The Antipathy of the English Lordly Prelacy, Part 1 · Chapter 3 · Section 4
Salisbury.
1ALSTANE or ADELSTANE.Alstane or Adelstane, Bishop of Sherburne (which See was not long after translated to Salisbury) *Mat. West. An. 854. pag. 307.308. Holins. Hist. of England, l. 6. c. 9. p. 138. c. 10. p. 140. c. 11. p. 143. Malms. de Gestis Regum Angl. l. 1. c. 2. p. 40. Antiq. Eccles. Brit. p. 36. Speed. Hist. l. 7. c. 32. Sect. 7. p. 377. Godw. p. 333.turned warrior, and led an Army into Kent against Ethelwolfe King o… that County, and chased away both the King, and all other that would not submit themselves to Egbert, over the Thames out of their Country. He fought oft against the Danes, provided money, and furnished out men to withstand them, and tooke upon him to order all matters of the State under King Ethelwolfe. When King Ethelwolfe returned from Rome, Adelstane who bare no small rule in the Kingdome of the West-Saxons, would not suffer him to be admitted King, because he had done in certaine points contrary to the Lawes and Ordinances of the Kingdome, as he conceived; whereupon by this Bishops meanes Ethelbald this Kings sonne was established King in his Fathers steed, and so continued, till at last by agreement the Kingdome was devided betwixt them. This Bishop was fervently set on covetousnesse, and greatly enriched his See of Sherburne, where he continued Bishop 50. yeares.
2ROGER.Roger, the great rich Bishop of Salisbury, advanced and specially trusted by King Henry the first, for all the benefits that he and his friends received from him, proved not so thankfull or faithfull to his Majestie as was to be expected. *Neubrigensis Hist. l. 1. c. 6. Mat. Paris, Hoveden, Higden, Fabian Coxton, Speed, Stow, Grafton, Martin in the life of King Steph…n. Godwin. p. 319.320 321.322. Fox Acts and Monuments p. 181. Holinshed p. 50.51… Wil. Mal. Hist. Novel. l. 2… p. 181.182.183. to 190.For King Henry the first having lost his onelyonly sonne and Heire apparent Prince William, by mis-fortune upon the Sea, and having no issue lawfully begotten to inherit the Kingdome, but onelyonly Mawd the Empresse, thought good to take an Oath of all the Nobility; wherein they promised, to yeeld obedience to her as their Soveraigne, and to none other. This Oath Roger not onelyonly tooke himselfe, but likewise administred to all the other, being then Chancellour of England: yet notwithstanding forgetting all duties of Religion towards God, of thankfulnesse towards his patron, and Loyalty towards his Prince, he was the first man who upon the death of the King fell to plotting for the advancement of Stephen unto the Kingdome (who likewise had taken the former Oath and swore homage and fealty unto Mawde) which by his perswasion he first attempted, and much deale by his ungracious counsell at last obtained. At the time of King Henry his death, it hapned that Mawde was in Normandy with her Father, wherefore Stephen Earle of Bologne taking this advantage, wrought so with this Bishop, and the Bishop of Winchester, and they with him, as they were content to set the Crowne upon his head, who otherwise than by a kinde of election which they procured, had no colour of right unto the same. For if they regarded nearenesse of blood, not onelyonly Mawde and her sonne were nearer, but Theobald also Earle of Bloyes, Stephens elder brother. Howbeit these Clergie men that bare all the sway in those times, desirous to continue their owne greatnesse, would needes make choyse of him, thinking by this meanes they should so farre obleige Stephen to them, as in all likelihood it must be a meanes not onelyonly to continue, but likewise much to encrease their swaying power, greatnesse and authority. As for the Oath they had taken, this Bishop devised an excuse; that King Henry after the time they had sworne to his daughter, marrying her out of the Realme without her consent, had therein discharged them of that Oath. However, this allegation might bleare the eyes of men, it could not deceive God, that out of his justice turned this device to the destruction of many, and the infinite trouble of all them that had any finger in the same, especially of this Bishop. King Stephen in the beginning of his raigne, to secure himselfe the better against forraine invasions, as he thought, granted license unto all that would to build Castles in any part of the Realme; by vertue of which grant in a short time after, there were erected no lesse than 1117. new Castles. This Bishop hereupon (cujus opera nunquam Episcopali a fuere, writes Neubrigensis) built a Castle, at the Devises (the goodliest, stateliest building in all Europe) with the Castles of Shirborne and Malmesbury, and new walled and repaired the Castle of Salisbury: Et quoniam hujusmodi extructio Episcopalem honestatem minus decere videbatur, ad tollendam illius structionis invidiam & quasi expiandam maculam, totidem monasteria construens, collegis religiosis implevit, saith the same Neubrigensis. These antidotes were of so small force, as there wanted not many to buzze dayly into the Kings eares, that these Castles no doubt were intended to entertaine the party of the Empresse his adversary, and that it much behooved him to take them from the Bishop, in whose hands to leave them was neither safe nor seemely. Wherefore partly out of feare and jealousie of the Bishops fidelity, and partly out of a desire of the Bishops wealth, as some conjecture, he summons a councell at Oxford, whither all the Bishops, and specially Roger of Salisbury are summoned. Roger would faine excuse himsel…e by his age and indisposition of body; whereunto the King answered that he could by no meanes spare him, nor want his advice, whereon he meant principally to relye. Whereupon the Bishop presuming on the Kings …avour (who had made one of his Nephewes Chancellour, another Treasurer of England, bestowed on himselfe the Burrough of Malmesbury, saying sometimes, Let this man beg while he will, for a while, I will grant him halfe the Kingdome rather than say him nay, and sooner shall he be weary of craving than I of granting) repaired to Oxford, where there grew a fray betweene some of the Kings Officers and the Bishops men about lodgings, wherein two of his men were slaine and divers wounded. Hereupon his men and he fled, as also his son & Nephews, but they were all persued and taken, except the Bishop of Ely, who fled to the Castle of the Devises, which was very well manned and provided, determining to hold it out against the King, who presently repaired thither with all speed, carrying his Prisoners along with him, whom he caused to be very hardly used, shutting up the one Bishop in an Oxestall, the other in a filthy black roome, more loathsome than the other. At his first comming he summoned the Castle, entending to prove all meanes to get in rather than let this occasion slip. Trying therefore many practises, when no other would take successe, he caused a paire of gallowes to be set up, and swore he would hang Roger the Bishop, if the Castle were not presently yeelded up to him. The Bishop of Ely continuing obstinate in his deniall, though his Uncle of Salisbury had entreated him earnestly to yeeld, the halter was now about the young mans necke, and he ready to be executed, when his Father humbly besought the king to accept his best endeavour for the effecting of his desire, and to save his Sonnes life, was content, to sweare he would neither eate nor drinke before the Castle were delivered to the King. Hereupon the execution of the Son was stayed, but it cost the Father his Life. For the Bishop of Ely his Nephew, notwithstanding what entreaty would be made, suffered his Uncle to …ast three whole dayes before he would give over… by meanes whereof the Old Bishop, partly for griefe, partly by so long abstinence …ell sicke of a quartaine Ague, whereof he languished and at last dyed, raving and taking on like a man distract of his wits certaine dayes before his departure, which death and usage of his is by our Historians reputed a just judgement of God upon him for his perjury and Treason against Mawde in dis-inheriting her of the Crowne contrary to his Oath. There was found in this Castle of his 4000. Markes of silver ready coyned, besides gold, plate, jewels and household stuffe of inestimable price, all which the King layd hands on; The Bishops sonne was kept in Prison, and dealt earnestly withall to renounce the Empresse against whom he had formerly sided, and devote himselfe to the Kings party; which he constantly refused, and with long suite obtained at last, that hee might be banished the Realme.
*Wil. Malm…sb. Hist. Novella. l. 2. p. 182.183.This Act of the King in seising the Bishops Castles, was variously spoken of many. Some sayd, the Bishops were lawfully deprived of them, because they had built them without any warrant from the Canons, that they ought to be Evangelists of peace, not Architects of Castles, which might prove a refuge to Malefactors. Hugh Arch-Bishop of Rhoan, alleadged these things with more ample reasons and speeches, being the Kings greatest advocate, and maintaining his side with all his eloquence. Others held the contrary, with whom Henry Bishop of Winchester sided, being the Popes Legate, and the Kings owne Brother; whom neither his brotherly alliance, nor feare of danger compelled to exorbitate from the truth, who alledged, that if the Bishops had transgressed the rule of Justice in any thing, that the judgement hereof belonged not to the King, but to the Canons, and that they ought not to be deprived of any possession without a publik Ecclesiasticall Councell; That the King had done this, not out of a zeale of rectitude, but for his owne profit, who rendred not the Castles to the Churches, by whose cost, and on whose lands they were built, but contrarily gave them to lay men, and that to such who had little Religion in them: speaking these things privately, and also publikely before the King, and calling upon him to free and restore the Bishops, he lost his labour, no man listning to him. Wherfore determining to try the vigour of the Canons, he commanded the king …his brother immediately to appeare before him at the Councell which he was about to celebrate at Winchester, where most of the Bishops of England assembling, the Cardinalls Commission for his power Legatine… from Pope Innocent being first read, he made a speech in Latine, wherein he complained of the unworthy apprehending of the Bishops of Salisbury and Lincolne, both detained Prisoners, affirming that it was a miserable wickednesse that the king was so farre seduced by incendiaries, that he should command hands to be layd on his owne people, especially on his Bishops in the peace of his Court. That a Celestiall injury was hereby added to the kings dishonour, that under pretence of the defaults of the Bishops, Churches should be spoyled of their possessions. That the kings excesse against the Law of God did so farre grieve him, that he would rather suffer much losse both in his body and, estate than the Episcopall celsitude should be cast downe with so great indignity; that he of… admonished… the king to amend this same, who even then refused not the calling of the Councell; that therefore the Arch-bishop and the rest should consult together what was needfull to be done, and hee would not be wanting to the execution of their advise, neither for love of the king who was his brother, nor for the losse of his possessions, no nor yet for the perill of his head. The King not distrusting his cause, sent some Earles unto the Councell, demaunding why he was summoned thither? The Legate answered them in briefe; that he who remembred that he had subjected himselfe to the faith of Christ, ought not to be angry if he were called by Christs Ministers to make satisfaction, being conscious of so great guilt as these ages had never seene. For it was the act of secular Gentiles to imprison Bishops and strip them of their possessions. Therefore they should tell his Brother, that if he would give a willing assent to his Councell, he would by Gods direction give him …uch as neither the Church of Rome, nor the Court of the king of France, nor Count Theobald, brother to them both, should contradict, but ought favourably to embrace; that the king for the present should doe advisedly, if either he would give an account of his fact, or undergoe the judgement of the Canons: for he ought of duty to favour the Church, by reception into whose bosome, and not by a …and of Souldiers he was promoted to the kingdome. Whereupon the Earles departing, returned not long af…er w…th Albin De…er, an experienced Lawyer: Who pleaded, that Roger the Bishop had many wayes in…ured king Stephen; that he came very seldome to his Court; tha… his men presuming on his power had raised seditions, that as often in other places, so of late at Oxford they had made assaults on men, and that upon Earle Alans owne Nephew, and upon the Servants of Henry de Lyons, a man of so great Nobility, & so haughty a brow, that he would never upon king Henries request condescend to come into England; That this injury redounded to king Stephen, for whose loves sake h…e came, that so great violence was offered to him: that the Bishop of Lincolne out of his inveterate hatred against Alan had by his Servants beene the Author of Sedition: that the Bishop of Salisbury secretly favoured the kings enemies dissembling his double dealing in the interim till a fi… occasion: that the king had undoubtedly discovered this by many things, and by this especially, that he would not suffer Roger Mortimer with the kings Souldiers, which he led in great …eare of the Bristow men, so much as to stay one night at Malmesbury; that it was in every mans mouth, that as soone as ever the Empresse should arrive, that he with his N…phewes and Castles, would revolt to her: that Roger was thus taken, not as a Bishop but as the Kings Servant, who both administred his affaires, and received his wages: that the King had not taken away the Castles from them by violence, but that both the Bishops thankefully rendered them, that they might excuse the calumny of the tumult which they had raised in the Court; that the King found some money in the Castles, which were law…ully his owne, because the Bishop had collected it out of the Rents of the Royall Exchequer in the time of King Henry his Uncle and antecessor; that the Bishop for feare of his offences against the King, willingly parted from them, as he did from his Castles, of which …he King wanted not witnesses; that therefore he desired the agreements betweene him and the Bishops should remaine firme. Roger on the other side alleaged, that he was never a Servant to the King nor received his wages; moreover some threatnings were uttered by this generous Prelate (who scorned to be dejected with mis-fortunes) that if he found not justice in that Councell for the things taken from him, that he would complaine thereof in the audience of a greater Court. The Legate answered mildly… That they ought first to inquire as of other things, so of all things which are spoken against Bishops in an Ecclesiasticall Councell, by way of accusation, whether they be true or not? rather then to pronounce sentence, against men uncondemned contrary to the decrees of the Canons: let the King therefore doe that is lawfull to be done in secular judgements, revest the Bishop of the things taken away by the Law of the Nations, disseised men shall not plead. Many things being spoken on both sides after this manner, the cause at the Kings request was deferred 3. dayes longer, till the Archbishop of Rhoan came; Who sayd, he granted that Bishops might have Castles if they could prove by the Canons, that by law they ought to have them; Which because they could not, that it was extreame dishonesty to contend against the Canons; And grant (saith he) that they may enjoy them, yet verily because it is a suspitious time, all the great men according to the custome of other Nations ought to deliver up the Keyes of their Fortresses to the Kings pleasure, who ought to wage warre for the peace of all men. Thus all the controversie of the Bishops was weakned: For either according to the Decrees of the Canons it is unjust they should have Castles; or if this be tolerated by the Kings indulgence, they ought to yeeld up the keyes t… the necessity of the time. To this Albric the Kings Lawyer added, that the King was informed, that the Bishops threatned among themselves, and provided to send some of them to Rome against him. And this (saith he) the King commendeth to you, that none of you presume to doe it, for if any one against his will, and the dignity of the Kingdome of England, shall goe any where from England, peradventure his returne shal be difficult. Moreover he, because he seeth himselfe grieved, of his own accord appeales you to Rome. After the King, partly by commending, partly by way of threatning had commanded these things, it was understood whither it tended… Wherefore they so departed, that neither he would suffer the censure of the Canons (nor be judged by them) neither did the Bishops thinke fit to exercise it, and that for a double reason: Either because it would be temerarious to excommunicate the King without the Popes privity; Or else because they heard, and some also saw, that there were swords drawne round about them, for words were no jests, but there was a contention almost about life and blood. Yet the Legate and Archbishop gave not over, but prosecuted the tenor of their office: for casting themselves humbly downe at the Kings feete in his Bedchamber, they beseeched him to compassionate the Church, to compassionate his owne s…ule and fame, that he would not suffer a dissention to be made betweene the Kingdome and Priesthood: He rising up courteously, although he removed the envie of the things done …rom himselfe, yet he made no effectuall performance of his good promises. And so this great suite (wherein the Prelates presumed to convent the king himselfe before them to try his title to Castles, being temporall possessions) ceased, and the pretended execution of their owne Canons, (never pressed before that I read of) vanished into nothing. These bickerings betweene the Bishop his Nephewes, and the king (to whom he owed even the Crowne he wore) caused all the Bishops to fall off from him againe, and joyne with Maude. This their treachery to King Stephen is most fully recorded by William Malmesbury, who relates, *Hist. Novellae l. 2. p. 187.188.189.that the Bishop of Winchester, brother to king Stephen, and the Popes Legate, taking some offence against the king, came to a Parley with Maude in the fields neere Winchester, where Maude the Empresse swore and vowed to him, that all the greatest businesses in England and especially the Donations of Bishoprickes and Abbies should be at his disposall, if he with the holy Church would receive her for their Soveraigne, and be continually loyall to her; some of the greatest Nobles of her party making the same oath: Whereupon the Bishop made no scruple to receive the Empresse as Lady of England, and to sweare to her by himselfe and some others, that as long as she brake not this agreement, that he would be faithfull to her: which done, the next day she was received by the Bishop in the Cathedrall Church of Winchester with an honourable Procession, the Bishop of Winchester going on her right hand, and Barnard Bishop of Saint Davids on her left: there were other Bishops present beside these, as, Alexander Bishop of Lincolne, Robert of Hereford, Nigellus of Ely, Robert of Bath, with sundry Abbots … a few dayes after Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterbury came to the Empresse at Winchester being invited by the Legate, but de…erred to sweare fealty to the Empresse without the kings privity, being (as hee thought) a dishonour to his fame and person; but after some conference had with the king by the Cardinall, and most of the Prelates who intreated leave of him to yeeld to the necessity of the time, they condescended to the Legates motion and fell off to the Empresse. Whereupon about a fortnight after Easter, Theobald Arch-bishop of Canterbury held a Councell of all the Bishops of England, and of many Abbots in great state at Winchester, wherein the Bishop of Winchester made this speech; That by vertue of his Legatine power which he derived from the Pope, he had summoned the Clergie of England to this Councell, that they might consult in Common of the peace of the Country, which was in great danger of Shipwrack; that in the time of King Henry his Uncle, England was a singular houshold of peace, &c. Which King some yeares before his death caused all the Bishops and Barons to sweare to the Empresse his Daughter and onelyonly Childe, that the whole kingdome of England, with the Dutchy of Normandy, should descend to her if he had no issue male by the Duke of Loraines daughter. That dismall fortune envied his most excellent Uncle, so as he dyed in Normandy without issue male. Therefore because it seemed long to expect the Lady who resided in Normandy and delayd to come into England to provide for the peace of the Country, my Brother was permitted to raigne. And although I became a surety betweene God and him, that hee should honour and exalt the holy Church, maintaine good Lawes and abrogate evill, yet it grieves me to remember, it shames me to relate what a one he hath shewed himselfe in his kingdome, how no justice hath beene exercised upon the presumptuous, how all peace was presently abolished almost the same yeare, the Bishops apprehended and compelled to a reddition of their possessions, Abbies sold, the Churches rob'd of their treasures: the Counsells of wicked men heard, of good men either suspended, or altogether contemned. You know how often I have convented him both by my selfe, and by the Bishops, especially in the Councell the last yeare summoned to that purpose, and that I got nothing but hatred thereby. Neither can it be unknowne to any who will rightly consider it, that I ought to love my mortall brother, but ought much more to esteeme the cause of my immortall Father. Therefore because God hath exercised his judgement touching my brother, that he might permit him without my knowledge to fall into the power of the Mighty, left the kingdome should …ottet if it wanted a king, I have invited you all by the right of my Legation to assemble together at this place. Yesterday the cause was secretly ventilated before the greater part of the Clergie of England, to whose right especially it belongs both to elect and ordaine a king. Therefore having first invocated as it is meete Gods assistance, we have …lected the Daughter of a peace-making king, a glorio…s king, a rich king, a good king, and in our time incomparable, to be Queene of England and Normandy, and we promise fidelity and maintenance to her. When the Bishop of Winchester had thus spoken all the Bishops and Clergie present, (as William of Malmsbury (then present at the Councell relates) did either modestly give their acclamation to the sentence (of Mauds election and Stephens rejection) or keeping silence, did not contradict it. In this Councell many who tooke king Stephens part, were excommunicated, and by name William Martell, who had intercepted some of the Legates goods: a…ter this Councell the City of London formerly addicted to king Stephen, and the greatest part of England willingly submitted to the dominion of Maude, who was principally counselled by Robert her brother, and by the Legate of Winchester, who pretended that hee sought her welfare; but within few dayes after there fell out a difference betweene the Legate and Maude, which occasioned a great alteration, and was the cause of many new mischiefes in Engl…nd. Whereupon the Bishop Legate departed from the Court, absolved all those whom he …ormerly excommunicated in the Councell without the consent of the Bishops, raised up a complaint against the Empresse that she intended to apprehend him, and made no account of any thing she had sworne to: Which report was spred over all England. Whereupon he stirred up the Londoners and Barons against the Empresse, whom he beseiged and restored S…ephen not onelyonly to his liberty, but to the Crowne. In the meane time …his Roger Bishop of Salisbury dyes of a Quar…aine Fever, which he fell into out of griefe of minde. *Will. Malms. Hist. N…v…lla. l. …. p. 184.185.This Prelate was so high in king Henries favour that he denyed little or nothing to him that he demanded: he gave him Lands, Churches, Prebends of Clarkes, whole Abbies of Monkes, and committed the kingdome to his trust, making him Chancellor of England. Roger therefore pleaded causes, he moderated expences, he kept the kings treasure, and that without a companion and witnesse, both while the king was present in England, and absent in Normandy: and not onelyonly by the king, but likewise by the Nobles: and even by those who secretly envied his felicity; and especially by the kings Servants and debto…s, all things almost that he could thinke of were conferred on him: if any thing was contiguous to his possessions which might conduce to his utility, that he either begged or bought, if not, he extorted it by violence, he alone was in greatest honour, abounding in wealth, pompe, …riends, authority, stately houses and Castles, and seemed the onelyonly happy man on earth. Yet at last in a moment, fortune cruelly stung him with her Scorpions tayle, so as he saw many of his friends wounded, and his most familiar Souldiers beheaded before his face, himselfe captivated, two of his Nephewes most potent Prelates, to be put to flight, and taken prisoners; and a third a young man whom he most loved to bee bound in chaines, his Castles to be rendred up, his treasures spoyled, himself afterwards in a Councell torne with most foule reproaches, the residue of his money and plate which he had layd upon the Altar to finish a Church to be… carried away against his will, and which is the extremity of calamity, Cum multis miser videretur… paucissimis miserabilis erat. So much envy & hatred had he contracted out of his over great power, and that undeservedly with some whom he had advanced to honours. So Malmesbury writes of him, of whom you have heard sufficient.
3ROBERT BINGHAMAnno Dom. 1223. Huber… de Burgo Earle of Kent being taken and proclaimed a traytor,Matthew Pari… p. 374.375. Holinshed. p. 217. escaped out of the Castle of Ve… or Devises, and tooke sanctuary in the next Church; those who kept the Castle hearing of it, sent and tooke him (with those that helped him to make his escape) out of the Church and imprisoned him againe in the Castle. Robert Bingham the Bishop of Salisbury hereupon came to the Castle and threatned to curse them, if they would not deliver the Earle & restore him to sanctury againe. They made answer they had rather the Earle should hang for them than they for him: and so because they would not deliver him the Bishop excommunicated them; and after riding to the Cour…, and taking with him the Bishop of London, and other Bishops, prevailed so much by complaint to the King, that the Earle (though a traytor) was restored to the Church againe, but so as the Sheriffe of the Shire had commandement to compasse the Church about with men, to watch that no reliefe came unto him, whereby he might bee constrained through famishment to submit himselfe, but hee shortly armed, was there rescued by a power of armed men, who conveyed him armed, and o… horsebacke into Wales, where he joyned with other of King Henry the thirds enemies. And all through the pride, and practise of this Prelate, to whose pretended jurisdiction even in case of Treason, the King himselfe must submit.
W…lliam of YorkWilliam of Yorke the ninth Bishop of Salisbury about the year 1247. was a Courtier from his childhood,Mat. Paris… Hist. Angl. p. 892.893… Godwin. Car. p. 277.278. and better seene the in Lawes of the Realme (which hee chiefly studied) than in the Law of God a great deale. Matthew Paris reporteth that he fir… brought in the custome that tenants should be suiters unto the Courts of their Landlords. This Matthew Paris stiles a very bad custome, in magnum subditorum damnum & detrimentum & superiorum parvum vel nullum emolumentum, unde qui nunquam hoc fecerant mirabantur se ad hoc fuisse coactos. And speaking of this Bishops death he saith, This Bishop passed from these worldly cares and imployments to the dangers which secular men and Courtiers are beleeved to undergoe; for their workes follow them.
Anno 1392. King Richard the second,5JOHN WALTHAM. picked a quarrell against the Major and Sheriffes of London upon this occasion.Holinsh…d. p. 478.479. Fox Act… a…d Monumen…, …dit. ult. vol. 1. p… 669.670. Walsin… Hist. Angl. A… 1392. pag. 3…4.385, 386. Yp…dig. Neu…r. 146. Walter Romay one of Iohn Walthams servants then Bishop of Salisbury and high Treasurer of England, tooke a horseloafe from a Bakers man as hee passed by in Fleetstreet, and would not deliver it againe, but broke the bakers mans head, when he was earnest to recover his loafe, the cohabitants of the streete hereupon rose and would have had the Bishops man to prison for breaking the Kings peace, but hee was rescued by his fellowes, and escaped to the Bishops house in an Allie close by; The people set in a rage for this rescue, gathered in great multitudes about the Bishops Palace gate, and would have fetched out the offender by force, assaulting the house to breake it open; but the Major and Sheriffes comming thither, after some perswasions used, appeased the people, who retired quietly to their houses. The Bishop being then at Windsor, where the Court lay, being informed of this riot, tooke such indignation therewith, that taking with him Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Yorke, then Lord Chancellor of England, he went to the King, and made an hainous complaint against the Citizens for their misdemeanour: whereupon the Major, Sheriffes, and great sort more of the Citizens were sent for to the Court, and charged with divers misdemeanors; & notwithstanding their excuses they were all arrested, and imprisoned; the Major in the Castle of Windsor, the rest in other places to be safely kept, till the King by the advice of his Counsell should further determine, what should be done with them; Moreover the liberties of the City were seised into the Kings hands, the authority of the Major utterly ceased, and the King appointed Sir Edward Darlingrug to governe the City by the name of Lord Warding, and to see that every man had justice ministred as the case required; who because hee was thought to be overfavourable to the Citizens, was removed, and Sir Baldwin Radington put in his roome. At length the King through suit, and instant labour of certaine Noblemen, especially of the Duke of Glocester, began somewhat to relent and pacifie his rigorous displeasures against the Londoners: and releasing them out of prison, and confirming some of their priviledges, and abrogating others, hee was at last reconciled to them after they had purchased his pardon with many rich presents to him and his Queene whom they royally intertained, and the payment of ten thousand pounds, which they were compelled to give the King, & to collect of the Commons of the City, not without great offence and grudging in their minds. And a…l this came through the pride and malice of this Prelate of Salisbu…y, whose servant had occasioned this riot, and yet went Scotfree, when the innocent Major and Citizens were thus rigorously dealt withall. M. Fox observes truly,…olinsh. p. 485: that this unjust oppression of the Londoners, was a great preparative to King Richards deposing, and lost him the hearts of his true subjects. This proud Prelate when hee died, by King Richards appointment had the honour to have his body interred among the Kings at Westminster.
6RICHARD MILFORD.Richard Milford B. of this Diocesse, about the yeare 1388. was by an order of the Barons made in Parliament imprisoned a long time in the Castle of Bristoll, Godwin. p. 281. Walsingham, Hist. Angl. p. 365. &c. & Ypodigma Naustr. A. 1388. p. 142.as a pernicious whisperer, flatterer, evill counseller, and Traytor to King Richard the second, and the State: yet afterwards being inlarged, he was advanced by this King, & continued one of his evill counsellors and instruments.
WILLIAM AYSCOTH.William Ayscoth, Bishop of Salisbury Confessor to King Henry the 6. by his oppressions and ill dealings so farre discontented his Tenants …nd the people,Fabian. par…. 7, An. 1450. pag. 453. Caxton. pars 6. An. 1450. Graft. An. 1450, p. 614. Godwin. p. 351. Holinsh. p. 636: that in the yeare 1450. Iune 29. when that notable Rebell Iack Cade was set up against his Soveraigne, some tenants of the Bishops and others came to Edendon, where hee was then saying Masse, drew him from the Altar in his Albe with his stole about his necke, to the top of an hill not farre off, and there as hee kneeled on his knees praying, they cleft his head, spoyled him to the skinne, and renting his bloody shirt into a number of peeces, tooke every man a ragge to keepe it for a monument of their worthy exploit. A barbarous murther, yet occasioned by his owne ill carriage, violence, oppressions, and for consenting to the giving up of the Dutchy of Anjou, and Mayne into the hands of the French King, as some report: since this mans murther, I find little or nothing recorded of any Bishops of this See: Wherefore I shall now steare my course towards Lincolne Diocesse.