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. Remingius de Feschamp.

THe last Bishop of Dorchester and first of Lincolne [ 1070] was 〈◊〉〈◊〉, a monke of Feschamp that (as Bale noseth) was the sonne of a priest. Unto this man Wil∣liam the Conquerour (for diuers good seruices done vnto him) had promised long before a Bishopricke in England, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it should please God to send him 〈◊〉〈◊〉. He was as good as his word, and the yéere 1070. preferred him to Dorchester, voide by the death of the former Bishop. The consideration of this gift comming to the Popes eare, he woulde 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 it symony, and as a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 actually depriued him of his Bishopricke: But at the request of Lanfrank the Archbishop of Canterbury, he restored him to his ring and crosyer againe. Soone after his first preferment, he began to build at Dorchester, and intended great matters there. But order being taken in a Conuocation at London by the kings procurement, that Episcopall sées euery where should be re∣moued from obscure townes to greater cities, he diuerted the course of his liberality from Dorchester to Lincolne. Lincolne at that time (saith William Malmsburie) was one of the most

populous cities of England, of great resort and traffique both by sea and land. Remigius therefore thinking it a fit place for a Cathedrall church, bought certaine ground vpon the top of the hill neere the castle then lately built by William the con∣querour, and began the foundation of a goodly church. The Archbishop of Yorke endcuoured to hinder the execution of this worthie designement by laying challenge to the iurisdic∣tion of that country: This allegation, though friuolous, was a meane of some charge vnto the Bishop, who (not without gifts) was faine to worke the king to be a meanes of cleering that title. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fabrike of the church being now finished, and 21. prebends founded in the same, al which he furnished with Incumbents very wel esteemed of both for learning and con∣uersation; He made great prouision for the dedication of this his new church, procuring all the Bishops of England by the kings authoritie to be summoned thereunto. The rest came at the time appointed, which was May 9. 1092. Onely Ro∣bert Bishop of Hereford absented him selfe, foreseeing by his skill in Astrology (as Bale and other affirme) that Remigius could not liue vnto the day prefixed, which also he foretold long before. It fell out (according vnto his prediction) that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 died two daies before the time appointed for this great solemnity. He was buried in that his owne new built church. This Remigius was a man, though of so high and no∣ble a mind, yet so vnreasonable low of stature, as hardly hée might attaine vnto the pitch and reputation of a dwarfe. So as, it séemed, nature had framed him in that sort, to shew how possible it was that an excellent mind might dwell in a defor∣med and miserable body. Besides this worthy foundation at Lincoln, he reedified the church and Abbey at 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as also the Abbey of Bardney. By his perswasion king William the conquerour erected the Abbeyes of Cane in Normandy, and Battell in Susser vpon the very place where he had ouer∣throwne king Harold in battell, and so made a passage vnto the conquest of the whole 〈◊〉〈◊〉. The superstitious and credu∣lous posterity ascribe diuers miracles vnto the holinesse of this Bishop, wrought (not in his life time, but) many yéeres after his death.