The firste [laste] volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande conteyning the description and chronicles of England, from the first inhabiting vnto the conquest : the description and chronicles of Scotland, from the first original of the Scottes nation till the yeare of our Lorde 1571 : the description and chronicles of Yrelande, likewise from the first originall of that nation untill the yeare 1571 / faithfully gathered and set forth by Raphaell Holinshed.

Of the number of Bishoprijcks in Englande and Wales, and of the present state of the churche there. Cap. 5.

* 1.1THere are two prouinces in England, of which the first and greatest is subiect to the sie of Cauntorbury, the seconde to that of Yorke. And of these eyther hath hir Archbi∣shop resident continuallye within hir owne limits, who hath not onely the chiefe dealing in things appertaining to the Hierarchy and iurisdiction of the church, but also great au∣thoritie in ciuile affayres, touching the go∣uernement of the common wealth so farre foorth as their seuerall circuites doe extende. The Archbishop of Cantorbury is cōmonly called Primate of all Englande, and in the coronation of the kings of this lande, his of∣fice is to set the Crowne vpon their heades. They beare also the name of their high chap∣lens perpetually, although not a few of them haue presumed in tyme past to be their e∣qualles and voide of any subiection vnto thē, which maye easilye appeare by their owne actes, epistles, and aunsweres, wherein they haue sought not onely to match, but also to mate them with great rigour and more then opē tirannie. Examples hereof I could bring many,* 1.2 but this one shall suffice of Anselme, who making a showe as if he had béene very vnwilling to be placed in the sée of Cantor∣bury, gaue his aunswere to the letters of such his friendes as made request vnto hym to take that charge vpō him. Scecularia negotia nescio, quia scire nolo, eorum nam{que} occupa∣tiones horreo, liberum affectans animum. Vo∣luntati sacrarum intendo scripturarum, vos dissonantiam facitis, verendum{que} est ne ara∣trum sancte Ecclesiae, quod in Anglia duo bo∣ues validi & pari fortitudine, ad bonū certan∣tes, id est rex & Archepiscopus, debeant tra∣here, nunc oue vetula, cum Tauro indomito iugata, distorqucatur a recto. Ego ouis vetu∣la, qui si quietus essem, verbi Dei lacte, & ope∣rimento lanae, aliquibus possem fortassis non ingratus esse, sed si me cum hoc tauro coniun∣gitis, videbitis pro desparilitate trahentium, aratrum non recte procedere. &c. Which is in English thus. Of seculer affayres I haue no skil, bycause I will not know them, for I euen abhorre the troubles that ryse about them, as one that desireth to haue his minde at libertie. I applye my whole indeuour to the rule of the scriptures, you lead me to the contrary. It is to be feared lest the plough of holy church which two strong Oxen of equal force, and both like earnest to contende vnto that, which is good (that is the king and the Archebishop) ought to draw, shoulde thereby now swarue from the right forrow, by mat∣ching of an olde shepe, with a wilde vntamed bull. I am that olde shepe, who if I might be quiet, coulde peraduenture shew my selfe not altogither vngratfull vnto some, by féeding them with milke of the worde of God, and couering them with wooll, but if you matche me with this bull, you shall sée that thorowe want of equalitie in draught the plough will not go to right. &c. as followeth in the pro∣cesse of his letters.* 1.3 Thomas Becket was so proude, that he wrate to king Henry the se∣conde, as to his Lord, to his king, and to his sonne, offering him his counsell, hys reue∣rence and due correction. &c. Others in like sort haue protested, that they ought nothing to the kinges of this lande, but their counsell onely, reseruing all obedience vnto the sée of Rome: whereby we may easily sée the pride & ambition of the cleargie in the blinde tyme of ignorance. But as the Archbishop of Can∣torbury hath lōg since obtayned the preroga∣tiue aboue York, (although not without gret trouble, sute, some bloodshed and contention) so the Archbishop of Yorke, is neuerthelesse primate of Englande, as one contentyng himselfe with a péece at the least when (all) coulde not begotten. And as he of Cantorbu∣ry crowneth the king, so thys of Yorke doth the like vnto the Quéene, whose perpetuall Chaplin he is, and hath béene from time to time as the writers doe reporte.* 1.4 The first al∣so hath vnder his iurisdiction to the number of one and twentie inferiour bishoppes, the other hath onely foure by reason, that the churches of Scotland are now remooued frō his obedience vnto an Archbishop of their owne, wherby the greatnesse & circuit of the iurisdiction of Yorke, is not a little dimini∣shed. In like sort eache of these seuen & twen∣ty sées, haue their Cathedral churches, wher∣in the Deanes doe beare the chiefe rule, be∣ing men especially chosen to that vocation,* 1.5 both for their learning & godlinesse so néere as can be possible. These Cathedrall chur∣ches haue in like maner other dignities and Canonries still remayning vnto thē as here∣tofore vnder the Popish regiment.* 1.6 Howbeit those that are chosen to the same are no ydle and vnprofitable persons, (as in times past they haue béene when most of these liuinges were either furnished with straungers, espe∣ciall out of Italy, or such Ideots as had least skill of all in discharging of those functions, wherunto they were called by vertue of these stipendes) but such as by preaching and tea∣ching can, and doe learnedly set foorth the glorie of God, and farder the ouerthrow of Antichrist to the vttermost of their powers.

Moreouer in the sayde Cathedrall churches vpon Sondayes and Festiual dayes,* 1.7 the Ca∣nones doe make certayne ordinary sermons by course, whervnto great numbers of all e∣states doe orderly resort, and vpon the wor∣king daies thrise in the wéeke one of the sayd Canons doth reade and expounde some péece of holy scripture,* 1.8 wherevnto the people doe very reuerently repaire. The bishops them∣selues in lyke sorte are not ydle in their cal∣lings, for being nowe exempt from Court & counsell,* 1.9 they so applye their myndes to the setting foorth of the worde, that there are ve∣rie few of them, which doth not euery Sun∣day or oftner resorte to some place or other, within their iurisdictions, where they ex∣pounde the scriptures with much grauitie & skill. They haue vnder them also their Arch∣deacons, some one, diuers two, & many foure or mo, as their circuites are in quantity, whi∣che Archedeacons are termed in law the by∣shoppes eyes: and these beside their ordina∣rie courtes (which are holden by themselues or their officials once in a moneth at y^e least) doe kéepe yearly two visitations or Sinodes, (as the Byshop doth in euery thirde yeare) wherin they make diligēt inquisition & serch, aswel for y^e doctrine & behauiour of the Mini∣sters, as the orderly dealing of the Parishio∣ners in resorting to their parish churches & conformity vnto religiō. They punish also w^t great seuerity al such trespassers as are pre∣sented vnto them: or if the cause be of y^e more weight, as in cases of Heresie, pertinacie, cō∣tempt & such lyke, they refer them eyther to y^e Bishop of the Diocesse, or his chauncellour, or else to sundrie graue persons set in autho∣ritye by vertue of an high cōmission directed vnto them frō the Prince to that end,* 1.10 who in very courteous maner doe sée the offenders gētly reformed, or else seuerly punished if ne∣cessitie so inforce.* 1.11 Beside this in many of our Archedeaconries, we haue an exercise lately begunne, which for the most part is called a prophecie or conference, and erected only for the examination or triall of the diligence of the cleargie in their study of holy scriptures. Howbeit such is the thirstie desire of the peo∣ple in these dayes to heare the worde of God, y^t they also haue as it were with zealous vio∣lence intruded themselues among them (but as hearers only) to come by more knowledg thorowe their presence at the same. Herein also for the most part two of the yonger sorte of Ministers doe expounde eache after other some péece of the scriptures ordinarily ap∣pointed vnto them in their courses (wherein they orderly go thorow with some one of the Euangelistes or of the Epistles, as it plea∣seth thē to choose at the first in euery of these conferences) and when they haue spent an houre or a little more betwéene them, then commeth one of the better learned sort, who supplyeth the rowme of a moderator, ma∣king first a briefe rehearsall of their discour∣ses, and then adding what him thinketh good of his owne knowledge, wherby two houres are thus cōmonly spent at this most profita∣ble méeting. Whē al is done if the first spea∣kers haue shewed any péece of diligence, they are commended for their trauaile and encou∣raged to go forward. If they haue béene foūd to be slacke, their negligence is openly repro∣ued before all their brethren, who go aside of purpose from the laitie after the exercise en∣ded, to iudge of these matters and consulte of the next speakers & quantie of the text to be handled in that place. The laytie neuer spake but are onely hearers, & as it is vsed in some places wéekely, in other once in fouretéene dayes, in dyuers monethly, and elsewhere twise in a yere, so is it a notable spurre vnto all the ministers, therby to apply their bookes which otherwyse as in tymes past dyd giue themselues to hawking, hunting, tables, cardes, dyce, typling at the Alehouse, shooting and other like vanities, nothing commenda∣ble in such as shoulde be godly and zealous stewards of the good gifts of GOD, faith∣ful distributers of his worde vnto the people, and diligent pastours according to their cal∣ling.* 1.12 Our Elders or Ministers and Dea∣cons (for subdeacons and the other inferiour orders, sometime vsed in the Popish church we haue not) are made according to a cer∣taine forme of consecration concluded vpon in the time of king Edwarde the sixt, by the clergy of Englande, and soone after confir∣med by the thrée estates of the realme, in the high court of Parliamēt. And out of the first sort, that is to saye of such as are called to the ministery, are Bishops, Deanes, Arche∣deacons, & such as haue the higher places, in the Hierarchy of the church elected, & these also as al y^e rest, at the first cōming vnto any spirituall promotion doe yéeld vnto y^e Prince the entire taxe of their liuings for one whole yeare, if it amount in value vnto ten pounde and vpwardes, and this vnder the name of first fruites. They paye the tenthes yearely also of theyr sayde liuynges,* 1.13 accordyng to such valuations as haue béene made latelye of the same: for the receyt of which two pay∣mentes, an especial office or court is erected, which beareth name of first fruits and ten∣thes, wherevnto if the party to be preferred, doe not make his duetifull repayre by an ap∣pointed tyme after possession taken there to

compounde for the payment of his fruites, he incurreth the daunger of a great penalty, lymited by a certayne estatute prouided in that behalfe, against such as doe intrude into the ecclesiasticall functiō. They pay likewise subsides wyth the temporaltie, but in suche sort that if these paye after foure shillinges for lande,* 1.14 the cleargye paye commonly af∣ter sixe shilings of the pounde, so that of a be∣nefice of twentye pounde by the yeare the in∣cumbent thinketh himselfe well acquited, if all thinges being discharged he may reserue fiftéene pounde towarde his owne sustenta∣tion and maintenance of his family. Seldom also are they without the compasse of a sub∣sidye, for if they be one yeare cleare from this payment they are lyke in the next to here of another graunt, so that I saye a∣gayne they are seldome wythout the limite of a subsidie. The laity maye at euery taxa∣tion also helpe themselues, and so they doe thorowe consideration had of their decaye, and hinderaunce, and yet their impouerish∣mēt cannot but touch also the Parson or Vi∣car, as is daily to be séene in their accounpts and tythings.

The other paimētes due vnto the Archbi∣shop and Bishop at their seuerall visitatiōs, (of which the first is double to the latter) and suche also as the Archedeacon receyueth at hys Synodes. &c. remaine still as they dyd, wythout any alteration: onely thys I thynke be added within memory of man, that at the comming of euery prince, hys appointed of∣ficers doe commonly visite the whole realme vnder the forme of an ecclesiasticall inquisi∣tion, in which the cleargy doe paye double fées, as vnto the Archbishop. Hereby thē & by those already remembred, it is founde that the Church of Englande, is no lesse commo∣dious to the Princes coffers then the laitye, if it doe not farre excéede the same, since their paimentes are certayne continuall and sel∣dome abated, howesoeuer they gather vppe their owne dueties, or haue their lyuinges otherwise hardly valued vnto the vttermost fardings, or shrewdely canceled by the coue∣tousnesse of the patrones,* 1.15 of whom some do bestowe aduousons of benefices vpon theyr Bakers, Butlers, Cokes, and horsekéepers, in stéede of other recompēce, for their long & faithful seruice which they employ vnto their most aduantage. But to procéede wyth our purpose. The names moreouer vsually giuē vnto such as féede the flocke remaine in lyke sort as in tymes past, so y^t these wordes, par∣son, Vicar, curate, and such are not, as yet a∣bolished more then the Canon lawe it selfe, which is daily pleaded as I haue sayde else∣where, although the estatutes of the realme haue greatly infringed the large scope, and brought the exercise of the same into some narrower limits. There is no thing redde in our churches but the canonicall Scriptures, whereby it commeth to passe that the Psal∣ter is sayd ouer once in thirtie dayes, y^e new Testament foure times, and the olde Testa∣ment once in the yeare. And herevnto if the Curate be adiudged by the Bishop or his de∣puties, sufficientlye instructed in the holye scriptures, he permitteth him to make some exposition or exhortation in his parishe, vnto amendment of lyfe. And for as much as our churches and vniuersities haue béene so spoi∣led in tyme of errour, as there cannot yet be had such number of learned pastours as may suffise for euery parish to haue one: there are certaine sermones or homelies, deuised by sundry learned men, confirmed for sounde doctrine, by consent of the diuines, and pub∣like authoritie of the prince, and those ap∣pointed to be read by the Curates of meane vnderstanding, (which Homelies doe com∣prehende the principall partes of christian doctrine, as of originall sinne, of Iustificatiō by fayth, of charity and such lyke) vpon the Sabbaoth dayes, vnto the congregation. Likewise in our common prayer, the lessons are onely certeine appointed chapters, taken out of the olde and newe Testament. The administration moreouer of the sacraments and residue of the seruice, is done in the chur∣ches, wholly in our vulgare tong, that eche one present, maye here and vnderstande the same, which also in Cathedrall and Collegi∣ate churches is so ordered, that the Psalmes onely are song by note, the rest being redde (as in common parishe Churches) by the Minister wyth a loude voyce, sauynge that in the administration of the Communion the Quier singeth the answeres, the crede, and sundry other thynges appointed, but in so plaine (I say) and distinct maner, that eche one present may vnderstand what they sing, euery worde hauing but one note, though the whole Harmony consist of many partes, and those very cunningly set by the skilful in that science. As for our Churches themselues, Belles, and times of morning and euening praier, they remaine as in times past, sauing that all Images, shrines, tabernacls, rood∣loftes, and monumentes of Idolatry, are re∣mooued, taken downe, and defaced, onely the storyes in glasse windowes excepted, which for want of sufficient store of newe stuffe, & by reason of extreame charge that shoulde growe, thorow the alteration of the same in∣to white panes thorowe out the realme, are

not altogither abolyshed in most places at once, but by lyttle and little suffered to de∣caye, that white glasse may be prouided and set vp in their roomes. Finally wheras there was woont to be a great particion betwéene the Quire and the body of the Church, nowe it is either very small or none at all: and to saye the truth altogither néedelesse, sithe the Minister sayth his seruice commonly in the bodye of the church, wyth his face towarde the people, in a little tabernacle of wainescot prouided for the purpose, by which meanes the ignoraunt doe not onely learne dyuers of the psalmes and vsuall prayers by heart, but also such as can read doe pray togither with him, so that the whole congregation at one instant doe poure out their peticions, vnto the liuing God, for the whole estate of hys church in most earnest and feruent maner. Thus much briefly of the estate of the church of England, I meane touching the regimēt of the same, y^e seruice of God, & forme of com¦mon Prayer: now will I returne to the par∣ticular limites of eache seuerall Byshoprijc, whereby we shall sée theyr boundes, and how farre theyr iurisdictions doe extende, begin∣ning first with the Sie of Cantorbury in such briefe order as foloweth here at hand.

* 1.16The iurisdictiō of Cantorbury (erected first by Augustine the Monke) yf you haue respect to his prouinciall regiment, extendeth it selfe ouer all the south part of this Island. But if you regarde the same onely that belongeth vnto his Sie, it reacheth but ouer one parcell of Kent: the Diocesse of Rochester enioying the rest: so that in thys one countey the grea∣test Archbishoprijcke and at the lest Bishop∣rijcke of all are vnited & strictly lincked togi∣ther. That of Cantorbury hath vnder it one Archedeacō, who hath charge ouer xj. Dea∣neries or a hūdred thrée score and one parishe churches, and in the Popish time there went out of this Sie to Rome at euery alienation for first fruites 10000. Ducates or Florens (for I reade both) beside 5000. that the new elect vsually payed for hys pall. I woulde speake somewhat of his peculiers dispersed here & there in other shires, but sith I haue no certaine knowledge of them, I passe thē ouer vntill an other tyme.

* 1.17The Sie of Rochester is also included with∣in y^e limits of Kent, whose Archedeacon hath onelye thrée Denaries vnder his iurisdiction contayning 132. Parishe churches: so that hereby it is to be gathered that there are at the least 393. Parishe churches in Kent, ouer which these two Archdeacons afore re∣membred doe exercise Ecclesiasticall autho∣ritie. This Byshop at euery alienation was woont to pay to the Sie of Rome 1300 Du∣cates or florens. He was also crossebearer in tyme past to the Archbyshop of Cantorbury and Iustus was the first Byshop that was in∣stalled in the same.

The Sie of London,* 1.18 whereof Mellitus is accoūted to be the first Pastor in the Popish Cataloge, is nowe contented to be vnder the gouernaunce of a Bishop, which in olde time had hir Archebishop vntill Cantorbury be∣reft hir of that honour by the practise of Au∣gustine the monke, who I wote not vpō what priuie occasion, remooued his Archebishops Sie from thence farder into Kent. It inclu∣deth Essex, Midlesex and part of Her•…•…forde shyre, and is neyther more nor lesse in quan∣titie then the auncient kingdome of the east Saxons before it was vnited to that of the west Saxons, as our hystories doe report. The iurisdiction of this Sie vnder the bishop is committed to foure Archedeacons, that is of London, Essex, Midlesex, and Colchester and those haue amongst them to the number of 363. Parishes or thereabouts, beside the peculiers belonging to the Archebishop, and at euery alienation the new incumbent was bounde to pay to the Bishop of Rome 3000. Ducates or florenes as I reade.* 1.19

Chichester (the beginning of which sie was in y^e Isle of Selesey, but afterward trāslated to Chichester) hath now Sussex only, and the wight vnder which are sixtéene Deaneries, containing to y^e nūber of 551. parishs. It paid at euery alienatiō to y^e Sie of Rome 333. du∣cates, as I haue reade of late. One Edbert was the first bishop there, thē one Cella suc∣céeded, after whom the sie was voyd by ma∣ny yeres. It was erected also 711. by y^e decrée of a Synode holden in Sussex,* 1.20 which separa∣ted it frō the iurisdiction of y^e sie of Winche∣ster, wherof before it was reputed a parcell.

Winchester hath Hamshyre and Surry, & in olde time the Wight wherein are eyght Deanaries and 276. Parish churches, and beside that the Bishoppe of thys Diocesse is perpetuall Prelate vnto the honorable order of the Garter, his taxe at his institution was 12000. ducats or florens. If the old cataloge of the Bishoppes of this Sie be well conside∣red of, and the actes of the greatest parte of them indifferently weighed, as they are to be reade in our Hystories, you shall finde the most egregious hypocrites, the stoutest war∣riours, the cruellest tyrauntes, the richest money mongers, & polliticke counsellours in temporall affayres, to haue I wote not by what secrete worcking of the diuine proui∣dence béene placed here in Winchester, sith the foundation of that Sie, which was erec∣ted

by Birinus, 639. (whome Pope Honorius sent hycher out of Italy) and first planted at Dorchester, in the tyme of Kynigils, then translated to Winchester, where it doth yet continue.

* 1.21Salisbury hath nowe Barckeshyre, and Wilshyre onely, for after y^e death of Hedda, which was 704. Winchester was deuided in two, so that onely Hampton and Surrey were left vnto it, & Wilton, Dorset, Barke∣shyre, Somerset, Deuon, & Cornwall, assig∣ned vnto Salisbury, tyll other order was ta∣ken. The valuation hereof in Rome was lately 4000. Ducats or florens, as the taxe therof yet recordeth. Certes I haue not read of any bishop that hath béene a greater orna∣ment to this Sie then Bishop Iewell lately deceased, sith the tyme that Adelme dyd first beginne that Byshoprijcke 704. which was before a percell of the iurisdiction of Win∣chester, founded at Shirburne, & afterward translated to Salisbury, but I can not well tell in what yeare after the conquest.

* 1.22Excester hath Deuonshyre and Cornewall & the valuation of this liuing was 6000. du∣cates, which were payde at euery alienation vnto the Bishoppe of Rome.

* 1.23Bathe, whose Sie was sometyme at Welles, hath Somersetshyre onely, and the value therof was rated at 430. Ducates in y^e Popish taxation, except I be deceyued. This Bishoprijcke was erected 905. in a counsell holden among the Gewises, whereat king Edwarde of the Westsaxons, & Plegimund Archebishop of Cātorbury were present. For that part of the country had béene seauen yeres without any Pastorall cure, and ther∣fore in this counsel it was agréed that for the two Bishoprijcks (wherof one was at Win∣chester another at Shireburne) there should be fiue ordayned, whereby the people there myght be the better instructed. By thys meanes Frithstan was placed at Winche∣ster,* 1.24 and Etheline at Shireburne, both of thē being then voyde. Shireburne also sustained the subdiuision, so that Werstane was made Bishop of Cridioc or Deuonshire (whose Sie was at Kyrton) Herstan of Cornewall, and Eadulf of Welles, vnto whome Barkshyre & Dorsetshyre were appointed, but now you see what alteratiō is made, by consideration of the limites of their present iurisdictions.

Worcester sometime called Epātus wicci∣orum hath Worcester & part of Warwijc∣shyres,* 1.25 and before the Bishoprijc of Gloce∣ster was taken out of the same, it payde to the Pope 2000. Ducates of golde at euery chaunge of Prelate. This Sie was begunne either in or not long before the time of Offa, king of the east Angles, and Boselus was the first Bishop there, after whome, succéeded Ostfort, then Egwine who went in pilgri∣mage to Rome, with Kinredus of Mercia & the sayde Offa, and there gate a Monasterie (which he buylded in Worcester) confirmed by Constantine the Pope.

Glocester hath Glocestershyre only,* 1.26 wher∣in are nyne Deanaries and to the number of 294. Parishe churches, as I finde by good record. But it neuer payd any thing to rome, bycause it was erected by king Henry the eyght, after he had abolished the vsurped au∣thoriyt of y^e Pope, except in Quéene Maries, if any such thing were demeaned, as I doubt not but it was.

Hereforde hath Herefordeshyre and part of Shorpshyre and payde to Rome at euery chaunge of Bishop 1800.* 1.27 Ducates or florens at the least.

Lechfield wherunto Couētry is added,* 1.28 hath Staffordeshyre Darbyshire part of Shrop∣shire & the rest of Warwijc, that is voyde of subiection to the sie of Worcester. It was e∣rected in the time of Peada king of the south Mertians which lay on this side of y^e Trent, & therin one Dinas was enstalled about the yeare of grace 656. after whom succéeded Kellac, thē Tunher an Englishman, but con∣secrated by the Scottes. It paid to the Pope 1733. Ducates, in mine opinion a good round fine, but not without a iust punishment, sith that in times past vz. 765. Eldulf Bishoppe there vnder king Offa of Mertia woulde haue bereft the sie of Cantorbury of hir pall in the time of Pope Adriane, and so dyd for a season till thinges were reduced into their former order.

Oxforde hath Oxforde shyre onely,* 1.29 a verye yonge Iurisdiction, erected by kyng Henry the eyght, and where in the time of Quéene Mary, one Goldwell was Bishop, who as I remember was a Iesuite, dwelling in Rome and more conuersant as the fame went in the blacke Arte, then skilfull in the Scrip∣tures, and yet he was of great countenaunce amongst the Romayne monarches. It is said that obseruyng the Canons of hys order, he regarded not the temporalities, but I haue heard sithens that he wist well ynough what became of those commodities.

Ely hath Cambridgeshyre, & the Isle of E∣ly. It was erected 1109. by Henry the first,* 1.30 being before a riche and welthy abbay. One Heruy also was made Bishoppe there, as I haue foūd in a Register, belōging sometime to that house. Finallye it payde to the Pope at euery alienation. 7000. Ducates, as the Registers there doth testifie at large.

* 1.31Northwich called in old time Episcopatus, domucensis, (whose sée was first at Helmehā, then at Thetforde) hath Suffolke and Nor∣folke. The circuite hereof was once all one, with that of the Kinges of the east Angles, till Ely was taken from the same, & it began about the yeare 632. vnder Eorpenwalde king of the East Saxons, and one Felix of Burgundy, was first Bishop there, who sate seuentéene yeares, and was placed therein by Honorius the Pope, finally it payde at e∣uery alienation. 5000. Ducates to Rome of curraunt money as I reade.

* 1.32Peterborow sometime a notable monaste∣ry hath Northampton, and Rutlande shires, a diocesse erected also by king Henry y^e eight. It neuer payde first fruites to the Pope, but in Queene Maries dayes, if ought were then demaunded, because it was a sie not recorded in the auncient Register, of hys first fruites and tenthes.

* 1.33Bristowe hath Dorcet shyre, sometime belongyng to Salisbury, a sie lately erected by Kyng Henry the eyght, who tooke no small care for the Churche of Christ, & ther∣fore eased a number of the auncient sies, of theyr superfluous circutes, and bestowed the same vppon such other, as he had appoynted for the better regimente and féeding of the flocke.

* 1.34Lincolne of all other in times past was the greatest, for although that out of it were taken the Bishoprijckes of Oxforde, and Peterborow, yet it reteineth still Lincolne, Leicester, Huntyngdon, Bedforde, Buc∣kingham shyres, and the rest of Hartford∣shyre, so that it extended from the Thames vnto the Humber, and payde vnto the Pope for the whole 5000. Ducates, as appeareth by record at euery alienation. It beganne a∣bout the beginning of William Rufus, by one Remigius who remooued his Sie to Lin∣colne frō Dorchester, as Math. Westmin∣ster doth report, & thus much of such Bishop∣rijcks as lye within Lhoegres or Englande as it was left vnto Locrinus, nowe it follo∣weth that procéede with Wales.

Lhandaffe or the churche of Tau, contay∣neth Glamorgan,* 1.35 Monmouth, Brecknoch and Radnor shyres, and paide to Rome 700. Ducats as I reade at euery chaunge of Pre∣late.

* 1.36S. Dauides hath Pembrooke, and Caer∣mardine shyres, whose liuerie or first fruites to the Sie of Rome was 1500. Ducates at the hardest as I thincke.

* 1.37Bangor is in north Wales, & hath Caer∣nar•…•…on, Anglisey and Merioneth shyres vn∣der hir iurisdiction, it paid also to Rome 126. Ducates or florence, as their bookes doe yet declare.

S. Asaphes hath Prestholme and parte of Denbigh & Flintshyres,* 1.38 which beyng layde togither doe amount to little more then one good countye, & therfore iustly supposed to be y^e lest Bishoprijcke that is to be founde with∣in Wales, yet it paide to Rome 470. Du∣cates, except my memory doth fayle. And hi∣therto of the Prouince Caunterburye, for so much thereof as lyeth in thys Islande, nowe it resteth that I procéede with the other of Yorke in such order as I may.

The Sie of Yorke beganne aboute the yeare of grace. 625.* 1.39 vnder Iustus of Caun∣terburye, who ordeyned Paulinus the first Bishop there, in the time of Edwine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 king Northumberland. Of it self it hath Iurisdic∣tion ouer Yorkshyre, Nottingham shyre, & the rest of Lancaster shire, not subiect to the Sie of Chester, and when the Pope bare au∣thority in this realme it payde vnto his Sie. 1000. Ducates, beside also 5000. for the pal of the newe elect, which was more then he coulde well spare, considering the diuinution of hys Sie, by meanes of the erection of a new Metropolitane in Scotland, as I haue shewed else where.

Chester hath Chestershire, Darbishire,* 1.40 the most part of Lancaster shyre (vnto the Ry∣bell) Richemonde, and a part of Flinte and Denbighe shyres in Wales also vnder due subiection for ecclesiasticall matters. In the olde popish tyme, there was no Bishoprijck, called by that name (although the Byshop of Léechfielde had sometime his Sie pitched in that place, and therefore of some was called Bishop of Chester) sith king Henry the eight was the first, that erected any there.

Durham hath the county of Durham one∣ly, and Northumberlande,* 1.41 whereof the By∣shoppes haue béene sometimes Earles Pa∣latines, and ruled the rost vnder the name of the Bishoprijcke, a Sie in my opinion more profitable, & of lesse countenaunce, then his prouinciall. But whatsoeuer it be for exter∣nall apparaunce, sure it is that it payde to Rome 9000. Ducates or Florenes, at eue∣ry chaunge, as the recorde yet expresseth, Aydan a Scot was the first Byshop of this Sie, who helde himselfe as did also manye of his successours, in Lindsfarne Isle, till one came that remooued it to Durham.

Careliel erected 1132. by Henry the first,* 1.42 & whereof Ethelwoolf confessor to Osmond Byshop of Salisbury, was made originall Bishop, hath Cumberland & Westmerland, as for the Deanerses and number paryshes conteyned in the same, as yet I haue no

knowledge, more then of many of the other, howbeit of this I am sure, that the Pope re∣ceyued out of it at euery chaunge of Byshop 1000. florenes, albeit that it might haue spared much more as an aduersarie thereto confessed sometyme euen before the Pope himselfe, supposing no lesse but to haue gai∣ned by hys tale.

* 1.43Beside all these we haue another Bishop∣rijcke yet in England, but very obscure, be∣cause the Byshoppe thereof hath not where∣with to maintaine his countenaunce suffici∣entlye, and that is, the Sie of Mona or Man, sometime named Epātus Sodorensis, where∣of one Wimundus was ordeyned the first bi∣shop, and Iohn the seconde, in the reigne of king Stephē. The gift of this prelacy resteth in y^e Erles of Darby, who nominateth such a one from time to tyme, thereto as to them doth séeme conuenient. Howbeit if that Sie might reape hir owne commodities, I doubt not but the estate of hir Bishop would quick∣ly be amended. And thus much of our bishop∣rijcks, and maner how the ecclesiastical iu∣risdiction of the church of England, is deuy∣ded among the shyres, and countyes of thys realme. Whose Bishops as they haue béene heretofore of greater port and dooings in the common wealth, then at this present, so are they nowe for the most part the best learned that are to be founde, in any country of Eu∣rope, sith neither high parentage, nor great ryches as in other countreyes, but onelye learning and vertue doe bring them to thys honour. I might here haue spoken of diuers other Bishoprijcks, sometime in this part of the Islande, as of that of Caerlheon, where Dubritius gouerned, which was afterwarde translated to S. Dauides, and taken for an Archbishoprijck: secōdly of the Bishoprijc of Leircester, whose fourth bishop called Vn∣won went to Rome with Offa king of Mer∣tia:* 1.44 thirdly of Ramsbyry or Wiltō, & of Glo∣cester (of which you shall reade in Math. West. 489) where the bishop was called El∣dad: also of Hagulstade, one of the thrée mē∣bers wherinto the Sie of Yorke was deuided after thexpulsion of Wilfrid. For as I reade when Egfrid the king had driuen him away, he deuided his Sie into thrée partes, making Bosa ouer the Deiranes that helde his Sie at Hagulstade: Eatta ouer the Bernicians, who sate at Yorke: and Edhedus ouer Lind∣far, whose successours were Ethelwine, Ed∣gar and Kinibert, notwithstanding that one Sexulfus was ouer Lindfarre before Edhe∣dus, who was Bishop of the Mertians and middle England till he was banished from Lindisse and came into these quarters, to séeke his refuge and succour. I coulde lyke∣wyse entreate of the Bishoppes of White∣herne, or ad Candidam Casam, nowe a par∣cell of Scotland, and of diuers chaūges and alterations hapning in these sies frō time to time, but sith my purpose is to touch only the estate of thinges present, it may suffice to haue sayde thus much of them, though alto∣gither beside mine intended purpose.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Two pro∣uinces.
• * 1.2

  Anselme.
• * 1.3

  Th•…•… Beck•…•…
• * 1.4

  21. 〈…〉〈…〉 vnder 〈…〉〈…〉 vnder Arch••••••∣shop 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Yorke
• * 1.5

  Dea•…•…
• * 1.6

  Ca•…•…
• * 1.7

  Ordinary ••••rmons.
• * 1.8

  Ordinary ••••positions 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the ••••riptures.
• * 1.9

  The By∣•…•…hopes •…•…each •…•…iligent∣•…•…, whose •…•…redeces∣•…•…ors here∣•…•…ofore haue •…•…éene occu∣•…•…ied in •…•…emporall •…•…ffayres. Archdea∣•…•…ons.
• * 1.10

  Highe Commis∣•…•…ioners.
• * 1.11

  A pro∣•…•…hesye or conference.
• * 1.12

  Ministers Deacons.
• * 1.13

  First frui∣tes and tenthes.
• * 1.14

  Subsidies
• * 1.15

  The very cause why weauers, pedlers & glouers haue béene made Mi∣nisters, for y^e learned refuse such matches, so that yf the Bishops in times past hadde not made such by o∣uersight & friendship I wote not howe such men shold haue done wyth their ad∣uousons. as for a glo¦uer or a tayle•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •…•…e 〈…〉〈…〉 or 10. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and 〈…〉〈…〉 shalt 〈…〉〈…〉 all the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 so he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.16

  •…•…antorbu∣•…•….
• * 1.17

  •…•…ochester.
• * 1.18

  London.
• * 1.19

  Chichester
• * 1.20

  Winche∣ster. The By∣shoppe of Winche∣ster was sometime called bi∣shop of the Westsaxōs or of Dor∣chester, which town was giuen to Birinus & his succes∣sours, by Kinigils of the West saxons and Oswald king of the Northū∣bers.
• * 1.21

  Salisbury
• * 1.22

  Excester.
• * 1.23

  Bathe.
• * 1.24

  The By∣shoprijck of Shire∣burne diui∣ded into 3.
• * 1.25

  Worcester.
• * 1.26

  Gloces••••
• * 1.27

  Heref•…•…
• * 1.28

  Liche•…•… whose 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was h•…•…∣den 〈◊〉〈◊〉 time at West•…•…∣ter, th•…•… now h•…•… a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Bi•…•… owne.
• * 1.29

  Oxfor••••
• * 1.30

  Ely.
• * 1.31

  ••••wiche.
• * 1.32

  ••••terbo∣••••.
• * 1.33

  ••••istow.
• * 1.34

  ••••ncolne.
• * 1.35

  ••••andaffe.
• * 1.36

  •…•…. Da∣••••ds.
• * 1.37

  Bangor.
• * 1.38

  S. Asa∣phes.
• * 1.39

  Yorke.
• * 1.40

  Chester.
• * 1.41

  Durham or Lindes∣farme.
• * 1.42

  Caerleill.
• * 1.43

  Man.
• * 1.44

  Glocester a very auncient bishoprijc.