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.

1. Heruaeus.

BY this time the reuenues of the monastery were [ 1109] growne to be very great. Their yéerely receit was not so little as 1400. l. which summe contained then more mettall, and would goe farther in those daies then 6000. l. of our money. Of that 1400. l. the Abbot allowed scarce 300. vnto the monks, conuerting the rest vnto his own vse. This Richard therefore, if his minde were any thing so great as his linage, could not but disdaine to liue vnder the iurisdiction of the Bishop of Lincolne, to whose Dioces Cam∣bridgeshire at that time appertained. But he had reasonable pretences for his ambition. He caused the king to be told, that the Dioces of Lincolne was too large for one mans gouern∣ment: that Ely were a fit place for an Episcopall Sée, &c. These reasons amplified with golden Rhetoricke, so perswa∣ded the king, as he not onely consented himselfe that this mo∣nastery should be conuerted into a Cathedrall Church, and the Abbot made a Bishop; but also procured the Pope to confirme and allow of the same. After that Richard the Ab∣bot had with great paines and more cost, beaten this bush a great while, the birde that he had so long and earnestly thir∣sted after, fell to another mans share. Himselfe was taken away by death when the matter was growen to good perfec∣tion and ready to be finished. The Bishop of Lincolne a while hindred the procéeding of this businesse; but his mouth was stopt with thrée Mannors which the king being liberall of another mans purse, was content to bestow vpon him, such as héeretofore belonged vnto the monastery of Ely, viz. Spaldwich, Bickleswoorth, and Bokeden: these were giuen to the Sée of Lyncolne in recompence of the losse the Bishop sustained by exempting of Cambridgshire from his iurisdicti∣on: And that the reuenues of the new Bishop might notwith∣standing this gift be no lesse then the Abbots were, but rather greater, they diuised to diminish the number of monks which were then 70. and to draw them downe vnto 40. Richard the 11. and last Abbot being thus taken away when he would most gladly haue liued. King Henry the first with the consent

of the monks appointed this Bishopricke vnto one Heruaeus that had beene Bishop of Bangor; and agréeing ill with the Welchmen, was faine to leaue his Bishopricke there, and séeke abroad for somewhat elsewhere. He was translated the yeere 1109. sate 22. yéeres, and died August the 30. 1131.