5. Iohn.
THis Iohn called afterward Saint Iohn of Beuerley, [ 687] was a gentleman borne of a very good house, & brought vp first vnder Hilda that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Abbesse, then vnder Theodore the first Archbishop of Canterbury, who also prefer∣red him to the Bishopricke of 〈◊〉〈◊〉. He alwaies had the reputation of a wonderfull holy man, and Beda reporteth many miracles done by him, lib. 5. cap. 2. 3. 4. 5. and 6. as the curing of diuers folkes desperately sicke, by prayer; ope∣ning the mouth of a dumb man, &c. which things either they were true, or Beda was much to blame: For he not onely li∣ued in his time and Dioces, But knew him and receiued the order of priesthood at his hand. Waxing very old, and hauing béene a Bishop now 33. yéeres, 8. monethes and 13. daies, with the consent of his Cleargy, he resigned and procured another Wilfred his Chaplaine to be consecrate in his roome. After which he liued priuately at Beuerley, in the Colledge there built and founded by himselfe for Priests, and dying the seuenth day of May, the yéere 721. was buried in the Porch of the Church belonging to that Colledge. In a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 held at London the yéere, 1416. the foresaid day of his death was appointed to be kept holy day yéerly in memorial of him. Amongst many priuileges granted by diuers kings vnto the Colledge of Beuerly for his sake, it is remembred that King Athelstan made it a Sanctuary, and placed a certaine chaire of stone in the church there, vpon which he caused this inscrip∣tion to be engrauen, Haec sedea lapidea dicitur Freedstoole 1. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cathedra, ad quam reus 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, omnimo∣dam habet 〈◊〉〈◊〉. This chaire of stone is called Fréed∣stoole, that is the stoole of feéedome, vnto which who so com∣meth, hath all manner of security.