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.

43. Stephen Langton.

THe king did so reioice at Huberts death, as whē it was [ 1207] first reported vnto him, me thinks (quoth he) I am now in déede king of England. But had he knowen, either how ill he might haue missed him, or how great trouble his death would haue caused him, he would rather haue said, now I begin to loose my kingdome, and would little haue estéemed the wealth he left behind him; which although it were bequeathed by testament, trauelling to Canterbury in his owne person, he seased vpon the same and conuerted it all to his owne vse. The monkes in like sort reioyced, little kno∣wing how great calamity hung ouer their heads, and must shortly fall vpon them by reason of his death. For they for∣sooth hasty and desirous to vse their priuiledge of election, as also iealous least the libertie of the same should be disturbed

by any requeste of the king; secretly at midnight, made choice of one Reginald their supprior, taking an othe of him not to make his election knowen to any, till he came to the Popes presence, whether he was aduised to high himselfe as fast as he might. This othe notwithstanding, as soone as he was gotten ouer the feas, he bare himselfe euery where as Lord elect, not letting to shew the testimoniall of his election to who so demaunded the same. This breach of promise so in∣ceused his 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 against him, as presently they determined to become futers to the king for pardon of their fault in choosing without licence, as also that now he would permit a new election, supposing the old frustrate and made void by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the elect. They did so, and easily obtai∣ned their request, but much the rather bicause they made shew of a readinesse in satisfying the kings desire, that wished the Archbishopricke vnto Iohn Gray Bishop of Norwich. He was then in the North countrey about some businesse of the Kings: Being sent for in all haste, at his first comming to Canterbury, he was solemnely elected, and his election pub∣lished in the church before the king and an infinite number of people. These two elections being presented vnto the Pope, he determined to make vse of the monkes debate, and discou∣raging each side (for the greater part of the monks were then at Rome, some of them 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their old election for good, others importunately suyng to haue the later confirmed) he practised secretly with either of them, to be cōtent to choose yet a third man that he would nominate vnto them, & that was one Stephen Langton a Cardinall of Rome; a man in regard of many excellent gifts both of mind and body very fit for the place, and no way to be 〈◊〉〈◊〉, if he had orderly obtained the same. By birth he was an English man, brought vp in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Paris, greatly esteemed by the king and all the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Fraunce for his singular and rare learning, made Chauncellor of Paris, and lastly called thence by the Pope to be a Cardinall of Rome. Now when by faire means he could not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with them (for they feared the kings dis∣pleasure whom they knew to be a hot and violent Prince) he began to terrifie them with threatning, & what by one means or other, made them content at last to choose him: which done,

the Pope with his owne hands gaue him consecration at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 June 17. Then well knowing how hainously the king would take this matter, he writ letters vnto him swéet∣ned with many gentle intreaties, large praises of the new Archbishop, and seasoned now and then with some touches of doubtfull threatning if he should oppose himselfe against that was then done. This notwithstanding, the king in great indignation, banished all the monkes of Canterbury, seased vpon their goods and lands, and forbid Stephen Langton en∣trance into the realme. The Pope hearing of this, sent his mandate vnto thrée Bishops, William of London, Eustach of Ely, and Mauger of Worcester, wherein he willed them first to admonish and perswade the king to restore the monkes to their goods and places, and to giue the Archbishops possession of his temporalties by a day, then if he refused so to do, to in∣terdict the whole realme. They durst not but obey, and fin∣ding the king resolute in his determination, at the time ap∣pointed they published the Popes interdiction, and as well foreséeing the great trouble to come, as the present danger, got them out of the land tegether with 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bishop of Bathe, and Gyles of Hereford. The king immediately seased all their goods and temporalties into his hands, and moreo∣uer banished all the friends and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of these Bishops that were likely to yéeld them any comfort or releife. During the time of this interdict, all seruice ceased throughout the realme, except onely Baptisme of children, auricular confes∣sion, and the administration of the sacrament vnto such as lay vpon the point of death. The Pope séeing this course pre∣uailed not, proceeded to a particular excommunication of the king, and not long after, depriued him by sentence of all regal authority, a thing till that time in no age euer heard of. All this while the king esteemed the Popes sword blunt and vn∣able to wound him, till at last he perceiued the French king ready to take aduantage of this sentence, and prouiding bu∣sily to inuade his dominions. His owne people also began to fall from him, and to doubt whom in conscience they ought rather to follow, their owne 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Prince or a forreine in∣truder; a strange and monstrous ignorance. Séeing there∣fore no other remedy, he was faine to yéeld, receiued the Arch∣bishop

restored the other Bishops the monkes and all the rest banished vnto their goods and reueneues, and moreouer was content to resigne his crowne into the Popes hands, & vpon restitution to assure him by his letters patents a yéerely pen∣sion of a thousand markes. This done, he thought all trou∣bles at an end, when the worst of all was yet behind: For he bare himselfe so bold vpon the Popes fauour (which he had bought deerely) as he doubted not to oppresse diuers of his nobility, with many and continuall wrongs, reuoking all for∣mer graunts of priuiledges at his pleasure vpon this point, that he had receiued his kingdome from the Pope absolutely, free from all entanglement of any priuiledges deriued from the same. Heereupon the Barons rebelled, the Archb. taking their part; and when they doubted least they should not make their party good against the king, the Pope stucke so close vn∣to him; they procured Lewis the French kings eldest sonne to inuade the realme. Him together with the Archbishop and all the Barons, the Pope excommunicated. This great hurly burly was appeased suddenly by the kings death, who died some say of care & sorrow, some of surfet and some say he was poysoned by a monke. His sonne Henry a Prince often yéeres old was receiued to the kingdome, Lewis forsaken, & the Ba∣rons vpon promise of obedience vnto their king, absolued by the Popes legate. Clergy men were debarred a while from 〈◊〉〈◊〉 absolution that they might compound for the same, which they were glad to do. All things being thus quieted, this our Archbishop called a conuocation at Dsney, wherein many things were decreed, to be seene for the most part a∣mong the principall constitutions. Thither came a certaine yoong man that shewing the marks of wounds in his hands, feete, and side, professed himselfe to be no lesse man then Jesus Christ. He brought also two women with him, whereof one tooke vpon her to be our Lady, the other Mary Magdalen. This counterfait Christ, for his labour was woorthily cruci∣fied and forced to resemble him in the manner of his death, whose life and person he had 〈◊〉〈◊〉 immitated and sought to expresse. Soone after he translated the bones of S. Thomas Becket from the place where they were first buri∣ed in the vndercraft, into a goodly sumptuous shrine. This

was done woonderfull solemnly, the king and greatest part of the nobility of all the realme being present. During the time of this ceremony, all passengers from London to Canterbury were allowed horsemeat at the Arthbishops charge, who also caused vessels of wine to runne continually in diuers parts of the city all the day of this translation, that who so list might drinke of them. This solemnity prooued so chargeable vnto him, as neither he, nor fower of his successors were able to re∣couer the debt, he cast his Sée and Church into. He was Arch∣bishop in all two and twentie yéeres, and died July 9. 1228. at his mannor of Slyndon in Sussex, from whence his body was conueighed to Canterbury, and there buried in the chap∣pell of Saint Michaell. This man was admirably learned, and writ many notable workes, the Catalogue whereof is to be séene in Bale. Amongst the rest, it is especially to be noted, that he first diuided the Bible into Chapters, in such sort as we now account them. The Archbishops pallace at Canter∣bury, is said to haue béene built in a manner all by this Ste∣phen Langton. Moreouer, it is deliuered that he bestowed great cost in making a faire horologe in the South crosse isle of the church néere which he lieth buried, his monument being situate in a manner iust vnder the altar.