The antiquities of Canterbury. Or a survey of that ancient citie, with the suburbs, and cathedrall Containing principally matters of antiquity in them all. Collected chiefly from old manuscripts, lieger-bookes, and other like records, for the most part, never as yet printed. With an appendix here annexed: wherein (for better satisfaction to the learned) the manuscripts, and records of chiefest consequence, are faithfully exhibited. All (for the honour of that ancient metropolis, and his good affection to antiquities) sought out and published by the industry, and goodwill of William Somner.

Robert Winchelsey. 49.

Robert Winchelsey succeeded Peckham. In the Record of whose inthronization, I finde mention of three Sub-Dea∣con-Cardinalls of the Church which did assist the then Prior in that action. Such (it seems) the Church had at that time. Of the like sometimes in S. Pauls Church Lon∣don, S. Hen. Spelman's Glossary will inform you in verbo Car∣dinalis. But I come to the Archbishop, who kept possession of the Chaire about the space of 19 yeares, and died in the yeare 1313. Much might be said of his admirable liberali∣tie and charitie to the poore, but here of Archbishop Parker, and from him, Bishop Godwin and others have said enough already. And I passe over his whole life, and come to his buriall place, which is not now extant by any monument of * 1.1 him in the Church. But certain it is he once had one there, and it stood (say those Authors) beside the Altar of S. Gre∣gory by the South-wall. This obscure description of the si∣tuation at length I came to understand thus. First I read in some Records of the Church a gift ad luminare troni qui est contra imaginem Salvatoris contra altaria Sanctorum Iohannis Evangelistae & Gregorii Papae. To shew me where these al∣tars stood, comes after to my sight the mention of Altare Sancti Iohannis Evangelistae in Australi cruce. Which laid to the former I perceive these altars stood in the South crosse-Ile of the Quire, the one under the one, the other under the other East-window thereof, more assured of it by view∣ing the opposite wall, where are tokens of something (most likely that throne) once affixed to it, but now had away. By the South-wall then of this Crosse-Ile sometime stood this Archbishops tombe.

About 13 yeares after his death, Thomas then Earle of * 1.2 Lancaster, implored his Canonization at the Popes hands, but without successe for these reasons. Scire te volumus (saith the Pope to him q 1.3) quod Romana mater ecclesia non con∣s••vit super tanta causa praesertim praecipitanter aliquid agere,

quin potius tale negotium solempnis examinationis indagine pon∣derare, propter quod si negotium ipsum credideris promovendum, oportet quòd illud coram fratribus nostris in Consistorio per so∣lempnes personas ex parte Praelatorum Cleri & populi Anglicani vitam, merita, atque miracula ipsius Archiepiscopi attestantium specialiter destinatas solempniter proponatur, supplicatione sub∣juncta, ut inquisitio hujusmodi de vita mirabili, miraculis etiam & meritis gloriosis person•• idoneis committatur, ut juxta exitum inquisitionis ipsius canonizatio fieri debeat vel omitti &c. Here∣upon his immediate Successor (Walter Reynolds) and his Suffragans, anno 1326., all joyned in petition to the Pope for his Canonization, directing their letters to him for that purpose under their severall hands and seales: which it seems were never sent, for the originall is yet remaining in the Cathedrall. Vidi, inspexi. And I do not reade that he was ever canonized. Yet for his vertues, the common peo∣ple would needs esteem him a Saint. And I finde treasurers of the Church accompt divers yeares for offerings to or at his tombe. Therefore it was afterwards pulled down. In the Records both of the Cathedrall, and of the Hospitall of Herbaldowne I have seen new Statutes of his making, * 1.4 namely such as he made and gave to either, upon and after his Visitation of each place. It was he that first erected per∣petuall Vicarages in the mother Church of Reculver, and the Chapells to it (Hearne and S^t Nicholas) and endowed them, as I finde by an authenticall copy of the ordination of those Vicarages which hath come unto my hands.

For the maintenance of the Churches liberties, and ec∣clesiasticall Jurisdiction, he mainly opposed prohibitions * 1.5 grown frequent in his dayes, and caused the Clergies grie∣vances to be drawn into Articles: whereof see the Anti∣quitates Britannicae in his life. pag. 211. See also pag. 215. in the life of his Successor Reynolds; and if you would know what good courses have from time to time sithence been taken to restrain Prohibitions, see the same Author pag. 216. in the life of the same Reynolds. pag 286. in the life of Staf∣ford. pag. 294 in the life of Bourgchier, in which last place

you may finde this worthy question properly, by my ren∣dred Author, subjoyned. Cum itaque (saith he) omnis La∣icorum Iudicum in Praelatos quaerimonia, tum cum Romanae Cu∣riae potestas etiam Regibus ipsis terrorem incussit; sola haec fuit, qd' nisi pleraeque causae ab ecclesiastico foro ampu••entur, appellati∣onibus à regia cognitione ad populum perferantur: quid nunc dicere possunt cum pralati Regiam authoritatem & divino ver∣bo sanctiùs, & sua jurisdictione multò peritiùs tueantur quam Causidici? &c.

To return to our Archbishop. He married King Ed. 1. to his second wife Margaret in his Church at Cant. whose nup∣tiall feast (saith Stow) was kept in the great Hall of his Pa∣lace.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Winchelseyes tombe.
• * 1.2

  Endeavours for his Cano∣nization.
• q 1.3

  Liber Ecc••s. Cant.
• * 1.4

  His Statutes.
• * 1.5

  Prohibitions.