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45 Thomas Hatfield.
THe Pope had now many yéeres taken vnto himselfe the authority of bestowing all Bishopricks:* 1.1 which the king & nobility of this realme being much agréeued with all, made diuers Lawes and statutes to restore Churches and couents to the liberty of their ancient elections. When the king ther∣fore had laboured a while in this matter; he being desirous of preferring this Hatsield his Secretary vnto Durham (a man that he knew the Pope might iustly except against; and per∣aduenture doubting the Couent would not chuse him) was content to request the Pope to giue it vnto him, and thereby opened a passage vnto him, wherby he entred into possession again of his wonted vsurpation. The Pope glad of this opor¦tunity, without any regard or examination of his worthines, by and by accepted of him: And when some of the Cardinals tooke exceptions against him, saying that he was not onely a méere lay man, but a fellow of light behauior, and no way fit for that place: He answered, that if the King of England had requested him for an asse at that time he would not haue deni∣ed him. This man it was that built Durham colledge in Ox∣ford & purchased certaine lands vnto the same for the main∣tenance of such Monks of Durham as should be thought fit to study there. That Colledge is now called Trinity Col∣ledge, so named by Sir Thomas Pope that bestowed a new foundation vpon the same. He built also Durham palace in London to receiue himselfe and his successours when they should haue occasion to repaire thither. He was consecrate the tenth of Iuly 1345. and died in the beginning of May 1381. So he sate Bishop sixe and thirty yeeres lacking only two months. Lastly he was a principall benefactor if not the founder of the Friery of Northallerton in Yorkshire, beeing for Carmelites or white Friers.