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.

55. Simon Islip.

SImon Islip being doctor of law became canon of Paules, [ 1349] then Deane of the Arches, after that was chosen to be of the priuy counsell of king Edward the third, first in the place of secretary, and then kéeper of the priuy seale. Iohn Stratford lying vpon his death bed, foretold he should be Archbishoppe. It came to passe, within two yéeres after his death, though two other were serued before him. The monkes with the kings very good liking chose him, and the Pope would not refuse him: yet being loath to ratifie the monkes election, he reiected the same, and ex 〈◊〉〈◊〉 po∣testatis bestowed the Archbishopricke vpon him. His bulles were published in Bowe church, October 4. 1349. and in the moneth of December following he was consecrate by the Bishop of London in Paules church. He was inthronized secretly to saue charge. For he was a very frugal and sparing man, neuer estéeming pompe or outward brauery. He was also very seuere. When he first visited his owne Dioces, he depriued many cleargy men of their liuings. He passed tho∣rough the Diocesses of Kochester and Chichester without kéeping any great adoo: So that euery one made account he was content to winke at the faults he espied. But they found

it otherwise: For he afterward called home vnto him the of∣fenders, and there dealt so with them, as all men might as∣sure themselues he would prooue a very austere man in his gouernment. Iohn Synwall Bishop of Lincolne, standing in doubt of this asperity of his, with great cost procured a priui∣ledge from Rome to exempt himselfe from his authority and iurisdiction But the Archbishop caused the same afterward to be reuoked. The Uniuersity of Oxford had presented vnto him the said Bish. of Lincoln (vnto whose iurisdiction Oxford then appertained) one William Palmor•••• for their Chaun∣cellour and prayed him to admit him. The Bishop (I know not for what cause) delayed his admission from time to time, and enforced the Uniuersity to complaine of this hard dealing vnto the Archbishop. He presently set downe a day wherein he enioined the Bishop to admit this Chauncellor, or else to render a reason of his refusall. At that time appointed the pro∣ctors of the Uniuersity were ready together with this William. Palmo••••e to demaund admission: And when the Bi∣shop of Lincolne came not (trusting belike to his priui∣ledge aforesaid) the Archbishop caused his Chauncellor Iohn Carlton Deane of Wels to admit him, write to the Uni∣uersity to receiue him, and cited the Bishop to answere be∣fore him for his contempt. He appealed to the Pope, would not come, and for his contumacy was interdicted. Much mo∣ney was spent in this sute after wards at Rome. The ende was, that the Archbishop preuailed, and the others priue∣ledge was by speciall order of the Pope reuoked, who also graunted vnto the Uniuersity at the same time that the Chauncellor hereafter should onely be elected by the schollers them selues, and so presently authorised to gouerne them without the admission of any other. This conquest thus at∣chiued, he entred yet into another combate in the same land, I meane at Rome. He serued Andrew Vfford Archbishop of Middlesex the Administrator of Iohn Vfford his predecessor for delapidations and recouered of him 1101. l. fiftéene shil∣lings two pence halpeny farthing, that money he imployed in repairing the pallace at Canterbury. He pulled downe the manner house at Wrotham and imploied the stones and tim∣ber of the same in ending the building that Iohn Vfford his

predecessor aforesaid had begun at Maidstone. Toward this and other charges he obtained of the Pope leaue to craue a contribution of foure pence out of euery marke from all the Cleargy of his Prouince. But his officers (whether of pur∣pose, or peraduenture mistaking) demaunded and had a whole tenth. All this was within a yéere or two of his first comming to the Archbishopricke; at which time also in a Parliament held at Westminster: the yéere 1350. the old controuersie betwéen him and the Archbishop of Yorke, about bearing vp his crosse in the prouince of Canterburybegan to be renewed, was compromitted vnto the hearing and iudgement of the king, who set downe a finall order for the same, viz. that the Archbishop of Yorke should beare his crosse in the others prouince yéelding all preeminence other∣wise vnto Canterbury, but that in token of subiection euery Archbishop at his entrance should offer an image of gold to the value of forty pound, at the shrine of Saint Thomas, the same to be sent by some Knight or Doctor of the Law within the space of two monethes after his inthronizati∣on. Amongst the rest of his actions, I may not in any wise forget his Colledge of Canterbury, (which is now become a parcell of Christ Church in Oxford). He built it, and endowed it with good possessions, appropriating vnto the same the parsonages of Pagham and Magfield. He graunted also vnto the Couent of Canterbury the Chur∣ches of Monkton and Estrey. It is worthy remembrance likewise, that when a certaine Countesse of Kent after the Earle her husbands death had prosessed her selfe a Nunne, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hauing liued so certaine yéeres, suddenly married a cer∣taine knight named Eustace Abricourt contrary to her vow, and that secretly without asking of banes or dispensation; he punished them seuerely for it, but suffered them to liue still to∣gether and seuered them not. Amongst many good déeds, he is blamed for selling vnto the Earle of Arundell the right which he had vnto sixe and twenty Déere yéerely out of certaine grounds of his. He had for them onely two hundred and forty markes. After he had béene Archbishop sixetéene yéeres, fower moneths and twelue daies, he died Aprill 26. 1366. Kiding to Magfield, his horse chaunced to cast him into a meiry

poole. Wet as he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he fell a sléepe at his comming thither, and waking, found himselfe in a palsy, whereof within a few daies after he died. He bequeathed vnto his church of Can∣terbury a thousand shéepe, his vestments which were al cloth of gold, a very sumptuous coape and much plate, viz. sixe do∣zin of siluer dishes, sixe salts, and fower goodly basons all en∣chased with his armes. He lieth buried in the middle of the body of his church of Canterbury, vnder a faire toombe of marble inlaid with brasse whereon is engrauen this Epi∣taphe:

Ospes sanctorum decus & pie Christe tuorum, Coetibus ipsorum prece iung as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 precor horum. Simon 〈◊〉〈◊〉 oriens, vir bina lege probatus, Vt nascens, moriens sic nunciacet arcte locatus, Arcem qui tenuit 〈◊〉〈◊〉 quondam Pontificatus, Clero quique fuit regno toti quoque gratus. Princeps pastorum fac Simon Apostolorum, Simon vt iste chorum per eos pertingat eorum. Mil trecenteno sexageno modo seno, Eius septeno pastoratus quoque deno Hic kal. Maij seno rupto carnis nece freno Flos cadit èfoeno coelo peto qui sit amoeno.

He tooke order to be buried obscurely, desiring therein (as in all other things) to auoid superfluous expence what he might, and not estéeming outward pompe.