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.

34 Sewall.

WHen the King heard of his death,* 1.1 he determined not to suffer his place to be filled ouer hastily. All other Bishoprickes of England (saith he) haue been in my hands heretofore, but this neuer: Therefore I must be ad∣uised how I let it passe out of my fingers. The Chapter after a conuenient space, made choise of Sewall their Deane that was brought vp in the Uniuersitie of Oxford, a man modest, vertuous and learned; being well seene not onely in Diui∣nitie, but in Law also and much other good learning. Di∣uers of his writings remaine and are remembred by Bale in his Centuries. Hee was a diligent hearer of Edmund of A∣benden (after Archbishop of Canterbury, and canonized a Saint) at what time hee read the Diuinity lecture in Oxford. This Saint Edmund (as Matthew Paris reporteth) would of∣ten tell his scholler Sewall, that out of all question hee should die a Martyr. How farre foorth this prediction fell out true, you shall heare anon. Now the King not liking this speed of the Chapter-men, as not being for his profit, hindred the new elect what hee might; and for want of better matter, alleaged against him that hee was a bastard, and so by the Cannons vncapable of that honour. It was true enough, and how he salued that sore, I cannot tell: A dispensation belike from Rome (where all things were then to be had for money) tooke away that obstacle. I finde he was consecrate by the suffagran Bishops of his owne Prouince, Iuly 23. 1256. a yeare and almost three moneths, after the death of his predecessor. His Deanry being thus voide, the Pope tooke vpon him to bestow the same vpon one Iordan a stranger, that vnderstood not one woorde of English, and otherwise vtterly vnwoorthy of that goodly preferment. This Iordan, doubting least in taking pos∣session

hee might happily bee resisted, ••ame into the Church of Yorke, at dinner-time, and inquiring of one (whom by chance hee found then at his prayers) which was the Deanes stall, caused two of his owne company to deliuer him possession thereof. This being done, though in hugger mugger, was quickly brought vnto the Archbishops eares; who grieued in∣finitely at the same, and sought by all meanes possible to dis∣anull and make voide the Popes gift. The Cannons and Church-men were so amazed with this strange and extraordi∣nary course (strange in those dayes, but afterwards too com∣mon) as they knew not what to doe or say. It séemed most ab∣surd and detestable vnto them, that so high a dignitie, and an office of such importance, in place and authoritie next vnto the Archbishop, should bee conferred vpon a base, obscure and con∣temptible fellow. But they stood so in awe of the Popes ty∣rannie, whereunto the King had subiected, and as it were, pro∣strate himselfe, that they durst not make any profession of mis∣like. About the same time the Pope sent a commandement into England, that three hundred of the next benefices that fell should bee bestowed vpon certaine Italians that hee named; men ignorant of the English tongue, and though otherwise perhaps worthy the places appointed them (which is greatly to be doubted) yet in that respect most vnfit heere to haue cure of soules committed vnto them. In this iniurious course, our Sewall couragiously withstood him; and not onely by word and letter sharply reprehended the Pope, but also in déeds resisted this his tyrannie, vtterly refusing to admit either Iordan vnto the Deanry, or any other of his Italians to any other promo∣tion in his Diocesse For his labour he was quickly suspen∣ded. Wherewith he was so little terrified, as that notwith∣standing, hee stood still stoutly to his tackling, and yéelded not one inch. Iordan therefore, whether doubting of good successe, or wearied with trouble, or in regard that hee perceiued him∣selfe very odious in Yorke, resigned his Deanry, accepting a pension of a hundred markes out of it. This composition with Iordan, nothing appeased the Popes fury: determining belike to make him an example to other, hee first caused his crosse in contumelious manner to be taken from him, and soone after thundring out his greatest excommunication, causing

him to bee cursed throughout England with b••ll, booke and candle. By those, and inf••nite other vexations (sayth Mat∣thew Paris) hée was much disgraced in the sight of the world; but became no doubt farre the more acceptable in the sight of God. So long he denied to bow his knées vnto this Baal, as ouercome with care, and not enduring those continuall mole∣stations, he died at last hart-broken, much better deseruing the name of a Martyr, then many other to whom the Church of Rome hath afforded that title. Lying vpon his deathbed, & perceiuing his end to approach, with watry eies looking sted∣fastly towards Heauen, in the bitternes of his soule he made this prayer, which I thinke not vnworthy in this place to be inserted: Lord Iesus Christ thou most iust iudge, from whose omnise••ent wisedome nothing is hid, thou knowest how the Pope (vnto whom thou hast suffered the gouernment of thy church to be deliuerd) hath with manifold iniuries ouerwhel¦med my innocency, for no other cause (as thou canst wi••••••s, & the world doubteth not) then this, that I would not admit men altogether vnknown, yea and most vnfit, vnto the cure and care of those Churches, the rule and charge whereof vnto me (though vnwoorthy) thou hast committed: Notwith∣standing least by my contempt the Popes vniust sentence of excommunication become iust and deserued, with all humili∣ty I craue to be ab••olued from the same. But I appeale vnto thee the supreame and vncorruptible iudge; and both heauen and earth shall be my witnesses, that hee hath most vniustly vexed & many waies as greeuously as wrongfully offended mee. Before his en•• also he writ vnto the Pope a very effe∣ctuall, and pithy letter, wherein hee laied before him at large the miserable estate into which the tyranny of him and his predecessors had brought the Church; praying him to haue a care to mend what was amisse, & to remember that Christ repeated vnto Peter thrice, Feed my sheepe; but not so much as once or halfe once bid him either to s••ay them or to sheere them, much lesse to teare out their very bowels, to deuoure or destroy them, as he did. But the Pope was so farre from following this good aduise, as he not onely contemned the same, but first derided the good Bishop for his sauour; & after∣ward grew iuto great choller, taking it hainously, that any

mortall man should be so presumptuous•• as to admonish him of his duty. He sate Archbishop onely two yéeres, in which time hee re••ormed many things amisse in the state of his Church. Hee caused the stipend of the Ministers of Saint Sepulchres chappell to bee encreased, and appointed them to be called Cannons: He erected Uicari••ges in diuers impro∣priate Churches, which til that time were very ill serued; and did many other things woorth memory, but more would haue done if his time had bin either longer or more quiet and peaceable. He died vpon, or neere vnto Ascen••on-day, 1258. and was buried in his Cathedrall Church: The place of his sepultu••e there, was much frequented of the ignorant people that esteemed him a Saint. Notwithstanding the great con∣flicts betwéene him and the Pope, our monkes doubt not to father vppon him a miracle of turning water into wine, by blessing it in time of his sickenesse. The credit whereof I leaue vnto the Reader.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1259. Hen: 3.40.