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.

18. Thomas Lysle.

ALan de Walsingham prior of Ely being then chosen [ 1344] Bishop, his election was disanulled and pronounced voide by the pope Clement 5. who 〈◊〉〈◊〉 po∣testatis without any more adoe, thrust into his place Thomas Lysle or Lyld a frier preacher, and caused him to be consecrate at Auinion in the moneth of July 1344. He was a doctor of diuinity, brought vp in Cambridge and much estéemed for

his learning. He preached often with great 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and writ diuers works mentioned by Bale. Within a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 or two before his death he endured great trouble and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the meanes of Blanch Wake 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Marshall, the circumstance whereof it shall not be amisse briefly to set downe. This Lady had certaine lands néere vnto one or 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the Bishops houses; by reason of which neighbourhoode, many controuersies daily arose betwéene them concerning bounds and other such like matters. The Bishop was a rough and plaine man, hardly brooking such indignities as it is likely a woman of that nobilitie, rich, and néere of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto the king, would be ready enough to offer. By reason héereof the Lady conceiued a deadly and inueterate 〈◊〉〈◊〉 against him; for wreaking whereof, she awaited this 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The Pope at the request of the king (or rather the blacke prince his sonne) had suffred one Robert 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to be consecrate Bishop of Lichfield; a man in many respects very vnwoorthy of that honour. This good Bishop was not afraide (like another Iohn Baptist) to steppe vnto the king, and reprehend him for it; which he taking very tenderly, commanded him in great displeasure to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 his presence. The Lady before named thinking it now a fitte time to deale with the Bishop, commenced a sute a∣gainst him, the ground and colour whereof was this. Cer∣taine lewde persons had fired some housing belonging to the Countesse, and being apprehended, were content to accuse the Bishop as accessary to this foule fact. Where∣upon before euer the Bishop heard any thing of the mat∣ter, at the instance of the Lady, and commandement of the king, a Nisi prius passed against him, and adiudged him to the paiment of 900. l. which presently he was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to lay downe. But estéeming more the discredife then the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, neuer ceased to importune the king till he obtained licence of him to call the Jury and witnesses to a reckoning of their do∣ings. The time being come when the matter was to be de∣termined, in the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 at Huntington, the Countesse 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a meanes to hinder the Bishops procéedings by corrupting the officers, who denied him the copie of the former iudge∣ment, without which nothing could be done. Being much

gréeued héerewith, he went vnto the king, and complained how he was oppressed, requesting him as he was the guide and life of the law, so he would direct the same according to iustce, and not sée him so ouerborne. This his speeche was de∣liuered in somewhat more rough tearmes then beséemed him (as the king tooke it at leastwise) who making the worst of it, accused him to the parliament then assembled. Some things the king laid to his charge he denied, and extenuated the rest what he might. But the king affirmed euery thing vpon his honor and made some mention of witnesses; who then durst but take this proofe for good? So he was condem∣ned by parliament and this punishment laid vpon him, that hereafter he should neuer presume to come in the kings pre∣sence. Not long after this, it happened that his seruants mée∣ting with certaine of the Countesses men, in a 〈◊〉〈◊〉, one of her men were slaine. Of this murther the Bishop, is by and by déemed an accessarie and howsoeuer he knew himselfe gilt∣lesse, fearing the successe of this matter would proue but as his other sutes had done, he sold all his mooueable goods, put the mony into the hands of his trusty friends, and hid him∣selfe. It might not serue his turne; being absent, he was found guiltie by inquest, and his temporalties seised into the kings hands. Séeing therefore now the woorst (as he thought) he was content (vpon safe conduct) to appéere before the king and there desired to be tried by his péeres. Whether his re∣quest in that point were satisfied or no I cannot tell; But cer∣taine it is, that by the kings owne mouth sentence was pro∣nounced against him. For it was the manner in those daies the king should determine causes of great waight sitting himselfe in open court. The matter being growen to this passe, he called vpon the Archbishop of Canterbury to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 him such aide as the priuileges of the Church affoorded him. he expected belike, that he should by force & strong arme rescue him in such sort as Adam Tarlton Bishop of Hereford being accused of treason in the daies of this kings father, was vio∣lently taken from the barre by the Archbishop that then was, and other Bishops. But this king (Edward the 3.) was no babe; well enough they knew he would take no such iest; therefore they aduised him to submit himselfe vnto the kings

mercy. That he vtterly refused to do, and hauing no other hope of succour, tooke the benefite of his safeconduct, tanquam ad anchoram sacram 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto the Pope for helpe, and ac∣quainted him with all the circumstances of his trouble, from the beginning vnto the end. Hereupon his accusers were cited to appéere in the Popes courte, and for not 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were excommunicate. The Bishop of Lincolne was com∣manded to denounce this excommunication (which he did vn∣to his great trouble:) and also that if any of the excommuni∣cate were dead, he should cause them to be digged out of their graues, and forbid them buriall in holy earth. This 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dealing of the Pope mooued the king vnto great 〈◊〉〈◊〉: for diuers of those that were excommunicate, were persons of no small account; some of them of his priuy 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Proclamation therefore was made throughout the realme, that vpon paine of death, no man should héereafter be so har∣dy as to bring into the realme any kinde of writing from the Popes court. Some notwithstanding contrary to this pro∣hibition, deliuered letters to the Bishop of Rochester then Treasurer of England, from the Pope concerning this mat∣ter, and fearing the woorst had armed themselues. This 〈◊〉〈◊〉, they shrunke away and fled, but were soone after 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and diuersly punished, some dismembred, other faire and well hanged. The Pope hearing of this, was so incensed, that he wrote a very sharpe letter vnto the king, breathing out terrible threats against him, if he did not presently reconcile himselfe vnto the Bishop and cause full amends to be made him for all the losse he had sustained either by the Countesse or him in these troubles. The king was too wise either to doe all he required, or vtterly to despise his authority. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 he knew was not for his honor, nor (so farre had this tyrant in∣croched vpon the authority of princes) the other for his 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Warned by the examples of king Iohn, Henry the emperour and other; he thought good not to exasperate him too 〈◊〉〈◊〉; and so was content to yéeld vnto somewhat. But before the matter could grow to a full conclusion, it was otherwise en∣ded by God, who tooke away the Bishop by death. He decea∣sed at Auinion June 23. 1361. and was there buried, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 béen Bishop euen almost 17. yéeres.