The history of the worthies of England who for parts and learning have been eminent in the several counties : together with an historical narrative of the native commodities and rarities in each county / endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

Prelates.

The Nevills.

We will begin with a Quaternion of Nevils, presenting them in Parallels, and giving them their Precedency before other Prelates (some their Seniors in time) because of their

Honourable Extraction. All four were born in this Bishoprick, as I am informed by my worthy Friend Mr. Charles Nevil, Vice-Provost of Kings in Cambridge, one as knowing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Universal Heraldry as in his own Colledge; in our English Nobility, as in his own Cham∣ber; in the ancient, fair, and far branched Family of the Nevils, as in his own Study.

* 1.1 RALPH NEVIL was born at Raby in this Bishoprick, was Lord Chancellour under King Henry the third (none dis∣charging that Office with greater integri∣ty and more general commendation) and Bishop of Chichester, 1223. He built a fair House from the ground in Chancery Lane, for himselfe and successors for an Inne, where they might repose them∣selves, when their occasions brought them up to London.

How this House was afterwards ali∣ened, and came in∣to the possession of Henry Lacy, Earl of Lincoln (from whom it is called Lincolns Inne at this day) I know not. Sure I am, that Mr. Moun∣tague (late Bishop of Chichester) intended to lay claim therun∣to, in right of his see. But alas, he was likely to follow a cold scent (after so many years distance) and a colder suit, be∣ing to encounter a Corporation of Lear∣ned Lawyers so long in the peaceable possession thereof.

Bishop Nevil was afterwards canoni∣cally chosen by the Monks (and confir∣med hy King Henry the third) Arch-bi∣shop of Canterbury, being so far from rejoycing thereat, that he never gave any 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, (or reward for their good news) to the two Monks which brought him ti∣dings, nor would allow any thing to∣ward the dischar∣ging their costly journey to Rome; foreseeing perchance that the Pope would stop his Consecration.

For some infor∣med his Holiness, that this Ralph was a Prelate of High Birth, haughty Sto∣mach, great Court∣ship, gracious with the King, and a per∣son probable to dis∣swade him from paying the Pension (promised by his Father K. Iohn) to the Court of Rome, & then no wonder if his Consecration was stopped theron. But was it not both an honor & happiness to our Nevil thus to be crost with the hands of his Holiness him∣self? yea it seems that no Crosier (save only that of Chiche∣ster) would fit his hand, being after∣wards elected Bish. of Winchester, & then obstructed by the K. who formerly so highly favor'd him. He built a Chappell without the east gate of Chichester, dedi∣cated to S. Michael; and having merited much of his own Cathedral, died at London, 1244.

ALEX. NEVIL, third Son of Ralph Lord Nevil, was born at Raby, be∣came first Canon, then Arch-Bishop of York, where he beautified and forti∣fied the Castle of Cawood with many Turrets. He was highly in Honour with King Richard the second, as much in hatred with the party opposing him.

These designed to imprison him (put∣ting Prelates to death not yet in fa∣shion) in the Castle of Rochester, had not our Alexander pre∣vented them by his flight to Pope Ur∣ban to Rome, who partly out of pity (that he might have something for his support) and more out of policy, (that York might be in his own disposal upon the removal of this Arch-Bishop) trans∣lated him to Saint Andrews in Scotland, and so dismissed him with his Bene∣diction.

Wonder not that this Nevil was loth to go out of the Popes blessing into a cold Sun, who could not accept this his new Arch- Bishoprick, in point of credit, profit, or safety.

1. Credit. For this his translation was a Post-Ferment, seeing the Arch-Bishoprick of Saint Andrews was subjected in that age unto York.

2. Profit. The Revenues being far worse than those of York.

3. Safety. Scot∣land then bearing an Antipathy to all En∣glish (and especially to the Nevils, re∣doubted for their victorious valour in those northern parts) and being in open hostility against them

Indeed half a loaf is better than no bread, but this his new translation was rather a stone, than half a loaf, not fil∣ling his Belly, yet breaking his Teeth, if feeding thereon. This made him pre∣ferre the Pastorall Charge of a Parish Church in Lovaine, before his Arch-no∣Bishoprick, where he died in the fifth year of his Exile, and was buried there in the Convent of the Carmelites.

ROB. NEVIL, sixth Son of Ralph, first Earl of West∣merland, by Joane his second VVife, Daughter of Iohn of Gaunt, bred in the University of Ox∣ford, and Provost of Beverly, was pre∣ferred Bishop of Sarisbury, in the sixth of King Henry the sixth, 1427.

During his conti∣nuance therein, he was principal Foun∣der of a Convent at Sunning in Berkshire (anciently the Bi∣shops See of that Diocess) valued at the dissolution (saith Bishop Godwin) at 682 l. 14 s. 7 d. ob. which I rather ob∣serve, because the estimation thereof is omitted in my (and I suspect all other) Speeds Catalogue of Religious Houses.

From Sarisbury he was translated to Durham, where he built a place called the Exchequer, at the Castle gate, and gave (in allusion of his two Bishopricks, which he succes∣sively enjoyed) two Annulets innected in his Paternal Coat. He died, Anno Dom. 1457.

GEO. NEVIL, fourth Son of Rich. Nevil Earl of Sa∣lisbury was born at Midleham in this Bi∣shoprick, bred in Baliol Colledge in Oxford, consecrated Bishop of Exeter, when he was not as yet twenty years of age, so that in the race not of age, but youth, he clear∣ly beat Tho. Arun∣del, who at twenty two was made Bi∣shop of Ely. Some say this was contra∣ry not only to the Canon Law, but Ca∣nonical Scripture. S.* 1.2 Paul forbidding such a Neophyte or Novice admission into that Office, as if because Rich. the make-King Earl of Warwick, was in a manner a∣bove Law, this his Brother also must be above Canons. His Friends do plead that Nobility and Ability supplyed age in him; seeing five years after, at 25. he was made Lord Chancellor of Eng∣land, and discharged it to his great com∣mendation.

He was afterwards made Arch-bishop of York, famous for the prodigious Feast at his Installing, wherein, besides Flesh, Fish, and Fowle, so many strange Dishes of Gellies. And yet amongst all this ser∣vice I meet not with these two.

But the inverted Proverb found truth in him, One Glutton∣Meal makes many hungry ones: for some years after fal∣ling into the dis∣pleasure of King Edward the fourth, he was flenderly dy∣etted, not to say fa∣mished in the Castle of Calis; and being at last restored by the Intercession of his Friends, died heart-broken at Blyth, and was buried in the Cathedral of York, 1476.

Besides these, there was another Nevil (Brother to Alexander aforesaid) chosen Bi∣shop of Ely, but death, or some other intervening accident hindered his Consecration.

Since the Reformation.

ROBERT HORN was born in this * 1.3 Bishoprick, bred in Saint Johns Colledge in Cambridge. Going thence under the raign of King Edward the sixth he was advanced Dean of Durham. In the Marian days he fled into Germany, and fixing at Frankford, became the head of the Episcopal party, as in my Ecclesiastical History at large doth appear.

Returning into England, he was made Bishop of VVinchester, Feb. 16. 1560. A worthy man, but constantly▪ ground betwixt two opposite parties, Papists and Se∣ctaries. Both of these in their Pamphlets sported with his name, as hard in Nature, and crooked in Conditions, not being pleased to take notice, how Horn in Scripture im∣porteth Power, Preferment, and Safety; both twitted his person, as dwarfish and de∣formed, to which I can say nothing, (none alive remembring him) save that such taunts, though commonly called ad Hominem, are indeed ad Deum, and though shot at Man, does glance at Him, who made us, and not we our selves. Besides it shews their ma∣lice runs low for might, (though high for spight) who carp at the Case when they cannot find fault with the Jewel. For my part, I mind not the Mould wherein, but the Metal whereof he was made, and lissen to Mr. * 1.4 Cambden his Character of him, Valido & foe∣cundo ingenio, of a sprightful and fruitful wit. He died in * 1.5 Southwark, June 1. 1589. and lyeth buried in his own Cathedral near to the Pulpit.

And now Reader, I crave leave to present thee with the Character of one who (I confess) falls not under my Pen according to the strictness of the Rules which we proposed to follow, as not being of the number of those Bishops, who may not unfit∣ly be termed (with Noah) righteous in their Generations, having seen two Sets (if I may so speak) of their Order, but preferred to that Dignity since our late happy Revolution. He is here fixed (though no Native of this County) because the fittest place, I conceive (it is happy when the Antidote meets the Poyson where it was first suck'd in) seeing formerly treating (in my Church History) of this Cathedral, I delivered his Character (to his disadvantage) very defectively.

JOHN COSEN, D. D. was born in the City of Norwich, bred in Cays Colledge in Cambridge, whereof he was Fellow. Hence was he removed to the Mastership of Peter-House in the same University. One whose abilities, quick apprehension, solid Judgement, variety of Reading, &c. are sufficiently made known to the world in his learned Books, whereby he hath perpetuated his name to posterity.

I must not pass over his constancy in his Religion, which rendereth him aimable in the eys not of good men only, but of that God with whom there is no variableness, nor sh•…•…dow of changing. It must be confessed that a sort of fond people surmised as if he had once been declining to the PopishPerswasion. Thus the dim sighted complain of the darkness of the room, when alas, the fault is in their own eyes: and the lame of the unevenness of the floor, when indeed it lieth in their unsound leggs. Such were the silly folk, (their understandings (the eys of their minds) being darkned, and their affections (the feet of their soul) made lame by prejudice,) who have thus falsly con∣ceited of this worthy Doctor.

However, if any thing that I delivered in my Church History (relating therein a Charge drawn up against him, for urging of some Ceremonies, without inserting his Purgation, which he effectually made, clearing himself from the least imputation of any fault) hath any way augmented this opinion, I humbly crave pardon of him for the same.

Sure I am, were his Enemies now his Judges (had they the least spark of ingenuity) they must acquit him, if proceeding according to the evidence of his Writing, Li∣ving, Disputing. Yea, whilest he remained in France, he was the Atlas of the Protestant Religion, supporting the same with his Piety and Learning, confirming the wavering therein, yea dayly adding Proselytes (not of the meanest rank) thereunto.

Since the return of our gracious Soveraign, and the reviving of swooning Episcopa∣cy, he was deservedly preferred Bishop of Durham. And here the Reader must pardon me, if willing to make known my Acquaintance with so eminent a Prelate. When one in his presence was pleased with some Propositions, wherein the Pope condescended somewhat to the Protestants, he most discreetly returned (in my hearing,) We thank him not at all for that which God hath always allowed us in his Word: adding withall, He would allow it us so long as it stood with his Policy, and take it away so soon as it stood with his Power. And thus we take our leave of this Worthy Prelate, praying for his long life, that he m•…•…y be effectual in advancing the settlement of our yet distracted Church.

Notes

• * 1.1

  All the re∣markable pas∣sages of these four Lives are taken out of Bishop God∣•…•… in his re∣spective Ca∣talogue of Bi∣shops.
• * 1.2

  * 1 Tim. 3. 6.
• * 1.3

  Bale de scrip. A g. Cent. 9. Num. 95.
• * 1.4

  In his Eliz. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 1559.
• * 1.5

  Bishop God∣win in the Bi∣shops of VVin∣chester.