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.

3. Alexander.

ROger that famous Bishop of Salisbury, was now so [ 1123] great a man with the king (Henry the first) as being able to do with him what he list, he easily entreated him to bestow the Bishopricke of Lincolne vpon one Alexander his owne brothers sonne, a Norman borne, whom not long before he had made Archdeacon of Salisbury, and chiefe Ju∣stice of England. He was consecrate at Canterbury July 22. 1123. The next yéere after, his Cathedrall church so late∣ly built, and yet scarcely finished, was burnt and horribly de∣faced by casuall fire. This man repayred it againe, and added vnto it a speciall ornament, a goodly vault of stone, which be∣fore it had not, and therefore was the more subiect vnto fire. He also increased the number of his Prebends, & purchased vnto his church certaine mannors and other lands. But his chiefe delight was in building of castels, wherein he imitated his vncle the Bishop of Salisbury. This humor was the vn∣doing of them both. To leaue the other vnto his owne place, Alexander built a stately castle at Banbury, another at Ne∣warke, and a third at Sleford. William Par••••s reporteth that he also founded two monasteries, but what or where I finde not. These castles were such eie-sores vnto king Ste∣phen, as they prouoked him to picke a quarrell otherwise vnto the Bishops, to clappe them vp in prison (where the other died) and to bereaue them at once of these munitions and all their treasure, whereof they had hoorded vp great store. They that kept the castle of Newarke refused to deliuer it at the kings summons, till such time as the Bishop intrea∣ted them to yéeld, signifying (and it was true indeede) that the king had sworne he should nether eate nor drinke before he had possession of the castle. Hereupon they set open the gates vnto the king, and then with much adoo hauing lyen by it cer∣taine moneths, he was at last released of his imprisonment.

After that, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉, 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 himselfe wholy to 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of his church, performed that which 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 made it simply the most beautifull church of England at that time. He was thrice at Rome, to wit, the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1142. and 1144. where he behaued himselfe so, as he pleased both the king and the Pope very well. The first time he was 〈◊〉〈◊〉, the Pope gaue him authority to call a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as his 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and especially 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto him the redresse of cer∣taine 〈◊〉〈◊〉; for the effecting whereof he caused 〈◊〉〈◊〉 canons to be made very necessary for those times. A third iourney he made vnto the Pope, lying then in Fraunce, in the moneth of August 1147. where through immoderate heat of the weather during the time of his trauell, he fell 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and with much 〈◊〉〈◊〉 getting home, not long after his returne he died hauing sate Bishop about the space of 24. yéeres. I 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in Henry Huntingdon certaine verses written in com∣mendation of him which I thinke not amisse here to be in∣serted:

Splendor Alexandri non tam renitescit honore, Quam per eum renitescit honor, flos namque virorum. Dando tenere 〈◊〉〈◊〉, thesauros cogit honoris, Et gratis dare festinans, ne danda rogentur. Quod nondum dederit, nondum se credit habere. O decus, ô moruoo directio; quo veniente, Certa fides, hilaris clementia, cauta potestas, Lene 〈◊〉〈◊〉, doctrina placens, correctio dulcis, Libercasque decens venêre, pudorque facetus. Lincoliae gens magna prius, nunc maxima semper; Talis & ille diu sit nobis tutor honoris.