The History of the Worthies of England, Part 2 · County 20 · Section 13

The History of the Worthies of England · Part 2 · County 20 · Section 13

p. 70Prelates.

RALPH of MAYDENSTAN. I presume this the ancient Orthography of Maydston (a noted Town in this County) the rather, because I met with no other place in England, offering in sound or syllables thereunto. An aaTho. Wike in his chron. of Osney.Author giveth him this short but thick commendation;

Vir magnae literaturae & in Theologia Nominatissimus.

Insomuch that in the Reign of King Henry the Third 1234. He was preferred Bishop of Hereford.

This Prelate bought of one Mount-hault a Noble-man, a fair house in, and the Patronage of St. Mary Mount-hault (commonly, but corruptly called Mount-haw) in London, leaving both to his successours in the See of Hereford. Know Reader, that all English Bishops in that age had Palaces in London for their conveniency, wherein they resided and kept great Hospitality during their attendance in Parliament.

Now, although the School-men generally hold, that Episcopacy is Apex consummatae Religionis, then which Nihil amplius, Nothing higher or holyer in this life; and though many Friers have been preferred Bishops as a progressive motion both in Dignity and Sanctity: Yet our Ralph was of a different judgement herein. This made him in the year 1239. turn his bbGodwin in the Bishops of Hereford.Miter into a Coule, and become a Franciscan, first at Oxford, then at Glocester, where he died about the year 1244.

HENRY de WINGHAM (a well known Town in this County) was by K. Henry the Third, preferred Chancellour both of England and Gascony, Dean both of **Godwin in the Bishop of London.Totten-Hall (quaere where this place is) and Saint Martins, and twice Embassadour into France.

It happened that one Ethelmar, wom-brother to King Henry the Third was then Bishop of Winchester. A person who properly comes not under my pen; First, for his Foreign nativity. Secondly, (so much as he was English) he was an UNWORTHY, wanting ccGodwin in the bishops of VVinchester.Age, Ability, and Orders to qualifie him in that place.

Hereupon the Monks of Winchester indeavouring to eject him chose Wingham a man of Merit (and Might in the Court) to be their Bishop, which honour he wisely refused, fearing to incur the Kings displeasure. It was not long before his Modesty and Discretion p. 71were rewarded with a peaceable (in sted of that litigious) Bishoprick, when chosen to London 1259. But he enjoyed his See not full two years dying July 13. 1261. And was buried in his own Cathedral.

HENRY of SANDWICH, Archdeacon of Oxford, was consecrated Bishop of London 1263. He took part with the seditious Barons against King Henry the Third, for which he was deservedly**So was also his Countreyman Benedict of Gravesend Bishop of Lincoln, otherwise not to be remembred. excommunicated by Othobon the Popes Legate. Going to Rome it cost him well nigh an Apprenticeship of Patience, dancing attendance almost seven years before he could gain his Absolution. ††Godwin in his Catalogue of the bishops of London.Which obtained, he returned home, and dying September 16. 1273. was buried in his own Church of St. Pauls.

RICHARD of GRAVES-END Arch Deacon of Northampton was (after Fulk Lovel had freely refused it) Consecrated [at Coventry] Bishop of London, Anno 1282. He was the first Founder of a Covent of Carmelites at Maldon in Essex, and dying at Fulham 1303. was buried in his own Cathedral.

SIMON MEPHAM was born at Mepham in this County. **W. Lambert in his perambulation of Kent.He was bred in Merton-Golledge in Oxford; he was a good Scholar, as those dayes went, chosen by the Monk of Cant. approved by King Edward the Third, and consecrated by the command of the Pope, Archbishop of Cant. He is only Famous for two things, his expensive suit with the Moncks of Canterbury, wherein at last he got the better, though it cost seven hundred pounds in the Court of Rome. Secondly, his magnificent Visitation in person of the Dioceses South of Thames, till he was resisted by Grandison Bishop of Exeter. This aff…ont did half break Mephams heart; and the Pope siding with the Bishop against him, brake the other half thereof, hastning his death, which happened Anno Dommini, 1333.

HAYMO of HITHE was born therein, a small Town on the Sea-side, Hithe in old English signifying a Landing place, as Queen-Hithe, Garlick-Hithe, &c. in London. He was made Bishop of Rochester in the Twelfth of King Edward the Secondto whom he was Confessour. I believe him Owner of good temporal means; First, because he made so much building on a mean Bishoprick, erecting the great Hall and fair Frontispice at his Palace in Halling, and repairing all the rooms thereof, not forgeting the Town of his Nativity, where he erected and endowed the **Godwin in his Bishops of Rochester.Hospital of Saint Bartholomew for ten poor people. Secondly, because in his old age he lived on his own Estate, resigning his Bishoprick, which the charitable conceive done not out of Discontent but Defire of retirement to compose himself the better for his Dissolution, which happened about the year 1355.

JOHN of SHEPEY, Prior of Rochester, succeeded Haymo aforesaid in the same See, and for some time was Treasurer of England. His death happened Anno Domini 1360.

WILLIAM READ. I place him in this County with confidence, having clearly conquered all suspicions to the contrary: First, because of his Name then flourishing at Read in **Villare Cantianum p. 321Marden in this County: Secondly, because the Provost-place of WinghamColledge therein was his first publick preferment. To which I may adde that he was bred Fellow of Merton-Colledge (abounding with Cantians, since a Bishop in Kent, was Founder thereof) and he merited much of that Foundation, not onelyonly building a fair Library therein, but furnishing it with books, and Astronomical Tables of his own making, which (they say) are still to be **Godwin in the Bishops of Chichester.seen therein with his lively picture inserted.

In his reduced age he applied himself to Divinity, and by King Edward the Third was preferred Bishop of Chichester. Retaining his Mathematical Impressions he commendably expressed them in Architecture, erecting a Castle Egregii operis, saith my **Baleus.Author, at Amberley in Sussex. His death happened, Anno Dom. 1385.

THOMAS KEMP, brothers son to John Kemp Archbishop of Canterbury, was born of a Knightly Family in this County, bred in Oxford, whereof he became Proctor Anno 1437. By Papal provision he was made Bishop of London, Consecrated by his Uncle at York-House (now White-Hall) and sate in his See **Godwin in his Bishops of London.fourty years from the Twenty eighth of Henry the Sixth, till the Fifth of Henry the Seventh, so that he saw the wars between Lancaster and York begun, continued, concluded; and the two Roses tied together in one Roy…l Posie. I know not whether his benefactions were adequate to his long possessing of so wealthy a place, finding him to have curiously arched and leaded the Divinitie Schools in Oxford, and built the Crosse nigh the Church of St. Pauls p. 72as it stood in our memories, but lately demolished, though guilty of no other Superstition, save accommodating the Preacher and some about him with convenient places. Me thinks, though Idle Crosses standing onelyonly for shew were published for offenders, this usefull one, which did such service, might have been spared: but all is Fish, which comes to the Net of Sacriledge. This Bishop died, Anno Dom. 1489.

JAMES GOLDWELL was born at Great Chart in this County, bred in AllSouls-Colledge in Oxford, promoted first to be Dean of Salisbury and Secretary to King Edward the Fourth, and at last made Bishop of Norwich. He not onelyonly repaired the Church at Great Chart where he was born, but also founded a**Weavers Fun. Mo…. p. 296. Chappel on the Southside thereof, where his picture is in the East-window, with his Rebus, [viz. a GoldenWell] in every Quarry of the same. He died, Anno Dom. 1498.

THOMAS GOLDWELL was born at Goldwell in the Parish of Great Chart in this County, where his Family had long flourished, till**Villare Cantianum, p. 145. lately alienated. He was by Queen Mary preferred Bishop of Saint Davids, and as a Volunteer quitted the Land in the First of Queen Elizabeth. Going to Rome he made a deal of do to do just nothing; prevailing by much importunity with the Pope to procure large Indulgencies for such who superstitiously were in Pilgrimage to, and offered at the Well of Saint Winifrid in his Diocesse. The obscurity of his death denieth us the exact date thereof.

Reader, I am sensible how imperfect my list is of the Bishops in this County: The rather because I have heard from my worthy friend and excellent Historian Mr. Fisher, Fellow of Merton-Col. that this his native shire of Kent had twelve Bishops at one time, whilst I can hardly make up twelve Bishops at all times before the Reformation. But my defects will be perfectly supplyed by such who shall Topographically treat of this subject in relation to this County alone.

Since the Reformation.

JOHN POYNET was born in this**Bishop God win in his Bishops of VVinchester. … J. Bale de Script. Brit. cent. 8. Numb. 62. County; bred (say some) in Kings-Colledge in Cambridge. Sure I am he was none of the Foundation therein, because not appearing in Master Hatcher his exact Manuscript Catalogue. ^a Bale is rather to be believed herein, making him to be brought up in Queens Colledge in the same University.

But where ever he had his Education, he arrived at admirable Learning, being an exact Grecian and most expert Mathematician. He presented King Henry the 8. with a Horologium (which I might English Dial, Clock or watch, save that it is epitheted**Bishop Godwin, ut prius. Sciotericum) observing the shadow of the Sun, and therein shewing not only the hours, but dayes of the Month, change of the Moon, ebbing and flowing of the Sea, &c. I confesse the modern mystery of Watch-making is much completed (men never being more curious to divide, more carelesse to imploy their time) but surely this was accounted a master-peece in that age.

His Sermons so indeared him to King Edward 6. that he preferred him (whilst as yet scarce thirty six yeares of age) to the Bishoprick of Rochester, then of Winchester. But alas! these honors soon got were as soon lost, being forced to fly into high Germany in the first of Queen Mary. Where before he was fully fourty, and before he had finished his Book begun against Thomas Martin in defence of Ministers marriage, he died at Strasburg the 2. August 1556. And was buried there with great Lamentation.

RICHARD FLETCHER was born in this**So his near relation informed me. County, Brother to Doctor Giles Fletcher the Civilian and Embassadour in Russia, and bred in Bennet Colledge in Cambridge. He was afterwards Dean of Peterborough at what time Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded at Fotheringhay, to whom he made saith my Authour**Gamdens Eliz. Anno 1589. Verbosam Orationem a Wordy speech of her past, present and future condition, wherein he took more pains that he received thanks from her who therein was most concerned.

Hence he was preferred Bishop of Peterborough, and at last of London; my**Idem im Anno 1596. Authour saith he was Presul Splendidus, and indeed he was of a comly presence and Queen Elizabeth knew full well.

Gratior est pulcro veniens è corpore virtus

The Iewel vertue is more Grac'd

When in a proper person Cas'd.

Which made her alwayes on an equality of Desert to reflect favourably on such who were of Graceful countenance, and stature.

p. 73In one respect this Bishop may well be resembled to John Peckham Archbishop of Canterbury, of whom I find this Character,

Such a one was Bishop Fletcher, whose pride was rather on him, than in him, as only gate and gesture-deep, not sinking to his heart, though causelesly condemned for a proud man, as who was a good Hypocrite and far more humble than he appeared.

He married a Lady of this County,**Sir Richard Baker in his Ch…on. who one commendeth for very vertuous, which i… so, the more happy she in her self, though unhappy that the world did not believe it. Sure I am, that Queen Elizabeth (who hardly held the second matches of Bishops excusable) accounted his marriage a trespasse on his gravity, whereupon he fell into her deep displeasure. Hereof this Bishop was sadly sensible, and seeking to lose his sorrow in a mist of smoak, died of the**Cambdens Eliz. in Anno 1596. immoderate taking thereof, June the fifteenth, 1596.

BRIAN DUPPA, D. D. the worthy Bishop of Winchester was born at Lewsham in in this County: staying for farther instructions, I am forced to deferre his life to our Additions.