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.

29. William Kairlipho.

THe Sée of Durham hauing béene voide 6 moneths af∣ter [ 1081] the death of Walter, to wit. Nouember 9. following William Kairlipho Abbot of Saint Uincente, was elected, and receiued consecration at the hands of Thomas Archbishop of Yorke, Ianuary 3. following at Glocester, the king and almost all the Bishops of the realme being present at that solemnitie. The monkes (whom he fauoured much, for he expelled diuers married priests out of his church of Durham, whom Walter was content to beare withall, and suffered onely monkes there) they praise him for a man of great wisedome, learning and vertue. Certaine it is, that he was very subtile, whereby, (as also by the volubilitie of his toong which he had passing readie at commandement) he got very farre into the fauour of the king William the Con∣queror, and afterward of his sonne William Rufus, vnder whom he did euen what he list Unto the later ende of these he prooued very vnthankfull, ioyning himselfe with Odo Bi∣shop of Bayon in a rebellious conspiracie against him. The

rebels being ouerthrowne, he was saine for his safegard to shutte himselfe vp within the walles of Durham. The king hasting thither by great iourneies, besieged 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and after a thort time had the towne yeelded by composition, where∣in it was conditioned, that the Bishop and his companie should depart in safety. So he got him beyond the seas, and liued in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 three yeeres, viz. vntill September 11. 1090. at what time the king comming to Durham, receaued him to grace, and restored him to his former dignitie, that verie day three yeeres that he had departed thence. After that time he omitted nothing whereby he might curry fauour with the king, euer applying himselfe that way whither he sawe him to 〈◊〉〈◊〉. In all the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 betweene the king and Anselm, he was the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 stirrer against the Archbishop, hoping be∣like, so to assure himselfe of the kings fauour; and if Anselm should be displaced which he endeuored) he thought no man so likely then to succeed him as himselfe. But he failed in both of these purposes, for the kings displeasure was his death. He was summoned to appeere before the king at Glocester, at a day; before which time for griefe as it is thought) he fel sicke. When he appeered not, and it was told the king he was sick; he sware by Lukes face (〈◊〉〈◊〉 was his vsuall oath) he lied, he did but counterfeit, & he would haue him fetcht with a ven∣geance. It appeered the excuse was true ynough; for seene af∣ter, viz. Ianuary 2. 1095. he died, hauing been Bishop fifteene yeeres. This man pulling downe to the ground the Church that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 had first built began to erect another far more magnificent, but liued not to finish it. 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Scots & Turgot Prior of Durham, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the first 〈◊〉〈◊〉. stones, July 30. or (as some deliuer Aug. 11.) 〈◊〉〈◊〉. It is said, that ly∣ing vpon his death bed, & (as was thought past memory (if not dead) diuers Prelates that were in his chamber, confer∣red of the order of his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and amongst other things ap∣pointed the place of his buriall to be in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, vpon the building whereof he had bestowed so much. The supposed dead man ouerheard them, and gathering his forces together, made shift to breath out these 〈◊〉〈◊〉; It shall not please God saith he, that you preiudice the honor of Saint 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by my buriall, for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of wham, neuer any of my predeces∣sors

would enduret o be laid there. Bury you me therefore in the chapter house. It was performed accordingly: his body was conueighed from Glocester (where he died vnto Dur∣ham, and on the North part of the chapter house there solemn∣ly enterred. Within a yeere or two after his first being Bi∣shop, he trauelled to Rome, and obtayned there licence of Pope Gregorie the seuenth to bring the monkes from Yar∣row and Wermouth into the Cathedrall church of Durham. He also bestowed vpon them, not onely bookes and diuers or∣naments for the furnishing of their church, but lands and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in sundry places; for the confirmation of all which gifts, he procured the charter of William the Conqueror vn∣der Seale.