A catalogue of the bishops of England, since the first planting of Christian religion in this island together with a briefe history of their liues and memorable actions, so neere as can be gathered out of antiquity. By F.G. subdeane of Exceter.

The Bishops of Oxford.

ABout the yéere of our Lord 730. there liued a Duke of Oxford called Didan. He had a daughter of excellent beauty named Frideswyde, who though she had many importunate suters, men of great wealthand nobility; yet desiring to serue God in such sort as she thought might be most acceptable vnto him, would néedes dedicate her selfe vnto a sole and Monasticall life. Amongst the rest of her wooers, there was one a yoong Gentleman of great power (some say he was a King) his name was Algarus. He not preuayling by intreaty, thought to vse force; and vpon a time, getting company about him, had almost seased vpon his desired pray; which he had so nar∣rowly beset, as she had no way to escape his hands, but by flying into a wood. Thither also he followed her, and that so néere, as leauing it, she had much adoo to recouer Oxford. Perceiuing then that neither she was able to fly any further for wearinesse, nor yet to withstand him there; she called vn∣to God for assistance against this importunate louer, who thereupon (as the story saith) was miraculously stricken blind; And he continued in that case, till by her prayers he recouered his sight againe. Upon this occasion (saith Willi∣am Malmsbury and the rest of our Histories) the Kings of England tooke a conceite, that it was not safe for any Prince to enter Oxford, in so much, as euery one, being loath to ven∣ture the tryall of it in himselfe, it was euer auoyded by them, till the time that King Henry the third prooued it altogether vaine by his owne experience. In this place, Didan, by the intreaty of his daughter, built a Monastery for Nunnes, and appointed her the Abbesse. It happened then obout the yéere of grace 847. in the time of King Egelred, that certaine Danes flying into this Monastery to saue their liues from the bloody cruelty of the English pursuing them; when other∣wise

they could not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 gotten out, the Monastery was 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and they all burnt in the same; But it was reedified shortly after by the said king, and further enriched with diuers pos∣sessions This notwithstanding, soone after it sell into won∣derfull great decay, so as no body caring to inhabite the same, it was giuen by William the Conqneror vnto the Abbey of Abingdon for a Cell or remoouing house. They not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 estéeming it, were content that Roger Bishop of Salisbury their Ordinary, should confirme it vnto one 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉. Chaplaine vnto king Henry the first, a man, wise, learned, and religious, that tooke vpon him to place Regular 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the same. He did so the yéere 1110. became 〈◊〉〈◊〉; of this new (or rather renewed) Monastery himselfe, tooke-other vnto him, repayred in very good sort the ruinous 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and by the fauour of King Henry the first, recouered 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it what lands soeuer had béene giuen heretofore vnto the Nunnes. In this state then it continued, vntill that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Woolsey gotte licence to conuert it into a Colledge 1524. calling it by the name of the Cardinals Colledge. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leauing it vnperfect, it pleased King Henry the eight of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 memory, to giue it a foundation, by the name of Colle∣gium 〈◊〉〈◊〉 exfundatione Regis Henrici Octaui, and more∣uer made it the Sée of a new erected Cathedrall Church, pla∣cing in it not onely a Bishop, but also a Deane, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and other officers, besides 100. 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 that he appointed to be maintained in the same, of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 number my selfe some times was one.

1. Robert King.

THis new erected Episcopall Sée was first established in the Abbey of Osney, where Robert King the last Ab∣bot of the same house, and the first Bishop of Oxford had his Installation the yéere 1541. About fiue yéeres after, to wit, an 1546. it was remooued vnto Christchurch, then commonly called the Cardinals colledge. This Robert King being yet Abbot of Osney, was consecrate a titulary Bishop by the name of Episcopus Roanensis, which is a Sée in the Prouince of the Archbishopricke of Athens. He was transla∣ted

from this imaginary Bishopricke to Oxford the yéere 1541. (as before is mensioned) taken away by death Decem∣ber 4. 1557. and is entoombed on the North side of the East end of the quier in his owne church, where is this Epitaphe to be seene.

Hic 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Robertus King S. Theologiae professor & prioous Episcopus Oxon. quiobijt 4. die Decemb. 1557.

2. Hugh Curwyn.

HVgh Curwyn or Coren, Doctor of Law, first Archdea∣con of Oxford, and Deane of Hereford, then Archbishop of Dublyn, and Lord Chauncellor of Ireland was translated from thence to Oxford (a place of lesse honor, but more quiet) October 14. 1567. Hauing sate there little more then a yeere, he died at Swynbrooke, néere to Burford, and was buried in the parish church there Nouember 1. 1568.

3. Iohn Vnderhyll.

AFter his death, the Bishopricke continued voyde ma∣ny yéeres. At last it pleased her Maiestie to bestow it vpon a chaplaine of her owne, Iohn Vnderhyll, doctor of diuinity, and Rector of Lincolne colledge in Oxford. He was consecrate thereunto in December 1589. died in the be∣ginning of May 1592. and was buried in the middle of the quier of his Cathedrall church toward the vpper end.

This Bishoprick of Oxford is valued at 354, l, 16, s, 3, d. farthing.