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.

48 Richard Scroope.

RIchard Scroope that succéeded Robert Waldby, though a gentleman of great bloud, being brother vnto William Scroope that was Earle of Wiltshire,* 1.1 and Treasurer of Eng∣land vnder king Richard; yet obtained not this high promo∣tion without desert, in regard of many good parts in him. For he was incomparably learned (saith Thomas Walsingham) of singular integrity for his life and conuersation, and (which is not altogether to bee neglected) of a goodly and amiable personage. He was brought vp in Cambridge (as Bale deli∣uereth, Gul. Monestriensis saith it was in Oxford) and pro∣céeded there first Master of Arte, then Doctor of Law, thence he trauelled through France into Italy, and became an ad∣uocate in the Popes Court, vntill that at last returning home he was made Lord Chancellour of England, in the 2. years of king Richard the second, but continued not aboue one yeare in that place, August 9. 1396. hee was consecrate Bi∣shop of Couentry and Lichfield, managed that charge lau∣dably, and is commended as well for his own priuate man∣ners and behauiour, as his publike gouernment. His ende was vnhappy and very miserable. King Henry had lately deposed King Richard, by whome this man was preferred, and had caused his brother aforenamed the Earle of Wilt∣shire to be beheaded at Bristow. Whether it were desire to reuenge these wrongs done to his friends, or some other re∣spect•• I know not, certaine it is, that the yéere 1405 he ioined with the Earle of Northumberland, the Earle Marshall, the Lord Bardolph, and other in a conspiracy against King Hen∣ry. The Earle of Westmerland, and Iohn Duke of Lanca∣ster, the kings sonne, were then in the North Country, when these men began to stirre, and gathering what forces they could, came against them. But finding the other too strong for them, they enquire of them in peaceable manner what their intent should be in taking Armes. The Archbishop answered, that he meant nothing but the good of the Realme,

as he would gladly certifie him, if he had secure and safe ac∣cesse vnto him. And therewithall shewed a writing, where∣in he charged the now king with treason against his Soue∣raigne King Richard, oppression of the Church and Commo∣nalty, whose Liberties he had sworne to defend, tyranny & cruelty in putting to death the sayd king, many of the Nobi∣lity and great numbers of the Commons; with impiety and sacriledge in defrauding the Church of Rome of her rights; and lastly with euill gouernement, perfidiousnesse, periury, & diuers other like hainous crimes, for which hee pronounced him excommunicate; requiring all men to ioyne with that company, whose endeauour should bee, but to reforme what was amisse; to feate and settle in the kingdome the right Heire; to establish peace in Wales and Ireland, and to free the Realme from the great and intollerable burthen of exacti¦ons, no longer to be endured. The Earle of Westmerland hauing read this writing, professed to allow of the enterprise, and praised it for honest and reasonable, insomuch as méeting with the Archbishop at a parly, after a very few speeches, they séemed to become friends, shaking hands together, and drin∣king to each other in sight of both their armies. The Archbi∣shop now doubting of nothing suffered his men to disperse themselues for a time: But the Earle contrariwise waxed stronger and stronger•• and at least seeing himselfe well able to deale with the Archbishop, came vpon him sodainely, and ar∣rested him little thinking of any such matter. The king by this times was come Northward as farre as Pomfret. Thi∣ther the Archbishop and other prisoners arrested with him, were also brought, and carried with the king barke to Yorke againe (or as one deliuereth) to Thorpe, where Sir William Fulford, a knight learned in the Law, and another Iustice called Gascoyne, sitting on a high Stage in the Hall condem∣ned him to bee beheaded Whether hee were tried by his Péeres or no I finde not: and much lesse can I pronounce, whether it be explorati••uris that hee ought to be, M. Cam∣den a man of greater iudgement in those things then my selfe, hath de••••ed it; But first, whether he was a Péere of the Realme or no, I must refer my selfe to an Act, Edward

3.25. where Bishops are tearmed Péeres of the land. And certaine it is, by the report of the Author of the Booke, en∣tituled Antiquitates Britannicae that Iohn Stratford Archbi∣shop of Canterbury, being shut out of the Parliament house, vpon the Kings displeasure, alleaged he was maior pars reg∣ni post Regem, &c. and was not gaine-said. Then for the other point, there is an Act, that all and singular Lords of the Parliament for the offence in that Act mentioned shall bee tryed by their Péeres. And we haue an example where the said Iohn Stratford béeing accused by the King of diuers hai∣••ous crimes, was appointed to bée ordered by foure Bishops, foure Earles, and foure Barons. But to returne to my sto∣ry, presently after the iudgement giuen the Archbishop was set vppon an ill-sauoured Iade, his face towards the horse taile, and carried with great scorne and shame to a field hard by, where his head lastly was stricken off; by a fellow that did his office very ill, not being able to dispatch him with lesse than fiue strokes. He was executed vpon Whitson munday, being the eight of Iune, 1405. and was buried in the East part of the new workes of his Church of Yorke; in which place, as also the field where hee died, certaine miracles are sayd to haue béene done, and are ascribed vnto his holinesse. It is deliuered also, that the king presently after his death was stricken with a leprosie. He was the first Bishop that I finde put to death by order of Law. No maruell if an execu∣tion so vnwoonted and extraordinary, performed in so odious and contumelious a manner, gaue occasion of many tales and rumours. Amongst the rest I finde a report laying an impu∣tation vpon the posterity of the Iudges, who gaue sentence against him. I will not doe them the wrong to mention it. The Pope excommunicated the Authors of his death, but was easily entreated to absolue them againe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1397. Ric. 2.2••.