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.

42. Hubert Walter.

KIng Richard the first, surnamed Cueur de Lyon, being [ 1193] taken prisoner in his returne from the holy land, by Leo∣pold 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, at what time the Sée of Canter∣bury was yet void; well knowing how notable a stay a good Archbishoppe might be vnto the whole realme in his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and hauing experience of the great wisedome and other manifold vertues of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bishop of Salisbury that had attended 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in all that long and dangerous voyage; he vsed what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he might possibly to procure him to be transla∣ted thither. This Hubert was borne at a place called West Derham in Norfolke, and brought vp vnder Raynulph de Glandfeld chiefe Justice of England. The first preferment he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was the Deamy of Yorke, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he was called in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 yéere of king Richard vnto the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Sa∣lisbury, by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Baldwyn the Archbishop, who loued him 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in his life time, and at his death trusted him with

the disposition of all his goods. Being yet Deane of Yorke, he bought certaine land of Geoffry Fitz Geoffry in West Der∣ham where he was borne, and founded a monastery in the same for his owne soules health (so himselfe speaketh in his foundation) as also for the soules of his father, mother, Ray∣nulphde Glandfeld, and Berta his wife who brought him vp. The manner of his election vnto Canterbury was this. The king writ earnestly to the Couent to choose some wise, quiet, & moderate man, but refrayned to name any, in regard of the former repulses taken by him and his father. But his minde and particular desire could not be vnknowen vnto them. He signified vnto Elianor his mother, to the Archbishop of Roan and other, what course he wished to be taken: And so wisely they handled the matter, as before any man looked for it, the monkes (who well saw how greatly it imported the realme in that dangerous time to haue some woorthy prelate in that place) had elected him and published suddenly their election at Paules crosse, to the great contentment of the Quéene and councell, and no lesse ioy of all other sorts and states of people. While his pall was fetching at Rome, consi∣dering how odious Baldwyn had beene to his Monkes of Canterbury for not beeing a Monke as themselues were and in a manner all his predecessors had béene; went to Merton and there professed him selfe a Monke in like ma∣ner as Regmald the last Archbishoppe had done. Then he began to bestir him in leuiyng of money for the kings ran∣some. So discretly he wrought, as the Cleargy aud commo∣nalty of the whole realme did very willingly yéeld a quarter of all their reuenues for one yéere, which (together with the plate and ornaments of Churches that were fame to be sold in this extrenuty) amounted vnto 150000. marks, the sum required by the Emperor. The king returning, made him presently Lord Chauncelor, chiefe Justice of England, and high gouernor of all his dominions immediately vnder him. So that being already Archbishop and the Popes Logate, he wanted no authority that was possible to be laid vpon him. Neuer was there any Cleargy man either before or after him of so great power, neuer any man vsed his authority more moderately. He was blamed and much enuied for ta∣king

so many offices vpon him. It is remembred that a No∣ble man said vnto him in scorne, at what time he was made Chauncellor, I haue heard of many Chauncellors made Bishops, but of an Archbishop that would vouchsafe to stoup to the Chauncellorship, till now I neuer heard of any. With in two yéers after his first promotion to these high places, the better to excuse his ambition, he made a dissembling and counterfeit shew of being desirous to leaue these temporall offices, in so much as, he dealt effectually with the king by letters to giue him leaue to resigne them, saying, that the charge of his Church was worke ynough for one man, whereunto onely he would hereafter gladly dedicate him∣selfe. This he did, assuring him selfe in his owne conceite, that the king had no man about him so likely to manage those affaires as him selfe, and not being able to want him, would intreate him to retaine them still. It fell out otherwise then he expected: For though at first the king séemed and perad∣uenture was vnwilling to yéeld to this his request, yet he found it so reasonable in the end, as he could not any longer deny the same. Here now this Archbishop manifestly be∣wrayed his insatiable desire of rule and gouernment: Being thus taken tardy in his owne snare; as though his mind and determination were sodainely altered, he signified vnto the king by letters, that notwithstanding his great desire of be∣taking himselfe onely to spirituall matters and the manifold infirmities of his age; he would be content to afford his la∣bor and diligence in his other offices yet a while longer, if therein he might doo him any profitable seruice. And that the king should not think it possible to prouide himselfe elsewhere of better officers, he certified him withall, that in these two yéeres since his preferment, he had gathered for his vse 1100000. marks which he was ready to pay into his cof∣fers, augmenting it is like the summe, and adding thereto out of his owne purse, that so he might in cleanly sort buy a∣againe those honorable and gainfull offices, which his subtile dissimulation had almost lost him. Setting this fault aside whereunto the greatest wits are most subiect (I meane am∣bition) he was an excellent and memorable man, a bridle (saith on) vnto the king, and an obstacle of tyranny, the peace

and comfort of the people, & lastly a notable refuge of all both high and low against all manner of iniury and oppression. Faithfull and loyall he was vnto his Prince, louing aud ve∣ry carefull of his Countrey, in which he caused many excel∣lent lawes to be established; He it was that first deuised our assise of bread, our waights & measures of wine, oyle, corne, &c. Uery valiant he was also and performed many great ser∣uices in the warres, the report whereof I leaue vnto the Chronicles. His house kéeping they say was such, as the ex∣pence thereof was thought to be nothing inferior vnto the kings: And yet he performed many great workes of inesti∣mable charge. Beside the monastery of Derham before men∣tioned, he also founded another for Cistercian Monkes at Wulferhampton, but liued not to finish the same; he compas∣sed the Tower of London with a strong wall and a déepe moate, so as the water inclosed the same quite round, which before that time could neuer be brought to passe; he encrea∣sed the reuenues of his sée uery much, adorned it with many sumptuous and stately buildings, and lastly procured diuers notable priuileges vnto the same, called in olde English, Gled, Dangeld, Hidage, Warpon, Bloodwhite, Childwhite, Uillenage, &c. Now notwithstanding this his great power and riches, with the monkes of Canterbury he had as much to doo as other of his predecessors. By intreaty and faire meanes he indeuoured to procure their consent for the finish∣ing of the Chappell at Lambhith begun by Baldwin, sor with∣out their leaue to goe about it, he knew it was to no purpose. To this end he sent vnto them the Abbots of Waltam, Rea∣ding, and Chertsey, to debate this matter with them. The very mention thereof was so odious vnto them, as by and by they made a great complaint vnto the Pope not only of this, but many other things also, especially of his intermedling in ciuill affaires. Hereupon the Pope presently enioyned him, without farther delay to resigne all his temporall offices, which he (how loath soeuer) was faine to doo. As for the mat∣ter of the Chappell, after it had hung long in the Popes court, the parties grew to a composition, that vpon condition it were pulled downe, it should be lawfull for the Archbishop to build another vpon a new foundation, to endue the same with an

hundred pound a yéere reuenues and no more, and lastly to place in the same twentie Canons or Prebendaries. Mary it was conditioned, that no Bishops in any wise should be consecrate there, no Abbots admitted, no orders admini∣sted, &c. After this, the rest of his daies he ended in peace. King Iohn that had attempted many times to depose his brother King Richard, and was alwaies hindered in those practises by the diligence faithfulnesse and wisedome of this worthy Prelate, estranged him selfe a while from him, and gaue him no countenance. But finding at last how ill he might spare him, vsed his counsell, receiued intertaiment of him (which was very royall) at Canterbury; trusted him with the gouernment of the whole realme at his departure into Normandy, and affoorded him many other gratious fa∣uours. Hauing béene Archbishop twelue yéeres sauing fower moneths, he fell into a kinde of ague vpon the way as he was riding to Rochester to worke an agréement betwéene the Bishop and the monkes there, turned into his mannour of Tenham, made his will, and lying sicke there onely fower daies departed this life. He was buried July 13. 1205. in the South wall of the church beside the quier néere Walter Reynald, that long after succéeded him.