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.

39. Richard.

IN the moneth of February,* 1.1 following the death of Thomas Becket (which was December 28. 1170.) one Robert Abbot of Becco was chosen Archbishop. But hee liking bet∣ter a quiet life, chose rather to sit still where hee was, th••n to aduenture himselfe in a place subiect to the blasts of such terrible tempests as Thomas Becket was tossed withall. The king then dealt earnestly with the Couent of Canterbury to choose some mild•• and soft-spirited man, to preuent such broyles as had béene raised by the last Archbishop. They fol∣lowed his direction, and elected one Richard, a Benedic∣tine Monke Prior of the Monastery of Saint Martins in Douer, who was presently allowed of the king and the Pope, and soone after consecrate. He was a man very liberall, gen∣tle and passing wise. So he handled the matter, that in all his time he neuer was out, either with the Pope or the king. The Pope he entertained with often gifts and money; the Kings fauour hee retained by yéelding and conforming himselfe to his pleasure. This man continued Archbishop about the space of to••ne or eleuen yéeres. In all which time, there happened not any thing concerning him woorthy memory; except perad∣uenture the stirre betwéene him and the Archbishop of Yorke Roger. The olde quarrell chaunced to bee renued betwéene these two Archbishops concerning the Primacy; and one Hugocio the Popes Legate comming into England, both of them requested him to heare and iudge this controuersie be∣twéene

them. Upon this and other occasions, a Conuocation was summoned at Westminster, where was a stately throne prouided for the Legate. At y^e tune appointed the Legate came and took his place, and the Archbishop of Canterbury sate him downe next vnto the Legate vpon the right hand. After this in came Roger Archbishop of Yorke and would néedes haue dis∣placed Canterbury to fit aboue him: that, when the other would not suffer, he sate downe in his lap. The other Bishops present amazed at this strange behauiour of the Archbishop of Yorke, cried out all vpon him, the Archbishop of Canterburies men by violence drew the other out of his ill chosen place, threw him down, tare his robes almost from his backe, trode vpon him, beat him, and vsed him so despitefully, as the Legat, whether for shame or for doubt what might happen to himself in such a tumult, got him out and went his way. The Arch∣bishop of Yorke all ragged as he was, bloudy and dusty went to the King; who first was exceeding angry, but when he heard the truth, laughed merrily at it and said hee was well enough serued. Much adoo there was long after at Rome about this & the old controuersie; the end whereof at last was, that much mony was spent and neither party euer a whit the néerer. The end of this man is thus reported, how that beeing a sléepe at his mannor of Wrotham, there séemed to come vnto him a certaine terrible personage demanding of him who he was? whereunto when for feare the Archbishop answered nothing, Thou art he (quoth the other) that hast destroyed the goods of the Church, and I will destroy thée from off the earth: This hauing said, hee vanished away. In the morning betime the Archbishop got him vp, and taking his iourney toward Ro∣chester, related this fearefull vision vnto a friend of his by the way. He had no sooner told the tale, but he was taken soden∣ly with a great cold & stifnesse in his limmes, so that they had much adoo to get him so farre as Halling a house belonging to the Bishop of Rochester. There he took his bed and being hor∣ribly tormented with the cholike and other gréefes vntill the next day, the night fellowing the 16. of February hee gaue vp the Ghost. anno. 1183. His body was carried to Canterbury, and honourably in••erred in the Lady Chappell.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1171 Hen. 2.18.