CANTERBURIE and the Arch-Bishops of it.

THe See of Canter. was first founded with the plantation of religion the amongst En­glish: Austin the Monk, who first did preach the Gospel to the one▪ being the first Arch-Bi­shop of the other. The Chaire hereof origi­nally fixt in the City of Canterbury; which being once the Regall City of the Kings of Kent, wa [...] by King Ethelbert, on his conver­sion, bestowed on Austin the Arch-Bishop, and on his Successors for ever. The Cathe­drall, having beene a Church before in the Brit [...]ns time, was by the same Arch-Bishop Austin repaired, and consecrated, and dedi­cated to the name of Christ, which it still re­taines; though a long time together it was called Saint Thomas, in honour of Saint Thomas Becke [...] who was therein slaine. The present fabricke was begun by Arch-Bishop Lanfranc, and William Corboyl; and by de­grees made perfect by their Successo [...]. Take Canterbury as the seate of the Metropolitan▪ and it hath under it 21. suffragan Bishops, of the which 17. are in England, and 4. in Wales. But take it as the seate of a Diocesan, and it containeth onely some part of Kent to the [Page 60] number of 257. Parishes (the residue being in the Diocese of Rochester;) together with some few particular Parishes dispersed here and there in severall Dioceses: it being an an­cient priviledge of this See, that wheresoever the Arch-Bishops had either Manors or Ad­vowsons, the place forthwith became ex­empted from the Ordinary, and was reputed of the Diocese of Canterbury.

The other priviledges of this See, are that the Arch-Bishop is accounted Prima [...]e and Metropolitan of all England, and is the first Peere of the Realme: having precedencie of all Dukes, not being of the Royall bloud, and all the great Officers of the State. He hath the title of Grace offered him in common speech▪ and writes himselfe divina providen­tia, where other Bishops onely use, divina permissione. The Coronation of the King hath anciently belonged unto him: it being also formerly resolved that wheresoever the Court was, the King and Queene were speci­ales & domestici Parochian [...] Domini Archie­piscopi, the proper and domesticall Pariihio­ners of the Arch Bishop of Canterbury. It also did belong unto him in former times, to take unto himselfe the offerings made at the holy Altar by the King and Queene, where­soever the Court was, if he were present at the same; and to appoint the Lent Preachers: but these time hath altered, and the King otherwise disposed of. Abroad in ge­nerall Councels he had place at the Popes right [Page 61] foote: at home, this Royall priviledge, that those which held lands of him, were liable for Wardsh [...]p to him, and to compound with him for the same, though they hold other lands in Cheife of our Lord the King. And for the more increase of his power and ho­nour, it was enacted 25 H. 8. c. 21. that all licenses and dispensations (not repugnant to the law of God) which heretofore were sued for in the Court of Rome, should be hereafter granted by the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and his successours: As also in the 1. Eliz. c. 2. that by the advise of the Metropolitan, or Ec­clesiasticall Commissioners, the Queenes Majesty may ordaine and publish such ri [...]es and ceremonies, as may bee most for the advancement of Gods glory, the edifying of his Church, and the due reveren [...]e of Christs holy Sacraments. To come at last to the Arch-Bishops, this Diocese hath only one Arch-Deacon, which is he of Canterbury▪ the Clergies tenth comes to 651. li. 18. s. 2. d. q. and the Arch-Bishoprick it selfe is valued in the Kings books, at the sum of 2816. li. 17. s. 9. d. q. I onely adde in generall, that this See hath yeelded to the Church 16. Saints; to the Church of Rome 9. Cardinals; to the Civill state of England 11. Lord Chancellours, one Lord Treasurer, one Lord Chiefe Justice; and to the University of Oxford 9. Chancellours. The particulars follow.

SAINT ASAPH AND the Bishops there.

THe Bishoprick of Saint Asaph is exceeding ancient; first founded by one Kentigern a Scot, and there Bishop of Glasco, about the yeere 560. The Cathedrall there first built by him, upon the Banks of the river Elwy: whence it is called by the Welsh, Llan-Elwy; the Bishop in the ancient Latine Elwensis, or Elguensis; by us Saint Asaph, from Saint A­saph an holy man, whom Kentigern returning into Scotland, left here his successor. It seems [...] stood not long, or not long in credit; there being a great hiatus in the succession of the Bishops: none to be found betweene this S. Asaph, and Geofrie of Monmouth, who was here Bishop in the latter end of King Stephens raigne. And which is more, Henry of Hun­tington in his recitall of the Welsh Bishop­ricks reckoneth onely three, Saint Davids, Bangor, and Landaffe: which may be proba­bly imputed to the frequent watres in this bordering Countrey (for it is [...]eated in the County of Flint, not farre from Chester:) which made it an unquie [...] seate for religious persons. This Bishoprick, being at the best, not very rich, was made much poorer in the time of Bishop Parfew, who lived in the daies of King Edward 6. For where the Bishop had before five Episcopall houses, there is none now left but Saint Asaphs onely, the [...]st together with the lands to them belong­ing, [Page 66] by him made away, and aliened from the Church for ev [...]r: besides, that keeping an house above his meanes, he was faine to let the residue of his lands into tedious leases, not yet expired. This [...]ocese containeth in it no one whole County, but part of Denbigh, Flint, Montgomery, Merioneth, and some townes in Shropsh: wherein are to the number of 121 Parishes, most of the which are in the immediate Patronage of the Bishop. It hath but one Arch-Deaconry▪ called of Saint Asaph, which is united to the Bishoprick, for the better susten [...]ation of it. The tenth of the Clergy commeth to 186. li. 19. s. 7. d. ob q. and for the Bishoprick it selfe, it is valued in the Kings bookes, at the summe of 187. li. 11. s. 6. d.

BANGOR, and the Bishops there.

BAngor, another of the Bishopricks of Wales, is of ancient standing; but by whom founded, not yet knowne. The Ca­thedrall there is dedicated by the name of S. Daniel, who was Bishop here about the yeare 516. which being cruelly defaced by that wretched Rebell Owen Glendowr, was afterward repaired by Henry Deane, who was once here Bishop. The ruine of this Bishop­rick, came in the time of Bishop Bulkeley, who not content to alienate and let out the lands; made a sale also of the Bels: and go­ing to the Sea-shoare to see them shipped, in his returne was smitten with a sudden blind­nesse. This Diocese containeth in it the en­tire County of Carnarvon, wherein Bangor standeth, and the whole Isle of Anglesey; together with parts of Denbigh, Merioneth, and Mountgomery, and in them to the number of 107 Parishes, whereof 36. impropriated. It hath moreover in it, three Arch Deacon­ries, viz. of Bangor, A [...]glesey, and Merio­neth, one of the which is added to the Bi­shoprick, for support thereof. The Bishop­rick is valued in the Kings bookes, 131. li. 16. s. 4. d. and answereth for the Clergies tenth, 151. li. 14. s. 3. d. q.

BATH AND WELLES, and the Bishops of it.

THe Diocese of Bath and Welles, although it hath a double name, is one single Bi­shoprick. The Bishops seate originally at Welles, where it still continues, and in re­spect whereof this Church is called in some Writers, Fontanensis Ecclesia. The stile of Bath came in but upon the by. The Church of Welles first built by Ina, King of the West-Saxons, Anno 704. and by him dedicated to Saint Andrew: after endowed by Kenu [...]e, an other King of the same people, Anno 766. and finally made a bishops See in the time of Ed­ward the elder, Anno 905. the first that bore that title being Adelmus, before Abbat of [...]lastenbury. The present Church, in place where that of Ina had stood before, was built most part of it by Bishop Robert, the eigh­teenth Bishop of this See; but finished and perfected by Bishop Ioceline, sirnamed de Welles. Iohannes de villula, the sixteenth Bishop having bought the towne of Bath of King Henry the first for 500. markes, trans­ferred his [...]eate unto that City, 1088. Hence grew a jarre betweene the Monks of Bath and Canons of Welles, about the election of the Bishop. At last the difference was thus com­posed by that Bishop Robert, whom before I spake of, that from thence forward the Bi­shop should be denominated from both pla­ces, and that precedencie in the stile should [Page 72] be given to Bath; that in the vacancie of the See, a certaine number of Delegates from both Churches should elect their Prelate, who being elected, should bee installed in them both; both of them to be reckoned as the Bishops Chapter, and all his Grants and Patents confirmed in both. And so it stood untill the reigne of King H. 8. what time the Monastery of Bath having beene dissol­ved, there passed an Act of Parliament for the Deane and [...]hapter of Welles, to make one sole Chapter for the Bishop: Anno 35. H. 8. c. 15.

But to proceed, this Diocese hath yeelded to the Church of Rome, one Card. and to the civill state of England, sixe Lord Chancel­lours, five Lord Treasurers, one Lord Privie S [...]ale, one Lord President of Wales, one principall secretary of Estate. The Diocese containeth in it the whole County of Somer­set, and in that 388. Parishes, whereof 160. are impropriate. It hath moreover three Arch-Deaconries of Bath, Welles, and Taun­ton; is valued in the Kings bookes, at 533. li. 1. s. 3. d. and answereth for the Clergies tenth, 353. li. 18. s. ob. q.

BRISTOL, and the Bishops thereof.

THe Bishoprick of Bristol is of new erecti­on, first [...]ounded by King Henry 8. who having had the spoile of the Monasteries, and religious houses, was pleased to refund some of it backe againe upon the Church, for the incouragement of learning, and increase of piety. For this end he procured an Act of Parliament, for the erecting of new Bishopricks by his letters Patents, 31. H. 8. c. 9. and did accordingly erect sixe new Bishops Sees, viz. at Bristol, Oxford, Westminster, Gloucester, Pe­terburgh, and Chester. According to the te­nor of which Act, he did immediately erect sixe new Bishopricks on the foundations of such ancient Mo [...]asteri [...]s, as [...] [...]hought fit­test for that purpose, and most convenient of honour, in regard of their situation: Where­in he failed not any where so much as in this of Bristol, the Diocese thereof being very much distant from the See; a [...]que alio sub sole [...]

Now for this Bishoprick, the seate thereof is Bristol, as before I said, one of the fairest Cities in the Realme of England▪ and a just County in it selfe. The Cathedrall Church is dedicated by the name of Saint Austins, founded by Robert Fitz-Harding sonne to a King of Danemarke, once a Citizen here; and by him stored with Canons Regular. Anno [Page 76] 1148. But this foundation being dissolved, King H. 8. made it a Bishops See, and placed therein a Deane, and sixe Prebendaries, as it still continueth. For 32. yeeres together in Qu▪ Eliz. time it had never a Bishop, but all that while was held in Commendam by the Bi­shops of Gloucester: the Patrimony of the Church being in the interim much wast­ed. The Diocese hereof containeth, besides the City of Bristol, the whole County of Dorset (belonging heretofore to the See of Salisbury:) and therein 236. Parishes, of which 64. impropriated. It hath onely one Arch-Deacon, which is he of Dorset; is va­lued in the Kinges bookes, 383. li. 8. s. 4. d. and answereth for the tenth of the' Clergy, 353. li. 18. s. ob. q.

CHICHESTER, and the Bishops thereof.

THe See of Chichester, was anciently in the Isle of Selsey, not farre from thence: first planted there by Wilfrid Arch-Bishop of Yorke, who being banished his Countrey by Egfride King of the Nort [...]umbers, did preach the Gospel to the South-Saxons. To him did Edilwach, the South-Saxon King assigne this Iland for his seate; and after Cedwall King of the West-Saxons, having wonne this King­dome, built in the same a Monastery, which he made the Bishops See. Here it continued till the time of Bishop S [...]ig [...]d, who first▪ re­moved the See to Chichester, the principall City of these parts; first built by Cissa the second King of the South-Saxons, and by him called Cissan-Ceaster. The Cathedrall Church was anciently dedicated to Saint Peter; new built by Radulph the third Bishop here, after the See removed by Stigand: which being al­most all consumed by a raging fire, was after­wards rebuilt and beautified by Siffridus the second.

But to proceede, this See hath yeelded to the Church two Saints, to the Realme three Lord Chancellours, to the Court two Almo­ners, one Chancellour to the University of Oxford: and anciently the Bishops here were Confessours to the Queenes of England, (for which they have to shew an ancient Charter) [Page 79] and had allowance for the same. This Diocese containeth the County of Sussex, and in the same 250. Parishes; whereof 112, impropri­ated. It hath moreover two Arch-Deacons, viz. of Chichester, and Lewys; is valued in the Kings bookes, at 677. li. 1. s. 3. d and an­swereth for a tenth of the whole Clergy. 287. li. 2. s. ob. q.

COVENTRY AND LICH­FEILD, and the Bishops thereof.

THhe Bishoprick of Coventry▪ and Lichfeild is like that of Bath and Welles; a double name, a single Diocese. The Bishops See ori­ginally at Lichfeild, from thence removed to Chester, and from both [...]o Covent [...]y. Hence is it that the Bishops are called sometimes Cestre [...]ses, sometimes Lichfeildenses, some­times Coventrienses, and now of late, Bishops of Coventry and Lichfeild. For in the yeere 1088. being that very yeere wherein the See of Welles was removed to Bath; Robert de Limesey did remove this See [...]o Coventry▪ Hu­go Novant, the sixth from him brought it backe to Lichfeild, not without great oppo­sition of the Monkes of Coventry: and in the end, the difference finally was composed by Bishop Savensby, much after the same man­ner, as before at Welles. For here it was a­greed on that the Bishop should be denomi­nated from both places, and that preceden­cie in the stile Episcopall, should be given to Coventry: that they should choose their Bi­shop [...]lternatim, in their severall turnes; that they should both make one Chapter unto the Bishop, in which the Prior of Coven­try should be the principall man. And so it stood till that the Priory of Coventry being dissolved by King Henry 8. (the stile or title of the Bishop continuing as before it did) [Page 83] there passed an Act of Parliament 33. H. 8. c. 29 to make the Deane and Chapter of Lichfeild the sole Chapter for the Bishop.

The Cathedrall Church here first built by Oswy King of the Mercians, about the yeere 556. who gave unto the Bishops many faire possessions. But that old Church being taken downe by Roger de Clinton, the 36. Bishop of this Diocese, that which now standeth was built by him in place thereof, Anno 1148. and dedicated to the Virgin Mary and Saint Chad. In following times, and almost in the infancie thereof, the revenues of it were so faire, that Lichfeild was thought fit to be the See of an Arch-Bishop. And one it had, no more, his name Adulfus, Anno 783. the Bishops of Winton, Hereford, Sidnacester, Dorchester, (which two now make Lincoln) and those of Elmham and of Dunwich (both which now make Norwich) being appointed to him for his Suffragans. But with him and King Offa who procured it, this great title died. And now it is content to be a Bishop­rick, the Diocese whereof containeth the whole Counties of Darby, and Stafford, to­gether with a good part of Warwickshire and Shropshire. In these are comprehended 557. Parishes, of which 250. are impropri­ate: for better government whereof, it hath foure Arch-Deaconries, viz. of Stafford, Darby, Coventry, and Shrewsbury. It is va­lued in the Kings bookes, 559. li. 18. s. 2. d. ob. q. and for the Clergies tenth, it commeth [Page 84] unto 590. li. 16. s. 11. d. q. and finally hath yeel­ded to the Church three S. to the Realme one Chancellour, and three Lord Treasurers; to Wales three Presidents, one Chancellour to the University of Cambridge, and to the Court one Master of the Wardrobe.

SAINT DAVIDS, & the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of it.

SAint Davids now the seate of a Suffragan Bishop, was once a Metropolitans S [...]e in the Brit [...]sh Church, and long time the su­preme Ordinary of the Wel [...]h. In the first planting of the Gospel in King Lucius time, wee shewed that there were three Arch-Bi­shops seates appointed, viz. at London, York, and of Caer-Leon upon Vsk. That of Caer-Leon upon Vsk was, in the time of Arthur, King of the Britons, translat [...]d further off from the Saxons furie, to a place called Men [...]w, (Menevia is the Latine name) but since, in memory of David the Arch-Bi­shop who so translated it, by us called Saint Davids. From the first name it is, these Bi­shops use to stile themselves, Menevenses. When Austin the Monk first entred England, the Metropolitan of Saint Davids had th [...]n remaining under his jurisdiction seven Suffra­gan Bishops; all which gave meeting to the said Austin and his Associates, for the compo­sing of some differences which were between the old and the new-come Christians: viz. the Bishop of Worces [...]er (Wicctor [...]m) Llandaff, Bang [...]r, Hereford, Llan-Elwy, or Saint A­s [...]p [...] Llan-Badern, (called in Latin Paternen­sis a place in Card [...]gan shire, the last is called in Latin Morganensis, which possibly might have his seate in Margan of Glamorgan shire, a place still so called. Of these, Llan Badern, [Page 88] and this Morganensis are quite extinct, and have long so beene; Hereford and Worce­ster a long time reckoned as English Bishop­ricks, and so none left unto the Metropolitan of S. Davids, but Llandaff, Bangor, & S. Asaphs

Now for these Bishops of Saint Davids, we finde that 26. of them retained the title of Arch-Bishops: The last whereof was Sampson, who in a time of pestilence transferd the Archiepiscopall Pall, & with the same the Archiepiscopall dignity to Dole in Bre­tagne, yet his successours, though they lost the name, reserved the power of an Arch-Bi­shop: nor did the residue of the Welch Bi­shops receive their consecration from any other hand then his; till in the time of H. 1. Bernard the 46. Bishop of this See was for­ced to submit himselfe to the Church of Can­terbury. For the Cathedrall here, it had beene oft spoyled and ruined by the Danes, Norwegians, and other Pirats: as standing neare the Sea, in the extreme corner of Pem­broke shire. That which we now see is the worke of Bishop Peter, (he was the 48. Bi­shop of this Diocese) and by him dedicated by the name of Saint Andrew, and Saint Da­vid; though now Saint Andrew be left out, and David onely beares the name. This See hath had the greatest number of Bishops of any in England, 91. in all: and amongst them the Church hath had one Saint, the Realme of England three Lo [...]d Treasurers, one Lord Privie Seale; the Un [...]versity of Oxford one [Page 89] Chancellour, and the Queene another. The Dioce [...]e containeth the whole Counties of Pembroke, Cardigan, Carmarthen, Radnor, Brecknocke, and some small parts of Mon­mouth Hereford, Mountgomery, and Glamor­ganshires. In which great quantity of ground there are no more then 308. Parishes, where­of 120. are impropriate. For the more easie government of which here are foure Arch-Deacons, viz. of Cardigan, Carmarthen, Brecknock, and Saint Davids. Finally, it is valued in the Kings bookes, at 457. li. 1. s. 10. d. ob. q. the Clergies tenth amounting unto 336. li. 14. s. 10. d.

ELY, and the Bishops of it.

THe Church of Ely, anciently was a Mo­nastery: first built by Ethelreda wife to Egfride, King of the Northumbers, and by her planted with religious Virgins, whereof she made her selfe the Abbesse. But her plan­tation being supplanted by the Danes, and the Church quite ruined, Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester did againe rebuild it, and fur­nished it with Monkes good store: to whom King Edg [...]r, and the succeeding Kings gave such ample priviledges, and faire possessions, that it did seeme to equall any Church in England. Richard the eleventh Abbat having a minde to quit himselfe of the Bishop of Lin­coln, within whose Diocese it stood; dealt with King Henry the first, both with purse and Tater noster, to turne the Abby into a Cath [...]drall. And though the King assented to it, and that the businesse was transacted with the Bishop of Lincoln, (who had three Manors of this Abby, viz. Spaldwick, Big­gleswad, and Bockden, in exchange for his jurisdiction▪) yet Richard lived not to possesse it, leaving the benefit of his industry and am­bition to be enjoyed by another man, which was one Hervey, Bishop of Bang [...]r. As for the Church now standing, it is the worke of seve­rall Bishops: the west parts being with great charge repaired by Bishop Rid [...]ll or new built rather; as were the Quire and Lanterne by Bishop Norwold, which afterwards were ful­ly [Page 94] finished by Bishop Fordham. The whole Church dedicated to S. Ethelred.

Ely thus made a Bishoprick, however for­tified with great priviledges, (for in the Isle of Ely the Bishops had all rights of a County Palatine) and that it was endowed with so great possessions, as hardly any better in the Realme of England, hath yet beene subject to those changes which time hath wrought. For many of the Palatine rights were taken off, or much restrained by the Act of Parliament, touching restoring to the crowne the antient [...], 27. H. 8. c. 25. in the which Act it was enacted, that (instead thereof) the Bishop of Ely, and his temporall Steward for the Isle of Ely, should from thence forth be Iustices of the peace in the said Iland. However Ely may be still reputed amongst the first Bishopricks of the second ranke▪ and may rejoyce it selfe in this▪ that it yeelded to this Realme its many great officers as any other in the Kingdome. For it hath given the [...] no lesse then [...] Lord Chancellours, seven Lord Treasurers, one Lord Privie Seale, one Chancellour o [...] the University of Oxford, one of the Exche­quer, two Masters of the Rolls subesides two Saints unto the Church, two Cardinals to the Church of Rome, and to the English Court three Almoners. The Dioce [...]e hereof containeth onely Cambridgeshire, and the Isle of Ely▪ in which there are 141. Parishes▪ whereof 75 impropriate. It hath but one Arch-Deacon, which is he of Ely▪ is valued [Page 95] in the Kings bookes, 2134. li. 18. s. 5. d. ob. q. the Clergies tenth amounting to the summe of 384. li. 14. s. 9. d. q.

EXETER, and the Bishops there.

THe Diocese of Exeter containeth that in it, which was once two Bishopricks. For at the first planting of the Church in these westerne parts, it was thought convenient to erect two Bishops Sees, the one for Cornwall at S. Germans; the other for Devonsh▪ at Cridington, now Kirton, a small Village. But that of Cornwall, being annexed to Cri­dington, about the yeere 1032. both were, not long after, removed to Exeter, the most noted City of these parts, where it still conti­nueth. Now for the Church of Exeter it was once a Monastery, founded by King Athel­stane, and by him dedicated unto Saint Peter. Edward the Confessour, removing all the Monkes from hence to Westminster, which he had newly founded and endowed, made it the Bishops See for Devonsh and Cornewall, then united. The Church as now it standeth doth owe it selfe to severall Patrons; the Quire to Bishop Warlwast, the body of the Church to Bishop Quivil, the side Isles to Grandison: that which is now our Ladies Chappell, being a remn [...]nt of the old fabrick. The Patrimony thereof once very large, was wasted and destroyed by Bishop Voisie: who being made Bishop here by King Henry 8. [...]ate out the residue of his raigne, and all K. Edwards, and some part of Queene Maries also. For whereas at his comming hither, he [Page 98] found the Church possessed of 22. goodly Ma­nors, and 14. Mansion houses richly furni­shed: he left not above seven or eight of the worst Manors, and those let out in long lea­ses▪ and charged with pensions; and not a­bove two houses, both bare and naked, of which see Bishop Godwins Catalogue, and Powels History of Wales.

This Diocefe hath yeelded to the Realme of England, three Lord Chancellours, two Lord Treasurers, one Lord President of Wales; and to the University of Oxford, one Chan­cellour. It containeth in it the two Counties of Devon, and Cornwall, and in them 604 Parish Churches, whereof 239. are impropriate; for government whereof it hath foure Arch-Deacons, viz. of Cornwall, Exeter, Barne­stable, and Tawton. The Bishoprick was once valued at 1566. li. 14. s. 6. d. But since the diminution, or destruction rather, made by Bishop Voisie; it is now valued at 500. l. just. The Clergies tenth here very high, or mounting to the sum of 1240. li. 15. s. 2. d. ob. Now for the mar [...]halling of the Bishops of this once divided Diocese, we will present you with those of Devonshire and Cornwall, columne-wise, one against the other, ac­cording to their time and order, untill wee meere them both in the Church of Exeter.

GLOCESTER, and the Bi­shops there.

GLocester was anciently the seate of a Bri­tish Bishop, whose stile sometimes oc­curres in the subscriptions of Synodicall Acts, by the name of Cluviensis; this towne being formerly called Clevid, as Camden noteth. And I remember that I have seene in the Pa­lace of Glocester, the name of ✚ ✚ ✚ said to bee Bishop there in the Britons time. But whether it were so or not; or whether Glocester were a Bishoprick in those dayes of old, is not materiall to our purpose. For that which was, was brought to nothing by the Saxons, and when they entertained the faith of Christ, it was first under the authority of the Bishops of Lichfeild, as afterwards of those of Worcester. But in these later dayes it was dismembred from that Diocese, and by King Henry 8. made a Bishops See, what time the rest of new erection were by him founded, as we have spoke before, when we were in Bristol. Now for the indowment of this Bishopricke by him erected, (besides a Chapter of a Deane, and sixe Prebendaries by him so founded) he assigned over all, or most of the lands, unto the ancient Monaste­ries here, once belonging: which being first built by Aldred, Arch-Bishop of Yorke, and Bishop of Worcester, and afterwards repaired by Hanley, Farley, Mo [...]went, Herton, Trow­cester, [Page 103] and Sebroke, severall Abbats here, be­came in fine to be, what it still continueth, one of the fairest Fabricks in the Realme of England. The Diocese containing onely Glocester shire, hath in it 267. Parishes, whereof 125 are impropriations; and one Archdeacon, being called of Glocester. Va­lued it is in the Kings bookes, 315. li. 17. s. 2. d. according to the estimate thereof at the first foundation: though in two vacancies which it had in Queene Eliz. time, much of the lands were taken from it; (for which see what was said before in the case of Ely.) And for a tenth of all, the Clergie pay unto the King 358. l. 15. s.

HEREFORD, and the Bi­shops there.

HEreford also was of old one of the Bi­shopricks erected in the Britons time; first under the Metropolitan of Caer-Leon upon Vske, of Saint Davids afterwards, and when these parts were conquered by the Saxon Kings, it came to be a member of the Pro­vince of Canterbury. The Cathedrall Church here founded first by Milfride, one of the Noblemen of this County in honor of Ethel­bert, King of the East Angles treacherously made away by the Queene of Mercia, his in­tended mother in law. That which now stan­deth, oweth the most part of it selfe to Bi­shop Reinelm; and what he lived not to per­forme, was finished by his successours, as they had either meanes or opportunity. The Diocese hereof containeth the County of He­reford, and part of Shrop-shire; wherein it hath 313. parish Churches, of which 166. are impropriations: and for the government here­of, hath two Arch-Deacons, viz. of Hereford and Salop. It hath afforded to the Church one Saint, to the state two Chancellours, and three Lord Treasurers, one Deputy to the Realme of Ireland, two Chancellours to the University of Oxford, and one unto the Queenes of England. Finally, it is valued in the Kings bookes, 768. li. 10. s. 6. d. ob. q. the tenth of the Clergy comming unto 340. li. 2. s. 2. d. ob.

LLANDAFF, and the Bishops there.

LLandaff is one of the most ancient Bishops Sees either in England or Wales; and clai­meth a direct succession from the Arch-Bi­shops of Caerleon upon Vske, as unto the Bi­shopricke; though for the Metropolitan dignity it bee content to let S. Davids have what is left thereof. The first Bishop here, of whom is any good record, is S. Dubritius, consecrate Bishop of this places by Lupus and Germanus, what time they came hither out of France, for the extirpation of the Pelagian heresie. The Church here dedica­ted to S. Thelians, the next successour to S. Dubritius; founded upon the River Taffi, and thence called Llandaff; Llan, in the Welch tongue, signifying a Church; a Church very well endowed by the munificence and piety of great persons in those times: so well, that as it is affirmed by Bishop Godwin, were it possessed now of the tenth part onely of what once it had, it might be reckoned one of the richest Churches in all Christendome. The ruine of it came in the time of Bishop Dunstan, alias Kitchin, who thereupon is called fundi nostri calamitas by Bishop Godwin; The Diocese containeth onely part of Glamorganshire, and part of Momnouthshire, though the most of each: and in those parts, 177. Parishes, whereof 98. impropriations: and for them [Page 110] one Arch-Deacon, which is called of Llan­daff. The Bishopricke is valued in the Kings bookes, 154. li. 14. s. 1. d. the Clergy pay­ing for their tenth, somewhat neere that summe, viz. 155. li. 5. s. 4. d. It is to be ob­served, or may be if it please the Reader, that neither here, nor at Saint Davids, there is any Deane, nor never was in any of the times be­fore us: the Bishop being head of the severall Chapters; and in his absence the Arch-Dea­con here, as is the Chanter at S. Davids.

LINCOLN, and the Bishops there.

THe Bishopricke of Lincoln, like that of Ex­eter, was once two Dioceses: the Bishops of the which had their severall seates, the one at Dorchester now a private Village, seven miles from Oxford; the other at Sianacester, not farre from Gainsburgh, (as Camden thinkes) in the County of Lincoln, the ruines of the which are now invisible. But Sidna­cester being in little time united unto Dorche­ster; the Bishops See was not long after re­moved to Lincoln: and that by reason of a Canon made about that time, viz. An. 1075. by which all Bishops were enjoyned to live in the most famous and conspicuous place within their Dioceses. Which was the cause, why many of our Bishops did about this time remove their Sees; as we have seene al­ready, and shall see hereafter. For the Ca­thedrall Church here, its of no more standing then the removall of the Bishops See to this place from Dorchester; that which was once here founded by Paulinus, Arch-Bishop of Yorke, having beene long before this time quite ruined. But when Remigius transla­ted hither the Episcopall Chaire, hee also built this Church for receipt thereof. Which being not long after defaced by fire, was for the most part repaired and beautified by Bi­shop Alexander, one of his successours: but [Page 115] brought unto that state in which now it is, by Hugh of Burgundy, and certaine other of the Bishops the Church is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and All-Saints.

As for the Diocese, it is the greatest still for jurisdiction, and was once one of the great­est for revenue in all the Kingdom. But for the jurisdiction, that hath been shortned, though at severall times: the Bishoprick of Ely being taken out of it by King Henry the first, as those of Peterburgh, and Oxford, by King Henry 8. yet still it is the largest Diocese in all the Ki [...]gdome; containing the whole Counties of Lincoln, Leicester, Hunting­don, Bedford, Buckingham, and part of Here­fordshire. In which great quantity of ground, there are 1255. Parishes, whereof 577. are impropriations; for government of which under the Diocesan there are sixe Arch-Dea­cons, viz. of Lincoln, Leicester, Bedford, Buckingham, Stow, & Huntingdon. The Cler­gies tenth is answerable unto this great ex­tent of jurisdictiō, being no lesse then 1751. li. 14. s. 6. d. The Bishoprick being valued at 894. li. 10. s. 1. d. ob. in the K. bookes. Now for the dignity of this seate, wee will adde but this, that it hath yeelded to the Church three Saints, and to Rome one Cardinall; unto the realme of England sixe Lord Chancel­lours, and one Lord Treasurer, and one Lord Keeper; foure Chancellours to the Univer­sity of Oxford, two to Cambridge; And that the B [...]shops here, were heretofore Vice [...] Chan­cellours [Page 116] to the See of Canterbury. Which be­ing thus premised, I shall proceede in orde­ring the Bishops here, as I did at Exeter.

LONDON, and the Bishops there.

LOndon was heretofore the principall of the three Arch-bishopricks amongst the Bri­tons, and by Pope Gregory was intended to have beene so too amongst the English: but that Saint Austin whom hee sent to convert the Saxons, liking of Canterbury well, resol­ved to set his staffe up there, without going further. This had before beene prophecied by Merlin, that Dignitas Londoniae adornaret Doroberniam, and was now accomplished. What, and how many were the Arch-bishops here, we have no good Constat. Sixteene are named by Bishop Godwin, but with no great confidence: but howsoever doe not come within my compasse, who have confined my selfe to the Saxons time, in the first infancie of whose conversion, this City was designed for a Bishops See. The Cathed, Church built also in those early dayes by Ethelbert, the first Christian King of all the English; but after­wards much beautified and enlarged by Er [...]enwald, the fourth Bishop. Which Church of theirs being 500. yeeres after de­stroyed by fire: that which now stands was built in the place thereof, by Mauritiu [...], Richardus his successour, and certaine others of the Bishops; a great part of it at their owne charge, the residue by a generall con­tribution over all the Kingdome. And when it was defaced by fire in the late Queenes [Page 121] time, An. 1561. the Qu. forthwith directed her letters to the Major of London, willing him (as Iohn Stowe, the City Chronicler reports it) to take order for speedy repairing of the same: which was done accordingly. The Bishop of this Diocese hath precedencie before all Bishops of the Realme, next the two Arch­bishops, together with the dignity and place of Deane, unto the Metropolitan See of Canterbu [...]y. The nature of which office is, not onely to preside over the rest of the Bi­shops at Synodicall meetings, in case the Me­tropolitan be absent: but to receive his man­dats, for assembling Synods, and other busi­nesse of the Church; and having so received them, to intimate the tenour and effect thereof to the Suffragan Prelates. Examples of the which see in the Acts and Monuments. And for this Diocese it selfe, it containeth in it the two Counties of Middlesex, and Essex, with that part of Hertfordshire, which is not in the Diocese of Lincoln: wherein are reckoned 623. Parishes, and of th [...]m 189. impropri­ated: for government whereof there are five Arch-Deacons, viz. of Lo [...]don, Middlesex, Essex, Colchester, and Saint Al [...]ans. Valued it is in the Kings bookes 1119. li. 8. s. 4. d. the Clergies tenth amounting to the summe of 821. li 15. s. 1. d. Finally, th [...]s See hath yeel­ded to the Church three Saints, to the State nine Lord Chancellours, sixe Lord Treasu­rers, one Chancellour of the Exchequer, two Masters of the Rolls, besides foure Almoners [Page 122] to the Court, and two Chancellours to the University of Oxford; whose names occurre amongst these following.

NORWICH, and the Bishops there.

THe Diocese of Norwich, like those of Ex­eter and Lincoln, was once two Bishop­ricks: the one of Suffolk, whose seate was Dunwich on the Sea shoare; the other of Norfolk, whose See was at North-Elmham, now a poore Village not farre from Repeham. The Bishop of the first was Felix a Burgundi­an, who first converted the East-Angles. The third from him was Bisus, who finding him­selfe, by reason of his age, too weake for so great a burden, divided his Diocese into two, making North Elmham the Episcopall seate for that part of the whole which we now call Norfolke. Both of them lay long dead in the times of the Danish furie: that of North-Elmham after an hundred yeeres desolation, [...]eviving onely; the other laid to rest for ever. North Elmham thus possessed of the whole jurisdiction, could not hold it long: the Bi­shops See being removed to Thelford first by Herfastus; as afterwards from thence to Nor­wich by Herebert Losinga. There it hath since continued till these very times, though nothing else continue of it but the See alone. For all the lands thereto belonging were ta­ken from it by King Henry the 8. those which did formerly appertaine unto the Monastery of Saint Bennets in the Holme (by that King dissolved) being assigned unto it by exchange. For which consult▪ the Statute, 32. H. 8. 47. [Page 127] in the which Statute it is said that the lands given in recompence were of a greater yeere­ly value then those taken from it. So that the Bishop, as it seemes, got in revenue▪ then, though he lost in priviledge. For whereas the Bishops here had the fi [...]st f [...]uits of all the Be­nefices within the Diocese, by an ancient cu­stome: that was united to the Crowne by Act of Parliament, 26. H. 8. c. 3.

Now for the Church of Norwich, it was founded first by him who first remo [...]ed hither the Bishops See, even by Herebertus Losinga; and by him dedicated to the blessed Trinity: Which being much defaced by fire, (which was it seemes, a common calamity of all the Churches of those times) was afterwards re­paired by Iohn of Oxford, the third after him; and once againe being fire-touched, by Bishop Midleton, who brought it to that state in which now it stands. This See hath yeelded to the Church two Saints, to the Realme five Chancellours, one Lord Treasu­rer, and one Lord Chiefe Justice, one Bishop Almoner to the Court, and to the King one principall Secretary of State. The Diocese containeth in the two Counties of Norfolke and Suffolke, 1121. Parish Churches, whereof 385. impropriate: for better ordering of the which it hath foure Arch-Deacons, viz. of Norwich, Norfolke, Suffolke, and Sudbury. Finally, this Bishoprick is valued in the Kings bookes, 899. li. 18. s 7. d. ob. The tenth of the whole Clergy amounting to the summe of [Page 128] 1117. li. 13. s. ob. Now for the line of Nor­wich it is thus drawne downe.

OXFORD, and the Bishops there.

THe Bishoprick of Oxford is of new erecti­on, first founded by King Henry 8. and by him endowed out of the lands belonging to the late dissolved Monasteries of Abingdon and Osney. It was before a part of the Dio­ [...]ese of Lincoln: and being now made a Bi­shoprick, had first the Abbey Church of Os­ney (being some halfe a mile from Oxford) for its Cathedrall, Anno 1541. from whence it was removed to Oxford about five yeeres after. That which is now the Cathe­drall, was anciently dedicated to Saint Frides­wide: but being by King Henry made the Bishops See, was entituled Christ-Church: the Chapter there consisting of a Deane and eight Prebendaries by him also founded, part of the lands which had been purchased or procured by Cardinall Wolsey for the indow­ment of his Colledge, being allotted thereun­to. This Bishoprick was founded then, An. 1541. and from that time, unto the yeere, 1603. when Doctor Bridges was made Bi­shop, are 63, yeeres onely, or there abouts: of which it was kept vacant above 40 yeeres even almost all the long raigne of Queene Eliz [...]beth; to the impoverishing of the Church, before well endowed. The Diocese containeth onely the County of Oxford, and therein 195▪ Parish Churches, of which 88. are impropriated. It hath but one Arch-Deacon, which is he of Oxford; is valued in [Page 133] the Kings bookes, 354. li. 16. s. 4. d. ob. the Clergies tenth comming unto 255. li. 8. s.