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.

47. Robert Kilwardby.

Soone after the death of Boniface, the Couent of Can∣terbury [ 1272] by the licence of the king, elected William Chil∣linden their Supprior to succéede him. The Pope tooke exceptions against him as an vnsufficient man for the place, & ex plenitudine potestatis, thrust into the same one Robert Kilwardby. This Robert was a great Clarke, and left many monuments of the same in writing behind him, an English man borne, brought vp in Paris; whence (hauing proceeded there Master of Arts) he returned and became first a Frier Minor, and then Prouinciall of that order here. The monkes that many times opposed themselues against their kings and lawfull Princes, durst not resist this intruder of the Popes sending, but to preserue their right of election, were content forsooth to chose him the Pope had before appointed them. He was consecrate February 26. 1272. being the first Sun∣day in Lent; at what time the Prior of Canterbury deman∣ded of him the summe of 3000 markes spent in the election of William Chillenden, which the Pope promised the next Archbishop should repay. But he loath to disburse this mo∣ney, began to pick holes in the Priors coate, and threat∣ning to depriue him of his place, neuer linne sifting of him, till he had intreated his Couent to abate 1300. of the 3000. markes. In the first yéere of his consecration, he re∣nued the Statutes made by his predecessors for his Court of the Arches, and contracted them briefely into fiue articles. Then shortly after he visited all his Prouince and both the Uniuersities, in which he disputed excellently, and shewed himselfe in diuers kinds of exercise. Toward the later ende

of his time he made a collection for the building of a Mona∣stery for the Frier Minors in London. Men contributed so largely thereunto, (and he had the helpe of a certaine olde Tower which yéelded him stones without charge) as he fini∣shed the same with other mens money, & filled his own purse well beside. Hauing béene Archbishop about the space of sixe yéeres, he was sent for to Rome by Pope Nicholas the third and made Cardinall of Hostia and Bishop of Portua. He re∣signed then his Archbishopricke, and getting him into Italy, with in a fewe monethes after fell sicke and died (of poison some say) at Uiterbium, where also he was buried.