  who  succeeded  him  at  the  distance 
of  200  years,  and  quotes  the  following  lines  : — 

Pontificis  hcEC  capsa  duos  tenet  incinerates. 
Primus  Helmstanua,  huic  successurq^ue  Kenulphus. 


XVI.    ST.  SV\  ITHUN. 
Succeeded  A.  D.  852.— Died  A.  D.  861. 

Of  the  imbriferous  St.  Swithun,  who  has  not  heard? 
But  it  is  perhaps  not  so  generally  known  that  the  esta- 
blishment of  Tithes  in  this  country  was  eflFected  during 
his  prelacy  by  his  pupil  King  Ethelwolf,  the  father  of  the 
illustrious  Alfred,  in  which  there  can  be  but  little  doubt 
that  St.  Swithun  bore  a  part.  See  Wilkins's  Concilia, 
vol.   1.  page    183.   A.D.   855.  Concilium   Wintoniense. 

Bishop  Swithun  was  born  at  Winchester  (in  pago 
Wintoniensi.  Higdeu)  the  26th.  of  King  Egbert.  He 
became  a  monk*  and  afterwards  a  prior  of  the  old 
monastery  there.  His  learning  and  piety  induced  King 
Egbert  to  take  especial  notice  of  him,  and  to  place  under 
his  care  his  son  Ethelwolf,  as  well  as  to  make  use  of  his 
counsels  in  the  government  of  his  kingdom.  Upon  the 
death  of  Bishop  Helmstan,  Ethelwolf  appointed  him  to 
this   see,   to   which   he   was   consecrated   by    Ceolnoth, 


*  Early  in  life  he  took  the  religious  habit  amonest  the  regular  clergy  of 
the  cathedral. — Citpgrave,  Leg.  SancC.  fol.  cclxsviii. 


112  ST.  SWITHUN. 

Archbishop  of  Canterbury,   in  852.     His  profession  oi 
faith  may  be  read  in  Rudborne,  p.  203. 

He  appears  to  have  been  indefatigable  in  promotnig 
the  good  of  the  whole  kingdom,  but  particularly  of  the 
city  and  diocese  of  Winchester,  insomuch  that  a  great  part 
of  the  merit  in  whatever  was  well  or  wisely  done  by  his 
pupil,  was  justly  ascribed  to  him.  (Will.  Malm,  de  Pont.) 
He  built  many  churches  in  those  parishes  where  none 
had  before  existed,  (Capgrave  iti  life  of  Switlimi,)  and 
he  also,  as  the  same  author  records  in  his  Legenda 
Sanctorum,  built  the  bridge  at  the  east  end  of  Winchester. 
This  fact  is  recorded  in  the  very  ancient  lives  of  the 
Saints,  in  verse,  quoted  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Wharton. 
— Hist.  Engl.  Poet?!/,  vol.  I. 

Se™t  Swithan  his  bushopiicke  to  al  goodnesse  droiigli 
The  towne  also  of  Wynchestre  he  amended  inough 
Ffor  he  lette  the  stronge  bruge  withoute  the  towne  arere 
Aud  foud  thereto  lym  &  stou  &  the  workmen  that  there  were. 

[f.  93.  MS,  Venion.) 

William  of  Malmesburj,  Capgrave,  and  other  early 
writers,  represent  him  as  a  treasury  of  virtues,  but  those 
by  which  he  was  most  distinguished  were  his  mildness 
and  humility.  ("Solitariae  sanctitatis  amator,  nulla 
pompa  bona  sua  prostituebat").  When  called  on  to 
consecrate  any  new  church,  however  distant,  it  was  his 
custom  to  go  to  it  on  foot,  (not  '*  bare-foot,"  as  Butler 
in  his  lives  of  the  Saints  ornamentally  tells  the  stor})  and 
that  he  might  neither  be  exposed  to  ridicule  or  eulogy,  he 
always  travelled  to  it  by  night.  His  affection  for 
humility  he  carried,  as  Bishop  Milner  has  it,  beyond  the 
grave,  giving  orders  in  his  last  sickness,  that  his  body 
should  not  be  buried  with  marks  of  distinction  in  the 
cathedral  itself,  but  among  the  common  people  m  the 
church-yard ;  where  it  lay  at  the  north-west  end  of  it  for 
more  than  a  centuiy. 

It  is  recorded  of  Bishop  Swithun,  by  Rudborne,  that 
Ethelbald  (son  of  Ethelwolf  and  brother  of  Alfred)  having 
contracted  an  incestuous  marriage  with  Judith,  the  late 
Kintr's  widow,  such  was  the  effect  of  St.  Swithun's 
eloquence  and  sanctity,  that  he  not  only  induced  the 
young  monarch  to  dissolve  this  unnatural  connexion,  but 
also  publicly  to  repair  the  scandal  he  had  given  by  his 
licentious  conduct,  and  perceiving  how  much  the  city  of 
Winchester,  aud  particularly  the  cathedral  was  exposed 


ST.  SWITHUN.  113 

to  the  violence  and  cruelty  of  the  Pagans  in  any  sudden 
invasion,  St.  Swithun  further  persuaded  him  to  secure 
the  Church  and  Cloisters  by  fortifications. — Hist.  Maj. 
lib.  3.  cap.  3. 

^SS"  The  institution  of  tithes  during  Swithun's  prelacy 
must  not  be  omitted.  7^he  following  is  from  Ingulphus: 
"Inclytus  Rex  Ethel wulph us,  omnium  prjelatorum  ac 
principum  suorum  qui  sub  ipso  variis  provinciis  totius 
Angliae  praserant,  gratuito  consensu,  tunc  prinio,  cum 
DiiCiMis  omnium  terrarum  ac  bonorum  aliorum  sive 
catallorum  universam  dotaverat  ecclesiam  Anslicanam." 
This  important  act  took  place  in  Winchester  as  appears 
by  the  charter  to  this  effect  which  is  extant  in  most  of  our 
histories.  (Matt.  Westm.  Ingulph.  Rudb.)  Rudborne 
erroneously  dates  the  charter  844,  but  the  other  historians 
concur  in  854  or  835.  This  charter  was  subscribed  by 
Ethelwolph  himself,  in  the  Cathedral  Church  at  VV  inches- 
ter,  before  the  high  altar,  after  which  it  was  placed  by  the 
King  on  the  altar. — 117//.  Malm. 

Swithun  died  according  to  the  Saxon  Chronicle  in  864, 
Rudborne  and  Malmesbury  say  863.  He  was  buried,  as 
was  before  noticed,  according  to  his  own  desire,  outside 
the  north  gate  of  the  cathedral,  where  afterwards  a  small 
chapel  was  built. 

Matthew  of  Westminster  records  many  of  his  miracles. 
Much  trash  of  this  sort  may  also  be  found  in  the  other 
chroniclers  respecting  him.  The  following  is  rather  too 
choice  a  morceau  to  be  omitted.  Malmesbury  gravely 
tells  us,  that  w  hile  the  Bishop  was  building  the  bridge  1 1 
the  east  end  of  Winchester,  the  labourers  happened  to 
overthrow  and  smash  all  the  eggs  which  a  woman  was 
carrying  in  a  basket  to  market.  The  holy  man  vouchsafed 
immediately  to  restore  the  said  eggs  to  their  due  shape  and 
consistency ! 

His  bones  were  removed  into  the  Church  by  Bishop 
Ethelwold.  Lantfred,  in  980,  wrote  an  account  of  this 
event,  but  not  a  life  of  the  Saint  as  Rudborne,  Pits,  ai  d 
Bale  erroneously  state. — See  Leland  de  Scriptoribus  and 
Sim.  Dunelm.  X.  Script,  col.  157.  Rudborne  says,  this 
disinteiTOent  took  place  110  years  after  the  Prelate's  death. 
On  this  occasion  many  miracles  are  said  to  have  been 
performed  in  the  presence  of  an  immense  concourse  of 
people,  his  ashes  never  having  condescended  to  display 
their  miraculous  powers  till  after  the  expulsion  of  the 
seculars  by  Ethelwolf. — See  Aug.  Sac.  vol.  1.  p.  223. 


1J4  ST.  SWITHUN. 

Archbishop  Nicolson  observes,  that  "St.  Swithun^Ji 
miracles  were  recorded  by  Lamfrid  or  Lantfred,  a  bene- 
dictiue  monk  of  Winchester,  about  the  year  980,  of  whose 
book  we  are  told  there  was  a  MS.  copy  in  the  Lord 
Lumley's  library,  (Pits,  p.  178)  and  we  are  sure  there  no\T 
is  one  in  Cotton's.  (Nero.  E.  1.  Vid,  et  Galba.  A.  13.) 
This  treats  only  of  the  great  things  he  did  after  his  death, 
but  it  is  probable  there  was  a  former  part  of  the  discourse 
Avhich  seems  also  to  have  been  translated  (Preface  to 
Ang.  Sac.  1.  pp.  29,  30.)  into  the  Anglo-Saxon.  The 
like,  says  Pits,  (p.  181)  was  penned  by  Wolstan,  the 
same  famous  monk  of  Winchester,  who  about  the  year 
1000,  did  as  much  for  St.  Ethelwald. — Historical 
Library,  p.  106. 

St.  Swithun  is  commemorated  in  the  Romish  Calendar 
on  the  2nd.  of  July,  which  was  the  day  of  his  death,  but 
his  chief  festival  in  England  was  the  loth,  of  that  month. 
—See  the  Sarum  Bi^eviary  and  Missal. 

The  following  passage  from  Brand's  Popular  Anti- 
quities, p.  271,  may  not  be  uninteresting  : — "  St. 
Swithun 's  Day.  Blount  tells  us,  that  St.  Swithun,  a 
holy  Bishop  of  Winchester,  about  the  year  860,  was  called 
the  weeping  St.  Swithun,  for  that,  about  his  feast,  Prsesepe 
and  Aselli,  rainy  constellations  arise  cosmically  and 
commonly  cause  rain.  The  following  is  said  to  be  the 
origin  of  the  old  adage  :  "If  it  rain  on  St.  Swithuu's  day, 
there  will  be  rain  more  or  less  forty  succeeding  days." 
St.  Swithun,  Bishop  of  Winton,  dying,  was  canonized  by 
the  then  Pope.  He  was  singular  for  his  desire  to  be 
buried  in  the  open  church-yard,  and  not  in  the  chancel  of 
the  minster,  as  was  usual  with  other  Bishops,  which  request 
was  complied  with  ;  but  the  monks,  on  his  being  canonized, 
taking  it  into  their  heads  that  it  was  disgraceful  for  the 
saint  to  lie  in  the  open  church-yard,  resolved  to  remove  his 
body  into  the  choir,  which  was  to  have  been  done  with 
solemn  procession  on  the  15th.  of  July.  It  rained,  how- 
ever, so  violently  on  that  day,  and  for  forty  days  succeed- 
ing, as  had  hardly  ever  been  known,  which  made  them  set 
aside  their  design,  as  heretical  and  blasphemous ;  and 
instead,  they  erected  a  chapel  over  his  grave,  at  which 
many  miracles  are  said  to  have  been  wrought." 

In  Mr.  Douce's  interleaved  copy  of  the  Popular  Anti- 
quities,  is  the  following  note: — "I  have  heard  these  lines 
on  St.  Swithun's  day  ; 


ALFRITH,  8cc.  X15 

St.  Swithun's  day,  if  thou  dost  tain. 
For  forty  days  it  will  remain  : 
St.  Swithuii's  day,  if  thou  be  fair. 
For  forty  days  'twill  rain  ua  uiair. 

This  is  an  old  saying,  that  when  it  rains  on  St.  Swithun's 
day,  it  is  the  saint  christening  his  apples,"  Sic. 


XVII.     ALFRITH. 

Succeeded  between  A.D.  861.  and  863. — Trans,  to 
Canterbury  A.D.  871— Died  A.D.  889. 

'A  Prelate,'  as  Matthew  of  Westminster  says,  ^of 
great  learning.'  Florilegus  calls  him  *vir  in  rebus  eccle- 
siasticis  sufficienter  eruclitus,  qui  vices  antecessoris 
aliquanto  tempore  prudenter  exegit.'  He  is  said  to  have 
been  translated  to  Canterbury  in  87 1 ,  where  he  had  been 
a  monk,  and  where  he  was  buried 


XVIII.    TUNBERT,or  DUNBERT. 

Succeeded  A.D.  871.— Died  A.  D.  879. 

He  is  only  known  by  having  given  the  manor  of  Stu- 
sheling  to  the  church ;  Rudb.  p.  0.06,  and  as  having 
crowned  King  Alfred.  Florence  of  Worcester  places  his 
death  at  879- 


XIX.    DENEWLF. 
Succeeded  A.D.  879.— Died  A,D.  909. 

Said  to  have  been  the  herdsman  tliat  sheltered  Alfred. 
But,  with  Wharton,  I  should  be  sceptical  on  this  point. 

Rudborne  plainly  asserts,  ''Alfredus  quendam  subul- 
cum  nomine  Denewlphum  inveniens,  ad  scholas  misit 
qui  postmodum  Doctor  in  Theologia  Oxoniis  factus,  per 
ipsuni  Alfredum  Regem  in  Eputn  Wintoniensem  ordi- 
natus  est."  William  of  Malmesbury  qualifies  a  similar 
assertion   with    **Si   fama   creditur."      This   fable,  has 


1  ^ 

1       -M 


316  FRITHSTAN. 

been  copied  by  all  our  historians.  For  that  it  is  a  fable 
is  evident  from  chronology,  for  Alfred  did  not  quit 
Athelney  (in  Somerset)  where  the  herdsman  entertained 
him,  before  8/8,  and  in  the  following  year  Denewlph  was 
appointed  Bishop.  Bishop  Godwin  was  so  far  imposed 
on  by  this  story  as  to  repeat  it,  though  he  conjectures  that 
the  heidsman's  wife,  who  it  will  be  remembered  found 
fault  with  Alfred's  skill  in  cookery,  was  dead  at  the  period 
of  the  monarch's  promotion  of  his  quondam  host,  to  the 
purple. 

In  897,  he  was  appointed  to  the  important  post  of 
Governor  of  the  royal  city  of  Winchester. — Matt.  Westm. 
ad.  an.  897. 

Rudborne  adds  that  Denewlph  sat  here  twenty-four 
years ;  and  was  buried  in  his  own  cathedral.  But  he 
must  have  sat  thirty  years,  according  to  the  date  assigned 
for  his  death  by  Florentius  and  the  Saxon  Chronicle. 


XX.    FRITHSTAN.* 

Succeeded  A.  D.  910. — Resigned  A.  D.  9321. — Diei> 

A.  D.  933. 

After  the  death  of  King  Alfred,  the  Pope  being 
informed  that  there  was  no  Bishop  in  the  western  parts  of 
England,  interdicted  both  the  King  and  the  kingdom. 

But  Plegmund,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  hastened  to 
Rome,  and  informed  the  Pope  that  King  Edward  had,  in 
a  late  synod,  (Wilkins's  Concilia,  vol.  1.  p.  199.)  held  in 
904,  founded  some  new  and  supplied  all  the  vacant 
Bishoprics.  The  Pope  was  satisfied,  and  the  Archbishop 
consecrated  on  one  day  at  Canterbury  seven  new  Bishops, 
among  whom  was  Frithstau,  to  Winchester. 

The  chronology  of  these  circumstances  is  very  conflict- 
ing :  for  it  had  been  represented  that  the  Sees  in  West- 
Saxony  had  been  vacant  seven  years,  which  was  not  the 
fact.     In  the  next  place  Formosus  is  called  Pope  at  that 


*  Between  Denewlph  and  Frithstan,  William  of  Malmesbury  inserts 
Athelm,  and  others  Bertulph,  but  as  there  seems  no  sufficient  authority 
for  so  doing,  aud  nothing  but  their  bare  names  recorded,  I  have  omitted 
them. 


FRITHSTAN.  11?^ 

time,  whereas  the  then  Pope  was  Sergiiis  III.  (See 
Wilkins's  Cone.  vol.  1.  p.  199,  note  ])  and  thirdly,  the 
letter  attributed  to  Forniosus,  is  proved  by  Wharton  to 
have  been  a  fiction.  That  seven  Bishops  were  consecrated 
on  one  day  has  been  stated  by  so  many  historians,  that  I 
should  be  unwilling  to  doubt  the  circumstance.  The 
question  is  as  to  the  year  in  which  those  consecrations 
took  place.  Most  writers  erroneously  fix  the  event  at 
904.  Ralph  Dicetensis  alone  says  909,  and  he  probably 
is  correct.  For  if  the  Bishops  of  the  new  dioceses  were 
consecrated  in  904,  there  could  not  have  been  seven  at 
OHce  consecrated,  since  Denewlph  at  AVinton  and  Asser 
at  Sherborne  were  not  then  dead  ;  but  if  seven  were  con- 
secrated together,  then  the  consecration  could  not  have 
taken  place  in  904. 

These  discrepancies  may  be  thus  adjusted.  King 
Edward  and  Archbishop  Plegmund  convened  a  synod  in 
904,  and  in  it,  decreed  upon  the  erection  of  three  new 
Bishoprics  in  West-Saxony.  Tliose  Bishoprics  were  to 
be  taken  out  of  the  dioceses  of  Winchester  and  Sherborne ; 
but  they  thought  it  unjust  to  make  a  spoliation  of  those 
dioceses  during  the  incumbency  of  the  respective  Pre- 
lates, especially  as  each  deserved  well  of  the  King  and  the 
nation  at  large.  They  therefore  decreed  that  the  matter 
should  be  carried  into  execution  whenever  their  demise 
might  take  place.  Now,  in  the  year  909,  it  happened 
conveniently  that  Winchester  and  Sherborne  both  were 
destitute  of  their  Prelates,  as  also  Mercia  Australis  and 
South-Saxony  ;  the  three  new  Bishoprics  therefore  being 
constituted,  and  new  Bishops  appointed  to  them,  Pleg- 
mund consecrated  the  seven  Prelates  at  once  in  909. 

Bishop  Godwin  places  Frithstan's  succession  at  905, 
and  says  he  was  consecrated  to  Winchester  with  six  other 
Bishops  by  Archbishop  Plegmund ;  but  that  date  we  have 
shewn  to  be  impossible.  Of  the  remarkable  anachronism 
to  which  the  spurious  letter  attributed  by  some  monk  to 
Forniosus,  gave  rise,  I  have  treated  fully  in  the  Lives  of 
the  Bishops  of  Salisbury/,  part  I.  pp.  68-73. 

The  SaJfon  Chronicle,  which  in  most  similar  cases,  I 
hold  to  be  instar  omnium,  fixes  Frithstan's  succession  at 
910,  "An.  DCCCCX.  Hoc  anno  capessit  Frithe, 
stanus  Episcopatum  in  Wintecester." 

Richardson,  the  editor  of  Bishop  Godwin,  at  p.  209, 
in  a  note,   correctly  observes; — **  I)e  his  episcopis,  i?j 


118  BRYNSTAN. 

aulhore  IVIS.  inceito  de  Ep.  Wiiit.  sic  scriptum  legimus." 
*'  later  S.  Swythunuin  et  Fiitlistanum  lapsum  49  anno- 
rum  ties  fueiunt  EpT:  viz.  Alfrithus,  cujus  tempore 
Canonici  venerunt  in  vetus  mouasteriuni  Wyntow  : 
Trumbertus  (Dumbert)  qui  manerium  de  Mestelying 
huic  contulit  ecclesiae :  Denewlphus,  deinde  S.  Frith- 
etanus  qui  sedit  21  annis.  Cui  successit  Brinstanus  qui 
sedit  4  annis."*  Swythun  died  86 1,  to  which  add  49 
years,  and  we  are  brought  to  9 1 0,  the  year  fixed  by  the 
Sax.  Chr.  for  the  succession  of  Frithstan. 

Rudborne  thus  notices  our  Prelate  : — "  Iste  Frithe- 
stanus  discipulus  fuit  Si.  Grimbaldi,  et  ab  eo  suscepit 
habitum  monachaleni :  fuit  enim  primitus  unus  ex  clericis 
sascularibus,  qui  videns  monachorum  sanctissiman  con- 
versationem,  saeculum  reliquit  etad  religionem  convolavit: 
ut  scribit  Vigilancius  in  libro  de  basilica  Petri,  cap.  9. 
Hie  beatus  Frithestanus  ob  eximiam  sanctitatem  factus 
est  Episcopus ;  et  22  annis  in  onini  sanctitate  pontificavit, 
sed  postea  amore  divinae  contemplationis,  curam  deserens 
pastoralem,  ordinavit  Sanctinn  Brynstanum  loco  sui, 
Episcopum,  ac  ipse  pauperem  et  monasticam  vitam  usque 
in  iineni  transegit,"  &c.  Hist.  Maj.  Wint.  lib,  3.  cap.  7, 
and  in  the  following  chapter  he  adds,  "  Sanctus  Frithe- 
stanus Wyntoniensis  Ecclesiae  Praesulpontificabat  XVII. 
aonis  temp.  Edw.  senioris  et  V.  temp.  Regis  Athelstani : 
mortuus  vero  sepultus  est  in  ecclesia  cathedrali  Wynto- 
niensi." 

Placing  his  succession,  therefore,  as  above,  at  910, 
his  resignation  must  have  taken  place  in  the  year  932. 
But  Godwin  incorrectly  has  it  931,  and  his  death  in  932; 
whereas  his  death  did  not  take  place  till  933.  The 
Sax.  Ckwn.  thus  records  it:  "An.  DCCCCXXXIII. 
Hoc  anno  decessit  Frithestanus  Episcopus." 


XXI.     BRYNSTAN. 
Succeeded  A.  D.  932. — Died  A.  D.  934. 
He  also  had  been  Grimbald's  disciple,   and  a  secular. 


•  This  is  incorrect.    He  sat  Biishop  only  two  years  and  a  half.    Saxan 
Chron.    Vid.  Brinstan  infra. 


BRYNSTAN.  119 

The  Saxon  Chronicle  thus  notices  his  succession  :  "  An. 
DCCCCXXXIl.  Hoc  anno  consecratus  est  Byra- 
stanus  [this  metathesis  is  very  common]  ad  VVintanceaster, 
IV.  Kal.  Junii  et  tenuit  episcopatum  duobus  annis  cum 
dimidio." — But  Rudborne  says,  **  quatuor  annis  regens 
episcopatum."  Wharton,  in  a  note  subjoined,  observes, 
**  Brinstanum  episcopatum  anno  932  iniisse  Rudburnus 
in  Hist:  minori  recte  tradit.  Obiit  autem  anno  934, 
ad  festum  Omnium  Sanctorum  juxta  chronologiam 
Saxonicam,  Florentium,  Hovedenum  aliosque ;  ideoque 
biennio  et  quinque  mensibus  tantum  sedit." 

This  prelate  had  a  singular  custom  of  going  round  the 
burial  places  near  Winchester,  nightly,  saying,  Placebo  et 
Dirige.  On  one  of  these  nocturnal  perambulations,  the 
holy  man  is  recorded  to  have  met  with,  not  a  ghost,  but 
a  singular  adventure.  Having  concluded  his  prayers  for 
the  souls  of  the  departed,  M'ith  "  requiescant  in  pace/* 
a  multitude  of  voices,  as  his  biographer  Rudborne  gravely 
assures  us,  exclaimed — *  Amen' !  How  could  a  church 
stoop  so  low  as  to  invent,  or  any  individual  be  so  infatuated 
as  to  propagate,  or  give  credence  to  such  monstrous  and 
palpable  absurdities  ! 

Brynstan  having  distinguished  himself  in  the  mistaken 
piety  of  the  times,  has  had  the  honour  of  fathering  divers 
miracles. 

William  of  Malmesbury  thus  draws  his  character : — 
''  Hie  Dominici  exempli  ardentissimus  executor,  pedes 
egenis  omui  die,  semotis  arbitris  lavabat,  mensam  et  cibos 
apponens,  nee  minus  pro  disciplina  famulantium  reliquias 
abstergens.  Obsequio  consummato,  pauperibusque  di- 
missis,  ad  multas  ibi  remanebat  horas,  oratiouibus,  ut 
creditur,  vacans,  Quadam  ergo  die  pro  consuetudine 
ingressus,  nulla  antea  interpellatus  molestia  segritudinis, 
subito  clam  omnibus  spiritu  vitali  caruit. — De  Pontif. 
lib.  Q.  fol.   138. 

"  An.  DCCCCXXXIV.  Byrnstanus  Epus  deces- 
sit  in  Wintanceaster  ad  festum  omn.  sanct." — Sax.  Chron. 

Bishop  Tanner,  on  the  authority  of  Leland  (Itin.  vol. 
3.  p.  Gl.vita  S.  Brinstani)  observes,  "an  hospital  was 
founded  near  one  of  the  gates  of  this  city  (Winchester) 
by  Brinstan,  Bishop  here,  who  died  A.D.  935,  [read 
934,]  but  his  editor  queries  whether  this  was  not  St. 
John's  hospital,  wherein  was  the  image  of  this  St, 
Brinstan. — See  Leland  Itin.  vol,  3.  p.  J 00.  ami  Notitm 
Monastica  under  Winchester. 


120  ELPHEGE 

XXII.     ELPHEGE,  (the  Bald). 
Succeeded  A.  D.  935. — Died  A.D.  951. 


« 


'An.  DCCCCXXXV.  Hoc  anno  capessit  jElfea- 
gus  Epus  episcopatum  in  Winceastre."  Chron.  Sax. 
He  liad  been  a  monk  of  Glaston.  Rudborne,  Hist.  Maj. 
lib.  3.  cap.  8.  It  appears  that  he  ordamed  St.  Dunstan 
and  Bishop  Ethelwold,  one  of  his  own  successors  in  the 
see  of  Winton,  Priests. — ibid.  The  monkish  chroniclers, 
according  to  the  foolish  fancies  of  those  times,  assert  that 
he  was  gifted  with  the  prophetic  spirit,  and  Rudborne, 
William  of  Malmesbury,  Cressy,  Capgrave  and  Matt. 
Westm.  under  the  year  946,  record  some  absurd  stories 
respecting  him  He  was  uncle  of  the  celebrated  St. 
Dunstan,  "by  whom  he  was  much  promoted  in  the  ways 
of  piety." — Cressy' s  Ch:  Hist:  vol.  2. p.  822,  or  Book  31. 
ch.  2. 

This  Bishop  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  Elphege, 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  tho'  Cressy  seems  to  identify 
them  in  the  Index  or  Table  at  the  end  of  vol.  2.  but  not 
so  in  the  place  there  cited 

The  latter  historian  thus  records  the  death  of  the 
Bishop.  *'But  a  more  considerable  losse  came  to  the 
Kingdom  by  the  death  of  the  holy  Bishop  Elpheg, 
surnamed  the  Bald,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  and  uncle  to 
St.  Dunstan.  In  the  annals  of  the  church  of  Winchester 
there  is  recorded  a  copy  of  the  will  made  by  him  before 
his  death,  by  which  he  disposed  of  his  hereditary  lands  to 
the  benefit  of  certain  persons,  men  and  woman  of  kindred, 
who  were  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  them  during  their  lives 
only,  after  which  they  were  to  remain  to  several  churches 
and  monasteries  in  the  citty  of  Winchester." — Ch.  Hist, 
p.  847. 

The  date  of  his  death  is  variously  assigned.  Matt. 
Westm.  p.  188  says  946.  But  Maiiros  and  the  Saxon 
Chronicle  more  correctly  951  The  latter  thus  notices 
that  event.  *^  An.  DCCCCLI.  Hoc  anno  decessit 
iElfeagus,  Wint.  Epus  in  festo  S.  Gregorii."  And  the 
former,  thus:  "Anno  DCCCCLI  Sanctus  Elphegus 
Wint.  Epiis  huic  mundo  ereptus  est." — Chronicain  Gale 
Script,  vol.  l.p.  ] 48. 

"In  propria  ecclesia  Cathedrali  corpus  ejus  traditur 
sepu\turi£."'^Jiudb.  Hist.  Maj.  lib.  3,  cap.  10. 


ELFSIN.  121 

XXIII.     ELFSIN  or  ALFSY. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  951. — Translated  to  Cakterbury 
•A.D.  961.— Died  A.D.  961. 

Rudborne  calls  this  Prelate  "  Vir  regalis  prosapiae  et 
egregiaj  literaturet.' — Hist.  Maj.  lib.  3.  cap.  X. 

1  can  find  no  authority  for  the  assertion  made  by 
Bishop  Milner  in  his  Hist.  Winckest.  that  this  see  was 
offered  to  Dunstan,  and  on  his  refusal  of  it,  fell  a  prey  to 
Elfsin.  For  it  happens  that  it  was  Canterbury,  and  not 
Winchester  that  was  offered  to  and  rejected  by  Dunstan, 
though  the  former  was  afterwards  accepted  by  him.  What 
he  means  by  a  Bishopric  'falling  a  prei/,'  I  know  not, 
as  I  hear  of  no  spoliation  of  either  Winchester  or  Canter- 
bury by  Elfsin.  It  is  indeed  said,  but  neither  do  I  find 
any  sufficient  evidence  of  that  fact,  that  Canterbury  was 
simoniacally  obtained  by  our  Prelate ;  such  charges 
must  be  received  with  caution,  since  it  is  much  easier  to 
traduce  and  vilify  than  to  make  out  a  case  against  the 
accused.  Consult  Osbernus  de  vit:  S.  Dunstani  ap: 
Wharton  Ang.  Sac.  2.  109. 

Being  anxious  to  procure  the  papal  confirmation  to 
Canterbury  and  the  archiepiscopal  pall,  without  which,  in 
Roman  Catholic  times,  the  archiepiscopal  power  Avas 
imperfect,  he  hastened  to  Rome  in  very  unseasonable 
weather,  for  the  accomplishment  of  those  objects,  when 
in  crossing  the  Alps  he  experienced  such  intense  cold  as 
induced  him  to  cause  the  bodies  of  the  horses  on  which  he 
and  his  retinue  rode,  to  be  cut  open  in  order  to  preserve 
his  own  vital  heat  by  plunging  his  feet  into  them ;  but  this 
expedient  failing,  he  died  amidst  the  snow,  and  his  body 
was  brought  home  for  interment.  Rudborne  arid  Will, 
Malms.  The  former  tells  a  long  and  ridiculous  story 
about  the  apparition  of  Archbishop  Odo,  his  predecessor 
at  Canterbury,  8cc.  Mhich  the  reader  who  has  a  relish  for 
such  Romish  puerilities  may  find  at  p.  215  of  the  2nd. 
volume  of  Wharton's  Ang.  Sacra. 

In  a  note  respecting  the  Pall  (for  an  account  of  which 
see  the  Lives  of  the  Bishops  of  Sarnm,  Ft.  I.  p.  93.) 
Bishop  jSIilner  in  his  Hist.  Winton  observes  that  the 
pallium  is  still  "  quartered"  in  the  Arms  of  the  See  of 
Canterbury,  He  should  have  said  is  still  "  retained." 
It    never    was    and    never    could,    by    possibility,    be 


123  BRITHELM;  &c. 

quartered:   for   quarterings  come  by  heiresses,  as  every 
one  knows. 

Bishop  Godwin  says  he  was  translated  to  Canterbury 
in  958.  But  this  is  at  variance  with  the  Sax.  Chron. 
which  fixes  Archbishop  Odo's  death  at  96 1.  This, 
therefore  must  be  tlie  earliest  date  we  can  assign  to  Bishop 
Elfsy's  translation.  A  note  in  Bishop  Gibson's  edition 
of  the  ■S'cf.r,  Chron.  p.  117  observes,  "Post  Odonem, 
Archpus  factus  est  Alfsinus,  (alii  Elsinus)  qui  tamen  a 
plerisque  historicis  omittitur,  quippe  baud  niulto  postea, 
dum  Roman  ad  Pallium  petendum  proficisceretur,  in 
Alpinis  montibus  gelu  constrictus  periit." 


XXIV.     BRITHELM. 
Succeeded  A.  D.  961. — Died  A.  D.  963. 

Some  writers  have  incorrectly  placed  this  Prelate's 
succession  at  958.  But  if  Archbishop  Odo  died  in  96I, 
it  follows,  as  Elfsin  was  his  immediate  successor,  that 
this  See  could  not  have  been  vacated  till  that  year.  But 
little  is  recorded  of  this  Bishop,  and  that  little  partakes  of 
considerable  uncertainty.  Bishop  Godwin  says  he  sat 
here  five  years,  and  died  in  963.  This  is  evidently  a 
confusion  of  chronology.  The  date  he  appears  to  have 
copied  from  Matt.  Westm.  but  the  Saxon  Chronicle  by 
stating  that  Bishop  Althelwold  succeeded  here  in  963, 
virtually  places  his  demise  at  least  at,  if  not  anterior  to 
that  year. 


XXV.    ETHELWALD. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  963. — Died  A.  D.  984, 

*'  An.  DCCCCLXIII.  Eodem  anno  capessit 
Athehvoldus  Abbas,  Episcopatum  in  Wintanceaster,  et 
consecratus  est  in  vigilia  S'-  Andreas  quae  dies  fuit 
domiuica." — Sax.  Chr. 

This  Prelate,  who  was  decidedly  the  most  distinguished 
and  munificent  yet  recorded,  was  a  native  of  Winchester 


ETHELWALD.  123 

and  born  of  respectable  parents  *     His  holy  orders  he 
received  from  Bishop  Elphege. 

*'  Now  began,"  says  the  accurate  and  intelligent  Cressy, 
'<  the  great  contention  long  continued  and  sharply  prose- 
cuted between  the  secular  clergy  and  monks,  about  the 
right   of  possessing   monasteries    and    several    cathedral 
churches.     The  first  place  where  it  was  set  on  foot  was 
the  church  of  Winchester,  and  the  first  person  who  gave 
occasion  thereto  was  St.  Ethelwold,  this  year  [963]  made 
Bishop  of  that  See."     The  historian  then  proceeds  to  give 
the  following  sketch  of  this  Prelate's  life  :  "  St.  Ethelwold, 
when  he  was  grown  up,  being  of  a  sharp  wit,  was  delivered 
to  masters  to  be  instructed  in  sacred  learning,  wherein  he 
made  such  progress  that  King  Athelstan  hearing  a  good 
report  of  him  sent  for  him  to  court,  and  took  care  to  have 
him  ordained  Priest  by  Elphegus,  who  at  the  same  time 
also  ordained  St.  Dunstan,"  &c.     After  this,  Ethelwald 
•went  to  Glastonbury  [Brompton  says  ut  sup.  "  Glastoniae 
educatus  est"]  where  St.  Dunstan  gave  him  the  monastical 
habit  [cucullatus.]     He  was  for  his  humility  and  other 
virtues  beloved  of  all,  and  constituted  by  the  abbot,  Dean 
of  the  monastery  [this  preferment  is  omitted  by  Bishop 
Godwin,  &c.]  in  which  office  his  humility  received  no 
diminution  ;  for  he  would  oft  labour  in  the  garden,  and 
prepare  roots  and  fruit  for  his  brethren. 

The  odour  of  his  sanctity  was  so  far  spread,  that  it  came 
to  King  Edred,  who  by  the  recommendation  of  his  mother 
Edgiva,  gave  to  him  a  certain  place  called  Abendon,-}- 
where  anciently  had  been  a  monastery,  then  neglected  and 
desolate,  for  the  repairing  of  which  the  King  furnished 
him  out  of  his  own  treasure,  and  his  mother  more  liberally. 
Being  made  therefore  Abbot;}:  of  that  place,  he  assem- 
bled a  congregation  of  monks,  whom  he  governed  with 
great  sanctity,  &c.  After  fifteen  years,  St.  Ethelwold 
was  made  Bishop  of  Winchester,  where  he  found  horrible 
disorder  among  the  canons  of  the  church ;  for  they,  avoid- 
ing the  laborious  office  of  the  choir,  appointed  Vicars  in 
their  places  with  slender  pensions,  whilst  they  consumed 

•  Capgiave,  Legencla.  fol.  cxliii.  and  Brompton  A'.  Scriptores.  p.  877. 

t  He  continued  Abbot  of  Abingdon  till  his  elevation  to  the  mitre.— See 
Hist.  Ccenob.  Abcndon.  in  Aug-  Hac.  I.  p.  ICC. 

;  See  Rudborne  Hist.  Maj.  JVint.  lib.  3.  cap.  12. 


124  ETHELWALD. 

the  revenues  of  the  church  in  their  pleasures.  Yea, 
moreover,  contrary  to  the  custom  and  laws  of  the  church, 
they  took  to  themselves  wives,  which  they  as  easily  dis- 
carded again  for  new  ones  :  and  when  upon  the  admo- 
nitions of  King  Edgar,  S.  Dunstan,  Archbishop,  and 
their  own  Bishop,  they  would  not  be  corrected,  the  King 
bestowed  their  Prebends  upon  their  Vicars ;  but  they  also 
being  become  rich,  appointed  other  Vicars  to  perform 
their  duties,  and  became  worse  than  the  former.  The 
Bishop  did  not  cease  to  exhort  and  reprehend  them  ;  but 
all  his  admonitions  and  reprehensions  were  in  vain  upon 
hearts  insensible  to  all  goodness.  Yea,  such  a  deep 
hatred  they  conceived  against  him  for  his  charitable  care 
of  their  souls,  that  they  prepared  poison  which  he  un- 
awares drank  down,  but  the  power  of  his  faith  hindered 
any  ill  effect.  Hereupon  seeing  them  incorrigible,  he 
received  power  from  Kmg  Edgar  to  leave  it  to  their  last 
choice,  either  to  reform  their  lives  or  to  depart ;  they  chose 
the  latter  as  less  grievous  to  their  corrupt  natures,  and 
thereupon  were  thrust  out  of  the  church,  and  a  congre- 
gation of  monks  introduced  in  their  place.*  Notwith" 
standing,  in  great  compassion  and  kindness  to  the  said 
disorderly  canons,  S.  Ethelwold  assigned  for  their  main- 
tenance many  lands  belonging  to  the  church,  and  those 
the  nearest  to  the  city  and  richest  for  revenue;."  Church 
Hist,  of  Engl,  book  32,  ch.  12.  1  have  omitted  some 
nonsense  about  miracles,  as  not  worth  repetition. 

Bishop  Godwin  records  an  anecdote  very  honourable  to 
this  Prelate,  which  has  been  overlooked  by  some  of  the 
old  historians.  In  a  time  of  great  scarcity  he  sold  all  the 
plate  of  his  church,  to  procure  food  for  the  poor  ;  saying 
that  if  the  church  was  reduced  to  poverty,  it  might  again 
be  enriched,  but  that  if  the  poor  were  starved,  it  was  not 
in  the  power  of  man  to  recall  them  to  life. 

"  On  the  second  year  after  he  was  consecrated,"  says 
the  Sax.  Chron.  "  he  made  many  minsters  (confecit  multa 
mouasteria)  and  drove  out  the  clerks  from  the  bishopric, 
because  they  would  hold  no  rule,  and  set  monks  therein. 
He  made  there  two  abbacies  ;  one  of  monks,  another  of 
nuns.     That  was  all  within  Winchester.     Then  came  he 


,    Of  the  order  of  St.  Benedict,  brought  from  Abingdon.— Tanner, 
liotitia  Monastka.   Art.  Winchester. 


ETHELWALD.  125 

afterwards  to  King  Edgar,  and  requested  he  would  give 
him  all  the  minsters  that  heathen  men  [the  Danes]  had 
before  destroyed,  for  that  he  would  renew  them.  This 
the  King  cheerfully  granted,  and  the  Bishop  then  came 
first  to  Ely,  where  St.  Etheldritha  lies,  and  ordered  the 
minster  to  be  repaired,"  &c. 

For  a  remarkable  charter  given  by  Edgar,  conferring 
freedom  to  St.  Peter's  minster,  at  M  edhamsted  ( Peter- 
borough) &c.  See  Gibson's  Sax.  Chron.  Oxon.  l692, 
or  the  new  translation,  4to,  1823,  p.  153. 

Among  other  public  works  for  the  benefit  of  Winchester, 
one  ought  not  to  be  forgotton,  the  benefit  of  which  is  still 
feltby  its  inhabitants.  These  experiencing  great  inconve- 
nience for  want  of  water,  which  then  only  flowed  in  one 
current  at  the  east  end  of  the  city,  St.  Ethelwold  made 
different  canals,  one  of  which  begins  near  the  village  of 
Worthy,  and  thus  distributed  the  water  at  great  toil  and 
expense  throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  city."  The  above 
is  recorded  by  Bishop  Milner  in  his  Hist,  Wint.  and  by 
Richardson,  the  editor  of  Bishop  Godwin,  on  the  authority 
of  a  MS.  which  it  is  to  be  wished  they  had  more  parti- 
cularly designated.  Richardson  adds  (p.  210,)  from 
Wood's  Ms.  "  Ecclesiam  banc  de  novo  renovavit  et  in 
honorem  apostolorum  Petri  et  Pauli  dedicavit  anno  \^^^' 
Etheldredi  Regis,  ipso  rege  et  pr^esulibus  et  proceribus 
praesentibus,  anno  gratia^  980  sub  die  24  Octobris,  S. 
Dunstano  Ecclesiam  dedicante."  Po  these  particulars, 
says  Bishop  Milner.  it  must  be  added,  that  the  cathedral 
was  conjointly  with  the  said  Saints  dedicated  also  to  St. 
Swithun,  and  that  the  fame  of  this  our  native  Saint,  soon 
caused  the  church  and  monastery  to  be  called  by  his  name 
alone.  On  this  occasion  he  built  the  crypts  under  the 
east  end  of  the  church,  which  still  remain  as  he  left  them, 
W'olstan  in  his  Epistle  to  St.  Elphege  thus  alludes  to  this 
fact:  *'insuper  occultis  studuisti  atque  addere  cryptas." 
The  same  writer,  in  the  same  epistle,  speaking  of  the 
advantage  of  that  part  of  the  river  called  "  the  Loch  pond," 
which  one  Bishop  brought  into  the  monastery  of  St. 
Swithun,  and  which  still  runs  through  the  close,  says, 

hucque 


Dulcia  piscosse  fluniina  traxit  aquae 
Secessusque  laci  peiietraut  secieta  domonim 
Mundantes  totum  murmure  coeuobium. 

He  likewise  new  modelled  and  enlarged  the  benedictine 


126  ETHELWALD. 

nunnery  began  by  King  Alfred,  or  Alswitha  his  Queen, 
and  finished  by  their  soil  King  Edward  the  elder,  in  this 
city.  (  Will.  Malm,  de  Fontif.  Tanner,  Not.  Mon.)  Tanner 
says  nothing  of  the  assistance  which  Milner  says  Bishop 
Ethelwolf  gave  to  King  Edgar  in  re-establishing  a  monas- 
tery at  Romsey. 

This  Bishop  collected  and  placed  in  a  magnificent 
shrine  the  remains  of  Bishop  Birin  and  placed  them  in 
the  new  Cathedral.  He  also  translated  the  remains  of 
Bishops  Frithstan,  Brynstan  and  Elphege.  Rudb.  p. 
223  He  dedicated  the  church  with  eight  assistant 
Bishops,  in  the  presence  of  King  Etheldred,  XIII.  Kal. 
Nov.  980. 

He  died  in  the  year  984.  The  Sax.  Chr.  thus  notices 
the  event.  "An.  DCCCCLXXXIV,  Hoc  anno 
decessit  benevolus  Epus  de  Winceaster,  Athelwoldus, 
MoNACHOEUM  Pater." — "  Kalendis  Augusti.  Hist. 
Canoh.  Abend.  Ang.  Sac.  1 .  l66. 

Bishop  Godwin,  by  his  own  shewing^  is  clearly  wrong 
in  saying  that  he  sat  Bishop  only  nineteen  years.  He  says 
he  succeeded  in  963  and  died  in  984,  and  yet  states 
"  sedit  annos  novendecim,"  whereas  he  must  have  filled 
the  see  twenty-one  years.  Richardson,  on  the  authority  of 
a  MS.  adds,  *'  sepultus  est  in  cripta  ex  australi  plaga 
summi  altaris  infra  propriam  ecclesiam."  Rudborne  says 
nothing  of  the  crypt,  but  barely  "sepultus  est  infra  pro- 
priam ecclesiam  ex  australi  parte  magni  altaris." 

More  may  be  read  of  this  eminent  Prelate  in  the 
copious  Latin  Life  by  Malmesbury,  in  his  book  de  PontiJ'. 
I  shall  only  subjoin  the  passages  in  Bishop  Tanner's 
Notitia  Monastica,  that  record  the  religious  foundations 
that  Bishop  Ethelwold  patronized: — 

Berks.  "  The  Benedictine  Abbey  at  Abingdon  being 
destroyed  in  the  Danish  wars,  was,  A.  D.  9-55  restored  by 
Ethelwold  its  Abbot,  afterwards  Bishop  of  Winton,  and 
the  bounty  of  King  Edred  and  King  Edgar.  The  site  of 
this  Abbey  was  granted  1  Edw.  I.  to  Sir  Thos.  Seymour, 
and  5  Edw.  VI.  to  Sir  Thos.  Worth. 

Cambridgeshire.  IX.  Ely.  In  970,  Ethelwold, 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  introduced  an  Abbat  and  regulars, 
nobly  re-edified  the  monastery,  and  amply  endowed  the 
same,  partly  by  his  own  purchases  and  partly  by  the 
munificence  of  King  Edgar  and  other  benefactors. 

Thorney.  XXVI.     This  house  having  been  destroyed 


ETHELWALD.  127 

by  the  Danes,  Ethelwold,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  A.D. 
972,  re-founded  it  tor  Benedictine  Monks,  to  the  honour 
of  the  blessed  Virgin  Mary. 

Hants.  XXXV.  Nunnaminster.  This  house  was 
also  new  modelled  and  enlarged  by  Bishop  Ethelwold. 
[Not  founded  by  him  as  Capgrave  says,  f.  144,  and  Leland 
Coll.  I.  26.] 

Hmits.  St.  Neot's.  If  credit  may  be  given  to  the 
Ely  historian,  St.  Neot  first  placed  Monks  here,  who 
being  dispersed  by  the  Danes,  were  afterwards  restored, 
and  the  monastery  again  bestowed  by  the  bounty  and 
piety  of  one  Leofric  and  his  wife  Leofleda,  upon  the 
encouragement  of  Ethelwold,  Bishop  of  VVinton. 

Norts.  Peterburgh.  After  it  (scil.  the  Benedictine 
Abbey  there)  had  flourished  about  two  hundred  years,  it 
was  destroyed  by  the  Danes  A.D.  870,  and  lay  in  ruins 
till  A,D.  970,  when  Ethelwold,  Bishop  of  Winton, 
assisted  by  King  Edgar  and  his  chancellor  Adulf,  re-built 
it  in  a  more  stately  and  magnificent  manner. 

Surrey.  Chertsey.  Beocca  the  Abbot  and  ninety 
Monks  having  been  killed,  and  the  Abbey  burnt  to  the 
ground,  during  the  Danish  wars,  it  was  re-founded  by 
King  Edgar  and  Bishop  Ethelwold  to  the  honour  of  St. 
Peter. — See  Chronkon  Evesham.     Leland  Coll.  I.  70. 


XXVI.    ELPHEGE  II, 

Succeeded  A.  D.  984. — Translated  to  Canterbury 
1005.— Died  A.D.  1012. 

The  Saxon  Chronicle  under  the  year  984,  writes  this 
Prelate's  name  with  an  alias,  viz.  Godwin.  His  conse- 
cration took  place  the  14th.  day  before  the  calends  of 
November,  and  he  took  his  seat  on  the  episcopal  bench 
on  the  mass  day  of  the  two  apostles  Simon  and  Jude,  at 
Vi'^inchester.  Vid.  ut  sup.  Bishop  Elpheg  or  Elfeah 
sat  here  twenty-one  years,  and  in  1005  was  chosen  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  being  consecrated  the  following 
year. — lb.     See  Ingram's  Trans,  p.  178. 

His  life  occupying  twenty  folio  pages,  is  written  in 
Latin  by  Osborne,  and  may  be  found  in  the  Anglia  Sacra, 
vol.  2.  p.  122. 


128  ELPHEGE  II. 

The  following  memoirs  compiled  chiefly  from  Osborne, 
by  Bishop  Miluer,  will  be  found  preferable  to  the  dull 
and  tedious  recital  of  the  monkish  biographer : 

"  In  the  same  year  that  St.  Ethelwold  died,  viz.  in  984, 
St.  Elpheg  II.  or  the  martyr,  was  consecrated  in  his 
place,  by  St.  Dunstan,  Bishop  of  Winchester.  He  was 
of  a  good  family  and  well  educated,  and  in  his  early  youth 
became  a  monk  at  Deerhurst  [in  caenobio  *Hirstensi.]  in 
Gloucestershire  (  Wm.  Malm,  de  Pont.).  Thence  remov- 
ing to  Bath,-|-  many  persons  resorted  to  him,  who  forming 
a  monastery  thus  gave  a  beginning  to  what  afterwards  be- 
came the  cathedral  of  that  city.  [^Godwin  int.  Archpos.  Cant, 
p.  54.]  In  this  situation,  his  virtues  shone  out  so 
resplendently  that  he  was  judged  worthy  to  succeed  the 
great  S.  Ethelwolf  in  this  See.  His  elevation  made  no 
alteration  in  his  devotions  or  austerities.  He  continued 
both  in  winter  and  summer  to  rise  at  midnight,  in  order  to 
perform  the  divine  office,  and  prolonged  his  prayers  till  it 
was  broad  day,  [^Osherne  and  Malmesb.]  and  he  never  eat 
flesh  meat  except  when  sickness  rendered  it  necessary,  and 
was  otherwise  so  abstemious  that  his  body  seemed  to  be 
reduced  to  a  skeleton.  {ib.~\  In  his  public  charge  he 
was  indefatigable,  particularly  in  his  attention  to  the  poor, 
■which  was  so  exemplary  and  well  conducted  that  there 
were  no  beggars  in  his  diocese  during  the  time  that  he 
governed  it  His  zeal  was  also  conspicious  for  the  due 
performance  of  the  public  service  of  the  church,  (SS^  and  he 
is  recorded  for  having  introduced  the  use  of  organs  into 
Winchester  cathedral.  [ili.S.  note  by  Baker  in  Richard- 
son's notes  p.  211.]  Having  governed  this  See  in  the 
most  exemplai-y"  manner  during  the  space  of  22  years,  he 
was,  on  the  death  of  Alfric  the  Archbishop,  much  against 
his  own  inclinations,  removed  to  the  See  of  Canterbury  in 
1006,  whither  he  took  with  him  part  of  the  relics  of  St. 
Swithun.  In  this  exalted  station  his  zeal  and  piety  were 
no  less  conspicuous  than  they  had  been  at  Winchester 


*  See  Tanner,  Notit.  Monast.  art.  Derehurste.  "Elphege,  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  was  about  that  time  [9801  a  monk  l>ere. — Leland  Col.  1. 
19.  ii.  249. 

t  Milner  has  omitted  Elpheg's  first  perferment.  He  was  Prior  of 
Glastonbury  before  he  was  Abbot  of  Batn.— See  fVill.  Malm,  lib,  2.  cap. 
XI.  (rfe  reg.) 


ELPHEGE  It.  129 

In  conclusion,  being  resei-ved  by  God  to  witness  the  heavy 
calamity  which  befel  his  metropolitical  cit}',  in  1013,  from 
the  vide  wasting  Danes,  he  acted  the  part  of  the  good 
shepherd,  in  its  utmost  extent,  exhorting,  comforthig,  and 
assisting  his  flock,  and  opposing  himself  to  the  fury  of  the 
barbarians.     He  was  seen  to  rush  between  the  murderers 
and  their  helpless  victims,  crying  out  to  the  former,  "  If 
you  are  men,  spare  at  least  the  innocent  and  the  unresist- 
ing ;  or  if  you  w  ant  a  victim,  turn  your  swords  upon  me  ; 
it  is  I  that  have  so  often  reproached  you  with  your  crimes^ 
that  have  supported   and  redeemed  the  prisoners   whom 
you  ha\'e  made,  and  have  deprived  you  of  many  of  your 
soldiers,  by  converting  them  to  Christianity."   The  person 
and  the  merit   of  St.  Elphege  were    well  known  to  the 
Danes,  he  having  been  sent  upon  different  embassies  to 
them,    and   rendered  them    many    charitable    offices.—^ 
[Matt.  West.] — Hence  they  did  not  dare  to  strike  him, 
but  satisfied  themselves  with  seizing  upon  him,  and  com- 
mitting him    to    close  custody,    intending  to    extort  ati 
enormous  sum  for  his  ransom.     During  his  confinement 
of  seven  months,  these  Pagans  being  alarmed  at  an  epi- 
demical distemper  which  afflicted  them,  were  upon  the 
point  of  releasing  him  without  any  ransom.     At  length, 
however,  their  avarice  prevailing,  they  sent   for  him  td 
Greenwich,  where  their  fleet  then  lay,  and  put  the  question 
finally  to  him,  whether  he  was  prepared  to  pay  3000  marks 
of  gold  which  they  had  imposed  as  his  fine.     His  answer 
was  that  all  the  money  which  he  could  command  had  been 
spent  upon  the  poor,  and  that  if  he  had  more  it  would  be 
their  property :  in  a  word  that  he  had  no  gold  to  bestow 
upon  those,  in  whose  presence  he  stood,  except  that  of 
true  wisdom  which  consisted  in  the  knowledge  of  the  living 
God.     Being  provoked  at  this  answer,  they  beat  him  to 
the  ground,  and  began  to  overwhelm  him  with  stones  and 
the  horns  of  slaughtered  oxen,  [Matt.  West.Ji  whilst  he^ 
raising  up  his  eyes  to  heaven,  thus  addressed  himself  t& 
his  divine  master :  '  O  good  shepherd,  do  thott  watch  Ove* 
the  children  of  thy  church,  whom,  with  my  last  breath,  t 
recommend  to  thee.'     Our  saint  having  pronounced  this 
prayer,  and  continuing  to  suffer,  a  Dane,  byname  ThrUm, 
whom  he  had  the  day  before  baptized,  moved  by  a  cruel 
kind  of  pity,  struck  him  on  the  head  with  his  battle-axe, 
and  completed  his  martyrdom. 

K 


130  EENULF,  Scci 

Osborne,  as  above,  gives  a  long  account,  which  ir 
annexed  to  the  life,  of  the  translation  of  the  martyr's  body 
from  Loudon  to  Canterbury. — See  also  Rudborne,  Hist. 
Maj.  p.  223. 

Matt.  Paris  records  him  as  subscribing  a  charter  in 
996.     Vol.  11.  p.  241. 


XXVII.    KENULF. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  1006. — Died  eod.  an. 

He  Is  sometimes  written  with  an  alias,  viz.  Elsiusr. 
Bishop  Godwin  accuses  him  of  having  obtained  the 
bishopric  simoniacally,  but  on  wiiat  ground  does  not 
appear,  as  he  quotes  no  authority. 

Rudborne  thus  records  him  :  "  Elphego  in  Episcopatu 
Wyntoniae  eodem  anno  [1006]  successit  Kenulphus, 
ejusdem  ecclesiae  monachus,  ut  scribit  Vigilancius,  in 
libro  de  Basilica  Petri.  Rudborne  erroneously  adds, 
that  Kenulph  sat  Bishop  here  not  quite  three  years.  He 
did  not  sit  Bishop  one  year.  Florentius  properly  says  he 
died  the  same  year  he  was  consecrated. — See  Wharton's 
Ang.  Sac.  vol.  I.  p.  226. 

He  was  buried  in  Winton  Cathedral. — Rudbornef 
ut  sup.      ' 

XXVIII.     BRITHWOLD  or  ETHELWOLD  II. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  1006. — Died  A.D.  1015. 

Rudborne  calls  him  Ethel  wold,  and  says  he  sat  here  six 
years,  and  that  he  was  buried  in  the  Cathedral.  Hist.  Maj. 
p.  227.  Wharton's  dates  in  this  part  of  the  history,  are 
preferable  to  those  of  Rudborne,  who  is  frequently  erro- 
neous, and  adds  much  of  his  own,  without  authority,  to 
the  older  writers.  He  is  often  well  corrected  by 
Wharton. 


ELSIN.  131 

XXIX.    ELSIN,*  or  ELFSY. 
Succeeded  A.  D.  1015.— Died  A.  D.  1032. 

Rudboine,  and  the  other  chroniclers,  are  so  con- 
fused in  their  dates  in  this  part  of  the  history,  and  the 
former  so  repeatedly  contradicts  himself,  that  it  is  quite 
impossible  to  arrive  at  any  degree  of  chronological  ex- 
actness. 

Bishop  Godwin  calls  this  Prelate,  Chaplain  to  King 
Harold ;  and  says,  the  latter  appointed  him  Bishop  of 
Winchester:  but  this  is  impossible,  as  Harold  was  not 
King  'till  1036  :  and,  moreover,  the  Bishop  died  in  1032. 
Yet  the  same  author,  in  defiance  of  chronology,  says  he 
was  translated  to  Canterbury  in  1038,  which  was  six 
years  after  his  decease.  The  Eadsin,  therefore,  who  was 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  was  a  different  person. 

The  Saxon  Chronicle  thus  records  the  death  of  this 
Prelate,  and  the  succession  of  the  next :  —  *'  A.  D. 
MXXXII.  The  same  year  died  Elfsy,  Bishop  of  Win- 
chester, and  Elfwin,  the  King's  priest,  succeeded  him."'j' 
The  same  fact  is  also  asserted  in  the  Annal.  Petrob.   &c. 


XXX.     ELFWIN,  or  ALWIN. 
Succeeded  A.  D.  1032.— Died  A.  D.  1047. 

*'  King  Canute,"  says  Rudborne,  "in  the  18th.  year  of 
his  reign,  and  A.  D.  1033,  appointed  Alwyn  Bishop  after 
the  death  of  Ethelwold."  This  is  evidently  a  mistake,  the 
name  Ethelwold  having  been  inserted  instead  of  Elsin. 
The  authority  of  the  Saxon  Chronicle  is  far  preferable  to 
that  of  Rudborne.  The  fonner,  both  places  the  succes- 
sion of  our  Prelate  a  year  earlier,  and  calls  his  prede- 
cessor by  his  right  name. 

Alwyn  was  a  man  of  family,  and  related  to  Queen  Em- 
ma, who  was  committed  to  his  care  by  Richard,  Duke  of 
Normandy,  when  he  sent  her  into  England  to  be  espou- 
sed to  King  Etheldred.    He  was  a  warrior,  and  had  been 


•  Written  also,  Alsin  and  Eadsin.  t  Ingram's  transl.  p.  206. 

K   2 


ISt  ELF  WIN. 

appointed  to  preside  over  the  province  of  Southampton, 
and  fought  bravely  against  tlie  Danes.  Rudborne,  (Hist. 
Maj.  Wint.  Aug.  Sac.  vol.  1.  p.  233.)  says,  he  was  created 
Earl  of  Southampton.  But  this  creation  is  not  noticed 
by  Diigdale  (Baronage,  vol.  1,  p.  l6)  who  only  names, 
under  the  old  Earls  of  Southampton,  Osric,  who  enjoyed 
that  honor  so  early  as  860;  iElfegus,  who  died  981  ;  and 
Alfelme,  in  the  reign  of  Canute,  who  married  the  Earl's 
daughter  Ailiva,  mother  of  King  Harold. 

Preferring  an  ecclesiastical  to  a  military  life,  Ahvyn 
exchanged  the  sword  for  the  cowl,  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  peace  between  Edmund  Ironside  and  Canute,  and 
became  a  Monk  of  St.  Swithun's.  Bishop  Ethelwold 
himself,  from  respect  to  his  connexions,  investing  him 
with  the  cowl  of  St.  Benedict.  He  afterwards  became 
Sacristan,  and  in  the  nineteenth  year  of  his  Monkhood, 
he  was  appointed,  as  Rudbome  expressly  states,  by  the 
King  himselj*  and  at  the  desire  of  Queen  Emma,  to  the 
Bishopric  of  Winchester. — A  fact,  particularly  worthy  of 
observation,  as  incontestibly  furnishmg  another  instance, 
and  that  on  the  authority  of  a  Roman  Catholic  Historian, 
that  the  **  Holy  See,"  as  yet,  laid  no  claim  to  the  right 
of  appointing  to  vacant  English  Bishoprics,  by  "  papal 
provision." 

For  some  political  reason,  with  which  the  old  Histo- 
rians do  not  condescend  to  make  us  acquainted,  Robert, 
aftei-wards  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  the  then  favorite 
of  the  monarch,  published  a  calumnious  report  against 
Emma,  the  mother  Queen;  charging  her  with  a  criminal 
connexion  with  our  Prelate,  as  well  as  being  accessary  to 
the  death  of  her  Son  Alfred,  and  throwing  impediments 
m  the  way  of  the  succession  of  Edward  the  Confessor. 
The  ground  work  of  the  base  insinuation  which  formed 
the  first  charge,  was,  no  doubt  the  great  friendship  and 
regard  which  subsisted  between  the  Bishop  and  his 
royal  ward.  The  Archbishop,  at  the  order  of  the  King 
('  przecipiente  rege')  convened  a  Synod,  and  it  was  de- 
termined (adds  my  author,  though  the  older  historians  are 
silent  on  the  point,)  that  the  Queen  should  undergo  the 
test,  so  usual  in  that  superstitious  age,  of  the  fiery f  ordeal. 

*  "Per  Knutonem  Regem  in  Episcopatum  ordinatus  est." 

+  The  word  ordeal  is  derived  from  or  great,  and  deal  judgment.    Or- 
deal was  of  four  kinds.    1st,  By  red  hot  iron,  either  held  iu  tlie  band 


ELF  WIN.  133 

To  this  test  she  gladly  assented,  and  walked  ovfer  nine 
red-hot  plough  shares,  which  were  placed  on  the  pave- 
ment in  the  nave  of  Winchester  Cathedral,  without 
suffering  the  least  injury  from  them.  Malmesbury, 
Huntingdon,  Hovedon,  and  Simeon  of  Durham,  have 
not  recorded  this  extraordinary  event.  But  Ralph  Higden, 
a  writer  of  the  14th  Century,  in  his  Polychronicon,  relates 
it  at  length  ;  and  it  is  also  transmitted  by  the  more  recent 
historians.  The  Saxon  Chronicle,  though  it  speaks  of 
the  harsh  conduct  of  the  Confessor,  towards  his  mother 
Emma,  (see  A.  D.  1043)  says  nothing  of  the  ordeal. 

Wharton  in  his  Hist.  Engl.  Poetry,  vol.  1 .  p.  89,  says, 
that  in  the  year  1338,  (about  three  centuries  after  the 
fact)  when  Adam  de  Orleton,  Bishop  of  Winton,  visited 
his  Cathedral  Priory  of  St.  Swithun  in  that  city,  a  min- 
strel, named  Herbert  was  introduced,  who  sung  the  tale 
of  •  Queen  Emma  delivered  from  the  ploughshares^  in 
the  hall  of  the  prior.  Alex,  de  Herriard.  He  cites 
as  his  authority  MSS.  in  Archiv.  Wolvesei/.  Wint. 
The  event,  if  it  took  place  at  all,  must  have  taken 
place  between  1043  and  1047,  the  former  being  the 
period  of  Edward's  Consecration  as  King ;  (Sax. 
Chron.  A.  D.  1043)  and  the  latter,  the  time  of  the 
demise  of  Bishop  Alwyn,  who  was  present  at  the 
ordeal.  This  delivery  of  Queen  Emma  was,  it  seems, 
the  fortunate  means  of  enriching  Winchester  Cathedral 
with  no  less  than  t^venty-one  manors.  The  King  having 
conferred  on  it  three.  Queen  Emma  nine,  and  the  Bishop 
nine.  Rudborne  thus  particularizes  their  several  donations : 
The  King  (Edwaid  the  Confessor)  gave  Portland, 
Wykhelewelle,  [Wyke  Regis.]  and  Waymuthe.  Queen 
Emma  gave  Brandesbury,  Bergefeld,  FyfFhide,  Hoghtone, 


er  walked  upon  with  the  feet,  bare.  2nd,  By  boiling  water,  into  which 
the  person  accused  was  to  plunge  his  arm.  3rd,  By  cold  water,  into 
which  the  suspected  party  was  thrown.  4th,  By  duel.  These  several 
modes  of  impiously  tempting  God,  were  repeatedly  sanctioned  by  the 
laws  of  the  Kingdom,  as  may  be  seen  in  Bromptnn's  Collections!  sncli 
was  the  blind  superstition  of  that  age.  Bisliop  Milner  makes  a  remark 
upon  this  unchristian  judgment,  which  if  it  did  not  proceed  from  a 
Boman  Catholic,  one  must  suppose  emanated  from  one  not  sound  in  the 
intellect.  "  Being  practised  with  an  upright  mind  and  lively  faith,  there 
is  no  doubt ,  but  the  Almighty  did  frequejitly  interpose  in  behalf  of  inno- 
cence." But  of  this,  I  beg  to  doubt,  nor  does  "  the  authentic  histoiy" 
to  which  the  learned  Historian  of  Winchester  alludes,  at  all  remove  my 
scepticism.  King  James  I.,  who  as  a  Protestant  Monarch,  ought  to  liavff 
kfiowD  better,  revived  some  of  these  foolish  and  impious  practices. 


134  ELFWIN. 

Mychelmenshe,  Ivyngeho,  Wycombe,  Weregravys,  and 
Haylynge.  The  Bishop  gave  Stouehani,  East  and  West 
Meone,  Hentone,  Wytneye,  Yelynge,  My  1  broke,  Pol- 
hamptone,  and  Hodyngtone.  As  for  the  plonghshares, 
they  received  an  exemption  from  future  duty,  being 
buried  in  the  West  Cloister  of  the  Cathedral.  The 
whole  of  this  ridiculous  story,  is  treated  by  Bishop 
Godwin,  with  merited  contempt.  "  Quoe  de  Emmae 
purgcitione  referuntur  fabul<e  (ne  dicam  aniles)  mona- 
chales,"  p.  57. 

I  find  nothing  else  in  the  ancient  memorials  of  this  Bishop 
except  that  he  gave  c£l500  sterling  to  the  Cathedral. 
He  died  in  the  year  1047,  having  sat  Bishop  here  15  years. 

"  A.  D.  MXLVII.  "This  year  died  Elfwine,  Bishop 
of  Winchester,  on  the  4th  day  before  the  calends  of 
September,"     Sax.  Chron. 

Bishop  Godwin  thus  speaks  of  his  burial  place :  "  Se- 
pultus  -acet  supra  parielem  presbyterii,  ubi  tumulo  ejus 
epitapliium  vidimus  adscriptum  hujusmodi, 

Hie  jacet  Alwini  corpus  qui  munera  nobis 
ContuHt  egregia,  parcito  Christe  rogamus." 

His  Editor,  Richardson,  adds  in  a  note  "  Sepultus  fuit 
primitus  in  crypta  ex  parte  australi  summi  altaris,  nunc 
vero  positus  in  Sacrifago  plumbeo  super  osteuin  illiu* 
pryptie." 


XXXI.    STIGAND. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  1047. — Translated  to  Canterbury 
A.  D.  1052. — Deprived  and  Died  1070. 

The  Saxon  Chronicle  (Ingram's  Translation)  thus 
records  Stigaud.  "A.  D.  1043,  (p.  213)  Stigand  the 
Priest  was  consecrated  Bishop  over  the  East  Angles;" 
and  (eod:  an:  p.  19),  "Soon  after  this,  Stigand  was 
deprived  of  his  Bishopric."  "  1044,  (p.  215),  Stigand 
returned  to  his  Bishopric."  "  1047,  (p.  2l6)  This  year, 
died  Elfwine,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  on  the  4th  day  be- 
fore the  Calends  of  September;  and  Stigand,  Bishop 
of  Norfolk,  was  raised  to  this  See."  "  1052,- (p.  239) 
Stigand  succeeded  to  the  Archbishopric  of  Canterbury." 
**  1058,  (p.  249)  Pope  Benedict  sent  him  the  Pall." 


STIGAND.  135 

The  Sax.  Chron.  is  silent  as  to  Gryncetel's  procuring  by 
means  of  bribing  the  Judges,  the  ejection  of  Stigand 
from  Elmham,  as  will  afterwards  be  noticed. 

This  Prelate  was  first  chaplain  to  Queen  Emma,  (Dart. 
Hist.  Cant.  fo.  115)  and  afterwards  to  King  Harold 
Harefoot.  He  gained  the  Bishopric  of  Elmham,  by 
simony*  in  1038  according  to  Matthew  Westm.  (p.  210) 
and  Florentius,  though  Godivin  (p.  212)  erroneously 
says   1043. 

For  having  sided  with  the  King,  he  was  subsequently, 
when  Hardicnute  obtained  the  crown,  ejected  from  his 
Bishopric,  in  1040,  by  Grimketel,  (Matt.  Westm.)  who 
held  it  with  the  See  of  the  South  Saxons.  Hardicnute, 
who  succeeded  his  brother  Harold  in  that  year,  turned 
out  most  of  his  brother's  friends,  but  dying  in  two  years 
time,  the  scene  was  changed,  Hardicnute's  friends  were 
ejected  and  Harold's  restored;  when  Grimketel  being  in 
his  turn  ejected,  our  Prelate  was  restored,  and  made 
chaplain  to  Edward  the  Confessor :  for  in  a  register  of 
Bury,  as  Blometield  the  Historian  of  Norfolk  observes, 
it  is  said  that  Edward  the  Confessor,  in  the  first  year  of 
his  reign  came  to  Buiy,  and  then  gave  Mildenhall  manor 
to  that  Monastery.  Soon  after  which,  Stigand  his 
chaplain,  was  made  Bishop  of  the  East  Angles,  to  whom 
they  granted  that  manor  for  life  :  and  he  held  it  all  the 
time  he  was  Bishop,  and  after  he  was  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury.  He  by  way  of  retaliation,  got  the  Bishopric 
of  the  South  Saxons  to  be  taken  away  from  Grimketel, 
and  the  administration  of  it  committed  to  himself:  and  so 
governed  both  Sees  to  1047.  And  then  at  the  death  of 
Alwin,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  he  took  that  See,  leaving 
this  to  his  brother  Egelmare.  Rudb.  His.  Maj.  p.  239. 
He  sat  at  Winchester  five  years ;  and  then  Robert,  Arch-p 
bishop  of  Canterbury  being  banished,  he  seized  that  See 
in  1052,  Robert  being  alive,  and  not  deposed  ;  and 
held  it  with  Winchester,  Godwin  says  he  was  a  man 
of  very  great  spirit,  though  very  illiterate,  and  exceedingly 
covetous  ;  for  after  Robert's  death,  he  held  both  Sees 
till  William  the  Conqueror  conquered  all  the  land  except 
Kent :   the  people  of  which  county,   by  Stigand's  advice. 


•  Qui  prius,  data  pecunia,  faerat  Epus  Helmhamensis  ac  deinceps 
JVintoniensis.— //««.  Paris,  vol.  1.  p.  7. 


m  STIGAND. 

aseeinbled  together,  and  every  man  taking  a  bough  in  hig 
hand,  in  order  to  prevent  their  being  distinguished  by 
the  royal  party,  surprized  the  King  at  Swauscomb,  as 
lie  passed  through  that  county,  and  forced  him  to  promise 
them  that  they  should  be  governed  by  their  ancient  lawg 
and  customs,  which  he  performed,*  dissembled  his  anger 
at  the  time,  and  seemed  to  be  his  friend ;  he  first  shewed 
his  resentment  by  being  crowned  by  Aldred,  Archbishop 
of  York,  instead  of  Stigand ;  and  when  he  came  into 
Normandy,  mider  pretence  of  doing  him  the  greater 
honour,  he  took  him  with  him,  but  the  truth  was  he  was 
afraid  to  leave  him  at  home,  and  after  he  had  settled  every 
thing  in  Normandy,  and  had  returned  home,  he  thought 
of  nothing  more  than  to  degrade  him ;  and  for  this  end  he 
sent  privately  to  the  Pope,  who  dispatched  three  Cardinal* 
into  England,  to  examine,  place,  or  displace  the  Archbishop 
and  the  rest  of  the  English  clergy ;  upon  which  Stigand 
fled  into  Scotland,  and  after  that  hid  in  Ely  monastery. 

At  length  a  general  synod  of  thef  clergy  being  called 
at  Winchester,!  anno  1070,  he  was  not  only  deprived  but 
degraded  of  all  his  orders  and  condemned  to  perpetual 
imprisonment  for  these  three  crimes  or  rather  pretences, 
first  because  he  held  two  bishoprics,  which  was  no  more 
than  Dunstan  and  Oswald  two  of  the  Pope's  saints  had 
done  before.  The  second  was  because  he  took  the  arch- 
bishopric of  Canterbury  unjustly,  while  Robert  was  alive, 
who  could  not  enjoy  it  when  he  was  banished,  neither 
could  he  have  kept  it  against  the  King's  will.  The  third 
and  true  reason  why  the  §Pope  was  so  unmerciful  to  him, 
was,  because  he  received  not  the  pall  at  tlie  hands  of 
Pope  Benedict  the  Vlllth.  whom  the  Cardinals  had  de- 
posed, and  would  not  take  it  again  of  Leo  the  IXth,  or 
any  other  lawful  Pope.  From  the  time  of  his  deprivation 
he  was  kept  his  whole  life  a  close  prisoner  in  Winchester,^ 


•  Biady  m  his  Hist.  p.  189,  &c.  says  that  Stigand  took  part  with  the 
Eails  Echv7n  and  xMoicar  and  others  of  the  nobility  who  had  designed 
Edgar  AUieliug  their  King,  but  repented,  and  followed  Duke  William  to 
Walhngford,  and  there  made  peace  with  him.  But  this  was  not  for- 
gotten. 

t  Brady's  Hist.  213.    Holingshead  p.  829.  and  Godwin,  p.  58. 
t  Accoiding  to  Godwin,  1069 

$  He  was  under  excommtmication  v/hen  the  Conqueror  was  crowned, 
which  tliat  King  made  use. of,  as  a  pretence  for  not  being  crowned  by  him. 
%  Tirel's  Hist.  p.  29. 


STIGAXD.  137 

where  he  lived  very  meanly,  wanting  even  common  food, 
being  so  covetous  that  he  would  advance  no  money  out  of 
his  vast  treasures,  wliich  at  his  death  were  found  under 

f  round,  and  seized  by  the  King  and  carried  to  the  treasury.* 
le  was  buried  at  Winchester,  in  a  leaden  coffin,  placed 
on  the  top  of  the  wall  on  the  north  side  of  the  presbytery, 
tluis  inscribed  : 

Hie  jacet  Stigandus  Archteopiscopus. 

He  died  the  year  he  was  deprived,  [1070]  "  not  with- 
out suspicion,"  as  Bloniefield  adds,  **of  bad  usage  in  his 
life."  Hist.  Norfolk,  vol.  2,  p.  327.  I  have  followed 
Mathew  of  Westminster's  date  instead  of  that  assigned  bj 
Godwin,  viz.  10b"9.  The  former  says,  "  A.  D.  1070, 
Pascham,  apud  Wintoniam  celebravit  ecclesia  tota  Angli- 
cana,  rege  procurante.  Ibi  Stigandus  Archiepiscopus 
degradatus  est  et  Ailmarus  frater  ejus." 

Bishop  Godwin  defends  Stigand.  Ordericus  and 
Matthew  Paris  speak  of  him  in  strong  terms  of  censure. 
The  former,  at  p.  ol6  says,  "  perjurii  et  homicidii  in- 
quinatus  erat,nec  per  ostium,  archipraesulatum  introierat." 
The  latter  has  these  words  :  "  Prim6  Stigandum  perpetuo 
carceri  mancipavit  [Gul.  Conq.  scil.]  et  merito,  quia  &c." 
*'  Ipse  similis  arundini  ventis  agitatie  nunc  Regi  nunc 
Anglis  videbatur  inclinare."  Vol.  2,  p.  47,  line  50.  Paris 
in  vol.  1,  p.  7,  calls  him  Apostata.  Matthew  of  West- 
minster distinctly  accuses  him  of  Simony  :  "  Stigandus 
ut  avaritiae  propriae  satisfaceret  Cantuariensem  et  Winton- 
iensem  data  pecuuia  thronos  ascendit."  See  under  the 
year  1038,  and  also  Flores  Hist.  p.  210,  under  the  same 
year. 

Richardson,  in  a  note  on  Godwin  respecting  the  mon- 
umental inscription  above  recorded  by  the  latter,  adds, 
*'  Nunc  vero  hoc  raodo  inscribitur.  In  hac  cista  A.D. 
1 66 1  promiscue  recondita  sunt  ossa  Principum  et  Pragla- 
torum,  sacrilega  barbaric  dispersa,  A.D.  1642." 

The  following  are  the  notices  of  this  Prelate  by  William 
of  Malmesbury  (Post  Bedam  de  Pont.  lib.  1.). 

Tunc  Stigandus  quidam,  qui  quondam  dimisso  orienta- 
1mm  Anglorum  Episcopatu,  sublimiorem  gradum  medi- 
tatus  Wintoniensem  mvaserat,  rapuit  occasionem  desidera- 
tam  ut  innocentis  regis  simplicitatem  circumveniens  Archi- 

•  Gedwin,  p.  84.    Willis'*  Hist,  of  Convent.  L  pt.  286. 


138  STIGAND. 

?piscopatum  septendecim  annis  tantis  honoribus  adjunge- 
ret:  alias  sane  nee  imprudens,  nee  ineffieax.  Cceterum 
adversus  ambitum  nihil  dignitati  suae  consulens,  quzecun- 
que  posset  aliis  praeripere  sibi  abscondere,  nunquam  avar- 
itiam  suara  moderari :  sacros  honores  Ecclesiarum  hos  sibi 
pecunia  coniparans,  istos  aliis  lingua  vendicans :  prorsus 
publicas  nundinas  en  Episcopatibus  et  Abbatiis  faciens, 
et  ibi  cupiendi  modestiam  admittens,  ubi  quod  cuperet 
deesset.  Nonne  illud  belluinae  rapacitatis  dices,  quod 
Wintoniae  episcopatum  et  Cantuariae  Archiepiscopatum,*' 
praeterea  multas  Abbatias  solus  ipse  possidebat,  quae  sin- 
gula satis  superque  sufficirent  alicui  probo  viro  ?  Sed 
ego  conjicio  ilium  non  judicio  sed  errore  peccasse,  quod 
homo  illiteratus  (sicuti  plerique  et  pene  omnes  tunc  temp- 
oris  Angliae  Episcopi,  nesciret  quantum  delinqueret,  rem 
ecclesiasticorum  negotiorum  sicut-publicorum  actitari  ex- 
istnnans.  Quare  nunquam  pallium  a  Roma  meruit, 
quamvis  et  ibi  venalitas  multum  operetur,  nisi  quod  qui^ 
dam  Benedictus  apostolicae  sedis  persuasor  ipsi  misit  gra- 
tulatus,  quod  eum  quem  alii  Archiepiscopi  ducebant  ludi- 
brio,  ipse  Papam  appellasset.  Sed  illo  non  multum  de- 
jecto,  omnia  ejus  facta  evacuata,  decretumque  consilio 
salubri  non  potuisse  eum  dare  legitime  pallium  qui  juste 
non  habuisset  Papatum.  Non  resipuit  super  his  Stigan- 
dus  sed  perstitit,  parum  cogitans  de  anirnaruni  salute,  tan-j 
tum  forensi  frueretur  honore.  Interea  VVillielmus  Comes 
Normanniae  Angliam  veniens  armis  Provinciam  perdo- 
muit  cum  et  Dei  permissio  suflfragaretur  et  nonnullae  causae 
suppeterent,  quas  non  infirmas  ipse  arbitraretur.  Qui  cum 
et  belli  Hastingensis  victoria  et  castelli  Dofrensis  deditione 
terrorem  sui  nominis  sparsisset,  Londoniam  venit,  venienti 
Stigandus  cum  potentissimis  Anglis  processu  et  favore  sue 
applausit:  consertisque  loquelis  VVillielmus  eum  in  patrena 
et  Archiepiscopum,  ipse  Williehnum  in  regem  recepit  et 
filium.  Veruntamen  coronam  regni  de  manu  ejus  Rex 
detractavit  suscipere,  astutia  qua  consueverat,  prohibitores 
ex  parte  Apostolici  subornans.  Nee  multo  post  in  Nor- 
manmian  navigans  sub  velamine  honoris  ilium  renitentem 
secum  traxit,  ne  quid  perfidie  se  absente  per  ejus  authori-r 
tatem  in  Anglia  pullularet.  Inter  quze  difficile  dictu  est, 
quantis  eum  exceperit  officiis  dignanter  ubicunque  loco^ 

•  What  would  he  have  said  of  Wolsey,  had  he  lived  in  hi«  time? 


STIGAND.  139 

rum  assurgendo  et  contra  eum  in  omnibus  Episcopatibus 
Normanniae  et  Abbatiis  longa  seiie  pompae  procedi  faci- 
endo.        Sed  quicquid  his  tegebatur  involucris,  erupit  in 
clarum  veniente  in  Angliam  Ermenfredo,  Seduense  Epis- 
copo,  Legato  Alexandri  Papue,   qui  ad  voluntatem  regis, 
coacto  concilio  Stigandum  deposuit,   fidem  Williehni  ap- 
pellantem  et  violeatiam  reclamantem.     Et  quamvis  ille  se 
blande  excusans  preaeceptum  Papze  objectaret,  non  tamen 
in  opinionem    aftectatae  depositionis  exclusit,   quod  eum 
toto  cevo  in  vinculis  Wintoniee  habuerit,      Ibi  ergo   Sti- 
gandus  tenui  victu  vitam  toleravit,  quod  ei  parum  de  fisco 
ferebatur,   et  ipse  ingenita  mentis  duritia  nihil  de  suo  in- 
ferri  pateretur.       Quin  et  hortantibus  amicis  et  praecipere 
regina  Edgitha  Edwardi  regis  relicta,  ut  se  delecatius  ve- 
stiret  et  pasceret,  per  omne  sanctum  pejerabat  non  se  ha- 
bere nummum  nee  valens.      Sed  huic  sacramento  solida- 
tem  veri  abfuisse    probavit  ingens  vis  opum  post  mortem 
ejus  in  subterraneis  specubus  inventarum.     Ad  quarum 
indicium  ut  veniretur,  auxiUo  fuit  clavicula  collo  exanimati 
dependens,  quis  familiaris  scrinii  esset  custos.       Ea  serae 
immissa,  manifestavit  per  cartas  inventas    et   qualitatem 
metallorum  et  quaiititatem  ponderum. 

The  same  writer  (Gul.  Malm,  de  gestis  reg.  lib.  2,  p. 
82,  1,  28)  thus  expresses  himself:  "  Invasit  continuo  illo 
vivente  [Roberto]  Stigandus  qui  erat  Epiis  Wintoniensis 
Archiepiscopatum  Cantuariae  ;  infamis  ambitus  poutifex 
et  bonorum  ultra  debitum  appetitor,  qui  spe  throni  excel- 
sioris  Episcopatum  Saxonum  Australium  deserens  Win- 
toniam  insedit,  illam  quoque  eum  Archiepiscopatu  tenu- 
erit.  Quapropter  ab  Apostolica  sede  nunquam  pallium 
meruit,  nisi  quod  Benedictus  quidam  persuasor  Apostol- 
atus  misit,  pecunia  scilicet  ad  persuadendum  corruptus 
vel  quod  mali  gratificantur  similibus.  Sed  ille  mox  a 
Nicholao,  qui  ex  Epo  Florentiae  legitime  Papatum  sus- 
ceperat,  expulsus  zelo  fidelium,  indebitum  nomen  exuit. 
Stigandus  quoque  temp.  R.  Willielmi  Conquestoris  per 
Cardinales  Romanos  degradatus  perpetuisque  viaculis 
~  innodatus,  inexplebilis  aviditatis  nee  moriens  fecit  finem." 

Rudborne  contradicts  the  assertion  of  VVdliam  of 
Malmesbury  above  quoted,  as  to  Stigand's  bemg  held  in 
chains  by  King  William,  and  quotes  the  author  De  Con- 
cordantiis  (sub  litera  S.)  as  saymg  that  Malmesbury  was 
napping  when  he  said  this.  William,  he  says,  havi  hmi 
in  custody  in  the  castle  at  Winchester,  but  within  it  he 
had  full  liberty  of  person. 


25tief|jop^  of  It^intfjc^ter,  ^intt  tfjc  Conquest* 

;  I.     WALKELIN. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  1070.— Died  A.  D.  1098. 


This  Prelate,  who  was  a  Norman  by  birth,  and  a  cousin 
of  William  the  Conqueror,  had  taken  his  degree  of  D.  D. 
at  Paris,  (Rudb.)  and  was  appointed  Stigand's  successor 
in  1070,  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  (Hoveden)  being  con- 
secrated by  Bishop  Amienfride  the  Pope's  Legate. 

Malmesbury  informs  us  that  at  his  first  entering  on  the 
See,  he  conceived  a  violent  disgust  towards  the  monks, 
whose  situations  he  meant  to  supply  with  secular  canons ; 
but  that  afterwards,  being  induced  to  alter  his  opinion,  he 
cherished  them  as  sons,  &c.  "  Deinceps  fovens  eos  ut 
filios,  diligens  ut  fratres,  honorans  ut  Dominos."  Instead 
of  dislodging  them,  he  set  about  reforming  them,  through 
the  means  of  his  brother  Simeon,  who  was  chosen  their 
Prior.  This  Simeon,  and  his  successor  Godfrey,  as  the 
Annaks  Wintoniemis  record  under  the  year  1082,  p.  294, 
succeeded  in  inducing  them  to  abstain  from  flesh  meat, 
and  to  be  content  with  fish;  "Datae  sunt  autem  eis  pisces 
et  abstinuerant  a  carnibus." 

But  not  to  dwell  on  these  silly  reformations  and  fond 
conceits,   we  will  now  pass  on  to  a  splendid  act  of  our 
Pielate,   which  deservedly  immortalizes  his   name.        I 
allude  to  the  rebuilding  of  Winchester  Cathedral  in  a 
noble  style  of  architecture,  entirely  at  his  own  expence,  a 
work  which  he  commenced  in  1079  ["  Anno  MLXXIX 
Walkelinus  Epus  a  fundamentis  Wintoniensem  coepit  re- 
oedificare  ecclesiam."     AnnaL    Wint.  p.   294.     "Anno 
gratiae  1079  Incipitur  renovari  ecclesia  episcopatus  Win- 
toni*.^'  Matt.  West.  p.  228.  J     The  reader  will  recollect 
that  this  re-building  of  the  Cathedral  is  just  99  years  since 
it  had  been  built  by  Bishop  Ethelwold,  for  soon  after  the 
former  erection  had  been  completed,  the  city  fell  into  the 


WALKELIN.  141 

hands  of  the  Pagan  Danes  under  Swayne,  and  doubtless 
the  Cathedral  must  have  suffered  greatly  under  their  sa- 
crilegious and  rapacious  devastation. 

The  author  of  the  Annafes  Wint.  under  the  1080, 
p.  295,  relates  a  circumstance  which  occurred  during 
the  course  of  this  work.  William  permitted  Walkelin 
to  take  from  his  wood  called  Henipage,  about  three 
miles  from  Winchester  on  the  Alresford  road,  as  much 
timber  as  he  could  cut  and  carry  away  in  four  days  and 
nights,  (not  three,  as  Bishop  Milner  says).  The  cunning 
Bishop  accordingly  collected  an  immense  number  of  car- 
penters, and  actually  removed  the  whole  wood  to  Win- 
chester. The  King  happening  to  go  that  way,  looked 
about  with  astonishment,  and  exclaimed,  '  Am  I  fascina- 
ted? Have  I  lost  my  senses?  Where  am  I?  Had  I  not 
a  delightful  Mood  here  close  to  Winchester?'  Being  in- 
formed of  the  fact,  he  was  much  enraged  ;  but  the  Bishop 
gaining  admittance,  under  a  disguise,  threw  himself  at  the 
monarch's  feet,  and  offered  to  resign  his  bishopric,  so  that 
he  could  but  retain  the  friendship  which  the  King  had  en- 
tertained for  him  while  in  the  more  humble  capacity  of  his 
chaplain.  The  generous  monarch,  disarmed  of  his  resent- 
ment, restored  him  to  his  favor ;  saying,  '  Walkelin,  I  was 
too  liberal  in  my  grant,  and  you  too  avaricious  in  the  use 
you  made  of  it.' 

This  affair  happened  in  the  last  year  of  WiUiam's  life  : 
after  which  the  building  was  continued  seven  years  longer, 
and  at  the  end  of  fourteen  years,  viz.  in  1093,  the  new 
church  was  rendered  fit  for  divine  service ,  and  the  con- 
ventual offices  for  the  reception  of  the  monks ;  almost  all 
the  Prelates  and  Abbots  of  England  attending  the  dedica- 
tion, which  took  place  July  \6,  being  the  festival  of  St. 
Swithun.  The  next  day,  the  Bishop's  workmen  began  to 
demolish  the  old  monastery.  Annales  Wint.  1093,  p.  295. 

The  Saxon  Chronicle  records  none  of  these  circum- 
stances, nor  does  even  the  name  of  Walkelin  occur  in  the 
index  annexed  to  Ingram's  Translation,  excepting  once 
where  his  death  is  recorded,  at  p.  317;  but  Malmesbury, 
a  contemporary  historian,  (reg.  lib.  3,  and  de  Pont.  1.  2,) 
speaks  fully  on  the  point. 

William  Rufus  being  in  Normandy,  and  in  want  of 
money,  sent  an  order  to  Walkelin  to  send  him,  without 
delay,  ^£200.  a  large  sum  in  those  days,  which  the  Bishop 
being  unable  to  raise,  M'ithout  either  selling  the  valuables 


142  VVALKELTN. 

of  the  Church  or  stinting  the  poor,  prayed  that  he  might 
be  dehv(  red  from  the  ujisenes  of  life  ;  an  event  which  took 
place  within  ten  days.     A/males  Wiiit.  ut  sup. 

He  was  buried  in  the  nave  of  his  Cathedral,  at  the  foot 
of  the  steps  leading  into  the  choir.  (liudOorne,  Hist. 
Maj.  lib.  3,  cap.  1.  p.  256.) 

His  character  is  thus  drawn  by  Malmesbury  ;  Cujus 
bona  opera  famam  vincentia  senium  a  se  vetustatis  repel- 
lent quamdiu  inibi  sedes  Episcopales  durabit.  Una  in  re 
multum  peccavit,  niniiruin  quod  ad  centum  libratas  terras 
Monachis  auferens,  suis  et  successorum  usibus  applicuit. 

Godwin,  in  a  culpable  manner,  passes  over  the  impor- 
tant fact  of  his  being  the  refounder  of  our  Cathedral.  He 
merely  says,  "  lUo  sedente,  anni  nimirum  1079  Ecclesia; 
Cathedralis  fabrica  quam  nunc  cenninus,  primum  erigi 
ccepta."  p.  213. 

The  following  sketch  is  from  Rudborne,  p.  255. 
Post  Stigandum,  qui  contra  decreta  Canonum  ambas 
sedes  occupaverat  Cantuariensem  viz.  et  VVyntoniensem, 
in  sede  Wyntoniensi,  Stigando  deposito,  successit  in  Epis- 
copatum  Wentanae  civitatis  Walkelinus,  vir  magnae  liter- 
aturae,  doctor  in  Theologia  egregius,  in  studio  Parisiacensi 
cathedram  ascendit  magistralem,  consanguineus  enim  erat 
Willielmi  Conquaestoris  et  natione  Normannus.  Hie  pri- 
mis  temporibus  suee  consecrationis  Monachos  Ordines  S. 
Benedicti  supra  modum  exosos  habebat ;  ut  habetur  in 
Gest.  Pontif.  lib.  2."  Unde  et  300  libratas  terrae  Monachis 
Ecclesise  suae  auferans,  suis  et  successorum  suorum  usibus 
implicuit.  Iste  Walkelimus  incitavit  omnes  Epos  Anglias 
ad  expellendum  Monachos  a  Cathedralibus  Ecclesiis  iu 
Anglia,  ut  habetur  in  Gestis  Pont.  lib.  1 ,  cap.  7. 

Walkelinus  Epus  fieri  fecit  turrim  Ecclesiae  Wintoni- 
ensis,  ut  modo  cernitur;  coetum  Monachorum  in  ipsa 
Ecclesia  augmentavit ;  et  postquam  strenue  rexisset  Wyn- 
toniensem  Ecclesiam  27  annis,  quievit  in  Domino ;  ilium 
nempe 

Atropus  occurrit,  Lachesis  traxit,  reparavit 

Clotho  colum  dire  ;  patriie  flos  coepit  abire. 
O  Walklyne  pater  salveris,  quod  locus  ater 

Nunquam  te  violet,  qui  male  semper  olet. 
Sed  plausu  plena  cuncto  Paradisus  amaena 

His  animam  teneat  atq  fovere  queat, 
Sitq  ;  pater  tibi  dux,  sit  rector,  sit  tibi  vita. 
Eilius  et  sua  crux  lux  tibi  fiat  ita. 


WALKELIN.  143 

Sicq  ;  viam  universae  carnis  Walkelyno  ingresso,  in  pro- 
pria Ecclesia  sepultus  est  idem  Prtesul  benignissimus,  ut 
ita  dicam.  Sed  et  quamvis  monachos  omnes  in  Anglia  et 
ecclesiam  suam  in  principiis  deliciarum  exosos  habuisset ; 
infra  breve  tamen  paenituit  et  quod  per  prius  inordinate 
in  aninio  concesserat,  religiosissniie  corripuit,  et  restitii- 
tioneni  de  malefactis  ordini  Monachorum  illatis  cum  om- 
ni  humilitate  fecit.  Et  hoc  mihi  et  omnibus  in  testimo- 
nium suae  satisfactionis  devenit ;  quia  obitum  suum  tarn 
solemniter  celebrat  VV'yntoniensis  Ecclesia,  tanquam  pro 
speciali  benefactore  suo ;  quod  non  faceret,  si  ingratus 
eidem  Ecclesiae  minimum  exstitisset.  Jacet  enim  ejus- 
dem  Praesulis  venerabile  corpus  humatum  in  navi  ecclesiae 
ad  gradus  sub  Pulpito,  in  quo  erigitur  crux  argentea 
magna  Stigandi  Arpi  cum  duabus  imaginibus  argenteis 
magnis,  ad  pedes,  viz.  Wil.  Gyftard  quondam  Wynt. 
Epiis ;  et  in  lapide  marmoreo  superposito  sculpuntur  hi 
versus ; 

Praesul  Walklynus  istic  reqniescit  humatus 
Tempore  W  ilhelmi  Conquestoris  cathedratus 

Rudborne,  p.  255. 

Bishop  Walkelin's  death  is  thus  recorded  in  the  Sax. 
Chron: — "A.  D.  1098,  In  this  year,  Walkelin,  Bishop 
of  Winchester,  within  this*  tide  departed;"  p.  3i7./Ai- 
gram's  Trans. 

II.    WILLIAM  GIFFARD. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  1100.— Died  A.  D.  1128  9. 

After  the  death  of  Walkelin,  W^illiam  Rufus  kept  the 
See  in  his  own  hands  till  the  period  of  his  death  in  1 100. 

On  the  accession  of  Henry  I.  Pope  Gregory  the  Vllth. 
watchful  for  the  interests  of  his  church,  set  up  a  claim  in 
opposition  to  the  King  of  England  to  the  right  of  appoint- 
ing to  the  vacant  Sees  by  capitular  election,  which  Henry 
vigorously  resisted.     Accordingly  on  the  latter  appointing 


•  That  is,  within  the  12  days  after  Christmas  or  the  interval  between 
Christmas  day,  properly  called  the  Nativity  and  the  Epiphany ;  the  whole 
of  which  was  called  Cnristmas  tide  or  Yule  tide,  and  was  dedicated  to 
feasting  and  mirth. 


144  WILLIAM  GIFFARD 

GifFard,  who  had  been   Chancellor  of  England,  temp. 
Gul.  1.  (A.  D.  1073  &  1788,  orig.  Jiirid.  Cfiron.  Ser.  p. 
I.  Dugdale)  to  the  diocese  of  Winchester,  Anselm,  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  refused  him  consecration.     In  this 
dilemma  the  King  applied  to  Girard,  Archbishop  of  York, 
who,  with  becoming  loyalty,  consented  to  his  Sovereign's 
will  :  but  such  was  the  blind  awe  in  which  Giffard  stood 
of  the  authority  of  Anselm*  and  the  Papal  See,  that  he 
was  actually  weak  enough  to  refusef  the  proferred  con- 
secration.    The   natural  consequence  of  this   contempt 
was,  his  banishment,;]:  which  took  place  in  1102.  (Malm, 
de  pontif.  &-  Hoveden  lib.  1,  fol.  269.)    The  matter  how* 
ever,  was  at  last  arranged,  the  Pope  consenting  that  An- 
selm should  consecrate  the  Bishops  already  nominated, 
and  the  King,  on  his  part,   agreeing  not  to  interfere  in 
future  with  canonical  election.    The  King  was  to  possess 
the  right  of  recommending   the   future   Bishops  —  the 
Church,  that  of  investing  them  with  the  spiritual  insignia : 
but  the  Bishop  elect  was  to  do  homage  to  the  King,  for 
his  temporalties  and  barony.     See  M.  Paris  and  Malm. 

The  consecration  of  this  Prelate,  after  much  alterca- 
tion, took  place  in  the  year  1107.  Dunelm.  Paris, 
Hoveden,  &;c. 

Bishop  GifFard  was  not  a  native  of  this  country  (Rudb.) 
Probably  a  Frenchman,  as  he  had  been  high  in  the  favor 
of  the  Conqueror.  He  sat  at  Winton  28  years.  Rud- 
borne  adds,  (Hist.  Maj.  Wint.  Aug.  Sacra.  \)  "  Pente- 
costalia  huic  ecclesiae  contulit."  He  has  left  several 
monuments  of  his  liberality  and  piety.  He  founded  the 
Monastery  of  St.  Mary  Ovei-y  (i.  e.  St.  Mary  over  the 
Rie — Rie  meaning  water),  at  Southwark,  now  called  St. 
Saviour's.  He  built  the§  body  of  the  Church  in  1 106, 
7.  H.  I.  Matthew  of  Westminster  says,  that  Canons 
regular  then  newly  come  into  England  were  placed  here, 
and.  by  Bishop  Giffard,  according  to  the  Hist.  Maj.  Win.; 
but  Bishop  Tanner  observes,  that  this  account  is  incon- 


*  "  Rigorem  timens  S.  Anselmi."  t  W.  Malmesbury,  M.  ParU, 

Tol.  1,  p.  58, 1.  56,  and  Rudborne  and  the  rest  of  the  Romanists  who  have 
recorded  these  events,  are  not  content  with  saying  he  refused  this  conse- 
cration, but  use  the  word  "  sprevit." 

t  For  the  real  causes  of  the  enmity  which  subsisted   between  the  King 
and  Anselm,  see  Turner's  Hist.  Engl,  under  Will.  2.  ch.  5. 

§  Stow's  survey  of  London,  1.  p.  10. 


WILLIAM  GIFFARD.  145 

sistenl  with  what  had  been  said  (in  the  1  ast  page)  that 
Bishop  Giflfard  was  then  in  exile,  which  in  truth,  he  then 
was,  and  had  been  for  some  years,  for  refosing  to  be 
consecrated  by  the  Archbishop  of  York.  Tanner  under 
the  article  Overy,  Hospital  of  St.  Thomas,  Surry,  XX. 
2.,  speaks  of  the  burning  of  St.  Mary  Overy,  A.  D.  1207, 
which  was  rebuilt,  but  in  1228,  was  removed  to  the  other 
side  of  the  Borough,  with  the  consent  of  Peter  de  Rupibus, 
then  Bishop  of  Winchester,  and  dedicated  to  St.  Thomas 
the  Martyr.  He  adds,  it  was  accounted  of  the  foundation 
of  the  predecessors  of  the  Bishops  of  Winchester,  and 
they  had  the  patronage  of  it. "  Bishop  Godwin  deprives 
Giffard  of  the  honour  of  being  sole  founder.  He  merely 
says,  *'  ad  fundationem  magnam  contulit  pecuniam ;"  but 
Rudborne  distinctly  attributes  the  foundation  to  our 
Bishop.  His  words  are,  "  Obiit  Algodus  Prior  Mariae 
de  Southwerk  quod  Monasterium  fundavit  Willelmus 
Giffard,  Wintoniensis  Episcopus." — p.  282. 

He  established  in  1128  an  Abbey  of  Cistercian  Monks, 
at  Waverly,  near  Farnham,  Annates  Waverl.  being  the 
first  house  which  that  order  possessed  in  England.  Bishop 
Tanner  notices  this  in  his  Notitia  under  Surry  XXIII. 
It  was  dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  and  had 
in  it  about  the  time  of  the  dissolution,  thirteen  religious, 
and  was  endowed  with  of  174.  8s.  Sd.  It  was  granted 
with  all  the  estates  belonging  thereunto  to  Sir  William 
Fitz  Williams.— 28  Henry  VIII. 

He  also  founded  a  Priory  of  Black  Canons  at  Taunton, 
Rymer,  Feed.  vol.  XIV,  p.  635.  which  Tanner  thus 
notices  under  Somerset :  —  On  the  East  part  of  this 
town  (Taunton)  was  a  Priory  of  Black  Canons,  erected 
by  William  Giffard,  Bishop  of  Winton,  temp.  Henry  I., 
to  the  honour  of  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul.  It  was  valued 
26  Henry  VIII.  at  ^"286.  85.  iOd.  and  granted  36  Henry 
VIII.  to  Matthew  Colehurst. 

But  the  most  important  work  of  a  religious  character 
that  Bishop  Giffard  executed  was,  the  removal  of  the 
new  Minster,  or  St.  Grimbald's  Abbey,  founded  by 
Alfred,  from  the  North  side  of  the  Cathedral  to  Hyde 
Meadow  in  1110,  Annul  Wint.  p.  297,  where,  through 
his  influence  with  King  Henry  I.  he  procured  the  foun- 
dation of  a  stately  Abbey.  See  Tanner,  Notitia.  Hants. 
XXXV.  3.  and  the  authorities  there  quoted.  At  the 
dissolution,  Hyde  Abbey  was  valued  at  o£'865   1 8s.  p.  an. 


145  WILLIAM  GIFFARD. 

DugrJale.      The   site   was  granted  37  Henry  VIII.    {» 
Richard   Bethell. 

The  reason  assigned  for  this  removal  by  Tanner,  and 
the  authors  he  cites,  was,  that  tlie  Churches  and  habita- 
tions of  the  two  societies  were  so  near  together,  that 
difierences  arose  to  a  great  height,  occasioned  by  singing, 
the  ringing  of  bells  and  other  matters.  Milner,  quoting 
Trussel's  MSS.  attributes  it  to  the  unhealthiness  of  the 
situation,  from  the  waters  which  issued  from  the  new 
made  castle  ditches  passing  through  a  great  part  of  the 
city,  and  at  last,  settling  round  the  Abbey.  This  seems 
confirmed  by  Malmesbuiy's  remark  on  the  newly  erected 
^Monastery  at  Hyde,  viz — <*sanius  incolitur."  De  Pontif, 
In  addition  to  these  acts  of  muniticence,  the  Bishop 
built  a  spacious  Palace  at  Southwark,  near  Londoa 
bridge,  for  the  town  residence  of  the  Winchester  Prelates. 
Gale,  as  has  been  observed  in  our  reprint  of  his  work, 
observes,  that  this  Palace  is  now  converted  into  streets  of 
dwelling-houses,  the  rent  of  which  is  appropriated  to  the 
See. 

A  plate  of  Winchester  house,  bank  side,  Southwark, 
is  engraved  in  the  Gent.  Mag.  1791,  p.  1 1 69,  accompanied 
by   the    following   account: — ''Winchester   House   was 
built  by  William  Giffard,   Bishop  of  that  See,  about  the 
year  1 107,  7.  Henry  1  ,  upon  a  plot  of  ground  belonging 
to  the  Prior  of  Bermondsey,  as  appears  by  a  writ  directed 
to  the  barons  of  the  Exchequer,   1366,  41.  Edward  III. 
and  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  magnificent  of  its 
kind  in  the  city,   or  suburbs,  of  London.     We  find  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VL,  on  his 
being  made  Cardinal  of  St.  Eusebius  in  France,  was,   on 
his  approach  to  London,  met  by  the  Mayor,  Aldermen, 
and  many  chief  citizens  on  horseback,  and  conducted  by 
them  in  great  state  to  his  palace  at  Southwark.  To  judge 
of  the  original  grandeur  of   this    place,    an   intelligent 
spectator  need  only  visit  it  in  its  present  state  of  ruin. 
Time  has  not  yet  been  able  to  extinguish  the  marks  of 
venerable  antiquity ;   though  perhaps  from  its  commercial 
situation,    few  places   have   been   more  exposed  to  the 
attacks  of  violence." 

It  appears  from  the AnnaksWint.  under  the  year  1122, 
that  great  disorder  arose  between  the  Cathedral  Monks 
and  the  Bishop,  on  account  of  the  latter's  alienation  of 
some  of  the  revenues.  Their  disagreements  were  at  length 
settled  by  the  interference  of  the  King ;   and  under  the 


HENRY  DE  BLOIS.  147 

year  1128,  we  find  the  Bishop  living  in  the  greatest 
harmony  among  the  monks,  and  at  length  he  even  took, 
the  monastic  habit. 

After  having  sat  Bishop  here  21  years,  reckoning  from 
his  actual  consecration,  Giftard  died  according  to  the 
Annal.  Wirit.  p.  299,  and  Matt. Paris,  vol.  1.  p.  71, 1.  47, 
in  1128;  but  according  to  Florentius's  Continuation,  and 
the  Sax.  Chron.  in  1129-  The  latter  adds,  that  he  was 
buried  at  AVinchester  the  8th  day  before  the  Calends  of 
February,     See  Ingram's  Trans,  p.  359- 

The   following  is  his  Epitaph,  engraved  on  a  stone, 
placed  just  above  the  tomb  of  his  predecessor: — 

Wilhelmus  Giffard,  Proesul  jacet  hie  tumulatus. 
Qui  suscepit  adhuc  vivens  habitum  Monachatus. 

Rudb.  1.  5.  c.  3, 


III.     HENRY  DE  BLOIS. 
Succeeded  A.  D.  1129.— Died  A.  D.  1171. 

This  Prelate  was  nephew  of  King  Henry  I.,  being  a 
son  of  his  sister  Adela,  and  son  of  the  Earl  of  Blois,  and 
brother  of  King  Stephen.  He  was  previously  to  his 
elevation  to  the  purple.  Abbot  of  Glastonbury.  *'  A.  D. 
1129,  The  King  (Heniy  I.)  gave  the  Bishopric  after  Mi- 
chaelmas to  the  Abbot  Henry,  of  Glastonbury,  his  nephew, 
and  he  was  consecrated  Bishop  by  the  Archbishop,  Wil- 
liam of  Canterbury,  on  the  15th  day  before  the  Calends 
of  December." — Sax.  Chron.  p.  359. 

He  had  been  a  Monk  at  Clugny.  "  Cluniacensis 
a  puerilibus  annis  monachus  existens."  Girald.  Camb. 
de  vitis.  6  Epis.  coat.  p.  421.  Gale  and  others,  call  him 
Abbot  of  Bermondsey.  Giraldus  does  not  mention  that 
preferment.  In  1134  he  was  appointed  the  Pope's  legate. 
— Annal.   Wint.  p.  299. 

I  have  endeavoured  in  this  work,  as  much  as  possible, 
to  keep  biography  and  History,  distinct :  but  in  the 
present  instance,  so  involved  was  this  Prelate  with  the 
measures  of  the  Court,  in  consequence  of  his  near  affinity 
to  the  reigning  monarch,  that  the  history  of  the  man, 
will  in  a  great  measure,  necessarily  be  the  history  of 
the  times. 

l2 


148  HENRY  DE  BLOIS. 

King  Henry  I.  called  Beauclerk,  dying  in  Normandy 
at  the  end  of  1 135,  his  nephew  Stephen  hastened  to 
London,  and  used  such  diligence,  that  he  procured  him- 
self to  be  crowned  on  the  ensuing  festival  of  the  saint 
of  his  name,  only  22  days  after  his  predecessor's  demise. 
Our  Prelate,  whether  from  natural  affection  or  ambitious 
views,  took  part  with  his  brother. 

At  this  period  the  Prelates,  like  the  lay  nobles,  built 
their  Palaces  in  the  form  of  castles,  and  Bishop  Blois 
in  1138  {Rudb.An.Wint.)  erected  the  Castle  of  Wolve^.ey, 
at  the  east  end  of  the  city  of  Winchester,  as  likewise 
others  at  his  principal  manors  Merden,  Farnham,  Walt- 
ham,  Downton,  and  Taunton.  (Amial.)  The  King, 
suspicious  of  the  fidelity  of  his  more  potent  subjects,  and 
impelled  by  avarice,  seized  upon  several  of  the  castles 
belonging  to  the  Prelates,  and  appropriated  their  treasures 
to  his  own  use.  His  barbarity  towards  Roger,  Bishop 
of  Salisbury,  we  have  already  had  occasion  to  notice  in 
the  History  of  the  hives  of  the  Bishops  oj  Salisbury. 
The  ingratitude  of  King  Stephen  towards  that  Prelate, 
and  the  violence  offered  to  the  Church  in  the  person  of 
some  of  its  most  distinguished  members,  alienated  in 
some  degree,  though  as  the  sequel  shows,  not  irretrieva- 
bly, even  his  own  brother  the  Bishop  of  Winchester, 
who  employed  his  authority  as  papal  legate  to  convene 
a  Synod  at  Winchester,  before  which,  he  cited  the  King 
to  answer  to  the  outrages  he  had  committed  ;  but  the 
arguments  of  Aubrey  de  Vere,  an  able  lawyer  on  the 
King's  side,  disconcerted  the  assembly  :  in  consequence 
of  this,  the  Prelates  had  recourse  to  supplications  which 
the  King  treated  with  indifference,  and  he  thereby  alienated 
the  affections  both  of  the  Prelates  and  Citizens. 

In  this  situation  of  affairs  the  Empress  Matilda  (or 
Maud,  as  she  is  frequently  called),  landed  with  her 
brother  Robert,  Earl  of  Gloucester,  on  the  coast  of 
Sussex,  {Prid.  Cal.  Oct.  an.  1139,  W.  Malm.)  and 
the  flames  of  civil  war  were  soon  lighted  up  throughout 
the  Kingdom.  The  Empress  was  apprized  of  the  fa- 
vourable dispositions  of  the  people  of  Wmchester  towards 
her,  (  W.  Malm.  Hist.  Novel)  and  she  even  hoped  that  her 
cousin,  (our  Bishop,)  who  had  lately  as  well  as  on  many 
other  occasions  opposed  the  unjust  pretensions  of  his 
brother  the  King,  would  assist  her  cause.  But  he  had 
marshalled  himself  on  his  brother's  side,  and  to  support 
his  cause,  put  in  practice  a  most  unjust  and  base  stratagem 


HENRY  DE  BLOIS.  H9 

towards  her.  He  invited  a  great  number  of  the  Nobility 
and  chief  men  in  the  interest  of  Matilda,  to  an  hospitable 
entertainment  at  his  new  Castle  of  VVolvesey,  and  causing 
the  gates  to  be  shut  upon  them,  he  then  endeavoured, 
partly  by  persuasion  and  partly  by  constraint,  to  induce 
them  to  give  up  the  strong  holds  they  were  in  possession 
of  to  his  brother.  {Matt.  Paris,  ad.  an.  1139.)  The 
scheme,  however,  failed  in  the  most  important  article  of 
it,  which  was  to  secure  the  Castle  of  Winchester  :  for 
the  chief  magistrate  of  the  city,  who  was  the  commanding 
officer  of  that  fortress,  suspecting  what  was  intended 
against  him,  escaped  in  time  from  Wolvesey,  and  flying 
to  the  citadel,  secured  it  for  the  Empress. 

The  war  continuing  with  encreasing  fui-y  and  ravages, 
Stephen  at  length,  after  performing  prodigies  of  valour, 
was  taken  prisoner  under  the  walls  of  Lincoln,  and  almost 
the  whole  Kingdom  declared  in  favour  of  Maud.  In 
these  extremities,  our  Bishop  found  it  necessary  to  enter 
into  a  negociation  with  the  Empress  and  Earl  Robert; 
{Will.  Malm.)  the  terms  of  which  being  settled,  he  went 
out  as  far  as  Magdalen  Hill  in  solemn  procession,  accom- 
panied by  the  Nobility,  Bishops,  Abbots,  Citizens,  Priests, 
the  Monks  of  both  Universities,  and  even  the  Nuns  of  the 
Abbey,*  in  order  to  receive  her  and  her  brother,  together 
"with  the  Nobility  that  attended  her.  Dismounting  from 
her  horse,  she  was  accordingly  conducted  by  her  cousin, 
the  Bishop  on  her  right  hand,  and  the  Bishop  of  St. 
David's  on  her  left,  with  four  other  Bishops,  and  the 
company  above  described,  through  the  principal  street 
of  the  City,  amidst  unbounded  acclamations  and  joy,  to 
the  Cathedral.  {Will.  Malm.)  Tlie  service  being  con- 
cluded, she  retired  to  the  Castle,  when  both  the  City  of 
Winchester  and  the  Kingdom  in  general,  flattered  them- 
selves they  had  seen  an  end  of  their  calamities,  which  in 
fact  were  only  then  beginning.  The  cause  of  their 
recommencement  as  we  are  informed  by  William  of 
Malmesbury,  who,  as  himself,  informs  us,  was  present 
at  the  Synod  which  was  held  at  Winchester,  he  ac- 
knowledging   Matilda's   title.       The    Bishop    who   was 


•  "  Ih  patenti  planitie  camporum  juxta  Winton."  fVill.  Malm,  "  On 
Madg.  Hill." — Trusiel.  For  an  account  of  these  transactions  see  Chron. 
Cervas.  an.  1141. 


150  HENRY  DE  BLOIS. 

desirous  of  establisliing  a  peace  upon  secure  grounds,  and 
who  probably  knew  what  would  satisfy  his  family  under 
existing   circumstances,    proposed   to    Matilda   that  the 
paternal  estates   on  the  Continent  of  the  captive  King, 
should  be  settled  upon  his  son  Eustace.  The  Empress,  who 
had  already  lost  the  Citizens  of  London  by  her  haughti- 
ness,   {Gul.  Newbrig.  Her.  Aiigl.)  treated  this  proposal 
with  the  utmost  contempt.   {Will.  Malm.)    This  conduct 
disgusting  the  Bishop,  made  him  neglect  to  pay  court  to 
her  in  the  manner  he  had  done  since  the  late  pacification. 
Matilda  on  her  part,     growing  suspicious,    came   from 
Oxford  where  she  had  spent  some  time,  to  Winchester, 
with  a  considerable  force,  under  pretence  of  taking  up 
her  residence  in  the  Royal  Castle  ;    but,  evidently  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  the  Bishop  and  his  Castle  at  Wol- 
vesey.     Accordingly  as  he  had  neglected  to  wait  upon 
her,  she  sent  him  a  summons  to  attend  her,  to  which  he 
returned   the    following    ambiguous    answer  : —  *  I    will 
prepare   myself.'     {Will.    Malm.)     And  so  he    did,  by 
putting  his  Castle  in  fit  condition  to  stand  a  seige,  which 
was  speedily  laid  to  it  by  the  Empress's  partizans,  Robert 
her  brother,  and  David  King  of  Scotland  her  uncle.    This 
event  was  a  signal  of  insurrection  to  Stephen's  Queen,  also 
named  ^latilda,  to  his  General,   William  of  Ipres,  and  to 
his  partizans  in  general,  who  Mere  numerous  in  London. 
(^  Will.  Malm.)     They  accordingly  marched  in   all   haste 
to  the  relief  of  the  besieged  Prelate,  upon  whose  arrival 
the  tables  were  turned,   and   those  who  had   made  the 
attack  were  now  forced  to  stand  on  their  defence.     The 
armies  were   great  and  warlike  on  both  sides,  and   they 
carried  on  their  military  operations  seven  weeks  {Gervas. 
Chron.)  in  the  heart  of  the  city  :  {Annal.  Wint.)—2L  calamity 
almost  unparalleled  in  the  history  of  other  cities.     The 
party  of  the  Empress  had  possession  of  whatever  was  to 
the  north  side  of  the  High-street,  where  the  houses  of  the 
citizens  stood  in  general  together  with  the  Royal  Castle. 
The  King's  party  held  the  Bishop's  Palace,  the  Cathedral, 
and  whatever  else  was  to  the  south  of  the  High-street.     By 
degrees,  also,  they  forced  their  enemies  from  all  the  other 
quarters   of  the   city,  and  confined  them  to  the  Castle  ; 
but  in  effecting  this,  they  made  use  of  a  most  barbarous 
stratagem.     Tiiey  threw  fire  balls   from  Wolvesey  upon 
the   houses   possessed     by    the   opposite    party:     {^^llL 
Malm.)    a   destructive    measure    in  which   the   Earl   of 


HENRY  DE  BLOIS.  151 

Gloucester  disdained  to  imitate  them.  (Will.  Malm,  de 
Novel.)  The  havoc  thus  occasioned  was  dreadful.  The 
Abbey  of  St.  Mary,  20  Churches,  the  Royal  Palace,  the 
Suburb  of  Hyde,  and  the  Monastery  of  St.  Grimbald, 
formed  but  a  part  of  the  wreck.  Gervase  distinctly  ascribes 
the  guilt  of  burning  Winchester  to  the  Bishop ;  but 
William  of  Malmesbury,  who  dedicated  his  work  to 
Robert,  Earl  of  Gloucester,  and  who,  therefore,  cannot 
be  accused  of  partiality  for  the  Bishop,  as  Milner  justly 
observes,  by  his  silence  acquits  him  of  being  instrumental 
in  this  savage  destruction.  Even  Gervase  admits  that  the 
Bishop  withdrew  from  the  Cit)',  and  Milner  quotes 
Trussel  for  the  place  of  his  retreat — Waltham. 

The  war  continued  with  various  success  ten  years 
longer;  a  measure  originated  at  Winchester  with  our 
Prelate,  which  tended  greatly  to  diminish  its  general 
horrors.  By  his  legantine  authority  he  held  a  Synod  here, 
in  which  it  was  resolved  that  ploughs  should  have  the 
same  privileges  of  sanctuary  with  churches,  and  a  sentence 
of  excommunication  was  pronounced  by  the  whole  as- 
sembly against  all  who  should  attack  or  injure  any  person 
engaged  in  the  agricultural  employments.  {Matt.  Paris, 
ad.  an.  \  142.) 

At  length,  King  Stephen  having  lost  his  only  son 
Eustace,  his  Brother,  and  his  Queen,  was  induced  by 
Theobald,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  and  our  Prelate 
{Henry  Huntingdon,)  to  enter  into  pacific  views,  and  at 
length  a  final  conclusion  was  put  to  the  war :  terms  of 
pacification  being  agreed  upon  between  Stephen  and 
Henry  at  the  seige  of  Wallingford  Castle,  and  publicly 
ratified  at  Winchester. — {Gervase.) 

Character,  Benefactions,  Sfc. — His  character  is  thus 
drawn  by  Milner:  —  "  He  was  certainly  a  man  of  great 
talents,  and  many  virtues,  though  with  a  mixture  of  some 
failings  or  vices  ;  but  having  taken  the  unpopular  side 
in  the  civil  war,  which  was  that  of  his  brother,  the  formei 
have  been  too  much  depressed  by  most  ancient  writers, 
and  the  latter  toe  much  magnified.  From  this  censure 
must  be  excepted  one  contemporary  writer,  and  fellovjf 
Bishop  of  his,  {Giraldus  Cambrensis  de  vilis  sex  Episcop. 
cocetaneorum.  Ang.  Sac.  vol.  II.  p.  421)  who  enlarges 
m  the  highest  strains,  not  only  upon  his  talents,  birth,  and 
power,  but  also  upon  his  piety,  regularity,  and  episcopal 
;feal.     Speaking  of  the  works  which  he  constructed  for 


152  HENRY  DE  BLOIS. 

the  benefit  of  his  See,  he  says,  that  besides  building  the 
Castles  above  mentioned,  he  made  vast  lakes,  and  con- 
structed aqueducts,  that  were  in  the  beginning  conceived 
to  be  impracticable  ;  and,  that  he  collected  all  the  most 
rare  and  wonderful   productions  of  nature  that  could  be 
met  with :  some  of  which,  surpassing  all  belief,  are  specified 
by  authors  of  credit.*     He  was  a  watchful  guardian  of 
his   Cathedral  Church  and  Monastery,  having  recovered 
much  property  that   had  been    unjustly  alienated   from 
them,  andencreased  it  by  many  presents  ot  his  own.     He. 
likewise  improved  the  fabric  of  his  Cathedral ;  and  in  par- 
ticular, he  collected  together  the  remains  of  the  illustrious 
personages  who  had   been   there  interred,  into  mortuary 
chests,  which  he  disposed  in  the  most  honourable  manner 
round  the  sanctuar}.  {Rudborne.)  He  was  no  less  liberal 
to  the  Convent  of  Taunton,  founded  by  his  predecessor  ; 
(^Godwin    and   Harpsjield  Hist.  Ecc.  Ang.)    and   by  a 
singular  expedient,  he  became  the  benefactor  of  all  the 
poor  parishes  of  his  diocese.     It  had  been  decreed  in  a 
Synod  at  which  he  presided,    that  no  chalices  of  tin  or 
other  metal,    except  gold  or  silver,   should  be   used  at 
the   altar;  {Brompton  and  Gervase)  and  whereas,  many 
Priests  in  the  country  neglected  to  furnish  their  Churches 
with  such  chalices,  under  the  pretext  of  poverty :  the  next 
time  a  free  gift  or  tax  from  the  Clergy  was  required,  he 
ordered    that    each    rector  of    a   parish   should   for  his 
share,  contribute    one    silver    chalice  of  a   weight  pre- 
scribed.    These  being  brought  in,  he  ordered  them  to  be 
returned  to  the  several  parishes,  and  there  made  use  of, 
undertaking  himself  to  raise  the  sum  necessary  for  the 
wants  of  the  state.^ — {Girald.  Camb.) 

His  principal  work,  however,  and  that  which  has  most 
contributed  to  perpetuate  his  memory  at  Winchester,  was 
the  foundation  of  the  church  and  hospital  of  St.  Cross,  at 
a  place  where,  in  the  time  of  the  Saxons,  a  small  convent 
had  stood.  Here  13  poor  men  were  decently  provided 
for  with  necessaries  in  every  respect;  and  100  others,  the 
most  indigent  belonging  to  Winchester,  were  each  day 
furnished  with  a  plentiful  meal.     In  the  famous  contro- 


*  Gul.  Newbrig.  Rer.  Ang.  1. 2.  c.  28,  says,  that  he  kept  in  his  house  a 
living  dog,  which  was  found  in  a  mass  of  solid  stone  wheu  sawn  asunder. 
•^Credat  JudceusI 


HENRY  DE  BLOIS.  153 

versy  which  took  place  between  the  King  (Henry  II.) 
and  the  metropoUtan  (Thomas  Becket,)  he  disdained  to 
barter  the  rights  of  his  order  and  of  religion  itself,  for  the 
smiles  of  the  court,  and  in  the  end  he  was  applauded  by 
the  King  himself  for  the  conscientious  part  which  he  acted 
in  this  important  business.  {Godwin.)  In  the  early  part 
of  his  episcopacy,  being  already  possessed  of  legantine 
power  which  placed  him  in  a  rank  above  all  the  other 
prelates,  wliether  Bishops  or  Archbishops  in  the  kingdom, 
he  had  formed  a  plan  which  was  approved  of  and  nearly 
executed  for  raising  the  see  of  Winchester  to  the  metro- 
political  rank,  (Matt.  West,  ad  an.  1 142,  Ritdb.  and 
Walsingh.)  by  subjecting  to  it  all  the  six  sees  (viz.  Salis- 
bury, Exeter,  Wells,  Chichester,  Hereford  and  Worcester) 
which  had  been  taken  out  of  it,  making  a  seventh  of 
Hyde  Abbey,  by  which  means  this  would  have  been  far 
the  most  considerable  of  the  three  Archbishoprics. 
However  the  civil  war  in  England,  and  the  death  of  Pope 
Lucius,  at  Rome,  frustrated  this  project.  In  his  old  age 
this  prelate  increased  his  charities  to  such  a  degree  as 
hardly  to  leave  himself  and  his  servants  the  means  of 
procuring  one  slender  meal  in  the  day.  {Girald.  Camb.) 
In  addition  to  the  loss  of  sight  which  he  suffered  with 
great  resignation,  (Harpsfield)  he  added  voluntary  mor- 
tifications, in  the  practice  of  which,  and  of  constant  prayer, 
he  died,"  ut  sup.  Pope  Eugenius  used  to  say  of  this 
Prelate, — Hie  ille  est  qui  potuit  lingua  sua  duo  regna 
corrumpere  :  m  cujus  erat  potestate  ad  nutum  creare 
potentes  et  evertere. — Giraldus  de  vitis  sex  Epis. 

Benefactions, — Thus  noticed  by  Tanner  : — '■  "  A  Be- 
nedictine Nunnery  was  founded  by  him  at  Meuresly, 
alias  St.  Margaret's,  alias  Ivingho,  about  A.  D.  Il60,  to 
the  honour  of  St.  Margaret.  Herein  were  nine  religious 
women ;  yet  their  possessions  were  valued  26  Henry 
VIII.  but  at  £\4.  3s.  \d.  per  ann.  Dugd.  £22.  6s.  Id. 
— Speed.  They  were  granted  29  Henry  VIII.  to  Sir 
John  Dance." — See  Iceland's  Collectanea,  I.  83,  MS. 
Catalogue  of  Monasteries  in  th^  Ashmolean,  and  Tannery 
Not.— Bucks. XVII.  *'MerewellorMar\el\  Park.  College. 
• — A  College  of  four  Priests,  founded  by  Henry  of  Blois, 
and  augmented  by  Peter  Roche  and  Henry  Woodlock, 
two  of  his  successors.  In  the  chapel  in  the  park,  was  a 
chantry,  till  the  dissolution,  which,  with  the  lands  there- 
unto belonging,  was   granted  to    Sir    Henry  Seymour, 


154  HENRY  DE  BLOIS. 

5  Edward  VI."  Speaking  of  St.  Cross,  Leland  merely 
says,  **  Donius  St.  Crucis  prope  Winton.  Henricus 
Blesensis  Epiis  VVint  :  fundator  1132.  33  Henry  I.  qui 
obiit,  1171." — Collectanea.  I.  08. 

The  following  interesting  detail  of  this  celebrated 
spot,  so  dear  to  the  Antiquary  for  its  fine  specimen  of 
early  architecture,  is  from  Bishop  Lowth's  Life  of 
Wykeham,  p.  63-72. 

The  ^hospital  of  St.  Cross  at  Sparkford,  near  Win- 
chester, was  founded  by  Bishop  Blois,  in  1 132,f  for  the 
health  of  his  own  soul  and  the  souls  of  his  predecessors, 
and  those  of  the  kings  of  England.  The  founder's 
institution  requires,  that  13  poor  men,  so  decayed  and 
past  their  strength,  that  without  charitable  assistance  they 
cannot  maintain  themselves,  shall  abide  continually  in  the 
hospital,  who  shall  be  provided  with  proper  clothing  and 
beds  suitable  to  their  infirmities;  and  shall  have  an  allow- 
ance daily  of  good  wheat  bread,  good  beer,  three  messes 
each  for  dinner  and  one  for  supper.  If  any  one  of  these 
shall  happen  to  recover  his  health  and  strength,  he  shall 
be  respectfully  discharged,  and  another  admitted  in  his 
place.  That  beside  these  13  poor,  100  other  poor  of 
modest  behaviour,  and  the  most  indigent  that  can  be 
found,  shall  be  received  daily  at  dinner  time,  and  shall 
have  each  a  loaf  of  coarser  bread,  one  mess,  and  a  proper 
allowance  of  beer,  with  leave  to  carry  away  with  them 
whatever  remains  of  their  meat  and  drink  after  dinner. 
The  founder  also  ordered  other  charities  to  be  distributed 
to  the  poor  in  general,  as  the  revenues  of  the  hospital 
shall  be  able  to  bear  ;  the  whole  of  which  was  to  be 
applied  to  such  uses.  The  endowment  of  the  hospital 
consisted  chiefly  in  a  donation  of  several  considerable 
rectories,  '^iox  the  most  part  belonging  to  the  diocese  of 


*  The  account  of  St.  Cross  is  collected  from  Regist.  Wykeham,  and 
MS.  Coll.  Nob. 

t  MS.  penes  Dom.  Episcopum  Wint.  fol.  22. 

t  The  churches  of  Ferreham,  [with  the  manor  of  AshtonJ  Nuttessel- 
lyuge.  Mellebrock,  Twyford,  Hentou,  Alwarestock,  Exton,  Husseborne, 
Wytcnerche,  Chilbaltoii,  Wodeliay,  Avvelton  for  Aulton  in  Canyngniersh, 
Com.  Wilts]  Wynkney  [or  Wyteney,  Com.  Oxon.J  Stocton,  [Com. 
WiltsJ  Ovyngton,  with  their  apperteuancies  and  dependencies ;  and  the 
tythes  of  the  lordship  of  Waltham,  and  other  rents  assigned  in  the  city  of 


HENRY  DE  BLOIS..  155 

Winchester,  and  of  the  Bishop's  patronage  ;  the  greatest 
part  o£ which,  though  granted  to  the  hospital  by  the  terms 
of  the  charter  of  foundation,  were,  from  the  hrst,  only 
subject  to  the  payment  of  certain  annual  pensions  to  it ; 
the  rest  were  appropriated  to  the  hospital.  The  revenues 
of  the  hospital  appear,  by  an  old  record  of  inquisition, 
produced  in  Wykeham's  time  by  the  Prior  of  Winchester, 
from  the  archives  of  his  monastery,  without  date,  to  have 
amounted  to  £'-150.  per  annum;  they  are  said  by  Wyke- 
ham  in  his  letters  to  the  Pope,  to  be  above  o£300.  per 
annum,  and  are  proved  by  the  testimony  of  one  who  had 
been  long  steward  of  the  hospital,  and  many  others,  to 
have  been,  at  that  time  above  of 400.  per  annum.  The 
whole  revenues  of  the  hospital  were  free  from  all  taxes, 
both  to  the  King  and  Pope,  as  being  wholly  appropriated 
to  the  poor,  except  £l.  As.  Qd.  (called  elsewhere  c£8.) 
per  annum,  which  was  the  valuation  of  the  prior's  or 
master's  portion. 

The  particular  allowances  to  the  poor,  with  their 
valuations  according  to  the  above  mentioned  record  of 
inquisition,  were  as  follows  ;  each  of  the  13  secular 
brethren  had  daily  one  loaf  of  good  wheaten  bread,  of  5 
marks  weight,  (or  2!b.  lOoz.) ;  one  gallon  and  half  of  good 
small  beer ;  a  sufficient  quantity  of  pottage ;  three  messes 
at  dinner,  namely  one  mess  called  jftcrtrfU,*  made  of  milk 


Winchester.  These  by  the  charter  of  foundation.  To  these  were  added 
by  the  founder,  the  churches  of  Waltham  Upham,  and  Baghurst ;  and  by 
the  same  or  some  other  benefactor,  that  of  tarle.  "  Licet  in  ista  charta 
[Fundationis]  contineantur  diverse  donationis  ecclesiarum  fact,  domui 
Ste.  Crucis  predicte,  nihilominus  dicta  douius  nuUas  earum  habet  sibi 
appropriatas  proeter  eeclesias  dc  Husborne,  Whitcherche,  Fareham,  and 
Twyford,  cum  capellis,  sed  habet  ex  eis  certas  pensiones,  ui  superius 
dictum  est.  De  ecclesia  vero  de  Wyttenye  nihil  omnino  percipit."  MS. 
penes  Dom.  Episc.  Wint.  fol.  2. 

*  The  Glossaries  give  us  no  very  satisfactory  account  of  these  w^ords : 
the  njeaning  of  the  first  is  better  determined  by  the  description  here  given, 
than  from  any  other  explication  that  I  can  lind  of  it.  tVustel  bred  was  a 
better  sort  of  bread  ;  so  called  from  Wastell,  the  visseil,  or  bast.et,  in 
which  it  was  made,  carried,  or  weighed;  as  it  seems  probable  from 
the  foilowiug  passage;  "  Octo  panes  in  H'astellis,  pouderis  cujusiibet 
IVastelli  unius  michc  conventualis."  Regist.  U'ykeham  part  3.  (>.  foi.  177. 
The  word  Wastel  seems  to  answer  to  tlic  French  galea  i,  a  caiie.  It 
appears  from  the  prologue  of  Ctiaucers'  CauVerbury  tales,  that  it  was  bread 
of  a  finer  sort :  for  the  Prioress,  who  is  represented  as  a  very  delicate 
lady,  fed  her  lap-dogs  with  it : 

"  Of  smale  hounds  hadde  she,  that  she  fedde 
With  rested  flesh,  and  milk,  and  waste!  brcde." 


156  HENRY  DE  BLOIS. 

and  WLaittl  brttJ,  one  mess  of  flesh  or  fish,  and  one  pittance 
^s  the  day  should  require  ;  and  one  mess  for  supp«r ;  the 
whole  valued  at  17d.   a  week;  in  Wykeham's  time  at  3d. 
a  day     On  six  holidays  in  the  year  they  had  white  bread 
and  ale  in  the  same  quantities ;  and  one  of  their  messes 
was  roast-meat,  or  fish  of  a  better  sort ;  and  on  the  Eves 
of  those  holidays,  and  that  of  the  founder's  obit,  they  had 
an  extraordinary  allowance  of  4  gallons  of  ale  among  them. 
The  1 00  poor  were  fed  in  a  place  called  1^unUrelJmm«{j)an : 
each  of  them  had  a  loaf  of  coarser  bread  of  5  marks  weight, 
3  quarts  of  small  beer,  a  sufficient  quantity  of  pottage, 
or  a  mess  of  pulse,  one  herring,  or  two  pilchards,  or  two 
eggs,  or  one   farthing's    worth  of  cheese ;   value  3d.  a 
week:  of  which  100  poor  were  always   13  of  the  poorer 
scholars  of  the  great  grammar  school  of  Winchester,  sent 
by  the  school-master.    On  the  anniversary  of  the  founder's 
obit,  Aug.  9,  being  the  eve  of  St.  Lawrence,  300  poor 
were  received  at  the  hospital ;  to  each  of  the  first   100, 
were  given  one  loaf,  and  one  mess  of  the  same  sort  with 
those    of  the   brethren's   ordinary  allowance   and   three 
quarts  of  beer :  to  the  second   100,  was  given  the  usual 
100  men's  allowance  ;  and  to  each  of  the  third  100,  half 
a  loaf  of  the  brethren's  bread.        On  six  hohdays  in  the 
year  the  100  men  had   each  a  loaf  of  the  better  sort  of 
iread,  and  a  double  mess.     There  were  besides,  main- 
tained  in    the   hospital,   a  steward,  with  his  clerk,  two 
sei-vants,  and  two  horses;  a  porter;  nine  servants;  two 
teams  of  six  horses  each,  and  three  carters. 

The  founder  had  in  the  year  1157,*  constituted  the 
master  and  brethren  of  the  hospital  of  St.  John  of 
Jerusalem,  guardians  and  administrators  of  his  hospital 
of  St.  Cross,  saving  to  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  his 
canonical  jurisdiction.  A  dispute  arising  between 
Richard  Toclive,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  immediate 
successor  to  Henry  de  Blois,  and  the  master  and  brethren 
of  St.  John  of  Jerusalem,  concerning  the  administration 
of  the  hospital.  King  Henry  II.  interposed,  and  by  his 
mediation  an  agreement  was  made  between  them.  The 
master  and  brethren  ceded  to  the  Bishop  of  Winchester 
and  his  successors  the  administration  of  the  Hospital,  the 
Bishop  giving  tliem  the  impropriation  of  the  churches  of 


•  MS,  penes  Dom.  Episc.  Wiut.  fol  23. 


HENRY  DE  BLOIS.  157 

TMordon  and  Hanniton  for  the  payment  of  53  marks  per 
annum,  and  procuring  them  a  discharge  from  the  pension 
of  10  marks,  two  wax  candles,  and  lOlbs.  of  wax,  paid  to 
the  Monks  of  St.  Swythun  for  the  house  of  St.  Cross,  by 
composition  between  them  and  the  brethren  of  St,  Cross, 
made  in  the  time  of  the  Founder  and  the  Bishop,  more- 
over out  of  regard  to  God,  and  for  the  health  of  the  King's 
soul  and  his  own,  (and  because  the  revenues  of  the  Hos- 
pital were  sufficient  for  the  maintenance  of  many  more 
poor,  and  ought  not  to  be  converted  to  other  uses  as 
Wykeham  represents  to  the  Pope),  orders,  that  beside 
the  number  instituted  by  the  Founder,  100  additional 
poor  should  also  be  fed  every  day  in  the  same  manner  at 
the  Hospital.  This  agreement  is  dated  April  10,  1185, 
and  was  made  at  Dover  in  the  presence  of  the  King  and 
attested  by  him.  This  new  institution  of  feeding  100 
additional  poor  was  not  of  long  continuance,  it  had 
ceased  long  before  Wykeham's  time;  and  instead  of  it, 
by  what  authority  I  cannot  say,  was  introduced  the 
establishment  of  4  Priests,  13  secular  Clerks,  and  7 
Choristers,  who  were  maintained  in  the  Hospital  for  the 
performance  of  divine  service  in  the  Church.  The 
4  Priests  dined  at  the  ^Master's  table  and  had  each  a 
stipend  of  13s.  4d.  and  the  whole  allowance  to  each  was 
valued  at  £3.  6s.  8d.  per  annum,  the  13  clerks  had  each 
daily  a  loaf  of  wheat  bread,  weight  6l  shillings  and  8 
pence,  (i.  e.  2lb.  T^oz.  nearly,  *or  almost  2^1b.)  3  quarts 
of  beer,  and  one  mess  of  flesh  or  fish  of  the  brethren  was 
allotted  to  two  of  them,  value  10c?.  a  week  ;  the  7 
choristers  had  each  one  loaf  of  the  common  family  bread, 
and  one  mess,  or  the  fragments  of  the  Master's  table  and 
common  hall,  so  as  to  have  a  sufficient  provision  value 
5d.  a  week,  and  were  taught  at  the  school  in  the 
Hospital." — LowtlCs  Life  of  Wykeham,  p.  65-72, 

Bishop  Blois  sat  at  ^Vinton  between  42  and  43  years. 


*  "Constat  qiioelibet  Libra  ex  xxv.  solidis.  Et  sriendum,  quod  quoelibet 
libra  de  denariis  et  speciebus,  utpote  in  Electuariis,  consistit  solummodo 
ex  pondere  xx.  s.  Libra  vero  omnium  aliarum  rerum  consistit  ex  xxv. 
solidis.y  Tractat.  De  Pond,  et  Mensuris,  31  Ed.  L  in  Ca^'s  statutes  at  large. 
'  Quoelibet  libra  ex  pondere  xxv.  solid.  Libra  vero  auri,  argenti,  electuari- 
orum  et  hujusmodi  Apothecar.  Confectorum,  consistit  solummodo  ex  pon- 
dere 20  solid.  Sterlingonini."  Fleta  lib.  2,  cap.  12.  "  Una  libra  ponderat 
pondus  xxv.  solidorura  legalium  Sterlingorum."    MS.  54  Hen.  111. 

From  the  Report  of  the  Committee  of  the  House  of  Commons  to  inquire 
into  weights  and  measures,  1758. 


158  RICHARD  OF  ILCHESTER. 

He  died  in  1171,  and  was  buried  in  the  Cathedral  before 
the  high  altar.     Riidb.  Hisf.  Maj.  Wint.  Ang.  Sac.  I. 

The  Bishop  left  certain  writings  behind  him  :  one  con- 
cerning the  discovery  of  King  Arthur's  monument  at 
Glastonbury,  which  took  place  while  he  was  Abbot  there; 
another  concerning  the  state  of  his  Cathedral.  These 
MSS.  appear  to  have  been  extant  in  the  time  of  Harpsfield. 


IV.  RICHARD  of  ILCHESTER*,  aliasTOCLIVE, 

alias  MORE. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  1 174.— Died  A.  D.  1 188-9. 

King  Henry,  after  having  kept  this  see  vacant  for  some 
years,  as  he  also  had  others,  at  length,  at  the  request,  as 
Bishop  Godwin  says,  of  certain  Cardinals,  permitted  in 
1 1 73  the  Monks  of  Winton  to  elect  Richard  of  Ilchester, 
andhe  was  accordingly,  as  LeNeve  records,  elected  May  1. 
This  Bishop  was  born  in  the  diocese  of  Bath,  (Radulph  de 
Dicet,  col.  540,)  at  Sok  or  Sock,i-  (Regist.  Drokensf. 
Ep.  B.  ^  W.)  and  became  Archdeacon  of  Poictiers. 
He  was  confirmed  October  1 ,  and  consecrated  at  Lambeth 
the  6th,  1174,  ('ordinatus  et  consecratus,'  Annales  Wint. 
See  also  Lg  Neve's  Fasti,  p.  285,)  by  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  together  with  Robert,  Bishop  of  Hereford,  and 
GeofFry  Bishop  of  Ely.  (Benedict.  Abbas.  Petr,  in  Vit, 
Hen.  II.  p.  93.) 

Bishop  Toclive  had  pursued  a  different  conduct  from 
his  predecessor,  in  the  famous  controversy  between  the 
King  and  Thomas  a  Becket,  and  had  taken  so  active  a 
part  against  the  persecuted  Prelate,  as  to  draw  on  himself 
the  sentence  of  excommunication.  Radulph  Dicet  Ymag. 
But  the  death  of  the  latter  brought  about  that  peace  and 
uniformity  of  sentiment  in  ecclesiastical  matters  which  he 
could  not  procure  in  his  life  time. 

Toclive,  after  his  promotion  to  the  see,  was  constituted 
in  1176  justiciary  of  Normandy,  in  the  room  of  William 
de  Traco,   Bromt.  col.  1 1 1 6,  and  in  the  parliament  held 

*  It  was  under  this  name  that  he  was  excommuuicated, 
t  About  three  Miles  from  Yeovil,  Somerset. 


KICHARD  OF  ILCHEStER.  159 

at  Windsor,  in  1179,  25  H.  II.  he  was  constituted  one  of 
the  itinerant  justices  for  Hants,  Wilts,  Gloucester,  Dorset, 
Somerset,  Devon,  Cornwall,  Berks,  and  Oxon,  and  after- 
wards by  the  same  king  chief  justice  of  England.  Dugdale 
records  that  he  was  justice  itinerant  for  Hants  and  Devon, 
1179,  25  H.  II.  Orig.  Jurid.  Chron.  Scr,  p.  3,  and 
HovedeHyfol.  SSI. 

He  endeavoured  to  improve  the  charitable  institution 
of  his  predecessor  at  Sparkford,  viz.  the  hospital  of  St. 
Cross,  (Lowth's  Life  of  Wykeham)  but  afterwards  seems 
to  have  founded  another  upon  a  similar  plan  at  an  equal 
distance  from  the  city,  on  the  opposite  side  of  it,  dedicated 
to  St.  Mary  Magdalen.  See  Milner's  Hist.  Wint.  vol. 
I. p.  226. 

Gale,  in  his  MS.  records  that  he  gave  to  the  church  of 
Winton  the  manors  of  Ham  and  Groel,  as  Richardson, 
p.  217  quotes.  Rudborne  says,  "qui  maimerium  de 
Hamme  redemit  et  de  Cnoel  emit  et  suje  contulit  ecclesiae." 
The  latter  adds,  '*  Sedit  annis  17."  This  is  incorrect; 
he  sat  but  14  years  ;  for  there  is  no  question  as  to  his 
succession  in  1 1 74,  and  the  only  discrepancy  as  to  the 
period  of  his  death  is  whether  it  took  place  in  1187-8, 
or  9. 

He  died  according  to  Gervase  and  Ralph  Dicetensis, 
Jan.  ^2,  1188.  Westminster  and  Florentius  say  1187. 
His  epitaph  1189.  He  was  buried  in  the  north  side  of 
the  high  altar  near  the  choir.  M.S.  Gale.  '  Infra 
Winam,'  Godwin.     The  following  is  the  inscription  : 

^'  PrtEsiilis  egregii  pausant  hie  membra  Ricardi 
Toclif,  cui  summi  gaudia  sunto  poli." 

Bishop  Toclive  is  mentioned  in  the  will  of  Henry  II. 
Testamenta  vetusta.  I.  p.  2.  vis  h  p,  S. 

Richard  de  Gravenell  having  given  to  the  Priory  of  St. 
Mary  Overy  the  tithes  of  the  manor  of  Tooting,  Surry, 
and  the  advovvson  of  the  church,  the  grant  was  confirmed 
by  Richard  [Toclive]  Bishop  of  Winton. — Manning  and 
Bray's  Hist.  Surry,  III.  373. 


160  GODFREY  DE  LUCY. 

V.    GODFREY  DE  LUCY. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  1189.— Died  A.  D.  1204. 

Son  of  Richard  de  Lucy,  chief  justice  of  England, 
Had  been  Dean  of  St.  Martin's,  London,  (  R.  deDtceto.) 
Archdeacon  of  Derby,  (  Gervase  Chron.  f.  1459,)  Canon 
of  York,  (Brow^/.  1156,)  and  Justice  Itinerant.  {Hoved. 
f.  337.)  He  was  nominated  by  the  King  at  Pipewell, 
Sept.  15,  1189,  {Dicet  Ymag.)  consecrated  at  West- 
minster, in   St.  Catherine's  Chapel,  Oct.  22.   (ib.  and 

Hoved.)  .         T       5        ♦ 

The  most  important  and  useful  of  Bishop  Lucy  s  acts 
to  the  city  of  Winchester  and  the  neighbouring  country, 
was  his  restoring  the  navigation  of  the  river  Itchen,  not 
only  from  the  port  of  Northam,  the  old  Southampton,  as 
far  as  Winchester,  but  also  to  the  very  head  of  the  river, 
{Trussel's  MS.)  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Alresford,  where, 
by  raising  a  vast  mole  or  head,  he  formed  a  great  lake,, 
now  called  Alresford  Pond,  by  which  means  a  large  tract 
of  marshy  land  thereabouts  was  drained,  and  a  reservoir 
of  water  provided   for   supplying  the  navigation.     This 
expensive  work,   M'hich  shews  the  greatness  of  Bishop 
Lucy's  genius,  as  well   as  of  his  beneficence,  was  not 
finished  till  the  beginning  of  the  following  reign,  when  he 
obtained  for  himself  and  his  successors  the  royalty  of  the 
said  river  from  the  above-mentioned  lake  down  to  the  sea, 
which  the  latter  still  enjoy  :   also  a  charter  for  collecting 
certain  duties  on  this  navigation.     He  likewise  purchased 
of  the  King  the  manors  of  VVargrave  and  Meiies,  for  the 
benefit  of  his  cathedral,  which  had  belonged  to  it  before 
they  were  alienated  by  the  Conqueror,  (Moved.)  and  for 
himself  and  the  future  Bishops  of  this  See,  the  custody  of 
the  royal  castle,  with  the  dignity  and  rights  of  Earl  of 
AViNCHESTER.     (lb.)      Of  these,  however,  he  was  subse- 
quently dispossessed  by  the  King.     "  Dissaisivit  Godefri- 
dum  Wintonienstm  Episcopum  de  Castello  et  comitatu 
Wintoniae."     lb. 

Bishop  Lucy  however  did  not  neglect  the  duties  that 
more  immediately  belonged  to  his  station.  He  completed 
and  greatly  enlarged  the  Priory  of  Lesne  or  Westwood, 
in  Kent,  which  had  been  established  by  his  father,  and  he 
performed  such  repairs  and  works  in  his  cathedral  here,  as 
to  merit  being  enrolled  among  its  principal  founders. 


GODFREY  DE  LUCY.  I6l 

The  east  end  of  the  church,  which  was  of  Saxon  work- 
manship, and  had  been  left  remaining  by  Walkelin  {Ann. 
Wint.  an.  1093,)  by  this  time  stood  in  need  of  repairs. 
Our  prelate  accordingly  determined  to  rebuilo!  this  portion 
of  the  church,  in  what  is  now  called  the  Gothic  style, 
beginning  with  a  towerf  which  seems  to  have  stood  over 
the  present  chancel,  and  continuing  his  work  to  what  was 
then  the  extremity  of  the  Lady  Chapel.  (See  Rudborne.) 
For  completing  this  great  work  he  entered  into  a  contract 
with  a  society  of  M'orkmen,  who  were  bound  to  execute 
their  undertaking  within  the  space  of  five  years.  (D. 
Wintoniensis  G.  de  Lucy  constituit  confratriam  pro 
reparatione  ecclesiae  Wint.  duraturam  usque  ad  quinque 
annos  completos." — Annal.  Wint,  A.D.  1202.) 

He  died  in  1204,  Matt.  Westm.  Sept.  12.  "  Died 
1204,  Sept.  1 1 ,"  says  another.  "  He  was  buried  in  hisown 
cathedral."  Weaver  Funeral  Mon.  p.  337,  and  Le  Neve 
Fasti.p.QSd,  *'  Godefridus  EpusWinton  (Lucy)  moritur 
1204."     Leland  Collect.  2, 34 1 . 

"Ad  altare  B.  Marias  extra  capellam  B.  Virginis 
humatus."     Rudborne  Hist.  Maj.  Wint.  Ang.  Sac. 

Manning,  speaking  of  the  grant  of  the  manor  of  Lam- 
beth to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  observes,  **  Con- 
firmations were  obtained  from  King  Richard  L  and  the 
Prior  and  Convent  of  Canterbury  in  the  same  year,  and 
by  Godefred,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  in  whose  diocese 
Lambeth  is  situate."  {Hist.  Surry,  3.  470.)  Bp.  Godfrey 
it  seems  possessed  the  power  of  mstitution  to  the  rectory 
of  Lambeth  after  the  alienation  of  the  manor,  for  in  1 197> 
we  find  him  instituting  Bishop  Gilbert  de  Flanville  to  it, 
on  the  petition  of  Archbishop  Hubert.  Denne.  I69.  See 
more  on  this  subject  in  Manning's  Hist.  ofSurrj/,  3.473. 


VL    PETER  ROCK,  or  DE  LA  ROCHE,  or 
DE  RUPIBUS. 

Succeeded  A.D.  1204-5. — Died  A.D.  1238. 

About  the  end  of  this  year,  Peter  de  la  Roche,  a  native 


+  "  An.  1200.    Hoc  anno  inclioata  est  et  perfecta  turris  Wint.  Ecd." 

M 


1G2  PETER  ROCK. 

of  Poictiers,  who  had  served  in  France  under  Kin^ 
Richard,  by  whom  he  had  been  knighted,  (Matth.  Paris) 
was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Winchester,  at  Rome,  on  "the 
25th  of  September,  1205"  as  Matthew  of  Westminster 
has  it.  He  had  been  Archdeacon  of  Poictiers,  {An/ml. 
Margaii,),  treasurer  of  the  same,  {Pat  6.  John)  and  also 
precentor  of  LincoUi  {Pat,  6.  John.  m.  3.  n.  11.) 

The  following  remarkable  discrepancies  respecting  this 
Prelate's  preferments  occur  in  Willis:  "1205,  Arch- 
deacon of  Staft'ord,  and  in  1213  made  Bishop  of  Winton." 
Cathed.  1.  417,  and  again,  "instituted  in  1203  or  4, 
precentor  of  Lincoln,  and  in  1206,  Bishop  of  Winchester." 
Cath.  2.  83. 

This  Prelate  was  of  great  authority  under  King  John 
and  Henry  IH.  He,  with  two  other  Bishops,  viz^  Philip, 
Bishop  of  Durham  his  countryman  (a  Pictavian)  and  John 
Gray  Bishop  of  Norwich,  instigated  King  John,  to 
"withstand  the  Pope's  excommunication,  but,  says  Bishop 
Godwin,  "they  were  all  feign  to  cry'peccavi'  (rather 
*peccavimus')  at  last." 

In  1214,  King  John  appointed  him  chief  justice  of 
England.  Rex  in  Pictaviam  transfretaturus,  dominum  P. 
Winton  Episc.  (sc.  Petrum  de  Rupe)  Justic.  Angliae 
constituit  loco  suo  ad  pacem  regni  Angl.  tuendam.  T.  R. 
apud  Portesmuth,  1.  Feb.  Pat.  15.  J  oh.  m.  4.  i)C.  m.  3. 
and  Dugdale  Orig.  Jurid.  Chron.  Ser.p.  7. 

After  the  death  of  King  John,  during  the  minority 
of  Henry,  this  Kingdom  was  long  governed  by  Bishop 
Roche.  On  the  decease  of  William  Earl  Marshal,  he 
was  chosen  in  his  room  protector  of  the  King  and  realm, 
and  afterwards,  the  King,  when  arrived  at  years  of 
discretion,  relied  implicity  on  the  -Bishop's  judgment. 
Envy  however  procured  the  latter  many  enemies.  Poly- 
dore  Virgil  says,  that  a  large  supply  of  money  being 
lequisite  for  the  purposes  of  the  state,  the  Bishop  advised 
his  royal  pupil  instead  of  extorting  money  from  the  poor, 
to  resume  a  great  number  of  valuable  grants  which  he 
had  inconsiderately  distributed  among  his  courtiers.  This 
act,  of  course  did  not  lessen  the  number  of  his  opponents, 
among  the  most  active  of  which  was  the  famous  Roger 
Bacon,  then  one  of  the  King's  chaplains,  but  afterwards 
a  Franciscan  friar  and  distinguished  mathematician.  This 
able  man  endeavoured  to  prejudice  the  royal  youth  against 
his  guardian  and  minister.     On  one  occassiou  he  asked 


PETER  ROCK.  16^ 

tlie  King  what  things  he  thought  a  prudent  pilot  in  steering 
a  ship  was  most  afraid  of?  The  King  replied,  that  Roger 
himself,  who  had  made  many  voyages,  could  best  answer 
that  question.  "  They  are,"  said  Bacon,  "  Stones  and 
Rocks,"  alluding  to  the  two  names  of  our  Prelate, — Peter 
Rock.  {M.  Paris.)  His  enemies,  at  length,  and 
principally  the  chief  justice  Hugo  de  Burgo,  succeeded  in 
supplanting  him  in  Henry's  favour.  The  consequence 
was  his  retirement  to  the  holy  land  in  1226.  Here  he 
continued  about  live  years,  and  on  his  return  home,  as 
M.  Paris  records,  he  was  received  in  his  Church  with  a 
solemn  procession  by  the  monks  and  clergy.  Being 
shortly  after  visited  by  his  royal  pupil  at  VV^inton,  he  soon 
regained  his  former  influence  over  him,  {Matth.  Westm.) 
which  he  held  about  two  years,  when  the  royal  indignation 
was  so  powerfully  excited  against  him  and  his  principal 
agents  Peter  de  llivallis  or  Dorival,  treasurer  of  England 
(his  nephew,  or  as  some  say,  natural  son)  and  Stephen 
Segrave,  that  the  two  former  found  it  necessary  to  fly  for 
protection  to  the  Cathedral,  and  the  latter  to  the  Church 
of  St.  Clary's  Nuns  in  Winton. — (id.)  The  Bishop, 
however,  once  more  recovered  the  King's  favor,  and 
being  sent  for  from  abroad  by  the  Pope,  he,  with  his 
usual  talent,  extricated  himself  from  his  difficulties,  and 
obtained  the  contidence  of  the  Emperor  and  other  Princes 
on  the  Continent. — (id.) 

This  Prelate  crowned  King  Henry  II f.  October  28, 
12lG,  at  Gloucester,  (Banks's  Stem.  Ang.  321)  and 
was  one  of  the  executors  of  the  will  of  King  John  t 
(Testamenta  Velnsta.\o\.I.p.  5.)  where  he  is  erroneously 
said  to  have  sat  Bishop  of  Winchester  till  1243  :  read  1238. 

After  an  Episcopate  of  34  years,  he  died  at  Farnham 
Castle,  June  9,  1238,  (Malt.  Paris)  and  according  to 
his  own  desire,  was  buried  without  the  least  parade  in 
his  Cathedral. 

Character. — Matthew  of  Paris,  p.  399,  says  of  him, 
that  "  In  his  death,  England,  both  in  Church  and  State, 
received  a  great  wound.  Whatever  good  happened  to 
the  Church,  either  by  peace  or  war,  in  the  holy  land,  at 
the  coming  of  the  Emperor  Frederic,  is  especially 
to  be  ascribed  to  the  wisdom  of  this  Bishop  ;  and  when 
discord  between  the  Pope  and  the  Emperor  threatened 
the  destruction  of  the  whole  Church,  he  was  especially 
the  means  of  compounding  the  peace  between   them." 

M  2 


164  PETER  ROCK. 

Matthew  Paris  calls  him  "  vir  equestris  ordinis/' — 
Hence,  as  Matthew  of  Westminster  observes,  he  was 
thought  "  in  negotiis  plus  bellicis  quam  scholasticis 
eruditus:" 

Benefactions, — He  augmented  the  College  at  Mere- 
well,  founded  by  Bishop  Blois.^ — Tanner,  Hants.  XX. 
Vide  in  Mon.  Angl.  torn.   iii.   p.  ii.  p.  65  pat. ;    18  Ed. 

II.  p.  2.  m.  14.  recit.  Cartam  fundatioms  et  ordinationes 
stabilitas  per  Petrum  de  Rupibus,  A.  D.  1226.  He 
founded  at  Portmouth,  temp.  John,  a  famous  hospital, 
called  *  God's  house,'  which  was  dedicated  to  St.  John 
the  Baptist  and  St.  Nicholas ;  and  valued  26  Henry  VIII. 
ati'33.  19s.  5rf.— See  Matt.  Paris,  A.  D.  1238.  "In 
the  west-south-west    part  of  the  town." — Leland.  Itin. 

III.  13.  "  At  Seleburne,  Hants. — Austin  Canons:  a 
Priory  of  Black  Canons,  founded  by  Peter  de  Rupibus, 
A.  D.  1233,  and  dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary: 
but  it  was  suppressed,  and  granted  to  William  W  aynflet, 
Bishop  of  Winton,  who  made  it  part  of  the  endowment  of 
St.  Mary  Magdalen  College,  Oxon.  The  Bishops  of  Win- 
ton  were  patrons  of  it." — Tanner.  Hants.  XXIX.  King 
John,  in  the  l6th  year  of  his  reign,  gave  the  manor  and 
advowson  of  the  Church  at  Seiburn  to  the  Bishop,  for 
the  purpose  of  this  foundation.  At  Titchfield  (called 
by  Bishop  Godwin,  Tickford),  the  Bishop  having  ob- 
tained of  King  Heni7  III.  a  grant  of  that  manor,  built  an 
Abbey  there  for  Premonstratensian  Canons,  to  the 
honour  of  the  V'irgin  Mary,  A.  D.  1231.  It  was  granted 
at  the  dissolution,  29  Henry  VIII.  to  Sir  Thos.  Wrio- 
thesley,  '  who  built  there  a  right  stately  house.' — Leland. 
Itin.  HI.  p.  3.  Collect.  I.  8o  and  114,  and  Tanner ^ 
Hants.   XXXIII. 

He  first  placed  the  Dominican  or  Preaching  Freres  at 
Winchester,  after  A.  D.  1221,  The  House  or  College 
stood  somewhat  north  within  the  town,  says  Tanner. 
Godwin  says,  near  the  east  gate :  it  was  granted  in 
exchange,  35  Henry  VIII.  to  the  warden  and  fellows  of 
Wykeham's  College  here. —  Leland  Itin.  III.  p.  100,  and 
Tanner,  Hants.  XXXV.  14.  Speed  in  his  Mag.  Brit. 
Antiq.  makes  these  Freres  to  have  been  founded  (temp. 
It.  Johti,)  in  whose  reign  this  order  was  not  known  in 
England,  whither  they  were  brought  in  1221  by  this 
Prelate. 

Under  Hales,  or  Halesoweyne,  Salop.  (XIII.)  Tanner 


PETER  ROCK.  i65 

©bser\-es,  "King  John,  anno  regni  l6,  gave  the  manor 
and  advowson  of  the  Church  here  to  P.  de  Rupibus, 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  for  the  endowment  of  an  Abbey 
for  Canons  of  the  Premonstratensian  order,  which  seems 
to  have  been  begun  and  finished  at  the  charge  of  the 
crown,  though  the  Bishops  of  Winchester  had  the 
patronage.  It  was  dedicated  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary 
and  St.  John  the  Baptist.  The  site  and  most  of  the 
lands  belonging  to  this  Monastery,  were  granted  30th 
Henry  VIU.  to  Sir  John  Dudley." 

Bishop  Godwin  most  strangely  identifies,  by  means  of 
an  alius,  Bishop  Roche's  foundation  at  Halesowen,  Salop, 
and  Selborne,  Hants. — "  Halisowen,  alias  Saleburn," 
mentioning  at  the  same  time  ( Richardson'' s  edit.  1743. 
fol,  p.  —  and  English  edit.  p.  — )  a  Premonstratensian 
foundation  at  Hales,  wthout  further  designation  as  to 
county,  &c.  Richardson  adds,  ut  supra  (note)  *'  Seleboum 
prioratus,  qui  jam  ad  Coll.  Madg.  Oxon.  pertinet  m 
cujus  archivis  occurrit  liber  istius  prioratus.  MS.  Barloiv. 
Richardson  notices  not  this  confusion  of  two  distinct 
places  and  endowments.  The  Vicarage  of  Selborne,  near 
Liphook,  Hants,  is  in  the  patronage  of  Magdalen  Col- 
lege, Oxford. 

He  is  said  by  Bishop  Godwin  to  have  founded  Ed- 
wardstow,  i.  e.  Nettley  Abbey,  near  Southampton.  But 
this  must  be  erroneous.  Roche  died  in  123S,  and  this 
Abbey  was  not  founded  till  the  following  year.  King 
Henry  IH.  was  the  founder.  Iceland  has  fallen  into  the 
same  error.  Collect.  1.  69.  To  this  assertion  Bishop 
Tanner  properly  observes,  '  He  might  intend  or  perhaps 
begin  this  Monasteiy.'  Nettley  was  for  Cistercian  Monks 
from  Beaulieu,  and  was  dedicated  to  St.  Mai-y  and  St, 
Edward. — See  Tanner,  Notitia,  Hants.  XXII. 

Leland  enumerates  among  the  benefactions  of  Chertsey 
Abbey,  *  Petrus  de  Rupibus  Epus  Wint.'  Collect.  1.  70. 
"Ao/1238,  23  Henry  in.  Peter  de  la  Roach,  Lord 
Chief  Justice,  and  Bishop  of  Winchester,  founded  the 
Chapel  on  the  south  side  of  the  Church,  dedicating  it  to 
the  honour  of  God  and  St.  Maiy  ^lagdalen." — Concaur- 
nen's  Hist,  of  St.  Saviour's,  Sonthwark     1775,  p.  74. 

**  The  Priory  of  St.  Mary-  Overy  having  been  burnt 
about  1207,  the  Canons  founded  an  Hospital  near  their 
Prior),  where  they  celebrated,  till  the  Priory  was  repaired. 
This  Hospital  afterwards,    by  consent  of  Peter  de   la 


106  PETER  ROCK. 

Roche,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  was  removed  Into  the  land 
of  Anicius,  Archdeacon  of  Siiriy,  in  1228." — Stow's 
London,  II.  p.  11. 

"This  Bishop  founded  a  large  Chapel  of  St.  Mary 
Magd.  in  the  said  Church  of  St.  Mary  Overy:  which 
Chapel  was  afterwards  appointed  to  be  the  parish  Church 
for  the  inhabitants  near  adjoining." — Stow.  ib. 

Matthew  Paris  adds,  that  while  in  the  holy  land,  he 
removed  the  Church  of  St.  Thomas  the  Martyr  fiom  a 
very  unfit  to  a  fit  situation,  and  reformed  the  statutes  of  the 
company  belonging  to  that  church,  causing  the  patriarchs 
of  Jerusalem  to  take  orders,  that  whereas  they  were  here- 
tofore lay-men,  they  should  now  be  under  the  templars 
and  their  society.  He  fortified  also  Joppa,  a  well  known 
refuge  of  the  Christians,  and  made  a  remarkable  will, 
giving  to  each  of  the  said  places  a  large  sum  of  money. 
To  the  house  of  St.  Thomas  of  Aeon,  he  gave  500  marks, 
the  least  of  any  of  the  sums  he  bequeathed.  Notwith- 
standing all  this  he  left  his  bishopric  veiy  rich,  and  well 
conditioned  for  his  successor. 

Among  the  benefactions  to  his  Cathedral  it  would  be 
unpardonable  to  omit  one  recorded  by  Rudborne,  with 
true  Roman  Catholic  absurdity.  This  was  no  other  than  the 
foot  of  St.  Philip,  but  how  the  Bishop  met  with  it,  nor 
by  what  means  it  had  been  preserved  for  so  many  cen- 
turies, he  condescendeth  not  to  inform  us.  **  Petrus  de 
Rupibus  Ecclesiae  Wint.  exstitit  in  omnibus  specialis 
pater  et  amicus.  Qui  pedem  S.  Philippi  suae  ecclesiae 
contulit  cum  plurimis  aliis  oi'namentis."  Hist.  Maj. 
Wint.  Ang.  Sac.  How  could  any  human  being  be  so 
infatuated  as  to  call  such  a  thing  an  ornament  ?  and, 
or  how  could  such  delusions  ever  obtain  credence  or 
currency? 


VII.    WILLIAM  DE  RAYLEIGH, 

Succeeded  A.  D.  1243. — Died  A.D.  1249. 

The  Bishop  had  been  a  favorite  Chaplain  of  King 
Henry  IIL,  Prebendary  of  Kentish  Town,  (Netccourt, 
Ilepertor.  I.  l60,)  Treasurer  of  Exeter  Cathedral,  and 
Prebendary  of  Lichfield.     Coptrary  to  the  knowledge  of 


WILLIAM  DE  RAYLEIGH.  l(H^* 

the  Monks  he  had  been  elected  Bishop  of  Chester,  upon 
which  the  King  gave  him  his  option,  and  he  accordingly 
chose  the  See  of  Norwich,  and  was  consecrated  to  it  by 
Edmund,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  in  St.  Paul's, 
September  25,  1239-  (ib.) 

On  the  death  of  Hock,  the  King  was  anxious  to  appoint 
to  the  vacant  See  of  Winton,  William,  Bishop  elect  of 
Valentia,*  the  uncle  of  his  lately  espoused  Queen.  But 
tlie  Monks  taking  it  into  their  heads  that  he  was  a  "  saiv- 
guinary  man,"  (M.  Paris)  persisted  in  refusing  to  elect 
him,  and  instead  of  so  doing  they  successively  elected  two 
of  the  King's  ministers  and  favorites,  William  defRaleigh, 
then  Bishop  of  Norwich,  and  Ralph  Nevill,  Bishop  of 
Chichester,  {ib.) 

These  attempts,  however,  equally  discordant  to  the 
discipline  of  the  Church,  and  subversive  of  the  prerogative 
of  the  King,  effected  the  exclusion  of  both  those  Prelates 
from  the  sunshine  of  the  royal  favor.  This  dispute,  so 
discreditable  to  the  rebellious  Monks,  and  so  subversive 
of  the  unity  of  the  Church,  continued  five  years  ;  durmg 
■which  time,  the  diocese  was  destitute  of  a  Bishop,  not- 
withstanding that  William,  Bishop  of  Valentia,  the  inno- 
cent cause  of  this  contention,  had  died  in  the  first  year 
of  its  commencement.  The  Monks  most  deservedly  felt 
the  weight  of  the  royal  resentment,  their  temporalties 
being  seized,  and  themselves  imprisoned.  Nevertheless, 
so  incorrigible  were  they,  and  so  inflexible  in  their  lawless 
opposition  to  their  King,  that  they  re-elected  Raleigh, 
their  former  elections  having  been  invalidated  at  Rome, 
tlu-ough  the  King's  means. ;|; 

Raleigh,  at  length,  A.  D.  1243,  haviug  procured  his 
translation  to  be  ratified  by  the  Pope,  repaired  to  Winton 
to  take  possession,  but  he  found  the  gates  shut  against 
him,  the  mayor  being  ordered  by  the  King  to  refuse  him 


•  He  vas  elected  Bishop  of  Valentia  A.  D.  122-1.  Id  I23G  he  accom- 
panied his  neice  into  this  country,  and  died  l?o9.  See  Guichon's  Hist,  dt 
Saaoy,  1 .  256. 

t  Whartop  in  the  y^/j?/.  Sac.  vol.  I.  p.  307  says,  he  was  elected  in  1238, 
prior  to  his  proauotion  to  Norwich. 

t  There  are  extant  two  Papal  Bulles  directed  to  the  King  and  others, 
enjoining  that  no  one  should  be  elected  to  the  See  of  Wiutnn,  who  might 
be  in  the  sliglit€st  degree  objectionable  to  the  King.  The  one  dated 
Lateran,  2,  Id.  Jan.  The  other  Lateran,  0',  Id.  lu-b.  13tl),  ot  tlie  Pontificate 
.*•!  C«tiory,  that  is,  A.  D.  123'J.    See  Rymer's  Fcedera,  Lpp.  337-§. 


1G|  WILLIAM  DE  RAYLEIGH. 

admission.  In  vain  did  the  holy  man,  as  Paris  andj 
Westminster  record,  go  barefooted  round  the  walls,  preach- 
ing to  the  civic  powers  and  clergy,  who  heard  his  harangues 
from  the  upper  ])arts  of  their  houses  with  perfect  sang- 
froid. Finding  these  means  useless,  he  consoled  himself 
with  fulminating  an  interdict  on  all  the  parties,  and  having 
so  done  betook  himself  to  France. 

The  following  year  by  the  intercession  of  Boniface,  the 
Archbishop,  and  the  Pope's  earnest  letters  to  the  King 
and  Queen,  peace  was  restored,  and  Raleigh  took  pos- 
session of  his  diocese,  the  interdict  being  removed.  The 
King,  (says  Paris,)  even  condescended  to  dine  with  him, 
and  to  give  him  the  kiss  of  peace.  He  was  enthroned 
Nov.  CO,  1244. 

Two  years  after  this,  viz.  in  1246,  the  Bishop  per- 
formed in  the  King's  presence  the  magnificent  ceremony 
of  dedicating  the  royal  Abbey  in  the  New  Forest,  called 
Beaulieu  (de  bello  loco). — M.  Paris. 

From  feelings  of  gratitude  for  the  fatherly  concern  the 
Pope  had  taken  in  getting  him  peaceable  possession  of 
the  bishopric,  Raleigh  sent  him  a  present  of  6000  marks, 
doubtless  expecting  that  a  part  of  the  present  would  be 
declined.  Vain  hope  !  His  Holiness  good-naturedly  ac- 
cepted the  whole,  not  returning  him  a  single  penny. 
The  payment  of  this  money,  adds  Godwin,  and  the 
anxiety  he  had  experienced,  preyed  upon  his  mind,  and 
hastened  his  dissolution,  which  took  place  Sept.  20, 
1249,  atTurenne,  whither  he  had  withdrawn  with  a  small 
retinue  a  year  before. 

Bishop  Milner,  vol.  I.  p.  245,  says,  he  died  at  Tours 
in  1250  :  but  this  appears  to  be  neither  the  place  nor  the 
date.  That  writer  observes,  that  Bishop  Raleigh  received 
the  last  rites  of  his  Church  with  circumstances  of  the 
most  "  edifying  demotion."  I  was  curious  to  ascertain 
what  these  circumstances  of  edifying  devotion  might  be, 
and  on  referring  to  Matthew  Paris,  I  find  them  to  have 
consisted  chieiiy  in  his  unscriptural  and  puerile  mistake 
of  the  bread  and  wine  for  the  real  body  of  Christ,  {i,  e.) 
confounding  the  signum  with  the  significatum,  and  by 
inevitable  consequence  admitting  the  absurdity  that  Christ 
held  himself  in  his  hand,  when  he  uttered  the  words 
**  Take,  eat,  this  is  my  body,"  &c.  Being  near  death, 
observes  Milner,  he  had  the  Sacrament  brought  to  him, 
[i,  e.  the  vicarious  elements  of  bread  and  wine,]   and 


WILLIAM  DE  RAYLEIGH.  m 

perceiving  the  priest  entering  his  chamber  with  it,  he 
cried  out — '  Stay,  my  friend,  let  the  Lord  come  no 
nearer  unto  me,  it  is  more  iit  that  I  be  drawn  unto  him 
like  a  traitor,  that  in  many  things  have  been  a  traitor 
xmto  him  !'  His  servants,  therefore,  by  his  desire,  drew 
him  out  of  bis  bed  to  the  place  where  the  Priest  was,  and 
there  with  tears  he  received  the  sacrament,  and  spending 
much  time  in  prayer,  afterwards  ended  this  life,  8lc." 
Though  we  cannot  but  admire  the  fervour  of  Roman 
Catholic  piety,  our  admiration  is  ever  mingled  with  pity 
for  the  vain  conceits  and  erroneous  doctrmes  which  a 
distorted  zeal  and  blind  superstition,  have  appended  to 
the  faith  of  a  true  church.* 

He  died,  says  Paris,  ''  anno  1250,  circa  festum 
Matthoei,"  p.  692 — "circa  festum  S.  ^gidii." — WiJas 
Chron.  p.  48.  "  Die  primo  Sept.  Obitiiar.  Wint.  and 
was  buried  in  the  Cathedral  Church  of  St.  Martin  at 
Turenne.  Amml.  Wint.  His  anniversary  was  celebrated 
in  Nor\\'ich  Cathedral,  July  20,  being  St.  Margaret's 
day.     Reg.  VII.  EccL  Cath.  Norv.fo.pemilt. 

Arms.  Gules,  a  bend  lozengy.  argt.  Blomefield. 
Hist.  Noyfolk.  edit.  1806,  vol.  III.  p.  485,  on  the  au- 
thority of  collections  of  P.  Le  Neve.  A  few  more 
particulars  of  him  as  Bishop  of  Norwich  may  be  found 
in  Blomefield. 

Rudborne,  Hist.  M.  Wint.  records  him  thus  :  — 
"  Willelmus  Rale,  qui  sedit  annos  X."  This  is  evidently 
wrong. — vide  supra. 

Leland,  Collect.  2.  341  thus,  ''Qui:  de  Radelege, 
ex  Epo  Norwic :  fit  Epus  Wint :  A.  D.  1242,  obiit  1250.- 
Ds.  Adamarus  de  Luzingnano  frater  Henry  III.  regis 
Angl.  successit." 

Vin.ETHELMAR,aliasAYMERDE  VALENCE, 
or  VALENCIA,  abas  ALDOMAR.f 

Succeeded  A.D.  1250. — Died  A.  D.   1261. 

This  Prelate,  by  birth  a  Pictavian,  was  uterine 
brother  of  King  Henry  HI.,  being  4th  sou  of  Isabella, 

•  When  I  apply  the  ex])ression  "a  true  Church"  to  that  ot  the  Ca- 
tholics, I  would  be  utiderstooil  to  mean  true  in  its  essential  coustitution, 
i.  e.  au  lipiscopacy  and  Priesthood  of  Apostolic  oiigia. 

t  Sic  in  Lib,  Tax.  fmnt.  Annul,  fFinton, 


170  ETHELMAR. 

relict  of  tlie  preceding  King,  by  her  second  husband 
Hugh  Le  Brun,  Earl  of  March,f  (in  the  confines  of 
France  and  Poitou.) 

Ethelmar's  earlier  preferments  were  the  living  of  Ded- 
dingtou,  County  of  Oxford  in  1 247.  ( llegist.  Grosthead.) 
That  of  Kyrkehayn  (sic)  in  the  diocese  of  York.  Pat, 
31  Hen?-!/  III.  To  this  Church  the  King  presented 
(postulatione  ejus  a  Papa  confirmata),  3  Aug.  Pat. 
S5  Henry  III.  He  had  the  Church  of  Wermuth  (qy. 
Warmsworth)  before  his  election,  and  held  it  after  through 
the  Pope's  indulgence.  Pat.  37  Henry  III.  m.  H .  Ita. 
MS.  Hutton.  He  was  also  Rector  of  Compton,  County 
of  Warwick. — Dudg.  p.  407. 

The  King  was  so  anxious  for  the  appointment  of  his 
uterine  brother  to  the  See  of  Winton,  that  he  went  down  to 
that  city,  and  having  assembled  the  Monks  in  the  chapter- 
house, addressed  them  in  a  long  speech,  the  purport  of 
which  was  to  induce  them  to  elect  Ethelmar.  In  his 
address,  though  he  used  the  language  of  a  suppliant,  yet- 
he  backed  his  requisition  by  no  obscure  threats  of  ven- 
geance in  the  event  of  non-compliance  ; — [**  stricto  sup- 
plicabet  ense."]  The  Monks  retiring,  and  being  shut  up 
together  in  a  chamber,  with  heavy  hearts  began  to  reflect 
on  what  they  had  heard,  and  the  present  posture  of  affairs. 
These  contumacious  persons  discovered,  or  fancied  that 
they  had  discovered,  that  Ethelmar  was  destitute  of  all  the 
necessary  qualifications  for  the  Prelacy.  He  had,  as  they 
deemed,  neither  moials,  nor  literature,  nor  previous 
orders,  nor  even  a  canonical  age  to  recommend  him,  as 
Matthew  Paris  states,  (A.  D.  1250,  p.  693.)  But  on 
the  other  hand,  the  evils  that  had  befallen  them  by  their 
late  rebellious  obstinacy  to  the  commands  of  their  sove» 
reign,  and  being  fully  aware  that  the  King  possessed 
far  more  ample  means  than  themselves  of  making  an 
impression  on  tlie  Papal  mind  in  a  pecuniary  way,  they 
prudently  gave  up  the  point,  voting  in  compliance  with 
the  King's  directions  ;  {kxcov  uixovri  yz  ^uixu).)  The 
election  was  confirmed,  and  Ethelmar  became  possessed 


t  Isabel's  issue  hy  the  Earl  was  as  follows  :  1st.  Hugh,  Earl  of  March. 
2d.  Guido  of  Lusignan.  3d.  William  of  Valencia,  a  distinguished  baron, 
temp.  Henry  III.  and  afterwards  Earl  of  Pembroke.  4th.  Audomak, 
Bishop  of  Winchester.  And  5th.  Gexlfry  of  Lusignan,  Lord  Hastings, 
■— Lusiguan  is  12  niiks  from  Ppictiers,  the  Bishop's  uative  pl^ce, 


ETHELMAR.  171 

of  the  bishopric :  though,  as  it  should  seem,  without  con- 
secration. He  had,  says  Godwin,  at  that  time  other 
spiritual  preferment  equivalent  to  the  revenue  of  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  (non  constat)  in  order  to 
keep  which,  and  yet  receive  the  income  of  Winton,  he 
determined  not  to  be  consecrated  at  all,  but  to  hold  it 
by  his  election  only,  which  it  appears  he  did  nine  years. 

M.  Paris  records,  that  the  Bishop  conducted  himself 
with  much  severity  towards  the  Monks.  Once  he  shut 
them  up  for  three  whole  days  in  the  Church  without  food, 
which  caused  them  to  exclaim,  '  It  is  with  justice  we 
jsuffer  this,  because  fearing  the  wrath  of  man  more  than 
of  God,  we  raised  this  unworthy  youth  to  the  power 
which  he  so  much  abuses  !'  But  in  all  probability  the 
Bishop  found  himself  obliged  to  resort  to  severe  measures 
to  keep  in  order  such  untractable  beings. 

The  Prior,  William  of  Taunton,  repaired  to  Rome  to 
accuse  the  Bishop,  particularly  for  turning  him  out  of 
his  office,  and  substituting  Andrew  of  London.  Annales. 
Wint,  and  M.  Paris.  The  Prior  prevailed;  and  in  an 
assembly  of  the  nobility,  held  at  Winchester,  Ethelmar 
and  three  of  his  brothers,  who  had  all  conducted  them- 
selves with  perhaps  too  high  a  hand,  and  being  foreigners, 
had  excited  the  jealousy  of  an  English  faction,  were 
sent  into  banishment.  A7m.  Wint.  A.  D.  1258,  and 
Pat.  42  Henri/  III.  m.  15.  Certain  nobles  were  ap- 
pointed for  the  safe  conduct  of  Audomar,  Bishop  elect 
of  Winton,  viz  :  Guido  of  Lusignan,  Geoffry  of  Lusignan, 
and  William  of  Valencia,  brothers  of  the  King,  to  Dover, 
and  thence  to  *  parts  beyond  the  sea,'  in  1258.  Letters 
were  also  dispatched  to  the  Pope  praying  him  to  remove 
the  Bishop  from  the  administration  of  the  diocese,  because 
he  had  troubled  it  many  years,  and  protesting  that  the 
writers  would  not  receive  him  if  he  designed  returning  to 
England. — Pymefs  Fadera,  vol.  I.  p.  060. 

In  consequence  of  Ethelmar's  non-consecration,  the 
Monks  were  permitted  to  proceed  to  a  new  election. 
The  King  overawed  probably  by  the  party  formed  against 
his  brothers,  did  not  oppose  the  course  adopted.  i'he 
Bishop  went  abroad  in  1258,  and  Henry  Wengham  the 
Chancellor  was  elected,  but  he  alleging  as  an  excuse  his 
want  of  learning,  very  honorably  refused  to  accept  of  the 
bishopric  under  such  circumstances,  and  was  soon  after 
pjade  Bishop  of  London.    Meanwhile  in  1260,  Ethelmar 


172  ETHELMAR. 

succeeded  in  procuring  his  consecration  at  Rome:  which 
fact,  M.  Westminster  thus  distinctly  states :  (though 
Godwin  raises  a  doubt  respecting  it.) — -^thelmarus, 
Winton  electus,  cum  per  tres  ferme  annos  in  Curia 
Romana  stetisset,  tandem  Papali  obtenta  benedictione, 
ab  eodem,  ut  dicitur,  in  Episcopum  consecratus."  The 
author  of  the  Chronicle  of  Osney  states  the  same  fact. 
— "  Anno  1260,  ad  festum  ascensionis  domini,  Adomarus 
electus  Wintoniensis  frater  Regis  Henrici  consecratus  est 
in  Episcopum  a  domino  Papa  Alexandro  quarto,  cassatis 
in  curia  Romana  omnibus  sibi  objectis  a  Baronibus  Angliae 
et  Monachis  Winton,  cum  magno  apparatu  Angliam  adire 
disponebat,  proemisso  D.  Vincentio  Turonensi  Archiepis- 
copoetsedis  Apostolicce  Legato  eum  plena  potestate  totam 
Angliam  interdicto  subjicere,  nisi  eum  pacifice  terram 
intrare  et  Episcopatum  Wintoniensera  plenius  sinerent 
obtinere."  The  King's  and  the  Bishop's  triumph  therefore 
was  complete.  The  Bishop  was  on  the  point  of  returning 
to  resume  his  bishopric,  when  his  death  took  place  at 
Paris.  He  was  buried  (M.  Wesmt.  p.  377)  in  the  Church 
of  St.  Genevieve  ;  his  heart  being,  according  to  his  own 
desire,  conveyed  to  Winton  Cathedral,  where  a  monument 
in  the  south  wall  of  the  choir  is  to  be  seen  with  this 
inscription :  — 

Obiit  A.  D.  1261, 

Corpus  Ethelmari  (cujus  cor  nunc  tenet  istud 
Saxum)   Parisiis  morte  datur  tumulo. 

The  Annal.  Wint.  say,  *  Obiit  in  vigilia  St.  Nicholai 
sc.  pridie  nonas  Decenibris  1260.' 

Rudborne  gives  a  different  account  from  Westminster 
of  the  burial  of  Ethelmar.  But  the  former  is  often  very 
erroneous.  "  Audomarus  frater  Henrici  IH.  qui  sedem 
occupavit  annis  12  (only  11)  cujus  corpus  ad  aquilonarem 
plagam  altaris  reconditum  est." — Hist.  Maj.  M/int.  Ang. 
Sac. 

The  Bishop  was  an  executor  of  the  will  of  King  Henry 
III.  Test.  Vetust.  vol.  I.  p.  7. 


JOHN  GERVASE.  173 

IX.    JOHN  GERVASE, 
(Called  also  JOHN  of  OXFORD,  of  EXON,  and  of 

GUERNSEY.) 

Succeeded  A.  D.  1262.— Died  A.  D.  1267-8. 

Godwin  erroneously  places  this  Prelate's  succession  at 
1265,  (edit.  16\5, p.  230)  which  would  have  left  the  See 
vacant  four  years.  He  was  appointed  by  papal  pro- 
vision in  1262,  (M.  Westm.)  and  consecrated  at  Rome, 
a  little  before  the  festival  of  St.  Michael  the  same  year  ; 
( Wharton  ex  Jide  Chron.  Dovorensis)  though  Godwin 
says,  on  his  own  authority,  that  he  was  consecrated  in 
1265,  a  mistake  which  his  editor  Richardson  has  rectified 
at  p.  22 1 .  He  had  been  Chancellor  of  York.  (ill.  Westm.) 
One  of  his  first  concerns  in  taking  possession  of  his 
Bishopric,  was  to  infiict  punishment  on  Andrew  of 
London,  the  Prior  whom  his  predecessor  Ethelmar  had 
appointed  in  the  room  of  William  of  Taunton.  Not 
content  with  deposing  him,  he  caused  him  to  be  confined 
at  Hyde  Abbey,  from  whence  he  effected  his  escape. 
{M,  West7n.)  Bishop  Godwin  relates  a  circumstance  of 
this  prelate,  only  however  on  an  on  dit,  respecting  which 
Bishop  Milner  has  obsei-ved  a  profound  silence,  viz.  hi& 
payment  of  6000  marks  to  the  Pope  for  his  consecration, 
and  a  like  sum  to  Jordan,  the  Pope's  Chancellor, 
Bishop  Gervase  taking  part  with  the  barons  then  in  arms 
against  the  king,  was  on  this  account  deservedly  sus- 
pended by  Ottobone,  the  Pope's  legate.  This  occasioned 
him  to  take  a  journey  to  Rome,  where  he  died  at  the 
papal  court,  Jan.  20,  126?  or  8,  {Annul.  Waverl.  Wint. 
and  Wigorn.)  and  was  buried  at  Viterbo.  {Annal.  Wint.y 
Westminster  says  1265.  Godwin  (edit  l6l5)  says  126l, 
which  is  four  years  before  the  time  at  which  he  has  fixed 
his  succession.  If  the  events  and  dates  were  transposed, 
he  would  be  nearer  the  truth.  He  sat  six  years,  says  the 
Chron.  Dovor.  and  Rudborne.  His  death  is  also  fixed  a» 
above  by  Leland,  Collect.  II.  341,  who  calls  him  "  Dq 
Exonia." 


174  KICHOLAS  OF  ELY* 

X.     NICHOLAS  OF  ELY. 
Succeeded  A.  D.  1268.— Died  A.  D.  1280. 

Bishop  Nicholas  was  appointed  to  Wintoii  from 
Worcester,  by  papal  provision,  Feb.  24,  1267-8. 

He  had  been  Archdeacon  of  Ely,  whence  his  name, 
and  was  appointed  Lord  Chancellor  in  1260,  and  again 
in  1263.  Godwin  says  he  had  been  Lord  High  Treasurer 
'about  1260.'  He  occurs  Treasurer  from  1263,  while 
Archdeacon  of  Ely,  to  1266,  having  been  so  constituted, 
as  it  would  appear,  a  second  time  Dec.  18,  1263.  Pat. 
47  H.  in.  m.  1,  See  Catalogue  of  Chancellors  ap- 
pended to  Dugdale,  p.  12.  Chron.  Series. 

On  the  19th.  Sept.  1266,  he  was  lirst  elevated  to  the 
purple  as  Bishop  of  Worcester,  where  he  sat  scarcely  a 
year.  Godwin  says,  p.  222,  fol.  edit.  int.  Ep5s  Wint. 
"anno  vix  integro,"  &  inter  Wigornienses,  p.  46l,  he 
erroneously  fixes  his  consecration  to  Worcester  at  1268, 
thus  contradicting  himself,  but  it  should  have  been  1266. 

He  was  translated  from  Worcester  hither  by  papal 
provision,  Feb.  24,  1267,  scilicet,  anno  exeunte,  and  was 
confirmed  by  the  papal  legate  April  23,  1268,  sc.  anno 
ineunte,  being  inthroned  at  Winton  May  27,  1268. 

He  Avas  one  of  the  twelve  appointed  by  the  King  and 
Nobles  at  Kenilworth  to  settle  the  peace  of  the  kingdom. 

The  Cistercian  Abbey  of  Waverly  near  Farnham,  which 
we  have  already  noticed,  found  in  Bishop  Nicholas  a 
friend  and  benefactor,  and  the  church  being  in  his  prelacy 
rebuilt,  he  performed  the  dedication  of  it  in  1278  with 
great  solemnity,  and  entertaiiied  entirely  at  his  own  cost, 
the  numerous  company  that  resorted  to  it  during  the 
octave  of  that  festivity.  On  the  day  of  dedication  the 
number  of  guests,  among  whom  were  many  persons  of 
distinction,  consisted  of  between  7  and  8000.  (Annul 
ffigom.) 

The  Bishop  sat  here  twelve  vears  and  died  "  circa  natale 
Domini  1279,"  MS.  Wood.  "Ob.  12  February," 
Annal\  fFaverl:  zndfFigorn.  He  was  living  July  26, 
1269.  See  Pat.  7-  E.  1.  m.  11.  and  his  bishopric  was 
vacant  February  15,  1270.  Pat.  8.  E,  1.  m.  28. 
Therefore  his  death  is  easily  fixed  within  those  seven 
months. 

According  to  his  own  desire  his  body  was  buried  in  the 


JOHN  SAWBRIDGE.  1^5 

Church  at  Waverly  and  his  heart  deposited  in  his  Cathe- 
dral in  the  south  side  of  the  presbytery,  with  this  inscription : 

*'  Intus  est  cor  Nicholai  Episcopi  cujus  corpus  estapud 
Waverly." 

This  Bishop  is  commemorated  says  Richardson,  among 
the  benefactors  of  Cambridge.  He  gave  by  will  60  marks 
for  the  re-building  the  tower  of  Worcester  Cathedral. 
(ireen's  fVorcest.  I.  \S7 .  Rudborne  calls  him,  ''hujus 
Ecclesia  (Wint.)  specialis  Patrouus." — Hist.  Maj.  JVint. 


XI.  JOHN  SAWBRIDGE,* alias PONTISERRA, 

or  PONTYS. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  1282.— Died  A.  D.  1304. 

After  the  death  of  Bishop  Nicholas  in  1280,  licence  for 
election  was  granted  Feb.  18,  (Pat.  8.  Edward  I.  m.  23  :) 
whereupon  the  Monks  of  the  Cathedral  gave  their  votes 
in  favor  of  Robert  Burnel,  Bishop  of  Bath,  but  Arch- 
bishop Peckham  successfully  opposed  his  appointment 
at  Rome,  on  the  ground  of  his  being  a  pluralist. — 
(  Wharton's  Aug.  Sac.  vol.  1.  p.  315.)  The  Monks  then 
chose,  N  ov.  6, 1280,  {Aiinal.  Wigorn.)  Richard  de  la  More 
S.T.P.  Archdeacon  of  Winton  and  Sub-dean  of  Lincoln, 
( H.fFhartoit.  Ang.  Sac.  /.)  whowas  accordingly  admitted 
by  the  King  to  the  possession  of  his  temporal  ties ;  but 
when  the  election  was  notified  to  Archbishop  Peckham, 
he  positively  refused  to  continn  it  on  the  same  ground  as 
before,  alleging  the  Canon  lately  enacted  in  the  council 
of  Lyons  (**  virtute  canonis  a  concilio  Lugdunensi  anno 
1271,  lati."  id.)  against  pluralists,  in  which  situation 
the  elect  stood.  {Aug.  Sac.  ut  sup.)  Richard  went  in 
person  to  Rome  the  following  year  to  prosecute  his 
appeal,  and  to  obtain  a  dispensation  from  the  aforesaid 
impediment.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Archbishop  sent 
letters  to  the  same  place,  in  which,  among  other  things, 

•  Tliis  Prelate's  real  name,  Anglice,  was  doubtless  as  I  have  put  it. 
Sawbridge  has  been  latinized  by  Pons,  a  bridge  and  Serra,  a  saAV.  Per- 
haps the  most  absurd  of  these  latinized  English  names  is  that  of  Andrew 
Borde,  which  as  Granger  somewhere  says,  was  trausformed  into  Audreaa 
Perforatus. 


176  SAWBRIDGE. 

he  declared  that  if  the  canons  were  allowed  to  be  in- 
fringed, the  English  Church  was  ruined,  and  he  was 
determined  to  resign  his  dignity.  (^>«g.  Sac.  1.  315.) 
These  representations  had  their  due  weight  with  the 
Pope,  who,  setting  aside  Richard,  in  the  plenitude  of 
his  power  took  upon  himself  to  appoint  John  de  Pontoys, 
or  de  Pontissera,  who  had  been  Chancellor  of  Oxford,  and 
Archdeacon  of  Exeter,  but  who  at  that  time  was  P..C.L. 
in  the  city  of  Modena,  to  be  Bishop  of  Winton,  and 
caused  him  to  be  consecrated  in  the  city  of  Rome,  before 
the  end  of  May  1282.  Rimer's  Fad.  vol.  II.  p.  204. 
The  lemporalties  were  restored  Aug.  11.  Pat.  10 
Edward  I.  m.  6.  The  Bishop  immediately  after  returned 
to  England,  and  to  the  possession  of  his  See.  His  own 
register  proves  that  he  was  elected  June  9,  1282. 

Being  a  man  of  learning  and  experience,  he  discovered 
the  best  mode  of  terminating  those  dissentions,  which  had 
frequently  taken  place  between  his  predecessors  and  the 
monks  of  his  cathedral.  Tlie  convent  gave  up  to  the 
Bishop  and  his  successors  the  advowson  of  a  great  many 
Churches  in  the  Diocese,  to  which  they  before  had 
claimed  a  right  of  presenting  ;  the  Bishop  on  his  part, 
resigning  to  the  convent,  for  himself  and  those  who  were 
to  succeed  him,  all  his  right  to  various  manors ;  as 
likewise  the  custody  of  the  convent  itself,  upon  the  death 
of  its  priors,  whom  he  ordained  should  be  henceforward 
perpetual,  and  not  moveable  at  the  pleasure  of  the  dio- 
cesan as  they  had  hitherto  been ;  reserving  to  himself, 
the  right  of  patronage,  with  certain  other  rights  spe- 
cified in  the  original  register.*  The  most  important 
act,  however,  of  his  episcopal  government,  and  that  which 
was  afterwards  successfully  copied  by  his  most  illustrious 
successors,  was  the  establishment  of  a  Collegef  for  the 
propagation  of  piety  and  literature  among  his  Clergy. 
This  College,  which  was  dedicated  under  the  name  of  St. 
Elizabeth  of  Hungary,!  was  situated  opposite  to  Wolvesey 
Castle,    to    the    south    east    of    the    present    College. 


*  Registrum  de  Poutoys.  Epit.  Ang.  Sac.  Hen,  Wharton.  Notae  ap. 
Godwin. 

T  "Coll.  S.  Eliz.  iu  Winton.    Joannes  de  Pontii?sera   Epus  Wint; 
fundator  primus."    Leland,  Collect.  1.  85. 

X  This  lady  was  daughter  of  the  King  of  Hungaiy.    For  some  account 
of  this  foundation,  see  Pat.  'X6,  Edw.  I.  par.  1.  m,  12,  and  Pat,  1.  E.  2. 


HENRY  WOODLOCK.  177 

The  statutes  which  the  founder  made  for  the  government 
of  this  College,  prove  his  zeal  for  the  advancement  of 
piety  according  to  the  mistaken  notions  of  those  times. 
This  foundation  was  completed  in  1301,  three  years 
before  his  death. 

The  Bishop  was  at  Rome  in  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1304,  with  highly  recommendatory  letters  from  the  King. 
See  Rymer.  Fend.  vol.  II.  p.  946.  He  died  the  3d.  or 
4th.  of  December  of  the  same  year  at  Wolvesey  Castle, 
and  was  buried  on  the  north  side  of  the  high  altar  in 
Winton  Cathedral. — Rudborne. 

Westminster  says,  he  died  in  1305.  The  following  is 
the  inscription  on  his  tomb  : 

Defuncti  corpus  tumulus  tenet  iste  Joannis 
PouNTES  Wintoniae  proesulis  eximii. 

Rudborne  is  erroneous  in  saying  he  sat  24  years.  He 
should  have  said  22,  because,  though  Nicholas  Ely  died 
in  1280  J  the  disputes  caused  the  See  to  be  vacant  two 
years. 


XII.     HENRY  WOODLOCK. 
Succeeded  A.  D.  1305. — Died  A.  D.  1316. 

This  Prelate,  also  called  De  Merewell,  from  the 
place  of  his  nativity,  an  episcopal  manor  near  Winchester, 
had  been  Prior  of  St.  Swithun's.  The  licence  for  his 
flection  was  dated  Dec.  23,  1305.  The  royal  assent 
Mas  given  Jan.  29,  and  restitution  of  the  temporalties 
Mar.  12,  Pat.  33  Edward  I.  He  was  conriimed  by  the 
Archbishop  in  the  beginning  of  Lent,  (Regist.  Cant.) 
and  consecrated  in  Canterbury  Cathedral  May  30,  1305, 
(Regist.  Winchelsea)  and  enthroned  Oct.  10. 

When  his  Metropolitan,  Robert  of  Winchelsea,  labored 
imder  the  royal  displeasure,  Bishop  Woodlock  interposed 
in  his  behalf.  The  consequences  were,  that  he  himself 
was  outlawed  by  the  King,  and  his  effects  seized  upon 
and  confiscated.  See  Stephen  de  Birchington,  vit.  Aip. 
Cant.  &;c.  King  Edward  dying  soon  after,  his  son,  the 
young  King,  restored  both  Prelates  to  their  former  rights. 

This  Bishop  crowned  King  Edward  II.  and  his  Queen 
Isabella,     He  was  not  umnindful  of  the  place  of  his 


178      •  JOHN  SANDALL. 

nativity,  having  considerably  increased  the  foundation 
which  had  been  made  there  by  Bishop  Blois  in  1226.— 
Tanner.  Not.  Mon.  Hants.  XX.  The  lands  at  the  dis- 
solution were  granted  to  Sir  Henry  Seymour.  He  is  also 
recorded  as  having  bestowed  many  rich  ornaments  on  his 
own  Cathedral. — Ang.  Sac. 

He  died  at  Faruhani  Castle  on  the  Vigil  of  S.  S. 
Peter  and  Paul,  A.  D.  131(),  (28th  or  29th  of  June)  and 
was  buried  at  the  entrance  of  the  choir  of  the  Cathedral 
of  Winchester. — (ib.) 


Xni.    JOHN  SANDALL. 
•  Succeeded  A.  D.  13l6.— Died  A.  D.  1319. 

Our  next  Bishop  was  John  Sandall,  or  de  Sandale, 
called  by  Walsingham  de  Kendal,  a  Canon  of  York, 
who  had  been  successively  Treasurer  and  Chancellor  of 
England. 

The  licence  for  electing  was  dated  July  8,  1  Pat.  10 
E.  II,  m.  38 ;  his  election  took  place  before  August  5  ; 
restitution  of  the  temporalties  was  made  Sept.  23.  1  Pat, 

10  E.  2.  He  had  been  constituted  locum-tenens  of  the 
treasurer,  in  the  Exchequer,  Oct.  4,  1312,  Pat.  6  E.  II. 
p.  1.  m.  14,  and  next  year  treasurer,  canon  of  York,  6th. 
of  May,  1314,  (Whaj'ton)  lord  chancellor  before  July  7, 
A.  D.  1315,  Pat  8  E.  II.  p.  2.  m.  21.*  and  held  it  after 
his  appointment  to   the  Bishopric  till  Oct.  1317,   1  Pat. 

1 1  E.  II.  Harpsfield,  Hist.  Eccl.  Size.  xiv.  records  that 
he  neglected  his  diocese,  and  that  he  suffered  the  episcopal 
houses  to  get  out  of  repair.  He  is  also  said  to  have  per- 
mitted a  convent  of  nuns  at  Witney,  to  be  dissolved  for 
want  of  timely  assistance,  for  which  he  was  called  to 
account  by  his  metropolitan,  W^alter. 

He  died  at  the  end  of  October,  1319,  at  his  palace  of 
Southwark,  and  was  buried  in  the  church  of  St.  Mary 
Overy.  {Southwark  Register.)  John  Kokermouth  and 
John  Heydon  being  his  executors.     {MS,  Wren.) 

A  reconimendatoiy  letter  of  the    King  to  the  Pope, 


*  See  Dugdale.    Orig.  Jurid.  Chr.  Ser.  p.  Sff. 


REGINALD  ASSER.  179 

in  behalf  of  Henry  Burghersh,  after  Sandall's  death,  is 
extant,  bearnig  date  Nov.  2,  in  Rymer's  Fcedera,  vol.  3, 
p.  793.  'J  ^  » 


XIV.     REGINALD  ASSER. 
Succeeded  A.  D.  1320.— Died  A.  D.  1323. 

The  next  was  a  contested  election.  The  King  recom- 
mended a  favorite  clerk,  for  whose  promotion  he  was 
solicitous,  Henry  de  Burghersh,  or  as  Milner  calls  him 
■tJurghwash  ;  but  the  Monks  chose  one  of  their  own 
coriimunity,  whose  name  was  Adam,  and  whom  Harpsfield 
calls  a  man  of  extraordinary  learning.  The  Pope,  how- 
ever, to  ^vhom  the  matter  was  referred,  appointed,  by 
way  of  provision,  as  it  was  tenned  in  the  canon  law,  his 
own  legate  in  England,  Reginald  deAsserioto  be  Bishop: 
thus  realizing  the  fable  of  Justice  and  the  Oyster.  Re- 
gmald  was  accordingly  consecrated  by  the  Bishops  of 
London,  Ely,  and  Rochester ;  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, ^V  alter,  rightly  deeming  the  appointment  an 
irregularity,  refused  performing  the  ceremony. 

Asser's  episcopacy  was  but  short.  He  died  in  1323, 
iNov.  12,  at  Avignon,  as  AVharton  says,  where  the  Pope's 
court  was  then  held.— Co;^^  Hht.  Whit.  But  Walsino-- 
ham,  p.  90,  says,  at  St.  Alban's,  on  the  l6th.  St.  Ed- 
mund s  day. 

He  is  thus  noticed  by  Wharton :—"  Post  Johannis 
obitum  MonachiWinton  Adamum  Commonachum  Suum 
die  30th.  Nov.  elegerunt.     Verum   ante  hac  audita  Jo- 
hannis morte.    Papa  piovisionem    Episcopates  Winton, 
sibi  reseryavit,  eidemque  invito  Rege  proefecit  Rigaudmn 
de  Asserio,  nuncium  suum  in  Anglia  per  plures  anuos 
et  Canomcum  Aurelianensem.     Consecratus   is   fuit   ex 
mandato  Paps  ab  Ep5  Londinensi,  Eliensi,  et  Roifensi, 
in  Coenobio  S   Albani  1320,  l6th.  Nov.  et  professionem 
obedientiae   Waltero  Archp5.  apud  Cantuariam  renovavit 
lo-l,    36th.    Jan.      Obiit   apud   Avinionem   in    Curia 
Romana   1323,   12th.   April.     Nuncius  mortis   ejus    ad 
Archiepiscopum    delatus    est    1323,   25th.   April,  Male 
Jtaque  Chiomcon  breve  Winton  obitum  ejus  in  diem  11. 
Maitiiretulit."_il;,o-.  ^cc.  1.  3 IG.     ^ 


N  2 


180  JOHN  DE  STRATFORD. 

XV,    JOHN  DE  STRATFORD,  L.L.D. 

Succeeded  A. D,  1323. — Translated  to  Canterbury* 
A.D.  1333.— Died  A,  D.  1348. 

This  Prelate,  whom  Godwin,  (Eng.  edit.  \6\ 5.  p.  136) 
calls  a  native  of  Stratford-on-Avon^  was,  as  appears 
from  a  note  by  Richardson,  p.  106  of  Merton.  Coll. 
Oxford,  J. CD.  1314.  In  1317,  he  became  Prebendary 
of  Lincoln  (CWo;)  Willis.  Cath.  2.  l62;  was  admitted 
Sept.  13th.  1319,  Archdeacon  of  Lincoln,  {id.  2.  101); 
and  2nd.  Non.  June.  1320  Prebendary  of  Tachbrook  in 
the  diocese  of  Lichfield  (id.  1.  464.)  Wharton  also  calls 
him  Canon  of  York. 

The  following  list  of  his  high  political  appointments 
w\\\  shew  how  eminent  a  Statesman  he  must  have  been 
considered,  and  how  high  he  stood  in  the  estimation  of 
his  sovereign. 

He  was  appointed  Treasurer  of  the  Exchequer,  l6th. 
Nov.  1319,  Pat.  12,  Edward  H.  p.  1.  m.  ]&.~-Dudg. 
Orig.  Jurid.  Chron.  Ser.  p.  38. — Constituted  locum 
tenens  of  the  Treasurer  6th.  Nov.  1327,  20  Edw.  II. 
Dudg.  Orig.  Jurid.  Chron.  Ser.  p.  38. — Habuit  magnum 
Sigillum  sibi  a  rege  ad  custodiendum  traditum  28th, 
Nov.  1331,  4  Edward  III.  claus.  4  Edward  III.  in  dorso 
in.  16. 

Magister  Rob.  de  Stratford,  frater  Joh.  Winton  Epi, 
habuit  custodian!  Sigilli  dum  frater  suus  quibusdam 
iiegotiis  regis  intendebat,  23  Junii  1333,  6  Edward  III. 
Claus.  6  Edward  III.  in  dorso.  m.  22.. 

Cantuar.  electus  confirmatus  Cancellarius  6  April,  et 
liberavit  magnum  sigillum  magistro  Rob.  de  Stratford, 
fratri  suo  custodiendum.  Clau.  8  Edward  III.  m.  27 
in  dorso. 

The  reigning  Pontiff,  John  XXII.  at  the  recommenda- 
tion of  Walter,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  appointed 
him  to  the  vacant  See.  He  was  accordingly  consecrated 
June  the  26th.  1323,  at  Avignon,  being  then  Ambassador 
at  the  Papal  Court.     The  King  had  been  desirous  that 


"•  "  Johannes  Stratford  sedit  10  an ;    et  postmodum  ArchieplscopiU 
Cantuariee  ordiuatus  ^st,"-'Jiudborne, 


JOHN  DE  STRATFORD.  181 

his  Chancellor,  Robert  Baldock,  Archdeacon  of  Mid- 
dlesex, should  have  been  appointed.  He  therefore,  at 
first  shewed  his  resentment  against  the  new  Bishop,  by 
outlawing  him,  and  seizing  his  temporalties.  (S.Birching- 
ton.)  This  obliged  the  Bishop  to  keep  himself  concealed 
for  above  a  year  amongst  his  friends,  till  at  length  he  was 
restored  to  the  favour  of  his  sovereign,  to  whom  he 
proved  an  able  and  faithful  friend  and  minister,  in  the 
turbulent  times  that  succeeded.  His  temporalties  were 
restored  June  28th.  1324.  Ri/?ner.  Feed.  4.  46l.  He 
made  his  profession  to  the  Archbishop,  at  Mortlake, 
Pec.  1.  (Arig.  Sac.  1.  3l6.)  In  the  20th.  year  of  the 
same  King,  William  Melton,  Archbishop  of  York,  being 
promoted  to  the  Treasurership  of  the  Exchequer,  July, 
30th,  1325,  (2  Pat.  18.  Edward  II.  m.  5)  at  Stratford; 
while  the  Bishop  of  Winton  was  constituted  Deputy 
Treasurer,  Nov.  6.  {Com  de  Term.  Michael.  20  Edward 
n.  A.D.  1327.) 

At  length  the  affairs  of  King  Edward  11.  becoming 
desperate,  our  Bishop  was  one  of  the  persons  deputed  to 
induce  that  ill-fated  monarch  to  sign  his  own  abdication. 
— {Polydore  Virgil.)  The  King  was  murdered  in  1327. 
The  Bishop  falling  afterwards  into  disgrace  with  the 
haughty  Mortimer,  whose  power  was  then  the  greatest 
that  was  known  in  England,  he,  with  great  difficulty, 
escaped  the  fate  of  the  loyal  Bishop  of  Exeter,  who  had 
been  beheaded  for  his  fidelity  to  the  late  King.  In  1329 
he  was  hunted  by  the  said  Mortimer,  who  thirsted  after 
his  blood,  from  place  to  place,  being  at  different  times 
concealed  at  the  Abbey  of  Wilton,  in  the  woods  about 
Waltham,  and  with  individuals  in  Winchester.  Having 
escaped  this  danger,  by  the  subsequent  disgrace  and 
punishment  of  his  adversary,  he  was  afterwards  honoured 
with  different  preferments.  In  the  4th.  of  Edward  III. 
A.D.  1331,  he  had  the  great  seal  committed  to  his 
charge,  Nov.  28th.  After  two  years,  his  brother  Robert, 
subsequently  Bishop  of  Chichester,  was  made  keeper  of 
the  great  seal,  while  our  Bishop  was  engaged  in  some  of 
the  royal  concerns,  June  23rd,  1333. — {Chus.  6  Edwaid 
III.  m.  22  in  dors.) 

In    1333  he  was  translated  to  Canterbury.*     In  1341 

*  "  Papa  providit  de  Arch.  Cant.  Imo.  die  Dec.  1333,  non   virtute 
postulationis   Capituli  sed  proprio  motu,"    says  Walsingham,  p.  115. 
V  Nihilomiiius  a  capitulo  prius  fuerat  electus  ante  iSth.  Nov.  —See 
'JR^raer.  fwU.  vol.  4, 5B2. 


182  JOHN  DE  STRATFORD. 

14  Edward  III.  he  was  constituted  Chancellor  and  Lord 
Keeper:  but  in  a  short  time  supplicated  to  be  relieved 
from  the  burthen  of  those  offices.     This  he  obtained  on 
the  Festival  of  St.  Andrew  the  Apostle,  when  he  resigned 
the  great  seal. — Clans.  14  Edward  III.  par.  2,  m.  12.) 
He  was  succeeded  in  the  Chancellorship  by  Rob.   de 
Burgherk. — {Claus.  14  Edioard III.  par.Q.  m.  \5  indors.) 
For  a  further  account  of  him  as  Archbishop  of  Cant- 
terbury,  see  Stephen  Birchington  de  Vif.  Arc/ipm.  Cant. 
and  Godwin  de  Praes.  ap.  Richardson,  p.  107.  or  Eng- 
lished it,  1 6 1 .5,  p.  1 32.     He  died  at  Mayfeld  on  the  vigil  of 
St.  Bartholomew  A.D.  1348,  and  the  15th.  of  his  trans- 
lation.—  Birchington,  p.  41.     He  was   buried   under  an 
alabaster  tomb  on  the  south  of  the  high  altar  of  Canter- 
bury Cathedral.     He   gave  his  mitre   and   various   other 
things  to  that  Church,  and  built  and  endowed  a  College 
at  Stratford-on-Avon,  thus  noticed  by  Tanner,  Warwick- 
shire. XXVH.     **  The  large   Chantry  or  College  was 
founded  5  Edward  HI.  by  John  de  Stratford,  then  Bishop 
of  Winton,  and    afterwards   Archbishop  of   Canterbury, 
for  a  Warden,  4  Priests,  3  Clerks,  and  4  Choristers,  who 
were  to  celebrate  divine  service  at  the  altar  of  St.  Thomas, 
in  the  south  aisle  (by  him  then  newly  built)  of  the  parish 
Church  of  the  holy  Trinity.     The   site  of  this  College 
was  granted  4  Edward  VI.  to  John  Earl  of  Warwick." 

The  whole  of  his  property  he  bequeathed  to  his  do- 
mestics. He  is  thus  recorded  in  "  Canonici  Lichfeld- 
ensis   Indiculus  de  Successione  Archiep.  Cant." — 

**  Electus  est  [sc.  ad  sedem  Cant.]  anno  1333,  die  3, 
nonas  Novembr.  election!  consensit  16-  Calend.  Decemb. 
die  6.  Calend.  Decemb.  Papa,  dissimulata  Monachorum 
electione,  ilium  de  sede  Wintoniensi  ad  Cantuariensem 
transferendum  decrevit.  Anno  sequente  Nonis  Febr. 
dato  Regis  fidelitatis  juramento,  admissus  est  ad  Tem- 
poralia.  Die  9-  Calend.  Maii,  Pallium  accepit :  introni- 
zatus  die  7.  Id.  Octobr.  Obiit  anno  1348.  in  vigilia 
S.  Bartholom^ei,  die  Sabbati.  Sic  habet  Regictrum 
Cant.  MS.  Electionem  eo  die  factam  esse  confirmat 
Birchingtonus  et  Willelmus  Thorn ;  inthronizationem 
Birchingtonus  et  Walsingham  obitum  Birchingtonus 
et  Obituarium  Cantuariense  MS.  provisionem  Papa- 
lem,  admissionem  ad  Temporalia,  et  Pallii  receptionem 
idem  Birchingtonus.  Addit  is  BuUas  Translationis  pa- 
pales  receptas  a  Johanne  fuisse  anno  1333.  Calendis 
Febr.  publicatas  in  Ecclesia  Cant,  die  11.  Febr.      Sedit 


ADAM  DE  ORLTON.  183 

annos  13.  menses  6.  septimanas  4.  dies  4.  juxta  Catalo- 
gum  Ussurianum  MS.  Recte  quidem,  si  pro  annis  13. 
substitutas  14  " — See  Wharton.  Aug.  Sac.  vol.  I.  pp.  89 
and  31 6. 


XVI.     ADAM  DE  ORLTON,  LLD. 
Succeeded  A.  D.  1333. — Died  1345. 

This  Prelate  was  a  native  of  Hereford,  of  which  See 
he  became  Bishop,  September  22,  1317.  Thence  he  was 
translated  in  October  1327  to  Worcester,  where  he  sat  six 
years,  and  in  1333  to  Winchester. 

Amongst  those  who  had  shared  in  the  guilt  of  Morti- 
mer, yet  who  escaped  partaking  in  his  punishment,  was 
this  Bishop ;  who  had  been  one  of  the  most  active  agents 
of  the  Barons  in  the  first  war,  which  they  raised  against 
the  King  in  order  to  oblige  him  to  banish  the  Earl  of 
Winchester  and  his  son  Hugh  Despencer  the  younger, 
Earl  of  Gloster.  (  Walsingham.  Upodig.)  For  this,  Avhile 
Bishop  of  Hereford,  he  was,  contrary  to  all  law,  and  ia 
defiance  to  all  precedent,  tried  by  the  ordinary  secular 
tribunal.  Usher,  (Aniiq.  Britan.J  thus  records  his  speech 
on  this  occasion  to  the  King.  *'  Domine  Rex,  vestra 
regia  majestate  semper  salva.  Ego  sanctge  ecclesize  Dei 
minister  humilis  ac  membrum,  et  Episcopus  consecratus, 
licet  indignus,  ad  tam  ardua  nequeo  respondere,  nee  debeo 
absque  J^omini  Cant.  ArpT,  post  summum  Pontificem 
mei  immediati  judicis,  et  aliorum  patrum  Eporum,  me- 
orum  parium,  conniventia  vel  conscensu. 

The  same  author,  speaking  of  this  irregular  transaction, 
proceeds  in  these  words  ;  Quo  dicto,  ArpT  et  EpT,  qui 
interfuerunt,  assurgentes  regi  pro  coUega  suo  intercesse- 
runt :  cumque  rex  exorari  noluit,  totus  Clerus  Epum  a 
Regis  judicio  subeundo,  tanquam  ecclesije  membrum, 
vindicavit.  Quorum  actus  clamoribus  Rex  cum  Cantua- 
riensi  Arp5  custodiendum,  alias  de  criminibus  responsu- 
rura,  tradidit.  Sed  paulo  post,  regio  jussu,  iterum  captus 
et  ad  regium  tribunal  ductus  est.  Qua  re  Episcopis,  qui 
Londini  fuerant  nunciata.  Cant.  Ebor.  et  Dublinensis 
ArpT,  crucibus  erectis,  decem  aliis  EpTs  magnaque  hujus 
modi  caterva  comitati,  ad  locum  judicii  magna  celeritate 
contendunt.  Quorum  adventu,  fugatis  ministris  regiis^ 
coufratrem  et  co-episcopum  suum  a  cunctis  derelictum  ac 


184  ADAM  DE  ORLTON. 

solum  in  custodiam  suam  susceperunt :    Eoque  abducto, 
illico  sub  anathematis  paena  indixerunt,  ne  quis  ei  manug 
violentas  adferre  pra;suinat.    Rex  hac  Cleri  audacia  com- 
motus,  eo  absente,  inquisitionem  de  suis  perpetratis  legi- 
timam  instituit.     Ita  convocatis  laicis  (nam  Cleri  soecular- 
ibus,  praesertim  capitalibus,  judiciis  adesse  turn  ne  regia 
authoiitate  adduci  aut  cogi   poterant,  proposuit  crimina, 
quae  ceitis  jam  distincta  forraulis  et  articulis  ante  Here- 
fordensi  Epo  objecta  fuerant :   eos  jurejurando  astiictos 
jussit,  ut  inquisitione  per  legitimas  conjecturas  factique 
evidentiam  ex  juris  praescripto  habita  reque  tota  mter  se 
perpensa  et  communicata,  quia  de  articulorum  ventate 
crederent,  communi   response  referrent.       IHi  sive  rnetu 
regis,  sive  EpT  odio,  sive  rei  veritate  aut  probabilitate 
ducti,  respondent.    Epum  Herefordensem  omnium  crimi- 
num  in    articulis    comprehensorum    proscripsit,    praedia 
et   terras    in    suam   custodiam    ccepit,     bonis   omnibus 
spoliavit. 

In  consequence  of  this  treatment,  a  revengeful  and 
treasonable  feeling  seems  immediately  to  have  taken 
entire  possession  of  the  Bishop's  heart ;  for  when  Isabella 
raised  the  standard  of  civil  war  against  her  hiisband,  she 
"was  immediately  joined  byOrlton,  who  marchingwith  her 
adherents,  urged  them  on  to  the  utmost  lengths  of  rebel- 
lion. Being  at  Oxford,  he  is  said  to  have  preached  upon 
these  words  :  "  my  head,  my  head  acheth,"  (2nd.  Kings, 
ch.  4,  verse  19)  endeavouring  to  prove  that,  as  the  head  of 
the  kingdom  was  disordered,  it  was  the  duty  of  the  mem- 
bers, independently  of  him,  to  provide  for  their  welfare. 
(Walsingham.)  The  Bishop  is  also  accused  of  having 
been  a  principal  instrument  not  only  in  deposing,  but  in 
murdering  the  unhappy  Edward  II.  and  in  proof  of  this 
participation,  the  following  story  is  related.  (See 
Camden,  Glocestersh.  I.  p.  262,  Cough's  edit.  —  S^c.) 

When  application  was  made  to  him  on  the  subject  of 
the  King's  murder,  by  the  Governors  of  Berkeley  Castle, 
he  is  said  to  have  returned  this  reply,  full  of  oracular 
ambiguity  :  Edwardum  occidere  nolite  timere  bonum  est. 
The  words,  if  a  comma  is  placed  after  timere,  would 
convey  assent  to  the  murder,  but  if  after  nolite,  they 
would  be  dissuadatory.  Now,  unquestionably  treasonable 
as  the  doctrine  contained  in  the  Bishop's  sermon  was, 
and  heinous  as  his  conduct  under  any  circumstances  of 
aggravation  would  have  been   towards  his  King,  still  I 


ADAM  DE  ORLTON.  185 

must  contend  that  he  had  no  participation  in  the  murder, 
and  mv  opinion  is  formed  on  these  pomts  ;— first,  would 
King  "Edward  HI.  when  representmg  to  the  Pope  the 
Bishop's  various  crimes,  in  order  to  supersede  his  trans- 
lation to  Winton,  especially  the  treasonable  sermon  and 
his  overt  acts  of  rebellion,  have  omitted  so  weighty   a 
charge  as  the  murder  of  his  royal  predecessor  and  father, 
Edward  II.  if  the  Bishop  had  been  instrumental  m  it. 
Now  not   even   an   insinuation   to    that    effect  occurs. 
Secondly,  the  story  respecting  the  ambiguous  reply  above 
noticed,  turns  out  on  investigation  to  have  been  borrowed, 
and  that  the  words  were  used  upivards  of  a  century  bejore 
Orlton's  time,  by   an  Archbishop  of  Strigomum,  with 
reference  to  Queen  Gertrude,  wife  of  Andrew,  King  of 
Hungary ;  {Alberici  Chr.  p.  473,)  and  lastly,  which  I  think 
must  clear  the   memory  of  the   Bishop   from   this  foul 
aspersion,  he  left  England  in  1327,  to  solicit  the  P^^e  s 
dispensation,  in  order  to  the  marriage  of  the  young  King 
with  his  cousin  Philippa  of  Hainault,  and  was  at  Avignon 
with  the  Pope  in  September,  where  the  Pontift  promoted 
him  to  the  See  of  Worcester.     Thus  he  was  beyond  sea 
all  the  time  of  the  King's  confinement  in  Berkeley  Castle, 
who  was  brought  thither  April  3,  and  murdered  Sept.  21, 
in  the  same  year  1327. 

The  Queen's  cause  was  triumphant,  and  Orlton  was  by 
her  interest.  In  1327,  translated  to  Worcester. 

Having  escaped  all  punishment,  and  even  enquiry  into 
the  seditious  line  of  conduct  he  had  adopted,  he  appears 
afterwards  to  have  gained  the  favour  of  Edward  III.  so 
far  as  to  be  employed  by  him  as  his  ambassador  at  the 
court  of  France.  Here  he  evinced  so  much  address  as 
to  induce  Philip  to  interest  himself  warmly  with  the  Pope 
in  order  to  get  him  translated  a  second  time,  viz.  from 
Worcester,  which  he  then  held,  to  Winton,  {WalsingL 
Ypodig.)  which  at  that  time  (1333)  became  vacant  by  the 
promotion  of  Bishop  Stratford  to  Canterbury.  Orlton  is 
noted  for  being  the  third  English  Bishop  (Stigand  and 
Richard  Poore  of  Sarum,  being  the  others)  that  had  yet 
been  translated  a  second  time.  This  gave  occasion  to  the 
following  verses,  in  the  style  of  the  age  : 

Thomam  despexit;  Wulstanum  non  bene  rexit: 
Swithunum  maluit.— Cur  ?— Quia  plus  valuit. 
{Ex  Archiv.  Castr,  Belv.  Aug.  Sac,  vol.  L  p.  534.) 


186  WILLIAM  DE  EDYNGDON. 

The  three  patron  saints,  Thomas  of  Hereford,  Wulstan 
of  Worcester,  and  Swithun  of  Winton,  are  here  put  to 
denote  the  Churches  themselves. 

King  Edward  111.  who  intended  the   See  for  Simon 
Montague,  (Cant.  Hist.  Wigorn.)  in  vain  opposed  the 
appointment  of  Orlton,  representing  to  the  Papal  Court 
the  enormities  of  which  he  had  been  guilty.     The  Bishop 
however  eluded  the  charges  brought  against  him  by  an 
ingenious  and  well-penned  apology.  ( Twt/sd.  ap,  \0  Scrip.) 
In  short,  he  carried  his  point  at  Rome,  though  Edward 
refused  to  admit  him  to  the  possession  of  his  temporalties 
till  the  next  year,  when  he   granted  this  favour  at  the 
request  of  the  other  Prelates,  in  a  parliament  held   at 
London.     (Godwin,  p.  £25,  and  Whart.  Ang.  Sac.  I. 
SI7.)     He  now  took  possession  of  his  See  in  triumph; 
some  time  after  which,  making  a  visit  to  the  Prior  of  the 
Cathedral,  Alexander,  he  was  entertained  by  him  in  the 
great  hall  of  the  priory,  with  the  performances  of  Herbert, 
a  celebrated  minstrel  of  these  times,  who  sung  to  him  the 
popular  songs  of  Winchester,  how  Gui/,  Earl  of  Wartoick, 
overthrew  and  killed  Colbrand,   the  Danish   Champion, 
under  the  walls  of  this  city ;  and  how  Queen  Emma  walked 
unhurt  over  the  glowing  plough-shares  in  this  cathedral, 
(MSS.  IVolvesey.  ap.  Tho.  Warton's  Hist.  Eng.  Poetry, 
vol.  I.  p.  89.)     This  prelate    losing  his   eye-sight  some 
years  before  his  death,  (Cont.  Hist.  Wint.)  was  thereby 
incapacitated  from  mingling  any  more  in  the  busy  scenes 
of  life,  and  died  at  Farnham,  July  18,  1345.  {Ang.  Sac.) 
He  was  buried  in  a  chapel  which  he  seems  to  have  pre- 
pared for  himself  in   the  cathedral.     (See  Richardso?i, 
Notes,  p.  225.) 


XVn.    WILLIAM  DE  EDYNGDON. 
Succeeded  A.  D.  1345. — Died  A.  D.  1366. 

This  Prelate  was  a  native  of  Eddington,  Wilts,  and  had 
been  Prebendary  of  Leighton-Manor,  in  the  Cathedral  of 
Lincoln. —  Willis  Cath.  11.  208. 

Upon  the  decease  of  Adam  de  Orlton,  the  Monks  chose 
one  of  their  own  community,  John  de  Devenishe  (Thome. 
Chron,  de  Abbat.  Cant.)  who  seems  to  have  been  son  of 
the  worthy  and  charitable  magistrate  of  the  city  of  Winton, 


WILLIAM  DE  EDYNGDON.  187 

the  founder  of  St.  John's  house.  The  King,  however, 
designed  the  See  of  Winton  for  an  ecclesiastic  of  great 
talents  and  merit,  whom  he  had  lately  constituted  his 
treasurer,  (1345,  April  10,  Pat.  18  £.  [II.  m.  22.)  viz. 
William  de  Edyngdon,  who  was  accordingly  consecrated, 
and  John  de  Devenishe  was,  by  way  of  compromise,  con- 
stituted Abbot  of  Canterbury. — {Wharton.  Arig.  Sac.) 

In  addition  to  the  dignity  of  this  See,  our  Bishop  being 
in  such  high  favour,  we  are  not  surprized  that  he  should 
have  been  appointed  by  the  King,  Prelate  or  Chancellor 
of  the  newly-mstituted  order  of  the  Garter,  in  1350;  an 
honour  which  was  to  descend  and  has  ever  since  been  held 
by  his  successors  the  Bishops  of  Winchester.  In  1357, 
lie  also  had  the  Great  Seal  delivered  to  him,  {Feb.  19, 
Claus.  30  Edio.  III.  in  dors.  m.  4.)  In  this  difficult 
post  he  conducted  himself  with  great  approbation,  {Contin. 
Jrlist.Maj,  Wint.  Aug.  Sac.)  and  is  only  reproached  with 
having  coined  certain  kinds  of  money,  viz.  groats  and  half 
groats,  of  less  weight  than  they  had  hitherto  been,  by 
which  means  the  price  of  labour  and  the  commodities  of 
life  rose  beyond  their  foraier  nominal  value,  and  could 
never  afterwards  be  brought  back  to  it. — Contin.  Polj/ch. 
Walsingh.  Ypodyg.  p.  122. 

On  the  death  of  Archbishop  Islip,  he  was  elected  May 
10,  1366,  to  the  See  of  Canterbury.  This  however  he 
positively  refused  to  accept,  though  authors  are  divided, 
as  to  the  motives  of  his  refusal.  One  ascribes  it  to  his 
humility,  {Harpsfield.  Hist.  Eccl.  Sac.  XIV.  C.  XIX.) 
another  to  his  advanced  age,  {Hen.  Wharton.  Cant.  Hist. 
Wint.)  whilst  a  third  attributes  it  to  a  motive  of  avarice, 
putting  into  his  mouth  the  following  expression : — 
"Though  Canterbury  is  the  higher  rack,  yet  Winchester 
is  the  richer  manger."  (Goc?«;w<.)  But  how  little  he  was 
then  under  the  influence  of  avarice,  appears  from  his 
works  of  piety  and  charity,  and  from  his  distributing 
almost  all  his  remaining  unappropriated  money  amongst 
the  poor,  during  his  life  time.  {Chronic,  Anonym.  Cont. 
Hist.  Win.)  He  was  the  founder  of  a  college  of  secular 
clergy,  at  his  native  place  of  Edington  {Ex  Uteris  J  undat. 
ap.  Harpsfield)  which  at  the  request  of  the  Black  Prince, 
who  was  an  admirer  of  a  certain  order  of  hermits,  called 
Bon-Hommes,  he  changed  into  a  Convent  of  that  order. 
iMonasticon.  Stevens  snh.  Jin.)  Of  this,  Leland  records, 
**  Gul.  Edington  Epus  Wint.  fundavit  prim6  banc  domum 


188  WILLIAM  DE  EDYNGDON. 

pro  Canon :  regul :  et  postea  ex  concensu  regio  transtu- 
lit  in  religiosos  hujus  ordinis. "Co//ec^,  1.  66 

He  died  October  8,  1366,  and  was  buried  in  his 
Cathedral,  (Rvdborne,)  where  his  chantry,  tomb,  and 
epitaph  are  still  to  be  seen.  The  Historian  of  Winton 
thus  describes  the  chantry:  Within  the  10th  arch  from 
the  west  end,  adjoining  to  the  steps  leading  towards  the 
choir  is  an  ancient  chantry,  by  no  means  to  be  compared 
with  that  of  Wykeham,  but  in  the  same  style  of  architec- 
ture. This  contains  the  monument  and  the  figure  of 
William  of  Edington.  The  following  epitaph  in 
[wretched]  Leonine  verse  may  still  be  discovered. 

Edyndon  natus  Wilhelmus  hie  est  tumulatus 

Praesul  praegratus  in  Wintonia  cathedratus 

Qui  pertransitis  ejus  memorare  velitis. 

Providus  et  mitis  ausit  cum  mille  peritis. 

Pervigil  Anglorum  fuit  adjutor  populorum 

Dulcis  egenorum  pater  et  protector  eorum 

M.   C.  tribus  junctum  post,  L.  X.V.  sit  I  junctum 

Octava  sanctum  totat  hunc  Octobris  inunctum 

"  William,  born  at  Edington,  is  here  interred ; 

He  was  a  well-beloved  Prelate ;  and  Winchester  was  his  See, 

You,  who  pass  by  his  tomb,  remember  him  in  your  prayers  ;      [sagacity. 

He  was  discreet,  and  mild,  yet  a  match  for  thousands  in  knowledge  and 

He  was  a  watchful  guardian  of  the  English  nation  ; 

A  tender  father  of  the  poor,  and  the  defender  of  their  rights. 

To  one  thousand  add  three  hundred  and  fifty,  ten,  five,  and  one, — 

Then  the  eighth  of  October  will  mark  the  time  when  he  became  a  saint." 

Wharton  quotes  an  anonymous  chronicle  which  he 
terms  *  insigne,'  as  stating  that  he  was  buried  "  apud 
Edyngton  in  loco  quoem  ipse  fundaverat. — {Ang.  Sac, 
1.  317).  But  this  must  be  erroneous,  as  the  Epitaph 
above  recorded,  says,  "  hie  est  tumulatus;"  words  of 
course  that  could  have  no  place  on  a  Cenotaph. 

The  same  author  has  the  following  remarks  respecting 
the  Bishop's  will: — "  Eodem  anno  (1366)  die  11th. 
Testamento  condito  proecepit,  ut  de  bonis  suis  expende- 
retur  ad   perfectionem  navis*  Ecclesiae  Cathedralis  Wint. 


*  There  is  a  singular  propriety  and  much  beauty  in  tliis  word  navis,  as 
applied  to  the  church  ;  which  is,  in  truth,  the  ship, — the  ark  of  salvation 
in  which  we  sail  over  the  turbulent  waves  of  the  world  to  the  haven  of 
peace.  The  origin  of  the  word  aisles,  is  evidently  from  alee  wings,  being 
puildings  appeuiied,  like  wings,  to  the  Oodi/,  or  nave  of  the  Chuich. 


WILLIAM  DE  EDYNGDON.  189 

a  se  inchoatae,  et  ad  subsidium  domus  sive  Cantuariae  de 
Edyngdon  a  se  fundatae.  Reliqua  domibus  religiosis 
quamplurimis  et  famulis  siiis  legavit.  Astipulatur  enim 
Chronicon  Anonymum  insigne,  additque  ipsum  omnem 
fere  thesaurum  suum  seipso  vivente  pauperibus  erogasse/' 

A  few  more  brief  notices  may  be  found  of  this  Prelate 
in  Lelarid.  Collect,  vol.  IV. 

Benefactions. — The  Bishop  thus  occurs  in  Tanner, 
under  Wilts  xiv.  "Bonhommes.  The  Church  and  manor 
here  were  anciently  a  prebend  of  the  Abbey  of  Rumsey, 
in  Hants,  said  to  be  worth  100  marks  p.  annum  or  more. 
William  de  Edindon,  Bishop  of  Winton,  built  a  new 
church  at  this  his  native  place,  and  therein  founded  to  the 
honor  of  the  blessed  virgin  St.  Katherine,  and  All  Saints, 
a  large  chantry  or  college  of  a  dean,  and  12  ministers, 
whereof  part  were  prebendaries,  about  the  year  1347. 
These  were  afterward,  at  the  desire  of  the  Black  Prince, 
changed  into  a  reformed  sort  of  Friers  of  the  order  of  St. 
Austin,called  Bonhommes,  who  were  settled  here  under  the 
government  of  a  Rector  A.D.  1358.  Its  yearly  revenues 
at  the  suppression,  amounted  to  £442.  9s.  Id.  Dudg. 
The  site  was  granted  to  Sir  Thomas  Seymour,  33  Henry 
VIII. ,  and  to  William  Pawlet  and  Lord  St.  John,  3 
Edward  VI."  Clopton,  a  tithing  in  the  parish  of  Mich- 
leton,  county  of  Gloucester,  belonged  to  this  priory  of 
Bonhommes. — Atkins's  Glo.  556. 

He  also  founded  a  Chantry  in  the  Chapel  of  Farnham 
Castle,  {temp.  Edward  III.)  for  which  he  had  various 
patents  from  the  King,  authorizing  him  to  grant  for  its 
maintenance  a  tenement  at  Lestnes  in  Southwark,  a  rent 
of  8  marks  out  of  the  manor  there,  and  a  messuage,  3 
acres  of  land,  and  a  rent  of  8  marks  out  of  the  manor  of 
Farnham.  And  accordingly  he  granted  to  John  Castrie, 
his  Chaplain,  and  his  successors  perfomiing  divine  service 
in  the  Chapel  of  his  Castle  of  Farnham,  1  messuage, 
and  3  acres  of  land  in  Farnham,  and  8  marks  out  of  the 
manor. — Manning  and  Bray.  Hist.  Surry.  3,  137. 

Nor  must  we  forget  the  words  of  his  will  above  quoted, 
*'  ad  perfectionem  navis  ecclesia;,"  &c.  For  these  afford 
evidence  that  he  actually  begun  that  great  work,  the 
whole  credit  of  which  is  ascribed  to  his  successor. 

Rudborne  adds,  "  Hie  multa  omamenta  et  jocalia 
(jewels)  suae  ecclesiae  coutiilit," — Hist,  Maj,  Wint. 


XVIII.    WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 
Succeeded  A.D.  1366-7.— Died  A.D.  1404. 


THE  LIFE  OF 

WILLIAM    OF    WYKEHAM, 

BISHOP  OF  WINCHESTOR. 

Collected  fiom  Records,  Registers,  Manuscripts,  and  other  Authentic 

Evidences  :   by  Robekt  Lowth,  D.D.  Prebendary  of  Durham, 

and  Chaplain  in  Ordinary  to  His  Majesty. 

Quique  sui  memores  alios  fecere  merendo. — Virg. 

London :  Printed  for  A.  Millar,  in  the  Strand ;  &R.&  J.  Dodsley,  Pall-Malh 

MDCCLVIII. 

SECTION  I. 

From  the  Birth  of  TVyheham  to  his  being  made  Bishop  of 

Winchester. 

That  natural  curiosity,  which  leads  us  to  inquire  into 
the  particular  circumstances  of  the  lives  of  such  as  have 
in  any  way  made  themselves  greatly  eminent,  cannot  be 
more  properly  or  laudably  employed,  than  in  reviving 
the  memory  of  those  illustrious  persons,  who  have  more 
especially  distinguished  themselves  by  their  beneficence 
and  public  spirit ;  by  their  endeavours  to  do  good  to  their 
own  age,  and  to  posterity ;  to  their  country-,  and  to 
mankind.  In  this  case  at  least,  it  is  not  merely  the 
effect  of  an  idly  inquisitive  disposition,  nor  does  it  pro- 
pose to  itself  only  an  empty  amusement :  it  partakes  in 
some  measure,  of  the  same  generous  principle  which 
engages  its  attention;  perhaps  it  arises  from  a  mind 
possessed  with  a  sense  of  benefits  received,  and  is  no 
improper  exertion  of  that  love,  respect,  and  gratitude, 
which  is  due  to  the  author  of  them.  The  subject  of  the 
following  pages,  may,  I  presume,  in  this  respect,  merit 
the  attention  of  such  as  have  a  due  regard  for  the  memory 
of  a  man,  who,  besides  his  high  station  and  great 
abilities  in  public  affairs,  was  an  eminent  example  of 
generosity  and  munificence  \    and  much  more  of  those. 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  191 

who  have  felt  the  beneficial  influence  of  his  liberality, 
who  have  been,  or  actually  are,  partakers  of  his  bounty. 
It  is,  indeed,  principally  for  the  sake  of  these  latter  that 
the  present  inquiry  has  been  undertaken :  it  will  be 
pursued  with  that  care  and  fidelity  and  strict  regard 
to  truth,  which  is  due  to  the  public  in  general ;  and, 
for  the  satisfaction  of  these  in  particular,  even  with 
what  may  perhaps  be  esteemed  by  others  a  minute 
and  scrupulous  exactness ;  in  confidence  that  their 
veneration  for  the  name  of  Wykeham,  their  generous 
benefactor,  will  make  every  thing  that  relates  to  him 
interesting,  a<nd  will  not  suffer  them  to  think  any  par- 
ticularities jejune,  trifling,  or  insignificant,  that  in  any 
wise  tend  to  rescue  his  memory  from  oblivion,  to  verify 
his  history,  or  to  vindicate  his  character. 

William  Wykeham,  or  Of  Wykeham,  (for  *he  uses  both 
ways  of  expressing  his  name,  but  commonly  the  latter,) 
was  born  at  Wykeham,  Hants,  in  the  year  1324,  the 
18th  Edw.  II:  consequently  after  the  7th  July,  from 
which  the  years  of  Edw.  II.  begin  ;  and  before  the  27th 
Sept.  of  the  same  year  ;  for  on  that  day  of  the  year 
1404,  on  which  he  died,  he  is  said  to  have  been  fully, 
or  above  80  years  old. 

It  is  commonly  supposed  that  he  took  his  name  from 
the  place  of  his  birth,  according  to  a  custom  much  in  use 
in  those  times,  when  surnames-j-  were  not  so  appropriated 
to  families  as  to  descend  regularly  from  father  to  son  as 
they  now  do.  There  are  however  some  circumstances, 
which  at  first  seem  to  afford  us  sufficient  reason  to  doubt 
of  this. X  We  meet  with  several  of  his  kindred,  living  at 
the  same  time  with  him,  who  bore  the  same  name  : 
Nicholas  Wykeham,  Archdeacon  of  Winchester,  and 
Warden  of  New  Coll.  whom  he  expressly  calls  his 
kinsman.  Richard  de  Wykekam,  Warden  of  St. 
Nicholas's  Hospital,  Portsmouth  ;  the  same  probably 
with  Richard  Wykeham,  called  likewise  his   kinsman  in 


*  He  calls  himself  William  Wykeham,  not  de  Wykeham,  in  his  will ; 
as  also  sometimes  in  his  own  Register  :  he  is  so  called  in  Registr. 
Edyndon. 

+  One  is  surprized  that  so  accurate  a  scholar  as  Lowth  should  fall  into 
this  vulgar  error.  Surname  conveys  no  idea.  He  meaus  no  doubt  sire- 
name  or  sirname,  that  is,  the  appellation  of  one's  sire.  To  write  siruame 
with  the  letter  u  in  conformity  to  the  prouunciatiou,  would  be  like 
writing  burd  for  bird.— [Ed.J 


192  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

the  rolls  of  accompt  of  New  Coll.  1377:  John  Wyke- 
ham,  rector  of  Mapleclurhani,  (diocese  of  Winchester  ;) 
who  is  mentioned  ni  his  will  among  his  kindred,  and 
•was  admitted  as  such,  fellow  of  his  College.  Add  to 
these  William,  Thomas,  and  John  Wykeham,  admitted 
likewise  fellows  of  his  College  in  the  years  1387,  1390, 
and  1395,  respectively  ;  who  were  his  great  nephews, 
the  sons  of  his  niece  Alice,  the  wife  of  William  Perot, 
and  took  his  sirname  instead  of  their  father's.  His 
kinsman  John  Fyvyan  paid  him  the  same  compliment, 
and  relinquished  his  own  name  for  that  of  Wykeham. 
Both  these  instances  seem  to  make  it  still  more  probable, 
that  it  was  something  more  than  a  casual  name  taken 
from  the  place  of  his  birth.  He  mentions  his  father  and 
mother  only  by  their  christian  names,  John  and  Sybill  : 
if  their  sirname  had  been  different  from  that  which  he 
bore  himself,  it  would  have  been  natural,  if  not  necessary, 
to  have  mentioned  it  ;  if  the  same,  there  was  plainly  no 
occasion  of  expressing  it,  as  implied  of  course. 

I  meet  with  a  note  in  the  first  register  of  New  College 
which  if  it  does  not  confimi  this  opinion,  that  Wykeham 
was  properly  his  family-name,  yet  shevA  s  at  least  that  it 
is  not  altogether  new  and  unprecedented.  It  is  in  the 
following  terms :  "  flyt^g  U)cU«  to  U  proobtlJ  ti^at  tDPlluam 
l»»fec]^am  l)|)^^i)opt  off  iownton  fa)a«i  borne  in  a  tolune  in 
f^ampdjere  caXIctJ  topfec^am,  autJ  tijat  Ijgjs  graunt  fatijn'sf 
name  toa^  tupfeei^am,  altijongi)  ti;rrc  '^ijatljc  tin  ;Somt 
iJoute  of  l)M  fati^er'si  name."  The  hand-writing  as  well  as 
the  expression  of  this  note  carries  with  it  evident  marks 
of  age  :  and  yet  upon  due  consideration  I  do  not  think 
it  to  be  of  sufficient  antiquity  to  give  it  any  great  weight 
in  detennining  the  present  question. 

And  after  all,  we  must  have  a  care,  lest,  being  pre- 
possessed with  notions  taken  from  our  own  usages,  we 
should  be  led  into  error  in  our  reasonings  upon  those  of 
former  times.  If  we  consider  the  uncertain  state  of 
family-names  at  the  time  of  the  birth  of  Wykeham,  we 
shall  not  think  it  strange  that  there  should  be  such  doubt^ 
with  regard  to  the  sirname  of  his  family,  or  even  if  it 
should  appear  that  he  had  properly  no  family-name  at  all. 
Surnames  [sirenames]  were  introduced  into  England  by 
the  Normans  at  the  Conquest;  "But  certain  it  is,  says 
Camden,  that  as  the  better  sort,  even  from  the  Conquest, 
by  little  and  little,  took  surnames ;  so  they  were  not 
settled  among  the  common  people  fully  imtil  about  the 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  193 

time  of  Edw.  IL"  As  we  must  allow  Wykeliam  to  have 
been  what  the  Romans  called  novus  homo,  so  with  regard 
to  his  sirname,  he  might  perhaps  be  strictly  and  literally 
the  tirst  of  his  family.  Upon  the  whole,  therefore,  I 
cannot  help  giving  credit  to  the  testimony  of  a  *pedigree 
of  \V  ykeham's  family,  preserved  in  an  ancient  register  of 
Wint.  Coll.  which  mentions  his  father  by  the  name  of 
John  Longe  ;  which,  whether  it  was  the  proper  sirname 
of  the  family,  or  a  personal  bye-name  given  him  on 
account  of  his  stature,  (in  which  case  his  true  sirname 
might  be  Aas,  the  same  that  was  borne  by  his  brother 
Hem-y)  'tis  neither  material  nor  possible  to  determine. 
This  pedigree  must  be  allowed  to  be  of  good  authority. 


r*Here  I  have  thought  it  riglit  for  the  sake  of  juxta-position,  to  reprint 
this  Pedigree,  found  in  the  Appendix,  No.  I.    Edit.J 

"  E.  Veteri  Registro  Coll.  fVinton. 

Alicia,  quae  fuit  soror  Johannis  Longe  patris  Domini  Wilhelmi 
Wykehani  Episcopi  Wynton  &  fimdatoris  istius  Collegii.  desponsata  fuit 
Jolianni  Archemore,  ex  quibus  processerunt  tredecim  filia;,  quarum  una 
vocabatur  Emma  mater  Johanna;  Warner  &  Wilhelmi  Carpenter. 

Altera  vocabatur  Margeria,  mater  Edithae  Ryngeborue  &  Isabellae 
Mavyle  &  Johannis  Rokle. 

Altera  vocabatur  Alicia,  mater  Roberti  Mavyle  de  Strata  Hyde  Wynt. 

Altera  vocabatur  Matilda,  ex  qua  processit  Agnes  adhuc  vivens  in 
West-Stratton,  ex  qua  processit  Johanna  desponsata  Johanni  Bolne  in 
Com.  Sussex. 

Altera  vocabatur  Johanna,  mater  Zelotae  quae  morabatur  apud  West- 
meone. 

Agnes  Chawmpeneys,  soror  Domini  Wilhelmi  Wykeham  fundatoris 
nostri,  fuit  mater  Aliciae  Perott,  quae  Alicia  fuit  mater  Thomae  Wykehani 
Militis 

Item  secundum  qnosdam  Wilhelmus  Stratton  procreavit  de  Amicia 
Stratton,  filia  Domini  de  Stratton  juxta  Selborne,  quatuor  filios  Ricar- 
dum,  Stephanum,  Robertum,  &  Johannem,  qui  obierunt  sine  liberis  ; 
ac  etiam  tres  filias,  scil.  Aliciamj  Julianam,  &  Alienoram. 

Aiiciam  duxit  Wilhelmus  Bowade  in  uxorem,  de  qua  habuit  filiam 
nomine  Sibillani,  quam  Johannes  Longe  duxit  in  uxorem,  ex  qua 
procreavit  filium  nomine  Wilhelmum  Episcopum  Wint.  &  filiam  nomine 
Agnetem,  qua;  Agnes  habuit  filiam  nomine  Aiiciam  quam  Wilhelmus 
Perott  duxit  in  uxorem,  ex  qua  procreavit  tres  filios,  Wilhelmum, 
Johannem,  at  Thoniam,  mortuos  nunc;  qui  Thomas  vocabatur  Wykeham 
Miles,  &  duxit  in  uxorem  filiam  Wilhelmi  Wylkecys  Armig.  de  qua 
procreavit  filios  &  filias. 

Julianam  Amitam  niatris  Fundatoris  duxit  Ricardus  Botesle  in  uxorem, 
de  qua  habuit  filiam  nomine  Emmam,  quam  Ricardus  Benet  duxit  in 
uxorem,  de  qua  habuit  filium  nomine  Ricardum. 

Alienoram  Amitam  matris  Fundatoris  duxit  in  uxorem  Ricardus  Kers- 
well  de  Stokebrigg,  de  qua  procreavit  filiam  nomine  Elizabetham,  quam 
Rog.  Goryng  de  Sarum  duxit  in  uxorem,  de  qua  habuit  filiam  nomine 
Johannam. 

Item  secundum  alios  Johan'ncs  Longe  pater  Fundatoris  habuit  fratrem 
nomine  Henricum  Aas,  qui  Henricus  Aas  habuit  tres  filios,  Wilhelmum, 
Ricardum,  &  Radnlphum  :  Radulnhus  iste  habuit  filium  nomine  Wilhel- 
muffl,  &  tres  filias,  s.  Feliciam  olim  Abbatis.sam  de  Romeseye.'* 


194.  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.; 

as  it  was  drawn  up  in  the  next  age  to  that  of  Wykeham 
himself,  as  it  is  in  many  particulars  contirmed  by  collateral 
evidence,  and  as  there  does  not  appear  any  reason  to 
question  the  truth  and  exactness  of  any  part  of  it.  What- 
ever else  has  been  alleged  on  this  subject  ought  to  be  of 
little  account :  it  is  a  point  that  must  be  determined  by 
authority  and  evidence  ;  and  the  authority  of  this  pedigree 
seems  sufficient  to  maintain  itself  against  all  arguments 
whatsoever,  that  are  only  founded  on  probable  suppo- 
sition and  conjecture.  His  parents  were  persons  of  good 
reputation  and  character,  but  in  mean  circumstances.  It 
has  been  said,  that  he  himself,  or  some  of  his  ancestors 
were  of  servile  condition  :  that  is,  had  been  tenants  in 
villenage,  or  had  held  lands  by  certain  customs  and 
semces  owed  to  the  lord ;  which  is  considered  as  a  kind 
of  servitude  or  bondage  by  our  laws,  and  which  was  at 
that  time,  for  the  most  part,  the  state  and  condition  of 
the  bulk  of  the  common  people  of  England.  However, 
of  his  mother,  we  are  particularly  informed,  that  she  was 
Mell-born,  and  of  a  gentleman's  family :  which  is  more- 
over confirmed  by  the  pedigree  before  mentioned.  The 
number  of  his  contemporary  relations  which  we  meet  with 
occasionally  mentioned,  and  upon  undoubted  authority, 
is  surprisingly  great,  considering  the  distance  of  time  and 
the  obscurity  in  which  this  part  of  his  history  lies ;  and 
seems  to  prove,  that  he  was  not  of  such  very  low  extraction 
as  some  authors  have  represented  him.  They  appear  in 
general  to  have  been  persons  of  reputable  condition,  and 
of  a  middle  station  in  life.  On  the  other  hand,  I  see  no 
reason  for  rating  his  family  higher :  I  am  even  inclined 
to  think  that  he  himself  disclaimed  all  further  pretensions. 
The  celebrated  motto  which  he  added  to  his  Arms,  (of 
which,  *probably,  he  might  have  received  a  grant  whea 
he  began  to  rise  in  the  world)  I  imagine  was  intended  by 

*  "The  said  Bishoppe  bare  his  Arms  diversly  at  two  sondry  tymes, 
as  the  seals  thereof,  shewed  by  Sir  Richard  Fyues,  testify.  Before  he 
was  Bishoppe,  when  as  yet  he  was  but  Archdeacon  of  Lincolnc,  he- 
sealed  but  with  one  cheveron  in  his  Armes  between  three  roses  :  but 
after,  when  he  was  advanced  to  the  Bishoppricke,  he  sealed  with  two- 
cheverons  between  three  roses  :  and  so  ar  generally  known  to  this  day  to 

be  his  without  contradiction. It  hath  been  deiuauuded  of  me  by  the 

sayd  learned  nienne,  whether  the  Armes  which  the  said  Bishoppe  used 
were  gyven  unto  him  in  respect  of  his  dignity  Episcopall,  or  were  boren 
by  him  before,  as  recey\ed  from  his  auncestry  and  race.  Whereunto  I 
coulde  not  answer  affirmatyvely,  because  I  had  never  seen  matter  of  the 
first  allowance  of  them.  But  havynge  read  certyne  learned  wryters* 
opinions  of  the  sayd  Bishoppe,  which  do  agree  ia  this,  that  he  was  humilis 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  195 

liim  to  intimate  something  of  this  kind :  JHanncrS  ma^pt]^ 
JHan:  the  true  meaning  of  which,  as  he  designed  it,  I 
presume  to  be,  though  it  has  commonly  been  understood 
otherwise.  That  a  man's  real  woith  is  to  be  estimated, 
not  from  the  outward  and  accidental  advantages  of  birth, 
rank,  and  fortune,  but  from  the  endowments  of  his  mind, 
and  his  moral  qualifications.  In  this  sense  it  bears  a 
proper  relation  to  his  arms,  and  contains  a  just  apology 
for  those  ensigns  of  his  newly  acquired  dignity.  Con- 
scious to  himself  that  his  claim  to  honour  is  unexcep- 
tionable, as  founded  upon  truth  and  reason,  he,  in  a 
manner,  makes  his  appeal  to  the  world  ;  alleging,  that 
neither  high  birth,  to  which  he  makes  no  pretensions, 
nor  high  station,  upon  which  he  does  not  value  himself, 
but  ''  Virtue  alone  is  true  nobility."  It  seems  to  be 
agreed  on  all  hands,  that  his  parents  were  in  such  narrow 
circumstances,  that  they  could  not  alFord  to  give  their  son 
a  liberal  education.  However,  this  deficiency  was  sup- 
plied by  some  generous  patron,  who  maintained  him  at 
school  at  Winchester,  where  he  was  instructed  in  gram- 
matical learning.  Here  he  gave  early  proofs  of  his  piety 
and  his  diligence.  It  has  alw^s  been  supposed,  rather 
from  a  common  tradition  than  from  any  authentic  account 
that  I  can  meet  with,  that  VVykeham's  first  and  great 
benefactor  was  Nicholas  Uvedale,  lord  of  the  manor  of 
Wykeham,  and  governor  of  Winchester  castle,  an  officer 
of  great  note  in  those  days.  After  he  had  gone  through 
his  school  education,  he  was  taken  into  his  patron's 
family,  and  became  his  secretary.  That  he  was  secretaiy 
to   the  constable  of  Winchester  castle,  is  all  that  we  find 


conditionis,  and  that  he  Avas  called  Wykeham,  a  loco  tinde  natus  est  S^non 
a  purentibus :  as  it  i.s  also  affirmed  in  the  chapter  of  his  lyf  before  al- 
Icadged,  wherein  also  his  father  called  John  is  sayd  to  be  progenitorum 
libertate  dotatus :  and  he  himself,  by  Ranulph  Monke,  of  Chestre,  being 
noted  to  be  libertinus,  vel  a  patre  libertino  natus :  I  was  moved  to  thiuke, 
as  I  told  them,  that  those  Armes  came  not  to  him  by  descent.  And 
agayue,  beiiouldinge  the  Armes  sometyme  with  one  and  then  after  with 
two  cheverons,  quae  quit/em  signa  per  Carpentarios  8c  domorum  factoret 
olim  portabantur,  as  Nicholas  Upton  wryteth,  and  comparing  them  to  the 
quality  of  the  berar,  who  is  sayd  to  have  had  his  chiefe  preferment  for 
his  skill  in  Architecture,  Erat  enim  regi  Edwardo  III.  in  principio  a 
fabricis  eo  quod  erat  ingeniosusHf  architectura  delectatus,  as  Dr.  Caius 
maketh  mention  in  his  bookes  de  antiquitate  Cantabrigiensis  AcademicB : 
1  was  also  induced  to  thinke  per  coujecturam  Heraldicam,  that  the 
Bishop  himself  was  the  first  berar  of  them."  Report  of  Robert  Glover, 
Somersett  Herald,  to  Lord  Treasurer  Burghley,  concerning  the  dispute 
between  Sir  Richard  Fieniics  and  Humphrey  Wickham  Esq. ;  dated 
March,  1572.  MS.Aut,Wood.No.  XXVllI.  in  Musaeo  Ashniokauo  Oxon. 

O  2 


596  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

mentioned  in  the  most  ancient  writers.  He  is  said  to 
have  been  afterwards  recommended  byUvedale  to  Edyng- 
don,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  and  by  both  to  have  been 
made  known  to  King  Edward  III. 

The  latter  writers  of  Wykeham's  life,  have  generally 
mentioned  his  removing  from  Winchester  to  Oxford  to 
prosecute  his  studies,  and  that  he  continued  there  almost 
six  years.  They  seem  to  have  no  sufficient  authority  for 
what  they  say.  Writers  nearest  his  time  make  no  mention 
of  his  being  at  Oxford  at  all,  or  rather  suppose  the 
contrary.  I  must  here  give  the  reader  what  Chaundeler 
says  to  this  purpose  in  his  own  words  :  "  Ilium  Specu- 
lativa  (Sapientia)  minime  forsan  occupavit:  perhibetur 
enim  nee  Artium,  nee  Theologia?,  sed  nee  utrorumque 
Jurium  scholas  exercuisse — quomodo  potuit  ab  inopi  8c 
pauperrima  ductus  parentela  sine  exhibitione  scholas  aut 
literarum  exercitasse  studium  1 — de  Practica  vero — vir 
summe  sapiens."  Which  I  think  is  as  much  as  to  say  in 
express  terms,  that  he  never  studied  in  any  university. 
Chaundeler,  who  within  about  50  years  after  the  death  of 
Wykeham,  was  warden  of  New  College  and  chancellor 
of  Oxford,  might  at  that  time  have  easily  known  whether 
he  had  ever  studied  there  or  not,  by  consulting  the 
university  registers.  Besides  it  does  not  appear  that  he 
ever  had  any  academical  degree,  nor  is  there  the  least 
tradition  of  his  having  belonged  to  any  particular  society 
there.  The  above  passage  of  Chaundeler  gives  us  the 
real  character  of  Wykeham  with  respect  to  his  learning  ; 
and  lays  open  to  us  the  true  and  only  foundation  of  that 
tradition,  which  has  been  delivered  down  from  early  times, 
and  has  received  many  additional  circumstances  from  the 
invention  of  latter  writers  ;  that  Wykeham  was  an  illiterate 
person.  One  that  after  having  been  chiefly  employed 
for  several  years  in  secular  aftairs,  and  without  having 
ever  gone  through  the  usual  course  of  academical  learning, 
should  become  a  Clergyman,  however  furnished  with 
most  parts  of  truly  useful  knowledge,  yet  such  as  the 
schools  were  then  entirely  unacquainted  with,  would  of 
course  be  looked  upon  as  deficient  in  a  principal  part  of 
a  clerical,  that  is,  according  to  the  opinion  of  those  times, 
of  a  learned  education.  But  whoever  considers  the 
miserable  state  of  learning  in  general,  and  in  particular 
in  the  university  of  Oxford,  in  that  age,  will  not  think  it 
any  disadvantage  to  him  to  have  been  led  into  a  differei^ 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  197 

eourse  of  studies.     'Twas  just  at  the  time  Mhen  Wykeham 
must  have  been  at  tlie  university  of  Oxford,  if  he  had 
ever  been  there  at  all,    that  certain  logical  contentions 
turning  merely  upon  words  so  far  prevailed,  as  to  divide 
the   scholars    into   perpetual   factions,    and    to    become 
almost  the   only  object  of  their   studies   and   attention. 
The  nominals  listed  themselves    under   the   standard  of 
Occham  the  invincible  Doctor,  in  opposition  to  ttie  reals, 
the  followers  of  Duns  Scotus,  entitled  the  subtile  Doctor. 
This  occasioned  the  revival  of  the  old  quarrels  between 
the  northern  and  southern  men  :  the  former,  for  want  of  a 
better  reason  as  it  seems,  joining  themselves  to  the  party 
of  their  countryman  Scotus ;  and  consequently  the  latter, 
out  of  mere  spirit  of  opposition,    siding  with  Occham. 
The   consequence   of  these  disputes   was  not   only  the 
establishing  in  the  schools   an  unintelligil'e  jargon,  (the 
thing  that  is  chiefly  meant  at  this  lime  when  they  talk  of 
knowledge  and  learning)  but  the  introducing  a  scandalous 
barbarity  and  brutality  of  manners  into  the  place  appro- 
priated to  the  studies  of  humanity  and  politeness.     The 
parties  in  their  madness  soon  transgressed  the  bounds  of 
academical  disputation,    and  came  to  blows  :    they  had 
frequent   battles,  which   generally   ended   in    bloodshed. 
Six  years  spent  at  the  university  just  at  this  time,  and  in 
that  part  of  life  in  which  prejudices  of  all  kinds   take 
the  fastest  hold  aud  make  the  most  lasting  impression, 
might  have  unhappily  given  a  wrong  turn  to  a  person  of 
as  great  genius,  as  extensive  knowledge,  and  as  sound 
judgment,  as  any   which  that  age  produced.     As  he  had. 
a  capacity  that  would  probably  have  carried  him  to  the 
top  of  any  profession  into  which  he  might  have  chanced 
to  have  been   thrown,  he  might  indeed  have  become  an 
eminent  schoolman,  an  irrefragable   perhaps,  or  even  a 
a  seraphic  Doctor :    but  we  should  have  absolutely  lost 
the  great  statesman,  and  the  generous  patron  and  pro- 
moter of  true  learning.     'Twas  certainly  for  abilities  very 
different  from  what  were  commonly  attained  at  that  time 
in  the  university,  that  Wykeham  was  recommended    to 
Edward  HI.     He  is  said  to  have  been  brought  to  court, 
and   placed  there  in  the  King's  service,    when  he  was 
about  22  or  23  years  of  age.      What  employment  he  had 
there  at  this  time,  (if  he  was  really  employed  by  the  King 
so  soon)  1  cannot  say:  for  the  first  office  which  he  appears 
upon  record  to  have  borne  was  that  of  clerk  of  all  the 


198  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

King's  works  in  his  manors  of  Henle  and  Yeshampsted. 
The  patent  conferring  this  ofHce  upon  him  is  dated  May 
10,  1356.     The  30th.  Oct.  following  he  was  made  sur- 
veyor of  the  King's  works  at  the  castle  and  in  the  park  of 
Windsor.     By  this  patent  he  had  powers  given  him  to 
press  all  sorts  of  artificers,  and  to  provide  stone,  timber, 
and  all  other  materials,  and  carriages.     He  had  Is.  a  day 
while  he  staved  at  Windsor,  2s.  when  he  went  elsewhere 
on  his  employment,  and  3s.  a  week  for  his  clerk.     Nov. 
14th.  1357,  he  received  a  grant  from  the  King  of   Is,  a 
day  payable   at  the  exchequer  over  and  above  his  former 
wages  and   salary.     <13^  It  was  by  the  advice   and   per- 
suasion of  Wykeham  that  the  King  was  induced  to  pull 
down  great  part  of  the  castle  of  Windsor,  and  to  rebuild 
it  in  the  magnificent  manner  in  which  it  now  appears ; 
and  the  execution  of  this  great  work  he  committed  entirely 
to  him.     Wykeham  had  likewise  the  sole  direction  of  the 
building  of  Queenborough  castle :    the  difficulties  arising 
from  the  nature  of  the  ground,  and  the  lowness  of  the 
situation,    did   not  discourage    him    from   advising   and 
undertaking  this  work ;  and  in  the  event  they  only  served 
to  display  more  evidently  the  skill  and  abilities  of  the 
architect.     Wykeham  acquitted  himself  so  much  to  the 
King's  satisfaction  in  the  execution  of  these  employments, 
that  he  gained  a  considerable  place  in  his  master's  favour, 
and  grew  daily  in  his  affections  :    for  from  henceforth  we 
find  the  King  continually  heaping  upon  him  preferments 
both  civil  and  ecclesiastical.     It  seems  to  have  been  all 
along  his  design  to  take  holy  orders  :  he  is  styled  '  clericus* 
in  all  the  above-mentioned  patents  ;  I  find  him  called  so 
as  early  as  1352.     He  had  as  yet  only  the  clerical  tonsure, 
or   some  of  the   lower  orders.     The   first  ecclesiastical 
benefice  w  hich  was  'conferred  upon  him,  was  the  rectory 
of  Pulham  in  Norfolk,  by  the  King's  presentation  :    it  is 
dated  the  30th.  Nov.  1357.     He  met  with  some  difficulties 
with  regard  to  this  preferment,  from  the  court  of  Rome ; 
wherefore  he  received  from  the  King,  April  l6th,  1359, 
a  grant  of  o£'200  a  year  over  and  above  his  former  ap" 
pointments,  until  he  should  get  quiet  possession  of  the 
Church  of  Pulham,  or  some  other  benefice  to  the  value 
of  100  marks.     This  dispute,  whatever  it  was,  was  not 
settled  till  2  years  after^-ard ;  when  on  10th.  of  July,  1361, 
he  had  from  the  King  a  new  presentation  to  Pulham, 
On  March  1st.  1358-9;  he  was  presented  by  the  King  to 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  199 

the  prebend  of  Flixton  in  the  Church  of  Lichfield :  this  he 
exchanged  for  some  other  benefice  with  John  de  VValtham, 
in  Nov,  136l.  July  10,  1359,  he  was  constituted  chief 
warden  and  surveyor  of  the  King's  castles  of  W^indsor, 
JLeeds,  Dover,  and  Hadlam;  and  of  the  manors  of  Old  and 
New  Windsor,  Wichemer,  and  several  other  castles, 
manors,  and  houses,  and  of  the  parks  belonging  to  them : 
v'ith  power  to  appoint  all  workmen,  to  provide  materials, 
and  to  order  every  thing  with  regard  to  building  and 
repairs;  and  in  those  manors  to  hold  leets,  and  other 
courts,  pleas  of  trespass  and  misdemeanors,  and  to 
enquire  of  the  King's  liberties  and  rights.  The  King 
seems  at  this  time  to  have  been  very  intent  upon  carrying 
on  his  buildings  at  Windsor  :  for  we  find  next  year  work- 
men were  imprest  in  London,  and  out  of  several  counties 
by  writs  directed  to  the  sheriffs,  who  were  to  take  security 
of  them,  that  they  should  not  leave  Windsor  without 
licence  from  Wykeham.  May  5th.  1360,  he  had  the 
King's  grant  of  the  Deanery  of  the  royal  free  Chapel, 
or  collegiate  Church  of  St.  Martin  Le  Grand,  London^ 
He  exchanged  this  deanery  for  the  prebend  of  Iwerne- 
minstre,  in  the  Diocese  of  Sarum,  Oct.  3,  136l.  Yet  as 
he  is  styled  the  year  after  dean  of  St.  Martin's,  we  must 
conclude  that  he  was  presented  to  it  again  tlie  second 
time  :  and  as  he  was  admitted  again  to  the  prebend  of 
Iwerne  in  the  monastery  of  Shaftesbury,  (the  same  I  sup- 
pose with  the  former)  by  presentation  from  tlie  King  in 
the  vacancy  of  the  abbacy,  (July  2d.  1362)  he  probably 
had  exchanged  it  before  for  some  other  benefice.  He 
held  the  deanery  of  St.  Martin's  about  3  years :  during 
which  time  he  generously  rebuilt,  in  a  very  handsome 
manner,  and  at  a  very  great  expeuce,  the  cloister  of  the 
chapter-house  and  the  body  of  the  Church.  Wykeham 
attended  upon  the  King  in  Oct.  1360,  at  Calais,  when  the 
treaty  of  Bretigny  was  solemnly  ratified,  and  confirmed 
by  the  reciprocal  oaths  of  the  Kings  of  England  and 
France,  in  person.  In  what  character  or  office  he  waited 
on  the  King  there  I  cannot  say ;  but  he  assisted  at  this 
ceremony  as  a  witness,  and,  as  it  seems,  in  quality  of 
public  notary.  To  proceed  with  the  list  of  his  ecclesi- 
asticaj  prefeiments  :  he  received  from  the  King  grants  of 
the  following  dignities,  which  I  set  down  in  the  order  of 
time,  with  the  date  of  each  presentation.  A  Prebend  in 
the  Church  of  Hereford,  July  12th,  1361.  A  Prebend 
in  tlie  Collegiate  Chruch  of  Abergwilly,  July  l6th;  and 


200  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

the  same  day,  a  Prebend  in  the  Collegiate  Church  of 
Llandewy    Breys,    both    in    St.    David's    Diocese.      A 
Prebend  in  the  Collegiate  Church  of  Bromyard,  Hereford 
Diocese,  July  24th. :    this  he  quitted  in  Oct.  following. 
The  Prebend  of  Oxgate  in  the  Cathedral  Church  of  St, 
Paul,  London,  Oct.  1st.     A  Prebend  in  the  Monastery 
of  Whervvell,  Winton  Diocese,    Dec.   20th.      All  these 
in  the  same  year:   in  which  likewise  by  presentation  from 
other  hands  he  was  admitted  to  the  following  dignities. 
The  Prebend  of  Yatmenster  Overbury  in  the  Church  of 
Sarum,    Aug.    l6th. ;  the   Prebend  of  Fordington   and 
Writhlington  in   the   same,  by  exchange  of  the   former, 
Oct.  yth.  ;  the  Prebend  of  Bedminster  and  RatcliflF  in 
the  same,  Oct.   ]  oth.     The  Prebend  of  Totenhall  in  the 
Church   of   St.   Paul,  London,    Dec.    10th :    which  he 
resigned  a  few  days  after,  and  was  again  presented  to  it 
by  the    King  in   April   following.     He   was   Canon  of 
Lincoln  in  June,    1362  :   it  was  the  Prebend  of  Sutton 
which  he  held  in  that  Church.     He  had  the  Rectories  of 
Aswardby,  Wodeland,  and  Gosberkirk,  Lincoln  Diocese  ; 
the  latter  of  which  he  exchanged   for  the  Prebend   of 
Langtoft  in  the  Cathedral  Church  of  York,  this  same 
year  :  w  hich  he  also  quitted  the  next  year  for  the  Prebend 
of  Laughton  m  the  same  Church.     The  King  gave  him 
moreover,  a  Prebend  in  the  Collegiate  Church  of  Hast- 
ings, Chichester  Diocese,  Feb.  17th.  1362-3;  a  Prebend 
in  St.  Stephen's  Chapel,  Westminster,  April  21st.  1363; 
the  Archdeaconry   of   Northampton,   April  26th. ;    the 
Archdeaconry   of  Lincoln,    May  23rd. ;    on    accepting 
which  he   resigned  the  fonner ;  and  the  Prepositure  of 
Wells  with  the  Prebend  annexed,  Dec.  15th.  the  same 
year.     Some  of  the  foregoing  dignities  he  was  possessed 
of  before  he  was  in  holy  orders.     He  was  admitted  to 
the  inferior   order   of  Accolite,  Dec.  5th.  1361 ;    to  the 
order  of  Subdeacon,    a  superior  and  holy  order  in   the 
Church  of   Rome's   account,    March    12th.   following; 
both  by  Edyngdon  Bishop  of  Winchester,  in  his  Chapel 
at  Southwark  ;  and  was  there  likewise  ordained  Priest  by 
the  same,  June  12th.  1362.      It  does  not  appear  when 
or  by  whom  he  was  ordained  deacon.    His  advancement  in 
the  State  still  kept  pace  w  ith  his  preferment  in  the  Church. 
In  June,  1363,  he  was  warden  and  justiciary  of  the  King's 
forests  on  this  side  Trent.     March  14th.  following,  the 
King  granted  him  an  assigrmient  of  20s,  a  day  out  of  the 


WILLIAM  W  YKEHAxM,  201 

exchequer.  He  was  made  keeper  of  the  privy  seal  On  May 
11th.  1364.  And  within  2  years  after  he  was  made 
secretary  to  the  King.  In  May  1365,  he  was  commis- 
sioned by  the  King  to  treat  of  the  ransom  of  the  King  of 
Scotland,  and  the  prolonging  of  the  truce  M'ith  the  Scots, 
together  with  the  chancellor,  treasurer,  and  the  Earl  of 
Arundel.  Not  long  after  this,  he  is  called  chief  of  the 
privy  council  and  governor  of  the  great  council  : 
which  teniis  however,  I  suppose,  are  not  titles  of 
office,  but  express  the  great  influence  and  authority 
which  he  had  in  those  assemblies.  There  are  several 
other  prefeiments  both  ecclesiastical  and  civil,  which 
he  is  said  to  have  held ;  but  I  do  not  mention  them, 
because  the  authorities  produced  for  them,  are  such 
as  I  cannot  entirely  depend  upon.  And  as  to  his 
ecclesiastical  benefices  already  mentioned,  the  practice 
of  exchanging  them  was  then  so  common,  that  'tis  hard 
to  determine  precisely  which  of  them  he  held  all  together 
at  any  one  time.  However,  we  have  a  very  exact  account 
of  this  matter  as  it  stood  in  1366,  when  the  sum  of  his 
Church  preferments  were  at  the  highest,  given  by  Wyke- 
ham  himself  on  occasion  of  Urban  Vs.  bull  against 
pluralities  :  the  practice  of  which  prevailed  greatly  in  the 
Church  at  this  time  ;  so  that  there  were  some  in  England 
who,  by  the  Pope's  authority,  possessed  at  once  twenty 
ecclesiastical  benefices  and  dignities,  with  dispensation 
moreover  for  holding  as  many  more  as  they  could  lawfully 
procure,  without  limitation  of  number.  This  bull  was 
published  May  1365,  and  orders  all  ecclesiastical  persons 
whatsoever  possessed  of  more  benefices  than  one,  either 
with  or  without  cure,  to  deliver  to  the  ordinary  of  the 
place  where  they  commonly  reside,  a  distinct  and  par- 
ticular account  of  such  their  benefices,  with  the  sum 
which  each  is  taxed  at  in  the  King's  books,  to  be  trans- 
mitted to  the  metropolitan,  and  by  him  to  the  Pope. 
The  certificate  of  the  Bishop  of  London,  made  to  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  of  the  account  exhibited  to 
him  by  William  Wykeham  of  his  benefices,  is  as  follows. 
"  In  the  same  year  and  month  [Oct.  1366.]  Sir  William 
of  Wykeham,  Clerk,  Archdeacon  of  Lincoln,  and  Se- 
cretary  of  our  Lord  the  illustrious  King  of  England,  and 
Keeper  of  his  Privy  Seal,  by  reason  of  his  said  oftice 
residing  and  commonly  dwelling  in  the  City  and  Diocese 
of  London,  intimated  and  in  writing  exhibited  to  us 
Simon,    Bishop  of  Loudou;  clearly,   particularly,   and 


202  WILLIAM  WYKEIIAM. 

distinctly,  as  lie  affirmed,  that  he  holdeth  the  Archdeaconry 
of  Lincoln,  having  no  ecclesiastical  benefice  nor  manse 
annexed  unto  the  same,  which  is  reputed  to  be  a  dignity 
in  the  Church  of  Lincoln,  and  is  a  benefice  with  cure, 
and  incompatible  with  another  cure ;  not  taxed ;  the 
true  and  common  annual  value  of  the  same,  if  the 
Archdeacon  visiteth  all  the  Churches  of  his  Archdeaconry, 
and  receiveth  the  whole  procurations  every  where  in 
ready  money,  extendeth  to  £350.  sterling.  Item,  the 
Canonry  and  Prebend  of  Sutton  in  the  said  Church  of 
Lincoln ;  it  is  a  benefice  without  cure,  and  compatible 
with  a  benefice  with  cure :  the  tax  of  the  same  is  260 
marks  sterling.  Item,  the  Canonry  and  Prebend  of 
Laughton  in  the  Church  of  York ;  it  is  a  benefice  without 
cure,  and  compatible  with  a  cure,  and  is  so  held  and 
reputed ;  the  tax  of  the  same  is  110  marks  sterling. 
Item,  the  Canonry  and  Prebend  of  Bonham  in  the 
Collegiate  Church  of  Southwell,  York  Diocese ;  it  is  a 
benefice  without  cure,  and  compatible  with  a  cure  :  the 
tax  of  the  same  is  55  marks  sterling.  Item,  the  Canonry 
and  Prebend  of  the  Altar  of  St.  Mary  in  the  Colle- 
giate Church  of  Beverly,  York  Diocese  :  it  is  a  benefice 
without  cure,  and  compatible  with  a  cure  :  the  tax  of 
the  same  is  £\6.  sterling.  Item,  the  Canonry  and  Pre- 
bend of  Totenhale  in  the  Church  of  London  ;  a  benefice 
likewise  without  cure,  and  compatible  with  a  cure  :  the 
tax  of  the  same  is  l6  marks  sterling.  Item,  the  Canonry 
and  Prebend  of  Fordington  in  the  Church  of  Sarum  ;  a 
benefice  also  without  cure,  and  compatible  with  a  cure  : 
the  tax  of  the  same  is  25  marks  sterling.  Item,  the 
Canonry  and  Prebend  of  Wherwell  in  the  Monastery  of 
the  nuns  of  Wherwell,  Wynton  Diocese ;  it  a  benefice 
without  cure,  and  compatilDle  with  a  cure  ;  the  tax  of  the 
same  is  60  marks.  Item,  the  Canonry  and  Prebend  of 
Iwerne  in  the  Monasteiy  of  the  nuns  of  Shafton,  Sarum 
Diocese  ;  a  benefice  likewise  without  cure,  and  compati- 
ble with  a  cure,  and  so  held  and  reputed  :  the  tax  of  the 
same  is  30  marks  sterling.  Item,  the  Canonry  and 
Prebend  of  Swerdes  in  the  Church  of  Dublin  in  Ireland : 
it  is  a  benefice  without  cure,  and  compatible  with  a  cure : 
the  tax  of.  the  same  is  90  marks  sterling.  Item,  the 
Prepositure  of  Wells  with  a  Prebend  in  the  Church  of 
Wells,  annexed  to  the  same :  the  aforesaid  prepositure  is 
a  simple  office,  and  without  cure,  and  compatible  with 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  203 

another  benefice  with  cure,  and  so  it  is  held  and  reputed : 
the  tax  of  the  Prepositure  with  the  Prebend  annexed  to 
it  is  G8  marks  sterling  ;  and  out  of  the  fruits  and  produce 
of  the  said  Prepositure  are  paid  to  14  Canons  for  their 
Prebends,  and  to  the  Vicars  and  other  ministers  of  that 
Church,  yearly  175  marks  sterling.  Item,  the  aforesaid 
Sir  William  of  Wykeham  did  hold  at  the  time  of  the  date 
of  the  aforesaid  monition,  by  collation  of  our  Lord  the 
illustrious  King  of  England,  the  Canonry  and  Prebend  of 
Alnethle,  in  the  aforesaid  our  Lord  tiie  King's  free 
Chapel  of  Bruggenorth,  Coventry  and  Lichfield  Diocese; 
it  is  a  benefice  without  cure,  and  compatible  with  a  cure  ; 
and  the  same,  being  of  the  King's  patronage,  he  hath 
wholly  resigned  and  simply  quitted  in  form  of  law  as  well 
really  as  verbally :  and  that  the  tax  of  the  same,  the 
episcopal  registers,  as  well  as  those  of  our  Lord  the 
King,  and  those  of  our  Lord  the  Pope's  Nuncio 
in  England,  having  being  searched,  and  all  requisite 
diligence  by  him  used  in  the  same,  could  not  be 
made  appear,  nor  doth  appear ;  wherefore  the  true  and 
common  value  of  the  said  Prebend,  he  hath  exhibited 
unto  us,  Simon,  Bishop  of  London  aforesaid,  that  it 
extendeth  annually  to  £l3.  6s.  Sd.  Item,  the  said  Sir 
William  did  hold,  by  virtue  of  apostolical  dispensation 
ynto  him  in  this  behalf  sufficiently  made  and  granted,  at 
the  time  of  the  date  of  the  monition  aforesaid  and  since, 
the  parish  Church  of  Manyhynet,  Exon  Diocese,  at  that 
time  of  lay  patronage :  it  is  a  benefice  with  cure,  not 
compatible  with  another  cure ;  but  the  same  Church  he 
hath  wholly  resigned  and  simply  quitted  in  form  of  law 
as  well  really  as  verbally :  the  tax  of  the  same  is  £8 
sterling.  Item,  he  did  obtain  a  rescript  or  bull  apos- 
tolical in  the  time  of  our  Lord  Pope  Innocent  VI. 
of  happy  memory,  directed  to  the  Bishop  elect  of  St. 
David's,  to  examine  the  said  William  personally,  and  if  he 
should  be  found  duly  qualified,  to  grant  unto  him  by 
provision,  the  Canonry  and  Prebend  of  the  Church  of 
St.  Andrew  of  Aukelond,  Durham  Diocese,  which, 
formerly,  Thomas  de  Brydekylt,  Abbot  of  Karlelis,  held 
in  the  said  Church  during  his  life ;  but,  by  virtue  of  the 
same,  he  neither  hath  since  had  collation,  nor  the  said 
Canonry  and  Prebend  hath  he  possession  of,  nor  hath  in 
any  wise  had,  nor  intendeth  to  have  for  the  future, 
»or  ja  any  manner  to  m^ke  use  of  the  rescript  or  bull 


204  WILLIAM  VVYKEHAM. 

apostolical :  the  tax  or  value  is  not  known."  By  this 
instrument  it  appears,  that  the  yearly  value,  partly  taxed 
and  partly  real,  of  the  benefices  which  VVykeham  had  for 
some  few  years,  altogether,  was  £S73.  6s.  Sd.  and 
of  those  which  he  still  remained  in  possession  of,  and 
continued  to  hold  till  he  became  Bishop  of  Winchester, 
was  „f842.  It  is  needless  to  observe,  in  what  a  high 
degree  of  favour  Wykeham  stood  with  the  King,  after 
having  given  so  many  substantial  proofs  of  it.  But  the 
testimony  of  Froissart,  a  contemporary  historian,  per- 
sonally acquainted  with  the  affairs  of  the  English  court, 
and  at*  this  very  time  residing  there,  and  employed  in 
the  sei'vice  of  both  the  King  and  Queen,  is  too  remarkable 
to  be  omitted.  ''At  this  time,"  says  he,  ''reigned  a 
Priest  called  William  of  Wykeham.  ThisWilliam  of  Wyke- 
ham was  so  much  in  favour  with  the  King  of  England,  that 
every  thing  was  done  by  him,  and  nothing  was  done  without 
him."  The  King  had  raised  him  to  some  of  the  highest 
offices  in  the  state,  and  intended  to  carry  him  still  higher : 
it  was  in  a  manner  necessary  that  his  station  in  the 
Church  should  be  proportionable.  The  King  might 
easily  have  procured  him  a  Bishopric  before  this  time : 
but  as  Bishoprics  were  not  absolutely  in  his  disposal, 
nor  translations  from  one  Bishopric  to  another  become 
the  common  steps  of  advancement  in  the  Church,  he 
seems  to  have  reserved  Wykeham  for  the  Bishopric  of 
Winchester,  which  in  point  of  honour  and  revenue 
would  be  a  proper  station  for  his  favourite  minister,  and 
which  in  the  course  of  nature  must  shortly  become  vacant. 
He  probably  had  it  in  his  power  to  place  him  in  the  See 
of  Canterbury,  which  became  vacant  about  half-a-year 
before  that  of  Winchester;  but  Edyngdon  was  now 
declining  apace,  and  Wykeham,  perhaps,  was  desirous  of 
being  settled  in  his  native  country ;  that  this,  rather  than 
any  other,  might  be  the  nearest  and  most  immediate 
object  of  his  care  and  beneficence.  In  the  mean  time, 
the  King  conferred  upon  him  as  many  ecclesiastical 
preferments,  of  a  lower  degree,  as  he  could  legally  be 
possessed  of,  as  marks  of  royal  favour,  and  supports  of 
his  state  and  dignity,  while  this  great  expectative  was 
depending.  _ 


f  See  Froissart,  Vol.4.  Chap.  61,  &  U9. 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  205 

SECTION  IT. 

prom,  the  time  of  his  being  made  Bishop  of  PFinchester  to 
the  last  year  of  Edward  III. 

William  de  Edyngdon,  Bishop  of  Winchester  died  8th. 
Oct.  1366.  Upon  the  King's  earnest  recommendation, 
Wykeham  was  immediately  and  unanimonsly  elected  by 
the  Prior  and  Convent  to  succeed  him.  The  conge  d' 
elire  is  dated  Oct.  13.  The  King  approved  the  election 
on  the  24th.  of  the  same  month.  The  Pope  constitutes 
him  administrator  of  the  spiritualties  and  temporalties 
of  the  vacant  See,  by  his  bull  dated  Dec.  1 1  the  same 
year ;  and  he  was  admitted  to  the  administration  of  the 
spiritualties  by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Feb.  22nd. 
following.  By  his  bull  of  July  14,  1367,  the  Pope 
gives  him  leave  to  be  consecrated,  referring  in  it  to  the 
bull  of  provision  of  the  same  date,  by  which  he  confers 
on  him  the  Bishopric.  He  was  consecrated  in  St. 
Paul's,  London,  Oct.  10,  1367,  by  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury,  assisted  by  the  Bishops  of  London  and 
Sarum.  The  same  day  the  Archbishop  celebrated 
the  feast  of  consecration  with  great  magnificence  at  his 
palace  of  Lambeth.  Two  days  after,  Wykeham  received 
from  the  King  the  grant  of  the  temporalties  of  the 
Bishopric.  Thus  was  it  a  whole  year  from  the  time  of 
the  vacancy,  and  even  from  the  time  of  his  election, 
before  he  could  get  into  full  possession  of  his  new  dignity. 
The  delay  which  this  aft'air  met  with,  has  been  taken 
notice  of  by  many  authors ;  some  of  whom  have  assigned 
no  reason  for  it;  others,  chiefly  the  latter  writers,  have 
given  a  false  one.  Some  say,  that  the  King  was  very 
unwilling  to  promote  to  so  high  a  station  in  the  Church, 
a  person  who  was  very  deficient  in  point  of  learning :  this 
is  not  at  all  probable  ;  Wykeham  was  recommended  by 
the  King,  the  election  was  made,  and  was  approved  by 
him,  all  within  sixteen  days  after  the  vacancy  happened  ; 
with  as  much  dispatch  as  was  possible  in  an  affair  of  this 
nature.  Others  pretend  that  the  Pope  made  the  same 
objection :  the  contrary  to  this  appears  from  the  words  of 
the  bull  above-mentioned,  dated  Dec.  11,  1366,  in 
which  the  Pope  speaks  of  Wykeham  "  as  recommended 
to  him,  by  the  testimony  of  many  persons  worthy  of 
credit,  for  his  knowledge  of  letters,  his  probity  of  life 
and  manners^   and  his  prudence  and  circumspection  in 


£06  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

affairs  both  spiritual  and  temporal."     Which  testimony 
of  his  learning  is  the  more  to  be  insisted  upon,  as  it  ap- 
pears on  examining  all  the   bulls  of  this  kind  that  occur 
in  Rymer's  Collection  of  public  Records  through   this 
century,  that  this  part  of  the  bull,  in  which  the  character 
of  the  person  preferred  is  given,  for  the  most  part  runs 
in  more  general  terms,    and  has   more  frequently  than 
otherwise  no  mention  of  learning  at  all.     The  Pope  was 
so  far  from  making  the  objection,  that  he  seems  fully 
persuaded  that  there  was  really  no  room  for  it :  for  we 
may  be  sure  the  court  of  Rome  had  more  address  than 
to  go  out  of  its  way,  and  depart  from  a  common  form,  to 
compliment  a  person  for  the  very  quality  in  which  he  was 
notoriously  deficient.     But  the  true  state  of  the  case,  and 
the  reason  of  this  delay  on  the  side  of  the  Pope,  seems 
to  be  this.     Since  the  time  of  Henry  III.  the  Kings  and 
Parliaments     of   England   had    resolutely    opposed    the 
usurpations  of  the  See  of  Rome  :  one  considerable  article 
of  which,  among  many,    was  the    Pope's    assuming   to 
himself  the  disposal  of  all  Church  preferments  by  way 
of  provision  and  reservation.     The  pretence  was,  that  the 
holy  Father,  out  of  his  great  care  for  the  welfare  of  the 
Church  in  general,  and  of  such  a  Diocese  in  j)articular, 
had  provided  for  it  a  proper  and  useful  person  to  preside 
over  it,  lest  in  case  of  a  vacancy  it  might  suffer  detriment, 
by  being  long  destitute  of  a   pastor ;    for  which  reason, 
out  of  the  plenitude   of  his  authority,    he   reserved  to 
himself  for    this    turn    the    disposal  of  the    Bishopric, 
decreeing  from   that  time    forward   all   interposition   or 
attempts  to  the  contrary  of  all  persons  whatsoever  null 
and  void.     I^he  most  effectual  method  of  putting  an  end 
to  these  encroachments  on  the  rights  of  the  King,  Chap- 
ters, and  Patrons,    seemed   to   have  been   taken   under 
Edv»'ard  IlL,  by  the  statutes  of  provisors  and  premunire  : 
however,  the  Pope  still  continued  his    pretensions,  and 
his  provisions   in  reality  took  place ;  only  the   person  so 
preferred,  was  obliged  to  renounce  in  form,  all  manner 
of  right  to  the  temporalties  which  might  be   derived  to 
him  from  the  bull  of  provision,   and  all  words  contained 
in  it  prejudical  to  the  rights  of  the  crown.     This  was  the 
occasion  of  perpetual  disputes  between  the  King  and  the 
Pope,  and  of  the  delay  in  the  present  case.  Wykeham  was 
probably  a  person  very  agreeable  to  the  Pope,  who  had  se- 
veral times  made  use  of  his  interest  to  the  King  j  and  we  see 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  207 

that  at  this  very  time  he  made  no  difficulty  of  granting  to 
him  as  to  the  presumptive  successor,  ihe  administration  of 
the  vacant  See.  The  point  in  question  was  not,  whether 
Wykeham  should  have  the  Bishopric  of  Winchester  or 
not ;  but  by  what  title,  and  by  whom  it  should  be  confer- 
red on  him.  The  Pope's  right  of  provision  was  not  to  be 
dropt  in  the  disposal  of  so  great  a  preferment,  and  when 
he  had  an  opportunity  by  it  of  making  a  merit  with  the 
first  minister  of  the  greatest  prince  in  Europe.  The  King 
defended  the  right  of  election ;  the  Pope  pretended  that 
election  in  this  case  gave  no  right  to  the  Bishopric,  and 
would  have  it  acknowledged  as  a  favour  from  himself. 

The  King  had  so  great  a  regard  for  Wykeham,  that  he 
condescended  at  last  to  form  an  interest  with  the  Pope  to 
induce  him  to  recede  a  little  from  his  pretensions.  He 
wrote  to  the  Duke  of  Bourbon,  one  of  his  hostages  for 
the  King  of  France,  to  whom  he  had  granted  leave  of  ab- 
sence about  a  year  before,  and  had  lately  prolonged  it  at 
the  Pope's  request,  desiring  him  to  prevail  with  the  Pope 
to  confirm  Wykeham's  election.  The  Duke  went  to  Avig- 
non, where  the  Pope  then  resided,  and  solicited  the  affair 
in  person.  He  was  glad  of  this  opportunity  of  laying  the 
King  and  his  minister  under  an  obligation  to  him.  And 
'tis  probable,  that  in  consideration  of  this  service,  the 
King  the  more  readily  granted  him  his  liberty  the  year 
following,  on  his  paying  40,000  crowns  for  his  ransom. 
The  Pope  was  as  well  pleased  to  receive  a  petition  from 
the  King  of  England  ;  'twas  the  very  thing  he  proposed  to 
himself  by  all  this  delay.  He  so  far  complied  with  it,  as 
to  end  the  dispute  without  determining  the  merits  of  the 
cause ;  according  to  the  general  maxim  of  the  court  of 
Rome,  never  to  give  up  its  pretensions  in  any  case  what- 
ever ;  but  rather  to  yield  to  the  desire  of  an  opponent  too 
powerful  to  be  resisted,  as  out  of  mere  grace  and  favour, 
without  admitting  his  claim.  However,  in  the  present 
case,  it  seems  to  have  been  agreed  that  each  party  should 
in  some  measure  allow  the  pretensions  of  the  other.  Ac- 
cordingly the  Pope's  bull  of  July  14,  1367,  before  men- 
tioned, in  which  he  refers  to  the  bull  of  provision,  is  never- 
theless directed  to  William,  Bishop  elect  of  Winchester  : 
and,  on  the  other  hand,  the  King  in  his  letters  patent  of 
October  12,  1367,  by  which  he  grants  him  the  temporal- 
ties  of  the  Bishopric,  acknowledges  him  Bishop  of'Win- 
chester  by  the  Pope's  provision,  without  mentioning  his 


208  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

election      He  was  inthroned*  in  the  Cathedral  Church 
of  Winchester,   by  William  de  Askeby,  Archdeacon  of 
Northampton,  by' commission  from  the  Cardinal,  Arch- 
deacon  of    Canterbury's    Procurator   General,    July   9, 
1368;  who  acknowledges  him  to  be  Bishop  ofWuichester 
by  election,  confirmation,  and  consecration,  without  any 
mention  at  all  of  the  Pope's  provision.     As  soon  as  the 
dispute  between  the   King  and  the  Pope,  which  was  m 
eflect  no  other  than  a  contention  which  of  them  should  be 
the  author  of  Wykeham's  promotion,  was  accommodated  ; 
beino-  now  qualified  by  his  advancement  in  the  Church, 
to  receive  the  highest  dignity  in  the  state,  he  was  con- 
stituted Chancellor  of  England.     He  was  even  possessed 
of  this  great  office  while  he  was  only  Bishop  elect ;    tor 
he  was  confirmed  in  it  Sept.  17,  1367.     We  need  not  be 
surprised  to  find,  that  the   Parliament  of  the  next  year 
was   opened    by  Langham,  Archbishop   of   Canterbury, 
thou<Th  Wykeham  was  then  Chancellor :    for  the  part  ot 
addressing   the  Parliament  by  the  King's  command,  or 


*  Thp  ridit  of  iuthrouing  all  the  suffragan  Bishops  of  the  pro v  nee.    s 
»  The  y^S  "  °' "Vh""   ^uliar  priviWe  of  the  Archdeacon  of  Canterbui-y. 
by  ancient  custom  the  i^etuliaip         g        ^^^^^^^  ^^  ^^  iatbrnied  of  some 
It  may  not,  Peih^i  s    be  tlispieasi^g  particulars  of  the  Arch- 

parts  of  the  ceremony  toimeiiy  u.ea,  wu"  t      i  .     ,  ,     ^j     ^    j,. 

Ileacon's  fees  x^on  this  occasion,  ^.f »  e  B^^^Jf  |>  w-  ^  palfrev 

deacon  ^t  his  e"tiance  into  tn^^^  s.^^^  ^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^  ,^^^ 

and  the  A»''hdeacou  nun  ediatL  y  n^  )^,^  ^^^^^^  ^^^.^.^^.  ^^  ^.^^ 

thefurniy;  and  faithei        tl.^^  ^^^^  Archdeacon  was  to 

the  cover  of  the  »aaaie,  ine  ^u  i,       ..,.  ^s  in  h  s  bountv  he 

T',H^£k"„'rtS  ^T  ,e  B  r„p'uifc4ed  him,eif  |„  some  church  or 

dance  upon  this  ofcce    '"^'i™^.     "wo  great  torches  of  wax  during  hi* 
four  gallons  ot  wme  at     ^^  s^ppej  ^  two  ^^^^  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^,^^ 

son,  and  at  last  established  the  pi  acticeoi  perioi  mo        q^  ^ome  equi- 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  209 

of  speaker  of  the  House  of  Lords,  was  not  yet  by  custom 
appropriated  to  the  office  of  Chancellor. 

Considering  the  infinite  multiplicity  of  affairs  which 
Wykeham  had  transacted  for  the  King,  in  the  several 
employments  with  which  he  had  been  entrusted,  it  was 
impossible  for  the  most  upright  or  prudent  man  to  have 
acted  in  every  particular  with  so  much  exactness  and 
caution,  as  to  guard  against  the  envy  and  malice  of  those 
enemies,  which  high  station  in  a  court  is  sure  to  create. 
As  therefore,  he  had  now  quitted  some  of  those  employ- 
ments, no  more  to  be  engaged  in  them,  and  m  as  to  act 
from  henceforth  in  a  new  sphere,  he  thought  it  proper  to 
secure  himself  with  regard  to  the  past,  by  obtaining  a 
full  acquittance  and  discharge  from  the  King.  This  the 
King  granted  him  in  the  fullest  and  amplest  manner,  by 
his  letters  patent,  dated  May  22,  1368. 

A  Parliament  was  summoned  to  be  held  at  West- 
minster, May  27,  1369-  The  King,  Lords  and  Commons 
being  assembled  in  the  painted  chamber,  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester,  Lord  Chancellor,  declared  the  cause  of 
their  meeting.*  The  King  summoned  a  Parliament  to 
meet  Feb.  24,  1370-1,  which  the  Lord  Chancellor 
[Wykeham]  opened  with  a  speech. -f-  In  this  Parliament 
the  Lords  and  Commons  represented  to  the  King,  that 
the  government  of  the  realm  had  been  for  a  long  time  in 
the  hands  of  men  of  the  Church,  by  which  many  mischiefs 
had  in  times  past  happened,  and  more  might  happen  in 
times  to  come,  to  the  disherison  of  the  crown,  and  great 
prejudice  of  the  kingdom :  they  petitioned,  therefore, 
that  secular  men  only  might  be  principal  officers  of  the 
King's  courts  and  household,  and  none  of  the  Clergy: 
saving  unto  the  King  his  prerogative  of  choosing  and 
removing  officers,  provided  they  be  of  the  laity.  The 
King's  answer  to  this  petition  was  only,  That  he  would 
do  therein  by  advice  of  his  council.  Though  he  declined 
granting  their  request,  so  as  to  make  a  law  in  consequence 
of  it  for  the  future  ;  yet  he  soon  resolved  to  comply  with 
their  desire  for  the  present.  Accordingly,  we  tind  that 
on  March  14,  the  Bishop  delivered  the  great  seal  to  the 


*  In  a  speech  which  maybe  found  in  Rot.  Pari.  43   Edward  IH.  and 
Loteth.  p.  51. 

t  For  the  speech— see  Rof.  Pari.  45  Edward  III. 

P 


210  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

King,  which  the  King  two  days  after  gave  to  Sir  Robert 
de  I'liorp.  Tlie  Bishop  was  present  at  the  ceremony  of 
constituting  the  new  Chancellor,  and  afterwards  at  that 
of  his  iirst  opening  the  great  seal  in  Westminster  Hall. 
From  which  circumstances,  as  well  as  from  the  state  of 
the  case  itself,  we  may  conclude,  that  he  was  neither 
dismissed  with  any  marks  of  the  King's  displeasure,  nor 
was  himself  dissatisfied  with  his  removal.  To  the  same 
purpose  it  may  be  observed,  that  the  two  great  and  two 
privy  seals,  one  of  each  of  which  was  made  the  year 
before,  on  the  King's  resuming  the  title  and  arms  of 
France,  remained  by  commission  from  the  King  in  his 
custody  till  the  28th.  of  the  same  month,  when  he  de- 
livered them  to  the  King ;  and  that  soon  after  he  received 
the  King's  writ  of  summons  to  attend  the  great  council 
which  was  held  at  Winchester,  to  consider  of  a  proper 
method  of  levying  the  ^£"50,000.  granted  by  Parliament. 
To  this  great  council  only  3  other  Bishaps,  4  Abbots, 
and  13  temporal  Lords,  were  summoned,  with  whom 
w^ere  joined  some  of  the  Commons  named  by  the  King, 
Neither  have  we  any  reason  to  imagine,  that  the  Bishop, 
in  particular,  was  in  any  degree  of  disfavour  with  the 
Commons,  or  was  at  all  sunk  in  their  esteem  and  con- 
fidence. We  find  that  in  the  year  1373,  the  Commons 
name  him  with  7  other  Lords,  whom  they  petition  to 
have  appointed  as  a  committee,  to  confer  with  them  on 
the  supplies  to  be  granted  to  the  King.  It  has  been 
said,  that  the  removal  of  the  Clergy  from  offices  of  state 
was  owing  to  the  influence  of  the  Duke  of  Lancaster, 
who  was  not  their  friend.  I  know  not  with  what  founda- 
tion this  is  said,  with  regard  to  the  Duke's  mclination 
towards  the  Clergy  in  general,  at  this  time;  as  to  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester  in  particular,  he  seems  on  the 
contrary  to  have  continued  hitherto  very  much  in  the 
Duke's  good  graces,  who  both  before,  and  not  long  after 
this,  honoured  him  with  singular  marks  of  his  friendship 
and  confidence.  The  Duke,  before  his  setting  out  on 
his  expeditions  to  France  in  the  years  1369  and  1373, 
obtained  of  the  King  a  grant  to  certain  trustees  named  by 
him,  of  the  custody  and  intire  administration  of  the  revenues 
of  all  his  castles,  manors,  and  estates,  for  one  year  after  his 
decease,  in  order  to  the  payment  of  his  debts,  and  for  other 
uses  as  he  should  direct.  He  appointed  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester  one  of  his  trustees  for  both  these  grants.     In 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM,  211 

the  beginning  of  the  year  1.375,  he  likeAvise  constituted 
him  his  attorney,  together  with  the  Earl  of  Arundel,  to 
appear  and  act  for  him  in  any  of  the  courts  of  England, 
during  his  absence  at  the  Congress  of  Bruges. 


SECTION  III. 
Ecclesiastical  affairs  during  the  same  time. 

Though  Wykeham  was  so  deeply  engaged  in  affairs  of 
state,  and  so  much  taken  up  in  his  personal  attendance 
upon  the  King,  yet  he  was  not  in  the  mean  time  wanting 
to  his  episcopal  function,  or  remiss  in  the  care  of  his  dio- 
cese. While  he  was  administrator  of  the  See,  he  acted 
only  by  his  commissary-general,  John  de  \A  ormenhale. 
W  hen  he  was  in  full  possession  of  the  bishopric,  one  of 
the  first  things  that  required  his  attention,  was  the  care  of 
the  episcopal  houses  and  buildings  of  all  sorts,  which  his 
predecessor  had  left  very  much  out  of  repair  in  general, 
and  many  of  them  in  a  ruinous  condition.  The  buildings 
belonging  to  the  Bishops  of  Winchester,  were  at  this  time 
very  large  and  numerous  :  besides  a  great  many  granges, 
parks,  warrens,  and  the  like,  they  had  ten  or  t\\  elve  differ- 
ent castles,  manor-houses,  or  palaces  of  residence,  pi"o- 
perly  accommodated  for  the  reception  of  themselves  and 
their  retinue  ;  to  all  which,  in  their  turns,  they  usually  re- 
sorted, living  according  to  the  custom  of  those  times, 
chiefly  upon  the  produce  of  their  own  estates.  So  great 
a  demand  as  the  Bishop  had  upon  his  predecessor's  ex- 
ecutors for  delapidations,  could  not  very  soon  or  very 
easily  be  brought  to  an  accommodation :  however,  the  ac- 
count was  at  last  settled  between  them  without  proceding 
on  either  side  to  law .  In  the  first  place,  they  delivered 
to  him  the  standing  stock  of  the  Bishpric,  due  to  him  by 
right  and  custom:  namely,  127  draught-horses,  1556 head 
of  black  cattle,  3876  wethers,  4777  ewes,  3521  lambs: 
and  afterwards  for  delapidations,  in  cattle,  corn,  and  other 
goods,  to  the  value  of  £l662.  10s.  sterling.  The  Bishop 
made  a  further  demand  of  70C)  marks,  as  still  due  to  him, 
and  allowed  upon  account ;  which  Edyngdon's  executors 
acknowledged  and  promised  to  pay.  This  matter  was 

finally  settled  Feb.  6,  1371-2.  The  Bishop  immediately 
set  about  this  great  work  of  repairing  all  the  episcopal 
buildings,  in  sucii  a  manner  as  might  have  been  expected 

P  2 


212  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

from  one  of  his  generous  spirit,  and  of  his  skill  and  expe- 
rience in  architecture.  To  supply  himself  with  the  best 
stone  in  sufticient  quantity,  he  purchased  the  use  of  the 
stone  quarries  of  Quarrer  Abbey  in  the  isle  of  Wight, 
which  were  formerly  much  in  repute,  though  now,  for 
many  ages,  disused  and  neglected.  The  Abbot  engaged 
to  assist  him  as  general  director  and  surveyor  of  these  pre- 
parations ;  and  the  Bishop  wrote  circular  letters  to  all  the 
ecclesiastics  of  the  island,  both  regular  and  secular,  to  de- 
sire them  to  send  in  as  many  workmen,  carriages,  and 
other  necessaries  for  the  work,  as  they  could  supply  him 
with,  at  the  demand  and  according  to  the  direction  of  the 
Abbot ;  all  to  be  defrayed  at  his  own  expence.  In  these 
repairs  of  the  episcopal  houses,  together  with  several  new 
buildings  raised  by  him  upon  the  estates  of  the  Bishop- 
ric, he  expended  in  the  whole  above  20,000  marks.  In 
the  year  1373,  the  Bishop  held  a  visitation  of  his  whole 
diocese  ;  not  only  of  the  secular  clergy  through  the  sever- 
al deaneries,  but  also  of  the  monasteries  and  religious 
houses  of  all  sorts,  all  m  hich  he  visited  in  person.  The 
next  year  he  sent  his  commissioners,  with  powers  to  cor- 
rect and  reform  the  several  irregularities  and  abuses  which 
he  had  discovered  in  the  course  of  his  visitation.  Some 
years  afterward,  the  Bishop  having  visited  three  several 
times  all  the  religious  houses  throughout  his  diocese,  and 
being  well  informed  of  the  state  and  condition  of  each, 
and  of  the  particular  abuses  which  required  correction  and 
reformation,  beside  the  orders  which  he  had  already  given, 
and  the  remedies  which  he  had  occasionally  applied  by 
his  commissioners,  now  issued  his  injunctions  to  each  of 
them.  They  were  accommodated  to  their  several  exigen- 
cies, and  intended  to  correct  the  abuses  introduced,  and  to 
recal  them  all  to  a  strict  observation  of  the  rules  of  their 
respective  order's.  Many  of  these  injunctions  are  still  ex- 
tant, and  are  evident  monuments  of  the  care  and  attention 
with  which  he  discharged  this  part  of  his  episcopal  duty.* 
The  Bishop  was  warned  by  the  great  abuses  which  he 


[*  Lowth  here  gives  a  long  and  very  minute  account  of  the  foundation 
and  constitution  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  Cross,  near  Winchester ;  but  as 
this  does  not  come  within  the  scope  of  the  present  work,  and  is  a  total 
dig^ression  from  Lowth's  subject,  though  valuable  in  itself,  I  have  been 
obliged  to  omit  it.  The  curious  reader  may  refer  to  Lowth,  p.  72,  or  to 
the  Regist.  Wykehanj  and  ftlS.  in  New  CoU,  whence  the  account  is  com- 
piled.—Edit.J 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  213 

had  seen  at  St.  Cross,  to  keep  a  more  watchful  eye  upon 
other  charities  of  the  same  nature.  While  he  had  that 

affair  upon  his  hands,  he  held  a  visitation  of  the  hospital 
of  St.  Thomas,  Southwark  ;  still  proceeding  upon  the 
constitution  of  Clement  V.  Afterwards  he  visited  the 
hospital  of  Sandon  in  the  county  of  Surry.  Whatever 
irregularities  he  might  find  there,  he  met  with  no  resist- 
ance to  his  authority.  At  the  same  time  that  Wykeham 
was  thus  engaged  in  the  reformation  of  these  charitable 
institutions,  he  was  forming  the  plan  of  a  much  more  noble 
and  extensive  foundation  of  his  own,  and  taking  his  mea- 
sures for  putting  it  in  execution.  He  had  long  resolved 
to  dispose  of  the  wealth  which  the  Divine  Providence  had 
so  abundantly  bestowed  upon  him,  to  some  charitable  use 
and  for  the  public  good ;  but  was  greatly  embarrassed 
when  he  came  to  fix  his  choice  upon  some  design  that  was 
like  to  prove  most-  beneficial,  and  least  liable  to  abuse. 
He  tells  us  himself,  that  upon  this  occasion  he  diligently 
examined  and  considered  the  various  rules  of  the  religious 
orders,  and  compared  with  them  the  lives  of  their  several 
professore ;  but  was  obliged  with  grief  to  declare,  that  he 
could  not  any  where  find  that  the  ordinances  of  their 
founders,  according  to  their  true  design  and  intention, 
were  at  present  observed  by  any  of  them.  This  reflection 
affected  him  greatly,  and  inclined  him  to  take  the  resolu- 
tion of  distributing  his  riches  to  the  poor  with  his  own 
hands,  rather  than  to  employ  them  in  establishing  an  in- 
stitution, which  might  become  a  snare  and  an  occasion  of 
guilt  to  those  for  whose  benefit  it  should  be  designed. 
After  much  deliberation,  and  devout  invocation  of  the 
Divine  assistance,  considering  how  greatly  the  number  of 
the  clergy  had  been  of  late  reduced  by  continual  wars  and 
frequent  pestilences,  he  determined  at  last  to  endeavour  to 
remedy,  as  far  as  he  was  able,  this  desolation  of  the  Church, 
by  relieving  poor  scholars  in  their  clerical  education ;  and 
to  establish  two  colleges  of  students  for  the  honour  of  God, 
and  increase  of  his  worship,  for  the  support  and  exaltation 
of  the  Christian  faith,  and  for  the  improvement  of  the 
liberal  arts  and  sciences  ;  hoping  and  trusting  that  men  of 
letters  and  various  knowledge,  and  bred  up  m  the  fear  of 
God,  would  see  more  clearly,  and  attend  more  strictly  to 
the  obligation  lying  upon  them,  to  observe  the  rules  and 
directions  which  he  should  give  them.  Wykeham  seems  to 
have  come  to  this  resolution,  and  in  some  measure  to  hav» 


214  WILLIAM  V\  YKEHAM. 

formed  in  his  mind  his  general  plan,  as  early  as  his  becom- 
ing Bishop  of  Winchester  :  for  we  tind,  that  in  little  more 
than  two  years  alter,  he   had  made   purchases  of  several 
parcels  of  ground  in  the  city  of  Oxford,  which  make  the 
chief  part  of  the  site  of  his  college  there.      His  college  of 
Winchester,  intended  as  a  nursery  for  that  of  Oxford,  was 
part  of  his  Original  plan  :    for  as  early  as  1373,  before  he 
proceeded  any  further  in  his  design  for  the  latter,  he  estab- 
lished a  school  at  Winchester,   of  the  same  kind  with  the 
former,  and  for  the  same  purpose.     He  agreed  with  Rich, 
de  Herton,  that  for  ten  years,  beginning  from  Michaelmas 
of    the    year    above-mentioned,     he    should    diligently 
instruct  in  grammatical  learning,  as  many  poor  scholars 
as  the  Bishop  should  send  to  him,    and  no  others  without 
his  leave ;  that  the  Bishop  should  provide  and  allow  him 
a  proper  assistant ;    and  that  Herton,    in  case  of  his  own 
illness,  or  necessary  absence,   should  substitute  a  proper 
master.      Wykeham's  munificence  proceeded  always  from 
a  constant  generous  principle,  a  true  spirit  of  liberality. 
It  was  not  owing  to  a  casual  impulse,    or  a  sudden  emo- 
tion, but  was  the  eft'ect  of  mature  deliberation  and  prudent 
choice.      His  enjoyment  of  riches  consisted  in  employing 
them  in  acts  of  beneficence  ;   and  Mhile  they  were  increa- 
sing upon  him,  he  was  continually  devising  proper  means 
of  disposing  of  them  for  the  good  of  the  public  :   not  de- 
laying it  till   the  time  of  his  death,   when  he  could  keep 
them  no  longer,  nor  leaving  to  the  care  of  others  what  he 
could  better  execute  himself;  but  forming  his  good  designs 
early,   and  as  soon  as  he  had  the  ability,   putting  them  in 
execution,  that  he  might  have  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
the  beneficial  effects  of  them ;   and  that,  by  constant  ob- 
servation and  due  experience,  he  might  from  time  to  time 
improve  and  perfect  them,  so  as  to  render  them  yet  more 
beneficial. 


SECTION  IV. 
His  troubles  in  the  last  year  of  Edward  III. 

While  Wykeham  was  pursuing  these  generous  designs, 
and  was  now  prepared  to  carry  them  into  execution,  he 
was  on  a  sudden  attacked  by  a  party  formed  against  him 
at  court,  in  such  a  manner,  as  not  only  obliged  him  to 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  215 

lay  ihem  aside  for  the  present,  but  might  have  reduced 
him  to  an  inabiUty  of  ever  resuming  them.* 

Upon  the  return  of  the  Duke  of  Lancaster  to  power, 
after  the  death  of  the    Prince   of  Wales,    he   procured 
articles  of  accusation  to  be  brought  against  the  Bishop, 
by  certain  persons  whose  names  are  not  transmitted  down 
to   us,  for  divers  crimes   committed  by  him   during  his 
administration  of  affairs :    these  were  exhibited  against 
him  about  the  beginning  of  the  next  Michaelmas  term  j 
and  are  in  substance  as  follows.     I.  That  after  the  peace 
was  made  with  France,  the  Bishop  had  the  disposal  and 
management  of  all  the  King's  revenues,  both  at  home 
and    beyond    sea,    with    all    the    subsidies    granted    by 
Parliament,    and  the  sums  received  for  the  ransoms  of 
the  King  of  France,  of  the  country  of  Burgundy,  and  of 
the  King  of  Scotland  :    which  receipts,  reckoning  for  8 
years,  during  the  whole  time  that  Simon  Langham,   late 
Archbishop  of  Canteibury,  and  John  Barnard,  Bishop 
of  Ely,  were  treasurers  of  England,  (namely,  from  Nov. 
26,    1361,   to  the  year   1369,)  amouut  to  i:  1,109,600. 
sterling;  besides  100,000  francs  received  from  Galeazzo, 
Duke  of  Milan,  and  all  the  King's  goods  ;  which  for  the 
most  part  have  not  been  applied  to  the  profit  of  the  King 
and  kingdom.     And  when  the  peace  had  lasted  10  years, 
and  the  second  war  began,  the  King's  treasury  was  found 
almost   empty,    and    the    King    in    great    straits,    was 
forced  to   burthen  then  his  subjects  with   subsidies  and 
loans :    and  all  this  was  owing  to  the  bad  management  of 
the  Bishop.,    II.  That  the  said  Bishop,  without  regard 
to   God,    or  equity,    or  the  laws  of  the  realm,    caused 
Matthew  de    Gourney,  Thomas   Fog,  John  Seyntlowe, 
Degory   Lees,    Robert   D'Eues,  and  many  others,  who 
in  the  King's  wars  had  behaved  well  against  the  enemy, 
to  be  fined  and  ransomed,  to  the  inestimable  damage  of 
the  King  and  kingdom,  in  that  all  the  soldiers,  when  they 
heard  of  this  misprision,    entered   into  companies,   and 


[*  Here  Lnwth  has  indulged  in  a  long  iiistorial  and  political  narrative, 
wholly  unnecessary,  except  in  reference  to  the  art  of  book-making  .—The 
object  of  his  narrative,  seems  to  be  to  connect  Wykehain  with  the  history 
of  the  period.  But  as  every  reader  of  English  history  is  already  conver- 
sant vyitli  the  events  of  that  period,  I  liave  with  the  less  reluctance 
omitted  the  digression,  and  have  passed  on  from  p.  1)6  to  p.  109,  as  it 
ought  to  be  numbered,  for  there  is  a  typographical  error  here  in  the 
paging  of  JLowth  :~wliat  should  be  p.  lOy  purports  to  be  DS.—Edit.] 


216  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

made  war  in  France,  which  occasioned  tlie  renewing  of 
the  war,    and  other  bad  consequences.     III.  That  the 
said  Bishop,  being  keeper  of  the  privy  seal,  chief  of  the 
privy  council,  and  governor  of  the  great  council,  caused 
the  hostages  of  the  King  of  France,  and  particularly  the 
Dukes   of  Orleans,   Berry,  Anjou,   and    Bourbon,    and 
many  others,  to  be  released  and  set  at  liberty,  for  his 
own  profit ;    though  the  late  Prince  of  Wales  had  often 
written  both  to  the  King  and  the  said  Bishop  to  have 
them  kept  carefully  and  securely ;  which  if  it  had  been 
done,    the  war  would   not  have   happened.     IV.   That 
when  the  governors  of  Ponthieu  had  given  timely  notice 
of  the  necessity  of  sending  succours  into  that  country  to 
prevent  the  loss  of  it,  the  said  Bishop  put  off  the  mes- 
sengers with  words,  and  took  no  care  about  it ;    so  that 
by  his  negligence,  in  not  ordering  a  proper  remedy,  that 
country  was  lost.     V.  That  in  the  year  1369,  John,  the 
son  of  John  Boulewas,  having  been  guilty  of  acquiring 
lands  without  licence,  was  fined  in  c£'100.  to  the  King 
for  his  pardon :    and  the  said  Bishop  caused  the  fine  to 
be  lessened  by  £0.0.,  as  appears  by  the  memorandum  of 
its   enrolment.      VI.     That   it  having    appeared    by    an 
inquisition,  that  John  de  Kirketon  had  intruded  himself 
into  the  castle  of  Tateshale,  the  manor  of  Tomby,  and 
other  lands,  of  which  John  de  Dryby  died  possessed,  and 
had  held  the  said  castle  and  lands  for  so  long  a  time  that 
the  rents  and  profits  of  them  amounted  to  above  8,000 
marks,  which  ought  to  have  been  placed  to  the  King's 
account,  as  the  said  castle  was  held  of  him  in  chief ;  the 
said  Bishop  caused  the  King  to  remit  all  the  said  rents 
and  profits,  for  his  own  private  advantage,  without  taking 
or  receiving  any  thing  on  that  account  from  the  said  John 
de   Kirketon  for  the  King's  benefit.     VII.  That  when 
John  de  Barnet,  Bishop  of  Ely,  was  treasurer  of  England, 
the    said    Bishop,    by  his    own   authority,    and   without 
warrant,  caused  to  be  taken  out  of  the  King's  treasury 
the  sum  of  10,000  marks  for  buying  of  the  King's  tallies, 
as  he  affirmed ;    which  sum  remained  in  his  hands  2  years 
and  more,  and  then  he  returned  into  the  treasury,  for  the 
said  sum,  tallies,  amounting  to  12,500  marks,   or  there- 
abouts, which  advantage  of  2,500  marks  did  not  answer 
to  the  King,  as  he  bought  every  ^100.  for  o£'25.,  so  that 
the  increase  and  profit  to  the  King  ought  to  have  been 
27,000  marks.     VIII,  That  the  said  Bishop,  when  he 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  217 

was  Chancellor,  by  his  own  authority,  often  caused  fines, 
after  they  were  enrolled,  to  be  lessened,  and  the  rolls  to 
be   rased  ;     and    in   particular,    that    of  John    Grey  of 
Retherfeld,  who  made  a  fine  with  the  King,  in  the  41st. 
year  of  his  reign,  of  o£'80.    for  licence   of  feoffment  of 
certain  lands  and  tenements;    which  was  paid  into  the 
hanaper:     but  the  said    Bishop,    on   pretence    of  some 
bargain  between  him  and  the  said  John  Grey,  caused 
the   first   writing  to   be   cancelled,    by  making   another 
writing  of  the  same  tenor   and  date,  for  a  fine  of  of  40., 
and  made  the  clerk  of  the  hanaper  repay  the  other  ,£40. 
to  the  said  John  Grey,  to  the  defrauding  of  the  King.* 
The  Bishop  was  heard  upon  these  articles  before  a  certain 
number  of  Bishops  and  Lords,  and  others  of  the   privy 
council,  assigned  by  the  King  for  this   purpose,  about 
the  middle  of  Nov.     And  in  consequence  of  the  judg- 
ment given  by  them  upon   the  last   article   alone,  writs 
were  issued  from  the  exchequer,  dated  the  17th.  of  the 
same  month,  to  the  sheriffs  of  the  several  counties  con- 
cerned, ordering  them  to  seize  into  the  King's  hands  the 
temporalties   of   the    Bishopric    of    Winchester.      The 
Bishop  was  ordered  to  attend  again  at  Westminster,  for 
a  further  examination  on  Jan.  20th.  following  :  but  this 
was   afterwards  prorogued   to   an  uncertain  day,  at  the 
King's  pie  asure ;    nor  was  he  ever  after  brought  to  a 
hearing  on  the  occasion.     To  mortify  the    Bishop  still 
further,  he  was  forbidden  in  the  King's  name,  to   come 
within  20  miles  of  the  court.     The  Buhop  received  this 
prohibition  about  the  middle  of  Dec,  and  upon  it  im- 
mediately left  his  palace  at  Southwark.     He  retired  to 
the  Monastery  of  Merton,  where,  for  the  most  part,  he 
continued  during  the  next  month,  and   afterwarcl  passed 
some  time  in  the  Abbey  of  Waverly  near  i/arnham.      I 
find,  indeed,  that  he  was  at  Southwark  again  Jan.  4th., 
but  he  made  no  stay  there.     Possibly  he  might  have  leave 
to  go  thither,  in  order  to  make  some  necessary  preparation 
for  his  defence  at  his  second  hearing  :    for  it  was  not  till 
three  or  four  days  after  this  that  he  received  the  King's 
letters,  by  which  it  was  prorogued  to  a  further  day.     In 


•  [HereLowth  euters  into  a  long  and  tedious  defence  of  the  Bishop, 
but  as  this  is  of  a  forensic  and  not  biographical  nature,  I  have 
omitted  the  passage  aad  passed  ou  to  p.  124.— Edit.] 


218  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

this  situation  were  the  Bishop's  affairs  when  the  Parliament 
was  opened  Jan.  27th.  His  great  adversary  the  Duke  of 
Lancaster,  had  re-established  his  power  at  court  beyond 
all  opposition. 

The  commons  having  granted  the  subsidies,  petitioned 
the  King,  that  in  consideration  of  the  year  of  his  jubilee, 
the  50th  of  his  reign  just  now  completed,  he  would  be 
graciously  pleased  to  grant  an  act  of  general  pardon  to  his 
subjects,  of  all  crimes  committed  before  the  beginning  of 
the  .said  year,  as  he  had  done  at  the  50th  year  of  his  age. 
To  this  petition  the  King  gave  his  consent.  The  only 
person  excepted  out  of  this  general  pardon  was  the  Bishop 
of  Winchester,  in  the  following  words  of  the  statute: 
'*  But  always  it  is  the  Kynge's  mind,  that  Sir*  William 
Wikham  Byshop  of  Winchester,  shall  nothing  enjoye  of 
the  said  graces,  graunts,  and  pardons,  nor  in  no  wise  be 
comprised  within  the  sanie.f" 

Though  the  Bishop  had  received  no  writ  of  summons 
to  parliament  from  the  King,  yet  he  was  regularly  sum- 
moned to  convocation  by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury's 
mandate,  executed  by  the  Bishop  of  London.  The  Cler- 
gy met  in  Convocation  Feb.  3.  As  soon  as  the  King's 
message  was  delivered  to  the  house,  setting  forth  the  ne- 
cessity of  his  affairs,  and  desiring  a  suitable  subsidy,  Wil- 
liam Courtney,  Bishop  of  London,  stood  up  and  made  a 
grievous  complaint  of  many  injuries  done  to  himself  and 
the  Bishop  of  Winchester,  of  which  he  exhibited  to  the 
house  a  particular  account  in  writing  ;  and  begged  them 
not  to  consent  to  any  subsidy,  till  satisfation  was  made  to 
the  parties  injured.  The  whole  house,  in  a  manner, 
seconded  the  Bishop  of  London's  motion,  as  far  as  it  re- 
garded the  Bishop  of  Winchester;  and  addressing  them- 
selves to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  as  their  head,  de- 
clared, that  they  looked  upon  the  proceedings  against 
the  Bishop  of  Winchester,  as  an  injury  done  to  the  ^yhole 
body  of  the  clergy,  and  an  infringement  of  the  liberties  of 
the  Church  ;  that  they  would  in  no  wise  enter  upon  the 


»  A  common  title  eiven  formerly  to  Clergymen  of  all  degrees.  See 
Rvm.  Foed.  vol.  6.  p.  586.  aud  the  Dramatis  Personae  of  mauy  of  Shak- 
Se-fplays.  It  is  in  the  Original  Record,  Sire  Wiilm.  deWykeham. 
Rot.  Pari.  51.  Ed.  3.  tit.  24. 

t  Statute  51.  Ed.  3.  intitled  by  mistaUe  in  all  the  printed  Statute  Books 
50.  Ed.  3. 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  219 

business  proposed  to  them  till  all  the  members  of  the  clergj' 
Mere  united  ;  that  as  it  concerned  ali,  it  ought  to  be  ap- 
proved of  all.  The  Archbishop,  being  of  the  Duke  of 
Lancaster's  party,  or  afraid  of  offending  him,  would  have 
declined  meddling  with  their  suit :  but  they  persisted  so 
iinnly  in  their  lesolution,  that  he  was  obliged  to  prorogue 
the  Convocation,  and  wait  upon  the  King  with  a  represen- 
tation of  their  grievances.  The  King  took  time  to  con- 
sider more  particularly  of  their  petitions,  and  dismissed 
the  Archbishop  witli  a  promise,  in  general  terms,  that- all 
the  matters  complained  of  should  be  redressed.  Among 
these  petitions  of  the  Convocation,  that  which  relates  to  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester  is  expressed  in  the  following  terms  : 
*'  As  to  what  concerns  the  Bishop  of  Winchester,  that  the 
things  under-written,  which  are  attempted  against  him, 
may  be  duly  redressed.  In  the  tirst  place,  that  the  tempor- 
alties  of  his  Church,  without  sufficient  consent  and  assent 
of  those  to  whom  it  pertaineth,  and  whose  assent  is  requi- 
red in  this  behalf,  have  been  taken  into  the  hands  of  tlie 
King  :  and  moreover,  besides  that  he  hath  no  where  to  lay 
his  head  in  the  temporal  manors  of  his  Church,  he  hath 
been  forbidden,  as  by  command  of  our  lord  the  King,  so 
he  was  informed,  to  make  his  abode  in  several  monasteries, 
priories,  and  other  places  of  his  diocese,  foundation,  and 
patronage  ;  by  which  causes  the  said  Bishop  suffereth 
great  grievances,  the  jurisdiction  of  holy  Church  is  in- 
fringed, and  the  execution  of  his  pastoral  office  in  divers 
manners  interrupted."  This  petition  is  the  only  one  of 
them  to  which  the  King,  after  having  considered  of  them, 
did  not  vouchsafe  to  give  any  answer.  However,  the  Con- 
vocation maintained  their  resolution  with  such  steadiness 
that  the  Archbishop  could  get  nothing  done  in  the  Kmg's 
business,  without  sending  for  the  Bishop  of  Wmchester. 
He  returned  to  Southwark  on  this  occasion,  about  the 
middle  of  February.  He  took  his  place  in  Convocation, 
and  was  received  by  the  whole  assembly  with  all  possible 
marks  of  respect  and  reverence.  The  session  of  Parlia- 
ment ended  February  23,  and  that  of  Convocation  about 
a  week  after.  The  Bishop  still  continued  at  Southwark, 
though  the  late  remonstrances  of  the  clergy  seem  to  have 
had  but  little  effect  in  bringing  his  affairs  nearer  to  an  ac- 
commodation with  the  court.  The  King,  instead  of  re- 
storing his  temporalties,  soon  after  made  a  grant  of  them 
to  his  graudsoa  Kichard^  iu  part  of  payment  of  4;00c) 


220  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

marks  a  year,  which  he  had  settled  on  him  at  the  time  of 
his  creating  him  Prince  of  Wales,  and  declaring  him  heir 
apparent  of  the  crown.  This  was  supposed  to  have  been 
done  by  the  Duke  of  Lancaster,  with  a  design  of  taking 
oflf  something  of  the  odiousness  of  his  proceedings  against 
the  Bishop,  and  to  make  himself  a  little  more  popular 
in  the  nation,  by  this  instance  of  good  will  towards  the 
young  prince.  Nothing  more  was  done  in  the  Bishop's 
aflfair  till  June  18th  following,  when  the  King  restored  to 
him  his  temporalties,  in  consideration  of  his  having  under- 
taken, in  the  presence  of  the  Prince  of  Wales,  the  Duke 
of  Lancaster,  and  others  of  the  privy  council,  certain  bur- 
thens in  relief  of  the  King,  and  for  the  defence  of  his 
kingdom  :  namely,  he  was  to  fit  out  upon  the  sea,  three 
ships  of  war,  in  each  ship  fifty  men  at  arms  and  fifty  arch- 
ers, for  one  quarter  of  a  year,  at  such  wages  as  were 
usually  paid  by  the  King,  but  the  King  was  to  pay  the 
wages  of  the  mariners  :  and  in  case  such  voyage  should 
not  take  place,  he  was  to  pay  to  the  King  the  sum  to 
which  the  wages  of  the  said  300  men  by  reasonable  com- 
putation should  amount.  His  sponsors  for  the  due  per- 
formance of  these  articles,  were  Edmund  de  Mortnner 
earl  of  March,  Richard  earl  of  Arundel,  and  Thomas  de 
Beauchamp  earl  of  Warwick,  then  present  in  council. 
These  were  three  of  the  most  considerable  lords  in  the 
kingdom  ;  and  it  is  highly  probable,  that  it  was  by  their 
powerful  intercession  that  the  Bishop  obtained  tbe  resti- 
tution of  his  temporalties.  It  has  been  said,  that  he  pro- 
cured this  grant  by  purchasing  Alice  Perrers's  good  offices 
with  the  King  in  his  favor,  by  a  large  sum  of  money  in 
hand,  and  larger  promises  of  future  services  ;  and  that  she 
gained  this  point  for  him  very  much  against  the  inclinations 
of  her  friend  the  Duke  of  Lancaster.  This  has  been  ad- 
vanced without  any  other  foundation  of  proof,  or  colour 
of  probability,  than  the  supposed  influence  of  this  lady 
with  the  King,  by  some  late  writers,  at  a  time  when,  as  it 
could  not  possibly  be  verified,  so  neither  could  it  easily 
be  confuted. 

OnJune21,1377,  died  Edward  III.  And  thus  the  Bishop 
had  the  satisfaction  of  being,  in  some  measure,  restored  to 
the  favour  of  this  excellent  prince,  his  great  patron  and  be- 
nefactor, a  few  days  before  his  death :  if  he  may  be  supposed 
ever  to  iiave  forfeited  it,  which  he  certainly  did  not,  'till 
the  King  himself  had,  in  a  manner,  lost  his  own  liberty. 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  221 

Upon  the  accession  of  Richard  II.  to  the  throne,  all 
difficulties  Mith  regard  to  the  Bishop's  affairs  ceased 
immediately  ;  which  gives  us  a  further  presumption,  that 
Alice  Ferrers  had  no  hand  in  removing  them,  for  her 
power  was  now  at  an  end.  He  was  summoned  to  attend 
at  the  King's  coronation,  by  the  King's  writ,  dated  June 
26th.,  and  accordingly  assisted  at  that  ceremony  July  15. 
His  pardon  passed  the  privy  seal  on  the  31st.  of  the  same 
month,  as  soon  as  a  thing  of  this  nature,  at  such  a  time, 
could  well  be  dispatched.  It  is  conceived  in  the  fullest 
and  most  extensive  terms  possible,  as*  Lord  Coke  has 
particularly  obsei'ved. 

SECTION  V. 

Civil  affairs  during  the  former  part  of  the  reign  of  Richard  II. 

[As  this  section  is  merely  political  and  historical,  and  the  substance  of 
it  may  be  read  in  the  History  of  England,  I  have  passed  on  to  section  VI., 
p.  176,  where  the  Biography,  properly  so  called,  is  resumed.— Edit.J 

SECTION  VI. 
Ecclesiastical  affairs  during  the  reign  of  Richard  II. 

Upon  the  accession  of  Richard  II.  to  the  throne, 
Wykeham,  now  delivered  from  the  persecution  of  the 
Duke  of  Lancaster,  and  disengaged,  as  far  as  his  high 
station  and  great  authority  M'ould  permit,  from  his  former 
constant  attendance  on  public  affairs,  was  resolved  to 
make  use  of  the  opportunity  and  leisure  which  these  cir- 
<!umstances  afforded  him,  and  applied  himself  to  the  great 
w-ork  of  executing  his  design  for  his  two  Colleges,  upon 
which  he  had  long  before  been  detemiined,  and  for 
which  he  had  many  years  been  making  preparations. 
His  whole  plan,  was  formed  at  once  ;  and  the  design  was 
noble,  uniform,  and  complete.  It  was  no  less  than  to 
provide  for  the  perpetual  maintenance  and  instruction  of 
200  scholars,  to  afford  them  a  liberal  support,  and  to 
lead  them  through  a  perfect  course  of  education  -,  from  the 
first  elements  of  letters,  through  the  whole  circle  of  the 


*  "  The  most  large  and  beneficial  pardons  by  letters  patents,  which  we 
have  read  and  do  remember,  were  that  to  William  Wykeham,  Bishop  of 
Winchester,  (for  good  men  will  never  refuse  God  and  the  King's  pardon, 
because  every  man  doth  often  offend  both  of  them  ;)  and  that  other  to 
Thomas  Wolsey,  Cardinal  i  wliich  are  learnedly  and  largely  penned.", 
III.  Instit.  chap.  105. 


222  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

sciences  It  properly  and  naturally  consisted  of  two  parts, 
rightly  forniiug  two  establishments,  the  one  subordinate 
to  the  other.  The  design  of  the  one  was  to  lay  the 
foundations  of  science,  that  of  the  other,  to  raise  and 
compkte  the  superstructure  ;  the  former  was  to  supply 
the  latter  with  proper  subjects,  and  the  latter  was  to 
improve  the  advantages  received  in  the  former.  The 
plan  was  truly  great,  and  an  original  in  its  kind  :  as 
Wykehamhad  no  example  to  follow  in  it,  so  no  person  has 
yet  been  found,  who  has  had  the  ability  or  the  generosity 
to  follow  his  example,  except  one,  and  that  a  King  of 
England,  who  has  done  him  the  honour  to  adopt  and  to 
copy  his  whole  design.  The  work  which  demanded  his 
attention  at  this  time,  was  to  erect  his  college  at  Oxford  ; 
the  society  of  which  he  had  already  completed  and 
established,  and  that,  some  years  before  he  began  to  raise 
the  building.  For  he  proceeded  herein  the  same  method, 
which,  as  1  have  already  shewn,  he  took  at  Winchester; 
as  he  began  there  with  forming  a  private  grammar  school, 
provided  with  proper  masters,  and  maintained  and  sup- 
ported in  it  the  full  number  of  scholars,  which  he  after- 
wards established  in  his  college ;  so  at  Oxfoid,  in  the  first 
place,  he  formed  his  society,  appointed  them  a  governor, 
allowed  them  a  liberal  maintenance,  provided  them  with 
lodgings,  and  gave  them  rules  and  directions  for  their  be- 
haviour ;  not  only  that  his  beneficence  might  not  seem  to  lie 
fruitless  and  ineti'ectual  while  it  was  only  employed  in  mak- 
ing his  purchases  of  lands,  and  raising  his  building,  which 
would  take  up  a  considerable  time  ;  but  that  he  might  be- 
stow his  earliest  attention,  and  his  greatest  care  in  forming 
and  perfecting  the  principal  part  of  his  design,  and  that  the 
life  and  soul,  as  it  were,  might  be  ready  to  inform  and 
animate  the  body  of  his  college  as  soon  as  it  could  be 
finished,  and  so  the  whole  system  be  at  once  completed 
in  every  part  of  it.  This  preparatory  establislmient,  I 
imagine,  took  place  about  the  same  time  with  that  at 
Winchester,  that  is,  in  1373 :  which  agrees  with  the 
account  that  some  authors  give,  that  it  was  7  vears  before 
the  foundation  of  the  building  was  laid  :  but  they  are 
mistaken,  in  supposing  that  there  were  only  50  scholars 
maintained  by  him  in  this  manner  ;  for  it  appears  by  the 
rolls  of  accompts  of  New  College,  that  m  1376,  the 
society  consisted  of  a  warden  and  70  fellows,  called 
Pauperes  Scholares  Venerabilis  Domini  Domini  Willielmi 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  223 

c7e  Wi/kekam  Winton  Episcopi;  and  that  i  had  been 
established,  probably  to  the  same  number,  at  least  as 
early  as  Sept.  137>3.  Richard  Toneworth,  fellow  of 
Merton  College,  was  appointed  by  him  goveraor  of  this 
society,  with  the  title  of  warden,  and  a  salary  of  £20.  per 
annum.  The  fellows  were  lodged  in  Blakehall,  Herthal, 
Shulehall,  Maydenhall,  and  Hamerhall;  the  expence  of 
their  logding  amounted  to  o£'lO.  13s.  4d.  per  annum. 
They  Mere  allowed  each  of  them  Is.  6d.  per  week  for 
their  commons :  and  they  had  proper  servants  to  attend 
them,  who  had  suitable  stipends. 

In  1379,  the  Bishop  completed  his  several  purchases 
of  lands  for  the  site  of  his  college,  and  immediately  took 
his  measures  for  erecting  his  building.  In  the  first  place, 
he  obtained  the  King's  patent,  granting  him  licence  to 
found  his  college:  it  is  dated  June  30,  1379-  He  pro- 
cured likewise  the  Pope's  bull  to  the  same  effect.  He 
published  his  Charter  of  foundation  Nov.  26,  following  ; 
by  which  he  entitled  his  college,  ^cttttc  ;^larie  €o\hqt  of 
Wimd)titxt  in  (©xmfortJ.  It  was  then  vulgarly  called  the 
New  College,  which  became  in  time  a  sort  of  proper 
name  for  it,  and  in  common  use  continues  to  be  so  to  this 
day.  At  the  same  time,  upon  the  resignation  of  Tone- 
worth,  he  constituted  his  kinsman,  Nicholas  Wykeham, 
warden,  with  a  salary  of  <£40.  per  annum.  On  the  5th. 
of  March  following,  at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the 
foundation  stone  was  laid  :  the  building  was  finished  in 
6  years,  and  the  society  made  their  public  entrance  into 
it  with  much  solemnit}'  and  devotion,  singing  litanies, 
and  marching  in  procession,  with  the  cross  borne  before 
them,  at  9  o'clock  in  the  morning,  April  14,  1386.  The 
society  consists  of  a  warden  and  70  poor  scholars,  clerks, 
students  in  theology,  canon  and  civil  law,  and  philosophy ; 
20  are  appointed  to  the  study  of  laws,  10  of  them  to  that 
of  the  canon,  and  10  to  that  of  the  civil  law  ;  the  remain- 
ing 50  are  to  apply  themselves  to  philosophy  (or  arts)  and 
theology;  two  of  them,  however,  are  permitted  to  apply 
themselves  to  the  study  of  medicine,  and  two  likewise  to  that 
of  astronomy ;  all  of  whom  are  obliged  to  be  in  priets' 
orders  within  a  certain  time,  except  in  case  of  lawful 
impediment.  Besides  these  there  are  10  priests,  3  clerks, 
and  16  boys  or  choristers,  to  minister  in  the  service  of 
the  chapel. 


224  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

The  body  of  statutes,  which  Wykeham  gave  to  his  col- 
lege, was  a  work  upon  v,'hich  he  bestowed  much  time  and 
constant  attention.  It  was  the  result  of  great  meditation 
and  study,  assisted,  confirmed,  and  brought  to  maturity 
by  long  observation  and  experience.  He  began  it  with 
the  first  establishment  of  his  society,  and  he  was  continu- 
ally improving  and  perfecting  it,  almost  as  long  as  he  lived  : 
and  accordingly,  it  has  been  always  considered  as  the  most 
judicious  and  the  most  complete  performance  in  its  kind, 
and  as  the  best  model  which  the  founders  of  colleges  in 
succeeding  times  had  to  follow,  and  which  indeed  most  of 
them  have  either  copied  or  closely  imitated. 

That  the  first  draught  of  his  statutes  was  made  as 
early  as  I  have  mentioned,  appears  from  a  letter  of  Wyke- 
ham himself,  which  he  wrote  to  the  warden  of  his  college 
soon  after  the  society  had  made  their  first  entrance  into  ft. 
In  this  letter  he  speaks  of  his  statutes,  as  duly  published 
and  promulged,  and  in  times  past  frequently  made  known 
unto  them.  The  great  care  and  attention  which  he  em- 
ployed m  revising  his  statutes,  from  time  to  time,  and  in 
improving  them  continually,  appears  very  evidently  from 
an  ancient  draught  of  them  still  extant,  and  in  which  the 
many  alterations,  corrections,  and  additions,  made  in  the 
margm,  shew  plainly  how  much  pains  he  bestowed  upon 
this  important  work ;  with  how  much  deliberation,  and 
with  what  great  exactness  he  weighed  every  the  most 
minute  particular  belonging  to  it.  The  text  of  these 
statutes  appears,  by  some  circumstances  which  it  is  need- 
less here  to  enlarge  upon,  to  have  been  drawn  up  about 
1386  ;  and  therefore  they  cannot  be  the  first  which  he  ever 
made,  since  at  that  time  he  speaks  of  his  statutes  as  often 
and  long  before  published.  At  the  end  of  1389,  he  ap- 
pointed commissaries  to  receive  the  oaths  of  the  warden  and 
scholars  of  his  college,  to  observe  the  statutes  M'hich  he 
then  transmitted  to  them,  sealed  with  his  seal :  this  was  a 
new  edition  of  them,  much  corrected  and  improved  ;  for 
I  suppose  it  contained  all  the  marginal  alterations  and 
additions  above  mentioned.  He  gave  a  third  edition  of 
his  statutes,  reckoning  from  the  time  when  his  college  was 
finished,  still  much  enlarged  and  corrected,  an  ancient 
copy  of  which  likewise  is  yet  remaining  :  it  was  probably 
of  the  year  1393.  In  1400,  he  appointed  another  com- 
mission for  the  same  purpose,  and  in  the  same  form  with 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  225 

that  of  ]  389 '  with  that  he  sent  to  his  college  a  new  edition 
likewise  of  his  statutes,  still  revised  and  enlarged  :  it  is  the 
last  which  he  gave,  and  is  the  same  with  that  now  in  force. 

The  manner  of  election  into  his  college  at  Oxford, 
seems  to  have  been  unhappily  altered  for  the  worse.  The 
method  which  he  established  at  the  first,  and  which  was 
accordingly  obsened,  I  believe,  till  1393,  was  to  fill  up 
the  vacancies  of  the  preceding  year  by  an  annual  election, 
and  that  in  case  before  nine  or  ten  months  of  the  current 
year  were  passed,  there  should  happen  six  or  more  vacan- 
cies, they  were  to  be  filled  up  by  an  inter-election.  The 
only  inconvenience  of  this  method  was,  that  the  society 
would  very  often  want  its  full  compliment  of  menibers  ; 
and  Wykeham  was  very  unwilling  that  any  part  of  his 
bounty  should  ever  lie  dormant  and  inactive.  By  making 
it  a  pre-election  to  supply  the  vacancies  immediately,  each 
as  they  should  fall  in  the  year  ensuing,  he  effectually  pre- 
vented this  inconvenience;  but,  at  the  same  time  opened  a 
door  to  much  greater  inconveniencies,  to  which  the  new 
method  has  been  found  liable ;  to  the  greatest  possible 
perversion  of  his  charity,  a  shameful  traffic  between  the 
fellow  of  the  college  that  begins  to  sit  loose  to  the  society, 
and  the  presumptive  successor ;  an  abuse  of  which  he  was 
not  aware,  the  simplicity  and  probity  of  that  age  perhaps 
affording  no  example  of  the  like.  The  laws  of  the  realm 
have  since  endeavoured  to  remedy  all  abuses  of  this  kind, 
but  in  vain ;  nor  is  it  perhaps  in  the  power  of  those,  who 
are  most  concerned  to  do  it,  to  prevent  them  in  every 
instance  :  but  it  behoves  all  such  to  exert  their  utmost 
diligence  and  resolution  in  putting  an  effectual  stop  to  so 
scandalous  a  practice,  if  they  have  any  regard  for  the  honor 
of  their  society,  or  for  their  own  reputation. 

Wykeham  endowed  his  college  with  lands  and  estates, 
whose  revenues,  at  that  time,  were  fully  sufficient  for  the 
support  of  it,  and  amply  supplied  all  the  uses  and  pur- 
poses for  which  he  designed  it ;  he  procured  a  bull  of  the 
Pope,  confirming  his  statutes,  and  exempting  his  college 
from  all  archi-episcopal  and  episcopal  jurisdiction,  except 
that  of  the  Bishop  of  Winchester ;  for  by  his  statutes  he 
had  appointed  his  successors  the  Bishops  of  Winchester 
to  be  the  sole  visitors  of  it,  recommending  it  to  their  pro- 
tection and  patronage.  He  himself,  as  long  as  he  lived, 
cherished  his  young  society  with  all  the  care  and  affection 
of  a  tender  parent.     He  assisted  them  with  his  directions 


226  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 


in  the  management  of  all  their  aflfairs  :  he  held  several 
visitations  of  his  college  by  his  commissaries ;  namely,  in 
1385,  1392,  and  1400.  And  thence  he  supplied  himself 
with  men  of  learning  and  abilities,  whom  he  admitted  to  a 
more  intimate  attendance  upon  him,  and  by  \vhom  he 
transacted  all  his  business  :  such  were  Nicholas  VVyke- 
ham,  John  Elmer,  John  and  Robert  Ketou,  Walter  A ude, 
Simon  Membury,  and  others ;  M'hom  he  rewarded  with 
ample  preferments. 

While  the  Bishop  was  engaged  in  building  his  college 
at  Oxford,  he  established,  in  proper  form,  his  society  at 
Winchester.  His  charter  of  foundation  bears  date  Oct.  20, 
1382,  by  which  he  nominates  Thomas  de  Cranle  warden, 
admits  the  scholars,  and  gives  his  college  the  same  name 
of  ^tintt  jHarle  Collr gc  oC  Wlm(l)t^tvt.  The  next  year 
after  he  had  finished  his  building  at  Oxford,  lie  began 
that  at  Winchester,  for  which  he  had  obtained  both  the 
Pope's  and  the  King's  licence  long  before.  A  natural 
affection  and  prejudice  for  the  very  place  which  he  had 
frequented  in  his  early  days,  seems  to  have  had  its  weight 
in  determining  the  situation  of  it :  the  school  which  Wyke- 
ham  went  to  when  he  was  a  boy,  was  where  his  college 
now  stands.  The  first  stone  was  laid  March  26,  1387, 
at  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning :  it  took  up  six  years  in 
building,  and  the  warden  and  society  made  their  solemn 
entrance  into  it,  chanting  in  procession,  at  nine  o'clock 
in  the  morning  of  March  28,  1393.  The  school  bad  now 
subsisted  near  20  years,  having  been  opened  at  Michael- 
mas 1373.  It  was  completely  established  from  the  first 
to  its  full  number  of  seventy  scholars,  and  to  all  other  in- 
tents and  purposes ;  and  continued  all  along  to  furnish 
the  society  at  Oxford  with  proper  subjects  by  election. 
It  was  at  first  committed  to  the  care  of  a  master  and 
under-master  only:  in  1382,  it  was  placed  under  the  su- 
perior government  of  a  warden.  This  was  the  whole  so- 
ciety that  made  their  formal  entrance  into  it  as  above- 
mentioned.  Till  the  college  was  erected,  they  were  pro- 
vided with  lodgings  in  the  parish  of  St.  John  upon  the 
hill.  The  first  nomination  of  fellows,  was  made  by  the 
founder,  Dec.  20,  1394.  He  nominated  five  only,  tho' 
he  had  at  that  time  determined  the  number  to  be  ten  ;  but 
the  chapel  was  not  yet  quite  finished,  nor  was  it  dedicated 
and  consecrated  till  the  middle  of  the  next  year :  soon 
after  which  we  may  suppose  that  the  full  number  of 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAxM.  227 

fellows,  and  of  all  other  members  designed  to  bear  a  more 
particular  relation  to  the  service  of  it,  was  completed  by 
him.  The  whole  society  consists  of  a  warden,  seventy 
poor  scholars,  to  be  instructed  in  grammatical  learning, 
ten  secular  priests  perpetual  fellows,  three  priests  chap- 
lains, three  clerks,  and  sixteen  choristers ;  and  for  the  in- 
struction of  the  scholars,  a  schoolmaster,  and  an  under- 
master  or  usher. 

The  statutes  which  he  gave  to  his  college  at  Winchester, 
and  which  are  referred  to  in  the  charter  of  foundation,  are 
as  it  were  the  counterpart  of  those  of  his  college  at 
Oxford:  he  amended,  improved,  and  enlarged  the  former 
by  the  same  steps  as  he  had  done  the  latter ;  and  he  gave 
the  last  edition,  and  received  the  oaths  of  the  several 
members  of  the  society  to  the  observance  of  them,  by 
his  commissaries  appointed  for  that  purpose,  Sept.  9, 
3400.  In  this  case  he  had  no  occasion  to  make  a  par- 
ticular provision  in  constituting  a  visitor  of  his  college ; 
the  situation  of  it  coincided  with  his  design,  and  he  left 
it  under  the  ordinary  jurisdiction  of  the  Diocesan,  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester. 

Wykeham  enjoyed  for  many  years  the  pleasure, — a 
pleasure  the  greatest  to  a  good  and  generous  heart  that 
can  be  enjoyed, — of  seeing  the  good  eft'ects  of  his  own 
beneficence,  and  receiving  in  them  the  proper  revAard  of 
his  pious  labours ;  of  observing  his  colleges  growing  up 
under  his  eye,  and  continually  bringing  forth  those  fruits 
of  virtue,  piety,  and  learning,  which  he  had  reason  to 
expect  from  them.  They  continued  still  to  rise  in  repu- 
tation, and  furnished  the  church  and  state  with  many 
eminent  and  able  men  in  all  professions.  Not  long  after 
his  death,  one  of  his  own  scholars,  whom  he  had  hmiself 
seen  educated  in  both  his  societies,  and  raised  under  his 
inspection,  and  probably  with  his  favour  and  assistance 
in  conjunction  with  his  own  great  merits,  to  a  considerable 
degree  of  eminence,  became  an  illustrious  follower  of  his 
great  example.  This  was  Henry  Chicheley,  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury;  who,  besides  a  chantry  and  hospital, 
which  he  built  at  Higham- Ferrers,  the  place  of  his  birth ; 
founded  likewise  All  Souls'  College  in  Oxford.* 


,  *  [Here  much  irrelevant  matter  about  All  Souls,  Eton,  Cambridge,  &c. 
IS  omitted,- and  [  have  passed  ou  to  the  biography  in  hand,  at  p,  201,  of 
Lowth,— Edit.] 

Q   2 


228  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

The  Archbishops  of  Canterbury  and  the  Abbots  of  St. 
Austin's  in  the  same  city,  interfered  very  much  with  one 
another  in  their  situation  and  privileges ;  and  it  was  not 
to  be  expected,  that  two  such  great  personages,  in  such 
circumstances,  should  ever  be  good  neighbours.  The 
constant  jealousy  that  arose  from  hence,  was  in  effect  the 
cause  of  frequent  disputes  between  them:  the  Archbishops 
watched  every  opportunity  of  establishing  a  disputed 
power:  and  the  Abbots  were  always  upon  their  guard 
against  all  attempts  from  that  quarter.  In  1S80,  Sudbury, 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  had  a  mind  to  assert  his 
authority  over  the  abbey,  as  legate  by  office  of  the  holy 
See,  though  it  was  exempt  from  his  Archi-episcopal 
jurisdiction  :  he  pretended  to  make  a  visit  of  devotion  to 
the  bodies  of  the  saints  buried  there,  and  coming  thither 
robed  in  his  pontificals,  and  with  the  cross  carried  before 
him.  Michael  Peckham  the  Abbot,  alleging,  in  defence 
of  the  privilege  and  exemption  of  his  abbey,  that  he  had 
no  right  to  come  thither  in  such  form  and  without  per- 
mission, shut  the  gates  against  him,  and  placed  a  guard 
of  armed  men  there  to  resist  him,  if  he  should  attempt  to 
enter  by  force.  Here  was  matter  enough  for  a  long  and 
violent  contention:  the  Archbishop  made  his  complaint 
to  the  Pope  of  the  injury  and  affront  offered  him,  and  the 
Abbot  on  the  other  hand,  pleaded  the  rights  and  immu- 
nities of  his  abbey.  The  Pope  refened  the  whole  matter 
to  Wykeham,  and  by  his  bull  gave  him  full  powers  to 
judge  in  the  cause,  to  cite  all  persons,  however  privileged 
and  exempted,  and  to  give  sentence  in  it,  which  was  to 
be  final  and  without  appeal,  Wykeham  seems  to  have 
been  very  properly  chosen  upon  this  occasion,  as  one  to 
whom  neither  party  was  like  to  have  any  exception :  the 
Archbishop  could  have  no  distrust  of  one  of  his  brethren ; 
and  no  Bishop  would  probably  have  been  more  agreeable 
to  the  Abbot  than  the  person  from  whose  hands,  by  the 
Pope's  permission,  and  at  his  own  request,  he  had 
received  the  solemn  benediction,  on  his  promotion  to  that 
great  dignity.  But  he  had  too  much  experience  and 
caution  to  be  over-hasty  in  proceeding  in  so  delicate  an 
affair,  in  which  the  most  prudent  and  upright  arbitrator 
could  only  expect  to  reap  offence  and  ill-will  from  one 
or  other,  or  perhaps  both  the  parties.  However,  the 
miserable  fate  of  the  poor  Archbishop,  who  about  the 
middle  cf  the  next  year  was  murdered  by  the  rebels  oa 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  229 

Tower-hill,  prevented  all  difficulties  of  this  kind,  and 
put  an  end  to  the  whole  dispute  for  the  present. 

In  1382,  the  Bishops  and  Clergy  began  to  be  greatly 
alarmed  at  the  progress  which  Wickliff 's  principles  and 
doctrines  were  daily  making,  and  especially  in  the  uni- 
versity of  Oxford.  Several  professors  and  doctors  of  the 
first  distinction  for  learning  there,  began  to  defend  and 
maintain  them  in  the  schools,  and  to  preach  them  pub- 
licly ;  and  in  so  doing,  were  openly  encouraged  and 
supported  by  the  countenance  of  the  magistrates  of  the 
university,  and  particularly  by  the  authority  of  the  chan- 
cellor,  Dr.  Robert  Rygge. 

A  great  quarrel  happened  this  year  between  the  priory 
of  St.  Frideswyd  and  the  university  of  Oxford,  on  occasion 
of  the  latter's  encroaching  upon  certain  rights  and  privi- 
leges of  the  former.  The  King,  upon  frequent  complaints 
made  to  him  by  the  priory,  interposed  more  than  once 
w  ith  his  authority,  by  writs  directed  to  the  university, 
forbidding  all  such  encroachments,  but  without  effect. 
Upon  which  he  gave  a  commission  to  our  Bishop  and  6 
■others,  to  enquire  into  the  merits  of  the  cause,  and  to 
determine  it  finally.  The  commissioners  gave  judgment 
in  favour  of  the  priory,  and  the  university  submitted  to 
their  decision. 

Our  Bishop  was  likewise  one  of  four  commissioners 
appointed  by  the  King  to  judge  in  a  dispute  that  had 
arisen  among  the  fellows  of  Oriel  College,  on  occasion 
of  the  election  of  a  provost  in  1385,  which  was  happily 
composed  by  their  interposition. 

Wykeham  had  no  sooner  finished  his  college  atWinton, 
than  he  was  looking  out  for  some  new  subject  upon 
which  he  might  employ  his  munificence  :  and  he  imme- 
diately entered  upon  the  design  of  repairing,  and  in 
great  part  rebuilding,  his  Cathedral  Church  in  the  same 
city,  which  was  much  decayed.  The  whole  fabric  then 
standing  was  erected  by  Bishop  Walkelin,  who  began  it 
in  1079.  It  was  of  the  Saxon  architecture,  not  greatly 
differing  from  the  RcTian ;  with  round  pillars  much 
stronger  than  Doric  or  Tuscan,  or  square  piers,  adorned 
with  small  pillars  ;  round-headed  arches  and  windows  ; 
and  plain  walls  on  the  outside,  without  buttresses :  as 
appears  by  the  cross-aisle  and  tower,  which  remain  of 
It  to  this  day.  The  nave  of  the  Church  had  been  for 
some  time  in  a  bad  condition :   Bishop  Edyngdon  under" 


£30  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

took  to  repair  it  in  tlie  latter  part  of  his  time,  and  by  his 
M'ill  ordered  his  executors  to  tiiiish  \vhat  he  had  begun, 
And   whether   in   pursuance  of  his  design  and    by   his 
benefaction,  or  otherwise,  it  appears,  that  in  1371,  some 
Mork  of  this  kind  was  carrying  on  at  a  great  expence. 
However,  Wykeham,  upon  due  consideration  and  survey, 
found  it  either  so  decayed  and  infirm,  or  else  so  mean  in 
its  appearance,  and  so  nun  li  below  the  dignity  of  one  of 
the  iirst  episcopal  Sees  in  the  kingdom,  that  he  determined 
to  take  down  the  whole  from  the  tower  westward,  and  to 
rebuild  it  both  in  a  stronger  and  more  magnificent  manner. 
This  great  work  he  undertook  in  1394,  and  entered  upon 
it  the  beginning    of  the  next  year,  upon   the  following 
conditions   stipulated  between  him,    and  the  prior,   and 
convent,  who  acquit  the  Bishop  of  all  obligation  to  it,  and 
acknov  ledge  it  as  proceeding  from  his  mere  liberality,  and 
zeal  for  the  honour  of  God  ;  they  agree  to  find  the  whole 
scaftolding  necessary  for  the  work  ;    they  give  the  Bishop 
free  leave  to  dig  and  to  carry  away  chalk  and  sand  from 
any  of  their  lands,  as  he  shall  think  most  convenient  and 
useful  for  the  same  purpose  ;    and  they  allow  the  whole 
materials  of  the  old  building  to  be  applied  to  the  use  of 
the  new.     He  employed  William  Winford  as  architect; 
Simon  Membury  w as  appointed  suneyor  of  the  work  on 
the  Bishop's  part,  and  John  VVayte,  one  of  the  monks, 
comptroller  on  the  part  of  the  convent.  As  the  Church  of 
Winchester  is  situated  in   low   ground,    which   without 
great  precaution  and  expence,  aftords  no  very  sure  foun- 
dation for  so  weighty  a  structure,  Wykeham  thought  it 
safest  to  confine  himself  to  the  plan  of  the  former  build- 
ing, and  to  make  use  of  a  foundation  already  tried,  and 
subject  to  no  hazard.     He  even  chose  to   apply  to  his 
purpose  some  part  of  the  lower  order  of  pillars  of  the  old 
cliurch,    thougii  his  design  was   in  a  different   style   of 
arcliitecture ;    that  which  we  commonly  call  Gothic,  w ith 
pointed  arches    and  windows,    without  key-stones,    and 
pillars  consistmg  of  an  assemblage  of  many  small  ones 
closely  connected  together ;    but  which  is  more  properly 
Saracen,  for  such  was  its  origin  :    the  crusades  gave  us 
an  idea  of  this  form  of  architecture,   which  afterwards 
prevailed  throughout  Europe.     The  pillars  or  piers  of 
the  old  building,  which  he  made  use  of,  were  about  l6 
feet  in  heigiit ;  of  the  same  form  as  those  in  the  east  side 
of  the  northern  cross-aisle  :    these  he  carried  up  higher. 


WILLIAM  WYKEIIAM.  231 

according  to  the  new  design,  altering  their  form,  but 
retaining  their  strength,  and  adopting  them  as  a  firm 
basis  for  his  own  work.  Tlie  new  pillars  are  nearly 
equal  in  bulk  to  the  old  ones;  and  the  intercolumnation 
remains  much  the  same.  These  circumstances,  in  which 
stability  and  security  were  very  wisely  in  the  tirst  place 
consulted,  have  been  attended  however  with  some  incon- 
venience, as  it  seems  owing  to  them,  that  this  building 
has  not  that  lightness  and  freedom,  and  that  elegance  of 
proportion,  which  might  have  been  expected  from  \\  yke- 
ham's  known  taste  in  architecture,  and  from  the  style  and 
manner  of  his  other  works  in  this  kind  ;  of  which  we 
have  evident  examples  in  the  chapels  of  both  his  colleges, 
especially  in  the  western  part  of  that  of  New  College  iu 
Oxford,  which  is  remarkably  beautiful.  To  the  further 
disadvantage  of  its  present  appearance,  an  alteration 
which  could  not  then  be  foreseen  has  since  happened. 
At  that  time  the  buildings  of  the  monastery  covered  the 
whole  south  side  of  the  church,  so  that  it  seemed  needless 
to  be  at  a  great  expence  upon  ornaments  in  that  part 
•which  was  like  to  be  for  ever  concealed.  By  the  demo- 
lition of  the  monasteiy  this  side  is  now  laid  open,  and 
discovers  a  defect  of  buttresses  and  pinnacles,  with  which 
the  north  side,  which  was  then  the  only  one  in  view,  is 
properly  furnished.  Another  alteration  of  the  same  kind 
has  been  made  in  the  inside,  and  with  the  like  effect : 
immediately  before  the  entrance  of  the  choir  stood  the 
vestry,  which  extending  from  side  to  side  of  the  nave, 
prevented  the  entire  conformity  with  the  new  design,  but 
at  the  same  time  concealed  the  irregularity  :  in  the  time 
of  Charles  I.  this  was  pulled  down,  and  the  present 
beautiful  screen,  the  work  of  Inigo  Jones,  was  erected  ; 
but  no  care  was  taken,  by  an  easy  and  obvious  alteration, 
to  correct  a  deformity,  which  was  then  uncovered,  and 
still  continues  to  disgrace  the  building,  in  a  part  which, 
of  all  others,  is  the  most  frequently  exposed  to  observa- 
tion. However,  with  all  its  defects,  which  appear  thus 
to  be  OM  ing  partly  to  an  accidental  and  unforeseen  change 
of  circumstances,  partly  to  the  care  of  avoiding  greater 
inconveniences,  there  is  no  fabric  of  its  kind  in  England, 
after  those  of  York  and  Lincoln,  which  excels  this  part 
of  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Winchester,  in  greatness, 
etateliness,  and  majesty.  This  great  pile  took  up  about 
iO  years  iu  erecting,  and  was  but  just  finished  when  the 


232  WILLIAM  VVYKEHAM. 

Bishop  died.  He  bad  provided  in  his  will  for  the  entire 
completion  of  his  design  by  his  executors  in  case  of 
death  ;  and  allotted  2500  marks  for  what  then  remained 
to  be  done,  besides  500  marks  for  the  glass  windows  : 
this  was  about  a  year  and  half  before  it  was  finished  ;  by 
which  some  sort  of  estimate  may  be  made  of  the  whole 
expence. 

SECTION  VII. 

Civil  affairs  during  the  latter  part  of  the  reign  of  Richard  II, 

f  rhis  section  is  omitted  for  the  reasons  assigned  at  section  V. ;  and 
I  have  passed  on  to  section  VIII.  p.  266. — Edit.J 

SECTION  VIII.  ' 

From  the  beginning  of  Henry  IV.  ^s  reign  to  the  death  of 

fFykeham. 

Wykeham  was  now  very  far  advanced  in  years,  and  had 
from  his  youth  been  constantly  engaged  in  a  multiplicity 
of  business,  of  the  greatest  importance,  both  public  and. 
private,  which  he  had  attended  with  infinite  assiduity  and 
application  :  'tis  not  to  be  wondered  that  old  age  and  con- 
tinued labour,  in  conjunction,  should  bring  upon  him  those 
infirmities  which  are  the  usual  consequences  of  each  of 
them  separate ;  and  that  he  should  be  obliged,  at  last,  to 
have  recourse  to  ease  and  retirement.  He  had  been  blest 
with  an  excellent  constitution,  and  had  enjoyed  an  uncom- 
mon share  of  health.  He  had  now  been  Bishop  of  Win- 
chester above  thirty  years,  and  in  all  that  time  had  never 
been  interrupted  by  illness  in  the  attendance  upon  his 
duty  in  every  capacity,  except  once.  He  was  somewhat 
out  of  order  at  Merewell  about  the  middle  of  February 
1392-3 ;  as  I  find  by  a  procuration  which  he  sent  to  Con- 
vocation, excusing  his  absence  on  that  account.  However 
his  disorder,  whatever  it  was,  seems  not  to  have  been  such 
as  to  hinder  his  attendance  on  common  business  at  that 
time ;  and  within  a  fortnight  he  was  able  to  remove  to 
Farnham,  and  to  celebrate  an  ordination  there.  About 
the  beginning  of  November  he  retired  to  High-Clere,  and 
continued  there  near  four  months ;  where  he  was  still  able  to 
transact  business  of  all  sorts  ;  and,  among  the  rest,  to  go 
through  the  ceremony  of  delivering  the  pall  to  Roger 
Walden  the  new  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  During  the 
two  first  years  of  Henry  IV.  I  find  him  from  time  to  time 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  233 

removing  from  one  to  another  of  his  palaces  in  the  coun- 
try, as  he  used  to  do.  The  first  remarkable  indication  of 
his  weakness  and  inability  of  body,  appears  in  May  1401, 
when  he  was  not  enabled  to  undergo  the  fatigue  of  ad- 
ministering ordination ;  but,  though  present  himself,  he 
procured  another  Bishop  to  ordain  for  him  :  and  he  was  ever 
after  obliged  to  continue  the  same  method  of  supplying 
that  part  of  his  office.  At  the  end  of  this  year  he  retired 
to  South-Waltham  ;  nor  did  he  ever  remove  from  thence, 
except  once  or  twice  on  occasion  of  some  particular  busi- 
ness, and  that  no  further  than  to  Winchester. 

The  Bishop,  with  his  usual  precaution  and  care,  had 
duly  weighed  and  prepared  for  this  contingency.  To  se- 
cure to  himelf  his  own  freedom  of  action,  and  to  prevent 
all  disagreeable  interpositions  of  authority,  which  however 
proper  and  necessary  in  such  cases,  may  perhaps  be  attend- 
ed with  much  inconvenience,  and  tend  to  aggravate  rather 
than  relieve  the  infirmities  of  age,  he  had  above  ten  years 
before  procured  a  bull  from  the  Pope,  by  which  he  gave 
him  leave  and  authority,  in  consideration  of  his  age  and 
ill  health,  to  assume  to  himself  one  or  more  coadjutors, 
without  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, or  of  the  Chapter  of  Winchester,  and  as  often  as 
it  should  please  him,  to  remove  them,  and  in  the  place  of 
the  removed  to  depute  another  or  others,  as  he  should 
think  proper.  The  Bishop  did  not  find  himself  under  a 
necessity  of  making  use  of  this  faculty  before  the  two  last 
vears  of  his  life.  January  4,  1402-3,  he  procured  the 
Pope's  bull,  and  having  ordered  it  to  be  read  and  published 
he,  in  virtue  of  it,  then  deputed  in  proper  form  Dr. 
Nicholas  Wykeham  and  Dr.  John  Elmer,  to  be  his  coad- 
jutors: and  from  that  time  forward  all  business  proceeded 
with  their  express  consent,  and  by  their  authority. 

Being  thus  relieved,  in  a  great  measure,  from  the  con- 
stant personal  attendance  on  the  duties  of  his  charge,  he 
devoted  his  whole  time  and  application  to  the  disposal  of 
his  temporal  goods,  and  to  the  care  of  his  spiritual  concerns. 
He  finished  and  signed  his  will  July  4,  1403.  The  large- 
ness and  multiplicity  of  his  legacies,  and  the  great  exact- 
ness with  which  every  thing  relating  to  them  is  ordeied, 
must  have  required  much  attention,  and  evidently  shews 
in  what  strength  and  perfection  he  still  enjoyed  all  the 
faculties  of  his  mind.  That  extensive,  and  almost  bound- 
less generosity,  which  peculiarly  distinguished  his  whole 


234  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

life,  is  here  fully  displayed  :  it  comprehends  all  orders  and 
degrees  of  men  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  and  answers 
every  possible  demand  of  piety,  gratitude,  affection,  and 
charity.  He  still  maintained  the  same  principle  upon 
which  he  had  always  acted,  and  which  is  perhaps  the  most 
certain  and  indubitable  test  of  true  liberality :  as  he  had 
always  made  it  a  rule  to  himself  never  to  defer  a  generous 
and  munificent  action  to  another  day,  when  he  had  the 
present  ability  and  the  immediate  opportunity  of  perform- 
ing it ;  so  now  he  was  no  sooner  come  to  a  final  determi- 
nation with  regard  to  the  disposal  of  his  riches,  than  he 
began  himself  to  fulfil  his  own  intentions  ;  and  in  a  great 
many  instances  in  which  his  present  liberality  would  en- 
hance the  benefit  which  he  designed  to  confer,  he  distri- 
buted his  legacies  with  his  own  hands,  and  became  execu- 
tor of  his  own  will.  This  made  it  necessary  for  him, 
some  time  afterwards,  to  add  a  codicil  to  it,  by  which 
he  declares  these  articles  fully  discharged,  and  acquits 
his  executors  of  all  demands  on  account  of  them  and  all 
others,  in  which  he  should  for  the  future  in  like  manner 
anticipate  their  office. 

Wykeham  by  disposition,  by  education,  by  principle, 
and  by  habit,  had  a  deep  tincture  of  piety  and  devotion. 
He  was  persuaded  of  the  truth  of  all  parts  of  the  religion 
in  which  he  had  been  instructed  in  his  childhood  ;  but  he 
seems  to  have  been  particularly  possessed  with  the  notion 
of  the  reasonableness  and  efficacy  of  prayers  for  the  dead. 
It  is  recorded  of  him,  that  he  always  performed  this  part 
of  the  public  service  of  the  Church  with  peculiar  intense- 
ness  and  fervor,  even  to  the  abundant  effusion  of  tears. 
It  is  not  to  be  wondered,  therefore,  if  we  find  him  more 
especially  careful  in  procuring  the  intercession  of  the 
faithful  in  behalf  of  himself,  his  parents,  and  benefactors.* 
Beside  the  provisions  which  he  made  for  this  purpose  in 
both  his  colleges  by  his  statutes,  he  had  long  before 
founded  a  chantry  of  3  priests,  to  pray  for  the  souls  of 


•  [Who,  on  reading  this  passage,  would  not  suppose  tliat  Lovvth,  if  not 
anappiover  of,  at  least  was  not  inimical  to  the  Romish  doctrine  of  praying 
for  the  dead  ?  However  amiable  it  may  be  in  LowTHto  soften,  or  thiow 
into  shade,  tlie  erroneous  faith  of  that  patron,  of  whose  collegiate  bounty 
be  partook,  yet,  surely,  this  sentiment  ought,  in  a  sound  Protestant,  to  bQ 
so  regulated  and  evinced  as  to  Ijar  even  the  appearance  of  coincidence 
with  (loctrines,  which  his  reformed  Church  does  and  he  as  a  member  of 
it  ought  to,  reprobate  and  condemn, — Edit.] 


WILLIAM  WYKEIIAM.  235 

his  father  and  mother  only,  in  the  priory  of  Suthwyk. 
He  likewise  paid  to  the  chapter  of  Windsor  c£200.  for 
the  purchase  of  20  marks  a  year,  to  make  a  perpetual 
endowment  for  one  additional  chaplain,  on  condition  that 
his  obit  should  be  annually  celebrated,  and  his  soul,  and 
the  souls  of  Edward  IIL,  of  his  own  parents,  and  of  his 
benefactors,  be  daily  recommended  in  their  praters. 
But  he  thought  it  also  more  particularly  expedient  to 
establish  a  constant  service  of  this  kind  in  his  own  church, 
in  that  part  of  it  which  he  had  rebuilt,  and  where  he  had 
chosen  the  place  of  his  burial.  Accordingly  he  had 
designed  from  the  first,  and  had  now  finished,  in  that 
part,  a  chapel  or  oratory,  which  was  to  be  his  sepulchre 
and  his  chantry.  The  situation  of  this  chapel  seems  not 
at  all  well  chosen,  if  we  consider  it  with  respect  to  the 
whole  building  ;  in  which  it  has  no  good  effect,  but 
creates  an  irregularity  and  an  embarrassment,  which  it 
had  been  better  to  have  avoided.  But  Wykeham  was 
determined  to  the  choice  of  this  particular  place,  by  a 
consideration  of  a  very  different  kind ;  by  an  early  pre- 
judice, and  a  strong  religious  impression,  which  had 
been  stamped  on  his  mind  in  his  childhood.  In  this 
part  of  the  old  church  there  had  been  an  altar  dedicated 
to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  with  her  image  standing  above  it; 
at  this  altar  a  mass  used  to  be  celebrated  every  morning, 
vhich  seems  to  have  been  a  favourite  one,  and  much 
frequented  at  the  time  when  Wykeham  was  a  boy,  and 
at  school  at  Winchester;  for  it  had  gotten  a  particular 
name  among  the  people,  and  was  called  ^cfeigma^Sc, 
from  the  name  of  a  monk  of  the  convent,  who  usually 
officiated  in  it.  Young  Wykeham  was  constant  in  his 
daily  attendance,  and  fervent  in  his  devotions,  at  this 
mass.  He  seems  even  then  to  have  chosen  the  Blessed 
Virgin  as  his  peculiar  patroness,  to  have  placed  himself 
under  her  protection,  and  in  a  manner  to  have  dedicated 
himself  to  her  service ;  and  probably  he  might  ever  after 
imagine  himself  indebted  to  her  especial  favour  for  the 
various  successes  which  he  was  blessed  with  through  life. 
This  seems  to  have  been  the  reason  of  his  dedicating  to 
her  his  two  colleges,  and  calling  them  by  her  name; 
over  all  the  principal  gates  of  which  he  has  been  careful 
to  have  himself  represented  as  her  votary,  in  the  act  of 
adoration  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  as  his  and  their  common 
guardian.    And  this  it  was  that  determined  the  situation 


236  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

of  his  chantry.  He  erected  his  Chapel  in  the  very  place 
where  he  had  been  used  to  perform  his  daily  devotions  in 
his  younger  days;  between  the  two  pillars,  against  one 
of  which  stood  the  altar  above  mentioned.  He  dedicated 
the  chapel  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  ;  the  altar  was  continued 
m  the  same  place  as  before,  and  probably  the  very  same 
image  was  erected  above  it :  which  with  the  other  orna- 
ments of  the  same  kind,  both  within  the  chapel  and 
without,  was  destroyed  in  the  last  century,  by  the  zeal  of 
modern  enthusiasm,  exerting  itself  with  a  blind  and 
indiscreet  rage  against  all  the  venerable  and  beautiful 
monuments,  whether  of  ancient  piety  or  superstition. 

The  Bishop  ordered  his  body  to  be  deposited  in  the 
middle  of  this  chapel ;  and  a  little  before  his  death,  he 
himself,  by  agreement  with  the  prior  and  convent,  directed 
the  services  which  were  to  be  perpetually  performed  in 
it,  in  the  following  manner. 

The  prior  and  convent,  in  consideration  of  a  benefac- 
tion made  to  them  by  the  Bishop  of  about  the  yearly  value 
of  20  marks  ;  and  likewise  in  consideration  of  his  having 
at  a  great  expence,  in  a  most  decent  and  handsome  manner, 
rebuilt  from  the  foundations  his  and  their  Cathedral 
Church  of  Winchester,  and  given  to  it  a  great  number 
of  vestments  and  other  ornaments ;  as  also  in  gratitude 
ior  many  other  favours  and  benefits  most  generously 
conferred  upon  them  by  him ;  being  desirous,  to  the 
utmost  of  their  ability,  to  compensate  with  spiritual  goods 
the  many  benefits  both  temporal  and  spiritual  received 
from  him,  engage  for  themselves  and  their  successors  to 
perform  for  ever  the  following  services  for  the  health  of 
his  soul,  and  of  the  souls  of  his  parents,  and  benefactors. 
In  the  first  place,  in  the  chapel  in  the  nave  of  the  church, 
where  the  Bishop  has  chosen  to  be  buried,  three  masses 
shall  be  celebrated  daily,  for  him  and  his  benefactors 
particularly,  by  the  monks  of  the  convent :  the  first  mass 
De  Sancta  Maria,  early  in  the  morning  throughout  the 
year;  the  two  other  masses,  later  in  the  morning,  at 
tierce  or  at  sixth  hour,  either  De  Sanctis,  or  De  temporali, 
as  the  devotion  of  the  persons  officiating  shall  incline  them ; 
in  each  of  which  masses  the  collect  liege  qiuesiimus  shall 
be  said  during  the  Bishop's  life  for  his  good  estate,  and 
the  prayer  Dens  ciii  proprium,  for  the  souls  of  his  parents 
and  benefactors.  After  the  Bishop's  decease,  instead  of 
the  collect  Rege  quasumus,   shall    be  said   the   prayer. 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  237 

Deus  cui  inter  Apostolkos.  for  the  Bishop  and  for  him 
only.  The  prior  is  to  pay  to  each  of  these  monks  every 
day  one  penny.  The  sacrist  is  to  provide  for  them  bread, 
wine,  book,  chalice,  vestjnents,  candles  for  the  altar, 
palls,  and  all  other  necessaries  and  ornaments.  They 
moreover  engage,  that  the  charity  boys  of  the  priory  shall 
every  night  for  ever  sing  at  the  said  chapel  in  honour  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  the  anthem  Salve  Regina,  or 
Aye  Regina,  and  after  it  say  the  psalm,  De  profundis, 
Avith  the  prayer  Fidelium,  or  Indina,  for  the  souls  of  the 
father  and  mother  of  the  Bishop,  and  for  his  soul  after 
his  decease,  and  for  the  souls  of  all  the  faithful  deceased  : 
for  which  the  prior  is  to  pay  the  almoner  yearly  on  the 
feast  of  the  annunciation  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  6s.  8rf. 
/or  the  use  of  the  said  boys.  It  is  further  ordered,  that 
the  monks  of  the  convent  in  priest's  orders  shall  be  ap- 
pointed weekly  to  the  performance  of  these  services  in  a 
table  by  course;  and  that  if  any  one  so  appointed  shall 
by  sudden  infirmity  or  otherwise  be  hindered  from  offi- 
ciating, he  shall  give  notice  to  the  prior  or  his  substitute, 
who  shall  nominate  another  to  supply  his  place.  This 
engagement  of  the  prior  and  convent  is  dated  Auo-ust 
16,   1404.  ° 

Thus  Wykeham  having  finally  settled  all  his  temporal 
and  spiritual  concerns,  and  being  about  this  time  full  80 
years  of  age,  \yith  much  piety  and  resignation  waited  the 
hour  of  his  dissolution.  He  seems  to  have  sunk  by  a 
gentle  and  gradual  decay.  Though  weak  in  body,  he 
retained  all  the  faculties  of  his  mind  to  the  last.  Even 
since  he  had  taken  his  coadjutors  to  his  assistance,  he  had 
still  personally  attended  to  and  directed  his  affairs  both 
public  and  private,  as  he  used  to  do  before ;  admittino- 
all  persons  that  had  business  to  transact  with  him  to  his 
upper  chamber.  This  practice  he  was  able  to  continue 
at  least  till  within  four  days  of  his  death.  He  died  at 
South  Waltham  on  Saturday  Sept.  27th.  about  8  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  in  the  year  1404. 

He  was  buried  according  to  his  directions  in  his  own 
oratory,  in  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Winchester.  His 
funeral  was  attended  by  a  great  concourse  of  people  of 
all  sorts;  many,  as  we  may  well  suppose,  being  drawn 
thither  by  their  affection  to  him,  and  regard  for  his 
memory ;  and  great  numbers,  as  we  may  be  fully  assured, 
of  the  poorer  sort  coming  to  partake  of  the  alms  still 


238  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

extended  to  them  by  the  same  munilicent  hand,  that 
had  so  long  been  continually  open  to  relieve  their  wants. 
For  he  had  ordered  by  his  will  that  in  whatever  place 
he  should  happen  to  die,  and  through  whatever  places 
his  body  should  be  carried,  between  the  place  of  his 
death  and  the  Cathedral  Church  of  Winchester,  in  all 
these  places  to  every  poor  tenant  that  had  held  of  him 
there  as  Bishop  of  \\  inchester,  should  be  given,  to  pray 
for  his  soul,  4d. ;  and  to  every  other  poor  person  asking 
alms,  ^2d.  or  \d.  at  least,  according  to  the  discretion  of 
his  executors  :  and  that  on  the  day  of  his  burial,  to  every 
poor  person  coming  to  Winchester,  and  asking  alms  for 
the  love  of  God  and  for  the  health  of  his  soul,  should  be 
given  4t/. 

I  shall  here  proceed  to  give  a  summary  account  of  thft 
other  legacies,  benefactions,  and  charities  bequeathed  by 
him  in  his  will.  To  the  poor  in  the  prisons  of  Newgate, 
London,  the  ]Marshalsey,  Wolvesey,  Winchester,  Oxford, 
Berkshire,  Guilford,  Old  and  iSew  Sarum,  he  ordered 
to  be  distributed  the  sum  of  ofSOO.  This  was  one  of 
those  charitable  bequests  which  he  anticipated  in  his  life- 
time. He  likewise  lived  to  see  his  building  of  the  Church 
of  Winchester  in  a  manner  finished,  for  which  he  had  also 
made  provision  by  his  will.  To  the  King  he  bequeaths 
a  pair  of  silver  basins  gilt,  and  remits  to  him  a  debt  of 
£oOO.  To  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  (Thomas 
Arundel),  and  to  his  successor  in  the  Bishopric  of  Win- 
chester, several  legacies  in  jewels,  plate,  and  books. 
To  the  Bishop  of  London,  (Robert  Braybroke,)  his  large 
silk  bed  and  furniture  in  the  best  chamber  of  his  palace 
at  Winchester,  w ith  the  whole  suit  of  tapestry  hangings 
in  the  same  apartment.  To  the  Church  of  \N  inchester, 
his  new  rich  vestment  of  blue  cloth,  embroidered  with 
gold,  with  30  copes  of  the  same  with  gold  fringes  ;  a 
pyx  of  beryl  for  the  host,  and  a  cross  of  gold  with  relics 
of  the  true  cross.  To  the  Prior  of  Winchester,  plate  to 
the  value  of  £^0.,  and  to  every  Monk  of  the  Convent, 
being  priests,  5  marks,  and  to  every  one  of  them  in  lower 
orders,  40s.  to  pray  for  his  soul.  To  his  College  in 
Oxford,  his  mitre,  crosier,  dalmatics,  and  sandals.  To 
his  College  at  Winchester,  another  mitre,  the  bible 
which  he  commonly  used,  and  several  other  books.  To 
each  of  the  Wardens  of  his  Colleges,  10  marks  ;  and 
plate  to  the  value  of  20  marks ;    the  latter  to  be  traos- 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  239 

mltted  to  their  successors.  To  every  Fellow,  Chaplain, 
and  Scholar,  of  his  College  in  Oxford,  from  135.  4d.  to 
cfl.  6s.  Sd.  according  to  their  orders  and  degrees;  and 
c£'10.  to  be  divided  between  the  Clerks,  Choristers,  and 
ser\ants.  To  the  Schoolmaster  of  Winchester  College, 
JCo.  ;  to  each  of  the  Fellows,  265.  Sd. ;  to  the  L  sher  and 
each  of  the  Chaplains,  c£l-  ;  to  each  of  the  Scholars, 
6s,  Sd. ;  and  10  marks  to  be  divided  between  the  Clerks, 
Choristers,  and  servants.  To  the  fabric  of  the  Church  of 
Sarum,  £0,0.  for  the  celebration  of  his  exequies  on  the 
day  of  his  obit,  and  on  the  SOth.  day  after  his  death,  by 
the  Canons  and  Ministers  of  the  said  Church.  To  the 
Abbot  of  Hyde,  a  piece  of  gilt  plate,  value  £L0.;  to 
every  one  of  the  Monks  of  the  same  Monastery,  being 
Priests,  40s. ;  and  to  every  one  of  them  in  lower  orders, 
20.S.  to  pray  for  his  soul.  To  the  Abbess  of  the  Monas- 
tery of  St.  Mary,  Winton,  5  marks ;  and  to  every  one  of 
the  Nuns,  13s.  4c?.  To  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  St. 
Mary  Overy,  Southwark,  for  the  repair  of  their  Church, 
and  to  pray  for  his  soul,  ^40.  being  a  debt  remitted.  To 
the  Abbot  and  Convent  of  Waverly,  of  10.  to  pray  for  his 
soul.  ^  To  the  Abbey  of  Tichtield  one  pair  of  vestments, 
and  a  chalice.  To  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Taunton 
100  marks,  to  pray  for  his  soul.  To  the  Abbess  of  the 
Monastery  of  Nuns  at  Romsey,  5  marks ;  to  Felicia 
Aas,  a  Nun  of  the  same  Monastery,  jCo.,  and  to  each 
of  the  other  Nuns  13s.  4d.  To  the  Abbess  and  Convent 
of  the  same  Monastery,  for  the  repair  of  their  Church 
and  Cloister,  a  debt  of  o£'40.  remitted.  To  the  fa- 
bric of  the  parish  Church  of  Romsey,  20  marks. 
To  the  Abbess  and  Convent  of  Wherewell,  to  pray  for 
his  soul,  20  marks.  To  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  St. 
Dennis,  Southampton,  for  the  repair  of  their  Church,  20 
marks.  To  the  Prioress  and  Convent  of  Wyuteney,  to 
pray  for  his  soul,  o£'10.  To  the  Prior  and  Convent  of 
Taurigge,  to  pray  for  his  soul,  £o.  To  be  distributed 
among  the  brethren  and  sisters  and  poor,  of  the  Hospital 
of  St.  Thomas,  Southwark,  to  pray  for  his  soul,  10  marks. 
To  the  Hospital  of  St.  Cross,  near  Winchester,  one  pair 
of  vestments,  with  a  chalice,  and  one  pair  of  silver  basins. 
To  the  Hospital  of  St.  Nicholas,  at  Portsmouth,  one  pair 
of  vestments  with  a  chalice.  To  the  Church  of  St.  Mary, 
Southampton,  one  pair  of  vestments  with  a  chalice.  To 
the  College  of  St.   Elizabeth,  Wiutou,  a  pair  of  silver 


240  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

basins  and  two  silver  cups,  for  the  use  of  the  high  altar. 
To  the  Hospital  of  St.  Mary  Magdalen,  near  Winchester, 
for  the  repair  of  the  Church  and  houses  belonging  to  it, 
o£'5.  To  the  Sisters  of  the  Hospital  of  the  Almonry  of 
the  Church  of  St.  Swithun  40s.  to  be  equally  divided 
between  them,  to  pray  for  his  soul.  To  each  of  the 
Churches  of  Hameldon  and  Eastmcon,  one  service-book 
with  notes,  of  those  belonging  to  his  own  chapel,  and  one 
chalice.  To  each  of  5  Churches  of  his  patronage,  one 
entire  vestment,  namely  for  Priest,  Deacon,  and  Sub- 
deacon,  with  a  cope  and  one  chalice,  To  each  of  5 
others  likewise,  one  cope  of  those  belonging  to  his  chapel, 
and  one  chalice.  To  each  of  the  Convents  of  the  four 
orders  of  mendicant  Friars  in  the  city  of  Winchester,  10 
marks,  to  pray  for  his  soul.  To  15  of  his  kindred,  for 
themselves  and  for  the  children  of  some  of  them,  from 
i^lOO.  to  £20.  a  piece,  in  the  whole  £S2o.  6s.  Sd.  To 
Selote  Purbyk  oflO.  To  each  of  the  Chief  Justices  a 
ring  value  £5.  To  Mr.  William  Hengford  a  ring  of 
gold,  or  one  table  diamond,  to  the  value  of  £5.  To 
Mr.  Robert  Faryngton,  a  psalter  and  a  pair  of  beads.  To 
John  Uvedale  and  Henry  Popham,  Esqrs.  each  of  them 
a  silver  cup  or  jewel,  to  the  value  of  10  marks.  To  John 
Chamflour,  Nicholas  Bray,  and  Stephen  Carre,  each  of 
them  a  cup  or  jewel,  to  the  value  oi  £5.  To  Mr.  Wm. 
Savage,  rector  of  Overton,  ofSO.  To  Dr.  John  Keton, 
precentor  of  the  Church  of  Southampton,  £20.  And 
other  legacies  in  plate  or  money  to  be  distributed  to  the 
persons  named  in  a  roll  annexed  to  the  will,  and  sealed 
with  his  seal,  according  to  the  directions  therein  con- 
tained. The  number  of  the  persons,  being  others  of  his 
friends,  and  his  officers  and  servants  of  all  degrees  what- 
soever, is  above  150,  and  the  value  of  these  legacies  in 
the  whole  amounts  to  near  oflOOO.  All  these  he  dis- 
charged in  his  life-time,  and  had  the  pleasure  of  distri- 
buting with  his  own  hands.  He  appoints  Robert 
(Braybroke)  Bishop  of  London,  Dr.  Nicholas  Wyke- 
ham  (Archdeacon  of  Wilts,)  Dr.  John  Elmere  (his 
official  General,)  Dr.  John  Campeden  (Archdeacon  of 
Surry,)  Thomas  Chelrey,  steward  of  the  lands  of  the 
Bishopric,  Thomas  Wykeham  his  great-nephew  and  heir, 
and  Dr.  Thomas  Ayleward,  rector  of  Havant,  to  be  his 
executors.  To  whom  he  bequeaths  c£lOOO.  in  recom- 
pence  for  their  trouble  in  the  administration  of  his  will,  to 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  241 

be  equally  divided  among  those  of  them  only  who  should 
take  upon  them  that  charge.  The  residue  of  his  goods 
he  leaves  to  be  disposed  of  by  his  executors  for  the  health 
and  remedy  of  his  soul,  (that  is,  to  pious  and  charitable 
uses)  faithfully  and  conscientiously,  as  they  shall  answer 
it  at  the  last  day,  The  whole  value  of  the  bequests  of  his 
will  amounts  to  between  6  and  £l,(X)0,  the  intermediate 
condition  of  several  articles  making  it  impossible  to  reduce 
it  to  an  exact  estimation.  He  had  before  put  Sir  Thomas 
Wykeham  his  heir  into  possession  of  manors  and  estates 
to  the  value  of  600  marks  a  year ;  and  he  deposited  in 
the  hands  of  the  Warden  and  Scholars  of  New  College 
c£lOO.  for  the  defence  of  his  title  to  the  said  estates,  to 
be  kept  by  them,  and  to  be  applied  to  no  other  use 
whatever,  for  20  years  after  the  Bishop's  decease  ;  after 
which  term,  the  whole  or  remainder,  not  so  applied,  was 
to  be  freely  delivered  to  Sir  Thomas  Wykeham,  or  his 
heirs.  As  there  are  several  Other  instances  of  Wykeham's 
munificence  and  charity,  which  I  have  not  had  occasion 
to  mention  before,  I  shall  recite  them  here  in  the  order 
in  which  they  happen  to  occur.  At  his  first  entrance 
upon  the  Bishopric  of  Winchester  he  remitted  to  his  poor 
tenants  certain  acknowledgments,  usually  paid  and  due 
by  custom,  to  the  amount  of  i;'502.  Is.  Id.  To  several 
Officers  of  the  Bishopric,  who  were  grown  poor  and 
become  objects  of  his  liberality,  he  at  different  times 
remitted  sums  due  to  him,  to  the  amount  of  2,000  marks. 
He  paid  for  his  tenants  three  several  times  tlie  subsidies 
granted  to  the  King  by  Parliament.  In  1377,  out  of 
his  mere  good  will  and  liberality  he  discharged  the  whole 
debts  of  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Selborne,  to  the 
amount  of  110  marks,  lis.  Qd.:  and  a  few  years  before 
he  died  he  made  a  free  gift  to  the  same  Priory  of  ]  00 
marks.  On  which  accounts  the  Prior  and  Convent 
voluntarily  engaged  for  the  celebration  of  two  masses  a 
day,  by  two  Canons  of  the  Convent  for  10  years,  for 
the  Bishop's  welfare,  if  he  should  live  so  long,  and  for 
his  soul,  if  he  should  die  before  the  expiration  of  that 
term.  From  the  time  of  his  being  made  Bishop  of 
Winchester  he  abundantly  provided  for  a  certain  number 
of  poor,  24  at  the  least,  every  day;  not  only  feeding 
them,  but  also  distributing  money  among  them  to  supply 
their  necessities  of  ever}'  kind.  He  continually  employed 
his  friendS;  and  those   that  attended  upon  him,  to  seek 


242  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

out  the  properest  objects  of  his  charity ;  to  search  after 
those  whose  modesty  would  not  yield  to  their  distresses, 
nor  suifer  them  to  apply  for  relief;  to  go  to  the  houses  of 
the  sick  and  needy,  and  to  inform  themselves  par- 
ticularly of  their  several  calamities  :  and  his  beneficence 
administered  largely  to  all  their  wants.  He  supported  the 
infirm,  he  relieved  the  distressed,  he  fed  the  hungry, 
and  he  clothed  the  naked.  To  the  poor  Friars  of  the 
orders  subsisting  on  charity  he  was  always  very  liberal. 
His  hospitality  was  large,  constant,  and  universal  ^  his 
house  was  open  to  all,  and  frequented  by  the  rich  and 
great  in  proportion  as  it  was  crowded  by  the  poor  and 
indigent.  He  was  ever  attentive  and  compassionate  to 
such  as  were  imprisoned  for  debt :  he  inquired  into  their 
circumstances,  compounded  with  their  creditors,  and 
procured  their  release.  In  this  article  of  charity  he 
expended  3,000  marks.  The  roads  between  London 
and  Winchester,  and  in  many  other  places,  when  they 
were  very  bad,  and  almost  impassable,  he  repaired  and 
amended,  making  causeways,  and  building  bridges  at  a 
vast  expence^  He  repaired  a  great  number  of  Churches 
of  his  diocese  which  were  gone  to  decay  ;  and  moreover 
furnished  them,  not  only  in  a  decent,  but  even  in  a 
splendid  manner,  with  books,  vestments,  chalices,  and 
other  ornaments.  In  this  way  he  bestowed  1 13  silver 
chalices,  and  100  pair  of  vestments :  so  that  the  articles 
of  this  kind,  few  in  comparison,  v/hich  we  find  in  his 
will,  were  only  intended  by  way  of  supplement  to  M'hat 
he  had  done  in  his  life  time  ;  that  those  Churches 
of  his  patronage,  which  he  had  not  had  occasion  to 
consider  before  as  objects  of  his  liberality,  might  not 
however  seem  to  be  wholly  neglected  by  him.  Besides 
all  this,  he  purchased  estates  to  the  value  of  200  marks 
a  year  in  addition  to  the  demesne  lands  of  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester,  that  he  might  leave  there  memorials  of  his 
munificence  of  every  kind.  Though  the  other  ornaments 
of  his  oratory  are  destroyed,  yet  his  monument  remains 
there  intire  and  unhurt  to  this  day.  It  is  of  white  marble, 
of  elegant  workmanship,  with  his  effigies  in  his  pontifical 
robes  lying  along  upon  it;  and  on  a  plate  of  brass, 
running  round  the  edge  of  the  upper  table  of  it,  is  the 
following  inscription  in  Latin  verse,  of  the  style  of  that 
age. 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  243 

^itl;fTmu^  tJiftuS  ?Sauferf;am  jactt  \)ic  nm  bictni  : 
fotius  «£cXtSia  pxtiwlf  'vcpavabit  camquc. 
HarguS  nat,  Uaptfcr ;  probat  i)oc  cum  TJtbitc  pauper: 
Con^iliiJi  paiiter  rcgni  futrat  bene  tfcxtcr. 
?^uiu  Uotet  c^iSe  ptum  funtlatio  Collegiorum  : 
<©xonie  primum  fitat,  ^iSKtntomeque  siecuntJunt. 
Sugiter  ovttis,  tumulum  quicimque  ftiTJetiJJ, 
Sro  tmitis  mtvitii  ut  slit  5ibi  bita  peiennisi.* 

iHere  terminates  the  re-print  of  Lowth's  Life  of  ^Fy\eham.'\ 


ADDENDA. 

For  the  convenience  of  those  who  do  not  possess  Bishop 
Tanner's  Notitia  Moriastica,  I  shall  transcribe  all  the 
authorities  quoted  by  that  correct  and  indefatigable  writer, 
with  reference  to  Wykeham's  foundations.  1  shall  adopt 
the  same  plan  at  the  end  of  Waynflet's  life. 

His  foundation  at  Winton  is  thus  recorded  by  Tanner, 
Hants.  XXXV.  8.  "  That  munificent  Prelate,  William 
of  Wykeham,  about  the  year  1387,  began  to  build  in 
the  south  suburb  of  this  city  a  new  and  noble  College 
to  the  honour  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  which  was  to 
consist  of  a  warden,  10  perpetual  chaplains  or  fellows, 
and  70  scholars  in  grammar,  besides  conducts,  clerks, 
choristers,  &c.  It  was  26  Henry  VIII.  endowed  with 
lands  worth  ^"628. 13s.  6d.  per  ann.  (Dudg.  £639.  8s.  Id. 
speed)  and  being  particularly  exempted  in  the  Act  1 
Edward  VI.  c.  14,  for  the  dissolution  of  Colleges,  it 
flourisheth  to  this  day,  and  is  an  excellent  seminary  for 
that  other  noble  foundation  of  the  said  Bishop,  commonly 
called  New  College  in  the  university  of  Oxford. 

For  the  reason  above  stated,  I  shall  also  subjoin  all 
the  references  made  by  Bishop  Tanner  to  the  various 
authorities  treating  of  the  Bishop's  foundation  at  Winton 
and  Oxford. 

Winton. — Vide  in  Mon.  Angl.  tom.  III.  p.  11.  p. 
106.    pat.   6   Richard   II.  p.    1.  m.  9.  pro   fundatione. 


*  [There  is  one  section  more  in  Lowth's  book,  but  as  that  is  of  &  forensic 
and  not  of  a  biographical  nature,  it  is  omitted.  It  is  thus  entitled, — An 
Examination  and  Confutation  of  several  things  that  have  been  published 
to  his  discredit.— Edit.] 

R  2 


244  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

Ibid,  p.  133.  pat.  1  Edward  IV.  p.  7.  m.  31.  recitantem 
cartani  itichard  II.  dat.  28  Sept-  19  regni  pro  fundatione 
ct  dotatione. 

In  Wilkins's  Concilia,  vol.  IV.  p.  8.  injunctions  given 
to  Winchester  College  by  the  visitors  of  King  Edward  VI. 
A.  D.  1347,  p.  434.  Archbishop  Bancroft's  orders  to 
be  observed  by  the  warden  and  scholars  of  Winchester 
College,  A.D.  l608,  p.  517.  Archbishop  Laud's  orders 
to  be  observed  by  the  master,  warden,  fellows,  &c.  of 
Winchester  Coikge,  A.  D,  l635. 

In  Newcourt's  Repertorium,  vol.  I.  of  the  impropria- 
tions and  advowsons  of  the  Vicarages  formerly  belonging 
to  this  College,  viz.  p.  622.  of  Hampton :  p.  644.  of 
Heston  :   p.  675.  of  Isleworth  :   p.  757.  of  Twickenham. 

Lelandi.  Collect,  vol.  I.  p.  69.  ejusdem  Itin.  vol.  Ill, 
p.   100. 

Cartas,  Registra,  rotulos  Curiarum,  rcntalia,  et  alia 
munimenta,  penes  R.  V.  V.  custodem  et  socios  hujus 
Collegii. 

Rot.  pat.  3  Richard  II.  p.  3.m.  22  pro  Ecc,de  Down- 
ton  appropriand  :  Pat.  8  Richard  II.  p.  2.  m.  4.  pro 
maner.  de  Meanstoke,  Eling,  et  W^indsore,  et  Coombe 
Basset  (Wilts.)  Ibid.  m.  6.  pro  maner  de  Aulton,  Shaw 
(Berks.)  Wheton  (Bucks),  Pat.  14  Richard  II.  p.  2.ra. 
l.etm.  10,  U,  12.  Pat.  15  Richard  II.  p.  2.  m.  9. 
pro  tenem.  in  Meonstoke,  Roppele,  Sutton,  Biketon, 
Draiton,  Wynhale,  et  in  Nova  Alresford :  Ibid.  m.  14. 
pro  ten.  in  Cestreton:  Cart.  18  Richard  II.  n.  8.  Pat. 
22  Richard  II.  p.  2.  m.  14.  pro  m.  de  Dyrinton  et  med. 
m.  de  Fernham. 

Cart.  1  Henry  IV.  p.  1.  n.  11.  Fin.  dio.  com.  2  Henry 
IV.  n.  28.  de  manerio  de  Derynton  [Wilt].  Fernham 
(Southant,)  &c.  Pat.  3  Henry  IV.  p.  2.  m.  7.  vol.  VIII. 
Pat.  4  Henry  IV.  p.  2.  m.  15.  Pat.  6  Henry  IV.  p.  1. 
m.  22.  pro  manerio  de  Shaw. 

Pat.  1  Henry  V.  p.  1.  n.  11.  Pat.  2  Henry  V.  p.  3.  m. 
27  Cart  2  Henry  VI.  n.  26.  Pat.  6  Henry  VI.  p.  1.  vol. 
II.  m.  4.  Claus.  8  Henry  6.  m.  10  dors,  de  terris  in 
Herniondesworth,  Sibston,  Longford,  8cc.  Pat.  8  Henry 
VI.  p.  2  m.  25.  Rec.  in  Scacc.  I6  Henry  VI.  Mich.  rot. 
80,  81,  82.  Pat.  I6  Henry  6.  p.  1.  m.  2.  Pat.  17  Henry 
VI.  p.  2  m.  25.  Claus.  19  Henry  VI.  m.  35  dorso,  pro 
maner.  de  Burton  (Wight.)  Rec.  in  Scacc.  21  Henry  VI. 
Pasch.  rot.  18.  Pat.  21  Henry  VI.  p.  1.  m.  8.  de  licentia 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  245 

perquirendi  c.  marc.  ann.  terr.  ratione  deperditorum 
suorum  in  coinbustione  villarum  de  Andover  et  Nov. 
Alresford:  Cart:  21.  &c.  Henry  VI.  n.  9.6.  Pat.  23 
Henry  VI.  p.  2.  m.  3.  pro  maner  de  Farnhall  et  Alding- 
ton: Pat.  24  Henry  VI.  p.  2.  m.  19-  Pat.  33  Henry  VI. 
p.  2.  m.  4.  pro  ten.  in  AVippingham  et  Caresbrook  (Wight) 
Romsey,  Stanbridge,  Okley,  Mayhenston,  Wells,  Hamel- 
rise,  Wynnale,  et  in  civit.  Wint. 

Pat.  1  Edward  IV,  p.  1.  m.  1.  et  p.  7- m.  ult.  vel 
penult.  Rec.  in  Scacc.  3  Edw.  IV.  Pasc.  rot,  23.  Rec, 
in  Scacc.  22  Edward  IV.  Trin.  rot.  10. 

Pat.  35  Henry  VIII.  p.  8.  (12  Jul)' pro  maner  de 
Moundesmore,  Stubbinton,  Woodniancote,  &c.  in  con- 
sideratione  pro  maner.  de  Hermondesworth,  &c. 

OxFOED.— Oxfordshire  XXIII.  19.  New  College 
or  Winchester  College.  William  of  Wykeham,  Bishop 
of  Winton,  in  the  year  1379  obtained  licence  of  the 
King  to  found  a  College  for  a  warden  and  seventy 
scholars,  upon  several  parcels  of  ground  which  he  had 
purchased  in  the  parish  of  St.  Peter,  in  the  East  in  Oxon, 
towards  Smithgate.  Within  7  years  next  ensuing,  that 
munificent  Prelate  carried  on  and  finished  his  design 
with  strong  and  stately  buildings,  and  ample  endowments, 
not  only  for  the  warden,  and  the  above-mentioned  number 
of  scholars,  but  also  for  10  chaplains,  3  clerks,  and  l6 
choristers.  It  was  dedicated  to  the  Virgin  Mary,  and  its 
revenues  were  valued  26  Henry  VIII.  at  o£'487.  7s.  Sd. 
per  annum. 

Authorities  quoted  by  Tanner.  Vide  Hist,  et  Antq. 
Unio.  Oxon.  lib.  ii.  p.  126,  &c.  Life  of  William  of 
Wykeham,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  by  Robert  Lowth, 
D.D.  (now  Lord  Bishop  of  London)  %^-  London,  1758, 
[here  re-prinled.] 

In  Newcourt's  Repertor,vol.  ii.  p.  6l.  of  the  advowson 
of  Birchanger,  R.Essex:  p.  336,  of  the  manor,  impro- 
priation and  advowson  of  the  Vicarage  of  Hornchurch, 
and  the  ordinary  jurisdiction  there,  p.  687,  of  the  like  at 
Writtle,  belonging  to  their  College. 

Le  Neve's  Easti,  &c.  p.  489-490,  an  account  of  the 
wardens  of  tiiis  College. 

In  Itin.  Will,  de  Worcestre,  p.  297,  dimensiones  ec- 
clesiae. 

In  Leland's  Itin.  vol.  iii.  p.  103,  of  the  Priory  of 
Hamelrise, 


246  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

In  Hutchins's  Dorset,  vol.  i.  p.  257,  of  the  advowson 
of  the  rectory  of  Stoke-Abbas. 

Ill  Blonjfielcl's  Norfolk,  vol.i.  p.  592,  of  the  advowson 
of  the  rectory  of  Saham  Tony  ;  vol.  ii.  p.  69 1,  of  the 
advowson  of  the  rectory  of  St.  John  of  Maddermarket, 
in  Norwich;  vol.  iii.  p.  131,  of  the  advowson  of  the 
rectory  of  Stiatton,  St.  Michael ;  vol.  iv.  p.  432,  of  the 
manor  and  advowson  of  the  rectory  of  Weston;  p.  441, 
of  the  manor  of  Wickingham,  and  the  impropriate  rectory 
and  advowson  of  the  Vicarage  ol  Wickingham  Magna, 
and  of  the  advowson  of  the  rectory  of  Wickingham  Parva. 

In  Willis's  Buckingham,  p.  256,  of  the  manor  and 
advowson  of  the  rectory  of  Radcliff,  p.  315,  of  the  same 
at  Tingwick. 

In  appendice  ad  Adamum  de  Domerham,edit.  Hearne, 
p.  lix.  e  statutis  Coll.  Nov.  de  libris  CoUegii  conser- 
vandis  et  non  alienandis,  et  de  portis  et  ostiis  dicti  Coll. 
claudendis  et  serrandis. 

Catalogum  323.  codd.  MSS.  in  Bibl.Coll.  Nov.Oxon. 
in  catal.  MSS.  Angl.  et  Hib.  Oxon.  l697.  fol.  tom.  i. 
p.  ii.  p.  31. 

Registra,  cartas,  rentalia,  rotulos  curiarura  &c.  penes 
R.  VV.  custodem  et  socios  hujus  Coll. 

Papers  relating  to  the  Controversy  about  the  Kindred 
of  Fynes,  and  Wickbam  of  Swaclift  to  the  Founder. 

Custodes  et  viri  illustres  et  benefactores  hujus  Coll. 
MSS.  in  Bibl.  Ashmol.  Oxford,  Wood,  vol.  xxviii.  f. 
102.  vol.  1.  f.  244.278. 

Descriptionem  exemplarem  Coll.  B.  Mariae  Wint. 
in  Oxon.  100-que  clericorum  in  eodem,  MS.  in  Bibl. 
Coll.  n.  288. 

Statnta  Coll.  Nov.  Oxon.  MSS.  penes  Radulphum 
Thoresby  de  Leeds,  arm.  et  in  Bibl.  Harl.  1343. 

Registrum  Soc.  Coll.  Nov.  Ox.  ab  A.D.  1386,  ad 
l640,  in  quo  loci  nativitatem,  gradus,  dignitates  et  tem- 
pora  mortis  iionnuUorum  specificantur,  MS.  penes  Ric. 
Parson,  L.L.D.  dioce.   Glocestr.  cancell.  l695. 

Pat.  3  Richard  II.  p.  1.  m.  5.  pro  eccl.  de  Stepil- 
morclen  (Cant),  Raddive  (Bucks),  &c.  Ibid.  m.  32  et 
33  licent.  pro  fundatione  ;  Pat.  4  Richard  II.  p,2.  m.  4. 
pro  eccl.  de  Abberbury  approprianda ;  Pat.  5  Richard 
II.  p.  1.  m.  5  vol.  6 ;  Pat.  6  Richard  II.  p.  2.  m.  ;  Pat. 
8  Richard  II.  p.  2.  m.  6 ;    Pat.  10  Richard  II.  p.  1.  m. 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  247 

29  pro  maner.  de  Russels  in  Herdwicke  (Bucks);  Pat. 
1 1  Richard  11.  p.  1.  m.  9-  p'o  maner.  de  Stert  et  Colern 
(Wilts.);  Pat.  12  Richard  II.  p.  2.  m.  5.  10.  et  24  ; 
Pat.  14  Richard  II.  p.  2.  m.  1.  10  &  11.  pro  maner.  de 
Anebury,  &c,  (Wilt.):  Ibid.  m.  27.  pro  eccl.  de  Writele  ; 
Pat.  15  Richard  II.  p.  2.  ni.  Set,  9  pro  mess,  in  VVedon, 
Wergrave,  &c.  ;  Pat.  16  Richard  II.  p.  1.  m.  5.  pro 
molindino  apud  Writele  (Essex),  Cart.  18.  et  19  Richard 

II.  n.9. 

Pat.  1  Henry  IV.  p.  4.  m.  2.  Cart.  1  Henry  IV.  p. 
J.  n.  10. 

Pat.  1  Henry  V.  p.  2.  m.  12.     Ibid.  p.  5.  m.  12. 

Pat.  2  Henry  Vh  p.  2.  m.  32  ;  Pat.  19  Henry  VI. 
p.  2.  m.  18  confirm,  pro  maner.  de  Newenton;  Ibid, 
p.  3.  m.  1.  vol.  2.  et  m.  17  vol.  18  ;  Pat.  21  Henry  VI. 
p.  2.  m.  12.  Cart.  25,  et,  26 Henry  VI.  n.  40  pro  mercat. 
et  feria  apud  Horwode  Magna  (Bucks.)  et  apud  Colern 
(Wilt.) 

Pat.  1  Edward  IV.  p.  1.  m.  p.  2.  m.  Ij.;  Pat.  2 
Edward  IV.  p.  3.  m.  27.  Rec  in  Scacc.  3  Edward  IV. 
Hill.  rot.  77  pro  maner.  de  Newenton  Longavile. 

Pat.  1  and  2  Phil,  et  Mar.  p.  4.  m.  21  Mart,  pro 
rector,  de  Marshfield  (Glouc.)  in  considerat.  Maner.  de 
Stipinglee,  &c.  in  C**-  Bedford  &  Essex. 

Dugdale  thus  notices  some  of  the  Bishop's  civil  ap- 
pointments, in  the  Chronica  Series,  at  the  end  of  his  work. 

Wint.  Ep.  in  officio  Cancellarii  confirmatus,  17  Sept. 
1368.  41  Edward  III.;  Cart.  41  Edward  III.  iterum 
constit.  Cancellarius  et  habuit  magnum  Sigillum  sibi 
traditum  4  Maii.  1389.  12  Richard  II. ;  Pat.  22  Richard 
II.  p.  2.  m.  7. 

Constit.  Cancel.  11  Oct.  1457,  35  Henry  VI.  Claus. 
35  Henry  VI.  m.  10.  in  dorso. 

Bishop  Nicolson  treating  of  the  writers  of  the  lives  of 
some  particular  Bishops,  thus  notices  those  of  Wykeham; 

"  William  of  Wykeham,  the  great  founder  of  two 
famous  Colleges  in  Oxford  and  Winchester,  could  not 
avoid  the  having  his  benefits  carefully  registered  by  some 
of  those  that  daily  tasted  of  the  sweets  of  them:  and 
indeed,  there  have  been  several  of  those  who  have  thus 
paid  their  grateful  acknowledgments  to  his  memory. 
The  first  of  them,  I  think,  was  Thomas  Chaundler, 
some  time  warden  of  New  College,  who  wrote  the 
founder's  life    (MS.  in  Coll.  Novo,  Oxon)  by  way  of 


248  WILLIAM  WYKEHAM. 

dialogue,  in  a  florid  and  good  style.  This  is  contracted, 
(by  the  author  himself,  as  is  supposed,)  (Aug.  Sac.  II.  p. 
355) ;  together  with  which,  is  published  a  piece  of  his 
larger  Colloquy,  Mheicin  he  touches  upon  the  life  of  his 
patron,  Thomas  Beckinton,  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells. 
The  next  writer  of  Wykcham's  life  was  (4to.  Loudon, 
1597  and  Oxou,  1690),  Dr.  Martyn,  Chancellor  of 
Winchester,  under  Bishop  Gardiner;  who  had  the  greatest 
part  of  his  materials  out  of  Chaundler's  book.  After 
him,  Dr.  Johnson,  some  time  fellow  of  New  College, 
as  well  as  the  two  former,  and  aftcnvards  master  of  Win- 
chester school,  gave  a  short  view  of  their  founder  in  Latin 
verse :  Avhich  being  a  small  thing  of  itself,  has  been 
several  times  (Vid.  Ath.  Oxon,  vol.  I.  p.  251)  printed 
with  other  tracts.  Bishop  Godwin  is  (Prccf,  ad  Aji^I, 
Sac.  vol.  I,  p.  19)  censured  for  having  a  little  unfairly 
borrowed  the  account  he  gives  us  of  this  Prelate's  life, 
one  of  the  best  in  his  book,  from  Mr.  Josseline  :  without 
taking  any  notice  of  his  benefactor." — Historical  Librari/, 
part  II.  ch.  6.  ;>.  140. 

Rudborne  thus  speaks  of  our  Prelate  : — *'  Willelmus 
de  VA'^ykeham  qui  navem  ecclesiie  cum  alis  prout  nunc 
cernitur  renovari  et  voltari  fecit,  aliaque  quamplurima 
Leneficia  suse  ecclesiae  contulit,  seditque  annis  37  et  in 
ecclesia  sua,  in  opere  quod  fecit,  honoritice  in  capella  ad 
australem  plagani  tumulatus  est." — Hint.  MaJ.  Wint.  in 
Angl.  Sac. 

The  accurate  Wharton  gives  us  the  following  summary 
or  outline  of  the  Bishop's  career : — "  Post  Edindoni 
obitum  Monachi  Wintonienses  sub  ejusdem  amii  finem 
Willelmum  Wickbam,  Privati  Sigilli  regii  custodem, 
rege  sic  volente,  concorditer  elegerunt.  Natus  is  apud 
Wickham  in  agio  Hantonensi,  ex  infima  sorte  ad  summam 
dignitatem  mira  industria  et  felicitate  emersit ;  favore  et 
beneliciis  ecclesiasticis  ab  Edwardo  rege,  cui  diutius 
lideliter  inservierat,  adeo  cumulatus,  ut  anno  1 366,  mense 
Junio  Praeter  Archidiaconatum  Lincoln,  valoris  annui  350 
Jib,  13.  Priebendas  e  pinguioribus  in  variis  ecclesiis 
Cathedralibus  et  ecclesiam  de  Manyhynet  in  Diocesi 
Exon  tenuisse  memoretur.  Electionenem  ejus,  nescio quam 
ob  causam,  Papa  diu  coniirmare  distulit ;  a  rege  tamen 
iuterpellatus  administrationem  episcopatus  eidem  con- 
tulit 1366.  11.  Dec.  quo  nomine  spiritualia  sedis  Wint. 
AVilleliuus  ab  Apo  Cant,  accepit  1367,  22  Feb.   Post 


WILLIAM  WYKEHAM.  S49 

integrum  annum  Urbanus  Papa  electione  dissimulata 
Episcopatum  illi  provisionis  titulo  donavit  1367,  12  Julii. 
Consecratus  est  Londini  in  Eccl.  S.  Pauli  a  Simone 
Arp5  1367,  10  Oct,  Cancellaiius  Anglize  circa  eadem 
tempora  die  17  Sept.  renunciatus,  anno  1376  Johannis 
Lancastr.  Ducis  insidiis  favore  regio,  quem  hactenus 
illaesum  expertus  fuerat,  excidit,  et  diguitate  sua  pariter 
ac  possessiouibus  spoliatus  est.  Causam  Godwinus  sibi 
notam  data  opera  reticere  voluit.  Scire  autem  volentibus 
monachus  Eveshaniensis,  qui  Ranulphi  Cestrensis  Poly- 
chronicon  continuavit,  dabit.  Refert  is  Willelmum 
de  regiae  prolis  successioue  sollicitum  Edw.  regi  suggesisse, 
quod  Philippa  regina  quondam  uxor  ipsius  dictum  Ducem 
in  utero  suo  nunquam  portavit,  sed  supposuit  cum  pro 
filio,  quod  ob  timorem  regis  celavit,  sed  ante  mortem 
suam,  ut  idem  Epus  asseruisse  dicitui',  ut  debuit,  sibi 
fatebatur;  et  ei  injunxit,  ut  hoc  domino  suo,  cum  videret 
opportunum,  mandaret.  Propter  quod  idem  Dux  fingens 
colorem  eum  persequendi,  imposuit  sibi,  quod  falsus  fuit 
patri  suo  diversis  modis,  quando  ipsius  exstitit  Cancel- 
larius.  Uude  erat  Regi  in  magna  summa  pecuniae  con- 
demnatus.  Pro  qua  condemnatione  in  manus  regis 
omnia  ejus  temporalia  erant  capta  anno  1376,  uec  sibi 
ante  mortem  regis  (quae  medio  anno  sequenti  contigit) 
fuerant  restituta.  Et  licet  totus  clerus  et  tota  communitas 
preces  funderent  pro  eisdem,  non  tamen  fuerant  exauditi. 
Post  Johannis  obitum  rebus  iterum  gerendis  admotus, 
Cancellarius  Angliae  constitutus  est  1389,  4Maii.  Obiit 
anno  1404,  27  Sept. — Ang.  Sac.  I.  318. 

"  Wilhelmus  Wickham  (Leland  has  here  adopted  as 
he  frequently  does  in  his  sireuames,  a  wrong  spelling) 
fundavit  occiduam  ecclesiae  partem  a  choro  eleganti  opere 
et  magno  sumptu,  in  cujus  medio  inter  duas  columnas 
cernitur  ipsius  tumulus." — Lelaud's  Collectanea,  vol  1 , 
f.  76. 

**  The  glass  at  the  west  end  of  the  Cathedral  was  pro- 
vided by  Wykeham." — Milner.  Hist.  Winch,  vol.  II.  p.  43. 

"In  1356,  30  Edward  III.  William  of  Wykeham, 
who  was  afterwards  promoted  to  the  See  of  Winchester, 
&c.  was  constituted  surveyor  or  clerk  of  the  works  at 
Windsor  with  ample  powers,  which  afterwards  in  1359 
were  greatly  enlarged." — Hakeicill's  Windsor,  p.  91. 

The  Bishop  was  executor  to  the  wills  of  the  following 
personages : — Edward  Prince  of  Wales,    proved  4  id. 


250  HENRY  BEAUFORT. 

June,  1376,  10th.  June.  Testamenta  Vetusta.  1.  p.  13; 
Joan,  Princess  of  Wales,  proved  Dec.  9,  1385.  lest. 
Vet.  1.  p.  14  ;  King  Richard  II.  T.V.].  p.  l6;  Edmund, 
Duke  of  York,  proved  Oct.  6,  1402,  T.  F.  1.  p.  151  ; 
and  also  of  John,  Earl  of  Pembroke,  proved  Aug.  17, 
1376,  T.  F.  1.  p.  88. 

His  own  will  may  be  seen  in  Nicolas's  Testamenta 
Vetusta.  vol.  2.  p.  703,  dated  1402. 

It  is  worthy  of  note,  that  William  Wykeham  the  first, 
and  his  two  immediate  successors,  in  the  See  of  Win- 
chester, viz.  Cardinal  Henry  Beaufort  and  William 
Waynflete  held  the  See  120  years.  Wykeham  succeeded 
in  1366,  and  Waynflete  died  Bishop  of  Winton  in  I486. 

Portraits.  Granger  thus  notices  the  portraits  of  this 
Prelate  : — ''Houbraken  sc.  large  h.  sh.  From  a  picture 
at  Winchester  College.  Illast.  Head.  Gulielmus  de 
Wykeham.  Episc.  Winton  et  totius  Anglia  Cancell. 
Fund/-  Coll.  B.  Maria  Wint.  vulgo  vocat.  New  Colt. 
1379;  et  paulo  post  (1387)  Coll.  B.  Maria  Wint.prope 
Winton.  J.  Faher.f.  large  '^to.  William  of  Wykeham. 
Taken  from  a  most  ancient  picture  of  him,  preserved  in 
Winchester  Coll.  Grignion  sc.  whole  length,  sh.'' — Biog, 
Hist.  Engl.  vol.  I.  p.  48. 


XIX.    HENRY  BEAUFORT, 

(A  Cardinal,) 
Succeeded  A.D.  1404. — Died  A.  D.  1447. 

Henry  Beaufort  was  next  brother  of  King  Henry 
IV.  being  second  son  of  John  of  Gaunt,  Duke  of  Lancas- 
ter by  his  third  wife  Catherine  Swinford.  He  with  his 
brother  and  sister  were  fully  legitimated  by  Act  of  Par- 
liament, 20  Richard  II.  "  excepta  dignitate  regali." 

Godwin  says,  (edit.  l605,  p.  241)  that  he  was  brought 
up  for  the  most  part  at  Aken  in  Germany,  where  he 
studied  the  civil  and  canon  law  many  years;  branches 
of  literature  most  necessary  in  that  age  for  a  statesman. 
He  adds,  that  he  spent  much  time  also  at  Oxford.  In 
Richardson's  Latin  edition,  p.  231  Godwin  says,  anno 
1397,  Oxoniae  literarumstudiisincubuit,verat*Aquisgrani 
plerumque  educatus  est.  Bishop  Milner  has  it  that  he 
was  chiefly  educated  at  Aix  in  France  ;  while  Richardson 


HENRY  BEAUFORT.  251 

in  his  notes  claims  him  as  a  Cantab,  on  the  authority  of 
M.S.  Wren,  "  Cantabrigiae  literis  incubuit  in  domo  S. 
Petri,  ibique  anno  1388,  solvit  201,  pro  pensione  camerae." 

Having  entered  into  holy  orders,  his  connexion  with 
the  blood  royal  produced  his  early  elevation  to  the 
episcopal  dignity.  His  great  prudence  and  frugality 
rendered  him  an  important  personage  of  his  times  ;  the 
latter,  producing  him  that  influence  which  immense  wealth 
never  fails  to  ci  eate  ;  and  the  former,  securing  him  from 
the  dangerous  consequences  generally  attendant  upon  an 
elevated  station. 

Si/nopsis  of  Preferments.  He  was  Prebendary  of 
Thame  in  Lincoln  Cathedral,  Jan.  7,  1389.  Willis. 
Cathedr.  IE.  251.  The  same  year  he  quitted  Thame  for 
the  Prebend  of  Sutton  cum  Buckington,  alias  Bucks,  in 
the  same  Cathedral,  but  it  seems  he  parted  with  it  again 
the  same  year.  Willis.  Cath.  II.  246.  He  became 
Prebendary  of  Riccall,  in  York  Cathedral,  August  22, 
1390.  Willis.  Cath.  L  158.  Prebendary  of  Horton,  in 
Salisbury  Cathedral,  Dec.  20,  1397-  Hist.  8f  Antiq.  of 
Sariim  ^  Bath,  p.  326.  Bishop  of  Lincoln  the  same 
year.  Chancellor  of  Oxford  in  1399-  A.  Wood.  From 
Lincoln  he  m  as,  in  1404,  by  the  favour  of  his  half-brother 
King  Henry  IV.  translated  to  Winton,  being,  as  Willis 
observes,  the  first  Bishop  of  Lincoln  that  chose  to  leave 
it  for  any  other  Bishopric.  He  became  Chancellor  and 
Custos  Sigilli  1414,  Claus.  1.  H.  V.  Had  the  great  seal 
again  1417,  Oct.  12,  4  H.  V.  ib.  in  which  year  he  assisted 
at  the  council  of  Constance.  He  was  again  constituted 
Chancellor  and  Keeper,  l6  Jul.  1424,  2  H.  VL  Claus. 
2.  H.  VL  in  dors.  m.  2.  and  was,  moreover,  June  23, 
1426,  created  by  Pope  Martin  V.  Cardinal  of  St. 
Eusebius.  (See  an  attempt  in  1431,  to  deprive  him  of 
the  Bishopric  of  Winton  on  this  promotion,  Rymer  Fad. 
X.  pp.  497  516.)  He  was  known  under  the  title  of 
*  Cardinal  of  England,'  by  which  title  he  calls  himself  in 
his  will. 

Pope  Martin  appointed  him  his  legate  or  rather  general 
of  his  forces  against  Bohemia.  (See  the  Cardinal's 
petition  to  the  King  for  leave  to  levy  and  carry  over  these 
troops,  and  the  King's  answer,  the  Cardinal's  commission, 
&c.  1429,  1431.  Rymer,  X.  419,  427,  491.)  He  m- 
•vaded  Bohemia  in  1429,  with  4000  men  raised  by  the 
€ontribjutions  of  the  English  clergy,  and  who  under  him 


2o2  HENRY  BEAUFORT. 

served  in  Fiance   before,   on   the  loss   of  the  battle  of 
Patay. 

In  the  decline  of  his  life  he  applied  himself  sedulously 
to  the  care  of  his  diocese,  and  performed  many  acts  of 
munificence. 

He  was  a  prelate  of  excessive  frugality,  whereby  he 
amassed  so  much  wealth,  that  when  Henry  V.  a  little 
before  his  death,  proposed  to  convert  the  revenues  of  the 
clergy  into  supplies  for  his  foreign  wars,  the  Bishop,  his 
uncle,  lent  him  o6'20,000  out  of  his  own  coffers,  on  the 
security  of  the  crown  jewels.  The  influence  which  his 
wealth  gave  him,  and  a  good  share  of  political  prudence, 
soon  gave  him  an  ascendancy  over  his  nephew  the  Duke 
of  Gloucester,  Protector  in  the  absence  of  the  Duke  of 
Bedford.  The  Duke  of  Gloucester  came  at  last  to  an 
open  rupture  with  him,  and  brought  him  to  a  trial,  in 
which  he  was  acquitted,  but  the  great  seal  was  taken  from 
him.  As  Henry  \T.  grew  up,  the  Bishop  gained  great 
authority  over  him,  and  obtained  several  pardons,  1437 
and  1442.  He  had  just  turned  the  tables  on  his  rival  the 
Duke  of  Gloucester,  who  was  found  dead  in  his  bed  at 
Bury,  a  month  before  the  Bishop  died. 

In  his  youthful  days,  before  he  took  holy  orders,  he 
had  by  Alice,  daughter  of  Richard,  Earl  of  Arundel, 
sister  of  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  a  daughter  Jane, 
M'hom  he  married  to  Sir  Edward  Stradling  Knight,  of 
Glamorganshire. 

It  is  remarkable  of  this  Bishop  that  he,  as  well  as  his 
immediate  predecessor  and  successor  in  this  See,  held  the 
episcopal  dignity  longer  than  any  other  of  our  prelates 
except  Thomas  Bourchier,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 
Beaufort's  immediate  predecessor,  Wykeham,  enjoyed  the 
See  of  Winchester  from  1366  to  1404,  Cardinal  Beau- 
fort from  1404  to  1447,  and  his  successor  Waynflete, 
from  1447  to  I486,  making  120  years,  and  each  of  them 
about  40.  If  we  add  the  time  that  Beaufort  held  Lincoln, 
he  will  have  been  a  Bishop  half  a  centur}'. 

He  is  thus  noticed  by  Wharton,  A7ig.  Sac.  1.  p.  318. 

**  Henricus  Johannis  Lancastrise  Ducis  ex  Catharina** 
Swinforda  filius,  Epus  Lincolniensis,  Henrici  Regis 
fratris  sui  opera  Willelmo  successor  per  Papalem  pro- 
visionem  datus,  Spiritualia  Episcopatus  Wint.  accepit  ab 
Arpo  Cant,  in  Palatio  Epi  Londinensis,  1405,  18, 
Martii,  Quater  Angliie  Cancellarius  factus  est :  primum 


HENRY  BEAUFORT.  253 

anno  1404,  dein  anno  1414.  exin  anno  1417.  12.  Oct. 
munus  deposuit  1418.  23  Jul.  anno  denique  1424.  16 
Julii  magni  Sigilli  custodiam  accepit.  A^-  1426.  Cardi- 
nalis  Ecclesiae  Romanae  titulo  S.  Eusebii  a  Martino 
Papa  die  23  Junii  renunciatus,  galeruni  accepit  die  25 
Martii  sequentis.  Obiit  1447,  H.  Apr.  annis  non  minus 
quam  divitiis  gravis.  Testamento  ante  biduum  condito, 
singulis  fere  totius  Angliae  Ecclesiis  Cathedralibus  et 
Coenobiis  vasa  argentea  gemmasque  ingentis  pretii  et 
nominatim  Ecclesize  Wellensi  vasa  argentea  deaurata 
ponderis  283  unciatum,  et  sunimam  148  lib,  legavit." 

Under  St.  Mary  Overy,  Manning  says,  "  In  1423,  2 
Henry  VI.  James  I.  King  of  Scotland  was  married  to 
Joan,  eldest  daughter  of  John  Beaufort,  Earl  of  Somerset, 
brother  to  the  Cardinal,  by  whom  the  match  was  made 
to  supp6rt  his  family  by  an  alliance  with  that  kingdom. 
This  was  on  the  release  of  James  from  the  prison,  where 
he  had  remained  18  years,  having  been  taken  by  Henry 
IV.  as  he  was  ffoing  to  the  court  of  France,  which  was 

•  •  •    •  mi 

perhaps  part  of  the  price  paid  for  his  ransom.  The 
marriage  feast  was  kept  at  the  Bishop's  house  here." — 
Hist.  Siirrj/.  vol.  3.  p.  560. 

It  is,  perhaps,  not  generally  known,  that  the  borough 
of  Wilton  once  belonged  to  Bishop  Beaufort.  Jaquetta, 
widow  of  John,  Duke  of  Bedford,  re-married  to  Sir 
Richard  Wydville,  Knight,  retained  a  life  interest  in  the 
borough  of  Wilton,  which  the  Bishop  purchased  of  her 
by  fine  levied  that  same  year ;  (Pedes  Finium  in  Dom: 
Cap.  Westm.)  and  the  year  following,  viz.  20  Henry 
VI.  obtained  a  patent  to  hold  this  borough  (inter 
alia)  per  fidelitatem  tantum  pro  omnibus  serviciis,  (Rot. 
Patent.)  and  in  25  Henry  VI.  by  the  name  of  Henry, 
Cardinal  of  England  and  Bishop  of  Winchester,  gave 
his  borough  of  Wilton  to  the  master  and  brethren  of  the 
hospital  of  St.  Cross,  near  Winton,  towards  their  main- 
tenance for  ever. — Dudg.  Mon.  2.  180. 

Bishop  Beaufort  was  executor  of  the  will  of  John 
Beaufort,  Earl  of  Somerset:  proved  April  5,  1410  j 
(Test.  Vetust.  1.  174.)  also,  of  that  of  John,  Duke  of 
Bedford  :  proved  Oct.  7.  1441.— lb.  p.  242. 

Beaufort  died  at  Wolvesey  Castle,  Winchester,  April 
11,  1447.  Rapin  says  in  despair,  that  his  riches  could 
not  exempt  him  from  death.  Shakspeare  has  beautifully 
improved  the  thought  {9,nd.part  Hen.  VI,  Act.  3,sc.  tdt.) 


254  HENRY  BEAUFORT. 

"If  thou  be'cst  death,  1*11  give  the  England's  treasure 
"  Enough  to  purchase  such  another  island, 
"  So  thou  wilt  let  me  live  and  feel  no  pain." 

Hence  it  is  evident  that  an  unusual  attachment  of  life 
had  been  handed  down  as  a  characteristic  of  this  cele- 
brated Prelate. 

He  lies  buried  under  a  noble  monument  in  the  pres- 
bytery behind  the  high  altar  of  his  Cathedral.  His  figure 
in  his  Cardinal's  habit,  lies  on  an  altar  tomb,  on  the  verge 
of  which  remained  of  his  epitaph  in  Bishop  Godwin's 
time  only  these  words :  Tribularer  si  nescirem  misericordias 
tuas.  A  draught  of  the  monument  may  be  seen  in 
Sandford's  Geneal.  Hist,  of  the  Kings  of  Engl.  See 
Willis.  Cath.  2.53. 

Character.  "  Had  he  continued  a  Layman,  it  is 
probable,"  says  Bishop  Milner,  {Hist.  Wint.)  "  that 
his  character  would  have  descended  to  posterity  in  the 
brightest  colours.  Certain  it  is,  that  he  was  a  sage 
councellor  of  the  state,  an  able  politician,  an  intrepid 
general,  and  a  true  friend  to  his  country.  {Poli/dore 
Virgil.  Stow's  Annals.  1448J.  Hence  it  is  not  sur- 
prizmg  that  his  influence  should  have  been  great  in  the 
cabinets  of  his  brother  and  of  his  nephew,  and  that 
during  the  early  part  of  his  little  [read  grandj  nephew 
and  god-son's  reign,  viz.  Hen.  VI.*  he  should  have  been 
considered  as  the  main  prop  of  the  state." 

Being  involved  in  the  vortex  of  worldly  politics,  it  is 
true,  he  gave  too  much  scope  to  the  passions  of  the  great, 
and  did  not  allow  himself  sufficient  leisure  to  attend  to  the 
spiritual  concerns  of  his  diocese.  Nevertheless,  there  is 
no  solid  ground  in  history  for  representing  him  as  that 
ambitious,  covetous,  and  reprobate  character  which  he  has 
been  drawn  by  an  immortal  painter  of  human  manners, 
who  has  robbed  his  memory  in  order  to  enrich  that  of  his 
adversary,  termed  by  popular  prejudice  the  good  Duke 
Humphrey  of  Gloucester.  If  he  was  rich,  it  must  be 
allowed  that  he  did  not  squander  away  his  money  upon 
unworthy  pursuits,  but  chiefly  employed  it  in  the  public 
service,  to  the  great  relief  of  the  subjects,  (see  an  account 

*  Hen.  VI.  came  to  Winton  in  1440  at  which  time  being  weai7  of  the 
vassalage  in  which  his  uncle  the  Duke  of  Gloster  had  kept  him,  he  threw 
himself  under  the  protection  of  his  great  uncle  Cardinal  Beaufoit  by 
whose  advice  he  released  the  Duke  of  Orleans,  long  a  Prisoner  in 
England,  and  sent  over  Commissioners  to  France,  of  whom  the  Cardinal 
was  one,  to  make  peace  with  that  Country. 


HENRY  BEAUFORT.  255 

of  the  sums  lent  by  him  to  the  state,  or  expended  upon  it, 
in  Vetust.  Momtm,  vol.  II.  45.)  as  likewise  in  furnishing 
his  cathedral,  which  was  left  incomplete  by  his  prede- 
cessor, in  repairing  Hyde  Abbey,  relieving  prisoners, 
and  other  works  of  piety  and  charity,  (Godivin,  Collie)', 
Ecc.  Hist.)  But  what  has  chiefly  redeemed  the  injured 
character  of  Cardinal  Beaufort  in  the  city  of  Winton  and 
its  neighbourhood,  is  the  new  foundation  which  he  made 
of  the  celebrated  hospital  of  St.  Cross.  It  was  admitted 
by  those  who  are  not  very  favourable  to  his  memory,  that, 
towards  the  end  of  his  life,  he  directed  his  thoughts 
chiefly  towards  the  welfare  of  his  diocese,  (Collier.) 
It  appears  also  that  he  prepared  himself  with  resignation 
and  contrition  for  his  end,  and  the  collected,  judicious, 
and  pious  dispositions  made  in  his  testament,*  the  codicil 
of  which  was  signed  but  two  days  before  his  death,  (viz. 
April  9,  1447,)  may  justly  bring  into  discredit  the  opinion 
that  he  died  in  despair.. — "  He  dies  and  makes  no  sign.'* 
S/iaksp. 

Benefactions.  He  founded  near  St.  Cross's  Hospital, 
another  hospital  for  a  master,  2  chaplains,  35  poor  men, 
and  3  nurses,  by  the  name  of  the  *  almshouse  of  noble 
poverty,'  whose  annual  revenue  amounted  to  o£l88. 
Leland,  in  the  Collectanea,  I.  1 16,  says,  under  *  Hospitale 
de  Winchester.'  "  Hen  Beaufort  Epiis  Wint.  primus  fun- 
dator,  dotavitque  annuis  redditibus  valoris  £l5S.  13s.  4d. 

Tanner  observes  in  the  Notitia,  under  Hants  XXXV. 
10,  "  A  considerable  addition  was  made  temp.  H.  VI. 
to  the  Hospital  of  St.  Cross,  to  the  yearly  value  of 
o£*I58.  13s.  4d.  by  the  Cardinal  or  his  Executors,  for  a 
Rector,  2  Chaplains,  35  poor  Men,"  &c. 

Willis,  in  his  Cathedrals,  II.  53,  says,  "  In  his  will  he 
§2L\e  £200.  to  the  fabric  of  Lincoln  Cathedral,  and  of  100. 
to  Ashridge  College,  Bucks,  with  which  the  five  cloisters 
now  remaining  there  seems  to  have  been  built.  He  was 
also  a  benefactor  to  the  University  of  Oxford,"  &c. 

Concannen,  in  the  Hist,  of  St.  Saviour's,  has  the  fol- 
lowing passage :  "  Ao-  1400,  2  Hen.  IV.  The  whole 
Church  was  new  built  about  this  time.  Henry  Beaufort, 
Cardinal  of  St.  Eusebius  and  Bishop  of  Winchester, 
from  1405  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1447,  might  have 

r*  1  have  transcribed  his  will,  which  will  be  found  very  interesting.— 
Editor.] 


Qo6  HENRY  BEAUFORT. 

contributed  towards  the  building,  being  a  man  of  great 
wealth,  for  which  he  was  called  the  rich  Cardinal,  as  the 
arms  of  Beaufort  are  carved  in  stone,  on  a  pillar  in  the 
south  cross  aisle,  and  by  the  remaining  sculpture  on  each 
side,  it  appears  to  be  done  for  strings  pendant  and  platted 
in  a  true  lover's  knot  from  a  Cardinal's  hat  placed  over 
them.  The  arms*  are  quarterly  France  and  England,  a 
border  compone  ar.  and  az."  p.  74.  The  same  remark  is 
made  in  Matniing's  Hist.  Surrij,  III.  560. 

Will. — I,  Henry,  commonly  called  Cardinal  of  England, 
Bishop  of  Winchester.  My  body  to  be  buried  in  my 
Church  of  Winchester  in  the  place  I  have  appointed. 
I  will  that  every  day  three  masses  be  celebrated  for  my 
soul  by  three  Monks  of  that  Church  in  the  chapel  of  my 
Sepulture.  And  that  the  name  of  Henry  Cardinal  be 
pronounced,  and  that  in  celebrating,  the  souls  of  John 
Duke  of  Lancaster,  and  Kathei  ine  his  wife,  my  parents, 
the  souls  of  Hen.  IV.  and  Hen.V.  Kings  of  England,  .John 
Earl  of  Somerset,  Thomas  Duke  of  Exeter,  my  brothers, 
Johanna  Countess  of  Westmorland,  my  sister,  and  John 
Duke  of  Bedford,  be  specially  remembered,  I  will  that 
my  funeral  be  not  celebrated  in  too  pompous  a  manner, 
but  according  to  the  state  in  which  God  shall  be  pleased 
that  I  shall  die  and  according  to  the  discretion  of  my 
executors.  I  will  that  10,000  masses  be  said  for  my  soul 
as  soon  as  possible  after  my  decease  viz.  3,000  of  requiem, 
S,000  "  de  rorate  cali  desuper,"  3,000  of  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  1,000  of  the  Trinity.  I  will  that  the  Prior 
of  my  said  Church  of  Winchester,  and  the  convent  of  the 
same  have  ofSOO.  and  my  better  cup  and  patten,  and  my 
vestment  embroidered,  which  I  bought  of  Hugh  Dyke, 
on  condition  that  none  should  use  the  vestment  but  the 
Bishop  of  Winton,  or  whoever  may  officiate  in  presence 
of  the  King,  Queen,  and  King's  eldest  son.  I  remit  to 
the  Abbey  and  convent  of  St.  Augustine,  beyond  Canter- 
bury, £3o6.  13s.  Ad.  which  they  owe  me,  on  condition 
that  they  cause  my  name  to  be  inserted  in  three  masses 
daily.  I  will  that  o£'400.  be  distributed  among  the 
prisoners,  whether  for  crimes  or  for  debts,  in  both  compters 
of  London,  in    Newgate,  Ludgate,   Fleet,  Marshalsea, 


*  The  arms  are  painted  on  the  pillar  with  a  border  gold,  though  de- 
signed in  the  sculpture  for  compone. 


HENRY  BEAUFORT.  257 

King's  Bench,  and  in  confinement  within  my  manor  of 
Southwai  k,  for  their  liberation,  by  the  hands  of  some  con- 
scientious men  selected  and  appointed  by  my  executors. 
Item,  I  will  that  2,000  marks  be  distributed  among  my 
poor  tenants  in  Counties  Hants,  Wilts,  Surry,  Somerset, 
Berks  and  Bucks,  and  I  desire  that  this  distribution  be 
made  either  in  money  or  other  things  which  may  be  con- 
sidered more  useful  to  them,  in  the  manner  expressed  in 
the  preceding  article,  viz.  by  the  hands  of  some  men  of 
good  conscience,  according  to  the  nomination  and  discret 
tion  of  my  executors ;  which  persons  so  appointed  shall 
receive  for  their  trouble  what  to  my  executors  may 
appear  reasonable.  Item,  I  bequeath  to  my  Lord  Henry, 
a  tablet  with  relics,  which  is  called  the  tablet  of 
Bourbon,  and  a  cup  of  gold,  with  a  ewer,  which  belonged 
to  the  illustrious  prince  his  father,  and  offered  by  him 
on  Easter  eve,  and  out  of  which  cup  he  usually  drank, 
and  for  the  last  time  drunk,  humbly  praying  him  to,  and 
my  executors  in  whatever  can  tend  to  the  good  of  my  soul ; 
as  God  knows  I  have  always  been  faithful  and  zealous  in 
him  in  all  which  related  to  his  prosperity,  wishing  to 
effect  whatever  could  tend  to  his  welfare  in  soul  and  body. 
Item,  I  bequeath  to  Johanna*  wife  of  Edw.  Stradlyng, 
Knt.  2  dozen  dishes,  4  charges,  12  salt  cellars,  &c.  and 
cflOO.  in  gold.  Item,  I  bequeath  to  Hans  NuUes 
<£40.  I  will  that  the  Clerks  of  my  Chapel  in  my 
service  at  the  time  of'  my  decease,  and  attending  my 
body  to  the  place  of  burial,  be  rewarded  with  100 
marks  between  them,  according  to  the  discretion  of  my 
executors.  I  will  that  my  debts  be  paid  before  any  other 
thing.  I  will  that  ot'2,000.  be  distributed  according  to 
the  discretion  of  my  executors,  among  my  domestic 
servants,  according  to  their  degrees  ;  but  1  desire,  never- 
theless, that  Hans  Nulles  be  contented  with  what  I  have 
bequeathed  him,  and  that  he  be  not  mcluded  in  the 
distribution  among  my  other  servants.  I  will  that  the 
residue  of  my  goods  not  disposed  of  be  applied  to  works 
of  charity  and  pious  uses,  according  to  the  discretions 
and  consciences  of  my  executors,  such  as  relieving  poor 


*  Said  to  have  been  his  natural  daughter  by  Alice,  daughter  of  Richard. 
Earl  of  Arundel,  and  sister  of  Thomas  Fitz -Alan,  alias  Arundel 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury :  she  married  Sir  Kdward  Stradlvng  of  Gl*- 
morgacshire,  Knt. 

J5 


258  HENRY  BEAUFORT. 

religious  houses,  marrying  poor  maidens,  succouring  the 
poor  and  needy,  and  in  odier  similar  works  of  piety,  such 
as  they  may  most  deem  will  tend  to  the  health  of  my  soul. 
And  of  this  my  will,  I  constitute  and  appoint  the  Rev. 
Father  in  Christ,  the  Cardinal  and  Archbishop  of  York, 
[John  Kemp],  my  nephew  the  Marquess  of  Dorset, 
[Edmund  Beaufort,  K.G.  who  was  created  Duke  of 
Somerset,  26  Henry  VI.  and  was  slain  at  St.  Alban's 
22  May,  1455;]  brother  Richard  Vyall,  Prior  of  the 
Church  of  Witham,  of  the  Carthusian  order ;  Master 
Stephen  Wilton,  Archdeacon  of  Winchester,  my  Chan- 
cellor ;  Richard  Waller,  Esq.  master  of  my  household ; 
William  Whaplode,  steward  of  the  lands  of  my  bishopric ; 
William  Mareys,  my  treasurer  of  Wolvesey;  William 
Toley ;  and  William  Port  my  executors.  And  for  the 
trouble  which  I  shall  occasion  my  said  executors,  I  be- 
queath to  the  said  Rev.  Father  .£200.  and  a  cup  of  gold 
to  the  value  of  ^£40. ;  to  my  said  nephew,  the  Marquess, 
£"200.  and  a  cup  of  gold  worth  £40. ;  and  to  each  of  my 
executors  aforesaid  <£'I00.  Dated  in  my  palace  of  Wol- 
vesey, Jan.  20,  1440. 

First  Codicil. — I,  Henry,  Cardinal  of  England,  Bishop 
of  Winchester,  after  my  will  signed  and  sealed,  dated, 
20th.  Jan.  1446,  wishing  to  make  a  certain  distribution 
of  my  goods,  which  did  not  occur  to  my  mind  when  I 
made  the  said  will,  now  add  this  codicil- — First,  I  bequeath 
to  the  Prior  and  Convent  of  Christ-Church,  Canterbur}-, 
^1,000.,  of  which  sum  I  will  that  V^-  marks  be  applied 
*'ad  solucionem  faciend'  pro  manerio  &  dominio  de 
■  Bekesbourne,"  near  Canterbury,  and  the  remainder  of 
the  said  sum  of  £"1,000.  to  the  fabric  of  the  said  Church. 
Also,  I  will  that  the  said  Prior  and  Convent  give  security 
to  my  executors,  named  in  my  said  will,  that  they  will 
cause  three  masses  to  be  daily  celebrated  for  ever,  by 
three  Monks  of  the  said  Church,  for  my  soul,  in  my 
Church  of  Winchester,  as  is  expressed  in  my  said  will  ^ 
and  also,  that  they  solemnly  observe  my  obit  every  year. 
I  bequeath  to  the  work  and  fabric  of  the  Church  of 
Lincoln  £"200. ;  and  I  desire  that  the  Dean  and  Canons 
of  the  said  Church,  observe  the  day  of  my  obit  every  year 
for  ever,  &c.  Item,  I  bequeath  to  my  Lord  the  King 
my  dish  or  plate  of  gold  for  spices,  and  my  cup  of  gold 
enamelled  with  images.  Item,  some  other  jewels  and 
vessels   of  silver  and  gold  which  were  pledged  by  the 


HENRY  BEAUFORT.  259 

King  and  Parliament  for  certain  sums  lent,  &c.*  Also, 
I  bequeath  to  my  old  servant,  Richard  Petteworth, 
c£lOO,  that  he  may  pray  for  my  soul.  Dated  at  .my 
palace  of  Wolvesey,  7th.  April,  1447. 

Second  Codicil. — I,  Henry,  Cardinal  of  England  and 
Bishop  of  VVinton,  make  this  codicil  to  niy  former  will 
and  codicil.  Whereas  I  have  in  the  said  codicil  disposed 
of  certain  jewels  and  vases  pledged  to  me  by  the  par- 
liament, &c.  Item,  I  bequeath  to  my  lady  the  Queen, 
"lectum  bloduim  de  panno  aureo  de  Damasco,"  which 
hung  in  her  chamber  in  my  manor  of  VValtham,  in  which 
niy  said  lady  the  Queen  lay  when  she  was  at  the  said  manor. 
I  bequeath  and  remit  to  Lord  Tiptoft  the  £333,  6s.  8d. 
^vhich  the  said  Lord  by  his  writing  is  bound  to  me.  In 
tlie  same  manner,  I  bequeath  and  remit  to  VVm.  Stafford 
all  which  he  oweth  me,  which  is  the  sum  of  c£lOO,  pro- 
vided that  the  said  William,  by  his  deed  sufficiently 
executed,  acquits  as  Mell  my  executors  as  Master  Thomas 
Forest,  master  or  keeper  of  the  hospital  of  the  Holy  Cross 
near  Winchester,  and  his  colleagues,  of  the  sum  of  o£40. 
which  I  am  bound  to  him  by  reason  of  an  annuity  of  £20. 
granted  to  him  with  power  to  distrain  for  the  same  in  the 
manor  of  Heynsbrigge,  now  appropriated  to  the  said  hos- 
pital.    Item,  I  bequeath  to  John,  Bastard  of  Somerset,-!- 

*  The  following  note  explanatory  of  this  passage  is  taken  from  Royal 
fFilts,  p.334.— "  The  Bishop  lent  the  Kina;  at  one  time  "  pour  I'esploit  de 
v're  present  voyage  vers  les  parties  de  France  &  Noimandie.  a  v're  tres 
grand  besoigne  &  necessite  8c  ])0ur  I'aise  de  v're  povre  communalte  de 
Engleterre"  £'14,000.  and  jfS.SOt;.  I85. 8t/.  and  was  then  due  "  a  sa  auuciea 
creance  a  vons  fait,  come  piert  par  vos  honurables  letters  pateiitz  a  luy 
eut  taitz,  et  a  vous  ditz  communes  ministres,"  say  the  Commons  in  their 
petition  9  Henry  V.  1414,  desiring  to  have  it  confirmed,  and  the  letters 
patent  enrolled  in  Parliament.  For  the  jgl4,000.  the  King  made  over  in 
the  5th.  year  of  his  reign,  the  duties  and  customs  of  a  certain  import  at 
Southampton;  and  when  the  Bishop  had  reimbursed  him -elf  to  the 
amount  of  £■'8,306.  \%s  8d.  he  lent  the  King  another  £14,000.,  for  which 
the  said  customs  were  again  mortgaged  to  him,  and  the  cocket  of  the 
said  port  and  its  dependencies  ;  wliich  grant  was  confirmed  in  the  above 
Parliament.— /?or.  Pari.  IV.  p.  132,  135.  But  a  good  deal  of  the  loan  re- 
mained at  the  time  of  the  Bishop's  death,  as  appears  by  this  codicil.  The 
King  redeemed  in  1432  the  sword  of  Si)ain  and  other  jewels,  which  had 
been  pledged  to  the  Cardinal  for  £493. 6s.  %d."—Rymer.  vol.  X.  p.  502. 

t  There  is  much  difficulty  in  ascertaining  wlio  was  the  person  so 
described  :  the  Editor  of  Roya'l  Wills  supposes  him  to  have  been  John,  elder 
brother  of  the  testator,  but  this  conjecture  is  decidedly  erroneous,  for  the 
said  John  died  many  years  before,  and  for  whose  soul  the  Cardinal  in  hi.s 
will  orders  prayers  to' be  said.  This  "  John,  bastard  of  Somerset,"  was 
most  probably  a  natural  sou  of  the  said  John  Beaufort,  Earl  of  Somerset  j 
or  of  John  Beaufort,  his  eldest  son,  who  was  created  Duke  of  Somerset, 
2lst.  Henry  VI.  and  who  died  in  the  following  year.  This  noble  family 
now  reverses  the  old  name  and  title;  the  name  bting  Homerset,  and  the 
title  Beau/ort.—hDiT. 

H   2 


260  HENRY  BEAUFORT. 

o£4,000.  with  a  certain  quantity  of  vessels  of  silver,  accord- 
ing to  the  discretion  of  my  executors.  Item,  I  bequeath 
in  a  like  manner  to  William  Swynford,  my  nephew,* 
^400.  with  a  certain  quantity  of  silver  vessels.  Item,  I 
bequeath  to  Thos.  Burneby,  page  to  my  lady  the  Queen, 
^20.  and  a  cup  of  silver  gilt.  Item,  1  bequeath  to  Edw. 
Stradlyng,  Knt.-f-  a  certain  portion  of  silver  vessels,  accord- 
ing to  the  discretion  of  my  executors.  Item,  I  bequeath 
to  John  Yend,  senior,  12  dishes  of  silver.  Dated  in  my 
palace  of  Wolvesey,J  the  9th.  of  April,  1447.  Proved 
the  2nd.  of  September,  1447. — The  above  will  is  from 
Nicolas's  Testamenta  Vetusta,  1826,  vol.  1.  p.  249. 


*  This  bequest  satisfactorily  proves  that  Sir  Thomas  Sw'ynford,  the  son 
of  Sir  Hugh  Swynford,  by  Katlieriiie,  daughter  and  co-heir  of  Sir  Payne 
de  Roet,  7which  Kathenne  was  first  the  concubine  and  aftenvards  the 
wife  of  John  of  Gaunt,  Dulce  of  Lancaster,  and  by  him  mother  of  Cardinal 
Beaufort)  had  issue  the  above-mentioned  William  Swynford ;  for  as  the 
Cardinal  and  Sir  Thomas  Swynford  were  brothers  of  the  half  blood,  he 
would  of  course  call  the  son  of  the  said  Sir  Thomas  his  nephew.  This 
circumstance  is  thus  particularly  mentioned,  from  so  little  being  knowu 
of  the  issue  of  Katherine,  Duchess  of  Lancaster,  by  her  first  husband  :  for 
Godwin,  in  his  laboured  and  valuable  life  of  Chaucer,  states  his  inability 
to  give  any  account  of  her  son,  the  said  Sir  Thomas  Swynford.  William 
Swynford  here  mentioned  was  the  first  cousin  once  removed  of  Thomas 
Chaucer,  the  eldest  son  of  the  Poet,  Geoffrey  Chaucer,  aud  second  cousio 
to  Alice,  his  daughter  aud  heiress. 

t  Husband  of  his  natural  daughter.         t  Wolvesey-House  or  Castle, 


XX-    WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

Succeeded  A.  D.  1447. — Died  A.  D.  I486. 

lu  the  following  re-print  I  have  omitted  all  historic^ 
matter  introduced  in  the  original,  which  appeared  irrele- 
vant, and  a  good  deal  of  what  was  exclusively  collegiate 
history,  as  swelling  unnecessarily  a  work  which  purports 
to  be  only  the  Biography  of  the  Winton  Prelates. 

THE  LIFE  OF 

WILLIAM    WAYNFLETE, 

BISHOP  OF  WINCHESTER, 

Lord  High  Ctiancellor  of  England  in  the  Reign  of  Henry  VI.,  and  Founder 

of  Magdalen  College,  Oxford  :    collected  from  Records,  Registers, 

Manuscripts,  and  other  Authentic  Evidences,  by  Richard 

Chaundlek,  D.D.  formerly  Fellow  of  that  College. 

London  :   Printed  for  White  and  Cochrane,  Horace's  Head,  Fleet-Stree$, 
by  Richard  Taylor  and  Co.,  Shoe-Lane. 

MUCCCXI. 

CHAPTER  I. 

Of  IVill'iam  Patten,  alias  Barbour,  to  the  time  of  his  assuming 
the  name  of  fVaynJlete. 

WiLLtAM  Waynflete,  was  son  of  Richard  Patten, 
alias  Barbour,  of  Waynflete,  a  market-town  on  the  sea- 
coast  of  Lincolnshire.  He  was  descended  of  a  worshipful 
family,  ancient,  and  in  good  condition ;  less  celebrated 
says  Budden,  than  respectable.  Writers  of  the  best 
authority  agree  that  his  father  was  a  gentleman;  and 
Fuller  in  the  same  sentence  styles  him  an  esquire  and  a 
knight.  He  married  a  lady  also  descended  from  an 
ancient  family,  and  whose  father,  William  Brereton, 
possessed  an  ample  estate  in  Cheshire.  This  country, 
in  consequence  of  its  Norman  territories,  the  patrimony 
of  William  the  Conqueror,  and  of  Anjou  with  its  ap- 
pendages, the  inheritance  of  King  Henry  IL,  sustained 
in  that  age  almost  perpetual  warfare  in  France.  Breretoa 
was  enrolled  among  the  candidates  for  military  fame 
there,  obtained  by  his  valour  the  honour  of  knighthood. 


262  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

was  appointed  governor  of  Caen  in  Normandy,  routed 
under  the  auspices  of  Lon!  Scales  a  numerous  army  of 
the  French  near  Mount  St.  Michael,  and  returned  honte 
with  glory  and  increase  of  fortune.     Richard  Patten  and 
Margery    iJrereton   had   issue    two    sons,    William   and 
John.*     The  year  when  either  was  born  is  not  known. 
It  is  agreed  by  writers  in  general,  that  William  Patten 
after  receiving  the  rudiments  of  instruction  in  Lincoln- 
shire, was  removed  to  Wykeham's  school  at  Winchester, 
The  register  of  admissions  on  the  foundation  has  been 
carefully  examined,  and  his  name   is  not  in  it ;    but  he 
might  still  be  educated  there,  as   Wykeham  both    intro- 
duced to  his  school,  and  to  commons  in  the  hall,  several 
extraneous   boys ;    and   in    bis   statutes  permits  sons  of 
gentlemen  (gentilkcm),  a  limited  number,  to  enjoy  the 
same  privilege :  but  of  these  no  mention  occurs,  except 
of  the  descendants  of  Uvedale  his  great  patron,  whose 
names  appear  in  the  account-books  of  the  bursars  of  his 
time.     Budden  tells  us  (p.  06.)   he  had  been  diligent  in 
his   endeavours   to    ascertain  the  College  in  Oxford  to 
which  William  had  belonged,  but  without  success ;  that 
Holinshed,  who  has  had  his  followers,  departed  from  the 
conmion  belief  in  ascribing  him  to  Merton,  where,  as  he 
relates,  he  was  fellow,  while  Nele  and  Harpsfield  contend 
for   his   having  been  a  Wykehamist.      He   declares   he 
would  not  willingly  recede  from  this  opinion,  which  had 
the  consenting   voice  of  the  multitude  on  its  side,  and 
argues  in  favour  of  it.     A.  Wood,  asserts  that  the  Album 
of  Merton  College  does  not  allow  his  having  been  of  it, 
unless  he  was  one  of  the  chaplains  or  postmasters.     As 
to  New  College,  he  could  not  be  fellow,  not  having  been 
a    scholar    on   the   foundation   at  Winchester.     In   his 
statutes  Wykeham  does  not  admit  of  independent  mem- 
bers ;    neither   were    there    accommodations    for    them 
before   the   buildings   next    the    garden    were    erected. 
Moreover,  Lowth   has   affirmed,   that   he   never  was  of 
that    College   to   which   he  is  so  generally  given.     We 
shall  leave  the  reader  to  collect  the  presumptive  arguments 
vhich  may  be  urged  from  this  narrative  to  fix  William  at 
New  College.     But  besides  these,  an  evidence  deserving 
particular  attention  is  on  record,  John  Longland,  fellow 


t*  Dean  of  Chichester  in  1425.— Edit.] 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  263 

of  Magdalen,  bursar  there  in  1515,  and  Bishop  of 
Lincohi  in  1521,  (only  25  years  after  the  death  of  the 
founder,  whom,  it  is  therefore  probable,  he  remembered,) 
informed  Leland,  that  William  was  of  New  College;  and 
his  testimony,  corroborated,  as  it  will  be,  by  other  circum- 
stances, must  have  appeared  decisive,  had  it  been  con- 
tradicted in  a  manner  less  positive,  or  by  a  writer  of 
inferior  authority  to  the  biographer  of  Wykeham.  Buddea 
has  represented  William,  while  an  academic,  endowed 
with  intense  application  to  the  studies  of  humanity  and 
eloquence. 

His  literary  attainments,  which  may  be  supposed  not 
inconsiderable  for  the  age  he  lived  in,  did  not  qualify  hini 
for  an  ecclesiastic  more  than  his  disposition  to  piety,  I 
have  endeavoured  to  trace  his  progress  in  the  orders  of  the 
Romish  Church,  not  wholly  without  success  ;  and  in  par- 
ticular am  enabled  to  fix  the  time  of  his  assuming  the 
name  of  VV  aynflete  in  lieu  of  Barbour,  under  which,  if  I 
mistake  not,  he  is  found  in  the  episcopal  register  of  the  see 
of  Lincoln.  The  ordinations  were  held  in  the  parish 
church  of  Spalding,  by  Bishop  Fleming;  and  1420^ 
April  21st.  Easter  Sunday,  among  the  unbeneficed 
acolytes  occurs  William  Barbour.  1420,  Jamiary  21st. 
William  Barbour  became  a  Sub-deacon  by  the  stile  of 
William  Waynflete,  of  Spalding.  1420,  March  18th, 
William  Waynfietc,  of  Spalding,  was  ordained  Deacon ; 
and  1426,  January  21st.  Presbyter,  on  the  title  of  the 
house  of  Spalding.  *'  It  was  a  fashion  in  those  days 
from  a  learned  spirituall  man  to  take  awaie  the  father's 
sirname,  (were  it  never  so  worshipfuU  or  ancient)  and 
give  him  for  it  the  name  of  the  tovvne  he  was  borne  in." 
Holinshed,  after  producing  several  instances,  obsei-ves, 
that  this  in  like  manner  happened  to  William  Waynflete, 
"  a  matter  right  proveable."  The  episcopal  registers 
furnish  many  instances  of  the  name  of  Waynflete  taken 
by,  or  imposed  on,  ecclesiastics,  and  it  is  often  difficult 
to  ascertain  the  identity  of  the  persons.  Both  Waynflete 
and  Patten  were  also  common  sirnames.  I  have  noted 
17  modes  of  spelling  the  name  adopted  by  VVilliam.  In 
the  episcopal  register  at  Winchester,  it  is  commonly 
Waynflete  ;  but  there  also  occurs  Wayneflete,  and  Wayn- 
flett.  The  first  was  constantly  used,  if  I  mistake  not^  by 
the  Bishop. 


264  WILLIAM  WAYNPLETE. 

CHAPTER  II. 

Of  William  Waynfiete  to  the  time  of  his  advancement  to  the 
See  oj  fFinehester  by  King  Henry  VI. 

The  Warden  of  Winton,  Robert  Thurbern,  with  the 
Fellows  of  the  College,  appointed  VVaynflete  to  fill  the 
station  of  Master  of  the  School  at  AVinchester,  on  its 
being  vacated  by  Thomas  Aluin,  and  he  began  to  teach 
in  1429,  the  year  after  the  decease  of  Leilont,  whose  new 
granunar  he  probably  introduced  there,  and  afterwards  at 
Eton.  In  1430,  a  William  VVayntiete,  as  appears  from 
the  episcopal  register  of  Lincoln,  was  presented  by  the 
convent  of  Bardney  to  the  vicarage  of  Skendleby,  in  that 
county,  void  by  resignation  ;  and  among  the  Monks  there, 
about  the  same  time,  was  one  named  John  VVaynflete, 
who  became  Abbot  in  1435.  This  person  Willis  "  pre- 
sumes was  a  near  relation  of  the  founder  of  Magdalen 
College,"  and  that  the  living  was  obtained  by  his  interest. 
**  This  1  mention,"  he  continues,  "  because  it  may  per- 
haps intimate  the  rise  of  this  great  man,  and  what  was 
probably  his  ^rs^  preferment."  From  the  coincidence 
of  names  it  is  likely  that  this  William  and  John  Waynflete 
were  townsmen  ;  but  the  identity  of  this  William  and  our 
Bishop  is  at  least  problematical  ;  and  the  author  seems 
not  apprized  that  the  founder  of  Magdalen  College  already 
occupied  a  post  not  consistent  with  the  duties  of  a  remote 
vicarage,  and  on  which,  as  on  its  basis,  the  fabric  of  his 
future  fortune  was  about  to  be  raised.  The  Bishop  of 
W'inchester  was  now  Henry  Beaufort,  uncle  and  some 
time  preceptor  of  King  Henry  VI.  who  had  been  trans- 
latea  troni  Lincoln  to  this  see  on  the  vacancy  made  ia 
3404  by  Wykeham.  From  him  Waynflete  received  the 
only  ecclesiastical  preferment  he  ever  enjoyed,  or  that  has 
been  hitherto  discovered  with  certainty,  excepting  Sken- 
dleby, (if  he  was  indeed  vicar  there,)  and  his  bishopric. 
It  happens  that  only  one  volume  of  Bishop  Beaufort's 
Register,*  comprising  the  first  8  years  of  his  presidency 
over  this  diocese,  is  extant  at  Winchester  ;  so  that  we  are 
unable  to  fix  the  time  when  the  mastership  and  chantry  of 
St.  Mary  Magilalen  hospital,  near  Winton,  were  conferred 


» 


It  commences  in  1405.    At  the  end  is  written,  in  a  contemporary 
ijaiid,  ♦'  Prima  pars.  ii<i«  cum  Duo  Rege." 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  265 

on  Waynflete  ;  but  it  appears,  from  other  evidence,*  that 
he  was  in  possession  ni  1438.  He  continued,  it  seems, 
to  hold  it  until  Ins  own  advancement  to  that  see ;  for  he 
collated  to  it  soon  after  (Feb.  \2,  1447),  and  gave  the 
new  Warden,  when  he  had  taken  an  oath  to  observe  the 
statutes,  canonical  institution  at  his  palace  of  I'^oathwaik.-j* 
It  has  been  surmised,  and  not  without  probability,  that 
Waynflete  was  led  to  adopt  Mary  Magdalen  as  his  patron 
saint  in  consequence  of  this  preferment. 

The  College  at  Eton,  as  that  near  Winchester,  was 
established  chiefly  on  account  of  the  school.  In  the 
charter  of  foundation,  [of  the  College]  which  passed  the 
great  seal  in  1 44 1 ,  Waynflete  is  named  to  be  one  of  the 
6  fellows  under  provost  Sever.  He  removed  in  1442, 
with  5  of  the  fellows  and  35  scholars :  and  assumed  at 
Eton  the  station  which  he  had  already  fllled  with  so  much 
honour  to  himself  and  advantage  to  the  public  at  Win- 
chester. When  Waynflete  had  been  master  about  3 
years,  he  was  promoted  by  the  King  to  be  provost  of 
Eton.  The  day  fixed  for  his  admission,  and  for  the 
introduction  of  the  statutes,  was  the  festival  of  St.Thomas, 
Dec.  '21,  1443,  The  commissaries,  who  were  Bishop 
Bekyngton  and  W  illiam  de  la  Pole,  afterwards  Duke  of 
Suffolk,  with  two  notaries  public,  met  in  the  choir  of 
the  collegiate  church;  and  the  prelate  declared  their 
business  to  be,  to  receive  the  oath  of  the  provost,  to 
observe  the  statutes,  and  to  see  him  administer  a  like  oath 
to  the  other  members  of  the  College.  Waynflete  then 
appeared ;  and,  after  the  reading  of  a  dispensation,  which 
the  insufficiency  of  the  buildings,  and  certain  articles  not 
yet  fully  arranged,  had  rendered  necessary  in  some  par- 
ticulars, looked  into  and  touched  the  holy  Gospels,  and, 
kneeling  deliberately  and  reverently,  took  the  oath.  He 
was  then  placed  in  the  chief  seat  on  the  right  hand  of  the 
choir,  and  there  tendered  the  oath  prescribed  to  the 
persons  concerned,  each  in  his  turn,  in  the  presence  of 
the  commissaries.     The  arms;!:  of  the  family  of  Patten 


*  Hist,  and  Antiq.  of  Winton,  vol.  II.  pp.  177-8. 

t  Registr.  Waynflete,  f.  3. 

t  Budden  does  not  set  forth  properly  the  arms  of  provost  Waynflete, 
when  he  says  he  quartered  the  Eton  lilies,  they  being  added  in  a  cMe/, 
Hugget.    Dr.  Wilson.    Le  Neve  has  lozengy  for  fiisily,  p.  4^3, 


C66  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

alias  Barbour  were  a  field  fusily  ermine  and  sable. 
AVaynlleto,  as  provost,  inserted  oo  a  chief  of  the  second, 
three  lilies  slipped  argent ;  being  the  arms  of  the  College. 
This  addition  was  made  as  a  token  of  gratitude  to  the 
King,  because  from  Eton  he  derived  honour  and  dignity;* 
not  to  acknowledge  his  education  there,  as  Guillimf  most 
absurdly  supposes.  His  example  was  followed  by  provost 
Lupton  in  1525.  He  retained  this  bearing  after  his 
removal  to  the  See  of  Winchester,  caused  it  to  be  en- 
graved on  the  public  seal  of  his  hall,  and  transmitted  it 
to  his  College.  Much  stress  has  been  laid  on  it,  as  a 
variation  from  the  Patten  arms,  by  those  who  have  contend- 
ed that  his  name  was  originally  \Vaynflete.  His  arms  are 
noticed  as  remaining  at  Eton  in  1763,  cut  in  stone  in 
two  places  ;  in  the  ante-chapel  over  the  north  door,  in 
the  north-west  corner,  with  the  lilies  on  a  chief;  and 
over  the  font,  w  ithout  the  lilies ;  the  latter,  I  suppose, 
placed  in  the  roof  before  he  was  provost.  If  they  were 
painted,  both  have  been  falsified  about  20  years  since ; 
azure  and  or,  having  been  substituted  in  the  room  of  sable 
and  ermine ;  and  to  those  over  the  font  a  chief  is  added, 
unless  Hugget  was  mistaken,  with  lilies  argent,  but  unlike 
the  other,  and  differing  from  their  common  representation. 
The  glass  in  the  chapel  windows  stained  lozengy  argent, 
or  rather  ermine,  and  sable,  mentioned  by  him,  is  no 
longer  visible  there. 

It  it  related  of  Henry  VI.  that  he  was  circumspect  in 
ecclesiastical  matters,  and  particularly  cautious  neither 
to  bestow  preferment  on  undeserving  persons,  nor  in  a 
manner  unworthy  of,  his  own  dignity.  It  was  said  that 
he  called  Waynflete,  and  addressing  him  familiarly,  as 
was  his  custom,  by  the  title  of  Master  William,  asked 
whether,  if  he  should  obtain  a  certain  benefice  by  his 
favour,  he  should  be  able  to  retain  it.  On  his  answering 
in  the  affirmative,  and  that  he  \Vould  with  diligence  when- 
ever his  majesty  ordered  ;  Henry  replied,  he  then  willed 
and  commanded  him  to  be  Bishop  of  Winchester. 

It  was  perhaps  necessary  to  use  uncommon  expe- 
dition to  secure  this  promotion  to  Waynflete,  and 
to  preclude  embarrassment  from  papal  interposition 
or   the   application    of  potent   and   factious    noblemen. 


*  Budden,  p.  54.    Le  Neve,  p.  493.  t  Guillim,  408. 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  267 

Henry,  without  waiting  the  customary  forms,  on  the 
day  his  uncle  died,  sent  leave  to  tlie  Church  ot  V'V  iiichesttr 
to  proceed  to  an  election,  and  strongly  recoinmtnaed  \u$ 
**  right  trustie  and  vvel  beloved  clarke  and  counstllour, 
Master  William  V\  aynflete,  piovost  of  iiton,"  to  be  his 
successor.  He  committed  to  1  im,  by  letters  patent  of 
the  same  date,  the  custody  of  the  temporaliies  ;  and  ia 
virtue  of  them,  Waynhete  on  the  14th.  was  piesented  to 
the  Church  of  Witney. 

At    Winchester,    April    12,    1447,   the  day  after    the 
decease  of  the  Cardinal  [Beaufort,]  and  perhaps  bt  fore 
the  arrival  of  the  letter  from  the  King,  the  Monks  of  the 
Convent  of  St.  Swithun,  assembled  in  their  chapter-house, 
and  deputed  the   Sub-Prior  with  one    of  the   brethten 
to    notify   the    vacancy    by   an    instrument   unuer  their 
common  seal,  and  to  desire  the  royal  permission  to  elect  a 
Bishop.      The   King  answered  them  on   the    13th,  and 
renewed  his  solicitations  that  they  would  choose  VV  ayn- 
flete  without  delay.     H  is  letter  was  received  on  the   14th 
by  William  Aulton  the  Prior,   Master  Stephen  Wilton 
Doctor  of  decrees   and  Archdeacon  of  Winchester,  and 
the  whole  brotherhood;    when  they  determined   not   to 
postpone  their  compliance  even  to  the  time  named  by  the 
King,  but  were  unanimous  in  fixing  on  tiie    15th,  which 
was  Saturday,  for  the  election.     The  conge  d'  tlire  or 
licence  under  the  privy  seal  is  dated   the  same  day   at 
Canterbury.     After  the  mass  de  Spiritu  Sancto  had  been 
solemnly  performed  at  the  high  altar  in  the  Church  of  St. 
Swythun,  and   a  bell  tolled  according  to   custom,    the 
Prior,  the  Sub-Prior,  the  Archdeacon  of  Winchester,  and 
that  of  Surry  by  his  proxy,  with  37  brethren,  all  professed 
Monks  and  in  holy  orders,  excepts,  who  were  young,  met 
in  the  chapter-house.     The  word  of  God  was   then  pro- 
pounded, and  they  implored  devoutly  the  divine  grace  by 
singing  the  hymn  ^'  Veni,  Creator  Spiritus."     A  protes- 
tation against  the  presence  or  voting  of  any  unqualified 
person    was    read   by  the    Prior,   and   the    constitution 
general  "  Quia  propter"  by  Dr.  Wilton.     Immediately 
when  this  was  done,  they  all  without  any  debate,  on  a 
sudden,  with  one  accord,  the  Holy  Ghost,  as  they  firmly 
believed,     inspiring    them,    directed    their    suftrages    to 
Waynflete,  and  elected  him,  as  it  were  with  one  voice  and 
ojie  spirit,  for  their  Bishop  and   Pastor;    and  instantly 
singing  Te  Deum,  and  causing  the  bells  to  ring  merrily, 


268  WILLIAM  WAYNFETE. 

they  went  in  procession  to  the  high  altar  of  the  Church, 
M'ere  Dr.  Wilton,  by  their  order,  published  the  trans- 
action in  the  vulgar  tongue  to  a  numerous  congregation  of 
the  clergy  and  people.  The  Sub-Prior  and  another 
monk  were  deputed  to  wait  on  Waynflete  at  Eton 
College  with  the  news  of  his  election.  From  sincere 
reluctance,  or  a  decent  compliance  with  the  fashion  of 
the  times,  he  protested  often  and  with  tears,  and  could 
not  be  prevailed  on  to  undertake  the  important  office  to 
which  he  was  called,  until  they  found  him,  about  sunset, 
in  the  Church  of  St.  Mary ;  when  he  consented,  saying, 
he  would  no  longer  resist  the  divine  will.  The  King  was 
formally  apprised  of  all  these  proceedings  by  an  instru- 
ment under  the  common  seal  of  the  convent  dated  the 
17th.,  and  the  sub-prior  attended  as  before,  with  an 
humble  request  that  he  would  vouchsafe  to  confirm  their 
election.  The  chapter  sent  likewise  to  Rome  a  narrative 
of  the  steps  they  had  taken  after  the  delivery  of  the  body 
of  the  deceased  Cardinal,  as  was  fitting,  to  ecclesiastical 
sepulture ;  and  the  prior  declares,  in  his  own  name  and 
that  of  the  whole  convent,  that,  their  unanimous  suf- 
frages having  fallen  on  Waynfiete,  he  elects  and  provides 
him  to  be  Bishop  and  Pastor  of  their  Church.  They 
request  his  holiness  to  confirm  their  choice,  and  impart 
to  their  new  Bishop  his  free  gift  of  consecration.  On 
the  l6th.  June  Waynflete  made  profession  of  obedience 
to  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  at  Lambeth.  He  was 
consecrated  at  Eton  on  July  13th.  The  College  at 
Winchester  presented  him  on  the  occasion  with  a  horse, 
which  cost  £6.  13s.  4d.;  and  gave  money  (135.  4c?.)  to 
the  boys  at  Eton.  The  warden,  with  other  members 
attended  the  solemnity ;  and  on  the  18th.  Waynflete 
received  the  spiritualties  ;  he  held  his  first  general  ordi- 
nation on  Sunday  the  23rd.  of  December  following  at 
Eton,  by  special  licence  from  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln. 
The  Bishop,  soon  after  he  was  confirmed  in  the  posession 
of  his  See,  leceived  a  most  honourable  testimony  of  the 
confidence  reposed  in  him  by  his  royal*  patron.  King 
Henry,  possibly  foreseeing  the  troubles  about  to  over- 
whelm the  nation,  was  solicitous  to  insure  the  completion 


*  Henry  VI.  nominated  him  one  of  the  14  trustees  of  his  will  to 
succeed  the  first  nominees  in  case  ol"  death.    Sepulchral  Mon. 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  269 

of  his  two  Colleges.  He  now  made  a  testamentary 
provision  for  it ;  and,  "  in  consideration  of  the  great 
discretion,  the  high  truth,  and  the  fervent  zeal  for  his 
welfare,  which  he  had  proved"  in  the  Bishop  of  Win- 
chester, constituted  him  by  his  will,  dated  at  Eton 
March  12,  1447,  his  surveyor,  executor,  and  director; 
as  also  sole  arbiter  of  any  variance  which  might  happen 
with  his  feoffees.  The  desire  to  accomplish  this  measure, 
was  perhaps  the  particular  motive  of  his  impatience  to 
secure  the  advancement  of  Wavnflete  to  the  mitre.  A 
popular  preacher  of  reformation  (Reginald  Pecock)  about 
this  time  enlarged  on  the  riches,  luxury,  and  pride  of  the 
superior  clergy ;  and  by  his  eloquence  [quere  declamation'] 
rendered  the  grandeur  annexed  to  episcopacy  in  parti- 
cular, a  subject  of  public  clamour  and  indignation.  The 
spiritual  lords  were  then  served  on  the  knee,  and  had 
pompous  retinues ;  some,  it  is  related,  appearing  abroad 
with  as  many  as  fourscore  attendants,  their  horses  all 
bedecked  with  silver  trappings.  So  splendid  was  the  mitre 
w  hen  conferred  on  Wayntlete ;  whose  approved  modera- 
tion, with  the  worthy  uses  to  which  he  destined  his 
revenue,  was  well  adapted  to  conciliate  the  temper  of  his 
adversaries.  He  persevered  in  his  wonted,  unaffected 
humility ;  and,  we  are  told,  was  accustomed  to  repeat 
often  that  verse  of  the  Magnificat,  Luke  i.  49,  "  Qui 
potens  est  fecit  pro  me  magna,  et  sanctum  nomen  ejus ;" 
which  also  he  added  to  his  arms  as  his  motto. 

CHAPTER  III. 

Transactions  at  Oxford  and  Jfinchester,  loith   the  Founding 
of  Magdalen  Hall  by  Bishop  fFaynflete. 

In  1448,  the  year  after  his  advancement  to  the  mitre, 
he  obtained  the  royal  grant,  dated  May  6,  impowering 
him  to  found  a  hall,  to  be  called  after  the  blessed  St. 
Mary  Magdalen,  for  the  study  of  divinity  and  philosophy, 
at  Oxford  ;  to  consist  of  a  president  and  oO  poor  scholars, 
graduates  ;  the  number  to  be  augmented  or  diminished 
in  proportion  to  their  revenues ;  and  to  confer  on  them  a 
right  to  use  a  common  seal.  This  was  accompanied  with 
a  licence  for  <£lOO.  a-year  in  mortmain. 

The  foundation  of  Magdalen  hall  preceded  the  in- 
stallation of  the  Bishop  in  his  Cathedral  of  Winchester. 


270  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

This  ceremony  was  deferred  to  the  feast  of  St.  Wolstan, 
August  30,  1448,  above  a  year  after  his  consecration, 
\\hen  it  was  honoured  with  the  royal  presence.  It  is 
related  of  King  Henry,  that  he  was  unable  to  suppress 
the  emotions  of  his  regard  in  bidding  him  receive  i»- 
thronization  in  his  See,  that  he  might  be  in  it  even  as  the 
prelates  his  predecessors  ;  and  wishing  that  he  might 
be  long-lived  upon  earth,  and  increase  and  profit  in  the 
way  of  righteousness.  Waynflete,  we  are  told,  made 
the  Archbishop  a  present  of  tiie  professional  cope,  or  that 
used  at  the  solemnity,  which  was  commonly  of  great 
value;  as  also  of  ^£100.  in  money.  He  redeemed  with 
generosity  his  vestments,  and  the  pieces  of  tapestry  which 
were  claimed  as  perquisites.  He  distributed  largely  to 
the  various  attendants ;  and,  in  the  entertainment  pro- 
vided for  the  company,  displayed  a  liberality  and  mag- 
nificence suited  to  the  occasion,  and  worthy  of  his  See. 

We  find  the  Bishop  again  at  Winchester  in  the 
beginning  of  May,  1 449,  "when  he  gave  the  benediction 
in  the  Church  of  the  Monastery  of  St.  Mary  Wynton, 
between  the  masses,  to  !Mrs.  Agnes  Buriton,  who  had 
been  elected  and  confirmed  of  that  society ;  and,  the 
same  day,  solemnized  in  his  pontificals  the  profession  of 
several  Nuns  of  that  Convent.  The  invasion  of  Nor- 
mandy by  the  French  King,  after  a  truce,  which  had 
given  leisure  to  the  turbulent  warriors  from  the  continent 
to  exercise  intrigue  and  mutual  animosities  at  home, 
occasioned  the  holding  of  a  Parliament  at  Winchester, 
l6th.  June,  1449.  The  Bishop,  to  whom  the  royal 
favour  imparted  political  consequence,  was  present  at 
the  council  previous  to  its  meeting,  11th.  June;  and 
appointed  proxies  to  attend  the  convocation  of  the  clergy 
at  London,  "  being  personally  detained  at  \V  olvesey- 
palace  on  various  and  arduous  business,  in  the  other 
assembly,  for  the  good  and  advantage  of  the  King  and 
the  whole  realm."*  The  King  at  this  time  resided  above 
a  month  at  Winchester.  The  college-chapel  was  often 
honoured  with  his  presence,  and  filled  with  the  nobles 
and  prelates  of  his  suite,  at  vespers,  matins,  and  mass. 
The  services  were  then  commonly  performed  by  Wayn- 
flete, and,  it  is  related,  with  great  devotion.     The  Kmg 


Registr.  Wayuflete.    Wilkiiis's  Concilia,  vol.  iii.  p.  556. 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  271 

also  attended  mass  at  the  Cathedral  on  the  feast  of  St. 
Peter  and  St.  Paul,  two  of  its  patron-saints,  on  which 
day  the  college  was  sumptuously  entertained  by  Bishop 
Bekyngton.  On  his  return  to  London  in  July,  the 
Bishop  issued  a  mandate  for  his  visitation  of  the  college 
as  Ordinai7,  in  Sept.  ;  perhaps  not  because  he  was  aware 
of  any  thing  amiss  in  the  society,  but  from  respect  for 
the  founder,  and  in  compliance  with  his  desire,  which 
he  observes  had  been,  that  it  might  not  long  continue 
destitute  of  this  solace.  He  was  probably  again  at 
Winchester  with  the  King  toward  the  end  of  Nov.  1449. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Of  Bishop  IVaynflete  to  the  time  of  his  being  made  Lord 
High  Chancellor  of  England. 

A  pretended  heir  of  the  house  of  York,  an  Irishman, 
whose  name  was  Cade,  headed  about  this  time  an  in- 
surrection in  Kent;  and  after  defeating  the  King's  general, 
%vho  was  slain,  encamped  on  Blackheath,  declaring  he 
was  come  to  assist  the  Parliament  at  Westminster  in 
reforming  the  administration,  and  removing  Somerset  and 
other  persons  from  the  royal  presence.  The  citizens  of 
London  admitted  him  within  the  walls  in  the  day-time  ; 
but  the  insolence  of  his  followers  and  their  outrages 
becoming  mtolerable,  they  shut  the  gates  on  his  marching 
into  the  fields  in  the  evening,  as  usual,  and  resolved  to 
attack  him  in  the  night.  Lord  Scales,  governor  of  the 
Tower,  sent  them  a  detachment  of  the  garrison;  and 
Cade,  after  a  bloody  conflict  on  the  bridge,  was  driven 
beyond  the  Stoop  in  Southwark.  The  Bishop  of  Win- 
chester, who  was  shut  up  in  Halywell  castle,  being- 
summoned  to  attend  a  council  in  the  Tower,  where 
Archbishop  Stafford,  lord  high  chancellor,  had  taken 
refuge,  was  of  opinion,  they  might  win  over  by  hopes  of 
pardon,  those  whom  they  could  not  easily  subdue  by- 
force  of  arms ;  and  that  to  avoid  lighting  would  be  the 
most  effectual  way  to  defeat  the  traitor.  The  two  prelates, 
with  other  lords,  on  the  following  day  crossed  the  water, 
and  held  in  St.  Margaret's  Church  a  conference  with 
Cade  and  his  principal  officers.  A  general  pardon  under 
the  great  seal  proved,  as  the  Bishop  had  forseen,  so 
welcome,    that    the  dispersion   began   the  same   night. 


•-/a  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 


n*ro 


The  King,  who  had  repaired  for  safety  to  Kenilworth, 
was  respectfully  received  by  the  Archbishop  and  Wayn- 
flete  at  Canterbury,  where  a  council  ordered  a  proclama- 
tion to  be  issued  (15th.  of  July,  1450,)  for  apprehending 
Cade.  The  real  heir  of  York  was  suspected  of  abetting 
this  rebellion,  to  try  the  bias  of  the  people.  The  justice 
of  his  claim  to  the  crown  became,  on  his  return  from 
Ireland,  a  topic  of  popular  discussion ;  and  the  fierce 
contest  between  the  two  houses,  distinguished  by  red 
and  white  roses,  was  evidently  about  to  commence. 

The  favour  of  King  Henry,  as  it  conferred  on  Waynflete 
an  active  part  in  the  previous  measures  of  administration, 
so  it  was  likely  to  entail  on  him  a  large  portion  in  the  conse- 
quences of  civil  discord.  That  he  hadearly  experience  of  the 
animosity  of  the  Yorkists,  or  was  jealous  of  their  designs, 
and  uneasy  in  his  situation,  may  be  collected  from  an 
instrument  dated*  May  7th.  1451,  which  sets  forth,  that 
in  a  certain  lofty  room,  commonly  called  Le  peynted 
chambie,  in  his  manor  house  of  Southwark,f  and  in  the 
presence  of  a  notary  public,  and  of  the  Bishops  of  Bangor 
and  Achonry  (the  latter  the  suffragan  of  Bishop  Bekyng- 
ton),J  who  were  desired  to  be  witnesses,  he  appeared, 
holding  in  his  hands  a  writing,  which  he  read  before 
them,  and  in  which  he  alleged  that  his  Bishopric  was 
obtained  canonically;  that  he  had  peaceable  possession 
of  it ;  that  his  reputation  was  without  blemish  ;  that  he 
laboured  under  no  disqualitication,  and  was  ever  ready  to 
obey  the  law;  but  that  probable  causes  and  conjectures 
made  him  fear  some  grievous  attempt  to  the  prejudice  of 
himself  and  see ;  and  to  prevent  any  person  from  giving  him 
disturbance  in  the  premises,  in  any  manner,  on  any 
pretext,  he  appealed  to  the  apostolic  see,  and  to  the 
Pope,  and  claimed  the  protection  of  the  court  of  Can- 
terbury ;  putting  himself,  his  bishopric,  and  all  his 
adherents,    under   their  defence,    and   protesting  in  the 


*  Registr.  Waynflete,  t.  i.  p.  2.  f,  11. 

t  The  episcopal  palace  of  Winchester  was  in  Southwark,  on  the  bank 
of  the  Thames,  near  the  west  end  of  St.  Mary  Overie's  Church.  South- 
wark park,  otherwise  Winchester  park,  comprises  about  60  acres  of 
ground,  and  is  covered  (1783)  witli  several  thousand  houses,  many 
extensive  factories,  and  a  variety  of  other  buildings  ;  the  ground  or  quit 
rents  annually  ^£'450. 

i  Registr.  Bi'kyngton. 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  273 

usual  form.  The  next  day  he  appointed  19  proctors  to 
manage,  jointly  or  separately,  any  business  respecting 
himself  or  his  See,  at  Rome  or  elsewhere.  In  the  awful 
interval  between  the  preparations  for  an  open  rupture  and 
its  commencement,  religion  was  inteiposed,  by  the  piety 
of  the  prelates,  to  soften  the  minds  of  the  two  parties, 
and  direct  their  councils  to  public  concord.  Waynflete 
issued  his  mandate  July  2,  (1451),  at  the  requisition  of 
the  Archbishop,  for  suppUcations  to  be  made  in  his 
Diocese,  with  litanies  on  certain  days,  for  the  peace 
and  tranquillity  of  the  Church,  the  King,  and  realm  of 
England.  In  Sept.  we  find  Waynflete  at  St.  Alban's, 
from  whence  he  issued  a  commission  for  the  visitation  of 
his  Diocese,  not  being  able  to  attend  in  person,  as  he 
had  purposed,  on  account  of  various  arduous  and  un- 
expected business  concerning  the  King  and  the  realm. 
The  Parliament  meeting  in  Nov.,  an  address  of  the 
Commons,  for  the  removal  of  Somerset  and  other  coun- 
sellors, was  enforced  by  a  letter  of  remonstrance  from 
the  Duke  of  York,  who  approached  London  with  aH 
army  raised  in  Wales  ;  and,  finding  the  gates  shut,  en- 
camped on  Burnt-heath  near  Dartford  in  Kent.  The 
King,  with  a  superior  force,  pitched  his  tents  on  Black- 
heath.  The  two  armies  were  arrayed  for  battle,  when 
Henry,  who  was  ever  adverse  to  the  shedding  of  blood, 
sent  Waynflete,  with  the  Bishop  of  Ely,  Lord  Rivers, 
and  the  keeper  of  the  privy  seal,  to  inquue  the  occasion 
of  this  commotion;  and,  if  the  demands  of  the  *Duke 
were  not  unreasonable,  to  propose  a  reconciliation. 
York  surrendered,  and  swore  solemnly  to  bear  true  al- 
legiance to  Henry,  on  their  consenting  that  Someiset 
should  be  taken  into  custody  and  tried.  Waynflete,  whose 
sage  advice  and  temperate  conduct  are  said  to  have 
contributed  in  no  small  degree  to  the  restoration  of  the 
public  tranquillity,  stood  by,  with  other  lords  of  the  privy 
council,  while  he,  and  the  principal  noblemen  his  abettors^ 
did  homage  to  the  King. 

The  next  year  an  expedition  into  France  again  mis- 
carried, though  conducted  by  the  most  valorous  Earl  of 
Shrewsbury.  In  vain  had  Waynflete  orderetl  the  clergy 
of  Southwark  to  be  assembled  (March  16,  1432)  at  8 
in  the  morning,  and  go  in  solemn  procession  through  the 
public  street,  by  the  doors  of  St.  Margaret  and  St.  Olave, 
as  far  as  the  Monastery  of  Bermondsey,  with  litanies  and 


274  WILLIAM  AVAYNFLETE. 

apt  suflFiagcs,  supplicating  for  the  defence  and  increase 
of  the  Cliristian  faith,  for  the  prosperous  estate  of  the 
King  and  his  dominions,  and  especially  for  a  happy  issue 
to  this  undertaking,  and  for  all  who  should  combat  the 
enemies  of  their  country,  under  the  illustrious  earl.  He 
was  killed  in  battle,  and  the  revolted  province  was  re- 
covered by  the  French  King.  The  pregnancy  of  the 
queen  was  now  regarded  as  matter  of  joy  to  the  Lancas- 
tiian  party,  rather  than  to  the  nation.  The  prince  of 
whom  she  was  delivered  at  Westminster,  Oct.  1 3, 1 453,  was 
baptized  the  day  following  by  Waynflete,  and  named 
Edward,  having  been  born  on  the  feast  of  St.  Edward, 
King  and  Confessor.  The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
the  Duke  of  Somerset,  and  the  Duchess  of  Bokyngham 
were  then  sponsors  ;  and  Waynflete  wa.s  sponsor  when  he 
was  confirmed  by  the  Archbishop.*  He  was  also  one  of 
the  tutors  appointed  for  him  in  1457.  He  was  then  Lord 
High  Chancellor,  and  is  named  next  after  the  Arch- 
bishop of  York  in  the  writ,"!"  which  sets  forth,  that  the 
King  knew  the  industry  of  each  of  the  persons  as  approved 
in  arduous  affairs,  his  discretion,  and  tried  fidelity. 

King  Heniy  had  already  endeavoured  to  secure  the 
completion  of  the  buildings,  and  the  endowment  of  the 
two  Colleges  he  had  founded  at  Eton  and  Cambridge, 
when,  alarmed  perhaps  at  his  recent  illness  and  his 
present  situation,  he  resolved,  with  similar  wisdom  and 
foresight,  to  provide  for  their  future  good  government. 
The  statutes  accepted  by  the  visitors  in  July  1446,  had 
been  found,  on  carrying  them  into  execution,  to  be  in- 
complete, and  to  need  reformation.  He  therefore  deem- 
ed it  expedient  to  delegate  persons  in  whom  he  could 
confide,  a  privilege  hitherto  reserved ;  and  by  letters 
patent,  dated  July  12,  1455,  setting  forth,  that  the  many 
and  great  concerns  of  his  kingdom  rendered  him  unable 
to  attend  continually  on  the  lemedying  of  the  defects,  as 
they  were  noted,  empowered  the  Bishop  of  Winchester 
and  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln  to  correct,  alter,  and  improve 
their  statutes,  with  the  advice  of  the  provosts,  as  they 
should  think  proper,  during  his  lifetime.  So  highly  did  the 
King  esteem  the  merit  and  services  of  Waynflete,  as  to 


*  MSS.  C.  C.  C.C.  No.417.    Budden,  p.  70.    Sandford.    Stow. 
t  Rymer,  t.  xiip.385. 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  27> 

oidain  that  both  his  Colleges  should  yearl}',  within  the 
iS  days  preceding  the  feast  of  the  Nativity,  celebrate 
solemn  exequies  for  his  soul  after  his  decease,  with 
commendations  and  a  morrow  mass :  a  distinction  not 
conferred  on  any  person  besides,  except  Henry  V.,  Queen 
Katherine  his  wife,  and  his  own  Queen  Margaret,  for 
whom  obits  are  decreed ;  with  one  quarterly  for  the 
founder. 

About  this  time  (Jan.  1455)  died  Ralph  Lord  Crum- 
welljOne  of  the  executors  of  the  famous  Duke  of  Bedford, 
the  regent;  whom  he  succeeded  as  master  of  the  mews, 
and  falconer  to  the  King.  He  had  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  Lord  Dayncourt ;  who  dying  without  issue 
in  Sept.  1454,  he  then  enfeoffed  Bishop  Waynflete  in 
his  manors  of  Candlesby  and  Boston,  and  in  some  in 
other  counties  ;  one  of  which,  that  of  East  Bridgeford, 
Notts.,  was  disputed  by  Francis,  liOrd  Lovelj,  husband 
of  the  co-heiress ;  the  remainder  being  left  between  the 
two  sisters ;  and  it  was  agreed  to  refer  their  title  to  arbi- 
trators, whose  award  should  be  tinal.  He  was  buried 
with  his  lady  in  the  chancel  at  Tateshale,  Lincoln,  where 
he  had  a  castle,  and  where  he  founded  and  endowed  u 
College,  (17  Henry  VI.)  for  a  master  or  warden,  7 
chaplains,  6  secular  clerks,  and  6  choristers ;  with  an 
alms-house  by  the  churchyard  for  13  poor  persons;  and 
their  monument  is  still  in  being,  but,  thq  windows  having 
been  demolished,  is  exposed  to  the  weather.  He  likewise 
erected  the  Church  of  Ranby  in  the  same  county.  His 
buildings  were  adorned  with  figures  of  purses,  in  reference 
to  his  office  of  Lord  High  Treasurer  of  England.  His 
executors  were  the  Bishop,  the  learned  Sir  John  Fortescue, 
chief  justice  of  the  King's  Bench,  and  Portington  a 
justice  of  the  Common  Pleas.  At  his  Church  at  Tate- 
shale an  antiquary  remarked  in  l(i29,  arms  Lozengy,  S. 
^  Erm.  on  a  chief  S.  3  lilies  Arg.,  the  bearing  of  Way ntlete 
after  he  was  provost  of  Eton,  on  each  side  in  the  windows 
over  the  north  and  south  doors,  and  also  cut  in  stone 
over  each  portico.  If  the  former  are  now  missing,  the 
reason  probably  is,  that  a  great  quantity  of  painted  glass 
has  been  taken  away,  to  adorn  a  Chapel  at  Burleigh 
Hall  near  Stamford.  The  Church  is  exempt  from  eccle- 
siastical jurisdiction. 

The  Queen  with  her  Lancastrians  was  reinstated  in 
power,  after  various  struggles,  in  145G.      The  court  was 

T  2 


«76  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

at  Coventry;  and  in  the  priory  there,  the  Lord  Chancellor 
Bourchier,  in  the  presence  of  the  Duke  of  York,  who, 
with  the  Earls  of  Salisbury  and  Warwick,  had*  been 
invited  to  attend,  and  of  many  Lords  spiritual  and  tem- 
poral, produced  to  the  King  in  his  chamber  the  three 
royal  seals  :  a  large  one  of  gold  ;  another  ;  and  one  smaller, 
of  silver,  in  three  leather  bags  under  his  own  seal ;  and 
caused  them  to  be  opened.  The  King  received  the  seals 
from  his  hands,  and  delivered  them  to  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester,  whom  he  appointed  his  successor.  Waynflete, 
after  taking  the  usual  oath  and  setting  the  large  silver  seal 
to  a  pardon  prepared  for  the  Archbishop,  ordered  the 
seals  to  be  replaced,  and  the  bags  to  be  sealed  with  his 
own  signet  by  a  clerk  of  chanceiy.  It  is  mentioned  that 
his  salary  was  c£200.  a  year.  The  prudence  of  the 
Bishop  was  now  to  be  "  made  eminent  in  warilie  wield- 
ing the  weight  of  his  office"  of  Lord  High  Chancellor. 
His  advancement  to  it  seems  to  have  been  a  conciliatory 
measure,  and  enforced  by,  or  agreeable  to,  both  parties. 

CHAPTER  V. 

Of  Bishop  JVaynfiete  while  Chancellor,  with  the  Founding  of 
Magdalen  College,  Oxford. 

In  the  preceding  century  had  lived  the  renowned 
Wickliff,  the  first  asserter  of  religious  liberty,  and  author 
of  the  heresy,  as  it  was  then  deemed,  called  Lollardism. 
This  had  been  nurtured  in  the  University  of  Oxford,  its 
birth-place,  where  Bishop  Flemmyng  founded  Lincoln 
College,  to  oppose  its  increase  and  progress.  Reginald 
Pecock,  whom  he  ordained  at  the  same  time  with  Wayn- 
flete,* was  a  convert  to  the  tenets  of  the  reformer,  which  he 
propagated  with  success  ;  and  had  become  exceedingly 
famous  by  a  sermon  preached  at  St.  Paul's  Cross  in  1447, 
the  year  of  Waynflete's  advancement  to  the  mitre,  which 
occasioned  a  most  violent  controversy.  The  populace, 
inflamed  by  his  invectives  against  the  higher  clergy,  com- 
Hjitted  many  enormities  ;  and  the   commotion   thus  ex- 


*  Pecock  was  ordained  acolite  and  sub-deacon  when  Waynflete  was 
made  sub-deacon.  The);  became  deacons  together ;  Pecock,  on  the  title 
of  Oriel  College,  to  which  he  belonged.  He  was  ordaiued  presbyter  the 
20th.  ottEaunary,  1421.    Registr.  Flemmyng. 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  277 

cited,   had   hitherto    continued  to  accompany   the    civil 
broils  under  King  Henry.      But   Pecock,  on  the  loss  of 
his  patron  the  Duke  of  Suffolk,  had  declined  in  public 
favour.     He  had  been  already  ordered  to  quit  London ; 
and,  soon  after  Waynflete  entered  on  his  high  station  of 
Chancellor,  it  was  resolved   to   proceed  to  a  review  of 
his  writings,   and  to  decide  on  their  orthodoxy.*      He 
Mas  cited  Oct.  22,  1457,  by  the  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, to  produce  his  works  in  the  chapel  of  Lambeth,  to 
be  there  examined  by  certain  doctors,  whose  report  was 
to  be  made  to  him  and  his  assessors.     These  were  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester  Lord  Chancellor,  and  the  Bishops 
of  Lincoln  and  Rochester.     Pecock  was  sentenced  to  sit 
in  his  pontificals,  as  Bishop  of  Chichester,  at  the  feet  of 
ihe  Archbishop,  and  to   see  his  books   delivered  to  the 
flames    in   St.  Paul's   Church-yard;  besides  undergoing 
other  disgrace.     He  died   of  chagrin,   at  an  Abbey  to 
which  he  was  permitted  to  retire  on  a  pension.     It  would 
be  unfair  to  appreciate,  according  to  our  present  ideas, 
the  conduct  of  the  associates  in  humbling  and  punishing 
this  learned  person.     If  Waynflete  concurred  with  them, 
as  apparently  he  did,  it  must  be  owned  as  not  unlikely, 
that  his  temper,  naturally  mild,  might  be  warped  on  such 
an  occasion,  by  zeal  to  preserve  the  church  from  inno- 
vation or  danger.     Perhaps  too  his  influence  was  used, 
to  procure  from  the    University  of  Oxford,  which  was 
suspected  of  favouring  the  delinquent,   a  decree  of  con- 
vocation for  burning  his  books  ;  which  was  done  at  Carfax 
in  the  presence  of  the  chancellor.  Dr.  Chaundler,  warden 
of  New   College,  and  a  letter  of  apology    sent  to  the 
Bishop  for  then-  delay.     The  Bishop,  however,  engaged 
by  other  important  duties  or  concerns,  had  been  unifohnly 
attentive  to  the  poor  scholars,  whose  patronage  he  had  so 
generously  undertaken.     The  Hall  which  he  founded  at 
Oxford,  as  soon  as  he  was  raised  to  the  mitre,  had  me^ 
with  an  early  benefactress,  Joan  Danvers,  relict  of  Wm. 
Danvers,  Esq.     To  this  lady  the  manor  of  Wike,  alias 


[*  This  would  have  been  to  prejudge  the  matter,  Chaundler  probably 
meant '  as  to'  instead  of '  on.'  The  object,  I  apprehend  of  this  review  wa^ 
to  decide  whether  the  writings  were  orthodox  or  heterodox  :  and  not  to 
decide  on  their  orthodoxif ,  for  this  would  have  beett  to  assume  the  objtcV 
pt"  the  enquiry,   EpiT.J 


278  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

Eswyke,  with  its  appurtenances  at  Ashbury  in  Berks,  had 
descended.  She  granted  it  July  17,  1453,  to  WaynHete 
and  others.  It  was  conveyed  by  W  aynflete  to  his  College 
in  1476.  In  1456,  the  King  granted  a  licence  for  the 
yielding  up  of  the  Priory  of  Luffield,  with  its  appur- 
tenances, to  the  president  of  the  hall.  The  president  and 
scholars  had  purchased,  but  not  in  perpetuity,  4  tenements 
belonging  to  University  College  ;  2  standing  on  the  east 
side  of  their  hall,  the  other  two  between  Horse-mull-lane 
and  the  college.  They  had  likewise  hired  the  Saracen's 
Head  of  the  trustees  of  a  chapel  of  the  Virgin  in  St. 
Peter's  Church,  at  the  yearly  rent  of  £2,  These  build- 
ings Waynflete  was  about  to  demolish  to  enlarge  the  site, 
>vhen  the  recovery  of  the  King  and  the  re-instatement  of 
the  Lancastrians  in  power,  with  the  high  degree  of  royal 
favour  he  enjoyed,  enabled  him  to  extend  his  designs  in 
behalf  of  the  needy  student  and  of  learning  in  general. 

Waynflete,  weighing  the  disadvantages  of  a  confined 
spot  within  the  city-walls,  where  land  could  not  be  acquired 
but  with  great  difliculty,  and  unwilling  to  leave  his  foun- 
dation subject  to  the  inconveniences  of  a  limited  tenure, 
had  conceived  a  desire  of  obtaining  the  Hospital  of  St. 
John  Baptist;  meaning,  as  it  afforded  a  most  eligible 
situation,  to  convert  his  hall  into  a  college.  On  his 
explaining  his  intentions,  and  the  obstacles  in  his  way,  the 
King,  it  IS  related,  after  a  gracious  hearing,  persuaded 
him  to  give  the  preference  to  Cambridge,  where  he  had 
erected  his  own  college,  as  wishing  to  amplify  that  Uni- 
versity. Waynflete  reminded  him  that  he  had  promised 
his  permission  to  convert  this  hospital  to  the  uses  of 
j-eligion  and  learning  ;  when,  it  is  said,  he  replied  that 
his  piet)'  was  acceptable  to  him,  and  he  would  contribute 
ds  far  as  was  in  his  power  to  the  forwarding  of  his  plan. 
The  necessary  steps  having  been  previously  taken,  the 
master' and  brethren  directed  their  attorney,  July  5,  1456, 
to  deliver  seisin  of  the  hospital  and  its  appurtenances  to 
the  president  and  scholars  of  Magdalen  Hall.  A  licence 
■was  issued  Sept.  27,  to  yield  up  the  hospital  in  perpetuity 
to  the  society  of  Magdalen  Hall ;  and  Oct.  27,  to  transfer 
the  advowsorj  to  Waynflete,  to  whom  the  King,  by  letters 
patent  of  the  same  date,  gives  it  with  the  patronage  for 
ever.  They  were  also  empowered  to  deliver  up  the  site, 
with  all  their  possessions,  to  the  president  and  scholars 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  279 

©f  the  Hall.  The  royal  grant,  dated  July  18,  1456, 
|)ermitted  Waynflete  to  found  a  College  on  certain 
land  without  East-gate,  Oxford,  bounded  on  the  east  by 
tiie  river  Cherwill ;  on  the  south  by  the  way  leading  from 
East-gate  to  East-bridge ;  on  the  west  by  that  leading 
from  East-gate  to  the  fosse  called  Canditch ;  and  on  the 
north  by  certain  grounds  belonging  to  the  parish  of  Haly- 
well :  and  also  to  endow  it  with  of  100.  a  3  ear  in  mortmain. 
The  charter  of  foundation  passed  the  seal  in  1457,  with 
licences;  one  for  the  building  of  the  College,  another 
for  its  being  governed  by  statutes  to  be  provided  by 
Waynflete.  The  permission  of  the  Pope  was  notified  by 
a  bull.  The  Bishop  appointed  Simon  Godmanston  and 
others,  in  Sept.  to  receive  possession  of  the  site  of  the 
hospital  from  the  president  of  his  hall.  He  named  Will. 
Tybarde,  B.D.  (principal  of  Haberdashers'  Hall  in  the 
University  of  Oxford,)  to  be  president  of  his  College. 
Hornley  ceded  to  him  the  hospital  and  hall,  and  retired 
to  Dartford  in  Kent,  where  he  died  and  was  buried  in 
1477.  The  Bishop  made  over  the  site  of  the  hospital  to 
Tybarde ;  Vyse  the  master  consenting  to  its  union  with 
the  College,  and  accepting  a  yearly  pension  of  £40.  To 
each  of  the  chaplains,  on  -t^ieir  quitting,  a  pension  of 
of  10.  was  assigned.  The  hospitallers  were  provided,  as 
before,  with  lodging  and  diet ;  and  one  of  them,  John 
Selam,  is  mentioned  as  resigning  in  1485,  Thus  the 
new  institution  was  engrafted  on  the  old,  and  the  poor 
were  no  sufterers.  Pilgrims  were  still  entitled  to  refresh- 
ment, and  charity-boys  fed  with  the  relics  of  [rectius  from] 
the  tables.  The  foundation  and  union  being  confirmed 
by  the  Pope,  Waynflete,  June  12,  1458,  converted  the 
Hospital  into  a  College,  The  new  president  was  autho-^ 
rized,  with  6  fellows,  3  masters  of  arts,  and  3  bachelors,  to 
admit  other  fellows  ;  and  the  society  of  Magdalen  Hall 
delivered  it  up  within  three  days  to  the  College,  into 
which  the  scholars  were  incorporated  by  election. 

While  the  Yorkists  renewed  their  effprts  to  ruin  the 
Lancastrian  power,  and  the  two  parties  continued  to 
exercise  mutual  animosity,  the  peaceful  King  found 
consolation  in  his  Chancellor.  From  kindness,  or  policy 
perhaps,  to  withdraw  his  fruitlesss  ©position,  or  unwil- 
ling assent,  to  measuies  which  neither  of  them  approved, 
he  sometimes,  it  is  related,  would  bid  the  other  lords 
attend  the  council;  but  detain  him  to  be  the  companion 


280  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

of  his  private  devotions  ;    to  oflfer  up  with  him,  in  his 
closet,  prayers  to  God  for  the  common  weal,* 

Nov.  G,  1459>  the  illustrious  hero  Sir  John  FastolfF, 
who  had  been  long  infirm,  died  of  an  asthma  and  fever, 
aged  fourscore,  at  Castre  in  Norfolk. f  His  last  will, 
dated  the  day  preceding  his  death,  is  in  the  archives  of 
Magdalen  College.!  The  Bishop  is  named  first  of  his 
executors. 

Mistakes  have  been  made  respecting  the  time  when 
Waynflete  became  and  ceased  to  be  Chancellor.^  Bud- 
den  relates,^  it  was  the  common  belief  that  he  was  ap- 
pointed as  soon  as  he  was  a  Bishop  ;  and  some  have 
continued  him  near  9  years  in  office.  We  have  ^een  that 
he  held  the  seals  only  from  Oct.  11th.  1456,  (35  Henry 
VI.)  the  10th  year  of  his  consecration,  to  July  7th. 
1460,  about  3  f  years. ||  His  conduct  in  resigning  at  so 
critical  a  juncture  exposed  him  to  suspicion,  calumny, 
and  censure.  Disloyalty  or  languor  in  the  cause  of  Henry 
was  imputed  to  him,  or  he  Mas  represented  as  balancing 
between  the  two  parties,  and  waiting  the  issue.  He  was 
comforted,  however,  by  the  entire  approbation  of  his 
royal  patron,  who  in  a  letter  to  Pope  Pius  II.,  written 
in  Nov.  following,  while  he  was  in  custody  of  the  Yorkists, 
bore  ample  testimony  to  his  innocence,  his  meritorious 


*  "  Saepius  ob  exiniiam  ganctimoulam  in  penetrale  regium  adhibitiis, 
caeteroque  seiiatu  super  arduis  regiii  negotiis  consilium  inituro — Quia 
abite,  (inquit  pnnceps,)<'g'o  interim  et  cancellarius  mens  pro-salute  reipub" 
4ic£B  vola  Deo  uuiicupabimus.    Buddeu,  p.  86. 

t  See  Biog.  Brit.  Fastolff.  Rjiner  Acta,  printed  and  MSS.  Letters  of 
Mr.  Anstis  in  St.  James's  Chronicle,  Oct.  14th,  1780,  and  Gent.Mag.  Jan, 
1781,  p.  27.  b. 

X  The  pyxis,  or  box,  inscribed  Norfolk  et  SuJ'olk  in  genre,  contains 
eeveral  paj)ers  worthy  to  be  consulted. 

§  Budden  confutes  Polydore  Vergil,  who  says  he  was  a  long  while  ia 
the  office  :  "  Is  etenim  homo  propter  justitiam'prudentiamque  diu  Angliae 
cancellarius  fuit."    Verg.  Hist.  1.  xxiii.  p.  493,  fol.  Basil.  1570.    Buddeu, 

f.  78.  Godwin,  p.  232,  (and  Ayliffe,)  makes  him  Chancellor  from  1449  to 
458.  Wharton,  Augl.  S.  vol.  i.  p.  318,  remarks  this  mistake  of  Godwin. 
Spelmau  in  v.  Cancell.  sets  hira  down  as  Chancellor  according  to  some  28 
Heni-y  VF.,  but  with  a  qucere ;  and  afterwards  35  Hen.  VI. ;  and  Nevyll 
38  Hen.  VI.,  which  is  right.  Collier  s.ays  he  was  several  years  Chancellor. 
Gale,  Hist,  and  Antiq.  of  the  Cathedral  at  Winchester,  cites  the  Close 
Rolls,  .35  Henry  VI.  and  gives  the  year  1457.  Dugdale  makes  him  Chan- 
cellor from  Oct.  11, 1457,  to  25th.  July,  Uf.O.  Orig.  Jurid.  Wharton,  as 
also  Richardson  on  Godwin,  continue  him  Chancellor  to  25th.  July,  1460, 

^  Budden,  p.  75.  ||  He  was  succeeded  as  Chancellor  by  Nevyll, 

Eishop  of  Escter,  youngest  brother  of  the  Eaii  of  Warwick. 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  281 

services,  and  unblemished  reputation  ;  at  once  furnishing 
a  striking  instance  of  his  own  justice  and  generosity,  and 
of  his  regard  for  Waynfiete,  who  could  not  fail,  on  his 
part,  to  be  deeply  penetrated  with  a  lively  sense  of  the 
kindness,  and  the  affliction,  of  so  condescending,  so  be- 
nevolent a  master, 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Of  Bishop  fVaynJlete  under  King  Edward  IV.  during  the 

Confinement  of  King  Henry. 

Bishop  Longland*  related,  that  Waynfiete  "  was  in 
great  dedignation  with  King  Edward,  and  fled  for  fere  of 
him  into  secrete  corners,  but  at  last  was  restorid  to  his 
goodes  and  the  Kinges  favour."  We  are  likewise  told-j- 
that  he  suffered  much  for  his  loyalty  to  King  Henry  ; 
that,  by  his  persuasion,  the  citizens  of  Winchester  re- 
fused to  proclaim  Edward  or  acknowledge  him  for  their 
sovereign ;  and  that  he  and  they  were  sentenced  to  severe 
chastisement;  also,  that  Edward  was  ever  aveise  to  him. J 
But  Budden§  dissents  from  Leland  and  Cooper  respect- 
ing this  conduct  of  Edward,  and  affirms  that  his  clemency 
consoled  the  affliction  of  Waynflete,  who  seems  rather  to 
have  changed,  than  to  have  lost,  his  royal  patron.  That 
a  prelate  who  had  enjoyed  the  friendship  and  confidence 
of  Henry  in  so  eminent  a  degree  as  Waynflete,  and  had 
been  so  closely  connected  with  the  Lancastrian  chieftains, 
should  be  immediately  countenanced  and  favoured  by 
Edward,  seems  more  than  could  be  reasonably  expected. 
That  he  should  not  be  persecuted,  may  appear  a  tribute 
due  to  his  personal  merit  and  high  reputation,  as  well  as 
consonant  with  the  generosity  and  justice  for  which  the 
youthful  conqueror  has  been  celebrated.  A  dispute  had 
subsisted  between  the  Bishop  and  some  of  his  tenants  in 
Hants,  especially  of  the  manor  of  East-raeon,  concerning 
certain  services,  customs,  and  duties  claimed  by  him. 
The  King  being  in  his  progress  in  that  country,  in  Aug, 
146l,  was  beset  by  a  multitude  of  them,  beseeching  him 
to  remedy  their  grievances.      Not  having  leisure  then  to 


*  Leland.  Itin.  iv.  p.  1.  50. 

t  Hist,  and  Antiq.  of  Winchester,  vol.  ii.  p.  93.    Gale,  p.  103. 
i  Godwin.  J  ¥■  81. 


282  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

examine  into  the  matter,  &c.  he  referred  the  business  to 
lawyers,  wlio  were  ordered  to  make  their  report  to  him- 
self and  the  peers.  I'he  three  sergeants  and  his  attorney 
gave  a  copious  detail  of  particulars  before  the  Lords 
spiritual  and  temporal,  in  the  Parliament  chamber,  Dec. 
14.  The  Lord  Chancellor  asking  their  advice,  it  was 
determined,  that,  considering  the  clear  evidence  produced 
to  establish  the  claims  of  the  Bishop,  he  ought  not  to 
meet  with  any  trouble  or  contradiction  from  the  tenants, 
■who  had  failed  of  showing  sufficient  cause  for  the  exemp- 
tions which  they  solicited.  The  enemies  of  Waynflete 
were  eager,  it  should  seem,  as  soon  as  the  revolution 
was  effected,  to  stir  up  complaints  against  him,  and  to 
procure  him  disgrace  or  mortitication.  But  we  can  dis- 
cover no  symptom  of  an  hostile  disposition  in  Edward 
toward  Waynflete  in  this  transaction.  His  behaviour  is 
wise  and  temperate,  and,  with  the  Peers  of  that  very 
Parliament  which  attainted  HeniT,  he  forbears  to  gratify 
any  private  distaste  to  his  friend  by  public  partiality  and 
injustice  in  a  decision  on  his  property.  In  the  following 
year  he  ratified  and  confirmed  to  him  and  his  successors 
the  charters  and  privileges  of  his  See. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Of  Bishop  JVaynfiete  during  the  Remainder  of  the  Relgii  of 

King  Edivard  IV. 

The  extirpation  of  the  Lancastrian  party  had  been 
nearly  effected  by  battles,  murders,  attainders,  exile,  and 
the  scaffold,  when  Edward  was  destined  in  his  turn  to  be 
for  a  time  m  ith  Henry,  the  sport  of  inconstant  fortune. 

The  heavens  at  this  sera  of  public  confusion  and  discord 
seem  to  have  been  subject  to  disorder,  as  well  as  the  minds 
of  men,  and  to  have  shed  a  malign  influence  on  the  land. 
Waynflete,  regarding  physical  calamity  as  a  punishment 
of  sins  calling  for  repentance,  ordered  in  1464  (Feb.  8,) 
processions  and  litanies  in  his  Diocese,  to  obtain  a  whole- 
some temperature  of  the  air,  with  a  kindly  season  for  the 
cattle  and  fruits  of  the  earth,  and  to  avert  the  reigning 
mortality  and  pestilence  :  also  in  1467  (Oct.  9,)  to 
procure  the  cessation  of  a  fatal  distemper  which  raged  in 
the  borough  of  Southwark  and  its  vicinity,  among  inno- 
cents and  children  who  had  scarcely  attained  to  the  use 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  283 

of  reason ;    on  account,  it  was  feared,  of  the  iniquities 
of  their  fathers  :    also  in   1470,  when   the   country  was 
afflicted   in  an   uncommon   degree    by  various  kinds   of 
disturbances,  and  by  bad  air  and  tempests.     Edward  was 
then  in  arms  against  the  Scots,  and  one  suffrage  was  for 
the    prosperity    and    success    of    his    expedition.      Tiie 
Bishop  until  he  was   [had  been]  made  Chancellor,  had 
held  frequent   general   ordinations,    excepting  in  a  few 
instances,  in  person,  at  various  places  in  his  Diocese ; 
in  the  Chapels  of  his  manors  of  Merwell,  of  Southwark, 
of  Waltham,  of  Esher,  of  his  palace  at  Wolvesey,  in  the 
Collegiate   Church  of  St.  Elizabeth  by  Winton,  and  in 
his   Cathedral.     But  he  was  then  prevented   from  con- 
tinuing  them   in  the   same    manner,    by  multiplicity    of 
business,    and  a  constant  attendance  on  the  court.     It 
appears  from  his  Register  that  he  held  four  ordinations  in 
1457,  the  year  after  he  was  made  Lord  Chancellor ;  one 
at  the  conventual  Church  of  Mottesfont  in  April,    and 
one  at  Rumsey  in  Sept,  1458  ;   and  in  the  Chapel  of  his 
>nanor  of  South  Waltham  in  Sept.    1480.     During  the 
above   intei-val,  and   afterwards,  his  suffragan,  William, 
Bishop  of  Sidon,  a  Monk  of  the  order    of  St.  Aitstin, 
(who  was  appointed  to  the  same  office  by  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury   in   1468,)    perfonned  that  duty  for  him 
almost  uninterruptedly,  for  the  last  time  May  20,  I486. 
The   whole    Diocese   had    experienced  the  diligence  of 
their   Bishop    in    spiritual   matters,    and   especially    the 
religious   houses,  which   abounded.       His  paternal  care 
was  exerted  to  reform  their  abuses,  and  to  restore  them, 
if  possible,    to  their   primitive   purity.     When   the  civil 
tempest  was  abated,  he  resumed  his  wonted  attention  to 
these  affairs.     In  particular,  he  had  begun  an  inquisition 
into  the  state,  the  morals,   life,  and  conversation  of  the 
abbot   and  regulars   of  the   Monastery  of  St.  Peter  de 
Hyde  near  Winchester  ;  which  he  continued  by  commis- 
sions in  1469,  a  variety  of  arduous  business  not  pennitting 
his  personal  presence  ;    and  concluded  in  1471  by  giving 
the  society  a  set  of  injunctions  for  their  guidance,  and 
by  the  banishment  of  the  abbot  with  a  pension  of  ^£'50.  a 
year.     Waynflete   was   among  the    Lords    spiritual   and 
temporal  assembled  with  other  persons  of  quality  in  July 
1471,  when  Edward  exacted  from  them  an  oath  of  fealty* 

f  Ryraer,  t.  si.  p.  714. 


eS4  WILLIAM  WAYNFETE. 

to  his  infant  son,  born  during  his  short  exile,  whom  he 
soon  after  created  Prince  of  Wales  as  heir-apparent,  la 
1472  Pope  Sixtus  IV.  notified  to  King  Edward  the  send-r 
ing  of  the  red  hat  designed  for  the  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury (Bourchier)  by  his  predecessor  Paul  II.,  who 
had  declared  him  a  Cardinal.  It  was  delivered  May  31, 
at  Lambeth,  in  the  presence  of  Bishop  Stillyngton,  Lord 
Chancellor,  three  other  prelates,  the  suftragan  of  the 
Archbishop,  the  prior  of  Christ-Church,  London,  the 
Archdeacon  of  Canterbury,  and  of  many  barons,  knights, 
and  nobles,  citizens  of  London,  and  venerable  persons, 
no  solemnity  or  ceremony  being  omitted.  The  mass 
De  Sancio  Spirilii  was  celebrated  by  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester,  who  also  placed  the  hat  tinged  with  the 
blood  of  Christ  on  the  head  of  the  new  Cardinal !  !  The 
Bishop,  who  was  always  assiduous  in  the  discharge  of 
his  religious  functions,  commonly  attended  the  solemnities 
of  the  order  of  the  Garter.  In  particular,  he  was  present 
io  1476  (Feb.  27,)  when  King  Edward  held  a  grand 
festival  at  Windsor  in  the  most  royal  manner.  The 
sovereign  with  the  knights,  "  being  all  mounted  on  horse- 
backe  in  their  habits  of  blew,  rode  to  the  chapiter;  from 
thence  they  went  to  the  quire  on  foote,"  and  when  even- 
song was  over,  up  again  to  the  castle.  Waynflete,  as 
prelate  of  the  order,  performed  the  service  of  the  day, 
St.  George  the  Martyr,  in  the  Chapel, 

The  Bishop  continued  his  attendance  on  the  court. 
He  was  present  with  many  Lords  of  the  council  at  Staun- 
ford  in  1473,  when  the  great  seal  was  delivered  (27th 
July)  to  the  Bishop  of  Durham,  and  was  frequently  with 
the  King  at  other  times  and  places.  We  havq  reason  to 
believe  that  he  was  well  received  and  in  favour,  as  Edward 
confirmed  by  charter  the  grants  made  to  his  College  by 
King  Henry,  and  added  licences  of  mortmain,  with 
other  tokens  of  good  will,  which  met  with  a  grateful 
return  on  the  part  of  the  founder.  But  this  distinction 
was  enjoyed  without  his  losing  the  regard  of  the  Lan- 
castrian party  ;  and  the  respect  they  showed  him,  prove^ 
that  they  did  not  consider  it  as  gained  by  temporizing 
and  by  servility.  If  he  suffered  not  as  some  other  prelates, 
if  he  was  neither  imprisoned,  exiled,  nor  attainted  for 
his  attachment  to  King  Henry,  candour  will  pronounce 
that  he  was  withheld  by  the  natural  mildness  of  his  dis- 
position from  taking  so  bold  and  active  a  part ;    and  that 


WILLIAM  VVAYNFLETE.  285 

his  subsequent  security  was  the  result  of  his  age,  and  of 
a  character,  in  which  the  virtues  of  the  truly  Christian 
Bishop  were  unmixed  and  unsullied  by  the  ferocity  of 
the  warrior  and  the  turbulence  of  the  politician. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Proceedings  at  Oxford,  with  the  Building    and  Settling  of 
Magdalen  College,  to  the  end  of  tjie  Reign  of  Edio.  IV. 

Though    public    confusion    was    unfriendly    to    thp 
designs  of  Waynflete  at  Oxford,  yet  even   in  this  period 
his  college  had  met  with  benefactors.     Thomas  Ingledew, 
one  of  his  chaplains  of  the  diocese  of  York,  had  given 
M'ith  his  own  hands  to  the  president  and  perpetual  fellows, 
in  October  J46l,  the  sum  of  763  marks  (i'aOS.  13s.  4t/.) 
with  which  they  purchased  land  and  rents   to  the  yearly 
amount  of  o£'24.  sterling,  for  the  augmentation  of  two 
fellowships,    to  be  filled  for  ever  by  clerks  born  in  the 
dioceses  ot   York  and    Durham   rather  than  elsewhere ; 
who,  within  six  months  after  his  decease,  were  to  celebrate 
mass  for  his   soul  and  for  that  of  John  Bowyke,  clerk ; 
for  the  souls  of  his  parents,  of  Elionare  Aske  and  others 
to  whom  he  was  obliged ;  and  the  society  engaged  to  pray 
for  his  soul  and  that  of  Bowyke,  as  benefactors  and  aiders 
of  the  college.     He  gave  also  certain  jewels  and  books, 
and  directed  a  small  distribution  of  money  (one  of  Id.  and 
one  ofod.)  to  the  poor,  on  some  paJticular  festivals,  to  be 
made  at  the  college  gate.     About  the  same  time  John 
Forman,  one  of  the  bachelor  fellows  named  in  the  charter 
of  Magdalen  Hall,  and  perpetual  vicar  of  Ruston  by 
Wakefield  in  Yorkshire,  delivered  to  the  president  and 
fellows   100  marks  (£66.   13s.  4d.)  for  the  use  of  the 
college,  to  be  employed  on  fit,  lawful,   and  honest  occa- 
sions ;  on  condition  that  they  should  always  have  a  fellow 
a  native  of  that  county  ;  to  be  elected  by  him  while  living  ; 
to  be  of  his  family,  that  is,   descended  from  John  his 
father ;  or,  no  such  candidate  appearing,  to  be  born  in  or 
near  the  parishes  of  Rothwell  and  Ruston,  one  his  birth- 
place, the  other  his  benefice,  to  be  a  priest ;    to  say  mass 
for  his  soul,  and  to  go  several  times  yearly  to  sow  the 
word  about  that  neighbourhood.     The  same  person  gave, 
the  year  before  Waynflete  died,  (Aug.  13,  1485,)  a  sum 
of  money  for  a  chest,  to  be  called  Mutuum  Forman,  and 


286  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

af-O.  for  the  buying  of  a  parcel  of  land  in  Colder.  Tlic 
founder  had  continued  his  attention  to  the  endowment  of 
his  college.  William  de  Braiosa  had  given  in  1075  the 
churches  of  St.  Peter  at  Sele,  St.  Nicholas  at  Bramber 
and  at  Shoreham,  with  some  others  in  Sussex,  to  the 
Abbey  of  St.  Florence  at  Salmur  in  France.  A  Convent 
of  Benedictine  Monks  from  that  Monastery  was  soon 
after  fixed  at  Sele.  This  alien  priory  was  made  denizen 
in  1396  ;  when  the  charter  describes  it  as  founded  by  the 
ancestors  of  Thomas  Lord  Mareschal  and  Nottingham. 
The  grant  of  it  to  Waynflete  was  ratified  by  John  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  and  also  by  his  son,  in  October,  1451  ;  who 
relinquished  to  him  the  patronage  and  advowson.  In  the 
process  for  the  annexion  and  appropriation,  before  the 
delegates  of  the  Bishop  of  Chichester,  in  1469,  and  of  the 
Pope  in  1471,  John  Waynflete  was  examined  as  Dean 
and  as  Arch-deacon,  to  prove  the  seals  of  his  chapter  and 
of  the  Bishops  of  Chichester  and  Winchester ;  and  it  is 
remarkable,  that  Dr.  William  Gyftbrd  deposed  that  the 
founder  had  admitted  several  persons  to  be  presidents  of 
his  college,  and  that  he  had  been  of  the  number.  Pre- 
sident Tybarde  and  the  society  made  Gyfford,  with  others, 
their  attorney  in  July,  1474,  to  take  possession.  As  the 
buildings  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  John  were  dispersed  and 
irregular,  and  far  too  small  for  the  reception  of  the  new 
society,  Waynflete  had  resolved  to  alter  and  enjarge  them, 
to  render  their  form  more  commodious,  and  to  make  the 
additions  requisite  for  the  comfort  and  convenience  of  a 
collegiate  body.  His  progress  had  been  suspended  or 
retarded  by  his  private  troubles  and  the  calamities  of  the 
nation.  The  return  of  public  tranquillity  afforded  him 
leisure  for  a  review  of  his  plans  :  and  the  valuable  See 
which  he  possessed,  with  his  personal  fortune,  enabled 
him  to  carry  them  into  execution.  The  foundation-stone 
of  the  college  was  sanctified  May  5,  1474,  by  the  venerable 
father,  Robert  Toly,  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  in  his  pontifi- 
cals, and  respectfully  deposited  in  its  place,  the  middle  of 
the  high  altar,  by  President  Tybard.  The  quarry  of 
Hedington,  which  had  been  discovered  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  III.  was  now  in  higher  repute  than  that  of  Hinxey, 
and  from  it  the  stone  for  the  edifice  was  taken.  We  find 
Waynflete  contracting  with  William  Orchyerd,  the  prin- 
cipal mason,  in  1475,  1478,  and  the  following  year,  for 
finishing  the  tower  over  the  gate-way  with  a  pyramid  I6 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  287 

feet  high  above  the  level  of  the  gutter ;  for  crowning  the 
walls  of  the  chapel  and  halt  with  niched  battlements;  for 
a  coping  to  these  and  the  library ;  for  completing  the 
chambers,  cloisters,  and  other  imperfect  portions  of  the 
fabric  ;  -and  for  fashioning  the  great  window  of  the  cha}>el, 
with  the  windows  of  the  chambers,  after  the  model  of  All 
Souls.  King  Edward  was  now  building  his  chapel  at 
Windsor.  Some  friends  of  the  University  of  Oxford 
made  an  offer  to  finish  the  divinity-school,  which  had  been 
founded  by  the  munificence  of  Duke  Humphrey,  but 
from  want  of  money  was  not  completed.  In  JSIarch, 
1475,  the  Chancellor  (Dr.  Chaundler)  and  convocation 
represented  to  the  King  in  an  humble  address,  that  they 
could  not  proceed  on  this  important  business,  which  had 
been  suspended  near  60  years,  because  all  the  stone- 
masons were  engaged  for  his  magnificent  works  ;  that,  if 
it  was  deferred,  they  were  apprehensive  of  losing  by  death 
those  liberal  patrons  who  had  undertaken  to  defray  the 
expense  ;  that,  seeing  his  ardour  in  erecting  a  fabric  to 
the  glory  of  God,  they  did  not  dare  to  request  him  for  any 
of  his  men  ;  but,  as  he  had  granted  some  to  the  Bishop 
of  Winchester,  asked  only  the  royal  permission  to  use  such 
as  they  could  prevail  on  him  to  spare.  The  King,  as 
also  Waynflete,  whom  they  solicited  by  letter,  complied 
with  the  desire  of  the  University,  Some  writere  have 
mentioned  Waynflete  as  Chancellor  of  Oxford,  and 
Budden  agrees  with  them  as  to  the  fact,  but  is  unable  to 
ascertain  the  time  when,  the  public  records  being  dissipated 
through  the  neglect  of  certain  persons.  Others  have  made 
him  fill  the  office  about  the  year  of  his  advancement  to 
the  prelacy ;  but  that  it  was  not  occupied  by  him  then,  has 
been  proved  by  A.  Wood  ;  and  it  seems  to  have  escaped 
observation,  that  letters  are  addressed  to  him  by  the 
chancellor.  The  post  at  this  period  was  commonly  pos- 
sessed by  some  academic  resident  in  the  university.  Dr# 
Chaundler  continued  Chancellor  from  1457  to  146l, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Bishop  Nevyll.  He  was 
Chancellor  again  in  1472,  and  remained  until  1479, 
when  he  resigned  on  account  of  his  age. 

The  scholars  which  had  remained  in  Magdalen  Hall 
removed  with  the  president  to  the  College,  before  the 
Chapel  was  finished  ;  and  the  society  made  use  of  the 
oratory  of  the  hospital  for  their  place  of  worship.  The 
Hall  Oil  their  quitting  it  resumed  its  old  name  of  Bostar 


2S8  .   WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

Hall ;  was  for  a  while  inhabited   by  academics  ;   then  let 
to  a  tailor;    and  in    1482  granted  by  the  College,  with 
the  garden,  on  lease  to  a  vintner  and  another  tenant  for 
81    years,    at  the  annual  rent  of  '26s.  8d.      The  society 
had  before  celebrated  divine  service  in  the  parish  Church 
of  St.  Peter's  in  tbe  East.     On  their  translation  to  the 
hospital,  the  vicar    and  patron  of  Merton  College  laid 
claim   to  tithes,    to  the   privilege   of  administering   tho> 
sacramental  and  funeral  rites,  and  of  receiving  dues  and 
oblations  withm   its  precincts,  as   being  in  that  parish  ; 
and,  after  some  demur,  it  was  agreed  to  settle  (April 
10,  1480)  a  yearly  pension  of  26a-.  Sd.  on  the  vicar  for 
ever,  in  lieu  of  all  demands.     It  was  the  ciesire  of  Wayn- 
flete,  that  his  College,  founded  at  a  great  expense,  might 
be  exempted  with  the  inclosure  from  the  jurisdiction  of 
the   Bishop  of  Lincoln,    and  in    future  be   subject   to. 
that  of  the  Bishop  of  Winchester.     The   Bishop   com- 
plied with  his  request  (6th  July  1480,)    after  carefully 
treating  with  the  dean    and    chapter ;    considering   his 
devout  intention  in  it  as  useful  to  Mother  Church,  and 
expedient  for  the  quiet  study  of  the  president  and  scholars. 
A.  bull    of  approbation  was    obtained    from  the  Pope, 
which  also  confirmed  the  proceedings  under  his  prede- 
cessor.    Waynflete  soon  after  constituted  his  successors 
in  his  See  the  visitors  of  his  College  and  interpreters  of 
his  statutes;    and   the  Pope  by  a  decree   rendered  the 
office  of  president  compatible  with  any  other  ecclesiastical 
benefices  with  and  without  cure,  and  with  any  dignities ; 
their  emoluments  to   be  enjoyed  without  obligation   to 
residence.     The  society  of  Magdalen  College  had  been 
governed  21  years  without  statutes  in  an  honourable  and 
laudable  manner  by  president  Tybarde.     The  scattered 
members  being   collected   into   one   body,    the   founder 
resolved  to  furnish  it  with  a  code  of  laws,  the  ground- 
work taken,  as  for  King  Henry's  Colleges,  from  the  in- 
stitutes of  Wykeham.     Master  Richard  Mayew,  S.T.P. 
then  lately  fellow  of  New  College,  whom  WaynHete  had 
appointed   to   be   his   first  sworn    president,    arrived    at 
Magdalen    College   Aug.     23,    1480.       The   venerable 
Tybarde  received  him  most  politely,  with  Mil  love,  honour, 
and  respect,  and  the  same  day  resigned  his  office.     The 
next  day  Dr.  Mayew  delivered,  in  the  great  hall  of  the 
College,  a  short  oration  exhorting  to   unity  and  peace, 
grounded  on  Gal,  vi.  2  :  "  Alter  alterius  onera  portate  ;" 


WILLIAM  WAYNELETE.  •  289 

and  took  the  oath  prescribed  by  the  founder,  in  the 
l)resence  of  all  the  masters  and  bachelors  of  the  College 
then  in  the  University.  After  this  ceremony,  he  produced 
letters  mandatory  for  the  receiving  and  humbly  obeying 
him  as  president ;  aud  also  certain  statutes  concerning 
the  state  of  the  College,  and  the  good  government  of  the 
scholars.  At  the  same  time,  Mr.  Richard  Bernys,  who 
had  been  previously  admitted  perpetual  fellow  by  the 
founder,  was  received  as  vice  president ;  and  Mr.  Will. 
Colett  as  bursar ;  being  the  first  to  whom  the  oath  of 
their  offices  was  administered. 

The  baneful  effects  of  civil  discord  had  been  severely 
felt  by  the  liberal  sciences  in  general.  Grammar-learning 
in  particular  had  languished  to  such  a  degree,  that  the 
University  of  Oxford,  apprehensive  of  its  total  extinction, 
and  of  the  consequent  invasion  of  barbarism,  had  solicited 
the  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  their  Diocesan,  to  interpose  in 
its  behalf,  and  to  afford  it  encouragement.  Waynflete 
had  already  appeared  as  a  patron  of  this  study.  He 
knew  it  was  idle  to  provide  for  the  nurture  of  the  plant, 
and  to  expect  the  produce,  if  the  seed  was  not  sown. 
From  the  Easter  preceding  the  arrival  of  his  new  presi- 
dent, he  had  employed  a  master  and  usher  to  teach 
gt'atis,  at  his  expense,  in  a  certain  low  hall  within  the 
College,  on  the  south  side  of  the  chapel ;  part  of  the 
old  building  or  hospital ;  and,  it  should  seem,  under  the 
Chapel  of  St.  John,  to  which  was  an  ascent  by  stairs. 
It  was  his  design  to  erect  an  edifice  nearth^  College-gate, 
with  certain  chambers  and  lodghigs  for  a  master  and 
usher  over  it,  and  with  a  kitchen  adjoining  for  its  use  ; 
which  was  begun  Aug.  1480,  in  the  first  month  and  year 
of  president  Mayew  ;  Mr.  Bernys  being  appointed  prefect 
or  overseer.  The  grammar-school  was  translated  to  it 
when  finished  ;  and  the  low  hall,  then  unoccupied,  was 
converted  into  an  alms-house.  Sept.  20,  1481,  the 
Bishop  repaired  to  Oxford,  to  supervise  the  state  of  his 
society  and  the  new  buildings ;  taking  with  him  the  deeds 
or  writings  of  several  manors  and  estates  belonging  to  it. 
He  was  respectfully  received  into  his  College  with  a 
procession  by  the  president  and  scholars,  not  only  as 
founder,  but  as  their  ordinary  and  visitor.  The  president, 
after  his  entry,  addressed  to  him  a  thesis  or  proposition, 
and  short  congratulatory  oration  on  his  arrival,  to  the 
praise,  honour,  and  glory,  of  Almighty  God,  and  on  tlie 

u 


290  .  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

magnificence  of  his  name   and  works.      On   the  22nd, 
W  aynflete  set  out  for  Woodstock,  where  King  Edward, 
of  his  own  accord  and  of  his  special  favour,    promised 
him  to  visit  his  new  College  in  the  evening,  and  to  pass 
the  night  there.     After  sunset   he  entered  the  parish;  of 
St.  Giles  with  a  multitude  of  men,  innumerable  torches 
burning   before  him.       The   Chancellor,   Mr.   *Lionel 
Wydevyle,  brother  to  the  Queen,  and  successor  of  Dr. 
Chaundler,    with    the   masters    regent    and   non-regent, 
received    him   honourably  without   the    University,    and 
escorted    him   to   Magdalen    College.      He   was   there 
received  in  like  manner,  and  introduced  by  Waynflete, 
the   president  and   scholars   in   procession.      With  him 
came  the   Bishops  of  Chichester,   Ely,  and   Rochester, 
the  Earl  of  Lincoln,  Lord  High  Treasurer,  Lord  Stanley, 
Lord  Dacre  of  Sussex,  Sir  Thomas  Barowyg,  Knt.  and 
many  other   nobles ;    who   all   met  with   an  honourable 
reception  from  the  founder,  and  passed  the  night  in  the 
College.     This  year  (1481)  the  union  of  a  Hospital  OF 
Chantry  at  Roniney  in  Kent  with  the  College  was  com- 
pleted.    The  Hospital  had  been  foundedfor  lepers  by 
Adam  de  Cherring,  in  the  time  of  Baldwin,  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  or  between  the  years  1184  and  llQl,  in 
honour  of  St.   Stephen  and  St.   Thomas  Becket.     In 
1363,  it  being  decayed  and  forsaken,  John   Frauncys-, 
then  patron,  re-established  there  a  master  and  one  priest. 
Waynflete  possessed  half  of  the  right  to  present  to  the 
Chapel,  with  all  lands,  tenements,  meadows,  and  appur- 
tenances of  the  moiety,  as  long  before  as   1459;    and 
also  of  the  whole  right  of  John  Fraes,  Thomas  Hoo^ 
and  Alexander  Altham  in  the   Hospital.     He  probably 
became   the   sole  proprietor  by  purchase.     It  is  related 
by   Leland,    that   he  had  been   informed   on   testimony 
deserving  credit,  that   **  a  good  part  of  the  buildings  of 
Eton  College  accrued  by  means  and  at  the  expense  of 
Waynflete  ;  for  he  was  a  very  great  favourer  of  the  work 
begun  by  King  Henry,  but  left  very  onperfect  and  rauly." 
We    have  evidence    to  corroborate  the   assertion.       He 
appears  an  annual  contributor  to  the  fabric  as  early  as 
the  year  1449.     He  agreed  with  Orgard,  or  Orchyerd, 


[*  Afterwards  Bishop  of  Salisbury. — See  Cassan's  Lives  of  the  Bishops 
of  that  See,  Pt.  1.  260.  p.J 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  291 

for  the  digging  of  a  sufficient  quantity  of  stone  at  Hed- 
ington,  to  be  delivered  within  a  limited  time,  for  the 
use  of  Eton  and  of  his  own  College.  He  also  contracted 
for  lead  for  Eton  in  1482.  The  same  year  (25th  July) 
Mr,  Berne,  his  vice-president,  paid  by  his  order  for  the 
carriage  of  stone  for  the  Chapel  there  from  the  revenue 
of  Magdalen.  It  was  probable  that  the  stone-work  of 
both  Colleges  was  nearly  finished,  as  the  quarry  at 
Hedington  Mas  let  to  a  mason  in  1482.  Dr.  Mayew 
returned  from  the  founder  July  18,  1482,  with  certain 
ordinances  and  statutes ;  particularly  the  statute  concern- 
ing the  election  of  scholars  to  a  year  of  probation  and 
admission  to  be  actual  fellows ;  on  M'hich  the  scholars, 
to  whom  he  confided  them,  deliberated  during  the  19th. 
On  the  next  day  he  admitted  20  actual  and  perpetual 
fellows.  Then  also  the  first  deans  were  elected,  with 
the  unanimous  consent  of  all  the  seniors  of  the  College  ; 
Mr.  William  Rydall,  dean  of  divinity  ;  Mr.  Thomas 
Kerver  and  Mr.  William  Fell,  deans  of  the  faculty  of 
arts.  The  president,  vice-president,  and  three  deans 
next  proceeded,  as  the  founder  and  the  statutes  had 
directed,  to  the  election  of  middle  commoners,  vulgarly 
called  demies,  which  lasted  three  days.  On  the  26th. 
the  president  and  all  the  fellows  proceeded  to  elect 
scholars  to  a  year  of  probation.  An  oath,  as  the  statute 
enjoined,  was  required  from  all  who  were  chosen.  The 
restriction  of  fellowships  and  demyships  to  particular 
counties  and  dioceses  took  place,  it  is  apprehended,  at 
this  time.  The  only  qualifications  before  required  for  a 
demyship  were,  to  be  versed  in  grammar,  in  logic,  and 
in  plain  chant.  The  number  of  fellows  and  demys  was 
not  yet  fixed.  Sixteen  masters  and  5  bachelors  of  arts 
were  elected  probationers.  At  the  admission  of  demies, 
July  28,  18  who  had  attained  to  their  l6th  year  were 
sworn  ;  and  all  these  had  been  of  the  College  before, 
in  commons,  without  the  oaths  and  statutes.  Their  counties 
are  specified.  The  first  sworn  was  Nicholas  Tycheborn 
of  Hants.  Seven  were  admitted  but  not  sworn,  being 
under  age;  and  4  nominated  but  not  admitted.  The 
same  year  (1482)  was  remarkable  for  a  disturbance, 
created  at  the  election  of  proctors  for  the  University  by 
the  regent  masters  of  Magdalen  College.  Waynflete, 
whose  interposition  was  required,  directed  that  the  smaller 
should    be  directed    by  the   larger   party.     Those   who 

2u 


292  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

refused  to  submit  to  the  majority  and  their  decision,  were, 
after  due  deliberation,  dismissed  from  the  society  in 
consequence  of  his  letter ;  and  the  Register  adds,  that 
this  conduct  of  the  president  and  masters  was  highly 
agreeable  to  the  founder.  The  same  letter,  with  the 
statute  which  directs  how  dissensions  should  be  pacified, 
was  again  taken  into  consideration  by  the  president, 
officers,  and  6  seniors  assembled  in  the  hall,  in  1488; 
when  they  made  a  decree,  that  in  future  no  fellow  or 
scholar  should  labour,  or  be  in  any  way  concerned,  in 
obtaining  the  proctorship  for  himself  or  another  without 
the  consent  of  the  president,  or,  in  his  absence,  of  the 
vice-president,  and  a  majority  of  the  masters  :  under  the 
penalty  of  immediate  expulsion,  in  case  of  perseverance 
after  an  admonition  to  desist.  In  the  following  year. 
King  Edward  distressed  by  the  situation  of  his  affairs 
foreign  and  domestic,  fell  into  a  deep  melancholy.  He 
died  April  Qth,  1482,  and  was  buried  the  19th.  His 
body  was  conveyed  from  Westminster  to  Eton,  where  it 
was  received  by  the  procession  of  Windsor.  It  was 
censed  at  the  castle-gate  by  the  Archbishop  of  York, 
and  by  the  Bishop  of  Winchester,  who  was  also  present, 
with  divers  great  persons,  when  his  eifects  were  seques- 
tered by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  his  executors 
not  administering  to  his  will.  The  body  was  discovered 
in  March  1 789,  in  repairing  the  choir  of  St.  George's 
Chapel  at  Windsor. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Proceedings  at  Oxford  in  the  time  of  King  Richard  III.} 
tvith  the  Building  of  the  Chapel  and  School-house  at 
IVaynfletCy  Lincolnshire. 

It  was  affirmed  and  believed  of  King  Richard  III,, 
by  the  multitude,  that  he  had  stabbed  Prince  Edward 
after  the  battle  of  Tewksbury,  had  assassinated  King  Henry 
in  his  bed,  and  had  compassed  the  destruction  of  the 
Duke  of  Clarence,  his  own  brother.  He  had  besides 
recently  usurped  the  throne,  not  without  bloodshed ;  and 
had  shut  up  the  young  King  Edward  V.  and  the  Prince, 
his  nephews,  in  the  Tower.  He  was,  however,  as  yet 
guiltless  of  their  murder,  when  he  resolved  to  visit 
Magdalen  College  on  his  way  to  Gloucester.  The 
Bishop  repaired  to  Oxford  July  22,  to  provide  for  the 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  293 

entertainment  of  King  Richard  III.,  and  to  supervise 
the  state  of  his  College  and  its  buildings.  The  Chan- 
cellor, Wyd^vyle,  now  Bishop  of  Salisbury,*  with  the 
masters  regent  and  non-regent,  respectfully  met  the  King 
Avithout  the  University  on  his  approach  from  Windsor, 
July  24.  He  was  afterwards  honourably  received  and 
conducted  in  procession  into  Magdalen  College  by  the 
founder,  his  president,  and  scholars  ;  and  there  passed 
the  night,  as  also  that  of  the  day  following.  The  founder 
tarried  at  his  College  after  the  departure  of  the  King, 
and  delivered  to  the  society  his  statutes  in  a  body,  still 
subject  to  his  revisal,  additions,  and  alterations.  The 
original  book  was  deposited  by  his  order  in  a  chest,  in 
the  upper  room  of  a  tower  which  he  had  constructed  as 
a  place  of  security.  Copies  were  provided  for  the 
president  and  for  the  officers,  who  were  to  receive  them 
yearly  on  their  admission,  with  certain  keys,  from  him. 
One,  probably  that  reserved  by  Waynflete  for  his  own 
use,  was  transmitted  to  his  successors  in  the  See  of 
Winchester  until  the  vacancy  made  by  Bishop  Home ; 
when,  it  being  lost  through  negligence,  president  Bond 
in  1596  provided  a  new  transcript  to  replace  it ;  which 
has  been  superseded  by  another  of  more  recent  date, 
being  attested  by  the  officers  of  the  College  Aug.  20, 
1720.  Of  the  control  exercised  by  the  founder  over 
the  statutes  an  instance  occurs  in  the  same  year.  He 
had  ordained  that  any  fellow,  obtaining  peaceably  an 
ecclesiastical  benefice  more  than  ]2  marks  in  value, 
should  be  obliged  either  to  relinquish  it  or  to  quit  the 
College  at  the  end  of  a  year  from  the  time.  A  kind 
regard  to  the  merits  of  master  Williajn  Fell,  and  to  the 
entreaties  of  his  friends,  induced  Irim  to  permit  his 
retaining  a  benefice  to  which  he  had  been  promoted, 
together  with  the  College,  for  jone  year  more  after 
resignation,  a  new  presentation,  and  real  peaceable 
possession  ;  declaring,  however,  that,  according  to  the 
statute  and  his  intention,  he  could  have,  and  had,  no 
right  to  hold  it  with  the  College,  even  after  a  resignation 
and  new  presentation  made  within  the  year :  and  this 
exposition   of  the  statute  he  directs  to   be  observed  in 


•  He  was  made  Bishop  while  at  Curaiior  in  1482.    A  Wood,  p.  4U5. 
ISee  his  Life  iu  Cassaii's  Lives  of  the  Bi«hops  of  Salls<btii y.J 


'i94  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

future.     The  public  seal  was  occasionally  set  to  ihstru- 
ments  by  his  mandate. 

The  Bishop  possessed  certain  lands  and  tenements 
at  Waynflete,  which  William  Aulekar  and  Richard  Ben- 
nington had  devised  to  him  by  will,  May  19,  1475,  (15 
Edw.  IV.)  He  was  desirous,  by  planting  grammar 
learning  in  the  place  of  his  nativity,  to  extend  it  in  the 
northern  provinces  of  the  kingdom  ;  and  resolved  to  erect 
there  a  school  and  chapel,  as  he  had  done  near  his 
College.  He  employed  master  John  Gigur,  warden  of 
Merton  College,  Oxford,  and  of  the  College  atTateshale, 
Lincolnshire,  to  procure  a  site  and  to  contract  with 
workmen  for  the  building;  and  the  indenture  for  the 
carpentry  is  dated  April  25,  1484,  (1  Ric.  III.)  He 
conveyed  to  the  same  person  the  properly  before  men- 
tioned, to  be  made  over  by  him  to  the  president  and 
scholars  of  Magdalen  for  the  endowment.  This  amounted 
to  c£lO.  a  year  in  land,  as  we  are  told  by  Leland ;  the 
sum  assigned  to  the  head-master  for  his  salary,  by  Wyke- 
ham  at  Winchester,  &c.  In  1484  the  advowson  of  the 
parsonage  of  Slimbridge,  Gloucestershire,  and  of  Fin- 
don,  Sussex,  was  vested  in  Waynflete  by  the  Earl  of 
Notyngham,  on  condition  that  he  and  Johanna  his  wife 
should,  while  living,  have  daily  participation  of  all  the 
prayers  and  suffrages  to  be  used  in  the  Chapel  of  the 
College ;  that  intercession  should  be  made  for  ever  for 
their  souls,  for  that  of  Thomas,  late  Lord  Berkeley,  and 
those  of  James  and  Isabella  his  parents ;  also,  that  on 
the  decease  of  the  Earl,  or  his  wife,  the  president  and 
scholars  should,  at  a  convenient  time  after  the  knowledge 
of  it,  keep  solenmly  on  the  morrow  an  Obit  De  placebo 
and  Dirige  and  mass  De  requiem,  per  notam.  Learning 
had  long  been  chiefly  in  the  possession  of  ecclesiastics, 
and  the  lay  lawyers,  it  should  seem,  still  laboured  under 
the  imputation  of  ignorance  ;  for  the  margin  of  the 
College  Register  informs  us  that  this  agreement  was  not 
drawn  by  the  lawyers  of  the  founder,  but  of  the  Earl ; 
and  adds,  "  Igitur  noli  miraride  Latinitate."  Waynflete, 
as  Bishop  of  Winchester,  was  patron  of  the  priory  of 
Selebmn,  Hants,  founded  by  Peter  de  Rupibus  in  1233 
for  canons  regular  of  the  order  of  St.  Austin.*  Wykeham 


[See  p.  161  of  this  work  for  the  Life  of  Bisliop  Rock.— Edit.] 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  295 

in  1387  had  endeavoured  to  make  these  monks  conform 
to  their  institution;    but  they  neglected  his  ordinances, 
relapsed  into  their  former  bad  conduct,  were  again  re- 
duced in   number,  and  had  suflrefed  such  manifest  uiin 
and  notorious  dilapidation  on  their  premises,  that  in  1462 
Waynflete  sequestered  the  revenues  to  repair  the  priory  and 
its  appurtenar>ces.     He  continued  to  labour,  after  the  ex- 
ample of  Wykeham,to  restore  and  uphold  the  convents   but 
the  society    dwindled   away ;     no   prior   or   other  canon 
regular,  incorporated,  was  resident  there  ;    the  neglect  of 
the  rules  of  the  order  and  of  religion  had  occasioned  great 
scandal ;  and  in  a  multitude  of  instances  the  rents  and 
profits  were  applied  to  the  uses  of  laymen.     The  Bishop, 
full  of  pastoral  solicitude,  and  of  pious  compassion  for 
the  founder  Peter  de  Rupibus,  had  been  diligent,  as  he 
tells  us,  in  his  own  person  and  by  his  officers  to  remedy 
the  evil.     He  had   punished   the  mal-adrainistration   of 
some    priors    by  removing    them,    and   had   appointed 
governors  iu  whose  care  and   circumspection   he   could, 
confide.     His  exertions  had  produced  so  little  effect,  that, 
considering  the  badness  of  the  times,  as  he  informs  us, 
and  from  what  was  passed,  fearing  and  anticipating  the 
future,  he  was  led  utterly  to  despair  of  the  possibility  of 
establishing  there  again,  either  the  order  of  St.  Austin 
or  any  other,  so  as  to  answer  the  intention  of  Peter  de 
Rupibus.     Such  being  the  situation  of  the  convent  and 
its  visitor,  it  was  resolved,  on  a  petition  of  the  president 
and  scholars  of  Magdalen  representing  the  insufficiency 
of  their  revenues  for  their  maintenance,    to    annex  the 
foundation  to  the  College.     The  Bishop,  with  the  con- 
currence of  the  chapter  of  Winton,  directed  commissaries 
in  Sept.  1484  to  confirm  the  appropriation  to  them,  so 
that,    on  the  cession  or  vacancy  of  the  priorship,  they 
might  enter  on  the  premises,   by  their   attorney.     The 
process,  probably  from  some  flaw,  was  repeated  in  1485, 
when  the  society  of  Magdalen  consisted  of  a  president, 
80  scholars,  l6  choristers,  and  13  servitors.      It  remained 
to  obtain  the  sanction  of  the  Pope ;    and  the  agent   at 
Rome  met  with  difficulty,  from  a  plea,  that  the  ordinary 
not   having    power   to    unite   a   regular   with    a   secular 
benefice,  the   College  had  not  been   entitled  to  receive 
the  income  of  the  priory,  but  nuist  refund   it  into  the 
apostolic   chamber.      The  same  demand  was  made  for 
tiie  Chapel  of  Wanborough.      The   business  was  pro- 


296  WILLIAM  WxVYNFLETE. 

traded  till  June  I486',  a  few  weeks  before  the  death  of 
Wayutiete,  when  the  buUe  was  issued.  The  society 
afterwards  maintained  iheie  a  chantry-priest,  to  say 
masses  for  the  souls  of  all  the  benefactors  of  the  Priory 
and  College,  and  of  all  the  faithful  defunct.  He  was 
allowed  two  chambers  adjoining  to  the  chapel,  w  ith  con- 
veniences for  his  residence,  and  a  clerk  to  assist  at  the 
altar  and  in  the  superintendency  of  their  possessions.  A 
transaction  which  met  with  no  opposition  at  home,  and 
was  generally  approved  of  at  the  time,  has  been  men- 
tioned by  a  writer  or  two  of  this  age  in  a  manner  that 
conveys  on  oblique  censure  on  the  Bishop.  We  are 
told  that  he  got  the  priory  settled  on  his  College,  though 
the  founder  had  carefully  forbidden  such  alienation :  but 
we  are  not  told,  what  is  equally  true,  that  the  institution 
of  Peter  de  Rupibus,  after  languishing  for  a  long  period, 
had  finally  expired  ;  and  tiiat  the  revenues  of  his  priory, 
if  they  had  not  been  appropriated  to  a  college,  must 
have  been  diverted  to  some  other,  probably  to  a  more 
unworthy  purpose.  Add  too,  that  his  principal  end  in. 
the  endowment,  which  was  to  have  the  benefit  of  masses 
and  prayers  for  his  soul,  and  which  had  been  frustrated 
at  Seleburn,  was  better  answered  and  secured  by  the 
transfer  to  Magdalen  College,  where  they  continued  to 
be  celebrated  until  the  Reformation,  and  where  Peter 
de  Rupibus  is  still  commemorated.  We  may  further 
remark  here,  that  it  has  been  asked,  [by  A.  Wood.]  "  who 
has  ever  blamed  Chicheley,  Waynfete,  and  other  excellent 
men  and  munificent  founders,  for  erecting  and  endowing 
their  colleges  on  the  ruins,  and  with  the  spoils  of  the 
alien  monasteries  which  had  been  confiscated  ?"  Wayn- 
flete,  it  is  apprehended,  is  introduced  without  reason,  not 
having  been,  as  far  as  I  have  discovered,  of  that  number. 

CHAPTER  X. 
Of  Magdalen  College,  Oxford. 

The  scandalous  lives  of  the  monastic  clergy,  were  a 
topic  largely  insisted  on  by  Wickliffe  and  his  followers. 
The  visitations  of  his  diocese  by  Waynflete  as  ordinary, 
had  furnished  him  with  evidence  of  their  bad  conduct,  and 
its  influence  on  his  mind  is  explained  by  his  own  pen. 
(Lib.  Statut.  in  fine.)  He  relates,  that  he  had  carefully 
inspected  the  traditions  of  the  ancient  fathers,  and  the 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  S97 

various  approved  rules  of  the  saints ;  and  that  he  had  been 
grieved,  on  a  survey  of  their  numerous  professors,  to  find 
the  institutions  were  no  longer  observed,  as  formerly, 
according  to  the  intention  of  the  founders  ;  that,  dis- 
turbed on  this  account,  he  had  seen  clearly,  it  were  better 
for  him  to  dispense  his  temporal  goods  with  his  own  hands 
to  the  poor,  than  to  appropriate  and  coniirm  them  in 
perpetuity  to  the  uses  of  the  imprudent,  bringing  danger 
on  the  souls  of  many  by  their  violating  his  ordinances : 
but  after  long  wavering,  and  most  devoutly  invoking  the 
divine  assistance,  he  resolved  to  establish,  by  royal  and 
apostolic  authority,  one  perpetual  College,  to  be  called 
St.  Mary  Magdalen  College,  in  the  University  of  Oxford, 
for  poor  and  needy  scholars,  clerks  ;  who  should  be 
required  to  study,  and  make  proficiency  in  divers  sciences 
and  faculties ;  to  the  praise  and  glory  and  honour  of 
Christ,  his  virgin-mother,  the  blessed  St.  Mary  Magdalen, 
St.  John  Baptist,  the  apostles  Peter  and  Paul,  St. 
Swithun  the  Confessor,  and  the  other  saints,  patrons  of  the 
Cathedral  of  Winchester,  and  of  all  saints  ;  for  the  main- 
tenance and  exaltation  of  the  Christian  faith,  &c.  Wayn». 
flete  expended  a  considerable  sum  on  the  embattled  wall 
now  inclosing  the  grove,  the  alterations  of  the  hospital, 
and  the  fabric  of  his  college  ;  which  has  undergone  some 
changes  in  a  long  series  of  years,  not  to  mention  the 
additional  buildings ;  but  still  exists  a  curious  monument 
of  the  age  in  which  it  was  erected.  The  portal  or  grand 
entrance  of  the  quadrangle  is  decorated  with  the  statues 
of  the  two  founders  of  the  hospital  and  college ;  and  of 
their  patron-saints  :  Waynflete  kneeling  in  prayer ;  King 
Henry  III. ;  Mary  Magdalen ;  and  St.  John  Baptist. 
These  all  again  occur,  in  small  but  elegant  figures,  over 
the  great  or  western  door  of  the  chapel ;  Wayntiete  kneel- 
ing as  before,  and  as  he  is  represented  on  the  seals  of  the 
hall  and  college ;  with  Bishop  Wykeham  on  his  right 
hand,  (which  is  remarkable,)  and  Mary  Magdalen  in  the 
middle.  On  each  side  of  the  chapel-door,  near  the 
cloister,  is  an  angel  carved  in  relievo,  holding  a  scroll, 
with  characters  painted  and  gilded ;  one  with  the  motto  of 
tile  founder, 

fiecit  mihi  magna  qui  potens  est! 
the  other  with  a  passage  from  Gen.  xxviii.  17. 
Hie  est  domus  Dei  et  porta  celij 


298  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

which  was  formerly  exhibited  by  an  angel  in  like  manner 
near  the  entrance  of  the  chapel  at  New  College.     In  the 
centre  of  the  arch  of  the  stone-roof  by  this  door  is  a  small 
figure  of  an  aged  Bishop  in  his  pontificals,  with  a  cross 
raised  in  his  left  hand,  the  fingers  of  his  right  disposed 
according  to  the  usage  of  the  Romish  church  in  giving  the 
benediction.     He  is  between  two  angels  with  wings,  such 
as  may  be  seen  supporting  the  arms  of  Waynflete  in  the 
cloister,   by   the    library,    and    in    various   other   places. 
Portraits  or  busts  of  Kings  and  Bishops,  now  disregarded 
and  without  a  name,  adorn  the  inside  of  the  chapel  and 
hall.       Grotesque  or  emblematical  figures  are  disposed 
round  the  quadrangle.     The  spouts,  roofs,  windows,  and 
doors,  have  their  carved  work.     Towards  the  street  is  a 
monk  in  a  cowl.     Among  the   armorial  bearings  are  the 
royal,  the  rose  with  a  radiated  sun  or  star,  the  plume  of 
ostrich  feathers,  the  portcullis,  and  those  of  the  See  of 
Winchester  and  of  the  founder.     The  initials  of  his  name 
(W.W.^  occur  in   cypher;  and  his   favourite   lilies   are 
frequently  introduced.     The  magnificence  as  well  as  the 
piety  of  Waynflete  was  displayed  in  the  chapel.      The 
windows,   after  the    fashion  which   had    prevailed  from 
the  time  of  Henry  IV.,  were  adorned  with  portraits  and 
painting  on  the  glass.     It  was  rich  in  missals,  manuals, 
martyrologies,     antiphonaries,    and    books   of  devotion, 
some  finely  ornamented  ;    in  crosses  gilded  or  set  with 
precious   stones,   some   inclosing  a  portion   of  the  real 
wood ;  \risum  teneaiis  ?]  in  chalices,  of  which  one  was 
given  by  president  Mayew,  and  another  by  T.  Ker\'er;  and 
in   all  sorts  of  sacred   utensils,    many  valuable    for  the 
materials  and  of  curious  workmanship  ;    in   copes    and 
sacerdotal  vestments,  some  of  damask,  velvet,  and  gold 
tissue,    of  various  colours,    decorated  with    pearls,    and 
embroidered,  some  with  the  arms  of  Waynflete,  some  with 
lilies  and  other  flowers,  with  birds,  animals,  [beasts]  and 
devices;  with  images  representing  angels  and  holy  persons, 
the  crucifixion,  and  scriptural  stories  ;   besides  canopies, 
curtains,   standards,   streamers,  linen,  and  a  multiplicity 
of  articles  used  by  the  Romish  Church  in  great  abun- 
dance for  the  high  altar,  and  the  altars  in  the  nave   of 
the  chapel,  in  all  six ;  and  for  the  chapel  of  the  president, 
Tvv'o  inventories  of  these  sacred  eff"ects  are  extant ;  an(J 
mention  is  made  of  oblations  before  the  image  of  St, 
Mary  Magdalen,  which  probably  graced  the  high  altar. 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  299 

The  society  was  finally  fixed  to  consist  of  a  president ; 
40  scholars,   clerks,    including   the   3   stipulated    for  by 
Ingledew  and   Forman  ;    30  scholars,  commonly  called 
Demies,  because  they  were  originally  admitted  to  half- 
commons;    4   presbyters,    chaplains;    8   clerks,    and   l6 
choristers  ;    besides  servants  and  other  dependants.     The 
schoolmaster  and  usher  were  to  be  allowed  each  a  yearly 
stipend  of  lOOs.,  besides  chambers  and  weekly  commons. 
A  person  was  to  be  hired  to  teach  the  choristers.     A 
clerk  of  accounts  was  to  be  provided  and  agreed  with  by 
the  president  and  bursars.     Bailiffs  were  to  be  appointed 
who  lived  on  the  manors,  and  had  frequent  opportunities 
of  seeing   the  lands   and   tenements.     The  two  porters 
were  to  be  likewise  barbers,    and  to  shave  diligently  the 
president  and  the  other  members  of  the  college ;    and  in 
the  old   account-books  charges  occur   for  the  necessary 
implements.     To  perpetuate  the  number  of  40,  VVaynflete 
directed  the  vacancies  to  be  filled  annually  with  bachelors 
or  masters  of  arts,  competently  skilled  in   plain  chant, 
having  the  first  clerical  tonsure,  fit  and  disposed  for  the 
priesthood;  to  which  every  master,  if  not  S.C.L.  or  M., 
was  to  proceed  within  the  year  after  the  completion  of 
his    regency,  unless    some    legal   impediment  subsisted. 
The  masters  promoted  to  the  priesthood  were  speedily  to 
be  instructed  in  tlie  devout  celebration  of  mass.     They 
were  forbidden,  while  coUegiates,  to  perform  it  elsewhere 
by  way  of  annual  service,  or  to  accept  of  any  stipend  ; 
but  with  permission,  to  serve  the  cure  of  Horspath  near 
Oxford,  and  to  receive  for  officiating  at  it  in  tire  chapel. 
The  succession  of  40  he  annexed  to  certain  dioceses  and 
counties,  from  which  the  candidates  were  to  be  chosen 
to  a  year  of  probation  before  they  could  be  admitted  real 
fellows.      From   the   diocese  of  Winton,  5  ;    county  of 
Lincoln,  7  ;  ditto  Oxford,  4  ;  ditto  Berks,  3;  diocese  of 
Norwich,  4;  ditto  Chichester,  2  ;    county  of  Gloucester, 
2 ;    ditto    VV  arwick,    2  ;     from    London    and    from   the 
counties  of  Bucks,  Kent,  Nottingham,  Essex,  Somerset, 
Northampton,   Wilts,  each  1;    from  the  county  of  York 
1,  and  from  the  diocese  of  York  and  Durham,  2.     The 
30  scholars  or  demies,  were  to  be  chosen  not  under  12 
years  of  age,  with  a  preference  first  to  the  parishes  and 
piaces,  and  next  to  the  counties,   in  which  the  college 
should  have  possessions  acquired  in  his  lifetime. 


300  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

CHAPTER  XI. 
To  the  Death  of  JVaynfiete. 

The  life  of  Waynflete,  and  the  miseries  arising  from 
civil  discord,  were  now  hastening  to  a  conclusion.  He 
had  been  employed  in  establishing  and  watching  over  his 
favourite  institution  at  Oxford  above  37  years.  He  had 
settled  his  society  under  a  governor  whose  conduct  he 
approved  ;  and  had  given  it  statutes  which  he  knew  to  be 
calculated  for  the  advancement  of  its  welfare  and  reputa- 
tion, and  for  the  increase  of  religion  and  learning,  to 
the  praise  and  glory  of  God.  He  was  now  far  stricken 
in  years,  and  unwilling  or  unable  to  attend  to  public 
business.  As  was  the  custom  of  the  Bishops  of  Win- 
chester, and  of  other  great  persons,  he  had  hitherto 
frequently  changed  the  places  of  his  residence ;  removing 
with  his  numerous  retainers,  to  his  various  castles  or 
mansions,  as  suited  with  the  season,  their  stores  of 
provision,  his  convenience,  or  inclination,  until  Dec. 
1485  ;  when  he  repaired  from  Southwark  to  South- 
Waltham,  where  he  did  not  survive  to  the  fullilling  the 
treaty  cf  marriage  between  the  two  houses,  which  diffused 
joy  and  consolation  over  the  whole  realm.  An  epistle 
addressed  to  him  in  this  year,  is  prefixed  to  a  book 
entitled  ''Triumphus  Amoris  D.  N.  Jesu  Christi."  now 
among  the  unprinted  MSS.  in  the  library  at  Lambeth. 
The  author  was  Lawrence  William  de  Savona,  one  of 
the  friars  minors  in  London,  and  D.D.,  who  compiled  a 
a  new  rhetoric  at  Cambridge  in  1478,  which  was  printed 
at  St.  Alban's  in  1480.  It  contains  an  eulogy  on  Wayn- 
flete and  on  his  college.  The  writer  expatiates  particularly 
on  his  bounty,  of  which  he  tells  us  the  poor  had  daily 
and  large  experience  at  divers  places,  at  his  splendid 
mansions  and  at  churches  ;  and  affirms,  that  his  prudence 
and  wisdom,  generosity,  clemency,  and  compassion,  were 
every  where  and  generally  extolled  by  the  people. 
Mention  is  made  of  the  venerable  grey  hair  of  the  Bishop. 

Waynflete  prepared  for  his  departure  out  of  this  life, 
with  the  dignity  and  calm  composure  of  integrity  and 
a  good  conscience.  Among  his  worldly  concerns,  his 
college  still  occupied  a  principal  portion  of  his  care  ; 
and  Dr.  Mayew  was  often  with  him,  as  he  had  been 
before  he  finally  left  London.     In  various  matters,  which 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE,  30i 

for  some  reason  or  othe,r  were  postponed,  he  declared 
his  mind  and  pleasure  to  him,  to  be  fulfilled  by  the 
society  after  his  decease.  The  M^ar  between  the  houses 
of  York  and  Lancaster  had  produced  1^  pitched  battles, 
in  which  80  peisons  of  royal  lineage,  and  90,000  men 
had  perished.  Many  had  been  the  noble  sutferers  by 
attainder,  confiscation,  exile,  and  tlie  scaffold ;  many 
the  tragical  incidents  and  vicissitudes  of  fortune,  witnessed 
during  a  long  life  by  Waynflete.  Even  the  recent  and 
grateful  triumph  of  King  Henry,  was  attended  with 
sorrow  for  the  bloodshed,  for  the  slain,  for  the  captured, 
or  the  fugitive  acquaintance  and  friend.  We  cannot 
wonder  if,  worn  with  affliction  and  age,  he  wished  for  a 
speedy  release  from  the  burthen.  April  27,  I486,  he 
received,  says  Budden,  something  as  it  were  of  a  divine 
impression  or  admonition,  not  unlike  that  of  the  Prophet 
Hezekiah,  2  Kings,  v.  ].  "  Set  thine  house  in  order, 
for  thou  shall  die,  and  not  live."  His  will  is  dated  on 
that  day  at  South-Waltham.  Will. — In  the  preamble 
he  declares,  that  he  was  panting  for  the  life  to  come, 
and  perceived  the  day  of  his  expectation  in  this 
valley  of  tears  arrived  as  it  were  at  its  eve,  and  the  time 
of  his  dissolution  near  at  hand.  He  bequeaths  his  soul 
to  Almighty  God,  the  Virgin,  Mary  Magdalen,  and  the 
patron-saints  of  his  Cathedral ;  and  directs  that  his  body 
should  be  buried  in  the  tomb  which  he  had  provided  for 
it,  in  a  Chapel  of  the  Blessed  Mary  Magdalen,  in  his 
Church  of  Winchester.  He  then  leaves  for  the  celebra- 
tion of  his  exequies,  on  the  day  of  his  sepulture,  and 
on  the  trental  of  his  obit,  as  follows,  the  money  to  be 
distributed  by  equal  portions,  viz.  To  the  Prior  of  the 
Convent  of  Winchester,  besides  a  cup  and  cover  gilded, 
40s. ;  to  each  of  the  Monks,  if  a  priest,  13s.  4c?. :  if  not, 
3s.  4d.  To  the  Abbot  of  Hyde,  J 3s.  4d.;  to  each  of 
the  Monks,  if  a  priest,  6s.  8d. :  if  not,  3s.  4c?.  To  the 
Abbess  of  the  Monastery  of  St.  Mary  Wynton,  13s.  4c?.  ; 
to  each  Nun,  if  professed,  2s. :  if  not,  Is.  4d.  To  the 
Warden  of  the  College  at  Winchester,  6s.  8c?. ;  to  each 
Priest,  2s.;  to  each  clerk.  Is.  4c?. ;  to  each  boy,  4c?. ;  and 
for  two  pittances*  for  the  fellows  and  boys,  20s.     To 


•  Pittances  :  allowauces  on  particular  occasions  over  and  above  the 
common  provisions. 


302  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

the  Master  of  the  Hospital  of  St.  Cross,  6s.  Sd,;  to 
each  Priest,  2s. ;  to  each  Clerk  of  the  Chapel,  Is.  4rf, 
To  the  religious  of  the  order  of  St.  Austin  at  Wynton,  of 
minors,  of  predicants,  and  to  the  Carmelites,  to  each 
26s.  Sd.  To  each  Priest,  with  or  without  cure,  belonging 
to  the  city  and  soke,  2s.  ;  and  to  each  Clerk  of  a  parish. 
Is.  The  place  where  these  should  celebrate  his  exequies 
to  be  appointed  by  his  executors.  To  the  President  of 
his  College,  6s.  8c?. ;  to  each  Fellow,  Scholar,  and 
Chaplain,  2s.;  to  each  Clerk  of  the  Chapel,  Is.  4d.;  to 
each  Chorister,  Is.  The  same  to  New  College,  Oxford. 
He  bequeaths  to  Joan  Welby,  widow  of  Richard  Welby, 
a  handsome  silver  cup  and  cover,  gilded.  To  be  dis- 
tributed among  the  poor  on  the  day  of  his  burial,  and  on 
the  trental  of  his  obit,  at  least  .£160.  13s.  4d.  His 
executors  to  cause  5,000  masses,  in  honour  of  the  five 
wounds  of  Christ,  and  the  five  joys  of  the  Virgin  Mary, 
to  be  celebrated  on  the  day  of  his  burial,  the  trental  of 
his  obit,  and  other  days,  for  his  soul,  and  the  souls  of 
his  parents  and  friends.  A  distribution  of  money  to  be 
made  among  his  domestics  according  to  the  codicil.  All 
his  manors,  lands,  and  tenements,  not  belonging  to  his 
Church,  but  obtained  otherwise,  to  be  given  by  his 
feoffees,  and  applied  entirely  to  the  perpetual  use  of  his 
College;  the  manor  of  Sparsholt  only  excepted.  He 
beseeches  his  executors,  and  requires  them  in  the  bowels 
of  Christ,  to  consider  favourably  the  necessity  of  his 
College,  and  to  relieve  it  from  his  effects  according  to 
their  ability.  He  appoints  John  Catesby,  justice  of  the 
King's  Bench,  Master  William  Gyfford,*  Rector  of 
Cheryton,  Mychael  Cleve,  doctor  of  decrees,  Master 
John  JNele,  Master  Stephen  Tyler,  Rector  of  Alverstoke, 
William  H  olden.  Rector  of  DrokynfFord,  and  Richard 
Burton  of  Taunton,  his  executors.  To  the  first  he 
bequeaths,  in  recompence  of  his  trouble,  £0,6.  13s.  4c?.; 
to  the  others,  each  £l3.  6s.  8d.  He  directs  the  residue 
of  his  goods  to  be  disposed  of  by  his  executors,  with  the 
consent  of  the  majority,  among  the  poor ;  in  pious  and 
devout  uses  ;  and,  especially,  in  aid  of  the  necessities  of 
his  College ;  in  masses  and  in  alms-deeds  for  the  salvation 


*  W.  Gyfford  and  W.  Holden  to  take  possession  by  letter  of  attorney 
for  the  College  of  all  donations,  6ic.  of  triends!,  benetactors,  and  of  the 
founder.    1  Henry  VII. 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  SOS 

of  his  soul,  and  of  the  souls  of  his  parents  and  friends. 
The  codicil  comprises  his  Chaplains,  Officers,  and 
servants  of  every  denomination,  in  all  125  persons;  and 
the  amount  of  his  bequeaths  to  them  is  considerable. 
This  year,  (I486,)  which  was  the  last  of  his  life,  affords 
an  instance  of  his  attention  to  merit,  and  of  his  dispens- 
ing with  his  statutes  to  reward  it.  He  had  noticed,  when 
at  his  College,  the  good  and  virtuous  disposition  of  a 
chaplain  who  had  been  long  there,  and  was  of  a  county 
and  diocese  from  which  scholars  could  not  be  chosen. 
In  obedience  to  a  letter  from  him,  Hewster  was  admitted 
at  the  ensuing  election  to  a  year  of  probation,  and  on 
the  same  day  to  be  perpetual  fellow. 

The  Bishop  appears  to  have  possessed  a  robust  con- 
stitution, and  to  have  long  enjoyed  almost  uninterrupted 
health.  He  now  fell  suddenly  into  a  grievous  disease, 
which,  in  the  figurative  language  of  Dr.  Budden,  creep- 
ing and  stealing  through  his  limbs  and  marrow,  got  into 
the  citadel  of  his  heart,  and  so  entirely  overcame  him  as 
to  bring  on  a  speedy  dissolution.  He  died  on  Friday  the 
]  1th.  of  August,  I486,  at  4  p.m.  His  disorder,  of  which 
the  account  is  obscure,  seems  to  have  begun  in  the  ex- 
tremities. Its  inroad  was  gradual,  and  it  seized  on  his 
vitals  by  insensible  degrees,  as  we  are  told ;  for  he  was 
able,  as  is  proved  by  his  Register,  to  give  institution  to  a 
living  on  the  same  day.  The  body  was  removed  to  Win- 
chester with  great  funeral  pomp,  and,  after  the  usual 
solemnity,  deposited  in  the  tomb  within  the  chapel  of 
St.  Mary  Magdalen  in  the  cathedral,  according  to  the 
directions  in  his  will.  It  has  been  observed  that  three 
successive  Prelates  held  this  Bishopric  1 19  years,  the 
time  between  the  consecration  of  Wykeham  and  the  death 
of  Waynflete.  The  last  had  it  38  years,  ( I  year  less  than 
Wykeham,  and  3  than  Beaufort,)  according  to  Budden, 
who  computes  from  his  installation,  which  was  on  August 
SO,  1448;  or  39  years,  if  we  follow  Godwin.  He  was 
elected,  we  have  seen,  on  April  15, 1447,  and  consecrated 
July  13  following.  The  See  continued  vacant  until  Jan. 
29,  1487,  when  Courtney,  Bishop  of  Exeter,  was  trans- 
lated to  it  by  a  bulle  of  Pope  Innocent. 

Character. — Humane  and  benevolent  in  an  uncommon 
degree,  he  appears  to  have  had  no  enemies  but  from 
party,  and  to  have  disarmed  even  these  of  their  malice. 
His  devotion  was  fervent  without  hypocrisy ;  his  bounty 


304  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

unlimited,  except  by  his  income.      As  a  Bishop,  he  was 
as  a  kind  father  revered  by  his  children ;  as  a  founder,  he 
was  magnilicent  and  mnnihcent.     He  was  ever  intent  on 
alleviating  distress  and  misery.     He  dispensed  largely  by 
his  almoner  to  the  poor.     He  enfranchised  several  of  his 
vassals  from  the  legal  bondage  to  which  they  were  con- 
signed by  the  feudal  system.     He  abounded  in  %yorks  of 
charity  and  mercy.     Amiable  and  affable  in  his  whole 
deportment,  he  was  as  generally  beloved  as  respected. 
The  prudence,  fidelity,  and  innocence,  which  preserved 
him  when  tossed  about  on  the  variable  waves  of  inconstant 
fortune,  during  the  long  and  mighty  tempest  of  the  civil 
war,  was  justly  a  subject  of  wonder  to  his  biographer.  Dr. 
Budden. '    It   is   remarkable,    that    he    conciHated    the 
favour  of  successive  sovereigns  of  opposite  principles  and 
characters  ;  and  that,  as  this  author  tells  us,  the  Kings  his 
benefactors  were,  by  his  address  in  conferring  obligations 
on  them  in  his  turn,  converted  from  being  his  creditors 
into  his  debtors. 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Of  the  Chapel  and  Tomb  erected  by  JFaxjnfiete  at  JV'mchester , 
with  a  further  Jccount  of  his  Family.  \_Also  a  description 
of  the  Tomb  in  All  Saints  Church,  nearWaynJlete,  Lincoln- 
shire, of  Richard  Patten  and  his  two  Sons,  John  and  our 
Bishop. — Ed.] 

The  fashion  of  placing  images  oi\  tombs  standing  in 
small  chapels  or  sepulchres  in  churches,  is  said  to  have 
been  invented  or  introduced  into  England  by  an  iVbbot  of 
Evesham,  called  Thomas  of  Marlebergh,  who  died  in 
1236.  Wykeham  and  Beaufort,  with  various  royal, 
noble,  and  eminent  persons,  had,  by  preparing  their  own 
tombs,  rendered  the  usage  familiar  ;  and  Waynflete,  if  we 
may  conjecture  from  the  statue  [at  Winton  Cathedral] 
which  represents  him  of  a  middle  age,  began  his  soon 
after  he  became  a  Bishop.  The  sepulchre  of  Bishop 
Wykeham  in  the  Cathedral  of  Winchester,  is  inclosed  in 
a  Chapel  of  the  Virgin  Mary  ;  that  of  Bishop  Beaufort 
in  a  Chapel  of  the  Salutation,  as  may  be  inferred  from  his 
will ;  and  that  of  Bishop  Waynflete  in  one  dedicated  to 
St.  Mary  Magdalen.  The  open  sides  of  all  these 
Chapels  afforded  a  view  of  the  priest  officiating  at  the 
altar  within,  while  the  people  were  kneeling  on  the  step 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  303 

T>n  the  outside,  or  on  the  area  round  about  them.     The 
two  last  are  opposite  each  other,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
traverse  wall  behind  the  choir.     The  architecture  of  the 
Chapel  of  St.  Mary  Magdalen  is  of  a  species  which  has 
been  denominated  the  Jiorid  Gothic.      The  specimens 
extant  in  the  Cathedral  at  Winchester,  exhibit  its  gradual 
progress  from  comparative  simplicity  to  its  consummation. 
The  Chapel  of  Wykeham  is  plainer  than  those  of  his  two 
successors.      These   resemble   each   other;    but  that  of 
Waynllete  is  much  lighter  and  richer  in  the  variegation  of 
its  roof,  and  the  profusion  of  the  spire-work ;  and  for  the 
execution  of  its  masonry,  we  are  told,  has  not  been  ex- 
ceeded, if  equalled,  anywhere  in  England.     The  beauty, 
genius,  and  invention  discovered  in  these  and  many  like 
monuments,  should  have  rescued  the  names  of  the  artists 
from   oblivion.       The    tomb    of   Waynflete   within    the 
chapel   is   of  grey  marble.      On   a   blue  slab    lies   the 
figure   of  the  Bishop,  his  head  supported  by  a  couple 
of  pillows,  his  eyes  raised  to  heaven,  his  hands  closed 
as  in  prayer,  with  a  heart  between   them,  probably  in 
allusion   to  the  sursum  corda  of  the  liturgies,  or  to  what 
gave  rise  to  the  form,  namely.  Lament,  iii.  41.     *'  Leveinus 
corda  nostra  cum  manibus  in  calos."     It  exhibits  him  in 
much   humbler   attire   than  Wykeham,   who  perhaps  is 
arrayed  in  the  pontificals  of  his  consecration-day.     At  the 
feet,  an  angel  clothed  in  white,  with  wings,  holds  on  his 
breast  a  shield  of  his  arms  ;  as  also,  in  the  centre  of  the 
middle  compartment  of  the  roof;  and  often  at  his  college, 
where,  by  the  library,  are  two  angels  as  supporters.     The 
same  bearing  was  used,  it  seems,  by  the  Bishops  of  Win- 
chester, as  it  occurs  before  and  after  Waynflete,  on  the 
tombs  of  Beaufort  and  Fox.     Formerly  a  fillet  of  brass, 
with  an  inscription,  it  may  be  conjectured  his  favourite  verse 
of  the  Magnificat,  was  fixed  along  the  edge  of  the  slab  : 
but  this  has  been  purloined,  it  is  likely,  for  the  sake  of 
the  metal ;    and   some  vestiges  of  it  only  were  visible 
when  about  a  century  had  elapsed.     The  effigy  may  be 
considered  as  affording  an  exact  and  authentic  represen- 
tation of  the  person  of  Waynflete  ;    as  alike  descriptive 
,of  his  appearance  in  his   pontificals,    and   of  the   piety 
which  was  so  principal  an  ingredient  in  his  character. 
^  I  have  endeavoured,    but  hitherto  unsuccessfully,    to 
obtain  more  particular  information  respecting  Sir  Wm, 
Brereton,    the    maternal    grandfather  of    William   aud 


306  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

John  Waynflete.     Lord  Scales  was  sent  to  forage  with 
3,CXX)  men,  while  the   Earl  of  Warwick  besieged  Pont- 
orson  in   1425,  and  on  his  return  was  encountered  by 
double  the  number  of  the  enemy :    whom  he  defeated 
with   great  slaughter,  and  then  triumphantly  re-entered 
the  English  camp,  with   provisions  and  a  long  train  of 
captives.       It  was,    I  apprehend,   in  this  once  famous 
action,  Brereton  served  under  that  renowned  commander. 
He  was   then  advanced   beyond    middle   life,   as  John 
Waynflete  at  that  time  was  dean  of  Chichester.     In  June 
1474   (14  June,   14  Edw.  IV.)    Sir    William    Brereton 
made  over  to  the  Bishop  and  dean,  jointly  with  Robert 
Brereton,  Rector  of  Brereton  in  Cheshire,  and  to  their 
heirs  and  assigns  for  ever,  all  his   possessions  in  Lin- 
colnshire. He  must  then  have  attained  to  extreme  old  age. 

In  the  act  of  resumption,  which  passed  in  the  3rd. 
year  of  King  Edward,  provision  was  made,  that  it  should 
not  extend  nor  be  prejudical  to  Mr.  John  Waynflete, dean, 
and  the  chapter  of  Chichester.  He  diedin  1481.  Richard 
Patten,  alias  Barbour,  survived  perhaps  Sir  Wm.  Brereton, 
and,  it  is  probable,  died  before  his  son  John  Waynflete. 
He  was  buried  in  the  Church  of  All  Saints,  which  now 
stands  above  a  mile  distant  from  Waynflete,  to  the  north- 
west, in  the  rich  meadows  surrounding  the  town  on  the 
land-side.  His  monument  is  still  extant  there,  at  the 
east  end  of  the  south  aisle,  close  by  the  wall  that  divides 
it  from  the  middle  aisle.  The  arms  of  the  Bishop  are 
mentioned  by  Stukeley  as  remaining  in  his  time  in  the 
windows  of  the  same  Church ;  yet  they  are  not  noticed  by 
the  diligent  antiquary  who  preceded  him  in  1629  J  who 
observed  his  family  arms,  Lozengy  sable  and  ermine,  in 
a  window  of  the  church  of  Croyland  ;  and  the  same  aims 
with  the  lilies  in  chief,  as  at  Tateshale,  in  the  south 
window  near  the  door  of  the  chancel  at  Bennington ; 
where  also  was  his  portrait  with  the  legend,  Effigies 
Willi.  Wahijiet  Epi.  Winton. 

*  Richard  Patten  is  recumbent  in  effigy  on  the  slab  of 
a  fair  altar-tomb  of  alabaster,  within  a  strong  moveable 
enclosure  of  wooden  palisades  designed  to  defend  it  from 
injury.     He  is  represented  as  a  tall,  well-made  person. 


*  [Here  Chaundler  begins  his  description  of  the  tomb  of  Richard 
Patten  and  his  2  sous,  John,  and  our  Bishop.— Edit.] 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  307 

not  aged,  of  a  comely  pleasing  countenance,  without  a 
beard,  his  eyes  open  and  turned  upwards,  his  hands 
closed  as  in  prayer.  He  is  bare-headed ;  his  hair  regu- 
larly divided  in  wavy  locks  from  the  centre  of  the  crown, 
and  cut  round,  reaching  only  to  the  ears.  He  has  a 
large  figured  ring,  which  seems  to  have  had  a  stone  or 
seal  set  in  it,  ou  the  forefinger  of  the  right  hand  ;  and, a 
narrow  plain  ring  on  the  little  finger  of  the  left.  He 
wears  a  gown  or  robe  with  wide  puffed  sleeves  and  with 
plaits,  reaching  from  the  breast  to  the  feet ;  a  broad  hem 
or  border  at  the  bottom,  and  underneath,  a  vest  or  waist- 
coat, of  which  the  sleeves  are  tied  at  the  wrists  with 
double  strings.  The  two  standing  collars  of  these 
garments  are  round,  and  closed  at  the  neck.  The  inner 
garment  appears  at  the  opening  of  the  sleeves.  A  belt 
is  fastened  about  the  waist  with  a  buckle ;  the  strap 
falling  to  the  knee.  It  is  studded  with  roses  of  stones, 
and  the  whole  breadth  near  the  end,  decorated  with  a 
wrought  ornament  terminating  in  a  single  stone.  From 
the  belt  hangs  by  the  middle  a  rosary ;  the  ends,  at  which 
are  two  tassels,  falling  parallel ;  the  beads  roughly  cut, 
and  near  an  inch  diameter :  also,  by  a  double  string,  a 
pvuse  with  two  small  cords,  to  open  and  shut  it,  ending 
in  tassels  reaching  almost  to  the  bottom,  which  has  a 
tassel  at  each  corner.  A  whittle  or  knife  was  likewise 
suspended  to  it ;  the  string  yet  remaining  with  a  portion 
of  the  handle,  and  the  entire  sheath  under  his  right  side. 
His  feet  rest  on  scattered  lilies  or  other  flowers,  and  his 
shoes  have  pointed  toes.  His  head  lies  on  a  pillow 
placed  on  a  cushion,  with  two  large  tassels  at  the  cor- 
ners; and  is  supported  on  his  left  side  by  John,  and  on  his 
light  by  William  Waynflete.  John  Waynflete  is  repre- 
sented as  sitting  with  his  feet  drawn  up,  his  right  hand 
beneath  the  pillow,  his  left  holding  a  large  open  book 
lying  on  his  left  knee,  under  which  his  right  foot  is 
placed.  He  has  the  clerical  tonsure,  and  his  hair  is  cut 
short  and  even.  His  features  are  strong  and  masculine,, 
his  aspect  venerable,  his  air  solemn,  and  his  eyes  lifted 
up  as  in  prayer.  His  dress  is  a  hood;  that,  it  is  likely, 
of  a  bachelor  of  canon  law,  reaching  to  his  loins,  deeply 
indented  or  scallopped  at  the  extremity ;  with  a  cowl 
behind,  like  the  cloak  of  a  Capuchin  friar.  Under  it  is 
a  full  flowing  garment  with  open  sleeves,  probably  a 
surplice,   as  he    appears   to   be   attending  on  the  last 

■X   o 


308  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETK 

moments  of  his  father  in  the  character  of  a  priest.  Wm, 
Waynflete,  [the  Bishop]  is  in  a  similar  posture,  his  left 
foot  placed  under  the  bending  of  the  right  knee,  his  left 
hand  supporting  the  pillow.  He  is  represented  as  a 
Bishop,  and  that  hand  has  a  glove  on  it  from  which 
hang  some  small  beads.  The  mitre  on  his  head  is  set 
with  precious  stones,  and  richly  adorned  with  broad 
figured  lace  ;  some  traces  of  the  painting  and  gilding  still 
visible.  The  middle  part  of  the  staff  of  the  crosier,  with 
his  right  ami  and  the  hand,  which  held  it,  and,  it  i» 
probable,  had  likewise  a  glove  on,  is  gone  ;  but  the 
lower  end  remains  under  the  shoulder  of  the  large  statue  j 
and  the  upper,  reposing  on  his  own  shoulder  and  touch- 
ing the  mitre,  has  above  it  some  imperfect  traces  of  the 
pastoral  crook.  His  robes  are  loose,  flowing  to  his  feet, 
and  spreading  on  the  marble  behind.  His  countenance 
is  amiable  and  benevolent,  but  serious  and  expressive  of 
sorrow.  His  face  resembles  that  of  his  father,  but  is 
younger ;  and  is  neither  so  broad  nor  so  aged  as  that  of 
his  brother.  The  sides  of  the  tomb  are  ornamented  with 
compartments  car\ed  in  fret-work,  alternately  of  unequal 
width.  In  two  at  the  head  are  angels,  slender  figures, 
with  curling  hair  and  pentagonal  caps,  their  wings  ex- 
panded, and  robes  flowing  to  their  feet ;  holding  each  on, 
his  breast  an  armorial  shield,  encircled  with  the  garter, 
once  painted  and  gilded,  tied  in  a  knot  below.  Traces 
remain  of  letters,  probably  of  the  usual  motto.  The 
shield  on  the  dexter  side  has  the  bearing  of  William 
Waynflete,  Lozengy  three  lilies  in  chief.  The  other  is 
now  plain ;  time,  it  is  likely,  having  obliterated  the  arms 
of  the  See  of  Winchester,  for  which,  perhaps,  it  was 
intended.  The  wooden  fence  approaches  the  head  of 
the  tomb,  so  as  not  to  admit  of  a  passage  within  it, 
probably  because  the  inscription  was  placed  in  that  part, 
and  not  on  a  fillet  round  the  rim  ;  one  side  being  close 
to  the  wall.  At  that  end  the  cornice  is  of  freestone,  and 
loose;  and,  on  removing  it,  light  enters  through  the 
transparent  alabaster.  The  middle  is  filled  up  with 
solid  masonry.  A  remnant  of  the  inscription  was  copied 
in  1629: 

novissima  memorare. . . .  credo  videre  bona 

Dni  in  terra  viventium 

and  celebrates  the  pious  confidence  of  the  deceased,  if 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  509 

I  mistake  not,  by  recording  his  last  words:    "I  believe 
verily  to  see  the  goodness  of  the  liord  in  the  land  of  the 
living."  Ps.  xxvii.  io.     In  the  Bishop  ended,  if  I  mis- 
take not,  the  descendants  of  Richard  Patten.     Guillim, 
after  mentioning  the  family  of  that  naaie  bearing  "  Fasilif 
ermine  and  sable,    a  canton  or"  as  of  good  note   and 
antiquity,  has   given  to  William   and   John,   a   brother 
named  "■  Richard,  that  lived  and  died  at  Baslowe,  Derby- 
shire ;"  and  being  a  layman,  had  issue  Humphrey,  who 
seated  himself  in  Lancashire,  where  his  descendants  then 
lived  at  Warrington ;  from  whom,  continues  he,  Thomas 
Patten  of  Thornley,  in  the  said  county,  gentleman,    is 
descended.     But  the  canton  or  would  have  been  retained 
by  V\  illiam  when   he  added   the  lilies,  and  would  have 
appeared  in  the  arms  without  them  at  Eton,  and  in  the 
window  at  Croyland,    if  it  had   belonged  to  his  family. 
Holinshed  is  silent  as  to  the  offspring  of  this  Richard; 
though   Godwin   tells    us   he  left   children    at   Baslowe, 
whose  posterity,  as  he  heard,  were  still  found  in  those 
parts.     He  and  his  descendants  are  met  with  perhaps  in 
other  authors ;   but  it  was   Guillim,    I  apprehend,  who 
first  introduced  him  and  them  to  the  public.      Patten, 
was  a  sirname  not  uncommon.     Families  distinguished 
by  it,  may  have  subsisted  at  the  same  time  in  Derbyshire, 
Lancashire,  and  Lincolnshire,  and  may  yet  subsist,  each 
as  distinct  and  separate  from  the  other  as  the  counties. 
But  supposing  Thomas  Patten  of  Thornley  to  be  derived 
from  Richard  of  Baslowe,  we  have  reason  to  believe  his 
pedigree  wrongly   deduced   from  the  father  of  William 
and  John  Waynflete.     Why  are  these  two  only  repre- 
sented on  his  tomb  ?     Why  did  Sir  William  Brereton,  in 
the  assignment   of  his   estates,  omit  this  third  brother? 
But  further,  if  this  Richard  survived  William  and  John, 
or  left  children,  would  not  he   or  they  have   been  heir 
to  the  Bishop?      Yet   another  claimant  is   on  record, 
Juliana   Churchstile,    who,  wanting  to  alienate  a  farm, 
which  she  asserted  to  belong  to  her  as  his  relation,  and 
proving  her  affinity  as  required  by  law,  declares  herself 
**  widow  and  late  wife  of  Richard  Churchstile,  deceased, 
kinswoman   and   heir   of  Master  William  de  Waynflete, 
late  Bishop  of  Winchester ;    to  wit,  sole  daughter  and 
heir   of  Robert   Patten,    brother   and    heir   of  Richard 
Patten,  otherwise  called  Barbour,  of  Waynflete,  father  of 
the  Bishop."     The  authority  of  Guillim  appears  to  have 


310  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

been  a  pedigree  given  in  by  Thomas  Patten  of  Thornley, 
and  signed  by  ^  orroy,  king  at  arms,  at  the  visitation  at 
Ormskirk,  Lancashire,  April  8,  I660.  Thomas  Patten,  or 
the  herald  employed  by  hmi,  seems  first  to  have  connected 
Richard  Patteli  of  Baslowe,  Derbyshire,  if  such  a  person 
ever  existed,  with  Richard  Patten  of  Waynflete,  Lincoln, 
and  then  to  have  removed  his  son  Humphrey  into  Lan- 
cashire, to  provide  the  family  established  in  this  county 
with  an  ancestor  of  eminence.  Waynflete,  v\'e  may  re- 
member, has  declared  that  he  had  demurred  whether  to 
found  a  College,  or  distribute  his  goods  to  the  poor  in 
his  lifetime.  The  enriching  of  his  family  is  not  an  alter- 
native. No  preference  is  given  to,  nor  provision  made 
for,  kinsmen  at  his  College,  as  by  Wykehara ;  neither  is 
there  mention  of  any  relation  in  his  will.  Perhaps  Juliana 
Churchstile  was  the  only  one  remaining,  was  in  affluence, 
and  without  children, 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Contains  Proceedings  at  Magdalen  College  after  the  Death 
f>f  JVaynJlete,  with  an  Account  of  some  Benefactors  and 
Members  of  the  Society,  particularly  fp'ulcy ;  and  Chapter 
HIV.  is  termed  the  conclusion.  Both  which  .are  omitted  as 
quite  irrelevant  to  the  plan  of  this  work. 

[Here  terminates  the  re-print  of  Chaundlefs  Life  of  Waynflete^ 


ADDENDA. 

Bishop  Tanner  thus  notices  his  foundation  of  MagdaJen 
College:  "  Oxfordshire,  XXIII.  article  Magdalen 
College,  16.  William  Patten,  alias  Wainflet,  Bishop  of 
Winton,  A.D.  1448,  founded  without  the  east  gate  a 
Hall  for  students,  and  contiguous  to  it,  in  or  near  the 
place  where  the  old  Hospital  of  St.  John  stood,  he  built 
A.  D.  1458,  a  fine  College  for  a  president,  40  fellows, 
30  scholars  called  demies,  4  chaplains,  8  clerks,  I6 
choristers,  &c.  to  the  honour  of  St.  Mary  Magdalen,  St. 
John  the  Baptist,  St.  Peter,  St.  Paul,  and  St,  Swithun. 
By  the  valuation  of  26  Henry  VIII.  it  seems  to  have  been 
better  endowed  than  any  other  College  in  the  University, 
being  rated  highest,  viz.  at  ^f  1076.  5s,  Q.d.  per  aim," 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  311 

Vide  Hist,  and  Antiq.  Univ.  Ox.  lib.  ii.  p.  187,  &c. 
Fuller's  Ch.  Hist,  book  iv.  p.  188. 

List  of  the  Presidents  in  Le  Neve's  Fasti,  p.  493-4. 

Inltin.Will.  de  Worcestre,  p.  l66,  dimensiones  Eccles. 

Year  Books,  1 1  Henry  VH.  Mich.  rot.  30,  de  Capella 
S.  Kath.  de  Wanburgh  (Wilt.)  In  Atkins's  Glouc.  p. 
165  of  the  manor  of  Queinton. 

In  Bloomfield's  Norfolk,  vol.  iii.  p.  542  of  lands  in 
Boton  Salle  and  Causton ;  vol.  iv.  p.  369  of  the  manor 
of  Gaton  in  Branderton,  and  the  advowson  of  the  rectory ; 
p.  861  of  lands  in  Hickling  ;  p.  1329  of  the  manor  of 
Tickwell ;  p.  1464  of  a  manor  in  Boy  ton. 

In  Bridges's  Northants,  vol.  i.  p.  l66  of  the  impropriate 
rectory  and  advowson  of  the  Vic.  of  Evenle. 

In  Thoroton's  Notts,  p.  151-2  of  the  alternate  pre- 
sentation to  the  rectory  of  east  Bridgeford,  belonging  to 
this  College. 

In  Dugdale's  Warwicksliir*,  p.  281-2,  of  the  advowsoa 
of  Willoughby  rectorv. 

Catalogum  librorum  MSS.  p.  239,  Coll.  S.  Mar. 
Magd.  in  Oxon.  in  Catalogo  MSS.  Angliae  et  Hibernia 
Oxon.  1697,  fol.  tom.  1.  p.  ii.  p.  71,  &c. 

Cartas  originales,  registra,  rotulos,  et  alia  mujaimenta 
in  Scaccario  CoUegii. 

Statuta  CollegiiMSS.  in  Bibl.  Harleiana,  1235,6282. 
Regist,ofthe  Records  of  Magd,  Coll.  ibid,  MS.  4240,  n.  1. 

Collectanea  ex  evidentiis  Coll.  p.  Anth,  Wood,  MS. 
in  bibl.  musei  Ashmol.  Oxon.  Wood,  vol.  xxviii,  p.  148, 
vol.  Ii.  p.  15I-I6I.  For  the  right  of  the  College  to  pre- 
sent a  principal  to  Magd.  Hall,  ibid.  Wood,  vol.  ci  f.  47. 

In  Bibl.  C.  C.  C.C.  MS.  127,  Papers  relating  to  the 
controversy  between  Dr.  Oglethorp,  President,  and  the 
College. 

De  exemptione  hujus  Collegii  a  juris  dictione  Ep- 
Linco.  per  cartumThomae  Ep.  Linco.  6,  Jul.  A.D.  1480. 
Videlibrummemorand,Thomae  Rotheram  Ep.  Linco.  f.  15. 

Pat.  26  Henry  VI.  p.  2.  m.  33.  licentiam  pro  funda- 
tioae,  et  perquirendi  terras  ad  annuum  valorem  cK  ;  Pat. 
35  Henry  VI.  p.  L  m.  1.  pro  hospitale  S.Joan,  extra 
portam  Orient.  Oxon.  Ibid,  m.  I6,  licent.  perquirendi 
«itum  prioratus  de  Luffield. 

Pat.  7  Edw.  IV.  p.  3.  m.  12,  confirm,  pro  hosp.  S. 
Joannis,  Oxon.;  Pat.  15  Edw.  IV.  p.  3.  m.  15,  pro 
maner.  de  Dodington  juxta  Wakerle  :    Rec.  in  Scacc. ; 


312  WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE. 

26  Edw.  IV.  Trin.  rot.  19.;  Pat.  17  Edw.  IV.  p.  1.  m. 
].  pro  manor,  de  Candelesby  .  Ibid,  p.  2.  m.  31.  pro 
maner.  de  Multon  Hall  in  Frampton,  et  de  Salfletby,  et 
pro  advoc.  eccl.  de  Somercot  et  Basingham  Escaet. 
Norf.  18  Edw.  IV.  n.  53.  pro  maner.  et  lerris  in  Titch- 
well,  Brancaster,  Holme,  Branderton,  Beyton,  Salle, 
Causton,  Acle,  Birlingham,  Hickling,  Ermingland, 
(Norfo.),  Caldecot  in  Fritton,  Spilling  in  Gorleston,  et 
Akethorp  ni  Lowestoft  (Suff.)  Pat.  18  Edw.  IV.  p.  2, 
m,  3.  pro  maner.  de  Titchwell,  Brandeston,  &c.  Escaet; 
Linco.  19  Edw.  IV.  n.  78. 

Pat.  1  Richard  III.  p.  2.  m.  pro  iii.  virgat  tense  in 
Westcote  (Warw.) 

The  learned  Archbishop  Nicolson  thus  notices 
Waynjiete : — 

"  William  of  Wainfleet  was  bred  in  Wykham's  Col- 
leges, and  did  his  founder  the  honour  to  write  very  fairly 
after  his  copy.  His  JVIagdalen  may  vye  with  the  other's 
two,  St.  Maries  being  (modestly)  one  of  the  richest 
seminaries  of  learning  in  the  whole  world ;  and,  his 
magniticent  charity  has  been  celebrated  by  the  eloquent 
pen  of  Dr.  Budden,  (the  writer  of  Archbishop  Morton's 
life ;)  who  was  a  while  reader  of  philosophy  in  that 
College.  His  book  bears  the  title  of  (4to.  Oxon,  l682, 
and  Lond.  l681,  inter  Collect,  D.  Bates)  Gnlielmi 
Patein,  cui  Wayrifleti  Agnomen  fuit,  Wintoniensis  Ec- 
clesicc  PrcBsulis,  et  ColLBeata  Maria,  Magd.  apud  Oxon. 
Fundatoris,  Vita  Obitusque.  A  treatise  much  applauded 
by  Godwin  ;  who,  nevertheless,  seems  not  to  have  perused 
it :  for  he  calls  the  author  William  Budden,  though  his 
name  was  certainly  J olm."*— Historical  Library/,  Part 
II.  ch.  vi.  p.  140. 

"  Willelmus  Waynflet,  Canonicus  Wellensis  ab  anno 
3433,  et  CoUegii  Regalis  Etonensis  Prajpositus  a  Nicolao 
Papa  ad  Winton,  sedem  provisus,  1447,  10  Maii  pro- 
fessionem  obedientize  Apo.  Cant,  fecit  in  aedibus  Lam- 
bethanis  1447,  l6  Junii,  consecratus  die  30  Julii,  seq. 
Cancellarius  Angliae  constitutus  est  1457,  Oct.  11,  et  in 
eo  munere  Georgium  Nevil  Epns  Exon.  successiorem 
habuit  1460,  23  Julii.     Erravit  Godwinus  qui  ilium  ab 


[*  With  deference,  I  do  not  think  this  any  proof  of  the  Bishop's  not 
having  perused  the  work. — Edit.J 


WILLIAM  WAYNFLETE.  31S 

anno  1449  ad  1458,  cancelariatum  teiiuisse  sciibit.  la 
illo  siquidem  temporis  intervallo  Cancellani  online 
fuerunt  Johannes  Stafford,  Apus  Kemp  Ajjus  Ebor 
1450.  Ricardus  Comes  Sarum  1454,  et  Thomas  Bour- 
chier  Apus  Cant,  cui  successit  Willelmus  tioster  anno 
1457.  Obiit  iste  I486,  11  Aug." — Anglia  Sacra,  vol. 
1.  p.  318. 

Will.  VV^aynflete  by  his  letters  patent  dated  at  Esher  on  the 
5th  of  the  ides  of  Feb.,  in  the  5th  year  of  his  tiauslation 
A.D.  1452,  granted  and  demised  to  the  burgesses  of  Farn- 
ham  the  whole  burgh  of  Farnham,  with  the  vill  adjacent  and 
their  appurtenances,  except  only  the  privilege  ot  Hue  i;nd 
Cry  for  murder  ;  the  persons  and  chattels  of  felons,  die 
escheats  of  their  lands  and  tenements,  together  with  the 
services  of  Will,  le  Parker,  and  two  others,  who  held 
of  the  Bishop  in  Capite.  He  conhrmed  to  theui  the 
liberties  and  free  customs  which  they  had  anciently  and 
to  that  time  enjoyed,  particularly,  I.  A  fair  on  All  Saints' 
Day  (Nov.  2)  yearly.  II.  The  right  of  electing  and 
removing  their  bailiffs  without  any  hindrance  on  the 
Bishop's  part.  III.  The  assize  of  ale  and  bread,  with 
power  of  punishing  defaulters  by  fine,  but  not  otherwise. 
IV.  All  manner  of  tolls.  V.  Exemption  from  suit  and 
service  at  the  Bishop's  court,  except  only  what  belonged 
to  the  lord  of  the  hundred  at  law  day,  at  the  Cattle  of 
F'arnham.  VI.  Power  to  issue  attachments,  summonses, 
and  distresses  within  the  burgh  and  vill  not  belonging  to 
the  bailiff"  of  the  Bishop's  liberty.  For  these  privileges 
they  were  to  pay  to  the  Bishop  and  his  successors  by  the 
hands  of  his  bailiff  at  Farnham,  12  pounds  of  silver 
annually,  by  2  equal  portions,  in  lieu  of  £9-  which  had 
hitherto  been  usually  paid.  By  this  charter  it  appears, 
that  there  had  been  more  anciently  certain  burgesses  of 
the  town  who  enjoyed  various  privileges,  which  were  now 
partly  confirmed  and  partly  augmented,  in  consideration 
of  their  paying  annually  to  the  Bishop  <£  12.  instead  of 
^9.,  as  they  used  to  do," — Manning  and  Bray.  Hist. 
Surry,  vol.  iii.  p.  131. 

Bishop  Waynflete  was  executor  to  the  will  of  Ralph, 
Lord  Cromwell,  (Test.  Vet.  i.  p.  276)  proved  F'eb.  19, 
1455.  He  is  also  named  in  the  will  of  King  Henry  VI,, 
T.  V.  i.  p.  23. 

Portraits.  The  engravings  of  the  Bishop  are  thus 
policed  by  Granger :    "  William  Wayn fleet.   Bishop 


314  PETER  COURTENAY. 

of  Winchester,  Houbraken,  sc.  1742. — From  a  picture  at 
Madg.  Coll.  Ox  fold,  Illnst.  Head,  large  h.  sh.  Guliel- 
Mus  Patten  alias  Waynfleet  ;  totius  Anglite  Cancel, 
epus,  Wihton  Coll.  B.  Marice  Madg.  Oxori.  et  Aulcf 
adjtmct(B  Furidr.  A, D.  1459-  J-  Faberf.  large  4to,  mezz» 
William  Wykeharn  who  had  been  12  years  school-master 
of  Winchester,  was  afterwards  successively  school-master 
and  provost  of  Eton  ;  and  in  April  1447,  he  succeeded 
Cardinal  Beaufort  in  the  Bishopric  of  Winchester.  He 
was  made  Lord  Chancellor  of  England,  in  the  room  of 
Archbishop  Bourchier. — Ob.  11,  August,  I486.  His 
magnificent  tomb  and  that  of  the  Cardinal  are  still  in 
good  presei'vation,  in  the  Cathedral  to  which  they  be- 
longed."— Biogr.  Hist.  Engl.  vol.  i.  p.  52. 


XXI.     PETER  COURTENAY,  L.L.D. 
Succeeded  A.D.  1486-7.     Died  A.D.  1492. 

This  Prelate  was  born  at  Powderham,  Devonshire, 
(Fuller's  Worthies,  vol.  I.  p.  279,  edit.  1811,)  being  a 
younger  son  of  Sir  Philip  Courtenay  of  that  place,  Knt. 
by  Elizabeth  his  wife,  daughter  of  Walter  Lord  Hunger- 
ford,  by  Joan  his  wife,  widow  of  Sir  James  Chudleigh, 
Knt.  and  daughter  of  Alexander  Champernown,  of  Bere 
Ferrers,  son  of  Sir  John  Courtenay,  of  Powderham- 
Castle,  Knt.  and  he,  by  Anne  his  wife,  daughter  of  Sir 
Thomas  Wake,  Knt,  was  the  son  of  Sir  Philip  Courtenay, 
fourth  son  of  Hugh,  the  second  of  this  name,  Earl  of 
Devon  and  Margaret  his  wife,  who  settled  Powderham 
upon  him  and  his  posterity,  in  the  days  of  King  Edward 
HI.  where  they  have  continued  ever  since.  See  Sir  W. 
Pole's  Desc.  of  Devon,  in  Powderh.  Godwin  de  Prcssul 
int.  Epos.  Exon.  and  Prince's  Worthies  of  Devon,  p.  258, 
edit.  1810. 

Our  Prelate  having  spent  some  time  in  laying  a  good 
foundation  of  learning  in  the  University  of  Oxford,  for  his 
further  improvement  in  knowledge  and  science,  vent  to 
travel.  He  took  the  degree  of  D.  C.  L.  at  Padua. 
(Godw.  De  Frees.  Wint.)  How  long  he  staid  there  is 
uncertain.  On  his  return  to  England  he  went  once  more 
to   Oxford,  where  he  was   incorporated,   says    Prince 


PETER  COURTENAY.  315 

(Worth,  of  Devon,  ut  sup.  edit.  1810)  and  after  him 
Godwin,  D.C.L.  from  Padua,  though  F  find  no  record 
of  it  in  the  Athenze  or  Fasti.  He  successively  became 
Archdeacon  and  Dean  of  Exeter,  says  Isaacke  ;  who 
adds,  that  a  controversy  happening  between  the  mayor 
and  citizens  of  Exeter  and  the  coirpany  of  tailors,  afier 
great  charges  it  came  to  be  determined  by  King  Edward 
IV.  whose  final  order  therein  was  sent  to  Dr.  P.  Cour- 
tenay,  '  then  Dean  of  that  Church,'  to  be  delivered  to 
both  parties. 

About  two  years  after  this,  viz.  A.D.  1477  or  1478,  he 
was  promoted  to  the  See  of  Exeter,  and  consecrated  in 
St.  Stephen's  Chapel,  at  Westminster,  by  Archbishop 
Bourchier,  in  Nov.  of  the  same  year.  On  his  coming  to 
Exeter,  he  found  the  north  tower  of  his  Cathedral  unfin- 
ished, ''for  however,"  says  Prince,  p.  259,  "there  be  two 
towers  distinguished  by  their  site,  wherein  is  a  cage  often 
"very  sweet  and  tuneable  bells,  and  the  north,  in  which  is 
the  great  Peter  bell ;  yet,  at  the  time  of  this  honourable 
Prelate's  instalment, the  north  towerwas  not  far  advanced; 
whereupon  he  forthwith  undertook  and  sat  about  the  work, 
and  in  the  short  time  he  remained  Bishop,  at  his  own 
charges  and  expenses,  he  brought  the  same  to  perfection: 
and  it  is  now  a  very  noble  and  stately  piece  of  building. 
Which,  having  thus  finished,  that  it  might  not  remain  an 
empty  and  useless  steeple.  Bishop  Courtenay  was  pleased 
further  at  his  own  cost,  to  furnish  with  one  bell,  of  an 
immense  magnitude,  weighing,  as  we  are  told,  12,500lbs." 
(Isaacke,  p.  2.)  So  that  from  its  weight  and  size  it  can- 
not be  rung  without  the  help  of  many  men,  which,  that  it 
may  be  better  done,  it  has  a  double  wheel  and  two  ropes 
fastened  to  them,  by  means  of  which  the  ringing  it  is 
effected.  (See  Godwin.)  It  still  retains  the  founder's 
name,  being  to  this  day  called.  '  Peter's  bell.'  (See  an 
account  of  Exon  Cath.  accojnpanying  Carter's  excellent 
plates.)  To  this  famous  bell.  Bishop  Courtenay  added  a 
clock,  and  to  the  clock  a  dial  of  very  curious  invention/ 
especially  at  that  age. 

Having  presided  at  Exeter  Avith  honour  to  himself  and 
advantage  to  the  church  for  about  9  years,  he  was,  on  the 
death  of  Waynflete,  translated  to  Winton,  through  the 
favour  of  King  Henry  VH.  to  whose  cause  and  interest 
he  had  shewn  himself  very  faithful  against  King  Richard 
in.      The   bull  of  Pope  Innocent  was  dated  January 


Slo  PETER  COURTENAY. 

27,  I486,  as  Richardson,  p.  234,  quotes  Regisfr.  Morton, 
but  1487  as  Wharton  has  it.  He  had  been  elected  in 
Februaiv,  by  the  monks  who  were  not  aware  of  the  papal 
provision.  Ang.  Sac.  I.  p.  318.  His  temporalties 
were  restored  April  2,  1287. 

At  W niton  he  sat  about  five  years,  and  died  September 
22,  1492,  as  Wharton  states,  and  as  Godwin  on  the 
authority  of  Isaacke  also  records,  and  is  said  to  have  been 
buried  in  Winton  Cathedral.  Neither  Godwin,  nor 
Fuller,  Issacke,  or  Prince,  are  able  to  ascertain  the  place 
of  his  interment.  The  last  named,  with  great  probability, 
conjectures  that  he  was  buried  at  Powderham,  in  the 
church  of  which  place  is  a  "  monument  on  which  may 
be  seen  something  of  the  effigies  of  a  Prelate  in  pontifi- 
calibus,  which  has  been  accounted  to  be  the  Bishop's." 

"It  does  not  appear,"  says  Bishop  Milner,  "that 
he  was  otherwise  liberal  to  the  Cathedral  of  Winton, 
except  in  concurring  with  the  Prior  and  Monks  in  carry- 
ing on  the  inteiior  decorations,  which  seem  never  to 
have  been  suspended  from  the  death  of  Wykeham  until  a 
later  period  than  the  one  in  question."  The  same  writer 
adds,  that  "  the  exact  situation  of  Bishop  Courtenay's 
grave  is  almost  the  only  one  belonging  to  any  of  our 
Prelates  since  the  conquest  which  is  left  to  conjecture, 
and  can  not  absolutely  be  ascertained."  But  quare. — 
It  appears  from  the  following  passage  in  Wood,  that  he  had 
been,  in  addition  to  the  prefennents  above-named,  Arch- 
deacon of  Wilts.  *'  He  [Bainbridge]  was  made  [about 
1490]  Archdeacon  of  Wilts  (in  the  place  of  one  Hugh 
Pavy,  who  had  succeeded  in  that  dignity  Peter  Courtenay, 
upon  his  promotion  to  the  See  of  Exeter  in  the  beginning 
of  Feb.  1478.")  Ath.  Ox.  II.  703,  edit.  Bliss.  Peter 
Courtenay  had  been  appointed  Archdeacon  of  Wilts, 
Oct.  7,  1464,  as  appears  from  Antiq.  of  Salisb.  <Sf  Bath, 
p.  299-  He  was,  while  Archdeacon  of  Wilts,  appointed 
Prebendary  of  Cherminster  and  Bere,  in  Sarum  Ca- 
thedral, {ib.  p.  318)  in  which  he  was  succeeded  by 
Lionel  Woodville,  (afterwards  Bishop  of  Salisbury*)  on 
'  his  promotion  to  the  See  of  Exeter.  Richardson,  on  the 
authority  of  MS,  notes  of  T.  Tanner,  calls  him  master  of 
St.  Anthony's  Hospital,  London. 

*  See  Bishop  Woodville's  Life  in  Cassan's  Lives  of  the  Bishops  of 
Salisbury,  part  1.  p.  260. 


THOMAS  LANGTON.  317 

XXII.    THOMAS  LANGTON,*  L.L.D. 

"Succeeded  A.D.  1493.— Died  A.D.  1500. 

This  Prelate,  says  Wood,  (Ath.  Oi\  edit.  Bliss  2. 
col.  688)  "was  born  at  Appleby  in  Westmoreland,  where 
being  educated  in  religion  and  grammar  learning  among 
the  Carmelites,  was  sent  to  Queen's  College,  Oxford: 
bat  a  pest  breaking  out  in  the  University  soon  after,  he 
went  to  Cambridge,  and  became  a  member  of  Clare 
Hall,  (one  saith  of  Pembroke,)  [Godwin,  who  is  right, 
vid.  infi]  took  the  degrees  in  the  canon  law,  in  which, 
afterwards,  he  was  incorporated  at  Oxford,  and  had  con- 
siderable dignities  in  the  Church  bestowed  on  him ; 
among  which,  was  the  Prebend  of  S.  Decuman  in 
the  Church  of  Wells,  1478.  In  1483,  he  being  about  that 
time  Provost  of  Queen's  College,  Oxon,  [VV^ood  is  in 
error  here,  vid,  infra.'\  and  Master  of  St.  Julian's  Hos- 
pital, Southampton,  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  St. 
David's ;  whence  being  translated  to  the  See  of  Sarum  on 
the  death  of  Lionel  Woodville,-!-  had  restitution  of  the 
temporalties  May  4,  1484.  In  a  writing  in  Queen's 
College  treasury,  dated  Aug.  19,  1489,  (4  Hen.  VII.) 
he  occurs  by  the  titles  of  L.L.D. ,  Bishop  of  Sarum, 
and  Provost  of  Queen's.  Whence  we  may  conclude  that 
he  kept  the  Provostship  in  commendam  with  Sarum,  as 
probably  he  had  done  with  St.  David's.  In  1493,  he 
was  translated  to  the  See  of  Winton,  and  had  restitution 
of  the  temporalties  thereof  27th  June ;  where,  being 
settled,  he  put  in  practice  his  good  deeds,  which  he  had 
done  at  Sarum,  viz.  by  shewing  himself  a  Maecenas  of 
learning,  for  which  I  find  he  had  so  great  respect,  that 
he  took  care  to  have  youths  trained  up  at  bis  own  charge 
in  grammar  and  music,  (the  last  of  which  he  infinitely 
delighted  in,)  in  a  school  which  he  set  apart  in  the 
precincts  of  his  house.  It  was  usual  with  him  to  make 
his  scholars  repeat  at  night,  before  him,  such  dictates  as 
they  in  the  day-time  had  learned  from  their  master  :  and, 
such  as  could  give  a  laudable  account,  he  either  en- 
couraged with  good  words  or  small  rewards,  saying  to* 
those  about  him  that,  '  the  way  to  encrease  virtue  was  to 

•  His  Life  occurs  in  Cassan's  Lives  of  the  Sarum  Prelates,  Pt.  I.  p.  263. 
t  See  Cassau'8  Lives  of  the  Bishops  of  Sarum,  Pt.  L  p.  260. 


"318  THOMAS  LANGTON. 

praise  it,'  &c.  In  his  episcopal  office  he  behaved  him- 
self so  well,  that  he  was  in  great  authority  with  3  Kings, 
especially  for  his  learning  and  experience  in  civil  affairs  ; 
and  had  not  death  snatched  him  untimely  away,  would 
have  succeeded  Moreton  in  the  See  of  Canterbury.  He 
died  in  the  beginning  of  1501  ;  and  was  buried  in  the 
Cathedral  at  Winton,  near  the  tomb  and  shrine  of  St. 
Swithun.  By  his  will  he  gave  to  the  Priests  of  Clare 
Hall,  Cambridge,  considerable  sums  of  money  and  ^40. 
to  the  chest  of  that  house.  To  every  fellow  of  Queen's 
College,  Oxon,  6s.  Sd.,  and  40  marks  to  the  eleemosynary 
chest  thereof,  besides  a  suit  of  vestments  for  a  priest, 
deacon,  and  sub-dean,  and  4  capes.  He  gave  mainte- 
nance also  to  a  chaplain,  that  should  celebrate  service  for 
him  and  his  parents,  and  all  faithful  deceased  for  the 
space  of  100  years,  in  Appleby  Church  :  which  chaplain 
Mas  to  receive  for  his  labour  8  marks  yearly.  To  the 
Friars  (the  Carmelites)  in  Appleby  20  marks,  to  pray 
for  him ;  besides  several  sums  to  the  Friars  of  Oxon  and 
Cambridge  ;  and  to  Rowland  Machel  and  Eliz,  his  wife, 
(sister  to  the  said  Bishop,)  he  gave  several  lands  in  West- 
moreland, besides  200  marks.  He  built  also  the  little 
room  (which  is  now  a  large  bay-window  in  the  provost's 
dining  room  in  Queen's  College),  with  curious  vaulting 
under  it:  which  vault  is  now  no  other  than  a  portico 
to  the  College-Chapel.  Over  the  said  bay-window  is 
carved  in  stone  a  musical  note  called  a  Long  on  a  tiui, 
which  is  the  rebus  for  his  sir-name ;  and  out  of  the  bung- 
hole  of  the  tii7i  springs  a  vine  tree,  which,  without  doubt, 
was  put  for  Vinton  or  Vinchester,  he  being  then  Bishop 
of  that  place." 

"  He  left  behind  him  a  nephew  named  Robt.  Langton, 
born  also  in  Appleby,  and  educated  in  Queen's  College, 
of  where  he  was  L.L.D.  He  died  at  London  in  June, 
1524,  and  buried  before  the  image  of  St.  Michael,  in 
the  body  of  the  church  belonging  to  the  charter-house, 
(now  Sutton's  hospital)  near  London.  By  his  will  (in 
offic.  praerog.  Cant,  in  Reg.  Bodjield  qu.  21.)  he  be- 
queathed to  Queen's  College  £^00.  to  purchase  lands 
and  make  a  school  in  Appleby,  and  what  his  benefactioa 
was  besides,  as  also  that  of  Bishop  Langton,  you  majr 
see  in  Hist,  and  Antiq.  Univ.  Oxon.  lib.  2.  p.  123,  sq." 

In  the  notes  to  Bliss's  edition  of  Wood  we  have  the 
following  :    "  Thomas  Langton  was  of  Pembroke  Hall, 


THOMAS  LANGTON.  3\0 

of  which  see  enough  in  Wren's  MS.  de  Custod  et  Sociis 
Femhrock.  Anno  1454,  Thomas  Langton,  Carliolen. 
dioc.  per,  li.  di.  ordinatus  Acolitus  per  Will.  Dunkalden, 
ep'm,  vice  Will'i  ep'i  Elien.  Regr.  Eden.  Thomas 
Langton  procurator  Senior  Acad  Cant.  Anno  14(J2, 
Lib.  Proc.     Baker." 

"  Langton  was  admitted  to  the  rectory  of  AUhallows, 
Bread-street,  London,  July  1,  1480,  and  to  that  of  AU- 
hallows, Lombard-street,  May  14,  1482.  IVewcourt 
Hep.  I.  245.  He  had  also  the  prebend  of  North  Kelsey, 
in  Lincoln  Cathedral,  which  he  resigned  1483,  on  his 
promotion  to  the  See  of  St.  David's.  Willis.  Ca^A.  Line, 
p.  229."     Buss. 

In  Wood's  Hist.  Antiq.  Ox.  edit.  Gutch,  p.  147,  ap- 
pears the  following  note,  which  is  directly  at  variance 
with  AVood's  assertion  above :  "  Tho.  Langton  Epus 
Sar'  confirmatus  erat  Proepositus  Coll.  Reg.  [Ox.]  p. 
Archiii  Ebor.  6  Dec.  1487,  p.  resig.  Hen.  Bost."  ex 
auth.  Regr.  Rotherarji.  Now  Wood  has  stated  (vid.  sup.) 
*'  In  1483,  he  being  about  that  time  provost  of  Queen's, 
was  consecrated  Bishop  of  St.  David's ;"  wheieas,  it 
appears,  he  even  had  the  Bishopric  of  Sarum  before  he 
became  provost  of  Queen's.  Richardson  in  a  note  to 
Godwin,  p.  234,  has  the  following  remark,  but  quotes 
no  authority  :  — "  Post  translationem  ad  Episcopatum 
Sarum,  fit  Praepositus  Collegii  Reginensis,  Oxon.  A. 
1489."  In  the  list  of  the  provosts  of  Queen's  Coll.  I 
also  find  the  date  of  his  succession  placed  at  1489,  his 
predecessor  being  Henry  Bost.  The  Athenae  therefore 
must,  I  conclude,  be  wrong. 

Godwin,  under  the  Bishops  of  St.  David's,  thus 
records  him:  "  74.  Thomas  Langton  consecratus  1483. 
Sarisburiam  primum  translatus  est  anno  1485,  ac  Winto- 
niam  postea."  To  this  his  editor  adds,  Provisus  a  Papa 
Jul.  4,  1483,  Registr.  Bourch.  T.  et  J.  C.  D.  licentiam 
habet  consecrat.  Aug.  23,  1483,  Registr.  Eccl.  Cant." 
Under  the  Bishops  of  Sarum,  thus:  "30.  Thomas 
Langton,  L.L.D,in  Menevensem  EpiTi  consecratus  1483, 
hue  fertur  translatus  1485,  et  huic  Wintoniam  1493." 
His  editor  adds,  "  Hue  translatus  Papali  authoritate  9 
Feb.  1484.  Professionem  fecit  apud  Knott  25  April, 
1485.  Registr,  Morton."  Under  Winton  thus :  "  56. 
Quando  annum  jam  integrum  sedes  vacasset,  transfertur 
hue  ab  Ecclesia  Sarisburiensi  T.  L.  qui  anno  1483,  ia 


S20  THOMAS  LANGTON. 

Ep'm  Menev'  consecratus,  post  biennium  Sarrsb'  migra-' 
veiat  Wintoniai  sedit  annos  1 ;  et  Cantuariensis  designatus 
Arpus,  aute  traiifelationem  perfectam,  peste  correptus 
interiit,  anno  1500.  Capellam  construxit  ab  australi 
parte  Ecc.  sute  Wint. ;  in  cujus  medio  conditus  jacet  sub 
marmorco  tumulo  elegantissimo.  Socius  hie  olim  fuit 
Aulae  Pemb.  Cantab.,  ac  in  ejus  rei menioriam  crateiem 
argenteum  deauiatum  pendens  67  unc.  Aulae  dedit 
praedicttE,  hie  verbis  insculptum.  Thomas  Langton  Wint. 
Epus,  Aulcz  PemhrochiancB  olim  socius,  dedit  hanc  tassiam 
coopertam  eidem  AuIce  1497.  Qui  alienarit  anathema  sit." 
His  editor  adds,  p.  234,  "  In  MS.  D.  Hutton  sic  scrip- 
turn  legimus;  22  Jan.  Postulatio  in  Capitulo  Cant,  pro 
T.  Langton  Ep5  in  Cant.  Arpd.  qui  ob.  27  die  ejusdem 
mensis,  Regist.  Ecc.  Cant. 

Wharton,  in  the  Ang.  Sac.  1.319,  adds.  ''Thomas 
Epus  Sarum,Winton.  translatus jurisdictionem  spiritualem 
sedis  Winton.  ab  Apo  Cant,  sibi  commissam  accessit 
1493,  24  Junii.  Obiit  anno  1500,  paulo  ante  10  Oct. 
quo  die  spiritualia  episcopatus  Winton.  a  monachis 
Ecclesiae.  Cant.  Sede  Archiepiscopali  vacante,  in  manus 
suas  accepta  sunt.  Faucis  ante  obitum  diebus  ad  Archi- 
episcopatum  Cant.  Johannis  Morton  morte  nuperavacan- 
tem  electus  est  teste  Chronico  Londinensi ;  quod  quidem 
obitum  ejus  mense  Januario  contigisse  refert, ,  errore 
manifesto. 

Leland  makes  an  observation  which  I  have  not  met 
with  elsewhere : — "  One  Bishop  Langton  made  of  late  tyme 
a  new  peace  of  work  and  lodging  of  stone  at  the  west 
end  of  the  Haul,"  (i.  e.)  of  Sherborne  Castle. — liin.  2. 
88.  The  same  writer  in  the  Collectanea  1.  p.  Il6,  adds, 
'^Tho.  Langton,  Epus  Wint.  fundavit  capellam  B. 
Mariag  in  australi  latere  templi  in  cujus  medio  jacet 
sepultus." 

*'  He  lies  buried,"  says  Bishop  Milner,  *'  in  Winton 
Cathedral,  in  the  chantry  he  built  at  the  east  end,  still 
called  after  him,  under  an  altar  tomb  which  was  originally 
exceedingly  elegant,  but  which  is  now  stripped  of  every 
brass  or  other  ornament  for  which  money  could  be  ob- 
tained." Hist.  Wint.  2.  p.  63.  The  last  quoted  writer 
has  made  a  mistake  in  giving  1499  as  the  date  of  Bishop 
Langton's  translation  to  Winchester.  See  his  Hist.  Wint. 
1.  317.     He  should  have  said  1493. 


RICHi\RD  FOX.  321 

;  XXIII.     RICHARD  FOX. 

Succeeded  A.D.  1500,  Wood  ;   1502,  Godwin. — Died 

A.D.  1528. 

The  indefatigable  Oxford  antiquary  has  rescued  from 
oblivion  the  following  particulars,  which  may  be  found  in 
his  Ath.  Oxon. 

"He  was  born  at  Ropesley  near  Grantham,  Lincoln- 
shire ;  educated  in  grammar  learning  at  Boston,  in  aca- 
demical, for  a  time,  in  Magdalen  College,  Oxford,  whence 
being  transplanted  to  Cambridge,  he  became  at  length 
Master  of  Pembroke  Hall  there.  Prebendary  of  Bishop- 
ston  in  the  Church  of  Sarum,  [after  1473,  resigned  1485. 
— Hist,  and  Antiq.  Sarum  and  Bath,  p.  315.]  and  in 
Feb.  1485,  of  South  Grantham  in  the  same  Church,  on 
the  resignation  of  Dr.  Christopher  Bainbridge.*  Having 
been  a  constant  adherent  to  Henry,  Earl  of  Richmond, 
against  King  Richard  III.,  he  was  by  him,  when  King 
of  England  by  the  name  of  Henry  VII.,  made  in  the 
beginning  of  his  reign  one  of  his  privy  council,  [being 
then  L. L.D.J  and  nominated  Bishop  of  Exeter  in  Feb. 
I486.  On  the  24th  of  the  same  month,  he  had  the 
custody  of  the  privy  seal  conferred  on  him,  and  being 
elected  to  the  said  See,  the  King  restored  (Pat.  7  Henry 
VII.  p.  2,  m.  5.)  to  him  the  temporalties  April  2,  1487. 
July  5th  following,  he  had  by  the  King's  command  (ib.) 
205.  per  diem  allowed  to  him,  to  commence  from  24th 
Feb.  before  mentioned  ;  which  was  allowed  to  him,  I 
suppose,  as  keeper  of  the  said  seal,  and  being  elected 
afterwards  to  the  See  of  Bath  and  Wells,  had  restitution 
of  its  temporalties  made  (Pat.  7  Henry  VII.  m.  14.)  to 
him  by  the  King,  May  4,  1492.  In  1494  he  was  trans- 
lated to  Durham,  and  afterwards  was  elected  Chancellor 
of  the  University  of  Cambridge ;  and  being  settled  at 
Durham,  he  forthwith,  out  of  a  great  hall  in  the  castle 
there,  took  as  much  away  as  made  a  fair  buttery  and  a 
pantry,  even  to  the  pulpits  or  galleries  on  each  side  of 
the  hall,  wherein  the  trumpeters  or  wind  music  [ians] 


•  1485,  Feb.  7,  ep'iis  contulit  Ric'o  Fox  L.L.D.  preb.  de  Grantham 
australis,  vacant,  per  resign.  Xtopheri  Bainbridge,  et  preb  de  Cherdestoke 
tidem  Christophcro.  Jles;.  Lani^loii,  ep'i  Sarum.— Kiys net. 


322  RICHARD  FOX. 

used  to  stand  to  play,  while  the  meat  was  ushered  in  j 
and  on  the  Mall  uhich  parted  the  said  buttery  from  the 
hall,  was  a  great  pelican  set  up,  to  shew  that  it  was  done 
by  him,  because  he  gave  the  pelican  to  his  arms.  At 
lengtii  upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Thomas  Langton,  he  was 
elected  Bishop  of  Winchester ;  the  temporalties  of  which 
being  restored  to  him  (Fat.  l6  Henri/  VII.  p.  2,  m.  13.^ 
by  the  King  Oct,  17,  1500,  [he]  was  soon  after  installed 
with  great  solemnity.  After  he  was  settled  there,  he 
performed  many  acts  of  piety  and  charity,  among  which, 
was  the  foundation  and  establishment  of  Corpus  Christi 
College;  and  dying  in  15'28,  he  was  buried  in  the 
Cathedral  Church  at  Winchester,  on  the  south-side  of  the 
high  altar." — Wood's  Aih.  Ox.  vol.  2  col.  730,  edit.  Bliss. 

The  learned  editor  adds  the  following  notes :  ["  Ric. 
Fox,  L.B.  admiss.  ad  Vic.  de  Stepney  30  Oct.  1485,  per 
mortem  Ric'i  Luke.  Reg.  Rennet. — Ric.  Fox,  L.  B. 
secretar.  Hen.  reg.  VII.  Coll.  ad  preh.  de  Brounswode 
26  Oct.  1485,  per  mort.  Joh.  Davison,  quam  resign, 
ante  11  April,  1487. — Dominus  Ricardus  Fox  presbiter 
pres.  per  mag.  Joh.  Lylly  prebendarium  de  N.  Kelsey, 
ad  vicariam  de  N.  Kelsey,  per  resign,  d'ni  Joh.  Sigrave, 
23  Sept.  1504,*  Heg.  Smith,  ep'i  Line. — Vide  plura  de 
Ric.  Fox  custode  Aulze  Pembrochianae  apud  Cantabrig. 
in  Ricardi  Parkeri  Xxs'kslu)  Cantab.  MS.  Collect.  D. 
300,  p.  6. — Litera  Fraternitatia  per  priorem  et  capit. 
Cant,  concessa  Ric'o  Fox  ep'o,  1503, 29  Aug.  Reg.  Cant. 
M.  S.  Kexnet. — The  best  heads  of  Fox  are  a  folio  by 
Vertue,  1723  ;  a  mezzotinto,  in  4to.  by  Faber."] 

Anthony  Wood,  in  his  Hist.  8)^  Antiq.  Coll.  by  Gutch, 
p.  382,  tells  us  he  was  bornf  in  an  obscure  village  in  Lin- 
cohishire,  called  Ropesley,  four  miles  distant  from  Gran- 
tham, in  an  ancient  house  known  to  some  by  the  name  of 
Pullock's  Manor.  He  was  son  of  Thomas  Fox  and 
Helena  his  wife,  both  well  esteemed  for  their  honest  life 
and  conversation.  Others  also  there  were  of  his  name 
and  alliance  in  and  about  the  same  place,  who  were  either 


[*  This  Richard  Fox  could  not  have  been  the  Bishop,  for  in  1504,  he 
had  been  four  years  Bishop  of  Winchester,  when  it  is  not  to  be  supposed 
he  accepted  a  living. — Edit.] 

t  Ut  in  quibusdam  notis  de  Vita  Rich.  Fox,  hujus  Coll.  Fundatoris, 
per  Thorn.  Green  way  ejusdem  Coll.  presideatem.  an.  1566. 


RICHARD  FOX.  323 

his  brethren  or  uncles,  afterwards  citizens  of  London, 
some  of  whose  children  were  preferred  to  this  college, 
as  in  particular  Thomas  Fox  (his  nephew  as  it  seems) 
of  whom  he  took  especial  care,  in  letters*  written  to  Mr. 
John  Claymond,  the  first  president,  to  have  him  settled 
among  the  original  scholars,  as  he  did  also  for  John  Fox, 
another  Londoner,  then  Archdeacon  of  Surry.  The  said 
place  where  the  founder  was  born,  being  well  known  to 
the  ancient  fellows  of  this  house,  according  to  the  tradition 
they  had  received  of  Jt,  were  wont  when  they  went  their 
progress  to  keep  courts  at  their  respective  manors,  to  visit 
and  do  their  devotions  to  it,  as  the  very  place  where  their 
father  and  great  patron  had  received  his  first  breath.  To 
the  said  manor-house  did  anciently  belong-f-  land,  worth, 
beyond  all  reprises,  j£Q.d.  yearly,  which,  whether  it 
belonged  as  an  inheritance  to  the  Foxes,  could  not  be 
learned  by  them.  It  came  afterward  into  the  hands,  as 
it  seems,  of  Richard  Kelham,  father  of  Ralph  Kelham, 
living  in  the  reign  of  King  James.  From  him  it  came 
into  the  hands  of  Rich.  Hickson,  who  built  a  new  house 
upon  it,  and  the  old  house  where  the  founder  was  born, 
he  sold  to  one  Thos.  Raskall  of  the  same  town.  In  the  latter 
end  of  [the  reign  of]  Queen  Elizabeth,  lived  in  part  of  the 
said  old  house,  a  widow  well  stricken  in  years,  who  with 
the  most  ancient  of  the  town  were  wont  to  tell  the  said 
fellows,  *  that  their  founder  was  born  at  that  place,'  and 
one  among  the  rest  told  them,  as  he  had  received  it  from 
his  father,  that  Richard  Fox  went  away  very  meanly  from 
his  parents  into  France  when  he  was  young,  and  after 
some  time  spent  there,  returned  to  his  parents  in  very  good 
sort,  and  when  they  would  have  had  him  stay  with  them, 
he  refused,  saying,  he  must  over  sea  again,  and  if  one 
thing  hit  out  right,  all  Ropesley  should  not  serve  him  for  his 
kitchen."  His  parents  perceiving  him  to  be  of  a  towardly 
wit,  intended,  according  to  their  abilities,  to  bestow  that 
upon  him,  which  should  prove  a  comfort  to  them  in  their 
old  age,  and  to  himself  in  the  future  a  livelihood,  where- 
fore they  sent  him  to  be  trained  up  in  grammar  at  Boston, 
till  such  time  that  he  might  prove  capable  of  the  Univer- 
sity.     Thence  they  sent  him  to  Magdalen  College,   in 


*  In  Thesaur.  hujus.  Coll. 
t  Inter  Collectanea  B.  Twyni  in  Bibl.  bujus.  Coll. 

y  2 


324  RICHARD  FOX. 

Oxford,*  where,  for  the  time  he  continued,  he  profited  so 
much  in  literature,  that  he  went  beyond  most  of  his 
contemporaries.  From  thence,  because  of  a  plague  that 
broke  out  in  Oxford,  he  went  to  Cambridge,  where,  as 
several  authors  report,  he  became  master  or  head  of 
Pembroke  Hall,  lo07  :  but  long  there  neither  did  he 
abide,  for  obser\ing  that  lortgf  continuance  in  an  Univer- 
sity/was  a  sig7i  either  of  lack  of  friends  or  of  learning,  and 
that  it  was  sacrilege  for  a  man  to  tarry  longer  there  than 
he  had  a  desire  to  profit,  took  a  resolution  to  travel  and 
see  the  fashions  of  other  nurseries  of  learning;  and  this 
the  rather  he  did,  because  at  that  time  Kiag  Richard  III. 
usurped  the  government,  and  that  the  state  thereupon  was 
in  an  unsettled  condition.  To  Paris  therefore ^:  he  jour- 
neys, where,  to  complete  that  divinity  which  he  had 
already  obtained,  he  studied  the  canon  law,  without  which 
divinity  was  esteegied  in  those  days  imperfect.  From 
thence  he  thought  to  have  travelled  to  other  parts ;  but 
happily  meeting  somewhere  with  John  Morton,  Bishop  of 
Ely,  some  time  an  Oxford  man,  who  had  fled  the  king- 
dom because  of  the  said  usurpation,  his  intentions  were  at 
that  time  stopped  :  and  whether  his  learning  and  policy 
were  so  much  perceived  by  this  Bishop  as  to  make  use  of 
him  as  an  instrument  to  establish  Henry  Earl  of  Rich- 
mond in  the  throne,  (to  whom  Bishop  Morton  faithfully 
adhered)  or  whether  the  Earl  himself,  who  was  then  at 
Paris,  had  acquaintance  with  him,  or  before  had  known 
him  to  be  a  man  of  wisdom,  I  am  in  doubt.  Howbeit, 
an  author  that§  lived  a  few  years  after  tells  us,  that  as 
soon  as  the  Earl  had  knowledge  of  him,  he  received  him 
as  a  man  of  great  wit  and  no  less  learning,  into  his 
familiarity,  and  in  brief  time  advanced  him  to  high  dig- 
nities, as  it  shall  anon  be  shewed. 

But  howsoever  the  matter  was,  I  shall  not  now  dispute 
it ;  sure  I  am  that  at  what  time  the  Earl  of  Vannec  in 
Little  Bretagne,  contriving  to  furnish  himself  for  his 
setting  forth  to  obtain  the  crown  of  England,  determined 
to  crave  aid  of  the  French  King;    and,    so  coming  to 

*  In  notis  T.  Greenway  ut  supra, 
t  Will.  Harrison  in  Descript.  Angl.  lib.  2.  cap.  3. 
t  Chron.  Edv.  Hall.  edit.  Lond.  1550,  in  Ric.  III. 
§  D.  Tho.  More  in  Vit.  Ric.  III. 


RICHARD  FOX.  325 

Paris  to  prosecute  his  design,  left  the  whole*  manage- 
ment thereof  to  the  said  Richard  Fox,  then  L.L.D.,  who 
according  to  the  trust  reposed  upon  him  followed  the 
matter  with  so  great  diligence,  that  in  a  short  time,  all 
things  were  accomplished  to  the  Earl's  pleasure.  So 
that  soon  after  the  said  Henry  obtained  the  crown  upon 
the  victory  gotten  in  Bosworth  field,  [he]  was  not  un- 
mindful of  Dr.  Fox,  for  he  not  only  made  him  one  of 
his  council,  and  keeper  of  his  privy  seal,  but  also,*!- 
employed  him  with  Sir  Richard  Edgcombe,  knight, 
(1487)  as  ambassador  to  King  James  III,  of  Scotland. 
In  which  employment  shewing  himself  to  be  a  person  of 
great  prudence,  for  that  he  obtained  a  truce  between 
the  two  kingdoms  for  the  space  of  7  years,J  made  the 
King  have  so  great  respect  for  him,  that  the  Bishopric 
of  Exeter  falling  void  before  his  return  from  Scotl^rd, 
as  I  conceive,  immediately  conferred  it  on  him,  anno 
1486-7. 

Being  now  settled  in  that  See,  he  behaved  himself  ia 
all  respects  befitting  a  true  Prelate  as  well  in  office  as 
life,  and  conversation.  The  effects  of  whose  deeds  there, 
being  partly  mentioned  by  another^  pen,  I  shall  now 
pass  by  them  and  proceed.  In  the  year  1491-2,  when 
Robert  Stiilington,  Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  deceased, 
the  King  gave  that  Bishopric  to  him  ;  and  he  was  trans- 
lated thereto  by  the  authority  of  the  buUe^f  of  Pope 
Innocent  VIII.,  dated  6th  id.  Feb.  the  same  year.  In 
all  which  time  none  was  in  more  favour  with  tlie  King 
than  he,  and  none  whose  counsel  was  more  relied  on  than 
his:  especially  in  those  matters  relating  to  the  privilege 
and  interest,  that  King  Henry  VII.  challenged  in  the 
kingdom  of  Scotland.  And  that  he  might  advantage 
himself  in  the  knowledge  of  them,  he  left  no  history  or 
chronicle  of  this  nation  uuconsulted ;  and  particularly  one 
of  John  Rowse,  the  Warwick  antiquary:   of  which,  and 


*  GodAvin  in  Comment,  de  proesul.  Angl.  in  Winton. 

t  Hall  ut  sup.  in  H.  VII. 

t  This  wa»  only  a  prolougation  of  the  truce  to  Sept.  1,  1489.^  In  1497, 
however,  the  Bishop  signed  another  truce  tor  7  years.  Rymer.  Feed.  Vol. 
J2.  p.  330-673. 

§  Per  John  Vowell,  alia.s  HooUer,  in  Cat.  suo,  Episcop.  Exon. 

\  Reg.  Morton,  Fol.  23. 


326  RICHARD  FOX. 

the  lending  it  out  to  Dr.  Fox,  he  maketh  mention  in  his 
book*  (le  Regibus  Atii^l.  with  an  excuse  concerning  the 
omission  of  some  particulars  therein — "  hie  multa  alia 
inseruissem  (saith  he.)siquendam  librum  nieumhabuissem 
plenarie  banc  materiam  tructantem,  quem  mutuo  pro 
tempore  traddi  Reo'  in  X^-  Patri  et  Dom^-  Dom.  R. 
Fox,  in  decretis  D.  Epo  Excestriae,  Custodi  privati  tunc 
Sigilli  sub  metuendissimo  Principe  Henry  VII.  rege 
Angliae,  &c." 

But  to  return. — After  he  had  continued  in  the  See  of 
Bath  and  Wells  for  the  space  of  3  years  or  thereabouts, 
he  was  preferred  by  the  same  hand  to  that  of  Durham 
in  1494  ;  and,  as  he  still  ascended  from  a  poorer  to  a 
richer,  or  from  a  worse  to  a  better  Bishopric,  so  he 
made  the  places  themselves  in  relation  to  their  edifices : 
for  hef  made  several  alterations  in  the  hall  or  public 
refectory  of  the  castle  of  Durham,  that  is  to  say,  that 
whereas  there  were  but  two  seats  of  regality,  one  in  the 
upper  and  another  in  the  lower  part  of  the  said  hall,  he 
left  the  upper  only,  and  in  the  place  of  the  lower  he  made 
a  store-house  or  pantiy  for  provisions  ;  and  over  the  said 
work  made  two  seats  or  pews  for  the  musicians  in  the 
time  of  services  or  refection.  He  built  there  also  an 
account  or  checquer  chamber,  a  large  kitchen,  and  all 
houses  of  office  over  it ;  as  also,  all  the  new  work  on  the 
west  side  of  the  hall  and  kitchen.  Furthermore,  he 
began  to  build  a  hall,  kitchen,  and  other  edifices  in  the 
high  tower  to  the  said  castle,  but  before  they  were  per- 
fected, he  was  translated  to  Winton,  by  reason  of  the 
controversy  that  sprang  between  him  and  the  Earl  of 
Cumberland,  concerning  the  right  of  Hertlepool. — "The 
said  Castlelle  of  Durham  stondith  (as  Leland±  saith,) 
stately  on  the  north-east  side  of  the  minster,  and  Were 
rennith  under  it.  The  kepe  stondith  aloft,  and  is  stately 
builded  of  VIII.  square  fascion,  and  4  highes  (or  stories) 
of  logginges.  Bishop  Fox  did  much  reparation  of  this 
dungeon;  and  he  made  beside  in  the  castelle  a  new 
kychen  with  the  offices,  and  many  praty  chaumbers,  &c." 

What  were  his  actions  while  he  sat  in  this  See,  either 


*  MS.  in  Bib.  Cotton,  p.  234. 

t  Hist.  Eccl.  Duiiel.  MS.  in  Bib.  Bodl.  Cap,  202. 

t  Fol.  i.  Itin.  MS.  in  Bib.  Bodl.  fol.  82. 


RICHARD  FOX.  327 

in  relation  to  his  government  or  transactions  between  the 
clergy  and  gentry  of  his  Diocese,  I  know  not:  for 
Durham  hath  been  so  ungrateful  in  that  respect,  that  she 
iiath  not  endeavoured  to  preserve  any  monument  or 
writing  (except  that  before  mentioned)  in  her  registers, 
or  public  records,  or  acts  done  by  this  worthy  Prelate. 

While  he  was  Bishop  of  the  said  place,  the  Scots,  it 
elsewhere*  appears,  had  like  to  have  broken  the  truce, 
and  revived  the  wars  between  the  two  nations  ;  for  they 
coming  to  Norham  Castle,  the  Bishop's  habitation,  in- 
tended, if  possible,  to  surprise  it ;  to  which  end,  they 
came  several  times  in  private  to  view  it,  but  the  soldiery 
therein  suspecting  some  evil  meaning,  sallied  out  and 
made  them  fly.  The  Scottish  King  being  advertised  of 
Ihis  matter,  was  highly  displeased,  and  in  all  haste  sig- 
nified to  the  English  King,  how  his  soldiers  who  had  no 
intentions  for  a  reprisal,  were  treated,  and  therefore  he 
had  violated  the  truce.  The  King,  to  excuse  the  matter, 
relied  upon  Bishop  Fox,  owner  of  the  castle,  to  perform 
what  seemed  good  in  such  a  matter.  He  thereupon,  by 
letters  written  to  him,  interwoven  witli  expressions  tending 
to  a  reconcilement,  did  at  length  appease  his  displeasure, 
and  brought  all  things  to  such  a  pass,  that  the  Scottish 
King  wrote  courteously  to  the  Bishop  again,  signifying, 
that  besides  the  matter  then  in  hand,  he  had  certain 
secrets  to  impart  unto  hun,  and  desired  forthwith  that  he 
would  come  unto  him.  The  Bishop,  therefore,  with  his 
retinue  journeyed  into  Scotland,  where  he  was  kindly 
received  by  the  King  in  the  Abbey  of  Mailross;  and  after 
much  talk  concerning  the  truce  that  was  violated,  the 
King  at  length  told  him,  that  all  things  would  never  go 
right  until  a  firmer  bond  of  peace  was  made  ;  and  for 
the  accomplishment  thereof,  he  thought  of  no  better 
remedy  than  that  he  should  match  himself  to  the  lady 
Margaret,  the  King  of  England's  eldest  daughter,  which 
he  would  the  sooner  do  if  he  knew  of  the  Bishop's  mind 
therein.*  After  this  communication  was  ended,  the 
Bishop  returned  into  England,  and  going  forthwith  to 
the  court,  declared  to  the   King  all  the  discourse  that 


•  Hall  ut.  sup.  et  in  Holiush.  in  H.  VII. 

+  This  matter  wa<i  first  nut  into  his  head  by  one  Peter  Hialas,  9  Spanislj 
ambii5sador,  then  iu  Englaad. 


328  RICHARD  FOX. 

had  passed  between  them.  The  King,  therefore,  seeming 
to  like  well  of  it,  conceded  at  length  to  the  match.  Af- 
terward, to  the  great  joy  of  both  nations,  they  were 
married  ;  and  upon  their  issue,  King  James  VI.  of 
Scotland  and  I.  in  England,  took  his  lineal  descent,  and 
by  virtue  thereof  obtained  the  English  crown  after  the 
death  of  Queen  Elizabeth :  confirming  thereby  both 
kingdoms  with  an  everlasting  peace. 

Having  had  a  happy  success  in  this  match,  he  was 
advised  in  the  making  up  that  between  Prince  Arthur 
and  the  lady  Catherine,  4th  daughter  of  Ferdinando  and 
Isabella,  King  and  Queen  of  Spain,  anno  1502.  Which 
being  concluded,  her  entry  into  London,  and  the  celebrity 
of  the  marriage  was  ordered  and  contrived  by  our  Bishop; 
*  who  was  not  only  a  grave  counsellor  for  war  or  peace, 
(as  one*  saith),  but  also  a  good  surveyor  of  works,  and  a 
good  master  of  ceremonies,  and  any  thing  else  that  was 
fit  the  active  part  belonging  to  the  service  of  court  or 
state  of  a  great  King.'  Farther,  also,  I  am  to  tell  you, 
(which  is  a  matter  of  observance),  that  the  last  act  of 
state  that  concluded  the  temporal  felicity  of  our  King 
Henry  VII.  was  the  glorious  match  between  his  daughter 
Mary,  and  Charles,  Prince  of  Castile,  afterwards  the 
great  Emperor.  Which  treaty  was  perfected  by  Bishop 
Fox,  and  other  commissioners  at  Calais,  the  year  before 
the  death  of  the  King.  And  this  with  other  things,  I 
thought  fit  to  let  you  know,  because  thence  you  might 
understand  what  great  trust  the  King  reposed  on  the  said 
Bishop  ;  what  love  he  had  for  him ;  and  how  ready  the 
Bishop  always  was  to  serve  his  lord  and  master  to  the 
utmost. 

It  was  now  the  l6th  year  of  the  reign  of  King  Henry 
VII.,  (1500)  at  which  time  Thomas  Langton,  Bishop 
of  Winton,  deceased,  in  whose  room  the  King  imme- 
diately put  Richard  Fox  ;*  where  being  settled,  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  time  in  great  prosperity  and  plenty  ; 


*  Bacon  in  Life  of  King  Henry  VII. 

t  Bishop  Milner  thus  satisfactorily  accounts  for  the  Bishop's  translatioB 
from  Durham  to  Winchester,  which  is  not  a  usual  move  :  —  "  The  King, 
finding  that  the  Bishop's  frequent  absence  at  so  great  a  distance  as 
Durham  from  the  Court,  whilst  he  attended  the  affairs  of  his  Diocese,  was 
prejudicial  to  his  service,  and  wishing  to  have  his  advice  on  all  affairs  of 
consequence,  he  in  the  same  year  that  Langton  died  removed  him  to  the 
See  of  Winton."— i/w/.  PFint. 


RICHARD  FOX.  329 

bestowing^  much  money  in  buildings,  reparations,  and 
charitable  uses  :  witness,  besides  his  College  at  Oxford, 
his  new  chapel  in  the  Cathedral  of  Winchester,  (wherein 
he  was  afterwards  buried  j,  appointing*  that  daily  mass 
should  be  celebrated  for  his  soul.  Then  his  erection 
of  a  free  school  at  Taunton  castle,  and  convenient  lodg- 
ings near  it  for  the  school  master  to  dwell  in.  The  like, 
he  performed  at  Grantham :  although  his  intentions  were 
at  one  time  to  have*  built  the  same  at  Ropesley,  in  a 
little  grove  joining  to  the  house  where  he  was  born,  but 
that  place  being  but  a  village,  and  therefore  unfre- 
quented, he  altered  his  mind,  and  built  it  at  Grantham 
aforesaid :  which  w  as  then,  as  now,  a  place  of  commerce 
and  trading. 

As  for  this  charity  in  giving  exhibitions  to  several  poor 
scholars,  it  was  while  he  was  Bishop  of  this  See,  very 
great.;}:  Among  them  were  those  under  the  tuition  of 
Richard  Stubbles  and  Leonard  Hutchinson  of  Balliol 
College ;  the  lirst  afterwards  master  of  the  said  College, 
and  the  other  of  that  University,  and  both  favoured  by 
the  same  Bishop,  Then,  to  Anthony  Wilkins  of  New, 
and  several  of  Magdalen  College,  besides  others  in  the 
University;  committing  the  charge  of  them  to  Mr.  J. 
Claymond  of  Magdalen  College  ;  who  for  the  great  love 
and  amity  which  the  Bishop  had  for  him,  saluted  him  in 
his  letters  directed  to  him,  '  Brother,'  and  *  dear  brother.' 
He  extended  his  charity  in  a  large  manner  to  the  Abbot 
and  Monks  of  Glastonbury ;  for  when  John,  the  Abbot, 
in  a  letter  to  him  complained  much  of  the  miserable  and 
poor  estate  that  he  and  his  convent  were  in,  (as  indeed 
they  were),  he  voluntarily^  lent,  or  rather  as  it  should 
seem,  gave  them  c£lOO. :  which  was  paid  to  them  by  Mr. 
Claymond.  Futhermore,  also,  it  must  not  be  forgotten 
that  in  the  3rd  Henry  VH,,  when  R.  Fox  sat  Bishop  of 
Exeter,  he  gave  very  largely  towards  the  re-edification  of 
St.  Mary's  Church  in  Oxford,  then  ready  with  age  to 
fall  to  the  ground ;  for  the  chancellor  and  scholars  then 
undertaking  that  matter,  sent  divers  epistles  for  that 
purpose  to  all  those  Bishops  and  great  men  that  were 
their  '  old  friends,'  (as  they  then||  styled  tliem),  and  such 

*  Hist.  Ecc.  Dunel.  ut  sup.  cap.  202. 

t  Collect.    B.TwyniMS.  %  Ibid- 

§  Collect.    R.  'fwyni  MS.    ||  lu  lib.  Epistol,  Uuiv.  Ox.  F.  Bp.  2-10. 


530  RICHARD  FOX. 

that  had  been  students  of  this  University  ;  among  which, 
I  find  an*  epistle  to  the  said  reverend  Prelate  for  his 
benefaction,  who,  if  he  had  been  a  stranger  to  them, 
and  not  bred  up  in  that  University,  would  never  have 
had  the  confidence  to  be  petitioners  to  him  for  a  boon. 

What  further  is  worthy  of  observation  is,  that  after  he 
had  sat  some  years  in  the  See  of  Winton,  and  before 
several  books  were  dedicated  to  him  as  a  worthy  patron 
of  learning ;  among  which,  is,  thalf  entitled  *  De  casu 
animae,'  written  by  Aubrey  Mantuan,  a  student  of  the 
University  of  Paris,  whose  epistle  dedicatory  being  dated 
at  Paris,  on  the  kalends  of  Jan.  1509:  hath  several 
matters  therein  in  commendation  of  this  venerable  Prelate: 
all  which  for  brevity  sake,  I  now  pass  by.  One  Richard 
CoUingwood,  also,  who  wrote  an  arithmetical  treatise, 
did  dedicate  it  to  him ;  the  original  whereof  being  in  MS. 
was  given  to  this  library  on  Mr.  Twyne's  desire,  by  Mr, 
Thos.  Allen  of  Gloucester  Hall. 

In  one  only  mischance  he  was  unfortunate,  and  that 
'  was  that  he  lived  divers  years  blind  before  he  died  ;'\.  so 
that  finding  thereby  his  end  to  approach,  he  considered 
how  he  might  bestow  his  riches,  as  well  for  the  public 
good  as  continuance  of  his  memory.  At  length,  after 
all  things  had  been  well  considered  and  cast  up,  he  pro- 
ceeded to  perform  his  bounty  at  Oxford,  to  the  end  that 
some  place  there  might  be  erected, wherein  for  the  future 
might  be  educated  persons  in  academical  learning ;  and 
having  before  had  a  promise  of  certain  tenements  whereon 
this  work  might  be  erected,  and  particularly  from  the 
warden  and  scholars  of  Merton  College,  (to  whom  he 
paid  several^  sums  of  money  by  the  hands  of  the  said 
Mr.  ClaymondJ,  he  began  to  build,  employing  in  that 
work  one  Willam  Vertue,  Free-Mason,  and  Humphrey 
Cook,  carpenter,  masters  of  his  works. 

In  a  short  time  after,  being  in  considerable  forwardness, 
an  indenture'[[  dated  the  last  day  of  June,  5  Hen,  VIII., 
A.D.  1513,  drawn  between  R.  Fox,  Bishop  of  Winton, 


•  lb.  Ep.363.  t  MS.  in  Bib.  Thorn.  Ep,  Line. 

t  He  was  blind  about  10  years  before  his  decease;  however  he  attended 
the  Parliament,  1523.— (Fulnian.)  He  died  in  1528;  and  was  buried  in 
his  New  Chapel  before  mentioned. — (Ath.  Ox.  V.  1. 665.) 

$  Ut  in  Thesaur.  hujus  Coll.  in  py.\.  A.  4.  2.      %  Ut  in  Tbes.  &c.  A.  4.  2. 


RICHARD  FOX.  331 

on  the  one  part,  and  Thomas  Silkstede,  Prior  and  the 
Convent  of  the  Cathedral  Church  of  St.  Swythim,  in 
Wiuton,  on  the  other:  whereby  it  was  covenanted  that 
in  consideration  of  certain  gifts  of  the  said  Bishop  made 
to  the  said  Prior  and  Convent,  viz.  several  parcels  and 
pieces  of  silk,  cloths  of  gold,  parcels  of  plate,  altar  cloths, 
copes,  vestments,  and  books  for  the  chon-,  crosses,  images, 
chalices,  candlesticks  for  the.  altar,  ornaments,  jewels, 
stuffs,  &c.  that  they  permit  and  grant  to  the  said  Bishop, 
that  the  said  Prior  and  Convent  or  their  successors  shall 
obtain  and  purchase  for  them  and  their  successors  certain 
places  and  parcels  of  ground  in  Oxford,  of  Merton  Coll. 
Nunnery  of  Godstow,  Priory  of  St.  Frideswvde,  &c. 
Avherein  also,  it  is  further  said,  that  the  Bishopnad  began 
to  build  on  the  said  parcels  a  College  for  a  warden,  and 
a  certain  number  of  monks,  and  secular  scholars ;  that 
also,  he  intended  to  give  and  appropriate  tenements,  rents, 
and  pensions,  to  the  yearly  value  of  jE\60.  to  the  said 
Prior  and  Convent,  for  the  use  of  the  said  College  ;  of 
which  c£28.  yearly  revenues  were  then  purchased  by  virtue 
of  the  King's  licence  contained  in  his  letters  patent ;  that 
the  said  Prior  and  Convent  were  to  maintain  4  monks 
from  the  said  revenues,  to  be  called  the  Bishop's  scholar?  ; 
every  one  of  them  professed  within  the  said  Monastery  of 
St.  Swythun  ;  and  every  of  them  also,  being  of  conveni- 
ent age  to  learn  and  study  in  the  sciences  and  faculties 
ensuing,  viz.  at  18  years  of  age  at  the  least,  to  study  and 
profit  successively  in  sophistry,  logic,  philosophy,  and 
divinity.  Thai  one  of  the  said  four  should  be  warden  of 
the  said  college  ;  that  four  Monks  more  also  be  nominated 
there  by  the  said  Prior  and  Convent,  one  to  be  called  the 
Prior's  Scholar,  and  the  other  tin-ee  the  Convent's 
Scholars,  and  all  four  to  come  from  the  said  Monastery 
of  St.  Swythun.  That  also  they  were  to  give  certain 
maintenance  to  officers  or  servants  of  the  said  college,  as 
a  manciple,  two  cooks,  panller,  lavender  or  laundress, 
barber,  or  servant  that  should  serve  the  monks  at  the  table 
in  times  of  refection  ;  and  stipends  to  the  readers  of  logic, 
sophistry,  and  philosophy  ;  to  a  bible  clerk  that  should 
read  in  the  hall  at  times  of  refection,  and  a  cleik  that 
should  serve  in  the  chapel. 

Thus  far  the  contents  of  the  said  indenture,  by  which 
we  are  given  to  understand  that  Bishop  Fox  did  intend 
to  make  this  college  a  nursery  for  the  Moxiks  of  the  Fiiory 


330,  RICHARD  FOX. 

or  Cathedial  of  St.  Swythun,  in  Wincliester,  as  Canter- 
bury anci  Durham  College  were  for  the  like  use,  namely, 
one  for  the  novices  of  the  Priory  of  Canterbury,  and  the 
other  for  those  of  Durham.  And  so  it  was,  and  for  that 
purpose  he  had,  on  the  I2th.  of  March,  4  Henry  VHI. 
obtained*  licence  of  the  King  to  give  to  the  Prior  and 
Monks  of  Winton  revenues  to  the  yearly  value  of  of  100. 
beyond  all  reprises,  conditionally,  that  they  maintain  the 
number  of  Monks  before  expressed.  But  before  his 
college  was  a  quarter  finished,  his  mind  was  altered,  and 
upon  conference  had  with  Hugh  Oldham,  Bishop  of 
Exeter,  concerning  his  proposals  of  being  a  benefactor, 
conditionally,  that  he  would  make  the  said  college  a  place 
for  secular  students,  (as  other  colleges  of  Oxford  were,) 
caused  the  said  licence  of  settling  .£100.  per  annum  on 
the  said  Priory  of  St.  Swythun,  to  be  brought  into  chan- 
cery and  cancelled.  Afterward  he  proceeded  in  his 
buildings  which  he  had  began :  the  which,  had  the  foun- 
dation intended  at  first  been  equal  to  his  second  thoughts, 
it  had  been  larger,  but  being  begun,  it  could  not  well  be 
altered,  which,  in  all  probability,  was  the  reason  why  he 
enlarged  it  afterwards  by  building  the  cloistei^chambers. 

This  being  done,  therefore,  partly  upon  the  proposals 
of  Oldham,  but  chiefly  by  his  persuasions,  who  often 
answered  the-f-  founder  when  they  discoursed  of  making 
this  work  a  College  for  Monks,  "  what,  my  lord,  shall  we 
build  houses  and  provide  livelihoods  for  a  company  of 
bussing  monks,  whose  end  and  fall  we  ourselves  may  live 
to  see '?  No,  no,  it  is  more  meet  a  great  deal  that  we 
should  have  care  to  provide  for  the  increase  of  learning, 
and  for  such  as  by  their  learning  shall  do  good  to  the 
Church  and  Commonwealth."  The  design  was  utterly 
lejected  ;  though  he  was  much  solicited  to  the  contrary. 
And  being  now  fully  convinced,  he  proceeded  to  obtain 
the  site  of  this  college,  which  he  before  had  bargained  for, 
and  had  paid  some  of  the  money  for  the  purchase.  The 
first  part  which  he,  as  it  seems  procured,  was  a  tenement  J 
with  a  garden  called  Corner  Hall;  and  another  with  a 


*  Pat.  8  Hen.  VIII.  part  2. 

t  Holinshed  in  Chron.  Sue 
7.  Harrison,  lib.  2.  cap.  3. 

J  Thesaur.  huj.  Coll.  in  pyx.  A.  4. 3. 


t  Holinshed  in  Chron.  Suo.  sub  an.  1518.    Vide  in  Descript.  Ang.  per 
W.  Harrison,  lib.  2.  cap.  3. 


RICHARD  FOX.  333 

garden  called  Nevyll's  Inn.  Also  about  the  same  time  a 
garden  which  belonged  to  the  bachelor  fellows  of  Meiton 
College,  called  Bachelor's  Garden,  which  before  was 
included  within  the  limits  of  the  said  college,  containing 
now  the  most  part  of  the  gardens  or  walks  belonging  to 
the  masters  and  bachelors  of  this  college,  granted  Feb. 
10,  7  Hen.  VIII.  dom.  1515;  for  which  ground  Merton 
College  was  always  to  receive  jE4.  6s.  Sd,  per  ann.  from 
Witney  church,  Oxfordshire  ;  of  w  hich  church  the  founder 
as  Bishop  of  Winton,  was  patron. 

After  this  was  done,  the  Bishop  obtained*  licence  of 
King  Henry  VIII.  dated  Nov.  26,  an.  reg.  8  dom.  1516: 
whereby  it  was  granted  to  him  that  he  might  found  a 
perpetual  college  for  the  learning  of  the  sciences  of 
divinity,  philosophy,  and  good  arts,  for  one  president  and 
thirty  scholars,  graduate  and  not  graduate,  or  more  or  less 
according  to  the  faculties  of  the  place,  on  a  pertain  ground 
between  the  house  or  college  of  Merton  on  the  east  side, 
a  lane  near  Canterbury  college  and  a  garden  of  the  priory 
of  St.  Frideswyde  on  the  west,  a  street  or  lane  of  the 
house  or  college  of  Oriel  on  the  north,  and  the  town-hall 
on  the  south,  and  withal  that  he  might  endow  the  said 
college  with  £350.  yearly. 

The  same  year,  January  15,  he  purchased-t  another 
tenement  of  the  nunnery  of  Godstow,  called  Nun  Hall, 
for  which  the  college  was  to  pay  to  the  said  nunnery  4s. 
per  ann.  as  a  quit  rent;  and  Feb.  12  following,  he  made 
a  purchase  of  t Urban  Hall  and  Bekes  Inn  of  the  Priory 
of  St.  Frideswyde,  for  which  also  the  founder  covenanted 
and  granted  that  ^'l.  6s.  8d.  per  ann.  should  be  paid  to 
the  said  priory  out  of  the  rectory  of  Wroughton,  Wilts. 

So  that  now  all  the  site  being  clearly  obtained,  issued 
forth  the  foundation;^  charter  of  the  college,  dated  at 
Wolvesey  castle,  Winton,  Cal.  Mar.  1516;  whereby  the 
pious  founder  doth  to  the  praise  and  honour  of  God 
Almighty,  the  most  holy  body  of  Christ,  and  the  Blessed 
Virgin  Mary,  as  also  of  the  apostles  Peter,  Paul,  and 
Andrew,  and  of  St.  Cuthbert,  St.  Swythun,  and  St. 
Birin,  patrons  of  the  churches  of  Exeter,  Bath  and  Wells, 

*  lb,  in  eadeni  Thes.  in  quadam  cista  ubi  sigUlura  CoUegii  repoaitur. 

t  lb.  in  ead.  Thes.  A.  4. 

t  lb.  §  lb,  t;t  in  ead,.  Ci^it.  ut  iup. 


334  RICHARD  FOX. 

Durham,  and  Winchester,  (of  which  places  he  was  suc- 
cessively Bishop)  found  and  appoint  this  college  (always 
to  be  called  Corpus  Christi  College)  for  one  president 
and  thirty  scholars,  or  more  or  less  according  to  the  ordi- 
nations and  statutes  to  be  made  and  composed.  In  the 
said  charter  the  founder  appoints  Mr.  John  Claymond, 
B  D.  (one  that  had  been  intimately  acquainted  with  him 
for  30  years)  the  president,  Thomas  Fox,  his  kinsman, 
scholar  of  arts,  of  the  diocese  of  London,  John  Garth, 
M.A.  of  the  diocese  of  Durham,  Rich.  Clarkson,  M.A. 
of  Co-  York,  Robert  Tregvilian,  B.A.  of  the  diocese  of 
Exeter,  Thomas  Welshe,  sophister  of  the  diocese  of 
Winton,  and  Robert  Hoole,  sophister  of  C^-  Lincoln,  to 
be  scholars  and  fellows  of  the  said  college,  by  him 
elected. 

As  for  the  rest  that  were  scholars  and  fellows  (among 
whom  Ludovicus  Vives,*  Nicholas  Cratcher,  a  Bavarian, 
Edward  Wotton,'t  Richard  Pates,  afterwards  Bishop  of 
Worcester,  and  Reginald  Pole,  afterwards  Archbisliop  of 
Canterbury,  were  of  the  number)  were  taken  in  by  the 
founder  at  the  entreaty  of  noble  persons,  even  till  July  2, 
1524,  being  hi  all,  besides  those  mentioned  ill  the  foun- 
dation charter  46. 

The  next  year  following,  viz.  1517,  the  founder  gave 
his  scholars  statutes,  which,  on  20th.  June  the  same  year, 
were  read,  and  then  approved  of  by  him  in  the  church  or 
chapel  of  the  hospital  of  St.  Cross,  near  Winton,  in  the 
presence  of  clerical  and  laical  people. 

In  them  he  appoints  in  this  his  new  foundation,  that 
there  should  always  be  1  president,  20  fellows,  2  chap- 
lains, 2  clerks,  and  2  choristers.  The  fellows  are,  accord- 
ing to  the  countries  of  their  nativity  to  be  thus  distin- 
guished:  four  of  the  diocese  of  Winchester,  viz.  three  of 
the  county  of  Southampton,  and  one  of  the  county  of 
Surry :j: ;  the  diocese  of  Durham  1  ;  Bath  and  Wells  2  ; 


*  [LudovicusVives  lodged  in  this  College ;  and,  by  tradition,  was  aftei- 
wards  Humanity  Reader  to  the  same;  but  not  mentioned  in  the  register, 
nor  did  he  stay  long  at  Oxford.  (Mr.  William  Fulmau's  Animadversions 
and  Notes  on  the  Hist,  and  Antiq.  of  Oxou.  Edit.  Lat.  1674,  among  our 
Author's  MSS.  in  the  Ashra.  Mus.  D.  y.)] 

t  Edw.  Wottou  was  first  fellow  of  Magdalen,  and  put  into  tliis  College, 
sociis  compar,  by  the  founder,  with  leave  to  travel  into  Italy  for  3  years, 
Jan.  2,  1720-1. 

t  The  Oxford  Uuiv.  Calendar  under  C.  C.  C  says  20  Hants  and  3  Surry. 


RICHARD  FOX.  ^B5 

Exeter  2 ;  of  the  county  of  Lincoln  2 ;  Gloucester  2 ; 
Wilts  1 J  Kent  2  ;  Lancashire,  where  Hugh  Oldham  was 
born,  1 ;  Bedford  1  ;  and  Oxon  and  Berks  1. 

As  for  the  scholars  they  were  according  to  the  said 
Dioceses  and  counties,  in  like  manner,  to  be  distin- 
guished ;  only  that,  whereas,  there  were  to  be  2  fellows 
of  Kent,  he  appointed  but  1  scholar  of  that  place,  and 
2  of  Lancashire :  but  these  were  somewhat  altered  before 
the  founder's  death. 

He  instituted  also,  three  lectures  to  be  performed  by 
three  of  the  said  fellows,  every  week  in  the  college  hall, 
according  as  the  statutes  required.  To  which  lectures 
the  students  of  the  University,  as  also,  strangers  were 
wont  to  repair.  One  was  for  humanity,  which  Lud. 
Vives  before  mentioned,  read;  the  second  for  Greek; 
and  the  third  for  divinity.  As  for  the  two  last,  by  whom, 
at  first,  they  were  performed,  I  find  not,  unless  by  John 
Clement,  or  Edward  Wotton,  or  Robert  Morwent,  the 
vice-president.  Howsoever  it  was,  sure  I  am,  that 
they  were  much  frequented  by  the  academics,  as  were 
the  lectures  about  the  same  time  of  Cardinal  Wolsey. 

In  such  an  admirable  condition  was  this  College 
finished,  endowed  with  plentiful  revenues,  settled  with 
good  government,  and  replenished  with  able  men,  that 
the  fame  thereof  extended  far  and  near,  Erasmus,  in 
an  epistle  of  his,  as  I  remember,  written  to  John  Clay- 
mond,  the  first  president  speaks  very  honourably  of  it 
thus: — *' Egregiam  illam  prudentiam  suam,  qua  semper 
publicae  famae  prasconio  commeudatus  fuit  Ric.  Epus 
Winton.  nuUo  certiore  argumento  nobis  declaravit  quam 
quod  Collegium  magnificum  suis  impendiis  extructum, 
tribus  praecipuis  linguis,  ac  melioribus  Uteris  vetustisque 
authoribus  proprie  consecravit,"  &c. 

Bishop  Fox's  grammar-school  at  Grantham  is  copiously 
treated  of  by  Turnor. — He  observes  : — **  A  spacious 
handsome  stone  building,  75  ft.  by  30,  and  a  commodious 
house,  and  offices  for  the  master  were  erected  on  the 
north  side  of  the  church-yard,  by  Richard  Fox,  Bishop 
of  Winchester.  The  foundation  was  augmented  in  1553, 
by  Edward  VI.  There  is  a  tolerable  portrait  of  the 
founder  in  the  school-house.  Sir  Isaac  Newton  was  of 
this  school.  For  a  copious  account  of  this  institution, 
see  Tumor's  CoUectiomfor  the  Hist,  of  the  Town  and  Soke 
of  Grantham,  4to.  1806,  p.  39,  illustrated  by  a  plate 
representing  the  school. 


336  RICHARD  FOX. 

Godwin  thus  notices  this  Prelate  under  his  four 
Sees  respectively.  Edit,  Richardson,  p.  414. — Exeter. 
"  XXVI.  Successit  Ricardus  Foxus  [1487,  Henry  VII. 
2]  qui  postquam  hie  loci  sex  annos  sedisset,  ad  Ecclesiam 
Bathonensem  et  Wellensem  translatus  est,  ac  inde  postea 
Wintoniam." — His  editor  adds  in  the  notes  that  his  tem- 
poralties  were  restored  April  2,  1487.  Rymer.  XII.  p. 
322.  The  Pope's  bulle  for  his  translation  to  Wells  was 
dated  Feb.  8,  1491.  Registr.  Morton.  Therefore  he 
could  not  have  sat  at  Exeter  as  Godwin  says,  6,  but  4 
years. 

Bath  and  Wells.  P.  384.  "XL.  Sufficitur  Ri- 
cardus Foxus,  Epus  Oxon.  qui  hue  translatus  est  mense 
Feb.  1491,  [Hen.  VII.  7.]  et  posttrienniumDunelmum." 

Durham,  (p.  753.)  '' XXXI.  Ricardus  Foxius  in 
Episcopum  Exoniensem,  consecratus,  1486,  [Here  is  a 
year's  discrepancy,  vide  supra]  ad  sedem  Bathonensem 
translatus  1491,  [Bishop  Godwin  is  therefore  wrong,  by 
his  own  shewing,  in  saying  as  above,  'sex  annos;"]  inde 
Dunelmum  migravit  1494,  ac  Wintoniae  tandem  consedit 
1502.  In  castro  interim  Dunelmensi  multa  immutavit. 
Cum  in  aula  ibidem  duo  antiquitus  throni  regales  fuissent 
coUocati  (sic  appellatos  invenio)  in  superior!,  (viz.  parte) 
unus  atque  ab  inferiori  itidem  alius  :  inferiorem  sustulit, 
et  ibidem  edifice  quaedam  excitavit.  Novam  porro  aulam 
exorsus  construere,  et  coquinam  in  magna  turri  ejusdem 
castri,  Wintoniam  translatus  est,  antequam  opus  ad 
umbilicum  potuerit  perducere.  Vivarium  denique  am- 
plissimum  prope  Dunelnumi  ad  feras  includendas  muro 
satis  excelso  circumdedit.  Sed  de  hoc  inter  Wintonienses 
habebis  plura."  His  editor  adds  in  the  note,  from  Rymer' s 
Fcedera  XII.  5QQ,  that  his  temporalties  were  restored 
Dec.  8 ;  and  also  a  note  froni  Wharton's  Anglia  Sacra, 
P-  779,  respecting  the  border  difterences,  and  the  Bishop's 
intervention  in  the  procurement  of  the  marriage  between 
the  Princess  Margaret  and  King  James  of  Scotland, 
Vide  supra. 

Winchester.  From  the  English  edition  of  l6l5,  p. 
245.  "57  Richard  Foxe,  (1502,  Henry  VII.  18)  at 
what  time  Henry,  Earl  of  Richmond,  abiding  at  VenicCj 
was  requested  by  letters  from  many  of  the  English 
Mobility  to  deliver  his  country  from  the  tyranny  of  that 
wicked  parricide  Richard  III.,  and  to  take  on  him  the 
kingdom ;  he,  willing  to  furnish  himself  as  well  as  he 
might  for  the  setting  forth  of  so  great  an  enterprise, 


RICHARD  FOX.  337 

detennined  to  crave  aid  of  the  French  King.     Coming 
therefore  to  Paris,  he  only  recommended  his  suit  to  the 
King,  and  having  manifold  business   elsewhere,  he   left 
the  farther  prosecution  of  this  matter  unto  Richard  Fox, 
(L.L.D.,  proceeded  in  Oxford,  but  incorporate  in  Cam- 
bridge, Nvhere  he  became  Master  of   Pembroke  Hall), 
that  chanced    to   live  a  student   in   Paris   at  that   time. 
Whether  the  Earl  knew  him  before,  or  else  discerned  at 
the  tirst  sight  as  it  were,  his  excellent  wisdom,  certain  it 
is,  he  deemed  him  a  fit  man  for  the  managing  of  this 
great  affair.     Neither  was  he  any  thing  at  all  deceived  in 
him  :  for  the  matter  was  followed  with  so  great  diligence 
and  industry,  as  in  a  very  short  time  all  things  were  dis- 
patched according  to  the  Earl's  desire,  who  soon  after 
obtaining  the  kingdom,  mindful  of  the  good  service  done 
him  by  Dr.  Fox,    preferred  him   immediately  unto    the 
keeping  of  the  privy  seal,  made  him  secretary,  and  one 
of  his  counsel ;  and  laid  upon  him  what  spiritual  living 
might  possibly  be  procured  him.     In  the  meantime,  he 
employed  him  continually  either  in  matters  of  counsel  at 
home,    or   in   ambassages  of  great   importance   abroad. 
The  2nd  year  of  King  Henry's  reign,  he  was  sent  into 
Scotland  for  the  establishing  of  a  peace  with  the  King 
there;  whence  he  wars  scarcely  returned  when  the  Bishopric 
of  Exeter  falling  void,  it  was  bestowed  upon  hirn.    He  held 
it  not  past  6  years,  [not  so  long];   but  he  was  removed 
to  Bath  and  VVells,  and  thence  within  3  years  after  to 
Durham.     There  he  staid   3  years  ;  and  the  year  1502 
was  once  more  translated,  viz.  to  Winton,  where  he  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life  in  great  prosperity.     For  jsuch  was  his 
favour  with  the  King,  as  no  man  could  evei'  do  so  much 
with  him  :    no  man  there  was  upon  whose  counsel  he  so 
much  relied.     Amongst  other  honours  done  unto  him,  it 
was  not  the  least,  that  he  made  him  godfather*  unto  his 
Cud  son,  afterwards   King  Henry  VIII.     In    one   only 
mischance  he  was  unfortunate.      He  lived  many  years 
blind  before  he  died.     Whereby  guessing  his  end  not  be 


*  fin  the  account  of  this  Prelate,  f^etust.  Monum.  vol.  II.  this  fact  is 
denied  ;  and  it  is  asserted  that  Fox  was  only  the  baptizing  Prelate.  The 
authority  however  there  referred  to,  cannot  be  compared  with  that  of 
the  contemporary  historian  Harpsfield.  Hist.  Aug.  Sac.  XV.  c.  20. 
Besides,  Greenwich  being  out  of  the  Diocese  of  Winton,  it  would  not 
have  been  strictly  regular  our  Prelate's  performing  the  solemn  rite 
which  there  took  plijce.— Edit.] 


338  RICHARD  FOX. 

far  off,  he  determined  to  make  unto  himself  friends  of 
the  unrighteous  mammon,  bestowing  weH  his  goods 
while  he  lived.  And  first,  he  purposed  to  have  bmilt  a 
Monastery,  until,  that  confening  with  Hugh  Oldham, 
Bishop  ot  Oxon,  a  very  wise  man,  he  was  advised  by 
him  rather  to  bestow  his  money  upon  the  foundation  of 
some  College  in  one  of  the  Universities,  which  should 
be  more  profitable  unto  the  commonwealth,  and  more 
available  to  the  preservation  of  his  memory.  As  for 
Monasteries,  quoth  he,  they  have  more  already  than  they 
are  like  long  to  keep.  So  by  the  counsel  of  this  wise 
Prelate,  whose  purse  also  was  a  great  help  to  the 
finishing  thereof,  the  College  of  Corpus  Christi  in 
Oxford,  was  built  A.D.  15 16,  and  endowed  by  the 
said  founder  with  possessions  to  the  yearly  value  of 
£401.  8s.  \]d.  Afterward,  in  the  year  1522,  he  be- 
stowed the  cost  of  building  a  fair  free-school  by  the 
castle  in  Taunton,  (where  the  Bishop  of  Winton  has  a 
goodly  lordship),  and  convenient  housing  near  it  for  the 
school-master  to  dwell  in ;  the  like  he  performed  at  Gran- 
tham also :  in  which  place  it  is  probable  he  mighi  have 
been  born  ;  lastly  it  is  to  be  remembered  that  he  covered 
the  choir  of  Winton,  the  presbvtei;y  and  aisles  adjoining 
with  a  goodly  vault,  and  new  glazed  all  the  windows  of 
that  part  of  the  church.  It  is  said  also  that  he  built 
the  partition  between  the  presbytery  and  the  said  aisle, 
causing  the  bones  of  such  Princes  and  Prelates  as  had 
been  buried  here  and  there,  dispersed  about  the  church, 
to  be  removed  and  placed  in  seemly  monuments  upon 
the  top  of  the  new  partition.  Many  other  notable  things 
no  doubt  he  did,  which  have  not  come  unto  my  know- 
ledge. He  was  brought  up  in  Pembroke  Hall,  Cambridge, 
(unto  which  house  he  gave  certain  hangings) ;  and  died 
a  very  old  man  A.D.  1528,  [Sept.  14,  Richardson]  when 
he  had  worthily  governed  the  Church  of  Winton  27  years. 
He  lieth  intombed  upon  the  south  side  of  the  high  altar, 
in  a  monument  rather  sumptuous  than  stately,  of  the 
same  building  with  the  partition." 

Richardson  in  his  notes  to  the  Latin  edition  of  1 743, 
[int.  Epos.  Wint.]  p.  235,  adds  that  the  Bishop  was 
Master  of  Pembroke  Hall  a  little  before  8th  of  the  ides 
of  Aug.  1507,  while  Bishop  of  Winton.  He  resigned 
the  headship  in  May  1519.  He  was  Chancellor  of  Cam- 
bridge for  2  years,  viz.  in  1500  and  1501.     He  had  the 


RICHARD  FOX.  339 

•Winton  temporalties  restored  Oct.  17,  1500.  Pat.  l6 
Henry  VII.  p.  2,  m.  13.  The  Bishop,  adds  Richardson, 
was  remarkable  for  3  things.  I.  He  recommended  to 
King  Henry  his  marrying  his  brother's  widow.  II.  He 
contended  with  other  Bishops  concerning  the  prerogative 
of  Canterbury,  against  Archbishop  Warham,  and  to  the 
prejudice  of  the  See.  III.  When  about  to  take  his 
farewell  of  the  court,  he  recommended  Wolsey,  his 
chaplain,  afterwards  Bishop,  Archbishop,  and  Cardinal ; 
and  Wra.  Paulet,  steward  of  the  estates  belonging  to  the 
See  of  Winton,  afterwards  lord  high  treasurer,  and  first 
Marquess  of  Winchester,  &,c.  [The  present  Marquess 
-is  8th  in  descent  from  this  William,  the  lirst  peer  brought 
into  notice  by  Bishop  Fox. — Edit.] 

Wharton  (Aug.  Sac.  1.  319,)  observes,  "  De  Ricardo 
Foxo  a  sede  Dunelmensi  ad  VVintoniensem  post  Langtoni 
obitum  translate  rebusque  ab  illo  Wintoniae  gestis  nil  habeo 
quod  adjiciam  Godvini  dictis,  nisi  quod  anno  1528,  14th 
Sept.  obierit. 

He  is  thus  noticed  by  Fuller,  Wo7ihies,  vol.  II.  p.  11. 
edit.    1811: — "Richard    Fox   was    born    at  Granthani, 
[Ropesley  near]  Lincolnshire,  as  the  fellows  of  his  foun- 
dation in  Oxford  have  informed  me.     Such  who  make  it 
their  only  argument  to   prove    his    birth   at   Grantham, 
because  he  therein  erected  a  fair  free  school,  may,  on  the 
same  reason  conclude  him  born  at  Taunton,  in  Somerset, 
where  he  also  founded  a  goodly  grammar-school.     But 
what  shall  I  say  ?     '  Ubique  nascitur  qui  orbi  nascitur'  ; 
he  may  be  said  to  be  born  every  where,  who,  with  I'ox, 
was  born  for  the  public  and  general  good.     He  was  very 
instrumental  in  bringing  King  Henry  VII.  to  the  crown, 
who  afterwards  well  rewarded  him  for  the  same.     That 
politic  prince,  (though  he  could  go  alone  as  well  as  any 
King  in  Europe  yet)  for  the  more  state,  in  matters  of 
moment,  leaned  principally  on  the  shoulders  of  two  priny? 
Prelates,  having  Archbishop  Morton  for  his  right,  and 
this  Fox  for  his   left  supporter,  whom  at  last  he  made 
Bishop  of  Winton.     He  was  bred  first  in  Cambridge 
[incorrect]  where  he  was  president  of  Pembroke-Hall, 
(and  gave  hangings  thereunto  with  a  Fox  woven  therein) 
and  afterwards  in   Oxford.     [Fuller  is  wrong  in  this ;  it 
was  exactly  vice  versa.     He  was  first  of  Oxford,  after- 
wards of  Cambridge,]    where  [at   Oxford]   he    founded 
the  fair  college  of  C.   C.   (allowing   per   annum   to   it 

z2 


540  RICHARD  FOX. 

J!40\.  Si',  lid.)  which  hath  since  been  the  nursery  of  so 
many  eminent  scholars.  He  expended  much  money  in 
beautifying  his  Cathedral  in  Winton,  and  methodically 
disposed  the  bodies  of  the  Saxon  Kings  and  Bishops 
(dispersedly  buried  in  this  church)  in  decent  tombs 
erected  by  him  on  the  walls  on  each  side  the  choir; 
which  some  soldiers  (to  shew  their  spleen  at  once  against 
crowns  and  mitres)  valiantly  fighting  against  the  dust  of 
the  dead,  have  since  barbarously  den^olished.  Twenty- 
seven  years  he  sat  Bishop  of  this  See,  'till  he  was  stark 
blind  with  age.  All  thought  him  to  die  too  soon:  one 
only  excepted,  who  conceived  him  to  live  too  long,  viz. 
Thomas  Wolsey,  who  gaped  for  his  Bishopric,  and  en- 
deavoured to  render  him  [obnoxious]  to  the  displeasure 
of  King  Henry  VHI.,  whose  malice  this  Bishop,  though 
blind,  discovered,  and  in  some  measure  defeated.  He 
died  A.  D.  1528;  and  lies  buried  in  his  own  Cathedral." 

Tanner  in  his  Notitia  records,  under  Oxfordshire 
XXIII.9:  "Corpus  Christi  College.  Richard  Fox, 
Bishop  of  Winton,  in  the  year  1513  began  a  College, 
which  he  at  first  designed  for  student  black  monks,  as  a 
seminary  to  the  Cathedral  Priory  of  Winton,  but  was 
dissuaded  from  settling  it  so  by  Hugh  Oldham,  Bishop 
of  Exon,  who  became  a  great  benefactor  to  the  buildings 
of  this  house,  which  was  finished  in  the  year  1516,  and 
dedicated  to  the  honour  of  the  most  holy  body  of  Christ, 
of  St.  Peter,  and  St.  Paul,  St.  Andrew,  St.  Cuthbert, 
and  St.  Swithun,  the  patron  saints  of  his  four  Bishoprics, 
Exeter,  Wells,  Durham,  and  Winchester," 

Here  we  may  subjoin  from  Leland's  Winchester  Ecc. 
Cath :  Richardus  Foxe,  Epus  Wint.  fecit  testitudines 
chori,  templi  et  presbyterii,  invitreavit  omnes  fenestras 
ejusdem  partis  templi,  fecit  particionem  inter  presby- 
terium  et  insulas  abjacentes,  in  cacumine  cujus  posuit 
ossa  principum  &,  preesulum  ibi  sepultorum  in  novis 
sarcophagis." — Coll.  1.  11(3. 

Sir  Robert  Atkyns  in  his  Hist.  Gloucestershire,  under 
Guiting  Temple,  observes,  that  the  manor  was  purchased 
by  Dr.  Richard  Fox,  Bishop  of  Winton,  and  by  him 
given  to  Corpus  Christi  College,  Oxon :  the  president 
and  fellows  of  which  are  the  present  lords  of  the  manor, 
and  keep  a  court-leet,  p.  449.  The  author  takes  the 
opportunity  of  extolling  the  character  of  the  Bishop,  ^nd 
gives  an  outline  of  his  career. 


RICHARD  FOX.  341 

The  following  observations  by  Bishop  Milner,  as  they 
refer  to  some  circumstances  not  noticed  by  the  foregoing- 
authorities,  must  not  be  omitted  : — "  At  length,  either 
mortiiied  at  finding  himself  supplanted  by  Wolsey,  whom 
he  had  introduced  to  the   Kmg's  service,  or  else  being 
desirous  of  consecrating  the  latter  end  of  his  life  to  the 
concerns  of  religion,  certain  it  is,  that  he  retired  to  hjs 
Cathedral   city,    [Harpsfield]    and   applied    himself  ex- 
clusively to   this   object.      He   was    unbounded   in   his 
charities  to  the  poor,  whom  he  assisted  with  food,  clothes, 
and  money:    at  the  same  time  exercising  hospitality  and 
promoting  the  trade  of  the  city,  by  a  large  establishment 
which  he  kept  up  at  Wolvesey  of  220  servants,  being 
all  men.     He   was  also  indefatigable   in  preaching  the 
word  of  God  to  his  people,  and  in  exciting  his  clergy  to 
Jhe  performance  of  the  same  duty.     The  public  works 
which  he  is  known  to  have  left  behind  him,  suffice  to 
prove  the  greatness  both  of  his  genius  and  his  beneficence. 
The  most  celebrated  of  these  is  C.  C.  C.  Oxford,  which 
he  built  and  founded,  endowing  it,  not  with  ecclesiastical 
property,  as  had  frequently  been  done  in  similar  instances, 
but  with   estates  which   he   purchased  for  this  express 
purpose.     Having  finished  this  seminary,  he  industriously 
drew  to  it  some  of  the  most  celebrated  scholars  of  the 
age :    such   as  Ludovicus  Vivez,    the  divine ;    Nicholas 
Crucher,    the   mathematician ;    Clement    Edwards    and 
Nicholas  Utten,  professors  of  Greek  ;    likewise,  Thomas 
Lupset,   Richard  Pace,    and  Reginald  Pole,  who  was 
afterwards    Cardinal:    [Harpsfield]  men  of  the  greatest 
distinction  for  learning  and   talents.     He  extended  his 
charity  and  munificence  to  many  other  foundations,  par^ 
ticularly  within  his  own  Diocese ;    amongst  others,  the 
enchanting    ruins    of  Netley  Abbey,  still  attest  that  he 
was  a  benefactor  to  that  monastery.     But  the  monuments 
which  tend  chiefly  to  embalm  his  memory  in  the  city  of 
Winton,  are  those  great  and  beautiful  works,  both  withiu 
its  Cathedral  and  on  the  outside  of  it,  which  have  hardly 
been  equalled  in  their  kind,  and  never  surpassed.* 

**  During  the  last  10  years  of  his  life  it  pleased  the 


•  Harpsfield  and  Godwin  mention  only  Fox's  decorations  within  the 
Church  ;  yet,  that  he  was  the  author  of  the  outsfde  work  here  ascribed  to 
bim,  is  evideutly  proved  by  his  image  and  devices  in  various  parts  of  it. 


342  RICHARD  FOX. 

Almighty  to  deprive  him  of  sight.  Far  however,  from 
siukJnof  under  this  trial  or  relaxing  in  his  zealous  efforts, 
the  only  use  he  made  of  this  deprivation  was  to  apply 
himself  more  assiduously  to  prayer  and  meditation,  which 
at  length  became  almost  uninterrupted,  both  day  and 
night.  [Harpsfield.]  In  1528  he  finished  his  pious 
couise  ;  and  was  buried  in  that  exquisite  chantry  which 
he  had  prepared  amongst  his  other  works  for  that  purpose, 
immediately  behind  the  high  altar,  on  the  south  side."* 

Portraits. — The  portraits  of  the  Bishop  are  thus 
noticed  by  Grainger:  ''  Richardus  Fox,episcopusWinton. 
Henrico  septimo  et  octavo  a  secret ioribus,  et  privati  sigilli 
ciislos.  Coll.  Corp.  Christi  Oion.  Fundator,  A'^-  £)"'• 
1516.  Johannes  Corvus  Flandrus  J'aciebat ;  Vertue  sc. 
1723.     In  Fiddes's  Life  of  Cardinal  Wolsei/." 

He  is  represented  blind,  which  calamity  befel  him  at 
the  latter  end  of  his  life.  The  original  picture  is  at 
C.  C.  C.  Oxon. 

Richardus  Fox;  ^t.  70;  G.  Glover,  sc.  Richardus 
Fox ;  JEt.  70 ;  Start,  sc.  Richardus  Fox  ;  a  small 
oval. — Another  for  Dr.  Knight's  "  Life  of  Erasmus." 
Richardus  Fox,  &c.  J.  Faber  f.  large  4to.  mezz.  one 
of  the  set  of  founders. 

This  Prelate  who  was  successively  Bishop  of  Exeter, 
Bath  and  Wells,  Durham  and  Winchester,  was  employed 
by  Henry  VII.  in  his  most  important  negociations  at 
home  and  abroad;  and  was  in  his  last  illness  appointed 
one  of  his  executors.  He  was  also  at  the  head  of  affairs 
in  the  beginning  of  this  reign,  Henry  VIII. ;  but  about 
the  year  1515  retired  from  court,  disgusted  at  the  insolence 
of  Wolsey,  whom  he  had  helped  to  raise.  Ob.  14,  Sept. 
1528."— Biog.  Hist.  Eng.  vol.  i,  p.  95. 

S>/7iopsis  of  Preferments : 
Prebendary  of  Bishopston,    Sarum  Cathedral  after  1473 ; 
resigned  1485. 

Prebendary  of  South  Grantham,  in  Sarum  Cathed."^ 
Vicar  of  Stepney.  j 


Secretary  to  King  Henry  VII.  )>1485. 

Prebendary  of  Brounswode.  | 

Privy  Councellor  to  Henry  VII.  J 


*  The  last  quoted  author  who  enlarges  with  so  much  unction  on  the 
merits  of  Bishop  Fox,  testifies  that  he  was  present  at  his  funeral,  being 
then  a  student  in  Wintou  College. 


OAO 


RICHARD  FOX.  34 

Bishop  of  Exeter  1486-7. 

Keeper  of  the  Privy  Seal  I486. 

Ambassador  to  King  James  III.  King  of  Scotland  1487. 

Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells  1491-2. 

Bishop  of  Durham  1494. 

Chancellor  of  the  University  of  Cambridge  1500-1. 

Bishop  of  Winton.    1500,  (Wood)  who  is  right.     (Sic 

Patent  Rolls.)     Godwin  says  1502. 

Master  of  Pembroke  Hall,  Cambridge,  1507  res.  1519. 

The  following  extract  from  the  History  of  Durham, 
by  Mr.  Surtees,  though  comprising  several  circumstances 
already  detailed,  well  deserves  a  place  in  this  sketch  : — 
**  Richard  Fox  was  translated  to  Durham  from  Bath  and 
Wells  Dec.  7,  1494,  and  received  the  temporalties  next 
day.  He  was  born  at  Ropesley,  in  the  county  of 
Lincoln,  and  was  the  son  of  Thos.  Fox,  a  person  of  mean 
circumstances.  He  was  educated  as  a  scholar  on  the 
foundation  of  Magdalen  College,  Oxford :  but  the  plague 
breaking  out  there,  he  retired  to  Cambridge,  and  became 
a  member  of  Pembroke  Hall.  He  afterward  studied  iu 
divinity  and  the  canon  law  at  Paris,  where  he  received 
the  degree  of  L.L.D.  It  does  not  appear  whether  his 
leaving  England  was  at  first  prompted  by  any  political 
reason  ;  but  in  France  he  became  acquainted  with 
Morton,  Bishop  of  Ely,  a  deep  and  subtle  politician, 
who  was  one  of  the  main  springs  in  the  revolution  that 
effected  the  fall  of  Richard  III,,  and  raised  the  Earl  of 
Richmond  to  the  crown. — Morton  saw  how  serviceable 
Fox's  talents  might  prove  to  any  party  in  which  he  could 
be  brought  to  engage ;  he  introduced  him  to  the  secret 
counsels  of  Richmond,  and  he  was  soon  after  entrusted 
with  the  delicate  charge  of  negociating  with  Charles 
VIII.  of  France,  for  a  supply  of  troops  and  money  for 
the  projected  invasion  of  England.  He  conducted  the 
business  with  admirable  secrecy  and  success.  Immediately 
after  the  battle  of  Bosworth,  Fox's  services  were  re- 
warded by  his  being  raised  to  the  rank  of  a  privy  coun- 
sellor." Leiand  thus  notices  these  transactions : — 
*  Quem  rex  summo  favore  complexus  est,  quia  illius 
solummoda  gratia  Carolus  VHI.  Gallorum  rex  ilium 
adhuc  comitem  Richmondije  idq  ;  exulantem  ad  reguum 
contra  Richardum  tyrannum  repetendum  auxiliaribus 
copiis  relevabat.  Hinc  sub  eodem  rege  fuit  custos  privati 
sigUU,  Secretarius,  et  a  sanctioribus  conciliis  legatus  iu 


344  RICHARD  FOX. 

Scotiam.'     *'He  was  soon  after  collated  to  the  prebend 
of  Bishopston,   in  the  Cathedral  of  Sarum;    and  in  the 
following  year  to  that  of  South  Grantham,  in  the  same 
Church.     In  1487  he  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Exeter, 
and  made  keeper  of  the  privy  seal.     In   1491   he  was 
translated  to  Bath  and  Wells,   and  from  thence  to  Dur- 
ham in    1494.      Whilst  Bishop  of  Bath   and  Wells   he 
was  one  of  the  sponsors  for  Prince  Henry,   afterwards 
Henry  VIII.     From  the  See  of  Rome  he  had  the  title 
of  apostolical  legate   in   the   realm   of  Scotland  ;    and 
in  1500  the  University  of  Cambridge  elected  him  their 
chancellor.     He  was  also  secretary  of  state  ;  master  of 
the  hospital  of  St.  Cross  near  Winchester ;  and  in  1505 
accepted  the  mastership  of  Pembroke  College  in  Cam- 
bridge.    From   the  time  of  Bishop  Fox's  promotion  to 
Durham,  the   whole   management  of  the   north  and  of 
the  Scottish  border  was  committed  to  his  charge.     Under 
all  the  changes  of  both  governments,  peace  betwixt  the 
two  nations   had   been   preserved    by  repeated   treaties ; 
(Ri/mer.  Fadera.  XII.  554-5)  and  in  1494,  the  Bishop 
of  Durham  met  the  Scotch  commissioners  at  Coldstream, 
to  treat  of  a  renewal  of  the  truce  and  of  a  mutual  repara- 
tion  for  the  damages  inflicted  by  the  borderers,  whose 
incursions   no  public  treaties  could   restrain.    ( Fader  a, 
ib.  p.  568.)     The  attempt  to  negociate  proved  fruitless  j 
and  in  1495,  Henry  was  alarmed  by  the  favourable  re- 
ception of  Warbeck  at  the  Scotch  court.     The  northern 
powers  from   Trent  to  Tweed   were   called   out   under 
the    Earl   of  Surry,  lieutenant   for  the  infant  Duke  of 
York,  and  the  Bishop  of  Durham  received  a  commission 
of  array,  not   only  for  his  own  province  but  for  Nor- 
thumberland, Tyndale,  Redesdale,  and  the  east  marches. 
The  names  of  the   Earl  of  Surry  and  of  some  of  the 
northern  nobles  were   added  to  grace   the   commission, 
but  the  King's  private  confidence  was  entirely  reposed 
in  the  Bishop,  who  had  secret  instructions  empowering 
him  to  act  alone.     (Fcedera.) 

At  the  same  time  Henry,  who  never  took  up  arms 
without  an  attempt  to  negotiate,  and  whose  favourite 
project  was  to  preclude  assistance  to  Warbeck,  and 
secure  the  future  peace  of  the  north  by  a  matrimonial 
alliance  with  the  Scotch  monarch,  commissioned  the 
Bishop  of  Durham  to  treat  of  peace,  and  to  propose  to 
King  James  the  acceptance  of  the  Princess  Margaret  of 


RICHARD  FOX.  345 

England  in   marriage.     The  project   was  at   that   time 
unsuccessful :    King  James  crossed  the  borders  and  plun- 
dered part  of  Northumberland,  but  retired  on  the  ap- 
proach of  Surry's  army.     In  the  following  summer  King 
James  laid  seige  to  Norhani  in  person,  whilst  divisions 
of  his   troops    scattered    themselves   over   the    adjacent 
country.     The  Bishop  who  had  foreseen  the  storm  had 
repaired   the  works,  and   stationed  a  brave   garrison  in 
the  place  well  armed  and  provided;  and  as  soon  as  he 
heard  of  the  attack,  hastened  to  the  borders,  and  eluding 
the  vigilance  of  the  besiegers  entered  the  fortress  at  the 
head  of  a  small  but  determined  band  of  followers.     His 
precaution  did  not  end  here  ;  his  power  and   influence 
liad  prevailed  on  the  borderers  to  place  all  their  strong 
holds  in  a  slate  of  defence ;  their  cattle  and  effects  were 
drawn  within  the  walls,  and  the  marauding  invaders  were 
disappointed  of  their  spoil.     Norham  Castle,  meanwhile, 
resisted  several   hot  assaults,  and  after  a  gallant  defence 
of  16  days,  the  shattered  fortress,   after  most  of  its  out- 
works were  beaten  down,  was  relieved  by  the   Earl  of 
Surry,  who  pursued  the  retreating  Scots  across  the  Tweed. 
(Uolinshed.)     Bishop  Fox's    peculiar    attention   to  the 
border  service  is  evinced  by  the  unerring  testimony  of 
records  still   extant.     He  fulminated  a  sentence  of  ex- 
communication   against    the    robbers    of  Tynedale  and 
Redesdale,  and  ni  particular  against  the  vagrant  priests 
who    accompanied    these  lawless  hordes   from  place    to 
place,  amidst  the  wilds  of   Northumberland,   partaking 
in  their  plunder,  and  mingling  reliques  of  barbarism  with 
the  rites  and  sacraments  of  the  christian  Church.  In  1498 
appears  an  absolution  dated  at  Norhani  Sept.  25,  granted 
by  name  to  several  of  these  free-booters  who  had  accepted 
the  Bishop's  mercy.     The  latter  instrument  bears  date 
at  Norham  Castle,  and  the  reclaiming  of  these  borderers 
may  be  fairly  attributed  to  the  Bishop's  personal  presence 
and  influence.* 

In  1497  a  truce  for  seven  years  was  concluded  with  Scot- 
land under  the  mediation  of  Peter  D' Ayala,  the  Spanish 
envoy  at  the  court  of  England.     (Fadera  XII,  677.^ 


*  The  wiiole  record  printed  from  Bishop  Fox's  register  may  be  seen  ia 
the  introduction  to  the  iMinstrelsy  of  the  Scotch  Border.  Appendix  No. 
7  of  Surtees'^  Durham. — And  see  a  practical  illustration  iu  the  Life  of 
Gilpin.    Part  ii,  p.  66, 


346  RICHARD  FOX. 

The  Bishop  of  Durham,  Walsham,  Master  of  the  Rolls, 
and  John  Cartington,  sergeant  at  law,  were  the  English 
commissioners ;  and  the  Bishop's  name  stands  also  at  the 
bead  of  the  English  list  of  conservators,  who  were  ap- 
pointed with  full  powers  to  redress  injuries  and  punish 
offenders  on  the  marches.  The  truce  was  afterwards 
prolonged  for  the  joint  lives  of  the  two  sovereigns,  and 
ratified  in  Stirling  Castle  July  20,  1499.  But  the  in- 
strument was  scarcely  executed  when  an  accidental  quarrel 
between  some  young  Scotchmen  whom  curiosity  had 
drawn  to  visit  Norham,  and  the  soldiers  of  the  garrison, 
threatened  a  renewal  of  hostilities.  (Holimhed.)  Several 
lives  were  lost;  and  the  Scotch  King  indignant  at  the 
delays  which  he  experienced  from  the  English  wardens, 
sent  his  herald  to  Henry  to  demand  instant  satisfaction 
for  the  insult  or  to  denounce  war.  The  Bishop,  with 
admirable  policy,  took  upon  himself  the  whole  charge  of 
tendering  reparation  for  the  outrage  which  had  occurred 
within  the  walls  of  his  own  fortress.  His  mild  and  con- 
ciliatory offers  softened  the  fiery  spirit  of  James,  who 
requested  a  personal  interview.  They  met  at  the  Abbey 
of  Melrose,  and  not  only  were  all  existing  differences 
terminated,  but  the  Bishop  succeeded  in  awakening 
James  to  a  sense  of  his  true  interest ;  he  consented  to  a 
permanent  alliance  between  the  two  kingdoms,  and 
requested  the  Bishop's  favourable  intercession  in  obtain- 
ing for  him  the  Princess  Margaret  of  England.  ( Fa'dera 
Xll.  729-)  The  peace  was  finally  concluded  in  ]502; 
and  in  June,  the  young  bride  gallantly  attended,  com- 
menced her  progress  to  the  north.  Siie  was  received 
on  the  borders  of  the  Bishopric  by  the  high  sheriff,  and 
was  entertained  for  three  days  at  Durham,  where  a  splen- 
did feast  was  given  in  the  hall  of  the  Castle  July  23,  the 
anniversary  of  Fox's  installation.* 

The   Bishop  had  already  been   translated   to  Winton 
on  the  festival  of  St.  Faith  Oct.  6,  ]501. 

*  The  Princess  rested  at  Northallerton  in  the  Bishop's  manor  house, 
and  it  seems  that  there  Bishop  Fox  met  her.  At  Neoham  she  was 
received  on  crossing  the  Tees,  by  Sir  Ralph  Bowes,  Sir  William  Hilton, 
&c.  See '' the  Fiancells  of  the  Princciss  Margaret,  byYounge,  Somerset 
Herald."  Leland.  Collect,  iii,  258-297.— Bishop  Fox  was  not  less  dis- 
tinguished for  conducting  a  pageant  than  a  uegociation  :  for  a  little 
before,  "  Bishop  Fox,  who  was  not  only  a  grave  counsellor  for  warreov 
peace,  but  also  a  good  surveyor  of  workes,  and  a  good  master  of  cere- 
luonyes,"  was  enjployed  to  superintend  the  reception  of  the  Princess 
Catherine  of  Spain.— iJaco«.    See  Leland  Collect,  v. 


RICHARD  FOX.  347 

It  seems  difficult  to  account  for  the  King's  removal  of 
so  faithful  a  servant  from  the  important  post  which  he 
had  occupied  with  so  much  fidelity;  but  the  peace  of 
the  north  seemed  in  consequence  of  the  late  alliance, 
more  secure  than  at  any  fornier  period,  and  the  Bishop 
might  desire  in  advancing  years,  a  residence  in  a  country 
of  milder  manners,  and  in  a  southern  climate.  Chambre 
adds,  that  his  Ioniser  residence  at  Durham  was  rendered 
irksome  by  a  violent  dispute  which  had  arisen  between 
tlie  See  of  Durham  and  the  Earl  of  Cumberland,  for  the 
])Ossession  of  Hartlepool. 

The  Bishop  was  one  of  the  Executors  of  Henry  VII. 
A  new  race  of  favorites  arose  under  his  son,  a  Sovereign 
of  a  very  different  character;  yet,  in  1510,  the  Bishop, 
with  the  Earl  of  Surry  and  Bishop  Ruthall  of  Durham, 
concluded  a  short-lived  peace  with  Lewis  XII.  of  France ; 
and  in  1513,  he  attended  the  King  in  his  expedition  to 
France,  and  was  present  at  the  taking  of  Terouenne. 
His  last  public  employment  was  the  negociation  of  a 
treaty  with  the  Emperor  Maximilian.  The  rising 
fortunes  of  Wolsey,  whom  Fox  had  himself  introduced  to 
the  royal  favor,  bore  no  competitor;  and  in  1515,  the 
Bishop  resigned  the  privy  seal  and  retired  to  his  diocese. 
His  attention  was  fixed  in  his  latter  years  on  the  foundation 
of  some  religious  or  academic  institution ;  and  being 
deeply  offended  with  the  conduct  of  the  members  of  his 
own  College  (Pembroke  Hall,)  of  which  he  resigned  the 
headship  in  1518,  he  became  the  munificent  founder  of 
the  College  of  Corpus  Christi  in  Oxford,  where  scholar- 
ships are  appropriated  to  natives  of  the  diocese  of  Durham. 
He  was  also  the  Founder  of  the  Free  Grammar  Schools 
of  Taunton  and  Grantham. 

Bishop  Fox  was  afflicted  with  blindness  for  many  years 
before  his  death ;  but  under  the  pressure  of  age  and 
infirmity,  his  spirit  remained  unbroken  ;  and  he  replied 
to  Wolsey,  who  wislied  him  to  resign  his  bishopric  of 
AV'inton  for  a  pension,  "  that  though  he  could  no  longer 
distinguish  white  from  black,  yet  could  he  discriminate 
right  from  wrong,  truth  from  falsehoodj  and  could  well 
discern  the  malice  of  an  ungrateful  man,  he  warned  the 
proud  favorite  to  beware,  lest  ambition  should  render  him 
blind  to  his  approaching  ruin ;  bade  him  attend  clo^ier  to 
the  King's  business,  and  leave  Winchester  to  the  care  of 
her  Bishop." 


348  RICHARD  FOX. 

The  good  Prelate  died  in  1 528,  and  was  interred  in 
his  own  chapel  in  Winton  Cathedral,  where  his  tomb  still 
exhibits  an  exquisite  specimen  of  the  richest  style  of 
Gothic  sepulchral  architecture.  Chambre,  p.  779,  thus 
describes  it:  "  Capellam  apud  Winton  magnificis  sumpti- 
bus  constructam  erexit,  et  ibidem  honoratissime  sepultus 
jacet ;  cujus  imago  cum  artificio  in  lapide  efformata 
ibidem  conspicitur."  The  effigy  is  a  skeleton.  See 
Cough's  Sepulchral  Monuments  and  Milnet's  Winton. 

Bishop  Fox's  public  works  within  the  diocese  of 
Durham  were  not  numerous.  He  made  some  alterations 
*in  the  great  hall  of  the  castle  of  Durham,  to  which  he 
added  a  music  gallery,  and  removing  a  seat  of  state  from 
the  lower  end,  converted  the  space  into  offices.  He  built 
also  a  kitchen  and  steward's  room  to  the  west  of  the  hall. 
He  had  conceived  the  design  of  restoring  the  great  tower 
of  Durham  Castle,  but  left  the  work  unfinished  on  his 
translation  to  Winton.  He  is  said  to  have  enclosed  the 
deer  park  at  Auckland.  Bishop  Fox  appears  to  have 
been  extremely  jealous  of  any  diminution  of  the  Palatine 
rights ;  and  in  his  5th.  year  he  issued  a  writ  of  Quo 
Warranto  directed  to  the  sheriff  of  Durham,  summoning 
all  persons  claiming  court-leet,  court-baron,  or  other 
liberty  or  franchise  within  the  regalities  of  the  Bishop  of 
Durham,  to  produce  and  justify  their  titles.  It  is 
probable  the  writ  was  never  carried  into  execution,  for  no 
return  appears  on  the  rolls. 

I  shall  close  my  memoir  of  this  Prelate  with  the  follow- 
ing extract  from  Harpsfield,  his  contemporary.  Sac 
X  V^.  c.  20.  p.  643. 

"  Natus  ees  Richardus  in  Comitatu  Lincolniae  apud 
Grantoniam.  Cum  in  literis  egregie  profecisset,  sacer- 
dotio  jam  initiatus  Lvitetiam  Parisiorum,  ad  majorem 
doctrinae  accessionem  profectus  est.  Tbi  dum  versatur, 
Henricus  Comes  Richemundiai  illuc  venit,  suppetias 
petitum  a  Carolo  Rege  adversus  Regem  Richardum,  qui 
Richard um  ob  ingenium  et  probitatem,  sibi  inter  intimos 
adjunxit,  et  ab  eo  tempore  magis  ac  magis  indies  coluit  et 
observavit:  deturbatoque  deinde  Richardo,  ad  intimum, 
consilium  Richardum  ascivit ;  et  secretarii  ut  appellant, 
munus  illi  mandavit.  Exoniensi  primum  Episcopatu 
honestatus  est.  Legavit  eum  Henricus  alias  in  Scotiam, 
alias  in  Galliam,  in  Scotiam  quidem,  ut  inducias  cum 
Jacobo  Rege  pacisceretur,  quas  et  pactus  est.     In  Galliam 


RICHARD  FOX.  349 

vero,  ut  foedus  cum  Carolo  iniietur,  quod  et  initum  est. 
Bathoniensi  atque  Wellensi  deinde,  atque  postea  Dunel- 
nensi  Episcopatu  auctus  est.  Dum  Dunelmi  versatur,  et 
rixa  quadam  inter  Anglos  et  Scotos  oita,  quidanj  ex 
Scotis  coesi  sunt.  Et  cum  periculum  esset,  ne  inducioe 
antea  initae,  ea  occasione  rescinderentur,  missus  est  Rich- 
ardus  in  Scotiam  ad  rem  omnem  pacificandam.  Quo 
tempore  Jacobus  cupide  se  nuptias  Margaritas  majoris 
iiatu  Henrici  filiae  appetere  ostendit,  nee  ita  multo  post, 
desideratis  nuptiis  potitus  est.  Sed  cum  Rex  Richardi 
desiderium,  et  tarn  longe  dissitam  absentiam  zequo  animo 
non  ferret,  curavit,  ut  mortuo,  sicat  dictum  est,  Thoma 
Langtono,  Wintoniam  accerseretur,  ut  frequientiore  ejus 
opera  et  consilio  uteretur.  Quem  deinde  secretiori  sue 
consilio  praefecit  et  in  ejus  potissimum  fide  et  prudentia 
acquiescebat,  adeo  ut  cum  octennio  postea  in  fata  conce- 
deret,  nuUius  magis  fidei  adolescenten  filium  Henricum 
atque  successorem,  quam  Ricardi  commendavit  cujus  erat 
patrinus,  at  *  appellamus,  et  sponsor  pro  eo,  cum  sacro 
baptismate  expiaretur ;  eique  etiam  permultis  postea 
annis  a  consiliis  fuit,  donee  obrepens  senectus,  hujus 
modi  cum  solicitudinibus  renunciare  et  sibi  suaeque 
parochicB  atque  diocesi  accuratius  intendere  admoneret. 

Wintoniam  itaque  venit  et  longa  absentiae  suae  damna, 
accurata  quadam,  exquisitaque  omnis  Episcopalis  numeris 
diligentia,  famelias  animas  sacris,  per  se  et  suos,  con- 
cionibus  et  tenuiores  homines  alimentis,  ceterisque  rebus 
vitae  necessariis  destitutos,  cibis,  vestitu,  pecuniis,  fovens 
resarcivit.  C unique  decennio  ante  obitum  ad  patientiam 
illius  exerceudam,  ut  olim  Tobize,  oculorum  ei  usum 
Deus  ademisset,  eo  copiosius  et  intensius  auimae  illius, 
quod  exterius  oculis  deerat,  lumen  benigne  adauxit, 
Quare  omni  jam  quasi  impedimento  abrupto,  totus  die 
noctuque  orationibus,  et  sacris  meditationibus  affigitur ; 
de  pauperibus  prolixius  etiam  solito  meretur.  Multa 
etiam,  eaque  praeclara  atque  illustria  pietatis  suae,  etiam 
post  obitum  reliquit  monumenta.  In  Comitatu  Somer- 
seti  apud  oppidum  Tantoniam  grammatices  Scholam 
construxit,  et  ludimagistro  de  idoneo  aunuatim  stipendio 
prospexit.  Nee  difficile  beneficium  in  eo  oppido,  ubi 
natus  est,  posuit.  Chorun  principis  suai  ecclesiae  mag- 
nis  impensis  ornavit,  in  qua  et  sacellum,  ut  ibi  humaretur, 
construxit.  Cavitque  ut  duo  sacerdotes  eo  loci  suam  et 
omnium   in   Christi  fide   obeuntium,   animas  perpetuis 


350  RICHARD  FOX. 

precibus    Deo    commendarent,   singulis   decern    anniia* 
libras  attiibuens.     Numerosam  et  amplissimam  quotidie 
familiam  riucentorum  videlicet  et  viginti  hominum  aluit. 
Keque  quisquam  ex  lUis  erat,    eui   minus^  yigenti  aureis 
praeter  unius  anni  commeatum,  post  obitum  in  testamento 
legavit.       Ceteris  vero,   pro  singulorum  meritis  et  con- 
ditione,    prolixius   consuluit.       Pecuniam    autem    quam 
singulis  assignavit,  in  totidem  crumenis,  ascriptis  singu- 
lorum, quibus  ilia  attribuebatur  nominibus  reposuit.    Sed 
cajtera  illuis    beneficia,    quamvis    magnifica    et    ampla, 
insigne  illud,  quos  Oxonii  posuit,  collegium  longe  supe- 
ravit.    In  quo  tres  ille  publicas  prajlectiones,  unam  sacrae 
Theologize,  secundam  Latinae,  tertiam  vero  Grecae  linguae 
instltuit.    Et  ne  deessent,  qui  in  hoc  quasi  opinio  quodam, 
et  foecuudo  bonarum  artium  agio  optima  semina  screrent, 
celebrem  ilium  Ludovicum  Vivem  Hispanum  hue  advo- 
cavit,  qui  Theologiam  magna  cum  laude,  magnoque  totius 
Academise  fructu  professus  est,  ob  res  vero  mathematicas, 
insignem  ilium  Nicolaum  Crucherum  ;  prima  vero  linguae 
Grec2e  semina  jacta  sunt  per  Clemeutem,  Dayidem,  Ed- 
uardes,  et  Nicholaum  Utton  medicos.  Cujus  ibiluculenter 
ejit  professorem,  cum  ego  primum  ad  academiam  advent- 
abam,   Nicolaus  Schreprevus.     In  banc  societatem,  pi-ae- 
ter  alios,  allecti  sunt  Tiiomas  Lupsetus  egregie  eruditus, 
Ricardus  Paceus,    Wigorniensis  deinde  Epus,   et  lumen 
non  nostrae  modo  Britanniae,   sed  et  totius  nostri  saeculi 
Reginaldus  Polus  Cardinalis,   et  Cant.  Arpns.  Praesidem 
vero  societati  suae  dedit  Joannem   Claimundum,   in  quo 
sin^ularis    pietas    cum   pari   doctrina  certabat;    et  huic 
prolcimum  locum  Roberto  Morwento  qui  et  prajfecturam 
post  obitum  Joannis  ut  prius  Epus  praescripserat,  suscepit. 
lUud  vero  ex  magna  prudentia  Epi  profectum  est,  quod 
nuUas  Ecclesiasticas  possessiones,  sed  profanas    solum ; 
illudque  etiam  ex  pari  in  sacro-sanctam  eucharistiam  pie- 
tate  et  reverentia  manavit,  quod   Collegio  suo  Corporis 
Christi  nomen   attribuit.     Commutavit  tandem  pius  vir 
iste  mortal  em   banc   et   caducam   cum    ccelesti    et    im- 
mortali  vita,  ad  annum  nostrae  redemptionis   CIO.  10. 
XXVIII.    Quo    ego   tempore,  me   admodum  puerum 
exequiis    et    funeri   ejus  interfuisse   memini,   ad   prima 
literarum  elementa  illic  haurienda,    a   parentibus  Wm- 
toniam  Londino  missum." 

Some  notices  of  Bishop  Fox  may  be  found  in  Chaund- 
ler's  Wayntlete.     The  index  thus  refers  to  him:— "Fox 


WOLSEY.  351 

Richard,  joins  the  party  of  the  Earl  of  Richmond,  p. 
213 — made  a  Bishop  and  Lord  Privy  Seal,  214 — was  a 
benefactor  to  Magdalen  College.  lb.  Obtains  for  that 
college  a  license  of  mortmain,  26l. — Intimacy  between 
him  and  president  Claymond,  262." 


XXIV.    THOMAS  WOLSEY. 

Succeeded  A. D.  1528.— Died  A.D.  1530. 

"Speak  thou,  whose  thoughts  at  humble  peace  repine, 
"  Shall  Wolsey's  wealth  with  Wolsey's  end  be  thine  ? 

Johnson. 

The  following  life  was  written  by  the  Cardinal's  Gen- 
tleman Usher,  Cavendish,  but  whether  he  were  George 
Cavendish  of  Glemsford,  orSirWm.  Cavendish* does  not 
yet  appear  to  be  decided.  The  christian  name  in  the 
superscription  to  some  of  the  MS.  copies  is  George. 
Lord  Herbert  of  Cherbury,  Wanley,  and  Douce,  in  his 
illustrations  of  Shakspeare,  attribute  the  work  to  George, 
while  Bishop  Kennet  in  his  memoirs  of  the  family  of 
Cavendish,  Collins  in  his  Peerage,  Birch  (No.  4233, 
Ayscough's  Catalogue,  British  Museum)  and  Campbell, 
ascribe  it  to  Sir  William ;  to  this  ascription,  however, 
Dugdale  and  Margaret  Duchess  of  Newcastle  do  not 
assent.  The  reader  who  is  curious  on  this  point  may 
consult  a  little  work  published  a  few  years  since  by  Mr. 
Jos.  Hunter,  of  Bath,  entituled  "  Who  wrote  Cavendish's 
Life  of  Wolsei/  ?"  in  which  this  point  is  gravely  discussed. 

The  work  itself  was  known  only  by  MSS.  and  by 
extracts  inserted  in  Stow's  annals,  from  the  reign  of  Queen 
Mary,  in  which  it  was  composed,  till  the  year  1641,  when 
it  was  first  printed  in  4to.  under  the  title  of  The  negotiations 
of  Thomas  Wolset/,  containing  his  life  and  death,  &,c. 

The  chief  object  of  the  publication  was  to  draw  a 
parallel  between  the  Cardinal  and  Archbishop  Laud,  in 
order  to  reconcile  the  public  to  the  murder  of  that  orthodox 
prelate.     That  this  unworthy  object  might  be  the  better 

*  Sir  William  was  father  of  the  first  Earl  of  Devonshire,  whose  great 
grandson  was  the  first  Duke  of  Devonshire,  so  created  in  1694.  Sir 
William  tlie  supposed  autlior  of  the  life  of  Wolsey,  was  founder  of  the 
ducal  family  ot  Cavendish,  and  from  him  the  present  Duke  is  ninth  in 
direct  lineal  descent. 


353  WOLSEY. 

accomplished,  the  MS.  was  mutilated  and  interpolated 
without  shame  or  scruple  :  and  the  work  passed  for 
genuine  above  a  century :  no  pains  having  been  taken  to 
compare  the  printed  edition  with  the  original. 

The  present  may  be  considered  a  faithful  reprint,  with 
the  exception  of  some  little  matter  chiefly  consisting  of 
historical  disgressions  and  frivolously  minute  details, 
wholly  unconnected  with  the  subject  of  the  memoirs.  I 
have  availed  myself  of  some  of  Dr.  Wordsworth's  notes. 
No  apology,  I  presume,  is  necessary  for  having  divested 
Cavendish's  narrative  of  much  of  its  quaintness  and 
tautology:  nor  for  having  modernized  his  spelling  and 
corrected  his  numerous  grammatical  errors,  which  is  done 
without  the  parade  of  a  note. 

I  have  endeavoured  to  supply,  in  a  synopsis  at  the  end 
of  this  reprint,  the  deficiencies  of  Cavendish,  as  to  dates, 
and  have  recorded  some  preferments  and  leading  cii  cum- 
stances  of  VVolsey's  life  omitted  by  his  Biographer.  The 
Cardinal's  life  has  been  written  also  by  Fiddes,  Grove, 
Gait,  &c. 

A    very    good   sketch   may   be  read   in   Chalmers's 
Biographical  Dictionary,  vol.  32. 


"Truth  it  is  that  this  Cardinal  Wolsey  was  an  honest 
poor  man's  son,  of  Ipswich,  in  the  county  of  Suffolk,  and 
there  born ;  and  being  but  a  child,  was  very  apt  to  be 
learned ;  wherefore  by  the  means  of  his  parents,  or  of  his 
good  friends,  and  masters,  he  was  conveyed  to  the 
University  of  Oxford,  where  he  shortly  prospered  so  in 
learning,  as  he  told  me  by  his  own  mouth,  that  he  was 
made  Bachelor  of  Arts,  when  not  fifteen  years  of  age,  in 
so  much  that  for  the  rareness  of  his  age,  he  was  called 
most  commonly  through  the  University,  the  Boy  Bachelor. 

Thus  prospering  and  increasing  in  learning  he  was 
made  fellow  of  Magdalen  College,  and  afterwards  elected 
and  appointed  Master  of  Magdalen  School,  at  which 
time  the  Marquis  of  Dorset  had  three  of  his  sons  there, 
committing  as  well  to  him  their  education,  as  their 
instruction  and  learning. 


*  He  was  born  in  1471.    SeeFiddes's  Life  of  fFolsey,  p.  2.  edit.  2.  A.D. 
1726. 


WOLSEY.  353 

It  pleased  the  Marquis  against  a  Christmas  season,  to 
send  as  well  for  the  school-master  as  for  the  children, 
home  to  his  house,  for  their  recreation.  While  there, 
their  father  perceived  them  to  be  right  well  employed  in 
learning,  for  their  time  :  which  contented  him  so  well, 
that  he,  having  a  benefice*  in  his  gift,  being  then  void, 
gave  the  same  to  the  school-master,  in  reward  of  his 
diligence,  at  his  departing  after  Christmas  to  the  Univer- 
sity. And  having  the  presentation  thereof,  he  repaired  to 
the  ordinary  for  his  institution  and '  induction  ;  and  being 
furnished  there  with  all  his  ordinary  instruments  at  the 
Oidinary's  hands,  for  his  preferment,  he  made  speed  to 
the  said  benefice  to  take  possession.  And  being  there  fop 
that  intent,  one  Sir  Amias  Pawlet,  Knt.  dwelling  in  the 
country  thereabout,  took  occasion  of  displeasure  against 
him,  upon  what  ground  I  know  not:  but  he  was  so  bold 
to  set  the  school-master  by  the  feet  during  his  pleasure  ; 
which  after  was  neither  forgotten  nor  forgiven.  For 
when  the  school-master  became  chancellor  of  England, 
he  was  not  forgetful  of  his  old  displeasure  cruelly  minis- 
tered upon  him  by  Mr.  Pawlet,  but  sent  for  him,  and 
after  many  sharp  words  enjoined  him  to  attend  until  he 
was  dismissed,  and  not  to  depart  out  of  London  without 
licence  obtained  :  so  that  he  continued  there  within  the 
Middle  Temple  the  space  of  five  or  six  years.  He  lay 
then  in  the  gate-house  next  the  street,  which  he  re-edified 
very  sumptuously,  garnishing  it  all  over  the  outside  with 
the  Cardinal's  arms,  with  his  hat  and  cognizance,  badges, 
and  other  devices,  in  so  glorious  a  sort,  that  he  thought 
thereby  to  have  appeased  his  old  displeasure. 

As  all  living  things  must  of  necessity  pay  the  debt  of 
nature,  it  chanced  my  said  Lord  Marquis  to  depart  out 
of  this  preserit  life.  After  whose  death  this  school-master, 
then  considering  with  himself  that  he  was  but  a  simple 
beneficed  man,  and  had  lost  his  fellowship  in  the  college, 
and  perceiving  himself  also  to  be  destitute  of  his  singular 
good  lord,  and  also  of  his  fellowship,  which  was  much  to 
his  relief,  thought  not  to  be  long  unprovided  with  some 
other  help,  or  mastership,  to  defend  him  from  all  such 
storms,  as  he  lightly  was  vexed  with. 

la  this  his  travail  thereabout,  he  fell  into  acquaintance 


*  Liinmin^ton,    near   Ilchester,    Somerset.      WolseV  was  instituted 
Octob-ir  10,  1500.    Fiddes,  p.  5. 

AA 


So4  WOLSEY. 

with  one  Sir  John  Manphant,  a  very  grave  and  anclenf 
knight,  who  had  a  great  room  [post]  in  Calais,  under 
King  Henry  VII.  This  knight,  he  served,  and  behaved 
himself  so  discreetly  and  wisely,  that  he  obtained  the 
especial  favour  of  his  said  master,  insomuch,  that  for  his 
wit  and  gravity,  he  committed  all  the  charge  of  his  office 
unto  his  chaplain.  As  I  understand  the  office  was  the 
treasurership  of  Calais.  The  knight  was  in  consideration 
of  his  great  age,  discharged  of  his  chargeable  room, 
and  returned  again  into  England,  intending  to  live  more 
at  quiet.  And  through  his  instant  labour  and  good  favour 
his  chaplain  was  promoted  to  be  the  King's  chaplain. 
And  when  he  had  once  cast  anchor  in  the  port  of  pro- 
motion, how  he  wrought,  I  shall  declare. 

He  having  then  a  just  occasion  to  be  in  the  sight  of 
the  King  daily,  by  reason  he  attended  upon  him,  and 
said  mass  before  his  grace  in  his  closet,  that  done,  he 
spent  not  the  rest  of  the  day  in  idleness,  but  would 
attend  upon  those  whom  he  thought  to  bear  most  rule  in 
the  council,  and  to  be  most  in  favour  with  the  King : 
who  at  that  time  were  Dr.  Fox,  Bishop  of  Winton, 
secretary,  and  lord  privy  seal ;  and  also  Sir  Thomas 
Lovell,  knight,  a  very  sage  councellor,  a  witty  man,  who 
was  master  of  the  wards,  and  constable  of  the  Tower. 

These  ancient  arid  grave  counsellors,  in  process  of 
time,  perceiving  this  chaplain  to  have  a  very  fine  wit, 
thought  him  a  fit  person  to  be  preferred. 

It  chanced  at  a  certain  season  that  the  King  had  an 
urgent  occasion  to  send  an  ambassador  to  the  Emperor 
Maximilian,  who  lay  at  that  time  in  the  Low  Country  of 
Flanders,  not  far  from  Calais.  The  Bishop  of  Winton 
and  Sir  Thomas  Lovell,  whom  the  King  most  esteemed 
as  chief  of  his  council,  (the  King,  one  day  counselling 
and  debating  with  them  upon  this  ambassage)  saw  they 
had  now  a  convenient  occasion  to  prefer  the  King's 
chaplain,  whose  excellent  wit,  eloquence,  and  learning, 
they  highly  commended  to  the  King.  The  King,  giving 
ear  unto  them,  and  being  a  prince  of  an  excellent  judg- 
ment and  modesty,  commanded  them  to  bring  his  chap- 
lain, whom  they  so  much  commended,  before  his  grace's 
presence.  And  to  prove  the  wit  of  his  chaplain,  he  fell 
into  communication  with  him  in  great  matters,  and  per- 
ceiving his  wit  to  be  very  fine,  thought  him  sufficient  to 
be  put  in  trust  with  this  ambassage }    commanding  him 


WOLSEY.  '  35^ 

thereupon  to  prepare  himself  for  his  journey,  and  for  his 
despatch  to  repair  to  his  grace  and  Ins  counsel,  of  whom 
he  should  receive  his  commission  and  instructions.  By 
means  whereof,  he  had  then  a  due  occasion  to  repair  from 
time  to  time  into  the  King's  presence,  who  perceived 
him  more  and  more  to  be  a  very  wise  man,  and  of  a  good 
intendment.  And  having  his  despatch,  he  took  leave  of 
the  King  at  Richmond  about  noon,  and  so  came  to 
London  about  4  o'clock,  where  the  barge  of  Gravesend 
was  ready  to  launch  forth,  both  with  a  prosperous  tide 
and  wind.  Without  any  farther  abode  [delay]  he  entered 
the  barge,  and  so  passed  forth.  His  happy  speed  was 
such  that  he  arrived  at  Gravesend  within  little  more  than 
3  hours,  where  he  tarried  no  longer  than  his  post  horses 
were  provided,  and  travelled  so  speedily  with  them  that  he 
came  to  Dover  the  next  morning,  where  the  passengers 
were  under  sail  to  proceed  to  Calais.  He  sailed  forth 
with  them,  so  that  long  before  noon  he  arrived  at  Calais ; 
and  having  post  horses  in  readiness,  departed  thence 
without  tarrying,  and  made  such  speed  that  he  was  that 
night  with  the  Emperor,  who  having  understanding  of 
the  coming  of  the  King  of  England's  ambassador,  would 
in  no  wise  delay  the  time,  but  sent  for  him  incontinent, 
(for  his  affection  to  King  Henry  VU.  was  such,  that  he 
was  glad  when  he  had  any  occasion  to  shew  him  plea- 
sure). The  ambassador  disclosed  the  whole  sum  of  his 
ambassage  unto  the  Emperor,  of  whom  he  required 
expedition,  which  was  granted  him  by  the  Emperor ;  sa 
that  the  next  day,  he  was  clearly  despatched  with  all 
the  King's  requests  fully  accomplished  and  granted. 
He  made  no  further  delay,  but  took  post  horses  that 
night,  and  rode  incontinent  toward  Calais  again,  con- 
ducted thither  with  such  persons  as  the  Emperor  had 
appointed.  And  at  the  opening  of  the  gates  at  Calais, 
he  came  thither,  where  the  passengers  were  as  ready 
to  return  into  England  as  they  were  before  at  his  journey 
forward,  insomuch  that  he  arrived  at  Dover  by  10  or  1 1 
o'clock  before  noon  ;  and  having  post  horses  in  readiness, 
came  to  the  court  at  Richmond  that  same  night.  Where, 
he  taking  some  rest  until  the  morning,  repaired  to  the 
King  at  his  first  coming  out  of  his  bed-chamber,  to  his 
closet  to  mass,  whom,  (when  he  saw),  he  checked  him 
for  that  he  was  not  on  his  journey.  *'  Sir,"  quoth  he, 
**  if  it  may  please   your  highness,   I  have  already  been 


Aa  a 


356  WOLSEY. 

with  the  Emperor,  and  despatched  your  affairs,  I  trust, 
with  your  grace's  content."     And  with  that  he  presented 
the  King  his  letters  of  credence  from  the  Emperor.     The 
King  wondering  at  his  speed  and  return  with  such  furm- 
ture'^of  all  his   proceedings,  dissembled  all   his  wonder 
and  imagination   in  the  matter,    and  demanded   of  hnn 
whether  he  encountered  not  his  pursuivant,  M'hom  he  sent 
unto  him  (supposing  him  to  be  scarcely  out  of  London,) 
with  letters  concerning  a  very  necessary  matter,  neglected 
in  their  consultation,  which  the   King  much  desned  to 
have  despatched  among  the  other  matters  of  ambassage. 
"Yes  forsooth,"  quoth  he,  *'  1  metwith  him  yesterday  by  the 
way ;  and  having  no  understanding  by  your  grace's  letters 
of  your  pleasure,  notwithstanding   1  have  been  so  bold 
upon  mine  own  discretion,  (perceiving  that  matter  to  be 
very  necessary   in  that  behalf),  to  despatch   the   same. 
And  for  as  much  as  1  have  exceeded  your  grace's  com- 
mission, I  most  humbly  require  your  grace's  remission 
and  pardon."     The  King,  rejoicing  inwardly  not  a  little, 
said  again,  "  we  do   not  only  pardon  you   thereof,    but 
also   give  you  our  own  princely  thanks   both   for   your 
proceedings  therein,  and  also  for  your  good  and  speedy 
exploit:"  commanding  him  for  that  time  to  take  his  rest, 
and  to  repair  again  to  him  after  dinner,  for  the  farther 
relation  of  his  ambassage.     The  King  then  went  to  mass ; 
and  afterwards,  at  convenient  time,  he  went  to  dinner. 

The  King  gave  him  for  his  diligent  service  the  Deanery 
of  Lincoln,*  which  was  at  that  time  one  of  the  worthiest 
promotions  under  the  degree  of  a  Bishopric.  And  thus, 
from  thenceforth,  he  grew  more  and  more  into  estirnation 
and  authority,  and  after  was  promoted  by  the  King  to 
be  his  almoner. 

When  death  (that  favoureth  none  estate.  King  ne 
keiser)  had  taken  the  wise  and  sage  King  Henry  VII. 
out  of  this  present  life,  who  for  his  wisdom  was  called 
the  second  Solomon,  it  was  wonderful  to  see  what 
practices  and  compasses  were  then  used  about  young 
King  Henry  VIII.,  and  the  great  provision  made  for 
the  funeral  of  the  one,  and  the  costly  devices  for  the 
coronation  of  the  other,  with  the  nevv  Queen  (Catherine,) 
mother  afterwards  of  the  Queen's  Highness. 


He  was  collated  Feb.  2,  A,D.  1508.    Le  Neve's  Fasti,  p.  146. 


WOLSEY.  357 

After  the  finishing  of  all  these  solemnizations,  our 
prince  and  sovereign  lord  King  Henry  VIII.  entering 
into  the  flower  of  youth,  took  upon  him  the  regal  sceptre 
and  the  imperial  diadem  of  this  fertile  and  fruitful  realm, 
which  at  that  time  flourished  in  all  abundance  and  riches, 
called  then  the  golden  world,  such  grace  reigned  then 
within  this  realm.  Now  the  almoner  (of  whom  I  have 
taken  upon  me  to  write,)  having  a  head  full  of  subtile 
wit,  perceiving  a  plain  path  to  walk  in  towards  his  journey 
to  promotion,  conducted  himself  so  polilicly,  that  he 
found  the  means  to  be  made  one  of  the  King's  counsel,  and 
to  grow  in  favour  and  good  estimation  with  the  King,  to 
whom  the  latter  gave  a  house  at  Bridewell  in  Fleet-street, 
sometime  Sir  Richard  Empson's,  where  he  kept  house 
for  his  family,  and  so  daily  attended  upon  the  King,  and 
was  in  his  especial  favour,  having  great  suit  made  unto 
him,  as  counsellors  in  favour  most  commonly  have.  His 
sentences  and  witty  persuasions  amongst  the  counsellors 
in  the  council  chamber  were  always  so  pithy,  that  they,  as 
occasion  moved  them,  continually  assigned  him  for  his 
filed  tongue  and  excellent  eloquence,  to  be  the  expositor 
to  the  King  in  all  their  proceedings.  In  whom,  the 
King,  conceived  such  a  loving  fancy,  and  in  especial, 
for  that  he  was  most  earnest  and  ready  in  all  the  council 
to  advance  the  King's  only  will  and  pleasure,  having  no 
respect  to  the  cause  ;  the  King,  therefore,  perceiving  him 
to  be  a  meet  instrument  for  the  accomplishment  of  his 
devised  pleasures,  called  him  nearer  to  him,  and  esteemed 
him  so  highly,  that  the  estimation  and  favour  of  him  put 
all  other  ancient  counsellors  out  the  high  favour  that  they 
before  were  in:  insomuch  that  the  King  committed  all 
his  will  unto  his  disposition  and  order.  Who  wrought  so 
all  his  matters,  that  his  endeavour  was  always  only  to 
satisfy  the  King's  pleasure,  knowing  right  well,  that  it 
was  the  very  vein  and  right  course  to  bring  him  to  high 
promotion.  The  King  was  young  and  lusty,  and  disposed 
all  to  pleasure,  and  to  follow  his  appetite  and  desire, 
nothing  minding  to  travail  in  the  aflairs  of  the  realm ; 
which  the  almoner  perceiving  very  well,  took  upon  him 
therefore  to  discharge  the  King  of  the  burthen  of  so 
weighty  and  troublesome  business,  putting  the  King  in 
comfort  that  he  should  not  not  need  to  spare  any  time  of 
his  pleasure  for  any  business  that  should  happen  in  the 
council,  as  long  as  he  being  there  and  having  his  grace's 


358  WOLSEY. 

authority,  and  by  his  commandment  doubted  not  to  see 
all  things  well   and  sufficiently   perfected  :    makmg  his 
grace  privy  first,  to  all  such   matters  before  he    would 
proceed  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  same,  whose  mind 
and  pleasure  he  would  have,  and  follow  to  the  uttermost 
of   his   power:    wherewith   the    King   was  wonderfully 
pleased.      And   whereas   the   other   ancient   counsellors 
would,  according  to  the  office  of  good  counsellors,  some- 
times persuade  the  King  to  have  recourse  to  the  counci , 
there  to  hear  what  was  done  in  weighty  matters,  whicli 
pleased  not  the  King  at  all,  for  he  loved  nothing  worse 
than  to  be  constrained  to  do  any  thing  contrary  to  his 
pleasure;    that  knew  the   almoner  very  well,  having  a 
secret  intelligence  of  the  King's  natural  inclination,  and 
so  fast  as  the  other  counsellors  counselled  the  King  to 
leave  his  pleasure,  and  to  attend  to  his  affairs,  so  busily 
did  the  almoner  persuade  him  to  the  contrary ;    which 
delighted  him  very  much,  and  caused  him  to  have  the 
greater  affection  and  love  to  the   almoner.       Ihus  the 
almoner  ruled  all  them  that  before  ruled  him  :  such  was 
his  policy  and  wit ;  and  so  he  brought  things  to  pass,  that 
who  was  now  in  high  favour  but  Mr.  Almoner  ?    who 
had  all  the    suit  but  Mr.  Almoner'?    and  who  ruled  all 
under  the  King  but  Mr.  Almoner  ?     Thus  he  pei-severed 
still  in  favour,  until  at  last,  in  came  presents,  g^^ts,  and 
rewards,  so  plentifully,  that  I  dare  say  he  lacked  nothing 
that  might  either  please  his  fancy  or  enrich  his  coffers  ; 
fortune  smiled  so  favourably  upon  him.     But  to  what  end 
she  brought  him,  you  shall  hear  hereafter.  ^ 

This  almoner  (climbing  thus  hastily  upon  fortune  s 
wheels,  and  so  far  mountmg  that  no  man  was  of  that 
estimation  with  the  King  as  he  was,  for  hi«/>f  «'«^,^;i^ 
other  witty  qualities,)  had  such  a  special  gift  of  natuial 
eloquence,  and  such  a  filed  tongue  to  Pjonounce  the 
same,  that  he  was  able  to  persuade  and  allure  all  men 
to  his  purpose.  Proceeding  thus  m  fortune's  bhssfdness 
it  chanced  that  the  wars  between  the  realms  of  England 
and  France  were  open,  but  upon  what  ground  or  occasion 
i  know  not.  Th^King  was  fully  resolved  in  peison  to 
invade  his  foreign  enemies  with  a  puissant  army. 

It  was  thought  necessary  that  his  enterprise  should  be 
speedily  furnished  in  all  things  convenient  for  it,  for  the 
expedition  whereof,  the  King  thought  no  i«^«  J!^/"^ 
policy  so  meet  as  his  almoner's,  to  whom  theiefoie  he 


WOLSEY.  359 

committed  his  whole  affiance  and  trust  therein.  And  he 
being  nothing  scrupulous  in  any  thing  that  the  King 
would  command  him  to  do,  although  it  seemed  to  others 
very  difficult,  took  upon  him  the  whole  charge  of  the 
business,  and  proceeded  so  therein,  that  he  brought  all 
things  to  good  pass  in  a  decent  order,  as  all  manner  o. 
victuals,  provisions,  and  other  necessaries,  convenient  for 
so  noble  a  voyage  and  army. 

The  King  passed  the  sea  between  Dover  and  Calais, 
at  which  latter  place  he  prosperously  arrived,  and  marched 
forward  in  good  order  of  battle  till  he  came  to  the  strong 
town  of  Turin,  to  which  he  laid  seige,  and  assaulted  it 
so  strongly  that  within  a  short  space  it  yeilded  to  him. 
When  the  King  had  obtained  this  fort,  and  taken  possession 
thereof,  and  set  all  things  there  in  due  order,  for  its  defence 
and  preservation  to  his  highness's  use,  he  departed  thence,  ' 
and  marched  toward  the  city  of  Touruay,  and  there  laid 
siege  in  like  manner;  to  the  which  he  gave  so  fierce  and 
sharp  assaults,  that  they  were  constrained  to  render  the 
town  to  his  victorious  majesty.  At  which  time  the  King 
gave  to  the  Almoner  the  Bishopric  of  Tournay  for  his 
pains.  And  when  the  King  had  established  (after  posses- 
sion taken  there)  all  things  agreeable  to  his  princely  mil 
and  pleasure,  and  furnished  the  same  with  noble  captains 
and  men  of  war  for  the  safeguard  of  the  town,  he  returned 
into  England,  taking  with  him  divers  noble  personages  of 
France,  being  prisoners,  as  the  Duke  Longueville  and 
Viscount  Clermont,  with  others,  who  were  taken  there  in 
a  skirmish.  After  his  return  immediately,  the  See  of 
Lincoln  fell  void  by  the  death  of  Dr.  Smith,  late  Bishop 
there,  which  benefice  his  grace  gave  to  the  Almoner,*  late 
Pishop  elect  of  Touruay,  who  was  not  negligent  to  take 
possession  thereof,  and  made  all  the  speed  he  could  for 
his  consecration  ;  the  solemnization  whereof  ended,  he 
found  means  to  get  possession  of  all  his  predecessor's 
goods,  whereof  I  have  divers  times  seen  some  part  that 
furnished  his  house.  It  was  not  long  after  that  Dr. 
Bainbridge,  x\rchbishop  of  York,  died  at  Rome,  being 
there  the  King's  ambassador,  unto  which  See  [York]  the 
King  immediately  presented  his  late  new  Bishop  of  Liu^ 


'  He  was  consecrated  Bishop  of  Lincoln  March  26,  A,D.  1514.     Le 
Neve's  Fasti,  p.  141. 


360  WOLSEY. 

coin ,  so  that  he  had  three  Bishoprics  in  his  hands*  in 
one  year  given  him.  Then  prepared  he  again  as  fast  for 
his  transhition  from  the  See  of  Lincohi  unto  the  See  of 
York,  as  he  did  before  for  his  instalhition.  After  which 
solemnization  done,  and  being  then  an  Archbishop  and 
Primas  Af/gfm,  he  thought  himself  sufficient  to  compare 
with  Canterbury,  (Warham  was  at  this  time  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury;  see  the  article  '  Warham'  in  Chalmers's 
Siog.  Did.  vol.  31.)  and  thereupon  erected  his  cross  in 
the  court;  and  every  other  place,  as  well  within  the 
precinct  and  jurisdiction  of  Canterbuiy,  as  in  any  other 
place.  And  forasmuch  as  Canterbury  claims  a  supe-!- 
riority  over  York,  as  of  all  other  Bishoprics  within 
England,  and  for  that  cause  claims  of  York  as  a  recog- 
nition of  an  ancient  obedience,  to  abate  the  advancing 
of  his  cross,  in  presence  of  the  cross  of  Canterbury; 
notwithstanding,  York  nothing  minding  to  desist  from 
bearing  thereof,  caused  his  cross  to  be  advanced^-  and 
borne  before  him,  as  well  in  the  presence  of  Canterbury 
as  elsewhere.     Wherefore  Canterbury  being  moved  there- 


*  Dr.  Robert  Barnes  preached  a  Sermon  Dec.  24,  1525,  at  St.  Edward's 
Cliurch,  Cambridge,  from  wliich  Sermon  certain  Articles  were  drawn 
out  upon  which  he  was  soon  after  called  to  make  answer  before  the 
Cardhial.  Barnes  has  left  behind  him  a  desciiptiou  of  this  examination. 
The  sixth  of  the  Articles  Avas  as  follows  ; — "I  wyll  never  beleeve  that  one 
man  may  be,  by  the  lawe  of  God,  a  Byshop  of  two  or  three  cities,  yea  of 
an  whole  couiitrey,  for  it  is  contrarye  to  St.  Paule,  which  seigth,  /  have 
left  thee  hehynde  to  set  in  every  Citye  a  Byshop." 

"  I  was  brought  afore  my  Lorde  Cardinall  into  liis  Gallery,"  (continues 
Dr.  BarnesJ  "and  there  hee  reade  all  niyne  articles,  tyll  hee  came  to  this, 
and  there  he  stopped,  and  sayd,  that  this  touched  him,  and  therefore  hee 
asked  me,  if  I  thought  it  wrong,  that  ont;  byshop  shoulde  have  so  many 
cityes  underneath  hyni ;  unto  whom  I  answered,  that  I  could  uo  farther 
go,  than  to  St.  Panic's  texte,  v^hych  sat  in  every  citye  a  byslioj).  Then 
asked  he  mee,  if  I  thought  it  now  unright  (seeing  the  ordinauuce  of  the 
Church)  that  one  byshop  should  have  so  many  cities.  I  answered  that 
I  knew  none  ordinaunce  of  the  Church,  as  concerning  this  thing,  but  St.' 
Panic's  saying  onelye.  Nevertheless  I  did  see  a  contrarye  custom  and 
practise  in  the  world,  but  I  know  not  the  originall  thereof.  Then  sayde 
hee,  that  in  the  Apostles  tyme,  there  were  dyvers  cities,  sopie  seven 
myle,  some  six  mile  long,  and  over  them  was  there  set  but  one  byshop, 
and  of  thei/  suburbs  also  :  so  likewise  now,  a  byshop  liath  but  one  citye 
to  his  cathedrall  churche,  and  the  country  about  is  as  suburbs  unto  it. 
Me  thought  this  was  farre  fetched,  but  I  durst  not  denye  it," — Barnes's 
If^orks'  p.  210,  A.D.  1573. 

t  This  was  not  the  first  time  in  which  this  point  of  precedency  had  been 
contested.  Edward  HI.  in  the  sixth  year  of  his  reign,  at  a  time  Avhen  a 
similar  debate  was  in  agitation,  having  summoned  a  Parliament  at  York, 
the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  and  all  the  other  Prelates  of  his  Province, 
declined  giving  their  attendance,  that  the  Metropolitan  of  all  England 
might  not  be  obliged  to  submit  his  Cross  to  that  of  York,  in  the  Province 
of  the  latter.    Fox,  p.  387.  388.— [Wordswokth.] 


WOLSEY.  361 

with,  gave  unto  York  a  certain  check  for  his  presumption, 
by  reason  whereof  there  engendered  some  grudge  between 
tliem.  York  perceiving  the  obedience  that  Canterbury 
claimed  of  him,  intended  to  provide  some  such  means 
that  he  would  be  rather  superior  in  dignity  to  Canterbury, 
than  to  be  either  obedient  or  equal  to  him.  Whereupon 
he  obtained  first  to  be  made  Priest-Cardinal  and  Legatus 
de  latere,  and  the  Pope  sent  him  a  Cardinal's  hat  with 
certain  bulles  for  his  authority  in  that  behalf. 

Yet  the  Pope  sent  him  the  hat  of  dignity  as  a  jewel 
of  his  honour  and  authority,  conveyed  in  a  varlet's 
budget,  who  seemed  to  all  men  to  be  but  a  person  of 
small  estimation.  Whereof  York  being  advertised  of 
the  baseness  of  this  messenger,  and  of  the  people's 
opinion,  thought  it  not  meet  for  the  honour  of  so  high 
a  message,  that  this  jewel  should  be  conveyed  by  so 
simple  a  person  ;  wherefore  he  caused  him  to  be  stopped 
by  the  way,  immediately  after  his  arrival  in  England, 
where  he  was  newly  furnished  with  all  manner  of  apparel, 
and  all  kinds  of  costly  silks,  which  seemed  decent  for 
such  an  high  ambassador.  And  that  done,  he  was  re- 
ceived on  Blackheath  by  a  great  assembly  of  prelates 
and  gentlemen,  and  thence  conducted  through  London 
with  great  triumph.  Then  was  speedy  preparation  made 
in  Westminster  Abbey  for  the  confirmation  and  accept- 
ance of  this  dignity,  which  was  executed  by  all  the 
Bishops  and  Abbots  about  or  nigh  London,  in  then*  rich 
mitres,  and  copes,  and  other  ornaments,  which  was  done 
in  so  solemn  a  wise,  as  1  have  not  seen  the  like,  unless  it 
had  been  at  the  coronation  of  a  King. 

Obtaining  this  dignity,  he  thought  himself  meet  to 
encounter  with  Canterbury,  in  high  jurisdiction  before 
expressed ;  and  that  also,  he  was  as  meet  to  bear  autho- 
rity among  the  temporal  powers,  as  among  the  spiritual. 
W^herefore  remembering  as  well  the  taunts  before  sus- 
tained from  Canterbury,  which  he  intended  to  redress,  as 
having  a  respect  to  the  advancement  of  worldly  honour, 
and  promotion  ;  he  found  means  with  the  King  to  be 
made  Lord  Chancellor  of  England  ;  and  Canterbury, 
[Warham]  who  was  then  Chancellor,  dismissed,  who 
had  continued  in  that  honourable  room  since  long  before 
the  death  of  King  Henry  VII. 

Now  he  being  in  possession  of  the  Chancellorship,  and 
endowed  with  the   promotions   of  an  Archbishop,  and 


562  WOLSEY. 

Cardinal  de  latere,  thought  himself  fully  furnished  with 
such  authorities,  and  dignities,  that  he  was  able  to  sur- 
mount Canterbury  in  all  jurisdictions  and  ecclesiastical 
powers,  having  power  to  convocate  the  Archbishop,  and 
all  other  Bishops,  and  spiritual    persons,    wherever   he 
would  assign ;    and  he  took  upon  him  the  correction  of 
matters    in   all  their   jurisdictions,    and    visited    all   the 
spiritual  houses,  having   also  in  every  Diocese  through 
this  reahn  all  manner  of  spiritual  ministers,  as  commis- 
saries, scribes,  apparitors,  and  all  other  necessary  officers 
to  furnish  his  courts  ;  and  presented  by  prevention,  whom 
he  pleased  to  all  benifices  throughout  the  realm.     And 
to  the  advancing  further  of  his  legantiue  jurisdiction  and 
honours,  he  had  masters  of  his  faculties,  masters  cere^ 
moniarum,  and  such  other  like  persons,  to  the  glorifying 
of  his  dignity.     Then  had  he  two  great  crosses  of  silver, 
whereof  one  was  of  his  Archbishopric,  and  the  other  of 
his  Legateship,  borne  before  him  whithersoever  he  \\ent, 
or  rode,  by  two  of  the  tallest  priests  that  he  could  get 
within  the  realm.     And  to  the  increase  of  his  gains,  he 
had  also  the  Bishopric  of  Durham,  [1523]  and  the  Abbey 
of  St.  Alban's  [1521]  in  commendam  ;    and  afterwards, 
when  Fox,   Bishop  of  Winchester  died,  [1528]  he  sur- 
rendered Durham    into  the  King's  hands,  and  took  to 
him  Winchester,  [1528].*     Then  had  he  in  his  hands 
the  Bishoprics  of  Bath,  Worcester,  and  Hereford,  for  as 
much  as  the  incumbents   of  them  were  strangers,    and 
made  their  abode  continually  beyond  the  seas,  in  their 
own  countries,  or  else  in  Rome,  from  whence  they  were 
sent  in  legation  to   this  realm   to  the   King.     And  for 
their  reward,  at  their  departure,  the  wise  King  Henry  VH. 
thought  it  better  to    give  them  that  which  he  himself 
could  not  keep,  than  to  disburse.     And  they  being  but 
strangers,  thought  it  then  more  meet  for  their  assurance, 
to  suffer  the  Cardinal  to  have  tlieir  benefices  for  a  con- 
venient  sum  of  money  paid   them  yearly,    than   to  be 
troubled  with   the   charges   of  them,    or    to    be   yearly 
burdened  with  the  conveyance  of  their  revenues  to  them : 
so   that  all  the  spiritual   promotions,  and  presentations 


*  Temporalties  committed  to  him  Oct.  2D.  1528,  Rymer  Fcedera,  vol. 
14.  2fi8.  and  the  care  of  the  Bishopric,  by  Papal  provision.  The  bulle  is 
dated  6  Id.  Feb.  1528.  Rvmer,  ib.  p.  287.  Installed  at  Wintou  by 
pro?y  "  non  ante  uodesimniu  April,  1529,"    Wharton.— [Edit.J 


VVOLSEY.  363 

to  these  Bishoprics  were  wholly  and  fully  in  his  dis- 
posal, to  prefer  whom  he  listed. 

He  had  a  great  number  daily  attending  upon  him,  both  of 
noblemen  and  worthy  gentlemen  of  great  estimation  and 
possessions,,  with  no  small  number  of  the  tallest  yeomen 
that  he  could  get  in  all  the  realm,  insomuch  that  well  was 
that  nobleman  and  gentleman  that  could  prefer  a  tall 
yeoman  into  his  service. 

At  meals  he  kept  in  his  great  chamber  a  continual 
board  for  the  chamberlains  and  gentlemen  officers,  havmg 
with  them  a  mess  for  the  young  lords.* 

The  Cardinal  was  sent  twice  on  an  embassy  to  the 
Emperor  Charles  V.  and  also  to  King  Philip.  For- 
asmuch as  the  old  Emperor  Maximilian  was  dead,  and  for 
divers  urgent  causes  touching  the  King's  majesty,  it  was 
thought  that  in  so  weighty  an  affair,  and  to  so  noble  a 
prince,  the  Cardinal  was  most  meet  to  be  sent  on  this 
ambassage.  Wherefore  he  being  ready  to  take  upon  hira 
the  charge  thereof,  was  furnished  in  all  degrees  and  pur- 
poses most  like  a  great  prince,  which  was  much  to  the 
high  honour  of  the  King's  majesty  and  of  his  realm.  For 
first  he  proceeded  forth  furnished  like  a  Cardinal  of  high 


*  Among  whoiti,  as  we  shall  see  below,  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  Earl 
of  Noithumberland.  This  wa^  according  to  a  practise  much  more 
ancient  than  the  time  of  Wolsey;  agieeably  to  which  young  men  of  the 
most  exalted  rank  resided  in  the  families  of  distinguished  ecclesiastics, 
under  the  denomination  of  pages,  but  more  probably,  for  the  purposes 
of  education,  than  of  sei-vice.  In  this  way  Sir  Thomas  More  was 
brought  up  under  Cardinal  IMorton,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury ;  of  whom 
he  has  given  a  very  interesting  character  in  his  Utopia.  From  Fiddes's 
Appendix  to  the  Life  of  Wolsey,  p.  19,  it  appears,  that  the  custom  was  at 
least  as  old  as  the  time  of  Grosthead,  Bishop  oi  Lincoln,  in  the  reign  of 
Henry  III.  and  that  it  continued  for  some  time  duiiiig  the  17tli  century. 
In  a  paper,  written  by  the  Earl  of  Arundel,  in  tlie  year  1620,  audintitled ; 
Instructions  for  pou  my  son  ff^illiam,  how  to  behave  yourself  at  Aorwich, 
the  Earl  charges  him,  "  you  shall  in  all  things  reverence,  honour,  and 
obey  my  Lord  Bishop  of  Norwich,  as  you  would  do  any  of  your  parents; 
esteeming  whatsoever  he  shall  tell  or  "command  you,  as  if  your  grand- 
mother of  Ai"undel,  your  mother,  or  myself  should  say  it;  and  in  all 
things  esteem  yourself  as  my  Lord's  page  :  a  breeding,  which  youths  of 
my  liouse,  fer  superior  to  you,  were  accustomed  unto  ;  as  my  grandfather 
of  Norfolk,  and  his  brother,  my  good  uncle  of  Northampton,  were  both 
bred  as  pages  with  Bishops."  See  also  Paul's  Life  of  Archbishop 
fVhitgift,  p.  97.  It  is  not  out  of  place  to  mention,  what  we  are  told  by 
Sir  George  Wheler  in  his  Protestant  Monastery,  p.  158.  A.  D.  1698.  "  I 
have  heard  say,  in  the  times  no  longer  ago  than  King  Charles  I.  that 
many  Noblemen's  and  Gentlemen's  houses  in  the  cour.try,  were  like 
academies,  where  the  Gentlemen  and  Women  of  lesser  fortunes  came 
for  education  with  those  of  the  family;  among  which  number  was  the 
famous  Sir  Beville  Granville  and  his  lady,  Father  and  Mother  of  ouf 
present  Lordof  Bath-"— [Wordsworth.] 


364  WOLSEV. 

estimation,  having  all  things  accordingly.  His  gentlemen, 
being  very  many  in  number,  were  clothed  in  livery  coats 
of  crimson  velvet  of  the  best,  with  chains  of  gold  about 
their  necks;  and  his  yeomen  and  all  his  mean  officers 
were  in  coats  of  fine  scarlet,  guarded  v\ith  black  velvet  an 
hand  broad.  Thus  furnished  he  was  twice  in  this  manner 
sent  to  the  Emperor  into  Flanders,  the  latter  being  then 
in  Bruges, -f  where  he  entertained  the  Cardinal  and  all  his 
train  for  the  time  of  his  ambassage  there.  That  done,  he 
returned  to  England  with  great  triumph,  being  no  less  in 
estimation  with  the  King  than  he  was  before,  but  rather 
much  better. 

Now  will  I  declare  unto  you  the  Cardinal's  order  in 
going    to  Westminster-Hall  daily   in   the   term    season. 
First,  'e're  he  came  out  of  his  privy-chamber,  he  heard 
most  commonly  every  day  two  masses  in  his  closet ;  and 
as  I  heard  one  of  his  chaplain's  say,  (who  was  a  man  of 
credibility  and  of  excellent  learning)  the  Cardinal,  what 
business  or  weighty  matters  soever  he  had  in  the  day, 
never  went  to  bed  with  any  part  of  his    divine  service 
unsaid,  not  so  much  as  one  collect,  wherein  I  doubt  not 
but  that  he  deceived  the  opinion  of  divers  persons.     Then 
going  again  to  his  privy-chamber,  he  would  demand  of 
some  of  his  said  chamber,  if  his  servants  were  in  readi- 
ness, and  had   furnished    his  chamber  of  presence  and 
waiting  chamber.      He    being    thereof  then  advertised, 
came  out  of  his  privy-chamber  about  eight  o'clock,  appa- 
relled all  in  red,  that  is  to  say,  his  upper  garment  was 
either  of  fine  scarlet  or  taiFety,  but  most  commonly  of  fine 
crimson  satin,  grained  ;  his  pillion  of  fine  scarlet,  with  a 
neck  set  in  the  inner  side  with  black  velvet,  and  a  tippet 
of  sables  about  his  neck ;  holding  in  his  hand  an  orange, 
whereof  the  meat  or  substance  within  was  taken  out  and 
filled  up  again  with  part  of  a  sponge,  wherein  was  vinsgar 
and  other  confections  against  the  pestilent  airs ;  whic'i  he 
most  commonly  held  to  his  nose  when  he  came  among 
any  press,   or  else  that  he  was  pestered  with  any  suitors. 
And  before  him  was  borne  first  the  broad  seal  of  England, 
and  his  Cardinal's  iiat  by  a  lord  or  some  gentleman  of 


t  At  Bruges,  "he  was  received  with  great  solemnity,  as  belongeth  unto 
.so  mighty  a  pillar  of  Christ's  Church,  and  was  saluted  at  the  entering  into 
the  town  by  a  merry  fellow,  who  said,  Salve  rex  regis  tui,  alque  regni 
sui,"  Hail  both  King  of  thy  King,  and  also  of  his  realm.— Tindal's 
/f'orks,  p.  370,  A.D.  1572. 


W^OLSEY.  365 

worship,  light  solemnly.  And  as  soon  as  he  was  entered 
into  his  chamber  of  presence,  (where  there  were  daily  at- 
tending upon  him,  as  well  noblemen  of  this  realm,  and 
other  worthy  gentlemen,  as  gentlemen  of  his  own  family,) 
his  two  great  crosses  were  there  attending  to  be  borne 
before  him.  Then  cried  the  gentlemen  ushers,  going 
before  him,  bare  headed,  "  On  before,  my  lords  and 
masters,  on  before;  and  make  way  for  mylord  Cardinal." 
Then  went  he  down  through  the  hall  with  a  sergeant  of 
arms  before  him  bearing  a  great  mace  of  silver  ;  and 
when  he  came  to  the  hall  door,  there  his  mule  stood 
trapped  all  in  crimson  velvet,  with  a  saddle  of  the  same, 
and  gilt  stirrups.  Then  was  there  attending  upon  him, 
when  he  was  mounted,  his  two  cross  bearers,  and  his 
pillar  bearers,*  in  like  case,  upon  great  horses  trapped 
all  in  fine  scarlet.  Then  marched  he  forward  with  a 
train  of  noblemen  and  gentlemen,  having  his  footmen, 
four  in  number  about  him,  bearing  each  of  them  a  gilt 
poll-axe  in  their  hands :  and  thus  passed  he  forth  until 
he  came  to  Westminster  Hall  door.  And  there  he 
alighted,  and  went  after  this  manner  up  the  chancery^ 
or  into  the   star  chamber;    howbeit  most  commonly  he 


*  The  pillar,  as  well  as  the  cross,  was  emblematical,  and  designed  to 
imply  that  the  dignitary  before  whom  it  was  carried  was  a  pillur  of  the 
church.  Dr.  Barnes,  who  had  good  reason  why  these  pillars  should  be 
uppermost  in  his  thoughts,  glances  at  this  emblem,  in  the  case  of  the 
Cardinal,  in  the  following  words  :  "  and  yet  it  must  be  true,  because  a 
pUlar  of  the  church  hath  spoken  it.  Barnes's  fVorks,  p.  210.  A.D.  1572. 
See  also  Tiudal's  fVorks,  p.  370. 

Skelton,  Poet -laureate  of  that  time,  indulged  in  some  gross  scurrility 
and  abuse  against  the  Cardinal,  and  ui)on  its  publication  fled  to  the 
sanctuary  of  Westminster  for  protection.  In  his  poetry,  if  we  may  misapply 
the  word  to  such  trash,  he  thus  alludes  to  the  crosses  and  pillars  : — 

With  worldly  pompe  incredible 

Before  him  rydeth  two  prestes  stronge, 

And  they  bear  two  crosses  right  longe, 

Gapynge  in  every  man's  face. 

After  them  folowe  two  layemen,  secular, 

And  cache  of  theym  holdying  a  pillar 

In  their  hondes,  steade  of  a  mace. 

Then  foloweth  my  lorde  on  his  mule 

Trapped  with  gf)ld.  ^ 

Then  hath  he  servants  five  or  six  score. 

Some  behyud  and  some  before. 

Almost  every  action  of  Wolsey  has  been  interpreted  as  an  instance  of 
pomp,  ambition,  or  insolence;  notwithstanding  probably,  upon  a  strict 
examination,  most  of  them  will  be  found  to  be  strictly  precedented. 
Anstis's  Letter  to  Dr.  Fiddes,  in  Fiddes's  Life  of  fVols'ey,  p.  89.  Ap- 
pendix. 


366  WOLSEY. 

would  go  into  the  cliancei-y,  aud  stay  a  while  at  a  baf 
made  for  him  beneath  the  chancery,  on  the  right  hand, 
and  there  converse  sometimes  with  the  judges,  and  some- 
times with  other  persons.  Tliat  done,  he  would  repair 
into  the  chancery,  sitting  there  till  1 1  o'clock,  hearing 
sliits  and  determining  other  matters.  And  from  thence,  he 
would  divers  times  go  into  the  star  chamber,  as  occasion 
would  serve.  There  he  spared  neither  high  nor  low,  but 
judged  evei-y  estate  according  to  its  merits  and  deserts. 

He  used  also  every  Sunday  to  resort  to  the  court,  then 
being  for  the  most  part  of  all  the  year  at  Greenwich, 
with  his  former  triumphs,  taking  his  barge  at  his  own 
stairs,  furnished  with  yeomen  standing  upon  the  bayles, 
and  his  gentlemen  being  within  a  boat;  and  landed 
again  at  the  Three  Cranes  in  the  Vintrey,  And  thence 
he  rode  upon  his  mule  with  his  crosses,  his  pillars,  his 
hat,  and  the  broad  seal  carried  before  him  on  horseback 
through  Thames-street,  until  he  came  to  Billingsgate; 
and  there  took  his  barge  again,  and  so  rowed  to  Green- 
wich, where  he  was  nobly  received  of  the  lords  and 
chief  officers  of  the  King's  house,  bearing  their  white 
staves  as  the  treasurer  and  comptroller,  with  many  others  : 
and  so  they  conveyed  him  to  the  King's  chamber;  his 
crosses,  for  the  time  of  his-  tarrying,  standing  there  in  a 
corner,  on  the  one  side  of  the  King's  cloth  of  estate. 
Then  he  being  there,  the  court  was  fully  furnished  with 
noblemen  and  gentlemen,  which  was,  before  his  coming, 
but  slenderly  furnished.  And  after  dinner  among  the 
lords,  having  some  consultation  with  the  King,  or  with 
his  council,  he  would  depart  home  with  like  triumph:* 


*  We  have  already  seen  that  the  Cardinal's  pomp  did  not  escape 
animadversion.  But  it  was  exposed  to  other  censures  than  tliose  which 
flowed  merely  from  the  pen  of  scurrility.  Sir  Thomas  More,  when 
Spealier  of  the  House  of  Commons,  noticing  a  complaint  which  had  been 
made  by  tlie  Cardinal,  that  nothing  could  be  said  or  done  in  that  House, 
but  it  was  presently  spread  abroad,  and  became  the  talk  of  every  tavern 
or  alehouse,  "  Masters  (says  he)  forasmuch  as  my  Lord  Cardinal  lately 
laid  to  our  charge  the  lightness  of  our  tongues  for  things  uttered  out  of 
this  House,  it  will  not  in  my  mind  be  amiss  to  receive  him  with  all  his 
pomp,  with  his  maces,  his  piliars,  poll-axes,  his  crosses,  his  hat,  aud  the 
great  seal  too ;  to  the  intent,  that  if  he  find  the  like  fault  with  us  hereafter 
we  may  be  the  bolder,  from  ourselves  to  lay  the  blame  on  those  that  hi» 
grace  bringeth  hither  with  him."  Roper's  Life  of  Sir  T.  More,  p.  38. 
edit.  1729.  [Moke  would  have  done  himself  greater  credit  by  abstaining 
from  this  silly  taunt. — Edit.] 

The  pulpit  also,  sometimes  [most  reprehensiblyj  raised  its  voice 
against  him.  Dr.  Barnes,  who  was  burnt  in  .Smithfield  in  1541, 
preached  at  Cambiidge  a  sermon,    for  which    he    was   cited    before 


WOLSEY.  367 

and  this  order  he  used  continually,  as  opportunity  did 
serve. 

Thus  in  great  honour,  triumph,  and  glory,  he  reigned 
a  long  season,  ruling  all  things  within  this  realm  apper- 
taining unto  the  King,  by  his  wisdom ;  and  also  in  all 
other  weighty  matters  in  foreign  regions,  with  which  the 
King  of  this  realm  had  any  occasion  to  intermeddle.  All 
ambassadors  of  foreign  potentates  were  always  despatched 
by  his  wisdom,  having  continual  access  to  him.  His 
house  was  always  resorted  to  like  a  King's  house,  by 
noblemen  and  gentlemen,  coming  and  going  in  and  out, 
feasting  and  banquetting. 

And  when  it  pleased  the  King's  Majesty  for  his  re- 
creation to  repair  to  the  Cardinal's  house,  as  he  did 
divers  times  in  the  year,  there  wanted  no  preparation  or 
goodly  furniture,  with  viands  of  the  tinest  sort  that  could 
be  gotten  for  money  or  friendship.  Such  pleasures 
were  then  devised  for  the  King's  comfort,  as  might  be 
invented  or  imagined.  Banquets  were  set  forth,  masks, 
and  mummeries,  in  so  gorgeous  a  sort,  and  costly  a  man- 
ner, that  it  was  a  heaven  to  behold.  There  wanted  no 
dames,    nor   damsels,    meet  or  apt   to  dance   with  the 


the  Cardinal.  This  was  a  part  of  their  dialogue,  as  it  is  relat'?d 
in  Fox;  "What?  Master  Doctor  ( said  the"  Cardiual )  had  you 
not  a  sufficient  scope  in  the  scriptures  to  teach  the  people,  but 
that  my  golden  shues,  my  poll-axes,  my  pillows,  my  golden 
cushions,  ray  cross  did  so  sore  offend  you,  that  you  must  make  us  ridicu- 
lum  caput  amongst  the  people  ?  We  were  jollily  that  day  laughed  to  scorn. 
Verily  it  was  a  sermon  more  fit  to  be  preached  on  a  stage  than  in  a  pulpit ; 
for  at  the  last  you  said  I  wear  a  pair  of  red  gloves,  I  should  say  bloudie 
gloves  (quoth  you)  that  I  should  not  be  cold  in  the  midst  of  my  ceremo- 
nies." And  Barnes  answered,  "  I  spake  nothing  but  the  truth  out  of  the 
scriptures,  according  to  my  conscience,  and  according  to  the  old  doctors." 
Fox's  Acts,  p.  1088.  Barnes  himself  diew  up  an  account  of  this  inter- 
view, in  which  he  opens  to  us  some  part  of  the  philosophy  upon  which 
the  Cardinal  defended  the  fitness  of  that  pomp  and  state  which  he  main- 
tained. *'  Then  sayd  hee,  how  thinke  you,  were  it  better  for  me,  being 
in  the  honour  and  dignitie  that  I  am,  to  coyue  my  pyllers,  and  poll-axes, 
and  to  give  the  money  to  five  or  six  beggars,  then  for  to  mayntaine  the 
common-wealth  by  them,  as  I  doe  ?  Do  you  not  reckon  (quoth  hee)  the 
common-wealth  better  than  five  or  six  beggars  ?  To  this  1  did  answere, 
that  1  reckoned  it  more  to  the  honour  of  God,  and  to  the  salvation  oihis 
soule,  and  also  to  the  comfort  of  his  poore  brethren,  that  they  were 
coyned,  and  given  in  almes."  Banies's  JVorks,  p.  215.  A.D.  1572, 
compare  Fox's  Acts,  p.  956. — [W^ordsworth.J 

Remarks  such  as  those  made  by  Dr.  Barnes,  under  however  liberal  and 
imposing  a  garb  they  meet  our  view,  deserve  the  severest  animadversion, 
as  partaking  of  that  anti-hierarchical  and  dissenting  spirit  which,  un- 
happily for  the  union  of  Christians,  has  ever  been  busily  at  work  in 
impugning  Episcopacy,  whether  Catholic  or  Protestant.— ['Edit.] 


S6S  WOLSEY. 

• 

maskers,  or  to  garnish  the  place  for  that  time,  m  ith  other 
goodly  disports.  Then  was  there  all  kinds  of  music 
and  harmony  set  forth,  with  excellent  fine  voices  both  of 
men  and  children,  &c. 

Thus  passed  the  Cardinal  his  time  forth  from  day 
to  day,  arid  year  to  year,  in  such  great  wealth  and  joy, 
having  always  on  his  side  the  King's  especial  favour ; 
until  fortune,  of  whose  favour  no  man  is  longer  assured 
than  she  is  disposed,  began  to  wax  something  wrath  with 
his  prosperous  estate.  And  for  the  better  mean  to  bring 
him  low,  she  procured  him  Venus,  the  insatiate  goddess, 
to  be  her  instrument ;  who  brought  the  King  in  love  with 
a  gentlewoman,  M'ho,  (after  she  perceived  and  felt  the 
King's  goodwill  towards  her,  how  glad  he  was  to  please 
her,  and  grant  all  her  requests),  wrought  the  Cardinal 
much  displeasure  :  as  hereafter  shall  be  more  at  large 
declared.  This  gentlewoman  was  the  daughter  of  Sir 
Thos.  BuUeine,  knight,  being  at  that  time  but  a  bachelor 
knight,  and  who  afterwards,  for  the  love  of  his  daughter, 
was  promoted  to  high  dignities.  He  bare  at  divers 
several  times  all  the  great  posts  of  the  King's  household, 
as  comptroller,  and  treasurer,  and  the  like.  Then  was 
he  made  Viscount  Rochford  ;  and  at  last.  Earl  of  Wilt- 
shire, and  K.G.  ;  and,  for  his  greater  increase  of  honour 
and  gain,  lord  keeper  of  the  privy  seal,  and  one  of  the 
chief  of  the  King's  council.  Thus  continued  he  until 
his  son  and  daughter  began  to  fall  into  the  King's  high 
indignation  and  displeasure.  The  King  during  his  favour 
fancied  so  much  his  daughter,  that  almost  all  things 
began  to  grow  out  of  frame.  This  gentlewoman  was 
commonly  called  Mrs.  Anne  Bulleine.  She  being  but 
very  young,*  was  sent  into  the  realm  of  France,  and 
there  made  one  of  the  French  Queen's  women,  continu- 
ing there  until  the  French  Queen  died.  And  then  was 
she  sent  for  home  again ;  and  being  with  her  father,  he 
made  such  means  that  she  was  admitted  one  of  the  Queen 
Katherine's  women ;  among  whom,  for  her  excellent 
gesture   and  behaviour,  she   did  excel   all  other,    in   so 


*  "  Not  above  seven  years  of  age,  anno  1514."  M.  S.  Twysd.  The 
;ibove  is  taken  from  a  small  fragment  of  this  Life,  which  has  been  very 
recently  printed  from  a  MS.  in  the  hand  writing  of  Sir  Roger  Twysden, 
Bart. ;  in  the  margin  of  which  fragment  a  few  notes  occur,  from  the  pen 
of  the  same  eminent  Antiquarian."  [Antiquan'.J — Wordsworth. 


WOLSEY.  369 

much,  that  the  King  began  to  grow  enamoured  with 
her,  which  was  not  known  to  any  person,  not  even  to 
herself. 

Now  at  that  time  the  Lord  Percy,  son  and  heir  of  the 
Earl  of  Northumberland,  was  attending  upon  my  lord 
Cardinal,  and  was  his  servant ;  and  when  it  chanced  the 
said  lord  Cardinal  at  any  time  to  repair  to  the  couit,  the 
Lord  Percy  would  resort  then  for  his  pastime  into  Queen 
Katherine's  chamber,  and  there  would  he  fall  in  dalliance 
among  the  maids,  being  at  the  last  more  conversant  with 
Mr,  Anne  Bulleine  than  with  any  other,  so  that  there 
grew  such  a  secret  love  between  them,  that  at  length  they 
were  insured  together,  [bethrothed  or  engaged]  intending 
to  marry.  With  which,  when  it  came  to  the  Kmg's  know- 
ledge, he  was  mightily  olfended.  Wherefore  he  could  no 
longer  hide  his  secret  affection,  but  revealed  his  whole 
displeasure  and  secret  to  the  Cardinal,  and  willed  hini 
to  infringe  the  assurance  made  then  between  the  said 
Lord  Percy  and  Mrs.  Anne  Bulleine  :  insomuch  as  the 
Cardinal  after  his  return  home  from  the  court  to  his 
house  in  Westminster,  being  in  his  gallery,  not  forgetting 
the  King's  commandment,  called  then  Lord  Percy  unto 
his  presence,  and  before  us  his  servants  then  attending 
upon  him,  said  to  him,  ''  I  marvel  not  a  little  at  thy  folly 
that  thou  wouldest  thus  entangle  and  ensuie  thyself  with 
a  foolish  girl  yonder  in  the  court,  Anne  Bulleine.  Dost 
thou  not  consider  the  estate  that  God  hath  called  thee 
unto  in  this  world  ?  For  after  thy  father's  death  thou 
art  most  likely  to  inherit  one  of  the  noblest  earldoms  of 
this  region :  therefore  it  had  been  most  meet  and  con- 
venient for  thee  to  have  sued  for  the  consent  of  thy  father 
in  that  case,  and  to  have  also  made  the  King's  highness 
privy  thereof,  requiring  his  princely  favour,  submitting 
thy  proceeding  in  all  such  matters  unto  his  highness,  who 
would  not  only  thankfully  have  accepted  thy  submission, 
but  would,  I  am  assured,  have  provided  so  far  for  thy 
purpose  therein,  that  he  would  have  advanced  thee  muclx 
more  nobly,  and  have  matched  thee  according  to  thine 
estate  and  honour,  whereby  thou  mightest  have  grown  so 
by  thy  wise  behaviour  in  the  King's  high  estimation  that 
it  should  have  been  for  thy  advancement.  But  now  see 
what  ye  have  done  through  your  wilfulness.  You  have 
not  only  oft'ended  your  father,  but  also  your  loving  sovereign 

Bb 


370  WOLSEY. 

lord,  and  matched  yourself  with  one  sucfj  as  neither  the 
King,  nor  your  father  will  be  agreeable  to.  And  hereof 
I  put  thee  out  of  doubt  that  I  will  send  for  thy  father, 
and  at  his  coining  he  shall  either  break  this  unadvised 
bargain  or  else  disinherit  thee  for  ever,  &c. 

After  long  consultation  and  debating  respecting  Lord 
Percy's  late  assurance,  it  was  devised  that  it  should  be 
dissolved,  and  that  Lord  Percy  should  marry  one  of  the 
Earl  of  Shrewsbury's  daughters.  And  so  he  did :  by  means 
whereof  the  former  contract  was  dissolved  ;  whereat  Mrs. 
Anne  BuUeine  was  greatly  offended,  promising  if  it  ever 
lay  in  her  power  she  would  work  much  displeasure  to 
the  Cardinal,  as  after  she  did  indeed.  And  yet  was  he 
not  in  blame  altogether,  for  he  did  nothing  but  by  the 
King's  command.  And  even  as  my  Lord  Percy  was  com- 
manded to  avoid  her  company,  so  she  was  discharged 
of  the  court,  and  sent  home  to  her  father  for  a  season  ; 
■whereat  she  smoked  :  [was  indignant]  for  all  this  while 
she  knew  nothing  of  the  King's  intended  purpose. 

After  these  my  Lord  Percy's  troublesome  matters  were 
brought  into  a  good  stay,  and  all  things  done  that  before 
were  devised,  Mrs.  Anne  Bulleine  was  revoked  unto  the 
court,  where  she  flourished  after  in  great  estimation  and 
favour  ;  having  always  a  privy  grudge  against  my  lord 
Cardinal  for  breaking  oft'  the  contract  made  between 
Lord  Percy  and  her,  supposing  that  it  had  been  his 
devised  will  and  none  other,  nor  yet  knowing  the  King's 
secret  mind  thoroughly,  who  had  a  great  affection  unto 
her  more  than  she  knew\  But  after  she  knew  it  then 
she  began  to  look  very  haughtily,  lacking  no  manner  of 
jewels  or  rich  apparel  that  might  be  gotten  for  money. 
It  was  therefore  judged  by  and  by,  through  the  court, 
by  every  man,  that  she  being  in  such  favour  might  work 
masteries  with  the  King,  and  obtain  any  suite  of  him 
for  a  friend. 

All  this  while  she  being  in  this  estimation  in  all  places, 
it  is  no  doubt  but  good  Queen  Katherine  having  this 
gentlewoman  daily  attending  upon  her,  both  heard  by 
report  and  saw  with  her  eyes  how  it  framed  against  her 
good  ladyship,  although  she  shewed  neither  to  Mrs. 
Anne  Bulleine,  nor  to  the  King,  any  kind  or  spark  of 
displeasure,  but  accepted  all  things  in  good  part,  and 
with  wisdom,  and  great  patience  dissembled  the   same. 


WOLSEY.  371 

having  Mrs.  Anne  in  more  estimation  for  the  King's  sake 
than  she  was  with  her  before,  declaring  herself  to  be  a 
very  perfect  Grisell.* 

The  King  waxed  so  far  enamoured  \vith  this  gentle- 
woman that  he  knew  not  how  much  he  might  advance 
her.  This  perceiving  the  great  lords  of  the  council,  who 
bearing  a  secret  grudge  against  the  Cardinal  for  that  they 
could  not  rule  for  him  as  they  would,  because  he  bare 
all  the  stroke  with  the  King,  and  ruled  as  well  the  great 
lords  as  all  other  mean  subjects,  they  took  an  occasion 
to  invent  a  mean  to  bring  him  out  of  the  King's  estima- 
tion, and  themselves  into  more  authority.  After  long 
and  secret  consultation  how  to  bring  this  malice  towards 
the  Cardinal  to  effect,  they  knew  well  that  it  was  very 
difficult  for  them  to  do  it  directly  of  themselves.  Where- 
fore they  perceiving  the  great  affection  and  love  that  the 
King  bare  to  Anne  Bulleine,  supposing  that  she  would 
be  a  fit  instrument  to  bring  their  long  desired  intents  to 
pass,  consulted  often  \\ith  her  in  this  matter.  And  she 
having  both  a  very  good  wit,  and  also  an  inward  grudge 
and  displeasure  to  my  lord  Caidinal,  was  always 
agreeable  to  their  requests.  Wherefore  there  was  no 
more  to  do  but  to  imagine  any  occasion  to  work  their 
malice  by  some  presented  circumstance.  Then  were 
there  daily  invented  among  them  divers  imaginations  and 
subtle  devices  how  the  matter  should  be  brought  about. 
The  enterprise  thereof  was  so  dangerous  that,  though 
they  would  fain  have  attempted  the  matter  with  the 
King,  yet  they  durst  not ;  for  they  knew  the  great  zeal 
that  he  bore  to  the  Cardinal,  and  also  they  feared 
the  wonderful  wit  of  the  latter.  For  this  they  knew  very 
well,  that  if  the  matter  that  they  should  propose  against 
him  were  not  grounded  upon  a  just  and  urgent  cause, 
the  King's  favour  was  such  towards  him,  and  his  wit 
such  withal,  that  he  would  with  policy  vanquish  all  their 
purpose  and  travail,  and  then  lie  in  wait  to  work  their 
utter  destruction.  They  were  compelled,  all  things  con- 
sidered, to  forbear  the  enterprise  until  they  might  espy  u 
more  convenient  time  and  occasion. 

And  yet  the  Cardinal  espying  the  great  zeal  that  the 
King  had  conceived  in  this  gentlewoman,  ordered  him- 
self to  please  as  well  the  King  as  her,  dissembling  the 

*  [Perfect  Grisell.^    See  Chaucer's  Clerk  of  O.venford's  Tale. 

Eb2 


372  WOLSEY. 

matter  that  lay  hid  in  his  breast,  and  prepared  great 
banquets  and  high  feasts  to  entertain  the  King  and  her 
at  his  own  house. 

Then  began  a  grudge  to  break  out  between  the  French 
King  and  the  Duke  of  Bourbon,  insomuch  as  the  Duke 
being  a  vassal  to  the  house  of  France,  was  compelled  tor 
the  safeguard  of  his  life  to  flee,  and   forsake  the  country, 
expecting   the    King's    malice    and    indignation.       The 
Cardinal,  having  intelligence  of  the  case,  compassed  in 
his  head  that  if  the  King  [of  England]  could  obtain  the 
Duke  of  Bourbon  to  be  his  general  in  the  wars  against 
the  French  King,  (with  whom  the  King  of  England  had 
an  occasion  of  war),    and  considering   further  that  the 
Duke  of  Bourbon  was  fled  to  the  Emperor,  to  invite  him 
to  like  purpose  ;  wherefore  he  having  this  imagination  in 
his  head  thousiht  it  aiood  to  move  the  King  in  the  matter. 
And  after    the   King   was  once    advertised    hereof,  and 
conceived  the    Cardinal's   invention,  he    dreamed   more 
and  more  of  it,  until  at  last  it  came   to  a  consultation 
amongst  the  council,  so  that  it  was  concluded  that   an 
embassy   should   be  sent    to    the     Emperor    about  this 
matter ;  with  whom  it  was  concluded  that  the  King  and 
the  Emperor  should  join  in  those  wars  against  the  French 
King,    and   that  the   Duke  of  Bourbon   should  be    our 
sovereign  lord's  champion  and  general  in  the  field,  who 
had  a  great  number  of  good  soldiers,  over  and  besides 
the  Emperor's  army,  which  was  not  small ;  and  that  the 
King  should  pay  unto  the  Duke  monthly  wages,    both 
for  himself  and  his  retinue.      Insomuch  that  Sir  John 
Russel,   (afterwards    Earl   of  Bedford),    lay  continually 
beyond  the  seas,  in  a  secret  place,  both  to  receive  money 
of  the  King,  and  to  pay  the  same  monthly  to  the  Duke. 
So  that  the  Duke  began  the  wars  with  the  French  King 
in  his  own  territory  and  dukedom,  which  the  King  had 
confided  in  his  own  hands ;  it  being  not  perfectly  known 
to  the  Duke's  enemies,  that  he  had  any  aid  of  our  sovereign 
lord.     And  thus  he  wrought  the  French  King  much  dis- 
pleasure  and   trouble,  insomuch  that  the  French  King 
was  constrained  to  prepare  a  puissant  army,  and  in  his 
own  person  to  resist  the  Duke's  power.     And  with  force 
the  King  drave  him  to  take  Pavia,  a  strong  town  in  Italy, 
with  his  host,  for  their  security;  whereas  the  King  en- 
camped him  wonderously  strong  intending  to  enclose  the 
Duke  within  this  town,  that  he  should  not  issue  forth. 


WOLSEY.  373 

Now  let  us  leave  the  King  in  his  camp  before  Pavia, 
and  return  to  the  lord  Cardinal,  who  seemed  to  be  more 
French  than  Imperial.  But  how  it  came  to  pass,  I 
cannot  declare  unto  you.  The  French  King  lying  in  his 
camp,  sent  secretly  into  England  a  privy  person,  a  very 
witty  man,  to  treat  of  a  peace  between  him  and  our 
sovereign  lord.  This  person  was  named  John  Jokin, 
who  was  kept  as  secretly  as  might  be,  no  man  having 
intelligence  of  his  repair;  for  he  was  no  Frenchman 
born,  but  an  Italian,  a  man  of  no  great  estimation  in 
France,  or  known  to  be  much  in  his  master's  favour, 
but  to  be  a  merchant-man,  and  for  his  subtle  wit  elected 
to  such  embassy  as  the  French  King  had  given  Jiun. 
This  Jokin  v/as  secretly  conveyed  to  Richmond,  and 
there  remained  'till  the  Cardinal  resorted  thither  to  him, 
where,  after  Easter  term, he  kept  his  feast  of  Whitsuntide. 
In  which  season  my  lord  Cardinal  caused  divers  times 
this  Jokin  to  dine  with  him,  who  seemed  to  be  both  wittv, 
and  of  good  behaviour.  Thus  continued  this  Jokin  in 
Engl?md  long  after,  until  at  last,  he  brought  to  pass  the 
matter  ke  had  in  commission.  After  this,  there  was  sent  out 
immediately  an  order  to  Sir  John  Russell,  that  he  should 
retain  that  month's  wages  still  in  his  hands,  (until  the 
King's  pleasure  was  known  to  him),  which  should  have 
been  paid  to  the  Duke  of  Bourbon,  being  then  with  his  re- 
tinue encamped  within  the  town  of  Pavia ;  for  want  Vv'her-eof 
at  this  day,  the  Duke  and  his  men  were  sore  dismayed 
when  they  saw  there  was  not  money  brought  as  it  was  wont 
to  be.  And  being  in  so  dangerous  a  case,  and  where  victuals 
began  to  be  scant,  and  very  dear,  they  imagined  many 
ways  what  should  be  the  best.  Some  said  this,  and 
some  that ;  so  that  they  mistrusted  nothing  less  than 
the  very  cause  thereof.  Insomuch  as  at  the  last,  what 
for  want  of  victuals  and  other  necessaries,  which  they 
could  not  get  within  the  town,  the  soldiers  and  captains 
began  to  grudge  and  mutter ;  and  at  the  last,  for  lack  of 
victuals,  were  like  all  to  perish.  The  soldieis  being  in 
this  extremity  came  before  the  captain  the  Duke  of 
Bourbon  : — [Here  follows  their  speech,  and  the  reply 
of  the  Duke,  who  intimated  his  intention  of  sallying  out 
by  night  and  attacking  the  enemy's  camp.  This  was 
successfully  accomplished :  the  French  King  was  takea 
prisoner ;  and  in  searching  the  coffers  of  the  latter  iu 
liis   tent,]  the  Duke  found  the  league,  under  the  great 


374  WOLSEY. 

seal  of  England,  newly  made  between  the  King  of 
England  and  the  French  King  :  which  once  perceived  by 
liim,  he  began  to  smell  the  impediment  of  his  money, 
which  shoidd  have  come  to  him  Irom  the  King.  Having 
upon  the  due  search  of  the  matter  further  intelligence, 
that  all  the  matter  was  devised  by  the  Cardinal  of 
England,  the  Duke  conceived  such  an  indignation  here- 
upon against  the  Cardinal,  that  he  went  incontinent  into 
Rome,  and  there  intended  to  sack  the  town,  and  to  have 
taken  the  Pope  :  where,  at  the  first  assault  of  the  walls, 
the  Duke  was  the  first  man  that  was  there  slain.  Yet, 
notwithstanding,  his  captains  continued  their  assault, 
and  at  the  last  the  town  was  taken,  and  the  Pope  fled  to 
the  castle  of  Angell,  where  he  continued  long  in  calamity. 

I  have  written  this  history  more  at  large,  because  it  was 
thought  the  Cardinal  was  the  chiefest  occasion  of  all  this 
mischief.  Upon  the  taking  of  the  French  King,  many 
consultations  and  divers  opinions  were  then  devised 
among  the  council.  Some  held  opinion  that  if  the  King 
[of  England]  would  invade  France,  he  might  easily 
conquer  it,  insomuch  as  the  King  of  F^rance  with  the 
most  part  of  the  nobility  were  in  captivity.  Some  said 
again  that  the  King  our  master  ought  to  have  had  the 
Frencii  King  prisoner,  for  as  much  as  he  was  taken  by 
the  King's  champion  and  general  captain,  the  Duke  of 
Bourbon,  and  not  by  the  Flmperor.  So  that  the  same 
moved  the  King  to  take  an  occasion  of  war  against  the 
Emperor,  because  he  kept  the  French  King  out  of  his 
possession,  with  divers  other  imaginations  and  devices, 
even  as  their  fancies  served  them,  which  were  too  long 
here  to  be  rehearsed. 

Thus  were  they  in  long  consultation,  wherein  every  man 
in  the  court  had  talked  as  his  fancy  served  him  ;  until  at 
the  last  it  was  devised,  by  means  of  divers  ambassadors 
sent  from  F'rance  unto  the  King  [of  England]  to  take 
order  Mith  the  Emperor  for  the  French  King's  deliver- 
ance, as  his  high  wisdom  could  think  best,  wherein  my 
lord  Cardinal  bare  a  great  stroke,  so  that  after  long  deli- 
beration and  advice  in  this  matter,  it  was  thought  good  by 
my  lord  Cardinal,  that  the  Emperor  should  deliver  the 
French  King  out  of  his  ward  upon  sufticient  pledges. 
Then  was  it,  upon  his  advice,  thought  meet  that  the 
King's  two  sons,  that  is  to  say,  the  Dauphin  and  the 
Duke  of  Orleans,  should  be  delivered  in  hostage  for  the 


WOLSEY.  375 

King  tlieir   father,   which   was    in    conclusion   brought 
to  pass. 

The  Cardinal,  lamenting  the  French  King's  calamity, 
and  the  Pope's  great  adversity,  who  yet  remained  in  the 
castle  Angell,  travailed  all  that  he  could*  with  the  King 
and  his  council,  to  take  some  order  for  the  quietness  of 
them  both.      At  last,  as  divers  of  the  great  estates  and 
lords  of  the  counsel,  with  my  lady  Anne  lay  in  wait  to 
espy  a  convenient  time  and  occasion  to  take  the  Cardinal 
in  a  brake,  they  thought  it  now  a  necessary  time  to  cause 
him  to  take  upon  him  the  King's  commission  to  travail 
beyond  the  seas  in  this  matter,   and  by  his  high  vvit  to 
compass  a  perfect  peace  among  these  great  princes  and 
potentates  ;  and  encouraging  him  thereunto,  alleged,  that 
it  was  more  meet  for  his  high  wit,  discretion,  and  authority, 
to  bring  so  weighty  a  matter  to  pass,  than  any  other  man 
within  this  realm.     Their  intent  was  none  other  than  to 
get  him  from  the  King  out  of  the  realm ;  then  might  they 
sufficiently  adventure,  by  the  help  of  their  chief  mistress, 
to  deprave  him  unto  the  King's  highness,  and  so  in  his 
absence  to  bring  him  into  displeasure   with    the  King, 
or  at  the  least  to  be  of  less  estimation.      This  matter  was 
so  handled,  that  the  Cardinal  was  commanded  to  prepare 
himself  for  this  journey,  which  he  took  upon  him ;  but 
whether  it  were  with  his  good  M'ill  or  not,  1  am  not  able 
to  tell  you.     This   I  know,  that  he  made   but   a  short 
abode,  after  the  resolution  thereof,  and  caused  all  things 
to  be  prepared  onward  toward  his  journey.     And  every 
one  of  his  servants  was  appointed  to  attend  upon  him  in 
the  same. 

When  all  things  were  concluded,  and  for  this  noble 
ambassage  provided,  then  was  there  no  more  to  do  but  to 
advance  in  the  name  of  God.  My  lord  had  with  him  such 
of  the  lords  and  bishops  and  other  worthy  persons  as  were 
not  of  the  counsel  or  conspiracy. 

Then  n^arched  he  forward  from  his  own  house  at  West- 


*  Tliese  intrigues,  in  which  the  Cardinal  bore  so  large  a  part  did  not 
redound  to  the  glory  of  his  country.  Our  merry  neighbours  even  then 
had  begun  to  make  our  diplomatic  inferiority  the  subject  of  their  ridicule. 
William  Tiudall,  in  his  Practice  of  Popish  Prelates,  referring  to  these 
events,  tells  us,  "  the  Frenchmen  of  late  days  made  a  play  or  a  disguising 
at  Paris,  in  which  the  Emperor  danced  vv'ith  the  Pope  and  the  French 
King,  and  wearied  them,  the  King  of  England  sitting  on  a  high  bencli,  and 
looking  on.  And  when  it  was  asked  why  he  danced  not,  it  was  ajiswereds 
that  he  sat  tlierc  only  to  pay  th.e  minstrels  their  wages. 


376  WOLSEY. 

minster  through  all  London,  over  London  Bridge,  having 
before  hini  a  great  number  of  gentlemen,  three  in  a  rank 
with  velvet  coats,  and  the  most  part  of  them  with  great 
chains  of  gold  about  their  necks.  And  all  his  yeomen 
followed  him,  with  noblemen's  and  gentlemen's  servants, 
all  in  orange-tawny  coats,  with  the  Cardinal's  hat,  and  a 
T.  and  C.  for  Thomas  Cardinal,  embroidered  upon  all 
the  coats,  as  well  of  his  own  servants,  as  of  all  the  rest  of 
his  gentlemen's;  and  his  sumpter  mules,  which  were  €0 
oi  more  in  number.  And  when  all  his  carriages  and  carts 
and  other  of  his  train  had  passed  before,  he  rode  like  a 
Cardinal  very  sumptuously  with  the  rest  of  his  train,  on 
his  own  mule,  with  his  spare  mule  and  spare  horse, 
trapped  in  crimson  velvet,  upon  velvet,  and  gilt  stirrups, 
following  him.  And  before  him  he  had  his  two  great 
crosses  of  silver,  his  two  great  pillars  of  silver,  the  King's 
broad  seal  of  England,  and  his  Cardinal's  hat,  and  a  gen- 
tleman carrying  his  cloak-bag,  which  was  made  of  fine 
scarlet,  altogether  embroidered  very  richly  with  gold, 
having  in  it  a  cloak.  Thus  passed  he  forth  through 
London  ;  and  every  day  on  his  journey  he  was  thus  fur- 
nished, having  his  harbingers  in  every  place,  which  pre- 
pared lodging  for  him  and  his  train. 

[The  Cardinal  on  his  return  to  England  from  France] 
caused  to  be  assembled  in  the  star-chamber  all  the  noble- 
men, judges,  and  justices  of  the  peace  of  every  shire 
throughout  England  that  were  in  Westminster-Hall  at 
that  present,  and  there  made  to  them  a  long  oration, 
declaring  to  them  the  cause  of  the  ambassage  into  France, 
and  his  proceeding  there;  amongst  which  he  said,  "he 
had  concluded  such  an  amity  and  friendship  as  never  was 
heard  of  in  this  realm  before,  as  well  between  the  King 
our  sovereign  lord  and  the  French  Kmg,  with  a  perpetual 
peace,  which  shall  be  confirmed  in  writing  eternally,  sealed 
with  the  broad  seals  of  both  the  realms  graven  in  fine 
gold  ;  affirming  further,  that  the  King  shall  receive  yearly 
his  tribute  by  that  name  out  of  the  Duchy  of  Normandy, 
with  all  the  costs  which  he  hath  sustained  in  the  wars. 
And  also,  whereas  there  was  restraint  made  in  France  of 
the  French  Queen's  dowry,  whom  the  Duke  of  Suffolk 
had  married,  for  divers  years  during  the  wars,  it  was 
fuliy  concluded  that  she  should  not  only  receive  the  same 
again,  according  to  her  just  right,  but  also  the  arrears 
which  were  unpaid  during  the  restraint.     All  which  things 


WOLSEY.  377 

shall  be  perfected  shortly  at  the  resort  of  the  ambassadors 
out  of  France.  In  which  shall  be  such  a  great  number 
of  noblemen  and  gentlemen  to  conclude  the  same,  as 
hath  not  been  seen  heretofore  repair  thither  out  of  one 
realm.  This  peace  thus  concluded,  there  shall  be  such 
an  amity  between  the  gentlemen  of  each  realm,  and 
intercourse  of  merchandise,  that  it  shall  seem  to  all  men, 
as  if  both  territories  were  but  one  monarchy.  Gentlemen 
may  travel  from  one  country  to  another  for  their  recrea- 
tion and  pastime;  then  merchants,  bemg  in  either  country 
arrived,  shall  be  assured  to  travel  about  their  affairs  in 
peace  and  tranquillity  :  so  that  this  realm  shall  joy  and 
prosper  for  ever.  Therefore  it  shall  be  well  done  of  all 
true  Englishmen  to  rejoice,  and  to  set  forth  the  same, 
at  the  resort  of  this  great  ambassage,  both  in  gesture  and 
entertainment,  that  it  may  be  an  occasion  unto  them, 
both  to  accept  the  same  in  good  part,  and  also  to  use  you 
with  the  semblable,  and  make  of  the  same  a  noble  report 
in  their  countries.  JSow,  my  masters,  I  beseech  you, 
and  require  you  on  the  King's  behalf,  that  you  shew 
yourselves  herein  as  loving  and  obedient  subjects,  wherein 
the  King  will  much  rejoice  at  your  towardness."  And 
here  he  ended  his  oration,  and  brake  up  the  court,  and 
so  every  man  departed  his  several  way. 

This  great  long  looked  for  ambassage  was  now  come 
over  with  a  great  retinue,  which  were  in  number  80 
persons  or  above  of  die  most  noblest  and  worthiest  gen- 
tlemen in  all  France,  who  were  right  honourably  received 
from  place  to  place  after  their  arrival,  and  so  conveyed 
through  London  Oct,  20,  \527,  to  the  Bishop's  palace 
there  in  Paul's  churchyard,  where  they  were  lodged,  or 
thereabouts,  for  the  time  of  their  abode.  To  whom 
divers  noblemen  resorted,  and  gave  them  divers  goodly 
presents  ;  and  in  especial  the  mayor  and  city  of  London, 
as  wine,  sugar,  wax,  capons,  wild  fowl,  beasts,  muttons, 
and  other  necessary  things  in  great  abundance,  for  the 
expenses  of  their  house.  Then  resorted  they  on  the 
Sunday  unto  the  court  being  at  Greenwich,  and  were 
there  received  by  the  King's  majesty,  by  whom  they  were 
highly  entertained.  They  had  a  commission  to  establish 
the  Kins's  highness  in  the  order  of  France;  for  whom 
they  brought,  for  that  intent,  a  collar  of  line  gold,  with 
the  Michael  hanging  thereat,  and  robes  to  the  said  order 
appurtenant,  which  were  very  comely,   of   blue  velvet, 


378  WOLSEY. 

and  richly  embroidered  :  wherein  I  saw  the  King  pas*i 
into  his  closet,  and  after  in  the  same  apparel  at  mass 
beneath  in  his  chapel.  And  to  gratify  the  French  King 
for  his  great  honour  with  the  semblable,  he  sent  in- 
continent a  nobleman  of  the  order  here  in  England  with 
Garter  the  Herald  into  France  unto  the  French  King, 
to  establish  him  in  the  Order  of  the  Garter,  with  a 
semblable  collar,  with  a  garter  and  robes  according  to 
the  same ;  the  ambassadors  remaining  here  until  their 
return. 

All  things  being  then  concluded  concerning  the  per- 
petual peace,  it  was  determined  that  there  should  be 
solemn  mass  sung  in  the  Cathedral  Church  of  St.  Paul's 
by  the  Cardinal,  the  King  being  present  at  the  same  in 
his  traverse.  To  the  performance  of  their  determination 
and  to  the  preparation  thereof,  there  was  made  a  gallery 
from  the  west  door  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  through  the 
body  of  the  same,  up  to  the  choir  door,  railed  on  every 
side,  upon  which  rails  stood  sweet  burning  perfumes. 
Then  the  King  and  my  lord  Cardinal,  with  their  whole 
train  .  of  noblemen  and  gentlemen,  went  upon  the  said 
gallery  into  the  choir,  and  so  to  the  high  altar  unto  the 
traverse,  my  lord  Cardinal  preparing  himself  to  sing  the 
mass,  associated  with  24  Bishops  and  Abbots,  who 
attended  and  served  him,  in  such  ceremonies  as  to  him 
were  then  due,  by  reason  of  his  legatine  prerogative. 

And  after  the  last  ^agnus,  the  King  rose  out  of  his 
traverse  and  kneeled  upon  a  carpet  and  cushions  before 
the  high  altar  j  and  the  like  did  the  Grand  Master  of 
France :  the  chief  ambassador  that  represented  the  French 
King,  between  whom  my  lord  Cardinal  divided  the  blessed 
sacrament,  as  a  perfect  oath,  and  bond  of  security  of  the 
said  covenant  of  perpetual  peace.  That  done,  the  King- 
resorted  asrain  to  his  traverse,  and  the  Grand  Master  to 
his.  This  mass  being  ended,  which  was  solemnly  sung 
both  with  the  choir  of  the  same   church,  and  with  the 


*  The  boolc  of  ceremonies  (compiled  under  the  influence  of  the  Bishops 
Gardiner  and  Tonstallj  about  the  year  1540,  describing  the  different  parts 
of  the  Canon  of  the  Mass,  observes  :  "Then  saith  the  Priest  l/irice,  ^gnus 
Dei,  qui  tollis  peccata  mundi,  &c.  advertising  us  of  three  effects  of  Christ's 
passion  ;  whereof  the  first  is,  deliverance  from  the  misery  of  sin  ;  the 
second  is,  from  pain  of  everlasting  damnation  :  whereof  he  saith  twice 
Miserere  nobis,  that  is  to  say.  Have  mercy  on  us ;  and  the  third  is,  giving 
everlasting  peace,  consisting  in  the  glorious  fruition  of  God,"  Strype's 
£ccksiast.  Memorials,  vol.  i.  p.  289. 


WOLSEY.     ^  379 

King's  chapel,  my  lord  Cardinal  read  the  instrument  of 
peace  openly  before  the  King  and  all  other  both  French 
and  English,  and  there  in  the  sight  of  all  the  people  the 
King  put  his  hand  to  the  seal  of  gold,  and  subscribed 
the  same  with  his  own  hand,  and  delivered  the  same  to 
the  Grand  Master  as  his  deed,  who  did  the  like;  and 
that  done  they  departed. 

And  the  King  rode  home  with  my  lord  Cardinal  to 
Westminster,  and  there  dined  with  the  Frenchmen,  pass- 
ing all  the  day  after  in  consultation  about  weighty  matters 
as  to  the  conclusion  of  the  articles  of  perpetual  peace. 
The  King  then  departed  by  water  to  Greenwich. 

The  long  hid  and  secret  love  that  was  between  the 
King  and  Mrs.  Bulleine  broke  out  now,  and  the  matter 
was  disclosed  by  him  to  the  Cardmal,  whose  persuasion 
on  his  knees  long  before  to  the  King  to  the  contrary 
would  not  serve  ;  the  King  was  so  affectioned  that  inclina- 
tion bare  place,  and  discretion  was  banished  for  the  time. 
My  lord  being  provoked  to  declare  his  opinion  in  the 
advancement  of  his  desired  purpose,  thought  it  not  meet 
to  wade  too  fa  alone,  or  to  give  his  hasty  judgment  or 
advice  in  so  weighty  a  matter,  but  desired  of  the  Kmg 
licence  to  ask  counsel  of  men  of  learning,  both  in  the 
divine  and  civil  laws.  That  obtained,  he,  by  his  legantine 
authority,  sent  his  commission  out  for  all  the  Bisliops  of 
this  realm,  that  were  learned  in  either  of  the  said  laws, 
or  held  in  high  estimation  for  their  prudent  counsel  and 
judgment  in  princely  affairs  of  long  experience. 

Then  assembled  these  noble  Prelates  at  Westminster 
before  my  lord  Cardinal,  as  well  ancient,  famous,  and 
notable  clerks  of  both  Universities  of  Oxford  and  Cam- 
bridge, as  also  of  divers  Cathedral  Colleges  of  this  realm, 
reckoned  learned  in  the  determination  of  doubtful  matters. 
Then  was  the  King's  case  so  debated  from  day  to  day, 
tliat  it  was  to  the  learned  a  goodly  hearing,  but  in  the 
conclusion  as  it  seemed  to  me,  and  others,  the  ancient 
fathers  of  both  the  laws,  that  they  departed  with  a  judg- 
ment contrary  to  the  general  expectation.  I  heard  then 
the  opinion  of  some  of  the  most  famous  persons  among 
that  sort,  that  die  King's  case  was  too  obscuie  for  any 
learned  man  to  discuss,  (the  points  therein  were  so  doabt- 
ful)  so  as  to  have  any  true  understanding  of  it.  And 
therefore  they  departed  without  any  resolution  or  judg- 
ment.     Then  in  this  assembly  of  Bishops  it  was  thought 


380  WOLSEY. 

most  expedient,  that  the  King  should  first  send  out  his 
commissioners  into  all  the  Universities  of  Christendom, 
as  well  here  in  England,  as  into  foreign  regions,  to  have 
among  them  his  grace's  case  argued  substantially,  and 
to  bring  with  theni  thence  the  very  definition  of  their 
opinions  in  the  same,  under  the  seals  of  every  University. 
That  for  this  time  was  their  determination,  and  so  allowed, 
that  divers  commissioners  were  immediately  appointed  to 
this  matter,  who  were  divided,  some  to  Oxford,  some  to 
Cambridge,  some  to  Lovaine,  some  to  Paris,  some  to 
Orleans,  some  to  Bononye,  and  some  to  Padua,  and  so 
forth.  Although  these  commissioners  had  the  travail, 
yet  were  the  costs  and  charges  the  King's :  which  were 
no  less  than  great  and  notable  sums  of  money.  For  as  I 
heard  reported  (and  as  it  seemed  in  deed)  besides  the 
charges  of  the  embassy,  the  famous  and  most  notable 
persons,  and  in  especial  such  as  had  any  rule,  or  had  the 
custody  of  their  University  seals,  were  choked  by  the 
commissioners  with  such  notable  sums  of  money,  that 
they  were  the  more  glad  to  agree  to  their  requests,  and  to 
grant  to  all  that  they  desired  ;  by  means  whereof  all  the 
commissioners  returned  home  with  their  purpose  finished 
according  to  their  commission,  under  the  particular  seal 
of  every  several  University,  whereat  there  was  no  small 
joy  conceived  of  the  principal  persons  :  insomuch  as  the 
conuTiissioners  were  not  only  ever  after  in  great  estimation, 
but  also  most  liberally  advanced  and  rewarded  far  beyond 
their  deserts.  Notwithstanding  they  prospered,  and  the 
matter  went  still  forward,  having  now  (as  they  thought) 
a  sure  staff  to  stand  by. 

These  proceedings  declared  to  my  lord  Cardinal,  he 
sent  again  for  the  Bishops,  to  whom  he  declared  the  effect 
and  travail  of  these  commissioners,  and  for  affirmance 
thereof,  shewed  them  the  instruments  of  every  University* 
under  the  several  seals.  Then  this  matter  brought  to 
pass,  they  went  once  again  to  consultation,  how  it  should 
be  ordered  for  the  purpose.  It  was  then  thought  gqod 
and  concluded,  that  the  King  should  send  unto  the  Pope, 
declaring  the  opinions  of  tliose  Universities,  which  were 
manifestly   authorized  by  their   common    seals ;    to  the 


*  See  Burnet's  Hist,  of  the  Reformation,  vol,  HI.  p.  401.  Appendix. 
Harmei's  Specimen  of  Errors,  p.  7.  Fiddes's  Life  of  fVolsey,  p.  420. 
Poll  Epistoia,  vol.  I.  p.  238.  A.D.  1744. 


WOLSEY.  381 

which  it  was  thought  that  the  consent  of  these  Prelates  of 
this  realm  should  be  necessary  to  be  sent  also  thither, 
altogether  comprised  in  an  instrument,  sealed  with  all  their 
seals  annexed  to  the  instrument,  which  was  not  long  in 
doing;  nor  was  long  after,  but  the  ambassadors  were 
assigned  to  travail  in  this  matter,  and  to  take  upon  them 
this  journey  accordingly,  having  furthermore  ceifcain  in- 
structions, among  which,  one  was  this  :  that  if  the  Pope 
would  not  hereupon  agree  to  give  judgment  definitive  in 
the  King's  case,  then  to  require  another  commission  from 
his  holinesss  to  be  granted  under  hade  to  establish  a  court 
to  be  kept  in  England  for  that  purpose,  only  directed  to 
my  lord  Cardinal  and  Legate  of  England,  and  to  the 
Cardinal  Campaigne  [Campegio]  (who  was  then,  although 
he  were  a  stranger.  Bishop  of  Bath,*  the  which  the  King 
gave  him  at  a  certain  time,  being  an  ambassador  from  the 
Pope,)  to  determine  and  justly  to  judge  according  to  their 
conscience  and  discretions.  To  the  which  after  long  suit 
made,  and  the  good  will  of  the  said  Cardinal  by  fair 
promises  obtained  to  travel  into  England,  the  Pope 
granted  their  suit.  This  done,  they  returned  to  the  King, 
relating  to  him,  that  now  his  grace's  pleasure  and  purpose 
should  be  brought  substantially  to  pass,  being  never  more 
likely,  considering  the  state  of  both  the  judges. 

Long  was  the  expectation  on  all  sides  for  the  coming 
of  this  legate  from  Rome,  with  his  commission.  After 
very  long  desire  this  legate  arrived  in  England,  and  being 
sore  vexed  with  the  disease  of  the  gout,  was  constrained 
by  force  thereof  to  make  a  long  journey  'or'ever  he  came 
to  London;  who  would  have  been  most  solemnly  received 
at  Blackheath,  and  so  with  triumph  conveyed  to  London, 
but  his  desire  was  such,  that  he  would  not  so  be  enter- 
tained with  pomp  and  vain  glory ;  and  therefore  suddenly 
came  to  his  house  without  Temple-Bar,  called  then  Bath- 
place,  where  he  was  lodged,  which  was  furnished  with  all 
manner  of  stutlf  and  implements  of  my  lord's  provision. 

So  tiien  after  some  deliberation  in  the  ordering  of  the 
King's  matters,  and  his  commission  and  the  articles  of  his 
embassage  seen,   read,  and  digested,  it  was  determined 


*  I  very  much  doubt  Campegio,  as  he  is  usually  called,  or  Campaigne 
as  Cavendish  calls  him,  having  ever  been  Bishop  of  Bath.  He  was  Bishop 
of  Salisbury.  See  a  memoir  of  him  iu  Cassan's  Lives  of  the  Bishops  of 
that  See,  part  I.  p.  283.— Edit. 


382  WOLSEY. 

that  the  King  and  the  Queen,  his  just  wife,  should  hr 
lodged  at  Bridewell,  And  then  in  the  Black-Fiiars,  a 
certain  place  was  there  appointed  most  convenient  for  the 
King  and  Queen's  repair  to  the  court,  there  to  be  kept  for 
the  disputation  and  determination  of  the  case,  whereat 
these  two  legates  sat  judges ;  before  whom  the  King  and 
Queen  were  summoned  to  appear,  which  w'as  a  strange 
sight,  and  the  newest  device  that  ever  was  read  or  heard 
of  before,  in  any  region,  story,  or  chronicle,  a  King  and 
a  Queen  to  be  constrained  by  process  compellatory  to 
appear  in  any  court  as  common  persons,  to  abide  the 
judgments  and  decrees  of  their  own  subjects. 

There  was  a  court  erected  in  Black- Friars  in  London, 
whereat  sat  these  two  Cardinals  for  judges.  Now  I  will 
set  you  out  the  manner  and  order  of  the  said  court.  First, 
there  was  a  court  planted  with  tables  and  benches,  in 
manner  of  a  consistory,  one  seat  raised  higher  (for  the 
judges  to  sit  in)  than  the  other  were.  Then  as  it  were  in 
the  midst  of  the  said  judges,  aloft  above  them  three 
degrees  high,  was  a  cloth  of  state  hanged,  with  a  chair 
royal  under  the  same,  wherein  sat  the  King ;  and  beside 
him,  some  distance  from  him,  sat  the  Queen ;  and  under 
the  judges  feet  sat  the  scribes,  and  other  necessary  officers, 
for  the  execution  of  the  process,  and  other  things  apper- 
taining to  such  a  court.  The  chief  scribe  was  Dr.  Stevens, 
[Stephen  Gardiner]  after  Bishop  of  Winchester  ;*  and  the 
apparitor,  who  was  called  Doctor  of  the  coiut,  was  one 
Cooke,  most  commonly  called  Cooke  of  Winchester. 
Then  before  the  King  and  judges,  within  the  court,  sat  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  Dr.  Warham,  and  all  the  other 
Bishops.  Then  stood  at  both  ends  within,  the  counsellors 
learned  in  the  spiritual  laws,   as  well  the  King's   as  the 


*  See  his  Life  in  a  subsequent  part  of  this  work.  Bishop  Gardiner 
was  next  in  succession  in  the  See  of  Winchester  to  Wolsey.  Edit. — 
He  was  at  this  time  in  great  estimation  witli  Wolsey.  In  letters  and 
'other  documents  of  this  period  he  is  often  called  Dr.  Stevens.  Grani^t-r 
in  vol.  iii.  of  Burnet's  Hist,  of  the  Reformation,  p.  335,  Appendix,  inti- 
mates that  ihis  was  a  colloquial  vulgarism  ;  "  as  Stephen  Gardener 
wa.s  vulgarly  Mr.  Stevyns,  in  Wolscy's  Letter."  The  Bishop  himself, 
in  his  declaration  of  his  Articles  again.?t  George  Joye,  A.D.  1546,  fol.  3, 
6.  of  the  4to.  edition,  thus  spealcs  of  it  :  "a  book,  wherein  lie  wrote, 
how  Dr.  Stevens  (by  uiJtkh  name  1  was  then  called)  had  deceyved  hym." 
And  Cavendish,  as  will  be  seen  in  a  subsequent  page  of  this  reprint, 
adverts  to  this  appellation  in  very  similar  terms.  "  To  this  ambassagu 
was  appointed  Dr.  Stephen  Gardener,  then  called  hy  the  nome  of  Dr, 
Stephens,  and  Secretary  to  the  King." 


WOLSEY.  S8S 

Queen's.  The  doctors  of  law  for  the  King  were  Dr.  Samp- 
son, after  Bishop  of  Chichester,  and  Bell,  after  Bishop  of 
Worcester,  with  divers  others  :  and  procurators  in  the 
same  law,  on  that  side,  was  Dr.  Peter,  after  chief  Seae- 
tary,  and  Dr.  Tregonwell,  with  divers  others. 

Now  on  the  other  side  there  was  a  counsel  for  the 
Queen  standing  there  ;  that  is  to  say.  Dr.  Fisher,  Bishop 
of  Rochester,  and  Dr.  Standishe,  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph, 
two  notable  divines,  and  in  especial  the  Bishop  of  Ro- 
chester, a  very  godly  man ;  for  whose  death  many  noble 
clerks  and  good  men  lamented,  who  lost  his  head  for  this 
cause,  'e're  it  was  ended  on  Tower-Hill.  There  was  also 
another  ancient  Doctor  called  Ridley,  a  very  small  person 
of  stature,  but  a  great  and  an  excellent  clerk  in  divinity. 
Thus  was  the  court  ordered  and  furnished. 

The  judges  commanded  the  crier  to  proclaim  silence, 
whilst  their  commission  was  read  both  to  the  court  and  to 
the  people  assembled.  That  done,  then  the  scribes  com- 
manded the  crier  to  call  the  King  by  the  name  of  "  King 
Henry  of  England,  come  into  the  court,"  and  with  that 
the  King  answered  and  said,  "  Here."  Then  called  he 
the  Queen,  "  Katherine  Queen  of  England,  come  into 
the  court,"  who  made  no  answer  thereto,  but  rose  incon- 
tinent out  of  her  chair  wherein  she  sat^  and  because  she 
could  not  come  to  the  King  directly,  for  the  distance 
severed  between  them,  she  took  pains  to  go  about  the 
court,  and  came  to  the  King,  kneeling  down  at  his  feet 
in  the  sight  of  all  the  court  and  people,  and  said  in  eftect 
these  words,  &:c.  [Here  follows  her  speech,  but  as  it 
belongs  to  history  rather  than  biography,  it  is  here 
omitted.] 

This  strange  case  went  forward  from  court  to  court, 
until  it  came  to  the  judgment,  so  that  everv  man  expected 
it  would  be  given  the  next  court  day.  At  which  day  the 
King  came  thither,  and  sat  down  in  a  chair  within  a  door 
in  the  end  of  the  gallery  which  opened  directly  against  the 
judgment  seat,  to  hear  the  judgment  given  ;  at  which 
time  all  their  proceedings  were  openly  read  in  latin. 
That  done,  the  King's  counsel  at  the  bar  called  for  judg- 
ment. With  that  quoth  Cardinal  Campaigne,  **  1  will 
not  give  judgment  till  1  have  made  relation  to  the  Pope 
ol  all  our  proceedings,  whose  counsel  and  commandment 
m  this  case  I  will  observe.  The  matter  is  too  hio;h  for  us 
to  give  any  hasty  judgment,  considering  the  highness  of 


384  WOLSEY. 

the  persons,  and  the  doubtful  occasions  alleged,  and  also 
whose  commissioners  we  be,  under  whose  authority  we 
sit,  &c.     Wherefore,  I  will  adjourn  this  court,  for  this 
time,  according  to   the   order   of  the   court  of  Rome, 
whence  our  jurisdiction  is  derived,  &c. 

This  matter  continued  thus  a  long  season,  and  my  lord 
Cardinal  was  in  displeasure  with  the  King,  for  that 
the  matter  in  his  suit  took  no  better  success  to  his  pur- 
pose :  notwithstanding,  my  lord  excused  himself  by  his 
commission,  which  gave  him  no  authority  to  proceed  to 
judgment  without  knowledge  of  the  Pope,  who  reserved 
the  same  to  himself. 

At  last  they  were  advertised  by  their  post,  that  the 
Pope  would  take  deliberation  in  the  matter,  until  his 
courts  opened,  which  should  not  be  before  Bartholomew- 
tide  next.  The  King  considering  the  same  too  long 
before  it  should  be  determined,  thought  it  good  to  send 
an  ambassador  to  the  Pope,  to  persuade  witii  him  to 
shew  such  honourable  favour  to  his  majesty,  that  the 
matter  might  sooner  be  ended  than  it  was  like  to  be,  or 
else  at  the  next  court  to  rule  the  matter  over,  according 
to  his  request. 

To  this  embassy  was  appointed  Dr.  Stephen  Gardiner, 
then  called  Dr.  Stephens,  secretary  to  the  King,  after- 
wards Bishop  of  Winchester.  This  Dr.  Stephens  went 
thither,  and  there  tarried  till  the  latter  end  of  summer,  as 
ye  shall  hear  hereafter. 

Then  the  King  commanded  the  Queen  to  be  removed 
out  of  the  court,  and  sent  to  another  place ;  and  his 
highness  rode  in  progress  with  Mrs.  Anne  BuUeine  in  his 
company  all  that  season. 

It  was  so  that  the  Cardinal  Campaigne  made  suit  to 
be  discharged,  that  he  might  return  to  Rome.  Then  it 
chanced  that  Mr.  Secretary  was  returned  home  thence  ; 
whereupon  it  was  concluded  that  Cardinal  Campaigne 
should  come  to  the  King  at  Grafton,  Norts.,  and  be 
conducted  by  my  lord  Cardinal.  And  so  they  took  their 
journey  from  the  moor  thitherward,  and  were  lodged  the 
lirst  night  at  a  town  in  Bedfordshire,  called  Leighton- 
Bussard,  in  the  parsonage  there,  being  Dr.  Chamber's 
benefice,  the  King's  physician.  And  thence  they  rode 
the  next  day,  which  was  Sunday,  to  Grafton ;  before  whose 
coming,  there  rose  divers  opinions  in  the  court,  that  the 
King  would  not  speak  with  my  lord  Cardinal ;  whereupon 
were  laid  many  great  wager^^. 


WOLSEY.  SS3 

These  two  Prelates  being  come  to  the  gates  of  the 
court,  alighted  from  their  horses,  supposing  they  should 
have  been  received  by  the  head  officers  of  the  household  ; 
howbeit  it  fell  out  nothing  so.  Nevertheless,  for  as 
much  as  Caidinal  Campaigne  was  but  a  stranger,  the 
said  officers  met  him,  with  their  white  staves  in  their 
hands,  in  the  base  court,  and  so  conveyed  him  to  his 
lodging  prepared  for  him  only.  And  after  my  lord  had 
brought  him  to  his  lodging,  he  departed  thinking  to  have 
gone  likewise  directly  to  his  chamber,  as  he  was  wont  to 
do.  Then  it  was  told  him,  that  he  had  no  chamber 
nor  lodging  appointed  him  in  the  court.  Bemg  astonished 
with  this  news.  Sir  Henry  N orris,  then  groom  of  the 
stole  to  the  King,  came  unto  him,  desiring  his  grace  to 
take  his  chamber  for  the  time,  until  another  might  be 
provided  for  him.  *'  For  Sir,  1  assure  you,"  quoth  he, 
"  here  is  very  little  room  in  this  house  for  the  King, 
therefore  I  beseecii  your  grace  to  accept  mine  for  the 
season."  And  therewith  my  lord,  thanking  him  for  his 
gentleness,  went  straight  to  Mr.  Noiris's  chamber,  where 
he  shifted  his  riding  apparel ;  and  in  the  mean  while, 
bemg  thus  in  his  chamber,  divers  of  the  noblemen  and 
gentlemen,  being  his  loving  friends,  came  to  welcome 
him  to  the  court,  by  whom  my  lord  was  advertised  of  all 
things  touching  the  King's  favour  or  displeasure  towards 
him ;  which  did  him  no  small  pleasure  ;  for  being 
astonished  of  the  cause  of  the  King's  displeasure,  he 
was  the  more  ready  to  make  his  excuse  against  the  same. 

Then  was  my  lord  advertised  that  he  should  prepare 
himself  to  go  into  the  chamber  of  presence,  there  to 
attend  the  King's  coming,  who  was  disposed  there  to 
talk  with  him.  The  other  Cardinal  came  into  my  lord's 
chamber,  and  both  together  went  into  the  said  chamber 
of  presence,  where  the  lords  of  the  council  stood  all  in 
row  in  order  along  the  chamber.  My  lord  Cardinal 
putting  off  his  cap,  spake  to  every  of  them  most  gently,  and 
so  did  they  no  less  to  him :  at  which  time  the  chamber 
was  furnished  with  noblemen  and  gentlemen,  and  others, 
that  expected  the  meeting,  countenance,  and  entertain- 
ment of  the  King  towards  my  lord  Cardinal. 

Then  innnediately  after  the  King  came  into  the 
chamber  of  presence  ;  and  standing  under  the  cloth  of 
state,  my  lord  Cardinal  took  Cardinal  Campaigne  by  the 
hand,  and  kneeled  down  before  the  King,  but  what  he 

cc 


386  WOLSEY. 

said  unto  him  I  know  not :  nevertheless  the  King,  as 
amiably  as  ever  he  did  before,  stooped  down,  and  with 
both  his  hands  took  him  up,  and  after  took  him  aside  by 
the  hand,  and  led  him  to  the  window,  where  he  talked 
with  him, 

Then,  to  behold  the  countenance  of  the  noblemen  and 
others  that  had  made  their  wagers,  it  would  have  made 
you  smile  ;  and  especially  of  those  that  laid  their  money, 
that  the  King  would  not  speak  with  him.  Thus  were  they 
deceived.  The  King  was  in  earnest  and  long  commu- 
nication with  him,  in  so  much  that  I  might  hear  the  King 
say,  "  How  can  that  be  ;  is  not  this  your  own  hana  V* 
and  pulled  a  letter  or  writing  out  of  his  bosom,  and 
shewed  the  same  to  my  lord  :  and  as  I  perceived  my  lord 
answered  the  same,  that  the  King  had  no  more  to  say,  but 
said  to  him,  "  My  lord  go  to  dinner,  and  call  my  lords 
here  to  keep  you  company  ;  and  after  dinner  I  will  come 
to  you  again ;  and  then  we  will  commune  further  with 
you  ;"  and  so  departed,  and  dined  himself  that  day,  with 
Mrs.  Anne  Bulleine  in  her  chamber. 

Then  was  there  set  up  in  the  chamber  of  presence  a 
table  for  my  lord,  and  other  lords  of  the  counsel,  where 
they  dined  together,  sitting  at  dinner  and  communing  of 
divers  matters.  "  The  King  should  do  well,"  quoth  my 
lord  Cardinal,  "  to  send  his  Bishops  and  Chaplains  home 
to  their  cures  and  benefices."  "  Yea,  Mary,"  quoth  my 
Lord  of  Norfolk,  "  and  so  it  were  meet  for  you  to  do 
also."  "  1  should  be  well  content  therewith,"  quoth  my 
Lord,  "  if  it  were  the  King's  pleasure  to  licence  me 
with  his  grace's  favour,  to  go  to  my  benefice  at  Win- 
chester." "  Nay,"  quoth  my  Lord  of  Norfolk,  **  to 
your  benefice  at  York,  whereat  is  your  greatest  honour 
and  charge."  "  Even  as  it  shall  please  the  King,"  quoth 
my  lord  Cardinal,  and  so  fell  into  other  matters.  For 
the  lords  were  loath  he  should  be  so  near  the  King  as  to 
continue  at  Winchester.  Immediately  after  dinner  they 
fell  to  counsel  until  the  waiters  had  dined. 

And  as  I  heard  it  reported  by  them  that  waited  on  the 
King  at  dinner,  Mrs.  Anne  Bulleine  was  much  offended, 
as  far  as  she  durst,  that  the  King  so  gently  entertained 
the  Cardinal,  saying,  as  she  sat  with  the  King  at  dinner, 
in  communication  of  my  lord,  "  Sir,"  quoth  she,  "  is  it 
not  a  marvellous  thing  to  see  what  debt  and  danger  he 
hath  brought  you  in  with  all  your  subjects?"     '*  How  so 


WOLSEY.  387 

sv^'eetheart?"  quoth  the  King.  "Forsooth,"  quoth  she, 
"  there  is  not  a  man  within  all  your  realm  Morth  £5. :" 
(meaning  a  loan  which  the  King  had  of  his  subjects.) 
*'  Well,"  quoth  the  King,  "as  for  that,  there  was  m  him 
no  blame;  for  I  know  that  matter  better  than  you,  or 
any  other."  *' Nay,  Sir,"  quoth  she,  "besides  that 
what  things  hath  he  wrought  within  this  realm  to  your 
great  slander  ?  There  is  never  a  nobleman  but  if  he 
had  done  half  so  much  as  he  hath  done,  he  were  well 
worthy  to  lose  his  head.  Yea,  if  my  lord  of  Norfolk, 
my  lord  of  Suffolk,  my  lord  my  father,  or  any  other 
nobleman  within  your  realm,  had  done  much  less  than  he 
hath  done,  they  should  have  lost  their  heads  'ere  this." 

"  Then  I  perceive,"  quoth  the  King,  "you  are  not  the 
Cardinal's  friend?"  "  Why,  Sir,"  saith  she,  "  I  have  no 
cause  nor  any  that  loveth  you  ;  no  more  has  your  grace 
if  you  consider  well  his  doings." 

.By  that  time  the  waiters  took  up  the  table,  and  so 
ended  their  communication.  Now  ye  may  perceive  how 
the  old  malice  began  to  kindle,  and  to  be  set  on  fire, 
which  was  as  much  provoked  by  his  ancient  enemies. 

After  Cardinal  Campaigne  was  departed,  Michaelmas 
term  drew  on,  against  which  time  my  lord  Cardinal  re- 
sorted unto  his  house  at  Westminster;*  and  when  the 
term  began  he  went  into  the  hall  in  such  like  sort  and 
gesture  as  he  accustomed  most  commonly  to  do,  and  sat 
in  the  chancery,  being  than  chancellor.  After  tohich  day 
he  never  sat  more!  The  next  day  he  tarried  at  home, 
expecting  the  coming  of  the  Dukes  of  Suftolk  and  Nor- 
folk, who  came  not  that  day;  but  the  next  day  they 
came  thither  unto  him,  and  declared  the  King's  pleasure, 
which  was  that  he  should  surrender  and  deliver  up 
the  great  seal  into  their  hands,  and  depart  unto  Esher ; 
which  was,  an  house  situate  nigh  Hampton  court,  be- 
longing to  the  Bishopric  of  Winchester.  The  Cardinal 
demanded  of  them  their  commission  that  gave  them  such 
authority  so  to  do;  they  answered  him  that  they  were 
sufficient  commissioners,  and  had  authority  to  do  no  less 
by  the  King's  mouth.  Notwithstanding  he  would  in  no 
wise  agree  to  their  saying  in  that  behalf  without  further 


[This  house  was  called  York-place,  and  had  been  for  some  centuries 
the  residence  of  the  Archbishops  ot  York.  It  thenceforth  became  a  royal 
residence  under  the  name  of  Whitehall.— Edit.J 

C  C  2 


oSS  VVOLSEY. 

knowledge  of  their  authority,  saying,  that  as  for  the  great 
seal  it  was  delivered  hirn  by  the  King's  person  to  enjoy 
the  ministration  thereof,  with  the  post  of  chancellor,  for 
the  term  of  his  life,  iivhereof  for  his  surety  he  had  the 
King's  letters  patent  to  shew.  Which  matter  was  greatly 
debated  between  him  and  the  Dukes,  with  maily  great 
and  heinous  words,  all  which  he  took  in  patience,  inso- 
mucl:  that  the  Dukes  were  fain  to  depart  again  without 
their  purpose  at  that  time,  and  rode  to  Windsor  to  the 
King  from  whence  they  came.  And  what  report  they 
made  I  am  uncertain  ;  howbeit  the  next  day  they  returned 
from  Windsor  from  the  King,  bringing  with  them  the 
King's  letters. 

Then  my  lord  delivered  unto  them  the  great  seal,  and 
was  content  to  obey  the  King's  command,  and  to  depart, 
simply  taking  with  him  nothing  but  only  certain  provision 
for  his  house;  saying,  that  the  King  intended  to  come 
thither  within  two  or  three  days. 

And  after  long  talk  between  him  and  the  Dukes  they 
departed  with  the  great  seal  of  England  unto  Windsor, 
and  brought  the  same  unto  the  King.  Then  went  my 
lord  Cardinal,  and  called  his  officers  before  him,  and 
took  account  of  them  for  all  such  stuff  and  things  whereof 
they  had  charge. 

Then  he  prepared  to  depart  by  water.  And  before 
his  going.  Sir  William  Gascoigne  his  treasurer,  came  unto 
him,  to  whom  he  gave  among  other  the  charge  of  the 
delivery  of  his  goods  to  the  King  ,*  Sir  William  said  to 
the  Cardinal,  then  being  his  lord  and  master,  **  Sir,  I  am 
sorry  for  your  grace,  for  ye  shall  go  straightway  to  the 
Tower,  as  I  heard  say."  "  Is  this  the  good  counsel  and 
comfort,"  quoth  my  lord  Cardinal  unto  him,  *'  that  you 
can  give  your  master  in  adversity  ?  It  has  always  been 
yowr  natural  inclination  to  be  very  light  of  credit,  and 
much  more  light  of  reporting  lies.  1  would  you  should 
know,  Sir  William,  and  all  these  reporters  that  it  is 
untrue,  for  I  never  deserved  to  come  there;  although  it 
hath  pleased  the  King  to  take  my  house  ready  furnished 
for  his  pleasure  at  this  time.  I  would  all  the  world  knew 
that  I  have  nothing,  but  it  is  his  of  right,  for  by  him,  and 
of  him  I  have  received  all  that  I  have ;  therefore  it  is  of 
convenience  and  reason  that  I  render  unto  his  majesty 
the  same  again  with  all  my  heart.  Therefore  go  your 
ways,  and  attend  well  to  your  charge."     And  there  withal 


WOLSEY.  389 

he  made  him  ready  to  ride ;  and  then  with  his  train  of 
gentlemen  and  yeomen,  which  was  no  small  number,  he 
took  his  barge  at  his  privy  stairs,  and  so  went  by  water 
to  Putney.  At  tlie  taking  whereof  there  were  on  the 
Thames,  boats  filled  with  people  of  London,  expecting  the 
Cardinal's  departing  by  water,  supposing  that  he  should 
have  gone  to  the  Tower,  whereat  they  joyed  very  much. 
When  he  was  with  all  his  train  arrived  at  Putney,  being 
iipon  the  land,  he  took  his  mule,  and  every  man  to  their 
horses.  And  riding  not  past  a  pair  of  butt  lengths  he 
espied  a  gentlemen  come  riding  in  post  down  the  hill  in 
the  town  of  Putney,  and  demanding  of  his  gentlemen 
about  him  who  he  was  that  came  riding  down  so  fast, 
"  Forsooth  Sir,"  quoth  they,  "  it  is  Mr.  Norris  as  it 
seemeth  to  us."  And  by  and  by  he  came  to  my  lord 
saluting  him,  and  said,  "  Sir,  the  King's  majesty  com- 
mendeth  him  unto  you,  and  commanded  me  to  shew  you 
that  you  be  as  much  in  his  favour  as  ever  .you  were, 
and  so  shall  be.  Therefore  he  would  that  you  should  be 
of  good  cheer,  and  take  no  thought  for  ye  shall  not  lack. 
And  although  he  hath  done  thus  unkindly  towards  you^ 
it  is  more  for  the  satisfying  of  some  than  for  any  indigna- 
tion :  and  yet  you  know  well  he  is  able  to  recompence 
you  again,  and  to  restore  you  to  twice  so  much  ;  and 
thus  he  bade  me  that  I  sliould  shew  you,  and  willed  me 
to  bid  you  to  take  all  this  matter  in  patience.  And,  Sir, 
for  my  part  I  trust  to  see  you  in  better  estate  than  ever 
you  were."  But  when  he  had  heard  Mr.  Norris  report 
the  good  and  comfortable  words  of  the  King,  he  quickly 
lighted  off  his  mule,  all  alone,  as  tho'  he  had  been  the 
youngest  amongst  us,  and  innnediately  kneeled  down  in 
the  dirt  upon  both  his  knees,  holding  up  his  hands  for 
joy  of  the  King's  most  comfortable  message.  Mr,  Norris 
alighted  also  espying  him  so  soon  on  his  knees,  and 
kneeled  by  him,  and  took  him  in  his  arms,  and  asked 
how  he  did,  calling  upon  him  to  credit  his  message. 
*'  Mr.  Norris,"  quoth  he,  "  when  I  consider  the  joyful 
news  you  have  brought  to  me  I  could  do  no  less  than 
greatly  jejoice.  Your  words  pierced  my  heart,  that  the 
sudden  joy  surmounted  my  memory,  having  no  regard  or 
respect  to  the  place,  but  I  thought  it  my  duty  in  the 
same  place  where  I  received  this  comfort,  to  land  and 
praise  God  upon  my  knees,  and  most  humbly  to  render 
to  my  sovreign  lord  my  thanks  for  the  same." 


.'390  WOLSEY. 

And  as  he   was  thus  talking  upon  his  knees  to  Mr. 
Nonis,    he  would  have   pulled  olf  a  velvet   night    cap 
which  he  wore  under  his  black  hat,  and  scarlet  cap,  but 
he  could   not  undo  the  knot  under  his  chin ;  wherefore 
with  violence  he  rent  the  laces  of  his  cap,  and  pulled  his 
said  cap  from  his  head,  and  kneeled  bare  headed.     And 
this  done  he  rose  up  and  mounted  his  nude,  and  so  rode 
fortli   up  the   high   way  in  the   town  talking  with  Mr. 
Norris.     And  when  he  came  unto  Putney  Heath,  where 
Mr.  Norris  should   depart  from  him,  Mr    Norris  gave 
him  a  ring  of  gold  with  a  stone,  and  said  unto  him  that 
the   King  sent  him  the  same  for  a  token  of  good  will, 
"  which  ring,"   quoth  he,     "  the   King  saith  you  know 
very  well."     It  was  the  privy  token  between  the   King 
and  him  when  the  King  would  have  any  especial  thing 
sped  at  his  hands.*     Then  said  he  to  Mr.  Morris,  *'  If 
1  were  lord  of  a  realm  the  one  half  were  too  small  a 
reward  to  give  you  for  your  pains,  and  good  news.      But, 
good  Mr.  Norris,  consider  with  me  that  I  have  nothing 
left  me   but  my  clothes  upon  my   back.     Therefore   1 
shall  desire  you  to  take  this  small  reward  at  my  hands  ;" 
which  was  a  little  chain  of  gold  made  like  a  bottle  chain, 
with  a  cjoss  of  gold,  wherein  was  a  piece  of  the  Holy 
Cross,    which  he  continually  wore  about  his  neck  next 
his  body;  and  said  futhermore,  *' Master  Norris,  1  assure 
you  when  1  was  in  prosperity,  although  it  seem  but  small 
in  value,  yet  1  would  not  gladly  have  departed  with  the 
same  for  o£  1,000.     Therefore  1  shall  require  you  to  take 
it  in  good  worth,  and  to  wear  it  about  your  neck  con- 
tinually for  my  sake,  and  to  remember  me  to  the   King 
when   ye  shall  see  opportunity,  unto  whose  highness  1 
shall  most  instantly  require  you  to  have  me  most  humbly 
commended ;    for  whose   charitable  disposition  to  me  I 
can   but  pray  for  the   preservation   of  his  royal  estate. 


*  [The  design  of  this  ciuel  mockery  is  not  to  be  easily  conjectured. 
It  is  probable  that  it  was  suggested  by  some  of  the  envious  courtiers  to 
Ann  Boleyn,  and  by  her  infused  into  the  King's  mind  as  a  trick  to  lull 
the  Cardinal  with  hopes  of  restoration  to  the  roj  al  favor,  and  thus  to 
pievent  his  pieparing  his  defence  in  the  prosecution  instituted  against 
him.  Had  the  Cardinal  not  been  thus  inspired  with  fallacious  hopes,  he 
conld  have  readily  defended  himself  by  the  production  of  the  King's 
letteis  patent  aut/torizing  him  to  accept  the  Pope's  bull. — The  pretext 
alleged  for  pulling  down  the  Caidinal  was,  his  having  violated  the 
statiite  16  hicliard  11.,  by  which  he  exposed  himself  to  the  penalties  of  a 
premunire  by  procuring  a  bull  appointing  him  Legate. — Edit.J 


WOLSEY.  391 

I  am  his  obedient  subject,  his  poor  chaplain,  and  bead- 
man,  and  so  will  be  during  my  life ;  accounting  myself 
nothing,  nor  to  have  any  thing  but  only  of  him  and  by 
him;  whom  I  have  justly  and  truly  served  to  the  best  ot 
my  gross  wit."  And  with  that  he  took  Master  Norris  by 
the  hand  bare  headed,  and  so  departed.  And  when  he 
was  gone  but  a  small  distance  he  returned  again,  and 
caused  Mr.  Norris  to  be  called  to  him.  When  Mr. 
Norris  was  returned  he  said  unto  him,  *'  I  am  sorry  that 
1  have  no  token  to  send  unto  the  King.  But  if  you  will 
at  my  request  present  the  King  with  this  poor  fool,  I 
trust  he  will  accept  him,  for  he  is  for  a  nobleman's 
pleasure,  forsooth,  worth  ^1,000." 

So  Mr.  Norris  took  the  fool ;  with  whom  my  lord  was 
fain  to  send  six  of  his  tallest  yeomen  to  help  him  to 
convey  the  fool  to  the  court ;  for  the  poor  fool  took  on 
like  a  tyrant  rather  than  he  would  have  departed  from  my 
lord.  Notwithstanding  they  conveyed  him  away,  and  so 
brought  him  to  the  court,  where  the  King  received  him 
very  gladly.  x\fter  departure  of  Master  Norris  with  his 
token  to  the  King  my  lord  rode  straight  to  Esher,  where 
my  lord  and  his  family  continued  the  space  of  three  or 
four  weeks  tvithout  either  beds,  sheets,  table  clothes,  or 
dishes  to  eat  their  meat  in,  or  tvhereioith  to  buy  any. 
Howbeit  there  was  good  provision  of  all  kinds  of  victuals, 
and  of  drink,  as  beer  and  wine,  \^  hereof  there  was  plenty. 
My  lord  was  compelled  of  necessity  to  borrow  of  Mr. 
Arundel  and  of  the  Bishop  of  Carlisle  plate  and  dishes, 
both  to  drink  in,  and  to  eat  his  meat  in.  Thus  my  lord 
with  his  family  continued  in  this  strange  state  until  after 
All-hallow's  tide. 

Upon  All-hallow's  day  after  my  lord  had  supped,  and 
all  men  were  gone  to  bed,  about  midnight,  one  of  the 
porters  came  to  my  chamber  door,  and  knocked  there  to 
wake  me.  And  being  once  awake,  and  perceiving  who 
was  there,  I  asked  him  what  he  would  have  at  that  time 
of  the  night?  **  Sir,"  quoth  he,  ''there  be  a  great 
number  of  horsemen  at  the  gate  that  Mould  come  m, 
saying  that  it  is  Sir  John  Russel,  and  so  it  appears  by 
his  voice  ;  and  what  is  your  pleasure  that  I  should  do  ?" 
**  Mary,"  quoth  I,  "  go  down  again,  and  make  a  great 
fire  in  your  lodge  until  1  come  to  dry  them  ;"  for  it  rained 
all  that  night  most  vehemently.  Then  I  arose,  and  made 
me  ready,  and  put  on  my  night  gown,  and  came  to  the 


392  WOLSEY. 

gates,  and  asked  who  was  there.     With  that  Mr,  Russel 
spake  to  me,  whom  1  knew  right  well,  and  caused  the 
gates  to   be   set  open,    and   let  them  all  come  in,   who 
were  wet  to  the  very  skin.     I  caused  Mr.  Russel  to  go 
into  the  porter's  lodge  to  the  fire  to  dry  him ;  and  he 
shewed  me  that  he  was  come  from  the  King  unto  my  lord 
in  message,  with  whom  he  required  me  to  speak.    **  Sir," 
quoth  I,  "  1  trust  your  news  be  good."     "  Yea,  and  so 
1   promise   you  on  my  fidelity ;  and   to  tell  him  that  I 
have   brought  him   such  news   as  will   please  him  right 
well."     "  Well  then   1   will  go,"   quoth  I,    "  and   wake 
him,  and  cause  him  to  rise."     J  went  incontinent  to  my 
lord's  chamber  door,  and  knocked  there,  so  that  my  lord 
spake  to  me,  and  asked  me  what  I  would  have.     I  told 
him   of  the  coming  of  Sir  John   Russel;  and  then  he 
called  up  to  him  one  of  his  grooms  to  let  me  in  ;  and 
when  I  was  come  to  him,  1  told  him  again  of  the  journey 
that   Sir  John  Russel  had  taken  that  troublesome  night. 
"  I  pray   God  all  be  for  the  best,"  quoth  he.     "  Yes, 
Sir,"  quoth  I,    ''  he  shewed  me,  and  so  bade  me  tell  you 
that  he  had  brought  such  news  as   you    would   greatly 
rejoice  ^t."     "  Well  then,"  quoth  he,  *'  God  be  praised  ; 
and  welcome  be  his  grace  !     Go  ye  and  fetch  him  to  me, 
and  by  that  time  I  will  be  ready  to  talk  with  him." 

Then  I  returned  into  the  lodge,  and  brought  Mr. 
Russel  thence  unto  my  lord,  who  had  cast  about  him  his 
night  gown  And  when  Mr.  Russel  was  come  before 
him,  he  most  humbly  reverenced  him  upon  his  knees  ; 
whom  my  lord  stooped  unto  and  took  him  up,  and  bade 
him  welcome.  **  Sir,"  quoth  he,  "  the  King  com- 
mendetli  him  unto  you,"  and  delivered  him  a  great  ring 
of  gold  with  a  turquois  for  a  token;  "  and  willed  me  to 
bid  you  be  of  good  cheer,  for  he  loveth  you  as  well  as 
ever  he  did,  and  is  sorry  for  your  trouble,  and  his  mind 
runneth  much  upon  you.  Insomuch  that  before  his  grace 
sat  down  to  supper  he  called  me  unto  him,  and  desired 
me  to  take  the  pains  secretly  to  visit  you,  and  to  comfort 
you  to  the  best  of  my  power.  And,  Sir,  I  have  had  the 
sorest  journey  for  so  little  a  way  that  ever  I  had  to  my 
remembrance." 

My  lord  thanked  him  for  his  pains  and  good  news,  and 
demanded  of  him  if  he  had  supped ;  and  he  said  "  JMay." 
**  Well  then,"  quoth  my  lord,  *'  cause  the  cooks  to  pro- 
vide some  meat  for  him,  and  cause  a  chamber  to  be 


WOLSEY.  3^3 

provided  for  him,  that  he  may  take  his  rest  awhile  upon 
a  bed."  AH  which  command  I  fultilled,  and  in  the 
mean  time  my  lord,  and  Master  Russel  were  in  secret 
communication  ;  and  in  the  end,  Master  Russel  went  to 
his  chamber,  taking  his  leave  of  my  lord,  and  said  he 
would  tarry  but  a  while  for  he  would  be  at  the  court  of 
Greenwich  again  before  day;  and  would  not  for  anything 
that  it  were  known  that  he  had  been  with  my  lord  that 
night.  And  so  being  in  his  chamber  having  a  small 
repast,  he  rested  him  a  while  upon  a  bed,  while  his 
servants  supped  and  dried  themselves,  and  that  done, 
mcontineut  he  rode  away  again  with  speed  to  the  court. 
And  after  this  within  a  while  my  lord  was  restored  to 
plate  vessels,  and  household  stuff,  of  every  thing  necessary 
some  part,  so  that  he  was  better  furnished  than  before. 

The  case  stood  so  that  the  Parliament  should  begin 
crastmo  animariim,  or  there  abouts ;  and  [he,  Thomas 
Cromwell]  being  within  London,  devised  with  himself  to 
be  one  of  the  burgesses  of  the  Parliament,  and  chanced 
to  meet  with  one  Sir  Thomas  Rush,  Knt.,  a  special  friend 
of  his,  whose  son  was  appointed  to  be  a  burgess,  of 
whom  he  obtained  his  room,  and  so  put  his  feet  into  the 
Parliament  house  ;  so  that  within  two  or  three  days  after 
his  departure  from  my  lord  he  came  again  to  Esher,  with 
a  pleasant  countenance,  and  said  to  me  that  he  had  once 
adventured  to  put  in  his  feet,  where  he  would  be  better 
regarded,  or  ever  the  Parliament  were  hnished.  Then 
talked  with  my  lord,  and  after  his  talk  he  rode  again 
to  London,  because  he  would  not  be  absent  from  the 
Parliament.  There  was  nothing  done  against  him  in 
the  Parliament  house,  but  he  sent  to  my  lord  to  know 
what  answer  he  might  make  in  his  behalf;  insomuch 
that  there  was  nothing  alleged  against  my  lord  but  that 
he  was  ready  to  make  answer  thereto;  insomuch  that  at 
the  length  his  honest  estimation  and  earnest  behaviour 
111  his  master's  cause  grew  so  in  every  man's  opinion, 
that  he  was  reputed  the  most  faittiful  servant  to  his 
master  of  all  other,  wherein  he  was  greatly  of  all  men 
commended. 

Then  was  there  brought  in  a  bill  of  articles  into  the 
Parliament  house  to  have  my  lord  condemned  of  treason; 
against  which  bill  Mr.  Cromwell  inveightd  so  discreetly, 
with  such  witty  persuasions,  ana  deep  reasons,  that  the 
same  could  take  no  eliect.     Then  were  his  enemies  con- 


394  WOLSEY. 

strained  to  indict  him  in  a  premunire,  and  all  was  to 
entitle  the  King  to  his  goods  and  possessions,  which  he 
had  obtained  and  purchased  for  the  maintenance  of  his 
Colleges  in  Oxford  and  Ipswich,  which  he  was  then 
building  in  the  most  sumptuous  wise.  Wherein  when 
my  lord  was  demanded  by  the  judges  sent  to  him  to  know 
his  mind,  and  to  take  his  answer  therein,  he  answered 
them  in  this  wise,  "  My  lords,  judges,"  quoth  he,  "the 
King  knoiceth  whether  I  have  offended  his  majesty 
or  not  in  using  my  prerogative  legantine,  for 
xohich  I  am  indicted.  I  have  the  King's  licence  in  my 
coffers  under  his  hand  and  broad  seal  for  the  exercising 
and  using  thereof,  in  the  largest  wise ;  which  now  are  in 
the  hands  of  my  enemies.  Therefore  because  I  will 
not  stand  in  question  with  the  King*  in  his  own  cause, 
I  will  here  presently  confess  before  you  the  indictment, 
and  put  me  wholly  into  the  mercy  and  grace  of  the  King, 
trusting  that  he  hath  a  conscience  and  a  discretion  to 
consider  the  truth,  and  my  humble  submission  and 
obedience :  wherein  I  might  right  well  stand  to  the  trial 
thereof  by  justice.  But  thus  much  ye  may  say  to  his 
highness,  that  1  am  wholly  under  his  obedience,  and  will ; 
and  do  submit  myself  to  all  things  that  shall  be  his 
princely  pleasure,  whose  will  and  command  I  never 
disobeyed,  but  was  always  contented  and  glad  to  please 
him  before  God,  whom  I  ought  most  chiefly  to  have 
obeyed ;  the  which  now  me  repents.  Notwithstanding 
J  most  heartily  require  you  to  have  me  unto  his  royal  majesty 
commended,  for  whom  1  do  and  will  during  my  life  pray 
to  God  to  send  him  much  prosperity,  honour,  and  victory 
over  his  enemies."  And  therewith  they  took  their  leave 
and  departed. 

Shortly  after  the  King  sent  the  Duke  of  Norfolk  unto 
him  in  message :  but  what  it  was  I  am  not  certain ; 
therefore  I  omit  to  speak  thereof.  But  my  lord  being 
advertised,  that  my  lord  of  Norfolk  was  coming,  iind  even 
at  hand,  he  caused  all  his  gentlemen  to  wait  upon  him 
down  through  the  hall  into  the  base  court,  to  receive  the 
Duke  at  the  gates,   and  commanded  all  his  yeomen  to 


*  [One  cannot  but  admire  the  unshaken  loyalty  of  the  Cardinal.  Fox 
Jiiy  own  part,  traduced  as  Wolsey  has  been,  I  see  much  in  his  character 
to  admire.  Amidst  all  his  sufferings  and  indignities  not  a  word  escaped 
kiiD  to  the  prejudice  of  his  sovereign.— Edit.] 


WOLSEY.  595 

stand  in  order  still  in  the  hall.  And  he  himself  with  all 
his  gentlemen  went  to  the  gates,  where  he  received  my 
lord  of  Norfolk  bareheaded,  who  embraced  each  other ; 
and  so  led  him  by  the  arm  through  the  hall  into  his 
chamber.  And  when  the  Duke  had  passed  through  to  the 
upper  end  of  the  hall,  regardnig  the  number  of  tall 
yeomen  that  stood  on  each  side  thereof,  he  turned  again 
to  the  yeomen,  and  said,  "  Sns,  your  diligent  and  faithful 
service  unto  your  master  in  this  his  calamity,  hath  pur- 
chased you  of  all  men,  noble  and  ignoble,  much  honesty; 
insomuch  that  the  King  commanded  me  to  say  to  you 
in  his  name,  that  for  your  true  and  loving  service  that  ye 
have  done  to  your  master,  his  highness  will  see  you  all 
at  any  time  furnished  M'ith  services,  accoiding  to  your 
merits."  With  that  my  lord  put  oft'  his  cap,  and  said 
to  my  lord  of  Norfolk,  **Sir,  these  men  be  all  approved 
men,  wherefore  it  were  pity  they  should  want  any  service  ; 
and  being  sorry  that  1  am  not  able  to  do  for  them 
as  iny  heart  wisheth,  I  will  therefore  require  you, 
my  good  lord,  to  be  good  lord  unto  them,  and  extend 
your  charity  among  them,  where  and  when  ye  shall  see 
occasion  at  any  time  hereafter;  and,  tl)at  ye  will  prefer 
their  dihgence  and  faithful  service  unto  the  King," 
''Doubt  you  not  my  lord,"  quoth  my  lord  of  Norfolk, 
"  but  1  will  do  for  them  the  best  in  my  power,  and  as 
I  shall  see  cause,  I  will  be  an  earnest  suitor  for  them 
to  the  King;  and  some  of  you  I  will  retain  myself  in 
service  for  right  honest  men.  And  as  ye  have  begun,  so 
continue,  until  ye  hear  more  of  the  King's  pleasure. 
God's  blessing  and  mine  be  with  you!"  And  so  went 
up  into  the  great  chamber  to  dinner;  whom  my  lord 
Cardinal  thanked,  and  said  to  him,  "  Yet,  my  lord,  of 
all  other  noblemen  I  have  most  cause  to  thank  you  for 
your  noble  and  gentle  part,  which  you  have  shewed  me 
behind  my  back,  as  my  servant,  Thomas  Cromwell,  well 
hath  reported  unto  me.  But  even  as  ye  be  a  noble-man 
in  deed,  so  have  you  shewed  yourself  no  less  to  all  men 
in  calamity,  and  especially  to  me,  whom  ye  have  brought 
down  from  my  high  estate,  but  now  again  being  in  this 
my  miserable  estate,  you  have  extended  your  favour  most 
honourably  with  great  chanty.  Ye  do  nghr.  well  de.^ene 
to  bear  in  your  arms  the  noble  and  gentle  lion,  whose 
natural  property  is,  when  he  hath  vanquisiied  a  cruel  beast, 
and  seeth  him  yielded,  lying  prostrate  before  him  undep 


S96  WOLSEY. 

his  feet,  then  will  he  be  merciful  unto  him,  and  do  him 
no  more  hurt,  nor  suffer  any  ravenous  beast  to  devour 
him:  al!  whose  natural  inclination  ye  have;  where  I  may 
say  these  verses  in  your  connnendation, — 

Parcere  prostrafis  scU  nobilis  ira  leonis  : 

Tu  quoque  Jac  simile,  quisquis  regnabis  in  orbe.^' 

With  these  words  the  water  was  brought  them  to  wash ; 
to  which  my  lord  called  my  lord  of  Norfolk  to  wash  with 
him,  but  he  refused  so  to  do  of  courtesy;  and  said,  "that 
it  became  him  no  more  to  presume  to  wash  with  him 
now  than  it  did  before."  *'  Yes,"  quoth  my  lord,  "  for 
my  legacy  [office  of  Legate  from  the  Pope]  is  gone, 
wherein  stood  all  my  high  honour."  *'  A  straw,"  quoth 
my  lord  of  JSorfolk,  "  for  your  legacy.  1  never  esteemed 
your  honour  the  higher  for  that.  But  I  esteemed  your 
honour  for  that  ye  were  Archbishop  of  York,  and  a 
Cardinal,  whose  estate  and  honour  surmounteth  any  Duke 
within  this  realm ;  and  even  so  will  I  honour  you,  and 
acknowledge  the  same  in  doing  you  reverence  and  honour 
accordingly.  Therefore  content  you,  I  will  not  presume 
to  wash  with  you  ;  and  therefore  I  pray  you  hold  me 
excused,"  Then  was  my  lord  compelled  to  wash  alone  ; 
and  when  he  had  done,  then  my  lord  of  Norfolk  washed 
by  himself.  That  done,  my  lord  Cardinal  would  have 
had  him  sit  down  on  the  chair  in  the  inner  side  of  the 
table,  but  he  refused  the  same  with  much  humbleness. 
Then  was  there  another  chair  set  for  my  lord  of  Norfolk 
over  against  my  lord  Cardinal,  on  the  outside  of  the 
table,  which  he  caused  to  be  based  something  beneath, 
and  would  not  sit  directly  against  my  lord;  having  all 
their  communication  of  the  diligent  service  of  the  gen- 
tlemen who  waited  upon  him  there  at  dinner,  and  how 
much  the  King  and  all  the  other  lords  did  esteem  and 
commend  them  in  so  doins:;  and  how  little  thev  are 
regarded  in  the  court  that  are  come  to  the  Kmg's  service, 
and  have  forsaken  their  master  in  this  time  of  necessity ; 
whereof  some  he  blamed  by  name.  And  thus  their  dinner 
and  conversation  ended,  they  rose  and  went  into  my 
lord's  privy  chamber,  where  they  continued  in  consultation. 

And  being  there,  it  chanced  Mr.  Shelly,  the  judge, 
came  thither,  who  was  sent  from  the  King.  Who,  after 
due  salutation,  declared  unto  him  the  King's  pleasure 
was  to  have  my  lord's  house  called   York   place,  near 


WOLSEY.  397 

Westminster,  belonging  to  the  Archbisliopric  of  York,  and 
to  possess  the  same  according  to  the  laws  of  his  realm. 
**  His  highness  has  sent  for  all  the  judges,  and  all  the 
learned  counsel,  to  know  their  opinions  for  the  assurance 
thereof;  whose  opinions  be  fully  resolved,  that  your 
grace  must  make  a  recognizance,  and  before  a  judge 
acknowledge  and  confess  the  right  thereof  to  belong 
to  the  King  and  his  successors ;  and  so  his  highness 
shall  be  assured  thereof.  Wherefore  it  hath  pleased  the 
King  to  appoint  and  send  me  hither  to  take  of  you  the 
same  recognizance,  having  in  your  grace  such  affiance  as 
that  ye  will  not  refuse  so  to  do.  Therefore  I  shall  desire 
your  grace  to  know  your  pleasure  therein."  "  Master 
Shelly,"  quodi  my  lord,  "  I  know  that  the  King  of  his 
own  nature  is  of  a  royal  stomach,  not  willing  more  than 
justice  shall  lead  him  unto  by  the  law.  And,  therefore, 
1  counsel  you  and  all  other  judges  and  learned  men  of 
his  counsel  to  put  no  more  into  his  head  than  law,  that 
may  stand  with  conscience  ;  for  when  ye  tell  him  this  is 
the  law,  it  were  well  done  ye  should  tell  him  also  that 
although  this  be  the  law,  yet  tJiis  is  conscience  ;  for  law 
without  conscience  is  not  meet  to  be  given  to  a  King 
by  his  counsel,  to  be  ministered  by  him,  nor  by  any  of 
his  ministers  ;  for  every  counsellor  to  a  King  ought  to. 
have  a  respect  to  conscience  before  the  rigour  of  the 
law,  for  laus  est  facere  quod  decet,  nou  quod  licet.  The 
King  ought  for  his  royal  dignity  and  prerogative  to 
mitigate  the  rigour  of  the  law,  where  conscience  hath 
the  more  force ;  and  therefore  in  his  princely  place  he 
hath  constituted  a  chancellor  to  order  for  him  the  same. 
And  therefore  the  court  of  chancery  hath  been  commonly 
called  the  court  of  conscience  ;  because  it  hath  jurisdic- 
tion to  command  the  law  in  every  case  to  desist  from 
the  execution  of  the  rigour  of  the  same,  whereas  con- 
science hath  most  effect.  Therefore  I  say  unto  you  in 
this  case,  although  you  and  other  of  your  profession 
perceive  by  the  orders  of  the  law,  that  the  King  may 
lawfully  do  the  thing  which  ye  require  of  me  ;  how  say 
you  Mr.  Shelley,  may  I  do  it  with  conscience  to  give  that 
away  which  is  none  of  mine,  from  me  and  my  successors  ? 
If  this  be  the  law  and  conscience,  I  pray  you  shew  me 
your  opinion."  "  Forsooth,  my  lord,"  quoth  he,  "  there 
is  no  great  conscience.  But  having  regard  to  the  King's 
high  power,  and  to  a  better  purpose,   it  may  the   better 


398  WOLSEY. 

stand  with  conscience  ;  who  is  sufficient  to  recompense  the 
Church  of  York  with  double  the  value."     "  That  1  kuoNV 
well,  but  there  is  no  such  condition,"  quoth  my  lord, 
*'  but  only  a  bare  and  simple  departure  with,  another's 
right.     For  if  every  Bishop  should  so  do,  then  might  they 
give   away  the  patrimony  of  their  Churches,    and  so   in 
process   leave    nothing  for  their  successors  to  maintain 
their  dignity ;  which  should  be  but  little  to  the  King's 
honour.     Well,  I  will  not  stand  long  with  you  in  this 
matter,  let  me  see  your  commission."     To  whom  Mr. 
Shelly  shewed   the  same,  and  that  seen,  *'  Mr.  Shelly," 
quoth  he,  "  he  shall  shew  the  King's  highness  that  I  am 
his  most  faitliful  subject,  obediencer,  and  headman,  whose 
royal  command  and  request  I  will  in  no  wise  disobey, 
but   fulfil  his   pleasure  in   all  such    things,   wherein    ye 
fathers  of  the  law  say  I  may  lawfully  do.     Therefore  I 
charge  your  conscience  to  discharge  me.     Howbeit,  shew 
his    highness  from   me    that   I  most  humbly   desiie    his 
majesty  to  call  to  his  most  gracious  remembrance,  that 
there  is  both  a  heaven  and  a  hell."     And  herewithal  the 
clerk  took  and  wrote  the  recognizance  ;    and  after  some 
secret  talk,  they  departed.    Then  rose  my  lord  of  Norfolk 
from  his  repose,  and  after  some  communication  with  my 
lord,  he  likewise  departed. 

Thus  continued  my  lord  at  Esher,  and  received  daily 
messages  from  the  court,  some  good  and  some  as  evil, 
but  more  evil  than  good. 

At  Christmas  he  fell  very  sick,  most  likely  to  die. 
Whereof  the  King  being  advertised,  was  very  sorry,  and 
sent  Dr.  Butts,  his  physician  to  him,  to  see  in  what  state 
he  was.  Dr.  Butts  came  to  him,  finding  him  lying  very 
sick  in  his  bed,  and  perceiving  the  danger,  returned  to 
the  King.  Of  whom  the  King  demanded,  saying,  *'  Have 
you  seen  yonder  man  ?"  ''  Yea,  Sir,"  quoth  he.  "How 
do  you  like  him,"  quoth  the  King.  *'  Sir,"  quoth  he, 
"  if  you  will  have  him  dead,  I  warrant  him  he  will  be 
dead  within  these  four  days  if  he  receive  no  comfort  from 
you  shortly,  and  Mrs.  Anne."  "  Mary,"  quoth  the 
King,  **  God  forbid  that  he  should  die.  I  pray  you, 
Master  Butts,  go  again  unto  him,  and  do  your  care  unto 
him  ;  for  I  would  iiot  lose  him  for  ^"20,000."  ''  Then 
must  your  grace,"  quoth  Master  Butts,  "  send  him  first 
some  comfortable  message  as  shortly  as  ye  can."  "  Even 
so  1  will,"  quoth  the  King,  "  by  you.     And  therefore 


WOLSEY.  399 

make  speed  to  him  again,  and  ye  shall  deliver  him  this 

ring  from  me  for  a  token;"  (in  the  which  ring  was  the 

King's  image  engraved  within  a  ruby,  as  like   the  King 

as   could    be   devised.)     "  This   ring   he  knoweth  right 

well :    for  he  gave  me  the  same ;    and  tell  him  that  I  am 

not  offended  with  him  in  my  heart,  and   that  shall   he 

know  shortly.     Therefore  bid  him   pluck  up  his  heart, 

and  be  of  good  comfort.     And  I  charge  you  come  not 

from  him  until  ye  have  brought  him  out  of  the  danger  of 

death."     Then  spake  the  King  to  Mrs.  Anne  Bulleine, 

saying,  ''  Good  sweet  heart,  I   pray  you  as  ye  love  me, 

send  the  Cardinal  a  token  at  my  desire,  with  comfortable 

words;    and  in  so  doing  ye   shall  deserve  our  thanks." 

She  not  being  disposed  to  offend  the  King  would  not 

disobey  his  loving  request,  whatsoever  in  her  heart  she 

intended  towards  the  Cardinal ;  but  took  incontinent  her 

tablet  of  gold  that  hung  at  her  girdle,  and  delivered  it  tc 

Master  Butts,   with  very  gentle  and  comfortable  words. 

And  so  Master  Butts  departed  with  speed  to   Esher  ; 

after  whom  the  King  sent  Dr.   Cromer  the   Sect,   Dr. 

Clement,  and  Dr.  Wotton,  to  consult  with  blaster  Butts 

for  my  lord's  recovery. 

After  Master  Butts  had  been  with  my  lord,  and  de- 
livered the  King's  and  Mrs.  Anne's  tokens  unto  him, 
with  the  most  comfortable  words  that  he  could  devise  on 
the  King's  and  Mrs.  Anne's  behalf,  he  rejoiced  not  a 
little,  and  advanced  himself  on  his  bed,  and  received  the 
tokens  most  joyfully ;  thanking  Master  Butts  for  his 
pains  and  good  comfort.  Master  Butts  told  him  further- 
more, that  the  King's  pleasure  was  that  he  should  minister 
unto  him  for  his  health:  and  to  join  with  him  for  the 
better  and  most  assured  ways,  he  has  sent  hither  Drs. 
Clement,  Cromer,  and  Wotton.  "  Therefore,  my  lord, 
quoth  he,  "  it  were  well  done  they  were  called  in  to  visit 
you,  and  to  consult  with  them,  and  to  have  their  opinions 
of  your  disease,  trusting  to  Almighty  God  that  we  shall, 
through  his  grace  and  help,  ease  you  of  your  pains,  and 
rid  you  of  your  infirmities."  To  this  motion  my  lord 
was  contented  to  hear  their  judgments;  for  he  trusted 
more  to  Dr.  Cromer  than  to  all  the  rest,  because  he  was 
the  very  mean  to  bring  him  from  Paris  into  England,  and 
gave  him  partly  his  exhibition  in  Paris.  Then  when  they 
■were  come  into  his  chamber,  and  had  talked  with  him, 
he  took  upon  him  to  debate  his  disease  learnedly,  so  that 


400  WOLSEY. 

tliey  might  perceive  that  he  was  seen  in  that  art.  After 
they  had  taken  order  for  their  ministration,  it  was  not 
long  ere  they  brought  hiui  out  of  danger ;  and  within 
four  days  they  set  him  on  his  feet,  and  got  him  a  stomach 
to  meat.  All  this  done,  and  he  in  a  right  good  way  of 
amendment,  they  took  their  leave,  to  whom  my  lord 
offered  to  eacli  of  them  his  reward  ;  which  they  refused, 
saying,  that  the  King  had  given  them  a  special  command, 
that  they  should  take  of  him  nothing  for  their  pains  and 
ministration,  for  at  their  return  he  himself  would  suffi- 
ciently reward  them  of  his  own  costs  ;  and  with  great 
thanks  they  departed,  and  left  my  lord  in  good  state  of 
recovery. 

After  this  time  my  lord  amended  daily ;  and  continued 
atEsher  until  Candlemas;  before  and  against  which  feast, 
the  King  caused  to  be  sent  unto  my  lord  three  or  four 
cart  loads  of  stuff:  and  most  thereof,  except  beds  and 
kitchen  stuff,  w  as  loaded  in  great  standards,  wherein  was 
both  plate  and  rich  hangings,  and  chapel  stuff.  Then 
my  lord  being  thus  furnished,  was  therewith  contented ; 
although  they  whom  the  King  assigned  did  not  deliver 
him  so  good,  nor  so  rich  stuff,  as  the  King's  pleasure  was, 
yet  was  he  well  contented,  and  rendered  most  humble 
thanks  to  the  King,  and  thanked  them  that  appointed  the 
same  for  him,  saying  to  us  his  Servants  when  those  ap- 
pointed persons  were  gone,  at  the  opening  of  the  said 
standards,  that  he  thought  it  might  have  been  better 
appointed.  *' But,  Sirs,"  quoth  my  lord,  "  he  that  hath 
nothing  is  glad  of  somewhat :  and  though  it  be  not  in 
comparison  so  much,  nor  yet  in  value  so  good  as  we  had 
before  of  all  the  great  abundance  that  then  we  had,  yet 
we  give  the  King  our  most  humble  thanks,  trusting  after 
this  to  attain  to  more.  Therefore  let  us  rejoice,  and  be 
glad  that  God  and  the  King  hath  so  graciously  favoured 
us  to  restore  us  to  something  to  maintain  our  estate  like 
a  noble  person." 

Then  commanded  he  Master  Cromwell  to  make  earnest 
suit  to  the  King,  that  he  might  remove  thence  to  some 
other  house,  for  he  was  weary  of  the  house  of  Esher, 
for  which  continual  usage  the  house  waxed  unsavoury ; 
supposing  that  if  he  might  remove  he  should  much  sooner 
recover  his  health.  And  also  the  counsel  had  put  in  the 
King's  head,  that  the  new  gallery  which  my  lord  had 
lately  builded  before  his   fall,  should  be  very  necessary 


WOLSEY.  401 


for  the  King  to  take  it  down  and  set  it  at  Westminster ; 
which  standeth  at  this  day  there  from  the  old  gallery  next 
the  King's  lodging  unto  the  first  gate-house.  The  taking 
away  whereof  was  a  great  course  that  his  enemies  daily 
invented  of  new  to  torment  him,  which  discouraged  him 
any  longer  to  continue  there. 

Now  Master  Cromwell  thought  it  but  folly  and  vain 
to  move  any  of  the  King's  counsel  who  were  my  lord's 
enemies,  to  help  his  suit  to  the  King  for  my  lord's  re- 
moving, for  they  would  rather  have  removed  him  further 
from  the  King,  than  to  have  holpen  him  to  come  nearer 
unto  him ;  wherefore  he  made  suit  to  the  King's  person 
only ;  whose  suit  the  King  graciously  heard,  and  thought 
it  very  convenient  to  be  granted ;  and  therewith,  through 
the  motion  of  Master  Cromwell,  the  King  was  contented 
he  should  remove  to  Richmond ;  which  place  my  lord  had 
a  little  before  repaired  to  his  great  cost :    for  the  King 
had  made  an  exchange  thereof  with  him  for  Hampton- 
court.      All  this   was   done  without  knowledge   of  the 
King's  counsel ;  for  if  they  might  have  had  understanding 
thereof  before,  then  would  they  have  persuaded  the  King 
to  the  contrary :   but  when  they  knew  of  the  King's  grant 
and   licence,    although  they   dissembled   their  minds   in 
the  King's  presence,  yet  were  they  afraid  of  him,  lest 
his  nigh  resort  to  the  King  might  move  the  King  at  some 
braide  [season]  to  have  resorted  unto  him,  and  to  have 
called  him  home  again,  considering  the  great  loving  affec- 
tion that  the  King  daily  shewed  unto  him  ;  wherefore  ihey 
doubted  his  rising  up  again,  if  they  found  not  the  means 
shortly  to  remove' him  further  from  the  King.     Insomuch, 
that  they  thought  it  convenient  for  their  purpose  to  move 
the  King  upon  considerations  which  they  invented,  that 
it  were  very  necessary  that  my  lord  should  go  down  into 
the  North  unto  his  benefice,  where  he  should  be  a  good 
stay  for  the  country  ;    to  which  the  King  condescended, 
thinking  no  less  than  all  had  been  true  as  they  had  made 
relation.     Their  suggestion  was  forced  so  with  wonderful 
imaginations  of  deep  considerations,  that  the  King  was 
straitways    persuaded  to  their  conclusion.      Whereupon 
my  lord  of  Norfolk  bade  Master  Cromwell,  who  daily 
resorted  to  my  lord  to  say  to  him,  that  he  must  go  home 
to  his  benefice,  and  there  look  to  his  charge  :  who  at  his 
next  repair  to  my  lord,  then  lying  at  Richmond,  declared 
unto  him  how  it  was  determined  that  he  should  go  home 

Dd 


403  WOLSEY. 

to  his  benefice.  "  Well,  then,  Thomas,"  quoth  my  lord'/ 
*'  we  will  go  to  Winchester."  **  I  will,"  quoth  Master 
Cromwell,  *'  shew  my  lord  of  Norfolk  what  ye  say." 
And  so  he  did  at  his  next  meeting  with  him.  "  What 
should  he  do  there?"  quoth  the  Duke.  **  Nay,  let  him 
go  to  his  rich  Bishopric  of  York,  where  his  honours 
and  more  charge  lie;  and  so  shew  him."  The  lords 
who  were  not  his  friends,  perceiving  that  my  lord  was 
disposed  to  plant  himself  so  nigh  the  King,  thought  then' 
to  withdraw  his  appetite  from  Winchester  ;  and,  then 
moved  the  King  to  give  my  lord  a  pension  of  4,000  marks 
out  of  Winchester,  and  all  the  rest  to  distribute  among 
his  nobility  and  servants ;  and  so  likewise  to  divide 
the  revenues  of  St.  Alban's  :  whereof  some  had  300  marks, 
and  some  ^flOO.  :  and,  so  some  more  and  some  less; 
and  all  the  revenues  of  the  lands  belonging  to  the  Colleges 
of  Oxford  and  Ipswich,  the  King  took  into  his  own 
hands;  whereof  Master  Cromwell  had  the  receipt  and 
government  before  by  my  lord's  assignment,  wherefore  it 
was  thought  very  necessai-y  that  he  should  so  have  still, 
who  executed  all  things  thereof  so  exactly  and  wittily, 
that  he  was  had  in  great  estimation  for  his  behaviour 
therein,  and  also  for  the  true  and  faithful  demeanour 
towards  his  lord  and  master. 

My  lord  having  licence  of  the  King,  which  Master 
Cromwell  obtained  for  him,  to  repair  to  Richmond,  he 
made  haste  all  that  he  could  to  prepare  thitherward ;  and 
so  he  came  and  lodged  there  within  the  lodge  of  the  great 
park,  which  was  a  very  pretty  house  and  neat,  lacking  no 
rooms  that  be  convenient  for  so  small  a  house  ;  where 
was  also  a  very  fair  garden.  There  my  lord  lay  from 
the  time  of  his  coming  from  Esher,  unto  Lent,  with  a 
pretty  number  of  servants,  because  the  house  was  very 
small  for  his  whole  family;  and  the  rest  of  his  servants 
went  to  board  wages. 

I  will  tell  you  a  pretty  tale  by  the  way  of  communication. 
As  my  lord  was  accustomed  to  walk  towards  the  evening 
in  his  garden  there,  and  to  say  his  even-song,  and  other 
of  his  divine  service  with  his  chaplain,  it  was  my  chance 
to  wait  upon  him  there ;  and  standing  in  an  alley  whilst 
he  in  another  alley  walked  with  his  chaplain,  saying  his 
service  as  is  aforesaid ;  as  I  stood,  I  espied  certain  images 
of  beasts  counterfeited  in  timber,  standing  in  a  corner 
under  the  lodge,  to  which  I  repaired  to  behold.     Among 


WOLSEY.  403  ^ 

which  I  saw  stand  there  a  dun  cow,  whereon  I  most 
mused,  because  of  the  likely  entailing*  thereof.  My 
lord  being  in  the  further  side  of  the  garden  espied  me 
how  I  viewed  those  beasts  ;  and  having  tinished  his 
service,  came  suddenly  upon  me  'or'  I  was  aware,  and 
speaking  unto  me,  said,  **  What  have  you  espied  here, 
that  you  look  so  attentively  upon?"  "Forsooth,  if  it 
please  your  grace,"  quoth  I,  "  here  I  behold  these  images; 
which  I  suppose  were  ordained  to  be  set  np  within  some 
place  about  the  King's  palace :  howbeit.  Sir,  among 
them  all  I  have  most  considered  this  cow,  in  which  (as 
me  seemeth)  the  workman  has  most  lively  shewed  his 
cunning."  "  Yea,  Mary,"  quoth  he,  "  upon  this  cow 
hangeth  a  certain  prophecy,  which  is  this ;  because, 
peradventure,  you  never  heard  it  before,  as  I  will  shew 
you.     There  is  a  saying, 

*  When  the  cow  rideth  the  bull. 
Then  priest,  beware  thy  skull.' 

Of  which  prophecy  neither  my  lord  that  declared  it,  nor 
yet  I  that  heard  it,  vmderstood  the  etfect ;  although  the 
compassing  thereof  was  at  that  present  a-working,  and 
about  to  be  brought  to  pass.  'I'his  cow  the  King  gave 
by  reason  of  the  earldom  of  Richmond,  which  was  his 
inheritance  ;  and  this  prophecy  was  afterwards  expounded 
in  this  wise.  The  dun  cow,  because  it  was  the  King's 
beast,  betokened  the  King ;  and  the  bull  betokened 
Mrs.  Anne  Bulieine,  afterwards  Queen,  because  that, 
her  father  gave  a  black  bull's  head  in  his  cognizance, 
and  that  was  his  beast.  So  that  when  the  King  had  married 
Queen  Anne,  which  was  then  unknown  to  my  lord,  or 
to  any  other  that  he  woukl  do,  then  was  this  prophecy 
thought  of  all  men  to  be  fulfilled.  For,  what  number 
of  priests,  religious  and  seculars,  lost  their  heads  for 
offending  such  laws  as  were  made  to  bring  this  marriage 
to  effect,  is  not  unknown  to  all  the  world.  Therefore  it 
may  well  be  judged  that  this  prophecy  is  fulfilled  upon 
this  occasion. 

When  Cromwell  repaired  next  to  my  lord,  he  shewed 
him  the  words  that  my  lord  of  Norfolk  had  commanded 


*  j.  e.  from  the  carving  being  so  like  life  j— entailing  is  from  the  Italian 
Intagliare,  to  cut,  carve,  &c. 

Dd2 


404  WOLSEY. 

him  to  say.  "  Mary,  Thomas,"  quoth  my  lord,  "  then  it 
is  lime  to  be  going  if  he  take  it  so.  Therefore  I  pray 
you  to  go  to  the  King,  and  ye  may  say  that  I  would  go  to 
my  benefice  at  York  but  for  lack  of  money ;  desiring  his 
grace  to  help  me  with  some.  For  ye  may  say  the  last 
money  I  received  from  his  grace  hath  been  too  little  to 
pay  my  old  debts  ;  and  to  compel  me  to  the  payment  of 
the  rest  of  my  debts  hath  been  too  much  extremity ;  both 
to  take  from  me  all  my  goods,  and  to  put  me  to  the 
payment  of  my  debts  also ;  wherein  I  trust  his  grace  will 
have  a  charitable  respect.  Ye  may  also  shew  my  lord  of 
Norfolk,  and  other  of  the  counsel,  that  I  would  depart 
if  I  had  money."  "  Sir,"  quoth  Master  Cromwell,  "  I 
shall  do  my  best."  And  after  other  communication,  he 
departed  again,  and  went  to  London. 

When  Cromwell  came  to  the  court,  he  shewed  my  lord 
of  Norfolk  that  my  lord  would  most  gladly  go  northward 
but  for  lack  of  money,  wherein  he  desired  his  help  to  the 
King.  Then  was  the  King  moved  therein,  as  well  by 
Master  Cjomwell,  as  by  the  counsel ;  which  matter  the 
King  referred  to  determine  and  assign  to  the  counsel ; 
who  were  in  divers  opinions.  Some  would  he  should 
have  none,  some  would  he  should  have  enough,  and  some 
would  have  him  to  have  but  a  small  sum ;  and  some 
thought  it  should  be  much  against  the  King's  dignity  and 
honour,  and  also  very  much  against  the  counsellors 
honour  to  see  him  want,  who  had  been  in  such  estimation 
with  the  King,  and  in  great  authority  in  this  realm ;  yea, 
and  it  should  rather  be  a  slander  to  the  King  and  his 
whole  realm  among  foreign  potentates,  to  see  him  want 
that  had  so  much,  and  now  so  little.  *'  Therefore," 
quoth  one  of  them,  "  rather  than  he  should  lack  (although 
he  never  did  me  a  pleasure),  yet  would  I  lay  all  my  plate 
to  gage  for  him  for  of  1,000.,  rather  than  he  should 
depart  northward  so  bare  and  simply  as  some  would  have 
him  do.  Let  us  do  to  him  as  we  would  be  done  unto ; 
considering  the  lightness  of  his  offence,  and  the  great 
inestimable  substance  that  he  hath  parted  withal  only  for 
the  King's  pleasure,  rather  then  he  would  disobey  his 
grace's  will."  So  after  long  debate  in  this  matter,  it  was 
concluded  that  he  should  have  by  the  way  of  a  prest* 


i.  e.  a  loan.    Pret,  Sorame  pretee.  Fr.    A  sum  lent. 


WOLSEY.  405 

1,000  marks  of  his  pension  out  of  Winchester  :    which 
[pension]   the   King  had  granted  him,  because  he  [the 
King]  had  resumed  the  Bishopric  wholly  into  his  hands ; 
and  yet  out  of  the  same  he  had  granted  divers  other  great 
pensions  to    many   of  the  noblemen    and   other  of  his 
counsel,  so  that  I  suppose,  all  things  accounted,  the  least 
part  was  his.     The  King  commanded  Cromwell  to  resort 
to  him  again  when  he  had  received  the  same  sum.     And 
according  to  the  same  command,  when  he  had  received  the 
money  he  repaired  again  to  the  King ;  to  whom  the  King 
said,  "Shew  my  lord  although  our  counsel  have  assigned 
no  sum  of  money  to  bear  his  charge,  yet  ye  shall  shew 
him  in  my  behalf  that  I  have  sent  £  1 ,000.  of  my  benevo- 
lence, and  tell  him  that  he  shall  not  lack,  and  bid  him  be 
of  good  cheer."     Cromwell  most  humbly  on  my  lord's 
behalf  thanked  the  King  for  his  noble  heart  and  great 
liberality  towards  my  lord,    "whose   comfortable  words 
of  your  grace,"  quoth  he,   ''shall  rejoice  him  more  than 
three  times  the  value   of  the   money."     And   therewith 
departed,  and  came  directly  unto  my  lord  to  Richmond  ; 
to  whom  he  delivered  the  money,  and  shewed  him  of  all 
the  debate  and  progress  of  all  the  matter  in  counsel,  and 
what  money  and  whereof  it  was  levied  that  they  sent  him ; 
and  of  the  money  which  the  King  sent ;   adding  thereto 
the   King's   comfortable  message,  wherein    my  lord   did 
not  a  little  rejoice,  but  took  thereof  great  pleasure  and 
comfort.     Then  did   Cromwell  counsel  with  him  for  the 
furniture   of   his  journey   into   the    North.     All   things 
being  furnished  towards   his  journey,  he  took  the  same 
in  the  beginning '  of  the  Passion  Week  before   Easter ; 
and  so  rode  from  Richmond  to  a  place  which  was  the 
Abbots'  of  Westminster,  called    Hendon  ;    and  the  next 
day  he  removed  to  a  place  where  my  lady  Parrey  lay, 
called   the  Rye ;  the  next  day  he  rode  to  Royston,  where 
he  was  lodged  in  the  Priory  there  ;  then  went  he  the  next 
day  to  Huntingdon,  and  there  lodged  within  the  Abbey ; 
and  the   next  day  he  rode  to   Peterborough,  and  there 
lodged   in   the   Abbey,  making  there  his   abode  all  the 
next  week:  where  he  kept  tlie  solemn  feast  of  Easter, 
with  all  his  train,  (save  a  few  in  number  which  were 
continually  attending  on  him,)  who   were  lodged  in  the 
town,  and  had    board  w  ages ;    his   train  was  in  number 
160  persons,  having  with  him  12  carts  to  carryr  his  stuff 


406  WOLSEY. 

of  his  own,  which  he  sent  for  from  his  College  of  Oxford, 
that  were  there  provided,  besides  60  other  carts  of  his 
daily  carriage  of  necessaries  for  his  buildings.  Upon 
Palm  Sunday  he  bare  his  palm,  and  went  in  procession 
with  the  Monks,  setting  forth  the  divine  service  right 
honourably,  with  such  singing  men  as  he  then  had  there 
of  his  own.  And  upon  Maunday  Thursday  he  made 
his  Maunday  there  in  our  lady's  chapel,  having  *59  poor 
men  whose  feet  he  washed,  and  kissed  ;  and  after  he 
liad  wiped  them  he  gave  every  of  the  said  poor  men 
Is.,  3  ells  of  good  canvass  to  make  them  shirts,  a  pair  of 
new  shoes,  a  cast  of  red  herrings,  and  three  white  her- 
rings, and  one  of  them  had  2s.  Upon  Easter  day  he 
rose  to  the  resurrection  ;f  and  that  day  he  went  in  pro- 
cession in  his  cardinal's  vesture,  having  his  hat  on  his 
head,  and  sung  the  high  mass  there  he  himself,  solemnly. 
After  his  mass  he  gave  his  benediction  to  all  the  hearers 
with  clean  remission;  and  there  continued  he  'till Thursday. 
My  lord  continuing  there  at  Peterborough  after  this 
manner,  intending  to  remove  thence  shortly,  commanded 
me  to  ride  to  Sir  William  Fitzwilliam's,  Knt.,  who  dwelt 
within  three  or  four  miles  of  Peterborough,  to  provide 
him  there  a  lodging  for  three  or  four  days  in  his  journey 
northwards.  ^nd  being  with  this  Sir  William  Fitz- 
william,  1  did  my  message  accordingly ;  whereof  he 
was,  as  it  appeared  by  his  word  and  deed,  the  gladdest 
man  alive  that  my  lord  would  so  lovingly  take  his  house 
in  his  way ;  saying,  that  he  should  be  most  heartily  wel- 
come of  any  man,  the  King  his  sovereign  except ;  saying 


*  Tliis  number  denotes  that  he  was  now  fifty-nine  years  old. 

t  He  rose  to  the  resurrection.  The  book  of  Ceremonies  compiled  in  the 
reign  of  Henry  VIII.  observes:  "Upon  Easter  day  in  the  morning  the 
ceremonies  of  the  resurrection  put  us  in  rera(.mbran(.e  of  Christ's  resur- 
rection, which  is  the  cause  of  our  justification."  Strype's  £fc/^j.  Memo- 
rials, V.  1.  p.  294.  Records.  What  these  ceremonies  were  we  may 
collect  from  the  Rubrics  upon  tliat  day,  in  the  Processi-7iule  secundum 
usum  Sarum,  fol.  72.  edit.  lo53.,  which  are  to  this  effect :  Un  Kaster  day 
before  mass,  and  before  the  ringing  of  the  bells,  let  the  clerks  assemble, 
and  all  tue  tapers  in  the  Church  be  lighted.  Then  two  persons  shall 
draw  nigli  to  the  sepulchre,   and  after  it  is  censed,  let  them  take  the 


cross  out  of  the  sepulchre,  and  one  of  them  begin  '  Christus  resurgens.' 
Then  let  the  procession  commence     After  tnis  the; 
(Adorent;   the  cross,     lis  this  idolatry  or  nut  ?1 ' 


WOLSEY.  407 

furthermore,  that  my  lord  should  not  need  to  dislode  or 
discharge  any  part  of  his  stuiF  and  carriage  for  his  own 
use  during  his  abode  there,  but  should  have  all  necessary 
2tuff  of  his  own,  unless  it  were  my  lord's  bed  for  his  own 
person.  This  upon  report  made  to  my  lord  at  my  return 
rejoiced  him  not  a  little  ;  and  he  commanded  me  to  give 
Avarning  unto  all  his  officers  and  servants  to  prepare 
them  to  remove  from  Peterborough  upon  Thursday  next, 
which  was  in  Easter  week.  Then  made  every  man 
himself,  and  all  things  in  such  readiness  as  was  con- 
venient, paying  in  the  town  for  all  such  things  as  they 
had  taken  ;  for  which  cause  my  lord  caused  proclamation 
to  be  made  in  the  town^  that  if  any  person  or  persons  were 
grieved  by  any  of  his  sejvants  they  should  resort  to  his 
officers,  and  there  they  should  be  answered,  and  have 
due  remedy;  so  that,  all  things  ready  furnished,  my  lord 
took  his  journey  from  the  Abbey  of  Peterborough  on  the 
Thursday  in  Easter  week  to  Mr.  Fitzwilliam's,  where  he 
was  joyously  received,  and  had  worthy  and  honourable 
entertainment  at  the  sole  cost  of  the  said  Mr.  Fitzwilliam 
all  the  time  of  my  lord's  being  there  with  him. 

Thus  my  lord  continued  there  from  Thursday  in  Easter 
week  at  Mr.  Fitzwilliam's  cost,  until  the  Monday  next 
following;  at  which  time  he  removed  thence  to  Stamford, 
where  he  lay  all  night  at  the  sign  of  the  Bull.  And  the 
next  day  lie  removed  thence  to  Grantham,  and  was 
lodged  in  a  gentleman's  place,  whose  name  was  Hall. 
And  the  next  day  he  rode  to  Newark,  and  lodged  in  the 
castle  all  that  night,  and  the  next  day  also ;  which  is 
within  4  miles  of  Southwell,  whither  my  lord  intended 
to  ride,  and  there  to  continue. 

I  cannot  but  declare  to  you  a  notable  communication 
had  at  Mr.  Fitzwilliam's  house  between  my  lord  and 
me,  which  was  this  :  my  lord  walking  in  the  garden  there 
saying  his  evening  song  with  his  chaplain,  and  I  being 
attending  upon  him,  after  he  had  finished  his  prayers  he 
commanded  his  chaplain,  who  bore  up  his  gown  train,  to 
deliver  the  same,  and  to  go  aside  ;  and  after  the  chaplain 
was  gone,  he  spake  to  me  in  this  wise,  calling  me  by  my 
name,  "  Ye  have  been  lately  at  London,"  quoth  he. 
"  Forsooth,  my  Lord,"  quoth  I,  "  not  since  I  was  there 
to  buy  your  liveries  for  your  servants."  "  And  what  news 
was  there  then:"  quoth  he,  **  heard  you  no  communica- 
tion of  me  ?     I  pray  you  tell  me."     Then  perceiving  that 


408  WOLSEY. 

I  had  a  good  occasion  to  speak  my  mind  unto  him,  I 
said,  **  Sir,  if  it  please  your  grace,  it  was  my  chance  to 
be  at  dinner  in  a  certain  place,  where  I  also  supped, 
and  many  honest  worshipful  gentlemen,  who  were  for  the 
most  part  of  mine  old  acquaintance,  and  therefore  durst 
the  bolder   participate  with  me  in  conversation  of  your 
grace,  knowing  diat  1  w  as  still  your  servant ;  and  they  asking 
of  me  how  ye  did,  and  how  you  accepted  your  adversity 
and  trouble,  I  answered  that  you  did  well,  and  accepted 
all  things  in  good   part;    and  as  it  seemed  to  me  they 
were  your  indifferent  friends,  of  whom  they  said  none  evil, 
but  lamented   your  decay  and   fall   very  sore;  doubting 
much  the  sequel  not  to  be  good  for  the  commonwealth. 
Also,  they  marvelled  much  that  you  being  of  such  excel- 
lent wit,  and  of  such  high  discretion,  would  so  simply 
confess  yourself  guilty  unto  the  King  as  you  did.     For, 
as    they  understood    by  report   of  some   of  the   King's 
counsel,  your  case  being  well  considered,  you  have  great 
wrong :    to  which  I  could  make  no  direct  answer."     "  Is 
this,"  quoth  he,  "  the  opinion  of  wise  men  ?"     "  Yea, 
forsooth,  my  lord,"  quoth  I,  "  and  commonly  of  all  men 
else."     "  Well,  then,"  quoth  he,  "  for  all  their  wisdom 
they  perceived  not  so  much  as  I.     For  I  considered  that 
mine  enemies  had  brought  the  matter  so  to  pass  against 
nie,  that  they  conveyed   and  made  it  the  Kmg's  matter 
and  case,  and  caused  the  King  to  take  the  matter  into 
his  own  hands  ;   and  after  he  had  once  the  possession  of 
all  my  goods,  rather  than  he  would  have  delivered  me 
my  goods  again,  without  doubt  he  would  not  have  missed 
(by  the  setting  forth  and  procurement  of  my  evil-willers) 
to  have  imagined  my  undoing  and  destruction  therein,  or 
the  danger  of  my  life.     I  had  rather  confess  the  matter 
as  1  did,    and   to  live  at  large  like  a  poor  vicar,   than 
to  live  in  prison  with  all  the  goods  and  honours  I  then 
had.       And   therefore   it  was  for  me  the  better  way  to 
yield  me  unto  the  King's  mercy  and  clemency,  than  to 
stand  stiff   against   him    in   trial  of  the  wrong  which   I 
sustained ;  wherein  the   King  would  have   been  both   to 
have  been  noted,  and  in  my  submission  the  King,  I  doubt 
not,  had  a  conscience,  wherein  he  would  rather  pity  me 
than   malign  me.     And   also  there  was  the  night  crow 
that  cried  ever  in  his  ears  against  me ;  and  if  she  might 
have  perceived  any  obstinacy  in  me,   she  would  not  have 
failed  to  have  set  it  forth  with  such  vehemence,  that 


WOLSEY.  409 

I  should  rather  have  obtained  the  King's  indignation  than 
his  lawful  favour  :  and  his  favour  once  lost  (which  I  then 
knew  that  I  had  done)  would  never  have  been  by  nie 
recovered.  Therefore  1  thought  it  better  to  keep  still  in 
his  favour  with  loss  of  goods  and  dignity,  than  to  win 
his  indignation  with  all  my  wit,  truth,  and  policy.  And 
this  was  the  cause  (which  all  men  know  not)  that  I 
yielded  myself  so  soon  guilty  to  the  premunire ;  wherein 
the  King  hath  since  conceived  a  conscience  ;  for  he 
knoweth  and  always  did  more  the  effect  thereof  than  any 
other  person  living,  and  whether  I  offended  him  therein 
or  not  to  whose  conscience  I  commit  the  truth  of  my 
cause."  And  thus  we  left  the  substance  of  our  commu- 
nication in  this  matter;  although  we  had  much  more  talk: 
yet  this  is  sufficient  to  make  you  understand  as  well  both 
the  cause  of  his  confession  in  the  premunire,  as  also  the 
occasion  of  the  loss  of  his  goods. 

Now  let  us  return  where  we  left  my  lord,  being  now  at 
the  Castle  of  Newark,  intending  to  ride  to  Southwell. 
He  took  his  journey  thither  against  supper,  where  for 
lack  of  reparation  of  the  Bishop's  palace  which  belongs 
to  the  See  of  York,  he  was  compelled  to  lie  in  a  Pre- 
bendary's house  over  against  the  Bishop's  palace,  and 
there  kept  house  until  Wiiitsuntide ;  against  which  time 
he  removed  into  the  palace,  being  then  newly  repaired, 
and  there  continued  ail  the  most  part  of  that  summer, 
not  without  great  resort  of  the  most  worshipful  of  the 
country.  And  divers  noblemen  having  occasion  to  repair 
into  the  same  country  there,  thought  it  good  to  visit  my 
lord  as  they  travelled  through  the  country,  of  whom 
they  were  most  gladly  entertained,  and  had  right  good 
cheer  ;  whose  noble  and  gentle  behaviour  caused  him  to 
have  much  love  in  the  country  of  all  kind  of  people. 
He  kept  there  a  noble  house,  where  was  both  plenty  of 
meat  and  drink  for  all  comers;  and  also  much  alms 
given  at  the  gate  to  the  poor  of  the  town  and  country. 
He  used  much  charity  and  clemency  among  his  tenants, 
and  other  of  the  King's  subjects.  Although  the  heaung 
thereof  was  not  pleasant  in  the  ears  of  such  as  bare  him 
no  good  will,  yet  the  country  and  common  people  will 
say  as  they  lind  cause ;  for  now  he  was  very  fauiiiiar 
among  all  persons  who  then  accustomably  kept  him 
company,  and  glad  at  any  time  when  he  might  do  them 
any  good.     He  made  many  agreements   and  concords 


410  WOLSEY. 

between  gentlemen  and  gentlemen,  and  between  some 
gentlemen  and  their  wives,  and  other  mean  persons,  the 
which  had  been  long  before  asunder  in  great  trouble ; 
making  for  every  of  them  as  occasion  did  serve,  great 
assemblies  and  feasts,  not  sparing  his  purse  where  he 
might  make  peace  and  amity;  which  gat  him  much  love 
and  friendship  in  the  country. 

After  this  manner  my  lord  lay  at  Southwell  until 
about  the  latter  end  of  grass  time;  at  vvhich  time  he 
intended  to  remove  to  Scroby,  which  is  another  house 
and  lordship  of  the  Bishopric  of  York.  And  against  the 
day  of  his  removing  he  caused  his  officers  to  prepare  all 
things,  as  well  provision  to  be  made  for  him  there,  as 
also  for  his  carriage  thither,  and  other  matters  concerning 
lire  same.  His  removing  was  not  so  secret  but  that  it 
was  abroad  known  in  the  country ;  which  was  not  so 
much  sorrow  to  all  his  neighbours  there  about  Southwell, 
but  it  was  as  joyful    to  all  the  country  about  Scroby. 

At  Scroby  he  continued  till  after  Michaelmas  exer- 
cising many  deeds  of  charity.  And  most  commonly  every 
Sunday  (if  the  weather  served)  he  would  travel  to 
some  poor  parish  Church  there-about,  and  there  would 
say  his  divine  service,  and  either  say  or  hear  mass,  and 
caused  one  of  his  chaplains  to  preach  the  word  of  God 
to  the  people.  And  that  done,  he  would  dine  in  some 
honest  house  in  the  town,  where  should  be  distributed 
to  the  people  a  great  alms  of  meat  and  drink,  or  of  money 
to  supply  the  want  of  meat  if  the  number  of  poor  did  so 
exceed  in  necessity.  And  thus  with  other  good  deeds 
practising  and  exercising  himself  during  his  abode  there, 
as  making  of  love  days  and  agreements  between  party 
and  party  being  at  variance,  he  daily  frequented  himself 
thereabouts. 

Then  about  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  next  after  he  took 
his  journey  to  Cawood  Castle,  within  7  miles  of  York ; 
and  passing  thither  he  lay  two  nights  and  a  day  at  St. 
Oswald's  Abbey,  where  he  in  proper  person  the  next 
day  confirmed  children  in  the  Church,  from  the  hours  of 
8  till  12  at  noon.  And  making  a  short  dinner,  resorted 
thither  again  soon  after  1  o'clock,  and  for  weariness  at 
the  last  was  constrained  to  call  for  a  chair ;  and  there 
confirmed  more  children  from  the  said  hour  to  6  o'clock 
towards  night  'or'  ever  he  could  finish,  the  number  of  the 
children  was  such.     That  done,  he  went  to  his  supper, 


WOLSEY.  411 

and  rested  him  there  all  that  night.  And  the  next  morn- 
ing he  applied  himself  to  depart  towards  Cavvood  ;  and 
'or'  ever  he  went  he  confirmed  almost  100  children  more  ; 
and  then  rode  his  way  from  thence.  And  in  his  journey 
at  a  plain  green  a  little  beyond  Ferrybridge,  within  a 
quarter  of  a  mile,  there  was  assembled  at  a  great  cross 
made  of  stone  many  more  children,  accounted  by 
estimation  to  be  about  the  number  of  500  ;  where  he  was 
fain  to  alight,  and  thence  never  removed  until  he  had  fully 
confirmed  them  every  one  ;  and  then  took  his  mule  and 
rode  to  Cawood  ;  where  he  lay  long  after  with  much 
honour  and  love  of  the  country,  both  of  the  worshipful 
and  of  the  simple,  doing  good  deeds  of  charity,  and  held 
there  an  honourable  and  plentiful  household  for  all 
comers  ;  and  also  built  and  repaired  the  castle,  which 
was  greatly  in  decay,  having  a  gi  eat  multitude  of  artificers 
and  labourers,  about  the  number  of  300  persons  daily  in 
wages. 

It  is  not  to  be  doubted  but  that  the  worshipful  persons, 
as  Doctors,  and  Prebendaries  of  the  close  of  York,  would 
resort  unto  my  lord  according  to  their  duties,  as  unto  the 
chief  head,  father  and  patron  of  their  spiritual  dignity, 
at  his  first  coming  into  the  country  so  nigh  their  Church, 
which  was  but  bare  6  miles.  Wherefore  ye  shall  under- 
stand that  J)r.  Hickden,  then  Doctor  [Dean]  of  the 
Church  of  York,  a  worshipful  man  and  a  divine,  with 
the  treasurer,  and  divers  other  officers  of  the  same  Col- 
lege repaired  to  my  lord,  and  most  joyfully  welcomed 
him  into  those  parts  ;  saying,  that  it  was  to  them  no 
small  comfort  to  see  their  head  among  them  who  hath 
been  so  long  absent  from  them,  being  all  the  while  like 
fatherless  and  comfortless  children  ;  but  they  trusted 
shortlv  to  see  him  among  them  in  his  own  Church.  To 
whom  he  answered  that  it  was  the  special  cause  of  his 
coming  not  only  to  be  among  them  for  a  time,  but  also 
to  continue  his  life  among  them  as  a  father  and  as  a 
natural  brother.  '"Sir,  then,"  quoth  they,  "  ye  must 
understand  the  ordinances  and  rules  of  our  cliurch, 
whereof  although  ye  be  head  and  governor,  yet  ye 
be  not  therewith  so  well  acquainted  as  we  be.  There- 
fore, if  it  please  your  grace,  we  shall  open  unto 
you  some  part  of  the  ancient  laws  anil  customs  of 
our  Church.  Sir,  where  ye  do  intend  to  repair 
unto    us,    the     old     law    and    custom    hath    evennore 


412  WOLSEY. 

been  such,  that  our  head  prelate  and  pastor  as  ye  now  be, 
could,  nor  ever  niioht,  come  above  our  choir  door,  nor 
have  ajiy  stall  in  the  choir,  until  ye  by  due  order  were 
there  stalled.  Nor  if  you  should  happen  to  die  before 
your  installation,  ye  shall  not  be  buried  above  in  the 
choir,  but  in  the  nether  part  of  the  body  of  the  Church. 
Therefore  we  shall  heartily  desire  in  the  name  of  all  our 
brethren,  that  ye  would  vouchsafe  to  do  herein  as  our 
honourable  fathers  your  predecessors  have  done  ;  and 
that  ye  will  break  no  laudable  custom  of  our  Church,  to 
the  which  we  be  obliged  by  oath  at  our  first  admittance 
to  observe  that,  and  divers  others,  which  in  our  chapter 
remain  in  record."  '*  Those  records,"  quoth  my  lord, 
"  would  I  fain  see  ;  and  this  seen  and  digested,  1  shall 
then  shew  you  further  of  my  mind."  And  thus  in  this 
matter  they  ceased  communication,  and  passed  the  time 
with  other  matters  ;  so  that  a  day  -was  assigned  to  bring  in 
their  records  to  my  lord.  At  which  day  they  resorted 
unto  him  with  their  register  and  book  of  records,  wherein 
were  written  their  constitutions  and  rules,  which  all  the 
ministers  of  their  Church  were  bound  to  observe  on  their 
behalf,  and  to  see  them  kept  inviolable.  And  when  my 
lord  had  seen  and  read  those  records,  and  debated  the 
same  substantially  with  them  that  brought  these  books, 
he  determined  to  be  installed  there  at  York  Minster  the 
next  Monday  after  All-hallow's  day.  Against  which  time 
due  preparation  was  made  for  the  same,  but  not  in  so 
sumptuous  a  wise  as  were  his  predecessors  before  him ; 
nor  yet  in  such  sort  as  the  fame  and  common  report  was 
afterwards  made  of  him  to  his  great  slander,  and  to  the 
reporters'  no  small  dishonesty,  to  report  such  lies  as  I  am 
persuaded  they  did,  to  which  I  was  made  privy.  I  was 
sent  by  my  lord  to  York  to  foresee  things  there  that 
should  be  ordered  and  provided  for  the  solemnity,  which 
should  have  been  as  mean  as  could  be,  considering  the 
former  decent  honours  of  the  worthy  Minister  of  York. 

It  came  to  pass  that  upon  All-hallow's  day,  one  of 
the  head  officers  of  the  Church  which  should  have  the 
most  doing  in  all  this  installation,  was  with  my  lord  at 
dinner  at  his  house  at  Cawood,  and  sitting  at  dinner  they 
fell  into  communication  of  this  matter,  and  of  the  order 
thereof,  saying,  that  my  lord  should  go  on  foot  from  a 
Chapel  (which  standeth  without  the  gates  of  the  city, 
called  St.  James's  Chapel)  unto  the  Minster  upon  cloth, 


WOLSEY.  413 

which  should  be  distributed  to  the  poor  after  his  passage. 
My  lord  hearing  this,  made  answer  to  the  same  in  this 
wise.  "  Although  that  our  predecessors  did  go  upon 
cloth,  so  we  intend  to  go  on  foot  thence  without  any  such 
glory,  in  the  vaumpes  of  our  hosen.  For  I  take  God  to 
my  judge  I  do  not  intend  to  go  thither  for  any  triumph  or 
glory,  but  only  to  perform  the  rules  of  the  Church  to 
which  I  am  bound.  And  therefore  I  will  desire  you  all 
and  will  command  other  of  my  servants  to  go  as  humbly 
thither,  without  any  sumptuous  or  gorgeous  apparel, 
otherwise  than  in  decent  manner.  For  1  do  purpose  to 
come  unto  York  upon  Sunday  next  against  night,  and  to 
lodge  in  the  Dean's  house,  and  upon  Monday  to  be 
installed  ;  and  there  to  make  but  one  dinner  for  you  all  of 
the  close,  and  for  other  worshipful  gentlemen  that  shall 
chance  to  come  thither  to  the  same  ;  and  to  sup  with 
some  of  the  residentiaries,  and  the  next  day  to  dine  with 
the  mayor,  and  then  to  repair  home  hither  again  ;  and  sx> 
to  tinish  the  same,  whereby  I  may  at  all  times  resort  to 
York." 

The  day  being  once  known  unto  all  the  country,  which 
could  not  be  hid,  the  worshipful  gentlemen  and  others, 
as  Abbots  and  Priors,  having  notice  of  the  day  of  my 
lord's  installation,  sent  in  such  provision  of  victual  that  it  is 
almost  incredible ;  wherefore  1  omit  to  declare  unto  you 
the  certainty  thereof.  But  there  wanted  no  store  of  great 
and  fat  beasts  and  muttons,  wild  fowl,  and  venison,  both 
red  and  fallow,  and  other  dainty  things  such  as  would 
have  plentifully  furnished  his  feast ;  all  which  things  were 
unknown  to  my  lord :  forasmuch  as  he  being  disappointed 
of  his  purpose  by  reason  that  he  was  arrested  of  high- 
treason,  as  ye  shall  hereafter  hear;  so  that  most  part  of  this 
summer  provision  that  I  spake  of  before,  was  sent  unto 
York  the  same  day  of  his  arrest,  and  the  next  day- 
following  ;  for  his  arrest  was  kept  as  close  and  secret 
from  the  country  as  might  be,  because  they  doubted  the 
common  people,  which  had  him  in  great  estimation  and 
love  for  his  great  charity  and  liberality  which  he  used 
daily  among  them,  with  familiar  gesture  and  behaviour, 
which  be  the  very  means  to  attain  the  love  of  the  people 
of  the  north  parts. 

My  lord's  enemies  being  then  in  the  court  about  the 
King  in  good  estimation  and  honourable  dignity,  having 
now  my  lord  in  more  fear  and  doubt  than  they  had  before 


414  WOLSEY. 

liis  fall,  considering  the  perfect  zeal  and  secret  favour 
that  the  King  bare  always  towards  him,  thought  at  length 
tlie  King  might  call  him  home  again ;  and  then  if  he 
so  did,  they  supposed  that  he  would  rather  imagine 
vengeance  than  remit  and  forget  the  cruelty  which  they 
wrought  against  him.  Wherefore  they  compassed  in  their 
heads  either  by  some  means  to  dispatch  him  by  accusa- 
tion of  sinister  treason,  or  to  bring  him  in  the  King's 
high  indignation  by  some  other  means.  This  was  daily 
their  study  and  consultation,  having  for  their  espials  as 
many  vigilant  eyes  attendant  upon  him  as  the  poet  feigned 
Argus  to  have ;  so  that  he  could  neither  work  or  do  any 
thing  but  that  his  enemies  had  knowledge  thereof  shortly 
after.  Now  at  the  last  they  espied  a  time  wherein  they 
caught  an  occasion  to  bring  their  purpose  to  pass,  think- 
ing thereby  to  have  of  him  a  great  advantage,  for  the 
matter  being  once  disclosed  unto  the  King  in  such 
vehemency  as  they  purposed,  they  thought  the  King 
would  be  against  him.  And  that  done  and  by  them 
executed,  the  King,  upon  other  complaints  moved  with 
great  displeasure,  thought  it  good  that  he  should  come 
up  and  stand  to  his  tiial  :  which  they  liked  nothing  at 
all ;  notwithstanding  hereupon  he  was  sent  for  after  this 
sort.  First,  they  devised  that  Sir  Walter  Walsh,  Knt., 
one  of  the  King's  privy  chamber,  should  be  sent  down 
with  a  commission  into  the  north  unto  the  Earl  of  Nor- 
thumberland, (who  was  sometime  brought  up  in  house 
with  my  lord  Cardinal,)  and  they  twain  being  jointly  iu 
commission  to  arrest  my  lord  of  high  treason.  This 
conclusion  fully  resolved,  they  caused  Mr.  W^alsh  to 
prepare  him  to  his  journey  with  this  commission,  and 
certain  instructions  annexed  to  the  same ;  who  made 
him  ready  to  ride,  and  took  his  hoise  at  the  court  gate 
about  noon  of  All-hallow's  day,  toward  my  lord  of 
Northumberland.  Now  1  am  come  to  the  place  where 
I  will  declare  that  which  I  promised  in  the  latter  end  of 
the  last  chapter,  of  a  certain  sign  or  token  of  this  my 
lord's  trouble  ;   which  thing  was  this. 

My  lord  sitting  at  dinner  upon  All-hallow's  day,  having 
at   his    board-end*   divers    of   his  worshipful   Chaplains 


*  "  111  the  houses  of  our  ancient  nobility  they  dined  at  long^  tables. 
The  lord  and  his  principal  guests  sat  at  the  upper  end  of  the  first  table, 
iu  the  great  chamber,  which  was  therefore  called  the  lord's  board-end. 


WOLSEY.  415 

sitting  at  dinner  to  keep  him  company,  for  lack  of 
strangers,  ye  shall  understand  that  accustomably  my 
lord's  great  cross  stood  in  a  corner  at  the  table's  esid^ 
leaning  against  the  tappet  or  hanging.  And  when  the 
board's  end  was  taken  up,  and  a  convenient  time  for  the 
Chaplains  to  arise,  they  forced  themselves  to  rise  from 
the  table  ;  and  even  as  they  rose,  one  Dr.  Augustine,  a 
Venetian,  and  physician  to  my  lord,  rising  from  the  table 
with  the  other,  having  upon  him  a  great  gown  of  bois- 
terous velvet,  overthrew  my  lord's  great  cross  which  stood 
in  the  way  of  the  board's  end :  and  trailing  down  along 
the  tappet  it  fell  upon  Dr.  Bonner's  head,  who  stood  by 
the  tappet ;  and  the  point  brake  his  head  a  little,  that  the 
blood  ran  down.  The  company  there  standing  according 
to  their  duty  ready  to  give  thanks  to  my  lord  for  their 
dinner,  were  greatly  astonished  with  the  chance.  My 
lord  sitting  in  his  chair,  and  perceiving  the  same,  de- 
manded of  those  next  him  what  the  matter  meant  of  their 
sudden  amaze.  I  shewed  him  of  the  fall  of  his  cross 
upon  Dr.  Bonner's  head.  "  Hath  it,"  quoth  he,  "  drawn 
any  blood."  '*  Yea,  forsooth,  my  lord,"  quoth  I.  With 
that  he  cast  his  head  aside,  looking  soberly  upon  me  a 
certain  space,  and  said  unto  me  (shaking  his  head), 
*'  malum  omen  ;"*  and  therewith  said  grace,  and  rose  up 
from  the  table,  and  went  into  his  bed-chamber ;  but  what 
he  did  there  I  know  not. 

Now  mark  the  signification  how  my  lord  expounded 
this  matter  unto  me  at  Pomfret,  after  his  fall.  First,  ye 
shall  understand  that  tlie  cross,  which  he  bare  as  Arch- 
bishop of  York,  signified  himself ;  and  Augustine  the 
physician,  who  oveithrew  tiie  cross  was,  he  that  accused 
my  lord-,  whereby  his  enemies  caught  an  occasion  to  over- 
throw him.  It  fell  upon  Dr.  Bonner's  head,  who  was 
master  of  my  lord's  faculties  and  spiritual  jurisdictions. 


The  officers  of  his  household,  and  inferior  guests,  at  long  tables  below  in 
the  hall.  In  the  middle  of  each  table  stood  a  great  salt-cellar;  and  aa 
particular  care  was  taken  to  place  the  guests  according  to  their  rank. 
It  became  a  mark  of  distinction  whether  a  person  sat  above  or  below 
the  salt."    Notes  on  the   Northumberland  Household,  book,  p.  419. — 

[WohDSVVORTH.J 

•  The  enemies  of  Archbishop  Laud,  particularly  in  the  time  of  his 
troubles,  were  fond  of  comparing  him  with  Cardinal  Wolsey  :  and  there 
is  reason  to  think,  that  his  life  was  first  printed  in  the  year  1641,  for 
the  purpose  of  prejudicing  that  great  Prelate  in  the  minds  of  the  people, 
by  insinuating  a  parallel  between  him  and  the  Cardinal.      However  thi« 


416 


WOLSEY. 


and  was  then  damnified  by  the  overthrow  of  the  cross  : 
yea,  and  moreover,  drawing  of  the  blood  of  him  betokened 
death;  which  shortly  after  did  ensue.  About  which  time 
of  this  mischance,  the  same  very  day  and  season,  Mr. 
Walsh  took  his  horse  at  the  court  gate  as  nigh  as  it  could 
be  judged. 

Now  the  appointed  time  drew  near  of  his  installation  ; 
and  sitting  at  dinner  upon  the  Friday  next  before  the 
Monday  on  the  which  he  intended  to  be  installed  at  York, 
the  Earl  of  Northumberland  and  Mr.  Walsh,  with  a 
great  company  of  gentlemen  of  the  Earl's  house,  and  of 
the  country,  whom  be  gathered  together  in  the  King's 
name  to  accompany  them,  not  knowing  to  what  intent, 
came  into  the  hall  at  Cawood,the  officers  being  at  dinner, 
and  my  lord  not  fully  dined  being  then  in  his  fruits,  not 
knowing  of  the  Earl's  being  in  the  hall.  At  last  one 
came  up  and  shewed  my  lord  that  the  Earl  of  Northum- 
berland was  in  the  hall ;  whereat  my  lord  marvelled,  and 
would  not  believe  him  at  the  first,  but  commanded  a 
gentleman  Usher  to  look  and  bring  him  the  truth  whether 
it  were  he  or  no.  Who  going  down  the  stairs  where  was 
a  loop  with  a  lattice,  Mhere  through  he  looked  into  the 


may  have  been,  the  expiession  in  the  text  recals  to  memory  an  anecdote 
respecting  Laud,  which  the  reader  will  not  be  displeased  to  find  in  this 
place. 

The  year  1639,  we  all  know,  was  big  with  events  calamitous  to  Laud, 
and  to  the  church,  and  monirchi!.  In  the  Lambeth  Library  is  presened  a 
small  pane  of  glass,  in  which  is  written  with  a  diamond  pencil  the 
following  words  : 


Memorand  :  Ecclesia  de 
Mitcham,Clieam  et  .Stone,. cum  aliis 
fulgure  combusts  sunt 
Januar :  14,  163- 
Omen  advertat  Deus 


On  a  piece  of  paper  of  the  same  size  with  the  glass,  and  kept  in  the  same 
case  with  it,  is  written  by  the  hand  of  Archbishop  Wake  (as  mv  friend 
Mr.  Todd,  MS.  librarian  to  his  grace,  the  present  Archbishop, 'informs 
me)  as  follows  :  "  This  glasse  was  taken  out  of  the  west  winnow  of  the 
gallery  at  Croydon  before  I  new  built  it:  and  is,  as  J  take  it,  the  writiivg 
of  Archbishop  Laud's  own  hand." — [Wordsworth.] 


WOLSEY.  417 

hall,  he  saw  my  Lord  of  Northumberland  :  and  went  no 
farther,  but  returned,  and  shewed  my  lord  it  was  very  he. 
*'  Then,"  quoth  my  Lord,  "  I  am  sorry  that  we  have 
dined  ;  for  I  fear  that  our  officers  be  not  provided  of  any 
store  of  good  lish,  to  make  him  some  honourable  cheer, 
according  to  his  estate,  notwithstanding  he  shall  have  such 
as  we  have,  with  a  right  good  will."  **  Let  the  table 
stand,"  quoth  he,  *'aud  we  will  go  down  and  meet  him, 
and  bring  him  up ;  and  then  shall  he  see  how  far  forth  we 
be  at  our  dinner,"  With  that  he  put  the  table  from  him 
and  rose  up;  and  going  down  the  stairs  he  encountered 
the  Earl,  whom  he  met  upon  the  midst  of  the  stairs  coming 
up,  with  all  his  men  at  his  tail.  And  as  soon  as  my  Lord 
espied  the  Earl,  he  put  off  his  cap,  and  said,  *'  My  Lord, 
ye  are  most  heartily  welcome;"  (and  so  they  embraced 
each  other.)  My  lord  Cardinal  said,  "  Although  I  have 
often  desired  and  wished  in  my  heart  to  see  you  in  my 
house,  yet  if  ye  had  loved  me  well,  ye  would  have  sent  me 
word  before  of  your  coming ;  to  the  intent  I  might  have 
received  you  according  to  your  honour.  Notwithstanding 
ye  shall  have  such  cheer  as  I  can  make  you  with  a  right 
good  will ;  trusting  that  ye  will  accept  the  same  of  me  as 
of  your  very  loving  friend,  hoping  hereafter  to  see  you 
oftener,  when  I  shall  be  more  able  to  entertain  you  with 
better  fare."  And  this  said,  my  Lord  took  the  Earl  by 
the  hand,  and  had  him  up  into  the  chamber ;  whom 
followed  all  the  number  of  the  Earl's  servants.  And 
when  my  Lord  came  into  the  chamber,  he  led  the  Earl  to 
the  fire,  and  said,  "  Sir,  my  Lord,  ye  shall  go  into  my 
bed-chamber,  where  ye  shall  have  a  good  lire,  until  your 
chamber  be  made  ready  for  you;  and  let  my  Lord's  meal 
be  brought  up:  and  'or'ever  I  go,  1  pray  you  give  me 
leave  to  take  these  gentlemen,  your  servants,  by  the  hands." 
And  when  he  had  taken  them  all  by  the  hands,  he  returned 
to  the  Earl,  saying,  "  I  perceive  well,  my  Lord,  that  ye 
have  not  altogether  forgot  my  old  precepts  and  counsel, 
which  I  gave  you  when  you  were  with  me  in  your  youth, 
to  cherish  my  Lord  your  father's  old  servants,  which  1  see 
here  present  with  you.  Surely,  my  Lord,  ye  do  therein 
very  well  and  nobly,  like  a  wise  gentleman.  For  these 
be  they  who  will  not  only  love  you,  but  also  live  and  die 
with  you,  and  be  true  to  you,  and  glad  to  see  you  prosper 
in  honour,  which  I  beseech  God  to  send  you  with  long 

EC 


418  WOLSEY. 

life."     This  said,  he  took  the  Earl  by  the  hand,  and  \ed 
him  into  his  bed-chamber. 

And  they  being  there  all  alone,  save  only  I,  who  kept 
the  door,  according  to  my  duty,  being  gentleman-usher ; 
these  two  Lords  standing  at  a  window  by  the  chimney, 
the  Earl  trembling  said  unto  my  Lord  with  a  soft  voice, 
(laying  his  hand  upon  his  arm)  "  My  Lord,  I  arrest  you 
of  high  treason  !"     With  which  words  my  Lord  was  mar- 
vellously astonished,  standing  both  still  without  any  more 
words  a  good  space.     But  at  the  last,  quoth  my  Lord, 
*' What  authority  have  you  to  arrest  me?"     "Forsooth, 
my  Lord,"  quoth  the  Earl,  "  1  have  a  commission  so  to 
do."     **  Where  is  your  commission,"    quoth  my  Lord, 
**  that  T  may  see  it?"     "  Nay,  Sir,  that  you  may  not," 
said  the   Earl.     "  Well,  then,"  quoth  my  Lord,  "  hold 
you  contented  ;    then  will  I  not  obey  your   arrest :    for 
there  hath  been  between  yonr  ancestors  and  my  pi^ede- 
cessors    great    contentions    and    debate    of    an    ancient 
grudge,  which  may  succeed  in  you  and  grow  unto  the 
like  inconvenience,  as  it  hath  done  between  your  ancestors 
and   my  predecessors.      Therefore  without  I   see   your 
authority  from  above,  I  will  not  obey  you."     Even  as 
they  were   debating   this   matter  between   them   in   the 
chamber,  so  busy  was  Mr.   Walsh  in  arresting  of  Dr. 
Augustine  at  the  door  in  the  palace,  saying  unto  him, 
**  Go  in  traitor,  or  I  shall  make  thee."     And  with  that, 
I  opened  tlte  portal  door,  perceiving  them  both  there. 
Mr.  Walsh  thrust  Dr.  Augustine   in   before   him  with 
violence.     These  matters  on  bath  sides  astonished  me 
very  much,  musing  what  all  this  should  mean  ;    until  at 
the  last,  Mr.  Walsh  having  entered  my  lord's  chamber, 
began  to  pluck  off  his  hood,  which  he  had  made  him 
of  the  same  cloth  whereof  his  coat  was ;  which  was  of 
Shrewsbury  cotton,  to  the  intent  he  wouM  not  be  known. 
And  after  he  had  plucked  off  his  hood,  he  kneeled  down 
to   my  lord  ;    to  whom  my  lord   said,    "  Come    hither 
gentleman,    and  let   me  speak  with  you,"  commanding 
him  to  stand  up,  saying  thus :    "  Sir,  here  my  lord  of 
Northumberland  hath  arrested  me :    but  by  whose  autho- 
rity or  commission,  he  sheweth  me  not ;  but  saith,  he  hath 
one.     If  ye  be   privy  thereto,    or  be  joined  with   him 
therein,  1   pray  you  shew  me."     "  Indeed,  my  lord,  if 
it  please  your  grace,"  quoth  Mr.  Walsh,  "  he  sheweth 


WOLSEY.  419 

you  the  truth."  "  Well,  then,"  quoth  my  lord,  "  I  pray 
you  let  ms  sec  it."  "  Sir,  I  beseech  you."  quoth  Mr. 
Walsh,  **  hold  us  excused.  There  is  annexed  to  our 
commission  certain  instructions  which  ye  may  not  see, 
nor  yet  be  privy  to  the  same."  "  Why,"  quoth  my  lord, 
"be  your  instructions  such  that  I  may  not  see  them? 
peradventure  if  1  might  be  privy  to  them,  I  could  help 
you  the  better  to  perform  them.  It  is  not  unknown  but 
I  have  been  privy  and  of  counsel  in  as  weighty  matters 
as  these  be :  and  I  doubt  not  for  my  part,  but  I  shall 
prove  myself  a  true  man,  against  the  expectation  of  all 
my  cruel  enemies.  I  see  the  matter  whereupon  it  groweth. 
Well,  there  is  no  more  to  do.  I  trow  ye  are  one  of  the 
King's  privy  chamber  ;  your  name  is  Walsh.  I  am 
content  to  yield  to  you,  but  not  to  my  lord  of  Northum- 
berland, without  I  see  his  commission.  And  also  you 
are  a  sufficient  commissioner  in  that  behalf,  inasmuch  as 
ye  be  one  of  the  King's  privy  chamber ;  for  the  worst, 
there  is  a  sufficient  warrant  to  arrest  the  greatest  peer  in 
this  realm  by  the  King's  only  command,  without  any 
commission.  Therefore  I  am  at  your  will  to  order  and 
dispose  :  put  therefore  your  commission  and  authority 
in  execution :  spare  not,  and  I  will  obey  the  King's  will. 
I  fear  more  the  malice  and  cruelty  of  my  mortal  enemies, 
than  I  do  the  untruth  of  my  allegiance ;  wherein  1  take 
God  to  be  my  judge,  I  never  offended  the  King  in  word 
or  deed  ;  and  therein  I  dare  stand  face  to  face  with  any 
man  alive,  having  indifferency,  without  partiality." 

Then  came  my  lord  of  Northumberland  unto  me, 
standing  at  the  portal  door,  and  commanded  me  to  avoid 
the  chamber :  and  being  loath  to  depart  from  my  master 
I  stood  still,  and  would  not  remove ;  to  whom  he  spake 
again,  and  said  unto  me,  *'  There  is  no  remedy,  ye  must 
depart."  With  that  I  looked  upon  my  lord,  (as  who 
would  say  '  shall  I  go?')  upon  whom  my  lord  looked  very 
heavily,  and  shook  ai  me  his  head.  And  perceiving 
by  his  countenance  it  booted  me  not  to  abide,  I  departed 
the  chamber,  and  went  into  the  next  chamber,  where 
abode  many  gentlemen  of  my  fellows  and  others  to  learn 
of  me  some  news;  to  whom  I  made  report  what  1  saw 
and  heard;  which  was  great  heaviness  unto  them  all. 

Then  the  Earl  called  into  the  chamber  divers  gentle- 
men of  his  own  servants ;  and  after  that  he  and  Mr. 
Walsh  had  taken  my  lord's  keys  from  him,  they  gave  the 

Ee  2 


420  WOLSEY. 

charge  and  custody  of  my  lord  unto  five  gentlemen.  And 
then  they  went  about  the  house  to  set  all  things  in  order, 
intending  to  depart  thence  the  next  day  (being  Saturday) 
•with  my  lord ;  howbeit  it  was  Sunday  towards  night  'or' 
ever  they  could  bring  all  things  to  pass  to  depart.  Then 
went  they  busily  about  to  convey  Dr.  Augustine  away  to 
London,  with  as  much  speed  as  they  coidd,  sending  with 
him  divers  persons  to  conduct  him,  who  was  bound  unto 
his  horse  like  a  traitor.  And  this  done,  when  it  came  to 
night,  the  commissioners  assigned  two  grooms  of  my 
lord's  to  attend  upon  him  in  the  chamber  where  he  lay  that 
night,  and  all  the  rest  of  my  lord  of  Northumberland's 
gentlemen  watched  in  the  next  chamber ;  and  so  was  all 
the  house  watched,  and  the  gates  surely  kept,  that  no 
man  could  either  pass  or  repass  in  or  out  until  the  next 
morning.  At  which  time  my  lord  rose  up  about  8  o'clock, 
and  made  him  ready  to  ride  ;  where  he  was  kept  still 
close  in  his  chamber,  expecting  his  departing  thence. 

Then  the  Earl  sent  for  me  into  his  chamber,  and  being 
there,  he  commanded  me  to  go  to  my  lord,  and  give 
attendance  on  him,  and  charged  me  with  an  oath  upon 
certain  articles  to  observe  about  him.  And  going  my 
way  toward  my  lord,  1  met  with  Mr.  Walsh  in  the  court, 
who  called  me  unto  him,  and  led  me  into  his  chamber, 
and  there  shewed  me  how  the  King's  majesty  bare  towards 
me  his  princely  favour,  for  my  diligent  and  true  service 
that  I  ministered  daily  to  my  lord  and  master.  "  Where- 
fore," quoth  he,  **  the  King's  pleasure  is,  that  ye  shall 
be  about  him  as  most  chief  in  whom  his  highness  putteth 
great  confidence  and  trust ;  and  whose  pleasure  is  there- 
fore, that  ye  shall  be  sworn  unto  him  to  observe  certain 
articles,  which  you  shall  have  delivered  you  in  writing." 
And  so  he  gave  me  an  oath ;  and  then  I  resorted  unto 
my  lord,  where  he  was  sitting  in  a  chair,  the  tables  being 
spread  for  him  to  go  to  dinner.  But  as  soon  as  he 
perceived  me  come  in,  he  fell  out  into  such  a  woeful 
lamentation,  with  such  ruthful  tears  and  watery  eyes, 
that  would  have  caused  a  flinty  heart  to  mourn  with  him. 
And  as  I  could,  I  with  others  comforted  him  ;  but  it 
would  not  be.  "  For,"  quoth  he,  **now  T  lament  that 
I  see  this  gentleman,"  (meaning  me)  "  how  faithfully,  how 
diligently,  and  how  painfully  he  hath  served  me,  abandoning 
his  own  country,  wife,  and  children,  his  house  and  family, 
his  rest  and  quietness,  only  to  serve  me,  and  I  have 


WOLSEY.  421 

Kothmg  to  reward  him  for  his  high  merits.     And  also  the 
sight  of  him  causeth  me  to  call  to  my  remembrance  the 
number  of  faithful  servants  that  I  have  here  with  me ; 
Avhom  I  did  intend  to  prefer  and  advance  to  the  best 
of  my  power  from  time  to  time,  as  occasion  should  serve. 
But  now,  alas!   I  am   prevented,  and  have  nothing  here 
to  reward  them ;    all  is  deprived  me,  and  I  am  left  here 
their  miserable  and  M'retched  master."  "  Howbeit,"  quoth 
he  to  me  (calling  me  by  my  name),  **  I  am  a  true  man, 
and  ye  shall  never  have  shame  of  me  for  your  service. 
If  I  may  come  to  my  answer,  I  fear  no  man  alive ;    for 
he  liveth  not  that  shall  look  upon  this  face"  (pointing  to 
his  own  face),  **that  shall  be  able  to  accuse  me  of  any 
untruth ;    and  that  know  well  mine  enemies,  which  will 
be  an  occasion  that  they  will  not  suffer  me  to  have  in- 
different justice,  but  seek  some  sinister  means  to  dispatch 
me."     "  Sir,"  quoth  I,  '*  ye  need  not  therein  doubt,  the 
King  being  so  much  your  good  lord,,  as  he  hath  always 
shewed  himself  to  be  in  all  your  troubles."     With  that 
came   up  my  lord's  meat ;    and  so  we  left  our  former 
communication,  and  I  gave  my  lord  water,  and  set  him 
down  to  dinner ;  who  did  eat  very  little  meat,  but  very 
many  times  suddenly  he  would  burst  out  in  tears,  with 
the  most  sorrowful  words  that  have  been  heard  of  any 
woeful  creature.     i\nd  at  the  last  he  fetched  a  great  sigh, 
and  said  this  text  of  Scripture  :*  "  Oconstantia  Martyrum 
laudabilis !    O  charitas  inextinguibilis !    O  patientia  in- 
vincibilis,  qitce  licet  inter  pressuras  persequentium  visa  sit 
despicabilis,  invenietur  in  laudem  et  gloriam  ac  honorem 
in  tempore  tribulationis."     And  thus  passed  he  forth  his 
dinner  in  great  lamentation  and  heaviness,  who  was  fed 
more  with  weeping  tears  than  with  any  delicate  meats 
that  were  set  before  him.     I  suppose  there  was  not  a  dry 
eye  among  all  the  gentlemen  that  were  tliere  attending 
upon  him.     And  when  the  table  was  taken  up,  we  ex^- 
pected  continually  our  removing,  until  it  drew  to  night ; 


*  The  words  vvhicli  follow,  I  apprehend,  are  part  of  some  ecclesiastica,! 
hymn.  It  was  net  unusual  to  attribute  the  name  of  Scripture  to  all  such 
compositions ;  and  to  whatever  was  read  in  Churclies.  "  Also  I  said 
and  affirmed"  (the  words  are  part  of  the  recantation  of  a  Wickliffite), 
*'  that  1  held  no  Scripture  Catholic  nor  holy,  but  only  that  is  contained 
in  the  Bible.  For  the  legends  and  lives  of  saints  I  held  them  nought; 
and  the  miracles  written  of  them  I  lield  uutrwe."    Fox's  ^cts,  p.  591, 

[WOBDSWOKTH.J 


422  WOLSEY. 

and  then  it  was  shewed  my  lord,  that  he  could  not  go 
away  that  night,  but  on  the  morrow,  by  God's  grace  he 
should  depart.  "  Even  then,"  quoth  he,  "  when  my 
lord  of  Northumberland  shall  be  pleased."  Wherefore 
it  was  concluded,  that  he  should  tarry  until  the  next  day, 
being  Sunday. 

On  which  day  my  lord  rose  in  the  morning,  and  pre- 
pared him  ready  to  ride,  after  he  had  heard  mass ;  and 
by  that  time  he  had  said  all  his  divine  service  it  was 
dinner  time ;  and  after  dinner  the  Earl  appointed  all 
things  how  it  should  be  ordered  ;  and  by  that  time  it  was 
near  night.  There  were  appointed  to  wait  upon  him 
divers  persons,  among  whom,  I  myself,  and  four  more  of 
his  own  servants  were  assigned  unto  him.  First,  his 
chaplain,  two  grooms,  and  his  barber :  and  as  we  were 
going  down  out  of  the  great  chamber,  my  lord  demanded 
where  his  servants  were  gone ;  which  the  Earl  and  Mr. 
Walsh  had  inclosed  within  the  chapel  there,  because  they 
should  not  trouble  his  passage.  Notwithstanding  my 
lord  would  not  go  down  until  he  had  a  sight  of  his 
servants  ;  to  whom  it  was  answered  that  he  might  not  see 
them.  "  Why,  so  ?"  then  quoth  my  lord,  **  1  will  not 
out  of  this  house  but  I  will  see  my  servants,  and  take  my 
leave  of  them  before  I  will  go  any  further."  And  his 
servants  being  in  the  chapel,  having  understanding  that 
my  lord  was  going  away,  and  that  they  should  not  see 
him  before  his  departure,  they  began  to  grudge,  and  to 
make  such  a  ruthful  noise,  that  the  conmiissioners  were 
in  doubt  of  a  tumult  to  tarry  among  them  ;  wherefore 
they  were  let  out,  and  suffered  to  repair  to  my  lord  in  the 
great  chamber;  where  they  kneeled  down  before  him; 
among  whom  was  not  one  dry  eye,  but  earnestly  lamented 
their  master's  fall  and  trouble.  To  whom  my  lord  gave 
comfortable  words,  and  worthy  praises  for  their  diligence, 
honesty,  and  truth,  done  to  him  heretofore ;  assuring  them 
that  what  chance  soever  should  happen  him,  he  was  a 
very  true  and  a  just  man  to  his  sovereign  lord.  And  thus 
with  a  lamentable  manner  he  shook  every  of  them  by  the 
hand. 

Then  Avas  he  constrained  to  depart,  the  night  drew  so 
fast  on.  And  so  my  lord's  horse  and  our's  were  ready 
brought  into  the  inner  court,  where  we  mounted,  and 
coming  to  the  gate  to  ride  out,  which  was  shut,  the  porter 
opening  the  same  to  let  us  pass,  there  was  ready  attending 


WOLSEY.  423^ 

•d  great  number  of  gentlemen  with  their  servants,  such  as 
the  earl  had  appointed  for  that  purpose,  to  attend  and 
conduct  my  lord  to  Pomfret  that  night,  and  so  forth,  as 
ye  shall  hereafter  hear.  But  to  tell  you  of  the  number  of 
the  people  of  the  country  that  were  assembled  at  the  gate 
to  lament  his  departing,  I  suppose  they  were  in  number 
above  3,000  people  ;  which,  at  the  opening  of  the  gates, 
after  they  had  a  sight  of  him,  cried  with  a  loud  voice, 
"  God  save  your  grace,  God  save  your  grace  I  The  foul 
evil  take  them  that  have  thus  taken  you  from  us  !  We 
pray  God  that  a  very  vengeance  may  light  upon  them  !" 
Thus  they  lan  after  him,  crying  through  the  town  of 
Cawood,  they  loved  him  so  well.  Surely  they  had  a  great 
loss  of  him,  both  rich  and  poor  :  for  the  poor  had  by  him 
great  relief,  and  the  rich  lacked  not  his  counsel  and  help 
in  all  their  troubles,  which  caused  him  to  have  such  love 
among  the  people  of  the  country. 

Furtheraiore,  as  he  rode  toward  Pomfret,  he  demanded 
of  me  whither  they  would  lead  him  that  night.  *'  Mary, 
Sir,"  quoth  I,  "to  Pomfret."  "Alas!"  quoth  he, 
*'  shall  I  go  to  the  castle,  and  lie  there  and  die  like  a 
beast  1"  "  Sir,  I  can  tell  you  no  more,"  quoth  I,  "  what 
they  intend  to  doj  but.  Sir,  I  will  inquire  of  a  secret 
friend  of  mine  in  this  company,  who  is  chief  of  all  their 
counsels." 

With  that  I  repaired  unto  the  said  Roger  Lassels,  [Las- 
celles]  and  desired  him  as  earnestly  as  I  could,  that  he  would 
vouchsafe  to  shew  me  whither  my  lord  should  go  to  be 
lodged  that  night ;  who  answered  me  again  that  my  lord 
should  be  lodged  in  the  abbey  of  Pomfret,  and  in  none 
other  place  ;  the  which  I  reported  to  my  lord,  who  was 
glad  thereof ;  so  that  within  night  w§  came  to  Pomfret, 
and  there  lodged  within  the  abbey  as  is  aforesaid. 

The  next  day  my  lord  removed  towards  Doncaster,  and 
came  into  the  town  by  torch-lightj'whjch  was  liis  desire, 
because  of  the  people.  Yea  notwithstanding  the  people 
were  assembled,  and  cried  out  upon  him,  *'  God  save  your 
grace,  God  save  your  grace,  my  good  lord  Cardinal!" 
running  before  him  with  candles  in  their  hands;  who 
caused  me  to  ride  by  his  side  to  shadow  him  from  the 
people ;  and  yet  they  perceived  him  and  lamented  his 
misfortune,  cursing  his  accusers.  And  thus  they  brought 
him  to  the  Black-friars,  within  which  he  was  lodged. 
.  And  the  next  day  we  removed  and  rode  to  Sheffield-^ 


4'24  WOLSEY. 

park,  where  my  lord  of  Shrewsbury  lay  v  ithin  the  lodge, 
the  people  all  the  way  thitherward  still  lamenting  him, 
cr)ing  as  they  did  before.  And  when  we  came  into  the 
park  of  Sheffield  nigh  to  the  lodge,  my  lord  of  Shrewsbury, 
with  my  lady  and  a  train  of  gentlewomen,  and  all  other  his 
gentlemen  and  servants,  stood  without  the  gates,  to  attend 
my  lord's  coming,  to  receive  him ;  at  whose  alighting  the 
earl  received  him  with  much  honour,  and  embraced  my 
lord,  saying  these  words,  "  My  lord,  your  grace  is  most 
heartily  welcome  unto  me,  and  I  am  glad  to  see  you  here 
in  my  poor  lodge,  where  1  have  long  desired  to  see  you, 
and  should  have  been  much  more  glad  if  you  had  come 
after  an  other  sort."  "  Aye,  my  gentle  lord  of  Shrews- 
bury," quoth  my  lord, ''  I  heartily  thank  you  :  and  although 
I  have  cause  to  lament,  yet,  as  a  faithful  heart  may,  1  do 
rejoice,  that  my  chance  is  to  come  unto  the  custody  of  so 
noble  a  person,  whose  approved  honour  and  wisdom  hath 
always  been  right  well  known  to  all  estates.  And,  Sir, 
however  my  accusers  have  used  their  accusations  against 
me,  this  1  know,  and  so  before  your  lordship,  and  all  the 
world,  I  do  protest,  that  my  demeanour  and  proceedings 
have  always  been  both  just  and  loyal  towards  my  sovereign 
and  liege  lord  ;  of  whose  usage  in  his  grace's  affairs,  your 
lordship  hath  had  right  good  experience,  and  even  accord- 
ing to  my  truth,  so  1  beseech  God  to  help  me  !"  "  I  doubt 
not,"  quoth  my  lord  of  Shrewsbury,  **  of  your  truth. 
Therefore,  my  lord,  be  of  good  cheer,  and  fear  not ;  for 
I  am  nothing  sorry,  but  that  I  have  not  wherewith  to 
entertain  you,  according  to  my  good  will  and  your  honour; 
but  such  as  I  have  ye  shall  be  welcome  to :  for  I  will  not 
receive  you  as  a  prisoner,  but  as  my  good  lord,  and  the 
King's  true  and  loving  subject ;  and.  Sir,  here  is  my  wife 
come  to  salute  you."  Whom  my  lord  kissed,  with  his 
cap  in  his  hand,  bareheaded,  and  all  the  other  gentlemen; 
and  took  all  the  Earl's  servants  by  the  hands,  as  well 
gentlemen  as  yeornen.  This  done  these  two  lords  went 
into  the  lodge  arm  m  arm,  and  so  conducted  my  lord  into 
a  fair  gallery,  where  was  in  the  further  end  thereof  a 
goodly  tower  with  lodgings,  where  my  lord  was  lodged. 
There  was  al^o  in  the  midst  of  the  same  gallery  a  traverse 
of  sarcenet  drawn  ;  so  that  the  one  end  thereof  was  pre- 
served for  my  loid,  and  the  other  for  the  earl. 

Then  departed  from  my  lord  all  the  great  number   of 
gentlemen  and  other  that  conducted  him  thither.     And 


WOLSEY.  425 

my  lord,  being  thus  with  my  lord  of  Shrewsbury,  con- 
tinued there  eighteen  days  after  ;  upon  whom  my  lord  of 
Shrewsbury  appointed  divers  worthy  gentlemen  to  attend 
continually,  to  foresee  that  he  should  lack  nothing  that 
he  would  desire,  being  served  in  his  own  chamber  at 
dinner,  and  supper,  as  honourably,  and  with  as  many 
dainty  dishes,  as  he  had  in  his  own  house  commonly  being 
at  liberty.  And  once  every  day  my  lord  of  Shrewsbury 
would  repair  unto  him,  and  commune  with  him,  sitting 
upon  a  bench  in  a  great  window  in  the  gallery. 

Remaining  there  thus  with  my  lord  the  space  of  a 
fortnight,  having  goodly  entertainment,  and  often  desired 
by  the  earl  to  kill  a  doe  or  hart  in  his  park  there,  who 
always  refused  to  take  any  pleasure  either  in  hunting  or 
otherwise,  but  applied  his  prayers  continually  with  great 
devotion  ;  so  that  it  came  to  pass  at  a  certain  time  as  he 
sat  at  dinner  in  his  own  chamber,  having  at  his  board's- 
end  the  same  day,  as  he  accustomably  had  every  day,  a 
mess  of  gentlemen  and  chaplains  to  keep  him  company, 
towards  the  end  of  his  dinner,  when  he  came  to  the  eating 
of  his  fruits,  I  perceived  his  colour  often  to  change, 
whereby  I  judged  him  not  to  be  in  good  health.  With 
that  I  leaned  ever  the  table,  and  speaking  softly  unto 
him,  said,  **  Sir^  me  seemeth  your  grace  is  not  well  at 
ease."  To  whom  he  answered  with  a  loud  voice,  *'  For- 
sooth, no  more  I  am  ;  for  I  am,"  quoth  he,  "  taken 
suddenly  with  a  thing  about  my  stomach,  that  lieth  there- 
along,  as  cold  as  a  whetstone  :  which  is  no  more  than 
wind  ;  therefore  I  pray  you  take  up  the  table,  and  make 
a  short  dinner,  and  that  done  resort  shortly  again."  And 
after  the  meat  was  carried  out  of  the  chamber  into  the 
gallery,  where  all  the  waiters  dined,  and  every  man  set, 
I  rose  up  and  forsook  my  dinner,  and  came  into  the 
chamber  unto  my  lord,  where  1  found  him  still  sitting 
verj-  ill  at  ease  ;  notwithstanding  he  was  communing  with 
them  at  the  board's-end,  whom  he  had  commanded  to 
sit  still.  And  as  soon  as  1  entered  the  chamber,  he 
desired  me  to  go  to  the  apothecary,  and  enquire  of  him 
if  he  had  any  thing  that  would  make  him  break  wind 
upward.  Then  went  1  to  the  earl,  and  shewed  him 
what  state  my  lord  was  in,  and  what  he  desired.  With 
that  my  lord  of  Shrewsbury  caused  incontinent  the 
apothecary  to  be  called  before  him ;  and  at  his  coming, 
he  demanded  of  him  if  he  had  anv  thing  that  would 


426  WOLSEY. 

break  wind  upward  in  a  man's  body;  and  he  answered 
that  he  had  such  gear.     "  Then,"  quoth  the  earl,   '*  fetch 
me  some."     Then  departed  the  apothecary,  and  brought 
with  him  a  white  confection  to  my  lord,  who  commanded 
me  to  give  the  save  thereof  before  him,  and  so  I  did. 
And  I  took  the  same  and  brought  it  to  my  lord,  whereof 
also  I  took  the  saye  myself,  and  then  delivered  it  to  my 
lord,   who  received  it  up   all  at  once  into  his  mouth. 
But  immediately  after  he  had  received  the  same^  surely 
he  avoided  much  wind   exceedingly,   upward.      '^  Lo," 
quoth  he,  "  you  may  see  it  was  but  wind  ;    and  now  am 
1  well  eased,  I  thank  Godj"  and  so  rose  from  the  table, 
and    went  to   his   prayers,    as  he  used   every  day  after 
dinner.    And  that  done,  there  came  upon  him  such  a  laske, 
[looseness]  that  it  caused  him  to  go  to  stool ;  and  being  there, 
my  lord  of  Shrewsbury  sent  for  me,  and  at  my  repair  to 
him,  he  said  :    **  For  as  much  as  I  have  always  perceived 
you  to  be  a  man,  in  whom  my  lord  your  master  hath 
gjeat  affiance ;    and  also  knowing  you  to  be  an  honest 
man,  &c.  it  is  so,  that  my  lord  your  master  hath  often 
desired  me  to  write  to  the  King,  that  he  might  come 
before  his  presence  to  answer  to  his  accusations  :  and 
even  so  have  I  done ;  and  this  day  have  I  received  letters 
from  the  King's  grace,  by  Sir  William  Kingston,  whereby 
I  perceive  that  the  King  hath  in  him  a  good  opinion ; 
and  by  my  request  he  hath  sent  for  him,  by  the  same  Sir 
AVilliam,    to  come  unto  him  ;    who  is  in  his  chamber. 
Wherefore  now  is  the  time  come  that  my  lord  hath  often 
desired  to  try  himself,   I  trust,  much  to  his  honour  ;    and 
it  shall  be  the  best  journey  that  ever  he  made  in  his  life. 
Therefore  now  would  1  have  you  play  the  part  of  a  wise 
man,  to  break  this  matter  wittily  to  him,   in  such  sort, 
that  he  may  take  it  quietly,  and  in  good  part :  for  he  is 
ever  so  full  of  sorrow  and  heaviness  at  my  being  with 
him,  that  I  fear  he  will  take  it   in  evil  part,  and  then 
doeth  he  not  well  ;  for  I  assure  you,  and  so  shew  him, 
that  the  King  is  his  good  lord,  and  hath  given  me  most 
worthy  thanks  for  his  entertainment,  desiring  me  so  to 
continue,  not  doubting  but  that  he  will  right  nobly  acquit 
himself  towards  his  highness.      Therefore,    go  to   him, 
and  persuade  with  him  that  I  may  lind  him  in  good  quiet 
at  my    coming,    for   I  will  not   tarry  long   after  you." 
"  Sir,"    quoth  I,  **  if  it  please   your   lordship,    I  shall 
endeavour  to  the  best  of  my  power  to  accomplish  your 


WOLSEY.  427 

lordship's  command.  But,  Sir,  I  doubt,  that  when  I 
shall  name  Sir  William  Kingston  to  him,  he  will  mistrust 
that  all  is  not  well ;  because  Mr.  Kingston  is  constable 
of  the  tower,  and  captain  of  the  guard,  having  with  him, 
as  I  understand,  24  of  the  guard  to  attend  upon  him." 
*'  Mary,  it  is  truth,"  quoth  the  earl,  "  what  though  he 
be  constable  of  the  tower  ?  he  is  the  meetest  man  for  his 
wisdom  and  discretion  to  be  sent  about  any  such  message. 
And  for  the  guard,  it  is  for  none  other  purpose  but  only 
to  defend  him  against  them  that  would  intend  him  any 
evil,  either  in  word  or  deed ;  and  they  be  all,  or  for  the 
most  part,  such  of  his  old  servants  as  the  King  took  of 
late  into  his  service,  to  the  intent  that  they  should  attend 
upon  him  most  justly,  knowing  best  how  to  serve  him." 
"  Well,  Sir,"  said  I,  "  I  shall  do  what  1  can;"  and  so 
departed  from  him  towards  my  lord. 

And  as  I  repaired  unto  him,  I  found  him  sitting  at  the 
upper  end  of  the  gallery,  upon  a  chest,  with  his  staff  and 
his  beads  in  his  hands.  And  espying  me  coming  from 
the  earl,  demanded  of  me  what  news.  "  Forsooth,  Sir," 
quoth  I,  **  the  best  news  that  ever  came  to  you  :  if  your 
grace  can  take  it  well."  "  I  pray  God  it  be ;"  quoth  he, 
*' what  is  it?"  "  Forsoodi,  Sir,"  said  I,  "my  lord  of 
Shrewsbury,  perceiving  by  your  often  communication 
with  him,  that  ye  were  always  desirous  to  come  before 
the  King's  majesty,  he  as  your  most  assured  friend  hath 
wrought  so  with  his  letters  to  the  King,  that  he  hath  sent 
for  you  by  Mr.  Kingston  and  24  ot  the  guard,  to  conduct 
you  to  his  highness."  **  Mr.  Kingston,"  quoth  he,  re- 
hearsing his  name*  once  or  twice ;  and  with  that  clapped 
his  hand  on  his  thigh,  and  gave  a  great  sigh,  and  therewith 
he  rose  up,  and  went  into  his  chamber ;  and  when  he 
came  out  again,  immediately  my  lord  of  Shrewsbury  came 
into  the  gallery  unto  him,  whom  my  lord  met,  and  then 
sitting  down  there  upon  a  bench  in  a  great  bay  window, 
the  earl  asked  him  how  he  did,  and  he  most  lamentably, 
as  he  was  accustomed  to  do,  answered  him,  and  thanked 


*  Wolsey.in  his  life-time,  was  informed  by  some  fortune-tellers,  that  he 
should  have  his  end  at  Kini^slon.  'fliis  he  interpreted  of  Kingston- 
on-Tliames,  which  made  him  always  avoid  riding  through  that  town, 
though  the  nearest  way  from  his  house  to  the  court.  Afterwards,  under- 
standing that  he  was  to  be  committed  by  the  King's  express  orders  to  the 
charge  of  Sir  Anthony  Kingston,  it  struck  to  hisfieart. 


428  WOLSEY. 

him  for  his  gentle  entertainment.     ''  Sir,"  quoth  the  ear!, 
if  ye  remember  ye  have  often  wished  to  come  before  the 
King  to  make  your  answer:  and,  I  perceiving  your  often 
desire  and  earnest  request,  as  one  that  beareth  you  good 
will,  have  written  especially  unto  the  King  in  that  behalf; 
making  him  privy  also  of  your  lamentable  sorrow,  that 
ye  inwardly  have  received  of  his  displeasure ;    who  ac- 
cepteth  all  your  doings  therein,  as  friends  be  accustomed 
to  do  in  such  cases.     Wherefore  I  would  advise  you  to 
pluck  up  your  heart,  and  be  not  aghast  of  your  enemies, 
who  I  assure  you  be  more  in  doubt  of  you,  than  you 
would  think,  perceiving  that  the  King  is  minded  to  have 
the  hearing  of  your  case  before  his  own  person.     Now, 
Sir,  if  you  can  be  of  good  cheer,   I  doubt  not  but  this 
journey  which  you  shall  take  to  his  highness  shall  be  much 
to  your  advancement,  and  an  overthrow  to  your  enemies. 
The  King  hath  sent  for  you  by  the  worshipful  knight, 
Mr.  Kingston,  and  with  him  24  of  your  old  servants, 
now  of  the  guard,  to  defend  you  against  your  enemies, 
to  the  intent  that  ye  may  safely  come  unto  his  majesty." 
**Sir,"  quoth  my  lord,    ''I  trow  that  Mr.  Kingston  is 
constable  of  the  tower."     "  Yea,  what  of  that?"  quoth 
the  earl,  "  I  assure   you  he  is  elected  of  the  King  for 
one  of  your  friends,  and  for  a  discreet  gentleman,  most 
worthy  to  take  upon  him  the  safeguard  and  conduct  of  your 
person ;    which  without  fail  the  King  much  esteemeth, 
and  secretly  beareth   you   special   favour,  far  otherwise 
than  ye  do  take  it."     **  Well,  Sir,"  quoth  my  lord,   "  as 
God  will,   so  be  it.     I  am  subject   to  fortune,    and   to 
fortune  I  submit  myself,  being  a  true  man,  ready  to  accept 
such  chances  as  shall  follow,  and  there's  an  end  ;   Sir,  I 
pray  you,  where  is  Mr.    Kingston^"     "Mary,"  quoth 
the  earl,  "  if  you  will,  I  will  send  for  him,  who  would 
most  gladly  see  you."     "  I  pray  you  then,"  quotli  my 
lord,  "  send  for  him."     At  whose  message  he  came,   and 
as  soon  as  my  lord  espied  him  coming  at  the  gallery  end, 
he  made  haste  to  encounter  him.     Mr.  Kingston  came 
towards  him  with  much  reverence  ;  and  at  his  coming  he 
kneeled  down  unto  him,  and  saluted  him  in  the  King's 
behalf;  whom  my  lord   bire-headed  offered  to  take  up, 
but  he  still  refused.     Then  quoth  my  lord,  "  Mr.  King- 
ston,  1  pray  you  stand  up,  and  leave  your  kneeling  unto 
me ;    for  1  am   but  a  wretch  replete  with  misery,    not 
esteeming  myself,  but  as  a  vile  object  utterly  cast  away, 


WOLSEY.  429 

without  desert,  as  God  knoweth.  And  therefore,  good 
Mr.  Kingston  stand  up,  or  I  will  kneel  down  by  you  ;" 
whom  he  would  not  leave  until  he  stood  up.  Then  spake 
Mr.  Kingston,  and  said,  with  humble  reverence,  "  Sir, 
the  King's  majesty  hath  him  commended  unto  you." 
**I  thank  his  highness,"  quoth  my  lord  ;  "  I  trust  he  is 
in  health,  and  merry."  "  Yea,  without  doubt,"  quoth 
Mr.  Kingston;  "and  he  commanded  me  to  say  unto 
you  that  you  should  assure  yourself,  that  he  beareth  unto 
you  as  nmch  good  will  and  favour  as  ever  he  did;  and 
willeth  you  to  be  of  good  cheer.  And  where  report  hath 
been  made  unto  him,  that  you  should  commit  against  his 
royal  majesty  certain  heinous  crimes,  which  he  thinketh 
perfectly  to  be  untrue,  yet  for  the  ministration  of  justice, 
in  such  cases  requisite,  he  can  do  no  less  than  send  for 
you  to  your  trial,  mistrusting  nothing  your  truth  nor 
wisdom,  but  that  ye  shall  be  able  to  requite  yourself  of 
all  complaints  and  accusations  exhibited  against  you ;  and 
to  take  your  journey  to  him  at  your  own  pleasure,  com- 
manding me  to  attend  upon  you  with  ministration  of  due 
reverence,  and  to  see  your  person  preserved  against  all 
inconveniences  that  may  ensue  ;  and  to  elect  all  such 
your  old  servants,  now  his,  to  seiTe  you  by  the  way,  who 
have  most  experience  of  your  diet.  Therefore,  Sir,  I 
beseech  you  be  of  good  cheer ;  and  when  it  shall  be  your 
own  pleasure  to  take  your  journey,  I  shall  be  ready  to 
give  attendance  upon  you."  "  Mr.  Kingston,"  quoth 
my  lord,  **  1  thank  yon  for  your  good  news  ;  and.  Sir, 
hereof  assure  yourself,  that  if  I  were  as  able  and  lusty  as 
I  have  been  but  of  late,  I  would  not  fail  to  ride  with  you 
in  post :  but.  Sir,  I  am  diseased  with  a  flux*  that  maketh 


*  In  the  j)i  inted  editions  the  passage  stands  thus ;  "  But,  alas !  I  am  3 
diseased  man,  having  a  tlux  :  (at  which  time  it  was  apparent  that  he  had 
poisoned  himself)  it  hath  made  me  very  weak."  p.  190,  edit.  1706.  "  It  is 
highly  probable  (says  Fiddes  in  his  Lite  of  Wolsey,  p.  499)  that  this  ex- 
pression ought  to  be  taken  in  a  softer  sense  than  the  words  strictly  im- 
port, and  that  Cavendish  only  intended  by  it,  that  he  was  poisoned  by 
taking  something  prepared  forliim  by  other  hands."  Dr.  F.  then  j)roceeds 
to  invalidate  by  reasoning  the  absurd  story  of  the  Cardinal  having  ha.stened 
his  own  death.  It  is  more  important  to  observe,  adds  Dr.  Woidsworth 
that  it  admits  of  great  question,  whether  the  words  in  the  parenthesis  ure 
not  altogether  an  interpolation.  '1  hey  do  not  occur  in  any  MS.  which  the 
Rev.  Doctor  hrd  seen.  The  charge  of  his  having  poisoned  himself,  was 
most  ungenerously  reported  by  contemporary  writers.  This  false  and 
ridiculous  idea  is  now  exploded.  It  was  ably  refuted  by  Dr.  Sam.  Pegge, 
the  learned  autiquaiy.  See  Gent.  Mag.  vol.  xxv.  p.  25,  and  two  excellent 
articles  on  the  Cardinal's  iinpcachnient,  p.  229,  345.— Ed.] 


430  WOLSEY. 

me  very  weak.  But,  Mr.  Kingston,  all  the  comfortable 
words  which  ye  have  spoken  unto  me,  be  spoken  but  for 
a  purpose  to  bring  me  into  a  fool's  paradise :  I  know 
what  is  provided  for  me.  Notwithstanding,  I  thank  you 
for  your  good  will,  and  pains  taken  about  me  ;  and  I 
shall  with  ail  speed  make  me  ready  to  ride  with  you 
to-morrow."  And  thus  they  fell  into  other  communica- 
tion, both  the  earl  and  Mr.  Kingston  with  my  lord ; 
who  commanded  me  to  foresee  and  provide  that  all  things 
might  be  made  ready  to  depart  the  morrow  after.  Then 
caused  I  all  things  to  be  trussed  up,  and  made  in  readi- 
ness as  fast  as  they  could  conveniently. 

When  night  came  that  we  should  go  to  bed,  my  lord 
waxed  very  sick  with  the  laske,  which  caused  him  still  con- 
tinually from  time  to  time  to  go  to  stool,  all  that  night ; 
insomuch  that  from  the  time  that  it  took  him,  until  the 
next  morning,  he  had  fifty  stools,  so  that  he  was  that  day 
very  weak.  His  matter  that  he  voided  was  wonderous 
black,  which  the  physician  called  "  coller  adustine  ;"  and 
when  he  perceived  it,  he  said  to  me,  that  if  he  had  not 
some  help  shortly  he  should  die.  With  that  I  caused  one 
Dr.  Nicholas,  M.D.  being  with  my  lord  of  Shrewsbury, 
to  look  upon  the  gross  matter  tb.at  he  voided  ;  upon  sight 
whereof  he  determined  he  should  not  live  four  or  live  days ; 
yet,  notwithstanding,  he  would  have  ridden  with  Mr. 
Kingston  that  same  day,  if  my  lord  of  Shrewsbury  had 
not  been  there.  Therefore,  in  consideration  of  his  infir- 
mity, they  caused  him  to  tarry  all  that  day. 

After  the  next  day  he  took  his  journey  with  Mr.  King-r 
ston,  and  then  of  the  guard.  And  as  soon  as  they  espied 
him,  considering  that  he  was  their  old  master,  and  in  such 
estate,  they  lamented  his  misfortune  with  weeping  eyes. 
Whom  my  lord  took  by  the  hand,  and  many  times,  as  he 
rode  by  the  way,  he  would  talk,  now  with  one,  then  with 
another,  until  he  came  to  an  house  of  my  lord  of  Shrews- 
bury's, called  Hardwicke-hall,  where  he  lay  all  that  night 
very  ill  at  ease.  The  next  day  he  rode  to  Nottingham, 
and  there  lodged  that  night,  more  sick,  and  the  next  day 
lie  rode  to  Leicester  abbey ;  and  by  the  way  he  waxed  so 
sick,  that  he  was  almost  fallen  from  his  mule;  so  that  it 
was  night  before  we  came  to  the  abbey  of  Leicester, 
where,  at  his  coming  in  at  the  gate,  the  Abbot  with  all  his 
Convent,  met  him  with  divers  torch-lights;  whom  they 
light    hononrablv    received    and    welcomed    with    great 


WOLSEY.  431 

reverence.  To  whom  my  lord  said,  "  Father  Abbot,  1 
am  come  hithei'  to  leave  my  bones  among  you"  riding  so 
still  until  he  came  to  the  stairs  of  his  chamber,  where  he 
alighted  from  his  mule,  and  then  Master  Kingston  took 
him  by  the  arm,  and  led  him  up  the  stairs ;  who  told  me 
afterwards,  he  never  felt  so  heavy  a  burden  in  all  his  life. 
And  as  soon  as  he  was  in  his  chamber,  he  went  incontinent 
to  his  bed,  very  sick.  This  was  upon  Saturday  at  night ; 
and  then  continued  he  sicker  and  sicker. 

Upon  the  Monday,  in  the  morning,  as  I  stood  by  his  bed- 
side, about  8  o'clock,  the  windows  being  close  shut,  and 
having  wax  lights  burning  upon  the  cupboard,  1  beheld 
him,  as  me  seemed,  drawing  fast  towards   death.      He 
perceiving  my  shadow  upon  the  wall   by    the  bed-side, 
asked  who  was  there  ?     "Sir,"  quoth  I,  "1  am  here." 
"How  do  you?"  quoth  he  to  me.     "  Very  well,  Sir," 
quoth  I,  "if  I  might  see  your  grace  well."     "  What  is  it 
o'clock?"  said  he  to  me.     "  Sir,"  said  I,  "  it  is  past  eight 
in  the  morning."      "Eight  o'clock?"   quoth  he,  "that 
cannot  be,"  rehearsing  divers  times  "eight  o'clock — eight 
o'clock."     "  Nay,  nay,"  quoth  he  at  last,  "  it  cannot  be 
eight  o'clock  :  for  eight  o'clock  shall  you  lose  your  master, 
for  my  time  draweth  near  that  I  must  depart  this  world." 
With  that  one  Dr.  Palmes,  a  worshipful  gentleman,  being 
his  chaplain  and   ghostly  father,  standing  by,   bade  me 
secretly  demand  of  him  if  he  would  be  shriven,  and  to  be 
in  readiness  towards  God,  whatsoever  should  chance.     At 
whose  desire  I  asked  him  that  question.     "  What  have  ye 
to  do  to  ask  me  any  such  question  ?"  quolh  he,  and  began 
to  be  very  angry  with  me  for  my  presumption  ;  until  at  the 
last  the  Doctor  took  my  part,,  and  talked  with  him  in 
Latin,  and  so  pacified  him.      Howbeit  my  lord  waxed 
very  sick,  most  likely  to  die  that  night,  and  often  swooned, 
and  as  me  thought  drew  on  fast  to  his  end,  until  it  was 
four  o'clock,  a.  m.  at  which  time  I  spake  to  him,  and 
asked  him  how  he  did.     "  Well,"  quoth  he,  "  if  1  had  any 
meat,  I  pray  you  give  me  some."     "  Sir,  there  is  none 
ready,"  said  i,  "  1  wist,"  quolh  he,  "ye  be  the  more  to 
blame  :    for  you  should  have    always   meat   for  me    in 
readiness,  to  eat  when  my  stomach  serveth  me;  therefore 
I  pray  you  get  me  some,  for  I  intend  this  day  to  make  me 
strong,  to  the  intent  that  1  may  occupy  myself  in  con- 
fession, and  make  me  ready  to  God."    After  he  had  eaten 
of  a  cullace  made  of  chicken,  a  spoonful  or  two,  at  the 


43a  WOLSEY. 

last  quoth  he,  "  Whereof  was  this  cullace  made?*' 
"  Forsooth,  Sir,"  quoth  I,  "  of  a  chicken."  "  Why," 
quoth  I,  *'  it  is  fasting  day,"  (being  St.  Andrew's  even.) 
"  What,  though  it  be,"  quoth  Dr.  Pahnes,  "  ye  be  ex- 
cused by  reason  of  your  sickness?"  "  Yea,"  quoth  he, 
*'  what  though  ?  I  will  eat  no  more." 

Then  was  he  in  confession  the  space  of  an  hour.  And 
when  he  had  ended  his  confession.  Master  Kingston  came 
to  him,  and  bade  him  good  morrow ;  for  it  was  about  six 
o'clock,  and  asked  him  how  he  did.  "  Sir,"  quoth  he,  **  I 
tarry  but  the  pleasure  of  God,  to  render  up  my  poor  soul 
into  his  hands."  *'  Not  so,  Sir,"  quoth  Master  Kingston, 
*'  with  the  grace  of  God,  ye  shall  live,  and  do  very  well ; 
if  ye  will  be  of  good  cheer."  "  Nay,  in  good  sooth, 
Master  Kingston,  my  disease  is  such  that  I  cannot  live ; 
for  I  have  had  some  experience  in  physic.  Thus  it  is  :  I 
have  a  flux  with  a  continual  fever;  the  nature  whereof  is, 
that  if  there  be  no  alteration  of  the  same  within  eight  days, 
either  must  ensue  excorrition  of  the  entrails,  or  phrensy, 
or  else  present  death;  and  the  best  of  these  three,  is  death. 
And  as  I  suppose,  this  is  the  eighth  day :  and  if  ye  see  no 
alteration  in  me,  there  is  no  remedv,  save  that  I  mav  live 
a  day  or  two  after,  but  death,  which  is  the  best  of  these 
three,  must  follow."  "  Sir,"  said  Master  Kingston, 
"you  be  in  such  pensiveness,  doubting  that  thing  that  in 
good  faith  ye  need  not."  "  Well,  well,  Master  Kingston," 
quoth  my  lord,  *'  I  see  the  matter  maketh  you  much 
worse  than  you  should  be  against  me  ;  how  it  is  framed  J 
know  not.  But  if  I  had  served  God  as  diligently  as  I 
have  done  the  King,  he  %uould  not  have  given  me  over  in 
my  grey  hairs  .'*  But  this  is  the  just  rew  ard  that  I  must 
receive  for  my  diligent  pains  and  study,  that  I  have  had,  to 
do  him  service,  not  regarding  my  service  to  God,  but  only 
to  satisfy  his  pleasure.  1  pray  you  have  me  most  humbly 
commended  unto  his  royal  majesty  ;  and  beseech  him  in 
my  behalf,  to  call  to  his  princely  remembrance  all  matters 
proceeding  between  him  and  me  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world,  and  the  progress  of  the  same  ;  and  most  especially 
in  his  weighty  matter;"  (meaning  the  matter  between 
Queen  Katherine  and  him)  "  and  then  shall  his  grace's 
conscience  know  whether  I  have  oftended  him  or  not. 
He  is  a  prince  of  royal  courage,  and  hath  a  princely  heart ; 

*  See  the  fine  passage  in  Sliakspeare. 


WOLSEY.  433 

and  rather  than  he  will  miss  or  want  any  part  of  his  will  or- 
pleasiire,  he  will  endanger  the  loss  of  one  half  of  his  realm. 
For  I  assure  you,  I  have  often  kneeled  before  him,  the 
space  sometimes  of  three  hours,  to  persuade  him  from  his 
will  and  appetite :  but  I  could  never  dissuade  him  there- 
from. Therefore,  Mr.  Kingston,  I  warn  you,  if  it  chance 
you  hereafter  to  be  of  his  privy  council,  as  for  your  wis- 
dom, ye  are  very  meet,  be  well  assured  and  advised,  what 
ye  put  in  his  head,  for  ye  shall  never  put  it  out  again. 

"  And  say,  furthermore,  that  1  request  his  grace,  on 
God's  name,  that  he  have  a  vigilant  eye  to  depress  this  new 
sort  of  Lutherans,  that  it  do  not  increase,  through  his  neg- 
ligence, in  such  sort,  as  he  be  at  length  compelled  to  put 
on  harness  upon  his  back  to  subdue  them,  &,c.  Master 
Kingston,  farewell.  I  can  no  more  say,  but  I  wish,  ere  I 
die,  all  things  to  have  good  success.  My  time  dravveth  on 
fast.  I  may  not  tarry  with  you.  And  forget  not  what  [ 
have  said  and  charged  you  withal  :  for  when  I  am  dead, 
ye  shall  peradventure  remember  my  words  better."  And 
even  with  those  words  he  began  to  draw  his  speech  at 
length,  and  his  tongue  to  fail ;  his  eyes  being  presently  set 
in  his  head,  and  his  sight  failed  him.  Then  began  we  to 
put  him  in  remembrance  of  Christ's  passion  ;  and  caused 
the  yeomen  of  the  guard  to  stand  by  secretly  to  see  him 
die,  and  to  be  witnesses  of  his  words  at  his  departure ; 
who  heard  all  his  said  communication  :  and,  incontinent, 
the  clock  struck  eight,  and  then  gave  he  up  the  ghost,  and 
thus  departed  this  present  life.*  And  calling  to  remem- 
brance how  he  said  the  day  before,  that  at  8  o'clock  we 
should  lose  our  master,  as  it  is  before  rehearsed,  one  of 
us  looking  upon  another,  supposing  that  either  he  knew 
or  prophesied  of  his  departure,  yet  before  his  departure 
we  sent  for  the  Abbot  of  the  house  to  annoyle  him,'|-  who 
made  all  the  speed  he  could,  and  came  to  his  departure, 
and  so  said  certain  prayers  before  the  breath  was  fully 
out  of  his  body. 

After  that  he  was  thus  departed,  Mr.  Kingston  sent  a 
post  to  the  King,  advertising  him  of  the  departure  of  the 
Cardinal,  by  one  of  the  guard,  that  saw  and  heard  him 
die.     And  then  Mr.  Kingston  and  the  Abbot  calling  me 


He  died  Nov,  29,  1530.    Le  Neve's  Fasti,  p.  310. 
t  {LE.)  To  dk&mm\ster  extreme  vuction. 
Ff 


434  WOLSEY. 

unto  tliem  went  to  consultation  of  the  order  of  his  burial* 
It  was  thought  good  that  he  should  be  buried  the  next 
day  following;  for  Mr.  Kingston  Mould  not  tarry  the 
return  of  the  post.  And  it  was  further  thought  good,  that 
the  mayor  of  Leicester  and  his  brethren  should  be  sent 
for,  to  see  him  personally  dead,  to  avoid  false  rumours 
that  might  happen  to  say  that  he  was  still  alive^.  Then 
was  the  mayor  and  his  brethren  sent  for;  and  in  the 
mean  time,  the  body  was  taken  out  of  die  bed  where  he 
lay  dead  ;  he  had  upon  him  next  his  body,  a  shirt  of 
liair,  besides  his  other  shirt,  which  was  very  j&ne  holland ; 
which  was  not  known  to  any  of  his  servants  being  con- 
tinually about  him  in  his  chamber,  saving  to  his  ghostly 
father  :  which  shirts  were  laid  in  a  coffin  made  for  him  of 
boards ;  having  upon  his  corpse  all  such  ornaments  as  he 
was  possessed  in  when  he  Mas  made  Bishop  and  Arch- 
bishop :  as  mitre,  cross,  ring,  and  pall,  with  all  other 
things  due  to  his  order  and  dignity.  And  lying  thus  all 
day  in  his  coffin  open  and  barefaced,  every  man  that 
would  might  see  him  there  dead,  as  the  mayor,  his 
brethren,  and  other  did. 

Lying  thus  until  4  or  5  o'clock  at  night,  he  was  carried 
down  into  the  Church  with  great  solemnity  by  the  Abbot, 
and  conducted  with  much  torch-light,  and  service  sung 
due  for  such  funerals.  And  Tseing  in  the  Church  the 
corpse  was  set  in  our  Lady  Chapel,  with  divers  tapers  of 
wax,  and  divers  poor  men  sitting  about  the  same,  holding 
torches  in  their  hands,  who  watched  about  the  corpse  all 
night,  while  the  canons  sang '  dirige,'  and  other  devout 
orisons.  And  about  4  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Mr.  King- 
ston, and  we  his  servants,  came  into  the  Church  and  there 
tarried  the  executing  of  divers  ceremonies  in  such  cases 
used,  about  the  corpse  of  a  Bishop.  Then  went  they  to 
mass,  at  which  mass  the  Abbot  and  divers  other  did 
offer.  And  that  done,  they  went  about  to  bury  the 
corpse  in  the  midst  of  the  said  Chapel,  M'here  was  made 
for  him  a  grave.  And  by  the  time  that  he  was  buried, 
and  all  ceremonies  ended,  it  was  6  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
And  thus  ended  the  life  of  the  right  triumphant  Cardinal 
of  England :  on  whose  soul  Jesus  have  mercy  !  Amen. 

Who  list  to  read  and  consider  with  a  clear  eye  this 
history,  may  behold  the  mutability  of  vain  honours,  and 
brittle  assurance  of  abundance ;  the  uncertainty  of  digni- 
ties, the  flattering  of  feigned  friends,  and  the  fickle  favour 


WOLSEY.  435^ 

of  worldly  princes.  Whereof  this  lord  Cardinal  hath  felt 
and  tasted  both  of  the  sweet  and  sour  in  each  degree ;  as 
fleeting  from  honours,  losing  of  riches,  deposed  from 
dignities,  forsaken  of  friends,  and  the  mutability  of 
princes'  favour ;  of  all  which  things  he  had  in  this  world 
the  full  felicity,  as  long  as  fortune  smiled  upon  him  :  but 
when  she  began  to  frown,  how  soon  was  he  deprived  of 
all  these  mundane  joys,  and  vain  pleasures. 

That  which  in  twenty  years  with  great  travail  and  study 
he  obtained,  was  in  one  year  and  less,  with  great  care 
and  sorrow  lost  and  consumed  !  O  madness  !  O  fond 
desire  I  O  foolish  hope  !  O  greedy  desire  of  vain  honors, 
dignities,  and  riches  !  Oh  what  inconstant  hope  and 
trust  is  it  in  the  false  feigned  countenance  and  promise 
of  fortune  !  Wherefore  the  prophet  saith  full  well,  The- 
saurizat,  et  ignorat,  cui  congregabit  ea.  Who  is  certain 
that  he  shall  leave  his  riches  which  he  hath  gathered  in 
this  world  unto  them  whom  he  hath  purposed?  The 
■wise  man  saith.  That  another,  whom  peradventure  he 
hated  in  his  life,  shall  spend  it  out,  and  consume  it  P' 

{Here  terminates  the  re-print  of  Cavendish's  Life  oflFolsey-l 


ADDENDA. 


The  enemies  of  the  Cardinal  have  alleged  that  his 
foundation  of  Christ  Church,  Oxford,  was  effected  by 
spoliation  and  rapine.  It  is  easier  to  bring  charges  than 
to  substantiate  them.  The  truth  is,  that  the  immense 
V  riches  which  he  derived  from  the  various  preferments 
bestowed  on  him  by  the  partiality  of  his  sovereign,  were 
the  means  of  his  founding  that  magnificent  edifice,  which 
has  so  deservedly  immortalized  his  genius  and  spirit; 
and  in  the  midst  of  luxurious  pleasures  and  pompous 
revellings,  he  was  meditating  the  advancement  of  science 
by  a  munificent  use  of  those  riches,  which  he  seemed  to 
accumulate  only  for  selfish  purposes. 

With  respect  to  his  seizing  the  property  and  revenues 
of  many  priories  and  nunneries,  which  are  alleged  to 
have  served  as  a  fund  for  building  and  endowment,  we  are 
to  remember   that  the   Cardinal    did  not   alienate   the 

Ffe 


436  WOLSEY. 

revenues  from  religious  service,  but  only  made  a  change 
in  the  application  of  them ;  and  again,  he  merely  abolished 
unnecessai7  monasteries,  that  necessary  Colleges  might 
be  erected.  Nor  did  he  do  this  without  precedent,  as 
the  reader,  versed  iu  ecclesiastical  history,  will  instantly 
perceive  when  he  refers  to  the  cases  in  point,  of  Arch- 
bishop Chichele  and  Bishop  Waynfiete,  and  the  suppres- 
sion of  the  Templars.  And  to  this  list  of  precedents 
we  may  safely  add  on  the  authority  of  Bishop  Tanner, 
Bishops  Fisher,  Alcock,  and  Beckington, 

Wolsey  had  too  strong  a  mind  and  too  much  good 
sense  to  be  overawed  in  the  performance  of  what  he 
deemed  right,  by  the  unpopularity  of  the  measure :  a 
weaker  man  might  have  been  deterred  from  his  purpose 
by  the  lampoons  which  in  all  directions  assailed  his 
laudable  undertaking.  Amongst  these  were — *'  Egregium 
opus !  Cardinalis  iste  instituit  Collegium,  et  absolvit 
popinam,  in  allusion  to  the  kitchen  having  been  first 
completed  ;  and  another  ran  thus  : — 

"  Non  stabit  ilia  domus,  aliis  fundata  rapinis, 
"  Aut  ruet,  aut  alter  raptor  habebit  earn:" 

which  lines  would  have  come  with  a  better  grace  had  it 
not  unfortunately  happened  for  the  writer,  that  in  his 
zeal  to  abuse  the  Cardinal  he  has  betrayed  his  ignorance 
of  Latin  by  a  false  quantity,  the  penult  of  stabit  being 
long. 


Synopsis  of  Dates  connected  with  Wolsey^s  Life,  com^ 
prehending  his  Preferments,  and  some  of  the  principal 
matters  with  which  he  was  connected^  mostly  unnoticed 
by  Cavendish, 

Born  March,  1471. 

B.A.  Magdalen  College,  Oxford,  1486. 

Fellow  of  the  same  soon  after. 

M.A.  and  Master  of  Magdalen  School. 
.     Bursar  of  Magdalen  College,  1498,  about  which  time 
he  built  the  tower. 

Rector  of  Limmington,  near  Ilchester,  Somerset,  1 500. 

Domestic  Chaplain  to  Henry  Dean,   Archbishop  of 
Canterbury.     This  must  have  been  about   1501  or  2. 


WOLSEY.  43? 

Bishop  Dean  was  translated  from  Salisbury  to  Canterbury 
in  1501,  and  died  1502-3.* 

Chaplain  to  Sir  John  Nanfan,  Treasurer  of  Calais, 
1503.     Calais  then  belonged  to  us. 

Chaplain  to  King  Henry  VII.  shortly  after. 

Rector  of  Redgrave,  Suffolk,  by  dispensation  from 
Pope  Julius  II.  this  being  his  3rd  living.  This  dispen- 
sation bears  date  1508.  He  had  before  had  a  dispensation 
from  Pope  Alexander  in  1503,  to  hold  two,  but  the  name 
of  the  second  I  find  not,  unless  it  were  Torrington. 

Dean  of  Lincoln,  Feb.  1508.  The  same  year  the  King 
also  gave  him  two  Prebends  in  the  same  Chuich. 

B.D.  1510.     Wood's  Fasti,  Ox.  1.29. 

Almoner  to  King  Henry  VIII. 

Bishop  of  Tournay,  (Ep.  Tornacensis)  in  Flanders, 
about  1513. 

Privy  Counsellor  and  Reporter  of  the  Proceedings  in 
the  Star  Chamber. 

Rector  of  Torrington,  in  the  diocese  of  Exeter ;  quaere 
which  Torrington  ?  The  place  is  called  by  Chalmer, 
Turrington. 

Canon  of  Windsor  (Chalmer.)  He  does  not  so  occur 
in  Le  Neve's  Fasti. 

Registrar  of  the  Order  of  the  Garter. 

Prebendary  of  Bugthorp,  in  the  Cathedral  of  York, 
Ja^l.  16,  1512.     Willis's  Cathedrals,  I.  127. 

Dean  of  York,  Feb.  19,  1512.  Willis's  Cath.  I,  69, 
and  Drake's  Hist.  York,  p.  559-  He  is  there  called 
Wolsie,  and  styled  D.D.  His  name  is  frequently  written 
Wulcie. 

Dean  of  Hereford,  1512,  resigned  the  same  year,  Le 
"Neve's  Fasti,  p.  114. 

Precentor  of  St.  Paul's,  1513,  collated  July  8. 

Bishop  of  Lincoln,  1514,  and  Chancellor  of  the 
University  of  Cambridge. 

Chancellor  of  the  Order  of  the  Garter. 

Archbishop  of  York,  and  Cardinal  of  St.  Cecilia, 
1514. 

Pope's  Legate,  1516, 

Lord  High  Chancellor,  on  the  resignation  of  Archbishop 
Warham,  1516. 


*  A  memoir  of  Archbishop  Dean,  as  Bishop  of  Sarum,  may  be  found  iu 
Cassau's  Lives  of  the  Bishops  of  Salisbury,  part  I.  p.  273. 


438  WOLSEY. 

Bishop  of  Bath  and  Wells,  Worcester,  and  Hereford, 
1518,  (Cavendish)  i.  e.  he  had  the  administration  of  those 
dioceses  and  their  temporalties,  but  1  find  no  authority 
for  his  having  been  consecrated  to  them.  They  were 
filled  by  foreigners,  who  were  allowed  non-residence,  and 
received  pensions.  Cardinal  Julius  de  Medicis  was  made 
administrator  of  W^orcester,  by  the  Pope's  bull,  July  31, 
1521,  and  so  continued  a  year.  Silvester  Gigles,  his 
predecessor,  died  at  Rome,  1521.  It  is  therefore  hard  to 
reconcile  Cavendish's  date.  Wolsey  does  not  occur 
Bishop  of  Hereford  in  Le  Neve's  Fasti. 

Candidate  for  the  Papacy  on  the  demise  of  Leo  X. 

Bishop  of  Durham,  1523;  resign'ed  Bath  and  Wells. 

Candidate  for  the  Papacy  on  the  demise  of  Adrian. 

Commenced  his  College  at  Oxford,  1 524  or  5. 

Ditto  Ipswich  School,  1526  or  7. 

Finished  his  Palace  at  Hampton-Court,  1528,  which 
he  had  begun  in  1514. 

Bishop  of  Winchester,  1528,  when  he  resigned 
Durham. 

Havnig  mcurred  2L  pra^mtimre,hy  procuring,  contrary  to 
statute,  iG  Richard  II.  a  bull  from  Rome,  appointing 
him  Legate,  he  was  indicted  by  tlie  Attorney-General  in 
the  Court  of  King's  Bench,  Oct.  9,  1529. 

Received  a  free  pardon  Feb.  12,  1530;  restored  to  the 
Archbishopric  of  York,  and  allowed  1000  marks  per 
annum  out  of  W  inchester. 

Died  1530,  aged  59. 

Portraits. — The  portraits,  &c.  of  Wolsey,  are  thus 
noticed  by  Granger  : — '' 1.  Thomas  Wolszeus,  Card,  et 
Archiep.  Eborac.  &c.  Holbein  p.  Faber  s.  one  oj  the 
founders,  4to.  mezz. — 2.  Thomas  Wolsey,  &c.  a  label 
proceeding  from  his  month,  inscribed,'^  Ego,  mens  etrex;" 
4to. — 3.  Thomas  Wolsey,  &c.  Elstracke  sc-  4to.  There 
are  two  copies  of  the  same,  one  of  them  with  aims.  The 
original  print  is,  as  I  am  informed,  before  his  life,  by  Mr. 
.  Cavendish,  the  founder  of  the  Devonshire  familif ,  who  was 
his  gentleman-usher.  Perhaps  this  has  been  copied  froin  a 
later  edition  of  that  book.  Ifnd  in  a  large  MS.  catalogue 
of  English  Beads,  byVertue,  in  my  possession,  that  there 
is  a  head  of  him  by  Loggan. — 4.  In  Holland's  "  Heroo- 
logia;'  8vo.— 5.  IF.  M.  (Marshall)  sc.  small;  in  Fuller's 
"  Holy  State."'— 6,  Fourdrinier  sc.  h.  kn.  h,  sh.  in  his  Life 


WOLSEY.  439 

hy  Fiddes,  fol. — 7.  Houhraken,  sc.  Illust,  Head.  In 
the  possession  of  Mr.  Kingsletj. — 8.  Desrochers.  sc.  4to.— 
9.  Inscribed  C.  W.  Vertue,  sea  small  oval.— There  is  no 
head  of  Wolsey  which  is  not  in  profile.  That  which  is 
carved  in  wood,  in  the  central  board  of  the  gateway  which 
leads  to  the  Butchery  of  Ipswich,  lias  such  an  appearance 
of  antiquity,  that  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  done  when 
he  was  living ;  by  the  side  of  it  is  a  butclier's  knife.  It  is 
said  that  his  portraits  v/ere  done  in  profile,  because  he  had 
but  one  eye." — Biog.  Hist.  Engl.  I.  p.  Q]. 

There  is  also  a  portrait  of  him  at  Knole,  (the  Duke 
of  Dorset's).  See  Biographical  Sketches  of  Persons 
whose  Portraits  are  at  Knole,  &,c.  p.  141. — Ed. 

His  Character  as  Lord  High  Chancellor  has  been  thus 
drawn  by  Hume  : — 

"  If  this  new  accumulation  of  dignity  increased  his 
enemies,  it  also  served  to  exalt  his  personal  character, 
and  prove  the  extent  of  his  capacity.  A  strict  adminis- 
tration of  justice  took  place  during  his  enjoyment  of  this 
high  office :  and  no  chancellor  ever  discovered  greater 
impartiality  in  his  decisions,  deeper  penetration  of  judg- 
ment, or  more  enlarged  knowledge  of  law  or  equity." 

Shakspeare  has  drawn  a  more  just  and  comprehensive 
sketch  of  Wolsey's  perfections  and  failings  than  is  to  be 
found  in  any  other  writer; — and  v/ith  this  I  shall  close 
the  memoirs  of  this  celebrated  and  ill-used  Ecclesiastic. 


This  Cardinal, 


Though  from  an  humble  stock,  undoubtedly 

Was  tashion'd  to  mucli  honour,    f'rom  his  cradle. 

He  was  a  scholar,  and  a  ripe  and  good  one  : 

Exceeding  wise,  fair  spoken,  and  persuading : 

Lofty  ana  sour,  to  them  that  lov'd  him  not ; 

But,  to  those  men  that  sought  him,  sweet  as  summer. 

And  though  he  were  unsatisfied  in  getting, 

(Which  was  a  sin)  yet  in  bestowing, 

He  was  most  princely ;  ever  witness  for  him 

Those  twins  of  learning,  that  he  rais'd  in  you,  ^ 

Ipswich,  and  Oxford  !  one  of  which  fell  with  hiiiij 

Unwilling  to  out-live  the  good  he  did  it ; 

The  other,  though  unfinish'd,  yet  so  famous, 

So  excellent  i»  art,  and  still  so  rising, 

That  Christendom  shall  ever  speak  his  virtue. 

His  overthrow  heap'd  happiness  upon  him  j 

For  then,  and  not  'till  then,  he  felt  himself. 

And  found  the  blessedness  of  being  little ; 

And,  to  add  greater  honours  to  his  age 

Thau  man  could  give  him,  he  died,  fearing  Cod. 


440  GARDINER. 

XXV.     STEPHEN  GARDINER,  L.L.D. 

Succeeded  A.D.  1531.— Died  A.D.  1555. 

This  able  Lawyer,  learned  Divine,  and  shrewd  States- 
man, who  was  Bishop  of  Wnichester,  and  Lord  High 
Chancellor  of  England,  in  the  l6th  Century,  is  said  by 
some  to  have  been  the  natural  Son  of  Bishop  Widville, 
.of  Salisbury,  and  consequently  grandson  of  the  Earl  of 
Kivers,  whose  daughter  Elizabeth  was  consort  of  King 
Edward  IV. :  whde  others  call  him  a  younger  Son  of 
Sn  Ihomas  Gardnier,  of  Lancashire.  He  was  born  at 
Bury  St.  Edmund's,  Suffolk,  (Fox,  Acts  and  Mon.  3, 524) 
in  1483. 

*Few  have  risen  higher  by  mere  dint  of  abilities,  few 
suffered  greater  changes  of  fortune,  few  have  been  more 
magnified   or   commended,    few    more    invidiously   and 
outrageously   treated,    tiian  this  famous  Prelate,    in   his 
life-time   and  since  his  decease  ;    yet,  for  any  tolerable 
account  of  him  there  is  none.     We  find  no  article  of  him 
in   any  collection   of  this    kind,  very  little   amongst  the 
compiitjs   of  historical   memoirs,    and,    though   there  is 
more  in  our  literary  and  other  biographical  historians,  it 
IS  so  intermixed  with  other  matter,  or  so  visibly  tinctured 
\vith   party  resentment,    that  it  is  almost   impossible   to 
know  what  to  think,  or  whom  to  trust.     In  this  case,  the 
collecting  his  memoirs  with  caution,  care,  and  candour, 
and  reporting  them  fairly  to  posterity,  is  a  work  of  equal 
Jabour  and  difficulty;    but  what  then?    It  is  necessaiy, 
useful,   conducive  to  the   bringing  much  truth  to  light, 
and  exposing  many  errors  which  have  been  so  often,  and 
elegantly  repeated,  by  those  who  took  them  to  be  truths, 
that    v^'e   may   reasonably  hope    a   kind    and    favourable 
reading  of  what  particulars  are  here  digested  concernin<r 
this  great  man's  life,  which  are  as  copious,  as  exact,  and 
as  free  f^om  bias  of  any  kind  as  we  were  able  to  make 
them.     It  IS  also  to  be  hoped,  that  they  will  be  perused 
with  the  same  equal  spirit,  and  tiiat  the  reader  will  bring 
an  inclination  to  be  intoimed  how  things  really  happened, 
what  were,  and  what  were  not,  the  actions  of  this  tainous 


flW/l^„l?"T'"?  ™e?io''-  's  from  the  old  edition  of  the  Biographia 


GARDINER.  441 

man,  who  had  many  failings,  and  some  vices  ;  but,  withal, 
had  fine  parts,  general  knowledge,  and  abilities  eveiy  way 
equal  to  the  posts  he  gradually  tilled,  and  even  to  those 
high  employments  to  which  he  at  length  attained.  Ac- 
cording to  Bale*  this  Bishop  of  Winchester  was  a  devil 
incarnate  ;  but  then,  according  to  Pitts,t  he  was  a  very 
angel  of  light.  John  Fox  J  asserts,  that  this  prelate  was 
of  a  most  fierce  and  sanguinary  disposition  ;  and  the 
principal  author  of  all  the  cruelties  in  the  reign  of  Queen 
Mary,  Father  Persons^  on  the  other  hand,  assures  us, 
that  such  as  will  speak  truth,  must  acknowledge  Bishop 
Gardiner  to  have  been  not  only  of  a  mild,  but  of  a  most 
compassionate  nature  ;  and  that  it  was  chiefly  owing  to 
him,  the  principal  Protestants  in  that  reign  escaped.  At 
the  very  entrance  of  our  labours  we  meet  with  nothing 
but  doubts  and  uncertainties.  Most  authors  of  his  age 
tell  us  he  was  born  of  obscure  parents  at  Bury  St.  Ed- 
mund, Suffolk.^  As  to  the  place,  indeed,  there  is  no 
dispute  at  all ;  but  for  the  obscurity  of  his  parentage,  if 
we  may  trust  to  some  very  good  authorities,  it  arose  from 
hence,  that  he  was  the  illegitimate  son  of  a  prelate  nobly 
descended  and  royally  allied,  who  took  pains  to  conceal 
that  so  much  discrediting  circumstance  to  himself,  by 
bestowing  his  concubine  on  one  of  his  meaner  servants, 
whose  name,  being  born  in  wedlock,  this  infant  bore.j| 
Fuller,  who  is  not  always  an  enemy  to  secret  history, 
rejects  this  story,  as  invidious  and  ill  contrived  ;**  but 
many,  as  like  to  be  well  informed,  and  not  at  all  more 
credulous,  admit  the  truth  of  it ;  and  Sir  William  Dug- 
dale, ff  whose  knowledge  in  such  points  can  hardly  be 
disputed,  sets  it  down  as  a  fact.  We  cannot,  indeed,  go 
quite  so  far  ;  but  laying  all  circumstances  together,  there 
appears  to  be  the  greatest  probability  that  this  was  really 
the  case.  The  plain  fact,  in  respect  to  his  birth,  was 
this.  He  is  said  to  have  been  the  son  of  Dr.  Lionel 
Wydvisle,  Dean  of  Exeter,    and   Bishop  of  Salisbury, 


*  Script.  Brit.  p.  685.  t  De  illustr.  Angl.  Script,  p.  748. 

t  In  his  Martyrology  throughout.  §  Warn- Word,  p.  34. 

%  Bal.  Script.  685,  p.  748. 

II  2x6\eTof  Cantabrigiensis,  a  Rich.  Parkero,  conscript,  p.  26. 

••  Worthies,  Suffolk,  p.  GO.  tt  Baronasc,  Vol.  II,  p.  231. 


442  GARDINER. 

brother  to  Elizabeth,  Queen  Consort  to  Edward  IV., 
who  died  in  1484.*  Dr.  FuUerf  objects  to  this,  that 
Salisbury  is  at  a  great  distance  from  Bury,  where 
Gardiner  was  born,  which  is,  in  reality,  no  objection  at 
all,  for,  since  that  prelate  was  so  cautious  as  to  oblige  his 
mistress  to  marry  an  inferior  servant  of  his,  whose  name 
was  Gardiner,  the  better  to  conceal  the  transaction,  he 
might  therefore  be  well  supposed  to  have  been  as  careful 
in  sending  her  far  enough  off  to  lie  in.  Another  objec- 
tion he  makes,  has  somewhat  more  weight,  he  thinks 
Bishop  Widville  must  have  had  this  son  in  his  youth  ; 
and  if  so,  the  age  of  Gardiner,  at  his  death,  would  not 
agree  with  the  story.  But  those  who  relate  it,  say  that  he 
w  as  born  while  his  father  was  Bishop  of  Salisbury ;  and 
he  did  not  hold  that  dignity  above  two  years,  which  takes 
away  the  force  of  this  objection.  In  the  satirical  writings 
against  him  and  Bonner,J  it  was  objected  to  them,  that 
it  was  not  strange  they  were  against  the  marriage  of 
priests,  since  they  were  both  born  in  adultery.  Now 
Bonner  was  the  bastard  of  one  Savage,  a  clergyman, 
who  was  himself  the  bastard  of  Sir  John  Savage,  Knight 
of  the  Garter.  Bonner's  was  precisely  the  same  case 
with  Gardiner's,  for  his  mother  was  married  before  he 
was  born,  to  the  person  whose  name  he  bore ;  and  it 
is  very  remarkable,  that  both  of  them,  until  they  were 
Bishops,  declined  using  their  sirenames,  the  one  being 
called  Dr.  Stephens,  and  the  other  Dr.  Edmunds.  But 
Gardiner  seems  to  have  been  better  reconciled  to  his 
name  afterwards,  since  he  assumed  the  arms  of  the 
Gardiners  of  Glemsford  in  Suffolk,^  with  a  distinction 
of  a  border ;  and  afterwards,  either  through  the  mistake 
of  the  painter,  or  by  his  own  direction,  they  were  impaled 
with  the  arms  of  the  See  of  Winchester,  without  any  such 
distinction.^      Bishop  Burnet  plainly  proves,   that  this 

*  Godwin,  de  Prsesul.  p.  236.  t  Worthies,  Suffolk,  p.  60. 

i  Burnet's  Reformat.  Vol.  II,  p.  320.  §  Strype's  Memorials,  Vol.  III. 

^  Were  it  not  for  the  two  circumstances  of  his  having  first  gone  by  the 
appellation  of  Dr.  Stephens,  (see  p.  382  of  this  work,  in  Cavendish's 
Wolsey,)  and  second  his  accepting  the  border  round  his  arms,  a  mark  of 
bastardy,  I  should  be  disposed  to  discredit  altogether,  the  alleged  fact  of 
Bishop  Gardiner's  being  a  natural  son  of  Bishop  Widville,  and  the  more 
so,  as  one  of  Rawliuson's  MSS.  in  the  Bodleian  Library,  quoted  by  Lodge 
in  his  lllustratktns,  p.  102,  makes  him  the  younger  son  of  Sir  Thomas 
Gardiner,  Knt.  the  representative  of  a  very  ancient  family  in  the  county  of 
Lancaster. — Edit.  Some  memoirs  of  Bishop  Widville,  his  reputed  father, 
may  be  found  la  Cassau's  Lives  of  the  Salisbury  Bishops,  pt,  I.  p,  260.    Ib. 


GARDINER.  443 

fitojy  was  believed  in  our  Prelate's  life-time,  for  he  tells 
us,  that  he  had  seen  a  letter  written  by  Sir  Edward  Hobby, 
to  one  of  the  exiles  abroad,  for  religion,  immediately  upon 
Gardiner's  death,  in  which  it  was  said,  that  he  was  a  man 
of  higher  descent  than  he  was  commonly  reputed;  and 
in  the  margin  of  the  letter  it  was  noted,  that  he  was 
nephew  to  a  Queen  of  England  ;*  but  though  this  might 
be  true,  and  though  he  was,  by  this  means,  second  cousin 
by  the  King's  mother  to  Henry  VIH.,  Bishop  Burnet's 
conjecture  is  not  at  all  probable,  that  this  might  be  the 
cause  he  was  so  suddenly  advanced  to  the  Bishopric  of 
Winchester  ;  for  as  the  reader  will  see  there  was  another 
cause,  which  is  assigned  by  Gardiner  himself;  neither  is 
it  at  all  likely,  that  the  King  knew  this  piece  of  secret 
history,  or  would  take  any  notice  of  it  if  he  did.  Had  it 
been  otherwise,  amongst  the  many  private  papers  relating 
to  that  reign  (from  whence  it's  public  history  is  best  col- 
lected) which,  in  process  of  tmie,  have  come  to  light, 
something  of  that  kind  would  have  appeared.  As  to  the 
year  of  his  birth,  that  has  been  hitherto  as  great  a  secret 
as  his  descent ;  and  very  likely  the  design  of  concealing 
the  one,  might  occasion  so  piofound  a  silence  in  respect 
to  the  other;  however,  from  an  original  picture  of  his,  still 
preserved,  (painted  by  Hans  Holbein,)  we  have  good 
grounds  to  conclude  that  it  ought  to  be  lixed  to  1483. 
We  know  nothing  of  his  education,  or  the  manner  in 
which  he  passed  his  youth,  until  he  was  sent  to  the  Uni- 
versity of  Cambridge,  where  he  studied  in  Trinity-Hall 
with  great  diligence  and  success..  He  was  distinguished 
there  by  his  quick  parts,  his  correct  pen,  his  elegance  in 
writing  and  speaking  Latin,  and  for  his  extraordinary  skill 
in  Greek,  which  procured  him  very  high  compliments,  as 
to  his  acquisitions  in  literature,  when  he  was  in  no 
condition  to  reward  flatterers. f  In  process  of  time  he 
applied  himself  entirely  to  the  civil  and  canon  law,  for 
which  that  learned  foundation  was  very  famous.  Amongst 
other  poems  of  the  famous  antiquary,  John  Leland,  there 
is  one  addressed  to  Stephen  Gardiner,  when  he  wore  no 
higher  title  ;  and  in  the  close  of  which,  he  fortels  him, 
that  his  brow  would  be  honoured  with  a  mitre.     In  this 


*  Burnet's  Hist,  of  the  Refoimaiiou,  Vol.  II.  p.  320. 
t  Leland's  Encom.  illustr.  viror.  p.  48-49. 


444  GARDINER. 

poem  he  compliments  him  on  his  great  progress  in  polite 
literature,  on  his  fine  taste,  and  just  respect  for  the 
ancients  ;  and  the  desire  he  had  shewn  of  promoting  the 
study  of  their  valuable  writings  in  the  university.*  His 
own  writings  shew  how  much  he  had  studied  Cicero;  and 
the  critics  of  those  times  reproached  him  with  affectation 
in  that  respect.  As  to  severer  studies,  he  is  allowed  to 
have  excelled  in  the  civil  and  canon  law ;  and  in  respect 
to  the  latter,  he  was  so  able,  that  Bishop  Burnet  tells  us. 
King  Henry,  as  eager  as  he  was  for  promoting  his  divorce, 
would  not  suffer  the  proceedings  to  be  begun  before  the 
two  Cardinals,  until  the  return  of  Dr.  Gardiner  from 
Rome,  so  much  he  relied  upon  his  judgment  and  abilities. 
Both  that  Bishop,  and  Jeremy  Collier,  who  seldom 
thought  the  same  way  of  men  or  things,  agree  that  he  was 
but  moderately  skilled  in  divinity;  and  therefore,  it  is 
reasonable  to  acquiesce  in  their  decision.  But  then  it  is 
to  be  considered,  that  they  ground  their  sentiments  upon 
his  book  of 'True  Obedience,' which  they  confess  he  wrote 
to  please  his  sovereign,  and  againt  his  own  sentiments. 
It  IS  no  great  wonder,  therefore,  that  his  arguments  are 
not  very  strong,  and  that  he  does  not  reason  so  closely  and 
convincingly  as  he  might  have  done ;  but  notwithstanding 
this,  whoever  reads  that  book  with  attention  and  impar- 
tiality, will  not  be  able  to  deny,  that  he  has  overturned 
the  Pope's  supremacy  effectually;  and  though  it  is  not 
penned,  at  least  the  greater  part  of  it,  with  that  heat  and 
vehemence,  visible  in  the  writings  of  Protestant  Divines, 
yet  there  is  enough  in  it  to  shew  learned  men,  that  he  had 
thoroughly  considered  the  point,  and  was  able  to  have  said 
much  more  if  he  had  been  so  inclined.  All  this  learning 
he  must  have  brought  with  him  from  the  University,  for 
from  the  time  that  he  first  came  into  business,  to  his  being 
committed  to  the  Tower,  he  was  continually  employed  in 
matters  of  such  high  importance,  that  it  was  impossible  he 
should  have  much  leisure  for  study.  That  his  parts  and 
learning  indeed  were  very  extraordinary,  must  be  con- 
fessed; but  if  what  one  of  his  greatest  enemies  said  of  him 
was  true,  we  must  have  still  an  higher  idea  of  them,  since 
there  is  nothing  harder,  than  for  a  man  of  a  disagreeable, 
and  even  forbidding  aspect,  to  make  his  way  iu  a  Court, 


*  Eiicoin.  illustr.  viior.  p.  48-49. 


GARDINER.  445 

and  insinuate  himself  into  the  good  graces  of  all  sorts  of 
people,  which  it  is  confessed  he  did.  But  we  will  tran- 
scribe the  passage,  which  is  very  curious,  and  the  book 
from  which  it  is  taken  very  scarce,  for  the  reader's  satis- 
faction.* "  Albeit,  this  Doctor  be  now  but  too  late 
thoroughly  known,  yet  it  shall  be  requisite,  that  our  pos- 
terity know  what  he  was  ;  and,  by  his  description,  see  how 
nature  hath  shaped  the  outward  parts,  to  declare  what  was 
within.  This  Doctor  hath  a  swart  colour,  hanging  look, 
frowning  brows,  eyes  an  inch  within  his  head,  a  nose 
hooked  like  a  buzzard,  nostrils  like  a  horse,  ever  snuffing 
into  the  wind,  a  sparrow  mouth,  gieat  paws,  like  the 
devil's  talons,  on  his  feet,  like  a  gripe,  two  inches  longer 
than  the  natural  toes,  and  so  tied  to  with  sinews,  that  he 
cannot  abide  to  be  touched,  nor  scarce  suffer  them  to 
touch  the  stones.  And  nature  having  thus  shaped  the 
form  of  an  old  monster,  it  gave  him  a  vengeable  wit, 
which,  at  Cambridge,  by  labour  and  diligence,  he  had 
made  a  great  deal  worse,  and  brought  up  many  in  that 
faculty."  The  author  who  wrote  this  was  Dr.  Ponet, 
advanced  to  the  Bishopric  of  Winchester  upon  the  depri- 
vation of  Gardiner,  in  the  reign  of  Edward  VI.  and  at  the 
time  he  wrote  this  book,  an  exile  in  Germany,  where 
he  died. 

The  reputation  he  attained  at  Cambridge,  soon  opened 
him  a  passage  into  the  favour  and  confidence  of  several  of 
tlie  greatest  men  of  that  age.  First,  as  some  report,  he 
was  taken  under  the  protection  of  that  generous  and  potent 
peer  Thomas  Duke  of  Norfolk,f  and  afterwards  received 
into  the  family  of  the  still  more  potent  Cardinal  Wolsey, 
in  quality  of  his  secretary.;};  But  whatever  hopes  he 
might  entertain  of  rising  at  Court,  he  had  still  academical 
honours  in  view ;  and  in  1 520,  he  received  the  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Civil  Law,§  and  was  the  year  following  made 
Doctor  of  Canon  Law  also  ;  but  whereas  the  learned 
Bishop  Tanner,  not  without  authority,  makes  him  Master 
or  Guardian  of  Trinity-Hall  the  same  year,^  there  seems 
to  be  good  reason  to  suppose  he  did  not  attain  that  pre- 
ferment till  some  years  after.     There  is  no  question,  that, 


*  Treatise  of  Political  Power.  t  Lloyd's  State  Worthies,  p,  451. 

X  Polyd.  Virg,  Hist.  Angl.  lib.  xxvii.  p.  84.  §  Regist,  Acad.  Cantab. 

%  Biblioth,  Britannico-Hibcrnica,  p.303. 


U6  GARDINER. 

as  Cardinal  Wolsey's  Secretary/'  he  had  a  good  provision 
made  for  him  ;  but  this  must  have  been  by  way  of  pension 
or  salary,  for  preferment,  so  far  as  we  find  as  yet,  he 
liad  none. 

There  is  nothing  more  entertaining,  as  well  as  more 
useful  and  satisfactory,  than  to  be  thoroughly  and  cer- 
tainly informed,  of  the  first  steps  by  which  those  who 
have  made  a  figure  in  the  world,  have  risen  to  greatness. 
That  of  Gardiner,  as  of  many  others,  was  owing  purely 
to  accident,  to  speak  according  to  the  common  sense  of 
mankind.  In  the  year  1525,  his  master  VVolsey  thought 
fit  to  change  sides;  and  from  being  most  violently  attached 
to  the  Emperor  Charles  V.,  became  as  warm  a  friend  to 
the  French  King,  Francis  I.,  then  a  prisoner  in  Spain. 
Humanity  and  compassion,  one  would  think,  must  have 
been  the  motives  to  this  change ;  and  they  might  be  so, 
but  a  very  grave  Italian  historian,  has  suggested  causes 
of  another  kind.-f-  He  says,  that  before  the  battle  of 
Pavi,  in  which  the  French  King  was  made  prisoner,  the 
Emperor  used  to  write  to  Wolsey  with  his  own  hand,  and 
subscribe  *  your  son  and  cousin  Charles  ;'  but  after  that 
victory,  the  letters  to  Wolsey,  like  those  to  other  persons, 
were  written  by  his  secretary,  until  the  Cardinal  taught 
him  to  resume  his  old  manner  of  writing.  It  was  the 
penning  this  lesson  for  his  imperial  majesty,  that  brought 
Gardiner  to  the  knowledge,  or  at  least  introduced  him  to 
the  favour  of  Henry  \  III. ;  the  Cardinal  had  projected  a 
treaty,  which  was  to  change  the  face  of  aifairs  in  Europe, 
as  indeed  it  did ;  and  the  King  coming  to  his  house  at 
More-Park,  in  Hertfordshire,  found  Gardiner,  then  the 
Cardinal's  secretary,  busy  in  framing  that  alliance.  Few 
Princes  understood  business,  or  could  transact  it  better, 
than  Henry;  and  therefore,  it  is  no  wonder  that  from 
such  a  specimen,  he  should  make  a  true  judgment  of  Dr. 
Gardiner's  abilities.  He  liked  his  performance  extremely, 
his  conversation  better,  and  that  fertility  he  had  in  the 
invention  of  expedients,  best  of  all.J  He  did  not  disguise 
his  sentiments  from  Wolsey,  there  was  no  need  of  it,  the 


*  The  writer  of  this  article  in  the  Biograpliia  Britannica  calls  Wolsey 
here  and  elsewhere,  very  incorrectly.  Cardinal  of  York.  Wolsey  was  a 
Cardinal  and  Archbishop  of  York,  but  lie  was  not  therefore  Cardinal  of 
York.    He  was  Cardinal  of  St.  Cecilia,    Ed. 

t  Guicchard,  Hist,  lib.  XTX.  :f  Lloyd's  Worthies,  p,  4.51. 


GARDINER.  447 

Cardinal  was  truly  great  in  this  particular,  that  he  feared 
no  man's  parts,  but  was  proud  of  bringing  to  the  royal 
notice,  able  and  active  men ;  and  even  under  his  mis- 
fortunes, as  will  be  hereafter  shewn,  he  had  no  reason  to 
repent  that  the  new  ministers,  Cromwell  and  Gardiner, 
were  taken  out  of  his  house,  because,  in  their  highest  pros- 
perity, they  did  not  forget  that  they  had  been  once  his 
domestics.  This  treaty,  (which  was  the  foundation  of 
Gardiner's  fortunes)  or  at  least  the  substance  of  it,  may 
be  found  in  that  great  work  of  the  noble  historian,*  who 
has  done  so  much  honour  to  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.  and 
placed  that  important  period  of  time,  in  a  much  better 
point  of  light,  than  almost  any  other,  relating  to  the  affairs 
of  this  kingdom.  It  was  from  this  time,  that  Dr.  Gardiner 
was  admitted  into  the  secret  of  affairs,  and  equally  em- 
ployed and  trusted  by  the  King  and  his  Minister,  though 
we  have  no  particular  account  of  the  matters  which  exer- 
cised his  care,  till  he  came  to  be  employed  in  the  trouble- 
some business  of  the  King's  divorce,  which  was  about 
three  years  afterward.  All  we  know  is,  that  he  and  his 
friend  Dr.  Fox,  were  the  persons  upon  whom  the  Cardinal 
chiefly  relied,  for  directing  his  line  buildings,  and  for 
laying  the  plan  of  those  magnificent  foundations,  which, 
however  they  might  excite  the  envy  of  the  times  in  which 
he  lived,  have  very  justly  recommended  his  memory  to 
posterity. 

At  this  juncture,  the  King's  affairs  at  Rome  were  but 
in  an  untoward  situation,  the  Roman  Pontiff,  Clement 
VII.,  having  address  enough  to  feed  the  King's  agents 
with  fair  promises,  according  to  the  standing  maxim  of 
that  court;  but,  in  effect,  making  no  progress  at  all 
towards  the  King's  point,  which  was  the  obtaining  a 
divorce  from  his  Queen  Katherine  of  Arragon.  His 
majesty  therefore  resolved  to  send  some  person  thither,  in 
whom  he  could  entirely  confide,  and  of  whose  abilities 
and  attachment  he  had  a  like  opinion.  After  much 
consideration,  he  fixed  upon  our  Doctor,  now  become 
Master  of  Trinity-Hall,  and,  as  Bishop  Burnet  remarks, 
esteemed  at  that  time  the  best  civil  lawyer  in  England  ;f 
to  whom  he  joined  Edward  Fox,  Provost  of  King's 
College  in  Cambridge.     At  the  time  of  his  departure, 


'^  Herbert's  Life  of  Henry  VHI.      t  Hist,  of  the  Reformat.  Vol.  I.  p.  52. 


448  GARDINER 

in  February  152S,  there  is  nothing  clearer,  or  more  certain^ 
than  that  he  had  the  most  entire  confidence  reposed  in 
him,  both  by  the  King  and  his  Minister,  who  hoped  all 
things  from  his  diligence  and  dexterity ;  and  who,  if 
there  be  any  credit  due  either  to  their  verbal  or  written 
declarations,  were  equally  sincere  and  in  earnest  in  this 
matter. 

Our  historians  are  most  of  them  dark  and  divided  in 
their  sentiments,  as  to  the  sincerity  of  Cardinal  Wolsey,  in 
the  business  of  the  divorce.  Yet  this  may  be  observed, 
that  those  who  were  best  informed,  and  took  most  pains 
to  look  into  original  papers,  are  very  clear  with  respect  to 
the  Cardinal's  real  intention,  to  carry  that  point  for  the 
King,  as  the  only  one  that  could  preserve  his  power  and 
secure  him  against  all  his  enemies.  Dr.  Ponet,  however, 
who  made  no  scruple  of  laying  every  thing  to  Gardiner's 
charge  that  might  render  him  odious,  tells  us  plainly,  that, 
in  order  to  his  own  advancement,  he  betrayed  the  Cardinal 
in  this  embassy,  and  pushed,  with  the  greatest  vigour, 
what  his  master  wished  might  be  spun  out,  in  order  to  gain 
time.  But  let  us  hear  what  the  industrious  and  impartial 
Mr.  John  Strype  says  upon  this  subject,  from  better 
authorities  than  any  of  our  historians,  except  Fox,  had 
ever  seen,  which  will  effectually  clear  up  this  affair.* 
*'  Gardiner,"  says  he,  "  the  Cardinal's  secretary,  and  Fox, 
the  King's  servant,  provost  of  King's  College,  Cambridge, 
were  despatched  to  the  Pope  to  effect  this,  in  February, 
1527,  according  to  the  computation  of  the  Church  of 
England.  Of  whom,  Gardiner  was  the  chief,  having 
been  admitted  into  the  King's  and  Cardinal's  cabinet 
council  for  this  affair,  and  stiled  in  the  Cardinal's  cre- 
dential letters  to  the  F ope;,  primary  secretari/  of  the  most 
secret  counsels.  He  was  grovin  into  extraordinary  request 
with  the  Cardinal,  in  so  much,  that  in  his  said  letters,  he 
called  Gardiner  the  half  of  himself,t  than  whom  none^ 
was  dearer  to  him.  He  writ,  that  he  should  unlock  his 
breast  to  the  Pope  ;  and  that  in  hearing  him  speak,  he 
might  think  he  heard  the  Cardinal  himself'.  The  par- 
ticulars of  this  embassy,  of  which  I  have  the  very  minutes, 
in  divers  letters  sent  to  the  King  and  Cardinal,  1  will  give 

*  Strype*s  Memorials,  vol.  I.  p.  89. 

[t  Wolsey  no  doubt  had  in  liits  remembrance  Horace's  '  Et  serves  aniiuiB 
dimidlum  moae.' — Eorr.J 


GARDINER.  449 

some  account  of,  especially  of  such  things,  as  the  Lord 
Herbert,  or  the  Right  Reverend  Author  of  the  History 
of  the  Reformation,  have  made  no  mention  of,  or  but 
briefly  and  imperfectly."  He  proceeds  then  to  shew  from 
these  papers,  that  when  the  Pope  intimated  to  Dr.  Gar- 
diner,  that  he  understood  this  proceeding  was  not  managed 
with  Cardinal  Wolsey's  consent ;  and  that  he  had  likewise 
heard  some  strange  things  of  the  lady  intended  for  the 
King's  bed ;  the  Doctor  thereupon,  in  the  name,  and  by 
the  authority  of  the  Cardinal,  who  had  been  acquainted 
with  this  before  he  left  England,  demonstrated  to  him  the 
falsity  of  those  suggestions,  and  what  the  Cardinal's  real 
sentiments  were  in  both  points  ;*  and  that  the  reader  may 
have  no  doubts  as  to  the  relator's  capacity  in  stating  these 
matters,  he  has  printed  several  letters  from  the  originals, 
which  very  fully  justify  all  that  is  said  of  them  :  and  shew 
the  Cardinal  was,  hitherto  at  least,  disposed  to  serve  his 
master  as  far  as  he  could. 

In  their  journey  towards  Italy,  Gardiner  and  Fox 
executed  a  commission  at  the  court  of  Paris,  where,  by 
warm  and  vigorous  representations  of  what  their  master 
had  done,  and  might  do,  for  King  Francis,  they  obtained 
that  monarch's  letter  to  the  Pope,  in  as  strong  terms  as 
could  be  desired,  in  support  of  King  Henry's  demands. 
When  they  came  to  Orvieto,  where  the  Pope  then  was, 
Dr.  Gardiner  used  very  free  language  with  his  Holiness, 
shewed  him  the  danger  he  was  in  of  losing  the  King  by 
playing  a  double  game,  and  how  much  injury  he  would 
do  the  Cardinal  if  he  failed  in  his  expectations.  By  these 
measures  all  was  obtained  which  his  instructions  required, 
and  a  new  commission  directed  to  the  Cardinals  VVolsey 
and  Compegius  was  issued.-f-  In  the  course  of  this  long 
embassy,  the  Pope,  whose  mind  was  continually  per- 
plexed, and  to  whom  the  Imperial,  French,  and  F/nglish 
Ministers  allowed  no  quiet,  fell  dangerously  ill,  the  dis- 
orders of  his  aft'ections  operating  upon  the  humours  of  his 
body ;  and  this,  as  might  be  expected,  gave  a  new  turn  to 
the  intrigues  of  Rome.  Dr.  Gardiner  had  as  large  a 
share  in  these  as  any  Minister,  for  he  laboured  the  cause 
of  Wolsey,  in  case  the  Pope's  death  made  way  for  a  new 


*  So  in  the  ambassador's  dispatches. 
t  Hollinshed's  Chron.  vol.  II.  p.  907. 


450  GARDINER. 

election.*'  He  had  the  French  King's  letters  also  to 
support  this  design  ;  for  by  soliciting  the  Popedom,  he 
thought  to  make  VV^olsey  more  than  amends  for  the  Arch- 
bishopric of  Toledo,  which  was  once  tendered  him  by  the 
Emperor ;  it  may  be  with  the  same  sincerity,  or,  in  other 
words,  with  none  at  all.  Yet  so  much  was  Wolsey^  set 
upon  having,  at  least  for  a  time,  the  title  of  Pope,  that, 
having  intelligence,  the  King's  agents,  and  his  own,  had 
procured  for  him  the  suftrages  of  one  third-part  of  the 
Cardinals,  orders  were  sent  them  immediately,  to  cause 
those  Cardinals  to  withdraw  to  a  place  of  safety,  in  case 
the  conclave  appeared  more  inclined  to  any  other,  and 
there  to  declare  him  Pope,  assuring  them  they  should  be 
most  vigorously  sustained  by  King  Henry  and  his  allies. 
No  doubt  the  pains  taken  in  this  business  must  have  been 
highly  pleasing  to  the  Cardinal,  though,  after  all,  the 
design  came  to  nothing  ;  for  when  Wolsey  had  shewn  his 
utmost  strength,  and  procured  from  the  King  very  liberal 
marks  of  esteem  for  the  Cardinals  of  his  faction,  Clement 
VII.  recovered,  and  things  once  more  returned  to  their 
old  state.'!'  AH  imaginable  care  was  taken  to  have  the 
new  commission  penned  to  the  King's  mind,  which,  not 
without  much  difficulty,  was  obtained  ;  and  then  it  was 
to  be  carried  from  Orvieto  to  Rome,  to  pass  through  the 
necessary  forms  requisite  to  render  it  authentic.  This 
being  also  an  affair  of  nicety,  and  the  disposing  Cardinal 
Campegio  to  make  i  tour  to  England  with  a  good  will, 
requning  some  extraordinary  management,  Dr.  Gardiner 
took  it  upon  himself,  after  having  procured  whatever  was 
requisite  for  his  negotiation,  and  put  every  thing  necessary 
to  set  this  in  a  proper  light  at  home  into  the  hands  of  his 
colleague.  J  Upon  this.  Provost  Fox  was  sent  home  with 
a  full  account  of  their  negotiation,  with  which  the  King, 
the  Cardinal,  and  Mrs.  Anne  Bulleine,  were  equally 
pleased,  and  unanimously  joined  in  applauding  the  in- 
dustry, intrepidity,  and  ingenuity,  of  this  new  minister,  as 
is  incontestably  proved  from  the  authentic  minutes  of  this 
negotiation,  which  are,  or  at  least  very  lately  were,  still 
preserved  and  in  being. 


*  Burnet's  History  of  the  Reformation,  vol.  I.  p.  64. 

t  These  passages  are  from  Gardiner's  instructions  and  other  dispatches. 

J  From  his  dispatches. 


GARDINER.  451 

We  leurn  from  the  same  author,  and  from  the  same 
authorities,  that  Fox  was  most  joyfully  received  upon  his 
return,    which  was    in   the  beginning   of  the  month  of 
May,  1529 ;  it  was  evening  when  he  came  to  court,  when 
he  was  directed  to  go  to   Mrs.  Anne's,  that  is,  Anne 
BuUeine's  chamber,  where  he  first  made  a  recital  to  her,  of 
such  points  as  were  fittest  for  that  lady's  ear ;  soon  after 
the  King  came  thither,  and  the  lady  being  withdrawn,  he 
delivered  his  majesty  the  letters  he  had  brought,  and  run 
into  a  large  and  particular  detail  of  the  several  steps  they 
had  taken  ;    all  of  which  he  entirely  approved  and  highly 
admired.     After  some  time,  he  sent  for  Mrs.  Anne  back 
again,  and  directed  some  passages  to  be  repeated  in  her 
presence ;  then  Fox  went  to  the  Cardinal,  who  was  no 
less   pleased  with  every  thing  he  heard,  and  particularly 
with  the  accounts  given  him  of  Dr.  Gardiner's  justifying 
his  colleges  to  the   Pope's  satisfaction,  and  making  his 
Holiness  sensible,  that  the  revenues  of  the  monasteries 
granted  for  their  endowment,  were  fairly  applied.     Al- 
together made  such  an  impression  on  the  Cardinal's  mind, 
that   speaking  of  Gardiner,  he  cried  out,   O  inestimable 
treasure,  and  jewel  of  this  realm !  which  exclamation  he 
desired  Fox  to  remark,  and  to  insert  in  his  letter.*'     As 
for  Mrs.  Anne  Bulleine,  she  thought  herself  under  such 
obligations  to  this  able  negotiator,  that  even  before  Fox's 
coming  she  wrote  him  the  following  letter,^-  which  is  not 
amongst  the  papers  collected  by  Strype. 

"  Mr.  Stephens,  I  thank  you  for  my  letter,  wherein  I 
perceive  the  willing  and  faithful  mind  that  you  have  to  do 
me  pleasure,  not  doubting,  but  as  much  as  is  possible  for 
man's  wit  to  imagine,  you  will  do ;  I  pray  God  to  send 
you  well  to  speed  in  all  your  matters,  so  that  you  would 
put  me  to  the  study  how  to  reward  your  high  service.  T 
do  trust  in  God,  you  shall  not  repent  it :  and  that  the 
end  of  this  journey  shall  be  more  pleasant  to  me  than 
your  first,  for  that  was  but  a  rejoicing  hope,  which  ceas- 
ing, the  lack  of  it  does  put  me  to  the  more  pain,  and  they 
that  are  partakers  with  me,  as  you  do  know;  and  therefore 
I  do  trust,  that  this  hard  beginning  shall  have  the  better 
ending. 


*  Extracted  from  Dr.  Fox's  long  letter. 

t  Copied  from  the  original  in  the  Paper  Office. 
Gg2 


452  GARDINER. 

"  Mr.  Stephens,  I  send  you  here  cramp  rings,  for  you 
and  Mr.  Gregory,  and  Mr.  Peter,  praying  you  to  dis- 
tribute them  as  you  think  best.  And  have  me  recom- 
mended heartily  to  them  both,  as  she  that,  you  may 
assure  them,  will  be  glad  to  do  them  any  pleasure  which 
shall  lie  in  my  power.  And  thus  I  make  an  end,  praying 
God  send  you  good  health.  Written  at  Greenwich,  tlie 
4th  day  of  April." 

The  first  part  of  this  letter  seems  to  refer  to  the  journey 
made  by  Dr.  Gardiner,  from  the  Pope's  court  at  Orvieto 
to  Rome,  in  order  to  quicken  the  departure  of  Cardinal 
Campegio.  It  is  indeed  very  difficult  to  settle  the  dates 
of  many  letters  written  about  that  time,  because  some- 
times they  have  only  the  month,  without  either  day  or 
year ;  but  more  frequently  the  day  and  month  without  the 
year,  which  can  only  be  recovered  from  circumstances. 

The  King,  indeed,  had  the  best  reason  to  be  satisfied, 
since  Dr.  Gardiner  dealt  clearly  with  him,  and  shewed 
him  plainly  there  was  nothing  to  be  obtained  by  soliciting 
at  Rome ;  that  the  Pope  might  probably  be  induced  to 
approve  any  thing  the  King  could  persuade  the  Legates  to 
do,  but,  without  question,  would  never  be  prevailed  on, 
by  hopes  or  fears,  to  do  any  thing  himself,  which,  in  his 
judgment,  was  the  final  issue  of  all  this  trouble  and 
solicitation.*  Bishop  Burnet  is  offended  with  Gardiner 
for  desiring  the  King  not  to  shew  this  epistle  to  the 
Cardinalj-f-  which,  however,  might  be  very  consistent  with 
his  attachment  and  regard  for  his  old  master,  since,  from 
this  caution,  it  appears  he  had  no  settled  private  corres- 
pondence with  the  King ;  for  then  it  would  have  been 
needless,  and  some  of  the  contents,  as  he  was  to  sit  in 
judgment  in  the  cause,  were  exceedingly  improper  for 
him  to  have  seen.  When  the  King  had  considered  this 
advice  sufficiently,  and  saw  how  well  it  corresponded  with 
events,  he  recalled  Dr.  Gardiner  from  Rome,  in  order  to 
make  use  of  him  in  the  management  of  his  cause  before 
the  legantine  court.  Upon  his  return  he  had  the  Arch- 
deaconry of  Norfolk  bestowed  on  him  by  Bishop  Nyx, 
of  Norwich,  for  whom  he  had  obtained  some  favours  from 
the  Pope.  He  was  installed  March  1, 1529,:{:  and  this, 
so  far  as  appears,  was  his  first  preferment  in  the  Church  ; 

*  See  his  Letter  to  the  King.       t  Hist,  of  the  Reformat.  Vol.  II.  p.  321. 

t  Registr.  Norwich. 


GARDINER.  453 

feut  in  the   State  his  growth  was  quicker,  for  the  King 
having  constant  need  of  his  service,  and  not  esteeming  it 
proper  to  use  it  while  he  belonged  to  another,  took  hira 
from  his  old  master,  Wolsey,  and  declared  him  Secretary 
of  State.*     In  this  situation  he  was  considered  as  having 
a  large  share  in  the  management  of  all  affairs,  and  was 
particularly  advised  with   by  the   King,   when  Cardinal 
Campegio  declared  that  the  cause  was  avoked  to  Rome, 
and    that   himself  and    his   colleague  could   proceed   no 
further. f       An    accident  furnished   the    King  with  the 
means  of  extricating  himself  out  of  the  many  difficulties 
into  which  this  behaviour  of.  the  Pope's  had  thrown  him, 
for  which  he  was  indebted  to  the  shrewd  advice  given 
by  Dr.  (afterwards   Archbishop)  Cranmer,J    as   he  was 
indebted  for  that  to  Dr.  Gardiner,  who  introduced  him  ; 
and  by  this,  and  this  only,  contributed  to  his  old  patron's 
ruin.      As  soon  as  the  King  saw  a  way  open   for  the 
conclusion  of  his  business,  without  the  assistance  of  the 
Cardinal,  he  delayed  no  longer  making  himself  sensible 
of  his  displeasure.     Whence  it  arose,   is  variously  and 
inconsistently  related    by   our   historians ;    but,   without 
recurring   to   deep   and  uncertain  motives,    we    may  be 
satisfied  with  this,  that  when  Henry  saw  his  Minister  had 
either  concurred  with  the  court  of  Rome  in  duping  him, 
or  was  in  reality  duped  most  ungratefully  and  egregiously 
by  that   court  himself,    he   determined   to  trust  him  no 
longer,  but  to  make  him  in  some   measure  the  victim 
that  might  satiate  popular  resentment,   and  stifle  those 
clamours  raised  amongst  his  subjects  in  different  parts  of 
the  kingdom.^     This  tempest  broke  with  such  fury  on 
the  head  of  this  devoted  minister,  that  his  misery  became 
as  much  the  subject  of  amazement,  as  his  prosperity  had 
ever  been.     In  this  distress  he  had  recourse  to  his  old 
servant  the  secretary,  and,  though  some  have  insinuated 
the  contrary,  he  met  witli  as  sincere  returns  of  gratitude 
and  friendship  as  he  could  desire  or  expect.     The  year 
ensuing  opened  with  the  most  important  service,  at  least 
as  his  master  conceived  it,  that  had  been  as  yet  rendered 


*  Herbert's  Life  of  Henry  VHI. 
t  Burnet's  Hist,  of  the  Reformat.  Vol.  I,  p.  71. 
t  Strype's  Life  of  Archbisliop  Cranmer,  p.  4, 
§  HoUioshed,  Stowe,  Baker. 


454  GARDINER. 

him  by  Dr.  Gardiner,  and  which  nevertheless  does  more 
honour  to  his  abilities  than  his  virtue ;  and  this  was  to 
manage  the  University  of  Cambridge,  so  as  to  procure 
their  declaration  in  the  King's  cause,  after  Dr.  Cranmer's 
book  should  appear  in  support  of  it.*     This,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  Dr.  Fox,  he  accomplished,  though  not  without 
much   artitice  and  address.     After  this  great  exploit,  as 
it  w  as  then  thought,  his  ascent  in  the  Church  was  marvel- 
lously quickened.     In  the  spring  of  1531,  he  was  installed 
in  the  Archdeaconry  of  Leicester,-!-  resigning  that  of  Nor- 
folk, which  he  held  before  ;  and,  towards  the  close  of  Sept. 
ensuing,  he  also  resigned  thaj  in  favour  of  his  coadjutor. 
Dr.  Edward  Fox,    who   became    afterwards    Bishop   of 
Hereford.;*:       In   October  he  was  incorporated    at   the 
tJniversity  of  Oxford  ;§  and  Nov.  27,  1531,  he  was  con- 
secrated Bishop  of  V\  inchester  :%  contrary  to  what  many 
w  riters  assert,  that  he  was  not  promoted  to  this  See  until 
about  three  years  after. ||     Dec.  5,  following,  the  tempo- 
ralties  were  restored,**  which  is  a  sufficient  proof  that  the 
former  is  the  right  date.     Dr.  Gardiner,  it  seems,  was  not 
apprised  of  the  King's  intentions,  who  would  sometimes 
rate  him  soundly,  and  at  the  instant  he  bestowed  it  put 
him    in   mind    of  it.       /  have,   said    he,    often  squared 
tvith  you,  Gardiner,  (a  word  he  used  for  those  kind  of 
rebukes),  but  1  love  you  never  the  worse,  as  the  Bishopric 
J  give  will  convince  you.ff     He  sat  with  Dr.  Cranmer, 
Aichbishop  of  Canterbury,  when  that  prelate  pionounced 
the  sentence    of  divorce   against    Queen    Katherine,    or 
rather  declared  her  marriage  with  the  King  null  and  void, 
May  23,  1533.1;|:     The  same  year  he  was  sent  over  to 
Marseilles,  that  he  might  have  an  eye  to  the  interview 
between  tlie  French  King  and  the  Pope,  from  whence 
his  master  suspected  some  detriment  might  spring  ;    and 
there  he  intimated  the  appeal  of  Henry  VIII,  to  a  general 


*  Memorials  of  Archbibhop  Cranmer,  p.  5-6. 

t  Tanner.  Biblioth.  Britanico-Hiberuica,  p.  308. 

t  Athen.  Oxon.  Vol.  I.  col.  158.        §  Fast.  Uxon.  VoJ.  I. col.  50. 

^  MS.  Lowth.  e  Registr.  Cantuar.         \\  Godwin,  Wharton,  Tanner. 

**  Rymer.  Foedera,  Tom.  xiv.  p.  429. 

tt  In  his  own  letter  to  the  Duke  of  Somerset. 

X\  Burnet's  Reforniat.Vol.  I.  p.  131. 


GARDINER.  455 

touncll,  in  case  the  Pope  should  pretend  to  proceed  in 
his  cause;*    and  he  did  the  like  on  the' behalf  of  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  who  made  a  particular  appli- 
cation  to   him   for  that   purpose.      Upon   his    return  to 
England,  he  was  called   upon,  as  other   Bishops  were, 
not  only  to  acknowledge  and  yield  obedience  to  the  King 
as  Supreme  Head  of  the  Church,  but  to  defend  it;  which 
he  did,  and  this  defence,  or  court  sermon,  he  published  ; 
and  this   is   that  celebrated    piece  of  his,   intituled.   Of 
true  Obedience.     His  pen  was  made  use  of  upon  other 
occasions,    and   never   declined   vindicating   the    King's 
proceedings  in  the  business  of  the  divorce,  the  subsequent 
marriage,   or  throwing  oif  the   dominion  of  the  See  of 
Rome,    which   writings   of    his  then   acquired   him   the 
highest  reputation.-)-     In   the  next   year,    ^oSoy   he  had 
some  dispute  with  Archbishop  Cranmer  on  account  of 
his  visiting  his  diocese  ;    upon  which  occasion  there  ap- 
peared a  good  deal  of  heat  on  both  sides.  J     When  he 
went  over  again  to  France  to  resume  his  embassy,  he  had 
the  ill  luck  to  differ  with  another  Archbishop  of  Canter- 
bury, as  he  afterwards  became.  Dr.  Reginald  Pole,  then 
Dean  of  Exeter,  whom,  as  King  Henry's  bitterest  enemy, 
he  prevailed  on  the  Fjench  King  to  remove  out  of  his 
dominions,  whence  those  distates  grew  which  afterwards 
became  public. §  While  he  was  thus  employed,  Cromwell 
demanded  his  opinion   about  a  religious  league  with  the 
Princes  of  Germany;  which,  on  that  bottom,  he  dissuaded, 
and   advised   making  an  alliance   grounded  on    political 
motives,  and  strengthened  by  subsidies,  which  he  thought 
would  last  longer,  and  answer  the  King's  ends  better.^ 
In  1538,  he  was  sent  ambassador,  with  Sir  Henry  Knevit, 
to  the  German  Diet,  where   he  is  allowed  to  have  ac- 
quitted himself  well  in  regard  to  his   commission ;    but 
either  fell  into  some  suspicion,  or  was  in  danger  of  having 
something  fastened  on  him,  in  respect  to  his  secret  cor- 
respondence with  the  Pope,  which  at  that  juncture  might 


*  Herbert's  Life  of  Henry  VIII. 

t  Tanner's  Biblioth.  Britanico-Hibeniica,  p.  308. 

X  Memorials  of  Archbishop  Cranmer,  p.  33. 

$  Strype's  Memorials,  Vol.  III.  p.  275. 

%  As  appears  from  his  own  letter,  preserved  by  Collier, 


45()  GARDINER. 

have  been  Tiis  ruin.*  His  being  so  often  and  so  much 
absent  from  the  court,  as  it  gave  him  a  great  knowledge 
of  foreign  aftairs,  so  it  kept  hmr  from  having  any  hand  in 
several  transactions  which  did  no  great  honour  to  that 
reign,  such  as  the  divorce  and  death  of  Queen  Anne 
BuUeine,  the  prosecution  of  Sir  Thomas  More,  and 
brmging  Bishop  Fisher  to  the  block.  It  is  however 
asserted,  that  though  he  was  clear  of  these,  yet  he  insti- 
gated other  severities,  and  was  the  principal  author  of  all 
the  cruelties  committed  upon  Heretics,  as  they  were 
then  called ;  which  being  a  matter  of  great  consequence, 
the  reader  may  expect  should  be  more  clearly  discussed. 
The  only  way  of  doing  this,  will  be  to  consider  a  few  of 
those  sanguinary  proceedings,  in  which  he  is  said  to  have 
had  the  chief  hand  :  for  this  will  shew"  us  what  credit  is 
due  to  the  general  suggestion,  that  persecution  was  the 
great  object  of  his  counsels.  Amongst  these,  the  first 
that  occurs  is  the  case  of  Lambert,-]-  who  was  burnt  for 
denying  the  Real  Presence  in  the  Sacrament,  and  which 
is  commonly  attributed  to  the  virulent  spirit  of  Bishop 
Gai  diner. 

The  statute  commonly  called  the  Six  Articles,  and  which 
it  must  be  owned  was  the  law  on  which  many  were  put  to 
death,  is  attributed  to  his  contrivance,  and  said  to  have 
been  passed  by  his  influence,  having  been  warmly  opposed 
both  by  the  Archbishop,  and  the  Vicegerent  Cromwell ;J 
but  those  who  allege  he  had  no  credit  with  the  King, 
and  was  little  beloved  by  the  people,  cannot  expect  an 
implicit  faith  to  attend  such  an  assertion.  That  he  was 
principally  concerned  in  drawing  it,  and  that  he  was  very 
earnest  in  promoting  it  in  the  house  of  lords,  in  conjunc- 
tion ^^ith  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  other  lords  spiritual 
and  temporal,  those  must  have  but  little  knowlege  in 
English  iiistory  who  will  attempt  to  deny.  It  was  not 
long  alter  this,  that  Robert  Barnes^  fell  under  persecu- 
tion, and,  m  the  issue,  was  condemned  to  be  burnt;  who, 
because  he  shewed  particular  spleen  against  Bishop 
Gardiner,  and  was  first  committed  to  prison  for  want  of 
respect  to  him  in  a  sermon,  he  is  surmised  to  have  been 
the  author  of  all  his  suttermgs,  and  the  person  by  whose 


*  Strype's  Wcmoiials,  Vol.  III.  p.  274. 
t  Bale,  Fox.  Burnet.    |  Fuller,  Burnet,  Collier.    $  See  his  article  in  Bayle. 


GARDINER.  467 

power  that  unfortunate  friar  was  at  length  brought  to  the 
stake,    which  is  mentioned  as  a  second  instance  of  his 
good  will   to  persecution.     There  is  no  doubt  that,    in 
the  course  of  this  reign,   the  Bishop  of  Winchester  must 
have  done  many  things  against  his  mclination,  and  several 
against  his  conscience.     He  was  obliged  to  take  a  share 
in  the  divorce  of  Anne  of  Cleves,  which  was  none  of  the 
most  honourable  ;    and  he  was  likewise  obliged  to  bear  a 
part  in  that  of  Queen  Katherine  Howaid,  which,   consi- 
dering his  attachment  to  that  most  noble  family,  could  be 
no  very  pleasing  employment.*     But  in  these,  and  other 
compliances,  he  had  many  companions, -f-  and  the  excuses 
made   for  them   by  some  great  pens,  may  serve  for  him  ; 
or  the  reader  will   pass  sentence  as  he  pleases,   since  we 
have  no  intention  to  disguise  faults,  but  to  disclose  truths. 
Upon  the  death  of  Thomas  Cromwell,  Earl  of  Essex,  he 
was  elected  Chancellor  of  the  University  of  Cambridge, 
1540,   which   preferment  was  very  acceptable  to   hini.j 
He  still  preserved  his  Mastership  of  Tnnit}'-Hall ;  and 
it  was  well  he  did  preserve  it,  since,  in  the  next  reign, 
this  in  most  people's  opinion   pieserved  the  foundation. 
As  he  was  elected  Chancellor  of  the  University  without 
influence,   he  was  very  assiduous   in   his   office,  that  he 
might  conciliate  the  affections  of  it's  members,  and  did 
all  he  could    to  assist   them  with    his  interest  at  court, 
which,  when  he   had   done  any  great  service,   was  very 
good.     Certain  it  is,  that  whatever  power  oi  preferments 
his  compliances  obtained   under  his  monarch  were  dearly 
purchased,  since  they  were  held  in  continual  hazard,  and 
embittered  with  violent  storms  of  royal  resentment ;  which 
though,  as  this  Prelate  himself  says,  he  knew   how  to 
sustain  without  sinking,  must  nevertheless  be  exceedingly 
distasteful.      In  some  conjunctures  too  we  are  satisfied 
they  hlled  him  with  many  apprehensions,  and,  though  he 
might  be  dexterous  in  sometimes  shifting  offtlie  King's  ill 
humours,  yet  at  others,  how  great  or  how  alert  soever  his 
spirit  might  be,  he  was  forced  to  bear  slights  with  patience. 


*  Strype,  Fuller,  Burnet. 

t  The  iutroduction  of  this  remark,  with  a  '  but'  would  seem  as  if  the 
writer  thought,  that  having  many  asssociates  in  siu  in  some  degree  took 
away  from  its  sinfulness. — Edit. 

X  Fuller's  History  of  Cambridge,  p.  119. 


458  GARDINER. 

and  even  to  submit  to  very  disagreeable  supplications  and 
expressions  of  deep  humilit}-,  and  great  sense  of  his  own 
failings,  directly  contrary  to  the  conviction  of  his  own 
conscience  and  understanding.  The  Bishop  himself  tells 
us,  that  the  King  could  be  very  angry,  and  would  then 
talk  very  loud,  very  probably  too  his  language  vcas  but 
coarse,  since  many  samples  there  are  of  that  sort  in  his 
history;  this  had  a  great  effect  upon  those  that  were 
about  him,  and  kept  them  ever  in  a  state  of  deep  humility, 
in  which,  without  doubt,  Gardiner  differed  but  very  little 
from  the  rest ;  but  the  King  letting  him  into  the  secret, 
that  he  could  look  sour  and  talk  rough  without  meaning 
much  harm,  he  ever  after  bore  those  sallies  with  much 
less  anxiety.  The  thing  happened  thus,  the  Earl  of 
Wiltshire  and  Dr.  Gardmer  had  been  joined  in  some 
affair  of  consequence,  which  had  not  been  managed  so 
as  to  give  the  King  satisfaction,  upon  which  he  treated 
Gardiner,  in  the  presence  of  the  Earl,  with  such  a  storm 
of  words  as  quite  confounded  him;  but  before  they  parted, 
the  King  took  him  into  his  chamber,  and  told  him,  that 
he  was  indeed  very  angry,  yet  not  particularly  with  him, 
though  he  had  used  him  so,  because  he  could  not  take 
quite  so  much  liberty  with  the  Earl.  Bishop  Gardiner 
thenceforward  could  stand  a  royal  rattling  pretty  well,  or, 
to  use  his  own  words  to  the  Duke  of  Somerset,  He  folded 
it  up  in  the  matter,*  and  bore  it  patiently.  The  King 
had  another  practice,  which  he  called  whetting,  and  this 
in  effect  was  scolding  with  pen  and  ink;  the  Bishop  says, 
that  when  some  of  the  courtiers  saw  letters  to  him  in  this 
style,  they  looked  upon  him  as  undone,  while  himself  was 
under  no  such  apprehensions,  knowing  the  King  to  be  a 
wise  prince,  and  who,  after  thus  venting  his  anger,  would 
remember  past  services,  and  be  inore  ready  to  do  an  old 
servant  a  good  than  an  ill  turn,  after  giving  him  such 
correction. 

Strype,i-  who  has  preser\'ed  the  following  letter,  thinks 
it  was  written  about  1535,  and  he  gives  us  this  account  of 
the  occasion  of  it.  The  King,  it  seems,  was  desirous 
that  the  Clergy  of  all  ranks  should  acknowledge,  that 
all  the  powers  they  had  were  derived  from  him,  as  the 
supreme  head  of  the  Christian  Church  in  his  dominions. 


Not  "  sua  virtute  se"  involvebat.— Edit.       t  Memorials,  Vol.  I,  p.  215. 


GARDINER.  459 

Against  this  doctrine  somebody  had  written  a  book,  with 
which  the  King  was  offended;  and,  as  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester  had  both  preached  and  written  much  to  his 
satisfaction,  in  the  support  of  his  supremacy,  hejent  him 
this  book,  with  orders  to  answer  it.  But,  upon  the 
perusal  of  it,  this  Bishop,  whom  we  tind  often  represented 
as  one  so  complaisant  that  the  King  could  require  nothing 
from  him  which  he  was  not  ready  to  perform,  not  only 
declined  writing  such  an  answer  as  was  expected,  but 
professed  himself  of  the  same  opinion  with  the  author  of 
that  book.  It  is  no  wonder  at  all,  that,  to  a  monarch  of 
Henry's  disposition,  this  disappointment  should  appear 
in  a  very  bad  light,  or  that  he  should  testify  his  dislike  in 
very  strong  terms.  This  it  seems  he  did,  and  sent  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester  word  of  it  by  his  Almoner,  Dr. 
Fox,  as  Strype  conceives.  The  Bishop  knowing  his 
master's  temper  well,  and  not  caring  to  meet  the  tempest 
cf  his  anger  by  a  personal  apology,  thought  fit  to  write 
him  the  following  letter,  which  is  produced  to  shew  the 
real  sentiments  of  the  man,  and  that  he  was  not  always  so 
servile  or  so  willing  an  instrument  of  the  King's  will,  as 
we  find  him  sometimes  represented.  In  stating  this  fact 
without  the  letter,  we  must  have  left  the  reader  in  much 
uncertainty ;  but  now  having  that  before  hnn,  he  may 
judge  for  himself,  and  form  a  true  decision  of  the  fitness, 
or  unfitness,  of  this  Prelate's  behaviour  upon  so  important 
an  occasion. 

*"  My  duty  remembered  to  your  majesty,  with  all  lowly 
humility  and  reverend  honour.  For  as  much  as  letted 
by  disease  of  body,  1  cannot  personally  repair  to  your 
highness'  presence,  having  heard  of  your  grace's  Almoner 
to  my  great  discomfort,  what  opinion  your  highness  hath 
conceived  of  me.  1  am  compelled  by  these  letters  to 
represent  me  unto  the  same,  lamenting  and  wailing  my 
chance  and  fortune,  to  have  lost,  beside  my  desert,  as 
much  reputation  in  your  grace's  heart,  as  your  highness, 
without  my  merit,  hath  conferred  unto  me,  in  estimation 
of  the  world.  And  if  I  comforted  not  myself  with  re- 
membrance of  your  grace's  goodness,  with  whom  Veritas 
semper  vincit,  si.  sortis  taederet  &  vitae.  I  know  in  myself, 
and  can  never  forget  your  grace's  benefits,  your  highness' 


«  Cotton  Library,  Cleopatra,  E.  6. 


460  GARDINER. 

notable  affection  toward  me.  I  know  my  duty  and  bond 
to  your  highness.  How  much  I  desire  to  declare,  in 
outward  deeds,  my  inward  knowledge,  God  knoweth, 
and  I  trust  your  highness  shall  know.  But,  in  the  mean- 
time, for  want  thereof,  thus  I  suffer,  and  know  no  remedy 
but  your  highness'  goodness,  to  expend  what  I  have  done, 
what  I  should  have  done,  and  what  I  may  do  ;  and  not 
to  be  miscontent,  though,  in  correcting  the  answer  made, 
I  believed,  so  great  a  number  of  learned  men  affirming  it 
so  precisely  to  be  true,  that  was  in  the  answer  alleged  con- 
cerning God's  law.  Especially,  considering  your  highness' 
book  against  Luther,  in  mine  understanding,  most  plainly 
approveth  it.  The  book  written  in  your  grace's  cause, 
and  translated  into  English,  seemeth  to  allow  it.  And 
the  council  of  Constance,  condemning  the  articles  of 
Wicklif,  manifestly  decreeth  it.  The  contrary  whereof 
of  your  grace  can  now  prove,  yet  I,  not  learned  in  divinity, 
nor  knowing  any  part  of  your  grace's  proves,  am,  I  trust, 
without  cause  of  blame  in  that  behalf.  When  I  know 
that  I  know  not,  I  shall  then  speak  thereafter.  It  were 
pity  we  lived,  if  so  little  expressing  our  love  to  God  in 
our  deeds,  we  should  abuse  his  name  and  authority  to 
your  highness'  displeasure,  of  whom  we  have  received  so 
many  benefits.  On  the  other  part,  if  it  be  God's  autho- 
rity to  us  allotted,  though  we  cannot  use  it  condignly, 
yet  we  cannot  give  it  away.  And  it  is  no  less  danger  to 
receive  than  to  give,  as  your  highness,  of  your  high 
wisdom,  can  consider.  I  am,  for  my  part,  as  I  am  bound, 
most  desirous  not  only  to  do  what  may  be  done  to  your 
highness'  contention,  but  also  appliable  to  learn  the  truth 
what  ought  to  be  done.  Trusting  your  majesty  will  finally 
take  in  good  part,  that  I  think  that  true  for  which  I  have 
so  good  ground  and  authorities,  until  I  hear  stronger 
grounds  and  reasons  to  the  contrary.  I  shall  most  gladly 
confer  with  any  of  your  grace's  counsel  in  this  matter. 
And,  in  the  meantime,  daily  pray  to  God  for  knowledge 
of  his  truth,  and  preservation  of  your  majesty  in  much 
felicity;  alway  most  ready  and  desirous  to  do  as  becometh 
Your  most  humble  Subject, 
Most  bounden  Chaplain, 

And  daily  Bedeman, 
Stephen  Winton." 
In  the  time  of  King  Henry  there  was  no  such  thing  as 
enjoying  court  favours,  without  being  exposed  also  to 


GARDINER.  461 

threats  and  frowns,  Bishop  Gardiner  felt  these,  as  Cran- 
mer  and  others  did  alternately,  living  now  in  the  sunshine, 
and  by  and  by  in  the  shade,  or  rather  under  a  cloud. 
But,  in  the  latter  end  of  the  King's  life,  the  prospect  grew 
darker  than  ever.  In  1544,  if  we  may  rely  on  the  credit 
of  John  Fox,*  who  assures  us  he  had  what  he  relates 
from  one  Morrice,  who  was  secretary  to  Archbishop 
Cranmer,  this  Prelate  had  a  very  narrow  escape  from  the 
greatest  danger  to  which  he  was  ever  exposed  m  his  whole 
life.  He  had  a  secretary,  and  a  relation,  one  German 
Gardiner,  who  is  said  to  have  been  much  in  his  favour, 
and  who  had  distinguished  himself  by  his  conferences 
with  John  Frith-  the  martyr,  an  account  of  which  he 
published.  This  young  clergyman  being  suspected  in 
the  matter  of  the  King's  supremacy,  a  prosecution  was 
commenced  against  him,  and,  his  obstinacy  being  great, 
he  was  executed  as  a  traitor  March  7th,  1544.  The 
enemies  of  the  Bishop,  and,  as  Fox  says,  the  Duke  of 
Suffolk  particularly,  suggested  to  the  King,  that  it  was 
very  likely,  notwithstanding  all  he  had  written,  that  he 
was  of  his  secretary's  opinion,  and  that,  if  he  was  once 
in  the  tower,  matter  enough  might  be  found  against  him  ; 
on  which  his  majesty  consented  to  send  him  thither.  But 
the  Bishop,  havmg  intelligence  of  this,  went  immediately 
to  the  King,  submitted  with  the  utmost  humility,  con- 
fessed whatever  his  majesty  charged  him  with,  and,  to  the 
no  small  disappointment  of  his  enemies,  by  complying 
with  the  King's  humour,  and  shewing  the  deepest  concern 
for  his  real  or  pretended  failings,  obtained  his  full  pardon. 
Yet,  after  this,  we  may  suppose,  provoked  by  such  usage, 
for,  as  Fox  states  it,  one  cannot  avoid  seeing  it  was  a 
design  to  destroy  him  at  any  rate, he  thought  upon  refining 
upon  this  invention,  and  of  turning  their  own  artillery 
upon  his  adversaries.  In  short,  he  is  said  to  have  dipped 
very  deep  in  a  plot  against  Archbishop  Cranmer,  which 
was  discovered  and  dissipated  by  the  King,  who  left  all 
his  enemies  to  his  mercy,  and,  amongst  the  rest,  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester;  but  he  forgave  him. •f  After  this, 
the  King  opening  himself  to  Bishop  Gardiner,  upon  some 
suspicions  he  entertained  of  his  last  Queen  Katherine 


*  Fox's  Acts  and  Monuments,  Vol.  II,  p.  646. 
t  Memorials  of  Archbishop  Cranmer,  p'  124. 


462  GARDINEH. 

Parr,  as   inclined  to  heresy,   he  so  far  improved  these 
jealousies  as  to  prepare  a  paper  of  articles  against  her, 
which  the  King  signed,  and  it  was   agreed   to   send  her 
to    the    tower ;     but    Chancellor  Wriothesly,    who  was 
entrusted  with  this  paper,  dropped  it  out  of  his  bosom, 
and  it  was  immediately  carried  to  the  princess.     She  so 
wrought  upon  the  King's  affections  as  to  dispel  his  sus- 
picions ;    and  this  brought  severe  reproaches  upon  the* 
Chancellor,  and  the  King's  resentment  against  the  Bishop 
grew  so  strong,  that  he  would  never  see  his  face  after- 
wards.*    One  has,  however,  some  reason  to  wonder,  that 
when  John  Bale  wrote  his  article  of  Queen  Katherine 
Parr,  in  which  he  celebrates  her  learning,  piety,  and  zeal, 
for  true  religion,  at  the  time  all  parties  were  living,  and 
when  any  thing  against  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  would 
have   been  well  received,  he  should  say  nothing  of  this 
iniquitous  contrivance. f     Nor  is  it  less  strange  that,  when 
matter  was  sought  much  farther  back  to  charge  him  with, 
this  should  not  be  remembered  in  the  proceedings  at  his 
deprivation  under  the  succeeding   reign.     We  need  not 
wonder,  if,  standing  in  this  light  with  the  King,  when 
drawing  towards   his  latter  end,  he  left  him   out  of  liis 
will,  and  did  not  appoint  him  one  of  the  counsellors  to 
Prince  Edward,   as  he  once  intended.     Sanders  alleges 
another  reason  for  this,  which  was,  that  Gardiner  taking 
some   favourable   opportunity,    persuaded   the    King   to 
restore  the  supremacy  to  the  Pope,  either  by  a  solemn 
declaration  in  Parliament,  if  there  was  time  to  call  one, 
or  by  an  authentic   act  of  his  own,    if  there   was  not; 
which  would  sufficiently  manifest  his  intention.     ]n  this 
respect,  the  King,  as  he  tells  the  story,  soon  after  changed 
his  mind ;  and  thence  proceeded  his  enmity  to  Gardinef.;J: 
But  all  is  pure  fiction,  for  Bishop  Gardiner  himself,  in  a 
sermon  before  King  Philip  and  Queen  Mary,  mentions 
some  such  thoughts   in   the    King    during  the  northern 
rebellion  ;    and,  had  there  been  a  grain  of  truth  in  it,  no 
doubt  would  have  mentioned  his  inclination  at  this  time. 
Besides,  there  actually  was  a  Parliament  then  in  being, 
which  was  dissolved  by  his  death.   Some  other  reasons  were 
assigned  for  the  King's  excluding  him  in  hig  testament. 


*  Burnet's  Hist,  of  the  Reformat.  Vol.  I,  p.  345. 
t  Bale  Script,  edit.  1548,  4to.  fol.  238.  t  Schisniat.  Anglican,  p.  209' 


GARDINER.  4G3 

All  this  said  of  the  Bishop  of  Winchester's  contriving 
to  thrust  Queen  Katherine  into  the  tower,  is  taken  from 
John  Fox ;    nor  are  there  any  distinct  marks  by  which 
the  time  when  this  happened  can  be  certainly  known. 
At  the  time  when  the  King  went  to  France,  in  his  last 
expedition,  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  was  intended  to  be 
one  of  his  executors  ;*  but,  after  that,  when  the  King's 
will  came  to  be  drawn  afresh,  he  was  left  out  without  the 
privity,  as  it  seems,  of  any  of  the  council.     Sir  Anthony 
Brown,  it  is  said,  twice  moved  the  King  to  put  his  name 
again  into   his   testament,  but  without  effect;    and  the 
King  said,  if  he  was  one,  he  would  trouble  them  all,   and 
they  would  never  be  able  to  rule  him;    it  is  also  reported, 
that,  when  the  King  saw  him  once  with  some  of  the  privy 
counsellors,  he  shewed  his  dislike,    and   asked  what  he 
did  there  ?     He  was  answered,  that  the  Bishop  came  to 
inform  him  of  a  benevolence  granted  by  the  clergy;  upon 
which  the  King  called   him  immediately  to  deliver  his 
message,  and,  having  received  it,  went  away.     Yet,  for 
all  this,   the  Bishop  himself,  in  one  of  his  letters  to  the 
protector,  puts  him  in  mind  of  a  commission  in  which  he 
was  named,  amongst  others,  in  the  very  last  year  of  the 
King's  life ;   so  that  whatever  the  King's  distaste  was,  it 
must  have  been  sudden ;  and  there  is  nothing  so  probable, 
as  that  his  acquaintance  with,   and  attachment  to,  the 
Norfolk  family,  might  be  the  cause.     The  King  knew 
this  very  well,   and,    having  determined   to   reduce  the 
power  and  authority  of  that  family,  as  well  as  to  take  off" 
the  heads  of  it,   it  was   a  very  easy  and  a  very  natural 
consequence  of  that  resolution,  to  remove  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester  from  being  one  of  his   executors,  whom  he 
knew  to  have  great  obligations,  and  a  very  warm  friend- 
ship, for  the  Duke  of  Norfolk  and  his  son. 

Whatever  usage  Gardiner  might  meet  with  at  any  time 
from  his  master,  he  shewed  upon  all  occasions  very  high 
respect  for  his  memory,  and  ever  spoke  and  wrote  of  him 
with  much  deference ;  and  though  Fox  treats  him  very 
coarsely  on  that  head,  yet  others  have  thought  there  was 
in  it  as  much  of  prudence  as  of  gratitude.  Upon  the 
accession  of  King  Edward  VI.,  Archbishop  Cranmer, 
being  earnest  in  carrying  on  the  great  work  of  Reforma- 


*  Fox's  Acts  and  Monuments,  Vol.  II,  p.  647. 


4G4  GARDINER. 

tion,  to  which  he  found  the  protector,  Somerset,  weli 
inclined,  laboured  all  he  could  to  gain  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester  to  a  concurrence,  or  at  least  to  an  acquies- 
cence.*" But  this  wary  Prelate  thought,  or  seemed  to 
think,  that,  by  making  too  much  haste,  all  might  be 
spoiled,  and  opposed  his  sentiments  at  least,  to  those  of 
the  protector,  and  all  his  council.  He  suggested,  that 
the  ruling  maxim  in  a  minority  was  to  keep  things  quiet, 
and  alleged  this  could  never  be  done  if  any  signal  al- 
terations were  attempted  in  Church  or  State.  On  this 
principle  he  dissuaded  the  war  with  Scotland,  as  a 
measure  necessarily  attended  with  much  hazard  and  a 
vast  expense, -f*  The  protector  received  his  advice  civilly, 
and  wrote  answers  to  his  letters,  still  remaining,  with  much 
decency  and  moderation.  But,  notwithstanding  this, 
things  went  on  according  to  the  plan  laid  down  by  the 
Archbishop,  who  formed  a  design  of  having  a  royal  visi- 
tation by  commissioners,  who  might  see  the  condition  of 
every  diocese,  encourage  the  progress  of  reformed  religion, 
remove  and  discredit  superstition,  and  one  in  each  list  of 
these  commissioners,  being  a  clergyman,  was  directed  to 
preach  sound  doctrine.  J  The  wisdom  of  the  Archbishop, 
in  framing  this  scheme,  was  certainly  great ;  and  yet 
Winchester  no  sooner  had  intelligence  of  it  than  he  set 
up  objections.  In  the  first  place,  he  doubted  it's  legality, 
as  it  was  to  countenance  innovations  ;  in  the  next,  he 
thought  it  imprudent,  as  it  would  disturb  the  order  of 
government  in  Church  and  state  ;  and  lastly,  he  thought 
it  impolitic,  as  all  things  nmst  be  done  in  the  King's 
name  and  by  his  authority,  as  Supreme  Head  of  the 
Church,  at  a  time  when  he,  being  a  child,  could  know 
nothing  of  these  things  ;  and  his  uncle,  the  protector, 
being  at  the  head  of  an  army  and  absent,  could  know 
very  little  more  of  them  :  so  that  in  the  opinion  even  of  the 
meanest  people,  this  would  weaken  that  great  prerogative 
which  King  Henry  had  assumed,  and  on  the  due  use  of 
which  all  reformation  must  depend. §    Sir  John  Godsalve, 


*  Burnet's  Hist,  of  tlie  Reformat,  at  the  entrance  of  second  Vol. 

t  Taken  from  the  Bishop's  letter,  published  by  Fox. 

J  Strype's  Memorials  of  Archbishop  Cranmer,  p.  146-147-148. 

i  Bishop  Gardiner's  Letters  in  Fox's  Acts  and  Monuments. 


GARDINER.  465 

one  of  the  visitors  (but  not  for  the  diocese  of  Winchester), 
having  heard  of  the  Bishop's  discourses,  and,  having  a 
very  sincere  regard  for  him,  wrote  to  him,  desiring  him  to 
be  more  discreet,  and  not  run  the  manifest  hazard  of 
ruining  himself  and  losing  his  Bishopric.  Bishop  Gar- 
diner sent  him  an  answer  highly  commended  by  Bishop 
Burnet,  and  which  is  inserted  to  shew  the  temper  of  the 
man  in  these  times,  and  how  very  able  he  was  in  putting 
the  fairest  colour  imaginable  on  all  his  opinions  and 
actions.* 

It  is  very  singular,  that  this,  being  a  private  letter, 
should  remain  and  be  preserved  to  our  times.  Bishop 
Burnet  says,  that  it  has  the  most  of  a  christian  and  a 
Bishop  in  it  of  any  thing  he  had  seen  of  Gardiner's  ;  he 
adds  too,  very  judiciously,  that  it  has  no  less  of  a  patriot, 
and  therefore  he  resolved  not  to  suppress  it,  though  it  was 
on  the  other  side.  But,  from  this  letter,  it  cannot  be 
shewn  that  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  was  on  the  other 
side,  for  there  is  nothing  of  Popery  in  this  letter,  or 
indeed  in  his  whole  opposition  ;  what  he  had  in  his  heart 
no  man  can  say ;  but  either  he  was  sincere  in  penning 
this  epistle,  or  he  was  the  most  finished  dissembler  in  the 
world. f  It  is  true  he  changed  afterwards,  and  we  shall 
consider  how  far  he  changed  when  we  come  to  that 
period  of  his  life,  from  the  testimony  of  writers  who  did 
not  at  all  tiatter  him.  But  now  to  the  letter,  which 
runs  thus  : — 

'*Mr.  Godsalve,  after  my  right  hearty  commendations, 
with  like  thanks  for  the  declaration  of  your  good  mind 
towards  me  (as  you  mean  it),  although  it  agreeth  nat  with 
mine  account,  such  as  i  have  had  leisure  to  make  in  this 
time  of  liberty,  since  the  death  of  my  late  sovereign  lord, 
whose  soul  Jesu  pardon.  For  this  have  1  reckoned  that 
I  was  called  to  this  Bishopric,  without  the  offence  of 
God's  law  or  the  King's  in  attaining  of  it.  I  have  kept 
my  Bishopric  these  sixteen  years,  accomplished  this  very 
day  that  1  write  these  letters  unto  you,  without  offending 
God's  law  or  the  King's  in  the  retaining  of  it:  howsoever 
I  have  of  frailty  otherwise  sinned.  Now  if  I  may  play 
the  third  part  well,  to  depart  from  the  Bishopric  without 


*  Burnet's  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  vol.  II,  p.  36. 
t  Burnet's  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  vol.  II,  p.  36. 

Hh 


466  GARDINER, 

the  offence  of  God's  law  or  the  King's,  I  shall  think  the 
tragedy  of  my  life  well  passed  over,  and,  in  this  part,  to 
be  well  handled,  is  all  my  care  and  study  now  how  to 
finish  this  third  act  well;  for  so  I  offended  not  God's  law 
nor  the  King's,  I  will  no  more  care  to  see  my  Bishopric 
taken  from  me,  than  myself  to  be  taken  from  the  Bishopric. 

*'  I  am  by  nature  already  condemned  to  die,  which  sen- 
tence no  man  can  pardon,  nor  assure  me  of  delay  in  tlie 
execution  of  it ;  and  so  see  that  of  necessity  I  shall  leave 
my  Bishopric  to  the  disposition  of  the  crown,  from  whence 
1  had  it ;  my  household  also  to  break  up,  and  my  bringing 
up  youth  to  cease,  the  remembrance  whereof  troubleth 
me  nothing.  I  made  in  my  house  at  London  a  pleasant 
study  that  delighted  me  much,  and  yet  I  was  glad  to 
come  into  the  country  and  leave  it ;  and  as  1  have  left 
the  use  of  somewhat,  so  can  I  leave  the  use  of  all  to  obtain 
more  quiet ;  it  is  not  loss  to  change  for  the  better. 

**  Honesty  and  truth  are  more  leef  to  me  than  all  the 
possessions  of  the  realm ;  and  in  these  two,  to  say  and 
do  frankly,  as  1  must,  I  never  forbare ;  yet,  and  in  these 
two,  honesty  and  truth,  I  take  such  pleasure  and  comfort, 
as  I  will  never  leave  them  for  no  respect,  for  they  Mill 
abide  by  a  man,  and  so  will  nothing  else.  No  man  can 
take  them  away  from  me  but  myself,  and  if  myself  do 
them  away  from  me,  then  myself  do  undo  myself,  and 
make  myself  worthy  to  lose  my  Bishopric  :  whereat  such 
as  gape  might  take  more  sport  than  they  are  like  to  have 
at  my  hands. 

**  What  other  men  have  said  or  done  in  the  homilies  1 
cannot  tell,  and  what  homilies  or  injunctions  shall  be 
brought  hither  I  know  not ;  such  as  the  printers  have  sold 
abroad,  I  have  read  and  considered,  and  am  therefore 
the  better  instructed  how  to  use  myself  to  the  visitors  at 
their  repair  hither,  to  whom  I  will  use  no  manner  of 
protestation,  but  a  plain  allegation,  as  the  matter  serveth, 
and  as  honesty  and  truth  shall  bind  me  to  speak  ;  for  I 
will  never  yield  to  do  that  should  not  beseem  a  christian. 
Bishops  ought  never  to  lose  the  inheritance  of  the  King's 
laws,  due  to  every  Englishman,  for  want  of  petition.  I 
will  shew  myself  a  true  subject,  humble  and  obedient; 
which  repugneth  not  with  the  preservation  of  my  duty  to 
God,  and  my  right  in  the  realm  not  to  be  enjoined  against 
an  Act  of  Parliament:  which  mine  intent  I  have  signified 
to  the  council,  with  request  of  redress  in  the  matter ;  and 


GARDINER.  467 

not  to  compel  me  to  such  an  allegation,  which,  without 
I  were  a  beast,  I  cannot  petermit ;  and  I  were  more  than 
a  beast,  if,  after  I  had  signified  to  the  council  truth  and 
reason  in  words,  I  should  then  seem  in  my  deeds  not  to 
care  for  it. 

"  My  lord  Protector,  in  one  of  such  letters  as  he  wrote 
to  me,  willed  me  not  to  fear  too  much ;  and  indeed  I  know 
him  so  well,  and  divers  others  of  my  lords  of  the  council, 
that  I  cannot  fear  any  hurt  at  their  hands,  in  the  allegation 
of  God's  law  and  the  King's;  and  I  will  never  defame 
them  so  much  to  be  seen  to  fear  it.  And  of  what  strength 
an  Act  of  Parliament  is,  the  realm  was  taught  in  the  case 
of  her  that  we  called  Queen  Anne;  where  all  such  as 
spake  against  her  in  the  Parliament-House,  although 
they  did  it  by  special  commandment  of  the  King,  and 
spake  that  which  was  truth  ;  yet  they  were  fain  to  have 
a  pardon,  because  that  speaking  was  against  an  Act  of 
Parliament.  Did  you  never  know  or  hear  tell  of  any  man, 
that  for  doing  that  the  King,  our  late  sovereign  lord, 
willed,  devised,  and  required,  to  be  done ;  he  that  took 
pains,  and  was  commanded  to  do  it,  was  fain  to  sue  for 
his  pardon ;  and  such  other  also  as  were  doers  in  it ;  and 
I  could  tell  who  it  were  ;  sure  there  has  been  such  a  case, 
and  I  have  been  present  when  it  hath  been  reasoned. 

"  That  the  doing  against  an  Act  of  Parliament  excuseth 
not  a  man  even  from  the  case  of  treason,  although  a  man 
did  it  by  the  King's  commandment.  You  can  tell  this  to 
your  remembrance,  when  you  think  farther  of  it;  and 
when  it  cometh  to  your  remembrance,  you  will  not  be 
best  content  with  yourself,  I  believe,  to  have  advised  me 
to  venture  the  breach  of  an  Act  of  Parliament,  without 
surety  of  pardon,  although  the  King  command  it ;  and 
were  such  indeed  as  it  were  no  matter  to  do  it  at  all. 
And  thus  I  answer  the  letters  with  worldly  civil  reasons, 
and  take  your  mind  and  zeal  towards  me  to  be  as  tender 
as  rnay  be;  and  yet  you  see,  that  the  following  of  your 
advice  nriight  make  me  lose  my  Bishopric  by  mine  own 
act,  which  I  am  sure  you  would  1  should  keep ;  and  so- 
would  I,  as  might  stand  with  my  truth  and  honesty,  and 
none  otherwise,  as  knoweth  God,  who  send  you  heartily 
well  to  fare." 

In  all  probability,  this  answer  of  the  Bishop  proved  the 
cause  of  that  Prelate's  first  imprisonment,  which  was  in 
all  respects  extraordinary,  and  out  of  the  common  forpis 

Hh2 


468  GARDINER. 

of  justice.*  He  was  sent  for  when  in  London  to  attend 
the  council,  three  weeks  before  the  visitors  came  into  his 
diocese  ;  and  because  he  woukl  not  promise  to  receive 
the  honiihes,  and  pay  obedience  to  whatever  the  King's 
visitors  might  require,  the  council,  notwithstanding  his 
close  reasoning  the  point  as  to  it's  consistency  with  law, 
and  his  earnest  entreaty  to  give  him  a  little  space  to 
consider,  committed  him  close  prisoner  to  the  Fleet.')- 
He  was  there,  as  we  see  by  his  letters  and  petitions,  very 
strictly  kept,  and  very  indifferently  used ;  which  must 
have  been  by  order,  since  John  Fox  has  marked  on  the 
margin  of  one  of  his  applications  for  redress,  that  the 
warden  of  the  Fleet  was  his  friend. ;{:  It  is  probable  the 
Archbishop  consented  to  this,  but  it  is  impossible  he 
should  contrive  it ;  being  a  very  deep,  though  a  most 
unjustifiable,  stroke  of  policy.  The  Bishop  held  the 
visitation,  as  directed  by  the  instructions,  illegal  without 
an  Act  of  Parliament  j  but,  being  confined,  he  could 
not  hinder  that  visitation  going  on  ;  and,  remaining  close 
in  the  Fleet  during  the  whole  session  (though  a  lord  of 
Parliament),  he  could  give  no  opposition  to  those  bills, 
which  were  calculated  to  make  the  things  lawful 
which  he  had  objected  to  as  illegal. §  When  all  this  was 
done,  he  was  discharged  like  a  common  malefactor,  under 
colour  of  the  King's  general  pardon,  though  never 
charged  judicially  with  any  offence.^  The  very  dates 
prove  these  facts  :  he  was  committed  Sept.  23,  the 
Parliament  assembled  Nov.  4,  was  prorogued  Dec.  24, 
and  he  was  set  at  liberty  before  the  close  of  that  year, 
1547.  Besides  this,  all  that  we  have  advanced  is  sup- 
ported by  unquestionable  authorities. jj 

There  are,  to  say  the  truth,  but  very  few  writers 
amongst  our  ecclesiastical  historians  that  have  taken  upon 
them  to  justify  these  proceedings  ;  but  on  the  other  hand, 
none  of  them  go  to  the  bottom,  except  Bishop  Burnet,** 
who  speaks  very  clearly  and  candidly  of  this  whole  affair. 


*  Fuller,  Heylin,  Burnet.         t  Fox's  Acts  and  Monuments,  vol.  II,  p.  3. 

I  Ibid.  p.  9,  in  a  letter  from  Bishop  Gardiner  to  the  Duke  of  Somerset 
when  Protector. 

§  Burnet's  History  of  the  Reformation,  vol.  II,  p.  36. 

^  Strype's  Memorials.  ||  Holinshed,  Stowe,  Strype. 

**  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  vol.  II,  p.  36-37. 


GARDINER.  46g 

^' On  Sept.  25,"  says  he,  "the  council  being  informed  that 
Gardiner  had  written  to  some  of  that  board,  and  had 
spoken  to  others  many  things  in  prejudice  and  contempt 
of  the  King's  visitation,   and  that  he  intended  to  refuse  to 
set  forth  the  homilies  and  injunctions,  he  was  sent  for  to 
the  council.     Where  being  examined,  he  said,  he  thought 
they  were  contrary  to  the  word  of  God,    and  that  his 
conscience  would  not  suffer  him  to  observe  them.     He 
excepted  to  one  of  the  homilies,  that  it  excluded  charity 
from  justifying  men,  as  well  as  faith.     This  he  said  was 
contrary  to  the  book  set  out  in  the  late  King's  time,  which 
was  afterwards  confirmed  in  the  Parliament  in  the  year 
1.542  ;  he  said  further,  that  he  could  never  see  one  place 
of  scripture,  nor  any  ancient  doctor  that  favoured  it.     He 
also  said,  Erasmus's  Paraphrase  was  bad  enough  in  Latin, 
but  much  worse  in  English ;    for  the    translator    had  oft 
out  of  ignorance,  and  oft    out  of    design,    misrendered 
him  palpably,  and  was  one  that  neither  understood  Latin 
nor  English  well.     He  offered  to  go  to  Oxford  to  dispute 
about  justification  with  any  they  should  send  him  to,  or 
to  enter  into  conference  with  any  that  would  undertake 
his  instruction   in   town.     But  this   did    not  satisfy  the 
council.     So  they  pressed  him  to  declare  what  he  intended 
to  do  when  the  visitors  should  be  with  him.     He  said,  he 
did  not  know ;  he  should  further  study  these  points,  for 
it  would  be  three  weeks  before  they  could  be  with  him, 
and  he  was  sure  he  would  say  no  worse  than  that  he 
should  obey  them,   as  far  as  could  consist  with  God's  law  . 
and  the  King's.     The  council  urged  him  to  promise  that 
he  would  without  any  limitation,  set  forth  the  homilies 
and  the  injunctions,  which  he  refusing  to  do,  was  sent  to 
the  Fleet.     Some  days  after  that,  Cranmer  went  to  see 
the  Dean  of  St.  Paul's,   having  the  Bishops  of  Lincoln 
and  Rochester,  with  Dr.  Cox,  and  some  others  with  him. 
He  sent  for  Gardiner  thither,  and  entered  into  discourse 
with  him  about   that  passage  in  the  homily,  excluding 
charity  out  of  our  justification,  and  urged  those  places  of 
St.  Paul,  That  we  are  justified  by  faith,  without  the  works, 
of  the  law  :    he  said,   his  design  in  that  passage  was  only 
to  draw  men  from  trusting  in  any  thing  they  did,  and  to 
teach  them  to  trust  only  to  Christ.     But  Gardiner  had  a 
very  dilTerent   notion  of  justification.     For  as  he  said, 
infants  were  justified  by  baptism,    and  penitents  by  the 
sacrament  of  penance  ;    and  that  the  conditions  of  the 


470  GARDINER. 

justifying  of  those  of  age,  were  charity  as  well  as  faith, 
as  the  three  estates  make  a  law  all  joined  together;  for  by 
this  simile,  he  set  it  out  in  the  report  he  wrote  of  that 
discourse  to  the  lord  Protector,  reckoning  the  King  one 
of  the  three  estates  (a  way  of  speech  very  strange,  especi- 
ally in  a  Bishop  and  a  lawyer).  For  Erasmus,  it  was 
said,  that  though  there  were  faults  in  his  Paraphrase,  as 
no  book  besides  the  Scriptures  is  without  faults,  yet  it 
was  best  for  that  use  they  could  find,  and  they  did  choose 
rather  to  set  out  what  so  learned  a  man  had  written,  than 
to  make  a  new  one,  which  might  give  occasion  to  more 
objections,  and  he  wjis  the  most  indifferent  writer  they 
knew.  Afterwards  Cranmer,  knowing  what  was  likely 
to  work  most  on  him,  let  fall  some  words  as  Gardiner 
wrote  to  the  Protector,*  of  bringing  him  into  the  privy 
council,  if  he  would  concur  in  what  they  were  carrying 
on.  But  that  not  having  its  ordinary  effect  on  him,  he 
was  carried  back  to  the  Fleet." 

He  afterwards  gives  the  remainder  of  the  story  thus. 
*'  But  notwithstanding  all  his  letters,  yet  he  continued 
a  prisoner  until  the  Parliament  was  over,  and  then  by  the 
act  of  pardon,  he  was  set  at  liberty.  This  was  much 
censured  as  an  invasion  of  liberty;  and  it  was  said,  those 
at  court  durst  not  suffer  him  to  come  to  the  house,  lest 
he  had  confounded  them  in  all  they  did.  And  the  ex- 
plaining justification  with  so  much  nicety  in  homilies  that 
were  to  be  read  to  the  people,  was  thought  a  needless 
subtilty.  But  the  former  abuses  of  trusting  to  the  acts  of 
charity  that  men  did,  by  which  they  fancied  they  bought 
Heaven,  made  Cranmer  judge  it  necessary  to  express  the 
matter  so  nicely,  though  the  expounding  those  places  of 
St.  Paul,  was  as  many  thought,  rather  according  to  the 
strain  of  the  Germans,  than  to  the  meaning  of  these 
epistles.  And,  upon  the  whole  matter,  they  knew  Gar- 
diner's haughty  temper,  and  that  it  was  necessary  to 
mortify  him  a  little,  though  the  pretence  on  which  they 
did  it,  seemed  too  slight  for  such  severities.  But  it  is 
ordinary,  when  a  thing  is  once  resolved  on,  to  make  use 
of  the  first  occasion  that  offers  for  effecting  it." 

In  the  course  of  Gardiner's  imprisonment,  it  came  out, 
that  the   famous  state    book  of  religion,   published    by 


In  his  letter  piintcd  in  the  2nd.  vol.  of  the  Acts  &  Monuments,  ed.  1641 . 


GARDINER.  471 

authority,  under  the  title  of  The  Erudition  of  a  Christian 
Man,  was  compiled  chiefly  by  him.  By  comparing  this 
with  the  religious  systems  in  the  reign  of  Edward  VI,, 
the  difference  may  be  seen  between  his  notions  and  those 
of  Cranmer ;  and  from  hence  we  may  discern  the  proba- 
bility of  his  being  in  earnest  in  his  declarations,  without 
supposing,  as  almost  all  writers  do,  misled  therein  by 
the  Papists  themselves,  that  in  his  heart  he  was  a  bigot 
to  Popery.  The  Archbishop  was  once  as  well  pleased 
with  the  book  before-mentioned  as  any  body,  and  had 
recommended  it  as  strenuously;  but  now  having  changed 
his  mind  as  to  the  real  presence,  he  was  not  unwilling 
the  world  should  know  its  true  author;  and  Gardiner, 
being  touched  with  his  insinuations,  replied  very  eagerly 
in  defence  of  his  book.  Always  insisting  however,  that 
it  had  the  sanction  of  the  King's  authority. 

While  the  Bishop  was  under  this  confinement,  the 
Archbishop  of  Canterbury  sometimes  wrote  to  him,  and, 
as  Strype  tells  us,  proposed  to  him,  employing  a  part  of 
his  time  in  writing  Homilies,  which  he  declined  ;  but  it 
was  in  one  of  these  conferences,  that  the  dispute  to  which 
we  refer,  happened ;  the  same  author  tells  it  in  the  fol- 
lowing words.*  "  During  his  being  here,  which  was  not 
long,  there  passed  some  letters  between  the  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury  and  him.  He  had  urged  to  the  Archbishop, 
the  state  of  religion  in  King  Henry's  days  ;  from  which, 
he  and  the  clergy  and  the  council,  did  begin  so  much  to 
vary,  Winchester  reminded  him  of  the  King's  book  as  he 
called  it,  established  by  Parliament.  But  the  Archbishop 
in  his  answer  told  him,  that  he  indeed  called  it  so,  and 
that  the  King  was  seduced  ;  and  that  he,  the  Archbishop 
knew  by  whom  he  was  compassed  in  that  book. 

But  Winchester  sharply  replied  to  him  ;  "  That  the 
book  was  acknowledged  by  the  Parliament  as  the  King's 
book,  and  that  the  Archbishop  himself  commanded  it  to 
be  published  in  his  diocese  as  the  King's  book.  And 
that  if  he  thought  it  not  true,  he  ought  to  think  his  grace 
would  not,  for  all  the  Princes  christened  in  the  world 
have  yielded  unto.  And  he  threatened  the  Archbishop, 
that  if  he  made  this  matter  more  public,  and  charged  the 
late  King  with  being  seduced,  he  would  vindicate  his 
master,  as  one  of  his  old  servants.     And  whereas  the 

*  Strype's  Memorials,  vol.  lil,  p.  277. 


472  GARDINER. 

Archbishop  had  advised  him  to  bethink  himself  of  his 
present  condition,  lying  in  prison;  Winchester  replied  to 
this  with  seemingly  much  satisfaction :  how  himself  was 
arrived  to  that  haven  of  quietness,  without  the  loss  of  any 
notable  tackle,  as  the  mariners  say,  which  he  said,  was  a 
great  matter  as  the  winds  had  blown,  and  with  a  little 
Ilea  biting,  conveyed  to  an  easy  state.  He  advised,  that 
seeing  King  Henry  died  so  honourably  and  so  much 
lamented,  and  was  concluded  to  be  received  to  God's 
mercy,  the  realm  should  not  be  troubled  during  the 
minority  with  matters  of  novelty,  there  being  so  many 
other  things  for  the  King's  counsellors  to  regard." 

Upon  his  obtaining  his  liberty,  the  Bishop  went  down 
to  his  Diocese,  and  there  was  so  far  from  creating  any 
trouble  or  disturbance,  that  he  >vas  remarkably  active  and 
diligent  in  giving  obedience,  and  seeing  that  it  was  given 
to  the  laws  concerning  religion;*  but  those  who  had  a 
dislike  to  him,  would  not  sutier  him  to  be  long  at  quiet. 
They  were  no  sooner  informed  of  his  returning  to  town, 
than  they  procured  an  order  for  him  to  come  before  the 
council,  where  he  was  roughly  treated,  and  then  directed 
to  keep  liiS  iiouse  until  he  gave  satisfaction,  which  was  to 
be  done  in  a  sermon  preached  before  the  King  and  his 
Ministers,  in  a  public  audience ;  for  the  matter  of  which, 
he  was  directed  as  well  what  he  should  not,  as  what  he 
should  say,  by  Sir  William  Cecil. f  On  St.  Peter's  day  the 
Bishop  did  accordingly  preach,  but  was  so  far  from  giving 
satisfaction,  that  the  very  next  day,  June  30,  1548,  he 
was  sent  to  the  tower,  and  continued  there  a  prisoner  all 
that  reign. ;|;  It  was  very  near  a  year,  notwithstanding 
repeated  applications,  that  he  continued  there,  without 
having  scarce  any  notice  taken  of  him,  his  Chaplain 
having  admittance  but  once  when  he  was  ill,  and  then 
restrained  because  his  life  was  not  thought  in  danger. § 
When  the  Protector  was  deposed,  or  some  small  time 
before,  he  had  hopes  given  him  of  his  release,  and  from 
those  it  is  likely  who  could  have  done  it  if  they  had 
judged  it  proper.^  But  finding  himself  deceived,  he 
took  the   freedom  of  applying   himself  by  letter  to    the 

*  Sliype's  Memorials,  vol.  II,  p.  71. 

t  See  the  Bishop's  account  of  this  matter  at  large  in  Fox. 

J  Stowe,  iStrype,  Burnet.  §  So  stated  by  himself  to  the  council. 

H  See  the  article  of  Dudley,  (John)  Duke  of  Northumberland. 


GARDINER.  47S 

council,  of  which  we  have  probably  a  true,  though 
certainly  a  very  unpolished  account,  from  honest  Jolui 
Stowe  ;*  who  likewise  tells  us  very  plainly  why  he 
published  it,  which  in  effect  was  because  he  saw  that 
nobody  else  would. 

Whoever  will  take  the  pains  of  examining  our  eccle- 
siastical and  civil  histories,  will  see  how  little  care  is 
taken  to  tix  the  dates  relative  to  these  transactions,  which 
are  only  to  be  recovered  from  the  origmal  papers  that  are 
still  preserved.  By  comparing  them  the  reader  will  per- 
ceive, that  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  never  sat  in  any  one 
of  King  Edward's  Parliaments ;  and  notwithstanding  this 
flagrant  injustice,  we  do  not  hnd  so  much  as  a  single  word 
said  of  it  in  the  articles  against  the  Protector,  Somerset, 
though  it  was  not  only  of  more  moment  than  many  tnings 
alleged  in  them,  but  was  also  a  fact  which  he  coukt  not 
possibly  deny.  It  is  indeed  affirmed  in  the  following 
account,  and  we  have  some  notices  of  it  elsewhere,  that 
the  Earl  of  Warwick,  and  some  of  the  rest  of  the  cabal, 
gave  Gardiner  assuiances  of  his  liberty;  but  when  they 
found  themselves  able  to  act  without  him,  they  made  uo 
scruple  of  forgetting  or  breaking  that  promise,  from  a 
just  foresight,  that  he  would  give  the  same  opposition 
to  their  measures  he  was  inclined  to  have  given  to  those 
of  the  Duke. 

But  let  us  hear  Stowe,+  who  very  seldom  puts  original 
papers  into  his  Annals,  and  takes  care  when  he  does,  that 
they  shall  be  equally  curious  and  important,  thus  then  he 
writes.  "  Now  when  the  Duke  of  Somerset  was  first 
apprehended,  Stephen  Gardiner,  Bishop  of  Winchester, 
then  being  a  prisoner  in  the  tower  (as  before  ye  have 
heard)  was  borne  in  hand,  he  should  be  set  at  liberty ;  in 
hope  whereof,  he  prepared  him  new  appaiei  lor  that 
purpose,  thinking  verily  to  have  come  abroad  within  eight 
or  ten  days  :  but  when  he  was  forgotten,  and  nothing 
said  unto  him  by  the  space  of  one  month  after,  he  thought 
it  good  to  put  the  lords  m  remembrance  by  his  letters  ; 
wherein,  after  commendations  lie  had  unto  them,  he  wrote 
as  followeth :  I  have  continued  here  in  this  miserable 
prison  now  one  year,  one  quarter,  and  one  month,  this 
same  day  that  1  write  these  my  letters,  with  want  of  air  to 


*  Anuals,  p.  COO.  t  lb. 


474  GARDINER. 

relieve  my  body;  want  of  books  to  relieve  my  mind  ;  want 
of  good  company  the  only  solace  of  this  world ;  and 
finally,  want  of  a  just  cause  why  1  should  have  come 
hither  at  all.  More  of  this  letter  came  not  to  my  hands: 
but  that  the  lords  took  it  in  good  part,  and  laughed  very 
merrily  thereat,  saying,  he  had  a  pleasant  head ;  for  re- 
ward whereof,  they  gave  him  leave  to  remain  still  in  prison 
five  or  six  weeks  after,  without  saying  or  sending  any  word 
to  him  ;  which  when  he  considered,  then  he  wrote  to  them 
this  letter  following.  After  my  due  commendations  to 
your  good  lordships :  howsoever  the  time  is  stolen  from 
you  with  the  multitude  of  businesses,  and  variety  of  mat- 
ters wherewith  ye  be  travailled  ;  whereby  ye  rather  want 
time,  as  I  suppose,  than  be  glutted  with  it ;  yet  with 
me,  being  alone  comfortless  in  this  miserable  prison,  the 
time  passeth  more  sensibly  ;  and  as  the  grief  groweth  in 
length,  so  it  bringeth  more  encombrie  and  travail  with  it. 
And  being  now  the  time  of  Parliament,  whereof  I  am  a 
member,  in  my  degree  called  unto  it  by  writ,  and  not  cut 
from  it  by  any  fault,  but  only  by  power  kept  here,  it  is 
a  double  calamity  to  be  detained  in  prison  by  so  intolera- 
ble wrong,  and  excluded  from  this  assembly,  so  much 
against  right.  I  have  suffered  the  like  in  the  late  lord 
Protector's  lime,  against  all  reason,  which  God  hath 
given  you  power  now  to  reform  ;  and  among  many  other 
things,  which  in  his  time  wrythed  amiss,  no  one  thing,  as 
I  suppose,  was  of  worse  example,  nor  more  prejudical  to 
the  good  order  of  the  high  court  of  Parliament,  which  is 
the  direction  of  all  men's  lives,  lands,  and  goods  in  this 
realm,  than  to  allow  for  a  precedent,  that  any  one  man 
being  member  thereof,  might,  without  cause,  be  excluded, 
and  so  letted  to  parley  there  his  mind  in  public  matters  for 
the  wealth  of  the  realm,  and  such  other  private  causes  as 
do  occur.  If  the  strength  of  the  Parliament  be  not  im- 
paired by  wrong  in  one,  because  right  consisteth  not  in 
number,  it  shall  be  at  the  pleasure  of  him  that  ruleth,  to 
do  the  same  in  me,  whereby  others  may  takje  more  harm 
than  I,  as  experience  hath  shewed  in  such  examples. 
But  I  know  it  becometh  me  not  to  reason  the  strength  of 
that  court,  nor  the  order  of  it :  the  lawyers  of  this  realm 
know  that,  and  to  their  knowledge  I  submit  my  judgment, 
and  take  for  good  that  they  allow.  But  this  I  dare  say, 
when  religion  is  entreated  in  a  general  council  of  Christen- 
dom, if  the  rulers  of  the  council  let  any  man's  repair 


GARDINER.  475- 

thither,  that  hath  right  to  be  there,  whatsoever  is  there 
concluded  is  in  the  laws  of  the  world  abroad,  taken  of  no 
force  by  excluding  of  one  member  wrongfully,  that  should 
furnish  the  body,  which  I  write  unto  your  lordships  for 
the  good  opinion  I  have  of  you,  trusting  that  ye  intend 
not  to  uphold  or  follow  the  late  lord  Protector's  doings, 
by  wrong,  but  so  fashion  your  proceedings,  as  they  may 
agree  with  justice  at  home,  and  seem  agreeable  to  reason 
to  others  abroad;  bemg  so  assured  of  mine  innocency, 
that  when  your  lordships  shall  hear  what  can  be  said 
against  me,  and  mine  answer  thereunto,  there  shall  appear 
cause  why  I  should  have  had  praise,  thanks,  and  com- 
mendations, of  the  late  lord  Protector,  (if  truth,  honesty, 
and  due  obedience  might  look  therefore)  and  no  cause  of 
trouble  or  displeasure  at  all :  so  wrongfully  have  I  been 
tormented  in  this  prison,  so  boldly  dare  I  speak  to  you  of 
my  cause,  with  such  an  opinion  and  estimation  of  your 
wisdoms,  which  1  know  and  reverence,  as  I  ought  not, 
nor  would  not  vainly  hope  to  abuse  you  with  words,  but 
upon  certain  confidence  of  your  indiiferences  ;  verily  I 
trust  that  ye  will  deem  and  take  things  in  such  sort,  as 
being  plainly  and  truly  opened,  shall  appear  unto  you  by 
matter  indeed.  In  consideration  whereof,  I  renew  my 
suit  unto  your  lordships,  instantly  requiring  you,  that  I 
may  be  heard  according  to  justice,  and  that,  with  such 
speed,  as  the  delay  of  your  audience  give  not  occasion  to 
such  as  be  ignorant  abroad  of  my  matter,  to  think  that 
your  lordships  allowed  and  approved  the  detaining  of  me 
here.  Which  without  hearing  my  declaration,  I  trust  ye 
will  not  but  have  such  consideration  of  me,  as  mine  estate 
in  the  common-wealth ;  the  passing  my  former  life  amongst 
you,  and  other  respects  do  require  ;  wherein  you  shall 
bind  me,  and  do  agreeably  to  your  honours  and  justice  : 
the  free  course  whereof  you  have  honourably  taken  upon 
you  to  make  open  to  the  realm  without  respect,  which  is 
the  only  establishment  of  all  common-wealths;  and  there- 
fore the  zeal  of  him  was  allowed,  that  said.  Fiat  justitia 
8f  mat  mundus  :  signifying,  that  by  it,  the  world  is  kept 
from  falling  indeed,  although  it  might  seem  otherwise  in 
some  respect,  and  some  trouble  to  arise  in  doing  it« 
[This  is  a  new  construction  of  the  passage.]  And 
this  I  write,  because  in  the  late  lord  Protector's  time, 
there  was  an  insinuation  made  unto  me,  as  though  1  were 
kept  here  by  policy,  which,  with  the  violation  of  justice, 


476  GARDINER. 

took  never  good  effect,  as  I  doubt  not  of  your  wisdoms, 
ye  can  and  will  consider,  and  do  therefore  accordingly ; 
for  the  eft'ectual  execution  whereof,  I  shall  not  fail  to 
pray  Almighty  God  for  the  preseivation  and  increase  of 
your  honours.     From  the  Tower.'' 

Thus  much  concerning  these  letters  have  I  thought 
good  to  set  down,  for  that  I  find  not  the  same  otherwise 
extant,  in  large  discourses  of  the  said  Bishop's  writings. 

When  the  Duke  of  Somerset,  though  removed  from 
his  high  office,  found  means  to  come  again  into  power, 
and  to  be  called   to  the  council,   this  affair  of  Bishop 
Gardiner  was  brought  once  more  on  the  carpet,  and  the 
Duke  and  others,  by  virtue  of  an  order  of  that  board, 
went  to  confer  with  him  in  the  tower  June  9,  1550.*     It 
was  proposed  that  he  should  make  a  submission  for  what 
was  passed,  should  testify  his  approbation  of  all  that  had 
been  done  in  religion  since  he  had  been  laid  aside,  and 
that  he   should  promise  obedience  for  the  future.     The 
two  last  points  Winchester  readily  assented  to,  and  actually 
signed  all  that  was  expected  from  him  ;  but  refused  his 
assent  to  the  first,  insisting  upon  his  innocence.     Much 
solicitation  there  was,  with  what  intent  one  cannot  say ; 
at  last,  the  Bishop  perceiving  they  rose  in  their  demands, 
told  them  roundly  he  would  do  nothing  in  a  prison;    and 
that  he  did  not  seek  either  favour  or  pity,  but  justice. f 
July  ly,  he  was  brought  to  the  council,  and  being  asked 
whether  he  would  subscribe  the  last  articles  or  not,  he  an- 
swered in  the  negative ;  and  it  was  thereupon  declared  to  him, 
that  his  Bishopric  should  be  sequestered;  and,  if  in  three 
months  he  did  not  comply,  they  would  go  still  farther.^ 
Fuller  confesses,  in  case  he  was  innocent,  he  was  in  the 
right  not  to  acknowledge  himself  guilty  ;^    and   Heylin 
seems  to  think,  those  who  had  now  to  do  with  him,  would 
not  have  been  satisfied  let  him  have  subscribed  what  he 
would. ^     Strype,  out  of  respect  to  Cranmer,  approves 
the  whole  proceeding,  as  Fox  applauds  it;    but  Bishop 
Burnet,  having  undertaken  to  state  the  matter  impartially, 
does  it  accordingly,  with  that  clearness  which  the  evidence 
of  the  fact  demands. 


*  Sec  King  Edward's  Journal,  inserted  in  the  2nd  vol.  of  Burnet's 
Hist,  of  the  Reformat. 

t  See  the  Proceedings  against  him  iu  Fox.        X  Strype's  Memorials. 
§  Church  History,  cent.  XVI.  p.  400.    ^  Hist,  of  the  Reforniat.vol.H,  g.  99. 


GARDINER.  477 

Before  we  come  to  the  account  of  this  matter  given  by 
Bishop  Burnet,  whose  authority  in  these  points  must  be 
decisive,  as  nothing  could  induce  him  to  treat  these  sub- 
jects as  he  does,  but  a  due  respect  for  truth,  which  every 
historical  writer  ought  to  prefer  to  every  other  considera- 
tion ;  it  is  necessary  to  observe,  that  he  is  entirely  mistaken 
as  to  the  time  of  the  King's  sending  to  the  Bishop,  in 
which  he  supposes  Fox  to  have  erred,  and  all  this  from  a 
notion,  that,  upon  his  submission,  the  Protector  might 
have  been  prevailed  with  to  set  him  at  liberty  ;  whereas, 
in  truth,  the  offers  that  were  made  him,  came  from  the 
Protector's  enemies,  who,  it  has  been  suggested,  made 
very  great  use  of  the  Bishop  of  Winchester's  head  and 
hand,  in  bringing  their  design  to  bear  ;  insomuch  that  a 
certain  author  says,*  the  original  of  the  articles  against 
him  which  he  confessed,  and  upon  which  he  was  deposed, 
or  rather  the  draught  of  those  articles,  was  in  Winchester's 
own  hand-writing.  But  be  that  as  it  will,  the  King's 
own  Journal  very  fully  shews, f  that  the  first  message  sent 
from  him  to  Gardiner,  was  June  9,  1550,  when  the 
Bishop  had  been,  within  a  fews  days,  two  years  in  prison. 
These  points  being  premised,  let  us  hear  our  right  rever- 
end author. 

"  When  the  book  of  common-prayer  was  set  out,  the 
Lord  St.  John,  and  Secretary  Petre,  were  sent  with  it  to 
him,  to  know  of  him,  whether  he  would  conform  to  it  or 
not  ;  and  they  gave  him  great  hopes  that  if  he  would 
submit,  the  Protector  would  sue  to  the  King  for  mercy 
to  him.  He  answered,  that  he  did  not  know  himself 
guilty  of  any  thing  that  needed  mercy ;  so  he  desired  to 
be  tried  for  what  had  been  objected  to  him,  according  to 
law.  For  the  book,  he  did  not  think  that  while  he  was  a 
prisoner,  he  was  bound  to  give  his  opinion  about  such 
things ;  it  might  l^e  thought  he  did  it  against  his  con- 
science to  obtairi  his  liberty ;  but  if  he  were  out  of  prison, 
he  should  either  obey  it,  or  be  liable  to  punishment  ac- 
cording to  law.  Upon  the  Duke  of  Somerset's  fall,  the 
Lord-Treasurer,  the  Earl  of  Warwick,  Sir  William 
Herbert,  and  Secretary  Petre,  were  sent  to  him  :    Fox 


*  Mr.  Strype  asserts  this  from  his  own  acquaintance  with  the  hands  of 
those  times. 

t  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  vol.  II.  p.  150. 


478  GARDINER. 

says  this  was  on  the  ninth  of  July,  but  there  must  be  an 
error  in  that  ;  for  Gardiner  in  his  answer  says,   that  upon 
the  Duke  of  Somerset's  coming  to  the  Tower,  he  looked 
to  have  been  let  out  within  two  days,  and  had  made  his 
farewell  feast ;   but  when  these  were  with  him,  a  month, 
or  thereabout,  had  passed,  so  it  must  have  been  in  No- 
vember the  former  year.     They  brought  him  a  paper,  to 
which  they  desired  he  would  set  his  hand.      It  contained, 
first  a  preface,  which  was  an  acknowledgment  of  former 
faults,  for  which    he   had   been  justly  punished  :  there 
were    also  divers    articles   contained  in  it,   which   were 
touching  the  King's  supremacy,  his  power  of  appointing 
or  dispensing  with  holidays  and  fasts ;  that  the  book    of 
common-prayer,  set  out  by  the  King  and  Parliament,  was 
a  most  christian  and  godly  book,  to  be  allowed  of  by  all 
Bishops  and  Pastors   in   England;   and  that  he   should, 
both  in  sermons  and  discourses,  commend  it  to  be  observ- 
ed ;    that  the    King's  power  was  complete  now,   when 
under  age,  and  that  all  owed  obedience  to  him  now,  as 
much  as  if  he  were  thirty  or  forty  years  old  ;    that  the  Six 
Articles  were  justly  abrogated,  and  that  the  King  had  full 
authority  to  correct  and  reform  what  was   amiss  in   the 
Church,  both  in  England  and  Ireland.     He  only  excepted 
to  the  preface,  and  offered   to  sign  all  the  articles,  but 
would  have  had  the  preface  left  out.      They  bid   him 
rather  write  on  the  margin  his    exceptions    to   it,  so    he 
writ,  that  he  could  not,  with  a  good  conscience,  agree  to 
the  preface,  and  with  that  exception,  he  set  his  hand  to  the 
whole  paper.       The  Lords  used  him  with  great  kindness, 
and  gave  him  hope,  that  his  troubles   should  be  quickly 
ended.      Herbert  and  Petre  came  to  him  some  time  after 
that,  but  how  soon  is  not  so  clear,  and  pressed  him  to 
make  the  acknowledgment  without  exception  ;  he  refused 
it,   and  said  he  would  never  defame  hjmself ;   for  when 
he  had  done  it,  he  was  not  sure,  but  it  might  be  made  use 
of  against  hirn  as  a  confession.       Two  or  three  days  after 
that,  Ridley  was  sent  to  him,  together  with  the  other  two, 
and  they  brought  him  new  articles.      In  this  paper,  the 
acknowledgment  was  more  general  than  in   the  former  ( 
it  was  said  here  in  the  preface,  that  he  had  been  suspect- 
ed of  not  approving  the  King's   proceedings,  and  being 
appointed  to  preach,  had  not  done  it  as  he  ought  to  have 
done,  and  so  deserved  the  King's  displeasure,  for  which 
he  was  sorry  :  the  articles  related  to  the  Pope's  eupre- 


GARDINER.  479 

macy,the  suppression  ofabbies  and  chantries,  pilgrimages, 
masses,  images  ;  the  adoring  the  sacrament ;  the  commu- 
nion in  both  kinds  ;  the  abolishing  the  old  books,  and 
bringing  in  the  new  book  of  service,  and  that  for  ordaining 
of  Priests  and  Bishops ;  the  completeness  of  the  scripture, 
and  the  use  of  it  in  the  vulgar  tongue  ;  the  lawfulness  of 
Clergymen's  marriage  ;  and  to  Erasmus's  Paraphrase, 
that  it  had  been  on  good  considerations  ordered  to  be  set 
up  in  the  Churches.  He  read  all  these,  and  said,  he 
desired  first  to  be  discharged  of  his  imprisonment,  and 
then  he  would  freely  answer  them  all,  so  as  to  stand  by  it, 
and  suffer  if  he  did  amiss,  but  he  would  trouble  himself 
with  no  more  articles  while  he  remained  in  prison,  since 
he  desired  not  to  be  delivered  out  of  his  troubles  in  the 
way  of  mercy,  but  of  justice. 

"  After  that  he  was  brought  before  the  Council,  and 
the  Lords  told  him,  that  they  sat  by  a  special  commission 
to  judge  him,  and  so  required  him  to  subscribe  the  articles 
that  had  been  sent  him.  He  prayed  them  earnestly  to 
put  him  to  a  trial  for  the  grounds  of  his  imprisonment, 
and  when  that  was  over,  he  would  clearly  answer  them  in 
all  other  things  :  but  he  did  not  think  he  could  subscribe 
all  the  articles  after  one  sort,  some  of  them  being  about 
laws  already  made,  which  he  could  not  qualify ;  others  of 
them  being  matters  of  learning,  in  which  he  might 
use  more  freedom :  in  conclusion,  he  desired  leave  to 
take  them  with  him,  and  he  would  consider  how  to 
answer  them.  But  they  required  him  to  subscribe  them 
all,  without  any  qualification  ;  which  he  refused  to  do. 
Upon  this,  the  fruits  of  his  Bishopric  were  sequestered, 
and  he  was  required  to  conform  himself  to  their  orders 
within  three  months,  upon  pain  of  deprivation  ;  and  the 
liberty  he  had  of  walking  in  some  open  galleries,  when 
the  Duke  of  Norfolk  was  not  in  them,  was  taken  from 
him,  and  he  was  again  shut  up  in  his  chamber. 

"  All  this  was  much  censured,  as  being  contrary  to  the 
liberties  of  Englishmen,  and  the  forms  of  all  legal  pro- 
ceedings. It  was  thought  very  hard  to  put  a  man  in 
prison  upon  a  complaint  against  him,  and  without  any 
further  enquiry  into  it,  after  two  years  durance,  to  put 
articles  to  him.  And  they  which  spoke  freely,  said,  it 
savoured  too  much  of  the  Inquisition.  But  the  Canon  Law 
not  being  rectified,  and  the  King  being  in  the  Pope's  room, 
there  were  some  things  gathered  from  the  Canon  Law, 


480  GARDINER. 

and  the  way  of  proceeding  ex  officio,  which  ratlier  excused, 
than  justified  this  hard  measure  he  met  with."  The 
sequel  of  this  business  shall  be  related  in  its  proper 
place. 

When  the  three  months  were   fully   expired,    and  the 
Bishop  remained  in  the   same    sentiments,   a   resolution 
was  taken  to  proceed  judicially  against  him,  in  order  to 
deprive  him  of  the   See  of  Winchester,    and  what  other 
preferments  he  had   under   the   authority   of  the   King's 
commission,  in  which  the  Archbishop  presided.      These 
Commissioners  began  their  proceedings  December  15, 
and  ended  them  February  14,  following,*  having  had  in 
all  22  sessions,  when  the  grand  affair  was  finished,  and 
the  Bishop  deprived  for  irreverence  to  the  King's  author- 
ity ;  though  but  a  few  months  before  they  had  condemned 
the  abuse  of  that  authority,  by  those  in  whose  hands    it 
then  was.     It  was  added,  that  he  was   disobedient  to  the 
King's  orders   and    instructions  in  ecclesiastical  affairs ; 
tho'  he  twice  subscribed  his  approbation  to  all   that  was 
already  done,  and  promised  never  to  disclose  any  future 
scruples  he  might  have  but  to  the  Privy  Council.       As  a 
further  aggravation  of  his  offences,  it  was  suggested  that 
he  refused  to  confess  his  faults,  and  submit  hunself  to  the 
King's  mercy ;  tho'  he  alleged  first  his  innocence,  which 
entitled  him  to  receive  from  the  King's  justice  what  it  was 
supposed  he  ought  to  accept  as  his  mercy  ;    and  next, 
that  he  was  not  sure  of  this  mercy  if  inclined  to  submit, 
but  had  reason  to  fear  this  confession  might    be  made  a 
ground  for  conviction,  M'here  he  knew  there  was  a  defect 
of  evidence.     He  complained  that  those  who  committed 
him  were  to  be  his  judges,   and  consequently  their  own; 
that  he  was  charged  for  disobedience  to   some   of  them, 
who  in  this  case  M'ere  prosecutors  as  well   as  parties   and 
judges  ;  and  that  the  whole  was  the  contrivance   of  men 
who  had  been  long  his  enemies,  and  who,  after  failing  in 
many  schemes,  hoped  to  prevail  in  this,  to  his  destruction. t 
A  particular  detail  of  this   matter  would  detain   us    too 
long,  but  some  curious  points,  supported  by  unquestion- 
able evidence,  shall  be  stated. 

It  is  very  propable,   that  having  once  determined   to 


*  Memorials  of  Archbishop  Craumer,  p.  223-24-25. 
t  See  the  Proceedings  in  his  rase. 


GARDINER.  481 

deprived  him  of  all  his  preferments  for  his  contempt,  they 
began  to  consider  what  that  contempt  was,*  and  framed 
an  order  about  it,  expressed  in  such  terms  as  they  judged 
convenient,  which  was  to  pass  for  the  order  upon  which 
he  was  committed,  and  be  made  the  foundation  of 
their  subsequent  proceedings.  This  is  indeed  a  very 
strange  fact,  and  to  which  no  credit  could  be  given,  if 
it  was  not  reported  by  Bishop  Burnet,  from  the  council 
book,  where  he  discovered  it  by  the  orders  being  signed 
*  Bedford,'  amongst  other  counsellors ;  but  that  noble  peer 
recollecting  that  he  had  not  his  title  at  the  time  the  order 
was  dated,  struck  it  out  again,  and  subscribed  J.  Russel; 
we  have  from  the  same  writer,  a  short  but  very  satisfactory 
account  of  the  proceedings  in  that  great  cause,  upon 
which,  though  Collier  makes  some  remarks,  yet  he  does 
not  treat  the  point  so  fairly  or  so  fully  as  Bishop  Burnet, 
whose  words  are  these.  **  There  was  a  commission 
issued  out  (Hht.  Ref.  II.  p.  l65,)  to  the  Arch- 
bishop, the  Bishops  of  London,  Ely,  and  Lincoln,  Secretary 
Petre,  Judge  Hales,  Griffith  and  Leyson,  two  Civilians, 
and  Goodrick  and  Gosnold,  two  Masters  of  Chancery, 
to  proceed  against  Gardiner  for  his  contempt  in  the  mat- 
ters formerly  objected  to  him.  He  put  in  a  compurgation, 
by  which  he  endeavoured  to  shew  there  was  malice  borne 
to  him,  and  conspiracies  against  him,  as  appeared  by  the 
business  of  Sir  Henry  Knevet,  mentioned  in  the  former 
part,  and  the  leaving  him  out  of  the  late  King's  will, 
which  he  said  was  procured  by  his  enemies.  He  com- 
plained of  his  long  imprisonment  without  any  trial,  and 
that  articles  of  one  sort  after  another  were  brought  to  him, 
so  that  it  was  plain  he  was  not  detained  for  any  crime, 
but  to  try  if  such  usage  could  force  him  to  do  any  thing 
that  should  be  imposed  on  him.  He  declared  that  what 
order  soever  were  set  out  by  the  King's  council,  he  should 
never  speak  against  it,  but  to  the  council  themselves  ; 
and  that  though  he  could  not  give  consent  to  the  changes 
before  they  were  made,  he  was  now  well  satisfied  to  obey 
them,  but  he  would  never  make  any  acknowledgment  of 
any  fault.  The  things  chiefly  laid  against  him  were,  that, 
being  required,  he  refused  to  preach  concerning  the  King's 
power  when  he  was  under  age  ;  and  that  he  had  affionted 


*   Something  like  Rhadaiuanthus's    mode  : — "  Castigatque  auditquB 
dolos."    They  deprived  him  first,  and  made  enquiry  afterwards.—Epir, 

U 


482  GARDINER. 

preachers  sent  by  the  King  into  his  diocese,  and  had  been 
negligent  in  obeying  the  King's  injunctions,  and  continued 
after  all  so  obstinate,  that  he  would  not  confess  his  fault, 
noi  ask  the  King  mercy.  His  crimes  were  aggravated 
by  this  ;  that  his  timely  asserting  the  King's  power  under 
age,  might  have  been  a  great  means  for  preventing  the 
rebellion  and  effusion  of  blood  which  had  afterwards 
happened  chiefly  on  that  pretence,  to  which  his  obstinacy 
had  given  no  small  occasion.  Upon  this,  many  witnesses 
were  exammed,  chiefly  the  Duke  of  Somerset,  the  Earls 
of  Wiltshire  and  Bedford,  who  deposed  against  him.  But 
to  this  he  answered,  that  he  was  not  required  to  do  it  by 
any  order  of  council,  but  only  in  a  private  discourse,  to 
which  he  did  not  think  himself  bound  to  give  obedience. 
Other  witnesses  were  also  examined  on  the  other  particu- 
lars ;  but  he  appealed  from  the  delegates  to  the  King  in 
person.  Yet  his  judges  on  the  ^eighteenth  of  April,  gave 
sentence  against  him  ;  by  which,  for  his  disobedience  and 
contempt,  they  deprived  him  of  his  Bishopric." 

It  is  to  be  observed,  that  Gardiner  always  insisted,  that 
these  proceedings  in  the  King's  minority,  would  produce 
such  disturbances,  that  the  King's  supremacy  had  been 
sworn  to,  but  that  the  council's  supremacy  was  a  new 
point,  and  this  it  was  which  he  declined  preaching  to  the 
people.  But  it  was  not  deprivation  alone  that  would 
content  Gardiner's  enemies,  more  especially  since  by  his 
protestation  he  shewed  plainly  that  he  did  not  despair  of 
having  this  matter  reviewed,  and  therefore  they  went 
farther,  as  Strype  tells  us,t  and  on  the  next  day  the 
council  made  the  following  order,  which  he  transcribed 
from  the  book.  "  For  as  much  as  it  appeared  he  had  at 
all  times  before  the  judges  of  his  cause,  used  himself 
unreverently  to  the  King's  majesty,  and  slanderfully  to- 
wards his  council,  and  especially  yesterday,  being  the 
day  of  his  judgment  given  against  him,  he  called  his 
judges  heretics  and  sacramentaries,  they  being  there  the 
King's  commissioners,  and  of  his  highness's  council ;  it 
was  therefore  ordered  by  the  whole  board,  that  he  should 
be  removed  from  the  lodging  he  hath  now  in  the  tower, 
to  a  meaner  lodging,  and  none  to  wait  upon  him  but  one 
by  the  lieutenant's   appointment,   in  such  sort,  as  by  the 


*  It  should  be  the  14th  of  Feb.       t  Memorials  of  Archb.  Cranmer,  p.  225. 


GARDINER.  483 

resort  of  any  man  to  him,  he  have  not  the  liberty  to  send 
out  to  any  man,  or  to  hear  from  any  man.  And  likewise 
that  his  books  and  papers  be  taken  from  him  and  seen  ; 
and  that  from  henceforth,  he  have  neither  pen,  ink,  nor 
paper,  to  write  his  detestable  purposes,  but  be  sequestred 
from  all  conferences,  and  from  all  means  that  may  serve 
him  to  practise  any  way."  But  in  process  of  time,  very 
probably  the  rigour  of  this  order  might  be  dispensed  with. 

Jt  is  no  wonder  that  the  Romanists  dwell  so  much  on 
these  proceedings,  or  that  they  are  so  slightly  passed  over 
by  some  of  our  own  historians,  because  they  are  apparently 
indefensible  upon  any  constitutional  principles,  and  can 
only  be  excused  in  the  lump,  by  alleging  that  all  was 
done  to  gratify  a  party ;  lay  open  the  rich  Bishopric  of 
Winchester  to  be  cantoned  amongst  Clergy  and  Laity,  so 
that  Dr.  Poynet  had  only  the  title  and  2000  marks  a  year, 
instead  of  being  possessed  of  the  temporalties  as  his 
predecessors  held  them  ;  and  to  keep  an  old  man  fast  in 
prison,  whom  they  knew  not  how  to  manage,  out.  For  this, 
if  considered  in  any  other  light,  was  by  no  means  recon- 
ciliable  to  law  of  any  kind,  much  less  to  any  notions  of 
liberty  ;  since  in  effect  it  was  delivering  up  both  Church 
and  State  into  the  hands  of  a  few  ambitious  and  avaricious 
men,*  who,  when  they  had  trampled  on  others,  fell  out 
amongst  themselves  about  the  spoil,  and,  by  the  natural 
consequences  of  tb.eir  irregular  administration,  made  way 
for  their  own  destruction  in  the  issue  ;  as  at  the  very  time 
it  revived  the  cause  of  Popery,  and  the  hopes  of  Papists. 

This,  though  a  matter  little  regarded  by  modern  waiters, 
is  in  reality  a  thing  of  great  consequence,  in  respect  to  the 
history  of  those  times.  Contemporary  writers  on  both 
sides  agree,  that  these  proceedings  of  King  Edward's 
ministers  had  this  effect,  and  that  those  who  were  bigotted 
papists  shewed  their  joy  and  satisfaction  at  these  prose- 
cutions. They  drove  some  of  the  ablest  and  greatest 
men  out  of  the  Church,  as  Gardiner,  Tonstall,  and  Day, 
who  had  shewn  themselves  very  well  affected  to  some  of 
the  principal  points  of  the  Reformation;  and  who,  if  they 
had  gone  on  complying,  as  they  would  have  done,  would 
in  time  have  both  strengthened  themselves  and  drawn  in 
others. -f-     Gardiner  particularly  had  declared  himself  on 

*  Sir  John  Hayward's  Hist,  of  Edward  VI. 
t  This  was  once  Archbishop  Cranmer's  opinion. 

li  2 


484  GARDINER. 

the  point  of  supremacy  very  fully;  which  they  took  the 
most  effectual  method  to  make  him  repent;  he  had  ac- 
knowledged, that  though  men  were  married,  they  might 
continue  priests,  though,  for  prudential  reasons,  he  thojight 
that  the  marriages  of  clergymen  should  be  discouraged, 
that  they  might  live  the  better,  and  exercise  greater  hos- 
pitality out  of  their  revenues.  He  was  a  strenuous  advocate 
for  the  real  presence  in  the  sacrament,  yet  disclaimed 
transubstantiation,  and  was  for  the  communion  in  both 
kinds.  He  wrote  against  treating  images  irreverently, 
but  justified  the  taking  them  away  upon  due  proof  of 
their  being  abused,  in  reference  to  Justification,  he 
declared  himself  clearly  on  his  death-bed,  but  professed 
'S^  it  ought  to  be  taught  with  cnu/ion  to  the  people,  to 
prevent  their  falling  into  fanaticism,  and  running  away 
with  a  notion,  that  if  they  believed  in  Christ  they  might  be 
saved,  though  they  did  not  live  like  christians.  Sir  John 
Harrington*  therefore  had  reason  to  say,  that  he  was  a 
Catholic  Protestant,  or  a  protesting  Catholic,  that  is,  he 
had  given  such  proofs  of  his  willingness  to  adhere  unto 
and  proceed  in  the  Reformation,  that  if  he  had  not  been 
treated  as  he  was,  he  might  have  been  highly  serviceable ; 
whereas,  by  these  severe,  and  in  some  respects,  irregular 
proceedings.  King  Edward's  ministers  actually  provided 
instruments  for  Queen  Mary,  who  otherwise  might  have 
found  none,  and  furnished  a  colourable  pretence  for  what 
was  afterwards  done  against  themselves. 

Another  injury  that  the  Protestant  religion  received 
was  in  the  spoiling  the  Bishoprics,  which  were  thus  rendered 
vacant,  which  was  either  done  under  colour  of  the  King's 
autliority,  or  by  the  persons  who  accepted  them ;  and  this 
countenanced  the  clamours  of  the  Papists,  that  all  was 
done  out  of  temporal  views,  and  that  men  pretended  a 
quarrel  to  the  doctrines,  that  they  might  get  at  the  lands 
of  the  Church.f  If  there  had  been  no  cause  given  for 
these  complaints,  if  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  had  been 
encouraged  to  proceed  as  he  did  immediately  after  he 
came  out  of  the  Fleet,  in  officiating  as  the  law  directed,j: 


*  Brief  View  of  the  State  of  the  Church  of  England,  p.  43. 

t  It  is  hardly  pos^sible  to  help  noticing  the  existence  of  a  similar  feeling 
in  these  our  days,  on  the  part  of  Catholics  and  Dissenters  :  and  which  is, 
probably,  the  true  source  of  their  discontent. — Edit. 

i  Strype's  Memorials,  vol.  Ill,  p.  71. 


Gi\RDINER.  485 

and  preaching  the  King's  authority  to  remove  what  was 
amiss  in  the  ceremonies  and  discipline  of  the  Church, 
and  the  great  men  had  shewn  themselves  as  zealous  Pro- 
testants in  their  lives,  as  they  were  in  their  professions, 
without  carving  for  themselves  estates  out  of  what  belonged 
to  the  Bishops'  Sees,  which  had  not  been  done  in  the 
time  of  Henry  VIII.,  and  which  it  was  both  unwise  and 
unsafe  to  do  in  the  time  of  a  minority,  all  the  troubles  the 
nation  suffered  might  have  been  avoided;  the  young 
King's  uncles,  and  perhaps  the  young  King  himself, 
might  have  lived  much  longer;  the  unjust  attempt  to 
alter  the  succession,  the  consequences  of  w  hich  were  so 
fatal  to  many  noble  and  not  a  few  innocent  persons,  would 
never  have  been  thought  necessary  ;*  and  the  Reformation 
would  have  been  so  effectually  established,  that  even  the 
ecclesiastics  would  have  been  against  alterations. 

Bishop  Gardiner  himself  very  prudently  laid  the  weight 
of  the  whole  on  the  delegates  who  deprived  him,  and,  by 
protesting  and  appealing  to  the  King,  shewed  plainly 
that  all  the  hopes  of  redress  he  had,  lay  in  the  crown,  and 
must  spring  from  the  exercise  of  that  supremacy  to  which 
they  represented  him  as  an  enemy.  He  could  not,  how- 
ever, avoid  seeing,  as  he  was  a  consummate  statesman, 
that  the  politicians  made  tools  in  this  transaction  of  the 
Prelates,  and  were  making  large  steps  towards  such  a 
depression  of  the  Church,  as  would  make  it  entirely 
dependant  on  the  crown  and  its  ministers,  with  such  a 
shew  of  its  ancient  privileges  as  might  enable  those  who 
commanded  it  to  have  an  uncontrolable  power  over  the 
legislature, which, how  plausibly  soever  it  maybe  defended 
by  such  as  have  an  interest  in  it  at  the  time,  will  be  ever 
esteemed  a  dangerous  thing  by  intelligent  and  impartial 
persons.  Our  ecclesiastical  historians  have  been  most  of 
them  aware  of  this,-f  but  unwilling  to  own  it,  because  they 
were  afraid  it  might  reflect  on  some  of  the  great  men 
amongst  our  tirst  Reformers  ;  whereas  in  truth  nothing 
can  do  them  so  much  service  as  setting  this  fact  right,  and 
shewing  they  were  outwitted  by  persons  who  pretended 
zeal  for  the  Reformation,  and  yet  had  no  religion,  or 
were  Papists  in  their  hearts.     It  is  no  wonder  that  they 


*  See  Hayward,  Godwin,  andHeylin's  Accounts  of  this  reign. 
t  Fuller,  Heyiin,  Burnet,  Strype,  Collier, 


486  GARDINER. 

Avere  not  politicians,  much  less  is  it  criminal ;  on  the 
contrary,  their  simplicity,  in  this  respect,  is  their  true  and 
best  excuse.  All  the  blame  that  can  be  justly  laid  upon 
them  is,  that  they  ever  suffered  themselves  to  be  drawn 
into  schemes,  tlie  botton  of  which  they  could  not  under- 
stand, or  foresee  the  consequences.* 

There  is  not  any  period  in  the  English  history,  where 
one  who  searches  for  truth,  finds  himseif  more  at  a  loss 
which  road  to  take,  than  in  the  short  reign  of  Edward 
VI.;  and  the  reason  is,  because  most  of  our  historians 
have  written  systematically,  and  have  laboured  to  reduce 
all  the  characters  they  met  with,  into  such  forms  as  might 
make  them  best  suit  with  their  respective  plans.  In  some 
we  find  the  Protector,  Somerset,  represented  as  one  of 
the  wisest,  best,  and  mildest  governors  this  nation  ever 
had,t  and  brought  to  an  untimely  end  by  the  artifices  of 
John  Dudley,  Duke  of  Northumberland,  who  is  made 
one  of  the  greatest  monsters  that  ever  lived.  In  others, 
that  Duke  is  represented  as  a  weak  man,  whom  Dudley 
governed  until  he  had  made  do  so  many  exorbitant  and 
unpopular  things,  as  shewed  him  unfit  to  be  trusted  longer 
with  the  administration,  and  then  took  the  government 
upon  himself.]:  The  truth  of  this  matter  is,  they  were 
both  ambitious  men,  and  both  laboured  to  support  their 
power  by  gratifying  their  dependants. 

All  the  remaining  part  of  this  reign  Bishop  Gardiner 
remained  in  the  same  state,  that  is,  a  close  prisoner  in  the 
tower,  and  yet  not  so  strictly  kept,  at  least  all  the  latter 
part  of  the  tmie, as  the  order  of  council  seemed  to  require; 
for  certain  it  is,  that,  in  this  space,  he  not  only  wrote 
many  controversial  pieces,  but  also  composed  a  variety 
of  Latin  poems,  and  translated  into  verse  several  beautiful 
passages  in  the  books  of  Ecclesiastes,  Wisdom,  Job,  and 
other  poetical  parts  of  the  Old  Testament. §  He  also 
kept  up  his  spirits  all  that  time,  and  was  wont  to  say  very 
confidently,  as  either  believing  it  or  desiring  to  be  thought 
to  believe  it,  that  he  should  live  to  see  another  turn,  and 
another  court  in  which  he  should  be  as  great  as  ever.^I 
On  the  death  of  King  Edward  no  doubt  he  foresaw  that 


*  Remarks  on  the  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  p.  31. 

t  "^ee  Holinshed,  Burnet,  Strype.  t  See  Hayward's  Edward  VI. 

§  Tanner's  Biblioth.  Britanico-Hibeniica,  p.  309.        ^  Lloyd's  Worthies. 


GARDINER.  487 

turn  was  near,  notwithstanding  tlie  new  court  set  up  in 
his  neighbourhood  for  that  unfortunate  lady,  Queen  Jane. 
July  19,  1553,  Queen  Mary  was  publicly  proclaimed  by 
that  very  council  whidi  the  day  before  owned  the  right  of 
her  competitor,  and  gave  her  the  coarse  and  injurious 
title  of  bastard  of  Henry  VIII. *  On  August  3rd,  the 
Queen  made  her  solemn  entry  into  the  tower,  when  Bishop 
Gardiner,  in  the  name  of  himself  and  his  fellow  prisoners, 
the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  the  Duchess  of  Somerset,  the  Lord 
Courteney,  and  others  of  high  rank,  made  a  congratulatory 
speech  to  her  majesty,  who  gave  them  all  their  liberties.-f 
On  the  8th  of  the  same  month  he  performed,  in  the 
Queen's  presence, the  obsequies  for  the  late  King  Edward, 
whose  body  was  buried  at  Westminster,  with  the  English 
service,  by  Archbishop  Cranmer,  the  funeral  sermon  being 
preached  by  Bishop  Day.  j:  On  the  Qth,  Bishop  Gardiner 
went  to  Winchester-house,  in  Southwark,  after  a  confine- 
ment of  somewhat  more  than  five  years. §  On  the  23rd 
he  was  declared  Chancellor  of  England,  though  his  patent 
did  not  pass  until  Sept.  Sl.^f  On  October  5th,  he  had 
the  honour  of  crowning  the  Queen, ||  and  on  the  5th  of 
the  same  month  he  opened  the  first  Parliament  in  her 
reign.**  By  this  time  he  was  in  possession  again  of  his 
academical  honours ;  for  as  at  the  beginning  of  his  mis- 
fortunes the  University  of  Cambridge  elected  in  his 
place  the  Duke  of  Somerset,  and  on  his  fall  the  Duke 
of  Northumberland  ;  so  when  he  fell  they  re-chose  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester  for  their  Chancellor,  and  restored 
him  also  to  his  headship  of  Trinity-Hall,  then  possessed 
by  Dr.  Mowse.-f-f  At  this  juncture,  the  Bishop  of  Win- 
chester, either  through  the  Queen's  esteem  for,  and 
confidence  in,  him  ;  or,  as  some  suggest,  though  with- 
out any  great  evidence,  through  the  recommendation  of 
Charles  V.,  was  possessed  of  a  larger  compass  of  civil 
and  ecclesiastical  power,  than  any  English  minister  ever 
enjoyed,  except  Cardinal  Wolsey ;  and  in  his  management 
of  this,   in  all  its  various  branches,  though  taken  from  so 


•  Godwin's  Annals,  1553.    t  Stowe's  Annals,  p.  613.    t  Holinshed,  p.  1089. 

$  Strype's  Memorials,  Vol.  III.  p.  20.  ^  Pat.  I.  Mar.  p.  8. 

II  Cooper's  Chronicle,  part  iii.  p.  361.  **  Godwin's  Annals. 

tt  Fuller's  History  of  Cambridge,  p.  132. 


488  GARDINER. 

long  an  imprisonment,  and  labouring  under  the  weight 
of  so  great  an  age  as  seventy,  his  bitterest  enemies  must 
allow  he  gave  indubitable  marks  of  superior  talents.* 
If  contriving  to  accomplish,  and  that  in  a  short 
time,  things  so  great  and  difficult  as  to  surpass  all  men's 
expectations,  be,  as  the  world  seems  agreed  they  are, 
sure  signs  of  superior  talents ;  it  may  perhaps  be 
truly  said,  that  Gardiner  was  the  wisest  and  most 
fortunate,  as  Cecil  was  the  worthiest  and  most  steady, 
of  English  ministers.  The  greater  part  of  Queen 
Mary's  reign  was  full  of  uneasiness  and  misfortunes, 
but  neither  began  until  after  the  death  of  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester,  whose  administration  was  a  perfect  triumph, 
which  must  not  be  understood  over  his  enemies,  for  that 
would  be  false  as  well  as  fulsome  flattery,  but  over  all 
the  obstacles  he  met  with,  and  never  minister  met  with 
greater.  August  the  3rd,  1553,  he  was  discharged  from 
his  imprisomnent,  and  took  his  seat  in  the  Queen's 
council,  where  he  was  Prime-Minister  from  the  time  he 
entered  it,  though  he  was  not  declared  Chancellor  until 
about  three  weeks  after,  and  had  not  his  patent  until  the 
time  before-mentioned.  He  w  as  a  man  of  such  compre- 
hensive parts,  that  every  thing  was  present  to  him;  and, 
which  is  still  more  extraordinary,  whatever  he  did,  was  so 
done,  that  it  looked  as  if  he  attended  to  nothing  else. 

He  saw  the  kingdom  in  great  confusion,  and  the  Queen 
surrounded  by  an  army,  but  he  loved  not  standing  forces, 
and  besides  her  coffers  would  not  afford  it :  he  disbanded 
them  therefore,  and  provided  for  the  Queen's  security 
by  paper.  He  penned  first  a  proclamation  for  quieting 
people's  minds  in  respect  to  the  disputes  in  Church  and 
State,  forbidding  the  abusive  words  Papist  and  Heretic, 
speaking  fair  to  both  parties,  and  prohibiting  any  rash 
acts  of  loyalty,  by  injuring  those  who  had  been  concerned 
in  supporting  Queen  Jane.  To  prevent  despair,  and  to 
give  a  high  idea  of  the  Queen's  clemency,  a  pardon  was 
granted  to  the  Duke  of  Suffolk,  who  had  persuaded  his 
daughter  to  take  the  title  of  Queen,  after  he  had  been 
four  days  in  the  tower.  The  Bishop  of  Winchester  had 
a  conference  also  with  the  Duke  of  Northumberland, who 
it  is  said  told  him,  he  was  desirous  of  living,  if  it  were  in 


*  Remarks  on  the  History  of  the  ReformatiOD,  p.  39. 


GARDINER.  489 

a  mouse-hole  ;  to  which  the  Bishop  replied,  that  instead 
of  a  mouse-hole,  he  would  be  glad  to  spare  him  one  of 
his  palaces,  but  that  he  would  do  well  to  prepare  for  the 
worst ;  it  is  reported  that  he  interceded  for  him  to  the 
Queen,  but  she  was  not  inclined  to  spare  him,  and  indeed 
it  could  not  be  expected.* 

The  Queen  is  said,  by  most  of  our  historians,  to  have 
recommended  three  great  points  to  the  Bishop  of  Win- 
chester's care,  with  equal  concern,  all  of  which  were 
attended  with  almost  equal  difficulties ;  the  first  was,  the 
clearing  the  legitimacy  of  her  birth,  and  annulling  the 
divorce  of  her  mother ;  though  this  was  apparently  bas- 
tardizing her  sister,  and  presumptive  successor.  The 
next  was,  restoring  the  old  religion,  and  reconciling  the 
nation  to  Rome,  in  the  same  manner  as  before  her  father's 
desertion.  The  third  was,  obtaining  the  consent  of 
Parliament  to  her  marriage  with  Prince  Philip  :  which 
was  so  unpopular,  that  the  former  House  of  Commons 
prepared  an  address  to  the  Queen  not  to  marry  a  foreigner.-f" 
Amongst  all  the  secret  and  open  obstacles,  which  were 
not  a  few,  that  our  Minister  had  to  overcome  in  the  pro- 
secution of  these  measures,  none  probably  gave  hin>more 
trouble  than  getting  over  his  own  dislike  to  every  one  of 
them.  The  procuring  the  divorce  was  the  first  service 
he  rendered  the  father;  and  now  reversing  this  divorce, 
and  branding  all  who  had  been  concerned  in  it,  was  the 
first  service  required  by  the  daughter.  He  had  also 
assisted,  promoted,  and  defended,  the  King's  supremacy, 
which  made  way  for  all  that  followed,  as  much  or  more 
than  any  in  the  kingdom,  and  had  the  reputation  also  of 
penning  what  was  published  in  defence  of  that  prince's 
marriage  with  Anne  Bulleine,  and  all  that  happened 
thereupon,  which  was  now  to  be  condemned  as  null  and 
illegal.  Besides,  so  far  as  we  are  guided  by  unquestiona- 
ble authorities,  this  seems  to  have  been  going  greater  lengths 
than  he  intended;  for  hitherto  he  had  not  entered  into 
correspondence  with  the  Pope,  or  done  any  thing  ia 
ecclesiastical  affairs  but  in  virtue  of  the  Queen's  supre- 
macy, an  authority  more  agreeable  to  his  system  of  divinity 
than  that  of  the  Roman  Pontiff;    but  in  that  particular 


*  Burnet,  Strype,  Echard,  Father  Persons's  Waru-word,  p.  43. 
t  See  Strype  and  Burnet. 


490  GARDINER. 

the  Queen  was  inflexible,  and  her  passion  as  strong  to 
relinquish  this  title  to  the  Pope,  as  her  father's  ambition 
was  to  take  it  from  him.*     The  Spanish  match  crossed 
the  mind  of  Winchester,  as  much  as  it  did  that  of  the 
nation  ;  he  foresaw  that  many  troubles  would  follow  from 
it,  and  that  the  Queen  would  enjoy  none  of  that  felicity 
with  which  she  flattered  herself  in  the  prospect.     But  he 
well  knew  what  a  temper  she  inherited  from  her  parents, 
and  that  she  would  tind  ministers  enough  to  carry  into 
execution  all  that  she  proposed ;  he  knew  of  how  great 
importance  this  was  to  the  kingdom,  and  that  the  manner 
of  doing  these  things  was  almost  as  material  as  the  points 
themselves,  since,  if  any  means  could  be  found  to  mitigate 
their  malignity,  it  must  be  by  a  proper  regulation  of  the 
conditions  attending   them.-^|-      Upon    this    consideration 
therefore,  joined  to  a  sense  of  his  own  danger  from  what 
was  passed  if  a  new  revolution  happened,  he  resolved  to 
remain  where  he  was,  and   employ  his  utmost  skill   to 
render  the  measures  of  Queen  Mary's  reign  as  beneficial 
to  herself,  and  as  little  burthensome  to  her  people,  as  in 
their  nature  they  could  be  ;    though  it  is  certain  he  was 
not  able  to  prevent  all  the  evil,   or  do  all  the  good,  he 
could   wish.;[:      The    Convocation    being   assembled,  he 
procured  such  questions  to  be  moved  there,  as  he  judged 
conducive  to  the  change  he  proposed  to  make ;  yet  went 
no  farther  than  declaring  the  Real  Presence  in  the  Sacra- 
ment, which  made  way  for  reviving  the  old  service  on  the 
^Ist  of  December.^     In  Parliament  he  went  the  same 
pace,  repealing,  by  a  single  law,  nine  acts  passed  in  the 
reign  of  King  Edward,  all  respecting  religion  ;   by  which 
those  who  were  of  that  religion,   countenanced  by  Henry 
VIII.,  became  as  safe  as  they  could  wish,  and  even  the 
grossest  Papists  were  out  of  danger,  yet  not  restored  to 
power.^     The  Queen's  legitimacy  was  established,  the 
divorce  declared    null    and   void,   the  whole  fault  being 
thrown  upon  Archbishop  Cranmer,  against  all  truth  and 
justice,  since  Gardiner  had  to  the  full  as  great  a  share 
therein  as  he,  though  now  Chancellor  of  England  and 
Prime-Minister,   while  the  other  was  attainted  of  high- 
treason,  by  a  bill  passed  this  sessions ;  but  to  make  that 

*  Fox,  Fuller,  Heyliii.     t  Collier,  Strype,  Buruet.     t  Sanders,  Persons. 

§  Journal  of  the  Convocation. 

f  Remarks  on  the  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  p.  47. 


GARDlxVER.  491 

venerable  Prelate  some  amends,  upon  an  humble  letter 
acknowledging  his  fault  in  the  business  of  Queen  Jane, 
he   received  a   pardon.*       These  extraordinary  changes 
were  wrought  rather  by  address  and  fair  speeches,  than 
by  violence  or  corruption,  though  some  of  our  writers  say 
the  contrary.     As  to  force,   the   Queen,   a  few  guards 
excepted,   had  none ;    and  her  case  as  to  money  was  the 
same,    though  the   Bishop  of  Winchester  was   a  frugal 
Minister.-^f-     But  what  seems  to  put  corruption  out  of  the 
question  in  this  Parliament  is,  that,  after  all,  the  members 
could  not  be  brought  to  relish  the  Queen's  marriage  to 
Don  Philip,  and  therefore,  the   Chancellor  advised  the 
dissolving  this  assembly  before  the  close  of  the  year.  And 
thus  two  of  the  tluee   great  points  were   accoinplished. 
But  much    greater   difficulties  were   to   be    surmounted 
before  the  third  could  be  brought  to  bear.     The  marriage 
treaty  was  left  entirely  in  the  hands  of  Bishop  Gardiner, 
and  it  is  allowed  he  managed  it  very  dexterously.     He 
made  use  of  the  great  reluctance  shewn  by  the  last  Par- 
liament,  to   procure  such   articles   as   might  secure   the 
nation  against  the  ambition  of  Philip  and  his  Spaniards  ; 
and   foreseeing  expeuces  might  follow  upon  this  match, 
notwithstanding  the  hard  bargain  he  had  made,  he  pro- 
cured, as  is  said,  half  a  million  sterling  from  the  Emperor, 
to  facilitate  the  approbation  of  a  new  Parliament.     But 
while  these  preparations  employed  those  in  the  cabinet, 
such  as  abhorred  this  match  were  contriving  very  formi- 
dable  measures    for   its    disappointment.       Sir   Thomas 
Wiat  of  Kent,  and  Sir   Peter  Carew  of  Cornwall,   laid 
the  plan  of  a  deep  and  dangerous  insurrection,  in  which 
the  unfortunate  Duke  of  Suffolk  had  just  share  enough 
to  bring  his  own  head,  and,  which  was  much  more  to  be 
regretted,  the  heads  of  Lady  Jane  and  her  husband.  Lord 
Guilford   Dudley,    to   the   block.      The  whole   scheme 
miscarried  by  the  ill  management,  and,  to  say  the  truth,  the 
want  of  honesty  in  the  chiefs.  J     Sir  Peter  Carew  declared 
before  the  time  fixed,  and  was  easily  subdued  ;  this  forced 
out  Sir  Thomas  Wiat  before  he  was  ready.     Yet  he  was 
very  near  carrying  his  point,  and  might  have  carried  it  if 
he  had  used  less  artifice ;    but  he  carried  his  declarations 


*  Memorials  of  Archbishop  Cranmer.  t  Fuller,  Heylin,  Sti-ype. 

I  Burnet,  Collier,  Echard. 


492  GARDINER. 

of  duty  to  the  Queen  so  high,  that  those  who  were  lu 
the  first  digestion  of  his  enterprise  were  afraid  to  joni 
him;  so  that  at  length  his  forces  were  broken,  and  he 
surrendered.  Sir  George  Harper  betrayed  the  whole 
conspiracy,  and  explained  all  the  secret  correspondences 
on  which  those  who  embarked  in  it  had  depended.*  Sir 
Thomas  also  behaved  meanly,  and  talked  of  discoveries 
to  save  his  life.  When  he  found  that  was  impracticable, 
he  recanted,  and  denied  the  truth  of  what  he  had  said. 
But,  notwithstanding  this,  some  persons  of  the  highest 
rank  suffered  deeply,  either  by  his  perfidy  or  pusillanimity; 
and  it  is  one  of  the  heaviest  charges  against  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester,  that  he  gave  credit,  or  seemed  to  give  credit, 
to  these  informations.f 

AU  insurrections,  when  suppressed,  are  useful  to  those 
against  whom  they  are  raised,  more  especially  when 
managed  by  men  of  parts  and  dexterity.  None  knew 
better  how  to  procure  or  to  use  advantages,  than  Bishop 
Gardiner;  and  he  so  well  managed  men's  hopes  and 
fears,  with  every  other  help  he  had,  that  when  the  Queen's 
second  Parliament  met,  April  2nd,  1J54,  it  very  soon 
appeared  he  might  prevail  on  them  to  give  a  sanction  to 
his  measures,  whatever  they  were.  The  terms  of  the 
Queen's  marriage,  as  he  settled  them,  met  with  very 
little  opposition ;  and  as  for  making  severe  laws  against 
Heretics,  it  is  allowed  the  Bishop  had  no  other  trouble 
than  to  restrain  them,  which  in  several  instances  he  did. 
His  own  and  the  wiser  Bishops'  zeal,  not  flaming  near  so 
high  as  that  of  this  House  of  Commons. ;{:  In  the  whole 
of  his  conduct  through  this  Parliament,  over  which  he 
had  as  much  influence  as  Minister  ever  had,  there  was 
nothing  done  that  was  either  unworthy  of  his  station,  or 
mjurious  to  his  country ;  on  the  contrary,  foreseeing  that 
some  who  had  access  to  the  Queen  might  make  an  ill  use 
of  her  confidence,  and  engage  her,  by  plausible  promises, 
to  countenance  things  every  way  beneath  her,  and  dan- 
gerous to  her  subjects,  he  procured  this  to  be  put  out  of 
her  power,  by  a  short  law  drawn  by  his  direction. 

But  when  the  great  measures  aimed  at  were  once 
adjusted,  the  Chancellor  supposing  that  what  remained 


*  Stowe,  Holiushed,  Speed.  f  Buruet,  Collier,  Sfrype. 

t  Godwin,  Burnet,  Heylin. 


GARDINER.  493 

for  accomplishing  the  whole  of  the  Queen's  plan,  might 
be  compassed  more  effectually  after  the  marriage,  the 
Queen  on  the  5th  of  May  came  to  the  Parliament,  and, 
having  given  her  consent  to  fifteen  bills,  dissolved  that 
assembly.*  All  obstacles  to  the  maniage  being  now 
removed,  and  the  circumstances  of  the  house  of  Austria 
making  it  necessary  to  hasten  it.  King  Philip  put  to  sea, 
and  arrived  towards  the  close  of  July  at  Southampton, 
escorted  by  a  considerable  fleet,  which  however  was 
obliged  to  pay  homage  to  that  of  England  in  the  narrow 
seas  ;  such  was  the  temper  of  those  tmies,  and  the  vigour 
of  that  administration.f  He  proceeded  with  a  numerous 
train  of  nobility  from  Southampton  to  Winchester,  where 
he  was  received,  and  splendidly  entertained  by  the  Bishop; 
on  St.  James's  day,  the  tutelary  saint  of  Spain,  he  was  by 
that  Prelate  solenmly  married  to  the  Queen  in  the  ca- 
thedral, the  Emperor  Charles  V.  resigning  to  hmi  the 
kingdom  of  the  two  Sicilies,  and  many  nominal  sovereign- 
ties, upon  the  marriage. ;{:  In  his  way  lo  London  the  King 
took  Windsor,  where  he  was  installed  Knight  of  the 
Garter,  and  made  his  entry  into  this  capital  on  the  1  ]  th 
of  August,  1554,  with  prodigious  inaguiricence,  and,  like 
all  new  Princes,  with  universal  acclamations  §  The 
Chancellor  well  knowing  this  fair  weather  would  not 
continue  long,  resolved  to  avail  himself  of  it  while  it 
lasted,  and  therefore  called  a  new  Parliament  about  the 
middle  of  November  the  same  year.  A  very  little  after 
the  session  begun.  Cardinal  Pole  came  into  England,  not 
much  to  the  real  good  liking  either  of  the  King  or  Chan- 
cellor. But  the  Queen  being  set  upon  it,  and  the  new 
House  of  Commons  having  the  same  bigotted  spirit  with 
the  old  one,  a  solemn  deputation  was  sent  to  fetch  him 
over.  Lord  Paget  and  Sir  William  Cecil  being  two  of  the 
commissioners.  His  attainder,  in  the  reign  of  the  late 
King  Henry  VII I.  was  reversed  with  as  much  facility  as 
it  was  made,  and  with  much  the  same  consideration.^ 
To  prevent  his  falling  into  the  same  inconveniency  that 
Wolsey  had  done,  he  had  a  licence,  under  the  Queen's 
broad  seal,  to  execute  his  functions  as  the  Pope's  legate. 


» 


StnTje's  Memorials,  vol.  III.         t  Sir  William  Monsou's  Naval  Tracts, 
J  Codwin,  Stowe,  Speed,  §  Godwiu's  Aunals. 

^  Strype,  Fuller,  Burnet. 


494  GARDINER. 

When  these  advances  had  been  gradually  made,  a  sup- 
plication was  presented  from  both  Houses  to  the  King 
and  Queen,  that  the  nation  might  be  reconciled  to  the 
See  of  Rome ;  which  being  granted  ^o\.  30,  1554,  the 
request  of  both  Lords  and  Commons  was  signified  in  the 
presence  of  their  Majesties,  to  his  Holiness's  legate,  by 
the  Lord  High-Chancellor  the  Bishop  of  Winchester ; 
when  the  Cardinal,  after  a  long  oration,  solemnly  absolved 
them,  and  received  the  people  of  England  once  more  into 
the  bosom  of  the  Catholic  Church.*  By  these  gra- 
dations all  things  were  brought  back  to  their  old  situation; 
and  the  sanguinary  laws,  for  repressing  what  they  called 
heresy,  revived  and  carried  into  execution.  Thus  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester  paid  the  full  price  of  his  exaltation 
to  the  ministry,  and  obtained,  in  spite  of  all  difficulties,  all 
that  the  Queen  had  desired. t 

But  the  joy  ensuing  on  this  was  quickly  troubled  by  the 
bloody  persecution  set  on  foot  in  almost  all  parts  of  the 
kingdom,^  whether  by  the  advice,  and  with  the  entire 
concurrence,  of  the  Bishop  of  Winchester,  as  many  his- 
torians affirm,  it  is  but  just  should  be  largely  discussed. 
We  have  more  than  once  touched  this  matter  of  the  strong 
imputations  upon  this  Bishop,  for  his  cruelty  to  the  Pro- 
testants ;  indeed  in  most  of  our  histories,  his  character  is 
represented  as  very  odious  in  this  respect.  In  the  first 
place  we  shall  observe,  that  there  is  a  double  charge 
agauist  him,  that  he  was  the  author  of  the  doctrine  of 
persecution  in  Queen  Mary's  reign ;  and  next,  that  lie 
was  active  and  zealous  in  carrying  this  doctrine  into 
execution ;  with  respect  to  the  former  it  is  very  positively 
asserted,  that  when  Pole  advised  the  Queen  to  rely  upon 
fair  means  for  brinoing-  men  back  to  the  Romish  Church, 
to  reform  the  lives  of  the  Clergy,  and  to  take  other  steps 
of  the  same  mild  nature  ;  Bishop  Gardiner  opposed  this, 
and  prevailed  so  far,  as  to  bring  the  Queen  to  consent, 
that  the  weapons  of  the  law,  rather  than  the  arguments  of 
the  Gospel,  should  be  employed  to  reduce  Heretics  to 
the  Catholic  Church.  This  Bishop  Burnet  having 
transcribed  from  otliers,  adds,  that  this  advice  proceeded 
from  his  oivn  abject  and  servile  spirit.^ 


*  Burnet's  Hist,  of  the  Reformat.  Vol.  II.  t  Heylin,  Fuller,  Burnet. 

+  Fox's  Acts  and  Monuments.       §  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  vol.  II.  p.  2C9, 


GARDINER.  495 

With  respect  to  particulars,  he  is  charged  to  have 
condemned  Dr.  Robert  Farrar,  Bishop  of  St.  David's, 
who  was  burnt  with  great  cruelty  in  Wales  ;  the  like 
accusation  we  find  with  respect  to  Dr.  John  Hooper, 
Bishop  of  Gloucester,  with  this  aggravating  circumstance, 
that  it  proceeded  from  private  resentment  for  what 
Hooper  had  done  against  him  in  the  former  reign.  To 
him,  is  chiefly  ascribed  the  burning  Father  Latimer,  once 
Bishop  of  Worcester,  and  Dr.  Nicholas  Ridley,  Bishop 
of  London  ;  and  he  is  farther  said  to  have  been  a 
persecutor  of  Archbishop  Cranmer,  with  a  view  of  get- 
ting into  his  Archbishopric;  and  that  it  was  no  better 
motive  than  this,  which  afterwards  engaged  him  to  protect 
and  prolong  that  prelate's  life,  in  order  to  defeat  the 
views  and  expectations  of  Cardinal  Pole,  and  thereby  gain 
time  for  himself  to  equal  him  in  one,  to  deprive  him  of 
another,  and  to  supplant  him  in  a  thud  dignity,  by 
procuring  from  Pope  Paul  the  Fourth,  a  Cardmal's  hat 
with  the  Legantine  Power,  and  his  nomination  to  the  See 
of  Canterbury,  which  would  indeed  have  rendered  him 
not  equal  only,  but  superior  to  his  master  Wolsey. 
Besides  these,  there  are  many  lighter  imputations,  such 
as  his  driving  abroad  the  Duchess  of  Suffolk,  and  other 
Protestants  of  distinction,  by  his  menaces ;  and  his 
expressing  the  most  violent  resentment  agamst  the  exiles 
in  general,  though  he  well  knew  that  they  only  fled  to  be 
out  of  the  reach  of  his  severity. 

After  reporting  fairly  what  has  been  asserted,  in  order 
to  render  the  portrait  of  this  great  man  as  hideous  and 
deformed  as  it  is  possible,  we  are  obliged  in  justice  to 
consider  what  may  be  said  in  exteiuiation,  both  of  the 
general  and  particular  charges,  and  in  doing  this,  we 
shall  content  ourselves  with  appealing  to  the  common 
sense  and  candour  of  the  intelligent  and  attentive  reader, 
and  the  authorities  of  Protestant  writers ;  for  as  to  the 
Papists,  they  exceed  as  much  on  the  other  hand,  and 
bestow  upon  him  praises  as  little  consistent  with  truth,  as 
the  flaming  invectives  of  some  of  his  enemies,  so  that  no 
man  of  an  impartial  disposition,  can  ever  prevail  upon 
himself  to  give  an  implicit  belief  to  either.  It  is  strange 
that  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  should  oppose  the  milder 
measures  of  Pole,  when  he  came  over  vested  with  le&an- 
tme  power,  considering,  that  before  he  had  this,  that 
Prelate  himself  was  possessed  of  almost  equal  authority, 


496  GARDINER. 

which  he  exercised  in  quite  another  manner.  We  have 
observed  in  the  text,  that  the  House  of  Commons  in  the 
second  Parliament  of  Queen  Mary's  reign,  expressed  a 
furious  zeal  for  the  old  religion,  and  had  actually  prepared 
a  bill  for  reviving  the  old  Law  of  the  six  Articles,  the 
passing  which  was  prevented  by  the  dissolution  of  that 
Parliament  when  Gardiner  was  Prime-Minister.*  Of 
this  law  the  Protestants  in  general  were  so  much  afraid, 
that  John  Fox,  in  the  name  of  the  exiles,  penned  an  epistle 
in  Latin  to  the  Parliament,  in  which  he  told  them  they 
had  a  Queen,  who,  as  she  was  most  noble,  she  was  ready 
to  listen  to  sound  and  wholesome  counsel ;  and  that  they 
had  a  Chancellor  too,  who,  as  he  was  learned,  so  he  was 
not  of  a  rough  nature,  if  uninfluenced  by  the  counsels  of 
others.  His  own  words  are  very  elegant  and  pathetic. 
Porto,  hahetis  ad  hoc  Reginam,  iit  Nobilissimam,  ila  ad 
Sana  ^  salubria  qu&que  ohsequacem  Principem.  Habetis 
i)'  Cancellarium,  ut  doctrina  prastabilem,  ifa  natura  von 
improbum,  si  quorum  absint  concilia.  He  goes  on  to 
insinuate,  that  as  among  animals  there  are  some  born  to 
create  trouble  and  mischief  to  the  rest ;  so  there  wanted 
not  of  mankind,  a  race  by  nature  turbulent  and  cruel, 
and  formed  to  disturb  and  destroy,  by  their  intrigues,  both 
Church  and  State.  It  was  from  them  therefore  that  Fox 
and  his  associates  then  dreaded  those  mischiefs  that  after- 
wards followed.  But  it  is  strange  logic  to  infer,  that 
because  Bishop  Gardiner,  by  a  hasty  dissolution  of  that 
Parliament,  prevented  that  bill  from  passing,  therefore 
he  was  the  author  of  cruel  counsels,  and  not  the  person, 
who  by  an  Act  of  another  Parliament,  had  the  power  of 
persecuting  put  into  his  hands. 

Before  the  proceedings  of  the  Protestant  Bishops  for 
religion,  the  Popish  Prelates,  who  were  to  prosecute, 
went,  not  to  Westminster,  or  Winchester-house,  but  to 
Lambeth,f  where  they  received  their  instructions,  and 
all  the  bloody  things  that  were  afterwards  done,  were  done 
by  commissions  from  the  person,  who  is  said  to  have  given 
those  mild  counsels  ;  and  it  is  acknowledged,  even  by 
Bishop  Burnet,  who  makes  Gardiner  the  author  of  these 
cruelties,  that  he  grew  very  soon  weary  of  them,  and 
refused  to  have  any  farther  hand  in  them,  reproaching 


*  Echard's  Hist,  of  Eng.  p.  320.    t  Collier's  Church  History,  vol.  II,  p.  379. 


GARDINER.  497 

Bonner  for  his  butcher-like  disposition,  in  pursuing  them 
as  he  did.*  Would  it  not  have  been  natural  in  Bonner 
and  his  associates  to  vindicate  the  Cardinal  and  them- 
selves, by  recriminating  ;  and  if  they  had  done  so,  is  it 
possible  that  the  world  should  not  have  heard  of  it? 
besides,  in  another  proceeding,  when  the  prisoner  charged 
the  Bishops  with  misleading  the  Queen,  and  drawing  her 
against  her  will  to  these  severe  courses,  they  very  round'y 
asserted  the  contrary,  and  that  themselves  were  rather 
compelled  by  her.f 

Indeed,  whatever  is  said  from  John  Fox,  of  Gardiner's 
giving  cruel  advice,  is  in  a  good  measure  contradicted  by 
what  Strype  delivers  from  the  authority  of  records,  and 
of  the  directions  from  Lambeth  before-mentioned,  which 
it  is  necessary  we  should  produce  for  our  own  justifica- 
tion.;{:  "  In  these  instructions  there  are  several  strictures, 
that  make  it  appear,  Pole  was  not  so  gentle  towards  the 
Heretics  (as  the  professors  of  the  Gospel  were  then  styled) 
as  is  reported,  but  rather  the  contrary,  and  that  he  went 
hand  in  hand  with  the  bloody  Bishops  of  these  days.  For 
it  is  plain  here,  that  he  put  the  Bishops  upon  proceeding 
with  them  according  to  the  sanguinary  laws  lately  revived, 
and  put  in  full  force  and  virtue.  What  an  invention  was 
that  of  his,  a  kind  of  Inquisition,  by  him  set  up,  \\ hereby, 
not  a  man  might  escape  that  stood  not  well  affected  to 
Popery  ?  I  mean  his  ordering  books  to  be  made  and  kept, 
wherein  the  names  of  all  such  were  to  be  written,  that  in 
every  place  and  parish  in  England  were  reconciled  ;  and 
so,  whosoever  were  not  found  in  those  books,  might  be 
known  to  be  no  friends  to  the  Pope,  and  so  to  be 
proceeded  against.  And  indeed,  after  Pole's  crafty  and 
zealous  management  of  this  reconciliation,  all  that  good 
opinion  that  men  had  before  conceived  of  him  vanished, 
and  they  found  themselves  much  mistaken  in  him,  espe- 
cially seeing  so  many  learned  and  pious  Gospel  Bishops 
and  Ministers  imprisoned,  and  mai tyred  under  him,  and 
by  his  commission.  Insomuch,  that  now  the  people 
spake  of  him,  as  bad  as  of  the  Pope  himself,  or  the  worst 
of  his  Cardinals." 


•  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  vol.  II,  p.  304. 

t  See  the  History  of  Jolin  Rogers's  Martyrdom   in  Fox's  Acts  and 

Monumeiits. 

t  Memorials  of  Archbishop  Cranmcr,  p.  3i(i-i7. 
Kk 


498  GARDINER. 

We  will  now  proceed  to  the  particular  charges.     As  t^i 
Dr.  Robert  Farrar,  the  account  given  of  him  by  Bishop 
Godwin,  who  lived  in  tliose  times,  and  knew  well  what 
he  wrote,  is  this.*     "  lie  was  a  man  of  a  rigid  temper 
and  rough  behaviour,  which  drew  on  him  much  trouble, 
even  in  King  Edward's  days,  and  was  now  perhaps  his 
destruction:   for  having  been  preferred  to  that  dignity  by 
the  Duke  of  Somerset,  after  his  death,  this  good  and 
learned  man,  by  the  unhappy  moroseness  of  his  manners, 
which    even   bordered    upon    arrogance,    raised    against 
himself  accusers.      Two   of  these,   who  were    Bishops 
afterwards  under  Queen  Elizabeth,  easily  prevailed  with 
the  faction  against  Somerset,  to  get  Farrar  imprisoned. 
Thus  being  in  custody  at  Queen  Mary's  accession  to  the 
throne,  he  was  brought  before  the  Bishop  of  Winchester, 
and  it  is  very  probable,  that  by  a  little  temper  in  his 
answers,   and  a  discreet  regard   to  the  times,  he  might 
have  saved  himself,  without  wrong  to  his  integrity,  from 
the  hands  of  bloody  men,  as  several  had  done,  who  were 
not  engaged  in  the  cause   of  Lady  Jane,  nor  had  any 
other  way  affronted  the  patrons  of  Popery,  whose  flight 
was  therefore  connived  at,  or  if  they  were  taken,   they 
were  soon  discharged  again,  at  the  intercession  of  their 
friends.      But   Farrar,   swayed    by  his    natural   severity, 
and  ungoverned  passion,  gave  such  bold  and  provoking 
answers  to  the  Bishops,  that  it  is  not  to  be  admired  it 
went  so  hard  with  him."     It  is  therefore  his  commitment 
only,  that  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  Bishop  of  Winchester ; 
for  as  to  his  trial,   conviction,   and  the  terrible  cruelties 
afterwards  exercised  on  him,  they  are  to  be   placed    to 
the   account  of  Dr.   Morgan,   Bishop   of   St.   David's ; 
however,   from   the  foregoing   account,    it  appears,   that 
Bishop  Godwin  thought  with  John  Fox,  that  Gardiner 
was  not  naturally  ill  tempered,  and  that  a  little  civility, 
which   certainly   is    not   incompatible  with    Christianity, 
might  have  opened  a  passage  for  this  Prelate  to  escape 
the  flames. 

In  reference  to  Bishop  Hooper,  we  are  told  by  Strype,"!* 
that  he  was  extremely  hated  by  Gardiner,  not  only  as  an 
earnest  reformer  of  religion,  but  for  having  been  one  of 
the  witnesses  against  him  in  the  time  of  King  Edward, 


Life  of  Queen  Mary,  p.  349-50.  t  Memorials,  vol.  Ill,  p.  179. 


GARDINER.  499 

I'or  this,  it  is  said,  that  he  was  exceedingly  ill  used  in 
prison.  Bishop  Godwin  gives  another  account  of  this 
matter;  he  says,  that  he  had  been  very  instrumental  in 
procuring  Bonner's  deprivation,*  and  adds,  which  now 
probably  proved  his  ruin,  it  is  very  likely  from  hence, 
that  Mr,  Strvpe  put  Gardiner  for  Bonner:  and  though  he 
tells  us  afterwards,  that  he  transcribed  the  circumstances 
he  mentions  from  a  letter  of  Bishop  Hooper,  in  which  he 
styles  Gardiner,  Quel's  eiiemi/  and  mine ;  yet  as  that  letter 
is  not  placed  in  his  appendix,  we  have  no  opportunity  of 
seeing  whether  Gardiner  is  there  mentioned  by  name,  or 
whether  the  person  to  whom  that  character  is  given,  is 
not  left  to  be  discovered  from  circumstances,  which  poiiit 
us  not  to  Gardiner  but  to  Bonner.  It  cannot  however  be 
denied,  that  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  sat  in  judgment 
upon  this  Prelate,  in  the  church  of  St.  Mary  Overie, 
near  his  own  house,  but  then  he  sat  as  a  commissioner, 
with  twelve  other  Bishops  ;  and  though  Mr.  Strype  does 
not  insist  upon  what  was  said  by  any  of  the  rest,  yet  lie 
admits  that  Winchester  both  offered  a  pardon,  and  laboured 
all  he  could  to  convince  Hooper,  that  nothing  dangerous 
to  his  conscience  was  expected  from  him ;  which  propo- 
sition he  rejected  with  great  disdain,  and  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester,  as  his  commission  obliged  him,  pronounced 
sentence. 

In  this,  without  doubt,  he  acted  severely,  and  against 
the  sentiments  of  humanity  ;  but  as  things  were  circum- 
stanced, it  is  not  easy  to  see  how  he  could  act  otherwise, 
or  how  the  blood  of  Bishop  Hooper,  lay  more  at  his  door, 
than  that  of  the  other  Bishops,  or  the  blood  of  others  put 
to  death  under  colour  of  heresy,  in  the  time  of  Henry  V 1 1 1. ; 
at  the  doors  of  such  Bishops  as  afterwards  changed  their 
sentiments,  and  became  martyrs  for  the  same  opinion  that 
those  held  whom  they  formerly  condemned.  These  were 
dismal  and  dreadful  times,  when  a  zeal,  that  was  certainly 
not  according  to  knowledge,  prevailed  strongly  in  the 
minds  of  men,  and  induced  them,  under  the  colour  of 
promoting  the  Gospel,  to  act  exactly  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  Jews  did  against  those  who  lirst  preached  it.  It 
may  however  be  inferred  from  hence,  that  being  a  vice  of 
the  times,  it  ought  not,  with  peculiar  vehemence,  to  be 


*  Life  of  Queen  Mary,  p.  349. 
Kk'2 


500  GARDINER. 

ascribed  to  any  particular  man.  Bishop  Gardiner,  to  be 
sure,  had  his  share  in  these  barbarous  proceedings,  yet 
he  had  but  his  share,  and  ought  not  therefore  to  bear  att 
the  reproach. 

Bishop  Burnet  says,  that  by  this  time  he  was  convinced 
severity  would  not  do,  and  that  refusing  to  meddle  any 
more  with  condemnations,  he  left  them  to  Bonner.*     Yet 
it  was  some  months  after  this,  that  Latimer  and  Ridley 
were  burnt  at  Oxford;  with  which,   the  Bishop  of  Win- 
chester, is   by  the   same  writers,   reported   to  be  highly 
pleased,  and  to  have  been  so  eager  to  receive  the  news, 
that  he  delayed  his  dinner  until  the  post  came  in  ;t  which 
how  well  founded  a  report  it  is,   we  shall  hereafter  have 
occasion  to  enquire.     In  the  mean  time  let  it  be  observed, 
how  the  same  writers  vary  this  man's  character,  he  had 
borne   five    years    imprisonment    in   the  reign   of  King 
Edward,  besides  the  loss  of  his   Bishopric  and  all  his 
other  preferments,  rather  than  stoop  to  make  a  submis- 
sion ;  and  yet  his  advising  these  cruelties,  is  ascribed  to 
his  servile  and  abject  temper,  apt  to  be  wrought  on  by 
the  same  means^.     Then  he  becomes  a  brutal  persecutor, 
taking  pleasure  in  the  miseries  and  misfortunes,  not  only 
of  his  fellow  creatures,  but  of  some  who  had  been  his 
intimate  acquaintance;   yet  the  acts  or  judicial  proceed- 
ings plainly  prove,  that  he  took  all  the  pains  in  his  power 
to'' persuade  those  who  were  tried  before  him  to  accept 
of  pardon.     At   length,    it  is    said,    he   was   thoroughly 
distasted  at  persecution,  because  he  saw  it  did  not  answer 
his  end,  but  instead  of  drawing  the  people  to,  drove  them 
from,  Popery ;  and  yet  we  find  him  some  months  after,  hav- 
ing a  better  stomach  to  the  blood  and  slaughter  of  men,  with 
whom  he  had  lived  before  in  intimacy,  than  to  his  dinner : 
this  is  not  only  to  make  him  a  bad  man,  but  a  beast,   and 
those  who  would    be  inclined   to   believe  him   ever   so 
Nvicked,   will  find  it  hard  to  reconcile  this  to  his  weakness, 
or  that  again  to  the  great  things  which  he  performed,  or 
the  character  he  had  with  some  of  the  best  and  wisest 
amongst  the  Protestants. 

In  respect  to  Cranmer,  all  that  is  said  of  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester's  conduct  towards  him,  is  upon  a  supposition 
of  the  original  author's  sagacity,  in  judging  of  that  Prelate's 


*  Hhi,  of  the  Reformat,  vol.  11,  p.  304.       t  Echard's  Hist,  of  Eng.  p.  323. 


GARDINER.  501 

tJioughts,  and  penetrating  into  the  secrets  of  his  heart ; 
for  nobody  has  Uie  confidence  to  say,  that  he  owned  he 
preserved  Cranmer's  life  to  spite  Pole,  or  to  get  possession 
of  his  See,  to  which,  by  the  way.  Bishops  of  Winchester 
rarely  aspire.     Let  us  now  hear  a  few  things  on  the  other 
side.     Very  soon  after   King   Edward's  death,  a  rumour 
prevailed,   as   if  the  Archbishop  had  changed  his  senti- 
ments;*   in   answer  to   which,    he  drew   up   a  kind  of 
manifesto,  which  was  published  without  his  consent,  by 
the  indiscretion  of  his  friends.  Upon  this,  he  was  brought 
before  the   council  where    Gardiner   presided,    there  he 
boldly  owned  the  paper,  said,  he  meant  to  have  enlarged 
and  strengthened  it,  and  to  have  posted  it  upon  the  gates 
of  St.  Paul's.     He  was,  notwithstanding  this,  discharged, 
contrary  to  all  men's  expectations,   but  by  the  Bishop  of 
AVinchester's  advice  ;  and  if  the  Archbishop  had  followed 
the  counsel  of  his  friends  he  might  then  have  withdrawn ; 
we  are  farther  assured,  that  Gardiner  proposed  removing 
him  from  his  dignity,  and  allowing  him  a  pension  for  his 
support  in  a  private  state  of  life.      When  he  was  attainted 
of  high-treason   by  Parliament,   for  the  share  he  had  in 
Queen  Jane's  business,  he  had  a  pardon  granted  him. 
Such    was    the   treatment   of  this   great   Prelate,   while 
Gardiner  had  the  sole  direction  of  affairs  ;  and  after  this, 
when  the  supreme  power  in  ecclesiastical  affairs  was  trans^ 
ferred  to  Cardinal  Pole,  he  had  still  authority  enough  to 
preserve  the  Archbishop's  life,  and  it  is  allowed  he  did 
preserve  it,  and  there  let  the  matter  rest. 

As  to  the  Duchess  of  Suffolk,  what  is  related  concerning 
her,  runs  thus;i-  "This  lady  being  most  zealous  for  the 
Reformation  in  the  reign  of  King  Edward  VI.,  Stephen 
Gardiner,  after  he  was  restored  to  his  Bishopric  of  Win- 
chester by  Queen  Mary,  sent  for  her  husband  in  the  first 
year  of  her  reign,  and  among  some  questions  touching 
his  religion,  asked.  Whether  the  lady,  his  wife,  was  now 
as  ready  to  set  up  mass  as  she  had  been  to  pull  it  down, 
when  in  her  progress,  she  caused  a  dog  in  a  rochet  to  be 
carried,  and  called  by  his  name  ?  whereupon,  being  ad- 
vertised by  his  friends,  that  the  Bishop  meant  to  ca)l 
the  Duchess,  his  wife,  to  an  account  of  her  faith,   and 


*  Strypc's  Memorials  of  Archbishop  Cranmer,  p.  304-5, 
t  Holinshed's  Chipnicle,  p.  1143-44, 


o0'2  GARDINER. 

foreseeing  danger,  he  procured  the  Queen's  licence  to 
travel  beyond  sea,  under  colour  of  such  debts  as  were 
due  from  the  Emperor  to  the  late  Duke  of  Suffolk,  his 
laoy's  former  husband.  And  having  obtained  it,  passed 
the  seas  at  Dover,  in  June  the  same  year,  leaving  her 
behind,  who,  in  January  following,  went  disguised  from 
her  house  in  Barbican,  a«d  passing  to  Leigh,  in  Essex, 
privately  touk  shipping,  and  after  much  danger  met  her 
husband  in  the  Duchy  of  Cleves."  Jf  there  was  any  thing 
haish  m  what  the  Bishop  said  to  Mr.  Bertie,  it  must  con- 
sist m  puttmg  him  in  mind  of  an  action  no  ways  suitable 
to  that  great  lady's  quality.  It  is  not  pretended,  that  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  either  impeded  their  retreat,  or 
persecuted  them  after  they  were  abroad  ;  it  is  true,  that 
some  injuries  were  afterwards  offered  them,  which  obliged 
them  to  fly,  with  some  hazard  to  their  lives,  but  this  was 
after  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  was  in  his  grave. 

We  are  also  told,  that  the  Bishop  frighted  the  famous 
John  Fox*  out  of  England,  at  a  time,  when  he  was  tutor 
to  the  Duke  of  Norfolk's  grand-children  ;  but,  as  in  this 
matter,  all  is  ascribed  to  Fox's  own  suspicions,  though  it 
might  be  a  reason  why  he  did  not  easily  forgive  that 
Prelate,  yet  it  ought  not  to  reflect  any  stain  upon  his 
character.  After  all,  what  is  here  collected  remains 
entirely  under  the  censure  of  the  reader,  who  in  every 
case,  without  question,  will  distinguish  which  are  facts, 
and  which  are  conjectures. 

Certain  it  is,  that,  to  this  time,  our  Prelate  had  not 
discovered  any  thing  of  this  persecuting  disposition.  He 
is  indeed  reputed,  by  many  of  our  historians,  a  great 
dissembler  jf  but  in  this,  acted  quite  another  part.  In  all 
public  transactions  he  professed  himself  always  of  the 
same  opinion  with  the  council,  and  did  not  aim  at  screen- 
ing himself  from  popular  odium,  by  putting  on  a  cloke 
of  moderation.  But,  in  all  the  trials,  where,  by  virtue  of 
Cardinal  Pole's  commission,  he  was  obliged  to  be,  he 
was  exceedingly  a&siduous  to  shew  the  prisoners,  that, 
in  the  matter  of  the  Real  Presence,  which  was  most 
insisted  on,  they  might  easily  save  their  lives,  by  complying 


*  Sec  tht  Life  of  John  Fox,  written  by  his.  son,  prefixed  to  the  2u(l. 
vol.  of  his  Acts  and  Monuments. 

t  See  Fox's  Acts  and  Monuments,    And  Fuller,  Burnet,  and  Strype, 
from  him. 


GARDINER.  6(j?j 

with  subscriptions  drawn  in  very  general  terms  ;  until,  by 
foul  language,  they  convinced  him  that  he  had  to  do  with 
men  who  were  as  little  to  be  wheedled  as  frighted  out  of 
their  principles.*  This  surely  proves  that  he  was  not 
desirous  of  severities,  or  persecuted  for  the  sake  of  gratify- 
ing a  cruel  temper,  or  to  revenge  past  injuries.^  And 
that  such  Protestants  as  were  of  milder  natures,  and 
content  to  reserve  themselves  for  better  times,  when  driven 
to  distress,  were  well  received  by  him,  and  not  barely 
screened,  but  encouraged  and  protected,  without  offering 
any  violence  to  their  consciences  farther  than  locking  them 
up,  and  committing  the  key  to  the  custody  of  then-  own 
discretions,  which  1  may  very  safely  affirm  is  a  point 
out  of  dispute.! 

There  was,  without  doubt,  very  great  confusion  amongst 
those  that  had  made  a  figure  in  the  court  of  Kins;  Edward 
VI,,  and  who  were  sincerely  Protestants  when  they  saw 
Queen  Mary  fixed  upon  the  throne,  and  how  strong  her 
inclinations  were  to  the  Popish  Religion.  But,  however, 
there  were  some  very  eminent  men,  who  by  behaving  witli 
great  moderation  and  decency,  preserved  themselves  from 
trouble,  without  making  shipwreck  of  their  consciences  ; 
and  of  these,  not  a  few  stood  indebted  for  their  safetv,and 
somethmg  more,  to  the  protection  afforded  them  by  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester.  Amongst  these  was  Sir  William 
Cecil,§  afterwards  the  great  Lord  Burleigh,  who  had 
been  twice  Secretary  of  State,  and  of  whom  it  was  sug- 
gested, that  he  furnished  the  reasons  of  policy  set  forth 
in  his  master's  will  in  favour  of  Queen  Jane,  Some 
troubles  he  met  with,  which  were  not  very  sharp,  but 
lived  afterwards  not  only  in  peace  and  honour,  but  might 
also  have  been  secretary  again  if  he  would  have  complied ; 
and  though  he  declined  this,  because  of  the  condition,  yet 
it  was  without  incurring  the  Queen's  displeasure,  or  the 
loss  of  Gardiner's  friendship,  with  whom  he  went  over  to 
Calais,  in  the  last  year  of  that  Prelate's  life,  and  remained 
upon  perfect  good  terais  with  him  to  the  last. 

Sir  Thomas  Smith,  who  was  also  Secretary  to  King 
Edward,   was,  by  the  favour  of  Gardiner,  permitted  to 


*  As  in  the  oases  of  Farrar,  Hooper,  and  Latimer. 

t  Iraputed  to  him  by  Fox  and  others.    X  Strype's  Life  of  Sir  Tbos.  Smith. 

$  From  Cecil's  own  Diary. 


504  GARDINER. 

live  in  a  state  of  learned  privacy,  which  he  affected  without 
any  enquiry  into  his  religious  principles,  and  with  a 
pension  of  ^£100.  a  year,  which  in  those  times  was  a 
considerable  sum,  for  his  better  support,*  though  he  had 
a  good  estate  of  his  own.  Yet  both  Cecil  and  Smith 
had  formerly  opposed  the  Bishop,  one  at  court,  and  the 
other  at  the  University,  but  without  any  thing  of  rudeness 
or  asperity  ;  which  Gardiner  was  so  far  from  remembering, 
that  he  treated  them  both  with  the  utmost  kindness  and 
respect.  We  may  add  to  these,  the  celebrated  Mr. 
Ascham,  another  Secretai-y  of  the  Latin  tongue,  con- 
tinued in  his  ofiice,  as  indeed  he  well  deserved,  and  his 
salary  increased  by  this  Prelate's  favour,  which  he  fully 
repaid  by  those  grateful  and  elegant  epistles  to  him,  that 
are  extant  among  his  works,  which  do  equal  honour  to 
both,  and  which  will  be  read  with  pleasure  as  long  as 
tliere  continues  any  taste  for  style  or  sentiment.  But  let 
us  hear  how  honest  Mr.  Strype  represents  this  matter, 
with  respect  both  to  Smith  and  Ascham,  his  words  are 
these :f 

"  This  must  be  remembered  to  this  Bishop's  commen- 
dation, among  the  many  evil  tilings  that  asperse  and 
blacken  his  name  to  this  day.  Nor  must  the  like  favour, 
or  a  greater,  be  forgotten  by  him,  shewn  to  such  another 
learned  and  grave  Protestant  friend,  and  contemporary 
with  Smith:  I  mean  Roger  Ascham,  which  I  must  have 
leave  to  mention  here.  Whom  the  Bishop  of  Winchester 
did  not  only  spare,  but  called  to  court,  and  preferred  to 
be  Secretary  of  the  Latin  tongue  to  Queen  Mary.  W  horn 
for  his  learning  in  the  languages,  and  inicomparable 
faculty  of  a  clean  style  and  beautiful  writing,  he  greatly 
loved,  and  obliged  with  many  benefits.  And  when  Sir 
Francis  Englefield,  Master  of  the  Waids  and  Liveries,  a 
fierce  Papist,  had  often  cried  out  upon  Ascham  to  the 
Bishop,  as  an  Heretic,  and  fit  to  be  rejected  and  punished 
as  such,  he  never  would  hearken  to  him,  either  to  punish 
him,  or  remove  him  from  his  place.  Thus  lived  two 
excellent  Protestants  under  the  wings,  as  it  were,  of  the 
sworn  enemy  and  destroyer  of  Protestants,  Ascham  and 
Smith,  to  whom  we  now  return  again." 

The  same  plain  spoken  writer,  in  an  account  he  gives 


*  English  Baroncttage,  vol.  Ill,  p.  3J8.     t  Life  of  Sir  Thomas  Sraitlj,  p.  65. 


GARDINER,  505 

us  of  the  adventures  of  one  Undeihill,  a  gentleman  of  the 
band  of  pensioners,  and  a  zealous  Protestant,  has  the 
following  passage,  as  to  what  happened  when  the  Queen 
was  going  to  be  married  :*  '*  Then  was  there  preparing," 
says  he,  **  to  go  with  the  Queen  to  Winchester :  and  all 
the  books  of  the  ordinaries  were  perused  by  the  Bishop 
of  Winchester  and  the  Earl  of  Arundel,  two  great  Papists, 
to  consider  of  every  man  ;  and  one  would  think  Underbill 
should  have  hardly  escaped  now.  Sir  Humphrey  Rad- 
cliflfe,  lieutenant  of  the  band,  brought  unto  them  the  book 
of  the  pensioners.  Which  when  they  overlooked,  and 
came  unto  Underbill's  name.  What  duth  he  here,  said  the' 
Earl  of  Arundel  ?  /  knoto  no  cause  why  he  should  not  be 
here,  said  Radcliffe,  who  also  was  secretly  a  favourer  of 
the  Gospel.  He  is  an  honest  man,  and  hath  served  from 
the  beginning  of  the  band,  and  was  as  forward  as  any  to 
serve  the  Queen  in  the  time  of  Wyat's  rebellion.  Let  him 
pass  then,  said  the  Bishop.  Well,  said  the  Earl,  z/oa  may 
do  so,  but  I  assure  your  lordship,  he  is  an  arch-heretic. 
Thus  he  passed  the  brunt." 

This  is  a  strange  proof  of  our  author's  position,  that 
Bishop  Gardiner  was  a  great,  that  is,  a  bigotted  Papist ; 
and  the  ingenuous  Dr.  Fuller,  has  no  less  strange  a  proof 
of  his  being  a  most  invenomed  persecutor ;  perhaps  the 
reader  will  not  be  displeased  to  see  that  too,  thus  then  our 
ecclesiastical  historian  writes  :+ 

"  In  the  Diocese  of  Winchester,  consisting  of  Hamp- 
shire and  Surry,  I  tind  no  great  impression  from  Stephen 
Gardiner  the  Bishop,  and  much  marvel  thereat.  It  may 
be,  this  politician,  who  managed  his  malice  with  cunning, 
spared  his  own  Diocese,  fox  like,  preying  farthest  from 
his  own  den ;  indeed  he  would  often  stay  behind  the 
traverse,  and  send  Bonner  upon  the  stage ;  free  enough 
of  himself,  without  spurring,  to  do  mischief,  to  act  what 
he  had  contrived.  Yea,  I  may  say  of  Gardiner,  that  he 
had  an  head,  if  not  an  hand,  in  the  death  of  every  eminent 
Protestant :  plotting,  though  not  acting,  their  destruction. 
And  being  Lord  Chancellor  of  England,  he  counted  it 
his  honour  to  fly  at  stout  game  indeed,  contriving  the 
death  of  the  lady  Elizabeth,  and  using  to  say,  that  it  was 
was  vain  to  strike  at  the  branches,  whilst  the  root  of  all 


*Memoriabi,vol.III,p.65.    t  Church  Hist,  of  Britain,  cent.XVI.b.viii.p.l7. 


506  GARDINER. 

Heretics  doth  remain.  And  this  good  lady  was  appointed 
for  the  slaughter,  and  brought  to  the  shambles,  when  the 
seasonable  death  of  this  butcher,  saved  the  sheep  alive. 

"  However,  as  bloody  as  he  was,  for  mine  own  part  I 
have  particular  gratitude  to  pay  to  the  memory  of  this 
Stephen  Gardiner,  and  here  I  solemnly  tender  the  same. 
It  is  on  the  account  of  Mrs.  Clarke,  my  great-grand- 
mother, by  my  mother's  side,  whose  husband  rented 
Farnham-Castle,  a  place  whither  Bishop  Gardiner  retired, 
in  Surry,  as  belonging  to  his  See.  This  Bishop,  sensible 
of  the  consumptionous  state  of  his  body,  and  finding 
physic  out  of  the  kitchen  more  beneficial  for  him  than  that 
out  of  the  apothecary's  shop,  and  special  comfort  from  the 
cordials  she  provided  him,  did  not  only  himself  connive  at 
her  heresy,  as  he  termed  it,  but  also  protected  her,  during 
his  life,  from  the  fury  of  others.  Some  will  say,  this  his 
courtesy  to  her,  was  founded  on  kindness  to  himself.  But 
however,  I  am  so  far  from  detaining  thanks  from  any 
deserved  or  just  cause,  that  1  am  ready  to  pay  them, 
where  they  are  but  pretended  due  on  any  colour." 

After  the  coming  of  Cardinal  Pole,  it  is  not  impossible 
that  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  being  deprived,  and  he 
nominated  to  that  See,*  with  the  legantine  authority  in 
his  hands,  Gardiner  might  have  less  weight  in  ecclesiastical 
affairs,  more  especially  if,  as  some  say.  Queen  Mary 
considered  him  rather  as  a  statesman  than  a  priest,  and 
looked  on  Pole  as  a  confessor  for  religion,  and  a  saint  in 
morals. t  If  this  was  at  all  the  case.  Bishop  Gardiner 
did  wisely  not  to  contend  with  him  ;  for,  besides  the 
privilege  of  his  high  birth,  and  his  dignity,  it  was  visible 
enough  that  he  would  be  supported  by  a  great  party 
amongst  the  Clergy,  and  the  hot  men  in  the  House  of 
Commons,  who,  by  restoring  the  Pope's  supremacy,  and 
reviving  the  laws  against  heresy,  had  made  that  cause 
their  own.  At  least  there  is  something  so  probable  in 
this,  and  it  accounts  so  well  for  the  subsequent  behaviour 
of  the  Chancellor,  that  it  certainly  deserves  to  be  impar- 
tially considered. — Towards  the  close  of  the  year,  it  was 
strongly  reported,  and  indeed  generally  believed,  that  the 
Queen  was  with  child,  for  which  rejoicings  were  made, 

*  Collier's  Church  History,  vol.  II,  p.  371. 
t  Burnet's  History  of  the  Reformation,  vol.  IJ,  p.  242. 


GARDINER.  507 

and  prayers  appointed  for  her  safe  deliver)'.  The  Chan- 
cellor made  a  right  use  of  this  wrong  notion;  he  persuaded 
her  majesty  to  set  several  prisoners  at  liberty,  that  had 
been  near  a  year  in  confinement,  and  for  that  purpose 
went  in  person  to  the  tower,*  Jan.  18,  1555,  and  dis- 
charged the  Archbishop  of  York,  Sir  Edward  Rogers, 
Sir  James  Crofts,  Sir  Nicholas  Throckmorton,  Sn-  Ed- 
ward Warner,  Sir  George  Harper,  Sir  William  Saintlow, 
Sir  Gawin  Carew,  Sir  Andrew  Dudley,  William  Gibs, 
CuthbertVaughan,  John  Harrington, Esqrs.,  Mr.Tremain, 
and  others.  One  of  these  had  a  little  before  taken  the 
liberty  of  expostulating  with  him  very  freely,  notwith- 
standing \vhich  he  had  (beyond  his  expectations  perhaps) 
his  liberty  amongst  the  rest.  His  son  [Sir  John  Harring- 
ton] has  given  us,  in  an  account  of  this  adventure,  some 
passagesf  relating  to  Bishop  Gardiner,  very  well  worth 
notice.  The  person  hinted  at,  is  Sir  John  Harrington, 
of  Kelston,  who  wrote  for  the  use  of  Henry  Prince  of 
Wales,  a  kind  of  supplement  to  Bishop  Godwin's  Cata- 
logue of  English  Bishops,  and  gives  us  therein  an  account 
of  Bishop  Gardiner's  sending  his  father  to  the  Tower,  for 
carrying  a  letter  to  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  obliging  that 
Princess  to  discharge  his  mother  for  being  a  Heretic  ;  but 
notwithstanding  this,  the  reader  will  find  he  was  no  bitter 
enemy  to  that  Prelate,  but  rather  inclined  to  treat  him, 
as  a  gentleman  should,  with  impartiality  and  candour. 
Thus  he  writes,;];  after  tianscribing  some  of  the  hard  things 
that  had  been  said  of  Gardiner,  by  the  martyrologist 
Fox  and  others. 

**  Yet  that  I  speak  not  at  all  in  passion,  I  must  confess, 
I  have  heard  some  as  partially  praise  his  clemency  and 
good  conscience,  and  namely,  that  he  was  cause  of 
restoring  many  honourable  houses  overthrown  by  King 
Henry  the  Eighth,  and  in  King  Edwaid's  minority. 
The  Duke  of  Norfolk,  though  Mr.  Eox  saith,  that 
Gardiner  made  him  stay  long  for  his  dinner  one  day,  yet 
both  he  and  those  descended  of  him,  were  beholden  to 
him,  with  the  House  of  Stanhope's,  and  the  Lord 
Arundel  of  Wardour ;  and  I  have  heard  old  Sir  Matthew 


*  Stow's  AnnalSjp.  626. 

t  Harrington's  Brief  View  of  the  State  of  the  Chinch  of  England,  p.  43, 

i  Brief  View  of  the  State  of  the  Church  of  England,  p.  46,  47,  4S. 


508  GARDINER. 

Arundel  say,  that  Bonner  was  more  faulty  tTian  he,  and 
that  Gardiner  would  rate  at  him  for  it,  and  call  him  ass, 
for  using  poor  men  so  bloodily  ;  and  when  1  would 
maintain  the  contrary,  he  would  say,  that  my  father  was 
worthy  to  have  lain  in  prison  a  year  longer,  for  the  saucy 
sonnet  he  wrote  to  him  from  out  of  the  Tower ;  which 
sonnet,  both  because  it  was  written  in  defence  of  Queen 
Elizabeth,  and  because,  if  I  be  not  partial,  it  is  no  ill 
verse  for  those  unrefined  times,  and  toucheth  the  matter 
I  enforce ;  I  will  here  set  down,  pre-supposing,  that  in 
the  eleven  months  before,  he  had  sent  him  many  letters 
and  petitions  full  of  reason,  that  could  not  prevail  for 
his  liberty.     The  distressed  prisoner  writeth  this  rhyme :" 

I. 

At  last  withdraw  your  cruelty. 

Or  force  the  times  to  work  your  will ; 
It  is  too  much  extremity. 

To  keep  me  pent  in  prison  still. 
Free  from  all  fault,  void  of  all  cause. 
Without  all  right,  against  all  laws. 

How  can  you  doe  more  cruel  spight. 

Than  proffer  wrong  and  promise  right  ? 

Nor  can  accuse  nor  will  acquight. 

II. 

Eleven  months  past  and  longer  space, 

I  have  abid  your  divelish  drifts ; 
While  you  have  sought  both  man  and  place. 

And  set  your  snares  with  all  your  shifts; 
The  faultlesse  foot  to  wrap  iu  wile, 
With  any  guilt  by  any  guile  : 

And  now  you  see  that  will  not  be. 

How  can  you  thus  for  shame  agree. 

To  keep  him  bound  you  can  set  free  ? 

HI. 

Your  chance  was  once  as  mine  is  now, 

To  keep  this  hold  against  your  will ; 
And  then  you  sware  you  know  well  how, 

Though  now  yon  swearve,  1  know  how  ill. 
But  thus  the  world  his  course  doth  passe. 
The  Priest  forgets  a  Clerk  he  was  ; 

And  you  that  then  cry'd  justice  still. 

And  now  have  justice  at  your  will. 

Wrest  justice  wrong  against  all  skill. 

IV. 

But  why  doe  I  thus  coldly  plaine, 

As  if  it  were  my  cause  alone  ; 
When  cause  doth  each  man  so  constraine, 

As  England  through  hath  cause  to  moane  ? 
To  see  your  bloody  search  of  such, 
Whom  all  the  earth  can  no  way  touch. 

And  better  were  that  all  your  kind. 

Like  hounds  iu  Hell  with  shame  were  shriu'd, 

Then  you  had  might  unto  your  mind. 


GARDINER.  509 


B'lt  as  the  stone  that  strikes  the  wall, 

Sometimes  bounds  back  on  th'  hurler's  head  ; 
So  your  foul  fetch,  to  your  foul  fall, 

May  turn  and  noy  the  breast  that  bred. 
And  then  such  measure  as  you  gave. 
Of  right  and  justice  look  to  have. 

If  good  or  ill,  if  short  or  long. 

If  false  or  true,  if  right  or  wrong, 

And  thus  till  then  I  end  my  song. 

The  three  months  next  ensuing,  Bishop  Gardiner  was 
employed  in  carrying  the  laws  lately  revived  against 
Heretics  into  execution,  and  sat  often  (to  his  eternal 
disgrace),  by  virtue  of  a  commission  from  Cardinal  Pole 
as  the  Pope's  Legate,  at  Winchester-house,  Southwark, 
to  examine  such  as  were  brought  before  him.*  Yet  we 
are  told  that  he  soon  grew  weary,  and  would  proceed  no 
farther,  upon  which  this  cruel  and  invidious  task  was  put 
upon  Bonner  ;  neither  was  it  long  before  he  grew  relax, 
until  quickened  by  orders  from  the  council,  and  other 
measures. -f-  The  Queen,  or  it  may  be  the  Chancellor, 
•foreseeing  that  sooner  or  later  the  nation  might  be  obliged 
to  take  part  in  the  war  between  the  Emperor  and  the 
French  King,  if  it  continued,  it  was  resolved  to  send  over 
commissioners  of  the  highest  rank,  to  a  sort  of  congress 
that  was  to  be  held  at  Calais,  in  order  to  mediate  a 
peace. ;{:  Cardinal  Pole  went  over  on  behalf  of  the  Pope  ; 
the  Bishop  of  Winchester,  the  Lord  Aiundel,  and  Lord 
Paget,  on  the  part  of  the  Queen  of  England. §  They 
departed  May  18,  1555,  and  while  they  were  employed 
in  this  negociation  the  Pope  died,  and  the  Queen  wrote 
most  pressing  letters  to  her  commissioners,  to  engage  the 
powers  with  whom  they  were  treating  to  consent  that 
Cardinal  Pole  should  be  raised  to  the  Papal  dignity.^F 
But  neither  in  this,  or  any  thing  else,  could  her  ministers 
succeed  ;  and  therefore,  after  a  fruitless  stay  of  some 
weeks,  at  a  great  expence,  returned  June,  26.||  During 
the  Chancellor's  absence,  the  great  seal  was  put  into  the 
hands  of  William,  Marquess  of  Winchester  ;**  and  from 


*  Strype's  Memorials,  vol.  Ill,  p.  231. 

t  Burnet's  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  vol.  II.p.  31 1.    t  Stowe's  Annals,  p.  626. 

§  Burnet's  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  vol.  II,  p.  310. 

^  From  the  Queen's  Letter  on  thi.s  occasion.  ||  Cecil's  Diary. 

•*  Holin-shed's  Chronicle,  vol.  II,  p.  1286. 


510  GARDINER. 

the  council  books  it  appears,  good  use  was  made  of  it 
for  stirring  up  the  persecution  ;    for  quickening  of  which, 
"writ  after  writ  was   issued,   and   letters  directed  to  the 
nobility  and  gentry,  as  well  as  clergy,  exciting  them  to 
give  their  attendance,  with  their  servants,   at  the  burning 
of  Heretics;*  so  that  we  see  this  cruel  Jiame  raged  mbst 
when  the  Bishop  was  abroad,  and  greio  still  higlier  after 
his  death.     Upon  his  coining  home  he  declared  plainly 
he  would  have  no  farther  hand  in  severities,  and  therefore 
those  apprehended   in   his    Diocese  were  removed   into 
that  of  London,  and   so  put  under  the  jurisdiction  of* 
Bonner,'!'  who  in  a  short  time  fell  off  again,  and  had  fresh 
reprimands  from  the  King  and  Queen  for  his  relaxation 
and  lenity.     We  may,  from  these  instances,  perceive  that 
some  made  their  court  to  the  Queen  by  promoting  those 
cruel  proceedings,   and   that  they  were  neither  pressed, 
nor  could  be  impeded,  by  the    Bishop  of  Winchester. J 
In  matters  of  government  his  influence  was  still  without 
diminution,  and  according  to  his  advice  a  Parliament  was 
summoned  to  meet  in  October  ;§    for  it  was  one  of  his 
maxims,  to  have  short  sessions  and  frequent  Parliaments. 
He  had  projected  some  additional  security  for  Church 
and  Abbey  lands,  which,  by  a  well-timed  address  from  the 
Convocation  to  the  Cardinal,  which  he  put  into  his  hands 
himself,  he  had  in  some  measure   preserved   to  all  who 
possessed  them  ;   and  this  project  was  afterwards  brought 
to  bear  by  his  friend  Mr.  Secretary  Petre.^     October 
21,  1555,  he  opened  the  session  with  a  judicious  speech  ; 
and  was  there  again  on  the  23rd,  which  was  the  last  time 
of  his  appearing  in  that  assembly. ||     Towards  the  close 
of  this  month  he  fell  ill,  and  continued  to  grow  worse  and 
worse  to  the  13th  of  November,  1555,  when  he  departed 
this  life,  about  the  age  of  72.**     As  to  the  time  of  his 
decease  the  dispute  is  not  great  about  it,  but  the  manner 
of  it  is  far  from  being  settled. 

In  those  times,  such  was  the  eagerness  and  heat  of  most 
writers,  that  scarce  any  extraordinary  person  went  to  his 


*  Stiype,  Burnet.  Collier,    t  Burnet's  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  vol.  II.  p.  153. 

t  Remarks  on  the  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  p.  191.       §  Godwin's  Anuals. 
^  Strype,  Burnet,  Collier.      ||  Burnet's  Hist,  of  the  Reformat.  vol.IT,  p.320. 

**  From  an  original  Letter  of  Mr.  Crycb,  to  the  Earl  of  Shrewsbury. 


GARDINER.  511 

grave  without  a  prodigy.  In  that  great  Chronicle  which 
goes  under  the  name  of  Holinshed,*  though  in  the  latter 
editions  there  was  much  added  by  Abraham  Fleming,  we 
have  the  following  passage  inserted  from  John  Fox,  and 
the  reason  that  we  take  it  from  thence  is,  because  this 
Chronicle  being  chiefly  consulted  by  the  abridgers  of 
English  History,  the  substance  of  this  passage  has  been 
often  retailed  to  the  world  for  an  undoubted  truth. 

*'  During  this  session  of  Parliament,  Stephen  Gardiner 
Bishop  of  Winchester  and  Chancellor  of  England,  died, 
at  his  house  called  Winchester-palace,  beside  St.  Mary 
Overie's,  in  Southwark,  Nov.  9,  whose  corpse  was  shortly 
after  solemnly  thence  conveyed  to  his  Church  of  Winches- 
ter, and  there  buried.  The  manner  of  whose  death  why 
should  I  blush  to  blaze  as  I  find  it  by  report.  One 
Mistress  Monday,  being  the  wife  of  one  Master  Monday, 
secretary  some  time  to  the  old  Lord  Thomas,  Duke  of 
Norfolk,  a  present  witness  of  this  that  is  testified  thus, 
openly  reported  in  the  house  of  a  worshipful  citizen, 
bearing  office  in  this  city,  in  words  and  effect  as  followeth. 
The  same  day  when  as  Bishop  Ridley  and  Master  Lati- 
mer suffered  at  Oxford,  being  about  the  19th  of  October, 
there  came  to  the  house  of  Stephen  Gardiner  the  old 
Duke  of  Norfolk,  with  the  aforesaid  Monday,  his  secretary 
above  named,  reporter  hereof.  The  old  aged  Duke  there 
waiting  and  tarrying  for  his  dinner,  the  Bishop  being  not 
yet  disposed  to  dine,  deferred  the  lime  until  3  or  4  o'clock 
at  afternoon.  At  length,  about  4  o'clock,  cometh  his 
servant  posting  in  all  possible  speed  from  Oxford,  bringing 
intelligence  to  the  Bishop  what  he  had  heard  and  seen, 
of  whom  the  said  Bishop  diligently  enquiring  the  truth 
of  the  matter,  and  hearing  by  his  man  that  fire  most 
certainly  was  set  unto  them,  cometh  out  rejoicing  to  the 
Duke.  Now,  saith  he,  let  us  go  to  dinner;  whereupon 
they  being  set  down,  meat  immediately  was  brought,  and 
the  Bishop  began  merrily  to  eat ;  but  what  followed :  the 
bloody  tyrant  had  not  eaten  a  few  bits,  but  the  sudden 
stroke  of  God  his  terrible  hand  fell  upon  him,  in  such 
sort  as  immediately  he  was  taken  from  the  table,  and  so 
brought  to  his  bed,  where  he  continued  the  space  of 
fifteen  days   in  such  intolerable  anguish   and  torments, 


Holiushed's  Chronicle,  vol.  II,  p.  1130. 


512  GARDINER. 

that  all  that  mean  while,  during  those  fifteen  days,  he 
could  not  avoid  by  ordure,   or  urine,  or  othersvise,  any 
thing  that  he  received  ;  wheieby  his  body  being  miserably 
inflamed  within,  who  had  inflamed  so  many  good  martyrs 
before,   was  brought  to  a  wretched  end.     And  thereof, 
no  doubt,  as  most  like  it  is,  came  the  thrusting  out  of  his 
tongue,  so  swoln  and  black  with  the  inflammation  of  his 
body.     A  spectacle  worthy  to  be  noted,   and  beholden, 
of  all  such  bloody  burning  persecutors.     But  whatsoever 
he  was,   seeing  he  is  now  gone,  I  refer  him  to  his  Judge, 
to  whom  he  shall  stand  or  fall.     As  concerning  his  death, 
and  manner  thereof,  I  would  they  which  were  present 
thereat  would  testify  to  us  what  they  saw.     This  we  have 
all  to  think,  that  his  death  happened  so  opportunely,  that 
England  hath  a  mighty  cause  to  give  thanks  to  the  Lord 
therefore;  not  so  much  for  the  great  hurt  he  had  done  in 
times  past,  in  perverting  his  princess,  in  bringing  in  the 
six  articles,  in  murdering  God's  saints,  in  defacing  Christ's 
sincere  religion,  &c.,  as  also,  especially,  for  that  he  had 
thought  to  have  brought  to   pass  in  murdering  also  our 
noble  Queen  that  now  is.     For  whatsoever  danger  it  was 
of  death  that  she  was  in,  it  did  no  doubt  proceed  from 
that  bloody  Bishop,  who  was  the  cause  thereof.     And  if 
it  be  certain,  which  we  have  heard,  that  her  highness  being 
in   the  tower,   a  writ   came  down   from   certain    of  the 
council  for  her  execution,  it  is  out  of  controversy  that 
wily  Winchester  was  the    only  Daedalus  and  framer  of 
that  engine.     Who  no  doubt  in  that  one  day  had  brought 
this  whole  realm  into  woful  ruin,   had  not  the    Lord's 
most  gracious  council,  through  Master  Bridges,  then  the 
lieutenant,  comijig  in  haste  to  the  Queen,  certified  her  of 
the  matter,  and  prevented  Achitophel's  bloody  devices. 
For   the  which,  thanks    be   to   the  same  our  Lord  and 
Saviour,  in  the  congregation   of  all  English   Churches, 
Amen." 

There  are  many  exceptions  to  the  truth  of  this  account, 
which,  in  common  justice  to  this  Prelate's  memory,  ought 
to  be  mentioned.  Strype  very  justly  observes,  that  both 
the  time  and  place  of  his  death  are  mistaken ;  since  he 
did  not  die  on  the  Qth.  but  on  the  13th  of  Nov.  at  two  in 
the  morning  ;  neither  did  he  die  at  Winchester-house,  but 
in  Westminster.*     Yet  Strype  does  not  observe  another 

*  Memorials,  vol.  Ill,  p.  270. 


X  1  o 


GARDINER.  51.' 

mistake,  which  is  that  of  the  day  when  Latimer  and  Ridley 
suffered  at  Oxford,  which  was  not  the  19th  of  October, 
but  the  ]6th;  so  that  here  is  at  least  a  week  gained 
towards  making  the  judgment  more  probable.  Then  the 
suppression  of  urine  is  expressly  said  to  have  continued 
1 5  days  ;  whereas,  according  to  his  manner  of  stating  it, 
it  must  have  lasted  21  at  least;  and  had  the  story  been 
true,  and  the  dates  rightly  placed,  it  must  have  lasted  27. 

This,  however,  is  not  all  ;  the  Bishop  of  Winchester, 
as  Chancellor,  opened  the  new  Parliament  October  21st, 
and  was  there  again  on  the  23rd,  a  week  after  the  death 
of  the  two  martyrs ;  at  whose  death  it  is  not  likely  he 
should  rejoice,  if  what  Heylin  says  be  true,  that  he  studied 
to  prevent  it,*  One  of  the  exiles  abroad,  who  laboured 
to  expose  Gardiner  all  in  his  power,  charges  him  with 
straining  his  authority,  in  offeiing  Latimer  a  pardon 
without  the  knowledge  of  the  Queen  or  council. f  But 
to  come  closer  to  the  point,  the  old  Duke  of  Norfolk,  who 
waited  so  long  for  his  dinner,  as  his  secretary  reported, 
who  waited  with  him,  died  in  the  month  of  September, 
1554,  that  is,  thirteen  months  before  this  transaction  hap- 
pened.'\.  His  death  was  a  thing  of  great  notoriety,  the 
Queen  and  court,  out  of  respect  to  his  memory,  going 
into  mourning.  One  would  think  that  Fox  might  have 
known  this  as  well  as  another,  since  he  lived  long  in  that 
Duke's  family,  and  went  abroad  but  a  very  little  before  his 
death. 

]n  reference  to  the  latter  part  of  this  account,  it  may 
not  be  amiss  to  observe,  that  the  honest  and  impartial 
historian,  John  Speed,  who  was  furnished  with  the  best 
materials  from  some  of  the  most  considerable  persons 
in  this  kingdom,  ascribes  the  ill  usage  of  the  princess 
Elizabeth,  and  the  advice  given  to  take  her  off,  to  the 
Lord  Paget ;§  and  asserts,  that  King  Philip  was  ever 
after  diffident  of  him,  and  those  of  his  party.  A  certain 
Popish  writer  does  indeed  pretend  to  let  us  into  the  secret 
of  the  affair;  he  says,  that  Sir  Thomas  VViat's  plan  for 
an  insurrection  was  sent  to  the  lady  Elizabeth  in  a  bracelet; 
that  this  was  discovered  by  the  Bishop  of  Winchester,  but 


*  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  p.  227.  t  New  Book  of  spiritual  Physic. 

i  Stiype's  Itlemorials,  vol.  Ill,  p.  200-1.    Echard's  Hist,  of  Eng.  p.  320. 

t  Chronicle,  p.  828. 
Ll 


5J4  GARDINER. 

that  that  lie  pushed  it  no  farther  than  to  persuade  her  to 
submit  herself  to  the  Queen.  But  the  silence  of  Camden, 
in  the  account  he  gives  of  her  sufterings  before  her  acces- 
sion to  the  crown,  as  to  all  these  facts,  leaves  them  not  a 
little  doubtful. 

It  must  be  acknowledged,  that  Fox  is  not  only  the 
author  that  has  given  the  manner  of  his  death  the  air  of  a 
judgment,  for  John  Bale*  goes  even  farther  than  he, 
affirming  that  he  was  informed  by  a  letter  written  from 
England,  ''  that  his  disease  was  hydrops  acidus  &^  prodi- 
giosus  scabies,  a  sharp  dropsy  and  prodigious  leprosy, 
taken,  as  was  commonly  reported,  by  drinking  or 
whoredom.  For  he  had  indulged  much  to  both  those 
vices  in  his  life-time. f  In  his  sickness  he  stunk  like  a 
Jakes,  his  breath  not  to  be  endured,  his  body  distended, 
his  eyes  distorted  and  turned  inwards  ;  during  his  illness 
he  spake  little  but  blasphemy  and  lilthiness,  and  gave  up 
the  ghost  with  curses  in  his  mouth,  in  terrible  and  inex- 
pressible torments,"  &c.  He  likewise  adds,  that  he  left 
o£30,000.  in  ready  money  behind  him,  besides  plate  and 
rich  furniture. 

Dr.  Thomas  Cooper,  who  was  himself  Bishop  of 
Winchester  in  Queen  Elizabeth's  time,  and  published 
his  Chronicle  within  five  years  after  Gardiner's  death, 
sets  it  down  simply,  and  without  any  of  these  strange 
circumstances.;]:  He  charges  the  death  of  Latimer  and 
Ridley  expressly  upon  Cardinal  Pole  ;  and  though  he 
gives  a  very  particular  account  of  the  ill  usage  of  the  lady 
Elizabeth,  yet  he  does  not  ascribe  it  in  the  least  to  Gar- 
diner. Bishop  Godwin^  asserts  that  he  died  of  the  gout. 
Dr.  Fuller,^  as  we  have  seen,  ascribes  his  end  to  a 
consumption.  In  a  book  compiled  by  the  direction  of 
Archbishop  Parker, ||  he  is  also  said  to  have  died  of  the 
gout  or  rheumatism  ;  the  lower  parts  of  his  body  being 
mortified,  smelt  very  offensively.     We  are  told  by  Bishop 


Strype's  Memorials,  vol.  Ill,  p.  281. 

t  It  will  be  recollected  that,  this  is  an  assertion  without  even  the 
shadow  of  proof.  This  mode  of  consigning  a  man  to  infamy,  however 
obnoxious  liis  tenets  as  a  Romanist,  is  uncandid  and  ungenerous  in  the 
extreme. — Edit. 

t  Chronicle,  fol.  371.  §  De  Praesulibus  Angliae,  p.  237. 

%  Church  Hist.  cent.  XVI.  p.  17.  1|  Antiq.  Britan.  Eccles.  p.  517. 


GARDINER.  515 

Burnet,*  "  he  had  great  remorse  for  his  former  life ; 
and  Day,  Bishop  of  Chichester,  coming  to  him,  and 
comforting  him  with  the  assurance  of  justification  through 
the  blood  of  Christ,  he  answered  him,  he  might  speak  of 
that  to  him,  or  others  in  his  condition,  but  if  he  opened 
that  gap  again,  and  preached  that  to  the  people,  then 
farewell  altogether.  H e  often  repeated  those  words,  Enavi 
cum  Petro,  srd  uo)i  fievi  cum  Fetro :  I  have  erred  with 
Peter,  but  I  have  not  wept  with  Peter." 

He  died  at  the  royal  palace  of  Whitehall, f  about  one 
in  the  morning ;   and  about  three  the  same  morning,  his 
body  was  carried  over  to  Winchester-house,  from  whence 
the  funeral  was  performed. j;     His  death  was  a  great  loss 
to  the  Queen  his  mistress,  who  found  no  minister  that 
could  manage  her  affairs  so  well,  or  keep  her  on  so  good 
terms  with  her  Parliaments,  from  whom,  during  his  ad- 
ministration,  she   received  nothing,   but  lived  uj>on  the 
settled  ordinary  revenue  of  the  crown,  with  some  help  it 
may  be  from  the  treasure  brought  over  by  King  Philip. 
But  this  course  was  speedily  altered,  and  from  that  hour 
dissatisfaction  and  complaints  began. §     The  clergy  had 
also  a  great  loss  in  him  ,•    they  depended   much  on  his 
wisdom,   and  no  less  on  his  experience,  but  most  of  all 
on  his  caution  and  due  regard  for  the  law,  by  which  they 
might  be  kept  out  of  the  reach  of  a  premunire  ;  nor  did 
he  deceive  their  expectations  in  this,  taking  care  while  he 
lived  that  Cardinal  Pole  should   do  nothing  within  this 
realm,  but  by  authority  under  the  broad  seal  of  England 
as  well  as  that  of  St.  Peter. 51  Those  who  were  affectionate 
to  that  government  had  a  great  loss  in  him,  for  he  kept 
things    together;    and,  by  steering  steadily  and   keeping 
a  good   countenance,  CJ"  preserved  a  degree  of  respect 
which  can  never  be  preserved  where  there  is  a  Jiuctuation 
of  councils. 

His  pen  also  was  of  no  small  use,  since  in  polemical 
writings  he  was  inferior  to  none  of  his  contemporaries, 
and  with  one  party  (few  have  it  with  more)  had  a  high 
reputation  for  learning  from  the  many  books  he  had  penned. 

It  is,  without  doubt,  a  very  ditiicult  task  to  attempt 


Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  col.  xi.  p.  320. 
t  Then  called  York-place.— Edit.      X  Strype's  Memorials,  Vol.  III.  p.  229_ 
$  Godwin,  Heylin,  Strype.  ^  Memorials,  vol,  III. 

l12 


516  GARDINER. 

giving  the  reader  an  account  of  the  writings  of  this 
Prelate  ;  some  few  of  them  indeed  were  published  with 
his  name,  and  concerning  them  there  is  no  dispute. 
Others  are  without  any  name,  and  yet  there  are  good 
reasons  to  induce  us  to  believe  they  fell  from  his  pen; 
and  others  again  have  the  names  of  other  men  set  before 
them,  though  they  were  in  reality  penned  by  this  Bishop. 
We  will,  however,  manage  the  matter  as  well  as  we  can, 
and  give  the  reader  as  just  and  as.  correct  a  catalogue  of 
his  writings,  as  the  best  enquiry  we  could  make  has  put 
in  our  power. 

The  first  piece  published  by  our  author,  was  his  treatise 
De  vera  Obedientia,  (i.  e.)  Of  true  Obedience,  Lond. 
1534,  1535,  4fo.  at  Hamburgh  in  1536,  8uo.  with  Bishop 
Bonner's  epistle  prefixed,  in  which  several  strong  things 
are  contained  against  the  Pope's  supremacy,  and  in 
support  of  the  King's  divorce  from  Queen  Katherine. 
We  have  before  told  the  reader  the  nature  of  this  work, 
which  induced  the  author  to  speak  rather  as  an  orator  than 
as  a  logician  ;  yet  some  of  his  arguments  are  not  easily 
answered,  though  delivered  with  great  plainness  and 
moderation.  He  suggests,  that  the  policy  of  the  Church, 
in  every  kingdom,  was  partly  spiritual  and  partly  temporal ; 
that,  with  respect  to  the  former  powers,  they  came  from 
God  ;  and  for  the  latter,  since  they  could  not  be  executed 
without  the  consent,  so  it  is  impossible  they  should  come 
but  from  the  civil  magistrate.  He  urges,  that  princes 
lose  their  sovereign  dignity  if  they  are  not  supreme  in  all 
causes  over  their  subjects,  and  that  therefore  their  supre- 
macy makes  a  part  of  their  sovereignty ;  when  therefore 
novelty  is  objected  to  this  doctrine,  he  says  it  goes  no 
farther  than  this,  that  a  new  term  is  employed  in  speaking 
of  an  old  right.  He  positively  asserts,  <D°  that  St.  Peter's 
supremacy  cannot  be  proved  by  Scripture;^  that  the 
Bishopric  of  Jerusalem  was  yielded  by  him,  and  the 
rest  of  the  Apostles,  to  St.  James,  the  brother  of  our 
Lord;  and  that  if,  on  particular  occasions,  St.  Peter 
acted  as  chief  of  the  Apostles,  it  was  owing  to  the  deference 
they  had  for  his  extraordinary  conduct  and  courage,  which 
being  personal  qualities,  could  not  convey  any  right  to 


*  This,  from  so  staunch  a  Romanist,  and  so  able  a  man;  speaks  volumes 
-Edit. 


GARDINER.  517 

his  successors.  In  the  close  he  puts  an  objection  against 
himself:  it  might  be  said  there  was  no  agreement  between 
his  book  and  his  practice  ;  he  had  undertaken  to  press 
obedience,  and  failed  notoriously  in  that  branch  of  his 
duty.  He  had  engaged  his  subjection  to  the  court  of 
Rome,  sworn  submission  to  the  Pope  and  his  successors, 
and  solemnly  obliged  himself  to  defend  the  privileges 
and  jurisdiction  of  the  Apostolic  See.  He  received  liis 
episcopal  character  by  the  Pope's  consent,  and  was  con- 
secrated by  his  mandate  ;  and  yet,  after  all  these  ties 
and  assurances, he  ventured  to  write  against  his  supremacy, 
and  renounce  him  in  the  most  public  manner.  To  take 
off  the  imputation  of  falsehood  and  perjury,  he  observes, 
than  an  engagement  against  right  is  by  no  means  binding. 
For  an  oath  was  never  intended  a  bond  of  iniquity,  and 
a  bar  against  repentance.  He  illustrates  his  case  by 
a  husband's  marrying  a  second  wife,  the  former  living, 
whom,  after  the  best  enquiry,  he  concluded  dead.  Thus 
he  continued  undisturbed  in  his  second  marriage:  and 
when  his  first  wife  returned  from  a  foreign  country,  and 
challenged  him  for  her  husband,  he  denied  the  relation. 
But  after  she  had  made  out  her  claim  by  legal  proof,  he 
lived  with  her  again,  and  dismissed  the  second.  This 
instance  the  Bishop  applies  to  his  own  case.  He  thought 
the  Pope's  authority  unquestionable  at  first,  and  submitted 
accordingly.  But  when  truth  appeared  he  found  himself 
mistaken,  and  therefore  ought  not  to  be  cliarged  with 
breach  of  faith  for  altering  his  measures.  There  were 
many  other  editions  of  this  work,  and  a  translation  into 
English,  printed  abroad  in  Queen  Mary's  time,  by  one 
Dr. Turner,  with  a  most  vindictive  preface  before  it;  as 
also  some  additions,  with  intent  to  expose  the  Bishop's 
inconstancy,  who  had  now  submitted  again  to  the  Pope. 

Palinodia  dicti  libri ;  that  is,  A  Hetracfion  of  the  fore- 
going work  ;  M'hen  or  where  published  we  cannot  say. 

A  necessary  Doctrine  and  Erudition  for  anif  Christen-^ 
man,  set  furthe  by  the  Kynge's  majestie  of  England,  &.c. 
Lotid.  by  Thomas  Barthelet,  1543;  this,  as  we  have 
said  before,  was  published  with  royal  authority ;  and 
Strype,  in  giving  us  the  history  of  this  piece,  which 
was  the  system  of  religion  in  King  Henry's  time,  allows 
the  Bishop  of  Winchester  but  a  very  small  share  in  it ; 
yet,  in  King  Edward's  time.  Archbishop  Cranmer  was 
for   yielding   him   the   whole  merit    of   the    work;  and 


518  GARDINER. 

his  report  was  so  much  credited,  that  John  Bale  put  it 
into  the  catalogue  of  our  author's  writings,  in  which 
he  has  been  followed  by  Bishop  Tanner ;  yet  there  is  a 
passage  in  the  declaration,  concerning  the  life  and  actions 
of  the  Archbishop,  written  by  his  Secretary  Mr.  Morris, 
still  preserved  in  Benet  College  Library  at  Cambridge,* 
which  is  not  very  consistent  with  this  account,  and  which 
is  reported  here  only  to  shew  how  very  difficult  a  thing  it 
is  to  come  at  certainty,  with  respect  to  matters  of  fact, 
even  from  those  who  one  would  think  must  have  been  best 
acquainted  with  them. 

"  At  which  time,  says  he,  the  book  of  articles  of  our 
religion  was  ne<v  penned;    for  even  at  that  season,  the 
whole  rabblement,  which  he  took  to  be  his  friends,  being 
commissioners  with  him,  forsook  him,  and  his  opinion  and 
doctrine.     And  so  leaving  him   post  alone,  revolted  al- 
together on  the  part  of  Stephen  Gardiner,  Bishop  of  VV^in- 
chester.     As  by  name.  Bishops  Hethe,  [Heath]  Shaxton, 
Day,  and  all  other  of  the  meaner  sort.      By  whom  these 
so  named  were  chiefly  advanced  and  preferred  unto  dig- 
nities.     And  yet  this  sudden  inversion,  notwithstanding 
God  gave  him  such  favour  with  his  Prince,  that  book 
altogether  past  by  his  assertions  against  all  their  minds. 
More  to  be  marvelled  at,  the  time  considered,  than  by  any 
reason  to  compass  how  it  should  come  to  pass.     For  then 
•would  there  have  been  laid  thousands  of  pounds  to  hun- 
dreds in  London,  that  he  should,  before  that  synod  had 
been  ended,  have  been  shut  up  in  the  tower,  beside  his 
friend  the  Lord  Cromwell.      Howbeit,  the  King's  Ma- 
jesty having  an  assured  and  approved  affiance,  both  of  his 
deep  knowledge  in  religion,  and  fidelity  both  to  God  and 
him,  suspected  in  that  time  other  men  in  their  judgments, 
not  to  walk  uprightly  nor  sincerely.      For  that  some  of 
them  swerved  from  their  former  opinions  in  doctrine  ;  and 
having   great  experience   of  the  constancy  of  the  Lord 
Cranmer,  it  drove  him  all  along  to  join  with  the  said  Lord 
Cranmer,  m  the  confirmation  of  his  opinion  and  doctrine 
against  all  the  rest,  to  their  great  admiration."      When 
tiie  Bishop  of  Winchester  was  in  Germany,  with  the  title 
of  ambassador  from   Henry  \\\i.  he   had  several  con- 
ferences with  the  learned   Bucer,  upon   different  points, 


*  This  declaration  is  a  very  curious  piece,  and  deserves  to  be  printed 
gUtire. 


GARDINER.  519 

-which  afterwards  occasioned  warm  writings  on  both  sides, 
some  of  which  were  published,  and  others  not. 

In  1550,  Archbishop  Cranmer  published  a  book  in- 
titled  ''  A  Defence  of  the  true  and  Catholic  Doctrine  of 
the  Sacrament  of  the  Body  and  Blood  of  our  Saviour 
Christ,  with  a  confutation  of  sundry  errors  concerning  the 
same;  grounded  and  established  upon  God's  holy  word, 
and  approved  by  the  consent  of  the  most  antient  doctors 
of  the  church."  In  this  book  he  mentioned  the  Bishop 
of  Winchester  by  name,  as  one  of  the  greatest  writers 
amongst  the  papists  ;  with  which  this  Prelate  was  so  much 
offended,  that  he  thought  himself  obliged  to  write  an 
answer,  as  he  did  under  this  title,  "  An  explication  and 
assertion  of  the  true  Catholic  faith,  touching  the  most 
blessed  sacrament  of  the  altar,  with  the  confutation  of  a 
book  written  against  the  same  :"  which  was  printed  abroad 
in  1551,  and  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  endeavoured  to 
make  the  world  believe  that  his  writing  this  book  was  one 
great  cause,  or  rather  the  principal  cause,  of  the  severe 
proceedings  against  him ;  which,  however,  was  peremp- 
torily denied  by  the  Archbishop,  who  not  long  after  pub- 
lished another  piece,  under  the  following  title :  **  An 
Answer,  by  the  Reverend  Father  in  God,  Ihonias,  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury,  Primate  of  all  England  and  Metro- 
politan, unto  a  crafty  and  sophistical  cavillation,  devised 
by  Stephen  Gardiner,  L  L.D.  late  Bishop  of  Winchester, 
against  the  true  and  godly  doctrine  of  the  most  holy 
sacrament  of  the  body  and  blood  of  our  Saviour  Christ. 
Wherein  is  also,  as  occasion  serveth,  answered  such 
places  of  the  book  of  Dr.  Richard  Smith,  as  may  seem  any 
thing  worthy  the  answering.  Also  a  true  copy  of  the  book 
written,  and  in  open  court  delivered,  by  Dr.  Stephen 
Gardiner,  not  one  word  added  or  diminished,  but  faith- 
fully in  all  points  agreeing  with  the  original."  To  this, 
Gardiner  replied  in  Latin,  under  the  feigned  name  of 
Marcus  Antonius  Constantius,  a  divine  of  Lovain,  giving 
his  book  the  following  title,  Confutafio  caviliafionNm, 
quibus,  sacrosanctum  Eucharist i(B  ISacr amentum,  ab  impiis 
Capernaitis  impeti  solet.  Printed  at  Paris,  1552.  This 
piece  he  composed  while  a  prisoner  in  the  tower,  which 
is  the  reason  of  our  affirming  that  the  order  for  debarring 
him  the  use  of  pen,  ink,  and  paper,  must  have  been 
relaxed;  and  to  this  the  Archbishop,  during  his  own 
confinement,  wrote  a  large  and  copious  answer,  which  he 
did  not  live  to  finish. 


520  GARDINER. 

Bishop  Gardiner  managed  this  controversy  also  against 
Peter  Martyr,  and  others  wlio  espoused  the  cause  of 
Cranmer ;  and  it  was  for  these  writings  of  his,  that  he 
was  in  those  days  magnified  by  the  Papists,  as  a  most 
zealous  Catholic;  and  disliked  and  dreaded  by  those  of 
the  Church  of  England,  as  a  warm  and  irreconcilable 
enemy  ;  M-hereas,  in  truth,  he  admitted  the  Communion 
to  be  given  in  both  kinds,  and,  being  allowed  to  put  his 
own  sense  upon  the  words,  would  have  subscribed  to 
what  was  established  about  the  Sacrament.  After  the 
accession  of  Queen  Mary,  finding  himself  attacked  with 
the  utmost  violence  and  virulence  by  several  of  the  exiles 
abroad,  and  particularly  by  Dr.  Turner,*  who  wrote 
several  treatises  on  purpose  to  expose  and  abuse  him  ; 
as  Dr.  Poynet  likewise  did,  who  succeeded  him  in  the 
title  of  Bishop  of  Winchester,  when  he  was  deprived,  to 
which  he  wrote  replies;  and  is  also  said  to  have  corrected 
at  least,  if  he  did  not  compose.  Dr.  Martyn's  book 
against  the  married  Clergy. 

He  likewise  preached  two  very  remarkable  sermons  in 
that  reign:  the  first,  Nov.  13,  1554,  at  Paul's  Cross,  to 
a  very  numerous  audience,  m  which  he  placed  the  new 
opinions,  as  he  called  them,  in  a  very  bad  light,  attributing 
to  them  all  the  extravagant  and  unjust  things  that  had 
been  done  under  the  reign  of  King  Edward.  In  this 
sermon  he  took  shame  to  himself,  and  acknowledged  that 
he  had  erred  too  as  well  as  the  rest,  with  a  great  deal 
more  to  the  same  purpose.  In  the  second  part  of  his 
sermon  he  gave  a  high  character  of  King  Philip,  whom 
he  represented  as  a  prudent,  gentle,  and  temperate  prince, 
exhorting  the  people  to  behave  well  towards  him,  by 
which  they  might  gain  him,  and  all  that  he  had  brought 
with  him  ;  which  some  suy  alluded  to  his  money  that  had 
been  carried  publicly  to  the  tower,  in  order  to  ingratiate 
him  with  the  populace.  Thus  much  is  certainly  true, 
that,  by  the  marriage  articles  which  Gardiner  framed,  that 
prince  was  allowed  to  bring  what  riches  he  pleased  into 
the  kmgdom,  but  was  restrained  from  carrying  out  specie, 
bullion,  or  jewels. 

The  Bishop's  second  sermon  was  likewise  preached  at 
Paul's  Cross,  Dec.  2nd,  following,  on  account  of  the 
nation's  returning  to  communion  with  the  See  of  Rome. 


*  See  his  article  iu  Bale  and  Tanuer. 


GARDINER.  521 

His  text  was,*  Knowing  the  time,  that  now  it  is  high  time 
to  awake  out  of  sleep,  &c.  From  these  words,  amongst 
other  things,  he  observed,  that  when  King  Henry  VHI. 
was  pressed  with  a  rebellion  in  the  North,  he  resolved  to 
retmn  the  Pope  his  Supremacy.  But  this  resolution 
came  to  nothing.  The  hour  was  not  yet  come.  For  had 
the  matter  gone  forward  under  such  circumstances  of 
difficulty,  some  would  have  said  the  King  had  been  over- 
awed into  justice.  After  this,  Gardiner  and  Knevet  were 
sent  ambassadors  to  the  Emperor,  to  request  his  mediation 
for  bringing  the  Pope  and  the  King  to  a  good  understand- 
ing, and  to  smootli  the  way  for  renewing  the  former 
correspondence  between  them  :  but  the  time  was  not  yet 
come:  for  the  juncture  might  have  made  the  King's 
measures  misunderstood,  and  interpreted  his  compliance 
to  reasons  of  state.  In  the  beginning  of  King  Edward's 
reign  the  business  of  reconciliation  was  moved,  but  neither 
was  that  a  proper  time :  for  the  King  being  then  a  child, 
he  could  not  have  had  a  share  in  the  submission.  In 
short,  he  told  them,  this  was  the  time  which  Providence 
seemed  to  have  reserved  for  so  great  a  blessing. 

There  are  likewise  extant  in  the  first  edition  of  Fox's 
Acts  and  Monuments,  several  letters  of  the  Bishop  of 
Winchester  to  the  Duke  of  Somerset,  Lord  Protector, 
with  the  Duke's  answers  to  some  of  them ;  as  also  other 
letters  of  his,  to  different  persons ;  we  might  add  to  these, 
several  other  little  pieces,  but  to  avoid  prolixity,  and  in 
order  to  bring  this  long  article  to  a  speedy  close,  we  will 
refer  the  curious  reader  to  Bishop  Tanner's  accurate 
catalogue,  with  this  observation  only,  that  whereas  he 
mentions  two  penitent  letters  to  Archbishop  Cranmer, 
published  by  Strype,  as  if  they  were  written  by  the  Bishop; 
that  is  plainly  a  mistake,  for  they  were  written  by  William 
Gardiner,  one  of  the  Prebendaries  of  Canterbury,  who, 
about  the  year  1543,  was  engaged  in  a  base  design  of 
aspersing  the  Archbishop,  for  which  he  seems  to  have 
been  very  penitent.-f-  It  is  not  impossible  that  this  man's 
name  might  occasion  other  mistakes,  and  prove  the  handle 
for  objecting  to  the  Bishop  of  Winchester,  his  being  so 


*  Rom.  xiii.  11. 

t  Tanneri  Biblioth.  Britannlco-Hibeinica,  p.  309.    Strype's  Memorials 
of  Archbishop  Craumer,  in  the  Appendix,  p.  69-70-71. 


52£  GARDINER. 

deeply  concerned  in  the  several  plots  formed  about  that 
time  against  the  Archbishop, 

The  letters  of  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  to  Sir  Thomas 
Smith  and  Sir  John  Cheke,  against  the  new  pronunciation 
of  the  Greek  language,  are  most  of  them  extant ;  in  which 
it  was  Roger  Ascham's  opinion,  that  though  these  learned 
Knights  shewed  themselves  better  critics  than  our  Prelate, 
yet  his  letters  manifested  a  superior  genius,  and  were 
chiefly  liable  to  censure,  from  his  affecting  to  enter  farther 
into  a  dispute  of  this  kind  than  was  necessary  for  a  person 
of  his  dignity.  On  the  whole  it  may  be  truly  affirmed, 
that  if  he  had  not  entered  into  business  so  early,  or  had 
not  been  so  much  employed  as  he  was  in  political  affairs, 
he  might  have  established  a  great  reputation  for  his 
knowledge  in  polite  literature,  which  was  certainly  very 
extensive  ;  and  so  much  a  master  he  was  of  foreign  affairs, 
that  in  the  latter  part  of  King  Henry's  reign  they  were 
compelled  to  consult  him,  though  unwilling  to  confide 
in  him. 

Under  Queen  Mary  he  shewed  his  great  abilities  in 
this  science  so  highly  useful  to  ministers,  by  his  masterly 
conduct  in  the  management  of  the  Spanish  match,  and 
by  his  keeping  the  friends  of  King  Philip,  so  long  as  he 
lived,  from  involving  the  English  nation  in  a  war  with 
France,  against  which  he  had  expressly  provided  in  the 
last  article  of  the  marriage  treaty.  It  is  also  believed, 
that  notwithstanding  he  could  not  prevail  with  Queen 
Mary  to  retain  the  title  of  Supreme  Head  of  the  Churchy 
or  prevent  her  submitting  to  the  See  of  Rome,  yet  he 
gave  her  such  notions  of  her  own  rights,  and  of  the 
necessity  of  opposing  Papal  encroachments,  as  induced 
her  after  his  death  to  act  with  so  much  spirit  as  she  did, 
when  an  attempt  was  made  to  send  over  a  Legate  who 
was  u:iacceptab!e  to  her,  merely  because  her  politics 
happened  not  to  be  very  consistent  with  those  of  the  court 
of  Rome  at  that  juncture  ;  though  in  all  probability,  had 
he  survived,  that  quarrel  would  have  been  prevented,  since 
it  was  owing  to  the  Queen's  deserting  his  maxim,  and 
embracing  her  husband's  foreign  interests  against  her  own. 

The  freedom  taken  in  displaying  his  character  from 
the  evidence  of  facts,  and  supporting  what  is  advanced  by 
the  clearest  authorities,  might  in  some  degree  dispense 
with  our  offering  to  sum  up  at  the  close,  what  has  been 
in  a  great  measure  insisted  on  through  the  whole  article. 


GARDINER.  523 

But  the  length  of  it  will  not  suffer  such  an  omission,  lest 
an  unwary  reader  should  take  his  sense  from  a  part,  and 
not  from  the  whole  ;  which  on  that  account  it  is  necessary, 
as  well  as  expedient,  should  be  contracted  into  one  point 
of  view,  and  therefore  his  conduct  in  different  stations 
shall  be  clearly  and  candidly,  though  not  copiously,  stated. 

Character.  The  only  certain  way  of  collecting  men's 
characters,  is  from  their  actions;  it  is  true,  these  are  not 
always  uniform,  but  neither  is  the  mind  of  man,  we  must 
take  them  as  we  find  thetn,  and  be  content  to  follow  the 
evidence  they  give,  instead  of  suborning  them  to  testify  to 
the  notions  we  have  conceived.  If  we  consider  Stephen 
Gardiner  in  this  light,  we  must  allow  him  great  parts, 
since  he  raised  himself,  and  that,  to  the  highest  stations. 
We  must  also  own,  that  he  had  many  good  qualities,  not 
only  because  it  is  impossible  that  he  should  have  risen 
without  them,  but  because  the  proofs  we  have  seen,  in  the 
loregoing  memoir,  are  such, as  will  not,  suffer  it  to  be  dis- 
puted. He  was  learned  himself,  and  a  lover  of  learning 
and  learned  men ;  he  was  grateful  to  his  master,  Wolsey, 
in  distress ;  to  the  memory  of  his  royal  master,  Henry  Vlll., 
when  he  was  dead  j  to  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  when  himself 
was  exalted  to  power.  He  was  of  a  generous  and  liberal 
disposition,  kept  a  good  house,  and  brought  up  several 
young  men,  some  of  v\'hich,  became  afterwards  Statesmen, 
Peers,  and  Privy-Counsellors,  Secretaries  of  State,  and 
Chancellors.  He  had  courage,  which  enabled  him  to  stand 
against  all  his  enemies,  m  the  time  of  King  Henry,  and 
bore  him  up  through  a  long  course  of  misery  and  mis- 
fortunes in  the  succeeding  reign,  neither  did  it  forsake  him 
in  the  last  period  of  his  life,  since,  in  point  of  vigour,  as 
well  as  prudence,  his  administiation  is  as  conspicuous  as 
any  in  our  records,  and  the  more  so,  since  from  the  day 
of  his  death,  his  mistress's  affairs  went  wrong,  and  the  . 
public  confusion  became  so  great,  as  to  break  that 
Princess's  heart,  the  force  and  credit  of  the  nation  being 
long  before  broken. 

He  had  great  address  in  conciliating  the  minds  of  men, 
which  plainly  appeared  by  that  attachment  which  some  of 
the  greatest  statesmen  in  all  respects,  had  to  his  personal 
advice  for  almost  forty  years  together,  as  well  as  by  his 
interest  with  foreign  princes,  of  which  he  availed  himself 
upon  all  occasions.  But  his  greatest  virtue  was  public 
spirit,  which  he  shewed  in  maintaining  the  rights  of  his 


524  GARDINER. 

College,  preserving  the  revenues  of  his  See,  and,  above 
all,  in  preventing  the  projects  of  Philip  from  taking  place, 
circumscribing  the  power  of  the  Queen,  when  he  found 
it  might  be  dangerous  to  the  constitution,  and  obliging 
Cardinal  Pole  to  accept  a  commission  under  the  great 
seal,  for  executing  his  legantine  power,  by  which  the 
Papal  authority,  when  restored,  was  still  in  a  condition  of 
restraint. 

He  had  his  vices,  and  his  bad  qualities  too,  for  what 
man,  what  minister,  has  them  not?  His  envy  appeared 
in  his  crossing  the  designs  of  Cranmer,  in  the  reign  of 
King  Henry,  and  if  he  really  drew  the  articles  against  the 
Protector  Somerset,  it  is  a  proof  that  he  was  vindictive. 
He  had  certainly  a  great  measure  of  pride,  and  his  am- 
bition was  boundless,  to  which,  if  M^e  add  what  most 
writers  bestow^  on  him  plentifully,  a  refined  dissimulation, 
we  shall  perhaps  have  a  tolerable  notion  of  the  dark,  as 
well  as  the  bright  side  of  this  character.  As  to  his 
religion,  he  seems  to  have  been  more  a  Protestant  than 
a  Papist  in  his  principles,  but  with  a  great  regard  to 
the  authority  of  the  Church,  from  whence  arose  his  un- 
willingness to  reform  hastily ;  he  considered  the  mass  of 
the  people  as  grossly  ignorant,  and  therefore  he  thought 
that  some  allowances  were  to  be  made  them,  from  an 
apprehension,  that  if  they  were  suddenly  taught  to  con- 
temn what  they  had  long  revered,  it  might  render  it  very 
difficult  to  make  them  revere  any  thing;  Cranmer  was 
honest  and  open,  hated  priestcraft  and  superstition ; 
Gardiner  was  close  and  circumspect,  afraid  of  novelties, 
and  suspicious  that  anarchy  would  ensue  from  affording  a 
premature  countenance  to  foreign  opinions  ;  this  difference 
m  their  sentiments,  had,  as  might  well  be  expected,  a 
strong  influence  on  their  fortunes,  exposed  Cranmer  to 
,.  sufferings,  and  Gardiner  to  misrepresentations. 

To  enter  more  thoroughly  into  his  merit,  let  us  con- 
sider him  in  the  University,  the  Church,  and  the  Court, 
since  in  the  different  scenes  of  his  life,  he  was  in  some 
measure  supreme  in  all.  He  loved  an  academical  life, 
had  a  true  notion  of  its  advantages,  and  was  very  de- 
sirous of  promoting  them  to  the  utmost  extent  of  his 
power.     Dr.  Fuller,  speaking  of  Trinity- Hall,*   ranges 


*  History  of  Cambridge,  p.  48. 


GARDINER.  525 

the  great  men  produced  by  that  foundation,  in  four 
classes.  Masters,  Benefactors,  Writers,  Bishops,  and  we 
lind  Gardiner's  name  in  every  one  of  them.  The  Duke 
of  Somerset,  when  Protector,  would  have  had  him 
resign  that  house  into  the  hands  of  the  crown,  giving 
out,  that  from  his  affection  to  the  civil  law,  he  was 
inclined  to  erect  a  college  for  promoting  that  study,  and 
to  endow  it  with  the  revenues  of  that  foundation,  and  of 
Clare-Hall.  "  JVlost  politic  Gardiner,  says  my  author, 
not  without  cause,  suspecting  some  design  or  casualty 
might  surprise  the  interval  between  the  dissolution  of  the 
old,  and  the  erection  of  this  new  foundation,  civilly 
declined  the  motion,  informing  his  Grace,  that  the  way  to 
advance  the  study  of  the  law,  was  by  promoting  the  present 
professors  of  that  faculty  (now  so  generally  discouraged) 
and  not  by  founding  a  new  college  for  the  future  students 
thereof,  seeing  Trinity-Hall  alone,  could  breed  more 
civilians  than  all  England  did  prefer  according  to  their 
deserts."  This,  as  the  same  writer  observes,  cost  Gar- 
diner his  mastership,  but  saved  the  foundation. 

He  was  no  less  tender  of  the  privileges  of  the  Univer- 
sity as  Chancellor,  than  of  the  welfare  of  that  Hall  of 
which  he  was  ISlaster ,  this  fully  appears  from  Ascham's 
letters  to  him,  even  when  the  Protector  had  supplanted 
him  in  that  office,  so  much  the  University  depended  upon 
his  friendship,  when  necessity  obliged  them  to  deprive 
him  of  his  power.*  Upon  the  turn  of  the  times,  and  his 
coming  again  into  that  office,  he  purged  it  thoroughly, 
turning  out  all  the  masters  except  two,  yet  some  kind 
things  made  amends  for  this,  if  there  was  any  injustice  in 
it,  for  Queen  Mary  made  a  considerable  grant  to  Trinity- 
College,  and  the  Chancellor,  by  the  help  of  his  Vice- 
Chancellor,  and  another  famous  instrument  of  his.  Dr. 
Andrew  Perne,  preserved  that  seat  of  the  Muses  from  the 
flames  of  persecution.  Cardinal  Pole,  who  succeeded 
Gardiner,  and  Mas  Chancellor  at  once  of  both  Universities, 
began  his  administration  at  Cambridge,  by  burning  the 
dead  bodies  of  Martin  Bucer,  and  Paul  Fagius,  which 
had  remained  quiet  in  their  graves  during  Gardiner's  time, 
though  Bucer  was  his  opponent ;  yet  our  Historians  say, 
Gardiner  was  a  furious  persecutor,  and  Pole  a  very  mode- 


Aschami  Epistolse. 


526  GARDINER. 

rate  man,  to  which  we  should  have  no  exception,  if  he 
had  burnt  only  dead  bodies. 

As  Bishop  of  Winchester,  we  find  him  always  very 
considerable  ;  he  was  able  to  do  much  in  Convocation, 
and  more  in  Parliament.  Such  as  are  disposed  to  see 
with  their  own  eyes,  and  not  trust  to  the  reports  of  histo- 
rians, will  find  abundant  proofs  of  this,  by  resorting  to 
the  remains  of  the  journals  of  both  assemblies  that  are  still 
preserved  ;  and  the  further  evidence  of  this  is,  the  extra- 
ordinary care  that  was  taken  to  exclude  him  from  both, 
during  the  whole  reign  of  King  Edward.  In  this,  those 
who  loved  the  Reformation  concurred,  as  fearing  his 
abilities ;  and  the  courtiers  assisted  them  therein,  as  being 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  his  resolution.  They  knew 
that  no  See  in  England  afforded  richer  plunder  than 
Winchester ;  and  they  knew  in  that  point,  that  no  Bishop 
in  England  was  more  infiexible  than  Gardiner,  but  being 
once  heaved  out,  they  made  no  doubt  of  cutting  many 
pretty  estates  out  of  the  lands  of  this  Bishopric ;  and  we  have 
elsewhere  shewn  that  in  this  they  were  not  mistaken ;  but 
as  this  is  a  point  of  very  great  consequence,  and  as  at  the 
beginning  of  the  article,  we  gave  the  reader  Gardiner's 
picture  drawn  by  the  hands  of  his  successor,  Bishop 
Poynet ;  so  here  we  will  give  a  detail  of  Bishop  Poynet's 
administration,  as  Mr.  Strype*  has  drawn  it  from  records, 
which  will  shew  what  those  apprehensions  were,  that 
made  Bishop  Gardiner  so  stift' in  his  opposition,  and  what 
concessions  the  great  men  in  power  exacted  for  the  coun- 
tenance they  gave  to  the  reformation,  to  which  we  may  in 
a  great  measure  ascribe  the  turn  that  happened  upon  the 
accession  of  Queen  Mary. 

"  In  the  month  of  May,  1551,  M'hen  Poynet  was  made 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  after  the  deprivation  of  Gardiner, 
a  great  alienation  was  made  of  the  lands  and  revenues 
antiently  belonging  to  that  Bishopric,  according  as  it  was 
required  of  the  said  Poynet,  when  he  first  came  to  the  see, 
or  rather  conditionally  to  his  preferment  thither.  Then 
he  passed  away  to  the  King  the  manors  of  Marden, 
Twyford,  Marwel,  Waltham,  ike.  in  the  county  of  South- 
ampton, and  divers  other  lands,  lordships,  tenements, 
rents,  &c.  and,  in  effect,  all  the  temporalties  of  that  rich 


Strype's  Memorials,  Vol.  II.  p.  272-73-74. 


GARDINER.  527 

Bishopric.  And  to  make  all  sure,  letters  wer€  dispatched 
to  the  Dean  and  Chapter,  to  coutirm  the  grant  of  the  said 
Bishop,  by  their  full  consent  and  seal  of  the  Chapter,  as 
iu  that  case,  by  the  order  of  the  laws,  is  required  and 
accustomed.  Then  did  the  King  give  to  the  Bishop  and 
his  successors,  in  consideration  of  the  said  Bishop's  sur- 
render, a  great  many  rectories,  as  that  of  Bremmer,  and  of 
the  chapel  of  Charford  and  Hale,  and  the  rectory  of 
Regborn,  rn  the  county  of  Southampton,  and  divers  other 
lands,  to  the  value  of  two  thousand  marks,  to  be  held  iu 
liberam  eleemosj/nam,  and  to  take  the  profits  from  Michael- 
mas last.  He  granted  him  moreover,  for  some  recom- 
pence  for  all  this  taken  away,  that  his  first  fruits,  which 
before  were  charged  in  the  King's  books  at  three  thousand 
eight  hundred  eighty-five  pounds,  three  shillings,  three- 
pence half-penny  farthing,  should  be  now  reduced  to  two 
thousand  marks,  and  that  for  his  tenths,  from  henceforth 
he  should  be  taxed  at  two  thousand  marks  and  no  more, 
to  be  paid  yearly  ;  that  he  should  have  ten  years  space  to 
pay  his  first  fruits  in  ;  that  bonds  should  be  taken  for  pay- 
ment from  the  Bishop  only,  without  sureties  to  be  bound 
with  him  ;  and  that  all  the  bonds  and  writings  for  the  first 
fruits  of  his  former  Bishopric,  viz.  of  Rochester,  should 
be  delivered  him  up,  which  the  King  forgave  him.  And 
for  the  putting  all  this  into  effect,  a  warrant  was  issued  out 
to  the  chancellor,  treasurer,  and  council,  and  to  all  others 
being  officers  of  the  court  of  first  fruits  and  tenths.  The 
King  also  gave  him  a  licence  to  enter  into  his  Bishopric, 
and  to  take  the  profits  thereof,  without  paying  any  thing 
therefore,  notwithstanding  a  statute  made  iu  that  behalf, 
in  the  twenty-sixth  of  Henry  the  Eighth,  the  import 
whereof  was,  that  no  spiritual  person  should  enter  upon 
his  benefice  before  he  had  paid  the  first  fruits,  or  given 
bond  and  security  to  pay  them.  A  pardon  also  was 
granted  him  of  all  pains,  penalties,  aud  sums  of  money 
that  might  be  forfeited  and  due  to  the  King,  for  entering 
into  the  Bishopric  of  Rochester,  contrary  to  the  said 
statute.  The  King  soon  gratified  his  servants  with  the 
lands  and  manors  of  this  Bishopric,  viz.  to  Sir  John 
Gates,  the  manors  of  Sutton,  Ropley,  &c.  in  Southamp- 
ton and  Surry,  of  the  yearly  value  of  one  hundred  forty- 
five  pounds,  nineteen  shillings,  nine-pence  half-penny  ; 
to  Sir  Philip  Hoby,  the  manors  of  iVlarden,  &c.  in  the 
county  of  Southampton,  of  the  yearly  value  of  eighty-seven 


528  GARDINER. 

pounds,  eighteen  shillings,  seven-pence  ;  to  Sir  Andrew 
Dudley,  the  manor  of  Witney,  &c.  of  the  yearly  value  of 
one  hundred  eighty  pounds,  seven-pence  half-penny  far- 
thing;  to  Sir  Henry  Seymour,  lands  to  the  yearly  value 
of  one  hundred  eighty-six  pounds  four-pence  ;  to  William 
Fitz-Williams,  the  manor  of  High-Clere,  &c.  to  the  yearly 
value  of  eighty-four  pounds,  seventeen  shillings,  three- 
pence ;  to  Henry  Nevyle,  the  manor  of  Margrave,  &c.  to 
the  yearly  value  of  one  hundred  fourteen  pounds,  eighteen 
shillings,  ten-pence  ;  Sir  Thomas  Wroth,  had  also  an 
annuity  of  one  hundred  pounds.  And  for  the  further 
confirmation  of  this  alienation  made  by  the  Bishop'  of 
Winchester,  it  was  thought  requisite  to  have  it  allowed 
and  consented  to  by  the  Dean  and  Chapter  under  their 
seal.  Whereupon,  in  August,  a  letter  was  sent  to  Sir 
John  Mason,  knight,  that  he  should  repair  to  Winchester, 
and  agree  with  the  Bishop  to  meet  them  there  at  a 
certain  day,  and  to  cause  all  the  Canons,  Prebendaries, 
and  others  whom  it  concerned,  to  assemble  in  the  Chapter- 
house, for  confirming  the  said  lands  before  Michaelmas 
next,  and  to  advertise  the  council  the  next  day,  that  order 
might  be  given  to  the  King's  learned  counsel  to  be  there 
at  the  same  time.  And  a  letter  was  sent  to  this  Bishop, 
in  behalf  of  the  city  of  Winchester,  namely,  to  take  order, 
that  the  city  and  citizens,  and  their  successors,  might  be 
freed  from  their  suits  and  services  heretofore  made  to  that 
court,  called  the  Palm  Court,  and  all  other  liberties  he 
had  to  the  same,  clearly  exonerated  and  discharged  by  his 
sufficient  writing  under  his  seal,  and  confirmed  by  the 
chapter  seal  according  to  his  promise." 

We  see  that  it  was  not  either  doctrine  or  ceremonies 
that  produced  Gardiner's  deprivation,  he  would  have  con- 
sented to  the  one  and  complied  with  the  other,  though  at 
the  same  time  he  professed,  that  more  alterations  were 
made  than  he  could  approve ;  but  spoiling  his  Bishopric 
was  a  thing  to  which  he  would  never  have  yielded.  ^S^"  He 
judged  the  Christian  Church  with  the  supremacy  placed  in 
the  croivn,  to  be  a  necessary  part  of  the  English  consti- 
tutiou,  and  for  that  reason  was  for  preserving  it ;  and 
when  he  afterwards  recovered  this  see,  he  made  use  of  the 
law  to  recover  its  revenues.  But  how  right  soever  his 
conduct  might  be  in  this  respect,  his  compliances  were 
certainly  wrong  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary,  because  he 
acted  contrary  to  his  own  knowledge.     However  he  might 


GARDINER.  529 

solve  to  himself  the  restoring  the  Papal  power,  and  reviv- 
ing the  sanguinary  laws,  without  which,  it  could  not  be 
supported;  it  is  impossible  to  justify  him,  nor  will  any 
honest  and  ingenuous  man  attempt  it;  but  that  he  acted 
in  many  things  unwillingly,  and  under  that  necessity 
which  he  had  brought  upon  himself  and  the  nation,  by 
complying  with  Queen  Mary's  bigotry,  is  apparent  enough 
from  his  actions,  which  though  they  excuse  him  in  some 
instances  from  cruelty,  yet  Miat  very  excuse  demonstrates, 
that  he  acted  against  his  principles,  in  procuring  that 
power  for  others,  which  was  executed  with  such  unchristian 
rigour  and  severity. 

Some  of  our  historians  urge  in  favour  of  Cardinal  Pole, 
that  he  was  under  no  necessity  of  putting  Cranmer  to 
death,  in  order  to  come  at  the  Archbishopric,  since  that 
was  conferred  on  him  by  the  Pope,*  before  the  burning 
of  his  predecessor.  If  this  was  really  so,  then  the  sug- 
gestion that  Bishop  Gardiner  preserved  Cranmer's  life 
out  of  spleen  to  Pole,  and  from  private  views,  must  be 
also  ill-founded,  and  his  preservation  of  him  as  long  as 
he  lived,  may  be  therefore  referred  to  a  better  motive. 
But  still,  his  reconciling  the  English  nation  to  the 
obedience  of  the  See  of  Rome,  which  was  plainly  his 
act  and  deed,  is  as  indefensible  as  ever.  Whatever  com- 
passion he  might  have  as  a  man,  he  shewed  little  of  the 
piety  or  prudence  of  a  christian  Bishop  in  that  action, 
the  worst  without  doubt  of  his  whole  life,  though  not  the 
worst  spoken  of,  even  by  Protestant  historians. 

His  behaviour  as  a  Minister  of  State  in  the  reign  of 
Henry,  is  far  from  being  unexceptionable.  His  soliciting 
the  divorce  of  Queen  Katherine,  at  home  and  abroad ; 
his  carrying  Cranmer  to  the  King,  applauding  his  advice, 
and  taking  upon  himself  to  carry  it  into  execution  at 
Cambridge,  if  done  contrary  to  his  sense  of  things,  as 
there  is  great  probability  it  was,  cannot  be  either  defended 
or  excused.  His  reversing  all  this  by  an  Act  of  Parlia- 
ment, and  throwing  the  whole  odium  upon  Cranmer, 
Bishop  Burnet  says,*!*  shewed  he  had  lost  all  sense  of 
shame,  and  a  man  must  want  either  conscience  or  under- 
standing who  does  not  think  so.  His  advising  Queen 
Mary  to  acts  of  lenity  at  her  entrance  on  the  government, 


^  Collier's  Ecclcs.  Hist.  vol.  II,  p.  391.    t  Hist,  of  the  Reformat.vol.il,  p.  254. 

Mm 


■330  GARDINER. 

was  certainly  very  commendable.  His  soliciting  her  to 
restore  what  the  crown  had  taken  from  several 
noble  families,  such  as  Norfolk,  Arundel,  Stanhope,  and 
Hungerford,  and  the  provision  for  restoring  in  blood,  the 
Earl  of  Devonshire,  and  the  son  of  the  Duke  of  Somerset, 
highly  laudable ;  his  excluding  foreign  influence  from 
English  councils,  and  his  preventing  a  Spanish  prince 
from  b^ing  placed  on  the  English  throne,  were  essential 
services  to  his  country  j  his  attention  upon  all  occasions 
to  the  spirit  of  the  constitution,  in  preference  to  every 
thing,  and  particularly,  both  to  royal  and  ministerial 
power,  is  worthy  of  praise  and  imitation. 

It  might  be  thought  a  strange  omission,  if  we  should 
say  nothing  of  the  charge  that  was  brought  against  him 
of  corrupting  Parliaments,  as  it  is  mentioned  by  several 
eminent  historians,  but  the  asserting  boldly,  or  transcribing 
a  fact  often,  is  no  kind  of  evidence.  We  tind  nothing  of 
it  in  the  earliest  historians,  who  wrote  in  the  succeeding 
reign;  and  there  is  nothing  brought  to  justify  it,  excepting 
what  has  been  said  of  King  Philip's  bringing  over  a  large 
sum  in  ready  money.  As  to  the  Parliament,  particularly 
insisted  upon,  which  is  the  second  of  the  Queen's  reign, 
and  as  to  which  it  is  surmised,  that  he  gave  pensions  to 
several  of  the  members,  there  is  a  matter  of  fact  that 
strongly  contradicts  it,  and  it  is  this,  that  this  Parliament 
did  not  continue  full  two  months,  meeting  on  the  second 
of  April,  and  being  dissolved  on  the  twenty-hfth  of  May. 
Now  it  is  natural  to  believe,  that  if  this  minister's  in- 
fluence, which  was  indeed  very  great,  had  been  built  upon 
corruption,  he  would  have  continued  that  Parliament ; 
for  it  is  not  the  custom  of  those  who  give  wages,  to  be 
content  with  such  short  senice,  more  especially  when  a 
Parliament  was  again  called  the  very  same  year..  Besides, 
the  Spanish  money  was  not  then  arrived. 

We  may  add  to  all  this,  that  our  Prelate  had  less 
occasion  to  bribe,  because  he  asked  no  supplies.  It  is 
usual  to  wet  the  sucker  before  the  hand  is  applied  to  the 
pump  :  but  it  would  be  a  mere  waste  of  water  if  there  was 
no  intention  of  pumping.  The  ministers  who  followed 
him  in  that  reign  stood  in  need  of  that  vile  expedient, 
and  practised  it ;  but  they  steered  by  other  maxims  than 
Gardiner  had  done,  and  knew  not  the  art  of  managing 
Parliaments  by  beginning  with  constitutional  bills,  and 
thereby  putting  them  iti  a  good  humour,  or  of  being 


GARDINER.  531 

contented  with  a  moderate  share  of  success,  and  not 
pushing  too  many  government  points  at  once,  which  were 
the  principal  arts  he  used. 

In  this  respect  he  was  perfectly  happy,  that  he  died 
before  he  found  himself  under  the  necessity  of  altering 
his  conduct,  or  of  forfeiting  the  reputation  he  had  acquired, 
by  unwarrantable  compliances.  We  are  now  at  such  a 
distance  from  the  time  in  which  he  lived,  and  are  possessed 
6f  so  many  public  and  private  papers,  that  open  to  us  the 
whole  circle  of  his  conduct,  at  the  same  time  that  all 
partiality  or  prejudice  is,  or  ought  to  be,  removed,  that 
we  may  look  on  ourselves  as  free,  as  well  as  competent 
judges  of  it.  To  this,  if  the  pains  taken  in  the  present 
article  shall  any  way  contribute,  it  will  fully  answer  the 
only  end  for  which  they  were  taken,  by  recommending  a 
critical  examination  of  our  history,  with  an  unbiassed 
regard  to  truth  and  the  constitution. 

The  fashion  of  those  times  allowed  more  to  exterior 
expressions  of  funeral  sorrow  than  ours,  and  by  enter- 
taining the  eyes  of  the  vulgar  with  a  lugubrious  spectacle* 
of  a  great  man's  last  journey,  impressed  on  their  minds  a 
greater  degree  of  reverence  than  could  be  wrought  by 
words.  As  this  is  a  point  not  altogether  unworthy  of 
observation,  and  as  we  rarely  find  ceremonies  of  this  kind 
so  clearly,  so  circumstantially,  and  so  methodically  set 
down  as  these  are,  we  judge  it  not  altogether  amiss  to 
give  them  a  place,  as  a  sort  of  feature  of  that  age,  when 
there  was  more  attention  paid  to  sight  than  to  all  the 
rest  of  the  senses,  and  more  money  bestowed,  and  more 
diligence  used,  in  setting  out  such  a  solemnity,  than 
without  such  a  detail  as  this  could  be  easily  imagined. 

In  all  probability,  the  reason  of  removing  the  Bishop's 
corpse  so  hastily,  was  to  have  it  in  the  proper  place  where 
these  funeral  honours  might  be  paid,  since  at  the  court, 
where  he  died,  it  would  have  been  very  improper.  By 
five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  his  bowels 
were  buried  before  the  high-altar,  in  the  parish  church 
of  St.  Mary  Overie's  ;  at  six,  the  knell  began,  and  a 
Dirge  and  Mass,  all  the  bells  continuing  to  ring  until  seven 
at  night.  Nov.  14,  began  the  knell  again  ;  there  was  then 
a  hearse  adorned  with  four  branches  of  gilt  candlesticks, 


•  Stow's  Annals,  p.  627 
Min  2 


532  GARDINER. 

two  white  branches,   and  three  dozen   of  staff  torches. 
The  choir  was  hung  with  black,  and  coats  of  arms  and 
escutcheons :    Dirge  sung  that  evening  ;    the  next  day, 
Mass  of   Requiem  was  sung  by  Dr.  Bonner,  Bishop  of 
London,  many  prelates,  noblemen,  knights, and  gentlemen 
being  present ;  after  which.  Dr.  White,  Bishop  of  Lincoln, 
ascended  the  pulpit,   and  preached  the  funeral  sennon, 
this  over,  they  went  to  Winchester-palace  to  dinner.     Tlie 
same  day  in"^  the  afternoon,   was  Dirge  sung  in   every 
parish  in  London,  with  a  hearse  and  ringing  of  bells,  and 
the  next  day,  a  Mass  of  Requiem  and  prayers,  according 
to  the  fashion  of  those  times.     On  the  21st  of  the  same 
month,  about  noon,  began  the  knell,  when  the  body  was 
brought  to  the  church  of  St.  Mary  Overie's,  attended  by 
all  the  Bishops  who  were  then  in  town,   and  by  a  great 
number  of  the  Clergy  ;  the  Bishop  of  London  performed 
the  funeral  service,  and  wore  his  mitre  ;  before  the  corpse, 
went  the  king  at  arms  in  his  coat,  and  five  banners  of  his 
arms,  and   four  images  wrought  with   gold   and  jewels. 
On   the  morrow   were    said    three   Masses,   one   of  the 
Trinity,  one  of  our  Lady,  and  one  of  Requiem;  after 
which,  the  company  repaired  to  dinner  at  Winchester- 
palace,  and  the  body  was  deposited  in  a  vault,  until  it 
could  be  carried  to  Winchester.     On  Feb.  24,  following, 
the  obsequies  of  this   Prelate  were  celebrated  after  the 
following  manner.     In  the  afternoon,  began  the  knell  at 
St.  Mary  Overie's,  and   ringing.     After  that  began   the 
Dirge.     A  pall  of  cloth  of  gold,  and  two  white  branches, 
and  two  dozen  of  staff  torches  burning,  and  four  great 
tapers.     The  Lord  Montacute,  the  chief  mourner,  and 
the  Lord    Bishop   of   Lincoln,    Sir    Robert   Rochester, 
comptroller,  and  divers  other  attendants  in  black,  and 
many  black  gowns  and  coats.     And  the  morrow,  Mass 
of  Requiem,  and  offering  done,   began  the  sermon ;   and 
so  Mass  being  done,  all  repaired  to  a  dinner  at  Lord 
Montacute's.     At  the  gate,  the  corpse  was  put  into  a 
chariot  with  four  horses  all  covered  with  black.     Over 
the  corpse,  an  image  resembling  the  deceased,  with  his 
mitre  on  his  head,  with  five  gentlemen,  bearing  five  ban- 
ners of  his  amis.     Then  followed   100  men  in  gowns 
and  hoods.      Then  two    heralds  in   their  coat-armour. 
Garter   and    Rouge    Croix.      Then   came   men   riding, 
carrying    torches    burning,    in    number   60,    about  the 
corpse  all  the  way.     Then  came  the  mourners  in  gowns 


GARDINER.  533 

and  coats,  to  the  number  of  200,  afore  and  behind  ;  and 
ceasing,  and  there  they  had  a  great  torch  given  them. 
And  so  through  every  parish  until  they  came  to  Win- 
chester. And  as  many  as  came  to  meet  them  had  money 
given  them.  And  a  Dirge  and  Mass  at  every  lodging.* 
All  these  ceremonies  being  over,  the  corpse  was  interred 
according  to  the  Bishop's  last  will,  as  Bishop  Godwin 
tells  us,  on  the  north  side  of  the  high  altar  in  the  Cathedral, 
jn  a  tomb,  answerable  to  that  of  Bishop  Fox,  on  the  other 
side.f  Many  poetical  compositions,  both  in  Latin  and 
English,  were  published  on  the  demise  of  this  great 
Prelate ;  the  most  bitter  invectives  against  him  may  be 
found  in  Bale,  who  seems  to  have  taken  particular  pleasure 
in  the  abuse  of  him  ;  on  the  other  hand,  Mr.  John 
Morwen,  who  was  fellow  of  C.  C.  C,  Oxford,  wrote  an 
elegant  Latin  poem  in  honour  of  his  memory,  in  which 
there  are  many  facts,  as  well  as  much  panegyric.  Sir 
John  Harrington,  whom  we  have  before  mentioned,  deals 
very  fairly  by  him  and  the  public,  by  preserving  a  poem 
highly  in  his  commendation  ;  and  that  piece,  according  to 
the  custom  of  those  times,  reversed  into  a  most  outrageous 
satire.  It  had  been  well,  if  authors  on  both  sides  had 
confined  their  partiality  and  their  prejudice,  to  poetical 
compositions  only,  and  left  histoiy  untainted  with  them, 
we  should  then  have  been  able  to  have  made  this  article 
much  shorter,  as  well  as  more  satisfactory. 

Many  intrigues  were  set  on  foot  at  court,  on  this  great 
Prelate's  death,  about  filling  his  places,  which  occasioned 
some  delay  in  disposing  of  them.  The  great  seal  was  in 
the  mean  time  put  into  the  hands  of  Sir  Nicholas  Hare, 
master  of  the  rolls,  and  on  New-year's-day  following,  given 
to  Dr.  Nicholas  Heath,  Archbishop  of  York.J  In  the 
Chancellorship  of  Cambridge  he  was  succeeded  by  Car- 
dinal Pole,§  who  had  some  inclination  to  have  held  his 
Bishopric  of  Winchester  too  i7i  commendam;  but  at  length 
it  was  given  to  Dr.  White,  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  the  modest 
Cardinal  contenting  himself  with  a  pension  of  c£  1,000.  a 
year  out  of  the  revenue,  for  the  support  of  his  dignity.^ 


*  Stiype's  Memorials,  vol.  Ill,  p.  229-30.— p.  285-86. 
t  De  Praesulibus  Anglise,  p.  237. 
t  Burnet's  Hist,  of  the  Reformat,  vol.11,  p.32I.    §  Cat,  Caacell.  Cantabjig. 
^  Godwia,  de  Prsesul.  Anglise,  p.  237, 


534  GARDINER. 

As  to  the  Mastership  of  Trinity-Hall,  Dr.  Mowse,  who 
took  it  as  a  good  Protestant  in  King  Edward's  time,  was 
now  become  so  good  a  Catholic  as  to  take  it  again  in 
Queen  Mary's  time ;  and  in  the  days  of  Elizabeth  had  a 
Prebend  of  York  bestowed  on  him,  being  once  more 
become  a  Protestant.*  As  to  the  private  estate  of  Bishop 
Gardiner,  he  disposed  of  it  by  will,  of  which  his  two  old 
friends,t  Sir  Anthony  Brown,  Viscount  Montacute,  and 
Dr.  Thomas  Thirlby,  Bishop  of  Ely,  were  the  executors. 

iHere  ends  the  re-print  taken  from  the Biographia  Britiannicd]. 


Fuller  in  his  quaint  style  thus  records  Gardiner  in  his 
Worthies,  under  Suffolk,  vol.  II.  p.  331,  edit.  1811  : — 

"  Stephen  Gardiner  was  born  in  Bury-St.-Edmunds, 
one  of  the  best  airs  in  England,  the  sharpness  whereof  he 
retained  in  his  wit  and  quick  apprehension.  Some  make 
him  base  son  to  Lionel  Widville,  Bishop  of  Salisbury, 
which  1  can  hardly  believe,  Salisbury  and  St.  Edmund's 
Bury  being  six  score  miles  asunder.  Besides,  time  herein 
is  harder  to  be  reconciled  than  place.  For,  it  being 
granted  an  error  of  youth  in  that  Bishop,  and  he,  vanishing 
out  of  the  world  in  1485,  Gardiner  must  in  all  probability 
be  allowed  of  greater  age  than  he  was  at  his  death.  [He 
is  generally  said  to  have  died  at  the  age  of  72,  in  the  year 
1555,  which  was  just  70  years  after  the  death  of  Bishop 
Widville.] 

It  is  confessed  by  all  that  he  was  a  man  of  admirable 
parts,  and  memory  especially,  so  conducible  to  learning, 
that  one  saith,  "  Tantum  scimus,  quantum  meminimus." 
He  was  bred  L.L.D.  in  Trinity-Hall,  Cambridge,  and 
after  many  state  embassies  and  employments,  he  was  by 
King  Henry  VIII.  made  Bishop  of  Winchester.  His 
malice  was  like  what  is  commonly  said  of  white  powder, 
which  surely  discharged  the  bullet,  yet  made  no  report, 
being  secret  in  all  his  acts  of  cruelty.     This  made  him 


*  Memorials  of  Archbishop  Cranmer,  p.  400^1. 
t  Godwin,  de  PrsesuJ,  Aiiglise,  p.  237. 


GARDINER.  635 

often  chide  Bonner,  calling  him  Ass*  though  not  so 
much  for  killing  poor  people,  as  not  for  doing  it  more 
cunningly. 

He  was  the  chief  contriver  of  what  may  be  called 
Gardiner's  Creed,  though  consisting  but  of  six  articles, 
which  caused  the  death  of  many,  and  trouble  of  more 
protestants.  He  had  almost  cut  off  0)ie  who  was,  and 
prevented  another  from  ever  being  a  Queen.  I  mean 
Katherine  Parr  and  the  Lady  Elizabeth,  had  not  Divine 
Providence  preserved  them.  He  complied  with  King 
Henry  VHl.  and  was  what  he  would  have  him :  opposed 
King  Edward  VI.  by  whom  he  was  imprisoned  and 
deprived  ;  acted  all  under  Queen  Mary,  by  whom  he  was 
restored,  and  made  Lord  Chancellor  of  England. 

He  is  reported  to  have  died  more  than  half  a  Protestant, 
avouching  that  he  believed  himself  and  all  others  only  to 
be  justified  by  the  merits  oi  Christ ;  which,  if  so,  then  did 
he  verify  the  Latin  proverb — 

Sape  Olitor  valde  verba  opportuna  locutus, 

"The  Gardener  oft  times  in  due  season. 
Speaks  what  is  true  and  solid  reason." 

He  died  at  Whitehall,  of  the  gout,  Nov.  12,  1555,  and 
is  buried  by  his  own  appointment,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
choir,  over  against  Bishop  Fox,  in  a  very  fair  monument. 
He  had  done  well,  if  he  had  paralleled  Bishop  Fox 
(founder  of  C.C.C.  Oxford)  in  erecting  some  public 
work,  the  rather  because  he  died  so  rich,  being  reported  to 
have  left  40,000  marks  in  ready  money  behind  him. 

However,  on  one  account,  his  memory  must  be  com- 
mended, for  improving  his  power  with  Queen  Mary  to 
restore  some  noble  families  formerly  depressed.  My 
author  (Sir  John  Harrington)  instanceth  in  some 
descendants  from  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  in  the  Stanhopes, 
and  the  Arundels  of  Wardour  Castle.  To  these  give  me 
leave  to  add,  the  right  ancient  family  of  the  Hungerfords, 
to  whom  he  procured  a  great  part  of  their  patrimony 
seized  on  by  the  crown,  to  be  restored." 

Lodge  in  his  Illustrations,  gives  the  following  concise 
outline  of  this  Prelate's  life  : — "  After  having  travelled 
-with  the  Duke  of  Norfolk's  sons,  he  became  secretary  to 


Sir  John  Harrington,  in  the  Bishops  of  Wiut. 


536  GARDINER. 

Cardinal  Wolsey  in  the  business  of  the  Chancery,  and  was 
recommended  by  that  Prelate  to  the  King,  who  employed 
him  m  several  embassies  to  the  principal  courts  of  Europe, 
and  at  length  appointed  him  a  secretary  of  state.  He 
negotiated  at  Rome  the  critical  affair  of  Henry's  divorce, 
and  though  a  bigotted  Catholic,  of  which  he  left  many 
bloody  marks,  renounced  the  Pope's  supremacy  on  oath, 
havmg  been  not  long  before  promoted  to  the  Bishopric 
of  Winchester.  This  hypocritical  concession  kept  him  in 
favour  till  towards  the  end  of  this  capricious  reign  ;  whea 
havmg  been  discovered  in  a  plot  against  Queen  Katherine 
Parr,  on  account  of  some  conscientious  scruples  enter- 
tamed  by  that  honest  lady  in  matters  of  faith,  he  was 
suddenly  disgraced,  and  Henry  struck  his  name  from  the 
list  of  his  executors.  Soon  after  the  accession  of  Edward 
VI.  he  was  deprived  and  committed  to  the  tower,  for 
opposing  the  progress  of  the  reformation ;  and  remained 
a  prisoner  till  the  King's  death,  when  Mary  restored  him 
to  his  Bishopric,  and  made  him  Lord  Chancellor.  He 
was  a  prime  actor  in  the  scenes  of  horror  which  followed, 
and  had  scarcely  received  the  intelligence  of  the  burning 
of  Ridley  and  Latimer,  for  which  he  had  waited  with  the 
utmost  anxiety,  when  he  was  seized  with  a  strange  dis- 
temper, which  carried  him  off  in  the  second  week  of 
JNovember,  1555." 

A  biographer  of  a  singular  cast,  who  wrote  about  a 
century  after  Gardiner's  death,  gives  us  a  part  of  that 
Prelate's  origmal  character  in  the  following  original 
terms: — "His  reservedness,"  says  Lloyd,  "was  such, 
that  he  never  did  what  he  aimed  at,  never  aimed  at  what 
he  intended,  never  mtended  what  he  said,  and  never  said 
what  he  thought :  whereby  he  carried  it  so,  that  others 
should  do  his  business  when  they  opposed  it,  and  he 
should  undermine  theirs  when  he  seemed  to  promote  it. 
A  man  that  was,  to  be  traced  like  the  fox,  and  read  like 
Hebrew,  backward  :  if  you  would  know  what  he  did,  you 
must  observe  what  he  did  not." — Page  102,  1791. 

Sir  John  Harnngton  in  the  JSiuga;  AntiqucB,  vol.  I. 
from  page  48  to  53,  draws  this  Prelate's  character  at 
length.  He  has  chiefly  drawn  his  sketch  from  Fox's 
martyrs:  a  portion  of  what  he  has  said,  has  been  era- 
bodied  in  the  preceding  memoir. 

Stow,  in  speaking  of  St.  Overie's  Church,  observes, 
*'  The   Church  of  the  Priory  of  St.  Mary  Overy,  was 


GARDINER.  537 

purchased  of  the  King  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  borough 
(Southwark.)  Dr.  Stephen  Gardiner,  Bishop  of  VVinton, 
putting  to  his  helping  hand,  they  made  thereof  a  parish 
church,  for  the  parish  church  of  St.  Mary  Magdalen,  on 
the  south  side  of  the  said  choir,  and  of  St.  Margaret-on- 
the-Hill,  which  were  made  one  parish  of  St.  Saviour." — 
Hist.  Loud.  vol.  II.  p.  11. 

Archbishop  Cranmer  being  at  the  accession  of  Queen 
^ary  a  prisoner  in  the  tower,  on  a  charge  of  high 
treason.  Bishop  Gardiner  had  the  "honour,"  as  Milner 
terms  it,  of  performing  the  ceremony  of  crowning  her  in 
1553.  He  was  also,  says  the  same  writer,  "pitched 
vpon"  to  bestow  the  nuptial  benediction  on  Queen  Mary 
and  Philip  of  Spain,  in  the  chapel  of  the  Queen's 
patroness,  the  Virgin  Mary,  now  the  Morning  Chapel, 
where  the  chair  is  still  shewn  on  which  the  Queen  sat  on 
this  occasion. 

It  is  impossible  to  help  smiling  at  the  naivete  and  sang 
froid  with  which  the  Roman  Catholic  Bisiiop  Miiner,  the 
historianof  Winchester,  touches  upon  the  executions  which 
took  place  by  Bishop  Gardiner's  orders.  The  following 
are  his  words: — "Gardiner  who  had  originally  only  voted 
for  the  persecutions  carried  on  in  this  reign  in  a  limited 
degree,  fancijing,  that  a  few  capital  punishments  would 
have  the  effect  of  making  the  whole  nation  of  one  reli- 
gion," &,c.  &c.  This  truly  is  an  amusing  specimen  of 
Catholicism  :  and  shews  in  how  flippant  a  tnanner  the 
STAKE  is  treated  by  Romanists  of  the  IQth  Century. 

Synopsis  of  some  of  the  principal  Dates  connected  with 

this  Prelate. 

Born  1483. 

Master  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge,  1525,  being 
then  L.L.D.     Le  Neve  Fasti,  p.  426. 

Archdeacon  of  Norfolk,  March  1,  1529,  20  Henry 
VIII.     Le  Neve  Fasti,  p.  220,  and  liegisi:  Bishop  Nyx. 

Archdeacon  of  Leicester,  installed  March  31,  1531. 
Le  Neve  Fasti,  p.  l64.  Incorporated  D.C.L.  at  Oxford, 
153 1 ,  23  Henry  V  HI,  Wood's  Fasti,  I.  p.  88,  and  Rymer's 
Fa:d.  vol.  XIV.  p.  429  ;  resigned  it  Sept.  the  same  year, 
and  was  succeeded  by  Edward  Fox,  afterwards  Bishop  of 
Hereford  ;  Wood's  Fasti,  vol.  I.  p.  83, 

Bishop  of  Winchester,  1531.  Temporalties  restored 
Dec.  5,  consecrated  the  same  day..    Ditto,  p,  287. 


538  GARDINER. 

Ambassador  to  France,  1533. 

Chancellor  of  the  University  of  Cambridge,  1538. 
Wood's  Fasti,  vol,  1,  p.  390. 

Committed  prisoner  to  tiie  Fleet,  Sept.  25,  1547. 
Liberated  the  same  year. 

Sent  to  the  Tower,  June  30, 1548. 

Deprived  of  the  Bishopric,  1550.  Rymer's  Fad. 
vol.  XIV.  p.  429. 

Liberated  from  the  Tower  and  restored  to  his  Bishopric 
1653,    ]  Queen  Mary.     Ibid. 

Lord  High  Chancellor  of  England,  eod.  an. 

Died  Nov.  12,  1555;  (of  disury,  as  some  say,  while 
others  say  of  gout.) 

I  do  not  find  that  this  Prelate  ever  had  the  cure  of 
souls.  His  name  occurs  not  as  Licumbent  of  any  Living 
in  any  work  I  have  examined. 

Wharton,  in  general  so  accurate,  is  in  the  present 
instance  in  error,  when  he  asserts  (Angl.  Sacr.  vol.  L 
p.  319)  that  the  Bishopric  of  Winton  had  been  vacant 
four  years  between  Wolsey  and  Gardiner.  I  find  no 
authority  for  this  ;  on  the  contrary,  all  the  ecclesiastical 
records  concur  in  fixing  his  succession  at  1531,  while 
Wolsey's  death,  as  we  have  seen,  took  place  at  the  close 
of  1530. 

Portrait. — The  portrait  of  this  Bishop  is  thus  noticed 
in  Granger  :  "  Stephanus  Gardinerus,  episc.  Winton. 
Holbein,  p.  R.  White,  sc.  h.  sh."  The  print  of  Gardiner, 
which  was  engraved  for  Burnet's  "  History  of  the  Re~ 
formation,"  has  been  taken  for  Bishop  Home's,*  from 
the  circumstance  of  the  arras  ;  but  Mr.  Thomas  Baker 
observes,  that  Bishop  Home's  arms  were  without  a 
chevron  :  and  the  portrait  of  Gardiner  seems  to  answer  to 
the  description  of  his  person  quoted  by  that  learned  gen- 
tleman from  Poynet,  ni  the  appendix  of  papers  at  the  end 
of  Burnet's  History,  vol.  IH.  p.  41 1.  But  see  an  exag- 
gerated description  of  Home's  person  in  Pit's  **  De  illust. 
Augl.  Scrip,  p.  797."  Of  this  Bishop,  Granger  thus 
proceeds  : — '*  Stephen  Gardiner,  Lord  Chancellor  and 
Prime  Minister  in  this  reign,  [Mary's]  was  distinguished 
for  his  extensive  learning,  insinuating  address,  and  pro- 
found policy;  the  master  piece  of  which,  was  the  treaty  of 


• 


Robert  Home  was  the  first  Protestant  Bishop  of  Winchester.    Vide 


vol.  2  of  this  work. — Edit, 


GARDINER.  539 

marriage  behvixt  Philip  and  Mary,  which  was  an  efifectual 
bar  to  the  ambitious  designs  of  Philip.  His  religious 
principles  appear  to  have  been  more  flexible  than  his 
political,  which  were  invariably  fixed  to  his  own  interest. 
He  was  a  persecutor  of  those  tenets  to  which  he  had  sub- 
scribed, and  in  defence  of  which  he  had  written.  He 
"Was  author  of  a  treatise,  "  De  vera  obedientia,"  and  had 
a  great  hand  in  the  famous  book  entitled  "The  erudition 
of  a  Christian  man."  He  also  wrote  an  **  Apology  for 
Holy  Water,  &c.  Ob.  1555"— Biog.  Hist.  Engl.  vol.  I. 
p.   160. 


It  has  been  a  question  whether  Bishop  Gardiner's 
persecution  of  the  Protestants  proceeded  from  a  san- 
guinary disposition  and  gloomy  bigotry,  the  characteristics 
certainly  of  Queen  Mary,  or  from  motives  of  policy,  on 
a  conviction  that  the  principles,  deemed  heretical  were 
incompatible  with  the  good  order  and  stability  of  civil 
government;  be  that  as  it  may,  towards  the  end  of  his  life, 
we  see  he  was  both  tired  and  ashamed  of  these  bloody 
persecutions,  in  consequence  of  which,  such  as  were 
confined  in  his  diocese  weie  consigned  to  the  tender 
mercies  of  Bishop  Bonner.  Though  after  the  anival  of 
Cardinal  Pole  in  England,  Gardiner  was  second  only  in 
the  management  of  Church  aft'airs,  his  influence  in  civil 
matters  continued  undiminished.  His  character  has  been 
so  extolled  by  the  Catholics,  and  so  violently  blackened 
by  the  Protestants,  that  the  truth,  as  is  usual  in  such 
matters,  will  be  found  in  the  middle.  As  to  his  moral  qua- 
lities, he  was  generous  and  liberal,  a  promoter  of  superior 
talents,  and  warm  in  his  attachments  ;  but,  at  the  same 
time,  haughty  and  ambitious,  a  perfect  dissembler  and, 
if  not  sanguinary  in  his  own  nature,  the  base  tool  of 
Mary's  vengeance.  His  literary  acquirements  were  great, 
and  his  conduct  of  aft'airs,  foreign  and  domestic,  was  such 
as  gained  him  the  reputation  of  a  sagacious  politician. 

In  this  article  1  have  adopted  the  life  in  the  Biographia 
Brittannica,  because  it  is  written  with  so  much  candour.  I 
have  purposely  abstained  from  placing  this  Prelate's  faults 
in  the  foreground,  which  1  might  easily  have  done  had 
I  been  so  disposed,  for,  I  wish  on  the  contrary,  that 
his  conduct  should  be  viewed  with  Christian  candour 
and  Protestant  forbearance.     I  know  he  is  an  especial 


MO  PONET. 

favourite  of  the  Romanists,  and  I  am  for  that  very  reason 
desirous  that  we  should  view  his  actions  with  equity  and 
impartiality,  and  that  all  prejudice  should  be  banished 
from  our  minds. 

^t^  I  cannot,  however,  help  remarking,  that  if  Bishop 
Gardiner,  and  his  associate  Bishop  Bonner,  were  in  truth, 
the  blood-stained  tyrants  which  history  has  represented 
them,  it  becomes  the  imperative  duty  of  a  Protestant 
Legislature  to  guard  against  the  possibility,  however 
remote,  of  Roman  Catholics  again  having  the  ascendancy 
in  this  kingdom :  since  their  Church  is  ever  one  and  the 
same:  her  principles  unchanged  and  unchangeable;  and 
her  acts  and  modes  of  proselytism,  are  still,  not  repro- 
bated, but  defended. 


JOHN  *PONET  or  POYNET,  D.D. 

(A  Protestant), 
Succeeded  A.D.  1550-1.— Died  A.D.  1556. 

Bishop  Ponet,  remarkable  for  having  been  a  Bishop  at 
the  early  age  of  33,  was  born  in  Kent  in  1516,  presented 
Jan.  29, 1545,  to  the  eighth  stall  in  Canterbury  Cathedral 
(Le  Neve's  Fasti,  p.  17).  He  was  of  Queen's  College, 
Cambridge,  S.T.D. 

This  Prelate,  against  whom  Bishop  Milner  and  the 
Roman  Catholic  writers  bitterly  inveigh,  probably,  solely 
from  the  circumstance  of  his  being  a  Protestant,  was 
highly  esteemed  for  his  varied  talents  and  acquirements 
by  King  Edward  VI.,  who  nominated  him  March  8,  1549, 
Bishop  of  Rochester.  He  was  accordingly  consecrated 
at  Lambeth  June  29,  1550,  (Regisir.  Cranmer,  f.  330)  ; 
and  on  the  deprivation  of  Bishop  Gardiner,  he  was  trans- 
lated March  23,  1551,  to  the  See  of  Winton.  1  Pat.  5 
Edward  VL  m.  40. 

On  the  29th  of  June,  1550,  the  day  of  his  promotion 
to  the  See  of  Rochester,  an  order  of  council  was  made, 
that  no  Bishop  should  for  the  future  hold  any  other 
benefice  in  commendam,   except  John  Poynet,  Bishop 


He  wrote  himself  Ponet. 


PONET.  541 

elect  of  Rochester,  and  that,  because  he  had  no  episcopal 
palace.  Accordingly  he  had  licence  to  hold  in  commendam 
with  his  Bishopric,  the  Vicarage  of  Ashtbrd  in  his  native 
county,  Kent,  about  12  miles  from  Canterbury;  and  of 
St.  Michael's,  Crooked  Lane,  London,  with  his  stall  in 
Canterbury  Cathedral.  This  licence  was  dated  July  4, 
an.  4  Edward  VL,  1550,  to  hold  until  Lady-Day,  1555. 
Rymer.  Fad.  vol.  15,  p.  70-241. 

When  Queen  Mary  came  to  the  crown  he  left  the 
kingdom,  and  after  spending  a  few  years  among  the 
celebrated  self-exiled  Protestants,  who  sojourned  during 
Mary's  reign  at  Strasburgh,  in  Germany,  he  died  there 
April,  11,  1556,  (Rymer.  Feed.  vol.  15,  '■ISS.  Le  Neve's 
Fasti,  p.  287)  at  the  age  of  40.  See  Bayle's  Dictionary, 
vol.4,  p.  692,  and  Hasted's  Hist,  of  Kent,  vol,  2,  p.  42. 

Fuller  thus  notices  him  in  his  Worthies,  vol.  1.  p.  496, 
Nichols's  edition,  under  Kent : — 

"John  Poynetwas  born  in  this  county;  bred  in  King's 
College,  Cambridge.  Sure  I  am  he  was  none  of  the 
foundation  therein,  because,  not  appearing  in  Master 
Hatcher's  exact  MS.  Catalogue.  Bale  is  rather  to  be 
believed  herein,  making  him  to  be  brought  up  in  Queen's 
College  in  the  same  University.  De  Script.  Brit.  cent. 
8,  No.  62. 

"  But  wherever  he  had  his  education,  he  arrived  at 
admirable  learning,  being  an  exact  Grecian  and  most 
expert  mathematician.  He  presented  King  Henry  VIIL 
with  a  horologium  (which  1  might  English  dial,  clock, 
or  watch,  save  that  it  is  epitheted  sciotericum)  observing 
the  shadow  of  the  sun,  and  therein  shewing  not  only  the 
hours,  but  days  of  the  month,  change  of  the  moon,  ebbing 
and  flowing  of  the  sea,  &,c.  I  confess  the  modern  mys- 
tery of  watch-making,  is  much  completed,  (men  never 
being  more  curious  to  divide,  more  careless  to  employ 
their  time;)  but  surely  this  was  accounted  a  master  piece 
in  that  age. 

*'  His  sermons  so  endeared  him  to  King  Edward  VI., 
that  he  preferred  him  (whilst  yet  scarce  36  years  of  age*) 
to  the  Bishopric  of  Rochester,  then  of  Winchester.  But, 
alas !  these  honours  soon  got,  were  as  soon  lost,  he  being 


•  If  "he  was  not  fully  40"  iii  1556,  he  must  have  been  scarce  34, 
instead  of  "  scarce  36  years,"  when  made  Bishop  of  Rochester  iu  1550. 
—Edit. 


54«  PONET. 

forced  to  fly  into  High  Germany  in  the  1st  of  Queea 
Mary,  where,  before  he  was  fully  40,  and  before  he 
had  finished  his  book  begun  against  Thomas  Martin  in 
defence  of  ministers'  marriage,  he  died  at  Strasburgh, 
Aug.2,  15jo,  and  was  buried  there  with  great  lamentation." 

Bishop  Godwin  records  him  in  his  English  edition  4to. 
161 5,  p.  248,  thus,  among  the  Bishops  of  Winchester: — 
"  60.  John  Poynet.  Presently  upon  the  deprivation  of 
Stephen  Gardiner,  John  Poynet,  D.D.,  a  Kentish  man 
born,  brought  up  in  King's  College,  in  Cambridge, 
consecrated  Bishop  of  Rochester  June  21,  1550,  was 
translated  to  Winchester.  Queen  Mar}  having  attained 
the  crown,  he  well  knew  there  was  no  living  for  him  in 
England,  and  therefore  he  fled  the  realm,  and  died  at 
Strasburg  in  Germany,  April  11,  1556,  being  scarce  40 
years  of  age.*  A  man  of  great  learning,  whereof  he  left 
divers  testimonies  in  writing,  works  yet  extant  both  in 
Latin  and  English  :  beside  the  Greek  and  Latin,  he  was 
very  well  seenf  in  the  Italian  and  Dutch  tongues,  and  an 
excellent  mathematician.  He  gave  to  King  Henry  VI H. 
a  dial  of  his  own  device,  shewing  not  only  the  hour  of  the 
day,  but  also  the  day  of  the  month,  the  sign  of  the  sun, 
the  planetary  hour;  yea,  the  change  of  the  moon,  the 
ebbing  and  flowing  of  the  sea ;  w  ith  divers  other  things 
as  strange  to  the  great  wonder  of  the  King  and  his  own 
no  less  commendation.  He  was  preferred  altogether  by 
King  Edward  in  regard  of  certain  excellent  sermon* 
preached  before  him." 

He  wrote  a  Treatise  on  Politic  Poiver,  which  I  have 
not  seen  ;  also.  An  Apology  or  Defence  of  Priests'  Mar- 
riages :  afterwards  translated  into  Latin  by  Michael 
Renneger,  Lond.  l604,  8o-  Bodleian  8°-  R.  68.  Th.  See 
Bliss's  Wood's,  A.O.  vol.  2,  p.  52. 

Bishop  Ponet  wds  the  flrst  Bishop  consecrated  by  the 
new  ordmal  of  Edward  VI.  Bishop  Milner  aft'ects  to 
throw  a  doubt  over  the  validity  of  the  consecration,  but  it 
is  to  be  remembered  that,  as  that  consecration  was  per- 
formed by  Bishops  who  had  themselves  duly  received 
their  consecration  from  Catholic  Prelates,  the  Apostolic 


*  The  reader  will  see  that  Fuller  has  implicitly  followed  Godwin  iu 
this  error,  without  stopping  to  rectify  the  anachronisms.— Edit. 

t  (/.^.)  Excellent— well  approved.  This  pure  Latin  phraseology  i& 
well  deserving  notice:  the  scholar  will  immediately  recognize  ia  rt 
Cicero  s  vjr  honestus  et  spectatus,  and  Virgil'.?  rebus  .soectata  juvenilis. 


PONET.  543 

Succession  was  regularly  kept  up.  In  this  individual  case 
it  signifies  little,  as  we  do  not  hear  that  Bishop  Fonet 
ever  officiated  in  any  consecration  of  Bishops.  But  the 
principle  itself  \s  of  essential  importance,  as  the  chief  and 
distinguishing  characteristic  of  the  Priesthood  of  the 
Established  Church:  since  the  apostolic  commission  and 
the  promises  exclusively  annexed  thereto  by  the  founder  of 
the  Christian  Church  (Matt.  28*)  are  the  grand  points 
which  render  communion  with  the  Church  in  this  country 
of  such  vital  importance  to  salvation  ;  and  schism  and 
"divisions"  of  any  kind,  however  plausible,  a  matter 
of  infinite  danger  to  the  spiritual  concerns  of  those  who 
give  themselves  up  to  those  "  carnal"  sins,  as  the  Apostle 
terms  them.  The  Apostolic  succession  of  the  Priesthood 
of  the  Church  of  England  was  kept  up  by  Archbishop 
Parker.  Now,  his  consecration  by  duly  consecrated 
Roman  Catholic  Bishops,  though  once  cavilled  at  by  the 
Romanists,  is  so  safely  and  triumphantly  established, 
that  no  historical  fact  on  record  can  claim  a  superior 
ground  of  credibility. 

Bishop  Milner  roundly  asserts,  that  Ponet  Mas  raised 
to  the  See  of  VV^inchester  for  the  express  purpose  of 
betraying  the  possessions  of  it  to  those  who  preferred  him. 
He  hesitates  not  to  call  his  conduct  simoniacal ;  and 
asserts,  on  the  authority  of  Heylyn,  that  he  dismembered 
from  the  See  the  palace  of  Marwell,  with  the  manore  and 
parks  of  Marwell  and  Twyford,  which  had  before  been 
seized  upon  by  the  Lord  Protector  to  make  a  Knight's 
estate  for  Sir  Henry  Seymour.  I  should  be  unwilling  to 
believe  such  harsh  things  of  any  man,  unless  upon  much 
higher  authority  than  that  of  Bishop  Milner.  Those  who 
have  a  relish  for  invectives  of  this  nature,  may  consult  the 
history  of  Winchester,  written  by  that  able,  though 
bigotted  apologist  of  the  Romanists,  and  impugner  of 
the   Establishment. 


*  The  argument  drawn  from  this  verse  resolves  itself  into  a  narrow 
compass,  and  defies  tlie  objections  of  Schismatics.  Christ,  iuthe  passage 
quoted,  assembles,  not  his  disciples  at  large,  but  the  11  Apostles  only. 
To  them  he  gives  a  commission  to  baptize  and  make  converts  of  all 
nations,  and  promises  his  presence  with  them  to  the  end  of  the  world. 
Now,  as  the  Apostles  were  only  men,  and  consequently  mortal,  this 
promise  must  refer  to  his  presence  with  their  legitimate  successors : 
which  the  Apostles  regularly  a))poirited  in  all  the  Churches,  as  we  Icaru 
from  various  passages  of  the  Epistles,  under  the  names  of  Bishops,  Priests, 
and  Deacons. 


544  WHITE. 

XXVII.    JOHN  WHITE,  D.D, 

The   last   of   the    Catholic    Bishops. 

Succeeded  A.D.   1556-7. — Deprived  A.D.   1559. — 
Died  A.D.  1559-60. 

"  John  Whyte,"  [says  *Anthony  Wood]  ("  brother  to 
Sir  John  Whyte,  Lord   Mayor  of  London,  anno  1563) 
was  son  of  Robert  Whyte,  of  Farnham,  Surry,  (son  of 
John  Whyte,  of  the  same  place,  son  of  Thomas  Whyte,  of 
Purvyle,^-  Hants),  and  was  born  at  Farnham;  educated 
in  srrammar  learning  in  Wvkeham's  school,   near  Win- 
Chester  :   admitted  perpetual  fellow  of  New  College,  in 
1527,  took  the  degrees  in  arts,  that  of  A.M.  being  com- 
pleted in  an  act  celebrated  March  23,    1533-4,  left  his 
fellowship  in   1534,  being  about  that  time  master  of  the 
said  school  in  the  place  of  Richard  Tuchiner.     Afterwards 
[he  was  also  rector  of  Cheyton,  near  Winchester]  he  was 
made  warden  of  the  college,  [in  the  year  1541,  Willis's 
Mit.  Abbies,  I.  p.  333]  near  Winchester.     Concerning 
him,   while    in  that  post,    Strype  (in  his   Memorials  of 
Archbishop  Cranmer,  lib.  2,  cap.  21,  p.  233)  has  these 
remarkable  passages;     *' March  25,    1550,  Mr.  White, 
warden  of  Winchester  appeared  before  the  King's  council 
and  confessed   that  he  had  divers  books  and  letters  from 
beyond  sea,  and  namely  from  one  Martin,  a  scholar  there, 
who  opposed  the   King's  Majesty's   proceeding  utterly. 
And  it  being  manifested  that  he  had  consented  to  things  of 
that  sort  in  such  wise,  that  greater  practices  were  thought 
to  be  in  him  that  way,  he  was  committed  to  the  Tower; 
where  lying  for  some  months,  he  shewed  better  conformity 
in  matters  of  religion.      So  on  June  14,  1551,  the  council 
wrote  a  letter  to  the    Archbishop  that  he  should  send  a 
letter  to  the  tower  for  Mr.  White,  to  be  brought  to  him 
and  with  him  to  reniain  till  such  time  as  he  should  reclaim 
him ;  which  being  done,  he  was  sent  back  again  to  the 


*  The  passages  in  brackets  are  supplied  by  the  Editor. 

t  The  pedigree  here  given  by  A.  Wood,  differs  from  that  in  Manning- 
and  Bray's  History  of  Sun7.  The  latter  authors  make  the  last  named 
John,  Son,  not  of  Thomas  «)f  Purvile,  but  of  Robert  of  Faniham,  with 
whom  the  [)edigree  begins,  and  whose  will  was  proved  Oct,  ly,  1-467. — 
Hist.  Surry,  vol.  III.  p.  177.— Edit. 


WHITE.  545 

tower  till  the  King's  Majesty's  further  pleasure  upon 
his  Lordship's  certificate  of  his  proceedings  with  him. 
This  White,  however  he  complied  now,  was  in  Queen 
Mary's  reign  made  Bishop  successively  of  Lincoln  and 
Winton. 

He  was  elected  Bishop  of  Lincoln  upon  the  deprivation 
of  Dr.  John  Tayler,  and  consecrated  in  St.  Saviour's 
Church,  Southvvark,  by  Stephen  [Gardiner]  Bishop  of 
Winchester,  and  his  assistants,  the  temporalties  of  which 
See  were  restored  to  him,  May  2,  1.524,  [Pat.  L  R.  Mar. 
p.  1.]  he  being  then  B.D.  In  the  beginning  of  Oct. 
1555,  he  was  incorporated  D.D.  and  soon  after,  upon  the 
death  of  Dr.  Stephen  Gardiner,  he  was  translated  to 
W  inchester,  the  temporalties  of  which  were  also  restored 
[Pat.  3  and  4  R.  Phil,  and  Mar.  p.  6.*]  to  him.  May  30, 
1557;  of  some  of  which  gradual  rises  Dr.  Christopher 
Johnson,  one  of  his  successors  in  the  mastership  of 
Winchester  school,  made  this  distich  : 

Me  puero  custos,  ludi  paulo  ante  magister 
Vitus,  et  hac  denium  proesul  in  urbe  fuit. 

"  He  was  a  man  of  an  austere  life,  and  much  more 
mortified  to  the  world  than  Stephen  Gardiner,  his  pre- 
decessor. He  was  eminent  also  for  piety  and  learning, 
was  an  eloquent  orator,  a  solid  divine,  a  nervous  preacher, 
"  et  poetica  facultate,  ut  tempora  ferebant,  tolerabilis," 
as  Camden  tells  us,  [In  Annal.  Ekzub.  sub.  an.  1559.] 
His  fame  and  actions  did  well  answer  his  name  :  and  so 
did  all  men  say,  how  contrary  soever  to  him  in  religion, 
only  for  one  black  sermon  that  he  made  he  gave  offence, 
yet  for  the  colour,  it  may  be  said,  he  kept  decorum, 
because  it  was  a  funeral  sermon  of  a  great  Queen  by 
birth  and  marriage,  I  mean  Queen  Mary.  The  offence 
taken  against  him  was  this.  His  text  [see  in  the  Brief 
view  of  the  state  of  the  Church  of  England,  &c.  by  John 
Harrington,  Knt.,  Loud.  1653,  p.  59-60.]  was  out  of 
Eccles.  4,  2,  *  Laudavi  mortuos  magis  quani  viventes  ;  et 
foeliciorem  utroque  judicavi  qui  nee  dum  damnatus  est.' 
And  speaking  of  Queen  Mary's  high  parentage,  her 
bountiful  disposition,  her  great  gravity,  her  rare  devotion, 
(praying  so  much,   as   he  affirmed,  that  her  knees  were 


*  See  Rymer's  Foedera,  vol.  XV.  p.  436,  and  Le  Neve's  Fasti,  p.  287. 

N  n 


546  WHITE. 

hard  with  kneeling)  her  justice  and  clemency  in  restoring 
noble  houses,  to  her  own  private  loss  and  hindrance,  and 
lastly,  her  grievous   and  patient  death,  he  fell  into  such 
an  unfeigned  weeping,  that  for  a  long  space  he  could  not 
speak.     Then  recovering  himself,  he  said,  she  had  left  a 
sister  to  succeed  her,   a  lady  of  great  worth  also,   whom 
they  were  now  bound  to  obey ;  for  saith  he,  melior  est 
canis  vivus  leone  mortuo,*  and  [  hope  so  shall  reign  well, 
and   prosperously  over  us,  but  I  must  say  still  with  my 
text  •  laudavi  mortuos  magis  quam  viventes,'  for  certain  it 
is,  '  Maria  optimam  partem  elegit.'     Afterwards,  Queen 
Elizabeth  taking  just  indignation,    did,    partly  for  his 
sermon,  and  partly  for  that  he  was  a  z»«ious  man  for  the 
Roman  Catholic  cause,  and  an  enemy  to  the  reformers  of 
religion,  commit  him  to  custody;    and    for  threatening 
(as  it  is  said)  to  excommunicate  her  (as  Watson,  Bishop 
of  Lincoln,  did),  was  deprived  of  his  Bishopric,  for  which 
he   paid  yearly  <£  1,000   to  Cardinal  Pole   to   keep   up 
his  state  and  dignity.     Dr.  Heylin  in  his  History  of  the 
Keformation,  an.   1559,  saith,   'White,  Bishop  of  Win- 
chester, and  Watson,  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  of  the  number 
of   the   Catholic     party  that  were  to    dispute  with   the 
reformed  party  about  settling  religion,  behaved  themselves 
with  so  little  reverence,  or  with  so  much  insolence  rather, 
as  to  threaten  the  Queen  with  excommunication  in  that 
public  audience,  for  which  they  were  committed  to  the 
tower  April  3,   1559.'     Burnet,  vol.  3,  of  the  History  of 
the  Reformation  of  the  Church  of  England ^  an.  1559,  p- 
388,  saith  the  like,  that  the  conference  began  in  the  latter 
end  of  1558.     lb.  p.  396,  the  same  person  saith,   'that 
White  and  Watson  were  morose  and  sullen  men,  to  which 
their  studies,  as  well  as  their  temper,  had  disposed  them, 
for  they  were  much  given  to  scholastical  divinity,  which 
inclined  men  to  be  cynical,  to  overvalue  themselves  and 
despise  others.' 

His  Works  are : — 

1.  Diacosio  Martyrion,  (i.  e.)  ducentorum  virorum 
testimonia,  de  veritate  corporis  et  sanguinis  Christi  in 
Eucharistia,  ante  triennium,  adversus  Petr.  Martyrem, 
ex   professo   conscriptum,  sed   nunc  primum  in   lucera 


*  A  live  dog  is  better  thau  a  dead  lion.    No  very  elegant  compliment 
to  Queen  Elizabeth,— Edit. 


WHITE.  547 

cditum.  Lond.  1553, 4to.  in  Latin  verse.  Bodl.  4to.W. 
7.  Th.  Seld.  [Tanner  Bibl.  Brit.  761,  mentions  an 
edition  in  1554,]  4to.  in  Latin  verse  [Bodl.  4to.  W.  7. 
Tb.  Seld]. 

The  following  poetical  dedication  to  Queen  Mary,  will 
give  some  idea  of  the  author's  style. 

Et  soror  et  regis  proles  generosa  Britanni, 

Caesareo  salve  ventre,  Maria,  sata. 
Carminibus  si  fas  est  te  sperare  patronam, 

Non  timeant  linquas  qualia  cunque  malas. 

Et  tamen  ecce  timent  subterque  examina  tantas 
Principis,  ire  pavent,  nee  tamen  ire  cavent. 

Infelix,  o  Musa,  tuum  tanto  ante  pudorem 
Cernere,  quoe  poteras  non  eliam  effugere. 

Mens  prodesse  fuit  non  urere;  quod  tamen  urit, 
Haeresis  invenit  hie  fors  alicunde  aliquid 

Inveniatque  volo,  studium,  non  casus  in  hoc  est, 
Non  pupugisse  malos  duximus  esse  malum. 

Ferre  impune  lupos,  Christ),  grassari  in  ovile, 
Non  mea,  magnorum  est  laus  ea  pontificum. 

Neu  mirere  istis  venit  unde  licentia  verbis. 
Me  quoque  posse,  scias,  pro  pietate  pati. 

Quid  timeam  moriturus  ?  non  pejora  videbo 
Saecula,  non  mores,  non  loca,  non  homines. 

Certe  ubicunque  mete  claudentur  tempora  vitae 
Iste  mihi  codex,  credo  superstes  erit. 

Hunc  tibi  daedico  ;  contentus  te  judice  fiet 
Sive  legi  jubeas,  sive  (Maria)  tegi. 

Sign.  A.  ij. 

2.  Epistola  Petro  Martyri,  This  is  printed  with  the 
former  book,  and  treats  mostly  of  Martyrs'  disputation  at 
Oxford  in  King  Edward's  days ;  and  is  in  vindication  of 
Dr.  Richard  Smith,  who  disputed  with,  and  baffled  him. 

Epigrammatum,  lib.  I. 

Carmina  in  Matrimon.  Philippi  Regis,  cum  Maria  Re- 
gina  Anglia. 

Sermon  preached  at  the  funeral  of  Queen  Mary,  Dec. 
13, 1558,  on  Eccles,  4.  2,  MS.  in  the  library  sometime 
of  Richard  Smith,  Secondary  of  the  Poultry  Compter. 
{Now  in  the  British  Museum,  MS.  Donat.  1578.     See 


548  WHITE. 

Ayscough's  Catalogue,  i.  8.  It  has  been  printed  from  a 
3VIS.  HI  the  Cotton  Library,  in  Strype's  Eccles.  Memor. 
Append.  ISo.  81,  p.  277,  but  from  a  very  faulty  copy. 
A  much  better  penes  me. — Baker].  You  will  find  also 
several  of  his  discourses  in  the  Acts  and  Mon.  of  the 
Church,  &c.,  published  by  John  Fox  ;  and  also  his 
discourse  with  Bishop  Ridley  at  Oxon,  Sept.  30,  1555, 
when  he  was  about  to  be  burnt,  exhorting  him  to  return 
from  his  heresy,  as  he  then  termed  it.  See  also  in  Rob. 
Persons,  his  animadversions  on  that  discourse  in  the 
third  part  of  a  treatise  entitled  Of  three  Conversions  of 
England,  &:c.,  printed  l604,  ch.  14,  p.  209, 

At  length,  our  John  White  being  deprived  of  his 
Bishopric  in  1559,  retired  to  his  sister's  house  at 
South-Warnborow  in  Hants,  where  spending  the  little 
remainder  of  his  days  in  great  sanctity  and  recluseness, 
he  gave  way  to  fate  11th  January  following  [1559-60.] 
Whereupon  his  body  was  soon  after  carried  to  VVinchester, 
and  buried  in  the  Cathedral  there  according  to  his  will ; 
which  partly  runs  thus : — "  My  desire  is  to  be  buried 
in  that  my  Cathedral  of  Winchester,  ut  in  novissima  die 
resurgam  cum  patribus  et  fiUis,  quorum  fidem  teneo,"  &c. 

While  he  was  W arden  of  the  College  near  Winton, 
and  dreamed  not  in  the  least  to  be  removed  thence  to  a 
Bishopric,  he  provided  a  tomb-stone  for  himself  to  be 
laid  on  the  ground  in  the  chapel  belonging  to  the  said 
College,  with  mtentions  to  be  buried  under  it  by  the  care 
of  his  heir  and  executor,  whensoever  it  should  please  God 
to  call  him  out  of  this  transitory  life ;  and  caused  to  be 
engraven  20  long  and  short  verses  of  his  own  composi- 
tion under  his  picture,  engraven  on  a  brass  plate,  and 
fastened  to  the  said  stone.     The  two  first  are  these  : 

Hie  tegor,  hie  post  fata  Whitus  propono  jacere, 
Scriptor  Johannis  carminis  ipse  mei. 

But  being  afterwards,  contrary  to  all  expectation,  promoted 
successively  to  two  Bishoprics  by  Queen  Mary,  his  mind 
was  altered  as  1  have  before  told  you. 

He  gave  to  VVykeham's  College,  near  Winton,  his 
mitre,  and  crosier  staff;  a  silver  tankurd,  gilt;  a  basin 
and  ewer  of  silver;  a  Turkey  carpet;  and  other  choice 
goods  :  and  some  years  before  his  death,  he  was  a  bene- 
factor to  New  College,  as  you  may  see  in  Hist,  and 


WHITE.  549 

Antiq.  Vniv.  Oxon  lib,  2,  p.  131.  6*  [This  benefaction 
was  the  manor  of  Hall-Place,  county  Southampton,  given 
coiiditionally  that  every  scholar  of  the  College  should  have 
13s.  4d.  on  the  day  of  his  admission  to  the  state  of  fellow.] 

Nothing  worth  transcribing  respecting  this  Prelate 
occurs  in  the  Nuga  AntiqutE. 

Bishop  Godwin  thus  mentions  him  under  the  Sees  of 
Lincoln  and  Winchester,  respectively: — 

"  Lincoln.  34.  John  White,  D.D.  brought  up  in 
New  College,  Oxford,  was  appointed  Bishop  of  Lincoln 
by  Queen  Mary,  1557.  He  was  removed  to  VVmchester." 
— Edit.  I6l5,  p.  310. 

"  Winchester.  61.  After  the  death  of  Stephen 
Gardiner  there  was  an  intent  that  Cardinal  Pole  (who  com- 
plained that  his  living  was  too  small  for  the  maintenance 
of  his  post)  should  hold  this  Bishopric  in  commendam. 
But  the  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  John  White,  for  that  he  was 
born  in  that  diocese,  and  had  been  Warden  of  Winchester 
College,  suing  importunately  for  the  same,  it  was  granted 
unto  him,  upon  condition  that  he  should  pay  out  of  it 
unto  the  Cardinal  ot"  1,000.  a  year  so  long  as  the  Cardinal 
lived,  and  one  year  after  his  death. f  Thereunto  he 
agreeing,  was  admitted  to  that  place,  which  he  enjoyed 
but  a  small  time,  being  deprived  in  the  beginning  of 
Queen  Elizabeth,  for  refusing  to  conform  himself  to  the 
religion  by  her  established  :  and  that,  somewhat  the  rather, 
in  regard  of  a  sermon  preached  by  him  at  Queen  Mary's 
funeral,"  &c.  lit,  sup.  p.  249. 

Fuller  bestows  on  this  Prelate  the  following  notice  : — 

''John  White  was  born  in  this  county  (Hants)  of  a 
worshipful  house  ;  began  on  tM  Jioor  and  mounted  up  to 
the  roof  of  spiritual  dignity  in  this  Diocese.  First, 
Scholar  in  Winchester,  then  fellow  of  New  College  in 
Oxford,  then  Master  of  Winchester  School ;  then  Warden 
of  that  College,  and  at  last  (taking  Lincoln  Bishopric  in 
his  passage)  Bishop  of  Winchester:  all  composed  in  this 
district;  [vide  supra]  which  I  may  call  a  golden  verse; 
for  it  cost  this  White  many  an  angel  to  make  it  true. 


*  Bliss's  Wood's  Athenae  Oxonienses,  vol.  I,  p.  311. 

't  This  was  an  Hibeniiau  sort  of  agreement.  To  pay  a  man  ^1,000.  a 
year  for  one  year  after  his  deal/t,  sounds  odd.  Biihop  (todwin  must 
have  meant  to  say — "  and  to  his  representatives  or  executors,  one  year 
after  his  death."--EDiT, 


550  WHITE. 

entering  into  his  Bishopric  on  this  condition,  to  pay  to 
Cardinal  Pole  a  yearly  pension  of  of  1,000.  No\v  though 
this  was  no  better  than  simony,  yet  the  Prelate's  pride 
was  so  far  above  his  covetousness,  and  his  covetousness  so 
far  above  his  conscience,  that  he  swallowed  it  without  any 
regret. 

He  was  a  tolerable  poet ;  and  wrote  an  Elegy  on  the 
Eucharist,  to  prove  the  corporeal  presence,  and  confute 
Peter  Martyr  (Pits,  Deillust.  Angl.  Scrip,  p.  763),  the 
first  and  last,  I  believe,  who  brought  controversial  divinity 
into  verses.  He  preached  the  funeral  sermon  of  Queen 
Mary,  (or,  if  you  will,  of  public  Fopery  in  England,) 
praising  her  so  beyond  all  measure,  and  slighting  Queen 
Elizabeth  without  any  cause,  that  he  justly  incurred  her 
displeasure.  This  cost  him  deprivation  and  imprisonment, 
straiter  than  others  of  his  order,  (though  freer  than  any 
Protestant  had  under  Popish  persecutors)  until  his  death, 
which  happened  at  London  about  the  year  1560." — ■ 
Worthies,  vol.  I,  p.  405,  edit.  Nichols,  article  Hants. 

There  appears  to  be  neither  inscription  nor  tomb-stone 
to  the  memory  of  Bishop  White,  the  last  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Prelates  of  Winchester. 

No  portrait  of  him  is  mentioned  by  Granger. 
He   occurs   as    one   of  the   executors   of  the  will  of 
William,  Lord  Windsor.     Proved  Dec.  10,  1558.      See 
Test.  Vetust.  vol.  2,  p.  755. 

Milner,  as  might  be  expected,  gives  a  favourable 
colouring  to  this  Marian  Prelate. 

The  reader  will  doubtless  recollect  the  insolent  and 
disloyal  manner  in  which  White  spoke  of  Queen  Elizabeth 
in  his  sermon.  But  his  language  insolent  and  disloyal  as 
it  was,  is  thus  extolled  by  Bishop  Milner  :  '*  He  was 
chosen  to  speak  the  funeral  oration  of  Queen  Mary, 
which  he  performed  more  to  his  credit  as  a  scholar  and 
Christian  preacher  than  to  his  interest  as  a  courtier, 
[Truly  it  was  any  thing  but  courteous]  being  the  first 
victim  to  the  oatli  of  supremacy.  He  had  given  offence 
by  the  ardour  with  which  he  extolled  the  deceased  Queen 
[Mary],  and  the  frigid  manner  in  which  he  spoke  of  the 
reigning  Queen,"  &c. — Hist.  Wint. 

The  same  writer  proceeds  to  remark,  "He  had  incurred 
still  greater  displeasure  by  the  rigour  with  which  he 
defended  the  ancient  faith  [Quiere,  should  we  not  read 
'modern?']  in  the  public  conferences,  held  between  the 


WHITE.  551 

Catholic  and  Protestant  divines  in  Westminster  Abbey :  in 
which,  according  to  Heylin,  he  is  said  to  have  threatened 
the  Queen  with  excommunication  !  !  !  Hence  lie  and 
Watson,  Bishop  of  Lincoln,  had  been  [most  deservedly] 
committed  prisoners  to  the  tower,  but  having  refused  to 
take  the  aforesaid  oath,  he  was,  in  the  month  of  June, 
1550,  declared  to  have  forfeited  his  Bishopric,"  &,c.—- 
Hist.  Wint, 


END   OF  VOLUME    1, 


CKOCKERS,    PKINTEKS,   TROME. 


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