The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 1 · Chapter 3 · Section 1

The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy · Part 1 · Chapter 3 · Section 1

p. 226Bishops of London.

11VODINUSVodinus Arch-Bishop of London, Speeds hist l 7. c 4. p. 207. Godw. p. 182.reprehended Vor…igern the Brit…ish king for marrying with Rowen, Hengists Daughter, being an Infidell, telling him, That he had endangered both his Soule and Crowne; which words were so ill digested by Vortigern, that shortly after it cost the Arch-Bishop his life, who was slaine by Hengist his procurement, the first Saxon king. This king Vortigern, An. 450. was **Math. West An. 450. Henricus Huntindon, h…st l. 2. p. 310. Polychron. l. 5. c. 1.excommunicated by St. Germaine Bishop of Auxerre, and an whole Synode of Brittish Bishops, for marrying his owne daughter; and afterwards was deposed by Saint Germaine from his Crowne, upon this occasion. **…olychron l. …, c. 1. f. …84. Iacobus Vsserius de Brit. …ccles. Primordiis, p. 334. Ant nini Chron Tit. 11. c 18. sect. 3 f. 51. B. Vincent…i spec. hist. l. 20. c. 11.Vortigerus denied Saint Germain lodging in a cold frosty night, and an Heard that kept the kings beasts, seeing that Gods servants were grieved, lodged Saint Germain, and slew a Calfe for his Supper: But after supper Saint Germaine causing them to gather all the bones of the Calfe together after they had eaten the flesh, raised the Calfe againe from death to life, so that standing by his Dam alive he began to eate Hay before them. The next day by commandement of God Germain put downe Vortigern from his kingdome… and took the fore-said Heard, and made him king. Then all men were astonied for wonder. And from that time forth the kings of Brittaines came of the Heards kinde. But Gyldas in his story saith, That this befell by the king of Powsie called Buly, and not of Vortigerus; and saith that Bulies Successours came of this Heards kinde, that were kings in that side of Wales. Thus was Vortigerus (an ill king I confesse) vexed by these proud and insolent Prelates, and at last deposed.

22ROBERT DE SIGILLO.After William Harrisons Description of England, l 2. c 1. p. 133.134.the death of Bishop Gilbert, 1133. one Anselme Abbot of Bury, Nephew to Saint Anselme, was elected Bishop of LONDON, and had his p. 227his election confirmed at Rome: but presently such exceptions were taken against him, as thereupon hee was not onelyonly stayd from cons…cration, but deprived also of his Abbotship. His Electors were William Deane of Pauls, Ralph Langford and Richard …eauveys, (the same I beleeve) that afterwards was Bishop. The King who very much misliked this Election (having made request for some other) amongst other effects of his displeasure, caused the wives of these Canons (as Bale reporteth) to be imprisoned, and otherwise shamefully intreated. By reason of the stirres that were about this Election, the See continued voyd a long time. Anno 1140. Mawde the Empresse having taken King Stephen Prisoner, came to London, and finding the Bishoppricke voyd, caused one, Robert de Sigillo a Monke of Reading (or as others say Archdeacon of London) to be elected and consecrated Bishop. Within a yeare or two after, this Bishop was taken prisoner at …ulham, by Geofry de Mandevill, a Captaine of King S…ephens, who ye may be sure could ill brooke any man that the Empresse favoured. This Bishop of London would not so much as sweare to be true subject to King Stephen; wherein he was maintained by the Pope, as appeareth by these Letters. Eugenius Episcopus servus Servorum Dei, dilecto in Christo filio Stephano illustri Regi Anglorum salut…m, & Apostolicam benedictionem. Ad haec superna providentia in Ecclesia Ponfices ordinavit, ut Christianus populus ab eis pascua vitae reciperet, & tam principes seculares, quam inferioris conditionis homines, ipsis Pontificibus tanquā Christi vicariis reverentiam exhiberent. Venerabilis siquidem frater noster Robertus London Episcopus, tanquam vir sapiens & honestus & religionis amator, a nobili…ate tua benigne tractandus est, & pr… collata a Deo prudentia propensius honorandus. Quia ergo sicut in veritate comperimus cum animae suae salute, ac suae ordinis periculo, fideli…ate qu… ab eo requeritur astringi non potest, volumus, & ex pater…o …ibi affect… consulimus, q…a…enus praedictum p. 228fratrem no…trum super hoc nullatenus inquietatis, imm… pro bea…i Petri & nostra reverentia, eum in amorem & gratiam tuam recipias. Cum autem illud jur…mentum praestare non possit, sufficiat discretioni tuae, ut simplici & veraci verbo promittat, quod lae…ionem tibi, vel terrae tuae non inferat. Vale… Dat. Meldis 6. Cal Iulii.

Thus we see that Kings were to rule no further than it pleased the Pope to like of, neither to chalenge more obedience of their subjects… than stood also with their good will and pleasure. He wrote in like sort unto Queene Maud about the same matter, making her Sampsons Calfe (the better to bring his purpose to passe) as appeareth by the same Letter here insuing.

Solomone attestante didicimus, qd mulier sapiens aedificat domum, insipiens autem constructam destruet manibus. Gaudemus prote & devotionis studium in Domino collaudamus, quoniam sicutreligiosorum relatione acceptmus timorem Dei praeoculis habens operibus pietatis intendis, & personas ecclesiasticas & diligis & honoras, ut ergo de bono in melius (inspirante Domino) proficere valeas, nobilitatem tuam in Domino rogamus & rogando monemus & exhortamur in Domino, quatenus initi…s exitus meliores injungas, & venerabilem fratrem nostrum Robertum London Episcop…m pro illius reverentia, qui cum olim Dives esset, pro **The Bishop refused to sweare fealty to the King, onelyonly to please the Pope.nobis pauper fieri volu…t, attentius diligas & honores apud virum tuum, & dilectum filium nostrum Stephanum, insignem Regem Anglorum efficere studeas, ut monit…s, hortatu, & consilio tuo ipsum in benignitatem & dilectionem suam suscipiat, & pro beati Petri & nostra reverentia propensius habeat commendatum. Et quia sicut (veritate teste) attendimus eum sine salutis, & sui ordinis periculo, praefato filio nostro astringi non posse, volumus, & paterno sibi & tibi affectu consulumus, ut vobis sufficiat, veraci, & simplici verbo promisstonem ab eo suscipere, quod laesionem vel detrimentum ei vel terrae suae non inferat. Dat. ut supra.

Is it not strange that a peevish order of Religion (devised by a man) should breake the expresse Law p. 229of God, who commandeth all men to honour and obey their Kings and Princes, in whom some part of the power of God is manifest, and laid open to us? And even uuto this end the Cardinall of Hos…ia also wrote to the Canons of Pauls after this manner, covertly incouraging them to stand to their election of the said Robert, who was no more willing to give over his new Bishopricke, than they carefull to offend the King, but ra…her imagined which way to keepe it still maugre his displeasure, and yet not to sweare obedience unto him, for all that he should be able to doe or performe unto the contrary.

Humilis, Dei gratia Hostiensis Episcopus, Londinen sis Ecclesiae canonicis spiritum consilii in Domino. Sicut rationi contraria prorsus est abiicienda petitio, ita in hi…s quae juste desiderantur, effectum negare omnino non convenit. Sane nuper accepimus, quod Londinensis Ecclesia, diu proprio destituta Pastore, communi voto, & pari assensu cleri & populi, venerabilem …ilium nostrum Robertum, ejusdem Ecclesiae Archidiaconum…in Pastorem & Episcopum animarum suarum susceperet & elegerit. Novimus quidem eum esse personam quam sapientia desuper ei attributa, & honestas conversationis, & morum reverentia plurimum commendabilem reddidit. Inde est quod fraternitati vestroe mandando consulimus, ut proposito vestro bono (quod ut credimus ex Deo est) & ut ex literis Domini Papae cognoscetis, non lente dehitum finem imponatis, ne tam nobilis Ecclesia sub occasione hujusmodi spiritualium, quod absit, & temporalium detrimentum patiatur. Ipsius namque industria credimus, quod antiqua religio, & forma disciplinae, & gravitas habitus, in Ecclesia vestra reparari, & si quae fuerint ipsius contentiones, ex Pastoris absentia, Dei gratia cooperante, & eodem praesente, poterint reformari Dat. &c.

Hereby you see how King Stephen was dealt withall. And albeit that Canterbury is not openly to be touched herewith, yet it is not to be doubted but he was a doer in it, so farre as might tend to the maintenance of the right and prerogative of the holy Church. Thus farre verbatim out of Harrison.

p. 23033William de Sancta Maria.William de Sancta Maria … Bishop of London, was **Matth W…stm. Ann 1208. Matth. Paris An. 1208 p. 217.218 224. Godwin p. 194. Fabians Chron. part 1. Anno 1205. p. 28. Polichron. l. 7. c. 33 Holinshed p. 171.172. Martins History. p. 46.47.48.one of those undutifull Bishops, who about the yeare of our Lord 1208. interdicted the whole Realme, and excommunicated King Iohn by the Popes Commandement: they all endured five yeares banishment for this their trechery and con…umacy, together with confiscation of their goods, and the King being specially incensed against this man, in token of his great displeasure, Anno 1211. threw downe to the ground his Castle of Stortford, which William the Conqueror had given to his Church. Besides he joyned in the publication of the Popes sentence for deposing the King, and stirred up the French King, and all other Christians to invade England in an hostile manner, and to depose King Iohn from the Crowne, and promised them remission of all their sinnes for this good Service. After which hee voluntarily resigned his Bishoppricke, Anno. 1221.

44Roger Niger.Roger Niger Bishop of London **Matthew Paris p 374 375. Godwin p. 194.195. Mathew Westm. An 1235 p. 140.excommunicated the Kings Officers, Ano 1233. for that they, ac…ording to their duty, had la…d hands upon, and hindred Walter Mauclerke Bishop of Carlile to passe over the Seas, he having no license to depart the Realme; and riding flreight unto the Court, he certified the King what hee had done, and there renewed the same sentence againe: the King himselfe not a little murmuring at this his insolent act as he had cause, and prohibiting him to doe it: the Bishops then at Court, notwithstanding the inhibition, excommunicated these his Officers likewise for doing their duty. **Matth. Paris. p. 365.366. Matth. Westm. An… 1232. p. 132.133.134. Speed. p. 606.About the same time King Henry the third gave commandement for the appehending of Hubert de Burge Earle of Kent, upon some pretence of Treason: who having suddaine notice thereof at midnight, fled into a Chapple in Essex belonging to the Bishop of Norwich. The King hearing this was exceeding angry, and fearing least he should raise some tumults in his Realme, if he escaped p. 231thus, sent Sir Godfrey de Cranecomb… with 300. armed men, to apprehend, and bring him to the Tower of London, under paine of death: who hasting to the Chapple, found the Earle (who had some notice of their comming) kneeling there upon his knees before the high Altar, with a Crucifix in one hand, and the Hostia in the other. Godfrey and his associates entring into the Chapple, commanded him in the Kings name, and by his direction, to come out of the Chapple, and repaire to him to London, which he refusing, saying, that hee would upon no tearmes depart from thence, they taking the Crosse and Lords body out of his hands, bound him in chaines, carried him to the Tower, and acquainted the King therewith… who was glad of the newes. Roger hearing this, and taking it to be a great infringment of the Churches liberties, goeth in post hast to the King, and boldly reproves him for violating the peace of the Church, and threatens to excommunicate all those that apprehended him, unlesse the King would immediatly restore him to the Chappell whence he was extracted and thereupon enforceth the King, sore against his will to remit him o the Chappell. The King hereupon commanded the Chapple to be strictly guarded by the Shrieffe of Essex, till Hubert should be starved or forced out thence. **Matth. Paris p 374.375. Matth. Westm. An. 1233 p. 141. Speed p. 608.About a yeare or two after, this Hubert being imprisoned in the Castle of the Devises, within the Diocesse of Salisbury, escaped and fled to the Church there; his keepers missing him, ranne out to seeke him with lanternes, clubbes, and weapons, and finding him in the Church, carrying the Lords crosse in his hands before the Altar, they bastinadoed and dragged him thence into the Castle, where they imprisoned him more strictly than before. Hereupon the Bishop of Salisbury excommunicated them because they refused to bring the Earle backe againe to the Church, saying, they would rather the p. 232Earle should be hanged, than they for suffering him to escape; whereupon the Bishop of Salisbury, and this Robert Niger Bishop of London with other Bishops went to the King, and never left till they had by perswasions and threats against his will, procured the Earle to be sent backe to the Church.

55FVLCO BSSET.**Matth. Paris p 944.957.886.887 and Godwin p. 194.195.Fulco Basset his next successor a man of a haughty & stout spirit, as he opposed the Popes exactions & Rustands his Legate, so he had many cont…sts with King H…nry the third, and was the maine pillar of the Barons, who reposed all his hope in him (before such time he grew cold and remisse, in standing for the publike liberties whereby hee much blemished his fame, and incensed the Barons and people against him) in so much that the King reviled him in these words, that neither he, nor any of his name were ever true unto him, threatning to finde meanes to correct him for his obstinacy. In the presence of some whom hee knew would tell the King of it, he sticked not to use this bold and couragious speech unfitting a P…elate. My Bishopricke, my Myter, and Crosier, the King and the Pope may take from me, but my helmet and sword. I hope they will not: yet neither of these two could secure him from Gods stroke, for he died of the Plague at London, Anno 1258.

66HENRY SANDWICH.Henry **Matth. W…st. Anno. 1259. p. 182. Matth. Westm. Anno. 1265. 1266. p. 330.332.336.337.342.343. Matth. Paris p. 961.970. Godwin p. 196. Speed p. 641. Holinshed. p. 271.Sandwich Bishop of London tooke part with the Barons, who rebelled against King Henry the third, for which cause he was excommunicated by Ottobon the Popes Legate, with other, Bishops being the chiefe incendiaries in these warres; of whom Matthew Westminster writes thus, The high Priests, that I say not the Pharises gathered a counsell together against the Lord, and against his annoynted, saying, Ye see that we have profitted nothing, if we let the King escape thus. The Romans will come and take away our purses with the money; let us therefore ordaine 24 Elders round about his Throne, who excluding the p. 233Parthians, Meedes, Elamites, and strangers of Rome, and freeing Ierusalem from Egyptian bondage, may governe and order all and singular the affaires of the Realme. The Knights, Barons, and Prelates, therefore meeting together at Oxford, in the 42. yeare of King Henry the third his reigne; the King, and Edward his eldest sonne being present, ordained by common consent, that twelve men nominated by the King, and twelve by the Barons and Prelates should governe the Realme, to which order the King and his sonne, for feare of perpetuall imprisonment, assented: all and singular the Prelates, except Ethelma… Bishop elect onelyonly of Winchester the Kings brother, tooke a corporall oath faithfully to observe this infidelity, and a sentence of excommunication was denounced by all the Archbishops and Bishops of the Kingdome against the transgressors of it. Moreover (saith he) it is not without admiration with what face these Senators, that aged Bishop of Worcester, and other Prelates, the Fathers & Iudges of mens consciences should give such free assent to take away the Kings royall power, when as they had taken a corporall Oath of giving terrene honour to the said King and his Lords: which they very ill observed in ordaining, that they should never governe… but ever be governed by others. After which the Lords and Knights perceiving the generall inconvenience of this Ordinance, in setting up so many Kings in stead of one, the Bishop of Worceter would by no means yeeld to alter it, saying, that this ordinance was ratefied by an Oath, and that the Pope could not dispence with the Oath, making conscience of this unjust Oath like Herod, and of Schisme and error, contrary to the Lawes and Cannons, drawing many false Prophets to him to foment this his error. After this the King commanded the Bishop of Hereford, (a great stickler against him in these rebellious courses & an oppressour of his subjects) p. 234apprehended, imprisoned, and his goods confiscated… Not long after the Prelates, Earles, and Barons, who so sediciously held their King captivated, meete at London, where they ordained, that two Earles, and one Bishop on the behalfe of the Comonalty should elect nine persons, whereof three should alwayes be assisting to the King, and that by the advise of those three, and the other nine, all things in the Kings house, as well as in the Kingdome should be ordered, and that the King should doe nothing without their advise, at least without the consent of these three. Whereupon the Earles of Lecester, Worcester, Glocester, and the Bishop of Chechister, (who the day before the battell of Lewes absolved all those who fought against his Soveraigne Lord the King from all their sinnes) were chosen out to be the chiefe Councellers and Captaines, who ele…ted other nine. The King for feare of perpetuall imprisonment, and that they would chuse another King, consented to the ordinance; OMNIBVS EPISCOPIS, all the Bishops, Earles, and Barons consenting thereunto, and sealing it with their Seales. The Bishops of London, Winchester, Worcester, and other Bishops were sent to the Popes Legate, Cardinall of Sabine, (whom they would not suffer to come into the Realme) to confirme this agreement, who sharply reprehended the Bishops, because they consented to so great a depression of the Kings power, citing them three dayes after to appeare before him at Bo…on…e about the affaires of the Kingdome: who neither appearing by themselves nor their Proctors; the Legate thereupon suspended them, & excommunicated the Barons, the Cinque ports, the city of London, and the Bishops to, for hindring him from comming into England, and for their default. But the said Bishops, and the rest, not regarding this thunderbolt, appealed from it, to the Pope and the next generall Councell, and to the Church as well Triumphant as Militant, p. 235and trusting to the defence of the Martiall sword, little esteemed the spirituall, the Bishops presuming to be present at, and to exercise divine offices, notwithstanding this suspention and excommunication, till Otho his comming into England; who calling a Councell at Wi…minster … suspended this Henry Bishop of London… Iohn Bishop of Winchester, and Stephen Bishop of Chichester … both from their office and Benefice, who …ostered and incouraged the part of the Kings enemies; excommunicating the Bishop of Lincolne for the same cause; who at last supplicated for mercy not judgement; with Walter Bishop of Worcester, who lying at the point of death confessed he had erred, fovend…, in fomenting and fostering the part of Simon Montford and thereupon sent Letters to the Legate, desiring the benefit of absolution, which he obtained and so died. By which relation of Matthew Westminister, seconded by the continuer of Matthew Paris, and other of our Chroniclers, it is most apparant, that this Bishop of London, and the other Prelates were the chiefe fomenters of all the warres and rebellions against the King, and those that stirred up, and encouraged the Barons in their unnaturall bloody wars against their Soveraigne Henry the third, as Stephen Langton Archbishop of Canterbury was the principall author and contriver of those against King Iohn.

Anno. 1329. & 1330. Richard Wentworth Bishop of London, 77RICHARD WENWORTHwas **Holinshed, p. 348. Yh… Walsingham. Hist. Angl. pag. 110.111.accused by Edmond Woodstocke, Earle of Kent, for conspiring with him to helpe set up a new King Edward the second after his death, whom Thoraas Dunhead a Fryer,88WILLIAM COVRTNEY. affirmed for cetaine, by a spirit of divination, to be alive. The Bishop was permitted to goe at liberty under sureties for his good behaviour, and forth comming; but the Earle was condemned of high treason, and beheaded, though set on by the Bishop, the greatest delinquent.

In the yeare 1378. **Holinshed p. 420.421. Walsingham. Hist. Angl. p. 216.217.218.Robert Hall, and Iohn Shakell Esquires, p. 236were committed Prisoners to the Tower, whence they both escaped to Westminster, and there kept sanctuary. Sir Alane Boxhul, Constable of the Tower… grieved not a little that these Prisoners were broken from him, and sheltered in that Sanctuary, taking with him Sir Ralph …errers with other men in armour, to the number of fif…ie, and some of the Kings servants, on the fifth of August, entred into Westrainister Church, whilst Masse was saying… at which the said two Esquires were present. And first laying hands upon Iohn Shakell, they used the matter so, that they drew him forth of the Church, and led him streight to the Tower; but Robert Hall drawing his short sword, resisted them along time, traversing twise round about the Monkes Quire, so as they could doe him no hurt till they had beset him on each side, and then one of them cleaft his head to the very braines, and another thrust him through with a sword, and so they murthered him among them, and one of the Monkes who would have had them save his life. Much adoe was made about this matter, for this breach of the Sanctuary, insomuch, that the Archbishop of Canterbury, Simon Sudbury, and five other Bishops his Suffragans, openly pronounced all them that were present at this murder accursed, and likewise all such as ayded and counselled them to it, chiefely the said Sir Alane, and Sir Ralph: The King, Queene, and Duke of Lancaster were yet excepted by speciall names. The Bishop of London (William Courtney) along time after every Sunday, Wednesday, and Fryday, pronounced this Excommunication in Pauls Church in London. The Duke of Lancaster, though excepted in the same, yet in the behalfe of his friends, was not a little offended with the Bishops doings for justifying these leude persons, and making the Church a sanctuary for Rebells and Traytors, and his excommunications, a scourge to punish the Kings Officers p. 237for doing their duties in reapprehending these fugitives; insomuch that in a Councell held at Windsore (to the which the Bishop of London was called, but would not come, such was his pride and disdaine nor yet cease the pronouncing of the curse, albeit the King had requested him by his Letters) the Duke said openly, That the Bishops forward dealings were not to to be borne with; but saithe he, if the King would command me, I would gladly goe to London, aud fetch this disobedient P…elate in despite of those Ribauds (so he then termed the Londoners,) which procured the Duke much evill will, who caused the next Parliament hereupon to be held at Gloster.

Anno. 1388. **Walsingham. Hi. Angl. p 217.218. Holinshed p. 457, 458.King Richard the second, by the advise of the Archbishop of Yorke, 99ROBERT BRAYBROOKEand others, retained men, of warre against his faithfull and Loyall Lords, who were stricken with great heavinesse at the newes. The Duke of Glocester meaning to mitigate his displeasure, received a solemne Oath before Robert Braybrooke Bishop of London, and divers other Lords, that he never imagined, nor went about any thing to the Kings hinderance, &c. and besought this Bishop to declare his words unto the King. The Bishop comming hereupon to the King, made report of the Dukes protestation confirmed with his Oath, in such wise, that the King began to be perswaded it was true: which when the Earle of Suffolke perceived, he began to speake against the Duke, till the Bishop bad him hold his peace, and told him, that it nothing became him to speake at all. And when the Earle asked why so? Because, said the Bishop,Stout Words of the Bishop of London. Thou wast in the last Parliament condemned for an evill person, and one not worthy to live, but onelyonly it pleaseth the King to shew thee favour. The King offended with the Bishops presumptuous words, commanded him to depart and get him home to his Church, who forthwith departed, and declared to the Duke of Glocester what hee had p. 238heard and seene. Hereupon the great misliking that had beene afore time betwixt the King and the Lords was now more vehemently encreased, the Duke of Ireland, the Earle of Suffolk, the Archbishop of Yorke, and the Lord chiefe Iustice Robert Trisilian still procuring stirring and confirming the Kings heavy displeasure against the Lords. **Walsingham Hist. Angl.. p. 188.189.The yeare before this, Iohn of Gaunt Duke of Lancaster, giving some ill words to this Bishop, the Londoners thereupon rose up in a tumultuous manner in armes, purposing to kill the Duke, and to burne his house at the Savoy, which they furiously assaulted, reversing the Dukes armes: whereupon the Duke complaining to the King, the Major and Aldermen of London were put out of office, and others Surrogated in their places.

1010NICHOLAS RIDLY.Nicholas Ridley a Martyr, after his deprivation from his Bishopricke, and one of the best Bishops that ever sat… in this See, in th… yeare 1553. (being the first of Queene Maries raigne) was **Holinshed. p. 1089.hastily displaced, deprived of the Sea of London, and committed Prisoner to the Tower. The cause of which extremity used towards him, was, for that in the time of Lady Iane, he preached a Sermon at Pauls Crosse by commandement of King Edwards Councell, wherein he disswaded the people for sundry causes, from receiving the Lady Mary, as Queene, though lawfull heire to the Crowne.

1111EDMOND BONNER.**Holinshed. p. 159.1160.Anno. 1558. One Robert Farrier said of the Lady Elizabeth, (afterwards Queene) That this Gill hath beene one of the chiefe doers of this rebellion of Wiat, and before all be done, she, and all Heretiques her partakers shall well understand it. Some of them hope, that she shall have the Crowne, but she, and they, I trust, that so hope, shall be headlesse, or be fried with fagots before she corae to it. Laurence Sherieffe, the Lady Elizabeth sworne servant complaining of these contumelious words to Bonner the Bishop of London, and the commissioners sitting in Boners house: p. 239Bonner excused Farrer, saying, that he meant nothing against the Lady Elizebeth, and that they tooke him worse than he raeant. And so Sherieffe came away, and Farrer had a flap with a Foxe taile. This Edmond Bonner an hypocriticall zealous Protestant at first, after an Apostate, whiles the Bishop of London, was a **Fox Acts and Monuments, Ediit. ult vol. 2. p. 215. l. 378.379.38 350.554.672. to 699. vol. 3 p. 105.106.107.251.254. to 384 759.879, 898 974. Martins History p. 453. Godwin. p. 144.most bloody persecuter and murtherer of Gods Saints all Queene Maries dayes, a chiefe reviver and advancer of the Popes Supremacy, which he had abjured, to the great ecclipse and diminution of the prerogative royall, yea a most furious Bedlam… and most unnaturall beast, sparing none of any condition, age, or sexe, and burning hundreds of good subjects into ashes. He was a great enemie to Queene Elizabeth, and the first Author of Bishops Visitation Oathes, and Articles, that I have met with. He commanded the Scriptures written on Church walls to be blotted out, (as Bishop Wren, and Bishop Peirce have since done in some plaees by his example.) In a word, he was the worst persecuting Bishop in his age, and was twice deposed from his Bishopricke for his misdemeanors; first in King Edwards dayes, and after in the beginning of Queene E…izabeths raigne by authority of Parliament at which time he was committed to the Marshashey among Rogues and murtherers, where he died, and was buried at midnight in obscurity.

Richard Fletcher the 42. Bishop of London, 1212RICHARD FLETCHER.incurred Queene Elizabeths just displeasure for his misdemeanors;Martins Hist. p. 810. Godwin. p. 156. whereupon he fell to cure his cares by immoderate drinking of Tobacco, and Iune the fifteenth, 1596. died suddenly at his house in London, being (to see) well, sicke and dead in one quarter of an houre.

Richard Bancroft 1313RICHARD BANCROFT.Bishop of London consecrated the eleventh of May, 1597.O… whom see more before in Cante. was a great persecuter of godly Ministers,See Lew…s Hughes his grievances, p. 14.15. a favourer and harbourer of Priests and Jesuites, and caused Dolmons Book of Succession p. 240against **See p. 151.152.King Iames his tittle to the Crowne, to be Printed in his house, and published: hee was the chiefe Author of the Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiasticall, set forth in the first yeare of King Iames, which afterwards did breed much trouble and disturbance in our Chu…ch, and are now voted in Parliament, to be made without any lawfull authority, and to be repugnant to the Lawes of the Realme, and liberty of the subject.

1414WIL…IAM LAVD.William Laud, the last Bishop of London but one, whilst he continued in that See, was very like to his predecessors Bonner and Bancroft in his practises and proceedings; for some of which, and others since, he now stands charged of high treason by the Parliaament. Of which more before, p. 157. &c.

1515WILLIAM IVXON.The present Bishop of London William Iuxon was Bishop Laudes creature, advanced by him, and the first Prelate in our memory, who relinquished the cure of soules and preaching of Gods Word to become a Lord Treasurer, and sit as a Publican at the receit of Custome. His disposition and carriage as a man, have beene amiable & commendable; but how farre forth he hath concurred with Canterbury in his evill counsells and designes as he is a Prelate, time will discover. How ever in the interim, his forwardnesse in compiling and pressing the late new Canons, Loane and &c. Oath, and his last Visitation Articles, wherein these new Canons and Oath are inforced upon the Subjects, against the Lawes and their Liberties, with some censures of his in the Starrechamber and high Commission (resolved by Parliament to be against the Law and liberty of the Subject) **See the Articles of the Scottish Commissioners against Canterbury.and his Innovations in Scotland are inexcusable.