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.

57. Richard Foxe.

AT what time Henry Earle of Richmont abiding at [ 1502] Uenice, was requested by letters from many of the English Nobility to deliuer his Countrey from the ty∣ranny of that wicked Paricide Richard the third, and to take on him the kingdome; He willing to furnish him selfe as well as he might for the setting foorth of so great an enterprise, de∣termined to craue aide of the French king. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there∣fore to Paris, he onely commenced his sute vnto the king, and hauing manifold businesse elsewhere, he left the farther pro∣secution of this matter vnto Richard Foxe a Doctor of Diui∣nity, that chaunced to liue a student in Paris at that time. Whether the Earle knew him before, or else discerned at the

first sight (as it were) his excellent 〈◊〉〈◊〉, certaine it is, he deemed him a fit man for the managing of this great af∣faire. Neither was he any thing at all deceiued in him: For the matter was followed with so great diligence and indu∣stry, as in a very short time all things were dispatched accor∣ding to the Earles desire, who soone after obtaining the king∣dome, mindfull of the good seruice done him by Doctor Foxe, preferred him immediatly vnto the kéeping of the priuy scale, made him one of his Councell, and laid vpon him what spiri∣tuall liuing might possibly be procured him. In the meane time he imployed him continually either in matters of coun∣sell at home, or in ambassages of great importance abroad. The second yéere of King Henries raigne he was sent into Scotland for the establishing of a peace with the king there; whence he was scarcely returned, when the Bishopricke of Exeter falling void, was bestowed vpon him. He held it not past sixe yéeres but he was remooued to Bath and Wels, and thence within thrée yéeres after to Durham. There he stayed sixe yéeres, and the yéere 1502. was once more translated, viz. to Winchester, where he spent the rest of his life in great prosperity. For such was his fauor with the king, as no man could euer doo so much with him, no man there was vpon whose counsell he so much relied. Amongst other honors done vnto him, it was not the least, that he made him Godfather vnto his second sonne, that was afterward King Henry the eight, the Father of our worthy and most happy Quéene. In one onely mischaunce he was vnfortunate. He liued many yéeres blind before he died. Whereby ghessing his end not to be sarre off, hc determined to make vnto him selfe friends of the vnrighteous Mammon bestowing wel his goods while he liued. And first he was purposed to haue built a Monastery, vntill that conferring with Hugh Oldam, Bishop of Exeter, a very wise man; He was aduised by him rather to bestow his money vpon the foundation of some Colledge in one of the Uniuersities, which should be more profitable vnto the com∣mon wealth, and more auaileable to the preseruation of his memory. As for Monasteries (quoth he) they haue more al∣ready, then they are like long to kéepe. So by the Counsell of this wise Prelate (whose purse also was a great helpe to the

finishing thereof) the colledge of Corpus Christi in Oxford was built and endowed with competent possessions the yéere 1516. by this Bishop Richard Foxe. Afterward in the yéere 1522. he bestowed the cost of building a faire frée schoole by the castell in Taunton, and conuenient housing néere it for the schoolemaster to dwell in: lastely, it is to be remembred, that he couered the quier of Winchester, the presbytery and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 adioyning with a goodly vault, and new glased all the windowes of that part of the church. It is said also that he built the partition betwéene the presbytery and the said 〈◊〉〈◊〉, causing the bones of such Princes and prelates as had béene buried here and there dispersed about the church, to be remoo∣ued and placed in séemely monuments vpon the top of that new partition. Many other notable things no doubt he did which haue not come vnto my knowledge. He died at last a very old man and full of daies ann. 1528. when he had woor∣thily gouerned the church of Winchester the space of 27. yéeres. He lieth entoombed vpon the south side of the high al∣tar in a monument, rather sumptuons then stately, of the same building with the partition.