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.

7. Saint Hugh.

TWo yéeres after the departure of Walter to Koan, the [ 1186] Sée of Lincolne continued void. Upon Saint Mat∣thewes day 1186. one Hugh the first Prior of the Charterhouse monkes at Witteham in Somersetshire was consecrate Bishop of the said Church. This Hugh (who by his integrity of life and conuersation, and the opinion of di∣uers myracles wrought by him, hath purchased vnto him∣selfe the honour and reputation of a Saint) was borne in a City of Burgundy, called Gratianopolis. By the aduise and direction of his Father, (who hauing buried his wife, had made himselfe a regular Channon) he also entred the same profession being yet very yoong: But waring elder, he betooke him selfe afterwards vnto the straight and seuere orders of the Carthusians or Charterhouse monkes (as we commonly call them.) In that kind of life he not only obserued all things requisite by the rule of their order, but so farre surmounted the same in performing much more then it required, as he grew very famous farre and néere for his extraordinary ab∣stinence and austerity of life. It chaunced the report thereof to come vnto the eares of king Henry the second: who buil∣ding a house for Carthusian monkes at Witteham aboue mentioned, thought good to send Reginald Bishop of Bathe into Burgundy, to intreate this holy man, to accept the place of the Prior of this new foundation. With much adoo he as∣sented, and came ouer with the Bishop. The king (who for the opinion he had of his holinesse, vsed often priuately to conferre with him) remembring how great wrong he had done the Church of Lincolne in so long kéeping it without a Bishop, determined to make amends by giuing them a good

one at last, and procured this Hugh before he vnderstood of a∣ny such thing toward, to be elected Bishop of that Sée. He gouerned very stoutly and with great seuerity, yet so, as he was more reuerenced and loued then feared. His excommu∣nications were very terrible vnto all men, and the rather, for that it was noted (as I find deliuered) some notable calami∣ty otherwise did lightly follow them. His Church of Lincolne he caused to be all new built from the foundation, a great and memorable worke, and not possible to be performed by him without infinite helpe. Moreouer, he gaue vnto the King 1000. markes, to acquite him and his successors, from the yeerely payment of a Mantell of Sables, wherewith by an auncient custome they were woont euery newyeares tide to present him. The yeere 1200. he would néedes make a voy∣age to Carthusia the chiefe and originall house of their order. In his returne home, he fell sicke of a quartane ague at Lon∣don and there died, Nouember. 17. 1200. His body was presently conueighed to Lincolne, & hapened to be brought thither, at a time, when king Iohn of England and William king of Scots were mette there, with an infinite number of the nobility of both realmes. The two kings, for the great re∣uerence they bare vnto his holynesse, would needes set their shoulders vnto the beere, and helped to cary his coarse from the gates of the City, vntill it came to the Church doore: There it was receiued by the Prelates, caried into the quire and the funer all rites being ended, buried in the body of the East part of the Church aboue the high Aulter, neere the aul∣ter of Saint Iohn Baptist. The yeere 1220. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was Cano∣nised at Rome, and his body being taken vp, October 7. 1282. was placed in a siluer shrine, Who so listeth to read the miracles that are ascribed vnto him, may find them in Matth. Paris that describeth his life at large in his report of the yeere 1200. Amongst many things omitted for breuity, I can not let passe one thing which I finde elsewhere deliue∣red concerning him, how that comming to Godstowe a house of Nunnes neere Oxford, and seeing a hearse in the middle of the quire couered with silke, & tapers burning round about it, he asked who was buried there. Understanding then, it was that faire Rosamond the Concubine of king Henry the second,

who at her intreaty had done much for that house, and in re∣gard of those fauours was 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that honours 〈…〉〈…〉 her body to be digged Vp immediately, a•••• buried in the Church yard, saying it was a plac•• a great deale t••o good for a harlot, and it should be an example to other women to terrifie them from such a wicked and filthy kind of life.