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* 1.1THe Sée was void after the death of Geffry, the space of 4. yeares. In the meane space, Symon de Langton, brother vnto Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury, was ele∣cted by the Chapter of Yorke. But king Iohn being latelye become tributary vnto the Church of Rome, easily found meanes to Cassire and disanull that election. If the old quar∣rell betwéene the Archbishop and him, stucke something in his stomacke, I maruell not: but he alleaged that he thought
it dangerous and very inconuenient the whole Church of En∣gland should bee ruled by two brethren; one at Canterbury in the South, and an other at Yorke in the North. Hee la∣boured then very earnestly to haue Walter Gray his Coun∣sellor remooued from Worceter to Yorke. The Cannons there refused him for want of learning (as they said, albeit I find he spent some time in the Uniuersitie of Oxford,) but at last they were content to accept him, in regard (forsooth) of his singular temperance and chastitie: they seemed to be perswa∣ded that hee had continued till that time a pure maide. The matter was they durst doe no other but yeelde, and then thought good to make a vertue of necessitie. This man was first Bishop of Lichfield, consecrate the yeare 1210. translated thence to Worceter 1214. and lastly, the yéere 1215, to York; but vpon such conditions, as I thinke hee had beene better to haue staid at Worceter still. The Pope would haue no lesse th•••• ten thousand pound for wresting him into the Archbisho∣pricke: for the gathering of which money hee was faine to be so thrifty, as in all our histories hee is infamous for a mise∣rable couetous wretch: for proofe whereof, I will recount vn∣to you a strange report of Mat. Paris. The yeare 1234 there was great dearth and scarcitie of corne, (and by reason that the dearth had continued then three yeares) mortalitie of people also, as well by pestilen••e as famine. Amongst many rich men that were nothing mooued with compassion toward the poore daily perishing for want of releefe, this Archbishop is especi∣ally noted, that had fiue yeares corne in store and would not thresh it out. Being told at last by his officers, that it was much to bee feared, it was consumed by mice, or some other way much the worse for so long standing: hee bid them to de∣liuer it to the husbandmen that dwelt in his Mannors, vppon condition they should pay as much new corne for it after har∣uest. They intending to doe as hee commanded, went about to take downe a great mowe of corne hee had at Rippon. And first comming toward it, they saw the heads of many serpents, snakes, toads, and other venemous creatures peering out at the ends of the sheaues. This being tolde vnto the Arch∣bishoppe, hee sent his steward, and diuers of good credit, to enquire the truth thereof: who seeing that which the other
had séene, enforced notwithstanding certaine poore men to goe vp into the top of it with ladders. They were scarcely vp, when they saw a blacke smoake rise out of the corne, and felt a most loathsome stinke, which compelled them with all haste possible to get them downe againe. Moreouer, they all heard an vnknowne voice saying vnto them, Let the corne alone; for the Archbishop and all he hath is the diuels possession. To make short they were saine to build a wall about it, and then to set it on f••re, fearing least such an infinite deale of venemous creatures might infect and poyson, or at least greatly annoy the whole Countrey. The credit of this report I leaue vnto the Readers discretion. Matthew Westminster commendeth the man greatly for his wisedome in gouernment and his loyall fi∣delitie vnto his Prince: and that hee deserued this commen∣dation, I account it no slender proofe, that Queene Elianore (to whom her husband King Henry the third had committed the charge of the Realme trauelling into Fraunce) she (I say) hauing occasion to crosse the seas to con••e•• with her husband, committed the rule and gouernment of the same vnto this Archbishop. It was in the yeere 1253. at what time he being a very aged man and sickly, was excéeding loth to take it vpon him. Hee sate Archbishop aboue nine and thirty yéeres, in which space he did many things to the good and benefit, both of his Sée and Church. The mannor of Thorpe hee purchased & the Church of the same, both which he gaue in effect vnto his Sée, but verbo tenus vnto the Deane and Chapter; taking as∣surance of them, that they should alwaies graunt it ouer vnto the Archbishop for the time being. And this course he tooke to the end, that if the temporalities of the Archbishopricke should be ••••••sed into the Kings hands, either sede plena (which some∣times hapned) or vacant (which is very vsuall) with this the Kings officers should not meddle. He erected many cha••tries in diuers places. He gaue vnto his Church thirty two won∣derfull sumptuous coapes, and left a goodly stocke of cattell vnto his Successors; procuring the King to confirme the gift, & to take order that euery Archbishop should be bound to leaue it as he found it. He bought vnto his See the house now called White Hall (and heeretofore Yorke place.) Hubert de Burgo Earle of Kent built it, and gaue it vnto the Fryer preachers in
London, who sold it vnto this Archbishop. In the time of Car∣dinall Woolsies disgrace, the King required it of him; and he either for feare, or else hope of currying a little fauour with the King that way, yeelded by and by. As for this man hee died at last on May day 1255. and was buried in S. Peters Church.
1217. Hen. 3.1.