63. Iohn Kemp.
THe funerall rites and exequies of Iohn Stafford being performed, the monkes with the kings licence procée∣ded [ 1452] to election of a new Archbishop, and made choice of Iohn 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Archbishop of Yorke. The Pope would not al∣low of the monkes election, but yet not daring to put any other into the place, of his owne good nature he bestowed it vpon the same man that they had chosen. He receiued his crosse September 24. 1452. at London, and his pall the next day at Fulham by the hands of Thomas Kemp the Bishop of London his nephew. Dec. 11. following he was inthronized with great pomp and solemnity. This Archbishop was born at Wye in Rent: Being Doctor of lawe, he was made first Archdeacon of Durham, then Deane of the Arches and Wi∣car generall vnto the Archbishop. The yéere 1418. he was rōsecrate Bishop of Rochester, remooued thence to Chichester 1422. from Chichester to London the same yéere, and from London to Yorke 1425. Dec. 28. 1439. he was made Car∣dinal of Saint Balbine, and afterwards being Archbishop of Canterbury was remooued to the title of S. Kusine. These his preferments are briefly expressed in this verse:
He continued not at Canterbury aboue a yéere and a halfe, but died a very old man March 22. 1453. In his life time he conuerted the parish church of Wye where he was borne in∣to a colledge, in which he placed secular priests to attend di∣uine seruice, & to teach the youth of the parish. Their gouer∣nor was called a Prebendary. This college at the time of the suppression was valued at fowerscore and thirtéene pound two shillings by the yéere. He was also a benefactor vnto our Uniuersity of Oxford. He died very rich, and in his life time aduanced diuers of his kinred to great wealth; some to the dignity of knighthood, whose posterity continue yet of great worship and reputation His body was buried in a séemely monument on the South side of the prerbytery a little aboue the Archbishops Sée. Of him read more in Yorke.