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THe Sée was void after the death of Geffry, the space of [ 1217] foure yéeres. In the meane space, Symon de Langton brother vnto Stephen Langton Archbishop of Canter∣bury was elected by the Chapter of Yorke. But king Iohn being lately become tributary, vnto the church of Rome, 〈◊〉〈◊〉
found meanes to Cassire and disanull that election. If the old quarrell betwéene the Archbishop and him, stucke yet some thing in his stomacke, I maruell not: but he alledged that he thought it dangerous and very inconuenient the whole Church of England should be ruled by two brethren, one at Canterbury in the South, an other at Yorke in the North. He laboured then very earnestly to haue Walter Gray his Counsellor remooued from Worceter to Yorke. The channons there refused him for want of learning (as they said) but at last they were content to accept him, in re∣gard (forsooth) of his singular temperance and chastity: they seemed to be perswaded that he had continued till that time a pure maide. The matter was, they durst do no other but yeeld, and then thought good to make a vertue of necessity. This man was first Bishop of Chester, consecrate the yéere 1210. translated thence to Worceter 1214. and lastly the yéere 1216 to Yorke; but vpon such conditions as I thinke he had béene better to haue staid at Worceter still. The Pope would haue no lesse then 10000, l. for wresting him into the Archbishoprick; for yt gathering of which mony, he was faine to be so thrifty, as in all our histories he is infamous for a mi∣serable couetous wretch: for proofe whereof, I will recount vnto you a strange report of M. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The yéere 1234. there was great dearth & scarcity of corne, and (by reason that the dearth had continued then thrée yeeres) mortality of people also, as well by pestilence as famine. Amongst many rich men that were nothing mooued with compassion toward the poore dayly perishing for want of reliefe, this Archbishop is especially noted, that he had fiue yéeres corne in store, and would not thresh it out. Being told at last by his officers, that it was much to be feared, it was consumed by mice, or some other way much the woorse for so long standing; he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them to deliuer it to the husbandmen that dwelt in his man∣nors, vpon condition they should pay as much new corne for it after haruest. They intending to doe as he commanded, went about to take downe a great mow of corne he had at Rippon. And first comming toward it, they saw the heads of many serpents, snakes, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and other venemous creatures pearing out at the ends of the sheaues. This being told vnto
the Archbishop, he sent his steward, and diuers of good credit, to enquire the truth thereof: who seeing that which the other had seene, enforced notwithstanding certaine poore men to go vp vnto the top of it with ladders. They were scarcely 〈◊〉〈◊〉, when they saw a blacke smoake rise out of the corne, and felt a most toathsome 〈◊〉〈◊〉 which compelled them withall hast possible to get thē downe againe. Moreouer, they all heard an vnknowen voice saying vnto them, Let the corne alone, for the Archb. and all he hath is the diuels possession. To make short they were faine to build a wal about it, and then to set it on fire, fearing least such an infinite deale of venemous crea∣tures might infect and poyson, or at least greatly annoy the whole countrey. The credit of this report I leaue vnto the Readers discretion. Matthew Westminster commendeth the man greatly for his wisedome in gouerment and his loyall 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto his Prince; and that he deserued this commenda∣tion, I account it no slender proofe; that Quéene Elianore (to whom her husband king Henry the third had committed the charge of the realme trauelling into Fraunce) she (I say) ha∣uing occasion to crosse the seas to conferre with her husband, committed the rule and gouernment of the same vnto this Archbishop. It was in the yéere 1253. at what time he being a very aged man and sickely, was excéeding loath to take it vpon him. He sate Archbishop aboue 39. yéeres, in which space he did many things to the good and benefit, both of his Sée and church. The mannor of Thorpe he purchased and the church of the same, both which he gaue vnto his Sée. He erected many Chauntries in diuers places. He gaue vnto his church 32. wonderful sumptuous coapes; and left a goodly stocke of cattle vnto his successors, procuring the king to con∣firme the gift, and to take order that euery Archbishop should be bound to leaue it as he found it. He bought vnto his Sée the house now called White Hall (and heretofore Yorke place) Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent built it, and gaue it vn∣the Fryer preachers in London, who sold it vnto this Arch∣bishop. In the time of Cardinall Woolsies disgrace, the king required it of him, & he either for feare, or els hope of currying a little fauor with the king that way, yéelded by & by. He died at last on May day 1255. & was buried in S. Peters church.