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.

67. William Warham.

VVIlliam Warham a gentleman of an ancient house, [ 1504] was borne in Hamshire, brought vp in the Col∣ledge of Winchester, and chosen thence to New Colledge in Oxford where he procéeded Doctor of Law. In∣tending then to vse and put in practice the knowledge he had gotten at the Uniuersity, he became an aduocate or Doctor of the Arches, and soone after Master of the Rolles. While he was in that office, King Henry the seuenth, sent him Em∣bassador to the Duke of Burgundy to perswade him that he should not beléeue the false reports of his Duchesse, and to signifie how notably she had abused him and all the world, in setting vp two counterfeits against him, Lambert that made himselfe the Earle of Warwicke, who was then to be séene in the Tower safe ynough, and Perkin Warbeck whom she had taught to name him selfe Richard Duke of Yorke, that was certainly knowen to haue béene murthered by his wic∣ked vncle long before. In this businesse he behaued himselfe so wisely, as the king greatly commended him for the same, and the Bishopricke of London happening to be void soone af∣ter his returne home, he procured him to be elected thereunto. He had not beene Bishop there two whole yéeres when Hen∣ry Deane the Archbishop died, to whose place also by the kings speciall indeuour he was aduaunced. He was inthronised March 9. 1504. with woonderfull great solemnity. The day before his comming to Canterbury, the Duke of Bucking∣ham that was his high steward, came thither attended with seuen score horse to sée all things in a readinesse. The said Duke had also the office of chiefe Butler, and therefore being vnable to doo the duties of both; he deputed Sir George Bourchier vnto the Butlership. Him selfe tooke great paines to sée that nothing might be wanting requisite for the perfor∣mance

of this ceremony in most magnificent manner. The next day (which was Sunday) he met the Archbishop ouer against Saint Andrewes Church, and dooing low obeysance vnto him, went before him to Christ church. At the great gate néere the market place, the Prior and Couent receiued him honorably and caried him to the Church (whether he went from Saint Andrewes Church barefoote) said masse there, and was placed in his throne after the accustomed manner. From Church he was attended by the Duke as he was the∣therward. The cheere at dinner was as great as for money it might be made. Before the first messe, the Duke him selfe came ridinginto the hall vpon a great horse bare headed with his white staffe in his hand, and when the first dish was set on the table, made obeysance by bowing of his body. Hauing so done, he betooke him to his chamber, where was prouision made for him according to his state. With the Archbishop sate the Earle of Esser, the Bishop of Man, the Lord Abur∣gauenny, the Lord Brooke, the Prior of Canterbury, and the Abbot of Saint Augustines. The Duke at his table was ac∣companied with the Lord 〈◊〉〈◊〉, Sir Edward Poynings, the chiefe Justice of England, named Phineux, Sir Wilham Scot, Sir Thomas Kemp, and others. A great many other guests were serued in other places, noble men and knights, at one table, Doctors of Diuinity and Law at another, and Gentlemen of the country at a third besides an infinite num∣ber of meaner calling, placed by them selues, according to their seuerall degrées. But to let passe these matters, and to come vnto his gouernement, all the time of King Henry the seuenth (vnder whom he liued Archbishop some thrée yéeres) he enioyed all manner of prosperity, being in so great fauor with his Prince, as no man greater. He dying, and his sonne Bing Henry the eight succeeding, Cardinall Wolsey that was then but Almosuer and Deaue of Lincolne, diued so cunning∣ly into the bosome of the yong king, as by and by he ouer∣topped the Archbishop, and quickly wound him out of all au∣thority. First by the kings meanes he got from him the Chauncellorship of England: Then being Cardinall, and the Popes Legate a latere by speciall commisson, he set vp a new court called Curia 〈◊〉〈◊〉, vnder colour whereof, he

drewe 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 of iurisdiction throughout England into his owne hands, and appointed Officials Registers, &c. in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dioces, who tooke vp all causes and suffered other 〈◊〉〈◊〉 (to whom the iurisdiction of right appertained to sitte still without either regard or profit. This deiection of the Archbishop wherein men estéemed him for the time very vn∣hapy, fell out to his great good, the others immoderate great∣nesse, was the cause of his destruction. At what time the K. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be diuorced from his first wife D. Catherine; she 〈◊〉〈◊〉 choice of this our Archb. & Nicholas West Bish. of Ely, two lawyers, and of I. Fisher 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Rochester, and Henry Standish Bishop of Assaph Doctors of Diuinity, to assist and direct her in that sute: they did so, and behaued themselues in such sort, as neither the king had cause to be offended with their ouerforwardnes, nor she to blame their stacknes or neg∣ligēce. But the Cardinall y^t was ioined with Cardinall Cam∣peius in commission, wherein they were authorised by the Pope to examine the circumstances of that cause, he I say be∣ing more slacke in his procéedings, then the king expected he should, so incensed him against him, as shortly after he was content first to take the aduantage of a Premunire against him, & then to cause him to be arrested of high treason, where∣of sée more in Yorke. Soone after the Cardinals death there was a conuocation held, wherein the cleargy was aduertised that they all had fallen into apremunire by yéelding vnto the Cardinals power legantine neuer allowed by the king. They determined therefore to redéeme the penalty they had incurred with the paiment of 118. thousand pounds, where∣of the prouince of Yorke should pay eightéene thousand, and Canterbury the rest which was 100000. l. When this gift was to haue béene presented, they were certified that the king would not accept of the same, except they declared in a Canon that he was supreame head of the church. Long this matter was hammering. But at last they agréed to giue vn∣to him this new title, and inserted the same into the instru∣ment of their gift. In the conuocation many canons were made against Lutherans, and many motions for renouncing the Popes authority, wherein the greatest part being feare∣full of resoluing either way, the connocation was often pro∣rogued.

After many adiournments it was once more put ouer from Aprill till October 5. In which meane space the Archbishop died at Saint Stephens néere Canterbury, in the house of William Warham his kinsman, Archdeacon of Can∣terbury. That house at y^t time belonged vnto the Archdeacon∣ry, but (by what facrilegious meanes I know not) was long since nipped away from the same, so that the Archdeacon, ex∣cept he be otherwise prouided for them by his Archdeaconry, is now houselesse. But to returne vnto our Archbishop, he was buried without any great funerall pompe, giuing mour∣ning clothes onely to the poore, and laide in a little chappell built by himselse for the place of his buriall vpon the North side of the Martyrdome, and hath there a reasonable faire toombe. He purchased much land for his kinred, and bestowed very much in repairing and beutifying his houses with faire buildings, euen to the value of thirty thousand pound, (as he professeth in his will) for which cause he prayed his successor to forbeare sute for dilapidations against his executors: They were the Duke of Norfolke and the Lord Windsor. He con∣tinued Archbishop eight and twenty yéeres, and died in the sommer the yéere 1532.