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.

28. Walter.

EGelwyn yet liuing (but in prison) the king caused one Walter borne in Lorraine, to be consecrate Bishop. He attending more worldly affaires then the charge of his flocke, gaue himselfe altogether to temporal busines, wherein he wholy occupied himselfe. He bought of the king the Earle∣dome of Northumberland, and then making himselfe a secu∣lar Iudge, tooke vpon him to sit in the court, and to deter∣mine all causes at his pleasure, dealing withall very corrupt∣ly, and taking still the course that might be most for his owne gaine. Hereby he greatly enriched his coffers, but purchased vnto himselfe extreame hatred amongst the common people, which was his destruction in the end. There was a certaine gentleman of great account named Leolfus, that married Al∣githa the daughter of Aldred sometime Earle of Northum∣berland, from whom the Lord Lumly that now liueth is line∣ally descended. This Leulfus, to the end he might liue néere

the church in his later time, and for very deuotion, came to Durham to dwell there, and kept company very much with the Bishop, who loued him entirely, for many good parts he saw in him; as namely, his wisedome in descerning, his equity in deciding, and his discretion in ordering and hand∣ling such causes as he committed vnto him; in which respect also he vsed him very 〈◊〉〈◊〉, imployed him often, and gaue him what countenance he could. Now you shall vnder∣stand, that vnto the same Bishop belonged two men, vnto whom for the most part he committed the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of all his affaires; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or Leobwyn his chaplaine whom he tru∣sted withall houshold matters, and Gilbert a kinsman of his owne that dealt in his causes of temporall gouernment. In these offices, they behaued themselues so, as the Bishop had cause to commend their diligence, but to blame their rashnes and wilfulnes in many things. Which notwithstanding, he bare withall, either because their industry, and care of his af∣faires so blinded his eies as he could not espie their misbeha∣uiour otherwise; or else, being loath to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them whom he had once aduaunced. These men, and especially 〈◊〉〈◊〉, did greatly enuie the credit that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had gotten with the Bishop, and euery where opposed themselues against him, not onely in wordes, traducing his actions, but in deedes also still thwarting and crossing his endeuours. Whereby it came to passe, that many tarres fell out be∣tweene them. One day amongst the rest, a court being held in the presence of the Bishop, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (for so also I find him called) according vnto his wonted manner, gaue 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ill speeches, which he not enduring to beare as hereto∣fore he had done (furor fit 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉) answered this sawcy Chaplaine somewhat more roundly then he had ac∣customed. Whereupon he rose straight from the court in great indignation (〈◊〉〈◊〉 I meane) and calling 〈◊〉〈◊〉 aside, with little adoo perswaded him to carry a certaine num∣ber of armed men to the house where 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lay, and in a night to kill him; which indeede he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with great cruelty, murthering not onely the innocent gentleman him∣selfe, but also his seruants and whole houshold. The newes of this horrible and outragions cruelty, comming vnto the

cares of the Bishop, amased him very much and suspecting it was done by the aduice of Leofwin, turning him about vnto him, O Leofwin saith he, thou hast already flaine me by thy toong. So not doubting it would bréede much daunger vnto him, he got him into his castell, and presently dispatched mes∣sengers vnto the friends and kinred of Leulfus that was slaine, protesting that the fact was committed without his knowledge, that he was maruailous sory for it, and if any man suspected him, would be ready to submit himselfe to any order of law, whereby he might cleere himselfe. Herewith they seemed to be satisfied; but for conclusion of a firme peace amongst them, it was thought fit they should méete and con∣ser of the matter. They met at a place called Goates, head. The Bishop for his better safegard betooke himselfe vnto the church with his company. The people (whereof an infinite number were gathered together) aboade without. Messages a while passed betwéene them, but the more the matter was debated (being very odious of it selfe) the more they were in∣censed. At last it was told them how not onely Leofwin but al∣so Gilbert had bene harboured in the Bishops house, and af∣foorded countenance of him since the murther: which being once heard (and it was true ynough) they all cried out, it was manifest that the Bishop was the author of this fact. It is fur∣thermore deliuered by Matthew Paris, that the Bishop not long before this amongst many intollerable exactions laide vpon the countrey by him, had commaunded the summe of 400, l, to be leuied at this time. That being also remembred, while as all the company stoode in a mammering, doubting what course to take, one of some special regard amongst them stept vp, vsing these words, Short read, good read, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yee the 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Hereupon without more adoo they ran all vnto the church, killed so many of the Bishops 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as they found without doores, and with horrible noise and outcries bid him and his company to come out vnto them. Too late then he repented that he had committed himselfe vnto the fury of a discontented multitude, with whom he knew himselfe be∣fore that time nothing gratious. But to make the best of a badde match, and to try all meanes of ridding himselfe from the danger imminent, he perswaded his kinsman

Gilbert there present to goe foorth vnto them, if happily his death (which doubtlesse he had well deserued) might sa∣tisfie their 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and purchase safetie vnto his Lord and Ma∣ster. Gilbert was content, and issuing out, with diuers of the Bishops company, were all 〈◊〉〈◊〉 except onely two English men seruants vnto the Bishop (all the rest were Normans) They being not yet 〈◊〉〈◊〉, he besought 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (whose life he knew well was principally 〈◊〉〈◊〉) to go out also. But he vtterly refused so to do. The Bishop therefore going vnto the church dore, entreated them not to take his life from him, protested himselfe to be vtterly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the bloud of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and shewed them at large, how dangerous it woulde be vnto them in particular, and what inconueniences woulde follow vnto the whole countrey in generall, if they should de∣file their hands in shedding his bloud, an vnarmed priest, a sacred and consecrate Bishop, their ruler, their gouernor, their magistrate. Hoping lastly that his very countenance, his gra∣uitie, his age, and the sight of his person might somewhat mooue them to compassion for he was indeed a very reuerend man to see to, very tall of stature, head and beard as white as snow, his face fresh and well coloured, and euery way 〈◊〉〈◊〉 personable.) He went out carying a greene branch in his hand, that so also he might testifie his desire of peace. When he sawe that all this auailed not, and the people ranne furi∣ously vpon him, he cast his gowne ouer his owne head in like sort, as we read 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Caesar did in the like case, and permit∣ting himselfe to their fury, with innumerable wounds was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 massacred, together with all his people and retinue, to the number of 100. onely 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yet remained within the church and being often called would not come 〈◊〉〈◊〉. So they set the Church a fire: Not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the fire, he leapt out at a windowe, and was immediately hewen into a thousand peeces. This barbarous slaughter was committed May 14. 1080. The monkes of Yarrow came and fetched away the Bishops body (which they found 〈◊〉〈◊〉 naked) and coulde hardly know it for the multitude of woundes; they caried it to their monastery, from whence it was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to Dur∣ham and there buried on the south side of the chapterhouse, but secretly for feare of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vp and

downe the towne, and once assaulted the castell: when they could not preuaile there, they dispersed themselues, and for the most part came to euill and vnhappie endes. The king in the meane time hearing of this tumult, sent his brother Odo Bishop of Bayon with many of his nobles, and a great ar∣mie to take punishment of this murther, which while they sought to reuenge, they brought the whole countrey to desola∣tion. Those that were guiltie preuented the danger toward them by 〈◊〉〈◊〉, so as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of them could be taken. Of the rest that staied at home, some were vniustly executed, and the rest compelled to raunsome themselues to their vtter impoueri∣shing and vndooing. This Odo tooke away from the church of Durham at that time certaine ornaments of great value, amongst which is especially remembred a certaine crosyer of inestimable price. In this Bishops time and by his ende∣nour, secular Clerkes were displaced, and the church of Dur∣ham replenished with monkes, the Pope, the King, and the Archbishop allowing this alteration.