king Henrie the eight, & where in the time of quéene Marie, one
Goldwell was bishop, who (as I remember) was a Iesuit, dwelling in
Rome, and more conuersant (as the constant fame went) in the blacke
art, than skilfull in the scriptures, and yet he was of great
countenance amongst the Romane monarchs. It is said that obseruing the
canons of his order, he regarded not the temporalities of that sée:
but I haue heard since that he wist well inough what became of those
commodities, for by one meane and other he found the swéetnesse of 354
pounds sixteene shillings thrée pence halfe penie, yearelie growing to
him, which was euen inough (if not too much) for the maintenance of a
frier toward the drawing out of circles, characters, & lineaments of
imagerie, wherein he was passing skilfull, as the fame then went in
Rome, and not vnheard of in Oxford.
[Sidenote: Elie.]
Elie hath Cambridgshire, and the Ile of Elie. It was erected 1109 by
Henrie the first, being before a rich and wealthie abbeie. One Heruie
also was made bishop there, as I haue found in a register, belonging
sometime to that house being translated from Bangor. Finallie it paid
to the pope at euerie alienation 7000 ducats, as the registers there
do testifie at large. Albeit that in my time I find a note of 2134
pounds sixtéene shillings thrée pence halfe penie farthing, whose
disme ioined to those of all the bishopriks in England, doo yéeld
yearelie to hir maiesties coffers 23370 pounds sixtéene shillings
thrée pence halfe penie farthing: whereby also the huge sums of monie
going out of this land to the court of Rome dooth in some measure
appéere. Ethelwold afterward bishop of Winchester builded the first
monasterie of Elie vpon the ruines of a nunrie then in the kings
hands, howbeit the same house, whereof he himselfe was abbat, was yer
long destroied by enimies, and he in lieu of his old preferment
rewarded by king Edgar, with the aforesaid bishoprike, from whence
with more than lionlike boldnesse he expelled the secular préests, and
stored with moonkes prouided from Abandune néere Oxford, by the helpe
of Edgar and Dunstane then metropolitane of England. There was
sometime a greeuous contention betwéene Thomas Lild bishop of this
see, and the king of England, about the yeare of Grace 1355, which I
will here deliuer out of an old record, because the matter is so
parciallie penned by some of the brethren of that house, in fauour of
the bishop; & for that I was also abused with the same in the entrance
thereof at the first into my chronologie. The blacke prince fauoring
one Robert Stretton his chapleine, a man vnlearned and not worthie the
name of a clearke, the matter went on so farre, that what for loue,
and somewhat else, of a canon of Lichfield he was chosen bishop of
that see. Herevpon the pope vnderstanding what he was by his Nuncio
here in England, staied his consecration by his letters for a time,
and in the meane season committed his examination to the archbishop of
Canturburie, and the bishop of Rochester, who felt and dealt so
fauourablie with him in golden reasoning, that his worthinesse was
commended to the popes holinesse, & to Rome he goeth. Being come to
Rome the pope himselfe apposed him, and after secret conference
vtterlie disableth his election, till he had prooued by substantiall
argument and of great weight before him also, that he was not so
lightlie to be reiected. Which kind of reasoning so well pleased his
holinesse, that Ex mera plenitudine potestatis, he was made capable of
the benefice and so returneth into England; when he came home, this
bishop being in the kings presence told him how he had doone he wist
not what in preferring so vnméet a man vnto so high a calling. With
which speach the king was so offended, that he commanded him out of
hand to auoid out of his presence. In like sort the ladie Wake then
duchesse of Lancaster, standing by, and hearing the king hir cousine
to gather vp the bishop so roundlie, and thereto an old grudge against
him for some other matter, dooth presentlie picke a quarrell against
him about certeine lands then in his possession, which he defended &
in the end obteined against hir by plée and course of law: yer long
[Sidenote: * sic. qu. _a fire_]
also [*]afore hapned in a part of hir house, for which she accused the
bishop, and in the end by verdict of twelue men found that he was
priuie vnto the fact of his men in the said fact, wherfore he was
condemned in nine hundred pounds damages, which he paid euerie penie.
Neuerthelesse, being sore grieued, that she had (as he said) wrested
out such a verdict against him, and therein packed vp a quest at hir
owne choise: he taketh his horsse, goeth to the court, and there
complaineth to the king of his great iniurie receiued at hir hands.
But in the deliuerie of his tale, his speech was so blockish, & termes
so euill fauoredlie (though maliciouslie) placed, that the king tooke
yet more offense with him than before; insomuch that he led him with
him into the parlement house, for then was that court holden, and
there before the lords accused him of no small misdemeanor toward his
person by his rude and threatening speeches. But the bishop egerlie
denieth the kings obiections, which he still auoucheth vpon his honor;
and in the end confirmeth his allegations by witnesse: wherevpon he is
banished from the kings presence during his naturall life by verdict
of that house. In the meane time the duchesse hearing what was doone,
she beginneth a new to be dealing with him: and in a brabling fraie
betweene their seruants one of hir men was slaine, for which he was
called before the magistrat, as chiefe accessarie vnto the fact. But
he fearing the sequele of his third cause by his successe had in the
two first, hideth himselfe after he had sold all his moouables, and
committed the monie vnto his trustie friends. And being found giltie
by the inquest, the king seizeth vpon his possessions, and calleth vp
the bishop to answer vnto the trespasse. To be short, vpon
safe-conduct the bishop commeth to the kings presence, where he
denieth that he was accessarie to the fact, either before, at, or
after the deed committed, and therevpon craueth to be tried by his
péeres. But this petition was in vaine: for sentence passeth against
him also by the kings owne mouth. Wherevpon he craueth helpe of the
archbishop of Canturburie and priuileges of the church, hoping by such
meanes to be solemnlie rescued. But they fearing the kings
displeasure, who bare small fauour to the clergie of his time, gaue
ouer to vse anie such meanes; but rather willed him to submit himselfe
vnto the kings mercie which he refused, standing vpon his innocencie
from the first vnto the last. Finallie, growing into choler, that the
malice of a woman should so preuaile against him, he writeth to Rome,
requiring that his case might be heard there, as a place wherein
greater iustice (saith he) is to be looked for than to be found in
England. Vpon the perusall of these his letters also, his accusers
were called thither. But for so much as they appéered not at their
peremptorie times, they were excommunicated. Such of them also as died
before their reconciliations were taken out of the churchyards, and
buried in the fields and doong-hilles, "Vnde timor & turba (saith my
note) in Anglia." For the king inhibited the bringing in and receipt
of all processes, billes, and whatsoeuer instruments should come from
Rome: such also as aduentured contrarie to this prohibition to bring
them in, were either dismembred of some ioint, or hanged by the necks.
Which rage so incensed the pope, that he wrote in verie vehement maner
to the king of England, threatening far greater cursses, except he did
the sooner staie the furie of the lady, reconcile himself vnto the
bishop, and finallie, making him amends for all his losses susteined
in these broiles. Long it was yer the king would be brought to peace.
Neuerthelesse, in the end he wrote to Rome about a reconciliation to
be had betwéene them: but yer all things were concluded, God himselfe
did end the quarrell, by taking awaie the bishop. And thus much out of
an old pamphlet in effect word for word: but I haue somewhat framed
the forme of the report after the order that Stephan Birchington dooth
deliuer it, who also hath the same in manner as I deliuer it.
[Sidenote: Norwich.]
The see of Norwich called in old time Episcopatus Donnicensis,
Dononiæ, or Eastanglorum, was erected at Felstow or Felixstow, where
Felix of Burgundie (sometime schoolemaster to Sigebert of the
east-Angles, by whose persuasion also the said Sigebert erected the
vniuersitie at Cambridge) being made bishop of the east-Angles first
placed his sée, afterward it was remooued from thence to Donwich, &
thence to Helmham, Anno 870, about the death of Celnothus of
Canturburie; thirdlie, to Theodford, or Thetford; & finallie, after
the time of the Bastard, to Norwich. For iurisdiction it conteineth in
our daies Norffolke and Suffolke onelie, whereas at the first it
included Cambridgeshire also, and so much as laie within the kingdome
of the east-Angles. It began about the yéere 632, vnder Cerpenwald
king of the east-Saxons, who bestowed it vpon Felix, whome pope
Honorius also confirmed, and after which he held it by the space of
seauenteene yéeres. It paid sometimes at euerie alienation 5000 ducats
to Rome. But in my time hir maiestie hath 899 pounds, 8 shillings 7
pence farthing, as I haue been informed. In the same iurisdiction also
there were once 1563 parish churches, and 88 religious houses: but in
our daies I can not heare of more churches than 1200: and yet of these
I know one conuerted into a barne, whilest the people heare seruice
further off vpon a greene: their bell also when I heard a sermon there
preached in the gréene, hanged in an oke for want of a stéeple. But
now I vnderstand that the oke likewise is gone. There is neuerthelesse
a litle chappellet hard by on that common, but nothing capable of the
multitude of Ashlie towne that should come to the same in such wise,
if they did repaire thither as they ought.
[Sidenote: Peterborow.]
Peterborow, sometimes a notable monasterie, hath Northampton and
Rutland shires vnder hir iurisdiction, a diocesse erected also by king
Henrie the eight. It neuer paid first fruits to the pope before queene
Maries daies (if it were then deliuered) wherof I doubt, because it
was not recorded in his ancient register of tenths and fruits,
although peraduenture the collectors left it not vngathered, I wot not
for what purpose; it yéeldeth now foure hundred and fiftie pounds, one
penie abated. I haue seene and had an ancient iarror of the lands of
this monasterie, which agréeth verie well with the historie of Hugo le
Blanc monke of that house. In the charter also of donation annexed to
the same, I saw one of Wulfhere king of Mercia, signed with his owne,
& the marks of Sigher king of Sussex, Sebbie of Essex, with the
additions of their names: the rest of the witnesses also insued in
this order:
Ethelred brother to Wulfehere,
Kindburg and Kindswith sisters to Wulfhere,
Deusdedit archbishop,
Ithamar bishop of Rochester,
Wina bishop of London,
Iarnman bishop of Mearc,
Wilfride and Eoppa préests,
Saxulfe the abbat.
Then all the earles and eldermen of England in order; and after all
these, the name of pope Agatho, who confirmed the instrument at the
sute of Wilfride archbishop of Yorke, in a councell holden at Rome
680, of a hundred & fiue and twentie bishops, wherein also these
churches were appropriated to the said monasterie, to wit, Breding,
Reping, Cedenac, Swinesheued, Lusgerd, Edelminglond, and Barchaing:
whereby we haue in part an euident testimonie how long the practise of
appropriation of benefices hath béene vsed to the hinderance of the
gospell, and maintenance of idle moonks, an humane inuention grounded
vpon hypocrisie.
[Sidenote: Bristow.]
Bristow hath Dorsetshire sometime belonging to Salisburie, a sée also
latelie erected by king Henrie the eight, who tooke no small care for
the church of Christ, and therefore eased a number of ancient sées of
some part of their huge and ouer-large circuits, and bestowed those
portions deducted, vpon such other erections as he had appointed for
the better regiment and féeding of the flocke: the value thereof is
thrée hundred foure score and thrée pounds, eight shillings, and foure
pence (as I haue béene informed.)
[Sidenote: Lincolne.]
Lincolne of all other of late times was the greatest; and albeit that
out of it were taken the sees of Oxford and Peterborow, yet it still
reteineth Lincolne, Leicester, Huntingdon, Bedford, Buckingham shires,
and the rest of Hertford; so that it extendeth from the Thames vnto
the Humber, and paid vnto the pope fiue thousand ducats (as appeereth
by his note) at euerie alienation. In my time, and by reason of hir
diminution it yéeldeth a tribute to whom tribute belongeth, of the
valuation of eight hundred ninetie and nine pounds, eight shillings,
seauen pence farthing. It began since the conquest, about the
beginning of William Rufus, by one Remigius, who remooued his sée from
Dorchester to Lincolne (not without licence well paid for vnto the
king.) And thus much of the bishopriks which lie within Lhoegres or
England, as it was left vnto Locrinus. Now it followeth that I procéed
with Wales.
[Sidenote: Landaffe.]
Landaffe, or the church of Taw hath ecclesiasticall iurisdiction in
Glamorgan, Monmouth, Brechnoch, and Radnor shires. And although it
paid seuen hundred ducats at euerie exchange of prelat; yet is it
scarselie worth one hundred fiftie and fiue pounds by the yeare (as I
haue heard reported.) Certes it is a poore bishoprike, & (as I haue
heard) the late incumbent thereof being called for not long since by
the lord president in open court made answer. The daffe is here, but
the land is gone. What he meant by it I can not well tell; but I hope,
that in the séed time and the frée planting of the gospell, the meate
of the labourer shall not be diminished and withdrawen.
[Sidenote: S. Dauids.]
S. Dauids hath Penbroke and Caermardine shires, whose liuerie or first
fruits to the sée of Rome was one thousand and fiue hundred ducats, at
the hardest (as I thinke.) For if record be of anie sufficient credit,
it is little aboue the value of foure hundred fiftie and seauen
pounds, one shilling, and ten pence farthing, in our time, and so it
paieth vnto hir maiesties coffers; but in time past I thinke it was
farre better. The present bishop misliketh verie much of the cold
situation of his cathedrall church; and therfore he would gladlie pull
it downe, and set it in a warmer place: but it would first be learned
what suertie he would put in to sée it well performed: of the rest I
speake not.
[Sidenote: Bangor.]
Bangor is in north-Wales, and hath Caernaruon, Angleseie, and
Merioneth shires vnder hir iurisdiction. It paid to Rome 126 ducats,
which is verie much. For of all the bishoprikes in England it is now
the least for reuenues, and not woorth aboue one hundred and one and
thirtie pounds, and sixteene pence to hir maiesties coffers at euerie
alienation (as appéereth by the tenths, which amount to much lesse
than those of some good benefice) for it yeeldeth not yéerelie aboue
thirtéene pounds, thrée shillings, and seauen pence halfe penie, as by
that court is manifest.
[Sidenote: S. Asaphes.]
S. Asaphes hath Prestholme and part of Denbigh and Flintshires vnder
hir iurisdiction in causes ecclesiasticall, which being laid togither
doo amount to little more than one good countie, and therefore in
respect of circuit the least that is to be found in Wales,
neuerthelesse it paid to Rome 470 ducates at euerie alienation. In my
time the first fruits of this bishoprike came vnto 187 pounds eleuen
shillings six pence; wherby it séemeth to be somewhat better than
Landaffe or Bangor last remembred. There is one Howell a gentleman of
Flintshire in the compasse of this iurisdiction, who is bound to giue
an harpe of siluer yearelie to the best harper in Wales, but did anie
bishop thinke you deserue that in the popish time? Howell or Aphowell
in English is all one (as I haue heard) and signifie so much as Hugo
or Hugh. Hitherto of the prouince of Canturburie, for so much therof
as now lieth within the compasse of this Iland. Now it resteth that I
procéed with the curtailed archbishoprike of Yorke, I saie curtailed
because all Scotland is cut from his iurisdiction and obedience.
[Sidenote: Yorke.]
The see of Yorke was restored about the yeare of Grace 625, which
after the comming of the Saxons laie desolate and neglected, howbeit
at the said time Iustus archbishop of Canturburie ordeined Paulinus to
be first bishop there, in the time of Gadwijn king of Northumberland.
This Paulinus sate six yeares yer he was driuen from thence, & after
whose expulsion that seat was void long time, wherby Lindesfarne grew
into credit, and so remained vntill the daies of Oswie of
Northumberland, who sent Wilfred the priest ouer into France, there to
be consecrated archbishop of Yorke: but whilest he taried ouer long in
those parts, Oswie impatient of delaie preferred Ceadda or Chad to
that roome, who held it three yeares, which being expired Wilfred
recouered his roome, and held it as he might, vntill it was seuered in
two, to wit, Yorke, Hagulstade, or Lindesfarne, where Eata was placed,
at which time also Egfride was made bishop of Lincolne or Lindsie in
that part of Mercia which he had goten from Woolfhere. Of it selfe it
hath now iurisdiction ouer Yorkeshire, Notinghamshire (whose shire
towne I meane the new part thereof with the bridge was builded by king
Edward the first surnamed the elder before the conquest) and the rest
of Lancastershire onelie not subiect to the sée of Chester; and when
the pope bare authoritie in this realme, it paid vnto his see 1000
ducates, beside 5000 for the pall of the new elect, which was more
than he could well spare of late, considering the curtailing &
diminution of his sée, thorough the erection of a new metropolitane in
Scotland, but in my time it yéeldeth 1609 pounds ninetéene shillings
two pence to hir maiestie, whom God long preserue vnto vs to his
glorie, hir comfort, and our welfares.
[Sidenote: Chester.]
Chester vpon Dee, otherwise called Westchester, hath vnder hir
iurisdiction in causes ecclesiasticall, Chestershire, Darbishire, the
most part of Lancastershire (to wit vnto the Ribell) Richmond and a
part of Flint and Denbigh shires in Wales, was made a bishoprike by
king H. 8. anno regni 33. Iulij 16, and so hath continued since that
time, being valued 420 pounds by the yeare beside od twentie pence (a
streict reckoning) as the record declareth.
[Sidenote: Durham.]
Durham hath the countie of Durham and Northumberland with the Dales
onelie vnder hir iurisdiction, and hereof the bishops haue sometimes
béene earles palantines & ruled the rost vnder the name of the
bishoprike and succession of S. Cuthbert. It was a sée (in mine
opinion) more profitable of late vnto hir maiesties coffers by 221
pounds eighteene shillings ten pence farthing, and yet of lesse
countenance than hir prouinciall, neuertheles the sunneshine thereof
(as I heare) is now somewhat eclipsed and not likelie to recouer the
light, for this is not a time wherein the church may looke to increase
in hir estate. I heare also that some other flitches haue forgone the
like collops, but let such matters be scanned by men of more
discretion. Capgraue saith how that the first bishop of this sée was
called bishop of Lindseie (or Lincolne) & that Ceadda laie in
Liechfield of the Mercians in a mansion house néere the church. But
this is more worthie to be remembred, that Cuthred of the Northumbers,
and Alfred of the West-saxons bestowed all the land betwéene the These
& the Tine now called the bishoprike vpon S. Cuthbert, beside
whatsoeuer belonged to the see of Hagulstade. Edgar of Scotland also
in the time of the Bastard gaue Coldingham and Berwike withall their
appurtenances to that house; but whether these donations be extant or
no as yet I cannot tell. Yet I thinke not but that Leland had a sight
of them, from whome I had this ground. But whatsoeuer this bishoprike
be now, in externall & outward apparance, sure it is that it paid in
old time 9000 ducates at euerie alienation to Rome, as the record
expresseth. Aidan a Scot or Irishman was the first bishop of this sée,
who held himselfe (as did manie of his successors) at Colchester and
in Lindesfarne Ile, till one came that remooued it to Durham. And now
iudge you whether the allegation of Capgraue be of anie accompt or
not.
[Sidenote: Caerleill.]
Caerleill was erected 1132 by Henrie the first, and hereof one
Ethelwoolfe confessor to Osmond bishop of Sarum was made the first
bishop, hauing Cumberland & Westmerland assigned to his share; of the
deaneries and number of parish churches conteined in the same as yet I
haue no knowledge, more than of manie other. Howbeit hereof I am sure,
that notwithstanding the present valuation be risen to 531 pounds
foureteene shillings eleuen pence halfe penie, the pope receiued out
of it but 1000 florens, and might haue spared much more, as an
aduersarie thereto confessed sometime euen before the pope himselfe,
supposing no lesse than to haue gained by his tale, and so
peraduenture should haue doone, if his platforme had taken place. But
as wise men oft espie the practises of flatteries, so the pope saw to
what end this profitable speach was vttered. As touching Caerleill it
selfe it was sometime sacked by the Danes, and eftsoones repared by
William Rufus, & planted with a colonie of southerne men. I suppose
that in old time it was called Cairdoill. For in an ancient booke
which I haue séene, and yet haue, intituled, Liber formularum
literarum curiæ Romanæ, octo capitulorum, episcopatus Cardocensis. And
thus much generallie of the names and numbers of our bishoprikes of
England, whose tenths in old time yearelie amounting vnto 21111
pounds, twelue shillings one penie halfe penie farthing, of currant
monie in those daies, doo euidentlie declare, what store of coine was
transported out of the land vnto the papall vses, in that behalfe
onelie.
Certes I take this not to be one quarter of his gaines gotten by
England in those daies, for such commodities were raised by his courts
holden here, so plentifullie gat he by his perquisits, as elections,
procurations, appeales, preuentions, pluralities, tot quots,
trialities, tollerations, legitimations, bulles, seales, préests,
concubines, eating of flesh and white meats, dispensations for
mariages, & times of celebration, Peter pence, and such like
faculties, that not so little as 1200000 pounds went yearelie from
hence to Rome. And therefore no maruell though he séeke much in these
daies to reduce vs to his obedience. But what are the tenths of
England (you will saie) in comparison of all those of Europe. For
notwithstanding that manie good bishoprikes latelie erected be left
out of his old bookes of record, which I also haue séene, yet I find
neuertheles that the whole sum of them amounted to not aboue 61521
pounds as monie went 200 yeares before my time, of which portion poore
saint Peter did neuer heare, of so much as one graie grote. Marke
therfore I praie you whether England were not fullie answerable to a
third part of the rest of his tenths ouer all Europe, and therevpon
tell me whether our Iland was one of the best paire of bellowes or
not, that blue the fire in his kitchen, wherewith to make his pot
seeth, beside all other commodities.