Polychronicon Ranulphi Higden maonachi Cestrensis; together with the English translations of John Trevisa and of an unknown writer of the fifteenth century.

Capitulum quinquagesimum septimum.

THE metropolitan of Caunterbury hathe vnder hym xiij. bischoppes in Englond, and iiij. in Wales, that is to say:— the bischop of Rochestre, whiche hathe gouernayle oonly in Kente. Also of London whiche hathe rewle in Estesex, Midelsex, and of the halfe of Hertefordeschire. Also the bischop of Chichestre whiche is presidente oonly of Southe|sex and of the yle of Wyȝhte. The bischop of Wyn|chestre, whiche is presidente in Hampteschire and Surry. And of Salisbury þat is presidente of Dorset, Barrokschire,

and Wilteschire. Of Excestre, that is presidente of Deuon|schire and of Cornewaile. And of Bathe, þat is presidente in Somerseteschire. Of Wirchestre, whiche is presidente in Glouchestreschire and Wirchestre, and in the halfe of Warwikeschire. And of Herdeforde, whiche is presidente in that schire, and in parte of Shropschire. The bishop of Chestre of Couentre and of Lichefelde, whiche is presidente in Staffordeschire, in Derby, and in the halfe of Warwike|schire, and in parte of Shroppeschire, and in parte of [folio 74a] Lancastreschire that is from the water of Mersee vn to the floode of Rippelle. And of Lyncolne, whiche is presidente of the prouinces whiche be betwene Thamys and Humbre, as Lincolne, Leircestre, Northampton, Huntyngdon, Beddeforde, Bukkyngham, Oxon, and halfe of Hertefordeschire. And of Hely, that is presidente in Cantebriggeschire, Merlonde excepte. Of Norwiche, that is presidente in Merlonde, Northefolke, and Sowthefolke. Also the metropolitan of Caunterbery hathe iiij. suffraganes in Wales; that is to say, of Landauense, of Bangor, of Meneuia, and Assaph. The archebischop of Yorke hathe ij. bischoppes vnder hym oonly, of Durem and Caerliel. Then sithe þer be ij.

primates in Englonde, oon of Caunterbury, that is callede the primate of alle Englonde, that other of Yorke, whiche is callede the primate of Englonde, in what thynges oon of theym awe to be subiecte to that other, hit schalle be expressede in this processe folowenge, abowte the yere of oure Lorde God a m. lx. and xij. yere, more plenerly. Wherefore a cause was ventilate and movede thro the commaundemente of the pope, afore William firste kinge of Englonde, and diuerse other bischoppes of that londe; where hit was decrete that tharchebischop of Yorke scholde be subiecte to þe primate of Caunterbury in those thynges whiche perteyne to the honor of God; in so moche that tharchebischop of Yorke with his suffraganes scholde be at the cownselle where hit pleasede the primate of Caunterbury to assigne hit, and to obey the decretes of canon. And the archebischop of Caunterbury dedde, the archebischop of Yorke schalle come to Caunterbury, and consecrate the man electe in to the primate. And if the archebischop of Yorke dee, his successor shalle comme to Caunterbury to receyve his ordinacion, makenge an othe

with profession off obedience canonicalle. But in this pro|cesse foloenge, abowte the yere of God m^l c. xcv., [m^l. c. 95, Harl. MS. The Roman and Arabic numerals are used pro|miscuously elsewhere.] vnder the tyme of kynge Richarde the firste, reasones were allegate for either parte of bothe primates: and also from the tyme of the Conqueste vn to the tymes of the laste Henry kynge, in the daies of Thurstyn, Thomas, and of [folio 74b] other bischoppes of Yorke, what that oon primate did to that other, and how oon of theyme fledde the powere of that other, for to reherse the reasones of theyme and allegacion, hit were onerable to vs in this tyme.