The succession of the bishops of England since the first planting of Christian religion in this island together with the historie of their liues and memorable actions faithfully gathered out of the monuments of antiquity. VVhereunto is prefixed a discourse concerning the first conuersion of our Britaine vnto Christian religion. By Francis Godwin now Bishop of Hereford.

25 Henry Murdac.

KIng Stephen had a kinsman named William (that was sonne vnto Emma his sister by Earle Herbert,* 1.1 a man no lesse noble in mind and vertue, then stocke and lineage. He being Treasurer of Yorke, was now elected vnto the Archbishopricke, and hauing obtained consecration also, sent to Rome for his pall. His spéede there, was not so good as hee looked for: By some aduersaries many exceptions were taken against him, whereby it came to passe not onely his suite was put off and staid for that time, but also Proces awarded to admonish him to come thither in person to an∣swere the accusations laied against him. At his comming to Rome, hée found his aduersaries many and mighty. And amongst the rest it is remembred that Saint Bernard then liuing was very earnest against him. Eugenius the Pope had béene brought vp in the Abbey of Clareuall vnder S. Barnard, together with Henry Murdac, whom Williams aduersaries had set vp to bée a suiter for his Archbishop∣ricke. The Pope being thus carried away with the per∣swasion of his olde acquaintance, and some shew of matter, was content to depriue William, and to place Henry Murdac 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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in his roome, whom he caused to be consecrate presently, and sent him home into England with his Pall. King Stephen hearing this newes, was much grieued with the disgrace of his nephew, which all men iudged vndeserued. Therefore he stood vpon termes with the new Archbishoppe, and required him to sweare vnto him fealty in some extraordinary man∣ner, and when hée denied, easily tooke occasion of displea∣sure against him. The townsmen of Yorke that loued Willi∣am exceedingly for his gentlenesse and vertuous behauiour amongst them; hearing how the king was affected; refused to receiue Murdac into their City. For this resistance he sus∣pended them: which notwithstanding, Eustach the kinges sonne, commanded seruice to bée said as at all other times was accustomed. By meanes hereof, as also by reason that the Kings officers were very terrible and heauy enimies vnto all that had laboured for the depriuation of William: sediti∣ons & tumults were dayly raysed in the City, amongst which a certaine Archdeacon, a friend of the Archbishoppes was slaine. Two or thrée yéeres these stirs continued, till at last, the Kings wrath by meanes being appeased, Yorke men were content to receiue their Archbishop peaceably. Hée go∣uerned very austerely the space of ten yeares, died Octob. 14. 1153. at Sherborne, and was buried in his Cathedrall Church.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1142 Steph. 8.