The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 1 · Chapter 3 · Section 2

The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy · Part 1 · Chapter 3 · Section 2

p. 240Winchester.

From the Prelates of London, I now passe to those of Winchester; of whom**William Harrison… his De. scrip. Engl. lib. 2. c. 2. p. 141 William Harrison, in the discription p. 241of England, hath made this true observation; If the old Catalogue of the Bishops be well considered of, and the Acts of the greatest part of them weighed, as they are to be read in our Histories, ye shall finde the most egregious hypocrites, the stoutest warriours, the cruellest tyrants, the richest mony-mongers, and politicke Councellours in temporall affaires, to have (I wote not by what secret working of the divine providence) beene placed here in Winchester, since the foundation of that See; which was erected by Birinus An. 639. (whom Pope Honorius sent hither out of Italy) and first planted at Dorcester, in the time of Kimgils, then translated to Winchester where it doth yet continue.

Wina the third (or rather the first Bishop of Winchester, 11WINA.from whence some write this city tooke its name) Matth Wes…m. An. 666 p. 234. Godwin p. 132.160.about the yeare of our Lord, 666. I know not for what misdemeanour, so highly offended Kenwalchus, King of the West Saxons, who advanced him to this See, that the King fell into great mislike of him and drave him out of his Country; who thereupon flying to Wulfher King of Mercia bought of him for a great summe of money the Bishopricke of London; being the first Symonist that is mentioned in our Historyes, whence a…ter his death, he was deservedly omitted out of the Catalogue of the Bishops of London.

**Matth West. An. 834. p. 301. Godwin. p 162.Herefridus the fifteene Bishop of Winchester, 22HERREFIRDVS.and Sigelmus Bishop of Sherborne, An. 834. accompanied King Egbert to the warres against the Danes, and were both slaine in a battell against them.

About the yeare of our Lord, 1016. Edmond Ironside succeeding his father in the Kingdome,33EDSINVS. was crowned at London by the Archbishop of Yorke; **Matth. Westm. An. 1016. p. 397.398 Polichron l. 6. c. 7. Holinshed. Hist. of England. l. 7. c. 9, 10. p. 175.176. Speed p. 425.426.but the rest of the Bishops, Abbots, and spiritualty (among whom Edsinus the 32. Bishop of Winchester was one) favouring Cnute a Dane) who had no right nor title to the Crowne, assembling together at Southampton (within p. 242Winchester Diocesse) … proclaimed… and ordained …nu…e for their King, and submitted themselves to him as their Soveraigne; which occasioned many bloody battells and intestine warres almost to the utter ruine of the Kingdome; of which you may read at large in our Historians. …nute not long after his inauguration being put to the worst at Durham by Edm…d, immedia…ly tooke into Winches…er to secure himselfe; a good proofe this Bishop sided with him against his Soveraigne E…mond, though a most heroicke Prince.

44ALWYN.**Antiq. Eccl. Brit p 73 to 79. Speed, p. 203.413.41… Godwin p 168. Holinshed Hist. of Engl l. 8. c. 1, 2 4.Alwyn the 33. Bishop of Winchester was imprisoned by Edmond the Confessor for the suspition of incontinency with Emma the Kings mother, and that upon the accusation of Robert Archbishop of Canterbury, who likewise accused Queene Egitha of adultery more out of envy to her father, than truth of so foule a fact in her: whereupon the King expulsed her his Court and bed, and that with no little disgrace: for taking all her Jewels from her, even to the uttermost farthing, he committed her prisoner to the Monastery of VVilton, attended onelyonly with one Mayde, while she for a whole yeares space almost, in teares and prayers, expected the day of her release and comfort. The Clergy at this time were altogether unlearned, wanton, and vicious: for the Prelates neglecting the office of their Episcopall function, which was to tender the affaires of the Church, and to feede the flocke of Christ, lived themselves idle and covetous, addicted wholely to the pompe of the world, and voluptuous life, little caring for the Churches, and soules committed to their charge: and if any told them (faith **Polichr…n. l 6. …. 24…Higden) that their lives ought to be holy, and their conversation without coveteousnesse, according to the sacred prescript and vertuous examples of their Elders, they would scoffingly put them off. Nunc aliud tempus, alii pro tempore mores, Times have mutations; So must mens fashions; and thus (saith he) they p. 243plained the roughnesse of their doings, with smoothnesse of their answers.

Stigand, 44Stigand.Anno 1047. was translated to Winchester; from whence also he was removed to Canterbury in the yeare 1052.Godwin p 168 169. But whether he mistru…ted his Title to Canterbury, Robert the former Arch-Bishop being yet alive, or whether infatiable covetousnesse provoked him thereunto, I cannot tell; hee retained still Winches…er, notwithstanding his preferment to Canterbury, which was the cause of his undoing at last: For the Conqueror who came into this Realme while he was Arch-Bishop being desirous to place his own Countrey-men in all roomes of speciall Authoritie; and besides, having a private grudge at Stigand for forcing him to yeeld Kentish men their ancient Liberties (whereof see more in Canterbury) procured him to be deprived of both his Bishoprickes upon this point, that he had contrary to the Law, held them both together. He was deprived, An. 1069. and dyed a prisoner in the Castle of Winchester soon after.

About the yeare 1107. Holinshed p. 30 Godwin p. 169, 170. Math. West A. … 102. p. 23. & An. 1107. p. 25, 29.King Henry the first taking upon him to bestow Bishoprickes,55William Giffard. giving investiture and possession of them, by delivering the Ring and the Crosier, placed divers of his Chaplaines in Bishoprickes (without election) commanding the Arch-bishop to consecrate them. Among divers others hee appointed William Giffard, Bishop of Winchester, and required Anselme the Arch-bishop to consecrate him: Anselme utterly denyed to afford consecration either to him or any other in the like case. The King then sent unto Girard Arch-bishop of York whom he found nothing strange: but G…ffard (saith Matthew Westminster) timens rigorem sancti Anselmi spernit consecrationem ejus, stood so much in awe of Saint Anselme, as hee durst not but reject the offer of the others consecration. The King angry hitherto with the Arch-bishop onelyonly, was now much more incensed against p. 236this Giffard, and in great displeasure banished him the Realme. In the end, the King and the Arch-bishop grew to this agreement, that the gifts of the King already passed should be ratified, and his Clerkes nominated to Bishoprickes, have consecration, upon promise, that hereafter he should not disturbe Canonicall Elections, and utterly renounce his pretended priviledge. So after much adoe he was consecrated, togegether with divers others, An. 1107.

HENRY DE BLOYS.Henry de Bloys, being Bishop of Winchester when King Henry the first dyed, **Malms… Novel. l. 1. & 2. p. 178 to 194. Matth. Paris p. 71. to 76. Matth Westm. An. 1135. to 1150. Speed l. 9 c. 5. p. 483, 484, 493, 494, Godwin, p. 221, 222, 223, Neuhrig. Hist. l. 1.2 4 to 21. Fox Acts and Monuments, p. 181. Hoveden An. pars prior, p. 481, 482. Holinshed, p. 54.although he with the other Bishops of the Land had sworne fealtie unto Maud the Empresse, yet she being absent in Normandy, this Bishop doubting left some other stepping up before her arrivall… the Kingdome might be rent away quite from his kindred and passe to some stranger… by vertue of his power Legantine called a Councell of the Clergie (who swayed all in those dayes) and drawing Roger Bishop of Sali…bury to his partie, easily procured his Brother Stephen Earle of Boloigne, to be elected King, whom they crowned, and submitted to as their Soveraigne, disinhereting Maud the right Heire. The King not long after falling out with these two Bishops, seized upon their Castles, and imprisoned the Bishop of Salisbury, who dyed for griefe. The Bishop of Winchester summons a Counsell there, to which the Bishop was cited; the Case of the Bishops concerning their Castles, was there long debated betweene the Pope the Bishops, and those on the Kings side; he would yeeld to nothing; whereupon they moved the Legate to Excommunicate him; who replied, he durst not doe it without the Popes privitie. The Kings unthankefulnesse to the Bishops who onelyonly had set him up, did so alienate them from him, that thereupon they joyned with Maud the Empresse against him, who by their meanes became able to make her part good with Stephen, and tooke him prisoner; the Bishop of Winchester p. 237and a great part of the Realme too, receiving her for their Queene; Hereupon this Prelate accurseth and excommuncates al the opposites of Maud the Empresse, who denying him a suite in the behalfe of his Brother Eustace; He thereupon revokes h…s Excommunication, secretly falls from her, stirres up the discontented Londoners against her, mans divers Castles to resist her, equivocates in his words and actions with her to worke her ruine, fiers Winchester upon her, and at last entraps her. Thus this turne-coat trecherous Prelate with the rest, were Traytors and Rebels on both sides; of which see more in William Corbell Arch-Bishop of Cante…bury, and Roger of Salisbury, and in the Historians hereunto quoted. The Pope sent a Pall to this Bishop, desirous to constitu…e a new Arch-Bishoprick at Winchester, and to assigne 7. Bishops to him.

Peter de la Roche, 77Peter de la Roche.or de Rupibus, Bishop of Winchester, who **Math Paris p. 370.372, 373, 393. to 397. Mat. West… An. 1233. p. 134, 135 &c. Speed, p. 607 to 612. Holinshed. p. 1075.was Protectour, and had greatest sway in the Government of the Realme, in the beginning of King Henry the 3. his Raigne, by his evill Counsell to the King, became the chiefe Incendiary and occasion of the Barons warres: For having by his false accusations and policies wrought Hubert Earle of Kent out of the Kings favour, and plotted his death, that hee might solely raigne and predominate over the gentle young King: The better to effect this his designe, he procures him to displace the English Officers, and in their roomes to surrogate Poictovines and Britons; who comming over to the number of about 2000. hee stuffed his Castles with them, and did as it were wholly intrust himselfe, his Treasures, strength, and the Realme to them; So that Judgements were committed to the unjust, Lawes to the out-lawes… peace to wranglers, and Justice to wrong-doers. Such as would have prayed redresse for these abuses, were interrupted and put off by this Bishop of Winchester. Among them who were removed from their places in Court, was one Sir p. 246William de Redune, The King by advancing Strangers discont…nts his Noblesa Knight, and Deputie Marshall to Richard Earle of Pembroke. This was to the Earle very displeasant, which joyned with a consideration of the publicke cause and danger, hee associates to him certaine of the great Lords (as was the fashion of those Lording times upon every discontent) and in the company of them advanceth confidently to the King… whom in the hearing of many he reproveth, for that hee had through finister advice, called in the …oictovins to the oppression of the Realme and of his naturall Subjects of their Lawes and Liberties; humbly therefore hee beseecheth him that he would speedily reforme such abuses, which threatned the imminent subversion both of the Crowne and Kingdome; which if hee did not, himselfe and other Lords would so long withdraw their attendance, as hee entertained strangers. The Bishop hereunto makes answer, That the King might well and lawfully call in what strangers himselfe thought good for the defence of the Crowne and Realme, and such and so many of them, as might be able to compell his proud and rebellious people to due obedience. The English Peeres confederate against the strangers.When the Oracle would speake no otherwise, they departed from Court, greatly discontented, firmly promising one to the other, that in such a cause which did so touch them all, they would like men stand together while any breath was in their bodies. Those who were now most potent about the King, nothing sorry for the discontentment of so great a Peere as the Earle Marshall, but counting it a part of their strengths to use the Regall power towards the weakning of the English; nourish in the King his aversion. The Poictovins and other strangers thus bearing the sway… so as the Kings person went guarded with troopes of such, the Earles and Barons being by the Kings command summoned to antoher Parliament at Oxford, The …arons contemne the Kings Summons.refused to come. While the King was there, one **Paris calls him… Bacum.Robert Bacon, who used there to preach before the King and Prelates, f…eely told him, That if hee p. 247did not remove from him Peter Bishop of Winchester, and Peter de Rivallis, he could never be in quiet.The frank speech of a Preacher. The King did hereupon a little come to himselfe, and Roger Bacon, a Clergie-man also of a pleasant wit, did second Roberts advise, telling the King, that **That is Rockes and Stones.Petrae and Rupes were most dangerous things at Sea, alluding to the Bishops name Petrus de Rupibus. The King therefore (as hee had the happinesse in his mutabilitie to change for his more securitie) taking that good advise of Schollers, which he would not of his Peeres, summons a Parliament to be holden at **In Iuly.VVestminster, giving the World to know withall, that his purpo…e was, to amend by their advise whatsoever ought to be amended. But the Barons considering that still there arrived sundry strangers, men of warre, with Horse and Armour… and not trusting the Poi…ovine faith came not,The Barons second contempt to the Kings command. but presumed to send this message to the King; that if out of hand he removed not Peter Bishop of Winchester, and the Poictovines out of his Court… they all of them by the common consent of the Kingdome, would drive him and his wicked Counsellours together out of it, and consult about creating a new Soveraigne.The traiterous errand to the King. The King (whom his Fathers example made more timerous) could easily have beene drawne to have redeemed the love of his naturall Liege-men with the disgrace of a few strangers; but the Bishop of VVinchester and his Friends, infused more spirit into him: Whereon, to all those whom hee suspected, the King sets downe a In August nex…. Rog. de Wend. M. S.day, within which they should deliver sufficient pledges to secure him of their loyalty. Against that day the Lords in great numbers make repaire to London; but the Earle Marshall (admonished of danger by his Sister the Countesse of Cornewall) …lyes backe to VVales, and chiefely for want of his In August new. Rog. de Wend. M. S.presence, nothing was concluded. The King not long after is at Gloster with an Armie, whither the Earle and his Adherents required to come, refused; p. 240the King therefore burnes their Mannors,The Earle Marshall in Armes. and gives away their inheritances to the Poictovines. This Rebellion had not many great Names in it, but tooke strength rather by weight then number; the knowne Actors were the Earle Marshall, the Lord Gilbert Basset, and many of the inferiour Nobles. The Bishops arts had pluckt from him the Kings brother, and the two Earles of Chester and Lincolne, who dishonourably sold their love **Matth. Paris.for a thousand Markes, and otherwise, as it seemed, secured the rest; Neverthelesse, they may well bee thought, not to have borne any evill will to their now forsaken confederate the Earle Marshall, who tooke himselfe to handle the common cause; certainely hee handled his owne safety but ill, as the event shall demonstrate: The Earle hearing these things contracts strict amity with Lewelin Prince of Wales, Confederates himselfe with Lewelin Prince of Wales.whose powers thus knit together, by advantages of the Mountaines, were able to counterpoise any ordinary invasion. To the kings ayde Balwin de Gisnes with many Souldiers came out of Flanders: The king now at Hereford in the midst of his Forces, sends from thence (by VVinchesters counsell) the Bishop of Saint Davids to defie the Earle Marshall; How farre soever the word defie extends it selfe; sure it seemes that the Earle hereupon understood himselfe discharged of that obligation, by which hee was tyed to the king, and freed to make his defence; the king notwithstanding,Rog. Wend, M. S. Math. Pa…is. after some small attempts and better considerations, did promise and assume, that by advise of counsell, all that was amisse should at a **The Sunday after Michaelmas.day appointed bee rectified and amended; About which time Hubert de Burgo having intelligence that the Bishop of VVinchester who was a Poictovine **Math Westm. Roger Wend. Math… Paris.plotted his death, escaped out of the Castle of Devises where hee was prisoner, to a Neighbour Church, but was haled from thence by the Castle-keepers. The Bishop of Sarisbury (in whose Diocesse it hapned) caused him p. 241to be safe restored to the same place, from whence by the Earle Marshall and a troope of armed men his friends,Hubert de B…rgo escapes into Wales, Ypod. Neust. hee was rescued and carryed into VVales. The king at the day and place appointed holds his great Counsell or Conference with the Lords, but nothing followed for the peace of the Realme; it was not an ordinary passage of speech which hapned there betweene the Lords and Bishop of VVinchester; For when the English Bishops and Barons humbly besought the king for the honour of Almightie God to take into grace his naturall Subjects whom (without any tryall by their Peeres) hee called Traytors; the Bishop offended it seemes at Peeres) takes the words out of the kings mouth and answers, That there are no Peeres in England as in the Realme of France, and that therefore the king of England by such Justiciars as himselfe pleaseth to ordaine, may banish offenders out of the Realme… and by judiciall processe condemne them. The English Bishops relished his speech so sharply, that with one voyce they threatned to excommunicate and accurse by name the kings principall wicked Councellours; but VVinchester appealed: Then they accursed all such as alienated the heart of the king from his Naturall Subjects, and all others that per…urbed the peace of the Realme. aaAn. 1205 p. 134, 135 See Godwin, p 172. Antiqu. Eccles. Brit p. 160, 16…Matthew VVestminster writes of this Peter de la Roche, that hee was more expert in Military than Scholasticall affaires. That the king by his Counsell removed all English Officers out of his Court, and precipitately cast away all his Counsellours, as well Bishops as Earles, Barons, and other Nobles of his kingdome, so as hee would beleeve none but this Bishop (whom hee adored as his God) and his Darling Peter de Rivales. Whence it came to passe, that expelling all Gardians of Castles almost through all England … the King committed all things under the custodie of p. 250this Peter. Then this Prelate drew into his confederacie Stephen de Segrave, too much an enemie both to the kingdome and Church (who had given most detestable counsell formerly to Stephen the Popes Chaplaine, to the inestimable dammage of the Church many wayes) and Robert de Passelewe, who with all his might, and with effusion of no small summe of money, had plotted treason and grievances at Rome against the king and kingdome. This man kept the kings treasure under Peter de Rivalis; and so it came to passe, that the Reines of the whole kingdome were committed to Strangers and base persons, others being rejected. Yet Godwin (for the honour of his Rochet) magnifies this Prelate for his notable Wisdome; so as the Counsell of England received a great wound by his death, though it and the whole Realme received such prejudice by his life. The Earle Marshall (writes Speed) encreasing in strength and hatred against such as were the kings reputed Seducers, makes spoile and bootie on their possessions, and after joyning with the power of Leoline, Prince of Wales, Roger Wendever.puts all to fire and sword, as farre as Shrewesbury, part whereof they burnt to Ashes, and sackt the Residue. The king then at Gloster, for want of sufficient forces, departed thence (sorely grieved) to Winchester, abandoning those other parts as it were to waste and ruine.The King gives way to the fury of the rebellious. It therefore seemes, that hee was not growne stronger, or richer, by the displacing of Hubert Earle of Kent, and the rest, and by taking new into their roomes, who commonly bite and sucke hard till they have glutted themselves, (if at least-wise there bee any satietie in Avarice;) whereas the old and ancient Officers, (having provided in a manner for the maine chance,) have the lesse p. 251reason to be grievous. Therefore the Lyons skinne not being large enough for the Bishop of VVinchester, and his factious purposes, they peece them out with the Foxes case, an inevitable stratageme is devised. The Earle Marshall had in Ireland all the ample Patrimonies of his Grandfather the famous Strongbow. To make that member of his strengths improfitable, if not also pernicious, they devise certaine Letters directed to Maurice Fitz-Gerald (Deputy Justice of Ireland) and other principall men, who held of the Earle.A practise to ruine the Earle Ma…shall. In them they signifie; that Richard once marshall to the King of EngIand, was for manifest Treason,The Pestilent tenour of the Letters. by the judgement of the Kings Court, banished the Realme, his Lands, Townes, and Tenements consumed by fire; other his Hereditaments destroyed, and himselfe for ever disinherited: that if upon his comming thither they did take him, either alive or dead, the King did give them all the Earles Lands there, which now were forfeited by vertue of his attainture, and for assurance that the sayd gift should continue firme and good, they by whose advise the King and Kingdome were governed faithfully undertooke. To these letters (which the Monkes call bloody) they caused the King to set his Seale, as they themselves also did theirs. VponUpon receipt of which lines, the parties signifie backe under the Seale of secresie, that if the contents of those letters were confirmed by the Kings Letters Patents, they would performe that which they desired. The Letters Patents be made accordingly, **Rog. Wend. M. S. Matth. Pari….and having fraudulently gotten the great Seale from Hugh, Bishop of Chichester Lord Chancellor, who knew not thereof, they make them authenticke with the impression. The Kings minde therefore being still exulterated towards the Earle Marshall, he grievously charged Alexander Bishop of Chester, that hee had too much familiarity with the Earle, affirming, that they sought to thrust him from his Throne; the Bishop to cleare himselfe from p. 252so haynos a s…andall,Alexander Bishop of Chester cleareth himselfe from disloyalty. put on his Episcopall habit, and solemnely pronounceth all those accurst who did but imagine a wickednesse of so foule a nature, against the Majestie or person of the King; and thereupon by the intercession of other Prelates, he was received into grace: The King was then at Westminster, where Edmond the Archbishop of Canterbury elect,The Eng…ish Bishops d…ale with the King about red…esse of the the common evils. with other his Suffragan Bishops bewayling the estate of the Kingdome, present themselves before him, telling him as his loyall leigemen, that the counsell of Peter Bishop of VVinchester and his complices, which now he had and used, was not sound nor safe, but cruell and perillous to himselfe and his Realme. First, for that they hated and despised the English, Objections against the B…shop of Winton and the Poictouines.calling them Traytors, turning the Kings heart from the love of his people, and the hearts of the people from him; as in the Earle Marshall, whom being (one of the worthiest men of the Land) by sowing false tales they drave into discontentment. 2. That by the councell of the same Peter, his father King Iohn first lost the hearts of, his people, then Normandy, then other lands, and finally wasted all his Treasures, and almost England it selfe, and never after had quiet. 3. That if the Subjects had now beene handled according to Justice and Law, and not by their ungodly councells, those present troubles had not hapned, but the Kings lands had remained undestroyed, his treasures unexhausted. 4. That the Kings Councell is not the Councell of peace but of perturbation, because they who cannot rise by peace, will rayse themselves by the trouble and disinherison of others. 5. That they had the treasure, Castles, Wardships, and strengths of the Kingdome in their hands, which they insolently abused, to the great hazard of the whole estate, for that they made no conscience of an Oath… Law, Justice, or the Churches Censures. Therefore we, O King (said they) speake these things faithfully unto you, and in the presence p. 253both of God and man, doe counsell, beseech, and admonish yo… to remove such a Councell from about you; and as it is the usage in ot…er Realmes governe yours by the faithfull and sworne Children thereof. The King in briefe answered hereunto, that he could not sodainely put off his Councell, and therefore prayed a short respite, till their accomps were audited; Meane while the behahaviours of the Marshalline faction (having this backing at Court) grew more and more intollerable,The outrages of …he Ma…shalline faction. for while the King was at Huntingdon, the Lord Gilbert Basset and others, set fire upon Alckmundbury, a Towne belonging to Stephen de Segrave, the flames whereof were seene of the Owner, being then with the King at Huntingdon: they also tooke Prisoners upon the Welch Marches, and according to the Law of warre (which saith one, is lawlesse) did put them to their ransomes. Nothing had hitherto preserved the King more than that he could without great griefe forgoe any Favorites, if hee were meerely pressed;**Note th…s. the contrary quality whereof hath beene the cause of finall desolation to so many Princes; for albeit the choyce of Counsellours ought to be free, yet by common intendment, they should be good, or howsoever they are, or are not, it is madnesse to hazard a Crowne, or lose the love of a whole Nation, rather than to relinquish or diminish a particular dependant; the rights of amity ought neverthelesse to remaine inviolable, but in such distance, that the publike be not perverted, or interverted for a private: The King therefore in this point not unfortunate, commanded Bishop Peter to betake himselfe to his residence at VVinton, without once medling in affaires of State: but against Rivalis his Treasurer, he was so vehement, that he sware, hee would plucke out his eyes, were it not for reverence of holy Orders, commanding also the Proictouines to depart the Realme, never to see his face. Then are the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the Bishops of Chester p. 254and Rochester sent into VValls to pacifie things there: but the Earle Marshall had now crost the Seas into Ireland to take revenge for the spoyles and displeasures which his hired enemies had made in his Lands there, by whose plots, according to that secret agreement, he was finally taken, and died of a wound given him in the backe, as he with admirable manhood defended himselfe. The **Edmond afterwards canonized Antiqu. Eccles. Brit. p. 160.161.Archbishop of Canterbury with the other Bishops repaired to the King at Glocester, upon their returne from Leoline Prince of VVales, who pretended he could not conclude, till the King had received into grace such of the banished Nobility, with whom himselfe had beene confederate during the late displeasures. The King hereupon moved with pitty, sends forth his Proclamations, That all such as were out-lawed or proscribed should be at Glocester upon a certaine day, there to be received into the Kings favour againe, and to have restitution of their inheritances… but least they might suspect any evill measure; it was ordered that they should be in the Churches protection, and come under the safe conduct of the Archbishop and the other Prelates… Thither at the time and place limitted doth Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent, and lately chiefe Justicier of England repaire, upon whom, by mediation of the Bishop, the compassionate King lookes graciously, receiving him in his armes… with the kisse of peace. In like sort was the Lord Gilbert Basset, and all others of that fellowship received into favour, their severall livings, and rights fully restored, and both Hubert and Basset admitted to be of his Councell. VponUpon this reconcilement, the practise by which the late great Marshall was destroyed, and his possessions dismembred, came to light; the coppy of the Letters which had beene sent into Ireland being by commandement of the Archbishop of Canterbury openly read in the presence of the King, the Prelates, Earles, and Barons. It moved p. 255teares in all of them; the King with an Oath, affirming, that he knew not the Contents of the said Letters, though by the urging of the Bishop of Winchester. Rivallis, Segrave, Passeletu with other of his Councell, hee had caused his Seale to be put unto them. At the sound of Summons to make their severall appearances, the Malefactors take Sanctuary; the Bishop, and Peter de Rivallis in Winchester Church, Segrave in Leicester Abby, Passeleiu in the new Temple, and others otherwhere. And **Antiqu. Eccl. Brit p. 171.163…some write that the King commanded Winchester utterly to depart the Court, and to repaire to his Bishopricke, and there to give himselfe intirely to the cure of soules. If such a precept were now given by his Majesty to all our Court Prelates it would be but just. In the end, upon the intercession of Edraond, Archbishop of Canterbury, who piously endeavoured to extinguish all occasions of further dissention in the Kingdome, and undertooke they should have a lawfull triall, the delinquents appeared at Westminster before the King, who sate **Rog. de Wend. M.S. Matth. Maris.in person with his Justiciers upon the Bench, Peter de Rivallis was first called (for the Bishop came not;) whom the King shot through with an angry eye, saying, O thou Traytor, by thy wicked advise I was drawne to set my Seale to these treacherous Letters for the destruction of the Earle Marshall, the contents whereof were to me unknowne, and by thine, and such like councell I banished my naturall Subjects, and turned their rainds and hearts from me. By thy bad councell, and thy complices, I was moved to make warre upon them to my irreparable losse, and the dishonour of ray Realme: In which enterprize I wasted my treasure, and lost many worthy persons, together with much of my royall respect; therefore I exact of thee an account; as well of my treasure, as of the custodies of wards, together with many other profits and escheats belonging to my Crowne. Peter denying none of the accusations, but falling to the ground thus besought him. My Soveraigne Lord and King, I have beene nourished by you, and made rich in worldly p. 256substance, confound not you owne creature, but at least wise grant me a time of deliberation, that I may render a competent reason for such poynts as I am charged with. Thou shalt (said the King) be carried to the Tower of London, there to deliberate till I am satisfied; he was so. Step…en de Segrave, the Lord chiefe Justice (whom the King also called most wicked Traytor) had time till Michaelmas to make his accounts at the Archbishops and other Bishops humble intreaty; and for other matters, hee shifted them of from himselfe, by laying the blame upon such as were higher in place than he; into whose office of chiefe Justice Hugh de Pateshull is advanced: The like evasion Robert Passeleu had… by leaving the fault upon Walter Bishop of Carleil, who was above him in the Exchequer; And thus were these civill enormities reformed, not without reducing store of coyne to the King: this Bishop of VVinchester, being the chiefe Author of all these warres and mischiefes, which thus molested King, State, and People at that time.

Anno. **Matth. West. An. 1238. p. 147. Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 169.1238. Otho the Popes Legate lodging at Osnie Abby, some of his servants abusing the Schollers of Oxford that came thither to see him, they thereupon falling together by the eares slew the Legates Cooke, and hurt other of his servants reviling the Legate, and stiling him a wicked wretch, a Robber of England, the gulfe of Roman avarice, &c. Hereupon the Legate fled up into the Towne for feare, and sent to the King to Abindon to rescue him; the next day he publikely excommunicated all who had assaulted him, depriving them both from their office and benefice, and pronouncing them irregular, interdicted all the Churches in Oxford, and suspended the Schollers from studying there; the which Sentence was by this Bishop of VVinchester, solemnely denounced, and executed before all the Clergy and people assembled together for that purpose at S. Frideswids in Oxford; and so all that Summer the Schollers were dissipated, & their p. 257study at Oxford was suspended. At length the Abbot and Canons of Osnie, and regent Masters of Oxford comming bare foote to the Legate, with their heads uncovered, and their upper garments put off and rent, oft times humbly craved pardon of him… and so at last going through the midst of the Citty of London to the Bishop of Durhams house, they with much adoe obtained pardon, whereupon the Schollers were restored to their Study at Oxford, and released from their said sentences.

An. 1246. **Antiqu. Eccle… Brit. p. 181.182 Mat. Paris. An. 1246. p. 672. to 689.The Pope writ to William, WILLIAM de RALEY.Bishop of VVinchester, and the Bishop of Lincolne, that they should levy 6000. markes of the Cleargy to his use. They thereupon began to execute this mandate of the Pope, but are prohibited by the King to proceede under paine of proscription. The Cleargy now interposed betweene the King & Pope, and terrified with both their threats… were uncertaine what to doe: but perceiving the Kings inconstancy, and fearing least his courage failing he should at last (as he often had done before) yeeld to the Pope… many of them paying their money secretly, avoided both the Kings and Popes indignation. To prevent these exactions, messengers were sent to the Pope from the King, Peeres, Prelates, and Commons of England; these the Pope reviles and repels as Schismaticks, saying; The King of England, who now turnes his heeles against me, and Frederizeth, hath his Councell, but I have mine. With which scornefull words the King was so moved, that he proclaimed through England, That no man should pay any thing to the Pope. But the Pope growing more angry hereat, threatned the Prelates with all kinde of punishment, that they should pay the foresaid summe to his Nuncio in the new Temple very spedily. The King terrified with the threats of his brother Richard, and of the Bishops conspiring with him to draw the King hither and thither, to make him odious both to the Pope and people, among p. 258whom the Bishop of Winchester was chiefe, (to whom power was given by the Pope to interdict the Kingdome;) yeelded at last to this taxe being overcome and debilitated with feare. The passages whereof are more largely related by Matthew Paris, together with the Popes intollerable exactions upon England.

William Raley the 41. Bishop of Winchester, 88WILLIAM RALEY.imployed in this former service for the Pope, Anno. 1243. being unduly elected by the Monkes of Winchester contrary to King Henry the third his command;Matth. Wes…m. Anno. 143. p. 174…175. An. 1244. p. 178.179. Matth. Paris p. 588.597.616.619. Godwin p. 227.228. Holinshed. p. 231.232. the King hereupon commanded, that no man should give him or his any victuall or lodging, charging the Major and Citizens of Winchester to forbid him entrance into that city; which they did; the Bishop thereupon excommunicated the Major, Monks, and whole city, and interdi…ted the Cathedrall: for which he felt the burthen of the Kings displeasure so heavy upon him in England, as he thought good to fly the Realme, till at last by Boniface the Archbishops intercession, and the Popes earnest Letters to the King and Queene, he was restored to the Kings favour, and obtained License to returne. The Bishop hereupon in thankefulnesse, bestowed upon the Pope 6000. markes for his fatherly care of him, which hee in good nature, because he would not be reputed disdainfull, tooke every penny. It is recorded of this Bishop, that a little before his death he had the Sacrament brought unto him, and perceiving the Priest to enter his Chamber with it, he cried out, Stay good friend, let the Lord come no nearer unto me, it is more fit that I be drawne to hira as a Traytor, that in many things have beene a Traytor unto him: His servants therefore by his commandement drew him out of his bed, unto the place where the Priest was, and there with teares he received the Sacrament, and spent much time in prayer, and soone after died at Turon, the 20th. of September, 1249.

p. 259**Matth. …aris p. 774.775.780.788.789.794.824.830. to 834.847.890.900.994.995.946.959, Godwin. p. 176.177.Ethel…arns halfe brother unto the King,66ETHELMARVS: a man (saith Matth. Paris) in respect of his orders, yeares, and learning, utterly unsufficient, was at the Kings speciall request, elected next Bishop of this See; he had at that time other spirituall livings equivalent in revenue to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury; which that hee might keepe, and yet receive all the profits likewise of the Bishopricke of Winchester, he determined not to be consecrated at all… but to hold it by his election, and so did indeede for the space of nine yeares; In the meane time he and the rest of his countrymen (with whom the Realme was much pestered) were growne very odious, as well with the Nobility, as the Commons, not onelyonly for their infinite wealth, and immoderate preferment, much envied but much more for their pride and insolency which a man can hardly beare in his owne friend, much lesse in an alien and …tranger, whom men naturally dislike much sooner then their owne countrimen. Amongst the rest, this Ethelmarus bare himselfe so bold upon the King his brother, as he gave commandement to his servants to force a Clergy man out of the possession of a Benefice, whereunto he pretended some right; and if he withstood them, to draw him out of his possession in contumelious manner; the poore man loath to loose his living, defended it so long, till by my Lord Elects men, he was slaine himselfe, and his people so soare beaten and wounded, as within few dayes one or two of them died. This fact and other like complained of by the Barons to the Pope and King brought all the Poictavins into such hatred, as the Realme was ready to rise against them and the rather upon this occasion.

Anno. Dom. 1252. a certain… Priest intruded himselfe by authority of this Prelate into the Hospitall in Southwerke within this Diocesse, founded by Thomas Becket. Eustathius de Len. Officiall to the Archbishop of Canterbury conceiving himselfe injured hereby, because p. 260by reason of the patronage his consent ought to have intervened, which was omitted through contempt… & thrice admonished the said Priest to depart, because his entranee was injurious and presumptuous: the Priest (stiled commonly the Prior of this Hospitall) refuseth to doe it, keeping possession: The …fficiall hereupon excommunicates him for his contumacy; under which excommunication the Prior continued fortie dayes multiplying threats and revilings. The Officiall not brooking such pride, at last commanded this contumacious Prior to be apprehended: who hearing of it… enters into the Church in his Priestly Vestments, were he fortifieth himselfe; the officers purposely sent to apprehend him, spared him not because he had contemned the keyes of the Church. The Officiall therefore commanded him to be carried to Maydstone … a manner of the Archbishops, untill it were determined what should be done hereupon, thinking to keepe him there, be…ause the Archbishop was said to be neare that place. But the Bishop of Winchester hearing of it, was more angry than became him, as if he had suffer…d a great injury with disgrace, presented a grievous complaint to his brethren: with whose ayde and councell being puffed up, he calling a band of Souldiers together, with no small company following them, sent them to seeke and apprehend the authors of this violence. They therefore with great …orce and tumult as in a hostile war came to Suwerke, thinking to have found them there; where searching all places, and finding none of them they went hastily with a swift pace to Maydstone to free the Captive Prior there detained, with a powerfull hand, and breaking downe all that stood in the way, searching all secret corners, when they found not him they sought for, because hee was hid, they called for fire, that they might burne all to ashes. And after many injuries there committed when they found not him they sought for, certified by p. 261some whisperers where the Officiall was they sought for… to wit at Lambeth neare London, they all ran thither in a troope; where heaving up the doores from their hinges and breaking them running in altogether in a confused troope, sodainely before the houre of dinner, they tooke the Officiall (premeditating no such thing) in a hostile and unseemely manner, and haling him away, they set him on a horse like a vile slave, deprehended in the act of stealing, to be carried whether they pleased, he being not suffered so much as to touch the re…nes of the horses bridle that carried him. O rash presumption… O unexcusable …rreverence (saith Matth. Paris) which so ignominiously handled, and worried such an authenticall man, so excellent learned, so perspicuosly famous, and representing the Archbishops person. Moreover they inhumanly handled the Chaplaine serving in his Chappell, and flying to the hornes of the Altar, rayling upon him. The Officiall, after they had done all things which anger, yea fury had perswaded, they drew by the Bridle to F…rnehold, till they were certified of the Priors restitution, detaining him violently against his will. At last being parmited to depart… he was basely and vily thrust away… who rejoycing for the present that he had escaped their hands, ranne away as fast as he might upon his feete, though aged… to Walerle, not daring to looke back le…t he should be turned into a pillar of Salt. The Archbishops Officiall having received so great an injury, makes a most grievous complaint to the Archbishop Boniface with sighes and teares, aggravating great things with greater, and grievous things with greater grievances. The Archbishop hereupon moved with unexpressible anger, taking with him the B…shops of Chester and Heriford, goeth to London, where he and those two Bishops clad in their Pontificall Robes, before an innumerable company of people (summoned to appeare before them with the voyce of a Cryer p. 262for this purpose, and granting thirtie dayes pardon to all commers) at S. Mary de arcubus, even horribly and solemnely excommunicated all the actors and fauters of this rash action, excepting onelyonly the King, Queene, and their children, and Count Richard, with his Countesse and children. Moreover he writ to all his suffgragan Bishops by vertue of the bond of obedience, whereby they stood obliged to the Church of Canterbury, to doe the like in their Churches on all Lords dayes and holy dayes, by his expresse command. The Bishop of Winchester, on the contrary, speedily commanded the Deane of Seuwarke, and other his subjects, that they contradicting the Archbishop… should openly denounce to his face, that this his sentence of excommunication was a meere nullity, yea, a vaine, frivilous and wily excuse to bolster him out in his sinnes. The Archbishops creatures for this injury, and the scandall arising thereupon appeale to the Pope. There were some who favouring neither side, affirmed the Archbishop had done Winchester wrong; because there was a composition formely made, that notwithstanding the right of patronage; yet to prevent controversies, this Hospitall should be subject to the disposall of the Bishop of Winchester, paying thereout three shillings by the yeare; and so both of them being defamed, incurred the brand of unjust violence, while the citizens mindfull of the peremptorinesse, which the Archbishop had shewed in his first violent comming to London, of his infinite exactions of mony which he had procured, of the Kings violence in his creation, and of the enormious collation of his benefices, did now againe revive the same. On the other …ide the royallists & Poictavins gained the note of imbred treason, with other reproaches, as the manner is of those that brawle. There were not a few citizens who hearing these things, wished that these parties had dashed out one anothers braines, and rip…d up one anothers p. 263bowells; And as it was written, Woe unto them by whom scandall commeth, both parties were indangered with the great reproaches and scandalls arising hereupon. Thus was the Kings party devided against the Queenes, the Poictovines against the Provincials, whose great possessions made them mad, playing rex one with the other (whiles the miserable English were asleepe) as if they contested which of them having banished the Natives, should deserve more excellently to rule the Kingdone: but the ventilation of fame more condemned the Provinctalls, because Winchester, rising up against his Superiour, had so proudly exceeded measure, confiding on the King, his brother, who God knowes had created him. The Archbishop Boniface raking up the fire of his conceived anger under ashes, and worthily persisting in it, as Eustace stirred him up more or lesse to revenge this enormious transgression, goeth after this towards Oxford, that summoning a Convocation of the Scollers there assembled out of divers parts of the world, he mightt publish to them in order this notorious fact, that so by their relations, so great an offence might be made knowne to forraigne Nations… Comming therefore to Oxford the morrow after S. Nicholas day before all the Clearkes and Schollers there assembled for this purpose, being an innumerable multitude, he openly declares before them the presumptuous temerity and temerarious presumption of the Bishop of Winchester, taking boldnesse from his confidence and dependance on the King, his brethren, and complices; and expresly published the names of the trespassers, and their former sentences of excommunication, which the Bishop caused to be transcribed & sent to all his suffr…gans. The Christmas following the King and Queene being at VVinchester, reconciled these Prelates, and tooke off these excommunications, & ended these contentions, which much troubled both Church and Kingdome. This Prelates p. 264by bribes given to the Pope, obtruded a Prior on the Monkes of Winchester, which caused great Schismes and distractions among them. Anno. Dom. 1260. Simon Montfort Earle of Leicester, Richard de Clare, Earle of Gloster, with sundry other Nobles adhering to them, assembled at Oxford, sufficiently furnished with horses and armes, finally resolving in their mindes, either to die for the peace of their country, or to thrust out of the Realme the desturbers of the peace. Whereupon the Bishop of Winchester, William de Valentia, and other Poic…ouines assembled together at the foresaid place, guarded with a great troope of their souldiers and followers, But because the Lords… determined to bring them into question for their wicked deedes, and make them take a common oath with them, to observe the provisions made for the benefit of the Kingdome; they discerning their forces to be weaker than the Lords, and fearing to undergoe their judgement, fled in the night to the Castle of Vlnesey, whom the Barons pursuing, caused them to yeeld up the Castle, and compelled them forthwith to depart the Kingdome. Ethelmar comming to the King to take his farewell of mhim… used these words, I commend you to the Lord God; to whom the King replied, Et ego te Diabolo vivo; and I commend thee to the living devill, for dese…ting him in his necessities, and occasioning such uproares in the Realme. The Nobles fearing least the Bishop departing the Realme should resort to Rome, and for a summe of mony given should procure his promotion againe, and so be more powerfull to doe harmes, sent foure eloquent Knights, to exhibit a letter, ratified with all their seales, to the Pope and Cardinalls; wherein were contained the wickednesses of the said Bishop and his brethren, and those homicides, rapines, injuries and various oppressions wherewith they had afflicted and undone the people of the King darae; and withall they commanded all the religious men, who farmed any livings of the Romanes to detaine their rents, till p. 265they should receive further order from them, and pay them to such receivers as they should appoint, under paine of having their houses burnt; by which meanes the Kingdome was free from Romane exactors for three yeares space. This Ethelmare foreseeing the danger that was like to befall him sent over his Treasure (whereof hee had great store) beyond the seas, before his departure; but much of it came short… being intercepted at Dover, and taken away from those to whom it was committed, and distributed to foure Knights, who were sent to Rome, by the King and his Barons, to complaine against the blanke Bulls found in the chests of Be…ard de Nympha (the Popes agent) after his death, and of the many machinations, of the Romanes to disquiet the Realme.

Iohn Ger…sey 1010GERNSEY.next Bishop of W…nchester **Matth. West. and Matth. Paris An. 1265.1266 Holinshed p 271. Godw…n, p. 177. See Mat. Paris p. 970.972.(consecrated at Rome, where …e payd 6000. markes to the Pope, and so much more to his Chancellour for his consecration) was a great stickler in the Barons warres against King Henry the third, as appeares by the forecited passages of Matthew Westminister, and was excommunicated by Octobon the Popes Legate, for taking part against the King in the Barons warres, and forced to goe to Rome for his absolution, where he died.

Henry Woodlocke 1111HENRY WOODLOCK.Bishop of Winchester made request to King Edward the first for Robert Winchelsey, Antiqu. Eccles. Brit p. 218. Godwin p. 231.Archbishop of Canterbury, whom the King had banished for high Treason, in which request, he called the Archbishop (an arch-Traytor) his good Lord, which the King (as he had cause) tooke so hainously, that he confiscated all his goods, and renounced all protection of him.

Adam Tarleton, 1212ADAM TARLETON.or de Arleton, Bishop of Winchester about the yeere 1327. was arrested and accused of high Treason for aiding the Mortimers against King Edward the second, both with men and armour:**Walsingham Hist. Angliae p. 98.99. Antiq. Eccles. Brit 227. Godwin p. 232.233. Speeds Histo. l. 9 c. 11.12. p. 679 680.686. Walsingh. Ypodigma Neustriae, Anno. 1326. 1327. Hist. Angl p. 10….104. Holinshed p. 329.339.340.1245 p. 970.972. when he was brought to the barre to be arraigned for this Treason, the Archbishops of Canterbury, Yorke, and Dublin p. 266with their suffragans, came with their Crosses… and rescued him by force, carrying him with them from the barre in such manner, as I have formerly related more at large, in the Acts of Wal…er Rainolds, pag. 55.56.) Notwithstanding, the indictment and accusation being found true, his temporalities wereseized into the Kings hands, untill such time as the King (much deale by his imagination and devise) was deposed of his Kingdome. If he which had beene a traytor unto his Prince before, after deserved punishment for the same, would soone be intreated to joyne with other in the like attempt, it is no marvell. No man so forward as he in taking part with Isabell the Queene, against her husband, King Edward the second. She wi…h her sonnes, and army being at Oxford, this good Bishop steps up into the pulpit, and there taking for his Text these words (My head grieved me) he made a long Discourse, to prove, that an evill head, not otherwise to be cured, must be taken away, applying it to the King, that hee ought to be deposed. A Bishoplike application. Hereupon they having gotten the King into their power, the Bishop fearing least if at any time recovering his liberty & crowne again, they might receive condigne punishment, councelled the Queene to make him away, (good ghostly advice of a Prelate;) wherupon she being as ready and willing as he to have it done; they writ certaine letters unto the keepers of the old King, signifiing in covert termes what they desired; they, either not perfectly understanding their meaning, or desirous of some good warrant to shew for their discharge, pray them to declare in expresse words, whether they would have them put the King to death or no. To which question, this subtile Fox framed this answer, Edwardum occidere nolite timere bonum…est, without any point at all. If you set the point betweene nolite, and t…aere, it forbiddeth: if betweene nolite and bonum, it …xhorteth them to the committinng of the fact. This p. 267ambiguous sentence unpointed, they take for a sufficient warrant and most pittifully murthered the innocent King, by thrusting an hot spit into his fundament; and who then so earnest a persecuter of those murthere…s as this Bishop that set them a worke? who when diverse of his Letters were produced and shewed to him warranting this most trayterly inhumane Act, eluded and avoided them by Sophisticall interpretations and utterly denied, that he was any way consenting to this hainous fact, of which in truth he was the chiefe occasion. How clearely he excused himselfe I …now not. But s…re I am, he (like many Arch-trayterly Prelates before him… who were oftner rewarded than punished for their Treasons) was so farre, from receiving punishment, as within two moneths after, he was preferred unto Hereford, than to the Bishoppricke of Worce…er, and sixe yeares after that translated to Winchester by the Pope… at the request of the French King, whose secret friend he was: which King Edward the third taking in very ill part, because the French King and he were enemies, detained his temporalties from him, till that in Parliament, at the suite of the whole Cleargie, he was content to yeeld them unto him; after which he became blinde in body, as hee was before in minde, and so died, deserving to have lost his head for these his notorious Treasons, and conspiracies long before, he being the Archplotter of all the Treacheries against King Edward the second.

**Holinshed. p… 452.453. See the Statut… of 10… R. 2. c. 1.Anno. 10. Richard the third, 1366. thirteene Lords were appointed by Parliament to have the government of the Realme under the King, in diminution of his Prerogative; among these Williara Edingdon Bishop of Winchester, 1313WILLIAM EDINGDON.Iohn Gilbert Bishop of Hereford, Lord Treasurer of England, Thomas Arundle, Bishop of Ely, and Chancellour. Nicholas Abbat of Waltham, Lord Keeper of the privy Seale, VVilliam, Archbishop of Canterbury, Alexander Archbishop of p. 268Yorke, and Thomas Bishop of Exeter were chiefe, and the principall contrivers of this new project, which fell out to be inconvenient and pernicious both to the King and Realme,**Holinshed. p. 456. to 468. the very procurers of this Act (as some of the J…dges afterwards resolved) deserving death; which resolution afterward cost some of them their lives… as the Stories of those times declare. It seemes this Bishop made great havocke of the goods of his Church, **Godwins Cat. p. 182.for his successor V…illiam VVicham sued his Executors for dilapidations, and recovered of them 1672. pound tenne shillings… besides 1566. head of neate, 386. Weathers, 417. Ewes. 3521. Lambes and 127. Swine; all which stocke it seemeth belonged unto the Bishoppricke of VVinchester at that time.

1010WILLIAM WICHAM.William Wicham his next successor was a great **Godwins Cat p. 184.185. Antiquit, Eccles. Br. 286 p. 287. Holinshed p. 526.527.Pluralist, the yearely revenues of his spirituall promotions… according as they were then rated in the Kings bookes, beside his Bishoppricke, amounting to 876. pound… thirteene shillings and foure pence; besides these Ecclesiasticall preferments, he held many temporall offices, at the Secretariship, the Keepership of the Privy Seale, the Mastership of Wards, the Treasurership of the Kings revenues in France, and divers others. Being consecrated Bishop of VVinchester, in the yeare 1367. he was made soone after, first Treasurer then Chancellor of England. It seemes that he was a better Treasurer for himselfe than the King, who though hee received hugh summes of money by the ransome of two Kings, and spoile of divers large Countries abroad, and by unusuall subsedyes and taxations at home (much grudged at by the Commons,) was yet so bare, as for the payment of his debts, he was constrained to find new devices to raise mony: whereupon a solemne complaint was framed against this Bishop for vainely wasting, or falsely imbezelling the Kings Treasure; for that otherwise it was impossible p. 269the King should be fallen so farre behind hand: whereupon hee was charged with the receit of 1109600. pound (which amounted to more than a million of pounds) besides a hundred thousand frankes paid unto him by Galeace Duke of Millaine; for all which a sodaine account is demanded of him: divers other accusations and misdemeanours were likewise charged against him, and by meanes hereof, Iohn a Gaun… Duke of Lancaster questioning him in the Kings Courts for these misdemeanours, William Skipwith, Lord chiefe Justice, condemned him as guilty of these accusations; procured his temporalties to be taken from him, and to be bestowed upon the young Pri…ce of Wales; and lastly commanded him in the Kings name not to come within twenty miles of the Court. This happened in the yeare 1376. The next yeare the Parliament being assembled, and Subsidies demanded of the Cleargy, the Bishops utterly rufused to debate of any matter whatsoever, till the Bishop of Winchester, a principall member of that assembly, might be present with him. By this meanes Licence was obtained for his repaire thither: and thither hee came, glad he might be neere to the meanes of his re…titution. But whether it were, that he wanted money to beare the charge, or to the intent to move commiseration, or that he thought it safest to passe obscurely; he that was wont to ride with the greatest traine of any Prelate in England came then very slenderly attended; travelling through by-wayes, as standing in doubt of snares his enemies might lay for him. After two yeares trouble, and the losse of ten thousand markes sustain…d by reason of the same; with much adoe he obtain… restitution of his temporalties, by the mediation of Ali… Piers, a gentlewoman that in the last times of King Ed…rd altogether possessed him. Returning then unto Winchester, he was received into the city with solemne proc…sion, and many signes of great joy. Soone after p. 270his returne King Edward died… and the Duke hoping b… reason of …h… …oung Kings nonage to work… some m…s…hi…fe unto this Bishop, whom of all mortall men he most hated (perhaps not without just reason) began to rub up some of the old accusations… with addi…ions of new complaints. But the King thought good to be a meanes of reconciling these two personages, and then was easily entreated under the broad Seale of England to pardon all those supposed offences, wherewith the Bishop had heretofore beene charged. This Bishop earnestly desiring to be made Bishop of VVinchester, the King himselfe exp…obrated to him the exilitie and smalenesse of his learning (hee being no Scholler at all… but a surveyer of his buildings at first, though laden with multitudes of pluralities) to whom VVickham answered; That albeit he were unlearned, yet he was ab…ut to bring forth a f…uitfull issue which should procreate very great store of learned men; which was understood of those most ample Colledges he afterwards bu…lt, both at Oxford and VVincheste… for: which good works alone his name hath since beene famous, and himselfe extolled above his deserts in other things, which were but ill at best. This Prelate having obtained divers goodly promotions, which he acknowledged to have received, rather as reward of service, then in regard of any extraordinary desert otherwise… he caused to be engraven in VVinchester Tower at VVinsor these words, This made VVickham … whereof when some complained to the King as a thing derogating from his honour, that another should …eeme to beare the charge of his buildings; and the King in great displeasure reprehended him for it. He answered, that his meaning was not to ascribe the honour of that building to himselfe, but his owne honour of preferments unto that bu…lding; not importing that VVicham made the Tower, but, that the Tower was the meanes of making VVickham, and raising him from base estate, unto those great places of honour he then enjoyed.

p. 271The **Godwin. p. 188.Pope was now growne to that height of tyranny, that he not onelyonly placed, but displaced Bishops at his pleasure. And his meanes to do it, was by translating them to some other Bishoppricke, peradventure nothing worth at all Hee translated Henry Beauford 1313HENRY BEAVFORT…from Lincolne to Winchester, Iune 23. 1426. and made him Cardinall of S. Eusebius. This Bishop was valiant and very wise. Pope Martin the fift… determining to make warre upon the Bo…emians, that had renounced all obedience unto the see of Rome, made this Cardinall his Legate into that Country, and appointed such forces as he could make to be at his commandement. Toward the charges of this voyage, the Cleargie of England gave a tenth of all their promotions, and furnished out foure thousand men and more: with this power, he passed by France (doing there some service for his Prince and Country) into Bohemia, the yeare, 1429. There he remained certaine moneths, behaving himselfe very valiantly, till by the Pope he was discharged, In his youth he was wantonly given and begate a base daughter named Iane upon Alice, the daughter of Richard, Earle of Arundell. **Holinshed. p. 590 &c Hal 4. H. 6 f 94. to 100… Fox. vel. 3… p. 922 to 925.About the yeare of our Lord, 1425. there fell out a great devision in the Realme of England, which of a sparkle, was like to have growne to a great flame, by meanes of this Henry Beauford Bishop of Winchester, Son to Iohn Duke of Lancaster by his third wife; for whether this Bishop envied the authority of Humphry Duke of Gloster … Protector of the Realme, or whether the Duke disdained at the riches and pompous estate of the said Bishop; sure it is, that the whole Realme was troubled with them, and their partakers; so that the citizens of London were faine to keepe dayly and nightly watches and to shut up their shops for feare of that which was doubted to have insued of their assembling of people about them. The Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Duke of Quimbre, called the Prince of Portingale, rode p. 272eight times in one day betweene the two parties, and so the matter was staid for a time: but the Bishop of Winchester to cleare himselfe of blame so farre as hee might, and to charge his Nephew, the Lord Protector with all the fault, wrote a Letter to the Regent of France. The 25. day of March, a Parliament began at the Towne of Leicester, where the Duke of Bedford openly rebuked the Lords in generall, because that they in the time of warre, through their privy malice and inward grudges, had almost moved the people to warre and commotion, in which time all men ought or should be of one minde, heart and consent, requiring them to defend, serve, and to dread their soveraigne Lord King Henry in performing his conquest in France, which was in manner brought to conclusion. In this Parliament, the Duke of Glocester laid certaine Articles to the Bishop of Winchesters charge.

First, Whereas hee being Protector and Defendor of this Land desired the Tower to be opened to him therein, Richard VVoodvile Esquire (having at that time the charge of the keeping of the Tower) refused his desire, and kept the same Tower against him… unduly and against reason, by the commandement of the said Lord of VVinchester; and afterward in approving of the said refusall he received the said VVoodvile, and cherished him against the State and worship of the King, and of the said Lord of Glocester.

Secondly, The said Lord of Winchester, without the advise and assent of the said Lord of Glocester, or of the Kings Councell purposed and disposed him to set hand on the Kings person, and to have removed him from Eltham, the place that he was in, to Windsor, to the intent to put him in governance as he list.

Thirdly, that where the said Lord of Glocester (to whom of all persons tha… should be in the Land by the way of Nature and birth, it belongeth to see the p. 273governance of the Kings person) informed of the said undue purpose of the said Lord of Winchester declared in the Article next above said and in setting thereof, determining to have gone to Eltham unto the King, to have provided as the cause required, and the said Lord of Winchester untruely and against the Kings peace, to the intent to trouble the said Lord of Glocester going to the King… purposing his death in case that he had gone that way, set men of armes, and Archers at the end of London bridge next Southw…rke, and in forbearing of the Kings high way, let draw the chaine of the stoopes there, and set up pipes and hurdles in manner and former of Bulworkes, and set m…n in cellers and windowes, with Bowes and Arrowes… and other weapons, to the intent to bring finall destruction to the said Lord of Glocesters person, as well as of those that then should come with him.

Fourthly, The said Lord of Glocester saith… and affirmeth, that our soveraigne Lord his Brother, that was King Henry the fift, told him on a time when our Soveraigne Lord being Prince, was lodged in the Pallace of Westminster in the great Chamber, by the noyse of a Spaniell, there was on a night a man spied and taken behind a carpet of the said Chamber, the which man was delivered to the Earle of Arundell to be examined upon the cause of his being there at that time; the which so examined at that time, confessed, that he was there by the stirring and procuring of the said Lord of Winchester, ordained to have slaine the said Prince there in his bed: wherefore the said Earle of Arundell let sacke him forthwith and drownes him in the Thames.

Fiftly, Our Soveraigne Lord, that was King Henry the fifth, said unto the said Lord of Glocester, that his Father, King Henry the fourth living… and visited then greatly with sicknesse by the hand of God, the said Lord of Winchester, said unto the King (Henry the p. 274fifth being then Prince) that the King his Father so visited with sicknesse was not personable, and therefore not disposed to come in conversation and governance of the people, and for so much councelled him to take the governance and Crowne of this Land upon him. Such a loyall Prelate was he. To these Articles the Archbishop gave in his **See Holi…shed p. 594 595.596.692 Hall 4. H. 6.5.96.97 98.99.answer in writing too tedious to recite; whereupon the Lords in Parliament tooke an Oath to be indifferent umpiers betweene the Bishop and Duke, and at last… with much adoe, made a finall accord and decree betweene them, recorded at large by Hall and Holinshed, wher…by they both were reconciled for a season. But in the yeare 1427. the Bishop passing the sea into France, received the habit, hat and dignity of a Cardinall, with all ceremonies to it appertaining; which promotion the late King right deepely piercing into the unrestrainable ambitions mind of the man, which even from his youth was ever wont to checke for the highest) and also right well ascertained with what intollerable pride his head should soone be swoll…n under such a hat, did therefore all his life long kepe this Prelate backe from that presumptuous estate. But now the King being young, and the Regent his friend, hee obtained his purpose, to the impoverishi…g of the spiritualitie of this Realme. For by a Bull Legantine, which he purchased from Rome, he gathered so much treasure, that no man in manner had money but he, so that hee was called, the rich Cardinall of Wincester. Afterwards An. 1429. the Pope unleagated him, and set another in his place to his great discontent **Holinshed. p. 620. to 629. Hall, An. 10. H. 6. f. 143. to 250. Fox. vol 1. p. 922. to 925.Anno. 1441. the flames of contention brake out afresh betweene the said Duke and the Cardinall; for after his former reconciliation to the Duke, he and the Archbishop of Yorke (Iohn Kerap) ceased not to doe many things without the consent of the King or Duke, being (during the minority of the King) Governour and Protector of the Realme, p. 275whereat the Duke (as good cause he had) was greatly offended: and there upon declared to King Henry the …ixth in writing, wherein the Cardinall and the Archbishop had offended both his Majesty, and the Lawes of the Realme. This complaint of the Duke was contained in twentie foure Articles, which chiefely rested, in that the Cardinall had from time to time, through his ambitious desire to surmount all other, in high degree of honor, sought to enrich himself, to the great and notorious hinderance of the King, as in defrauding him, not onelyonly of his treasure, but also in doing & practising things prejudiciall to his affaires in France, and namely by setting at liberty the King of Scots, upon so easie conditions as the Kings Majesty greatly lost therehy, as in particulars thus followeth… and out of the Dukes owne coppie, regestred by **An. 19. H. 6. f. 143. to 146.Hall and Holinshed.

1. These be in part the points and Articles which I Humphrey Duke of Gloster, for my truth and acquitall said late, I would give in writing (my right doubted Lord) unto your Highnes, advertising your Excellence, of such things as in part have bin done in your tender age in derogation of your noble estate, and hurt of both your Realmes, and yet be done and used dayly.

2. First, the Cardinall then being Bishop of Winchester, him took upon the state of Cardinall, which was naied and denaied him by the King of most noble memory, my Lord your Father, saying, that he had as lefe set his Crowne beside him, as to see him weare a Cardinalls Hat, he being a Cardinall; for he knew full well the pride and ambition that was in his person, then being but a Bishop, should have so greatly extolled him into more intollerable pride, when that he were a Cardinall; and also he though it against his freedome of the chiefe Church of this Realme, which that he worshipped as duly as ever did Prince, that blessed be his soule. And howbeit that my said p. 276Lord your Father would have had certaine Clarkes of this Land Cardinalls, and to have no Bishopricks in England, yet his intent was never to doe so great d…rogation to the Church of Canterbury, as to make them that were his suffragans to sit above their Ordinary and Metropolitan. But the cause was, that in generall and in all matters which might concerne the weale of him and of his Realme he should have Proctors of his Nation, as other Christian Kings had in the Court of Rome, and not to abide in this Land, nor to be in any part of his Counsells as beene all the spirituall and temporall at Parliament, and other great Councells, when you list to call them: And therefore though it please you to doe him that worship, to set him in your privy Councell, after your pleasure, yet in every Parliament, where every Lord, both spirituall and temporall hath his place, he ought to occupie but his place as a Bishop.

3. Item. The said Bishop now being Cardinall, was assoyled of his Bishoppricke of Winchester, whereupon he sued unto our holy Father to have a Bull declarative, notwithstanding he was assumpt to the state of Cardinall, that the See was not voyd, where indeed it stood voyd for a certaine time, yet the said Bull were granted and so he was exempt from his ordinary by the taking on him the state of Cardinall, and the Church Bishopricke of Winchester, so standing voyd, hee tooke againe of the Pope (you not learned thereof, nor knowing, whereby hee was fallen into the case of provision) so that all his goods was lawfully and cleerely forfeited to you my right doubted Lord, with more, as the Statute declareth plainely for your advantage.

I…em. It is not unknowne to you (doubted Lord) how through your lands it is noysed, that the said Cardinall and the Archbishop of Yorke, had, and have the governance of you, and all you… land, the which none p. 277of your true leige men ought to usurpe to take upon them, and have also estranged me your sole uncle, my cosin of Yorke, my consin of Huntington, and many other Lords of your Kin to have any knowledge of any great mat…er that might touch your high estate, or either of your Realmes: and of Lords spirituall of right, the Archbishop of Canterbury should be your cheefe Counsellour, the which is also estranged and set aside, and so be many other right sadd Lords, and well advised, as well spirituall as temporall, to the great hurt of you my right doubted Lord, and of your Realmes, like as the experience and workes shewne, cleerely and evidently more harme it is.

5. Item. In the tender age of… you my right doubted Lord, for the necessity of a Army, the said Cardinall lent you 4000 pound upon certaine Jewels, prised at two & twenty 1000-markes with a letter of sale that if they were not quited at a certaine day you should leese them. The said Cardinall seeing your money ready to have quitted your Jewells, caused your Treasurer of England, at that day being, to pay the same money in part of another army, in defrauding you my right doubted Lord of your said Jewells, keeping them yet alway to his owne use, to your right great losse, and his singular profit and availe.

6. Item, the said Cardinall then being Bishop of Winchester, & Chancellor of England, delu…ed the King of Scots upon certaine appointments (as may be shewed) presumptuously, and of his owne authority, contrary to the Act of Parliament. I have heard notable men of Law say, that they never heard the like thing done among them which was too great a defamation to your highnesse, and also to…wed his Neece to the said King, whom that my Lord of notable memory your Father would never have so delu…ed; and there as he should have paid for his cos…s… forty thousand pounds, the said Cardinall Ch…cellor of England, p. 278caused you to pardon him thereof ten thousand marks, whereof the greater somme hee paid you right a little, what, I report me to your highnesse.

7. It…, where the said Cardinall lent you (my redoubted Lord) great and notable Sommes, he hath had, and his assignes the rule & profit of the port of Hampton, where the Customers bin his servants, where (by likelihood and as it is to be supposed) he standing the chiefe Merchant of the wools of your land… that you be greatly defrauded, and under that rule, what woolls and other Merchantdizes have been shipped, and may be from time to time, hard is to esteeme, to the great hurt and prejudice of you my right doubted Lord, and of all your people.

8. Item, Howbeit that the said Cardinall hath divers times lent you great sommes of money, sith the time of your raigne, yet this loane hath beene so deferred and delayed, that for the most part the convenable season of the imploying of the good lent was passed, so that little fruit or none came thereof… as by experience both your Realmes have sufficiently in knowledge.

9. Item, Where there was Jewells and Plate, prised at eleven thousand pound in weight of the said Cardinall forfeited to you, my right redoubted Lord, hee gate him a restorement thereof for a loane of a little percell of the same… and so defrauded you wholly of them, to your great hurt and his avayle; the which good might greatly have eased your highnesse in sparing as much of the poore Commons.

10. Item, The Cardinall being feoft of my said Lord your Father against his intent, gave Elizabeth Beauchampe three hundred markes of livelihood, where that his will was, that and she were wedded, within a yeare, then to have …, or else not, where indeede it was two or three yeares after, to your great hurt, and diminishing of your inheritance.

p. 27911. Item, Notwithstanding that the said Cardinall hath no manner of authority, nor interest into the Crowne, nor none may have by any possibility, yet he presumeth and taketh upon him in party your estate royall, in calling before him into great abusion of all your land, and derogation of your highnes, which hath not been seen, nor vsed in no dayes heretofore, in greater estate then he is, without your expresse ordenance and commandment.

12. Item, the said Cardinall nothing considering the necesity of you my right redoubted Lord, hath sued a pardon of dismes, that he should pay for the Church of Winchester, for terme of his life, giving thereby occasion to all other Lords spirituall, to draw their good will for any necessity, to grant any disme, and so to lay all the charge upon the temporalty, and the poore people.

13. Item, by the governance and labour of the said Cardinall and Archbishop of Yorke, there hath beene lost and dispended much notable and great good by divers embassadors sent out of this Realme. First… to Arras for a feigned colourable peace, whereas by likelinesse it was thought & supposed, that it should never turne to the effectuall availe of you, my right doubted Lord, nor to your said Realmes, but under colour thereof, was made the peace of your adversary, and the Duke of Burgoyn; for else your partie adverse, and the said Duke might not well have found meanes nor wayes to have communed together, nor to have concluded with other their confederations, and conspirations made and wrought there then, at that time against your highnesse, whereby you might have (right doubted Lord) the greater partie of your obisance, as well in your Realme of France, as in your Dutchie of Normandy, and much other thing gone greatly, as through the said colourable treatie, and otherwise, since the death of my brother of Bedford.

p. 28014. Ite. Now of late was sent another Embassador to Cale… by the labour and councell of the said Cardinall and Archbishop of Yorke; the cause why of the beginning, is to me your sole Vncle, and other Lords of your kin and Councell unknowne, to your great charge, and against the publike good of your Realme, as it openly appeareth; the which good if it be imployed for the defence of your Lands, the marchandizes of the same might, have had other course… and your said lands not to have stood in so great mischiefe as they doe.

15. Item, after that, to your great charge and hurt of both your Realmes, the said Cardinall and Archbishop of Yorke went to your said towne of Calis, and divers Lords of your kin, and of your Councell in their fellowship, and there, as there was naturall warre betweene the Duke of Orliance, and the Duke of Burgonie, for murther of their Fathers, a capitall enmitie, like to have endured for ever; the said Cardinall and Archbishop of Yorke licen…ed and suffered the said Duke of Orleance to intreate and commune apart, with Councell of your said adversaries, as well as with the Douchies of Burgond…e, by which meanes the peace and alliance was made betweene the two Dukes, to the greatest for…e…ing of your said capitall adversaries that could be thought; and consequently (my deare redoubted Lord) to your greatest charge, and hurt to both your Realmes; under colour of which treatie, your said adversaries in meane time wonne your city of Meaux, and the country thereabout, and many divers roades made into your Duchie of Normandy, to the great noysance and destruction of your people, as it sheweth openly.

16. Item, The said Archbishop of Yorke, sent with others into this your Realme from the said Cardinall, had with your advers partie at your said Towne of Calis, made at his comming into your notable presence p. 281at Winsor, all the swasions and colour, all motions in the most app…rent wise that he could, to induee your Highnesse to your agreement to the desires of your capitall Adversaries, as I saw there in your noble presence of his writing, at which time (as I understood) it was his singular opinion, that is to say; that you should leave your right, your title, and your honour of your crowne, and your nomination of King of France, during certaine yeares, and that you should utterly abstaine, and be content onelyonly in writing, with Rex …ngliae, &c. to the greatest note of infamie that ever fell to you, or any of your noble Progenitors since the taking of them first, the said title and right of your Realme, and Crowne of France, to which matter in your presence, there, after that it had like your said Hignesse to aske mine advise thereupon, with other of your bloud and Counsell; I answered and said, that I would never agree thereto, to die therefore; and of the same disposition I am yet, and will be while I live in conservation of your honour, and of your oath made unto your said Crowne in time of your coronation there.

17. Item, The said Cardinall, and Archbishop of Yorke have so laboured unto your Highnesse, that you should intend to a new day of convention in March or Aprill next comming, where it is noised to be more against your worship, then with it; and where it was evident to all the world, that the rupture and breaking of the said peace should have fallen heretofore, of your adverse partie, because of the great untruths; now by that meanes it is like peradventure to be …aid unto very great slander of you my doubted Lord, like to come to none other purpose nor effect than other conventions have done aforetime, and so by subtilties and counsell of your said enemies your land (they in hope and trust of the said treatie not mightily nor puissantly purveyed for) shall be like under the cullor of the p. 282same treatie to be burnt up and destroyed, lost, and utterly turned from your obeysance.

18. Itera, It is said, that the deliverance of the Duke of Orleance is utterly appointed by the mediation, counsell and stirring of the said Cardinall… and Archbishor of Yorke; and for that cause divers persons been come from your adversaries into this your Realme; and the said Duke also brought to your city of London, whereas my Lord your Father poysing so greatly the inconveniences and harme that might fall onelyonly by his deliverance concluded, ordained, and determined in his last Will utterly in his wisdome, his conquest in his Realme of France: And yet then it is to be done by as great deliberation solemnity and suretie, as may be devised or thought: and seeing now the disposition of your Realme of France, the puissance and might of your enemies, and what ayde they have gotten against you there, as well under the colour of the said treatie, as otherwise, what might or ought to be thought or said for that labouring the said Duke (all things considered) by such particular parsons, the Lords of your blood not called thereunto; I report mee unro your noble grace and excellency, and unto the said wi…e true men of this your Realme.

19. Item, Where that every true counsellor, specially unto any King or Prince, ought of truth and of dutie to counsell, promote, in…rease, perferre and advance the weale and prosperity of his Lord; The said Cardinall being of your counsell (my right doubted Lord) hath late purchased of your Highnesse certaine great Lands, and livelihood; as the Castle and Lordship of Chirke in Wales, and other lands in this your Realme: unto which I was called suddenly, and so in eschewing the breaking and losse of your armies, then againe, seeing none other remedy, gave thereunto mine assent, thinking that who that ever laboured, moved or stirred, the matter first unto your Lordship, p. 283counselled you… nei…her for your worship nor profit.

20. More the said Cardinall hath you bound apart, to make him a sure estate of all the said Lands, by Easter next comming, as could be devised by any learned counsell, or else that suretie not made, the said Cardinall to have and enjoy to him and his heires, forever the lands of the Dutchie of Lancaster in Norfolke, to the value of seven or eight hundred markes by the yeare; which thing seemeth right strange, and unseene and unheard wayes of any leige man, to seeke upon his soveraigne Lord, both in his inheritance, and in his Jewels and goods; for it is thought, but that right and extreme necessity caused it, there should, nor ought no such things to be done from which necessity (God for his mercy) ever preserve your noble person. Wherefore (my redoubted Lord) seeing that you should be so counselled, or stirred to leave your Crowne and inheritance in England, and also by fraud and subtill meanes, as is before rehearsed, so to loose your Jewels, in my truth and in mine acquitall (as it seemes to me) I may not, nor ought not counsell so great an hurt to you, and to all your Land.

21. Item, It is not unknowne to you (my right doubted Lord) how oftentimes I have offered my service, to and for the defence of your Realme of France, and Dutchy o… Normandy, where I have beene put there from by the labour of the Lord Cardinall, in preferring others after his singular affection, which hath caused a great part of the said Dutchy of Normandy, as well as of the Realme of France to be lost, as it is well knowne; and what good (my right doubted Lord) was lost on that army that was last sent thither which the Earle of Mortaigne, your Counsell of France hath well and clearly declared to your Highnesse here before.

22. Item, My right doubted Lord, it is not unknowne…, that it had not beene possible to the said Cardinall p. 276to have come to his great riches but by such meanes, for of his Church it might not rise, and inheritance he had none. Wherefore, my right doubted Lord, sith there is great good behoofe at this time for the weale and safegard of your Realmes, the poverty, necessity, and indigence of your leige people, in highnesse understand, like it unto your noble grace to consider the said lucre of the said Cardinall, and the great deceipts that you be deceived in by the labour of him, and of the Archbishop, as well in this your Realme, as in the Realme of France, and Dutchy of Normandy, where neither office, livelihood, nor Captaine may be had withou… too great good given unto him, whereby a great part of all the losse that is lost, they have beene the causers of, for who that would give most, his was the prise, not considering the merrits, service nor sufficiency of persons. Furthermore, it is greatly to be considered, how when the said Cardinall had forfeited all his goods, because of provision, as the Statute thereupon more plainely declareth, by having the rule of you my right doubted Lord… purchased himselfe in great defraudation of your Highnesse, a Charter of pardon, the which good, and it had beene well governed might many yeares have sustained your warres without any t…lage of your poore people.

23. I…em, my redoubted Lord, whereas I wrote many things for the weale of you, and of your Realmes… peradventure some wil say, and understand… that I would or have written by way of accusement of all your Counsell, which God knoweth I doe not; for your Highnesse may well see, that I name them, that be caus…rs of the s…id inordinate rule. Wherefore considering that the said Cardinall and Archbishop of Yorke are they that pretend the governance of you and of your Realmes and Lordships… please i… unto your Highn…sse, of your right wisenesse to estr…nge them of p. 277your Counsell, to that intent that men may be at their freedome, to say what they thinke of truth.

24. For truth, I dare speake of my truth, the poore dare not doe so. And if the Cardinall and the Archbishop of Yorke, may afterward declare themselves of that is and shall be said of them, (you my most doubted Lord) may then restore them againe to your Counsell at your noble pleasure.

When the King had heard the accusations thus laid by the Duke of Glocester against the Cardinall, he committed the examination thereof to his Counsell, whereof the more part were spirituall persons; so that what for feare, and what for favour, the matter was winked at, and nothing said to it; onelyonly faire countenance was made to the Duke, as though no malice had beene conceived against him; but venome will breake out, and inward grudge will soone appeare, which was this yeare to all men apparant; for divers secret attempts were advanced forward this season against this Noble man, Humfry Duke of Glocester a farre off; which in conclusion came so neare, that they bereft him both of life and land. For this proud covetous Prelate**See Holinshed p. 622. to 628. setting the Queene against this good Duke, at a Parliament at Berry caused him there to be arrested, and murthered: by meanes of whose death all France was shortly after lost, & the Kingdome involved in a bloody civill warre. I shall close up the History of this proud Prelate with old Father Latimers words concerning him, in a Sermon before King Edward the sixth. **The second Sermon bifore King Edward. f. 36.There was a Bishop of Winchester in King Henry the sixth dayes, which King was but a child, but yet were there many good Acts made in his childhood: and I doe not reade that they were broken. This Bishop was a great man borne, and did beare such a stroake, that he was able to shoulder the Lord Protector. Well, it chanced that the Lord Protector and he fell out, and the Bishop would beare nothing p. 286at all with him, but played the Sacrapha; so the Regent of France was faine to be sent for from beyond the seas, to set them at one; and goe betweene them, for the Bishop was as able and ready to buckle with the Lord Protector, as hee was with him. Was not this a good Prelate? he should have beene at home Preaching at his Diocesse with a wannion. This Protector was so noble and godly a man that he was called of every man, the good Duke Humfry; he kept such a house as was never since kept in England, without any inhaunsing, of rents (I warrant you) or any such matter. And the Bishop for standing so stiffely by the matter, and bearing up the order of our Mother the holy Church was made a Cardinall at Calis, and thither the Bishop of Rome sent him a Cardinals Hat: he should have had a Tiburne Tippit, a halfe penny halter, and all such proud Prelates. These Romish Hats never brought good into England. VponUpon this the Bishop goeth to the Queene Katherine, the Kings wife, a proud woman and a stout, and perswaded her, that if the Duke were in such authority still, and lived, the people would honour him more than the King, and the King should not be set by; and so betweene them, I cannot tell how, it came to passe, but at S. Edmundsberry in a Parliament, the good Duke Humfry was smothered.

STEPHEN GARDINER.To leave this Cardinall, Ste. Gardiner, both Chancellor of England, **Hall 31. H. 8. f. 234. Fox Acts Monuments, vol. 2. Edit ult. p. 380. 384.426.585.646.647.441.442.443.531. Antiqu. Eccles Brit. p. 386.& B. of Winchester was the chiefe author of making & reviving the bloody Act, intitled the 6. Articles by which many of our godly Martyrs suffered; the chiefe plotter and contriver of the noble Lord Cromwells death. Who could not abide the pride of the Prelates, and was attainted by Parliament, and never came to his answer: He was a great opposer of the reformation of Religion, and abuses of the Clergy, both in King Henry the eights, and King Edwards dayes, and stirred up under hand divers Priests, Abbots, and Monkes to oppose the Kings Supremacie, and to rayse up open rebellion in Lincolneshire, in the North, Cornewall, and other places, in maintenance of Popery; for which Treasons and Rebellions **Hall H. 8. f. 226.228.229.230…231.232…233.234. Holinsh…d. p. 1001.1002.1006.939.941. to 945 946.947.950.951…952.961.Exmew, Middlemore and Nudigate, three Monkes of the Charterhouse, a Priest neare Winsor; the Abbots of Ierney, and Rivers Freer, Forrest, Crofts, and Collines Priests, Thomas Epsara Monke; five Priests of Yorkeshire, and Robert Bockham, John Tomson, Roger Barret, John Wolcocke, William Alse, James Morton, John Barrow; Richard Brune… Priests, chiefe stirrers in the Devonshire rebellions… and principall doers therein; and one Welch a Priest. Vicar of St. Thomas neare Exbridge (hanged on the Tower there in his Priests apparell, with a holy-water bucket and sacring Bell, a paire of Bedes, and such other Popish Trinkets about him, for his rebellion,) were all executed… **Fox Acts and Monuments, the old Edition p. 816.82….823.824.815.863. and vol. 2. Edit. vlt. p. 646.647.This Bishop imploed by King Henry the eight, with Sir Henry Knevet, as his Embassador, at the Di…t at Ratisbond, he held private intelligence, and received and sent letters under hand to the Pope, whose authority the King had utterly abolished, and had then mortall enmity with: for which false and tray…erly practise of which the King had certaine intelligence, he caused in all Pardons afterwards, all Treasons committed beyond the seas to be excepted, which was most meant for the Bishops cause; whom he exempted out of his Testament as being willfull and contentious, and one that would trouble them all; and exempted also out of his said Testament the Bishop of Westmins…er, for that he was Schooled in Winchesters Schoole,**Fox Acts and Monuments Ed…t. ult vol. 2. p. 71… to 740. vol. 3. p 16.40.123.527. old …dit… p. 903.1389.1695. a. 1…73. b. whom this King before his death was certainely beleeved to abhorre more than any English man in his Realme. He was found to be the secret worker… that three yeares before the Kings death divers of the Privy Chamber were indited of heresie, for the which the said King was much offended.

Anno. 1548. he was committed Prisoner to the Fleet, and after to the Tower, for a Sermon preached p. 280before King Edward, and disobeying the Kings Injunctions; when he had there continued two yeares and an halfe, he was by authority deprived of his Bishoppricke, and sent to prison againe, where he continued, till Queene Maries time; when hee was not onelyonly restored unto his Bishoppricke, but likewise made Lord Chancellor of England. For the extreame malice he bare to our Religion, he not onelyonly cruelly burnt many poore men, but likewise wrought all the meanes his cunning head could devise to make away our late famous Quueene Elizabeth, saying often, it was in vaine to strike off a few leaves or branches, when the roote remained: he not onelyonly caused this innocent Princesse to be imprisoned, and barbarously handled, both in the Tower, and after, at Woodstocke, being the Queenes owne Sister, and heire apparent to to the Crowne, procuring to her so great vexation by his rigorous usage, that she wished her selfe borne a Milkemaide; but proceeded so farre in his treacherous plots against her, that in all probabilities, his cursed policy must have prevailed, had not God moved the heart of Queene Mary her Sister, with a very kinde and naturall affection towards her, and in mercy taken him the more speedily out of the way by death, till which time she had no securitie, release, or hope of life. The whole Story of his treachery and Gods mercy towards this blessed Queene, is at large related by Master Foxe. He was a bitter opposite and enemy to Cranmer, Ridley, and Latimer, refusing to eate his dinner, that day, the two last of them were burnt at Oxford before hee heard from thence of their death. He was the bane of **Fox Acts and Monuments, old Edition, p. 603. &. 1031.Queene Anne, (the Lady Anne of Cleave,) the Lord Cromwell, Dr. Barnes, and others. And though in King Henries dayes, he proved Queene Mary a Bastard and the Bishop of Rome to be an usurper; yet afterwards when Queene Mary came to the Crowne, he was her chiefest instrument, the forwardest man to p. 281advance the Popes Supremacy, and the sorest Persecutor.

**Holinshed p. 1121.Anno. 1554. On the Cunduit in Gracious streete, King Henry the eight, was painted in harnesse, having in one hand a sword, and in the other hand a Booke whereon was written Verbum Dei, delivering the same as it were to King Edward his Sonne, who was painted in a corner by him; hereupon was no small matter made; for Stephen Gardiner Bishop of Winchester sent for the Painter, and not onelyonly called him Knave, for painting a Booke in King Henr…es hand, and specially for writing thereon Verbum Dei, but also Traytor and villaine, commanding him to wipe out the Booke, and Verbum Dei too. Whereupon the Painter fearing that he should leave some part of the Booke, or of Verbum Dei, in King Henries hand, wiped away a peece of his finger withall. **Holinshed. p. 1130.1157.England had great cause to blesse God for his death, which happened so opportunity; not so much for the great hurt he had done in times past in perverting his Princesse, bringing in …ixe Articles, in murthering Gods Saints, in defacing Christs sincere Religion, as especially for that hee had thought to have brought to passe in murthering also Queene Eliz…beth: for whatsoever danger of death, it was shee was in, it did no doubt proceede from this Bloody Bishop, who was the cause thereof; and if it be certaine, which we heard, that her Highnesse being in the Tower, a writ came downe from certaine of the Counsell for her execution, it is out of controver…ie, that wily Winchester was the onelyonly Dedalus and framer of that Engin. **Holinshed. p. 1154.1154.1157.1158.1160.He was an enemy to this Queene, and with divers of the Lords… strictly examined her at the Tower. And when shee recovered from her dangerous sicknesse, he and other Bishops repined, looked blacked in the mouth, and told this Queene they marvelled, that she submitted not her selfe to her Majesties mercy, considering that she had offended her highnesse: p. 290Winchester, after talking with her, perswaded her to submit her selfe; which she refusing, he replied, that she must tell another tale, ere that she should he set at liberty, least she should have advantage against him for her long, and wrong imprisonment: more English blood by his meanes was spilled in Queene Maries time, by hanging, heading, burning, and prisoning, than ever was in any Kings raigne before her. This treacherous Prelate, who called King Edward his Soveraigne, usurper **Fox Acts and Monuments Edi. ult vol. 3. p. 524 527.being hated of God, and all good men, had a miserable death sutable to his life: for the old Duke of Norfolke comming so visite him, the same day that Ridly & Latimer were burnt at Oxford, the Bishop would not sit downe to dinner, till one of his servants about foure of the clocke comming post from Oxford, brought most certaine intelligence that fire was set to these Martyrs; whereupon comming out rejoycing to the Duke, Now (saith he) let us goe to Dinner. They being set down, meate immediatly was brought, and the Bishop began merrily to eate; but what followed? The bloody Tyrant had not eaten a few bits, but the sudden stroke of Gods terrible hand fell upon him in such sort, as immediatly hee was taken from the Table, and so brought to his bed, where he continued the space of fifteene dayes in such intollerable anguish & torments within (rotting even above ground) that all that while during these fifteene dayes, he could not avoid by order of vrine… or otherwise, any thing that he received, whereby 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 from his mouth so swolne and blacke with the inflammation of his body. A Spectacle worthy to be noted and beholden of such bloody burning Persecutors. When Doctor Day … Bishop of Chichester came to him, and began to comfort him with words of Gods Promise, and with the free justification in the blood of Christ our Saviour, repeating the Scriptures to him: Winchester hearing that, What my Lord (quoth he) will you open that gappe now? Than farewell all together. To me, and such other in my case you may speake it, but open this window to the people, than farewell all together. And thus this wretch died, blaspheming. He that list may read more of him in Iohn Bales Scriptorum. Brit. cent. 8. sect. 88. p. 486. &c.

Iohn White his successor in that See, was little better, and would have defaced Queene Elizabeth gladly, if hee durst, in his Funerall Sermon of Queene Mary, whom he immoderately extolled. He to obtaine this Bishoppricke, promised to Iohn whitegive the Pope 1600. l. per annum, for it during his life: which grosse Symony the Pope disliking, and threatning to punish him for it, he was forced to pay much dearer, ere he could obtaine it. **William Harrison Description of England. l. 2. c… 1. p. 138. Martins Hi…. p. 452.453.454This Bishop, and others, being appointed to conferre with the Protestant Ministers in the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth, insteed of disputing, he, and Thomas Watson Bishop of Lincolne, two malepate Prelates, threatning to excommunicate the Queene, were committed to prison, and there detained, and after that for refusing to take the oath of allegeance to the Queen; he, with thirteene Bishops more, who denied to take the Oath of Supremacy, which the greatest number of them had sworne unto formerly during the raigne of King Henry the eight, were deprived of their Bishopprickes, and others placed in their roome. Iohn Bale in his **Cent. 9. Scrip. Brit. sect. 97. p. 736.737.Centuries gives this description of this Prelate: Iohannes Whitus, Wintoniensis sch…lae olim Praeses, nunc EIVS PESTILENTISSIMAE SEDIS Episcopus, & Antichristi Romani terrificus minister, rostris & unguibus in Angliae regno restituere conatur, omnes ejus tyra…nides, idolomanias, faeditates, & omni… dogmata universa. Principum illusor, & animarum carnifex, duplex & perjurus hypocrita ambitiosus que haereticus, deum suum Mauzim, mutum, mortuum & aridum idolum, omnium perniciosissimum, adversus Denm verum, viuum & sanctum erexit. And Iohn Parkhust for his sake, wrote this Disticke to England, to take heede of all Prelates, and not to trust them.

Anglia furcatis nimium ne fidito mitris:

Dic rogo, num serus sum tibi praemonitor?

With this other Disticke upon the Bishop himselfe.

Candidus es certè, nec candidus es, Rogitas cur?

Nomine candidus es, moribus at niger es.

I finde little recorded of any of the Bishops of this See since this dayes; and what the Prelates of that See, in our memories have beene (as Bilson, Mountague, Andrewes, Neale, and Curle now living,) is sufficiently knowne: For Bilson, Andrewes, and Neale, we know, they were great sticklers… for **See Bilson of Church Govenement Andr…wes; for Ex Officio Oathes, &c.Episcopacy, Lordly Prelacy, the High Commission Inquisition, and Ex Officio Oathes; great enemies to Prohibitions and the Common Law; and no good friends to Parliaments: for Mountague and Neale, they were the originall Authors and publishers of the Booke for Sports on the Lords Day … published in King Iames his name and dayes, which occasioned must disorder then, and more since; and for the present Bishop, Curle, hee was the most violent enforcer of this Booke on the Cleargie of all other Bishops (Peirce and Wren onelyonly excepted,) and the first that ever suspended any Ministers for refusing parsonally to read it in their Churches; he suspending no lesse than five eminent Ministers at St. Mary Overies in one day, for refusing to publish it, though not injoyned nor authorized by the King to do it; whereupon other Bishops following his example, and proceedings in this kinde, both in their Consistories, high Commissions, and Visitations, (wherein they made it one Article of Inquiry upon oath for Churchwardens to present on, whether their Minister had read to them the Declaration for Sports? a suparlative and shamelesse prophanes, not paraleld in any age since Adam till now) Silenced, Suspended, persecuted; excommunicated, and drave out of the Realme, many of our best and painfullest preaching Ministers, and put both our Church and State into a miserable combustion, and most sad perplexed condition, making such breaches in both, which will not be, repaired again in many yeares. O that men who professe themselves Fathers of the Church, Pillers of Religion, and Pastors of mens soules, should be such Step-fathers to their owne Diocesse and Country, such patrons of prophanesse, and licenciousnesse, and such desperate murtherers of poore peoples soules, to vex persecute, and stop their godly Ministers mouthes, because they durst not out of consciens open them, to seduce and spur them on to hell & prophanes with a full currere.

I shall onelyonly checke the impudency, and shame the prophanenesse of these our monstrou Prelates, with words of Cardinall Bellarmine (no Puritan, **Cincio. 6.3.19.20.21.I am certaine) touching the unlawfulnesse of Dancing and Pastimes upon Lords dayes, in sundry Sermons. I cannot verily, good hearers (saith he) explicate by words, with how great griefe of minde, I behold, in what a perverse and Diabolicall manner Holi-dayes are celebrated in this our age. How farre pevish men have obscured and defiled their pious institution, with their most corrupt manners, may be understood by this, that to strangers, and those who are ignorant what manner of feasts, these are, from those things, which they see every where to be done, they may seeme to be, not the feasts of God, but the Festivals of the Devill, and so the very Bacchanalia themselves. Yea verily, when I pray you, are there more sinnes committed then on Holidayes? When are there more sumptuous feasts kept? When more lascivious songs heard? When are bowling-allies & Tavernes more frequented? when are there more execrable kinds of Playes Fooleries, and scurrilities? When are there more Dances in most places to the sound of the Harpe and Lute, then on these dayes? But peradventure it is no evill. or a small evill, for men to dance with women. Yea verily nothing is more pernicious. If strawes can come to the fire, and not be burnt, than a young man may dance with women. Alas, what will dances and Galliards profit thee at the last? when thou shalt have danced long, what shalt thou gaine at length… but wearinesse of body and sicknesse of minde? knowest thou not the danger of Dances? How many thinkest thou, have entred Virgins into dances, and returned Harlots? Knowest thou not what hapned to the daughter of Herodias, who with her dances was the cause that the light of the world, who had baptized the Lord, was quite extinguished? even she her selfe afterwards, as **Eccl…siasticae. Histor. l 1. c. 19.20 Where this Historian notably inveigheth against Dancing.Nicephorus records, when she once passed over a river congealed with Ice, the Ice breaking, fell into the water up to the necke; and little after her head was congealed with frost and cold, and afterwards cut off, not with a sword, but with Ice, and then made a deadly dance upon the Ice. Knowest thou not what St. **De virgini…us l. 3. Tom. 4. Operum p. 236.227.Ambrose, saith for her sake, One (saith he) may dance, but the daughter of an adulteresse: but shee who is chast, let her learne her daughters Prayers not Dances. Of Dances, I will onelyonly speake one word, and for this cause principally, that I understand how dancing seemes not a true evill to some, and I know that at Lovan, there are publike Schooles, where the Art of dancing is taught. But I verily, if adultery and fornication be evill, cannot see how it is not evill for men to dance with women, since it most of all provokes thereunto.Nota. Heare holy Iob Iob 31.Job 31I have made (saith he) a covenant with mine eyes, that I would not so much as thinke of a mayde; and shalt thou goe and dance with a maide, and provoke thy selfe to lust by dancing, and yet no danger hang over thy head? To what end then doth the Wise man give this admonition Ecclesiasticus. 9.4.Sir 9:4Keepe not company with a woman that is a dancer, least happily thou perish in her allurements; but because if chaffe can come to the fire and not be burnt, than a young man may dance with women and not burne… What? holy men, St. Anthony, St. Hilar…on, dwelt in the wildernesse, they perpetually gave themselves to fastings and prayers, and yet Hi…ronimus Epist. …2 c. 3.scarce def… ded themselves from the spirit of fornicatio… and from evill de…ires and thoughts: and wilt thou …dde …o the heat of youth… the heat of drinking, and then goe and laugh and sing, and dance with beautifull maydens, and shall I suspect no harme? Who of all you shall dwell with everlasting burning?Esay 33.14.Isa 33:14 If you cannot now abstaine from drunkennesse, from dancing, from toyes… how shall ye be able to endure those living flames… and most bitter gnashing of teeth? But concerning the madnesse of dancing; heare yee what the ancients as well prophane as sacred, have left written:Oratio pro Muraena. Marcus Tulli…s did so detest the filthinesse of Dances, that in the defence of Muraena, he said, No sober man almost danceth, unlesse perchance he be besides himselfe, and extreme dancing is the Companion of many delights. And Oratio pro Cn. Plaucio & Post r…ditum in Senatum.in another place he objecteth dancing to Antonius, as a most dishonest crime. Blush therefore, O Christian, blush, thou art overcome by an Ethnicke, and without doubt thou shalt be condemned in judgement by an Ethneike. He by the light of Nature onelyonly without the light of faith, could teach, that dancing was not the practice of any, but either of drunkards or mad men: and thou the Sonne of Cod, illuminated with a celestiall light, with whom such vanities ought not so much as to be Eph…s. 5 3.named, art most mad, in the very most famous and most sacred solemnities. Let us relinquish prophane Authors, and come to Christians. Tell thou us, O most blessed Ambrose, thou most reverend old man, the light of the Christian Church, what thinkest thou of dances and morrisses De vi…ginibus… l. 3. Tom 4. p. 226.227.Worthily, saith he, from thence we proceed to the injury of the Diuinity; for what modestie can be there where they dance, shreeke, and make a noyse together? Tell thou us also, O blessed Hierom, what thou deemest of dancing: Moreover (saith he) in his Booke against **See. E…ist 10 4Heluidius, where the Tymbrils sound, the Pipes make a noise, the Harpe chatters, the Cymballs strike together, what feare of God can there be? Let us passe over into the East, and let us also advise with two of the Greeke Fathers. Tell thou us, O great Chrysostome the ornament of Greece, tell thou us I pray thee thy opinion of banquets and dances;See Hom. 56. Gen. 8.74. in Matth.Gen 8:74 Heare (saith he) in the 49 Homily upon Matthew, heare these things, O men who follow magnificent feasts, full of drunkennesse, heare I say, and tremble at the gulfe of the devill: where wanton dancing is there the devill is certainely present. For God hath not given us our legges to dance, but that we should walke modestly, not that we should impudently skippe like Camels. But if the body be polluted, by dancing impudently, how much more may the soule be thought to be defiled? The devill danceth in these dances: with these, men are deceived by the ministers of the Devill. Last of all, heare with what words, De Ebrietate & Luxu Sermo. Tam. 1. p. 332.336.St. Basil the great, a most holy man, and most learned, deplores this madnesse, in his Oration against drunkards: Men (saith he) and women together entring into Common dances, having delivered their soules to the drunken devill, wound one another with the prickes of unchast affections: profuse laughter, is practised and filthy songs, meretritious habits inviting unto petulancie are there used: Laughest, and delighest thou thy selfe with an arrogant delight, when as thou oughtest to power out teares, and sighes for what is past? Singest thou whorish Songs, casting away the Psalmes, & Hyranes thou hast learned? Dost thou stirre thy feete and caper furiously, and dance unhappily, when as thou oughtest to bend thy knees to prayer. Thus great Basil. Now if the holy Fathers have spoken these things of dances in genarall, Nota.how I pray had they exclaimed, if they had knowne them to have beene used in the very Festivals of Christs Nativitie? But let us leave men, and heare what the Lord himselfe, who cannot erre, what the holy Ghost, and the Spirit of Truth, saith by the Prophet Esay 5.11.12.13.Isa 5:11Isa 5:12Isa 5:13Esay: the Harpe, saith hee, and the Violl, the Taber and pipe, and wine are in your Feasts, but ye regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands. Ah wretched & miserable persons, the Lord hath done an admirable worke in these dayes: The Lord hath created Ier. 31.22.Jer 31:22a new thing upon the earth: A mayd hath brought forth a Sonne: God hath come unto men, a new starre hath appeared, the heavens are made mellifluous Matth. 2.2.10.Matt 2:2Matt 2:10the Angels have left those blessed mansions that they might behold the little one who is given to us, and ye onelyonly for whom these things are done, busied in wickednesse, buried in sleepe and wine, regard not the worke of the Lord,Luke 2.9.13.Luke 2:9Luke 2:13 and consider not the operations of his hands. What therefore shall be done unto you?14…13.14.15. Heare the sentence of your Judge, Therefore saith he, Hell hath inlarged its …oule, and hath opened its mouth without all bounds Nota. See vincentii speculum. Morale l. 3. par 9… Distinct.Peradadventure ye are ignorant how great a sacriledge it is to prophane dayes consecrated to God. Why, I beseech you, doe we not every where use Churches, Chalices, and Priestly vestments? what are these walls more than others? What are Priests Garments more than others? As to their matter nothing at all. But therefore it is a wickednesse, therefore a sacriledge therefore a most horrible villany to convert them to prophane uses because they are consecrated and dedicated to God, But who knoweth not that Holidayes are after the same manner consecrated and dedicated unto God, and to be spent in no other but in holy workes? which of you if he should see any one enter into the Church with encredible audacity, and use the consecrated vestments, in steed of prophane garments, Temples for a Taverne, the Altar for a Table, the Corporals, or Alterclothes for Mappes, eating in sacred Patens drinking in the Holy Chalices? which of us would not tremble, who would not exclaime? And now we behold the most solemne, the most famous, the most sacred Holy-dayes, dedicated to God, that they might be spent in Prayers, Meditations, reading of holy things, Hymnes and Psalm…s, and spirituall Songs, to be prophaned with sacrilegious Dances, Morrisses, Caperings, Feasts, Drinking-matches, uncleannesses, scurrilities, and yet no man trembles, no man is moved, no man wonders; O immortall God! **2 Cor. 6.14.15.16.2 Cor 6:142 Cor 6:152 Cor 6:16What part hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse? what fellowship hath light with darkenesse? what agreement hath Christ with Belial? what hath the merriment of the flesh to doe with the gladnesse of the spirit? what the solemnities of God, with the feasts of Bacchus and his crue? What now? those dayes wherein wee ought to please God most, shall we in them more provoke him unto anger with our wickednesse? on those dayes, in which the spirit is to be fed and recreated; in them shall we more overwhelme him with wine and uncleannesses? &c. What a madnesse is this? what infirnall furies scare us out of our wits? Thus, and much more, this Romish Cardinall Bellarmin, to the eternall infamy of our prophane English Prelates; to whom this Cardinall in point of Dancing and Pastimes, especially on sacred Dayes, is not onelyonly a Puritan, but a Saint. And thus much for the Prelates of Winchester: I shall next survey the Bishops of Durham, and see whether they have been better qualified than these their Brethren.