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.

ROBERT of SHREWSBURY was in the reign of King John (but I dare not say by him) preferred Bishop of Bangor 1197. Afterwards the King, waging war with Leo∣line Prince of Wales, took this Bishop prisoner in his own Cathedral Church, and enjoyned him to pay * 1.1 Three hundred Hawkes for his ransome. Say not that it was improper that a Man of Peace should be ransomed with Birds of Prey, seeing the Bishop had learnt the Rule, Redime te captum quam queas minimo. Besides 300 Hawkes will not seem so inconsi∣derable a matter, to him that hath read, how in the reign of King Charles an English Noble Man (taken prisoner at the Ile * 1.2 Ree) was ransomed for a Brace of Grey-hounds.

Such who admire where the Bishop on a sudden should furnish himself with a stock of such Fowl, will abate of their wonder, when they remember that about this time the Men of Norway (whence we have the best Hawkes) under Magnus their General, had possessed themselves of the Neighbouring Iland of † 1.3 Anglesea. Besides he might stock himself out of the Aryes of Pembrook-shire, where † 1.4 Perigrines did plentifully breed. How ever, this Bishop appeareth something humerous by one passage in his Will, wherein he gave order that his Body should be buried in the middle of the Market place † 1.5 of Shrews∣bury. Impute it not to his profaness and contempt of Consecrated ground, but either to his humility accounting himself unworthy thereof, or to his prudential fore-sight, that the fury of Souldiers (during the intestine War betwixt the English and Welsh) would fall fiercest on Churches, as the fairest market, and men, preferring their profit before their Piety, would preserve their Market-places, though their Churches were destroyed. He died Anno 1215.

ROBERT BURNEL, was son to Robert, and brother to Hugh Lord Burnel, whose Prime Seat was at Acton-Burnel-Castle in this County. He was by King Edwàrd the First preferred Bishop of Bath and VVell•…•…s, and first Treasurer, then Chancelor of England. He was well vers'd in the Welsh affairs, and much us'd in managing them; and that he might the more effectually attend such employment, caused the * 1.6 Court of Chancery to be kept at Bristol. He got great Wealth wherewith he enriched his kindred, and is supposed to have rebuilt the decayed Castle of Acton-Burnel on his own expence. And to decline envy for his secular structures left to his heirs, he built for his Successors the beautiful Hall at VVells, the biggest room of any Bishops Palace in England, pluck'd down by Sir John Gabos (afterwards executed for Treason) in the reign of King Edward the Sixth.

English and Welsh affaires being setled to the Kings contentment, he employed Bishop Burnel in some businesse about Scotland, in the Marches whereof he died, Anno Domini 1292. and his body, solemnly brought many miles, was buried in his own Ca∣thedral.

WALTER de WENLOCK Abbot of Westminster, was, no doubt, so named from his Nativity in a Market Town in this County. I admire much that Matthew of VVest∣minster writeth him VVilliam de VVenlock, and that a Monk of VVestminster should (though not miscall) mis-name the Abbot thereof. He was Treasurer * 1.7 of England to King Edward the First betwixt the twelfth and fourteenth year of his reign, and enjoyed his Abbots Office six and twenty years lacking six dayes. He died on Christmasse day at his Mannor of Periford in Glocester-shire 1307, and was buried in his Church at VVestminster, besides the High-Altar before the Presbutery, without the South dore of King Edward's Shrine, where Abbas VValterus non fuit Aus•…•…erus is part of his Epitaph.

RALPH of SHREWSBURY, born therein, was in the third of King Edward the Third preferred Bishop of Bath & VVells. Being consecrated without the Popes privity (a daring adventure in those dayes) he paid a large sum to expiate his presumption therein. He was a good Benefactor to his Cathedral, and bestowed on them a Chest Port∣cullis-like, barred with iron, able to hold out a siege in the view of such as beheld it. But, what is of proof against Sacriledge? Some Thieves (with what Engines, unknown) in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, * 1.8 forced it open.

But this Bishop is most memorable for erecting and endowing a spacious structure for the Vicars-Choral of his Cathedral to inhabit together, which in an old Picture is thus presented.

The Vicars humble petition on their knees.

Per vicos positi villae, Pater alme, rogamus, Ut simul uniti, te dante domos, maneamus.

To us dispers'd ith' streets, good Father, give, A place where we together all my live.

The gracious answer of the Bishop, sitting.

Vestra petunt merita quod sint concessa petita, Ut maneatis ita, loca fecimus haec stabilita.

Your merits crave that what you crave, be yeilded, That so you may remain, this place we've builded.

Having now made such a Palace (as I may term it) for his Vicars, he was (in obser∣vation of a proportionable distance) necessitated in some sort to enlarge the Bishops Seat, which he beautified and fortified Castle-wise, with great expence. He much ingratiated himself with the Country people by disforasting Mendip, Beef better plea∣sing the Husbandmans palate than Venison. He sate Bishop thirty four years, and dying August 14. 1363. lieth buried in his Cathedral, where his Statue is done to the life,* 1.9 Vivos viventes vultus vividissimè exprimens, saith my Authour.

ROBERT MASCAL, Was bred (saith Bale in) and born (saith * 1.10 Pitz positively) at Ludlow in this County, where he became a Carmelite. Afterwards he studied in Oxford, and became so famous for his Learning and Piety, that he was made Confessor to Henry the Fourth, and Counsellor to Henry the Fifth, Promoted by the former Bishop of Hereford. He was one of the Three English Prelates which went to (and one of the Two which re∣turned alive from) the Council of Constance. He died 1416 being buried in the * 1.11 Church of White-Friers in London, to which he had been an eminent Benefactor.

RICHARD TALBOTE was born of Honourable Parentage in this County, as* 1.12 Bro∣ther unto John Talbote, the first Earl of Shrewsbury. Being bred in Learning, he was con∣secrated Arch-bishop of Dublin in Ireland 1417. He sate two and thirty years in that See (being all that time a Privy Counsellor to King Henry the Fifth and Sixth) twice Chief Justice, and once Chancelor of Ireland.

He deserved well of his Church (founding six petty Canons, and as many Choristers therein) yea, generally of all Ireland, writing * 1.13 a Book against James Earl of Ormond, wherein he detected his abuses during his Lieutenancy in Ireland. He died August the 15. 1449. and lieth buried in Saint Patricks in Dublin under a marble stone, whereon an E•…•…itaph is written not worthy the inserting.

The said Richard was unanimously chosen Arch-bishop of Armagh, a higher place, but refused to remove, wisely preferring Safety, above either Honor or Profit.

GEORGE DAY was born in this * 1.14 County, and successively Scholer, Fellow and Provost of Kings Colledge in Cambridge. Which he reteined with the Bishoprick of Chichester, to which he was consecrated 1543. A most pertinacious Papist, who though he had made some kind of Recantation in a Sermon (as I find it entred in king Edward the Sixth his own Diary) yet either the same was not satisfactory; or else he relapsed into his errours again, for which he was deprived under the said king, and restored again by Queen Mary. He died Anno Dom. 1556.

Prelats since the Reformation.

WILLIAM DAY was brother to the aforesaid George Day. I find no great diffe∣rence betwixt their age, seeing

* 1.15 George Day was admitted in Kings Colledge, Anno 1538.

VVilliam Day was admitted in the same Colledge Anno 1545.

Yet was there more than forty years betwixt the dates of their deaths.

George Day died very young Bishop of Chichester, Anno Dom. 1556.

VVilliam Day died very old Bishop of VVinchester, Anno 1596.

But not so great was the difference betwixt their Vivacity, as distance betwixt their Opinions: the former being a Rigid Papist, the later a Zealous Protestant. Who request∣ing of his Brother some Money to buy Books therewith, and other necessaries, was re∣turned with this denial* 1.16 That he thought it not fit to spend the goods of the Church on him who was an enemy of the Church.

However, this William found the words of Solomon true,* 1.17 And there is a friend who is nearer than a Brother; not wanting those who supplyed his necessities: He was Proctor of Cambridge, 1558, and afterwards was made by Queen Elizabeth (who highly esteem∣ed him for his Learning and Religion) Provost of Eton and Dean of Windsor, two fair preferments (parted with Thames, but) united in his person; The Bishoprick of Win∣chester he enjoyed scarcely a whole year, and dyed as aforesaid, 1596.

Notes

• * 1.1

  B. Godwin, in his Bishops of Bangor.
• * 1.2

  H. le Strange in the History of K. Charles.
• † 1.3

  Camdens Brit. Anglesea.
• † 1.4

  Idem in Pem∣brook-shire.
• † 1.5

  B. Godwin in Bishops of Bangor.
• * 1.6

  Camdens Brit. in Salop.
• * 1.7

  Register of Westminster Abbey.
• * 1.8

  Godwin in the Bishops of of Bath and Welles.
• * 1.9

  Godwin, Ibid.
• * 1.10

  De Illust. Ang. script. pag. 591.
• * 1.11

  Godwin in Bishops.
• * 1.12

  Iacob•…•…s Wa∣reus, de Praesu∣libus Lageniae. pag: 28.
• * 1.13

  Idem de script. Hiber∣nia. pag. 131.
• * 1.14

  Parker in his Skellitos Can∣tabrigiensis, in the Provosts of Kings Colledg.
• * 1.15

  Mr. Hatcher in his Manu∣script. Cata∣logue, of Fel∣lows of Kings Colledge.
• * 1.16

  B. Godwin in the Catal. of the Bishops of Winchester.
• * 1.17

  Prov. 18. 24.