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.

25. Thomas.

THe king then appointed Thomas a Channon of Bayon [ 1070] to be his successor, a Norman by birth, but he was brought vp altogither in the schooles of the Saxons in Fraunce, except a little time he spent in Spaine. He was the sonne of a priest (a married priest I take it) and brother vnto Sampson Bishop of Worceter, whose sonne Thomas succée∣ded afterwards this Thomas in this Sée of Yorke. A man very learned, gentle both in countenance and words, of a ve∣ry swéete and amiable behauiour, chaste, and (which is not to be despised) of a goodly personage, being in his youth beauti∣full, in his latter time well coloured, and his haire, both head and beard as white as snow. At his first entrance, he had some what to do with Lanfranke Archbishop of Canterbury, vnto whom he would not make profession of obediencē neuer (as he alledged) before that time required. And indéed before the comming of William the Conqueror (saith one) the two Metropolitanes of England, were not onely in authority, dignity and office, but also in number of suffragane Bishops 〈◊〉〈◊〉. But at this time (saith he) they of Canterbury 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the new king, that Yorke ought to be subiect vnto their Sée, and that it was for the good and safety of the king, that the church thereof should be obedient principally vnto one; for that otherwise one might set the crowne vpon one mans 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and the other doe as much for some body else. This 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is more at large debated in Canterbury. The ende for that time was, that Thomas ouerborne by the

Archbishop of Canterbury Lanfranke and the king (who fa∣uoured him) was faine to appeale vnto Rome; both of them being there in person before the Pope, they fell (as commonly it happeneth in like cases) from the chiefe point, into by mat∣ters and articling one against another. What Thomas laide against Lanfranke I find not. And all that Lanfranke had to say against him was, that he was a priests son (〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉) and that the king for his faithfull seruice had promised him a Bishopricke before his comming into Eng∣land. These were so great matters in the Popes iudgement, as Thomas must be depriued of his ring and crosier, and not restored to them but by the entreaty of Lanfranke. As for the matter of Primacy, he left it to the iudgment of the king and Bishops of England, who forced Thomas to yeeld. Comming then to Yorke, he found y^t estate of his whole Dioces (the city & church especially) most miserable. The Danes before men∣tioned comming toward Yorke; the Normans that held the castle thought good to burne certaine houses neere the castle, least they might be a furtherance vnto the enemy. This vn∣gentle fire would not be entreated to stay iust where they would haue it, but procéeding farther then his commission, de∣stroyed the monastery and church of Saint Peter, and in fine the whole city. Before the fire was out, the Danes came and tooke both city and castle by force, putting to the sword all the Normans they found there (to the number of 3000) sauing none aliue, but one William Mallet, his wife, children, and a few other. Soone after the destruction of this goodly city, the king came into these parts with a puissant army against the Danes, not ceasing to make all manner of spoile as if he had béene in the enemies countrey. So betwéene the Danes and the Normans, such hauocke was made, as all the land from the great riuer of Humber vnto the riuer of Tine, lay waste, and not inhabited by any man for the space of nine yeeres af∣ter. In the church of Yorke there were onely thrée Chanons left, the rest being all either dead or fled away: & they had left vnto them neither house to put their heads in, nor any good meanes how to line and maintaine themselues. All these faults this industrious Bishop endeuoured to amend. First he new couered and repaired his church as well as he might

to serue the turne for a time. But afterwards he pulled downe all the old building, and erected from the very foundation a new, to wit, the Minster that now standeth. His channons dispersed abroad, he called home againe, and tooke order they should be reasonably prouided for. He built them a hall and a dorter, and appointed one of them to be the Prouost, and go∣uernour of the rest. Also he bestowed certaine mannors and lands vpon them, and caused other to be restored that had béen taken from them. The church then hauing continued in this state a good while, I know not by whose aduise, the Archbi∣shop thought good to diuide the land of Saint Peters church into Prebends, and so to allot a particular portion vnto eue∣ry channon, whereas before they liued together vpon the common charges of the church at one table, much in like sort as fellowes of houses do now in the Uniuersities. At the same time also he appointed a Deane, a Treasurer, and a chanter; and also for the Chauncellorship it was founded of him be∣fore. The church newly built by him he furnished with books, and all kind of ornaments necessary; but his speciall care was to furnish the same and the rest of his Dioces with lear∣ned and honest men, with whom he was woont continually to conferre and reason (sometime with one, and sometime with another) partly for his owne exercise, and partly to sée, what was in them, and to raise them vp to a diligence in in∣creasing their knowledge. Himselfe was very learned, and writ diuers things both in prose and verse. He was also a ve∣ry good musition, and could not onely sing, but play very well vpon the organs, and did set many songs. Hauing crowned king Henry the first, August 5. 1100. with the helpe of Mau∣rice Bishop of London (because Anselm Archbishop of Can∣terbury liued then in banishment) the 18. of Nouember fol∣lowing being sunday he died at Rippon, and was buried at Yorke in the Minster himselfe had built, next vnto Aldred his predecessor.