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 */. 'J t i///or*//m'.'t/.J t '6in 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM, 
 
 BISHOP of WINCHESTER. 
 
 Collected from Records, Regifters, Manufcripts, 
 and other Authentic Evidences : 
 
 y 
 
 By ROBERT LOWTH, D.D. 
 
 Prebendary of Durham, 
 And Chaplain in Ordinary to His Majesty. 
 
 The Second Edition corretted. 
 Qyique fui memores alios fee ere merendo. Virg. 
 
 TZZZET 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed for A. Millar, in the Strand; and 
 
 R. and J. Dodsley, in Pall-Mail. 
 
 MDCCL1X. 
 

TO THE RIGHT REVEREND 
 
 BENJAMIN, 
 
 LORD BISHOPof WINCHESTER, 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 TH E great and good Man, of 
 whofe Life I have given an 
 authentic, however imperfect, ac- 
 count, in the moft earneft and folemn 
 manner recommended his two Colle- 
 ges, that is, his Eftate, his Family, 
 his Children, his dearer Self, to 
 the care and protection of his 3uc- 
 ceffors the Bifhops of Winchefter. 
 I mould not ad agreeably to his will 
 A 2 and 
 
IV 
 
 DEDI CATION. 
 
 and intention, if I did not endeavour 
 to obtain the fame patronage for his 
 Memory and his Reputation. 
 
 Your Lordfhip hath long executed 
 the Truft thus devolved upon You 
 in fuch a manner as demands the 
 moft grateful acknowledgements of 
 thofe Societies : You have treated 
 them upon all occafions with all the 
 tendernefs of an indulgent Parent ; 
 and if at any time the duty of that 
 Truft hath required You to interpofe 
 with authority, your decifions have 
 been wholly difinterefted and per- 
 fectly upright; You have acted juft 
 as He, whofe Subftitute You were, had 
 prefcribed; juft in every refped as 
 He would have acted Himfelf. 
 
 But 
 
 . 
 
DEDICATION. v 
 
 ■ 
 
 But this addrefs* My Lord, is not 
 more neceffary on account of the 
 Subject, than it is in reipedt of the 
 :; Author. Your Lordmip, unfollicited 
 and unafked, called him from one of 
 thofe Colleges to a Station of the firft 
 Dignity in your Diocefe ; and took 
 the earlier!: opportunity of accumula- 
 ting your favour upon him, and of 
 adding to that Dignity a fuitable 
 fupport. Thefe obligations he is 
 now the more ready thus publicly 
 to acknowledge, as he is removed 
 out of the reach of farther favours 
 of the like kind. And tho' he hath 
 relincjuifhed the advantages fo gene- 
 roufly conferred upon him, yet he 
 fhall always efteem himfelf highly 
 honoured in having once enjoyed the 
 A 3 patronage 
 
vi DEDICATION. 
 
 patronage of the great Advocate of 
 Civil and Religious Liberty. 
 
 1 am with the greater! Refpedl and 
 Gratitude, 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 Your Lordfhip's 
 
 Moft Obliged and mod 
 
 Obedient Servant, 
 
 
 Robert Lowth. 
 
( vii ) 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 TH E following collection was be- 
 gun, and was pretty far advanced, 
 feveral years ago, while the au- 
 thor had the happinefs of being a member 
 of one of the Colleges founded by the great 
 Prelate, who is the fubjecl: of it. It v/as part- 
 ly interrupted by purfuits of another kind, 
 and partly deferred in hopes of farther op- 
 portunities of enlarging his materials : 
 and it is now offered to the public, not 
 as full and complete in any refpecl, but 
 as the whole refult of his mod diligent 
 inquiries into a fubjecl rendered very ob» 
 fcure by the darknefs of the times to which 
 it belongs, and in which he defpairs of be- 
 ing able to acquire any considerable acceflion 
 of light. 
 
 It has long been a common complaint 
 
 among thoie. whofe refpecl and gratitude 
 
 A 4 has 
 
via PREFACE. 
 
 has raifed in them a curiofity not eafily 
 fatisned with regard to their great Bene- 
 factor, that fo few particulars of the life 
 and actions of fo eminent a perfon have 
 been with certainty delivered down to us ; 
 and that the traces that remain of do- 
 meftic tradition concerning him, are fo 
 very obfcure and imperfect. Chaunde 
 ler * began with this complaint thre 
 hundred years ago: by his attempt t 
 write upon the fubject he has fhewn, that 
 he did not want a good will ; but by his 
 performance he has contributed very little 
 towards removing the obfcurity of which 
 he fo much complains. Much might have 
 been then done by a diligent inquiry pro- 
 perly conducted ; but the moil able men 
 of that time knew not either what ad- 
 vantages they had, or how to make ufe 
 
 * " Wilhelmi vita ferme ignota eft, & pauci aut 
 «* nulit extant de ea fcripti libri ; quod non line ad- 
 " miratione dico, tarn excelfum & gloriofum virum a 
 «' memoria hominum excidere, cum vix quinquaginta 
 " tk ofto anni ab ejus morte tranfierunt." Chaundeler. 
 MS- in Biblioth. Coil. Nov. pag. 42. 
 
 " Nos quid honoris, quid laudis, quid glorias, fun- 
 *' datori noftro tanto contulimus, qui nihil ferme de 
 " beatis ejus moribus & vita (ollicite exquirentes, proh 
 " pudor immemores beneficii, quafi morbidum patimur 
 " letargum?" Ibid. pag. 4. 
 
 Of 
 
PREFACE, ir 
 
 of them. The age was in itfelf dark* 
 and the civil wars between the houfes of 
 York and Lancafler not only obOxncted 
 all knowledge, but muft have fupprefled 
 the memory of the times immediately pre- 
 ceding, and deftroyed many of the evi- 
 dences of hiftory. 
 
 In the next century, after the revival of 
 learning, and when it had made con&de- 
 rable advances, a more regular and ex- 
 tenfive inquiry into this fubject was un- 
 dertaken and purfued with better fucceis. 
 Dr. Thomas Martin, chancellor of the 
 diocefe of Winchefter under bi£hop Gar- 
 diner, wrote the life of Wykeham in latin. 
 He feems not fo much to have wanted di- 
 ligence in collecting proper materials, as 
 care and judgement in digesting and com- 
 poling them. His account is full of mil- 
 takes : his relation of facts, and the courfe 
 even of public affairs in the moft impor- 
 tant parts, is extremely confufed and in- 
 accurate : and betides, were his relation of 
 facts ever fo accurate, yet he writes in fo 
 rhetorical and declamatory a ftyle, that his 
 reader, if he does not prefently throw 
 afide his book, will be difpofed to fufpect 
 the truth of what he delivers with fuch a 
 
 per- 
 
X PREFACE. 
 
 perpetually laboured exaggeration. This 
 life of Wykeham was firft publifhed in 
 4to in the year 1597, feveral years after 
 the death of the author. Perhaps it never 
 was perfectly finiiTied and corrected by 
 him. It was reprinted at Oxford, without, 
 any correction or improvement, by Dr. Ni- 
 cholas, Warden of Winchester College, in 
 the year 1690. The republication of this 
 work feems to indicate the prevailing opi- 
 nion of that time to have been, and the 
 fame opinion has continued to prevail ever 
 fince, that hardly any new light was to be 
 expected upon this fubject. 
 
 Thefe prejudices had not fuch influence 
 on the author of the prefent inquiry, as 
 to prevent his examining, whether they 
 were well founded or not. He foon found, 
 that it would be a very eafy matter to give 
 a fuller, a more accurate, and more cer- 
 tain account of the life of Wykeham, 
 than had been already given : but whether 
 it would be worth while to attempt to 
 write a new account upon materials, which, 
 though larger and more authentic than had 
 been made ufe of before, were like to be 
 by no means fufficient to furniih out a 
 juff. and complete piece of hifrory, this 
 1 was 
 
PREFACE. xi 
 
 was a queftion which he could not fo fooa 
 refolve with himfelf. What determined 
 him at laft to this undertaking was the 
 examination of Wykeham's Regifter, which 
 is ftill preferved at Winchefter in the 
 
 ^office of the regifter of the chancellor of 
 the diocefe. He faw, that this monument 
 of Wykeham's public acts, which is as 
 full, as accurate, and as perfect, as any 
 
 I thing extant in its kind, containing a dia- 
 ry of thirty-feven years, would not only 
 itfelf fupply many important facts ; but 
 would ferve moreover as a teft, to which 
 other facts and circumftances might be 
 brought, to be tried by a continued feries 
 of fure and infallible dates, and by fuch 
 trial to be moft evidently difproved or ve- 
 rified : and that this alone, as it had not 
 before been confulted for any fuch pur- 
 pofe, afforded a foundation, upon which 
 a more firm and more ample ftructure 
 might be raifed, than had hitherto been 
 attempted. Having thus gotten a fure 
 ground-work for his defign, he ufed his 
 utmoft diligence in collecting all the beft 
 and moft authentic materials, that lay 
 within his knowledge or his reach: and 
 in digefting and compofing them, he has 
 
 chiefly 
 
■ 
 
 * n T7 
 
 >'a C 
 
 xii PREFACE. 
 
 chiefly ftudied clearnefs of method; and 
 plainnefs of narration : his view has not 
 been elegance and ornament, but evidence 
 and truth ; nor does he pretend to enter- 
 tain and amufe, but merely to inform and 
 explain. He has therefore been careful 
 affirm nothing pofitively without fu 
 cient warrant, and to give exact referenc 
 to his authorities. And that the reade. 
 may be able to judge, what degree of cre- 
 dit is due to the feveral authorities fo fre- 
 quently cited, it will be proper in this 
 place to give him a particular defcription, 
 and an exact account, of fuch of them as 
 are not commonly to be met with, or ge- 
 nerally known. They here follow under 
 the feveral titles by which they are referred 
 to. 
 
 Regiftrum Wykeham. The Regifter of 
 Wykeham before mentioned confifts of 
 two very large volumes in folio very fairly 
 written on vellum. The contents of thefe 
 volumes are particularly fpecified in the 
 general title of the regifter itfelf, which is 
 as follows. 
 
 " Incipit Regiftrum de aclis 5c geftis 
 <c reverendi Patris domini Wilhelmi de 
 <c Wikeham Dei Gratia Wyntonienfis Epif- 
 
 " copi, 
 
 4 
 
PREFACE. xiii 
 
 " copi, cui de epifcopatu Wyntonienfi 
 - K< per felicis recordationis Urbanum divina 
 ." providentia Papam quintum per viam 
 ." refervationis fuit provifum fub data Vi~ 
 f« terbii lido Idus Julii pontificatus fui 
 anno quinto. Et confecratus fuit in 
 ecclefia Londonienfi per venerabilem pa- 
 trem Dom. Simonem tunc archiepif- 
 copum Cantuarienfem affiftentibus fibi 
 : venerabilibus patribus Dominis Simone 
 London. & Roberto Sareiburien. epifcopis 
 " die dominica quae fuit decima dies men- 
 " fis Oct. an. Dom. mccclxvii, prout in- 
 " ferius clare patet. 
 
 " In prima parte dicti Regiftri conti- 
 <c nentur Coniirmationes Abbatum & Prio- 
 11 rum Electorum, necnon Inftallationes ac 
 " Collationes & Inftitutiones quorumcunq; 
 " ben.eficiorum ecclefiafticorum per eundem 
 " Dom. Wynton. epifcopum tempore fuo 
 
 " In fecunda parte inferuntur Ordines 
 " celebrati per dictum Patrem in fua Dioc. 
 " a tempore confecrationis fuae, & Literae 
 il dimifforias per eum concerTas. 
 
 (e T 
 in 
 
xiv PREFACE. 
 
 " In tertia * parte tranfcribuntur Bullae 
 " Papales, mandata Cardinalium, & li- 
 " terse pro Convocatione cleri, Commif- 
 " fiones & alise literae, & Memoranda tem- 
 " pore fuo executa, & executiones eorun- 
 " dem, & Licenciae non refidendi, cu 
 c< aliis ibidem particulariter prout ge 
 M funt defignatis, & una cum Teftament; 
 " 6c Difpenfationibus cum illegitime na 
 " tis. 
 
 " In quarta parte continentur Brevk 
 ff Regia dicto patri directa, ac Refponfa, 
 tc & executiones, & returna brevium prae- 
 " di&orum." 
 
 Tractate in Veteri Regiftro Collegii 
 Wintonienfis. This treatife is inferred near 
 the beginning of a Mifcellaneous Volume, 
 being for the moft part a regifter, which 
 is always here referred to under the title of 
 Vet. Regiftr. Coll. Wint. The title of 
 this treatife at length is, " Libellus feu 
 " Tractate de profapia vita & geftis ve- 
 " nerabilis patris & Domini Domini Wil- 
 " helmi Wykeham nuper epifcopi Wyn- 
 
 * Towards the middle of the third part there begins 
 a new numeration of folios. In the references to this 
 part the letters a. and b. denote the ifl and 2d numera- 
 tion. 
 
 « ton." 
 
PREFACE. xv 
 
 t{ ton." At the end is added; " Expli- 
 
 c< cit traclatus feu libellus de 
 
 " [ut prius] editus anno domini 
 
 V mccccxxiv, qui fuit annus xx 
 
 poll obitum ejufdem patris, & regni 
 egis Henrici Sexti annus fecundus." 
 precife date pretty well determines 
 authority of this manufcript. Mar- 
 frequently cites this treatife as written 
 
 ' one Robert Heers, or Herefius, as he 
 fcalls him, a member of one of Wyke- 
 ham's Colleges. No one of that name was 
 ever Fellow of either of the' Colleges, if 
 we may trufl the regiflers. He probably 
 means Robert Heete, who was admitted 
 fcholar of Winchefler College, in the year 
 1401 j fucceeded to New College in 
 1407 j became Fellow of Winchefler Col- 
 lege in 1420 ; and died in 1432. His 
 regard * and affecTion for the founder and 
 the fociety appears by his numerous do- 
 nations to Winchefler college, in books, 
 plate, &c. and his age agrees perfectly 
 well with his being the author ; but I can 
 find no evidence of it. The author calls 
 
 * Vet Regiftr. Coll. Wint. 
 
 him- 
 
xvi PREFACE. 
 
 Mmfelf " Servus humilis & alumpnus 
 *- c reverendi Patris domini Wilhelmi 
 " Wykeham"; and he addreffes the fel- 
 lows by the words " Kariffimi Socii i" fo 
 that he was certainly fellow of one of the^ 
 Colleges; and as the treatife appears 
 have been originally inferred into this S 
 gifter of Winchefter College, he was moft, 
 probably fellow of that College, when he.' 
 wrote it j and perhaps was the abovemen- 
 tioned Robert Heete. Tradition might 
 have delivered him down as fuch, and his 
 name have been a little miftaken and al- 
 tered in palling to Martin. The pedigree 
 which I have given in Appendix No. I. 
 Martin attributes to the fame author. It 
 is indeed in the fame volume, on the in- 
 iide of the cover of the book, at the be- 
 ginning; but it has no relation to the 
 Treatife, and is hardly fo ancient as that, 
 or the fuppofed author's time : yet it could 
 not be much later, as Wykeham's coufin 
 german's daughter was living when it was 
 drawn up. 
 
 Brevis Chronica, The whole title is, 
 " Brevis Chronica de ortu vita & geflis no- 
 " bilibus reverendi Domini Wilhelmi de 
 " Wykeham olim Epifcopi Wynton." 
 
 MS. 
 
PREFACE. xvii 
 
 MS. in Bibliotheca Coll. Nov. Oxon. It 
 is little more than an abridgement of the 
 above mentioned treatife, and feems to 
 have been written foon after it. It . has 
 en publifhed by Wharton in the Second 
 lume of his Anglia Sacra, who has by 
 
 jiftake afcribed it to Thomas Chaun- 
 deler. 
 
 Chaundeler. <c Collocutiones de lauda- 
 
 t% bili vita & moribus & chriftiana per- 
 u feclione Wilhelmi de Wykeham. Auclio- 
 " re Thoma Chaundeler utriufque Col- 
 " legii Cuftode, dein Oxon, poftea Wellen- 
 " fi Cancellario." MS. in Bibliotheca 
 Coll. Nov. in the fame volume with the 
 foregoing. This volume belonged to Tho- 
 mas de Beckynton, Bifhop of Bath and 
 Wells, to whom Chaundeler addrelfed and 
 prefented his Dialogues, The Dialogues, 
 tho' they are very long, afford but little 
 hiflorical matter, which the Author has 
 chiefly from the Short Chronicle, which 
 he often cites as * of good authority. 
 
 * " Et ne meo folum credar confifus ingenio, aut 
 ** quseque arroganter praefumere quae probare non va-' 
 " learn, aufcultate quid in Brevi quadam & prius me- 
 " morata Chronica de eo fcriptum viderim." Chaun- 
 deler, pag. 49. 
 
 .[ b ] He 
 
xviii PRE F AC E. 
 
 He fays it was fcarce fifty-eight years from 
 the death of Wykeham to the time when 
 he wrote, .which plainly determines it to 
 the beginning of the year 1462. 
 
 MS. Coll. Wint. 'This ' Manufcript, in 
 fmall quarto, con flits of two parts written.-.. 
 at different times. One of them contains 
 chiefly a taxation of Bifhopricks, and ether 
 Ecclefiaftical Benefices; and particular] 
 of thofe of the Diocefe of Winchester -f$ 
 This was written in the time of Adam de- 
 Orleton, (as appears from page 21, and 23.) 
 who was Bifhop of Winchefter from 
 A. D. 1333, to 1345. It belonged to 
 Wykeham himfelf, and was by him given 
 to his College at Winchefter, as appears 
 
 f Of the Benefices in the Bifhop of Winchefler's 
 
 pationage, the then real value, as well as the taxation, 
 
 is given in this MS. This part is curious ; and may 
 
 be of ufe in the refolution of feveral quefUons relating 
 
 to thofe times. Thus, for inftance, in a matter that 
 
 relates . to the prefent fubjecl: : The taxation of the 
 
 Bifhoprick of Winchefter was at that time, according 
 
 to the MS. 2977 1. 1 5 s. 10 d. If we may fuppofe it to 
 
 • have borne the fame proportion to the real value,as the fum 
 
 .of the taxation of the Benefices there given to the fum 
 
 of their real value, that is, as 2353 j marks, to 422.7 •' 
 
 ' marks ; the real value of the Bifhoprick of Winchefter 
 
 3 in the time of Adam de Orleton muft have been 5348 1. 5 
 
 j nearly : at large, we may be aliowed to reckon it above 
 
 trooo 1. per annum. 
 
 by 
 
 J 
 

 PREFACE. xix 
 
 by the following article in Vet. Regiftf. 
 Coll. Wint. 
 
 " Item i liber dat. Colleg. per Domi- 
 cc num Fundatorem, in quo continentur 
 cc taxationes omnium ecdefiarum in fin- 
 $£ gulis dioc. per totam Angliam, qui fue- 
 rat in cuftodia Johannis Exham Execut. 
 ? Domini Thomas Ayhvard j modo in 
 manibus Cuftodis." 
 
 To this were afterwards prefixed a few 
 additional leaves, containing an account of 
 the life of Wykeham, and efpecially of his 
 donations and chanties. It feems to have 
 been written foon after Wykeham's death, 
 by one who knew him perfonally, and had 
 accefs to the accounts of his Stewards. 
 
 By the foregoing article of the Win- 
 chefler College Regilter it appears, that 
 the book, to which it is prefixed, was in the 
 cuftody of Dr. Thomas Aylward ; he was 
 Rector of Havant, and one of Wykeham's 
 Executors, by which means the book 
 . feems to have come into his hands : and it 
 continued in his hands till he died. Per- 
 haps he might have added to it this fhort 
 account of his friend and patron ; but 
 whoever was the author, it feems at leaft 
 to be more ancient than the Short Chro- 
 b 2 nicle, 
 
xx PREFACE. 
 
 nicle, or the Treatife j and, as far as it goes, 
 to be the mofl authentic account of 
 Wykeham that is extant. Chaundeler 
 mentions this MS. as what he had had 
 fome time before in his hands, and by 
 memory mentions feveral particulars thaife 
 are contained in it. " -f- Utinam a me fag 
 " mel vifam cartulam concederetur intueri. 
 " rurfum \ illam loquor, quam noftri 
 
 * Fundatoris laudibus plenam, & chrifti-. 
 " aniffimis quibufdam ejus inferiptam ope- 
 " ribus, in Collegii Beatae Marias Wynton. 
 « c Thefauro 6c vidi & legi. Sed cum 
 « Wentani Collegii prasfiderem Cuflos, 
 « c preciofi illius inventi thefauri indignum 
 < f me arbitrabar cuftodem j ea de re Do- 
 « mino Wilhelmo [Waynflete] Epifcopo 
 ** jam Wynton. cuflodiendum fecretius, 
 «' quid rogo dicerem, an repofui, an obtu- 
 «« li ? Ibi de refocillatione viginti quatuor 
 
 * pauper um, quos a fufcepto primum e- 
 « c pifcopatu quotidiano more fervaverat : 
 *< ibi de fubfidiis, vecligalibus, tributis, re- 
 " bufque hujufmodi exactis, vel Regi Ang- 
 " liae debitis, qua? & quotiens pro fuis te- 
 lt nentibus pius pater exfolverat : ibi — de 
 " cordis compunclione, de ipfius in Deum 
 
 t Chaundeler, pag. 57. 
 
 " devotifllma 
 
PREFACE. xxi 
 
 " devotiflima mentis elevatione, intente 
 " adeo, ut quam faepe, &, fi bene recolo, 
 " femper, in audiendis mifFis vel celebran- 
 " dis amariffime fleret." 
 
 MS. Coll. Nov. This manufcript in 
 folio contains, I. " Controverfia inter Do- 
 '■!& minum Wilhelmum de Wykeham & 
 ^"Magiftros Hofpitalis Sanctae Cruris pro- 
 Rpe Wynton. II. Injunctiones factse Pri- 
 " ori & Conventui Ecclefiae Cathedralis 
 P Wynton. pofl tertiam vifitationem Do- 
 " mini;"* and in.like manner, Injunctions 
 to all the Religious Houfes of the Auguf- 
 tine and Benedictine Orders throughout 
 the Diocefe cf Winchefter. Harpsfield 
 takes notice of thefe injunctions, but wri- 
 ting from his memory, he gives no very 
 exact account of them. Martin reprefents 
 them, as a regular treatife of ecclefiafti- 
 cal discipline and the monaflic life : he 
 guefied ib from Harpsfield's account, and 
 from what he was told were the three firft 
 words of the firft injunction, " Paftorem 
 " vigilare oportet;" for he had never feen 
 them. This MS. alfo belonged to Wyke- 
 
 
 
 - * A very fair Copy of thefe Injunctions to the Prior 
 and Convent of Winchefter, perhaps more perfectly 
 finifiied, is contained in MS. Harleian. N° 328. 
 
 b 2 ham 
 
 am- ° 
 
xxii PREFACE. 
 
 ham himfelf; for the injunctions are the 
 original draughts corrected. It came after- 
 ward into the hands of Robert Shirborn, 
 Matter of St. .Crofs Hofpital, afterwards 
 Bifhop of Chichefier. The marginal notes 
 throughout the book are in his hand writ- 
 ing, as appears by the note at the beginning 
 in the fame hand; viz. " Ro. Shirborn;- 
 <c cuftos fuit iftius hofpitalis an. r. H. viii-r 
 cc viiivo, nono, decimo. & inchoavit uhde- 
 " cimum, de refiduo difponat Deus." 
 
 MS. penes Dom. Epifcopum Wint. a 
 MS. in fmall 4to, containing 137 folios, 
 confiding of copies of Records relating to 
 the Hofpital of St. Crofs : communicated 
 by the Right Reverend the Lord Bifhop of 
 Winchester. It was written in the year 
 1389, as appears from fol. 22; at which 
 time John de Campeden was Mailer of the 
 Hofpital: probably it was written by his 
 direction, and belonged to him ; for towards 
 the end there are feveral inftruments inferted 
 relating to the Rectory of Chiriton, and one 
 at the beginning containing the boundaries 
 of that Parifh, of which he was alfo at the 
 fame time Rector : whereas there is very 
 little elfe, but what concerns St. Crofs only. 
 By the help of this MS. fome few correc- 
 tions 
 
P H E F A C E. xxiii 
 
 tions and additions have been made in this 
 fecond Edition j chiefly in Sect, in. The 
 Title of it is as follows : " Liber ifte con- 
 " tinetin parte copias cartarum, bullarum, 
 " rentalium, cuftumariorum, evidentiarum, 
 " libertatum, hofpitalis five domus elimo- 
 " fmarie S te Crucis in Sparkeforde juxta 
 civitatem Wynton. quam fundavit & do- 
 tavit bone memorie quondam Henricus 
 . Wynton. Epifcopus diclus Blefens. frater 
 Regis Stephani nuper Regis Anglie." 
 MS. Harleian. N° 1616, in the Britifh 
 Mufeum. A MS. in 8vo. containing 128 
 pages, confuting of copies of Records 
 relating to St. Crofs Hofpital, which are 
 for the molt part the fame with thofe in 
 the preceding MS. 5 but not all that are 
 there : and^on the other hand, having fome 
 things that are not there. It was written 
 before the year 1386 j as appears from fome 
 . additions in the vacant leaves at the begin- 
 ning, (pag. 3.) of the fame hand with thofe 
 in the Bifhop of Winchefter's MS. It .pro- 
 bably belonged- likewife to John de Cam- 
 peden, at that time Mafter. 
 
 MS. Harleian. N° 6217. A paper book 
 in folio containing 1 9 leaves. It 5s in' 5 c 
 ■ (by a late hand) " An Hiftoricall Relati- 
 
 b 4 " of 
 
*xiv PREPACK. 
 
 " of certain parTages about the end of K. 
 ff Edward the 3d, and of his death " with- 
 out name or date : the hand writing about 
 two hundred years old. It appears to be a 
 Translation from the Latin of an earlier 
 age : for the writer, where he doubts of the 
 fenfe of his Author, or of the propriety of 
 his own expreflion, drawing a line unde 
 his own words, or leaving a blank fpace ia 
 his text, fets down the Latin words in the 
 margin j as concerning Edward the 3d's 
 death, u the difeafe of " (in the mar- 
 
 gin) " anuli." And the Author feems. to 
 fpeak fometimes, as if he lived in or near 
 the time, of which he writes j as in the fol- 
 lowing reflections on the death of the Prince 
 of Wales: " Truly unlefs God (whoe de- 
 fended hym in battayle, and baytb new 
 taken hym from this worlde, perchaunce 
 that we fhoulde put our trurle more con- 
 fidently in God) holde under hys bleffed 
 handj leait the miferable Englifhe men 
 be trodden downej yt ys to be feared, 
 that our enemyes, whoe compafs us on 
 everye fyde, will rage upon us even unto 
 utter deftruction ; and will taike our 
 place and cuntrye. Arife, Lorde, and 
 
 g helpe 
 
PREFACE. xxv 
 
 2 helpe us, and defende us for thy names 
 l\ faike." The fame may be obferved hi 
 fome other paffages, which are quoted from 
 it in the Notes. It feems too to have been 
 written recentibus odiis, with all the acri- 
 mony of freih refentment, by the feverity 
 with which the Duke of Lancafter, Alice 
 Perrers, and all of that party, are treated. 
 It is only an extract or part of fome large 
 hiftorical work ; for it begins abruptly, 
 
 " The nyghte following" : and it treats 
 
 of thefe tranfaclions more amply and par- 
 ticularly, than any of the common accounts 
 of thofe times. What degree of credit is 
 due to this anonymous Hiftorian, is left 
 to the Reader's judgement to determine. 
 He will find his teftimony impartially cited, 
 where it feemed material ; as well when it 
 tends to invalidate the Author's opinion, as 
 when it confirms it. 
 
 Liber H. Coll. Wint. An ancient leger- 
 book belonging to Winchefter College, 
 marked with the letter H ; containing re- 
 cords and evidences of various kinds, re- 
 lating to the fir ft foundation and endow- 
 ment of the college. 
 
 Rot. Pari. The Rolls of Parliament pre- 
 ferved in the Tower of London, A com- 
 plete 
 
xxvi PREFACE: 
 
 plete copy of them, with feveral other 
 MSS. was given to the library of Queen s 
 College in Oxford, by Sir Jofeph William- 
 fon, Secretary of ftate in Charles the lid's 
 time. By the favour of that learned Society, 
 the author had the ufe of as many volumes 
 of them, as he had occafion to confult. 
 
 Rot. Pat. Tanner. The learned and 
 moil accurate antiquary Dr. Tanner, late 
 Bifhop of St. Afaph, made extracts from 
 the Patent Rolls in the Tower of grants to 
 William of Wykeham, which he commu- 
 nicated, in the year 17.32, to Dr. Coxed then 
 Warden of New College. Thefe extracts 
 of the Bifhop are cited, as above, with his 
 name added. 
 
 MS. Rymer. Befides the collection of 
 records publifhed by Rymer, there was a 
 great number of records tranferibed and 
 digefted by him into proper order, but 
 not publifhed, being fuch as were fuppofed 
 to be of lefs general ufe. This manufcript 
 collection confifts of fifty-nine large volumes 
 in folio ; which were defigned to be repo- 
 rted in the Cotton library. The contents 
 of each volume, and the titles of the feveral 
 records in each, are given at the end of the 
 XVII th volume of the printed collection, 
 i Thefe 
 
P K E F A C n xxvii 
 
 Thefe feem to have been wholly neglected by 
 our late hiftorians, though with regard to 
 perfonal hiftory, and incidental matters, they 
 may perhaps be of equal ufe with the 
 printed volumes. They were fome years 
 ago in the hands of Samuel Burroughs, Efq; 
 Mailer in Chancery, and one of the Truf- 
 tees for the Cotton library. They are now 
 to be found in their proper place in the Bri- 
 tifh Mufeum. 
 
 There are hardly any of the reft of the 
 authorities, but ■ what will be fufrlciently 
 known and underftood of themfelves, as 
 they are referred to. 
 
 Though no inconfiderable progrefs has 
 been here already made in collecting ma- 
 terials from the Public Records ; namely, 
 from the Parliament Rolls and the Patent 
 Rolls, which may well be fuppofed to have 
 afforded more, and thofe of more ufe and 
 importance, than any others are like to do ; 
 and in fome degree from all the reft, by 
 means of the collections of Rymer, both 
 printed and manufcript; yet it is not to be 
 doubted, but that a farther fearch in the 
 feveral public offices would fupply particu- 
 lar facts hitherto unknown, that might give 
 new light, as well into the general ftate of 
 
 the 
 
xxviii P R E F A C E. 
 
 the affairs of thofe times, as into Wyke- 
 ham's perfonal hiftory. In this perfuafion, 
 the author ftill had it in his view to try 
 what might be done in this way : but he 
 has never yet found fufficient leifure or 
 opportunity for an undertaking, which 
 requires much of both, and which perhaps 
 had better be wholly let alone, than neg- 
 ligently and flightly performed; as a fu- 
 perficial and imperfecl: examination would 
 probably have little other effect, than to 
 difcourage all attempts of the like kind for 
 the future. Much lefs can he think in 
 his prefent fituation of ever being able pro- 
 perly to execute fuch a defign. He muft 
 therefore content himfelf with recommend- 
 ing it to the two learned and flourishing 
 Societies of Wykeham's foundation, as a 
 matter which principally and nearly con- 
 cerns them, and which he is fure they will 
 be ready to promote to the utmoft of their 
 power, to confider of the propereil method 
 of fupplying this deficiency. Perhaps, a 
 fuitable encouragement on their part, both 
 as a fupport of the expence, and a reward 
 of the labour, of fuch a fearch, might in- 
 duce fome perfon of fkill and experience to 
 undertake it. At prefent he hopes they 
 
 will 
 
PREFACE. xxix 
 
 will receive with candor and indulgence 
 thefe his endeavours ; which were incited 
 by no other motive than his earneft defire 
 of exprefling, in the belt, manner he was 
 able, his fenfe of the great obligations, 
 which he has to their great Founder and to 
 Them. The ground at lead is cleared, a 
 foundation laid, and fomething of a plan 
 given j and the materials here collected and 
 difpofed with all the exactnefs he is capable 
 of, will fo far be of ufe, confidered only as 
 materials. If to thefe any confiderable ac- 
 ceflion fliould ever be made from the ftores 
 above mentioned, he is perfuaded there will 
 not be wanting in thofe Societies, fuch as 
 will be ready and able to make the proper 
 ufe of them, and to fet them forth to the 
 beft advantage j that fo the hiftory of their 
 pious and munificent Founder may be one 
 day rendered in every refpect as complete, as 
 the nature and condition of the fubject, fo 
 long too much neglected, will now admit. 
 

 : 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page 20. Note 7 , 1. 5. read, latbomi; and 1. 7. latbomum. 
 P. 27. 1. S. for following, r. 1363. P. 96. 1. 10. r. fub- 
 fiitute. P. 103,1. 7. r. protejiation. P. 150. 1. 27. r. 
 article. P. 168. 1. 2. for #, r. «*; and 1. 4. a comma 
 after admit. P. 185. 1. 8. r. fame. 
 
 Appendix. P. ii. 1. 15. r. Radulpbus. P. v. for 
 N° VI. r. IV. P. xvi. 1. 4. r. eleccisnem ; and 1. 30. 
 eleccione. P. xix. 1. 11. for Ei, r. Et. P, xxiv. 1. 24. 
 r. die. P. xxv. 1. 33. after ce/eritate, add et. P. xxxiii. 
 1. 14. r. Maria \ and 1. 15. Regina. P. xxxviii. 1. 38. 
 for viginti, r. triginta. 
 
 ■ 
 
( xxxi ) 
 
 OLowth, whilfl: Wtke ham's various worth you 
 trace, 
 
 And bid to diflant times his Annals fhine, 
 Indulge another Bard of Wykeham's race 
 
 In the fond wifh to add his name to thine. 
 From the fame fount, with rev'rence let me boafl, 
 
 The claflic flreams with early thirft I caught ; 
 What time, they fay, the Mufes revel'd mofl, 
 
 When Bigg prefided, and when Burton taught. 
 But the fame fate, which led me to the fpring, 
 
 Forbad me farther to purfue the Aream ; 
 Perhaps as kindly ; for, as Sages fing, 
 
 Of Chance and Fate full idly do we deem. 
 And fure in Granta's philofophic fhade 
 
 Truth's genuine image beam'd upon my fight; 
 And flow-eyed Reafon lent l^er fober aid 
 
 To form, deduce, compare, and judge aright. 
 Yes, ye fweet fields, befide vour ofier'd flream 
 
 Full many an Attic hour my youth enjoy'd, 
 Full'many a friendship form'd, life's happieft dream,. 
 
 And treafur'd many a blifs which never cloy'd. 
 Yet may the Pilgrim, o'er his temperate fare 
 
 At eve, with pleafing recollection fay, 
 'Twas the frefh morn which flrung his nerves to bear 
 
 The piercing beam, and ufeful toils of day : 
 So let me ftill with filial love purfue 
 
 The nurfe and parent of my infant thought, 
 From whence the colour of my life I drew 
 
 When Bigg prefided, and when Burton taught. 
 O Names by me rever'd ! till memory die, 
 
 Till my deaf ear forget th' enchanting flow 
 Of verfe harmonious, fhall my mental eye 
 
 Trace back old time, and teach my bread: to glow,, 
 
 Peace 
 
( xxxii ) 
 
 Peace to that honour' d Shade, whofe mortal frame 
 
 Sleeps in the bofom of its parent earth ; 
 Whilft the freed Soul, that boafts celeflial flame, 
 
 Perhaps now triumphs in a nobler birth. 
 Perhaps with Wykeham, from fome blifsful bower, 
 
 Applauds thy labours ; or prepares the wreath 
 For Burton's generous toil. — Th' infatiate Power 
 
 .Extends his deathful fway o'er all that breathe ; 
 Nor aught avails it, that the virtuous Sage 
 
 Forms future Bards, or Wykehams yet to come j 
 Nor aught avails it, that his green old age, 
 
 From youth well fpent, may feem t'elude the tomb; 
 For Burton too mufl fall. And o'er his urn, 
 
 Whilft. Science hangs her fculptur'd trophies round, 
 The letter'd tribes of half an age lhall mourn, 
 
 Whofe lyres he flrung, and added fenfe to found. 
 Nor fhall his candid ear, I trull, difdain 
 
 This artlefs tribute of a feeling mind j 
 And thou, O Lowth, fhalt own the grateful flrain, 
 
 Mean tho' it flow, was virtuoufly defign'd. 
 For 'twas thy work infpir'd the melting mood 
 
 To feel and pay the facred debt I ow'd ; 
 And the next virtue to bellowing good, 
 
 Thou know'ft, is gratitude for good beflow'd. 
 
 W. Whitehead, 
 Poet Laureat. 
 
 The 
 
( xxxiii ) 
 
 The CONTENTS, 
 
 Section I. TfR O M the birth of Wyke, 
 
 han\ to his being made bifiop 
 
 of Winchejier. Page I. 
 
 Sect. II. From the time of his being made 
 Bijhop of Winchejier to the lajl year of 
 Edward the Third. p. 39, 
 
 jSect. III. Ecclefiajiical affairs during the 
 fame time. p. 65. 
 
 Sect. IV. His troubles in the loft year of 
 Edward the Third. p. 98. 
 
 Sect. V. Civil affairs during the former 
 fart of the Reign of Richard the Se- 
 cond, p. , 52 . 
 
 Sect. VI. Ecclefiajiical affairs during the 
 
 Reign of Richard the Second. p. j8i. 
 
 [c] Sect. 
 
xxxiv CONTENTS. 
 
 Sect, VII . Civil affairs during the latter 
 fart of the Reign of Richard the Se- 
 cond, page 222. 
 
 Sect. VIII. From the beginning of Henry 
 the Fourth's Reign to the Death ofWyke- 
 bam. p. 272. 
 
 Sect. IX. An Examination and Confutation 
 of fever al things , that have been publijhed 
 to his difcredit. p. 305. 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 THE 
 
THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 O F 
 
 WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 
 
 SECTION I. 
 
 From the Birth of PFyfceham to his being made 
 Bijhop of Winchefler. 
 
 f | AHAT natural curioflty, which leads 
 us to inquire into the particular 
 circumftances of the lives of fuch 
 as have in any way made themfelves great- 
 ly eminent, cannot be more properly or 
 laudably employed, than in reviving the 
 memory of thofe illuftrious perfons, who 
 have more efpecially diftinguifhed them- 
 B felves 
 
2 THE LIFE OF 
 
 felves by their beneficence and public fpl- 
 rit ; by their endeavours to do good to 
 their own age, and to pofterity; to their 
 country, and to mankind. In this cafe at 
 Jeaft, it is not merely the effect of an idly 
 inquifitive difpofition, nor does it propofe to 
 itfelf only an empty amufement : it par- 
 takes in fome meafure of the fame gene- 
 rous principle, which engages its attention > 
 perhaps it arifes from a mind poffeffed with 
 a fenfe of benefits received, and is no im- 
 proper exertion of that love, refpecl, and 
 gratitude, which is due to the author of 
 them. The fubjecl: of the following pages, 
 may, I prefume, in this refpecl:, merit the 
 attention of fuch as have a due regard for 
 the memory of a man, who, beiides his 
 high ftation and great abilities in public 
 affairs, was an eminent example of gene- 
 rofity and munificence ; and much more 
 of thofe, who have felt the beneficial in- 
 fluence of his liberality, who have been, 
 or actually are, partakers of his bounty. 
 It is indeed principally for the fake of thefe 
 latter, that the prefent inquiry hath been un- 
 dertaken : it will be pnrfued with that care, 
 and fidelity, and ftricl: regard to truth, 
 which is due to the public in general y and, 
 
 for 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 3 
 
 for the fatisfaclion of thefe in particular, 
 even with what may perhaps be efteemed 
 by others a minute and fcrupulous exact - 
 nefs j in confidence that their veneration 
 for the name of Wykeham, their generous 
 Benefactor, will make every thing that re- 
 lates to him interefting, and will not fufTer 
 them to think any particularities jejune, 
 trifling, or infignificant, that ' in any wife 
 tend to refcue his memory from oblivion, 
 to verify his hiftory, or to vindicate his 
 character. 
 
 William Wykeham, or Of Wykeham, 
 {for 1 he ufes both ways of expreffing 
 his name, but commonly the latter,) was 
 ft born at Wykeham in Hampfhire, in the 
 year mcccxxiv, in he 18th year of Ed- 
 ward the Second : confequently after the 
 7th of July, from which the years of Ed- 
 
 1 He calls hifnfelf William Wykeham, not De Wyke- 
 ham, in his Will ; as alfo fometimes in his own Regifter : 
 he is fo called in Regiftr. Edyngdon ; and in Rotuli 
 computus Coll. Nov. Oxon. an. i 331 ; and in Leger- 
 Book of the Church of Winchefter, N° I. very often* 
 " A qua villa (faysChaundeler, MS. in Biblioth. Coll. 
 ■" Nov. p. 15.) cognomen eft fof^tus, ut etiam a 
 " plerifque Wilhelmus Wykeham appellaretur :" not 
 i>e Wykeham; as I fuppofe he means. 
 
 1 Brevis Chronica, &Chaundeler. 
 
 B z ward 
 
4 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ward the Second begin ; and before the 
 27th of September of the fame year -, for 
 on that day of the year mcccciv, on which 
 he died, he is faid to have been fully ', or 
 above, 4 eighty years old. 
 
 It is commonly fuppofed, that he took 
 his name from the place of his birth, ac- 
 cording to a cuftom much in ufe in thofe 
 times, when fumames were not fo appro- 
 priated to families, as to defcend regularly 
 from father to fon> as they now do. There 
 are however fome circumftances, which at 
 firft fight feem to afford us fufficient reafon 
 to doubt of this. We meet with feveral 
 of his kindred, living at the lame time with 
 him, who bore the fame name: Nicholas 
 Wykeham, s Archdeacon of Winchefler, 
 
 3 Tractatus in Vet. Regiftr. Coll. Wint. 
 
 *■ Brevis Chronica, & Chaundeler, p. 54. 
 
 5 Nicholas Wykeham, Clerk, Prebendary of Maple- 
 durham in the church of Bofeham, Chichefter Diocefe, 
 in 1370; Archdeacon of Winchefter, 1372; which he 
 refigned, and became Archdeacon of Wilts, 1382 ; War- 
 den of St. Nicholas's Hofpital, Portfmouth, on the 
 death of Richard Wykeham, and Rector of Witteney, 
 Lincoln Diocefe, being then L. L. D. 1378; War- 
 den of New College Oxford, 1379; refigned it, 1389. 
 Ordained Accolite and fubdeacon, 1379; Prieft, 1383. 
 He was alfo Prebendary of Tymberbury in the church 
 of Romefaye, Winchefter Diocefe. Regiftr. Wykeham. 
 
 a*id 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 5 
 
 and Warden of New College, whom 6 he 
 exprefsly calls his kinfman. Richard de 
 Wykeham 7 , Warden of St. Nicholas's 
 Hofpital, Portfmouth ; the fame probably 
 with Richard Wykeham, called likewife 
 his kinfman in the Rolls of Accompt of 
 New College in the year 1377: John 
 Wykeham 8 , Rector of Mapledurham in 
 the diocefe of Winchefter j who is men- 
 tioned in his will among his kindred, and 
 was 9 admitted as fuch Fellow of his 
 College. Add to thefe William, Tho- 
 mas, and John Wykeham, admitted J like- 
 wife Fellows of his College in the years 
 1387, 1390, and 1395 refpeclively j who 1 
 were his great nephews, the fons of his 
 riiece Alice, the wife of William Perot, 
 
 • See Appendix, N° X. 
 
 7 Regiftr. Wykeham. 
 
 8 Ordained Acco'ite and Subdeacon in 1395 j at that 
 time Rector of Stockton, Sarum Diocefe ; afterward of 
 Mapledurham, (or Buriton) Caulborne, Brightefion, 
 and South-Waltham, fucceffively. Regiftr. Wykeham. 
 
 9 Regiftr. Coll. Nov. 
 3 Ibid. 
 
 1 See Appendix, N°I. II. III. and IV. William the 
 •eldeft brother, probably died before the Bifhop with- 
 out iffue, upon which Thomas the fecond brother be- 
 came the Biihop's heir : John the youngeft died Fellow 
 of New College, Civilian, in the year 1398. Regiftr. 
 Coll. Nov. 
 
 B 3 and 
 
6 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and took his furname inftead of their fa- 
 ther's. His kinfman John Fyvyan, 3 paid 
 him the fame compliment, and relinquished 
 his own name for that of Wykeham. Both 
 thefe instances feem to make it ftill more 
 probable, that it was fomething more than 
 a cafual name taken from the place of his 
 birth. He mentions his Father and Mo- 
 ther only by their Chriftian names, * 
 John and Sybill : if their furname had 
 been different from that which he bore 
 himfelf, it would have been natural, if 
 not necefiary, to have mentioned it j if the 
 fame, there was plainly no occafion of ex- 
 preding it, as implied of courfe. 
 
 I meet with a note in the Firft Regifter 
 of New College 5 , which if it does not 
 
 con- 
 
 3 Call'd Johannes Wykeham, aliter diclus Fyvyan, 
 Regiltr- Wykeham, Part I. fol. 121. In the year 1379, 
 and 1 80, he was ordained Accolite and Subdeacon by 
 the name of John Fyvyan only ; afterward went by the 
 name of Wykruam. He was Reftor of Eabberbury, 
 then of Crondale upon his refignation of the former ; 
 afterward of Broughton, Dioc. Line, prefented by Wil- 
 liam of Wyk ham as Patron. Regiftr. Wykeham. He 
 appears to have been his kinfman by Regiflr. Coll. Nov, 
 and in his will is placed among his kindred. 
 
 4 In the Statutes of both his Colleges. They are (o 
 called Hkcwife in Brev Chron. and in Traclat. in Vet. 
 Regiftr. Coll. Wint. and in MS. Coll. Wint. 
 
 5 At the bottom of the kft page of the book, called 
 
 Liber 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 7 
 
 confirm this opinion, that Wykeham was 
 properly his family-name 6 , yet fhews at 
 leaft that it is not altogether new and un- 
 precedented. It is in the following terms : 
 
 " ^pt p£ tattle to fee proofed tljat topl^ 
 <f Ipant UJpfccljam bpsgljope off topn* 
 « ton toa£ Dome m a toume in l^amp* 
 <c cfitrc called tupEttijaut, and tl/at l)p0 
 " gtafcut fathers name teas nspkeljam, 
 <e aftijougfj tijere ijatfjc bin fomc Doute 
 
 < { Of ftp0 fattier^ name;' The hand- 
 writing, as well as the expreflion, of this 
 Note carries with it evident marks of age ; 
 and yet, upon due confideration, I do not 
 think it to be of fufficient antiquity, to 
 give it any great weight in determining the 
 prefent queftion. 
 
 And after all, we muft have a care, left, 
 being prepofYefTed with notions taken from 
 our own ufages, we mould be led into 
 
 Liber Albus. The other entries of the fame page bear 
 date 1456, and 1457. At the fide of this note is written 
 in another hand, " An old note concerning our Foun- 
 4< der." This laft handwriting appears in feveral parts 
 of the Book, in the margin, &c and is Warden Cul- 
 peper's, or fome other perfon's in his time, (that is, be- 
 tween 1573 an< ^ I 599) as 1S pl am riom f°h° 2 - 
 
 6 Harpsfield, who was educated in both Wykeham's 
 Colleges, is of this opinion : See his Hift. Ecclefiafl. 
 Anglican, p. 550. 
 
 B 4 error 
 
8 THE LIFE OF 
 
 error in our reafonings upon thofe of for* 
 mer times. If we confider the uncertain 
 ftate of family-names at the time of the 
 birth of Wykeham, we fhall not think it 
 ftrange, that there mould be fuch doubt . 
 with regard to the furname of his family; 
 or even if it mould appear, that he had 
 properly no family-name at all. Surnames 
 were introduced into England by the Nor- 
 mans at the Cojuefl : " But certain it is, 
 " 7 fays Camden, that as the better fort, 
 u even from the Conquefl, by little and 
 <c little, took furnamesj fo they were not 
 " fettled among the common people fully 
 " until about the time of Edward the Se- 
 tv> cond." As we mull allow Wykeham to 
 have been what the Romans called novus 
 homo, fo with regard to his furname, he 
 might perhaps be ftriclly and literally the 
 firfl of his family. 
 
 Upon the whole, therefore, I cannot 
 help giving credit to the teftimony of a 
 8 Pedigree of Wykeham's family, preferved 
 in an ancient Regifter of Winchefler Col- 
 lege, which mentions his father by the 
 
 7 See Camden's Remains, p. 106, &c. 
 3 See Appendix, N°I. 
 
 name 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 9 
 
 name of John Longe ; which, whether it 
 was the proper furname of the family, or 
 a perfonal bye-name given him on ac- 
 count of his ftature, (in which cafe his true 
 furname might be Aas, the fame that was 
 borne by his 9 brother Henry,) 'tis neither 
 material nor poffible to determine. This 
 Pedigree mufl be allowed to be of good 
 authority, as it was drawn up in the next 
 age to that of Wykeham himfelf, as it is 
 in many particulars confirmed by collateral 
 evidence, and as there does not appear any 
 reafon to queftion the truth and exa6tnefs 
 of any part of it. Whatever elfe has been 
 alledged on this fubject ought to be of 
 little account : it is a point that mufl be 
 determined by authority and 'evidence; and 
 the authority of this Pedigree teems fuffi- 
 cient to maintain itfelf againft all argu- 
 ments whatfoever, that are only founded 
 on probable fuppofition and conjecture. 
 
 His parents J were perfons of good re- 
 putation and character ; but in mean cir- 
 cumstances. It has been faid, that 2 he 
 
 » See alfo Appendix, N° XVIII. 
 
 1 Traftat. in Vet. Reg. Coll. Wmt. Brev. Chron. & 
 Chaundeler, p. 15. 
 
 2 See below the quotations from Robert Glover and 
 John Malverne. 
 
 him- 
 
io THE LIFE OF 
 
 himfelf, or fome of his anceltors were of 
 fervile condition : that is, had been Te- 
 nants in Villenage, or had held lands by 
 certain cuftoms and fervices owed to the 
 Lord ; which is considered as a kind of 
 Servitude or Bondage by our Laws, and 
 which was at that time, for the moft part, 
 the ftate and condition of the bulk of the 
 common people of England. However, 
 of his mother \ we are particularly informed, 
 that Hie v/as well-born, and of a gentle- 
 man's family : which is moreover confirmed 
 by the Pedigree before mentioned. The + 
 number of his contemporary relations, which 
 we meet with occafionally mentioned, and 
 upon undoubted authority, is furprifmgly 
 great, confidering the diftance of time, and 
 the obfcurity in which this part of his hif- 
 tory lies j and feerns to prove, that he was 
 not of fuch very low extraction as fome 
 authors have reprefented him. They ap- 
 
 3 " Cujus ortus primordia ex parte matris nomine 
 " Sibillae generofa profapia natalibus legis [forfan, le- 
 ** gitimisj infignivit : pater vero ejus, Johannes nomi- 
 " ne, progenitorum libertate dotatus, honeftum mori- 
 " bus&gefturis fe omnibus exhibebat." Tractat. in 
 Vet. Reg. Coll. Wint. It is afterwards faid of both his, 
 parents, that they were *' honefti genere." Ibid. 
 
 * See Appendix, N° XVIUV 
 
 pear 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. u 
 
 pear in general to have been perfons of re- 
 putable condition, and of a middle ftation 
 in life. On the other hand, I fee no rea- 
 fon for rating his family higher : I am even 
 inclined to think, that he himfelf difclaimed 
 all farther pretenfions. The celebrated Mot- 
 to which he added to his Arms, (of which 
 5 probably he might have received a grant 
 
 when 
 
 s " The faid Bifhoppe bare his Armes diverfly at 
 '* two fondry tymes, as the Seals thereof, mewed by 
 " Sir Richard Fynes, teftify. Before he was Bifhoppe, 
 " when as yet he was but Archdeacon of Lincolne, he 
 " fealed but with one cheveron in his Armes between 
 " three rofes: but after, when he was advanced to the 
 *' Bifhoppricke, he fealed with two cheverons between 
 " three rofes : and fo ar generally known to this day 
 
 " to be his without contradiction. It hath been de- 
 
 " maunded of me by the fayd learned menne, whether 
 " the Armes which the faid Bifhoppe ufed were gyven 
 " unto him in refpedt of his dignity Epifcopall, or 
 <c were boren by him before, as receyved from his 
 " aunceftry and race. Whereunto I coulde not an- 
 " fwer affirmatyvely, becaufe I had never feen mat^ 
 11 ter of the firft allowance of them. But havynge read 
 " certyne learned wryters opinions of the fayd Bifhoppe, 
 **. which do agree in this, that he was bianiiis conditicnis 3 
 *' and that he was called Wykeham, a loco unde na'us 
 " efty y non a parentibus : as it is alfo affirmed in. 
 " the chapter of his Lyf before alleadged, wherein 
 " alfo his father called John is fayd to be progenttorwn 
 gt liberate dotatus : and he himfelf by Ranulph Monke 
 *' of Cheftre, being noted to be libotinus, yd a patre U~ 
 *' bertlno natui : I was moved to thinke, as I told them, 
 •' that thofe Armes came not to him by defcent. Ancl 
 
 « agayne, 
 
12 THE LIFE OF 
 
 when he began to rife in the world) I ima- 
 gine was intended by him to intimate fome- 
 
 thing of this kind : jBanner^ makptfj 
 
 3l$<Ml I the true meaning of which, as he 
 defigned it, I prefume to be, tho' it has 
 commonly been underftood otherwife, That 
 a man's real worth is to be eftimated, not 
 from the outward and accidental advan- 
 tages of birth, rank, and fortune, but from 
 the endowments of his mind, and his mo- 
 ral qualifications. In this fenfe it bears a 
 proper relation to his arms, and contains 
 a juft apology for thofe enfigns of his new- 
 ly acquired dignity. Confcious to himfelf 
 that his claim to honour is unexceptionable, 
 as founded upon truth and reafon, he in 
 
 " agayne, behouldinge the Armes fometvme with one 
 li and then after with two cheverons, qua quidemfigna 
 <c per Carpentarios & domorum faff ores olim po>tabantur, 
 •' as Nicholas Upton wryteth, and comparing them 
 " to the qualify of the berar, who is fayd to have had 
 «* his chiefe preferment for his fkill in Architecture, 
 ** Erat enim regi Edwardo III. in princ'ipio a fabric'^ eo 
 " quod erat ingeniofus Cff architeftura delegatus, as Dr. 
 " Gaius maketh mention in his bookes de antiquitate 
 *"• Cantabrigienfn Academic : I was alfo induced tothinke, 
 " per conjecluramHeraldicam, that the Bifhop himfelf 
 *' was the firft berar of them." Report of Robert 
 Glover, Somerfet Herald, to Lord Treafurer Burghley, 
 concerning the difpute between Sir Richard Fiennes and 
 Humphrey Wickham, Efq; dated March 1572. MS. Ant. 
 Wood. N° XXVIII. in Mufaeo Aflunokano Oxon. 
 
 a man- 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 13 
 
 a manner makes his appeal to the world ; 
 alledging, that neither high birth, to which 
 he makes no pretenfions, nor high ftation, 
 upon which he does not value hirnfelf, but 
 
 " Virtue alone is true Nobility." 
 
 It Teems to be agreed on all hands, that 
 his 6 parents were in fuch narrow circum- 
 stances, that they could not afford to give 
 their fon a liberal education. However, 
 this deficiency was fupplied by fome ge- 
 nerous patron, who maintained him at 
 fchool at 7 Winchester, where he was in- 
 structed in Grammatical learning. Heie 
 he gave early proofs of his 8 piety and his 
 diligence. It has always been fuppoied, 
 rather from a common tradition, than from 
 any authentic account that I can meet 
 with, that Wykeham's firfl and great Be- 
 nefactor was Nicholas Uvedale Lord of the 
 Manor of Wykeham, and Governor of 
 Winchefter Cattle, an officer of great note 
 in thofe days. After he had gone through 
 
 6 Traftat. in Vet. Reg. Coll. Wint. Brev. Cliroa. 
 Chaundeler ibid. 
 
 7 MS. Coll. Wint. 
 
 8 Ibid. & Traftat. in Vet. Reg. Coll. Wint. 
 
 his 
 
14 THE LIFE OF 
 
 his fchool education, he was taken into 
 his patron's family, and became his Secre- 
 tary. That he was Secretary to the Con- 
 ftable of Winchefter Caftle, is all that we 
 hnd mentioned in the moft ancient 9 writ- 
 ers. He is faid to have been afterwards re- 
 commended by Uvedale to Edyngdon s 
 Bifhop of Winchefter, and by both to have 
 been made known to King Edward the 
 Third. 
 
 The later Writers of Wykeham's life 
 have generally mentioned his removing 
 from Winchefter to Oxford to profecute 
 his ftudies, and that he continued there 
 almoft fix years. They feem to have no 
 fufficient authority for what they fay. The 
 Writers nearer! his time make no men- 
 tion of his being at Oxford at all, or 
 rather fuppofe the contrary. I muft 
 
 » Tra&at. in Vet. Reg. Coll. Wint. Brev. Chron. 
 Chaundeler. 
 
 1 Edyngdon Bifhop of Winchefter constitutes William 
 de Wykeham his Attorney., to take pofTeifion of certain 
 lands, &c. December 10. 26 Ed. 3. [13 s 2.3 And 
 Henry Sturmy of Eivecham confKtutes him likewife 
 his Attorney, to deliver feifin of certain lands, &c. to 
 Bp. Edyngdon, Oclober 12th the fame year. Lib. H. 
 Coll. Wint. fol.252, &240. Which makes it proba- 
 ble, that he was in Edyngdon's fervice, as is commonly 
 (aid. 
 
 here 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 15 
 
 here give the Reader what Chaundeler fays 
 to this purpofe in his own words : " Ilium 
 " Speculativa (Sapientia) minime forfan 
 " occupavit : perhibetur enim nee Artium, 
 " nee Theologise, fed nee utrorumque Ju- 
 £t riurn fcolas exercuiffe : — quomodo potuit 
 " ab inopi & pauperrima ductus paren- 
 " tela fine exhibitione fcolas aut literarum 
 " exercitaffe ftudium ? — de Practica vero* 
 
 " vir fumme fapiens." Which I think 
 
 it as much as to fay in exprefs terms, that 
 he never ftudied in any Univerfity. Chaun- 
 deler, who within about fifty years after 
 the death of Wykeham, was Warden of 
 New College, and Chancellor of the Uni- 
 verfity of Oxford, might at that time have 
 eafily known, whether he had ever ftudied 
 there or not, by confulting the Univer- 
 fity Regifters. Befides, it does not ap- 
 pear, that he ever had any Academical De- 
 gree, nor is there the lead tradition of his 
 having belonged to any particular Society 
 there. 
 
 The above paffage of Chaundeler gives 
 us the real character of Wykeham with 
 refpecl to his Learning; and lays open to 
 us the true and only foundation of that 
 Tradition, which has been delivered down 
 
 from 
 
 3 
 
i6 THE LIFE OF 
 
 from early times, and has received many 
 additional circumftances from the invention 
 of later writers j that Wykeham was an 
 Illiterate Perfon. One that after having 
 been chiefly employed for feveral years in 
 fecular affairs, and without having ever 
 gone through the ufual courfe of Academi- 
 cal Learning, mould become a Clergyman, 
 however furnifhed with mofl parts of truly 
 ufeful knowledge, yet fuch as the fchools 
 were then entirely unacquainted with, 
 would of courfe be looked upon as deficient 
 in a principal part of a Clerical, that is, 
 according to the opinion of thofe times, 
 of a Learned Education. But whoever 
 confiders the miferable ftate of learning 
 in general, and in particular in the Uni- 
 verfity of Oxford, in that age, will not 
 think it any difadvantage to him to have 
 been led into a different courfe of fludies. 
 'Twas jufl at the time ! when Wyke- 
 ham mult have been at the Univerfity of 
 Oxford, if he had ever been there at all, 
 that certain logical contentions, turning 
 merely upon words, fo far prevailed, as to 
 divide the fcholars into perpetual factions, 
 
 * See Ant. Wood. Hift. Univ. Oxon. ad an. 1343. 
 
 and 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 17 
 and to become almoii the only object of 
 their ftudies and attention. The Nominate 
 lifted themfelves under the ftandard of 
 Occham the invincible Doctor, in oppo- 
 sition to the Reals, the followers of Duns 
 Scotus, entitled the Subtile Doctor. This 
 occafioned the revival of the old quarrels, 
 between the Northern and Southern men : 
 the former, for want of a better reafon as 
 it feems, joining themfelves to the party 
 of their Countryman Scotus ; and confe- 
 quently the latter, out of mere fpirit of 
 oppofition, fiding with Occham. The con- 
 fequence of thefe difputes was not only 
 the eflabliiliing in the fchools an unintel- 
 ligible jargon, (the thing that was chiefly 
 meant in thefe times when they talked of 
 knowledge and learning) but the introdu- 
 cing a fcandalous barbarity and brutality of 
 manners into the place appropriated to the 
 ftudies of humanity and poiitenefs. The 
 parties in their madnefs foon tranfgrefTed 
 the bounds of Academical difputation, and 
 came to blows : they had frequent battles, 
 which generally ended in bloodflied. Six 
 years fpent at the Univerlity juft at this 
 time, and in that part of life in which 
 prejudices of all kinds take the fafteft hold 
 C and 
 
18 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and make the moft lailing impreffiom 
 might have unhappily given a wrong turn 
 to a perfon of as great genius, as extenfive 
 knowledge, and as found judgement, as 
 any which that age produced. As he had 
 a capacity, that would probably have car- 
 ried him to the top of any profeffion, into 
 which he might have chanced to have been 
 thrown, he might indeed have become an 
 eminent Schoolman, an Irrefragable, per- 
 haps, or even a Seraphic Doctor : but we 
 mould have abfolutely loft the great States- 
 man, and the generous patron and pro- 
 moter of true learning. 
 
 'Twas certainly for abilities very different 
 from what were commonly attained at that 
 time in the Univerfity, that Wykeham was 
 recommended to Edward the Third. He 
 is faid 3 to 'have been brought to Court, 
 
 and 
 
 3 u Biennio vel triennio elapfo, poft annum s.[fcilicef) 
 <£ aetatis fuse vicefimum, tranflatus eft in curiam domini 
 *' regis Edvardi III." Traclat. in Vet. Reg. Coll. Wint. 
 
 The following pafTage likewife fpeaks of his having 
 been engaged in the King's fervice very early in his 
 life, and contains an ample teftimony of his merits. 
 " Attendentes praeterea ejufdem Epif. probitatis prae- 
 " clara merita ac obfequia fruftuofa, quce ipfe TijuveniU 
 " estate tarn Avo & Patri noftris proedicYis, dura vixe- 
 " rant, quam etiam Nobis, poftquam ad regale fafti- 
 
 *' giura 
 
William of wykeham. i 9 
 
 and placed there in the King's fervice, when 
 he was about two or three and twenty 
 years of age. What employment he had 
 there at this time, (if he was really em- 
 ployed by the King fo foon) I cannot fay : 
 for the firft office, which he appears upon 
 record to have borne, was that of Clerk of 
 all the King's works, in his manors of Henle 
 and Yefhampfted. The 4 Patent confer* 
 ring this office upon him is dated the ioth 
 of May 1356. The 5 30th of October 
 following he was made Surveyor of the 
 King's works at the Caftle and in the Park 
 of Windfor. By this Patent he had powers 
 given him to prefs all forts of artificers, 
 and to provide ftone, timber, and all 
 other materials, and carriages. He had 
 one (hilling a day while he ftaid at Wind- 
 for, two millings when he went elfevvhcre 
 on his employment, and three millings a 
 
 " gium afcendimns, multipliciter impendebat, ipfis ac 
 " nobis in didli regni & negotiorum ejufdem operofo 
 " regimine confiliis & auxiliis opportunis continue ac 
 " fideliter affiflendo, maximos utrobique fultinendo la- 
 11 bores pariter & expenfas/' — Preamble to a Licence 
 of Mortmain granted to his Colleges. Dat. June 16. 
 13. Pv. 2. Rot. Pat. MS. Rymer. R. 2. Vol. III. p. 208. 
 Item. Lib. H. Coll. Wint. fol. 122. 
 
 4 Rot. Pat. 30. Ed. 3. Tanner. 
 
 5 Ibid, and Aihmole, Inftit. Ord. Garter, p. 128. 
 
 C 2 week 
 
20 THE LIFE OF 
 
 week for his Clerk. On 6 the 14th of 
 November, 1357, he received a grant from 
 the King of one fhilling a day, payable at 
 the exchequer, over and above his former 
 wages and falar'y. 'Twas 7 by the advice 
 and perfuafion of Wykeham that the King 
 
 6 Rot. Pat. 31. Ed. 3. Tanner. 
 
 7 " Circa annum Domini 1359, Dominus Rex ad in- 
 " ftigationem Wilhelmi Wykeham Clerici in caftro de 
 " Wyndefliore multa bona azdificia fecit profterni, & alia 
 " plura pulchra & fumptuofa aedificari ; omnes fere la* 
 44 thonii & carpentarii per totam Angliam ad illam aedi- 
 44 flcationem fuerunt adducti, ita quod vix aliquis po- 
 s * tuit habere aliquem bonum lathonium vel carpen- 
 " tarium nifi in abfcondito propter regis prohibitionem. 
 iC Fuerat autem diclus Wilhelmus Wykeham de infimo 
 44 genere, ut puta, ut dicebatur, fervilis conditionis ; 
 44 tamen fuit multum aftutus, & vir magna? induftrise. 
 " Videns qualiter poffet regi placere & illins benevo- 
 41 Jentiam adipifci, confuluit regi dictum caftrum de 
 " Wyndefliore taliter ficut hodie patet intuenti aedi- 
 ** ficare ; & infra modicum tempus poftea unum no- 
 " vum caftrum in infula de Shepeye juxta mare & mer- 
 " catum ibi conftituere ; licet locus ille ad hoc fuerat 
 " male difpofitus. Propter quod Dominus Rex multis 
 " bonis & pinguibus beneficiis ipfum Wilhelmum dita- 
 *> vit, & infra breve tempus polt fuum fecretum Sigil- 
 44 lum fecit portare, & fuccedente tempore ut efTet Wyn- 
 " ton. Epif. proeuravit ; & tandem ad fui honoris cumu- 
 " lum Cancellarium Anglia: ipfum conftituitj ut verifi- 
 44 caretur illud, Sic honorabitur quern Rex vult hono- 
 *' rare." Continuatio Chronici Ranulphi per Johannem 
 Malverneab an. Dom. 1326, ad an. 1394. MS. in Bib- 
 lioth. Coll. Corp. Chrift. Cantab. I give the whole that 
 this author has relating to William of Wykeham, as it 
 has not before been publifhed. 
 
 was 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 21 
 
 was induced to pull down great part of 
 the Caflle of Windforv and to rebuild \t 
 in the magnificent manner in which, upon 
 the whole, it now appears ; and the execu- 
 tion of this great work he committed en- 
 tirely to him. Wykeham had hkewife the 
 fole direction of the building 8 of Queenbo- 
 rough Caille: the difficulties arifmg from 
 the nature of the ground, and the lownefs 
 of the fituation, did not difcourage him 
 from advifing and undertaking this work j 
 and in the event they only -ferved to dif- 
 play more evidently the fkill and abilities 
 of the Architect. 
 
 Wykeham acquitted himfelf fo much to 
 the King's fatisfaction in the execution of 
 thefe employments, that he gained a con- 
 fiderable place in his matter's favour, and 
 grew daily in his affections : 9 for from 
 C 3 hence- 
 
 8 Item MS. Coll. Wint. 
 
 9 There is a ftory commonly told upon this occafion, 
 which I think deferves but little regard, as it feems to 
 ftand upon no other foundation than fome popular tradi- 
 tion. I (hall give it here in the words of Arch-bimop 
 Parker, who, as far as I can find, is the flrft that relates 
 it. " Quidam narrant Wickamum, extructa arce Wind- 
 " forina, ininteriori quodam pariete ha?c verba, quae la- 
 " tine tamappofite & faceteexprimi nequeunt, inlculp- 
 " fuTe: This made Wickam. Hoc fecit Wickam. Q1132 
 
 " locutio 
 
22 THE LIFE OF 
 
 henceforth we find the King continually 
 heaping upon him preferments both civil 
 and ecclefiaftical. It feems to have been 
 all along his defign to take upon him Holy 
 Orders : he is ftyled Clericus in all the 
 above-mentioned Patents, I find f him call- 
 ed fo as early as the year 1352. He had as 
 yet only the Clerical Tonfure, or fome of 
 the lower Orders. The firft Ecclefiaftical 
 Preferment which was conferred upon him, 
 was the Rectory of Pulham in Norfolk by 
 the King's prefentation : * it is dated the 
 30th of November, 1357. He met with 
 fome difficulties with regard to this prefer- 
 ment, from the court of Rome ; where- 
 
 " locutio in Anglicana lingua, quae cafibus raro difcri- 
 <c minatur, tarn ambigua eft, ut incertum fit, utrum is 
 " arcem, an arx eum effeciffet. Hoc regi a calumniato- 
 " ribus quibufdam in ejus invidiam ita delatum eft, ut 
 f* quafi Wickamus oranem extructi asdificii laudem fibi 
 *' arroganter vindicarit. Quod cum rex iniquo animo 
 ** tuliffet, eique probrofe objeciftet : non fibi tarn mag- 
 " nificar l-egiaeque ftructuras laudes, fed ftruclurx fuas 
 u dignitates commoditatefque, adfcripfiffe dixit. Nee 
 " ego, inquit, hanc arcem, fed baec arx me efFecit, 
 *' & ab ima conditione ad regis gratiam, opes, atque 
 " dignitates evexit. Cum hoc refponfo adverfariorum 
 " calumniam vitafTet, opibus & potentia crevit indies." 
 Antiq- Brit. Eccles. 
 
 * Lib. H. Coll. Wint. fol. 252. 
 
 * Rot. Pat. 31. Ed. 3. Tanner. 
 
 fore 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 23 
 
 fore he ; received from the King on the 
 16th of April, 1359, a grant of two hun- 
 dred pounds a year, over and above his for- 
 mer appointments, until he mould get 
 quiet porTeflion of the Church of Pulham, 
 or fome other benefice to the value of one 
 hundred marks. This difpute, whatever 
 it was, was not fettled till two years after- 
 ward ; when * on the 10th of July, 1361, 
 he had from the King a new prefentation 
 to Pulham. On s the iff. of March, 1358-9, 
 he was prefented by the King to the Pre- 
 bend of Flixton in the Church of Lich- 
 field : this 6 he exchanged for fome other 
 benefice with John de Waltham, in No- 
 vember, 1 36 1. On 7 the 1 oth of July, 1359, 
 he was confrituted chief Warden and Sur- 
 veyor of the King's Carries of Windfor, 
 Ledes, Dover, and Hadlamj and of the 
 Manors of Old and New Windfor, Wiche- 
 mer, and feveral other Caftles, Manors, 
 and Houfes, and of the Parks belonging 
 to them : with power to appoint all work- 
 men, to provide materials, and to order 
 
 3 Rot. Pat. 33. Ed. 3. Tanner. 
 * Rot. Pat. 35. Ed. 3. Tanner. 
 
 5 Rot. Pat. 33. Ed. 3. Tanner. 
 
 6 Willis, Survey of Cathedrals. 
 
 7 Rot. Pat. 33. Ed. 3. Tanner, and Aihmole, ibid. 
 
 C 4 " every 
 
24 THE LIFE OF 
 
 every thing with regard to building and 
 repairs ; and in thofe Manors to hold leets, 
 and other courts, pleas of treipafs, and 
 mifdemeanors, and to enquire of the King's 
 liberties and rights. The King feems at 
 this time to have been very intent upon 
 carrying on his buildings at Windfor ; for 
 we find that 8 next year workmen were im- 
 preit in London, and out of feveral Coun- 
 ties, by writs directed to the Sheriffs, who 
 were to take fecurity of them, that they 
 fhould not- leave Windfor without licence 
 from Wykeham. 
 
 On 9 the 5th of May, 1360, he had the 
 King's grant of the Deanry of the Royal 
 Free Chapel, or Collegiate Church, of St. 
 Martin Le Grand, London. He ' exchanged 
 this Deanry for the Prebend of Iwerne- 
 minftre in the Diocefe of Sarum on the 
 3d of Oclober, 1361. Yet as he is flyled 2 
 the year after Dean of St. Martin's, we 
 mufl conclude, that he was prefented to it 
 again the fecond time : and as he was J 
 admitted again to the prebend of Iwerne 
 
 8 Aflimole, ibid. 
 
 9 Hot. Pat. 34. Ed. 3. Tanner. 
 
 1 Regift. Edyngdon. part ift. fol. to6. 
 
 1 Regifl. Edyngdon, pare 2d. in Ordinationibus. 
 
 3 Regiit. Metfcrd. fol. 297. 
 
 in 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEH AM. 25 
 
 , in the monaftery of Shaft/bury, (the fame 
 I fnppofe with the former) by prefentation 
 from the King in the vacancy of the Ab- 
 bacy, (July 2d, 1362) he probably had ex- 
 changed it before for fome other benefice. 
 He held the Dean 17 of St. Martin's about 
 three years: 4 during which time he ge- 
 neroufly rebuilt, s in a very handfome 
 manner, and at a very great expence, the 6 
 doifter of the Chapter-houfe, and the body 
 of the Church. 
 
 Wykeham 7 attended upon the King in 
 the month of October, 1360, at Calais, 
 when the Treaty of Bretigny was folernnly 
 ratified, and confirmed by the reciprocal 
 oaths of the Kings of England and France 
 in perfon. In what character or office he 
 waited on the King there, I cannot fay : 
 but he affifted at this ceremony as a wit- 
 nefs, and, as it feems, in quality of Public 
 Notary. 
 
 To proceed with the lift of his Ecclefi- 
 aitical Preferments : he received from the 
 
 4 Newcourt's Repertorium, Vol. i. p. 424, & 427. 
 
 5 Newcourt, ibid. & Rot. Pat. pro recEdtricatione 
 capellse, &c. per Willielmum Wykeham, tunc decanum, 
 Sec. quoted by Bp. Tanner, Notit. Monaft. p. 297. 
 
 6 lt Clauftrum domus capituli, 8c corpus ecclefiae." 
 MS. Coll. Wint. 
 
 7 Rymer Fcedera, Vol. 6. p. 234. 
 
 King 
 
26 THE LIFE OF 
 
 King grants of the following Dignities, 
 which I fet down in the order of time, 
 with the date of each prefentation. A 8 
 Prebend in the Church of Hereford, July 
 1 2th, j 3 6 1 . A 9 Prebend in the Collegiate 
 Church of Abergwilly, July 1 6th ; and 
 the fame day, a \ Prebend in the Collegiate 
 Church of Llandewy Breys, both in St. 
 David's Diocefe. A 2 Prebend in the Col- 
 legiate Church of Bromyard, Hereford 
 DL cefe, July 24th: this 3 he quitted in 
 October following. The 4 Prebend of 
 Oxgate in the Cathedral Church of St. 
 Paul London, October ift. A s Prebend 
 in the Monaflery of Wherwell Winton 
 Diocefe, December 20. Allthefe in the fame 
 year : in which likewife by prefentation 
 from other hands he was admitted to the 
 following Dignities. The 6 Prebend of 
 Yatmenfter Overbury in the Church of Sa- 
 lifbury, Auguft 16th: The 7 Prebend of 
 
 8 Rot. Pat. 35. Ed. 3. Tanner. 
 » Ibid. 
 > Ibid. 
 
 • Ibid. 
 
 3 Newcourt's Repertorium, Vol. 2. p. 67, 
 + Rot. Pat. 35. Ed. 3. Tanner. 
 5 Ibid. 
 
 * Regift. Metford. fol. 277. 
 7 Ibid. fol. 283. 
 
 For- 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 27 
 
 Fordington and Wriglington in the fame, 
 by exchange of the former, October 9th : 
 the 8 Prebend of Bedminfter and Ratcliff in 
 the fame, October 1 5th : the 9 Prebend of 
 Totenhall in the Church of St. Paul Lon- 
 don, December iothj which he rehgned 
 a few days after, and was again presented 
 to it by the King in April following. He 
 was Canon of Lincoln in June, 1362: it 
 2 was the Prebend of Sutton which he held 
 in that Church. He 3 had the Rectories 
 of Afwardby, Wodeland, and Gofberkirk, 
 Lincoln Diocefe : the later of which he 4 
 exchanged for the Prebend of Langtoft in 
 the Cathedral Church of York, this fame 
 year : which he alfo quitted the next year 
 for the Prebend of Laghton in the fame 
 Church. The s King gave him moreover, a 
 Prebend in the Collegiate Church of Haft- 
 ings, Chichefter Diocefe, February 17th, 
 1362-3 ; a Prebend in St. Stephen's Cha- 
 pel Weftminfter, April 21ft, 1363 j the 
 
 8 Ibid. 
 
 9 Newcourt's Repertorium, Vol. i. p. 214. 
 1 Rymer Fosdera, Vol. 6. p. 372. 
 
 a Regift. Langham, fol. 12. 
 
 3 Dr. Richardfon on Godwin, from Regift. Ginwell. 
 
 4 Bp. Tanner ex Regift. Ecclefue Ebor. 
 s Rot. Pat. 37. Ed. 3. Tanner. 
 
 Arch- 
 
28 THE LIFE OF 
 
 .Arch-Deaconry of Northampton, April 
 26th ; the Arch-Deaconry of Lincoln, May 
 23d j on 6 accepting which he refigned the 
 former j and the Prepofiture of Wells with 
 the Prebend annexed, December 1 5th, the 
 fame year. 
 
 Some of the foregoing Dignities he was 
 poflefled of before he was in Holy Orders. 
 He 7 was admitted to the inferior Order of 
 Accolite on the 5th of December, 1361 ; 
 to the Order of Subdeacon, a fuperior and 
 Holy Order in the Church of Rome's ac- 
 count, 011 the 1 2th of March following; 
 both by Edyngdon Bimop of Winchefter 
 in his Chapel at Southwark: and was 
 there likewife ordained Pried by the fame, 
 June the 12th, 1362. It does not appear 
 when or by whom he was ordained Deacon. 
 
 His advancement in the State ilill kept 
 pace with his preferment in the Church. 
 In 8 June, 1363, he was Warden and Jus- 
 ticiary of the King's Forefrs on this fide 
 
 6 Le Neve's Fafti. ex Regift. Bokyngham. 
 
 7 Regift. Edyngdon, part 2d. in Ordinaiionibus. 
 
 8 Kennet's Parochial Antiquities, pag- 497. He is 
 call'd late Warden, &c. in Rot. Pat. 42 Ed. 3. Tanner. 
 Which Patent contains a Releafe and acquittance from 
 the King of all debts and demands on account of that 
 office. Index Rot. Pat. Biblioth. Cotton. Titus c. 2 
 
 Trent. 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 29 
 
 Trent. On ? the 1 4th of March follow- 
 ing, the King granted him an alignment 
 of twenty millings a day out of the Ex- 
 chequer. He f was made Keeper of the 
 Privy Seal on the nth of May, 1364. 
 And 2 within two years after he was made 
 Secretary to the King. In May, 3 1365, he 
 was commiflioned by the King to treat of 
 the ranfom of the King of Scotland, and 
 the prolonging of the truce with the 
 Scots, together with the Chancellor, Trea- 
 furer, and the Earl of Arundel. Not long 
 after this, he is called 4 Chief of the Privy 
 Council, and Governor of the Great Coun- 
 cil 5 which terms however, I fuppofe, are 
 not titles of office, but exprefs the great 
 influence and authority which he had in 
 thofe alfemblies. 
 
 There are feveral other preferments both 
 Ecclefiaftical and Civil, which he is faid 
 
 9 Rot. Pat. 38. Ed. 3. Tanner. 
 
 J Ibid. 
 
 a Rot. Pat. 40. Ed. 3. Tanner. The Pope directs 
 to him by the title of Secretary to the King of England 
 as early as June 1364. Rymer. Fcedera, Vol. 6. pag. 
 
 443- 
 
 3 Rymer Fcedera, Vol. 6. pag. 464. 
 
 4 " Capitalis fecred Concilii, ac Gubernator Magni 
 " Concilii." Rymer Fcedera, Vol. 7. p. 164. 
 
 to 
 
3o T H E L I F E O F 
 
 to have held ; but I do not mention them,' 
 becaufe the authorities produced for them 
 are fuch, as I cannot intirely depend upon. 
 And as to his Ecclefiaftical Benefices al- 
 ready mentioned, the practice of exchang- 
 ing them was then fo common, that 'tis 
 hard to determine precifely, which of them 
 he held all together at any one time. 
 However, we have a very exact account of 
 this matter as it flood in the year 1366, 
 when the fum of his Church preferments 
 was at the highefr, given by Wykeham 
 himfelf on occafion of Urban the Fifth's 5 
 Bulle againft Pluralities : the 6 practice of 
 which prevailed greatly in the Church at 
 this time j fo that there were fome in Eng- 
 land, who, by the Pope's authority, porTefled 
 at once twenty Ecclehaftical Benefices and 
 Dignities, with difpenfation moreover for 
 holding as many more as they could law- 
 fully procure, without limitation of num- 
 ber. This Bulle was publifhed in May, 
 1365 j and orders all ecclefiaftical perfons 
 whatfoever porTerTed of more benefices than 
 one, either with or without cure, to de- 
 
 5 See the Bulle itfelf in Wilkins. Concil. Mag. Brit. 
 Vol. 3. pag. 62. 
 
 6 Parker. Antiq. Britan. Eccl. ad an. 1367. 
 
 liver 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 31 
 
 liver to the Ordinary of the place where 
 they commonly refide, a diftincl: and par- 
 ticular account of fuch their benefices, with 
 the fum which each is taxed at in the King's 
 books, to be tranfmitted to the Metropoli- 
 tan, and by him to the Pope. The Cer- 
 tificate of the Bifhop of London, made to 
 the Arch-Bifhop of Canterbury, of the ac- 
 count exhibited to him by William of 
 Wykeham of his benefices, is as follows. 
 
 7 <e In the fame year and month [Oclo- 
 " ber, 1366.] Sir William of Wykeham 
 c< Clerk, Archdeacon of Lincoln, and 
 " " Secretary of our Lord the Illuflrious 
 " King of England, and Keeper of his 
 " Privy Seal, by reafon of his faid office 
 " refiding and commonly dwelling in the 
 " City and Diocefe of London, intimated 
 "•and in writing exhibited to Us Simon 
 cc Biihop of London, clearly, particularly, 
 cc and difrinctly, as he affirmed, that he 
 " holdeth the Archdeaconry of Lincoln, 
 " having no ecclefiaftical benefice nor manfe 
 ct annexed unto the fame, which is reput- 
 " ed to be a dignity in the Church of Lin- 
 
 7 Ex Regiftro Langham. fol. 12. 
 
 8 A word is here omitted in the original : 'tis fup- 
 plied by conje&ure. 
 
 " coin, 
 
32 THE LIFE OF 
 
 <c coin, and is a benefice with cure, and 
 " incompatible with another cure • not 
 lc taxed 5 the true and common annual va- 
 cc lue of the fame, if the Archdeacon vifi- 
 " teth all the churches of his Archdea- 
 <c conry, and receiveth the whole procu- 
 cc rations every where in ready money, ex- 
 " tendeth to three hundred and fifty pounds 
 <£ flerling. Item, the Canonry and Pre- 
 '" bend of Sutton in the faid Church of 
 " Lincoln j it is a Benefice without cure, 
 " and compatible with a benefice with cure : 
 {£ the tax of the fame is two hundred and 
 l< fixty marks flerling. Item, the Canonry 
 " and Prebend of Laghton in the Church 
 " of York 3 it is a benefice without cure, 
 <c and compatible with a cure, and is fo 
 " held and reputed : the tax of the fame 
 " is one hundred and ten marks flerling. 
 " Item, the Canonry and Prebend of Bon- 
 " ham in the Collegiate Church of Suth- 
 ° well, York Diocefe j it is a benefice with- 
 tc out cure, and compatible with a cure : 
 " the tax of the fame fifty five marks fler- 
 cc ling. Item, the Canonry and Prebend 
 " of the Altar of St. Mary in the Colle- 
 " giate Church of Beverly, York Diocefe j 
 <£ it is a benefice without cure, and com- 
 
 " patible 
 
 5 
 
WILLIAM OE WYKEHAM. 33 
 
 «t patible with a cure: the tax of the fame 
 cc fixteen pounds fterling. Item, the Ca- 
 " nonry and Prebend of Totenhale in the 
 w Church of London ; a benefice likewife 
 " without cure, and compatible with a cure : 
 " the tax of the fame fixteen marks fter- 
 M ling. Item, the Canonry and Prebend 
 <c of Fordyngton in the Church of Sarum ; 
 " a benefice alio without cure, and com- 
 ** patible with a cure : the tax of the fame 
 " twenty five marks fterling. Item, the 
 n Canonry and Prebend of Werwell ill 
 « the Monaftery of the nuns of Werwell, 
 « Wynton Diocefe j it is a benifice with- 
 < c out cure, and compatible with a cure : 
 tl the tax of the fame fixty marks. Item, 
 " the Canonry and Prebend of Iwerne in 
 " the Monaftery of the nuns of Shafton, 
 <c Sarum Diocefe; a benefice likewife with- 
 " out cure, and compatible with a cine, 
 " and fo held and reputed : the tax of :he 
 ft fame thirty marks fterling. Item, the 
 « Canonry and Prebend of Swerde§ in 
 (< the Church of Dublin in Ireland j it is 
 <£ a benefice without cure, and compati- 
 <c ble with a cure : the tax of the fame 
 u ninety marks fterling. Item, the Pre- 
 " pofiture of Wells with a Prebend in the 
 D " Church 
 
34 THE LIFE OF 
 
 " Church of Wells annexed to the fame : 
 *f the aforefaid Prepofiture is a fimple of- 
 tc fice, and without cure, and compatible 
 <e with another benefice with cure, and fo 
 cc it is held and reputed : the tax of the 
 " Prepofiture with the Prebend annexed to 
 " it fixty eight marks fterling ; and out of 
 " the fruits and produce of the faid Pre- 
 <c pofiture are paid to fourteen Canons for 
 <c their Prebends, and to the Vicars and 
 <c other ministers of that Church, yearly 
 t{ one hundred and feventy five marks fter- 
 tf ling. Item, the aforefaid Sir William 
 ct of Wykeham did hold at the time of the 
 <c date of the aforefaid monition, by col- 
 tC lation of our Lord the illufhious King 
 ' { of England, the canonry and Prebend 
 c< of Alnethle in the aforefaid our Lord 
 tC the Kings free Chapel of Brnggenorth, 
 <c Coventry and Litchfield Diocefe j it is a 
 <c benefice without cure, and compatible 
 tc with a cure j and the fame, being of the 
 " King s patronage, he hath wholly refign- 
 " ed and limply quitted in form of law, as 
 " well really as verbally : and that the tax 
 " of the fame, the Epifcopal regifters, as 
 " well as thofe of our Lord the King and 
 " thofe of our Lord the Pope's Nuncio in 
 
 " England > 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 35 
 
 " England, having been fearched, and all 
 " requifite diligence by him ufed in the 
 «« fame, could not be made appear, nor 
 « doth appear -, wherefore the true and com- 
 « mon value of the faid Prebend he hath 
 " exhibited unto Us Simon Bifhop of Lon- 
 £C don aforefaid, that it extendeth annual- 
 " ly to twenty three pounds fix millings 
 " and eight pence fterling. Item, the faid 
 « Sir William did hold, by virtue of Apof- 
 « tolical Difpenfation unto him in this be- 
 " half fufficiently made and granted, at 
 " the time of the date of the monition a- 
 " forefaid and fince, the Parifh Church of 
 li Manyhyiiet, Exon Diocefe, at that time 
 < c of Lay patronage: it is a benefice with 
 11 cure, not compatible with another cure; 
 tC but the fame Church he hath wholly 
 cC refigned and limply quitted in form of 
 < c law, as well realiy as verbally : the 
 <' tax of the fame eight pounds fterling. 
 < c Item, he did obtain a Refcript or Bulle 
 <* Apoftolical in the time of our Lord Pope 
 < £ Innocent the fixth ■ of happy memory, 
 " directed to the Bifhop Elect of St. 
 " David's, to examine the faid William 
 
 1 In the Original, Innocent the Fifth, by miftake. 
 
 D 2 " per- 
 
36 THE LIFE OF 
 
 '' perfonally, and if he fhould be found 
 ' c duly qualified, to grant unto kirn by 
 '*' provifion the Canonry and Prebend of 
 f{ the Church of St. Andrew of Aukelond, 
 <c Durham Diocefe, which formerly Thomas 
 " de Brydekylt, alias de Karlelis, held in 
 " the faid Church during his life : but by 
 " virtue of the fame he neither hath fince 
 " had collation, nor the faid Canonry and 
 " Prebend hath he poffeflion of, nor hath 
 cc in any wife had, nor intendeth to have 
 " for the future, nor in any manner to make 
 " ufe of the faid Refcript or Bulle Apof- 
 " tolical : the tax or value is not known." 
 
 By this inftru merit it appears, that the 
 yearly value, partly taxed and party real, 
 of the benefices which Wykeham had for 
 fome few years held all together, was 
 873I. 6s. 8d. and of thofe which he ftiil re- 
 mained in poiTellion of, and continued to 
 hold till he became Billiop of Winchefter, 
 was 842I. 
 
 It is needlefs to obferve, in what a high 
 degree of favour Wykeham flood with the 
 King, after having given fo many fubftantial 
 proofs of it. But the tefrimony of FroiiTart, 
 a contemporary hiilorian, perfonally ac- 
 quainted with the affairs of the Englifli 
 
 Court, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 37 
 
 Court, and at 9 this very time refiding there, 
 and employed in the fervice of both the 
 King and Queen, is too remarkable to be 
 omitted. " At T this time, fays he, reigned 
 " a Prieft called William of Wykeham. 
 " This William of Wykeham was fo much 
 " in favour with the King of England, 
 " that every thing was done by him, and 
 <c nothing was done without him." The 
 King had raifed him to fome of the high- 
 en: offices in the State, and intended to car- 
 ry him Hill higher : it was in a manner 
 neceffary that his ftation in the Church 
 mould be proportionable. The King 
 might eafily have procured him a Bifhop- 
 rick before this time : but as Bifhopricks 
 were not abfolutely in his difpofal, nor 
 tranflations from one Biihoprick to an- 
 other become the common Heps of ad- 
 vancement in the Church, he feems to have 
 referved Wykeham for the Bifiioprick of 
 Winchefrer, which in point of honour and 
 revenue would be a proper ftation for his 
 favourite minifter, and which in the courfe 
 of nature muft fhortly become vacant, 
 
 * See FroifTart, Vol. 4. Chap. 61. & 119. 
 1 FroifTart, Vol. 1. Chap. 249. Edit. Paris, 1574. 
 He calls him W. de V/ican. 
 
 I) 3 He 
 
38 THE LIFE O F, &c. 
 
 He probably had it in his power to place 
 him in the See of Canterbury, which be- 
 came vacant about half a year before that 
 of Whichever : but 2 Edyngdon was now 
 declining apace, and Wykeham perhaps 
 was defirous of being fettled in his native 
 country ; that this, rather than any other, 
 might be the nearer! and moil: immediate 
 objecl of his care and beneficence. In the 
 mean time the King conferred upon him 
 as many Ecclefiaftical preferments, of a 
 lower degree, as he could legally be pof- 
 fefled of, as marks of royal favour, and 
 fupports of his ftate and dignity, while this 
 great expectative was depending. 
 
 a See Wharton, Ang. Sacr. Vol. i. pag. 317. 
 
 THE 
 
t39] 
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 O F 
 WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 
 
 SECTION II. 
 
 From the time of his being made Bijhop of 
 Winchejier to the loft year of Edward the 
 Third. 
 
 WILLIAM de Edyngdon Bifliop of 
 Winchefter died ■ on the eighth of 
 October, 1366. Upon the King's 2 ear- 
 neft recommendation, Wykeham was im- 
 mediately and unanimonfly elected by the 
 Prior and Convent to fucceed him. The 3 
 
 1 Wharton, Ang. Sacr. Vol. I. pag. 317. 
 a Ibid. & pag. 47. & Godwin. 
 3 Dr. Richardfon's Note on Godwin, from Rot. Pat. 
 41. (it ought to be 40.) Ed. 3, 
 
 D 4 conge 
 
4 o THE LIFE OF 
 
 conge d'elire is dated October the 13th. 
 The King approved the election on the 
 24th of the fame month. The Pope 4 con- 
 ftitutes him Adminiftrator of the Spiritu- 
 alties and Temporalties of the vacant See, 
 by his Bulle dated December the nth of 
 the fame year: and he was 5 admitted to the 
 adminiftration of the Spiritualties by the 
 Archbifhop of Canterbury, February the 
 2 2d following. By his 6 Bulle of July the 
 14th, 1367, the Pope gives him leave to be 
 confecrated, referring in it to the Bulle of 
 Provifion of the fame date, by which he 
 confers on him the Biflioprick. He was 7 
 confecrated in St. Paul's London, on the 
 20th of October, 1367, by the Archbifhop 
 
 * See Appendix, N°V. 
 
 5 Wharton, Ang. Sacr. Vol. I. p. 317. 
 
 6 Regifr. Wykeham, Part I. fol. 4. ** Cum nos pri- 
 11 dem Wynton. Ecclefiae — au&oritate Apoitolica dux- 
 " erimus providendum proefkiendo te ill x in Epifcopum, 
 " prout in noflris inde confeftis literis plenius conti- 
 " netur.— -The word pridem relates only to the Pope's 
 Provifional Intention: for it appears from the general 
 Title of Wykeham's Regifter, that the Bulle of Pro- 
 vifion was dated the fame day, July 14th, 1367. " Re- 
 " gifrrum Wilhelmi de Wykeham cui de Epifcopat. 
 Ci Wynt. per felicis recordations Urbanum div. pro. 
 " Papam Vtum per viam refervationis fuit provifum 
 " fub data Viterbii fecundo Idus Julij Pont, fui anno 
 V Vto." 
 
 7 Regift. Wykeham. General Title, and Beginning. 
 
 of 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 41 
 
 of Canterbury, afUfted by the Bifhops of 
 London and Salifbury. The fame day 8 
 the Archbifhop celebrated the Feaft of 
 Confecration with great magnificence at 
 his palace of Lambeth, Two days 9 af- 
 ter Wykeham received from the King the 
 grant of the Temporalties of the Bifhop- 
 rick. Thus was it a whole year from the 
 time of the vacancy, and even from the 
 time of his election, before he could get 
 into full porTeflion of his new dignity. 
 
 The delay, which this affair met with, 
 has been taken notice of by many ' au- 
 thors j fome of whom have affigned no 
 reafon for it; others, chiefly the later 
 writers, have given a falfe one. Some fay, 
 that the King was very unwilling to pro- 
 mote, to fo high a ftation in the Church, 
 a pei'fon who was fo very deficient in point 
 of Learning : this is not at all probable j 
 Wykeham was recommended by the King, 
 the election was made, and was approved 
 
 8 Steph. Birchington apud Wharton Ang. Sacr. Vol. 
 I. pag. 47. 
 
 9 Rymer. Foed. Vol. VI. pag. 574. 
 
 1 See Wharton Ang. Sacr. Vol. I. pag. 47, & 317. 
 Anonym, publifhed by Hearn in Vol. II. of Walt. He- 
 mingford. Ant. Wood. Hift. Univ. Oxon. Part II. 
 pag. 127. Parker, Truflell, &c. 
 
 by 
 
42 THE LIFE OF 
 
 by him, all within fixteen days after the 
 vacancy happened j with as much difpatch, 
 as was poflible in an affair of this nature. 
 Others pretend, that the Pope made the 
 fame objection : the contrary to this ap- 
 pears from the words of the Bulle above- 
 mentioned, dated December the i ith, 1366, 
 in which the Pope fpeaks of Wykeham, as * 
 " £ recommended to him, by the tefrimony 
 " of many perfons worthy of credit, for 
 CI his knowledge of Letters, his probity of 
 " life and manners, and his prudence and 
 " circurafpection in affairs both fpiritual 
 " and temporal." Which tefrimony of his 
 Learning is the more to be infilled upon, 
 as it appears, on examining all the Bulks of 
 this kind that occur in Rymer's Collection 
 of public Records through this Century, 
 that this part of the Bulle, in which the 
 character of the perfon preferred is given, 
 for the mod part runs in more general 
 terms, and has more frequently than other- 
 wife no mention of Learning at all. The 
 Pope v/as fo far from making the objec- 
 tion, that he feems fully perfuaded, that 
 there was really no room for it: for, we 
 
 * See Appendix, N°V. 
 
 may 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 43 
 
 may be fure, the Court of Rome had more 
 addrefs, than to go out of its way, and de- 
 part from a common form, to compliment 
 a perfon for the very quality, in which he 
 was notorioufly deficient. 
 
 But the true ftate of the cafe, and the 
 reafon of this delay on the fide of the Pope, 
 feems to be this. Since the time of Henry 
 the third, the Kings and Parliaments of 
 England had refolutely oppofed the ufur- 
 pations of the See of Rome, one confidera- 
 ble article of which among many was the 
 Pope's afluming to himfelf the difpofal of 
 all Church Preferments by way of Provi- 
 fion and Refer vation. The pretence was, 
 that the Holy Father, out of his great care 
 for the welfare of the Church in general, 
 and that of fuch a Diocefe fuppofe in 
 particular, had provided for it beforehand 
 a proper and ufeful perfon to prefide over 
 it, left in cafe of a vacancy it might fulfer 
 detriment, by being long deftitute of a 
 Parlor ; for which reafon, out of the pleni- 
 tude of his authority, he referred to him- 
 felf for this turn the difpofal of the faid 
 Bifhoprick, decreeing from that time for- 
 ward all interpohtion, or attempts to the 
 contrary, of all peribns whatfoever, null 
 
 and 
 
44 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and void. The moft effectual method of 
 putting an end to thefe encroachments on 
 the rights of the King, Chapters, and Pa- 
 trons, feemed to have been taken under 
 Edward the third, by the Statutes 3 of 
 Provlfors and Premunire : yet the Pope 
 {till continued his pretenfions, and his Pro- 
 vifions in reality took place j only the per- 
 fon fo preferred, was obliged to 4 renounce 
 in form all manner of right to the Tem- 
 poralties, which might be derived to him 
 from the Bulle of Provifion, and all words 
 contained in it prejudicial to the rights of 
 the Crown. This was the occalion of 
 perpetual disputes between the King and 
 the Pope, and of the delay in the prefent 
 cafe. Wykeham was probably a perfon 
 very agreeable to the Pope, who had feve- 
 ral 5 times made ufe of his interefjt with 
 the King : and we fee, that at this very time 
 he made no dilnculty of granting to him, 
 
 3 Stat, of the 25th, 27th, and ;8th years of Ed. 3. 
 
 * See Rymer's Fcedera, Vol. VI. pag 597. Wilkins. 
 Concil.Mag. Brit. Vol. II. pag. 266. This is the reafon 
 why the Bulle of Frovifion is not entered in Wykeham's 
 Regifter. 
 
 5 There are three Recommendatory Letters of Ur- 
 ban the V. to Wykeham in Rymer's Fcedera : one in 
 July, 1363, another in June, 1364, the third in Jan. 
 1366-7, while thjs affair was depending. 
 
 as 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 45 
 
 as to the prefumptive SucceHbr, the Ad- 
 miniftration of the vacant See. The point 
 in queftion was not, whether Wykeham 
 mould have the Bifhoprick of Winchefter 
 or not 5 but by what title, and by whom 
 it mould be conferred on him. The Pope's 
 right of Provifion was not to be dropt in 
 the difpofal of fo great a preferment, and 
 when he had an opportunity by it of mak- 
 ing a merit with the firft Minifter of the 
 greateft Prince in Europe. The King de- 
 fended the right of Election: the Pope 
 pretended, that Eleclion in this cafe gave 
 no right to the Bifhoprick, and would have 
 it acknowledged as a favour from himfelf. 
 The King had fo great a regard for Wyke- 
 ham, that he condefcended at lafl to form 
 an intereft with the Pope, to induce him 
 to recede a little from his pretenfions. He 
 6 wrote to the Duke of Bourbon, one of 
 his hoflages for the King of France, to 
 whom he had granted leave of abience 7 
 about a year before, and had lately pro- 
 longed it at the Pope's requerl, defiring him 
 to prevail with the Pope to confirm Wyke- 
 ham's Election. The Duke went to Avig- 
 
 6 Froifiart, Vol. I. Chap. 249. 
 
 7 Rymer'sFcedera, Vol. VI. pag 48"?, and jro. 
 
 non, 
 
46 THE LIFE OF 
 
 non, where the Pope then refided, and fol- 
 licited the affair in perfon. He was glad 
 of this opportunity of laying the King and 
 his Minifter under an obligation to him. 
 And 'tis probable, that in confideration of 
 this fervice the King the more readily grant- 
 ed him his liberty the year following, on 
 his paying 8 40000 Crowns for his ranfom. 
 The Pope was as well pleafed to receive a 
 petition from the King of England ; 'twas 
 the very thing he propofed to himfelf by 
 all this delay. He fo far complied with 
 it, as to end the difpute without determin- 
 ing the merits of the caufe : according to 
 the general maxim of the Court of Rome, 
 never to give up its pretenfions in any cafe 
 whatfoever \ but rather to yield to the de- 
 fire of an opponent too powerful to be re- 
 filled, as out of mere grace and favour, 
 without admitting his claim. However, 
 in the prefent cafe it feems to have been 
 agreed, that each party fhould in fome mea- 
 fure allow the pretenfions of the other. 
 Accordingly, the Pope's Bulle of July the 
 
 8 Rymer's Foedera, Vol. VI. pag. 585. Not 120QO, 
 as Rapin fays ; nor 20000 Francs, as Froiflart. He paid 
 iocoo Crowns, Jan. 28th, 1367-8, and engaged to pay 
 30000 more at three equal payments within the year. 
 
 14th, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 47 
 
 14th, 1367, before mentioned, in which 
 he refers to the Bulle of Provifion, is ne- 
 verthelefs directed to William Bifnop E- 
 lect of Winchefter ; and on the other hand, 
 the King in his Letters Patent of the 12th 
 of October, 1367, by which he grants him 
 the Temporaries of the Bifhoprick, ac- 
 knowledges him Bifliop of Wincheiler by 
 the Pope's Provifion, without mentioning 
 his Election. 9 He was Inthroned in the 
 
 Ca- 
 
 9 Regiflr. Wykeham, pt. 3d. a. fol. r. 
 
 The right of Inthroning all the Suffragan Bifhops 
 of the Province is by ancient cuflom the peculiar privi • 
 lege of the Archdeacon of Canterbury. It may not 
 perhaps be difpleaflng to the reader to be informed of 
 fome parts of the Ceremony formerly ufed, with the 
 particulars of the Archdeacon's Fees, upon this occa- 
 sion. * The Bifliop was received by the Archdeacon 
 at his Entrance into the City, where he alighted from 
 his Palfrey ; and the Archdeacon immediately had the 
 Palfrey, with the Saddle and all the Furniture; and 
 farther, if the Bifhop's Groom would deliver to him the 
 cover of the faddle, the girt, and headftall, the Arch- 
 deacon was to reward him with the gift of two {hil- 
 lings, or more, as in his bounty he fhouid think pro- 
 per. The Bifliop undrefTed himfelf in fome church 
 or houfe near to the Cathedral ; upon which the Arch- 
 deacon's fervant feized his Riding-coat, Gloves, Hat, 
 and Boots, for his mailer. From thence the Archdeacon 
 conducted him to the Cathedral Church robed in his pon- 
 tificals, and placed him in his throne. He had an allowance 
 of hay and provender for fifteen horfes, as long as he con- 
 
 * Harpsfield, Hift. Eccl. Ang. Sxcukim XIII. cap. 10. Sorter's 
 Antiquities of Canterbury, Pt. id. p. 14,3 
 
 4 tinued 
 
48 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Cathedral Church of Winchefrer by Wil- 
 liam de Afkeby, Archdeacon of Northamp- 
 ton, by Commifllon from the Cardinal 
 Archdeacon of Canterbury's Procurator 
 General, on the 9th of July, 1368; who 
 acknowledges him to be Bifhop of Win- 
 chefter by Election, Confirmation, and 
 Confecration, without any mention at all 
 of the Pope's Provifion. 
 
 As foon as the difpute between the King 
 and the Pope, which was in effect no 
 
 tinned in attendance upon this office, meat and drink 
 for three days, and every night four gallons of wine at 
 his fupper ; two great torches of wax during his whole 
 flay j and every night two lefTer torches, and two do- 
 zen of wax candles. On the day of Inthronization, 
 the Bifhop's table being at the upper end of the hall, 
 a table on the right fide of the hall was furnifhed for 
 the Archdeacon and the company whom he mould 
 pleafe to invite : the BiPnop drank to him out of a Cup 
 of filver or filver gilt ; and the Cup belonged to the 
 Archdeacon. He had befides ten marks fterling in 
 money for the expences of his Journey. The Bifhop's 
 Bed alfo ufed anciently to be demanded and allowed, 
 as the fee of the Archdeacon's Chamberlain : but this 
 feems very early to have grown out of ufe. And the 
 reft of thefe cuftoms began by degrees to be laid afide 
 and to become obfolete, when the Bifhops began to be 
 inthroned by proxy, and the Archdeacons left off af- 
 iifting at the celebration of this folemnity in perfon, 
 and at laft eftablifhed the practice of performing their 
 office by deputation ; fo that, Ifuppofe, the pecuniary 
 part of the Fee, or fome equivalent for the whole in 
 that fliape, is all that at prefent remains to them. 
 
 other 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 4g 
 
 other than a contention which of them 
 fhould be the author of Wykeham's pro- 
 motion, was accommodated ; being now 
 qualified, by his advancement in the Church, 
 to receive the higheft dignity in the State, 
 he was conftituted Chancellor of England. 
 He Was even pofTefTed of this great office 
 while he was only Bifhop Elect ; for he 
 was ' confirmed in it on the 1 7th of Sep- 
 tember, 1367. We need not be furprifed 
 to find, that the Parliament of the next 
 year was z opened by Langham, Arch- 
 biihop of Canterbury, though Wykeham 
 was then Chancellor : for the * part of 
 addreffing the Parliament by the King's 
 command, or of Speaker of the Houfe of 
 Lords, was not yet by cuftom appropriated 
 to the office of Chancellor. 
 
 1 Dugdale's Chronica Series of Chancellors, &c. 
 from Chart. 41. Ed. III. that is, 1367. He refers it to 
 the year 1368, by a miftake which runs through the 
 whole reign of Ed. III. in his Series. All other Au- 
 thors, who mention Wykeham's promotion, fpeak of 
 him as being made Chancellor and Bifhop of Winchef- 
 ter both about the fame time. Philipot's Catalogue of 
 Chancellors, p. 42. Spelman's Gloflary in V. Can- 
 cellarius. Wharton, Ang. Sacr. Vol. I. p. 47 and 381:, 
 FicifTart, Vol. I. chap. 249. 
 
 % Rot. Pari. 42. Ed. III. 
 
 3 See Cotton's Abridg. of Pari. Rolls. 
 
 E Con- 
 
50 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Confidering the infinite multiplicity of* 
 affairs, which Wykeham had tranfacted 
 for the King, in the feveral employments 
 with which he had been entr lifted, it was 
 impoffible for the moil upright or pru-^ 
 dent man to have acled in every particu- 
 lar with fo much exaclnefs and caution, 
 as to guard againft the envy and malice of 
 thofe enemies, which high ftation in a court 
 is lure to create. As therefore he had now 
 quitted fome of thofe employments, no 
 more to be engaged in them, and was to 
 act from henceforth in a new fphere, he 
 thought it proper to fecure himfelf with 
 regard to the pafT, by obtaining a full ac- 
 quitance and difcharge from the King. This 
 the King granted him in the fulled and am- 
 pleft manner, by his 4 letters patent, dated 
 May the 22d, 1368. 
 
 A Par- 
 
 4 " Rex omnibus, &c. Sciatis quod nos confide* 
 " rantes grata & utilia obfequia nobis per Venerabilem 
 fi Patrem W. de Wykeham Epifc. Wint. a diu impen- 
 41 fa, & magnum locum quern nobis in noftris agen- 
 *' dis diverilmode tcnuit & indies tenet, graves & 
 " fumptuofos Jabores fubeundo, ac volentes proinde 
 " ipfius tranquillitati & quicti prout convenit provide- 
 •* re, de gratia noftra fpeciali & certa fcientia paidona- 
 *' vimus eidem Epifc. omnimoda debita apprefla & com- 
 Ci pota ex quibus nobis caufa quorumcun-que denario- 
 
 •• rum," 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 51 
 
 A Parliament was fummoned to be held 
 at Weflminfter, May 27th, 1369. The 
 King, Lords, and Commons being aflem- 
 bled in the Painted Chamber, the Bifhop 
 of Winchefter, Lord Chancellor, declared 
 the caufe of their meeting in the following 
 manner s . 
 
 " Sirs, the King, in all dccafions of 
 " importance which concerned himfelf or 
 * c his kingdom, hath always acled by the 
 u counfell and advice of his Lords and 
 tc Commons, which he hath ever found to 
 " be good and loyal, and for which he 
 " moft heartily thanketh them. It is very 
 " well known to you all, that our Lord 
 fl the King fome time ago, with regard to 
 " the claim and right which he hath in 
 M the Kingdom of France, by the advice 
 {t of his Lords and Commons, concluded 
 ic a peace with his adverfary of France 
 u upon certain conditions : namely, That 
 " his faid adverfary fhould furrender to 
 
 <c rum," &c. He gives him full acquittance of all de- 
 mands of money, jewels, &c. received or delivered 
 before he was bifhop, and fince ; releafes him, his heirs, 
 and executors, from all actions real, perfonal, and 
 mixt, &c. in the fulleft terms. Rot. Pat. 42. Ed. UL 
 p. 1. m. 5. MS. Rymer, Vol. XI. N» 40. 
 5 Rot. Pari. 43. Ed. III. 
 
 E a * c him 
 
52 THE LIFE OF 
 
 " him certain lands and countries beyond 
 <c the feas, and fhould alfo pay to him 
 <c certain funis of money, within a time 
 " limited by the treaty ; and likewife, that 
 <c in confideration of his renouncing all 
 " jurifdiclion and lbvereignty in Gafcony, 
 " and all other countries belonging to the 
 " King beyond the feas, our Lord the 
 •* King, on his part, would at the fame 
 cf time renounce the title of King of 
 ct France. But his faid adverfary not on- 
 <{ ly wholly failed to furrender the lands 
 " and countries agreed upon by the Trea- 
 " ty, and made no payment of the mo- 
 " ney, but has alfo accepted of the appeals 
 " of the Count D'Armynac, the Lord De 
 <f la Bret, and others, who are lieges of 
 " our Lord the King in Gafcony j and in 
 tc confequence of thefe appeals, hath fum- 
 " moned the Prince of Gafcony to appear 
 " before him at Paris, on the firft day of 
 <c May now paft, to anfwer to their ap- 
 cc peals, contrary to the terms of the Trea- 
 €C ty. And moreover, he hath fent a great 
 t( number of armed men, who 6 wage war 
 " hi Gafcony, and have taken there by 
 
 * Qui chimachent de guerre. 
 
 " force, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 53 
 
 «* force, and ftill keep poiTefiion of, towns, 
 <c caftles, fortreffes, and other places, have 
 tl feized the king's fubjects, killed fome, 
 " and imprifoned others, or fet upon them 
 " grievous ranfoms : and farther, hath 
 " now lately fent a great number of men 
 " into the demefne lands of the King in 
 " Ponthieu, who have feized his towns, 
 " caftles, and fortreffes, by force of arms. 
 tc On thefe attempts of the King of France 
 " upon the faid Principality, contrary to 
 c< the form of the Treaty, the Prince fent 
 " fpecial meflengers fully to inform the 
 " King of them ; who alfo acquainted him x 
 u that the Prince upon this occafion, had 
 " fummoned the wifeft men of the Prin- 
 cc cipality, and confulted with them, whe- 
 <c ther upon advice of thefe open infrac- 
 <c tions of the Peace, the King might not 
 <e by right and reafon refume and ufe the 
 " Title of King of France ; who anfwered, 
 <s that he might do it by Right, and good 
 " Faith. Upon this point the Archbifhop 
 c< of Canterbury and the other Prelates 
 " are charged by the jKing to coniult to- 
 c< gether, and to declare to him their ad- 
 " vice and counfell. The King alfo will- 
 ^ eth 3 as the cuflom hath been at thefe 
 E 1 " times,. 
 
54 THE LIFE OF 
 
 « c times, that all thofe who think them- 
 <c felves aggrieved, fhould prefent their pe- 
 " titions j who fhall be anfwered : and for 
 " this purpofe he hath afligned certain 
 <c Clerks to receive them, and certain Lords 
 " and others to anfwer them." 
 
 I need only mention, that the King by 
 the advice of his Parliament refumed the 
 ftyle of King of France ; the war was, 
 renewed on both fides, and carried on very 
 much to the advantage of the French. 
 Charles the Vth had taken his meafures fa 
 well, and concealed his preparations with 
 fo much artifice and diffimulation, that 
 the Englifh were furprifed unprovided for 
 the war. The Prince of Wales was dif-? 
 abled, by the fatal difeafe which he brought 
 with him out of Spain, from attending to 
 the war with his ufual fpirit and activity : 
 his health daily declined apace, and with 
 it the Englifh affairs in France. 
 
 In tv/o years time the French had made 
 fuch a progrefs, that they began to think 
 of transferring the war into England, and 
 were making vail preparations for an in- 
 vafion. Upon this the King fummoned 
 a Parliament to meet Feb. 24, 13 70-1, 
 
 which 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 55 
 which the Lord Chancellor opened with 
 the following Speech 7 . 
 
 " Sirs, You know very well, that in 
 fc the laif. Parliament, the King, with your 
 " approbation, relumed the title of King 
 <c of France, becaufe his adverfary had in- 
 <c fringed the peace before concluded be- 
 <f tween them, and ufnrped the fovereignty, 
 " which by the terms of the peace ought 
 " always to have belonged to the King. 
 " On this occafion and others the Kino: 
 " hath incurred great expences 5 having 
 " fent fome of his Lords and others with 
 (t a great number of forces, in order to 
 •' recover and maintain his right. And 
 <£ now he hath received certain intelligence 
 " by his friends and allies, that his faid 
 " Adverfary is making himfelf ftronger 
 " than ever he was before, and hath le- 
 " vied fuch a number of forces, as feemeth 
 " to him fufficient, this year, to difpofTefs 
 * c the King of all the lands and countries 
 <c which he hath beyond the feas -, as well 
 <c in Gafcony, as at Calais, Guienne, Pon- 
 <c thieu, and his other carries and places 
 ^ there. He hath moreover gotten ready fo 
 
 7 Rot. Pari. 45. Ed. III. 
 
 E 4 " many 
 
56 THE LIFE OF 
 
 <c many galleys and other mips of war, aS 
 " feem to him fufiicient to deftroy the 
 " whole Navy of England: and 8 ufeth alfo 
 " his utmofl efforts to fend a vaft force of 
 " armed men into this country, to deftroy 
 " it, and fubject it to his own power. 
 " Therefore the King requireth and charg- 
 " ejth his Lords and Commons here af- 
 < £ fembled, to confult upon thefe points, 
 " and to give him their advice, how his 
 " Kingdom may be well guarded, and the 
 " Navy defended and maintained againft 
 " the malice of his enemies ; as alio, for 
 " the fafe-guard of the King's countries 
 tc beyond the feas, and for the maintenance 
 " of the war in thofe parts, and the re- 
 <* duclion of them. The King Hkewife 
 < c commandeth thofe, who would prefent 
 <e their petitions, to deliver them to the 
 " Clerks aMigned for this purpofe, and 
 *' they mall be gracioufly anfwered." 
 
 I have inferted thefe fpeeches juft as they 
 ftand recorded in the Parliament Rolls. 
 They appear there to a great difadvantage: 
 tho' delivered in Englifh, they are recorded 
 in French -, a language at that time more 
 
 8 Et auxi fe afforce & bie d'cnvoicr. 
 
 t>ar- 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. $7 
 barbarous and unfit for the purpofe, even 
 than our own. They are fhortened and 
 given in fubftanceonlyj the connexion and 
 turn of the fentences is altered, and, in 
 the firfr. of them particularly, the form 
 of the whole is partly direct and partly 
 oblique ; an inconfiliency, which it was 
 neceffary to correct by one or two fmall 
 deviations from the original. Yet from 
 thefe Speeches we may obferve, that 
 Wykeham fpoke upon thefe occafions 
 more like a Statefman, than moft of the 
 Chancellors of thofe times, efpecially the 
 Ecclefiaflics. It 9 was almofl their con- 
 stant practice to lay down fome Text of 
 Scripture by way of Thefis for their di£- 
 courfe, and to fpend much time in divid- 
 ing, and fubdividing, and making very 
 injudicious applications of it to the 
 occafion. Not fatisfied with this, they 
 frequently go out of their way to in- 
 troduce frill more quotations of Scrip- 
 ture, and continue their difeourfe as im- 
 pertinently as they began it. Wykeham 
 liad more judgment than to give into fo 
 abfurd a practice : he always fpeaks di- 
 
 9 See Cotton's Abridg, of the Parliament Rolls. 
 
 paffim. 
 
 reaiy 
 
5 3 THE LIFE OF 
 
 rectly to the point in queition, and give s 
 a plain and diilincl: account of the prefent 
 flare of public affairs. 
 
 In this Parliament the Lords and Corn^ 
 mons reprefented to the King, ' that the 
 Government of the Realm had been for 
 a long time in the hands of men of the 
 Church, by which many mifchiefs had in 
 times paft happened, and more might hap-. 
 pen in times to come, to the dimerifon of 
 the Crown, and great prejudice of the 
 Kingdom : they petitioned therefore, that 
 Secular men only might be principal Of- 
 ficers of the King's courts and houfehold, 
 and none of the Clergy : faving unto the 
 King his prerogative of choofing and re- 
 moving Officers, provided they be of the 
 Laity. The King's anfwer to this petition 
 was only, That he would do therein by 
 advice of his Council. Though he declined 
 granting their requeit, fo as to make a Law 
 in confequence of it for the future ; yet 
 he foon refolved to comply with their de- 
 fire for the prefent. Accordingly we find, 
 that 2 on the 14th day of March the Bi- 
 fhop of Winchefler delivered the Great 
 
 * Rot. Pari. 45. Ed. III. 
 
 * Rymer. Feed. Vol. 6th, pag. 6$$. 
 
 7 Seal 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 59 
 
 Seal to the King, which the King two days 
 after gave to Sir Robert de Thorp. The 
 Bifhop was prefent at the ceremony of con- 
 stituting the new Chancellor, and after- 
 wards at that of his firft opening the Great 
 Seal iii Weftminfter Hall. From which 
 circumftances, as well as from the ilate of 
 the cafe itfelf, we may conclude, that he 
 was neither difmiffed with any marks of 
 the King's difpleafure, nor was himfelf dif- 
 fatisfied with his removal. To the fame 
 purpofe it may be obferved, that the 3 two 
 Great and two Privy Seals, one of each 
 pf which was made the year before on the 
 King's refuming the title and arms of 
 France, remained by Commiflion from the 
 King in his Cuftody till the 28th of the 
 fame month, when he delivered them to 
 the King : and that 4 foon after he received 
 the King's writ of Summons to attend the 
 Great Council, which was held at Win- 
 chefter, to confider of a proper method of 
 levying the 50,000 /. granted by Parlia- 
 
 3 Rymer. Feed. One of each was inferibed Rex Fran- 
 cise & Anglis, & Dominus Hibernian : the other Rex 
 Angliae, & Dominus Hiberniae & Aquitaniae. 
 
 + Regiftr. Wykeham. pt. 4. fol. 4. dated April 27. 
 $Q. KSfy 45. 
 
 jtnent^ 
 
60 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ment. To 5 this Great Council only three 
 other Bifhops, four Abbots, and thirteen 
 temporal Lords, were fummoned, with 
 ' whom were joined fome of the Com- 
 mons named by the King. Neither have 
 we any reafon to imagine, that the Bifhop 
 of Winchefter in particular was in any 
 degree of disfavour with the Commons, 
 or was at all funk in their eiteem and 
 confidence. We find \ that in the year 
 3373 the Commons name him with kven 
 other Lords, whom they petition to have 
 appointed as a Committee to confer with 
 them on the fupplies to be granted to the 
 King. It has been faid, 8 that the removal 
 of the Clergy from the offices of ftate was 
 owing to the influence of the duke of Lan-. 
 cafter, who was not their friend. I know 
 not on what foundation this is faid with 
 
 5 Dugdale. Summoni,t. ad Pari Some of our ancient 
 Hiftorians have miftaken this Great Council for a Par- 
 liament : T. Walfingham. Anonymus published by 
 Hearn in vol. 2d of Walter, Hcmingford:. They have- 
 been followed in this miitake by Nath. Bacon. Hift. & 
 Polit. difcourfe, &c. pt. 2d. pag. 35. edit. 17^9. and 
 Lord Bolingbroke, in Oldcaftle's Remarks on Englifli 
 Hiftory. 
 
 6 Brady's Hiitory of England, Vol. 2. 
 * Rot. Pari. 47. Ed. III. 
 
 8 Parker. Antiq. Britan. Collier. Eccl. Hift. 
 
 regard 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 61 
 
 regard to the Duke's inclination towards 
 the Clergy in general at this time : as to 
 the Bifhop of Winchefter in particular, he 
 feems on the contrary to have continued 
 hitherto very much in the Duke's good 
 graces, who both before, and not long af- 
 ter this, honoured him with lingular marks 
 of his friendfhip and confidence. The 
 Duke, 9 before his fetting out on his ex- 
 peditions to France in the years 1369 and 
 1373, obtained of the King a grant to cer- 
 tain Truftees named by him, of the cuflo- 
 dy and intire adminiftration of all the re- 
 venues of his caftles, manors, and eftates, 
 for one year after his own deceafe, in order 
 to the payment of his debts, and for other 
 ufes, as he fliould direct. He appointed 
 the Bifhop of Winchefter one of his Truf- 
 tees for both thefe grants. In the begin- 
 ning of the year 1375, he likewife confli- 
 tuted him his attorney, together with the 
 Earl of Arundel, to appear and act for him 
 in any of the Courts of England, during 
 his abfence at the Congrefs of Bruges. 
 
 The truth of the matter feems to be, 
 that the Laity in general looked with an 
 
 * £ymer, Fcedera, Vol. 7th, p, 8. & 61. 
 
 evil 
 
62 tHE LIFE OF 
 
 evil eye upon the Clergy, who had of late 
 filled for the moil part the great pofts of 
 honour and profit in the ft ate ; which, as 
 it was obvious to remark, neither lay with- 
 in their province, nor were fuitable to their 
 function and character. The practice, 
 however improper in itfelf and liable to 
 objection, yet feems to have taken its rife 
 from the neceffity of the times : the men 
 of abilities had for a long time been chief- 
 ly employed abroad in the wars -, this was 
 the moft open road to riches and honours, 
 and every one was pufhing forward in it.- 
 Befides, it was not at any time eafy to find 
 among the Laity perfons properly qualified, 
 in point of knowledge and letters, to fill with 
 fufficiency fome of the higheft offices. We 
 fee the King was now obliged to have re- 
 courfe to the Lawyers : they gave as little 
 fatisfaction as the Churchmen had done > 
 and in a few years it was found neceflary 
 to difcharge them, and to call in the 
 Churchmen again. 
 
 The French invafion which had given 
 fuch an alarm in England, that * even the 
 whole body of the Clergy from the age of 
 
 1 Regiftr. Wykeham. pt. 4th. fbl, 5. Wilkins'^ 
 Condi. Mag. Brit. Vol. 3. p.-pi.- 
 
 fixteen 
 
William of wykeham. 63 
 
 fixteen to fixty were ordered to be array ed^' 
 muftered, and in arms, came at laft to 
 nothing. In the year J 374 the Duke of 
 Lancafter concluded a truce with the French > 
 in which by their intrigues they gained 
 ftill more, than they had done in the war* 
 The truce was next year renewed; and by 
 this time the Englifh were in a manner 
 driven out of France. 
 
 Pope Gregory the Eleventh had inter- 
 pofed with his mediation, and had pre- 
 vailed with the Kings of England and 
 France to fend their Ambafladours to Bru- 
 ges to treat of a Peace. On this occafion 
 the Pope a wrote to the Bifhop of Win- 
 chefter, as to a perfon who had the great- 
 er!: influence with the King, exhorting and 
 conjuring him to ufe his utmoft. endeavours 
 to incline him to an accommodation. His 
 Holinefs did not omit, in the conclufion of 
 his Letter, to befeech him as earneftly, to 
 forward by all poffible means the payment 
 of the Subfidy, which on various pretences 
 he had impofed on the Clergy of England ; 
 and which 3 was now moderated to the Sum 
 
 1 See Appendix, N° VI. 
 
 ? Regiftr. Wykeham, pt, 3d. a fol. 133. 
 
 of 
 
64 T H E L I F E O F, &c. 
 
 of 60,000 Florins, in a conference between 
 the agents of both parties at the Congrefs 
 of Bruges ; on condition however, that 
 40,000 Florins more mould be paid, to 
 make up the Sum at firft demanded, in cafe 
 that the Treaty fhould happily terminate 
 in a Peace between the two Kingdoms* 
 
 / 
 
 THE 
 
t 6 5 1 
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 O F 
 
 WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 
 
 — - — - in — - ■ ■ i - i - 1 — 
 
 SECTION III. 
 
 Ecclefiaftical affairs during the fame time: 
 
 THOUGH Wykeham was fo deeply 
 engaged in affairs of State, and fo 
 much taken up in his perfonal attendance 
 upon the King, yet he was not in the 
 mean time wanting to his Epifcopal Func- 
 tion, or remifs in the care of his Diocefe. 
 While ' he was Administrator of the See, 
 he acted only by his Commiflary General, 
 John de Wormenhale. When he was in 
 full pofleflion of the Bifhoprick, one of 
 the firft things that required his atten- 
 
 1 Regifter, Wykeham. part I. 
 
 F tion 
 
66 THE LIFE OF 
 
 tion was the care of the Epifcopal Houfes 
 and Buildings of all forts, which his Pre- 
 deceflbr 2 had left very much out of repair 
 in general, and many of them in a ruinous 
 condition . The Buildings belonging to 
 the Bifhops of Winchefter were at this 
 time very large and numerous : befides a 
 great many granges, parks, warrens, and 
 the like, they had ten 3 or twelve different 
 Carries, Manor-houfes, or Palaces of Re- 
 sidence, properly accommodated for the 
 reception of themfelves and their retinue,, 
 to all which in their turns they ufually 
 reforted, living according to the cuftom 
 of thofe times chiefly upon the produce of 
 their own efrates. So great a demand, 
 as the Bifhop had upon his Predeceflbr's 
 Executors for dilapidations, could not very 
 foon, or very eahly, be brought to an ac- 
 
 a " Dicti Executores dixerunt fibi conftare, quod: 
 " aedificia, turres, muri, & claufurae, in caftris & mane- 
 " riis di6ti Epifcopatus tempore mortis ejufdem nuper 
 f* Epifc. diveriimode fuerant ruinofa, & maxima de- 
 " bilitate deprelTa, & quamplurima eorum omnino 
 " ad terram diruta & proftrata, quod de neceffitate 
 M reparatione maxima indiguerint." — Regift. Wyke,- 
 ham. part 3. a. fol. 64. 
 
 3 Wolvefey, South- Waltham, Merwell, Sutton, 
 High-Gere, Farnham, Efhere, Wargrave, Southwerk, 
 Taunton, &c. 
 
 comma- 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 67 
 
 commodation : however the account was 
 at lafl fettled between them without pro- 
 ceeding on either fide to any action at Law. 
 In 4 the firft place they delivered to him 
 the {landing flock of the Bifhoprick due to 
 him by right and cuflom 5 : namely, 127 
 Draught- Horfes, 1556 head of black Cat- 
 tle, 3876 Weathers, 4777 Ews, 3521 
 Lambs : and afterwards for dilapidations, 
 in cattle, corn, and other goods, to the 
 value of 1662/. 1 o s. flerling. The Bifhop 
 made a farther demand of 700 Marks, as 
 flill due to him and allowed upon account ; 
 which Edyngdon's executors acknowledged, 
 and promifed to pay. This matter was 
 finally fettled Feb. 6th 1371-2. 
 
 The Bifhop immediately fet about this 
 
 4 Regift. Wykeham. part 3. a. fol. 63. 
 
 s « p e t ru s de Roches [five de Rupibus] legavit Eo 
 " clefie Wynton. & Epifcopis fucceiToribus fuis, qui 
 " pro tempore erunt, in ftaurum vivum, quod fequi- 
 f tur ; ita quod quilibet Epifcopus Wynton. Succef- 
 " fori fuo et Ecclefie Wynt. in deceflu fuo tantum in 
 xt ftaurum fub pena anathematis relinquet necefTario ♦ 
 " videlicet, 
 
 « De bobus MDLVI. 
 
 u De afFris CXXVIL 
 
 " De multon, MMMDCCCKXXVI multon. 
 
 « De ovibus matricibus MMMMDCCLXXVII. 
 
 *[ De agnis MMMDXXI." 
 
 MS. penes Dom. Epiic. Wint, fol. 90. 
 
 F 2 great 
 
68 T H E L I F E O F 
 
 great work of repairing all the Epifcopal 
 Buildings in fuch a manner, as might have 
 been expected from one of his generous 
 fpirit, and of his ikill and experience in 
 Architecture. To 6 fupply himfelf with 
 the bell ftone in fuflicient quantity, he pur- 
 chafed the ufe of the Hone-quarries of 
 Quarrer Abby in the Ifle of Wight, which 
 were formerly much in repute, tho' now 
 for many ages difufed and neglected. The 
 Abbot engaged to a (lift him, as general di- 
 rector and furveyor of thefe preparations : 
 and the Bifhop wrote circular letters to all 
 the Ecclefiaftics of the Ifland, both Regu- 
 lar and Secular, to defire them to fend in 
 as many workmen, carriages, and other 
 neceiTaries for the work, as they could fup- 
 ply him with, at the demand, and accord- 
 ing to the directions of the Abbot 3 all to 
 be defrayed at his own expence. In 7 theie 
 repairs of the Epifcopal houfes, together 
 with feveral new buildings, raifed by him 
 upon the eftates of the Bifhoprick, he ex- 
 pended in the whole above 20,000 Marks. 
 In 8 the Year 1373 the Bifhop held a Vi- 
 
 6 Ibid, part 3. a. fol. 47. 
 
 ' MS. Coll. Wint. 
 
 8 Regift. Wykeham, part 3. a. fol. 90, Sec. 
 
 fitation 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 69 
 
 fitation of his whole Diocefe ; not only of 
 the fecular Clergy through the feveral Dean- 
 ries, but alfo of the Monafteries, and Re- 
 ligious houfes of all forts, all 9 which he 
 
 vifited 
 
 5 " Nuper dum Civitatem & Diocef. noftram Wynt. 
 *' clerum & populum ejufdem, cepimus perfonalker & 
 
 *' attualiter vifitare." Ibid. fol. 99. The City of 
 
 Winchefter, tho' much diminhhed in its greatnefs and 
 fplendor fince the time when it was the Metropolis of 
 the Saxon Monarchy, and ftill continuing to decline, 
 was neverthelefs, at this time, a large and populous 
 place. I (hall here give a fhort view of its Ecclefiafti- 
 cal ftate ; from which alfo fome judgement may be 
 formed of its condition in other refpecls. 
 
 The Monafteries and other Religious Houfes in the 
 City and Suburbs of Winchefter. 
 
 The Old Minfter, or Cathedral Church of St. Swy- 
 thun, a Prior and Convent of XLVI Monks, Benedic- 
 tines. 
 
 The New Minfter, or Abby of Hide, Benedictines. 
 
 The Nunnaminfter, or Abby of St. Mary ; an Ab- 
 befs, and XXI Nuns (at theDiftblution :) Benedictines. 
 A little within the Eaft Gate, on the left hand as you 
 enter it. 
 
 The Hofpital of the Almonry of the Church of St. 
 Swythun ; Sifters maintained by the Monaftery : com- 
 monly called the 'Sniffe™ Spinal. Adjoining to the 
 prefent College on the Weft 
 
 The College of St. Elizabeth ; a Provoft, VI Chap- 
 Sains Priefts, VI Clerks and VI Chorifters. Near the 
 prefent College on the South-Eaft. 
 
 The Chapel of Holy Trinity ; a Warden and feveral 
 Priefts. On the North fide of the Church-yard of the 
 .Abby of St. Mary. 
 
 F 3 A Con- 
 
7 o THE LIFE OF 
 
 vifited in perfon. The ' next year he fent 
 his Commiflioners with powers to correct 
 
 and 
 
 1 Regift. Wykeham, part 3. a. fol. 112. 
 
 A Convent of each of the IV Orders of Mendicant 
 Friars. The Auguftin Friars, jufl without South-Gate, 
 on the left in the road to Southampton. The Grey 
 Friars, or Minors, on the right juft within Eaft-Gate. 
 The Dominicans, or Preaching Friars, on the North, 
 within the City 
 
 The Prior and Brethren of St. Peter in the Church 
 of St. Maurice. 
 
 The Church of St. Mary Kalendar. 
 
 Tanner Notit. Monafl. and fee Appen. N° XVII. 
 
 The Parochial Churches and Chapels in the City and 
 Suburbs of Winchefler in the time of Adam de Orleton 
 
 Bp. of Wint. i. e. A. D. 1333 I 34S- From MS. 
 
 Coll. Wint. 
 
 Ecclefiae Taxatae. 
 
 Ecclefia Sti. Johannis de Ecclefiae Sti. Bartholomaei 
 Monte. in atrio de Hyda. 
 
 Sti. Petri de Chu- Sti. Stephani jux- 
 
 lhull. ta Wolvefey. 
 Sti. Jacobi. ■ Sti.LaurentiiWyn^ 
 
 Stae. Fidis. ton. 
 
 . Stae. Anaftafiae. Sti. Mauritii. 
 
 « Btae Mariae de Val- Capella Stae. Gertrudis. 
 
 libus, cum Capella. 
 
 Ecclefiae non Taxatae. 
 
 Capella Stae. Trinitatis : Ecclefia Sti. Johannis de 
 (fub Cuflode; above- Hofpitali. 
 mentioned among the Btae Mariae in Tan- 
 Religious Houfes.) nereftret. 
 
 Ecclefia de Colebrokftret. Sti. Pancratii. 
 
 Ecclefia 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 71 
 
 and reform the feveral irregularities and 
 abufes, which he had difcovered in the 
 courfe of his Vifitation. 
 
 Some years afterward, the Bifhop, hav- 
 ing vifited three feveral times all the Re- 
 ligious Houfes throughout his Diocefe, 
 and being well informed of the ftate and 
 condition of each, and of the particular 
 abufes which required correction and re- 
 formation, befide the orders which he had 
 already given, and the remedies which he 
 had occafionally applied by his commif- 
 fioners, now irTued his injunctions to each 
 
 Ecclefia Sti. Johannis de 
 
 Edera. 
 « Sti Martini in vico 
 
 carnificum. 
 Sti. Michaelis ex- 
 
 tra Kyngate. 
 Btas. Marias 
 
 de 
 
 Walda. 
 
 Sti. Ruwoldi (vel 
 
 Rombaldi.) 
 Btae. Maria; de Ka- 
 
 lender. 
 
 Sti. Laurentii. 
 
 Sti. Laurentii de 
 
 Parchemeneflxet. 
 Sti. Petri de Mar- 
 
 cell, (f de Macello.) 
 Sti, Clementis. 
 
 Ecclefia Sti. Alphegi. 
 
 Sti. Petroci 
 
 Sti. Michaelis 
 
 111 
 
 Judaifmo. 
 
 Sti. Salvatoris. 
 
 Btas Marias extra 
 
 portam Borealem. 
 
 Stae Margaretas. 
 
 Sti. Petri de Al- 
 
 bopane. 
 
 Sti. Andreas. 
 
 Sti. Nicholai 
 
 Goldftret. 
 Omnium Sancto- 
 
 rum in Goldftret. 
 
 Btas Marias in A- 
 
 trio Sti. Swythuni. 
 
 Of 
 
72 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of them. They were accommodated to 
 their feveral exigencies, and intended to 
 correct the abufes introduced, and to recall 
 them all to a ftric"t obfervaticn of the 
 Rules of their iMpLCtive Orders. Many of 
 thefe inj unctions 1 are ftill extant, and 
 are evident monuments of the care and 
 attention, with which he difcharged this 
 part of his Epifcopal duty. 
 
 But the zeal and diligence, with which 
 the Bifhop purfued tne wholefome work of 
 difcipline, and the reformation of abufes, 
 will be belt exemplified by an account of 
 his proceedings in the Vifitation of the 
 Hofpital of St. Crofs -, of which we are 
 able to give a more particular detail, as 
 he met with fome difficulties and obftruc- 
 tions in them, and was, upon that occa- 
 fion, engaged in a long and troublefome 
 difpute. It will be neceflary to premife an 
 account of the foundation and conftit ra- 
 tion of this ample and remarkable charity; 
 which, if it is more particular than is 
 elfewhere to be met with, will not, per- 
 haps, be the lefs agreeable to the curious 
 reader. 
 
 ' MS Coll. Nov. They bear date 13*6-7. 
 
 The 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 73 
 
 The * Hofpital of St. Crofs, at Sparke- 
 ford, near Winchefter, was founded by- 
 Henry de Blois, Bifhop of Winchef- 
 ter, and brother to King Stephen, in the 
 year J 1 132, for the health of his own 
 Soul, and the Souls of his Predeceflbrs, 
 and of the Kings of England. The Foun- 
 der's mftitutionrequires,That Thirteen poor 
 men, fo decayed and pali their ftrength, 
 that without charitable affiftance they can- 
 not maintain themfelves, fhall abide com- 
 tinually in the Hofpital, who fhall be pro- 
 vided with proper cloathing, and beds fuit- 
 able to their infirmities j and fhall have an 
 allowance daily of good wheat bread, good 
 beer, three mefTes each for dinner, and one 
 for fupper. If any one of thefe fhall hap- 
 pen to recover his health and frrength, he 
 mail be refpeclfully difcharged, and ano- 
 ther ad tted in his place. That befides 
 thefe Thirteen Poor, an Hundred other 
 Poor, of modefl behaviour, and the mofr. 
 indigent that can be found, fhall be receiv- 
 ed daily at dinner time ; and fhall have each 
 a loaf of coarfer bread, one mefs, and a 
 
 z The account of St. Crofs is collected from Regift: 
 Wykeham, and MS. Coll. Nov. 
 
 3 MS. penes Dom. Epifcopum Wint. fol. 22. 
 
 proper 
 
74 THE LIFE OF 
 
 proper allowance of beer, with leave to 
 carry away with them whatever remains of 
 their meat and drink after dinner. The 
 Founder alfo ordered other charities to be 
 diftributed to the poor in general, as the 
 revenues of the Hofpital mould be able to 
 bear, the whole of which was to be applied 
 to fuch ufes. 
 
 The Endowment of the Hofpital con- 
 fined chiefly in a Donation of feveral confi- 
 derable Redtories 4 for the moft part belong- 
 ing to the Diocefe of Winchefter, and of the 
 
 4 The Churches of Ferreham, [with the Manor of 
 Asfliton,] Nutteffellynge, Mellebrock, Twyford, Hen- 
 ton, Alwareftock, Exton, HufTeborne, Wytcherche, 
 Chiibalton, Wodehay, Awelton, [or Aulton in Canyng- 
 merfh, Com. Wilts.] Wynteney, [or Wyteney, Com. 
 Oxon.] Stodton, [Com. Wilts.] Ovynton, with their 
 appertenancies and dependencies ; and the tythes of 
 the Lordfhip of Waltham; and other rents affigned in 
 the City of Winchefter. Thefe by the Charter of 
 Foundation. To thefe were added by the Founder 
 the Churches of Waltham, Upham, and Baghurft ; and, 
 by the fame or fome other benefactor, that of Farle. 
 " Licet in ifta carta [Fundationis] contineantur di- 
 " verfe donationes ecclefiarum fact, domui S tc Crucis 
 " predicte, nichilominus dicta domus nullas earum 
 *' habet fibi appropriatas preter ecclefias de Huiborne, 
 " Whitcherche, Fareham, & Twyford, cum capellis; 
 «' fed habet ex eis certas penfiones, ut fuperius dictum 
 «A eft. De ecclefia vero de Wytteueye nichil omnino 
 " peicipit." MS. penes Dom. Epifc. VVint. fol. 2. 
 
 Bifliop's 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 7 $ 
 
 Bifhop's Patronage: the greateft part of 
 which, tho' granted to the Hofpital by 
 the terms of the Charter of Foundation, 
 were, from the firft, only made fubject to 
 the payment of certain annual Penfiorls to 
 it ; the reft were appropriated to the Hof- 
 pital. The Revenues of the Hofpital ap- 
 pear, by an old record of Inquifition, pro- 
 duced in Wykeham's time by the Prior of 
 Winchefter, from the Archives of his Mo- 
 nailery, without date, to have amounted 
 to about 250 1 per annum: they are faid 
 by Wykeham in his letters to the Pope, to 
 be above 300 1. per annum j and are proved 
 by the teftimony of one who had been long 
 Steward of the Hofpital, and many others, 
 to have been, at that time, above 400 1. per 
 annum. The whole Revenues of the Hof- 
 pital were free from ail Taxes both to the 
 King and Pope, as being wholly appropri- 
 ated to the Poor ; except 7 1. 4 s. 6d. (called 
 elfewhere 8 1. ) per annum, which was 
 the valuation of the Prior's, or Matter's, 
 Portion. 
 
 The particular allowances to the Poor, 
 with their valuations according to the above- 
 mentioned Record of Inquifition, were as 
 follows : Each of the Thirteen fecular Bre- 
 thren 
 
y6 THE LIFE OF 
 
 thren had daily one loaf of good wheat 
 bread, of five marks weight; (or 3 pounds 
 4 ounces;) one gallon and half of good 
 imall Beer ; a fufficient quantity of Pot- 
 tage ; three merles at Dinner, namely, one 
 mefs called 5 iBortrdl, made of milk and 
 IBaStltoi), one mefs of flefh or fifh, and 
 one pitance as the day mould require ; and 
 one mefs for Supper ; The whole valued 
 at J7d. q a week; in Wykeham's time 
 at 3 d. a day. On fix Holidays in the 
 year they had white bread and ale in the 
 fame quantities ; and one of their merles 
 was roafl-meat, or fifh of a better fort; 
 and on the Eves of thofe Holidays, and 
 that of the Founder's Obit, they had 
 an extraordinary allowance of four gallons 
 of Ale among them. The hundred Poor 
 were fed in a place called ^UttiJttfD* 
 ItttmuigaU : each of them had a loaf of 
 
 5 The Gloflaries give us no very fatisfactory account of 
 thefe words : the meaning of the firft is better deter- 
 mined by the defcription here given, than from any 
 other explication that I can find of it. JVaJlelbred 
 was perhaDS a better fort of Bread, fo called from IVa- 
 JUU, the YeiTell, or Bafkett, in which it was made, 
 or carried, or weighed ; as feems probable from the 
 following pa(Tage: " Oclo panes in IVa/ldlis, ponde- 
 " ris cujuslibet WaftelU unius miche conventualis." — 
 Regift. Wykeham, part 3. b. fol. 177. 
 
 coarfer 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. yy 
 
 coarfer bread of 5 marks weight, 3 quarts 
 of fmall beer, a fufficient quantity of pot- 
 tage, or a mefs of pulfe, one herring, or 
 two pilchers, or two eggs, or one farthing's 
 worth of cheefe 5 value 3 d. q. a week: 
 of which Hundred Poor were always Thir- 
 teen of the poorer fcholars of the Great 
 Grammar School of Winchester, fent by 
 the Schoolmafter. On the Anniverfary of 
 the Founder's Obit, Auguft 9, being the 
 Eve of St. Laurence, Three Hundred Poor 
 were received at the Hofpital : to each of 
 the firfl hundred were given one loaf and 
 one mefs of the fame fort with thofe of 
 the Brethren's ordinary allowance, and 
 three quarts of beer -, to the fecond Hun- 
 dred was given the ufual Hundred men's 
 allowance ; and to each of the third Hun- 
 dred half a loaf of the Brethren's bread. 
 On fix Holidays in the year the Hundred 
 men had each a loaf of the better fort of 
 bread, and a double mefs. There were 
 befides, maintained in the Hofpital, a 
 Steward, with his clerk, two fervants, and 
 two horfes ; a Porter j nine fervants j two 
 teams of fix horfes each, and three Carters. 
 The Founder had in the year 6 1157, 
 
 • MS. Penes Dom. Epifc. Wint. fol. 23. 
 
 constituted 
 
78 THE LIFE OF 
 
 conftituted the Matter and Brethren of the 
 Hofpital of St. John of Jerufalem Guardians 
 and Adininiirrators of his Hofpital of St. 
 Crofs, faving to the Bifhop of Wincheflerhis 
 Canonical Jurifdiction. A difpute arifing 
 between Richard Toclive Bifhop of Win- 
 chester, immediate fucceffor to Henry de 
 Blois, and the Mailer and Brethren of St. 
 John of Jerufalem, concerning the admi- 
 niftration of the Hofpital, King Henry the 
 Second interpofed, and by his mediation an 
 agreement was made between them. The 
 Matter and Brethren ceded to the Bifhop 
 of Winchefler and his fucceflbrs the Admi- 
 nifrration of the Hofpital, the Bifhop giving 
 them the Impropriation of the Churches of 
 Mordon and Hanniton for the payment of 
 53 marks per annum ; and procuring them 
 a difcharge from the penlion of 10 marks, 
 two wax candles, and ten pound of wax, 
 paid to the Monks of St. Swythun for the 
 Houfe of St. Crofs, by 7 compofition be- 
 tween them and the Brethren of St. Crofs, 
 made in the time of the Founder : and the 
 Bifhop moreover, out of regard to God, and 
 for the health of the King's foul and his 
 
 7 MS. penes Dom. Epifc. Wint. fol. 2. 
 
 1 own 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 79 
 
 own, (and becaufe the revenues of the Hof- 
 pital were fufficient for the maintenance of 
 many more poor, and ought not to be con- 
 verted to other ufes, as Wykeham repre- 
 fents to the Pope) orders, that befides the 
 number inftituted by the Founder, one 
 Hundred additional poor fhould alfo be fed 
 every day in the fame manner at the Hofpi- 
 tal. This agreement is dated April the ioth 
 1 185, and was made at Dover in the pre- 
 fence of the King, and attefted by him. This 
 new inftitution of feeding an Hundred 
 additional poor was not of long conti- 
 nuance : it had ceafed long before Wyke- 
 ham's time ; and inftead of it, by what au- 
 thority I cannot fay, was introduced the 
 eftabliihment of Four Priefts, Thirteen fe- 
 cuiar Clerks, and feven Chorifters, who 
 were maintained in the Hofpital for the 
 performance of divine fervice in the church. 
 The Four Priefts dined at the Matter's 
 table, and had each a ftipend of 13 s. 4 d. 
 and the whole allowance to each was va- 
 lued at 3 1. 6s. 8d. per annum: the Thir- 
 teen Clerks had each daily a loaf of wheat 
 Bread, weight 61 Shillings and 8 pence, 
 (i. e. 3 lb. 1 oz.) three quarts of beer, and 
 one mefs of flefh or fifh of the Brethren 
 
 was 
 
8o THE LIFE OF 
 
 was allotted to two of them, value iod. ({} 
 a week j the feven Chorifters had each one 
 loaf of the common family bread, and one 
 mefs, or the fragments of the Mailer's table 
 and Common Hall, fo as to have a fuffi- 
 cient provifion, value 5 d. a week j and were 
 taught at fchool in the Hofpital. 
 
 Such was the institution and economy 
 of the Hofpital of St. Crofs ; which had 
 hitherto been well obferved in general, and 
 conftantly maintained with regard to all 
 the particulars abovementioned. Wyke- 
 ham indeed reprefents to the Pope, that 
 fome of the former Bifhops of Winchefter 
 had preferred to it their nephews and kins- 
 men, not rightfully as to the Mafterfhip 
 of an Hofpital, but as to an Ecclefiaftical 
 Benefice ; who had converted to other pur- 
 ports the revenues of it affigned to thefe 
 pious ufes, contrary to the Canons, and to 
 the Founder's inftitution. In this he feems 
 to have a particular view to John de Edyng- 
 don, nephew to the late Bifhop 8 j who 
 had quitted the Mafterfhip fome time be- 
 
 s Bifhop Edyngton collated his nephew to the Maf- 
 terfhip of St. Crofs Hofpital, April iS, 1349, " la 
 " beneficium perpefuum 8c non curatum." Regifl. 
 EJ)ngdou 7 part 1. fol. 45. 
 
 fore 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEH AM. Br 
 
 fore Wykeham came to the Biflioprick. 
 By his manner of leaving this office we 
 may pretty well judge how he had acted in 
 it : he took away and alienated the whole 
 flock belonging to the Hofpital ; all the 
 cattle, corn, goods, inftruments, utenfils, 
 and moveables whatfoever, either in the 
 Houfe itfelf, or upon the eftates. Befides, 
 the neceflary repairs of dilapidations left 
 by him amounted by computation to be- 
 tween three and four hundred pounds. 
 
 Wykeham was no fooner bifhop of 
 Winchefter, than he refolved to rectify 
 thefe abufes. William de Stowell, Edyng- 
 don's fucceflbr, perhaps forefeeing the 
 ftorm that was coming on, chofe to make 
 his retfeat, and procured the Rectory of 
 Burghclere in exchange for his Mafterfhip. 
 The Bifhop admitted of the exchange ; but 
 ordered him immediately upon his resigna- 
 tion to make a full and particular inven- 
 tory of all the flock and goods belonging 
 to the Hofpital at prefent, with an account 
 of the flate in which he at firft received 
 them, by way of Indenture between him 
 and Richard de Lyntesford his fucceflbr ; 
 to keep one copy of it himfelf, to deliver 
 another to his fucceflbr, and a third to him, 
 G the 
 
82 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the Bifhop, for his better information, when 
 he mould come thither in perfon. This 
 mandate is dated March 23, 1367, the 
 day after Lyntesford's ad million : William 
 de Stowell immediately obeyed, and fent 
 an inventory. The next ftep the Bifhop 
 took, was to fend Commiilaries to the 
 Hofpital, and the feveral manors and eflates 
 belonging to it, to examine into the flate 
 of things at the time of the death of Richard 
 de Luilefhull late mafler, and inquire, what 
 flock and goods his executors delivered to 
 his fuccefibr John de Edyngdon. The Com- 
 miffion is dated April 20, 1368, 
 
 Lyntesford began now to repent of his 
 exchange, not finding himfelf likely to 
 make the advantages, which he had expect- 
 ed from his new preferment. The Bifhop 
 had fequeilered his goods as a fecurity for 
 the flock of the Hofpital. He took the 
 fame method that his PredecerTor had done, 
 and got an exchange of his Mailerfhip 
 with Roger de Cloune for the Rectory of 
 Campfali in York (hire. Jufl as this affair 
 was brought to a conclufion, the Bifhop, 
 being now fully and regularly informed of 
 the embezzlements and abufes committed 
 by the feveral late Mailers of the Hofpital, 
 
 ifTued 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 8.3 
 
 iifued a commiflion, dated July 30, 1370^ 
 to enquire into the particulars and value 
 of the true and accuftomed frock and goods 
 belonging to it, as they ought to be trans- 
 mitted from Matter to Mailer 5 and to ex- 
 amine upon oath all perfons that could 
 give information in this affair, and parti- 
 cularly Edyngdon, Stowell, Lyntesford, 
 late Matters, and Cloune the prefent Ma- 
 tter. 
 
 Upon the report of his Commiflioners, 
 the Bifhop fummoned the four Matters to 
 appear before him at Southwark on the 
 22d of October, 1370. He reprefehts to 
 them the defign of the Foundation of the 
 Hofpital; that the whole revenues of it 
 are to be applied to the ufe of the Poor, 
 except the Matter's allowance, taxed at 
 7I. 4s. 6d, and no more; and that the 
 Matter of the Llofpital is obliged yearly to 
 make an inventory, and give an account 
 of his adminittration to his Diocefan, ac- 
 cording to the Conftitution 9 of Clement 
 the Vth, " Quia contingit, &c." That the 
 Mafterfhip is not a perpetual Ecclefiaftical 
 Benefice, but a temporal Office requiring 
 
 * Clementia. lib. 3. tit. 1 1 , cap. 2. 
 
 G 2 con- 
 
84 THE LIFE OF 
 
 continual relidence and perfonal mirriffoy* 
 That therefore he will proceed againft them, 
 enforce the faid conftitution, and compel all 
 and every one of them, to make an inven- 
 tory, and give an account of their ad- 
 miniftration. They plead, that they are 
 not obliged, nor was it ever the cuflom, fo 
 to do. Roger de Cloune's Plea in parti- 
 cular is ; that the houfe of St. Crofs is a 
 perpetual Ecclefiaftical Benefice, fine-cure, 
 free from all obligation of making oath, 
 giving any inventory, or rendring any ac- 
 count ; that it was principally founded for 
 the honour of the worfhip of God, and 
 has nothing of the nature or ufe of an 
 Hofpitalj the Brethren received into the- 
 Houfe being weak and infirm in body, but 
 no way difeafed or infected; fo not com- 
 ing under the defcription of an Hofpital, 
 according to the terms of Clement's confti- 
 tution ; and that the Matter has the free 
 adminiihation of all the porTeffions and 
 goods belonging to it, with the burthen 
 only of making a certain difrribution to a 
 certain number of poor, both within and 
 without the houfe. 
 
 Upon this Plea, by the help of all the. 
 $avils and evafions> that the forms of Law 
 
 could 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. S s 
 
 could fupply them with, the Matters con- 
 trived to protract the fuit through a great 
 number of hearings for almofl a year and a 
 half 5 when the Biihop's CommifFaries pro- 
 ceeded to give fentence ' : that the Mailers 
 had not proved their allegations, and ought 
 to be compelled by Ecclefiaflical Cenfures 
 to give an account of their adminiflration. 
 
 Againft this whole proceeding, before 
 fentence was pronounced, Roger de Cloune 
 appealed to the Pope. The Bifhop at the 
 fame time writes to the Pope : reprefent- 
 ing to him the whole flate of the cafe, and 
 that Cloune defigned by his Appeal to fet 
 on foot an endlefs fuit, that in the mean 
 time he might with impunity embezzle and 
 convert to his own uie the goods and re- 
 venues of the Hofpital ; and begs his Ho- 
 linefs to interpofe. The a Pope, rejecting 
 the Appeal of Cloune, takes the caufe in- 
 to his own hands, and conilitutes the Bi~ 
 fhop of London his Delegate and judge in 
 it. Before him the Mailers appear by their 
 Proclors. Roger de Cloune excepts againil 
 the jurifdidtion of the Biihop of London, 
 and the Pope's Bulle, as furreptitiouily ob- 
 
 ■ 
 
 • Feb. 23, 1372-3. 
 » Feb. 25, 1372-3. 
 
 G 3 tainedj 
 
86 THE LIFE OF 
 
 tained, and upon an unfair ftate of the 
 cafe. Edyngdon joins in the exception. 
 Stowell and Lyntesford, who in the whole 
 were much lefs obnoxious, who had be- 
 fore fubmitted themfelves abfolutely to the 
 Bifhop of Winchefter's will and difpofal, 
 upon oath and under the penalty each of 
 lool. and had made a formal denuncia- 
 tion to him of Cloune's illegal practices, 
 refufe to join in it, 
 
 After many hearings, adjournments, al- 
 tercations upon the exception, and fubter- 
 fuges of all forts, the Bifhop charges the 
 prefent Mailer with Dilapidation, Diflipa- 
 tion, and Subtraction, public and notori- 
 ous, of the goods of the Hofpital j and 
 petitions, that they may be fequeftered, 
 while the caufe fhall be depending : the 
 fequeftration is ilTued, and the Bifhop or- 
 ders, that the poor he provided for as ufual. 
 He had fome time before appointed a Coad- 
 jutor to Cloune, without whofe advice and 
 confent he was not to act ; and ftrictly com- 
 manded him to abftain from all fort of alie- 
 nation of the HofpitaPs goods for the future. 
 Cloune feems to have procured the Maf- 
 terfhip with no other defign than to enrich 
 himieif with the plunder of the Hofpital. 
 
 He 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 2 7 
 
 He knew the hazard he run of being ob- 
 liged to refund ; but let Law and Juftice do 
 their worir, he thought he mould find his 
 account in it in the end. He therefore at firfl 
 feized upon the whole revenues and ltock 
 of the Hofpital, as his property \ he fold 
 the corn and the cattle, and a great quan- 
 tity of materials, that had been laid in for 
 repairs, and converted the money to his 
 own ufe : while the fuit was depending, 
 he had the impudence to pull down the 
 larder of the Hofpital, and to fell the ma- 
 terials. Indeed it was now of no ufe : the 
 Great Hall was fallen in; the Hundred 
 Poor were turned away ; and the thirteen 
 Brethren were forced to quit the Hofpital, 
 and provide for themfelves where they 
 could. 
 
 The ? Judge proceeds at laft to the defi- 
 nitive fentence : That the Bifliop hath fuf- 
 iiciently proved his libel againfl the Mafters. 
 Roger de Cloune is condemned in cofts of 
 fuit : 50 1. is demanded, as the Bifhop's 
 expences, given in upon oath by his Proc- 
 tor, which the Judge moderates to 44 1. 
 Cloune was willing to try if it was not 
 
 3 3 Dcc. 5, 1373. 
 
 G 4 ftill 
 
88 THE LIFE OF 
 
 itill poffible to protract the affair, and ap- 
 pealed again to the court of Rome : his 
 appeal feems to have been rejected there : 
 for next 4 year he appears before the Bifhop 
 of London, and profeffing himfelf better 
 informed, gives up his caufe, renounces 
 his appeal, and fubmits to the fentence : 
 and then obliges himfelf by oath to give an 
 inventory, and render an account of his 
 adminiftration annually to the Bifhop of 
 Winchefter, when he fhall be called upon 
 fo to do. Upon which he is abfolved from 
 all ientences of excommunication pro- 
 nounced again ft him for contumacy, and 
 injoined for penance, to obferve his oath of 
 obeying the orders of the Church . in this 
 behalf \ 
 
 It 
 
 4 Jan. ir, 1374. 
 
 5 In the Bifhop of Winchefter's MS. fol. S<5. it is 
 faid, that Roger de Cloune renounced his appeal, and re- 
 linquiihed the Hofpital: (" appellationem fuam deferuit, 
 ** & renuntiavit eidem, ac difturn hofpitale habuit pro 
 *' dereliclo :") upon which the Bifhop collated to it 
 Nicholas de W ykeham Clerk, who afterward reflgned it. 
 Agreeably to which, the Refignation of the Hofpital of 
 St Crofs by Nicholas de Wykeham is entered in Wyke- 
 ham's Regirler, under the year 1382 ; and in this MS. 
 fol. 30. But this pafTage of the MS. above cited, is 
 corrected in the margin (probably by John de Campe- 
 den, the next Mailer of St.' Crofs) to the following 
 e'Tccl: : " That upon Cloune's relinquifhing the Hof- 
 
 " pital, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 89 
 
 It feems to have been a cuftom at this 
 time, for the Mailer of St. Crofs to confti- 
 tute a Deputy, who prefided at the Hof- 
 pital for him : fuch was one William de 
 Caftleford, Reclor of St. Pancras Winches- 
 ter, who was Cloune's agent and minifter 
 in all his iniquities there. He had been fo 
 deeply engaged in this affair, that he 
 thought it proper to abfent himfelf upon 
 the occafion. The Bifliop, as he could 
 
 " pital, the Bifhop kept it in his own hands, and un- 
 " dcr his own government, for nine years, two weeks, 
 " and five days. And whereas Nicholas de Wyke- 
 " ham was by fome reputed to have been collated to 
 " the faid Hofpital, when in reality he never had been 
 *' fo collated ; on this account the Bifhop caufed him 
 *' to renounce all right and title which he might feem to 
 tl have had to the faid Hofpital." From which I collect, 
 that the Bifhop found it necefTary to keep the Mafter- 
 fliip, by a kind of Sequeftration, in his own hands, 
 Cloune if ill continuing in legal pofTeflion of it, in order 
 to recover the Hofpital, its buildings, eftates, and re- 
 venues, out of that irate of ruin and diffipation, to 
 which the prefent and late Matters had reduced it ; and 
 that he employed his kinfman Nicholas de Wyke- 
 ham, a perfon of approved diligence, abilities, and in- 
 tegrity, in the whole management of this difficult bufi- 
 nefs. He afterwards, upon the death of Cloune, (which 
 happened on the 8th of September, 1382, MS. Harleian. 
 N°. 1 616. p. 95.) conferred the Mafterfhip on John 
 de Campeden, one in whom he had likewife the greateft 
 confidence ; having for many years had experience of 
 his fidelity in affairs of importance. 
 
 7 not 
 
9 o THE LIFE OF 
 
 not reach him otherwife, proceeded againfi: 
 him, and excommunicated him, for non- 
 refidence. 
 
 'Tis not to be doubted, but that the 
 Bifhop of Winchefter, after having pur- 
 fued this affair fo earneftly for above fix 
 years, and having at laft overcome all ob- 
 ttruftions, called the delinquents to a fe- 
 vere account, and perfectly reinttated the 
 Hofpital in all its rights, and re-ettabliihed 
 its primitive ufe and inttitution. While 
 the difpute was depending, he 7 recovered 
 for the Hofpital many original charters, 
 bulles, and inflruments, which had been 
 flittered to remain in the hands of the Hof- 
 pitallers of St. John of Jerufalem. He took 
 care ever after 8 to infert in the aft of 
 collation of the Maiterfhip of this and all 
 ether Hofpitals the Matter's obligation to 
 obey the conttitution of Clement the Vth. 
 In a word, he fo far reftored this charity 
 to its original defign, and left it under 
 fuch due regulation, that his immediate 
 fucceflbr Beaufort, having refolved to dif-* 
 pofe of fome part of his great wealth to 
 
 » MS penes Dom. Epifc. Wint. fol. 120. & MS. 
 
 Harleian, N° \6 \ 6, p. 4. 
 
 a Regiit. Wykeham, part 1. palfim. 
 
 the 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 91 
 
 the like purpofes, chofe rather to make an 
 inlargement of this infHtution, than to 
 erect a new one of his own. He 9 made 
 a very great additional endowment of the 
 Hofpital of St. Crofs, for the maintenance 
 of two Priefts, thirty-five Brethren, and 
 three Sifters, befide thofe of the antient 
 foundation. Ke gave his new eilablim- 
 ment the name of l The Alms-houfe of 
 Noble Poverty - 3 by which it appears that 
 he defigned it for the relief of decayed 
 Gentlemen. The Hofpital, tho' much di- 
 miniihed in its revenues, by what means 
 I cannot fay, yet itill fubfifts upon the re- 
 mains of both endowments. 
 
 The Bifhop was warned by the great 
 abufes which he had feen at St. Crofs, to 
 keep a more watchful eye upon other cha- 
 rities of the fame nature. While he <-had 
 
 9 Henry the Vlth, in consideration of the fum of 
 13350 marks paid to him by Cardinal Beaufort, granted 
 to him feveral manors, &c. of the yearly value of 500]. 
 with licence to affign them to the Matter and Brethren 
 of St. Crofs. With thefe the Cardinal endowed the 
 Hofpital in the year 1444, adding to them ^the impro- 
 priations of Crundale, and feveral other Churches of 
 his Diocefeand patronage. Mon. Ang. Vol. 2. p. 480. 
 Leger-book of the Ch. of Winchefler. N° 1. fol. 66. 
 
 1 " Domus Elemofinaria Nobilis Paupertatis. " Le- 
 ger-Bookof the Church of Winchefler. N° 1. fol. 66. 
 
 that 
 
92 THE LIFE OF 
 
 that affair upon his hands, he held a vi- 
 fitation 6 of the Hofpital of St. Thomas 
 Southwerk ; ftill proceeding upon the con- 
 flitution of Clement the Vth. Afterward 
 he vifited 7 the Hofpital of Sandon in the 
 county of Surry. Whatever irregularities 
 he might find there, he met with no re- 
 finance to his authority. 
 
 At the fame time that Wykeham was 
 thus engaged in the reformation of thefe 
 charitable inftitutions, he was forming the 
 plan of a much more noble and extenfive 
 foundation of his own, and taking his 
 meafures for putting it in execution. He 
 had long refolved to difpofe of the wealth, 
 which the Divine Providence had fo abun- 
 dantly beftowed upon him, to ,fome cha- 
 ritable ufe and for the public good ; but 
 was greatly embarrafled when he came 
 to fix his choice upon fome defign, that 
 was like to prove mofl beneficial, and leafl 
 liable to abuie. He tells us 8 himfelf, that 
 upon this occafion he diligently examined 
 and confidered the various rules of the 
 
 " Regift. Wykeham, part '3. a. fol. 62. dated Jan. 
 11, 1371-2. 
 . 7 Ibid. fol. 1 16. dated Nov. 2, 1374. 
 
 8 Statut. Coll. Oxon. & Wint. 
 
 reli- 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 93 
 
 religious orders, and compared with them 
 the lives of their feveral profelfors ; but 
 was obliged with grief to declare, that 
 he could not any where find that the or- 
 dinances of their Founders, according to 
 their true defign and intention, were at 
 prefent obferved by any of them. This 
 reflection affected him greatly, and inclined 
 him to take the refolution of diftributing his 
 riches to the poor with his own hands, ra- 
 ther than employ them in eflablifliing an 
 institution, which might become a fnare and 
 an occafion of guilt to thofe, for whofe be- 
 nefit it fhould be defigned. After much 
 deliberation, and devout invocation of the 
 Divine afiiftance, confidering how greatly 
 the number of the Clergy had been of late 
 reduced by continual wars and frequent 
 peftilences 9 , he determined at laft to en- 
 deavour to remedy, as far as he was able, 
 
 this 
 
 9 The great plague, which raged in England for 
 five months only in the beginning of the year 1349, is 
 laid by the hiftorians to have (wept away almoit one 
 half of the people, and nine parts out of ten of the 
 Clergy. It carried off whole families together, and 
 left none remaining. In the Hofpital of Sandon in the 
 county of Surry, the Mafter and Brethren, every one 
 
 of 
 
94 THE LIFE OF 
 
 this defolation of the Church, by relieving 
 poor fcholars in their clerical education j 
 and to eftablifh two Colleges of Students, 
 for the honour of God and increafe of 
 
 of them, died of it. Regift. Edyngdon, part i. fol. 49, 
 The parifh Churches were for the mod part deferted, 
 and left without divine fervice : at Oxford the fchools 
 were fhut, and the fcholars difperfed themfelve* or died. 
 Afterward, out of mere neceffity, great numbers of il- 
 literate laymen, who had loft their wives in the plague, 
 though they could hardly read, much lefs underftand^ 
 the common fervice, were admitted into Holy Orders. 
 In 1 361, there was another called the fecond or Lefler 
 Plague, which fwept away great numbers of the com- 
 mon people, many of the Nobility, and feven of the 
 Biihops. Knyghton, Wallingham, Harding's Chro- 
 nicle, Harpsfield, Parker, Ant. Wood. There was a 
 third Plague in the year 1368. See Wilkihs, Cone. 
 Mag. Brit. Vol. 3. p. 74. Holiinfhed fays there was 
 another in the year 1370, particularly at Oxford. The 
 Monk of Evefham, in the Life of Rich. II. (publifhed 
 by Hearn) fays there was another in the years 1381 
 and 1382, which he calls the Fifth Plague, The 
 Parliament of 1376, in their remarkable petition 
 againft the oppreffions of the Pope, reprefented to 
 the King, ' That fince the good antient cufroms of 
 ' Piety and Charity had been perverted, and Covetouf- 
 ' nefs and Simony increafed, the kingdom had been 
 ' full of adverfities, as Wars, Peflilence, Famine, Mu- 
 
 * rain, whereby it was fo much deftroyed, that there 
 
 * was not the third part of the people left.' See 
 Brady's Appendix to Hift. of Eng. Vol. II. N° 100. 
 Archbiihop Iilip gives the fame reafons for his founding 
 Canterbury Hall in Oxford. See his Statutes in Wil- 
 kins'sConc. Mag. Brit. Vol. 3. p. 52. 
 
 his 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 9$ 
 
 his worfliip, for the fupport and exalta- 
 tion of the Chriflian Faith, and for the 
 improvement of the liberal arts and fci- 
 ences ; hoping and trufting, that men of 
 letters and various knowledge, and bred 
 up in the fear of God, would fee more 
 clearly, and attend more fhictly to the ob- 
 ligation lying upon them to obferve the 
 rules and directions, which he mould give 
 them. Wykeham feems to have come 
 to this refolut ion, and in fome meafure to 
 have formed in his mind his general Plan, 
 as early as his becoming Bifliop of Win- 
 ch efter : for we find ', that in little more 
 than two years after, he had made pur- 
 chafes of feveral parcels of ground in the- 
 city of Oxford, which make the chief part 
 of the fite of his College there. His Col- 
 lege of Winchefter, intended as a nurfery 
 for that of Oxford, was part of his origi- 
 nal plan: for as early as the year 1373, 
 before he proceeded any farther in his de- 
 fign for the latter, he eftablifhed a fchoof 
 at Winchefter, of the fame kind with the 
 former, and for the fame purpofe. He 
 
 * Ant. Wood. Hift. Univ. Oxon. lib. 2. p.. 128, 
 ■where he gives a minute and particular account of thefe 
 purchafes. 
 
 agreed 
 
96 THE LIFE OF 
 
 agreed 2 with Richard de Herton, that for 
 ten years, beginning from Michaelmafs of 
 the year above-mentioned, he mould di- 
 ligently inftrucl: in Grammatical Learning 
 as many poor fcholars as the Biihop fhonld 
 fend to him, and no others without his 
 leave ; that the Bifhop mould provide and 
 allow him a proper affirmants and that 
 Herton, in cafe of his own illnefs, or ne- 
 ceflary abfence, mould fuftitute a proper 
 Mafter to fupply his place. 
 
 Wykeham's munificence proceeded al- 
 ways from a conftant generous principle, 
 a true fpirit of liberality. It was not ow- 
 ing to a cafuai impulfe, or a fudden emo- 
 tion, but was the efrecT: of mature delibe- 
 ration and prudent choice. His enjoyment 
 of riches confifted in employing them in 
 acts of beneficence ; and while they were 
 Increafing upon him, he was continually 
 devifing proper means of difpofmg of them 
 for the good of the public : not delaying 
 it till the time of his death, when he could 
 keep them no longer ; nor leaving to the 
 care of others what he could better exe- 
 cute himfelf ; but forming his good de- 
 
 a See Appendix, N° VII. 
 
 figns 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 97 
 
 figns early, and as foon as he had the abi- 
 lity, putting them in execution, that he 
 might have the fatisfaclion of feeing the 
 beneficial effects of them ; and that by 
 conftant obfervation and due experience 
 he might from time to time improve and 
 perfect them, fo as to render them yet 
 more beneficial. 
 
 H THE 
 
1 98 ] 
 
 THE 
 
 E 
 
 O F 
 
 
 
 WILLIAM of WYKEHAM. 
 
 SECTION IV. 
 
 His troubles in the lajl year of Edward III. 
 
 WHILE Wykeham was purfuing 
 thefe generous defigns, and was 
 now prepared to carry them into execu- 
 tion, he was on a Hidden attacked by a 
 party formed againft him at court, in fuch 
 a manner, as not only obliged him to lay 
 them afide for the prefent, but might have 
 reduced him to an inability of ever re- 
 fuming them. The accounts which are 
 
 given 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 99 
 
 given us of this whole affair by later writers, 
 are either fo falfe, fo imperfecl:, or fo con- 
 fufed, both as to matters of fact and their 
 caufes, that in order to clear it up, it will 
 be neceflary, wholly difregarding whatever 
 they have advanced without fufficient proof, 
 to lay together all the circumftances re- 
 lating to it, of which there remains any un- 
 doubted teftimony. 
 
 Upon ' the return of the Prince of 
 Wales to England, on account of his de- 
 clining ftate of health, in the year 1371, 
 the Duke of Lancafter was fent into Aqui- 
 taine, and had the chief management of 
 the war in France committed to him ; 
 which detained him there, for the moft 
 part, till the middle of the year 1374; 
 when a truce being made, which was af- 
 terward prolonged from time to time, he 
 returned, and took up his refidence at the 
 court of England. The King was now de- 
 clining, and the Prince of Wales's cafe def- 
 perate : the Duke therefore, being the next 
 furviving fon of the King, looked upon 
 himfelf as the perfon to whom the fole 
 management of affairs in the prefent fitua- 
 
 * T. Walfingham. Collins's Life of the Black Prince. 
 
 H 2 tion 
 
ioo THE LIFE OF 
 
 tion of right belonged. However, he feems 
 not to have had influence enough with the 
 King his father to gain his point, without 
 the afliflance of Alice Perrers, who now 
 for fome years had been confidered as the 
 King's Miflrefs, and had certainly gotten 
 a very great afcendant over him. Taking 
 this Lady into his party, and making ufe 
 of her power, he 2 in effecl got into his own 
 hands the adminiftration of all affairs : he 
 afiumed to himfelf a very extraordinary de- 
 gree of authority, and abufed it to many 
 ill purpofes. 'Tis certain, that both from 
 his known ambitious temper, and his be- 
 haviour on this occafion, the whole na- 
 tion fufpecled, that he carried his views far- 
 ther than the preient power, of which he 
 had pofTelTed himfelf ; and had formed a 
 defign i of fetting afide his young nephew, 
 and feizing the Crown, when the oppor- 
 tunity 
 
 * Walfingham, Parker, &c. 
 
 3 The Duke of Lancafter himfelf complained, in 
 the firft Parliament of Richard II. that the Commons had 
 fpread fuch reports of him, as, if true, amounted to 
 open treafon ; " & que teilles paroles avoient longe- 
 ** ment volez parmi le Royaume fauxement." Rot. Pari. 
 I R. 2. Tit. 14. The fame opinion of the Duke of 
 Lancafter's defigns feems to have prevailed likewife in 
 France. See Monach. Evefham. in Vita Rich. II. Edit. 
 Hearn.p.3. In MS. Harlcian. N°62i7, it isfaid, that the 
 
 Duke 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 101 
 tunity fhould offer, which now feemed near 
 at hand. 
 
 The Prince of Wales, who knew per- 
 fectly well his brother's ambition, and could 
 not but obferve the advances which he 
 made, was alarmed with apprehenfions of 
 the danger which threatened his fon. He 
 refolved therefore to ufe his utmoft endea- 
 vours to obftrucl: the Duke of Lancafter's 
 defigns, to break the party which he had 
 formed at court, and to get all that be- 
 longed to it removed from the King's 
 perfon. The Parliament, which after two 
 years intermiilion met in the latter end 
 of April 1376, gave him a proper oppor- 
 tunity of effecting all that he propofed. 
 
 Duke of Lancafter propofed to the P,irlament (51. Ed. ?.) 
 to deliberate, who ought to fucceed to the Crown after 
 the late Prince of Wales's fon; and that they fhould 
 make a law, that no woman fhould be heir to the 
 kingdom : (fee alfo Parker. Antiq. Brit. Eccl. an. 1376.) 
 
 " For he confydered the old age of the kynge, 
 
 " and the youth of the princes fonne ; whom, as it 
 " was fayed, he purpofed to poyfen, yf he coulde no 
 " otherwyfe come by the kyngdome." Chap. 8. Such 
 accufations are commonly thrown out, and the pub- 
 lic are but too ready to admit the truth of them, on 
 the like occafions. However, thefe teftimonies fuffi- 
 ciently prove, all* that is intended to be proved by 
 them ; that the nation in general had conceived violent 
 fufpicions of the Duke of Lancafter's ill defigns in re- 
 gard to the Succeflion. 
 
 H 3 As 
 
102 THE LIFE OF 
 
 As * foon as the Parliament was opened, 
 the Commons, having held a conference 
 with the Lords, renewed for three years 
 longer the fubfidies granted in the laft Par- 
 liament, which were now near the term of 
 their expiration ; but defired to be excufed 
 making any farther grant, on account of 
 the diftreffes of the times, unlefs any ex- 
 traordinary cafe mould happen, in which 
 they would aid the King to the utmoft of 
 their ability. They then petition him, 
 that he would be pkafed to augment his 
 Council to the number of ten or twelve of 
 the chief Lords and Prelates, who mould 
 be continually near his perfon, fo that, 
 without the advice and confent of fix, or 
 at leaft four of them, no bufinefs mould 
 be concluded. To thisrequeft, under fome 
 reftriclions, the King gave his affent : nine 
 Lords and Prelates were appointed 5 -, of 
 
 which 
 
 « Rot. Pari. 50. Ed. III. 
 
 5 In MS. Harleian. N° 247, fol. 143, is a fragment of 
 fome hiftorical notes, the hand and age uncertain, per- 
 haps about 200 years old. After having mentioned 
 the complaints in Parliament againft Lord Latimer, 
 Alice Perrers, &c. the author proceeds, as follows : 
 
 " Anno 1376. Divers of the nobilitie went to the 
 
 " King to perfwade hym to remove them from his 
 " councell ; which was done accordingly,} and newe 
 " counfellers appointed : who were the archbyfliop of 
 
 «« Canter- 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 103 
 
 which number was the Bifhop of Winchei- 
 ter : the three great officers of ftate added, 
 I fuppofe, to thefe, as ufual, formed the 
 council of twelve, of which hiftorians 
 fpeak. 
 
 The Commons moreover, making pro- 
 teftations of their due allegiance to the 
 King, declared, that if he had had faith- 
 ful Counfellors and Officers, he could not 
 but have been exceeding rich in treafure, 
 and would have been under no neceffity of 
 charging his people with fubfidies j conli- 
 dering the great fums of money, that had 
 
 been 
 
 '* Canterberye, the byfhopps' of Londone and Wyn- 
 " chefter, the earls of Arundell, Marche, and Staf- 
 " forde, and the lordes Percye, Brian, and Beauchampe. 
 " Who having auctorytie by the King put out of the 
 " councell the lorde Latimer, Johne lorde Nevill, Sir 
 '* Richarde Stafforde, and dame Alice Perers, taking 
 " an othe of the king., that he fholde never more 
 *' re[ceive them into] his companye." This paflage is 
 of importance, as it frrongly confirms the account, which 
 I had before given, of the political caufe of the perfe- 
 cution raifed againft the Bifhop of Winchefter by the 
 Duke of Lancalter. That this writer had good autho- 
 rity for the lift which he gives of the Council ap- 
 pointed by petition of Parliament, cannot well be doubt- 
 ed. It appears alfo from hence, that Lord Percy, during 
 this Parliament, was one of the Duke of Lancafter's op- 
 pofers : he was foon after gained over to his intereft ; 
 probably by means of the ftafT of marfhal of England 
 conferred upon him. This conje&ure likewife 1 fmce 
 find fully confirmed by MS. Harleian. N 9 6217. The 
 H 4 author 
 
104 THE LIFE OF 
 
 been brought into the kingdom, by the 
 ranfoms of the Kings of France and Scot- 
 land, and of other prisoners and coun- 
 tries. They demand therefore, that the 
 frauds and extortions of certain private 
 perfons about the King, and others of 
 their confederacy, may be flricrly inquired 
 into : of which they make a particular de- 
 claration under three heads. Firft, of fuch 
 private perfons about the King, and their 
 confederates, as procured ftaple-ware and 
 
 thor fays, u That the lorde Percye was one on the 
 
 " knyghtes parte, and at the fyrfte had a burnyng 
 
 " defyre to apprehend the traytours of the realme ; and 
 " and Iwolde to God he had contynued in the fayme 
 '* unto the end." Chap. 4. And after having told, 
 " how the earle of Marfhe fhunned the craftye de- 
 " ceites of the Duke of Lancafter," by giving up his 
 marfhaHhip ; he adds, " The Duke, rejofynge that he 
 " myght with fome honour rewarde Syr Henrye Percye, 
 ** prefenrly gave unto hym the rodd, and maid hym 
 *' marfhall of England ; and by this meanes yt ys 
 " playne, that the fayed Syr Henrye Percye haith alwayes 
 " joyned faft to the Duke, and hys councells ; where- 
 " for notwithftandynge, he hath a longe tyme incurred 
 " as great hatred of the whoale comunaltye, as he 
 " hath gotten favour and love of the Duke, and that 
 iC whiche he beleaved was an ineftimable profett and 
 *' commodytye and fholde be an infynyte glorye he 
 *' perceaved to be the begynnynge of all myfcheyfe & 
 " evill againfl hym, and fodenly to brynge hym perpe- 
 " tual ignomynye ; for he loft, as ys fayed, hys con- 
 " fcyence and hys good name with the people of the 
 «' #hoale realme." Chap. 16. 
 
 bullion 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 105 
 
 bullion to be conveyed to other places than 
 Calais, for their own profit, and to the 
 great detriment of the King and Kingdom. 
 Secondly, of fuch as by confent and con- 
 trivance of the faid perfons about the King, 
 made agreement for divers fums of money 
 for the King's ufe upon ufury, making 
 him pay much higher inte'reft than they 
 bargained for. Thirdly, of fuch as in con- 
 federacy with the fame perfons, bargained 
 with the King's creditors for the tenth, 
 twentieth, or hundredth penny, and then 
 procured the King to pay the whole debt, 
 for their own profit, and to the defraud- 
 ing both of the King and of his creditors. 
 Upon jhefe and fome other articles many 
 perfons were impeached and convicted: 
 the principal of whom were the Lord La- 
 timer, then Lord Chamberlain, who 6 had 
 the greater! fhare of the Duke of Lancaf- 
 ter's friendfhip and confidence, and Alice 
 Ferrers. Latimer was imprifoned and 
 fined, and rendered incapable of bearing 
 any office under the King. Alice Perrers 
 was banifhed from Court, and an ordi- 
 nance made with particular refpecl to her, 
 
 6 Parker. 
 
 That 
 
ic6 THE LIFE OF 
 
 That no woman, efpecially Alice Perrers, 
 mould follicite or profecute any bufinefs in 
 the King's Courts by way of maintenance, 
 on pain of forfeiture and banifhment out 
 of the kingdom. And Hifcorians 7 affirm, 
 that the Duke of Lancafter himfelf was 
 with the reft removed from about the 
 King's perfon, in confequence of thefe re- 
 monftrances of Parliament; which were 
 very well underftood to be aimed at him, 
 as they included his chief friends and de- 
 pendents 3 though out of regard to his high 
 quality, or dread of his power, no one 
 ventured peifonally to attack him, or ex- 
 prefsly to mention his name upon the oc- 
 cafion. 
 
 The whole management and con duel: 
 of this profecution was undertaken, in the 
 houfe of Commons, by Sir Peter de la Mare ; 
 and it was carried on by him, not only 
 with great fpirit and zeal, but with Angu- 
 lar abilities and eloquence. He was a 
 Knight of Hereford mire, and was 8 Steward 
 to Edmund Mortimer Earl of March. The 
 Earl of March had married Philippa, only 
 
 7 Walfingham, &c. * Stow. MS. Harleian. 
 
 N° 6217. Chap. 16. 
 
 child 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 107 
 
 child of Lionel Duke of Clarence, the 
 Duke of Lancafter's elder brother; and 
 confequently his wife Philippa, or after 
 her his eldeft fon by her, was indifputably 
 next heir to the Crown after young Richard. 
 His fituation therefore in the prefent junc- 
 ture was nearly the fame with that of the 
 Prince of Wales, and he was proportionably 
 concerned to fecure the rights of his own 
 family againft the fufpected defigns of the 
 Duke of Lancafter. So that the chief end 
 and principal aim of this profecution, tho' 
 not exprefsly declared in Parliament, yet 
 could not but be iufficientiy underftood by 
 the whole nation, from its being favoured 
 by the Prince of Wales and his friends, and 
 its being moved and conducted by a friend 
 and dependent of the Earl of March. And 
 the caufe was fo popular, and the feverity, 
 which the Parliament exercifed againft all of 
 the Duke of Lancafter's party, fo agreeable 
 to the kn(e of the whole nation, that this 
 Parliament was afterward diilinguifhed by 
 the name of the 9 Good Parliament. 
 
 On the 8th of June, before the Parlia- 
 ment had finifhed its feflion, died the Prince 
 
 "Walfingham. 
 
 of 
 
ioS THE LIFE OF 
 
 of Wales; one of the greateft heroes, and 
 the molt truly defer ving of that name, that 
 ever this, or any other nation produced ; 
 and what is more, the beff. and moil ami- 
 able of men. He had always had J a great 
 regard for the Bifhop of Winchefler, who 
 was zealoufly attached to his fervice : and he 
 now gave him an indubitable teftimony of 
 his efteem and affection, by appointing him 
 one 2 of the executors of his Will. The Bi- 
 fhop received fome years afterwards the $ 
 fame mark of confidence from his worthy 
 confort the Princefs Dowager of Wales, with 
 particular exprefiions of the friendfhip and 
 affe&ionate regard, which me bore towards 
 him. The Prince of Wales's will was figned 
 
 1 M Nee non revolventes oculos mentis noftrae — 
 " ad magnum locum quern [idem Epifcopus Wynton/] 
 " praefato Domino & Patri noftro in fuis agendis di- 
 " verfimode tenuit, & ad fpecialem affecYionem & fm- 
 " ceram dileftionem, quas idem pater nofter erga prae- 
 " fatum Epifcopum gefTit & habuit, dum ageret in 
 
 " hnmanis." Claufe in the pardon granted to 
 
 Wykeham by Richard II. Rymer, Feed. Vol. 7th. 
 p. 163. 
 
 2 Regift. Sudbury. Fol. 91. 
 
 3 Regifl. Courtney. Fol. 214. " Venerabiles in 
 
 " Chrifto patres & Amicos meos cariflimos dominos 
 cc Robertum Confanguineum meum Dei gratia London. 
 "- & Wilhelmum eadem gratia Wynton. Epifc. &c." 
 Dated Aug. 7th, 1385. 
 
 only 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 109 
 
 only the day before he died ; from which 
 circumftance we may conclude, that tho' 
 the Prince had been long fenfible that he 
 was drawing near his end, yet he was not 
 altogether in a dying condition, nor fo far 
 difabled, but that he could attend to the 
 motions and proceeding of the Parliament, 
 who in their oppofition to the Duke of 
 Lancafter and his party acted all along + 
 
 in 
 
 4 Walfingham. An Author, who probably wrote 
 before Walfingham, fays likewife the fame thing. He 
 gives the following account of the tranfactions of this 
 Parliament. " In principio menfis Maii fecit Rex Ed- 
 *• wardus maximum Parliamentum apud Weftmonaft. 
 ,c celebrari, in quo more folito a communitate quod- 
 " dam fubfidium petiit fibi concedi pro defenfione fui 
 *' & regni. Et communitas refpondit, cotidie eos fore 
 " talibus exaclionibus aggravatos, nee tale onus diu 
 '* pofle ferre dicebant. Nam liquide eis conftabat 
 " regem pro defenfione regni & fui fu Scienter habere, 
 " fi regnum foret bene & fideliter gubernatum. Sed 
 " quamdiu tale regimen per malos officiarios in regno 
 " haberetur, nequaquam copia rerum aut divitiis pof- 
 *' fit habundare. Hsec itaque & alia fe ofFerebant cer- 
 " tiffime probaturos. Et li port probationem hujuf- 
 " modi repertum eflet Regem ulterius indigere, ipfum 
 <c libenter juxta eorum facilitates juvarent. Poftea 
 " vero publicata fuerunt multa mala de Duce Lan- 
 " caHriae & de diverfis aliis officiariis regi jugiter af- 
 *' fiftentibus, & potiflime de Domino de Latymer ip« 
 " fius Camerario, fuper peril ma gubernatione regis 8c 
 '< regni. Tandem de quadam Alicia Peres inibi mul- 
 '« turn trattabatur fuper ejus maleficiis quae per earn 
 
 *' 8c 
 
no THE LIFE OF 
 
 in conjunction with him, and were fup- 
 ported by his credit and authority. Tho' 
 the Prince lived not to fee the conclufion 
 of the Parliament, yet his friends fuffici- 
 ently fecured for him the point, which he 
 had principally aimed at: for upon his 
 
 death 
 
 " & ejus fautores ubique in regno fiebant. Rex enim 
 " earn per multa tempora tennerat concubinam, unde 
 " liberius potuifTet, feminea fragilitate penfata, ad tarn 
 " inania & nepharia declinare. Idcirco omnes tales 
 " regni communitas petiit amoveri, & viros nobiles ap- 
 " probatos fapientes & valentes loco eorum proinde 
 " fubrogari. Erat namque inter illos de communitate 
 " quidam miles fapiens verax & facundus nomine Pe- 
 " trus Deiamare, in cujus ore omnium pendebat fen- 
 " tentia : hie vero quia contra diclam AJiciam & quof- 
 " dam alios de confilio Regis quaedam enormia veraci- 
 *' ttr in publicum deduxiflet, multum confidens in 
 <c hac materia de fupportatione &. favore Domini Prin- 
 " cipis : fed eo cito poft mortuo ad inftantiam praefatae 
 4< mulieris apud Nottingham perpetuo carceri adjudica- 
 " tur." Chronicon Angliae ad Hen. IV. MS. Lambeth, 
 N Q 340. " And that tyme (fays another antient writer) 
 " the comyns had chofen a wurthv Knight and a wife 
 " clepid Sir Peris Dalamare Speker of the Parlement for 
 " the comyns, which Pens told and publiihid the trouth 
 *' and reherfed many wronges ageynes the forfaid Alice 
 '* and othir certeyne perfones of the Kingis counfail as he 
 '.' was bedden by the comyns. And hefuppofid to have 
 " ben mayntened by the Prince." Chronicle of England, 
 roHen. VI. MS. Lambeth, N w 6. 1 he Duke ofLancaf- 
 ter's fiiends reprefentto him, " whathelpes theKnyghtes 
 *' have to underfhore them ; forthey have the favour and 
 " love of the loi des, and fpecially of the lorde Edwarde 
 
 " prince 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. in 
 
 death the Commons s immediately petitioned 
 the King, that Richard of Bourdeaux his 
 ion, might be brought into Parliament, that 
 they might fee and honour him as heir ap- 
 parent of the Kingdom ; and they farther 
 petitioned, together with the Lords, that 
 he might be declared Prince of Wales : 
 with both which requefts the King very 
 readily complied. 
 
 The Parliament 6 was no fooner difmif- 
 fed in the beginning of July, than all their 
 vigorous proceedings and decrees againft 
 the delinquents fell to the ground, for 
 want of that authority to fupport them, by 
 which they had been hitherto carried on. 
 The Duke of Lancafter, now no longer 
 reftrained by refpeci of the great Prince 
 of Wales, or of the Parliament, returned 
 immediately to court, and reaiTumed the 
 adminiftration of affairs : and with him 
 returned the Lord Latimer, Alice Perrers, 
 
 " prince your brother, who gyveth them hys counfayle 
 " and aide efFecluallye." MS. Harleian. N° 6217. 
 Chap. 1. The fame author fays afterwards, " that the 
 " Duke, fearynge the majeftye of the Prince, whom he 
 " knew to favour the people and knyghtes, with judi- 
 " ciall fentence depryved the lorde Latymer of hys 
 " office." Chap. 5. 
 
 s Rot. Pari. 50. Ed. 3. tit. 40. 
 
 * Walfingham, &c. MS. Harleian. N° 6217. 
 
 and 
 
ii2 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and the reft, that had been for ever banifhed 
 from the King's prefence. They in a man- 
 ner took pofleffion again of the King, who 
 lay at Eltham, opprefled at once with age, 
 grief, and ficknefs, and utterly unable to 
 withftand their importunity. They pro- 
 cured the council of twelve, which had 
 been appointed by petition of the Com- 
 mons in parliament, to be difcharged. In 
 a word, they faw themfelves in a condition, 
 not only to maintain their ground, but 
 to wreak their vengeance on their enemies. 
 They began with Sir Peter de la Mare, who 
 had been the fii ft mover and chief conductor 
 of the petition and proceedings againfr. 
 them in the late parliament, and by an ex- 
 traordinary act of power, 7 got him com- 
 mitted priibner to the caftle of Notting- 
 ham. His patron the Earl of March was 
 confidered as the real author and pro- 
 moter of every thing that he had done, 
 
 7 « Whom" (fays the author of MS. Harleian. N° 
 6217, Chap. 14.) " without any anfv^are againfl: all 
 " juftyce they fent to the caftle of Newercke, there to 
 " be comytted to pryfon : and there were that fayed, 
 " that the Duke gave commaundment to behead hym in 
 " the next wood; and fo he (holde have bene, had not 
 *' Syr Henrye Percye perfuaded the Duke to the con- 
 *' trarye." 
 
 and 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 113 
 
 and foon received an intimation of the dif- 
 pleafure that was conceived againft him. 
 Orders s were fent to him by the Duke of 
 Lancafter, in the King's name, to go and 
 furvey the Caftle, Town, and Marches of 
 Calais. He faw that this commiflion was 
 defigned only to remove him out of the 
 way* and perhaps to bring him into dif- 
 ficulties* of which advantage might be taken 
 againft him : he therefore declined the of- 
 fice; at the fame time refigning his Start 
 of Marfhai of England j which the Duke 
 immediately conferred upon the Lord Percy. 
 The Bifhop of Winchefter was another 
 principal object of their refentment. 'Tis 
 not to be doubted, but that upon this fig- 
 nal occafton he had ftedfaftly adhered to 
 the intereft of his great friend and patron 
 the Prince of Wales -, and at the fame time 
 to the interefts of the King, his kind maf- 
 ter and generous benefactor ; and to the 
 interefts of the public ; which were indeed 
 all equally concerned in the fecurity of the 
 lineal fucceffion : and moft probably he had 
 a£Ved with fo open and unreferved a zeal 
 in this juft and important caufe, as could 
 
 * Stow. MS. Harleian, N Q 6117. Chap. 16. 
 
 I not 
 
ii 4 THE LIFE OF 
 
 not but give offence to the Duke of Lan- 
 cafter. The Duke was, in effect, moff 
 highly incenfed againft him, and determined 
 to make him feel the whole weight of his 
 refentment, and the full force of his power. 
 However, he could not attempt to opprefs 
 a Prelate in an arbitrary way, and without 
 any colour of law, as he had acted with re- 
 gard to Sir Peter de la Mare ; he therefore 
 procured articles of accufation to be brought 
 againft the Bifhop, by 9 certain perfons 
 whofe names are not tranfmitted down to 
 us, for divers crimes committed by him 
 during his administration of affairs : thefe 
 'were exhibited againft him about the be- 
 ginning of the next Michaelmas term -, and 
 are in fubftance as follows \ 
 
 i. That after the peace was made with 
 France, the Bifhop of Winchefter had the 
 difpofal and management of all the King's 
 revenues, both at home and beyond fea, 
 with all the fubfidies granted by Parlia- 
 ment, and the fums received for the ran- 
 foms of the King of France, of the country 
 
 8 " Cum Epifcop. Wynton. ex informations 
 
 quorundam impofiti fuifTent articuli fubfecrueates."—— ■ 
 liymer, FoeJ. Vol. 7th. p. 1 63 & 168. 
 
 1 Ibid. p. 132, 148, 163, 168. 
 
 1 Ibid. p. 163, &c. 
 
 of 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 115 
 
 of Burgundy, and of the King of Scotland : 
 which receipts, reckoning for eight years, 
 during the whole time that Simon Lang- 
 ham late Archbifhop of Canterbury, and 
 John Barnet Bifhop of Ely, were treafurers 
 of England, (namely, from the 26th day 
 of November 136 1, to the year 1369) 
 amount to 1,109,600!. fterlingj befides 
 100,000 francs received from Galeazzo 
 Duke of Milan, and all the King's goods -, 
 which for the moft part have not been 
 applied to the profit of the King and King- 
 dom. And when the peace had lafted ten 
 years, and the fecond war began, the King's 
 treafury was found almoft empty, and the 
 King in great {freights was forced to bur- 
 then his fubje£ts with fubfidies and loans : 
 and all this was owing to the bad manage- 
 ment of the faid Bifhop. 
 
 2. That the faid Bifhop, without regard 
 to God, or equity, or the laws of the 
 realm, caufed Matthew de Gourney, Tho- 
 mas Fog, John Seyntlowe, Degory Lees, 
 Robert D'Eues, and many others, who in 
 the King's wars had behaved well againfl 
 the enemy, to be fined and ranfomed, to 
 the ineftimable damage of the King and 
 Kingdom, in that all the foldiers, when 
 I 2 they 
 
n6 fHELIFEOF 
 
 they heard of this mifprifion, entered into 
 companies, and made war in France, 
 which occafioned the renewing of the war, 
 and other bad confequences. 
 
 3. That the faid Bifhop being Keeper of 
 the Privy Seal, Chief of the Privy Council, 
 and Governor of the Great Council, caufed 
 the hoflages of the King of France, and 
 particularly the Dukes of Orleans, Berry, 
 Anjou, and Bourbon, and many others, 
 to be releafed and fet at liberty, for his 
 own profit -, tho' the late Prince of Wales 
 had often written, both to the King and 
 to the faid Bifhop, to have them kept care- 
 fully and fecurely -, which if it had been 
 done, the war would not have happened. 
 
 4. That when the Governors of Pon- 
 thieu had given timely notice of the ne- 
 ceflity of fending fuccours into that coun- 
 try to prevent the lofs of it, the faid Bifhop 
 put off the meflengers with words, and 
 took no care about it ; fo that by his ne- 
 gligence, in not ordering a proper remedy, 
 that country was loft. 
 
 5. That in the year 1369, John the fon 
 of John Boulewas, having been guilty of 
 acquiring lands without licence, was fined 
 in 100 1. to the King for his pardon : and 
 
 the 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 117 
 
 the fa id Bifhop caufed the fine to be leffened 
 by 20 1. as appears by the memorandum of 
 its enrollment. 
 
 6. That it having appeared by an in- 
 quifition, that John de Kirketon had in- 
 truded himfeif into the caftle of Tate/hale, 
 the manor of Tomby, and other lands, 
 of which John de Dryby died pofTefTed, 
 and had held the faid caftle and lands for 
 fo long time, that the rents and profits of 
 them amounted to above 8,000 marks, 
 which ought to have been placed to the 
 King's account, as the faid caftle was held 
 of him in chief; the faid Bifhop caufed the 
 King to remit all the faid rents and pro- 
 fits, for his own private advantage, with- 
 out taking or receiving any thing on that 
 account from the faid, John de Kirketon for 
 the .King's benefit. 
 
 , 7. That when John de Barnet Bifhop 
 of Ely was treafurer of England, the faid 
 Bifhop of Winchefter, by his own autho- 
 rity, and without warrant, caufed to be 
 taken out of the King's treafury the fum of 
 10,000 marks for buying of the King's Tal- 
 lies, as he affirmed ; which fum remained 
 in his hands two years and more, and then 
 he returned into the treafury for the faid; 
 
 I 3 fiuo* 
 
n8 THE LIFE OF 
 
 fum, tallies amounting to 12,500 marks, or 
 thereabouts; which advantage of 2,500 
 marks did not anfwer to the King, as he 
 bought every 100 1. for 25 1. fo that the in- 
 creafe and profit to the King ought to have 
 been 27,000 marks. 
 
 8. That J the faid Bifhop, when he was 
 Chancellor, by his own authority, often 
 caufed fines, after they were enrolled, to 
 be lefTened, and the rolls to be rafed ; and 
 in particular, that of John Grey of Re- 
 therfeld, who made a fine with the King, 
 in the 41ft year of his reign, of 80 1. for 
 licence of feoffment of certain lands and 
 tenements; which was paid into the ha- 
 mper : but the faid Bifhop, on pretence, 
 of fome bargain between him and the faid 
 John Grey, caufed the firft writing to be 
 cancelled, by making another writing of 
 the fame tenor and date, for a fine of 40 I, 
 and made the Clerk of the hanaper repay 
 the other 40 1. to the faid John Grey, to 
 the defrauding of the King. 
 
 It is not to be expected, that at this time 
 much new light mould be thrown on many 
 of the particulars of thefe articles : how-* 
 
 3 Rym. Feed. Vol. 7. p. 168. 
 
 ever, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 119 
 
 ever, a few obfervations may ferve, in a 
 good meafure, to explain, and mew the de- 
 fign and force of the mod important of 
 them. 
 
 1. The firft article is, in efFecl, the very 
 fame that was contained in the declaration 
 of the Commons in the laft Parliament, and 
 was directed againft the Duke of Lancafter 
 and his party. The particular abufes were 
 then inquired into, and feveral of that party 
 impeached and convicted, to the general 
 Satisfaction of the nation. The fame party, 
 now in power again, transfer the charge, 
 in general terms, from themfelves to the 
 Bifhop of Winchefter. 
 
 Befides the unreafonablenefs of charging 
 him with the grofs Aim of the whole pub- 
 lic revenue of the King and Kingdom 
 for fo many years, and even for fome time 
 before he had borne any office in the ftate -, 
 it appears from the article itfelf, that Wyke- 
 ham was not properly the perfon refpon- 
 fible for it. He never was Treafurer of 
 England, tho' it has been affirmed by fo 
 many authors. Langham and Barnet, fuc- 
 ceffively treafurers during the time in ques- 
 tion, were not creatures of his, nor in 
 any wife dependent upon him j but per- 
 I 4 fong 
 
i2o THE LIFE OF 
 
 fons of great age and authority before he 
 came into any power at court ; nor is it 
 likely, that they fhould abfolutely and im- 
 plicitly fubmit themfelves to him, in the 
 execution of fo important an office, for 
 which they thernfelves were folely account- 
 able. And Barnet was frill living to an- 
 fwer for himfelf. Neither is it at all to be 
 wondered, that by an expenfive and ruin- 
 ous foreign war of above twenty years con- 
 tinuance, the nation was fo exhaufted, and 
 the King fo overwhelmed with debt, as 
 not to be able to recover themfelves in an 
 unfettled and imperfect peace of nine years j 
 for it was no more, even the war of Brit- 
 tany, and the Prince of Wales's expedition 
 into Spain, being reckoned as nothing in 
 the account. 
 
 . 2. It is hard to fay what is the crime 
 with which the Bifhop is charged in the 
 fecond article : nothing more appears from 
 it, than that he had either by his influ- 
 ence, or in the regular courfe of his office, 
 caufed the perfons therein mentioned to be 
 punifhed and fined ; not furely for their 
 good behaviour and fervices in the wars, 
 but, as we may well be allowed to fuppofe, 
 for fome mifdemeanour. It is granted, 
 
 that 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 121 
 
 that thefe gentlemen behaved well in the 
 wars j but did they behave as well in time 
 of truce or peace ? Of the mil of them, 
 Sir Matthew Gourney, it appears \ that ? 
 contrary to the exprefs command of the 
 King his m after, he followed Bertrand de 
 Gueiclin into Spain, in the fervice of Hen- 
 ry the Baftard, in. the year 1366 ; and of 
 the fecond, Sir Thomas Fog, that * during 
 the truce of Bourdeaux, he made an expe- 
 dition under the command of the famous 
 Sir Robert Knolles, who was at this time 
 no other than an arrant freebooter. Knolles 
 was actually outlawed upon this occalion : 
 after the truce was expired, he procured 3 
 indeed the King's pardon, but not without 
 great fubmiffions to his Majefty, and pre* 
 fents fent to the Prince of Wales and his 
 brothers. Fog muft have been in the fame 
 fituation ; and fo came under the defcrip- 
 tion, which the King in his anfwer to the 
 remonftrances of the court of France gave 
 
 1 Barnes, Hift. of Ed. 3d. p. 675. See Rym. Feed. 
 Vol. 6. p. 481. 
 
 2 See Barnes, p. 562. Hollingflied, Vol. 3. p. 391. 
 Walfingham, Hyp. Neuftria;, ad an. 1358. Caxton, 
 Appendix. Polychron. p. 317. 
 
 3 Knighton. Col. 2620. 
 
122 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of thefe adventurers, 4 that they were per- 
 fons outlawed, murderers and robbers, de- 
 linquents againu; the laws of his realm., 
 and out of his protection. Such were two 
 of thefe Gentlemen : and if we confider, how 
 common thefe practices were at this time, 
 and what numbers of difbanded officers pur- 
 fued the fame methods of making their for- 
 tunes, it will not appear improbable, that 
 the others here mentioned were offenders 
 in the fame way, and were defer vedly pu- 
 nifhed for their lawlefs behaviour. But 
 whatever their cafe was, it is not eafy to 
 fee how their punifhment, as is alledged in 
 the article, could be the occafion of the 
 ibuldiers entering into the Companies, and 
 the caufe of the war's being renewed : nor is 
 it pofTible to conceive, how either of thefe 
 events could, in any way, even indirectly 
 and by confequence, be charged on the Bi- 
 mop of Winchester. Indeed nothing can 
 be more certain and notorious, than that 
 both the rifing of the companies in France, 
 and the renewing of the war, were owing 
 to far other caufes, and fuch as could not 
 have any relation to him, or be within the 
 
 ♦ Ibid. Col. 3618. 
 
 reach 
 
WILLIAM OFWYKEHAM. 123 
 
 reach of his influence. The 5 rifing of the 
 companies is to be dated as early as the truce 
 of Bourdeaux in the year 1357. A few 
 parties of this kind then formed themfelves, 
 and made fome effays in their trade. But 
 after the peace of Bretigny, they foon grew 
 into regular bodies of men, and even for- 
 midable armies. They were made up of 
 diibanded fouldiers of different nations, and 
 were prompted by no other motive, than 
 their ownlawlefs defires of enriching them- 
 felves by plunder and rapine. They maintain- 
 ed themfelves a long time by ravaging the 
 whole country, and the only effectual me" 
 thod, that France could take of getting rid 
 of them, was to find them employment 
 elfewhere. The Prince of Wales at laft 
 took twelve thoufand of them into his fer^ 
 vice for his Spanifh expedition. Don Pedro 
 was no fooner reffored by him to the 
 throne of Caftile, than he forgot all his 
 engagements, and left him and his army 
 in the utmoft difrrefs, without money or 
 provifions. The Prince was forced to melt 
 down all his plate to fupply his immediate 
 occafions. Six thoufand men of the com- 
 
 5 FroifTart, Vol. I. chap. 214, 215, 244, 246. Wal- 
 
 ^ngham, &c. 
 
 panies 
 
124 THE LIFE OF 
 
 panies returned with him to Guienne* 
 where, for want of pay, they betook them- 
 felves to their old way of fbbfifting on 
 plunder. The Prince had influence enough 
 over them, to prevail with them to quit 
 his dominions ; upon which they fell 
 upon the neighbouring provinces of France. 
 Great arrears were likewife due to his other 
 troops, which obliged him to impofe new 
 taxes on his fubjecls of Guienne, which 
 occafioned their revolt. Such was the oc- 
 cafion of the laft rifing of the companies ; 
 and fuch was the immediate caufe of the 
 renewing of the war with France. 
 
 3. The third article is wholly founded 
 on- the Duke of Bourbon's application to 
 the Pope on Wykeham's behalf, an account 
 of which has been already given. As to 
 the reft of the Hoftages, the reader may 
 find an exact account of their releafe, col- 
 lected by Rapin from the Records publifhed 
 by Rymer, in which it does not appear 
 that Wykeham had the leaft concern. As 
 6 to thofe here mentioned in particular, the 
 Duke of Orleans obtained his liberty by 
 ceding certain lands in Poitou to Thomas 
 
 T 6 Rym. Feed. Vol. 6. p. 467. Froiflart, Vol. J. chap. 
 218 and 249. 
 
 of 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 12$ 
 
 of Woodflock, one of the King's fons. The 
 Dukes of Anjou and Berry bafely abufed 
 the King's generoficy and indulgence - } the 
 Jirft made his efcape from Calais, and the 
 other, having obtained leave of abfence 
 for one year, never returned j nor did they 
 ever make the leaft fatisfaction for this in- 
 famous breach of their oath and honour. 
 
 4. The 7 furprifing of Ponthieu by the 
 French was an event quite unexpected by 
 Edward III. The firft intimation, which 
 he had of their defign, was given him 
 while the King of France's AmbafTadors 
 were amufmg him with deceitful prefent9 
 and empty propofals. He immediately or- 
 dered the Lords Percy and Nevil, and Sir 
 William Wyndefore, to go thither with 
 all expedition, with three hundred men at 
 arms and one thoufand archers. They 
 had gotten as far as Dover, and were ready 
 to embark ; when news came, that the 
 French had taken the City of Abbeville, as 
 was determined before by private agreement 
 between them and the inhabitants, who 
 opened their gates to them. The fame 
 day they made themfelves mailers of the 
 
 7 Froiflart, Vol. i. chap. 251, 252. Walfmgham. 
 Earnes, p. 737, &c. 
 
 reft 
 
126 THE LIFE OP 
 
 reft of the towns of Ponthieu, and fo the 
 whole country was loft at once* The whole 
 circumftances of this affair put it beyond 
 all doubt, that there was really no neglecl: 
 in fending fuccours to Ponthieu, upon the 
 firft notice of the defigns of the French, 
 chargeable upon any one, much lefs upon 
 the Bifhop of Winchefter. 
 
 5, and 6. Thefe feenr to be nothing 
 more than common inftances of the King's 
 generofity, perverted into articles of ae- 
 cufation againft the Bifhop, and are in 
 themfelves of no great importance. 
 
 7. The feventh article may perhaps re- 
 quire fome explanation. Thefe Tallies 
 were receipts or fecurities given to the 
 King's Creditors for Sums of money bor- 
 rowed. The treafury was fo exhaufted by 
 the wars, and the King's credit fo low, 
 that the Creditors at laft fold their Tallies, 
 or fecurities for the fums owed to them, at 
 great difcount. The Bifhop is charged 
 with having bought up the King's debts 
 with the King's money, and for his profit, 
 at a difcount of 75 per cent, or for one 
 fourth ; and with not having returned the 
 whole profit to the treafury. As to the 
 facl itfelf, and the circumftances of it, no- 
 thing 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 127 
 
 thing can now be (aid ; but this charge 
 plainly appears to have been defigned as a 
 recrimination upon the Bifhop, with re- 
 fpe£t to the third article of inquiry, exhi- 
 bited by the Commons in the late Parlia- 
 ment. 
 
 8 Whether this Iaft article was at firft 
 exhibited againft Wykeham, together with 
 the foregoing, or was produced afterward, 
 when the former were found deficient in 
 proof, it does not appear. The foregoing 
 articles 8 and this are found feparate the 
 one from the other, and in two diftincl: 
 patents of pardon : the firft containing a 
 remifiion and full acquittal of the feven 
 firft articles, of which no proof had ever 
 been made, and upon which no judgement 
 was ever given againft him; the fecond 
 reciting the laft article only, upon which 
 folely and feparately judgement had been 
 given, that his temporalties mould be feized 
 into the hands of the King, and remit- 
 ting all the penalties and the confequen- 
 ces of -this judgement. This, however, 
 we may with certainty conclude, that the 
 firft feven articles were dropped, and came 
 
 * See Rym. Feed, Vol. 7. p. 163 and 168. 
 
 7 to 
 
128 THE LIFE OF 
 
 to nothing, as unfupported by any proof* 
 or evidence. His temporalties were ad- 
 judged to be feized into the King's' hands, 
 folely upon the charge contained in the laft 
 Article. So that this mighty accufation, 
 which fet out with a charge of above a mil- 
 lion, foon dwindled into a bufmefs of forty 
 pounds. Upon which article I mall only 
 obferve, that the whole tranfaction feems 
 to have been carried on openly, and with- 
 out any endeavour to keep it a fecret j that 
 the Chancellor is not charged with having 
 made any profit to himfelf from it, the 
 whole fum refunded having been paid to 
 the Lord Grey ; and that all that appears 
 to be exceptionable in his conduct is the 
 feeming irregularity of the proceeding, of 
 which, we may prefume, his enemies tool^ 
 their advantage. 
 
 The Bifhop of Winchefter 9 was heard 
 upon thefe articles before a certain num- 
 ber of Bifhops and Lords, and others of 
 the Privy Council, afligned by the King 
 for this purpofe, about the middle of No- 
 vember. And in confequence of the 
 judgement given by them upon the lad ar- 
 
 9 See Rym. Foed. Vol. 7. p. 132, 148. 
 
 tide 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 129 
 
 tide alone, as I have jufc now mentioned, 
 Writs r were iflued from the Exchequer, 
 dated the 17th of the fame month, to the 
 Sheriffs of the feveral counties concerned, 
 ordering them to feize into the King's 
 lianas the Temporalties of the Bimoprick 
 of Winchester. The Bifhop * was ordered 
 to attend again at Werfminfter, for a far- 
 ther examination on January the 20th 
 following: but this was afterwards pro- 
 rogued to an uncertain day, at the King's 
 pleafure ; nor was he ever after brought to 
 a hearing on this occaiion. 
 
 The feizing the Temporalties was no 
 uncommon mark of the King's difpleafure, 
 in cafes where a prelate had offended him, 
 tho' he was not regularly convicted of 
 any crime or mifdemeanour. Nothing 
 more, perhaps, was meant in the prefent 
 cafe, by the determination of the Lords 
 of the Council. To mortify the Bifhop 
 ftill farther, he l was forbidden, in the 
 King's name, to come within twenty mibs 
 
 1 MS. Rym. R. 2, Vol. r. N° 22. from Rot. Clauf. 
 1 R. 2. pars unica. M. 20. 
 
 * See Rym. Feed. Vol. 7. p. 132. 
 
 3 Parker, &c. By the Duke of Lancafter in the 
 King's name; fays the author of MS. Harleian, N° 6217. 
 Chap. 15. 
 
 K of 
 
130 T HE LIFE OF 
 
 of the Court. It may be quelrioned, 
 4 whether the King had any knowledge of 
 this prohibition in which his name was 
 made ufe of; however, all agree that the 
 Duke of Lancafter was the real author 
 of it. 
 
 The Bifhop received this prohibition 
 about the middle of December, and upon 
 it immediately left s his palace at South- 
 wark. He 6 retired to the Monaftery of 
 Merton, where, for the moil part, he 
 continued during the next month j and af- 
 terwards he pafTed fome time in the Abby 
 of Waverly near Farnham. I find 7 indeed 
 that he was at Southwark again on the 4th 
 of January, but he made no fray there at 
 all. PoMibly he might have leave to go 
 thither, in order to make fome neceflary 
 preparation for his defence at his fecond 
 hearing : for it was not till three or four 
 days after this, that he received the King's 
 
 4 This doubt feems to be infmuated by the Convo- 
 cation in their petition in behalf of the Bifhop of Win- 
 chefter; " Defenduz lui feufl, come depar notre Seig- 
 
 " neur le Roy, len luy difoit," the whole of which 
 
 fee below. 
 
 5 Some time between the nth and 19th of Decem- 
 ber. Regift. Wykeham. 
 
 6 Regift. Wykeham. 
 
 7 Ibid, part 1. fol. 80. 
 
 letters, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 131 
 
 letters, by which it was prorogued to a 
 farther day. 
 
 In this fituation. were the Bifhop of 
 WinchefterY affairs, when the Parliament 
 was opened on the 27th of January. His 
 great adverfary the Duke of Lancafter had 
 re-eftablifhed his power at court beyond 
 all oppofition, and had fo effectually ex- 
 erted it in protecting his friends and op- 
 preffing his enemies, that the Parliament, 
 defirous of gaining his favour, or afraid of 
 incurring his difpleafure, met in general 
 ready to comply with him in all his mea- 
 fures, and prepared to act as he fhould 
 direct them. The whole proceedings there- 
 fore of this Parliament tended 8 to reverfe 
 and difanull all that had been done in op- 
 pofition to the Duke and his party in the 
 laft. It is affirmed, 9 that the Duke of Lan- 
 cafter had procured the members of this 
 Parliament to be elected at his pleafure, 
 and almoft all tliofe, that had oppofed him 
 in the lair. Parliament, to be excluded : 
 that Sir Thomas Hungerford, chofen 
 Speaker of this Parliament, and the firft 
 upon record in that office, was an iriti- 
 
 8 Walfingham. 9 Stow. & MS. Harleian. N° 6217. 
 Chap. 19. 
 
 K 2 mate 
 
i 3 2 T H E L I F E O F 
 
 mate friend of the Duke's, and his Steward : 
 that a few of Sir Peter de la Mare's 
 friends, who, notwithstanding the Duke 
 of Lancaster's influence exerted againft 
 them, were returned to this Parliament, 
 ufed their utmoft endeavouis, that he might 
 be allowed to give his anfwer to the mat- 
 ters laid to his charge, but could not pre- 
 vail : and that when one of them in par- 
 ticular ftill urged this motion, he was fi- 
 lenced with threats, that it might colt him 
 his life, if he perfrited in it. 
 
 The Commons ' having granted the fub- 
 fidies, petitioned the King, that in confide- 
 ration of the year of his Jubilee, the Fiftieth 
 of his reign juft now completed, he would be 
 gracioufly pleafed to grant an act of gene- 
 ral pardon to his fubjects of all crimes 
 committed before the beginning of the laid 
 year, as he had done at the Fiftieth year 
 of his age. To this petition the King gave 
 his confent. The only perfon excepted out 
 of this general pardon was the Bifhop of 
 Winchelter, in the following words of the 
 Statute : " But always it is the Kynge's 
 " mind, that Sir z William Wykeham By- 
 
 " fhep 
 
 • Rot. Pari. 51. Ed. III. 
 
 2 A bbmmon title given formerly to Clergymen of 
 
 all 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 133 
 
 w mop of Wynchefler fhall nothing enjoye 
 " of the faid graces, grarmts, and pardons, 
 <c nor in no wife be comprifed within the 
 tc fame 3 ." 
 
 The Duke of Lancafter having procured 
 the Biihop of Wincheiler to be particu- 
 larly excepted out of the Act of Grace, 
 was no lefs careful to fecure his friends, 
 who had been condemned in the laft Parlia- 
 ment, by particular acts of pardon granted 
 to each by the King upon petitions of the 
 Commons. The Lord Latimer's pardon 
 
 he 
 
 all degrees. See Rym. Feed. Vol. 6. p. 86. and the 
 Dramatis Perfonse of many of Shakefpeare's plays. 'Tis 
 in the Original Record Sire Wilhn. de Wykeham. Rot. 
 Pari. 51. Ed. 3. tit. 24. 
 
 3 Statute 51. Ed. 3. intitled by miftake in all the 
 printed Statute Books 50 Ed. 3. As this miftake is the 
 principal caufe of the great confufion, that runs through 
 all the accounts of this part of Wykeham's Hiftory, 'tis 
 neceffary to clear it up beyond all doubt. The act of 
 general pardon, granted on occafion of Edward the 3d's 
 Jubilee, was made in the laft Parliament of his reign, 
 held at Weftminfter, Quinden. Hillarii, that is, Jan. 
 27 th, in which Richard Prince of Wales fat in the King's 
 place by commiilion, the King being ill. See Cotton's 
 Abridg. p. 144, 146, 152. The 51ft of Ed. 3. began 
 Jan. 24th (Rym. Feed. Vol. 4. p. 243,) three days be- 
 fore the meeting of the Parliament ; which therefore 
 is rightly intitled 51 Ed. 3. in the Parliament Rolls, and 
 by all the Hiftorians. But the 50th year of his reign was 
 really the year which the King called his Jubilee, and 
 K 3 the 
 
i 3 4 THE LIFE OF 
 
 he had before obtained of the King, yet 
 thought it proper to have it renewed in 
 this more folemn manner in Parliament. 
 In the like manner Alice Perrers, Richard 
 Lyons, and fome others to the number of 
 
 the late Parliament mentioned it as fuch. See Cotton ? 
 Abridg. p. 129. The reafon why they did not then peti- 
 tion for a general patdon, was becaufe it was not agree- 
 able to the feverity of their proceedings : it fuited in- 
 tirely with the defigns of the next Parliament, who 
 under the influence of the Duke of Lancafter, made it 
 their bnfinefs to reverfe all the judgements pafled on 
 the delinquents in the preceding Parliament. The act 
 of general pardon itfelf mentions the 50th year of the 
 King's reign as the occafion of its being granted ; and 
 in the preamble it is faid, " Forafmuch as this year 
 " is rightfully the year of his Jubilee ;" which in- 
 accuracy of expreflion was the caufe of the miftake in 
 the title. The fame inaccuracy may be obferved in a 
 Record in Rym. Feed. Vol. 7. p. 136. where the King 
 fpeaks of the pardon granted in an. regni 50 rao , and 
 afterwards dates it, in prtefenti noftro Jubilaeo. 1 5 Feb. 
 an. reg. 51. But in another Record of the fame date 
 (ibid ) he fays more accurately, that the pardon was 
 granted " nuper dum regiminis reg. noftri Anglias an- 
 " nus completus eflet 5 mus :" and the Chancellor, in 
 his fpeech, opening the Parliament, " ce eft Fan. 50 
 
 " de fon regne accompli, qu'eft Fan Jubilee " 
 
 Rot. Pari. 51. Ed. 3.: and in Wykeham's pardon 
 1 . R. 2. it is faid, that he was excepted out of the general 
 pardon granted in the laft Parliament of Edward the 3d. 
 This miftake in the date of the printed Statute has 
 milled the Hiftorians, who accordingly refer it to the 
 year before : and hence it is, that they make Wyke- 
 ham's troubles to have lafted two years ; whereas really 
 the whole affair was but of little more than feven 
 months continuance. 
 
 feven, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 135 
 
 feven, were by the King, upon fo many 
 petitions of the Commons, reftored to their 
 former eftates, and the judgements given 
 againfl them in the laft Parliament were 
 reverfed, as having been obtained by falfe 
 fuggeflions, and without due procefs. 
 While on the other hand the Bifliop of 
 Winchefter, without due procefs, before 
 he had been allowed a full hearing, or any 
 thing, as far as appears, had been proved 
 againfl him, was deprived of his Tempo- 
 ralties, and excluded from Parliament. 
 
 Tho' the Bifliop had received 3 no writ 
 of fummons to Parliament from the King, 
 yet he was + regularly fummoned to Convo- 
 cation, by the Archbifhop of Canterbury's 
 mandate, executed by the Bifliop of Lon- 
 don. The Clergy met in Convocation 
 on the 3d of February. As foon 5 as the 
 King's meflage was delivered to the houfe, 
 letting forth the neceffity of his affairs, and 
 deliring a fuitable fubfidy, William Court- 
 ney Bifliop of London flood up, and made 
 a grievous complaint of many injuries done 
 to himfelf and the Bifliop of Winchefler, 
 
 3 There is none in Regift. Wykeham. 
 
 4 Regift. Wykeham, part 3. b fol. 3. 
 
 5 Parker, Wharton de Epifcopis London, p. 137. 
 
 K 4 of 
 
136 THELIFEOF 
 
 of which he exhibited to the houfe a pai> 
 ticular account in writing ; and begged 
 them not to confent to any fubfidy, till 
 fatisfacYion ihould be made to the parties 
 injured. The whole houfe, in a manner, 
 feconded the Bifhop of London's motion, 
 as far as it regarded the Biihop of Win- 
 chefrer ; and 6 addreffing themfelves to the 
 Archbifhop of Canterbury as their head, 
 declared, that they looked upon the pro- 
 ceedings againft. the Bifhop of Winch efter 
 as an injury done to the whole body of 
 the Clergy, and an infringement of the 
 liberties of the Church ; that they would 
 in no wife enter upon the bufinefs pro- 
 pofed to them, till all the members of the 
 Clergy were united; that as it concerned 
 all, it ought to be approved of all. The 
 Archbiiliop, being of the Duke of Lancaf- 
 ter's party, or afraid of offending him, 
 would have declined meddling with their 
 fuit : but they perfifled fo firmly in their 
 refolution, that he 7 was obliged to pro- 
 rogue the Convocation, and wait upon the 
 King with a reprefentation of their grie- 
 
 6 Elfyng's Method of holding Parliaments, chap. 7. 
 Stow. MS. Harleian. N° 6217. Chap. 21. 
 
 7 Parker. 
 
 vances. 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 137 
 
 varices. The King took time to confider 
 more particularly of their petitions, and 
 difmiiied the Archbiihop with a promiie in 
 general terms, that all the matters com- 
 plained of mould be redrerTed. 
 
 Among thefe petitions of the Convoca- 
 tion, that which relates to the Bifhop of 
 Wincheiter is exprefied in the following 
 terms 8 : 
 
 " As to what concerns the Bifliop of 
 f< Wincheiter, that the things under- 
 " written, which are attempted againit 
 ^ f him, may be duly redrerTed. In the 
 " firft place, that the Temporalties of his 
 " Church, without fufficient confent and 
 " afTent of thofe to whom it pertaineth, 
 5! and whofe affent is required in this be- 
 " half, have been taken into the hands of 
 f c the King : and moreover, befides that 
 ft he hath no where to lay his head in 
 " the temporal manors of his Church, he 
 £s hath been forbidden, as by command 
 " of our Lord the King, fo he was in- 
 •* formed, to make his abode in feveral 
 " monafteries, priories, and other places 
 
 8 Rot. Pari. 51. Ed. 3. tit. 85. and Wilkins, Con- 
 cilia Mag. Brit. Vol. III. p. 104. 
 
 ct of 
 
i 3 3 THE'LIFE OF 
 
 " of his diocefe, foundation, and patron- 
 " age: by which caufes the faid Bifhop 
 " fuffcreth great grievances, the jurifdic- 
 " tion of Holy Church is infringed, and 
 '* the execution of his pafcorai office in 
 *' clivers manners interrupted." 
 
 This petition is the only one to 
 which the King, after having confidered 
 of them, did not vouchfafe to give any 
 anfwer. However the 9 Convocation main- 
 tained their refolution with fuch fteadinefs, 
 that the Archbifhop could get nothing done 
 in the King's bufmefs, without fending for 
 the Bimop of Winchefter. He returned to 
 Southwark on this occaiion ', about the 
 middle of February. He took his place in 
 Convocation, and a was received by the 
 whole afiembly with all pofTible marks of 
 refpecl: and reverence. 
 
 9 Parker, Elfyng. ibid. 
 
 £ Between the 14th and 18th. Regift. Wykeharn. 
 And it appears that he was prefent at granting the fub- 
 iidy, ibid, part 3. b. fol. 6. 
 
 2 Parker. *' He came to London with a fmall num- 
 " ber of fervannts, who before tyme was thought to 
 "■ excell all other in multitude of fervaunts. He was 
 " joyfully reeeaved of hys felowe Byfhopps, & as be- 
 "' came fuch a perfon, greatly honored." MS. Har- 
 leian. N°62i7. Chap. 21. 
 
 The 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 139 
 
 The feffion of Parliament ended on Fe- 
 bruary the 23d, and 3 that of Convocation 
 about a week after. The Bifhop of Win- 
 chefler Hill continued 4 at Southwark, tho' 
 the late remonftrances of the Clergy feem 
 to have had but little effect in bringing his 
 affairs nearer to an accommodation with 
 the court. The King, inftead of reftoring 
 his Temporalties, foon s after made a grant 
 of them to his Grandfon Richard, in part 
 pf payment of four thoufand marks a year, 
 which he had fettled on him at the time of 
 his creating him Prince of Wales, and de- 
 claring him heir apparent of the Crown. 
 This 6 was fuppofed to have been done by 
 the Duke of Lancaster, with a defign to 
 take off fomething of the odioufnefs of his 
 proceedings againft the Bifhop, and to make 
 himfelf a little more popular in the nation, 
 by this inflance of good will towards the 
 young Prince. 
 
 Some time after this an affair happened, 
 which ferves to difcoverto us, what were the 
 
 3 Wake's State of the Church, p. 304.. 
 + Regift. Wykeham. 
 
 5 Rym. Feed. Vol. 7. p. 142. This grant is dated 
 j 5 Martii, 1376-7. 
 
 6 Parker, Stow. MS. Harleian. N° 6217. Chap. 15. 
 
 general 
 
*4o THE LIFE OF 
 
 general fentiments of the people with regard 
 to the Biiliop of Wincherler and his cafe. 
 The 7 Archbifhop of Canterbury and the 
 Bifhop of London, being commiMioned by 
 the Pope to proceed againfi WicklifT, whole 
 opinions began now to prevail, cited him 
 to appear before them in the Church of St. 
 Paul London, and to anfwer to the articles 
 of herefy laid to his charge. Wickliff ap- 
 peared, accompanied by the Duke of Lan- 
 cafter and his friend the Lord Percy, who 
 had undertaken his protection, chiefly in 
 oppofition to the Bifhops and Clergy. A 
 prodigious concourfe of people was ga- 
 thered together to hear his examination : 
 but this was prevented by a quarrel which 
 aroie between the two Lords and the Bi- 
 ihop of London. The Duke of Lancas- 
 ter at laft ufing fome threatening expref- 
 ilons to the Bilhop, the people were fo 
 
 7 Walfingham, Stow, Fox, Sec. Fox, and the reft 
 ot tne Hrnohahs who follow him, are miftaken, in mak- 
 ing this affair happen in February, and while the Par- 
 liament was fitting. The Pope's Bulle to the Arch- 
 bifhop of Canterbury and Bifhop of London is dated the 
 22d of May, i 377. Wilkins's Concilia, Vol. 3. p. 116. 
 So that it could not have happened many days before 
 the death of Edward III. — The author of MS. Kar- 
 iej.in. N° 6217, fays with the reft, that it was on the 
 22d of February. 
 
 exceed- 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 141 
 
 exceedingly offended and enraged againffc ' 
 him, that he found it neccfFary to make 
 his retreat as Toon as he could, with Lord 
 Percy and WicklifF. Upon a furmife, that 
 the Duke defigned to make fome- attempt 
 upon the liberties of the City of London, 
 the people afTembled together agam af- 
 terwards iri great .multitudes: they ailaulted 
 the Duke's palace of the Savoy, they ufed 
 his name with all forts of indignities, and 
 hung up his arms reverfed, as a traytor's, 
 in the principal flreets of the city. 'Twas 
 fuppofed, that they would have murdered 
 the Duke if they had met with him j and 
 they would certainly have fet fire to his 
 palace, had it not been for the Bifliop of 
 London, who came thither on purpofe to 
 appeafe them. The Duke himfelf, as foon 
 as the news of the riot was brought to him, 
 as he was at dinner with a particular friend 
 of his, a merchant in the city, immediately 
 lied for his fafety to die Princefs of Wales, 
 who was then at Kennington with her fori 
 Richard. The Princefs, upon this, fcnt 
 three Gentlemen of her court to perfuade 
 the people, in her name, to defift from 
 their violent proceedings. They returned 
 anfwer to her, that out of the relpecl which 
 
 they 
 
i 4 2 THELIFEOF 
 
 they bore to her Highnefs, they would da 
 whatfoever fhe commanded j but, at the 
 fame time, required the mefTengers to de- 
 mand of the Duke of Lancafter, that he 
 would fuffer the Bifhop of Winchefter and 
 Sir Peter de la Mare to be brought to their 
 anfwer, and be judged by their peers, ac- 
 cording to the laws of England. 
 
 From this incident we may conclude, 
 that the people looked upon the Bifhop of 
 Winchefter, as a perfon unjuftly opprefTed 
 by the exorbitant power of the Duke of 
 Lancafter 8 j not in the odious light of a 
 wicked mini Peer of itate, defer vedly called 
 
 8 " Circa idem tempus Dux Lancaflxise perfecutus 
 " eft graviter Epifcopum Wynton. dicens eum falfum 
 " fuifTe patri fuo dum effet ejus Cancellarius, unde ni- 
 " mis rigorofe immo & injufte magna fumma pecunise 
 * c condempnatus erat Domino Regi." Continuator Po- 
 lychronici. MS. Lambeth. N° 104. " The Duke la- 
 " bored againft William Wikam byfhopp of Wynchef- 
 " ter, fekynge a knott in a rufhe, & taikyng all occa- 
 " fion by all wayes and meanes he poflibly colde 
 ** to indamage hym : at laft amongft other thyngs 
 *' that he had objected againft hym, he charged 
 " hym to have bene falffe unto the Kynge, att what 
 " tyme he was lorde chaunceler : & althoughe 
 " the byfhopp in declaration of hys innocencye was 
 *' ready to brynge furth for hym felffe both fufHcient 
 ',' reafons & wytneffes, yet notwithftandynge he caufed 
 *' hym to be condemned without makynge anfweare." 
 MS. Harleian, N°62i7. Chap. 15. 
 
 8 to 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 143 
 
 to 'account for a corrupt administration. 
 He had been appointed, one of the Council 
 by petition of Parliament, when the Duke 
 of Lancafler's friends were removed, on 
 the motion of Sir Peter de la Mare : his 
 caufe was united with that of Sir Peter de 
 la Mare in the favour and attention of the 
 people : the Duke of Lancaster's indignation 
 fell upon both of them at the fame time ; he 
 continued to perfecute and opprefs them 
 together j and they were both at the fame 
 time releafed from his oppreilion. The 
 caufe of offence, therefore, was, in all pro- 
 bability, the fame in both : namely, their 
 zeal for the public good, and their fleady 
 adherence to the Prince of Wales's intereffc 
 in the parliament of 1376, in oppofition to 
 the Duke of Lancafler's party and his fu£- 
 peeled defigns. This is the only reafonable 
 method of accounting for the Duke's re- 
 fentment, that can be collected from the 
 circumfrances of the whole affair. The 9 
 
 old 
 
 9 " Hoc anno circa idem tempus di<ftus Dux Lan- 
 " caflrke contra Epifcopum Winton. vehementer com- 
 *' motus ipfum profequi totis viribus conabatflr, eo 
 *' quod, ficut dicebatur, Domino Regi Patri illius 
 " fuggeffit, quod Regina quondam uxor ipfius diclum 
 " Ducem in uterofuo nunquam portavit, fed fuppofuk 
 
 " eum. 
 
144 THE LIFE O F 
 
 old ftory of Wykeham's alledging, upon 
 the confefiion and according to the direc- 
 tions of Queen Philippa, that the Duke of 
 Lancafter was a fuppofititious child, and 
 not her's and the King's fon, which has 
 been fo often told to this purpofe, is in all 
 parts of it fo very incredible, that it de- 
 ferves little more notice, than to obferve 
 only -, that the author, whoever he was, who 
 firft gave out this ftory, feems to have been 
 
 convinced, 
 
 •' eum pro filio ; quod ob timorem Regis cekvit, fed 
 " ante mortem fuam, ut idem Epifcopus ut dicitur de- 
 " buit afTeruiile, [leg. afleruifle dicitur, ut debuit,] 
 " fibi fatebatur, & ei injunxit, quod [ut] hoc domino 
 ec fuo cum videret opportunum, monftraret, [mandaretj 
 " propter quod idem Dux, fingens colorem eum pro- 
 * lequendi, impofuit fibi, quod fuit falfus patri fuo 
 * 6 modis diverfis, quando ipfius extitit Cancellarius j 
 *' unde erat regi in magna fumma pecuniae condemp- 
 " natus, pro qua condempnatione in manus regis om- 
 " nia ejus temporalia erant capta, nee fibi ante mortem 
 *' regis f u erant reftituta : & licet totus Clerus & tota 
 *' Communitas preces funderent pro eifdem, non ta- 
 " men fuerunt exauditi." J. Malverne con tinu alio Chro» 
 nici Ranulphi. MS. Coll. Corp. Chrift. Cantab, ad an. 
 
 1376. 
 
 The fame ftory is quoted in the fame words, except 
 the various readings above inferted, by Wharton. Aug. 
 Sacr. Vol. 1. p. 318. as from the Monk of Evefham, a 
 continuator of the Polychronicon. J. Malverne and 
 the Monk of Evefham are then the fame perfons, or one 
 of them copied the other. I think the firft mod: pro- 
 bable, from Malverne's giving a long and particular ac- 
 count 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 145 
 
 vinced, that the Bifhop of Winchefter, in 
 fome way or other, oppofed the Duke of 
 Lancafter's defigns upon the Crown, and 
 to have furnifhed the circumitances, either 
 from his own invention, or from fome idle 
 report, which, how ridiculous foever, might 
 yet poflibly have gained fome belief among 
 the ignorant and credulous vulgar. 
 
 Nothing 
 
 count of the troubles brought upon the Abby of Evelham 
 by the Earl of Warwick's tenants. Fox quotes for it, 
 Chron. Monafterii D. Albani, or Hift. Monachi D. Albani, 
 ex accommodato D. Matth. A. Ep. Cant. However, 
 this MS. of J. Malverne is the only one among A. Bp. 
 Parker's in Bennet Coll. Library, which contains the 
 particulars which Fox relates as from the Chron. Albani ; 
 and the title of the MS. is in a later hand than the MS. 
 itfelf ; as I am informed by a learned friend, who favoured 
 me with the extracts from it. Perhaps the prefent Title 
 may have been added fince Fox made ufe of it. As to 
 the ftory itfelf, it is to be obferved, that the Duke of 
 Lancafter was the feventh child of Edward III by Queen 
 Phillippa, the fourth fon ; of whom only the fecond fort 
 and the third daughter died in their infancy. This is 
 fufficient to deftroy the whole foundation of this ftory : 
 for, can we fuppofe, that in thefe circumftances, the 
 King could be very defirous of another fon, or the Queen 
 under any temptation to impofe one upon him ? Fox 
 and others after him, without any warrant from their 
 author, have related it as an invention and a mere flander 
 of Wykeham's. Taking it in this light, can we poffibly 
 fuppofe, that Wykeham, tho' he were wicked enough, 
 yet could be fo weak, as in fo delicate a bufmefs, and to 
 his extreme hazard, to invent and utter fo incredible 
 and fo abfurd a ftory.? Bur, that no fuch ftory was, at 
 L that 
 
146 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Nothing more was done in the Bifhop 
 of Winchefter's affair till the 18th of June 
 following, when the J King reftored to 
 him his Temporal ties, in consideration of 
 his having undertaken, in the prefence of 
 the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Lan- 
 cafter, and others of the Privy Council, 
 certain burthens in relief of the King, and 
 for the defence of his kingdom : namely, 
 he was to fit out upon the fea three mips 
 of war, in each fhip fifty men at arms, 
 and fifty archers, for one quarter of a 
 year, at fuch wages as were ufually paid 
 by the King, but the King was to pay the 
 wages of the mariners: and in cafe fuch 
 voyage mould not take place, he was to pay 
 to the King the fum to which the wages 
 of the faid three hundred men by reafonable 
 computation mould amount. His fponfors. 
 
 that time, uttered or invented, is ftill farther probable, 
 from the Duke of Lancafter's filence with regard to it ; 
 when he made his complaint in Parliament of the reports, 
 that had been fpread concerning him, imputing to him 
 treafonable defigns, he faid not a word relating to any 
 fuch report as this, tho' more manifeftly injurious to 
 him, and more highly provoking, and as much of na- 
 tional concern as the others. The fame ftory is told 
 
 in MS. Harleian.N 6217, Chap. 15. 
 
 1 Rym. Feed. Vol. 7. p. 14 3, 149, 168. and MS. 
 Rym. R. 2. Vol. 1. N° 22. 
 
 for 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 147 
 
 for the due performance of thefe articles, 
 were Edmund de Mortimer Earl of March, 
 Richard Earl of Arundell, and Thomas 
 de Beauchamp Earl of Warwick, then 
 prefent in Council. Thefe were three of the 
 moll confiderable Lords in the kingdom ; 
 and 'tis highly probable, that it was by 
 their powerful interceffion, that the Bifliop 
 obtained the restitution of his Temporal- 
 ties. It has been faid, that he procured 
 this grant, by purchafing Alice Perrers's 
 good offices with the King in his favour, 
 by a large fum of money in hand, and 
 larger promifes of future fervices j and that 
 fhe gained this point for him, very much 
 againfl the inclinations of her friend the 
 Duke of Lancafter.' * This has been ad- 
 vanced without any other foundation of 
 proof, or colour of probability, than the 
 fuppofed influence of this Lady with the 
 King, by fome late writers, at a time when, 
 as it could not poffibly be verified, fo nei- 
 ther could it eafily be confuted. 
 
 * MS. Harleian. N° 6217, Chap. 28, contains the 
 very fame account. Of the age of this author, and con- 
 fequently of the credit due to him with regard to fuch 
 a piece of fecret hifcory, I cannot pretend to give any . 
 polltive judgement. 
 
 L 2 On 
 
148 THE LIFE OF 
 
 On the 21ft of June, 1377, died Ed- 
 ward III, And thus the Bifhop of Whi- 
 chever had the fatisfa£tion of being, in 
 fome meafure, reftored to the favour of 
 this excellent prince, his great patron and 
 benefaclor, a few days before his death : 
 if he may be fuppofed ever to have for-* 
 feited it ; which he certainly did not, till 
 the King hirafeif had, in a manner, loft 
 his own liberty. 
 
 Upon the acceffion of Richard II. to the 
 Throne, all difficulties with regard to the 
 Bifhop of Winchefter's affairs ceafed im- 
 mediately ; which gives us a farther pre* 
 fumption, that Alice Perrers had no hand 
 in removing them, for her power was now 
 at an end. He was l fummoned to attend 
 at the King's Coronation, by the King's 
 writ, dated June the 26th; and accord- 
 ingly affifted 4 at that ceremony on the 
 15th of July. His pardon 5 pafied the 
 Privy Seal on the 31ft of the fame month, 
 as foon as a thing of this nature, at fuch a 
 time, could well be difpatched. 'Tis con- 
 ceived in the fulleft and moft extenfive 
 
 3 Regift. Wykeham, part 4. fol. 15. 
 
 4 Rym. Feed. Vol 7. p. 157. 
 s Ibid. p. 163, &c. 
 
 terms 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 149 
 terms poffible, as 6 Lord Coke has particu- 
 larly obferved. It recites, in the firft place, 
 the firft feven articles of accufation, which 
 we have already given ; and then lets forth, 
 that the King, reflecting upon the great 
 damages and hardfhips that the Bilhop of 
 Winchefter hath fuftained, on occafion of 
 the faid impeachment; and revolving in his 
 mind the many acceptable, ufeful, and 
 laudable fervices, which the faid Bifhop, 
 with great labour and expence, hath long 
 performed for his Grandfather, the many 
 high offices which he hath held under his 
 Grandfather and Father, and the fpecial 
 affection and fincere love which his Father, 
 while he lived, always bore towards the 
 faid Bifhop ; out of his fpecial favour, and 
 with his certain knowledge, and alfo by 
 advice and confent of his Uncle the Duke 
 of Lancafter and other Prelates and Lords 
 of his Council, remits and pardons all the 
 aforefaid articles, and all other crimes and 
 
 f ' " The moft large and beneficial pardons by Letters 
 " Patents, which we have read and do remember, were 
 " that to William Wickham Bifhop of Winchefter (for 
 <e good men will never refufe God and the King's par- 
 " don, becaufe every man doth often offend both of 
 " them) and that other to Thomas Woolfey Cardinal ; 
 " which are learnedly and largely penned." 3 Iriflii. 
 chap. 105. 
 
 L 7 offences 
 
150 TH.EL'IFEOF 
 
 offences whatfoever in the ampler! terms, 
 and in the fuller! manner, the exception 
 of the faid Bifhop in the Act of Grace 
 pafled in the lad: Parliament of the late 
 King, and all other flatutes to the contrary 
 notwithftanding: concluding with a claufe 
 to this effect ; " Willing that all men 
 " mould know, that, although we have 
 <£ granted to the Bifhop of Winchefter the 
 " faid pardons and graces, neverthelefs we 
 <c do not think the faid Bifhop to be in 
 < c any wife chargeable, in the fight of God, 
 <c with any of the matters thus by us par- 
 " doned, remitted, or releafed unto him, 
 " but do hold him to be, as to all and 
 " every of them, wholly innocent and 
 *' guiltlefs." 
 
 By an inftrument 7 under the Privy Seal, 
 like wife of the fame date, which firil re- 
 cites the eighth article of accufation, as 
 expreffed above, in confequence of which 
 his Temporaries were feized, the King- 
 grants him a full remiflion of all the bur- 
 thens before mentioned,which were imp 
 on him upon the reftitution of his Tempo- 
 ralties ; pardons and releafes him from all 
 matters contained in the faid articles -, and 
 
 7 Rym. Feed ibid, p. 168. 
 
 gracioufly 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 151 
 
 gracioufly remits and grants unto him all 
 fuch profits and revenues of the faid Tem- 
 poraries, as were due to himfelf, then 
 Prince of Wales, and not paid at the time 
 of the reftitution. However, the lofs fuf- 
 tained by the Bifhop, in this affair, is 8 
 faid, in the whole to have amounted to 
 1 0000 marks. 
 
 * MS. Coll. Wint, 
 
 L 4 THE 
 
tw ] 
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 O F 
 WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 
 
 t i - - ' - — *• ' - - ■■--■- - •- ■ . 
 
 SECTION V. 
 
 Civil affairs during the former part of the 
 Reign of Richard the Second. 
 
 WYKEHAM, as we have feen, 
 even in the reign of Edward the 
 Third, firmly eftablifhed in the efteem and 
 affection of the King, and fupported by 
 the favour of the people, yet could not 
 fecure himfelf againfr. the malice of his 
 enemies, or more properly, againfr. the re- 
 fentment of one great man, whom, in de- 
 fence of a moil juft and honourable caufe, 
 
 and 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEH AM. i 53 
 
 and from a principle of gratitude and loy- 
 alty, he had dared to oppofe. One in his 
 high (ration, and that had long borne fo 
 diitinguifhed a part in public affairs, mufl 
 have found it a much more difficult talk 
 to act with honour and dignity, and to 
 carry himfelf fleadily and fafely, through 
 the unhappy reign of Richard the Second. 
 The former part of which was fubjecl to 
 all the inconveniencies of a minority j un- 
 fettled meafures, divided counfels, ill ma- 
 nagement in the revenues, continual lofTes 
 abroad, and dangerous feditions at home : 
 and what was of greater confequence than 
 all, fo little care was taken of the King's 
 education, (for he feems to have been not 
 at all deficient in his natural endowments) 
 that when he was of age the flate of af- 
 fairs became in his hands much worfe 
 than before. The latter part was fpent 
 in a hazardous contention between two 
 violent parties : the King, encouraged by 
 his favourites and flatterers, avowing his 
 endeavours to eftablifh himfelf in an un- 
 limited power; and his oppofers openly 
 ' threatening him with the example of his 
 
 * Rot. Pari. 21. R. 2. tit. 47. 
 
 great 
 
154 THE LIFE OF 
 
 great grandfather Edward the Second. 
 The event was fatal, firft to the King's 
 minifcers, afterward to the chiefs of the 
 popular party, and laftly, to the King 
 himfelf : and the confequence was a moft 
 bloody civil war, that in the next age, for 
 many years, continued to lay wade the na- 
 tion, and almofl utterly extirpated the Royal 
 Family. Wykeham conducted himfelf 
 through theie dangerous times, with that 
 wifdcm and caution which might be ex- 
 pected from one of his great experience -, 
 i'o as to maintain himfelf always in credit 
 and in a due degree of favour with the 
 King, at the fame time that he flood 
 high in the efleem and confidence of the 
 people. 
 
 The Duke of Lancafler was fenfible, 
 that his late violent proceedings and im- 
 perious behaviour had rendered him ex- 
 tremely odious to the whole nation. His 
 defigns upon the Crown, if he ever really en- 
 tertained them, he muft have relinquifhed 
 fome time ago ; but frill he had very fair 
 pretentions to the Protector fhip during the 
 minority of the King. In the beginning 
 of the new reign therefore he, ufed his 
 utmoft endeavours to recover, if poflible, 
 
 the 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 15; 
 
 the credit he had loft, and to mew him- 
 felf in a more popular light. 2 A few days 
 before, he had offended the city of Lon- 
 don more than ever, by turning out the 
 Mayor and Aldermen, and appointing 
 others in their places, on occafion of the 
 late riot. He now, by the young King's 
 mediation, and with the belt grace he 
 could, immediately reconciled himfelf to 
 the City : and in the cavalcade of the King 
 and his Court through London the fame 
 dav, the Duke and his friend the Lord 
 Percy, (who had been engaged with him in 
 the fame quarrel) being at the head of 
 the guards, the firfl as high Steward, the 
 latter as Marfhal of England, to make 
 way for the King - 3 they both of them 
 fludied to behave themfelves towards the 
 citizens of all ranks, in the moil oblig- 
 ing and courteous manner, addreiTmg 
 them with the utmofr. condefcenfion and 
 familiarity, and giving them all poffible 
 demonflrations of the fincereft regard and 
 friendmip. Sir Peter de la Mare 5 was 
 immediately releafed from his imprifon- 
 ment in Nottingham Caftle, with great 
 
 * Walfingham, Stow. 
 
 3 WyalfmgKam, Hyp. Neuft. 
 
 marks 
 
156 THE LIFE OF 
 
 marks of honour ; the Bifhop of Winchef* 
 ter's pardon was ordered to be expedited 
 with all difpatchj both probably at the 
 Duke of Lancaster's motion, at leaft not 
 without his concurrence. Yet all this af- 
 fectation of popularity had very little ef- 
 fect: in removing the impreffions, which his 
 former behaviour had left upon the minds 
 of all orders of men. And when, imme- 
 diately after the Coronation, the admini- 
 flration of affairs during the minority 
 came to be fettled in a great council of the 
 Lords and Prelates, inflead of naming the 
 Duke of Lancaster fole Protector, they * 
 conftituted a Council or Regency, confirm- 
 ing of twelve perfons of different eftates, 
 without fo much as admitting him into the 
 number. 
 
 The Duke of Lancafter could not dif- 
 femble his difguft upon this occafion : he 
 defined s the King's leave to retire from 
 Court, and went to his Caftle of Kenil- 
 worth ; profefling however, before he went, 
 that, in cafe his ailiftance mould be wanted, 
 
 4 Rym. Feed. Vol. 7. p. 161. Confirmed by Letters 
 Patent, July 20, 1377. Ibid. 
 
 5 Walfmgham. 
 
 he 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 157 
 
 he would attend his Majefty with a larger 
 train than any Nobleman in the kingdom, 
 and mould be always ready to promote 
 his honour and fervice. His friend the 
 Lord Percy, now earl of Northumber- 
 land, expreiTed likewife his refentment 
 upon this occafion, and refigned his llaff 
 of Marfhal, which he had obtained by the 
 Duke's favour. 
 
 Soon 6 afterwards the Parliament met, 
 not at all more favourably difpofed towards 
 the Duke of Lancailer j and he was not 
 now in fuch power, as to awe them into a 
 compliance with his will. The 7 firft ftep 
 the Commons took, was to choofe for their 
 Speaker Sir Peter de La Mare, the great 
 Patriot of the Good Parliament ; who, on 
 that account, had been thrown into prifon, 
 and, contrary to all law, confined there a 
 whole year, by the oppreffive power of 
 the Duke of Lancafter. And 8 agreeably 
 to this beginning, they proceeded to give 
 ample teflimony of their approbation of 
 what was done in that Parliament, the bu- 
 finefs of which they in a manner refumed j 
 
 6 O&ober 13, 1377. 
 » Rot, Pari. i.R. 2. 
 ? "Walfingham, Stow. 
 
 and 
 
158 T H E L I F E O F 
 
 and of their, diflike of the contrary mea- 
 sures of the lad Parliament, which they 
 in feveral inflances reverfed. They peti- 
 tioned 9 , that the King and Lords would 
 name, in Parliament, certain perfons of 
 divers eflates, fuch as were bed able, and 
 would be moil diligent and careful, to pro- 
 mote the public good, to be of the King's 
 continual Council, and to acl jointly with 
 the great Officers of State. This petition 
 was granted, and nine perfons, chofen by 
 the advice of the Lords, were appointed. 
 This Council muft necefTarily have fliper- 
 feded the Regency before eitablifhed, their 
 powers being wholly inebnfiftent, And 
 thus, not only the Duke of Lancafterh'imfelf, 
 but one or two of his chief friends like- 
 wife w r ho were of that Regency, in parti- 
 cular the Lord Latimer, were now entire- 
 ly fct ailde. The Commons farther de- 
 manded, that judgement might be executed 
 upon Alice Perrers, according to her de-. 
 ferts, and without favour or affection -, 
 and that, conndering the great damage me 
 had done to the kingdom, her forfeited 
 ites might be applied to the relief of 
 
 9 Rot. Pari. i. R. 2. tit. 18, 42, 43, j:p. 
 
 8 the 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 159 
 
 the people, whom fhe had in many ways 
 injured. This petition was in confequence 
 of her impeachment before the Lord.', 
 upon the Statute of maintenance, made 
 exprefsly on her account in the Parlia- 
 ment of 1376; on which (lie received fen- 
 tence of banifhment, and forfeiture of all 
 goods and efcates, both in demefne and 
 in reverfion. They petitioned alfo, that a 
 declaration might be made, as to the moneys 
 and fubfidies, mifapplied and unwarrant- 
 ably expended by improper and unprofit- 
 able mini Iters ; and that the faid minirTers 
 might be puniflied for the relief of the 
 people. They farther reprefent, that the 
 late King was guided by evil Counfellorsi 
 and pray that all fuch Counfellors as have 
 been before convicled upon full evidence, 
 and attainted, may be removed from the 
 King's Counfels, and that neither they, 
 nor others like them, be ever admitted 
 near the King's perfon, nor bear c 
 under him : and that all grants ' made by 
 
 the 
 
 1 This Petition of the Commons was probably oc- 
 cafioned by the convi&ion of Alice Perrers in the Houfe 
 of Lords ; one article which was proved againft her 
 was, that fhe had obtained of the late King, with the 
 
 alien t 
 
160 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the late King may be examined, and if 
 found to have been unworthily beftowed, 
 may be revoked : with all which requefts 
 the King complied. In all this the Com- 
 mons feem to have proceeded in a tem- 
 perate and difpafiionate manner, and to 
 have confidered very rightly, that extreme 
 rigour would have been unadvifeabie in 
 
 aflent of the Council, for Richard Lyons, a remiffion of 
 300 1. which he owed to the Exchequer, reftoration 
 of lands and goods forfeited, and moreover a grant 
 to him of 1 coo marks. It might alfo have refpect to 
 the many grants, which me had obtained of the King 
 for herfelf ; as may be feen in MS. Rymer, Vol. 1. 
 Mifcellan. Ed. 3. N° 60, 64, 66, 70. and Index Rot. 
 Pat. biblioth. Cotton. Titus, C. 2, and 3. Befide the 
 grant of the late queen Philippa's jewels, 47. Ed. 3. 
 Rymer Feed. Vol. 7th, p. 28. Theie grants bear date 
 from the 41ft of Ed. 3. to the end of his reign. Her 
 eftates were very confiderable : befide a great many lands, 
 tenements, advowfons, &c. fhe had in different counties, 
 twenty-two manors, for the moft part in pohcflion, 
 fome few of them in reveriicn. Tho 1 the King granted 
 the petition of the Commons, that her forfeited eftates 
 might be applied to the relief of the people, yet about 
 two years afterwards he made a grant of them all to her 
 hulband Sir William de Wyndefore. William of Wyke- 
 ham purchafed of Sir William de Wyndefore the manor 
 of MeoneiToke, in the county of Southampton, and 
 fettled it on his College of Winchester : this manor was 
 part of the forfeited elf ate of Alice, granted to her huf- 
 band ; on which account the King's writ, containing 
 the whole grant above mentioned, is preferved in the 
 Archives of Winchefler College, among the title-deeds 
 of that manor. Lib. Li. Coll. Win*, fol. 256. 
 
 the 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 161 
 
 the beginning of a new reign. In their 
 petition for the appointing a ftanding 
 Council, after complaining of thofe about 
 the late King, they add; a " But never- 
 " thelefs the faid Commons do not at all 
 tf defire now to take vengeance of any, 
 " that hath done amifs in time pail, but 
 " that in time to come fuch evil-doers 
 " may be duly punifhed." 
 
 After thefe f&veral petitions, manifestly 
 tending to fix all the blame of the mal- 
 administration in the latter part of Ed- 
 ward the Third's reign upon the fame fet 
 of men, who had been called to account 
 for it, and punifhed in the Parliament 
 of 1376, and who had gotten themfelves 
 difculpated in the fucceeding Parliament ; 
 the Commons proceeded to addrefs the 
 King in behalf of the Bifhop of Winchef- 
 ter in particular ; who, by favouring that 
 inquiry, and the proceedings againft them, 
 had incurred the refentment of the whole 
 party, and had fufFered fo much from their 
 malice when they ha'd recovered their power. 
 
 The petition of the Commons, upon 
 this occafion, with the King's anfvver 
 
 * Rot Pari. 1. R. 2. tit. 20. 
 
 M to 
 
162 THE LIFE OF 
 
 to it, is expreued in the following man- 
 ner. 
 
 " 3 The Commons, in this prefent Par- 
 " liament afTembled, pray, That, whereas 
 " in the Parliament holden at Weftminf- 
 " ter, on the Quindene of St. Hilary laft 
 " pad, a general grace, pardon, and re- 
 ft miffion was granted by your Grandfa- 
 no? ther to all his fubjects and lieges of his 
 " kingdom of England of every manner, 
 " degree, eftate, and condition, as it ap- 
 " peareth in the rolls of the faid Parlia- 
 " ment, in the which general grace, par- 
 " don, and remiflion, 4 the Bifhop of Win- 
 tl chefter was excepted and foreprifed ; 
 tf and afterwards your Royal Majefly did 
 i\ grant unto the faid Bifhop, that he mould 
 " have and enjoy, fully and entirely, in all 
 " points the fame graces, pardons, and 
 " remiffions made unto others his lieges in 
 " the faid Parliament by your faid Grand- 
 " father, notwithstanding the exception and 
 " foreprifion aforefaid j and furthermore 
 <c did pardon unto him many different 
 " articles and impeachments, impofed upon 
 
 3 Rot. Pari. i. R. 2. tit. 99. 
 
 4 In the Record 'tis only, le dit Evefqe, by miftake, 
 there being no mention of him before. 
 
 6 " him 
 
WILLIAM QFWYKEHAM. 163 
 
 * him in the time of your faid Grandfa- 
 " ther; and divers other graces, pardons, 
 " and remiffions did make unto him ; and 
 tc of all the articles, impeachments, and 
 " matters aforefaid, did grant unto him, 
 " and caufe to be made, your gracious 
 " Charters in full, as in them more fully 
 M appeareth : may it pleafe your noble 
 " Highnefs, by the advice and common 
 " aflent of the Prelates, the Duke, the 
 " Earls, Barons, and other Lords, and the 
 " Commons, to affirm, approve, ratify, 
 " and confirm in this prefent Parliament 
 " your faid Charters, with all the articles, 
 " pardons, graces, remiffions, and circum- 
 " fiances whatfoever in them contained, to 
 " the honour of God, and for the fafety 
 <c and furety of the eftate of the faid Bi- 
 " mop, and of his Church of Win- 
 " chefter." 
 
 " The Anrwer." 
 
 " The King in his own perfon, and by 
 <c his own mouth, as alfo by common af- 
 " fent and advice of the Prelates, the Duke, 
 "the Earls, Barons, and other Lords, in 
 " full Parliament aflembled, hath granted 
 Ma " this 
 
1 64 THE LIFE OF 
 " this petition fully, and in all points, and 
 " whatever is contained therein; and will- 
 " eth and granteth, by the common aflent 
 ct and advice aforefaid, that the Charters 
 " or Letters, whereof this petition maketh 
 " mention, and which were with good de- 
 **. liberation feen, read, and fully heard 
 c< in the faid Parliament, be now affirmed, 
 * { approved, ratified, and confirmed, under 
 " his Great Seal, according to the purport 
 " of the faid petition, and the effect, te- 
 " nor, and form of the Charters and Let- 
 " ters aforefaid." 
 
 Thefe declarations of Parliament, fo 
 directly tending to fix the blame of mif- 
 management in the latter part of Edward 
 the Third's reign upon the Duke of Lan- 
 cafter and his faction, and fo exprefsly 
 clearing the Bifhop of Winchefter from 
 all imputation of that nature, were not 
 the effect of any fecret intrigue, any un- 
 due influence, a peculiar humour, or a fpi- 
 rit of party prevailing in the prefent Par- 
 liament, and therefore liable to be con- 
 tradicted and reverfed in the next per- 
 haps that fhould meet ; of which, both 
 with refpect to the caufe and the event, the 
 proceedings of the lafl Parliament of the 
 
 late 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 165 
 
 late King afford us a remarkable example. 
 On the contrary, they were, in fome mea- 
 fure, confirmed by moil of the fucceeding 
 Parliaments j hardly any of which patted 
 without giving the Bilhop of Winchefter 
 fome mark of their confidence, and fome 
 teftimony of their opinion of his inte- 
 grity. 
 
 The management of affairs fucceeded 
 very ill in the hands of thofe, to whom 
 the adminiftraticn was committed by Par- 
 liament. The people found no eafe in their 
 taxes, nor any retrenchment of expences 
 in the ftate : the demands for the public 
 fervices increaied, the treafury was ex- 
 haufted, and the King in debt. The Com- 
 mons therefore, in the Parliament that 
 met in the beginning of the year 1380, 
 petitioned, 4 That the King's ffanding 
 Council might be difcharged, and that he 
 would appoint in their ftead, only five Coun- 
 fellors, being his great officers of flate ; 
 namely, the Chancellor, Treafurer, Privy- 
 Seal, Chamberlain, and Steward of the 
 houfhold : and that thefe officers might 
 not be removed before the next Parlja- 
 
 * Rot. Pari. 3. R. 2. 
 
 M 3 ment. 
 
1 66 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ment. They s farther reprefent to the 
 King, that his fubjecls are fo impoverifhed 
 by the many fubfidies granted to the late 
 King and himfelf for the defence of the 
 kingdom, that they cannot any longer fup- 
 port thefe burthens, unlefs an end be put 
 to the wars, or fome other remedy be found; 
 they petition him therefore, that, for his 
 own honour, and the relief of his fubjec~rs, 
 he would be pleafed to have his own ftate 
 put under fuch proper direction, and the 
 behaviour of his officers and minifters, by 
 whofe negligence he and his kingdom have 
 greatly fuffered, and alfo his revenues, fo 
 infpecled and examined, that he may be 
 able to live in a manner fuitable to his Ma- 
 jefly, and bear his iliare in the faid bur- 
 thens, to the eafe of his fubjecls. The King 
 and Council, therefore, in full Parliament, 
 appoint, at their requefr, fixteen Commif- 
 fioners ; four 6 Bifhops, three Earls, three 
 Bannerets, three Knights, two Citizens of 
 
 5 Rym. Feed. Vol. 7th, p. 250. The Commiffidn 
 is there given at large, and is dated May 2, 1380. Per 
 ipfum Regem & Concilium. In pleno Parliamento. 
 Though the Parliament had finifhed their fcfiiont the 
 beginning of March preceding. Wake's State of the 
 Church, p. 312. 
 
 6 Ocly three Bifhops are mentioned in Rot. Pari. 
 
 London, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 167 
 
 London, and one of York ; all or any 
 five of whom, provided there be one at 
 lead of each flate and degree, have power 
 to go into any of his courts or offices, to 
 examine the officers and their accounts ; 
 to furvey and infpecl: the revenues of the 
 King and kingdom of all forts ; to examine 
 into the fees of officers under the late King, 
 annuities granted by him, and the like ; 
 the flate of the late King's houfhold, and 
 his own, with many particulars of the fame 
 kind more fully fpecified : and of the refult 
 of their inquiries they are to certify the 
 King and Council. They have power to 
 examine all perfons upon oath, except the 
 great Officers of the Kingdom ; and all 
 officers, of the late King, and his own, 
 are ordered to attend and affifl them, and 
 to produce whatever papers or records are 
 required by them. The Bifhop of Win- 
 chefler was one of thefe Commiflioners. 
 The Parliament could not have given a 
 clearer demonflration of their confidence 
 in him, nor a fuller acknowledgment of 
 the uprightnefs of his administration un- 
 der Edward the Third, than by appoint- 
 ing him one of the examiners into the 
 abufes of that reign, as well as the prefent. 
 M 4 And 
 
168 TH.RLIFEOF 
 
 And this, together with what has been ob- 
 ferved before on this fubjecl, gives us a 
 full proof as the nature of the cafe will 
 admit that the nation in general wholly 
 imputed the mal-adminiftration in the lat- 
 ter part of Edward the Third's time, fo 
 much complained of, to the Duke of Lan- 
 cafter and his party, and not to the Bi- 
 fhop of Winchefter. 
 
 This Commiffion, tho' in all refpecls ful- 
 ly fettled in Parliament, was not iiTued 
 in form to the feveral perfons appointed 
 to that fervice, till the beginning of May 
 following j fo that probably no great mat- 
 ter was done in the buuneu of it, when the 
 Parliament met again towards the end of 
 the fame year. The 7 Commons then peti- 
 tioned the King, that the Commiffion ap- 
 pointed in the lail Parliament might be car- 
 ried into execution without delay, and that 
 the Lords and others, named in the faid 
 Commiffion, now prefent in Parliament, 
 be charged to begin their Inquiry on the 
 20th of January following. 
 
 The Commiffioners could not have made 
 any great progrefs in this Inquiry, before 
 
 7 Rot. Par] 4. R. 2. Ut. 28. 
 
 their 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. *6 9 
 
 their proceedings were interrupted by thofe 
 terrible 3 infurreclions, which were begun 
 in the Counties of Kent and Eflex by the 
 lowed of the People, conducted by lead- 
 ers the vileft and bafeft even of their own 
 number. Thefe tumults were at their 
 height about the middle of the next June : 
 the infection of popular madnefs began to 
 fpread widely ; the whole nation was thrown 
 into the greateft confufion, and the King 
 and kingdom brought into the mod immi- 
 nent danger. But this dreadful rebellion 
 was foon happily quelled in effect by one 
 bold and fuccefsful effort of the young King 
 himfelf, who in the utmofl extremity acted 
 with all the prefence of mind, the relblu- 
 tion and fpirit, of his great Father and 
 Grandfather 3 and fhewed what might have 
 been expected from him, if he had not un- 
 fortunately been thrown into the hands 
 of thofe, who, to eftablifh the more eafily 
 their own power and intereft, ftudied to 
 corrupt his tender mind, and to deprefs 
 thofe excellent talents with which nature 
 had endowed him. 
 
 To fettle the ftate of the nation, and to 
 quiet the minds of the people, after fo 
 
 * Walfingham, &c. 
 
 great 
 
i 7 o THE LIFE OF 
 
 great a commotion, a Parliament was fum- 
 moned to meet the beginning of Novem- 
 ber. The 9 Commons petition, that cer- 
 tain Prelates and Lords may be appointed 
 to confer with them on affairs greatly con- 
 cerning the ftate of the kingdom : they are 
 ordered to give in the names of fuch as 
 they would choofe for this purpofe in writ- 
 ing -, they name feventeen ; among them 
 the Bifhop of Winchefter. After diligent 
 conference with thefe Lords, they make a 
 grievous complaint of the ill ftate of the 
 nation, reprefenting, that, unlefs the ad- 
 miniftration of government be foon amen- 
 ded, the Kingdom will be utterly ruined. 
 They proceed to enumerate particularly the 
 defaults of government: firft, about the 
 King's perfon, and in his houfhold, through 
 the unreafonable number of fervants and 
 attendants maintained therein j as alfo in 
 his Courts, the Chancery, King's Bench, 
 Common Bench, and Exchequer, by griev- 
 ous oppreflions : and in the Country, by 
 the great multitude of maintainers of quar- 
 rels, who carry themfelves there like kings; 
 that they are dripped and ruined by the 
 
 5 Rot. Pari. 5. R. 2. tit. 17, 18, &c. 
 
 oppreflions 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 171 
 
 oppreffions of the Purveyors of the King's 
 houfhold ; as alfo by taxes and fubfidies, 
 which are levied with great difrrefles, and 
 oppreflions of the people, by the King's M i- 
 nifters ; and though great fums of money 
 are granted and levied, fo that they never 
 were fo poor before, yet they are not de- 
 fended from the enemy, but are plundered 
 by land and fea : which mifchiefs the poor 
 Commons, who ufed to live in honour and 
 profperity, can no longer endure; and 
 thefe have given occafion to the late infur- 
 reclions, and unlefs remedied, will be the 
 caufe of greater misfortunes. They there- 
 fore beg redrefs of thefe grievances, for 
 the fafety of the King and kingdom ; that 
 evil Officers and Counfellors may be re- 
 moved ; and above all, that the moil able 
 and difcreet Lords and others of the king- 
 dom may be placed about the perfon of 
 the. King, and in his Council. 
 
 The King advifes with the Lords of the 
 realm and thofe of his Council on this 
 petition, which appeared to him to be for 
 the good of himfelf and his kingdom ; and 
 grants that certain Prelates, Lords, and 
 others, may be appointed to examine into 
 the ftate and government of the King's per- 
 fon 
 
172 THE LIFE OF 
 
 fon and houfhold, and provide remedies 
 to the abufes complained of. Nineteen are 
 nominated for this fervice : the Duke of 
 Lancafter is the firft, and the Bi'ihop of 
 Winchefter one of that number. They 
 are ordered to fit in Privy Council many 
 days, without doing any thing elfe in Par- 
 liament while this bufinefs is depend- 
 ing. 
 
 The Commons then addrefs their peti- 
 tions, relating to the abufes above-men- 
 tioned, and the ftate of the nation in ge- 
 neral, to thefe CommifQoners j who feem 
 to have entered effectually upon their In- 
 quiry, and to have made a confiderable 
 progrefs in it. For in the fecond meeting 
 of this Parliament, at the end of the Febru- 
 ary following, after an adjournment, the 
 Commons petition, that the Officers of the 
 King's houfhold may be fworn before the 
 Lords in Parliament, to obferve the ordi- 
 nance and government of the King's houf- 
 hold, as appointed by the Commiffioners : 
 which petition is granted. 
 
 But, notwithftanding all the diligence 
 of the Commiffioners in regulating thefe 
 
 *> Rot. Pari. 5. R. 2. tit. 75. 
 
 affairs, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 173 
 
 affairs, and the precaution taken by the 
 Commons to fecure the obfervance of their 
 regulations, we do not find that complaints 
 of the fame abufes ceafed at all for the 
 future. Walfingham, having mentioned 
 feveral of the acts paffed in this Parliament, 
 and that many other things were at the 
 fame time ordained, adds, " But to what 
 " purpofe ferve acts of Parliament, when 
 " afterwards they take no effect at all ? 
 ct the King, by the advice of thofe about 
 " him, ufed to alter or fet afide every 
 " thing, that the whole commonalty of the 
 " kingdom, and even the nobility itfelf, 
 " had enacted in the preceding Parlia- 
 " ments." Of this he gives us afterwards a 
 remarkable example. Sir Richard Le 
 Scrope had, in this Parliament, been ap- 
 pointed Chancellor by the Commiflioners, 
 upon the petition of the Commons ad- 
 dreffed to them. Not long after, on his 
 i efufmg to fet the feal to fome extravagant 
 grants of the King to certain of his fa- 
 vourite courtiers, the King by their per- 
 flation was induced to take away the 
 Seal from the uncomplying Chancellor. 
 Walfingham adds, that he executed thefe 
 grants with his own hands ; in this parti- 
 cular 
 
174 THE LIFE OP 
 cular he is miflaken : however, he placed 
 the Seal by a com million in the hands of 
 fome others of his courtiers, who probably 
 were not fo fcrupulous in obeying his com- 
 mands ; and afterwards delivered it to the 
 Bifhop of London. 
 
 In the Parliament that met October the 
 6th, 1382, the * Commons name the Bi- 
 {hop of Winchefter among the Lords, whom 
 they petition to have appointed to confer 
 with them on the matters propofed to their 
 confideration : namely, whether it were 
 more advifeable to agree to the Duke of 
 Lancafler's propofal, for an attempt upon 
 the kingdom of Caftile, to which he had 
 pretenfions 5 or that of the Bifhop of Nor- 
 wich, for an expedition againft the French 
 and Flemings. Both the Duke and the 
 Bifhop were armed by Pope Urban the VJth 
 with powers for publifhing a crufade againft. 
 thofe adherents to his rival, the Antipope 
 Clement the Vllth. The Commons gave 
 their advice for the latter ; which accord- 
 ingly took place, and 4 failed of fuccefs by 
 the fecret endeavours of the Duke of Lan- 
 
 * Rym. Feed. Vol. 7. p. 632. 
 
 3 Rot. Pari. 6. R. 2. tit. 14. 
 
 4 Froifiart, Walfingham, Hollinflred. 
 
 carter 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 175 
 
 cafter to obftrud the Biftiop's defigns, and 
 his affected delay in fending him fuc- 
 cours. 
 
 The chief occafion of the meeting of the 
 Parliament at the latter end of the year 
 1383, was to provide for a war with Scot- 
 land, which was apprehended to be un- 
 avoidable j the truce being now near ex- 
 piring, and the Antipope Clement having, 
 by way of reprifals, publifhed a crufade 
 againft the Englifh, and commiflioned the 
 King of Scotland to execute it. Upon 
 this, as was ufual in the like cafes, the s 
 Lords Marchers of the North were ordered 
 by Parliament to their refpective countries, 
 to fortify their caftles, and to be in rea- 
 dinefs to defend the borders againft the 
 irruption of the Scots. Thefc Lords there- 
 fore petitioned, that part of the fup plies, 
 raifed for the defence of the nation againft 
 Scotland, might be allowed them in con- 
 (ideration of this fervice. The matter 
 was debated in the Houfe of Lords ; and 
 the authority of the Bifhop of Winchefter, 6 
 who was the principal perfon that oppof^l 
 their petition, carried the queftion againft 
 
 5 Rot. Pari. 7. R, 2. 
 
 * Walfingham. 
 
 them, 
 
i;6 THE LIFE OF 
 
 them, notwithstanding 7 their great power 
 and influence. He alledged, that the 
 lands and honours, which they now pof- 
 fefTed, had been given them for this very 
 purpofe, that they might be enabled to de- 
 fend the borders, and repel the Scots; and 
 fo fave the kingdom the perpetual trouble 
 and expence of fending forces to thofe dif- 
 tant parts : that they were in a condition 
 to perform this fervice with eafe ; whereas 
 their anceftors, without their power or 
 riches, and fupported only by their own 
 courage and bravery, had gained many 
 victories over thofe enemies of their coun- 
 try. The Parliament, therefore, only 
 granted to thefe Lords Commiffions to 
 raifes forces, and to make reprifals upon 
 trie Scots. We find, however, that a few 
 years after this s they gained this very. 
 
 7 The principal of them was Henry Percy Earl of 
 Northumberland. See Cotton, Abridg. p. 283. The 
 fame that had been made Marfhal of England by the 
 Duke of Lancafter's means at the end of Edward 3d's 
 reign, and Earl of Northumberland at the coronation 
 of Richard the 2d. The Caftle of Workworth in 
 Northumberland, and the manor of Rothbury, had been 
 granted to his Grandfather for this very fervice, in the 
 beginning of Ed. 3d's time. « Cotton, Abridg. p. 11. 
 Probably therefore what the feifhop faid upon this oc- 
 cafion related chiefly to him. 
 
 8 Rot. Pari. 11. R. 2. tit. 45. 
 
 5 point, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 177 
 
 point, by petition of the Commons -, but 
 with declaration, that it was on account 
 of the fudden breaking out of the war, 
 and for that time only $ and with protefta- 
 tion, that it mould not be made a prece- 
 dent. 
 
 In the Parliament 8 held at Salifbury 
 the beginning of the next year, the Bifhop 
 of Winchefter was likewife one of the 
 Lords, whom the Commons chofe to have 
 afligned as a committee, to confer with 
 them upon the propofal of a treaty of 
 peace with France. 
 
 The King and Council, as well as the 
 Commons, had recourfe to the Bifhop of 
 Winchefler's wifdom and experience in af- 
 fairs of difficulty. Many branches of the 
 revenues of the crown were greatly in ar- 
 rear : this matter required a particular in- 
 fpection, and an extraordinary power to 
 clear it up and fettle it perfectly. Towards 
 the end of the year 1385 9 , the Bifhops of 
 Winchefter and Exeter, and two Bannerets, 
 were for this purpofe joined with the Privy 
 Council, and commiffioned with full powers 
 to fearch and give orders, in the Exchequer 
 
 8 Rot. Pari. 7. R 2. part 2. 
 5 Rot. Pari. 9. R. 2. tit. 43, 
 
 N and 
 
i;8 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and elfewhere, as it fhould feem beft to 
 them, concerning all manner of- debts due 
 to the king. 
 
 In the mean time, the King's extrava- 
 gance, and his immoderate indulgence to 
 his favourites, continued to give general 
 difcontent. Courtney *, Archbifhop of 
 Canterbury, encouraged by fome of the 
 nobility, and principally, as it fhould feem, 
 by the Duke of Glocefter, ventured to re- 
 moiiftrate to the King upon this head ; 
 and to tell him plainly, that, unlefs he. 
 would furrer himfelf to be better advifed 
 and directed, his proceedings muft foon end 
 in the utter ruin of himfelf and his king- 
 dom. The King received this reproof 
 with great indignation: he loaded the 
 Archbifhop with opprobrious language, 
 and the vehemence of his paffion had car- 
 ried him frill farther, had not the Duke 
 of Glocefter interpofed. Upon this the 
 Archbimop, to exprefs his refentment, re- 
 tired from court : but foon met with new 
 caufe of difguft. The z Convocation had 
 granted the King a fubfidy in December, 
 
 1 Monachus Evefham. in Vita Richardi 2di, ab 
 Hearnio editus. 
 
 * Wake's State of the Church, p. 317. 
 
 1384. 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. iyg 
 
 1384. But the King's neceffities were not 
 fatisfied : and therefore, about the middle 
 of January, writs were iffued for calling 
 another Convocation in Lent, for farther 
 fupplies. The Archbilhop ufed his utmoft 
 endeavours to divert the King from this 
 refolution of fummoning a Convocation 
 again fo foon : he wrote to him, defiling 
 him, with great earneftnefs, to recall his 
 writ. He wrote likewife to the Bifhop of 
 Winchester, who was then at court, as 
 well as to fome others of his brethren, 
 exhorting them to do what they could, to 
 perfuade the King to relinquifh his defign. 
 But the King perfiiled in it. The Arch- 
 bilhop obeyed, and fummoned the convo- 
 cation : but, to mew his diffatisfacuon, he 
 would not aflift at it in perfon, but com- 
 miffioned the Bifhops of London and Win- 
 chefter to prefide in it in his fcead. 
 
 Thefe fcattered memorials of the Bifhop 
 of Winchester's weight and authority, in 
 the management of the moil important 
 concerns of the public, I have laid toge- 
 ther, as they occurred, in the order of time ; 
 which leads us now to the extraordinary 
 Commifiion of the tenth year of Richard 
 the II. in which he was perfonally con- 
 N 2 cernedj 
 
t 8o T H E L I F E O F, &c. 
 
 cerned, and upon which the remaining 
 part of the affairs of this reign principally 
 turn. : This will require a more full and 
 connected relation : and that it may not 
 be interrupted and confounded with mat- 
 ters of a different nature, it will be proper, 
 firft, to conlider him again in his more 
 private capacity, and return to his Epis- 
 copal acts, and the execution of his cha- 
 ritable defigns. 
 
 3rf* bifir 
 
 
 rttmdsAxW 
 
 the; 
 
 ie! 2s t b3g£gue>iib I 
 
 
 \HhodtUB tolJL- 
 
 
 'insflnoj isarxoi 
 
 
 - . 
 
 
[.8i ] 
 
 1 I :r^7 
 
 ■ O It Wf% ', 
 
 THE 
 
 ; i r 
 
 LIFE 
 
 O F 
 
 WILLIAM of WYKEHAM. 
 
 SECTION VI. 
 
 Ecclejiajiical affairs during the feign of 
 Richard the Second* 
 
 UPON the acceflion of Richard the 
 Second to the throne, Wykeham, 
 now delivered from the perfecution of the 
 Duke of Lancafter, and difengaged, as far 
 as his high ftation and great authority 
 would permit, from his former conftanfr 
 attendance on public affairs, was. refolved 
 N 3. to. 
 
182 THE LIFE OF 
 
 to make ufe of the opportunity and lei- 
 fure which thefe circumllances afforded 
 him j "and applied himfelf to the great work 
 of executing his delign for his two Colleges, 
 upon which he had long before been de- 
 termined, and for which he had many 
 years been making preparations. His whole 
 plan, as I have already obferved, was 
 formed at once ; and the defign was noble, 
 uniform, and complete. It was no lefs 
 than to provide for the perpetual mainte- 
 nance and inft ruction of two hundred 
 fcholars, to afford them a liberal fupport, 
 and to lead them through a perfect courfe 
 of education j from the firft elements of 
 letters, through the whole circle of the 
 Sciences ; from the lowefl: clafs of gram- 
 matical learning to the higheft degrees in 
 the feveral faculties. It properly and na- 
 turally confirmed of two parts, rightly form- 
 ing two eftablifhments, the one fubor- 
 dinate to the other. The defign of the 
 one was to lay the foundations of Science, 
 that of the other, to raife and complete 
 the fuperftruclure : the former was to fup-, 
 ply the latter with proper fubjecls, and the 
 latter was to improve the advantages re- 
 ceived in the former. The plan was truly 
 
 great, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 183 
 
 great, and an original in its kind : as 
 Wykeham had no example to follow in it, 
 fo no perfon has yet been found, who has 
 had the ability, or the generofity, to follow 
 his example, except one, and that a King 
 of England, who has done him the ho- 
 nour to adopt and to copy his whole de- 
 fign. 
 
 The work which demanded his atten- 
 tion at this time, was to erect, his College 
 at Oxford j the fociety of which he had 
 already completed and eftablifhed, and 
 that fome years before he began to raife 
 the building. For he proceeded here in 
 the fame method, which, as I have already 
 fhewn, he took at Winchefter : as he be- 
 gan there with forming a private Gram- 
 mar School, provided with proper Maf- 
 ters, and ' maintained and Supported in 
 it the full number of fcholars, which he 
 afterwards eftablifhed in his College ; fo 
 
 » 1 « Quare pro parte dicli Epifcopi, qui, nt 
 
 " aiTerit, feptuaginta Scholaribus in grammaticalibus 
 " in eadem Civitate ftudentibus de bonis a Deo fibi col- 
 ' ■ latis pluribus annis vitae necefTaria miniihavit, nobis 
 
 " fuit humiliter fupplicatum." From Pope Urban 
 
 6th's Bulle of Licence, to found the College at Win- 
 chefter, &c, dated June i. 1378. Lib. H. Coll. Wint. 
 fpl. 81. 
 
 N 4 at 
 
184 THE LIFE OF 
 
 at Oxford, in the firfl place, he formed 
 his Society, appointed them a Governor, 
 allowed them a liberal maintenance, pro- 
 vided them with lodgings, and gave them 
 rules and directions , for their behaviour ; 
 not only that his benehcence might not 
 feem to lie fruitlefs and ineffectual, while 
 it was only employed in making his pur-. 
 chafes of lands, and railing his building, 
 which would take up a confiderable time -, 
 but that he might bellow his earlieft at- 
 tention, and his greatefr, care, in forming 
 and perfecting the principal part of his 
 defign j and that the life and foul, as it 
 were, might be ready to inform and ani- 
 mate the body of his College, as foon as 
 it could be fmiihed, and {o the whole fyf- 
 tem be at once completed in every part 
 of it. This preparatory eftablifhment, I 
 imagine, took place about the fame time 
 with that of Wincherrer, that is, in the 
 year 1373 ; which agrees with the account 
 that fome z authors give, that it was {even. 
 years before the foundation of the build- 
 ing was laid : but they are mifraken, in 
 fuppofing that there were only fifty fcho- 
 
 2 Martin, Wood, Harpsfield, Godwin. 
 
 lars 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 185 
 
 lars maintained by him in this manner -, 
 for it appears by the Rolls of Accounts of 
 New College, that in the year 1376 the 
 Society confifled of a Warden and feventy 
 Fellows, called Pauperes Scolares Vene- 
 rabilis Domini Domini Wilhelmi de Wyke- 
 ham Wynton. Epifcopi ; and that it had 
 been eftabliflied, probably to the fome num- 
 ber, at leaH as early as September 1375. 
 s Richard Toneworth, fellow of Merton. 
 College, was appointed by him Gover- 
 nor of this Society, with the title of War- 
 den, and a falary of 20 1. a year. 
 The Fellows were lodged in Blakehall, Hert- 
 hall, Shulehall, Maydenhall, and Hamer- 
 hall : the expence of their lodging amount- 
 ed to 10 1. 13 s. 4 d. a year. They were 
 allowed each of them is. 6d. a week for 
 their commons : and they had proper fervants 
 to attend them, who had fuitable flipends. 
 In the 4 year 1379, the Bifhop com- 
 pleted his feveral purchafes of lands for 
 the fite of his College, and immediately 
 took his meafures for erecting his building. 
 In the firft place, he obtained the 5 King's 
 
 3 Rot. Comp. Coll. Nov. 
 
 4 Ant ? Wood. Hift. Univ. Oxon. lib. 2: p. 129. 
 
 5 A. Wood. ibid. ex. Pat. 3. R. 2. p. 1. m. 32. & 
 Index, Rot. Pat. 3. R. 2. Bibliothec, Cotton. Titus, c. 3. 
 
 Patent, 
 
186 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Patent, granting him licence to found his 
 College: it is dated June 30th, 1379.. He 
 procured likewife 6 the Pope's Bulle to the 
 fame effect. He publifhed his 7 Charter of 
 Foundation November 26th following j by 
 which he entitled his College, ^Cftttt 
 
 tit College of HDpntfjcftre in <£Htn* 
 
 It was then vulgarly called the New 
 College ; which became in time a fort of 
 proper name for it, and in common ufe 
 continues to be fo to this day. At the 
 fame time, upon the refignation of Tone- 
 worth, he conflituted his kinfman Nicho- 
 las Wykeham Warden, with a falary of 
 40 1. a year. On 8 the 5th of March fol- 
 lowing, at eight o'clock in the morning, 
 the foundation itone was laid : the build- 
 ing was finiflied in fix years j and the So- 
 ciety made their public entrance into it 
 with much folemnity and devotion, fing- 
 ing Litanies, and marching in proceffion, 
 
 6 Procem. Statut. Coll. Oxon. 
 
 ' Regift. 2. Coll. Nov. fol. 138. 
 
 8 Traftat. in Vet. Reg Coll. Wim. & Brev. Chron, 
 The expreffion in both is, hora quarta ante meri- 
 diem, and afterwards, hora tertia ante meridiem. 
 Wykeham did not lay the firft ftone in perfon, as 
 fome authors fay ; he was that day at Southwark. Re- 
 \y\(i. Wykeham, part 2. in Ordinat. 
 
 with 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 187 
 
 with the Crofs borne before them, at nine 
 o'clock in the morning, on the 14th of 
 April, 1386. The Society 9 confifts of a 
 Warden and feventy poor Scholars, Clerks, 
 Students in Theology, Canon and Civil 
 Law, and Philofophy : twenty are ap- 
 pointed to the ftudy of Laws, ten of 
 them to that of the Canon, and ten to 
 that of the Civil Law ; the remaining fifty 
 are to apply themfelves to Philofophy (or 
 Arts) and Theology ; two of them, how- 
 ever, are permitted to apply themfelves to 
 the ftudy of Medicine, and two likewife 
 to that of Aftronomy; all of whom are 
 obliged to be in Priefts Orders within a 
 certain time, except in cafe of lawful im- 
 pediment, Befides thefe there are ten 
 Priefts, three Clerks, and fixteen boys or 
 Chorifters, to minifter in the fervice of the 
 Chapel. 
 
 The body of ftatutes, which Wykeham 
 gave to his College, was a work upon 
 which he bellowed much time and con- 
 ftant attention. It was the refult of great 
 meditation and ftudy, affifted, confirmed, 
 and brought to maturity, by long obferva- 
 
 5 Statut. Coll. Oxon. 
 
 tion 
 
188 THELIFEOF 
 
 - 
 
 tion and experience. He began it with 
 the firft eftablifhment of his Society, and 
 he was continually improving and perfect- 
 ing it almoft as long as he lived. And ac- 
 cordingly it has been always confidered 
 as the moft judicious and the moft com- 
 plete performance in its kind, and as the 
 beft model which the founders of Col- 
 leges in fucceeding times had to follow 5 
 and which indeed moft of them have ei- 
 ther copied, or clofely imitated. 
 
 That the firfr. draught of his ftatutes! 
 was made as earlv as I have mentioned, 
 appears from a letter 1 of Wykeham him- 
 feif, which he wrote to the Warden of his 
 ColJege, loon after the Society had made 
 their firft entrance into it. In this letter 
 he fpeaks of his ftatutes, as duly publifhed 
 and promulged, and in times paft fre- 
 quently made known unto them. The great 
 care and attention, which he employed in 
 revifmg his ftatutes from time to time, and 
 in improving them continually, appears 
 very evidently from an ancient draught of 
 them ftill extant * ; in which the many al- 
 
 1 See Appendix, N°IX. 
 a |n Arthiv. Coll. Nov. 
 
 %( - terations x 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 189 
 terations, corrections, and additions, made 
 jn the margin, fhew plainly how much 
 pains he beftowed upon this important 
 work; with how much deliberation, and 
 with what great exaclnefs, he weighed 
 every the moft minute particular belonging 
 to it. The text of thefe ftatutes appears, 
 by fome circumftances which it is needlefs 
 here to enlarge upon, to have been drawn 
 up about the year 1386 ; and therefore 
 they cannot be the firft, which he ever made$ 
 fmce at that time he fpeaks of his ftatutes, 
 as often and long before publifhed. At J 
 the end of the year 1389, he appointed 
 CommirTaries to receive the oaths of the 
 Warden and Scholars of his College, to 
 obferve the ftatutes, which he then trans- 
 mitted to them, fealed with his feal : this 
 was a new edition of them, much corrected 
 and improved ; for, I fuppofe, it contained 
 all the marginal alterations and additions 
 above mentioned. He gave a third edition 
 of his ftatutes, reckoning from the time 
 when his College was ftniflied, (till much 
 enlarged and corrected, an ancient copy of 
 which likewife is yet remaining 4 : it was 
 
 3 Regift. Wykeham, part 3. b. fol 102. 
 + Coll. Nov penes Dom. Cuftodem. 
 
 XT 
 
 N 7 pro* 
 
¥ 9 o THE UFE OF 
 
 probably s of the year 1393. In 6 the 
 year 1400, he appointed another Com- 
 miflion for the fame purpofe, and in the 
 fame form, with that of the year 1389 ; 
 with that lie fent to his College a new 
 edition likewife of his ftatutes, ftill revifed 
 and enlarged : it is the laft which he gave, 
 and is the fame with that now in force. 
 
 The original drawings of a great Mafter, 
 compared with the finifhed paintings which 
 he has made from them, let us more in- 
 timately into the true fpirit of his defign ; 
 they lay open his whole train of thinking, 
 and difcover the reafons of all the moil 
 minute alterations which are made in the 
 progrefs of the work. We fee evident 
 marks of his invention in compofing, his 
 care in exprefling, his judgement in cor- 
 recting ; and have the pleafure of tracing 
 the feveral tteps by which the whole piece 
 has been brought to perfection : and it 
 fometimes alfo happens, that we have rea- 
 fon to regret the effects of too much ftudy 
 
 s Ret. Co'nip. Coll. Nov. an. 1393. '* In Expns. 
 tc Magiftr. Johannis Hafeley & Roberti Keton, equit. 
 " Lond ad Dominum Fundatorem pro flatutis refor- 
 *\ mandis a 2 d0 die Mail p. 10 dies continuo fequentes, 
 «« 18s. 6d. J> Regift.Wykeham. fubdat. Maii 12. 1396. 
 iHi*l in flatutis difti Coll. ultimo correcYis — .". 
 
 ft Regift. Wykeiwm, part 3. b. fol. 182. 
 
 and 
 
- 
 
 WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 191 
 
 and application, of accuracy and correcl- 
 .iiefs purfued too far j when the cool en- 
 deavours of art have not been able to 
 reach the warm ilrokes of genius, and per- 
 haps fome particular parts of the fmiihed 
 piece have even wanted the propriety and 
 juftnefs, which they had in the firft com- 
 position. In a work^of imitation, the artift 
 endeavours to exprefs the moll fimple ap- 
 pearances of nature, her freeil and moil un- 
 difguifed features, attitudes, and operations; 
 and the firfl impreiTions of thefe, upon a 
 warm imagination, are commonly the live- 
 lieil and the trueil. In a work of policy, 
 the legiflator ought to have chiefly in view 
 the leading motives and main fp rings of 
 human action; and thefe are open and 
 obvious, the moft eafily investigate, 
 the moil readily fet to work. The nio*e 
 fimple the compofition of his fyilem, tjac 
 more furely will it attain its end, without 
 diforder or impediment. Subordina' 
 and inferior but more complicated prin- 
 ciples, will indeed require much care and 
 consideration: even all the lefTer circum- 
 flances ought to be well weighed, and every 
 precaution taken to prevent perver fion and 
 abufe. Yet may this clofe attention to parti- 
 culars be eafily carried toexcefs: too muck 
 
 refine- 
 
i 9 l THE LIFE Of 
 
 refinement will only give the greater fcope* 
 and advantage to evafion; and 'tis the 
 ufual misfortune of frequent alteration in 
 a plan once in the main well adjuftedj 
 that while it improves fome parts, it is at- 
 tended with unforefeen inconvenience in 
 others, perhaps, of greater confequencei 
 Something of this kind, I think, may be 
 obferved in one of the laft revifions which 
 Wykeham made of his ftatutes -, and that 
 in a point of confiderable importance, the 
 manner of election into his College at Ox-* 
 ford, which feems then to have been un- 
 happily altered for the worie. The me- 
 thod which he had eftablifhed at firfr, and 
 which was accordingly obferved, I belie ve^ 
 till the year 1393, was to fill up the va- 
 cancies of the preceding year by an annual 
 election 3 and that, in cafe before nine or 
 ten months of the current year were pari:, 
 there mould happen fix or more vacancies, 
 they were to be filled up by an interelecliioni 
 The only inconvenience of this method 
 was, that the Society would very often want 
 of its full complement of members; and 
 Wykeham was very unwilling, that any 
 part of his bounty mould ever lie dormant 
 and inactive. By making it a pre-elec- 
 tion, to fupply the vacancies immediately, 
 
 each 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 193 
 
 each as they mould fall in the year enfuing, 
 he effectually prevented this inconvenience ; 
 but at the fame time opened a door to 
 much greater inconveniences, to which the 
 new method has been found liable 7 ; to 
 the greater! poffible perverfion of his cha- 
 rity, a fhameful traffic between the Fel- 
 low of the College, that begins to fit loofe 
 to the Society, and the prefumptive fuc- 
 ceflbr; an abufe of which he was not 
 aware, the fimplicity and probity of that 
 age perhaps affording no example of 
 the like. The laws 8 of the Realm have 
 fince endeavoured to remedy all abufes of 
 this kind, but in vain ; nor is it perhaps 
 in the power of thofe, who are moil con- 
 cerned to do it, to prevent them in every 
 inftance : but it behoves all fuch to exert 
 their utmoft diligence and refolution in 
 putting an effectual flop to fo fcandalous 
 a practice, if they have any regard for the 
 honour of their Society, or for their own 
 reputation. 
 
 Wykeham endowed his College with 
 lands and effates, whofe revenues, at that 
 time, were fully fufficient for the fupport 
 of it, and amply fupplied all the ufes and 
 purpofes for which he defigned it: he pro- 
 
 » See Appendix. N° XIL 
 
 8 See Statute 31. Eliz. chap. 6. 
 
 O cured 
 
194 THE LIFE OF 
 
 cured a 7 Bulle of the Pope, confirming his 
 ftatutes, and exempting his College from all 
 jurifdiclion, Legatine, Archi-Epifcopal and 
 Epiicopal, except that of the Bifliop of 
 Wincherler : for by his ltatutes he had ap- 
 pointed his fucceffors the Biihops of Win- 
 chester to be the fole Vifitors of it, recom- 
 mending it to their protection and patron- 
 age. He himfelf, as long as he lived, che- 
 rifhed his young Society with all the care 
 and affection of a tender parent. He af- 
 filed 8 them with his directions in the ma- 
 nagement of all their affairs : he held fe- 
 veral vifitations of his College by his Com- 
 rnifiaries; namely, in the years 1385 9 , 
 1392 r , and 1400*. And from thence he 
 fupplied himfelf with men of learning and 
 abilities, whom he admitted to a more in- 
 timate attendance upon him, and by whom 
 he tranfacled all his bufinefs: fuch were 
 3 Nicholas Wykeham, John Elmer, John 
 
 7 In Archivis Regiitrarii Archidiaconatiis Winton. 
 Dated July 19, 130,8. 
 
 8 Rot. Comp. Coll. Nov. paffim. See Appendix, 
 N° IX. X and XI. 
 
 9 Regift. Wykeham, part. 3. b. fol. 74. 
 ■ Rot. Comp. Coll. Nov. hujus anni. 
 
 * Regift. Wykeham, part 3. b. fol. 182. 
 3 Regift. Wykeham, & Rot. Comp. Coll. Nov. 
 paffim. 
 
 and 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 195 
 
 and Robert Keton, Walter Aude, Simon 
 Membury, and others ; whom he rewarded 
 with ample preferments. 
 
 While the Bifhop was engaged in build- 
 ing his College at Oxford, he efrablifhed 
 in proper form his Society at Wincheiter. 
 His 4 Charter of foundation bears date 
 October the 20th, 1382, by which he no- 
 minates 5 Thomas de Cranle Warden, ad- 
 mits the Scholars, and gives his College the 
 fame name of ^tilUt iVtUXlt College Of 
 Wpntljt&tt* The next year after he 
 had finifhed his building at Oxford, lie 
 began that at Winchefier, for which he 
 6 had obtained both the Pope's and the 
 King's licence long before. A natural af- 
 fection and prejudice for the very place, 
 which he had frequented in his early days, 
 feems to have had its weight in determin- 
 
 4 Lib H. Coll. Wint. fol. 85. 
 
 5 He had been Fellow of Merton College; was- made 
 Warden of New College by the Founder, 1389 ; he w;;s 
 Chancellor of the Univerfity of Oxford ; made Arch- 
 bifhop of Dublin, 1.397 ; died '417. For a farther ac- 
 count of his uncommon endowments and abilities, fee 
 Ware de Prceful. Hibern. or Annals of li eland, in 
 Camden's Britannia, Edit.Gibfon, Appendix to Vol. 11 
 
 6 Lib. H. Coll. Wint. fol: 23 and 81. Note, tl 
 the Pope's Bulle of licence is dated June 1,1 378. The 
 King's was obtained, an. Richardi II. (to. Index Ro:. 
 Pat. Biblioth. Cotton. Titus, c. 3. 
 
 2 in ^ 
 
196 THELIFEOF 
 
 ing the fitnation of it : the fchool 6 , which 
 Wykeham went to when he was a boy, 
 was where his College now ftands. The 
 firfr. 7 flone was laid on March the 26th, 
 1387, at nine o'clock in the morning: it 
 took up fix years likewife in building, and 
 the Warden and Society made their folemn 
 entrance into it, chanting in proceflion, at 
 nine o'clock in the morning on March the 
 28th, 1393. The fchool had now fubfifted 
 near twenty years, having been opened at 
 Michaelmafs 1373. It was completely 
 eftablifhed from the firfl to its full num- 
 ber of feventy Scholars, and to all other 
 intents and purpofesj and continued all 
 along to furnifh the Society at Oxford 
 with proper fubjects by election. It was 
 at firit committed to the care of a Mat- 
 ter and Underm after only : in the year 
 1382, it was placed under the fuperior 
 government of a Warden. This was the 
 whole Society that made their formal en- 
 trance into it, as abovementioned. Till 
 the College was erected, they were pro- 
 vided with lodgings in the 8 parifh of St. 
 
 John 
 
 6 MS. Coll. Wint. 
 
 1 Trattat. in Vet.Regift. Coll. Wint. & Brev.Chron. 
 1 See Appendix, N° X. It is called the parifti of 
 
 St. John 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEH AM. 197 
 
 John upon the Hill. The 9 firft nomina- 
 tion of Fellows was made by the Founder 
 on the 20th of December, 1394. He no- 
 minated five only, tho' he had at that 
 time determined the number to ten. But 
 the Chapel was not yet quite finifhed j 
 nor was it ' dedicated and confecrated till 
 the middle of the next year : foon after 
 which, we may fuppofe, that the full num- 
 ber of Fellows, and of all other members 
 deligned to bear a more particular rela- 
 tion to the fervice of it, was completed 
 by him. The whole Society z confifts of 
 a Warden, feventy poor Scholars, to be 
 inftrucled in Grammatical learning, ten 
 fecular Priefls perpetual Fellows, three 
 Priefts Chaplains, three Clerks, and fixteen 
 Chorifters : and for the inftrucYion of the 
 Scholars, a Schoolmafter, and an Under- 
 m after or Ufher. 
 
 The ftatutes, which he gave to his Col- 
 lege at Winchefter, and which are referred 
 to in the Charter of Foundation, are as it 
 were the counterpart of thofe of his Col- 
 
 St. John Baptiftupon St. Giles's Hill, in Regift. Coll, 
 Wint. an. 1453. 
 
 » Regift. Wykeham, part 3 b. fol. 132. 
 
 a Statut. Coll. Wint. 
 
 O 3 lege 
 
198 THELIFEOF 
 
 lege at Oxford: he amended, improved, 
 and enlarged the former, by the fame fteps 
 as he had done the latter -, and he gave the 
 laft edition, and 3 received the oaths of 
 the feveral members of the Society to the 
 obfervance of them, by his CommifTaries 
 appointed for that purpofe, September the 
 9th, 1400. In this cafe he had no occa- 
 fion to make a particular provifion in con- 
 stituting a Viiitor of his College ; the fi- 
 tuation of it coincided with his defign, and 
 he left it under the Ordinary Jurifdiclion of 
 the Diocefan, the Bifhop of Wincheftcr. 
 Befides, he had here taken a farther precau- 
 tion for fecuring the due obfervance of his 
 ftatutes, by making his College at Win- 
 cheftcr fubordinate, as well in government 
 and difcipline, as in ufe and defign, to that 
 at Oxford. He placed the former under 
 the conftant care and infpeclion of the 
 latter, by appointing a folemn Vifitation 
 to be held there every year, by the Warden 
 of his fuperior College in conjunction with 
 two other Super vifors annually chofen out 
 of the Fellows of the fame College. 
 
 Wykeham enjoyed for many years the 
 pleafure, a pleafure the greateft to a good 
 
 3 Regifl. Wykeham, part 3. b. fol. 1S1. 
 
 and 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 199 
 
 and generous heart that can be enjoyed, of 
 feeing: the good effects of his own benefi- 
 cence, and receiving in tliem the proper 
 reward of his pious labours 3 of observing 
 his Colleges growing up under ruVeye, 
 and continually bringing forth thofe fruits 
 of virtue, piety, and learning, which he 
 had reafon to expect from them. They 
 continued ftill to rife in reputation, and 4 
 f arnifhed the Church and State with many 
 eminent and able men in all profeflions. 
 Not long after his death, one of his own 
 Scholars, whom he had himfelf feen edu- 
 cated in both his Societies, and raifed un- 
 der his infpection, and probably with his 
 favour and affiftance in conjunction with 
 his own great merits, to a 5 confiderable de- 
 gree of eminence, became an illuirrious 
 follower of his great example. This was 
 
 * " Non equidem fefellit opinio : nam inde, velutex 
 equo Trojano, viri omni tempore virtute excellentes 
 prodeunt." Polyd. Virgil. Ang Hid:, lib. xix. 
 " Neque Collegium quodvis aliud vel plures, vel ad 
 negotia turn facra turn civilia procuranda magis id- 
 oneos, in Eccleilam aut Rempublicam emififTe con- 
 ftat," A. Wood.- Hift. Univ. Oxon. Lib. II. p. 158. 
 5 " Venerabilis Vir Magifter Henricus Chichele, 
 L L D. CanonicusSarum. Reverendi in Chrifto Patris 
 domini Richardi Dei gratia Epifc Sarum. in remo-. 
 tis agentis Vicarius in Spiritualibus Generalis. Jun. 9, 
 j 398."— Regitt. Wjkeham, part 1. fol. 286. 
 
 O 4 Henry 
 
200 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Henry Chicheley, Archbifhop of Canter- 
 bury j who 6 , befides a Chantry and Hof- 
 pital, which he built at Higham-Ferrers, 
 the place of his birth, founded likewife All 
 Souls College in Oxford, for the mainte- 
 nance of forty Fellows (befides Chaplains, 
 Clerks, and Chorifters) who, according to 
 Wykeham's plan, are appointed, twenty- 
 four of them to the ftudy of Theology and 
 Philofophy, and the remaining fixteen to 
 that of the Canon and Civil Laws. He 
 gave a handfome teftimony of his affection, 
 efteem, and gratitude, towards the College 
 in which he had received his Academical 
 education, by a confiderable prefent, (123I. 
 6 s. and 8 d. to be a fund for loans to the 
 Fellows on proper occafions j) and by ap- 
 pointing Dr. Richard Andrews, one of that 
 Society, and with whom he had contracted 
 a perfonal acquaintance there, to be the 
 firfl Governor of his own College. 
 
 Shortly after this, Henry the Sixth foun- 
 ded his two Colleges of Eton and Cam- 
 bridge, intirely upon Wykeham's plan, 
 whofe flatutes he has tranfcribed without 
 any material alteration. While the King 
 
 6 A. Wood. Hift. Univ. Oxon. lib. 2. p, 172, &c. 
 Tanner. Notit. Monafr. p. 38 P, and 441. 
 
 was 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 201 
 
 was employed in this pious work, he 7 fre- 
 quently honoured Winchester College with 
 his prefence ; not only to teftify the favour 
 and regard which he bore to that Society, 
 but that he might alfo more nearly infpecl, 
 and perfonally examine, the laws, the {pi- 
 nt, the fuccefs, and good effects, of an in- 
 ftitution, which he propofed to himfelf for 
 a model. From hence it appears, that his 
 imitation of Wykeham's plan was not ow- 
 ing to a cafual thought of vhis own, or a 
 partial recommendation from another, or 
 an approbation founded only on common 
 report or popular opinion; but was the 
 refult of deliberate inquiry, of knowledge 
 and experience. He came to Winchefter 
 College five feveral times with this defign, 
 and was afterwards frequently there, during 
 his refidence for above a month at Win- 
 chefter, when the Parliament was held 
 there in the year 1449. He was always 
 received with all the honours and refpecl: 
 due to fo illuftrious a gueft, and as con^ 
 ftantly teftified his fatisfaclion by fome me- 
 morial of his good-will and affection to- 
 wards the Society. At one time, he made 
 
 7 See Appendix, N° XIII. 
 
 them 
 
202 THE LIFE OF 
 
 them a prefent of one hundred nobles to 
 adorn the high altar, with. 8 which was pur- 
 chafed a pair of large bafons of filver gilt : 
 at another, he gave his bed robe, fave one, 
 confuting of cloth of tiflue of gold and fur 
 of fables, which 9 was like wife applied to 
 the ufe of the Chapel : at others, he gave 
 a chalice of gold, two phials of gold, and 
 a tabernacle of gold, adorned l with pre- 
 cious ftcnes, and with the images of the 
 Holy Trinity, and the Blefled Virgin, of 
 Chryftall. He moreover confirmed and 
 enlarged the liberties and privileges, which 
 his Royal Predeceilbrs had granted to that 
 Society. 
 
 William a of Waynflete was Schoolmafter 
 of Winchefter College, at the time when 
 the King made his firft vifit, and had been 
 ib about eleven years: he had filled that 
 important poft with fuch ability, and had 
 executed his office with fuch diligence, judge- 
 ment, and fuccefs, that the King> to give 
 his new feminary the greateft advantage it 
 could poflibly have, that of an excellent 
 
 * Vet. Regift. Coll. Wint. 
 
 * Ibid. ! Ibid. 
 
 * Regift. Coll. Wint. 
 
 and 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 203 
 and approved inftructor, removed him next 
 year to the fame 5 employment at Eton. 
 He foon afterwards made him Provoff. of 
 Eton College y and then, by his recommen- 
 dation, Bifhop of Winchefter. Waynfiete 
 continued many years in this ftation, and 
 was thence enabled to become another ge- 
 nerous imitator of his great predeceflbr 
 Wykeham, in his 4 noble and ample foun- 
 dation of Magdalen College in Oxford. 
 He alfo paid New College, out of his efteem 
 for it, and refpecl to its Founder, (for he 
 had never been himfelf of that Society) the 
 compliment, of choofmg from thence Dr. 
 Richaid Mayew to be Prefident of his Col- 
 lege j and s of permitting his Fellows to 
 have an equal regard to the members of 
 the fame Society with thofe of their own, 
 in the choice of their Prelidents for the fu- 
 ture. 
 
 Having mentioned the fmgular honour 
 done to Winchefter College by the repeated 
 vihts of a Royal Gueft, I cannot wholly 
 pafs over fome diftinclions of the fame 
 
 3 Budden. in Vita Waynfieti. Parker, ad an. 1447. 
 * A. Wood. Hift. Univ. Oxon. lib. 2. p. 187, &c. 
 Tanner. Notit. Monaft. p. 441. 
 s Stetut. Coll. Magd. Oxon, 
 
 kind, 
 
20 4 THE LIFE OF 
 
 kind, as they happen to be recorded, 
 which Wykeham's other College received 
 in his lifetime ; and which were intended 
 as teflimonies of refpect to its Founder, as 
 well as of favour to the Society. About 
 6 the latter end of the year 1388, a 
 Great Council was held at Oxford, at 
 which the principal of the nobility affifted. 
 The New College, as it was called, was 
 at this time an object of curiofity ; it was 
 but lately finifhed, and was by much the 
 morl confiderable in its appearance of any 
 then extant : fo that 'tis no wonder, if the 
 great perfonages there afTembled expreffed 
 an inclination to fee it. Nicholas Wyke- 
 ham the Warden, either in compliance 
 with the Founder's general directions, or 
 more probably in obedience to his exprefs 
 orders on this occafion, took this oppor- 
 tunity of fending them an invitation to 
 his College, which was accepted ; and he 
 had the honour of entertaining the nobi- 
 lity with their attendants at his lodgings. 
 
 8 Rot. Comp. Coll. Nov. an. 1388-9.— " Et in 
 '* Expens. facl:. in Aula Cuitodis tempore Confilii Re- 
 " gis & aliorum Dominorum regni perMagifirum Nicho- 
 *' laum de Wykeham pro tunc cullod. pro diveriis Do- 
 •« minis & eorum famul. vi. 1, xiii. d." 
 
 But 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 205 
 
 But the 6 moft memorable compliment of 
 this kind was paid to that Society about 
 four years afterwards by the Duke of Lan- 
 cafter. He made a vifit to the College, 
 accompanied by four Knights, and a large 
 train of attendants j and was entertained 
 there, according 7 to the conftant ufage of 
 that time, with comfits, fpices, and wine. 
 I mention this the rather, as it is a proof, 
 that the Bifhop of Winchefter was at this 
 time upon very good terms with the Duke ; 
 as indeed he had been ever fince, as well as 
 before, the great difagreement, that hap- 
 pened between them at the end of Edward 
 the Third's time. We s find them, very 
 foon after this great quarrel, joining toge- 
 ther in a common fuit, in behalf of the 
 Dean and Chancellor of St. Paul's London, 
 and the Bifhop of London's Vicar General, 
 to the Archbifliop of Canterbury ; who had 
 publifhed a fevere fentence of deprivation 
 againft them for refilling his authority. 
 
 6 Rot. Comp. Coll. Nov. an. 1392-3. " Et in, 
 tc expenf. fa&. pro Domino Duce Lancaftr. cum iv. 
 " Militibus & aliis multis defamilia fua venient. ad Col- 
 " legium 13° die Feb. videlicet in 2 lib. de confecl. & 
 " i lib. draget. & 6 lagen. vini. vi. f. x. d." 
 
 7 FroifTart. paffim. 
 
 8 Parker. Antiq. Brit, ad an, I3 7 9. 
 
 c Nor 
 
2o6 T H E L I F E O F 
 
 Nor do there remain any indications, or 
 any the leaft traces, of ill-will fubfifting be- 
 tween them ever after. Their enmity was 
 occafional and political only, not perfonal ; 
 and when the caufe of it ceafed, like true 
 courtiers, they dropped their refentment, 
 and became good friends : I mean, as good 
 friends, as courtiers ulually are, and very 
 ready to pay one another, upon all com- 
 mon occafions, the mutual oflices of civi- 
 lity, attention, and refpect. 
 
 To proceed to Tome farther memorials 
 of Wykeham, in his Epifcopal capacity : 
 The Archbifhops of Canterbury and the 
 Abbots of St. Auflin's in the fame city in- 
 terfered very much with one another in 
 their fituation and privileges ; and it was 
 not to be expected, that two fuch great 
 perfonages, in fuch circumftances, fhould 
 ever be good neighbours. The confrant 
 jealoufy that arofe from hence was in ef- 
 fect the caufe of frequent ciifputes between 
 them : the Archbifhops watched every op- 
 portunity of eftabliming a difputed power j 
 and the Abbots were always upon their 
 guard again ft all attempts from that quar- 
 ter. In 9 the year 1380, Sudbury Arch- 
 
 9 W. Thorn. Chronica apud X Scriptores, col. 2155. 
 
 bifliop 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 207 
 
 bifhop of Canterbury had a mind to afTert 
 his authority over the Abby, as Legate by 
 office of the Holy See, tho' it was exempt 
 from his Archiepifcopal jurifdiction : he 
 pretended to make a vifit of devotion to the 
 bodies of the faints buried there, and was 
 coming thither robed in his Pontificals, and 
 with the Crofs carried before him. Mi- 
 chael Peckham the Abbot, alledging, in 
 defence of the priviledge and exemption of 
 his Abby, that he had no right to come 
 thither in fuch form and without permif- 
 fion, (hut the gates againfr him j and placed 
 a guard of armed men there to refill him, 
 if he fhould attempt to enter by force. Here 
 was matter enough for a long and violent 
 contention : the Archbifhop made his com- 
 plaint to the Pope of the injury and af- 
 front offered him, and the Abbot on the 
 other hand pleaded the rights and immu- 
 nities of his Abby. The Pope referred the 
 whole matter to Wykeham, and by his 
 Bulle gave him full powers to judge in the 
 caufe, to cite all perfons, however privi- 
 ledged and exempted, and to give fentence 
 in it, which was to be final and without ap- 
 peal. Wykeham feems to have been very 
 properly chofen upon this occafion, as one 
 6 to 
 
2 o8 THE LIFE OF 
 
 to whom neither party was like to have any 
 exception, as judge or mediator in the dis- 
 pute : the Archbifhop could have no dif- 
 truft of one of his brethren ; and no Bi- 
 ihop would probably have been more agree- 
 able to the Abbot, than the perfon from 
 1 whofe hands, by the Pope's permiflion, 
 and at his own requeft, he had received 
 the folemn benediction on his promotion 
 to that great dignity. But he had too 
 much experience and caution to be over- 
 hafty in proceeding in fo delicate an affair, 
 in which the mofl prudent and upright 
 arbitrator could only expect to reap offence 
 and ill-will from one or other, or perhaps 
 both the parties. However, the miferable 
 fate of the poor Archbifhop, who about 
 the middle of the next year was murdered 
 by the rebels on Towerhill, prevented all 
 difficulties of this kind, and put an end to 
 the whole difpute for the prefent. My 
 author, an honeft Monk, at that very time 
 one of the fraternity of St. Auftin's, and 
 no doubt a vehement flickler for the pri- 
 vileges of his houfe, feems to think his Ab- 
 bot was endowed with the gift of prophe- 
 
 1 Regiftr. Wykeham. part i, fol. 65. W. Thorn, 
 ibid. col. 21 5 1. 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 209 
 
 cy, in his anfvver to fome threatenings of 
 the Archbifhop ; and pioufly fuppofes, that 
 the Prelate's unhappy end was a judgement 
 from heaven, inflicted on him by the faints 
 and patrons of the Monaflery, exerting 
 themfelves in defence of God's fervants. 
 
 In 2 the year 1382 the Bifhops and Cler- 
 gy began to be greatly alarmed at the pro- 
 grefs, which Wickliff's principles and doc- 
 trines were daily making, and efpecially 
 in the Univerfity of Oxford. Several Pro- 
 feffors and Doctors, of the fir/l diftinction 
 for learning there, began to defend and 
 maintain them in the fchools, and to preach 
 them publicly ; and in fo doing were open- 
 ly encouraged and fupported by the coun- 
 tenance of the magiflrates of the Univerfity, 
 and particularly by the authority of the 
 Chancellor Dr. Robert Rygge. 
 
 Courtney 3 Archbifnop of Canterbury 
 thought it high time to inquire into this 
 matter, and to take proper meafures for 
 putting a flop to this growing feci : for 
 this purpofe, and to give all poflibie weight 
 and folemnity to his proceedings, he fum- 
 
 a A. Wood. Hift. Univ. Oxon. lib. I. p. 190. Fox, 
 Vol. 1. p. 407. 
 
 3 Wilkins Concil. Mag. Brit, Vol, 3, p. 157, &c. 
 P moned 
 
2io THE LIFE OF 
 
 moned to his afliftance fome of his brethren 
 the Bifhops, and feveral other Doctors in 
 Divinity and Laws ; all of them perfons 
 moil eminent for their fkili and learning, 
 and foundnefs in religion. They met at 
 the Black Friars London, and having ex- 
 amined the conclufions reported to have 
 been maintained by thefe Preachers, un- 
 animoufly condemned them, fome as he- 
 retical, others as erroneous. This deter- 
 mination the Archbifhop fent down to 
 Oxford, ordering at the fame time the 
 Chancellor to affift at the publifhing, by 
 the Bedel of the Faculty of Divinity, this 
 folemn condemnation of WicklifFs tenets. 
 The Chancellor not only refufed to obey 
 the Archbiihop's mandate, on pretence that 
 it was an infringement of the privileges of 
 the Univerfity, but threatened to oppofe 
 by force any one, that fhould attempt to 
 publifh. the articles of condemnation. Ac- 
 cordingly he got a confiderable number of 
 the party, armed, as it was faid, under 
 their gowns, to attend him j and by this 
 means fo intimidated the Archbifhop's 
 agents, that no one dared to move in it. 
 Dr. Philip Repyngdon, at this time the 
 moft ftrenuous and the moft able defender 
 
 of 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 211 
 
 of WicklifPs caufe, (tho' foon afterwards 
 he recanted, and, being made Bifhop of 
 Lincoln, became the moft vehement op- 
 pofer and perfecutor of it) had given out 
 beforehand, that he would maintain Wick- 
 liff's doctrines in his fermon at St. Fridef- 
 wyd's on the feafl of Corpus Chrifti j and 
 he did not fail to anfwer the expectation he 
 had raifed. The Chancellor, who had ap- 
 pointed him to preach, was prefent, and 
 being furrounded by a guard of his party, 
 protected him from all interruption and, 
 infult ; and afterwards openly received him 
 with marks of approbation, and returned 
 him thanks. The Archbifhop, upon re- 
 port made to him of thefe particulars, cited 
 the Chancellor to appear before him. The 
 Chancellor obeyed, and came before the 
 Archbifhop, and his Synod of Bifhops and 
 Doctors, once more folemnly convened at 
 the Black Friars. 
 
 The Bifiiop of Winchefter affifted at 
 each of thefe Aflemblies, and was, after 
 the Archbifhop, the principal perfon there. 
 What fhare he took in the management of 
 this affair, or- with what fpirit he acted in 
 it, does not at all appear from any authen- 
 tic evidence, except in this one circum- 
 P 2 fiance: 
 
212 THE LIFE OF 
 
 fiance : that 4 when the Chancellor made 
 his fubmifiion to the Archbifhop, and beg- 
 ged pardon for his offence, the Bifhop of 
 Winchefter ftrenuoufly interceded for him, 
 and with much difficulty procured his 
 peace j upon which the Archbifliop was fa- 
 tisfied with reprimanding him for what 
 was paft, and giving him a fevere admo- 
 nition with regard to his behaviour for 
 the future. It fhould feern from hence, 
 that Wykeham was inclined to mild and 
 gentle methods of proceeding in this im- 
 portant and delicate buhnefs : but the 
 Bifhops in general were not in the fame 
 way of thinking ; contrary meafures were 
 purfued ; the Wickliffifts were perfecuted 
 and difperfed - } the feeds of the Reformation 
 were fown more widely, and the harvefr, 
 by being delayed, became the more plen- 
 tiful. 
 
 A great 5 quarrel happened this year 
 between the Priory of St. Fridefwyd and 
 the Univerfity of Oxford, on occafion of 
 the latter's encroaching upon certain rights 
 and privileges of the former. The King, 
 upon frequent complaints made to him by 
 
 *■ A. Wood. & Fox, ibid. 
 
 3 A. Wood. Hiit. Univ. Oxon lib. i. p. 189. 
 
 the 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 213 
 
 the Priory, interpofed more than once with 
 his authority, by writs directed to the 
 Univerfity, forbidding all fuch encroach- 
 ments j but without effect. Upon which he 
 gave a 6 commiffion to the Bifliop of Win- 
 chefter and fix others, to inquire into the 
 merits of the caufe, and to determine it 
 finally. The Commiffioners gave judge- 
 ment in favour of the Priory, and the Uni- 
 verfity fubmitted to their decifion. 
 
 The Bifliop 7 of Winchefter was likewife 
 one of four Commifiloners appointed by 
 the King to judge in a difpute that had 
 arifen among the fellows of Oriel College, 
 on occafion of the election of a Provoft in 
 the year 1385; which was happily com- 
 pofed by their interpofition. 
 
 In 8 the year 1393, Wykeham held a 
 fourth Vifitation of the Monaftery of his 
 Cathedral Church of Winchefter. The 
 principal objects of his inquiry at this 
 time were, the ftate and condition of the 
 Fabrick ; and that of the Society, both in 
 refpect of the number of members, and 
 
 6 MS. Rymer. R. 2. Vol. 2. N° 64. dated Nov. 18. 
 an. reg. 6. 
 
 7 A. Wood. Hift. Univ. Oxon. Lib. 1. p. 194. 
 
 8 MS. Harleian. N°328, fol. 12, &c. 
 
 P 3 the 
 
214 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the proper fupply of provifions allotted to 
 them. The Convent had in former times 
 confided of fixty Monks, but was now re- 
 duced to forty-fix i and thefe were but 
 fcantily ferved with provifions : for the 
 Priors had for fome time converted to their 
 own ufe the profits of certain eftates, which 
 were appropriated to the necelfary fupport 
 of the Monks ; and this had been the occa- 
 fion of much diffenfion between them and 
 their fuperior. The Bifhop by his Injunc- 
 tions orders, that the number of Monks 
 be increafed to fixty, as foon as may be; 
 and that the Prior, for the time being, 
 pay yearly out of his profits 40 1. towards 
 their due fupport: upon which confidera- 
 tion the Monks renounce all farther claim 
 upon him. What fuccefs the Bifhop might 
 have in his endeavours to reftore peace to 
 the fociety, we cannot fay : but his defign 
 of augmenting it to the ancient number, 
 for which indeed he had given general or- 
 ders in his former injunctions, feems frill 
 to have been ineffectual j for at the time 
 of his death we find 9 it was reduced flill 
 lower, to the number of forty-two Monks. 
 
 * Leger-book of the Church of Wint. N° 1. fol. 20. 
 
 The 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 215 
 
 The other objecl: of his inquiry prov- 
 ed a matter of no lefs difficulty. The 
 Fabrick of the Church was greatly out 
 of repair, and the eftates allotted to that 
 ufe were very infufficient for it. The 
 Bifhop ordered, that the Prior for the 
 time being, mould pay 100I. a year for 
 feven years enfuing, and the Subprior and 
 Convent 100 marks in like manner, for 
 this fervice -, over and above the profits of 
 all eftates fo allotted, and all gifts and le- 
 gacies. Whether it were that their reve- 
 nues proved unequal to fuch a burthen ; 
 or that the neceflary repairs required a 
 much larger fupplyj or that the Bifhop 
 was not fatisfied with providing for a re- 
 pair only, and what was merely neceflary ; 
 we find, that foon after he relieved the 
 Prior and Convent from the whole charge, 
 and with his ufual generofity took it intirely 
 upon himfelf. 
 
 For having about this time almoft finifh- 
 ed his College at Winchefrer, he began to 
 be at liberty to look out for fome new ob- 
 jecl of his munificence, which he never 
 could fuffer long to continue vacant 
 and unemployed: and he foon deter- 
 mined to undertake the repair, or ra- 
 P 4 ther 
 
2 i6 THE LIFE OF 
 
 ther the rebuilding, of great part of his 
 Cathedral Church, The ' whole fabrick 
 then ftanding was erected by Bilhop 
 Walkelin, who began it in the year 1079. 
 It was of the z Saxon architecture, not great- 
 ly differing from the Roman ; with round 
 pillars, much flronger than Doric or Tuf- 
 can, or fquare piers adorned with fmall 
 pillars -, round-headed arches and windows ; 
 and plain walls on the outfide without 
 buttrefTes : as appears by the crofs-ifle and 
 tower which remain of it to this day. The 
 nave of the Church had been for fome time 
 in a bad condition : 3 Bifnop Edyngdon 
 undertook to repair it in the latter part of 
 his time, and by his will ordered his exe- 
 cutors to finifh what he had begun. And, 
 whether in purfuance of his defign, and 
 by his benefaction, or otherwife, it appears, 
 4 that in the year 1371, fome work of this 
 kind was carrying on at a great expence. 
 
 1 Tho. Rudborne apud Wharton. Ang. Sacr. Vol. 1, 
 p. 294, 295. Vid. etiam p. 256, 285. W. Malmef- 
 bury. 
 
 z Sir Chriftopher Wren's Hiftorical account of Wefr- 
 rnmftcr Abby, in a Letter to Bifhop Atterbury. See 
 Wren's i arentalia, or Widmore's Hift. of Weftminfter 
 Abby. 
 
 3 Wharton. Ang. Sacr. Vol. 1. p. 317. 
 
 * Regift. Wykeham. part 3. a. fol. 47. 
 
 1 However^ 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 217 
 
 However, Wykeham, upon due confidera- 
 tion and furvey, found it either fo decayed 
 and infirm, or elfe fo mean in its appear- 
 ance, and fo much below the dignity of 
 one of the firfl Epifcopal fees in the king- 
 dom, that he determined to take down 
 the whole from the Tower weft ward, and 
 to rebuild it both in a ftronger and more 
 magnificent manner. This great work he 
 undertook in the year 1394, 5 and entered 
 upon it the beginning of the next year, 
 upon the following 6 conditions, ftipulated 
 between him and the Prior and Convent ; 
 who acquit the Bifhop of all obligation to 
 it, and acknowledge it as proceeding from 
 his mere liberality, and zeal for the ho- 
 nour of God : They agree to find the whole 
 fcaffolding necefTary for the work ; they give 
 the Bimop free leave to dig and to carry 
 away chalk and fand from any of their 
 lands, as he fhall think mod: convenient 
 and ufeful for the fame purpofe j and they 
 allow the whole materials of the old build- 
 ing to be applied to the ufe of the new. 
 
 5 " Novam fabricam [Ecclefiae Wynton.] incepit die 
 *' Mercurii prox. poft feftum omnium San&orum anno 
 *' regni Regis Richardi II. xvm. & anno confecrationis 
 " difti Patris xxviii." MS. Coll. Wint. 
 
 6 Leger-book of Winchester Church, N° i. fol. 18. 
 & Appendix, N° XVII. 
 
 He 
 
2i8 THE LIFE OF 
 
 He employed William Winford as Archi- 
 tect : Simon Membury was appointed fur- 
 veyor of the work on the Bifhop's part, 
 and John Wayte, one of the Monks, con- 
 troller on the part of the Convent. As the 
 Church of Winchefter is fituated in low 
 ground, which, without great precaution 
 and expence, affords no very fure founda- 
 tion for fo weighty a ftructure, Wykeham 
 thought it fafeff. to confine himfelf to the 
 plan of the former building, and to make ufe 
 of a foundation already tried, and fubject 
 to no hazard. He even chofe to apply to 
 his purpofe fome part of the lower order 
 of pillars of the old Church, though his 
 defign was in a different ftyle of archi- 
 tecture j that which we commonly call 
 Gotliic, with pointed arches and windows, 
 without key-ftones, and pillars confirming 
 of an aiTemblage of many fmall ones clofe- 
 ly connected together j but 7 which is more 
 properly Saracen, for fuch was its origin : 
 the Crufades gave us an idea of this form 
 of architecture, which afterwards prevailed 
 throughout Europe. The pillars or piers 
 of the old building, which he made ufe 
 
 7 Sir Chriftopher Wren, ibid , 
 
 of, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 219 
 
 of, were about fixteen feet in height ; of 
 the fame form with thofe in the eaft fide of 
 the northern Crofs-ifle : thefe he carried 
 up higher, according to the new defign, 
 altering their form, but retaining their 
 flrength, and adopting them as a firm ba- 
 lls for his own work. The new pillars are 
 nearly equal in bulk to the old ones ; and 
 the intercolum nation remains much the 
 fame. Thefe circumftances, in which {la- 
 bility and fecurity were very wifely in the 
 firft place confulted, have been attended 
 however with fome inconveniences; as it 
 feems owing to them, that this building 
 has not that lightnefs and freedom, and 
 that elegance of proportion, which might 
 have been expected from Wykeham's known 
 tafte in architecture, and from the ftyle 
 and manner of his other works in this 
 kind -, of which we have evident examples 
 in the Chapels of both his Colleges, efpe- 
 cially in the weftern part of that of New- 
 College in Oxford, which is remarkably 
 beautiful. To the farther difadvantage of 
 its prefent appearance, an alteration, which 
 could not then be forefeen, has (ince hap- 
 pened. At that time the buildings of the 
 Monaftery covered the whole fouth fide of 
 
 the 
 
220 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the Church, fo that it feemed needlefs to 
 be at a great expence upon ornaments 
 in that part, which was like to be for ever 
 concealed. By the demolition of the Mo- 
 naftery this fide is now laid open, and dif- 
 covers a defect of buttreflesand pinnacles, 
 with which the north fide, which was then 
 the only one in view, is properly furnifhed. 
 Another alteration of the fame kind has 
 been made in the infide, and with the like 
 effect : immediately before the entrance of 
 the Choir flood the Veftry, which extend- 
 ing from fide to fide of the Nave, pre- 
 vented the intire conformation of thofe 
 pillars, againft which it refted, to the 
 new defign, but at the fame time con- 
 cealed the irregularity : in the time of 
 Charles the Firit this was pulled down, 
 and the prefent beautiful fkreen, the work 
 of Inigo Jones, was erected -, but no care 
 was taken, by an eafy and obvious altera- 
 tion, to correct a deformity, which was 
 then uncovered, and ftill continues to dis- 
 grace the building, in a part, which of all 
 others is the moil frequently expofed to 
 observation. However, with all its defects, 
 which appear thus to be owing partly to 
 an accidental and unforefeen change of 
 
 circum- 
 
WILLIAM OF WVKEHAM. 221 
 
 circumftances, partly to the care of avoid- 
 ing greater inconveniences, there is no 
 fabrick of its kind in England, after thofe 
 of York and Lincoln, which excells this 
 part of the Cathedral Church of Winchefter, 
 in greatnefs, ftatelinefs, and majefty. This 
 great pile took up about ten years in erec- 
 ting, and 8 was but juft finimed when the 
 Bifhop died. He 9 had provided in his will 
 for the intire completion of his defign by 
 his executors in cafe of his death; and 
 allotted 2500 marks for what then remained 
 to be done, befides 500 marks for the glafs 
 windows : this was about a year and a half 
 before it was finifhed ; by which fome fort of 
 eftimate may be made of the whole expence. 
 
 8 " Quod quidem opus feliciter confummavit." TraC- 
 tat. in Vet. Regift. Coll. Wint. See alfo Appendix, 
 N° XVI. But the article of agreement between the 
 Bimop and the Convent, dated Auguft 16, 1404, fup- 
 pofes it at that time not quite finilhed. Leger-book Ch. 
 of Winchefter, N° I. fol 18. 
 
 9 See Appendix, N 9 XVII, 
 
 THE 
 
\ 222 J 
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 O F 
 WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 
 
 SECTION VII. 
 
 Civil affairs during the latter part of the 
 Reign of Richard the Second. 
 
 WE have feen the part, which the Bi- 
 fhop of Winchefter had hitherto 
 acted under Richard II : not wholly retiring 
 from civil affairs, nor forward to engage in 
 them; ready to give his afliftance in the 
 public fervice, whenever it was demanded ; 
 prompted to it by duty to his country, not 
 incited by any private interefts, or am- 
 bitious views of his own. He main- 
 tained 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 223 
 
 tained the fame conduct, and the fame 
 referve, throughout this whole reign ; but 
 could not avoid being borne away by the 
 tide of public bufinefs, farther than his own 
 inclination or judgement would have car- 
 ried him in times of fo great danger and 
 difficulty. Two parties began now to di- 
 vide the nation j and, as it ufually hap- 
 pens, the bounds of moderation were little 
 obferved on either fide. The King was 
 wholly pofferTed by a let of favourites and 
 flatterers, intent upon their own views of 
 avarice and ambition, and totally regard- 
 lefs of their mailer's honour or the good 
 of the public. The chief of thefe were, 
 Robert de Vere Earl of Oxford, created 
 by him Marquefs of Dublin and Duke of 
 Ireland : a young man of no abilities, nor 
 any other merit, than that of a grace- 
 ful perfon, and an unlimited compli- 
 ance with the King's humour. Michael 
 de la Pole, made earl of Suffolk and Chan- 
 cellor : a man of excellent parts and fine 
 natural endowments; but who had not, 
 either by nobilitv of birth or dignity of cha- 
 racter, fufficient credit and authority for 
 the ffation, to which he was raifed ; nor 
 any other principle, than that of ufing all 
 
 means 
 
224 THE-LIFE OF 
 
 means whatever of eflablifhing his fortune 
 by cultivating the King's favour and par- 
 tiality towards him. Alexander Nevil 
 Archbifhop of York, and Sir Simon Bur- 
 ley : both men of credit and capacity, and 
 the latter a fervant of the late Prince of 
 Wales, and placed by him near his fon's 
 perfon ; but neither of them had the cou- 
 rage or honefty to make life of his influ- 
 ence and authority, which was very great 
 with the young King, in giving him pro- 
 per advice, and checking him in his ex- 
 ceffes. The King himfelf was of that 
 eafy and complying temper, which laid 
 him open to the practices of infinuation 
 and flattery, and rendered him wholly fub- 
 fervient to the will of thofe, who had gained 
 his affections. As he had no great inclina- 
 tion, fo neither was he encouraged or fuf- 
 fered by his favourites, to apply himfelf to 
 public affairs : he purfued nothing but his 
 pleafures -, he loved feafting and jollity, the 
 company of the fprightlieft young men 
 and the gayeft ladies of his court - 3 he was 
 immoderately fond of pomp and (hew \ a 
 
 multitude 
 
 1 " Fertur tamen quod inter alias hujus mundi divi- 
 *' tias fecit fibi fieri imam tunicam de perillis & aliis 
 
 lapidibus 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 225- 
 multitude of attendants, and extravagance 
 of every fort in his way of living. His 
 * Court was the moft fplendid and mag- 
 nificent of all of that time ; and the {land- 
 ing expence of his houfhold far exceeded 
 what it had ever been in any preceding 
 reign. It is faid \ that the retainers to 
 
 the 
 
 c « lapidibus preciofis & auro ex propria ordinatione 
 " fadlam ad 30,000 marcarum in valorem appreciatam." 
 Monach. Evefham. in Vita R di . 2 di . p. 156. Edit. 
 Hearn. 
 
 a Froiflart. 
 
 3 John Hardyng, who may be reckoned a contempo- 
 rary writer, (for he fays, that he himfelf fuv the earth- 
 quake in the year 1382,) gives the following account of 
 Richard the Second's Court, upon the information of 
 one that was an officer in it. 
 
 Cretoty 3 IjerOe l&obert 3l&eiefc faie 
 Clerfee of tlje ffreneclotfj, tijat to ttjc IjottfrljolOe 
 Come eoen> oaie Cor moltc partie annate 
 %tix tljoufahoe folfcc lie Ijtsi mefetf roloe 
 •^Hjat t'olloVoeO tlje Ijottfeljeloe ate as tijcp loolae, 
 #n0 in t(je livccljpn tljrc Ijtmoretlj fedjptottrg 
 &nU tn eclj nfixtz manp occuptourgf* 
 
 jatiH laotes faicr toi'tl) tl>eire ryentle toomcit, 
 Cbambrertf alto ano urbenoertf, 
 ^Ijre Ijunoretlj toere accounted of tljepm rljeiu 
 Uljer toaCe gccte pn'oe amomje tlje officers 
 #110 otiec all men fer paifpnsje tljcir? comperss 
 £Df ticlje prate ano mucjje mere cofttoufc 
 'SHjan toare before or fit!) ana more pratottft. 
 
 Q, fpomen. 
 
226 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the court, fuch as daily reforted thither, 
 and had tables provided for .them there, 
 amounted to ten thoufand perfons. There 
 were three hundred fervants in the kitchen j 
 and every other office was furnifhed in the 
 like proportion. The courtiers ftudied to 
 pleafe the King's tafle, and gave into an ex- 
 penfivenefs of equipage and drefs, that ex- 
 ceeded all bounds : the example had an uni- 
 verfal influence, and vanity and profufe- 
 nefs foon became the prevailing humour of 
 the nation. Though the people were 
 pleafed at firfl with the fplendid appearance 
 of the court, and were ready enough to run 
 into the fame fpirit of extravagance -, yet 
 as foon as they felt the neceflary confequence 
 
 i>otmrt ana grom^ in clotfe of ftia arratefc 
 S>atepn anU Uamagfce in ooblettesano inptonc£ 
 3jit clotf) of grapne atto tffcarlett for unpaid) 
 Cutt Voerfee toat'egrete botlj in courte anti totones 
 pBotlje in men0 5oDDe0 anD alfo in tljcic gatemcs*] 
 ©rotofcroure an& furred golDcfmptl) tosru aie iictoc 
 3|n many Xnitz eel) Haie tljep Dice rmttoe* 
 ************ 
 
 (fete tare tlje %$n%z aie tofce tljrugl) all tlje tonne 
 5For tohjclje comong Ijpm tjatefc free aim bonoe, 
 
 Hardyng's Chronicle. MS. Harleian. N° 66 1. fol. 
 150. 
 
 * This verfe wanting in MS : fupplied from Grafton's 
 Edition. 
 
 Of 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 227 
 
 of it upon themfelves, in a new burthen 
 of taxes, continually increafing, and ren- 
 dered ftill more burthenfome as they them- 
 felves grew lefs frugal, they began to mur- 
 mur againfl the King, to withdraw their 
 affection from him by degrees, and at laft 
 to hate him. No vice whatever can be in- 
 fignificant, and of little importance, in 
 Princes : even their levities and indifcre- 
 tions have often the mofr. pernicious effects 
 with regard to their Subjects, and are of 
 the raoft fatal confequence to themfelves. 
 
 The party that oppofed the court was 
 headed by the Duke of Glocefter, the young- 
 eft of the King's uncles. He was a man 
 of confiderable abilities, and great fpirit 
 and resolution; active, bold, and vehe- 
 ment; eafily fired, and incapable of dif- 
 fembling his opinions or his refentments. 
 He feems to have had the honour of the 
 nation, and the public good, fincerely at 
 heart; but failed of attaining his ends, by 
 purfuing them with too much violence ; 
 by the impetuofity of his temper he drove 
 the King to extremities, when more gentle 
 methods might have fucceeded better both 
 for himfelf and his country. His bro- 
 thers, the Dukes of Lancafter and York, 
 Q^ may 
 
228 THE LIFE OF 
 
 may properly be accounted of the fame 
 party : but the former was often abfent in 
 purfuit of his own foreign interefts, and 
 it was always in the King's power to gain 
 him by a proper bait thrown out to his 
 ambition : the latter ? was of an indolent 
 difpofition, a lover of pleafure, and averfe 
 to bufinefs ; eafily prevailed upon to lie ftill 
 and confult his own quiet, and never act- 
 ing with fpirit upon any occafion. The 
 
 ^Ijat Ctmtontie fn'gljt of lanplep of goose cljece 
 (Blaoe atiti merp ano oHjig oton aie lebeo 
 (Lfiiit&outgn torotijje as. cljronpclerg Ijatie lirefoeD. 
 
 m\)sn alt lot&cg toent to cotmfels anO f>arle^ 
 ment, 
 #e txioltjc to tjimtxs; ants alfo to fjauftpnire 
 #U gcntilneg Oifportc tljat mprtf) appcnt 
 "i?e uteo aic anU to tlje poor ftipportpmre 
 tLfllfjer £ticc tjt toafe in anp place iuDimjje 
 Mtttljoute tttpprife or atu> ettoccion 
 £§£ tlje poratle or anv> oppcefliom 
 
 * * * * * * * * # * * # # 
 
 'Sljc IStynp tljan maoe tlje 2Dufce of gorfce lie 
 name 
 .Qdaifter of tlje Sl^eVoeljoufe ants of Ijauto feire 
 TO ffe Scnetle auij maflter of lji£ game 
 '^|h vMjatt cwitcafe tljat tjs Oi'De repcice 
 ^fiij]^cl;e toafe.to Ijgtn toitjjoute ang tufrieice 
 cOlcil more comfortc ano a grsttcr glhbcneg l 
 tEPH been a lortie of toorloei? pete ttcljesu 
 
 Ibid. fol. 147. 
 King 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 229 
 
 King was always jealous of his uncles ; dur- 
 ing his minority, of the Duke of Lancaf- 
 ter chiefly ; afterwards of the Duke of Glo- 
 cefter : and the nation at firft feems to 
 have been in the fame difpofition towards 
 them; for the Parliament never trufted 
 them with the King's education, nor with 
 the care of his perfon, and fcarcely with 
 any mare in the public adminiflration, fo 
 far as feemed properly due to their great 
 quality, ftation, and influence ; and it was 
 manifeflly the intereft of the favourites to 
 concur with both in excluding them intirely. 
 The other leaders of the popular party 
 were, Henry of Bolingbroke Earl of Derby, 
 the Duke of Lancafler's fon ; the Earl of 
 Arundel, with his brother the Biihop of 
 Ely; the Earls of Nottingham, and War- 
 wick •, the principal noblemen of the king- 
 dom for their power, credit, and abili- 
 ties. 
 
 The King's extravagance, and the greedi- 
 nefs of his courtiers, kept him always needy 
 and dependent. The murmurs of the 
 people, and the complaints in Parliament 
 of mifmanagement of the revenue, and of 
 the expence of the King's houfhold, had 
 never ceafed from almofl the beginning of 
 Q^3 his 
 
230 THE LIFE OF 
 
 his reign 5 and fo far were they from being 
 effectually redrefTed, that the grounds and 
 caufes of them were continually increafmg. 
 A conjuncture now offered, that gave the 
 Parliament an opportunity of exerting it- 
 felf with more advantage, and calling the 
 minifters and favourites to a fevere ac- 
 count. In 4 the fummer of the year 1386 
 the French had made vafr. preparations for 
 an invafion of England -, a great army was 
 immediately raifed for the defence of the 
 kingdom, and a Parliament was called in 
 the beginning of October, to fiipport the 
 neceflary expences on this occafion. The 
 Earl of Suffolk, Chancellor, opened the Par- 
 liament by demanding a very large fupply : 
 the Parliament made no anfvver to this de- 
 mand, but addrelTed the King to remove 
 the Chancellor and Treafurer from their 
 offices'. The King received this addrefs 
 with great indignation, and returned a 
 moll: haughty anfwer to it ; and to fhevv 
 how little inclined he was to countenance 
 the defigns formed againfl his minifters, or 
 to concur with the Parliament in their pro- 
 ceedings, he withdrew to his palace at 
 
 + Knyghton inter X fcriptores. T. Walfingham. 
 
 Eltham. 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 231 
 
 Eltham. After feveral meflages had pafled 
 between them to no purpofe, the Parlia- 
 ment at lafr. fent to him his uncle the Duke 
 of Gioceflcr and Arundel Bifhop of Ely, 
 who fo openly declared to him the refolu- 
 tion of the Parliament, and the ill confe- 
 rences which his proceedings might have 
 with regard to himfelf, that he thought 
 proper to return to Weftminfter, and to 
 comply with all their defires. The s Chan- 
 cellor, the Treafurer, and the Keeper of 
 the Privy Seal, were removed from their 
 offices; and by petition of the Lords 
 and Commons, Arundel Bifhop of Ely, 
 John Gilbert Bifhop of Hereford, and John 
 de Waltham, were put in their places. 
 The Chancellor was impeached by the 
 Commons; the grants which he had ob- 
 tained of the King were reverfed ; and he 
 was adjudged to be imprifoned and* ran- 
 fomed at the King's pleafure. 
 
 The Parliament having obtained thus 
 much, and being now delivered from the 
 apprehenfions of the French invafion, 
 which had mifcarried, were refolved to 
 proceed to a thorough reformation of all 
 
 * Rot. Pad. 10. R. 2. 
 
 0.4 the 
 
232 THE LIFE OF 
 
 the abufes fo long complained of in yain. 
 They 6 reprefent to the King, that the pro- 
 fits and revenues of the kingdom, by the 
 infufficient counfel and ill management of 
 his officers and others about his perfon, 
 have been fo confirmed, alienated, and 
 mifapplied, that neither his ftate and houf- 
 hold can be honourably fupported, nor 
 the wars for the defence of the kingdom 
 maintained, without intolerable opprellion 
 of the people : they therefore petition, that 
 certain Lords and others, whom they name, 
 may be of his great council, together with 
 the three great Officers, with powers to 
 view and examine the ftate of the realm, 
 to remedy all abufes, and to redrefs all 
 grievances. The King, in compliance with 
 this requeft, iflues a commiffion under his 
 great leal, conftituting the Archbifhops of 
 Canterbury and York, the Dukes of York 
 and Glocefter, the Bifhops of Winchefter 
 and Exeter, the Abbot of Waltham, the 
 Earl of Arundel, the Lords Cobham, le 
 Scrope, and Devereux, to be of his great 
 and continual Council for one year, in 
 aid of the good government of the king- 
 
 « Rot. Pari. 10. R 2. Knyghton. Col. 2686. Regift. 
 Wykeham, part 3. b. foj. 83. 
 
 dom, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 233 
 
 dom, for the due execution of the laws, 
 and the relief of the Hate of the King and 
 his people. They are inverted with full 
 powers to furvey and examine the eftate 
 and government of his whole kingdom, 
 his courts and houfhold, and the behavi- 
 our of all his officers of what degree foever ; 
 to inquire into the Hate of his revenues 
 of all forts, to examine into all kinds of 
 grants and alienations, of fees and rewards, 
 in his grandfather's time as well as his 
 own j to enter his courts, to cite perfons, 
 and order records to be produced, to hear 
 complaints, and to take informations, as 
 to all thefe and the like matters -, and to 
 correct, amend, fully execute, and finally 
 determine, every thing, as it fhall feem befl 
 to them, for the profit and honour of the 
 King, and the good of his people. Thefe 
 ample powers are granted to any fix of 
 them, together with the three great Offi- 
 cers of irate -> and their refolutions are to 
 be determined by a majority. The com- 
 miffion is confirmed by ftatute j and it is 
 enacted, that if -any one fhall difturb the 
 Commiffioners in the execution of it, or 
 advife the King to make any revocation 
 of their power, the perfon on conviction 
 
 fhall 
 
254 THE LIFE OF 
 lhall forfeit his goods and chattels, for 
 the firft attempt ; and for the fecond, fhall 
 be punifhed as a traitor. Upon this 7 the 
 Lords and Commons, befides certain fub- 
 jidies already granted, grant a farther fub- 
 fidy of half a tenth and half a fifteenth ; 
 on condition, that, if the fubfidies before 
 granted fhall, by the diligence and good 
 ordinance of the faid commiffioners, fuf- 
 fice for the charges of the next year, then 
 the laft mentioned fubfrdy fhall in no wife 
 be levied : and alio, that no other perfons 
 be afTociated or affigned to the Lords Com- 
 miffioners, befide thofe that are mentioned 
 in the commiffion. Moreover all the grants 
 above mentioned are made on the follow- 
 ing condition, that if the power given to 
 the faid Lords by the commiffion lliall be 
 in any manner defeated or repelled; or if 
 the faid Lords fhall in any way be dif- 
 turbed, fo that they cannot freely ufe the 
 full power committed to them j then the 
 levy and demand of whatever fhall remain 
 to be levied by virtue of the faid grants 
 fhall wholly ceafe; alfo that Letters Patent 
 under the great feal fhall be iflued, reck- 
 
 f Rat. Pari. 10. R. $ 
 
 ing 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 235 
 
 ing the caufc, manner, and conditions of 
 all the grants aforefaid. 
 
 The King concluded the Parliament 
 with making open proteftation by his own 
 mouth, that nothing done in it fhould pre- 
 judice him or his Crown, but that the Royal 
 prerogative mould be ftill faved and main^ 
 tained, 
 
 This commiffion, which in a manner di- 
 verged the King of his authority, and placed 
 the whole power of the government in 
 the hands of fourteen perfons, was of the 
 fame kind, and obtained by much the fame 
 means, with thofe under Henry the Third 
 and Edward the Second - y precedents, both 
 in their nature and their confequences, of 
 dangerous example. Yet it muff, be allowed, 
 that the Duke of Glocefter, who was the 
 author and director of the whole defign, 
 had filled it with men for their rank, worth, 
 and capacity, the beft qualified for fo great 
 a truft. William Courtney Archbifhop 
 of Canterbury, the Bilhop of Winchefter, 
 and the Lord Richard Le Scrope, were 
 perfons of the greater! credit, abilities, and 
 experience, and had all of them executed 
 the office of Chancellor with high reputa- 
 tion. The fame may be faid of Thomas 
 
 de 
 
236 THE LIFE OF 
 
 de Brantingham Bifliop of Exeter, who 
 had 8 twice borne the office of Treafurer, 
 once in Edward the Third's time, and 
 again in the prefent reign. The Arch- 
 bifhop of York was admitted into the num- 
 ber, on account of the dignity of his Sta- 
 tion, tho' one of the King's principal fa- 
 vourites : and on the fame account much 
 more properly the Duke of York, whofe 
 high quality alone muft have given him 
 great influence, and whofe moderation was 
 known univerfally. The Earl of Arundel 
 and his brother, and the Lord Cobham, 
 the moil: frrongly attached to the Duke of 
 Glocefter, and the moft deeply engaged in 
 his meafures, were at the fame time noble- 
 men of diftinguimed honour, worth, and 
 integrity. As to the Bifhop of Winchester 
 in particular, he feems to have had a place 
 in the commiflion, as one whofe reputation 
 would give weight to it, without having 
 made any advances himfelf towards the at- 
 tainment of that honour: this is certain, 
 that he, together with feveral others of his 
 collegues, took care to have as little fhare 
 
 8 Dugdale's Chronica Series. 
 Vj.i as 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 237 
 
 as poffible in the exercife of thofe dangerous 
 powers, with which they were inverted. 
 
 The King's defign in making the pro- 
 teftation abovementioned, at the conclu- 
 fion of the Parliament, was at that time 
 fufriciently underftood, and his proceed- 
 ing foon after fully explained it. The 9 
 Parliament was no fooner difmifled, than 
 he releafed the Earl of Suffolk from his 
 imprifonment, and readmitted him to his 
 prefence, and to all his former favour. 
 And with him and the reft of his late mi- 
 nifters he confulted, how he might free 
 himfelf from the reftraint laid upon him 
 by the Parliament, and be revenged of 
 his oppofers. The fcheme concerted be- 
 tween them was, to procure the folemn 
 opinion of all the Judges of the illegality 
 of the commiffion and flatute lately ex- 
 torted from the King j to raife a fufncient 
 body of forces to fupport him in main- 
 taining his prerogative ; and to procure a 
 Parliament, which mould be more at his 
 devotion. In order to execute this pro- 
 ject, all the Judges and the Sheriffs of the 
 feveral counties were fummoned to "attend 
 
 9 Knyghton, Walfingham. 
 
 the 
 
238 T H E L I F E O F 
 
 the King at Nottingham : the Judges were; 
 obliged to give their opinion, that the late 
 commiffion and ftatute were null and void, 
 as made againft the King's will; and that all, 
 that were concerned in procuring them, were 
 guilty of treafon. But it was not fo eafy 
 to induce the Sheriffs to engage for the 
 railing the army, and procuring the Par- 
 liament, which the King required : fo that 
 he returned to London, after having de- 
 clared his defigns, without being able to 
 put them in execution. Upon this the Duke 
 of Glocefter, with the Earls of Derby, 
 Arundel, Warwick, and Nottingham, 
 raifed an army of 40,000 men, and marched 
 to London. Without entering the city, 
 they deputed the Archbifhop of Canter- 
 bury, the Duke of York, the Bifhops of 
 Winchefter and Ely, and four others, all 
 Lords Commiffion ers, to the King, to de- 
 mand that thofe evil Couhfeliors, who had 
 interrupted the CommifTioners in their pro- 
 ceedings, and had caufed differences be- 
 tween the King and the Lords of his Coun- 
 cil, might be punifhed as traitors ; proten:- 
 ing, that they meant not to attempt any 
 thing againft his perfon or honour. Thefe 
 Lords, who chofe to act as mediators be- 
 tween 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 239 
 
 tween both parties, endeavoured what they 
 could to reconcile the King to the confe- 
 derate Lords, and to perfuade him to com- 
 ply with their defires. The King, un- 
 able to refift, and at a lofs for any other 
 expedient, feemed to hearken to their ad- 
 vice. They returned therefore to the con- 
 federates, to make fome propofals for an 
 accommodation. It was at laft agreed, 
 that the Lords confederate fhould be ad- 
 mitted to the King's prefence, and in the 
 moff. dutiful manner mould lay before him 
 their grievances. The mediating Lords 
 gave them their oaths on the King's be- 
 half, that they fhould come and return in 
 fafety ; and for themfelves, that, if they 
 fhould know of any treacherous defign 
 formed againft them, they would warn 
 them of it. The King received them with 
 great folemnity on his throne in Weitmin- 
 lter hall ; he treated them with an appear- 
 ance of friendfhip, and promifed them fa- 
 tisf action in the next Parliament, which 
 he then appointed. Thefe fair proceed- 
 ings of the King were only to amufe the 
 Lords, while the Duke of Ireland was rail- 
 ing an army for him in Wales and Che- 
 fhire. The confederate Lords, when they 
 n heard 
 
240 THE LIFE OF 
 
 heard he was coming againft them, de- 
 tached a part of their army to meet him, 
 under the command of the Earl of Derby, 
 who intirely defeated him at Radcott-bridge 
 in Oxfordmire. This blow fo terrified the 
 King, that he betook himfelf to the Tower 
 of London. After many collufions with 
 the Lo'rds, he was obliged to give up his 
 favourites, and to meet them in Parliament. 
 In ' this Parliament, the Lords confederate 
 exhibited an impeachment of treafon againft 
 the Duke of Ireland, the Earl of Suffolk, 
 the Archbifhop of York, Sir Robert Tre- 
 filian, and Sir Nicholas Brambre. The three 
 former, having made their efcape, were at- 
 tainted and outlawed : the two laft were 
 executed as traitors. The Judges 2 , who 
 had given their opinions at Nottingham, 
 were baniihed : the Bifhop of Chichefter, 
 who had been concerned in procuring thofe 
 opinions, was found guilty of treafon, and 
 
 1 Rot. Pari. ii. R. 2. 
 
 a The houfe or Inn of Sir Robert de Belknap, late 
 Chief Juflice attainted, in theparim of St. Mary Mount- 
 haute London, was in the year following granted by 
 the King to William of Wykeham, in confideration of 
 certain fums due to him : which grant was confirmed 
 by Henry 4th. Index Rot. Pari. 12. R. 2. & 1. H. 4. 
 Bibl. Cotton. Titus, c. 3. 
 
 attainted. 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEH AM. 241 
 
 attainted. Sir Simon Burley, Sir John 
 Beauchamp, Sir John Saliibury, Sir James 
 Berners, Thomas Ufk, and John Blake, 
 Efqrs; were tried, found guilty, and exe- 
 cuted j moil of them charged with crimes 
 not before declared to be treafon, and the 
 charge hardly fupported with fufficient 
 proof. At the conclufion of this Parlia- 
 ment, the King with great folemnity re- 
 newed his Coronation oath, the temporal 
 Lords did him homage, and the Prelates 
 fwore fealty to him j both houfes took an 
 oath to maintain the acls of this Parlia- 
 ment, and the fame oath was impofed on 
 the people throughout the kingdom. The 
 Bifhops pronounced fentence of excom- 
 munication againft all that mould break 
 this oath, or diflurb the peace of the realm. 
 The whole proceedings of the Lords con- 
 federate were approved, confirmed, and 
 pardoned, in the fulleft manner j and 
 20,000 1. allowed them for their charges 
 out of the fubfidies granted. All things 
 feemed to be pretty well compofed ; but 
 the King only difTembled his refentment, 
 and referved himlelf for a more favourable 
 opportunity of vindicating his own au- 
 thority, and taking vengeance for the lofs 
 R of 
 
242 THELIFEOF 
 
 of his friends : and the people fufficiently 
 declared their diflike of fuch extraordinary 
 and irregular, as well as fevere and fan- 
 guinary nieafures, by giving this Parlia- 
 ment the names of the i Wonder-working, 
 and 4 the Unmerciful Parliament. 
 
 The King was determined to fhake off 
 the reftraint, which the Parliament had 
 laid upon him, and afTert his Royalty, as 
 foon as a proper occafion ihould offer. He s 
 was full one and twenty years of age be- 
 fore the laft Parliament met ; but that was 
 no feafon for him to claim to himfelf any 
 new authority on this account j and as he ' 
 then found by experience, that he was not 
 able to contend with the party that op- 
 pofed him, he was afraid of ftirring for 
 fome time, left he mould roufe again the 
 fame fpirit of refiftance. The beginning 
 of the next year feemed more favourable 
 to his defigns: every thing was now quiet 
 at home, and a truce was on the, point of 
 being concluded both with France and 
 Scotland. The King refolved therefore 
 
 • 
 
 3 Hollinfhed. Stow. 
 ♦ Knyghton. 
 
 5 He was born at Bourdeaux Jan. 6.1366-7. Froiflart. 
 W. Thorn, Chronica inter X Scriptores. 
 
 to 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 243 
 
 to declare himfelf of full age in form, and 
 to make the experiment of exerting his au- 
 thority in a fignal manner. He 6 fum- 
 moned a Council at Weftminfter on the 
 third of May 1389. As foon as they 
 were aflembled, the King entered, and on 
 a fudden demanded, how old they took 
 him to be : upon their acknowledging, that 
 he was upwards of twenty-one, Then, re- 
 plied he, I am of full age to govern my 
 houfhold and kingdom : for why mould 
 my condition be worfe than that of the 
 meaneft of my fubjecls ? The Lords allow- 
 ing his claim, and faying, that he ought 
 not to be abridged of any of his rights ; 
 he proceeded to tell them, that hitherto he 
 had been under their tuition and manage- 
 ment, and was not at liberty to do any 
 thing without their advice, thanking them 
 for the care they had taken of himfelf and 
 his kingdom ; but that now he would take 
 the reins of government into his own hands, 
 and choofe fuch officers to ferve him, as 
 he fhould think moll expedient ; and that 
 therefore he would difcharge all thofe, who 
 were at prefent in office under him. He 
 
 c Knyghton, Walfingham. 
 
 R z then 
 
244 THE LIFE OF 
 
 then ordered the Chancellor to deliver to 
 him the Great Seal. He difplaced the 
 Treafurer, and the Keeper of the Privy Seal, 
 and the Earl of Arundel Admiral, all 
 of whom had been appointed by Parlia- 
 ment. And his uncle the Duke of Glo- 
 cefter, with the Earl of Warwick, and fe- 
 veral others of the principal nobility, he 
 removed from the Council-board. The 
 King offered the Great Seal to the Bifhop 
 of Winchefter. The 7 Bifhop did all he 
 could to excufe himfelf from accepting it : 
 he neither deiired the office itfeif, nor was 
 pleafed with the conjuncture and circum- 
 flances, in which it was offered to him ; 
 but the King prefled it upon him in fuch 
 a manner, that he could not refufe it j and 
 8 the next day, Wykeham, much againft 
 his inclination, was again conflituted Chan- 
 cellor of England. 
 
 From this circumftance it appears clear- 
 ly enough, that the King had not con- 
 certed this matter with the Bifhop before- 
 hand ; and therefore, that Wykeham had 
 no mare in advifmg or approving the bold 
 
 7 Monachus Evefhamenfis in vita Richardi II. ab 
 Hearnio editus. T. Walfingham. 
 
 8 Rym. Feed. Vol, 7. p. 616. 
 
 and 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 245 
 
 and hazardous ftep, which the King had 
 taken. However, being now at the head 
 of his counfels, he feems to have ufed his 
 utmoft endeavours to correct and foften it, 
 and prevent all the ill confequences, that 
 might be apprehended from it. With this 
 defign, a proclamation 9 was publifhed four 
 days afterwards, fetting forth, that for the 
 more err'eclually maintaining the tranquil- 
 lity of the nation, the King had, by the 
 advice and afTent of his Prelates and Peers, 
 taken into his own hands the full and in- 
 tire government of the kingdom j and that 
 he hoped and firmly purpofed, with the 
 affiftance of God and the advice of his 
 Council, to govern his people more to their 
 honour, peace, and profperity, than they 
 had hitherto been governed. And to pre- 
 vent the uneafinefs and apprehenfions, 
 which many concerned in the late dis- 
 turbances might otherwife lie under, he at 
 the fame time fully confirmed all the par- 
 dons before granted on that account in 
 Parliament. This ' proclamation was in a 
 few days fucceeded by another, full of the 
 
 
 9 Ibid. p. 619. 
 
 ■ Rym. Feed. Vol. 7. p. 620. 
 
 R x moft 
 
246 THE LIFE OF 
 
 moil affectionate expreflions towards his 
 people, and defigned as a fpecimen of the 
 moderation of his future government: it 
 contained a fufpenfion of the payment of 
 half the tenth and fifteenth granted in the 
 late Parliament held at Cambridge, till the 
 King mould fee a more urgent occafion for 
 levying it. 
 
 The a Parliament met at Weftminfter 
 on Monday the 17th of January, 1389-90, 
 when the Bifhop of Winchefter, Chancellor 
 of England, by command of the King then 
 prefent in Parliament, declared the caufe 
 of the fummons. The fubftance of his 
 fpeech upon this occafion is recorded in 
 the Parliament Rolls. f He informs them, 
 ' that the principal caufe of holding the 
 f prefent Parliament is, that the King, 
 
 < who had been long of tender age, being 
 c now by the bleffing of God arrived to 
 c maturity of years and difcretion, is ftill 
 c more confirmed in that earneft defire, and 
 
 < unalterable purpofe, which he hath al- 
 c ways entertained, of ruling his fubjecls 
 c in peace and tranquillity, equity and juf- 
 c tice j refolving to govern his people and 
 
 * Rot. Pari. 13. R. 2. 
 
 5 kingdom 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 247 
 
 kingdom ftill better, if better may be : 
 and that he wills, that as well Holy 
 Church, as the Lords Spiritual and Tem- 
 poral and the Commons, fhould have and 
 enjoy their liberties, franchifes, and pri- 
 vileges, in time to come, as they have rea- 
 fonably ufed and enjoyed them in the times 
 of his noble progenitors, the Kings of 
 England. He farther declares, that the 
 kingdom is furrounded with enemies, 
 namely, thofe of France, Spain, and 
 Guienne on the one fide, and of Scotland 
 and Ireland on the other ; and that it is 
 not certainly known, whether the truce, 
 which is concluded between our Lord 
 the King and his adverfaries of France 
 and Scotland, to continue from the 1 5th 
 of Auguft laft pad at fun-rifmg, to the 
 1 6th of Auguft that is to be in the year 
 1392 at fun-rifmg, will hold or not : and 
 in cafe it mould hold, that it will be never- 
 thelefs necefiary to take proper meafures 
 for the fafeguard of the borders of Scot- 
 land, and of Calais, Breft, and Cher- 
 burgh, and alfo for the fecurity of Ire- 
 land and Guienne 5 that embaffies mull 
 likewife be fent, in order to a treaty of 
 peace, and to fettle the articles of the 
 R 4 * treaty, 
 
248 THE LIFE OF 
 
 f. treaty, and finally to conclude it : that 
 j the King cannot by any means fupport 
 c the expences and charges neceflary for 
 c thefe purpofes, as is well known, with- 
 c out the aid of his Lords and Commons ; 
 4 that therefore they murl advife and order, 
 4 how and in what manner the faid ex- 
 ? pences and charges may be fupplied and 
 c levied, fo as to lay as little burthen as 
 
 * poffible upon the people. He moreover 
 4 acquaints them, that the King defires to 
 4 be informed by the Commons, how the 
 
 * laws of the land and the flatutes are kept 
 4 and executed, and his peace maintained 
 4 in all parts of the realm, and whether 
 \ there be any difturbers of them : as like- 
 4 wife of thofe that move and maintain 
 \ quarrels and vexatious luits in the coun- 
 
 * try, to the hindrance of the law and op- 
 < predion of the people 3 and how fuch 
 ' evils may be bell redrefled and amended, 
 e and the kingdom better governed in time 
 1 to come ; the faid Commons being obliged 
 c of right and before God to inform the 
 c King, and to employ all their care and 
 4 diligence in the correcting of fuch faults 
 
 * to the utmoft of their power. He far- 
 
 * ther informs them, that the King wills, 
 
 { that 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 249 
 
 * that full right and juftice be done to the 
 
 * poor as well as to the rich j and that, if 
 ' there be any cafe or fuit that cannot be 
 c well redrefled by the common law, the 
 c King hath affigned certain Clerks of his 
 £ Chancery, to receive the petitions of the 
 1 complainants, and certain Lords to hear 
 f andanfwer the fame petitions, the names 
 « of which Lords and Clerks will be read 
 c openly by the Clerk of Parliament ; and 
 « that thofe, who would prefent fuch peti- 
 1 tions, muft deliver them before the next 
 1 Monday in the evening/ 
 
 As foon as the neceffary forms of open- 
 ing the Parliament were over, the new 
 miniftry took another meafure, probably 
 fuggefted by the Bifhop of Winchester, 
 and arifing from his great prudence and 
 caution i however manifeftly tending to 
 the fame defign, which he had hitherto 
 purfued -, namely, to obviate all occafion 
 of complaint againfl the King's late pro- 
 ceedings, in removing the great Officers 
 and Council appointed by Parliament, and 
 the manner in which they themfelves had 
 been introduced, and to fhew both the 
 King and his Minifters in a popular light. 
 
 The 
 
250 THE LIFE OF 
 
 The J Bifhop of Winchefter Chancellor* 
 and the Bifhop of St. David's Treafurer> 
 being the two great Officers of State, (for 
 4 the Privy Seal feems at this time to have 
 been vacant) with all the Lords of the Coun- 
 cil, prayed the King in Parliament to be 
 difcharged of their offices, in .confideration 
 of the great and continual labours and ex- 
 pences they had undergone therein, and 
 to have others placed in them. At the 
 fame time the Chancellor gave up to the 
 King the Great Seal, and the Treafurer the 
 keys of the Exchequer : which the King 
 receiving, difcharged thofe officers together 
 with the Lords of the Council. As foon 
 as they had received their difcharge, they 
 required openly, that if any perfon would 
 complain of any thing unduly done by 
 them, he fhould declare it to the King in 
 Parliament. The Commons required time 
 to advife of this matter till the next day j 
 
 3 Rot. Pari. 13. R. 2. 
 
 4 I conclude fo, and that it was in the Chancellor's 
 hands, from the following article in Wykeham's Re- 
 gifter. " Memorandum, quod die Mercurii Q n0 die 
 " Martii anno regni Regis Richardi 2 di 13™° venerabilis 
 *' pater Dominus Wilhelmus de Wykeham Epifcopus 
 <c Wynton. apud Wefhninft. reddidit Domino Regi 
 " Sigillum fuum fecretum, videlicet anulum." Regift. 
 Wykeham, part. 3. b. fol. 100. 
 
 8 at 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 251 
 
 at which time they with the Lords, upon 
 demand made by the Duke of Lancafter 
 by the King's orders, affirmed, that af- 
 ter diligent inquiry they had found all 
 things to have been very well done ; and 
 the Commons returned them thanks in 
 full Parliament for their fidelity and good 
 conduct. Whereupon the King reinftated 
 the Chancellor and Treafurer in their of- 
 fices, and reftored all his late Counfellors, 
 and together with them the Dukes of Lan- 
 cafter and Glocefter, to the Council-board : 
 the former had lately returned from his 
 Spanifh expedition after three years abfence, 
 and had effected a reconciliation between 
 the Duke of Glocefter and the King. The 
 King however made proteftation, that tho' 
 he had now difcharged and reinftated thofe 
 Officers and Counfellors in Parliament, 
 yet this fhouid not be made a precedent, 
 but that he would be at liberty to appoint 
 and remove them at his pleafure. 
 
 The s next Parliament was held at Weft- 
 minfter the 12th of November 1390. The 
 principal bufinefs of it was explained by the 
 Bifhop of Winchefter, at the opening of it 
 
 5 Rot. Pari. 14. R. 2, 
 
 in 
 
252 THE LIFE OF 
 
 in the ufual form. ' He began with dif- 
 
 < courfing to them at large on the import- 
 e ant ends and happy effects of good go- 
 1 vernment in general, and in particular of 
 
 * that of the King during the whole courfe 
 
 * of his reign. And having informed them, 
 c that it was the King's will, that Holy 
 
 < Church, and the Lords Spiritual and Tem- 
 « poral, as alfo the Cities and Boroughs, 
 c fhould enjoy their liberties and franchifes 
 1 in time to come, as they had reafonably 
 
 * enjoyed them in the times of his noble 
 f progenitors the Kings of England ; he 
 « added in fubftance of matter, that a truce 
 « was concluded between the King and his 
 « adverfary of France for a certain term, as 
 4 was openly declared in the laft Parlia- 
 « -ment : that the Bifhop of Durham, the 
 £ Earl of Northumberland, and others had 
 
 * alfo been lately at Calais with a com- 
 ' miflion from the King for a treaty of 
 ' peace, and had made report to the King 
 
 < of the remit of it : that the King finds 
 
 * it necefTary to fend thither about Candle- 
 « mas next a more folemn embafly to con- 
 « elude a final peace, with the blefllng of 
 c God ; which he cannot do without the 
 4 advice and aflent of the Lords Spiritual 
 
 f and 
 
 2 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 253 
 
 and Temporal, and other wife men of 
 his Council. That likewife the Bifhop 
 of St. David's, Treafurer of England, 
 the Earl Marfhal, and others, had been 
 charged with the King's commifllon to 
 the marches of Scotland, to treat with the 
 Scots concerning the truce concluded with 
 the French ; and that the Scots will not 
 yet accede to the faid truce. That in- 
 deed it feems more probable, that the 
 King will have war, than peace, in that 
 quarter ; which war the King will by 
 no means enter into, nor undertake, with- 
 out the advice and aflcnt of his Council : 
 that the fame or another commiflion mufl 
 be fent thither about Candlemafs to treat 
 anew with the Scots. He afterwards laid 
 before them the great charges and expen- 
 ces, which mult neceflarily be incurred, 
 as well for the fafe-guard of the borders 
 of Scotland, and the country of Ireland, 
 as of Calais, Breft, Cherburgh, and 
 Guiennej and likewife the treaties be- 
 fore-mentioned: he told them, that it 
 was neceflaiy to make timely preparation 
 ; for war, in cafe that a final peace or 
 : longer truce fhould not be obtained ; that 
 : the King could by no means fupport the 
 
 * charges 
 
254 'THE LIFE OF 
 
 c charges and expences neceffarily required 
 « for thefe purpofes, without the aid of 
 
 < his fubjedts ; wherefore he would be ad- 
 « vifed in this Parliament, how the faid 
 
 < charges and expences may beft be borne 
 
 < and fupplied, with the leaft detriment 
 <■ and burthen of his people. He added 
 
 < moreover, that the King being willing 
 
 < that full juftice and right fhould be done 
 e to his people, had affigned certain Clerks 
 c of the Chancery to receive the petitions 
 c of all thofe, who would complain in this 
 f Parliament of any matter, which could 
 c not be redreffed by the common law of 
 c the land, and certain Lords to hear and 
 c anfwer the fame petitions in the ufual 
 £ manner j the names of which Lords and 
 * Clerks would be read openly by the Clerk 
 c of Parliament.' 
 
 The moft remarkable thing that palTed 
 in this Parliament was the joint petition 
 of the Prelates, Lords Temporal, and Com- 
 mons, praying the King in full Parlia- 
 ment, that the Royalty and Prerogative of 
 him and his Crown may be faved and 
 maintained ; that, if any thing had been 
 done or attempted againft them, it fhould 
 be redreffed and amended; and that he 
 
 might 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 255 
 
 might be as free in his time, as any of his 
 noble progenitors, formerly Kings of Eng- 
 land, had been in theirs. Which feeming 
 honed and reafonable to the King, it was 
 granted in all points. The Parliament 
 breaking up on the third of December, 
 the Lords and Commons returned their 
 humble thanks to the King for his good 
 government, and the great zeal he had con- 
 tinually (hewed for the good of his people : 
 and the King on his part thanked them for 
 the liberal grants they had made to him. 
 Thus every thing feemed to be happily 
 compofed; the extraordinary and violent 
 proceedings of the Parliaments, of the tenth 
 and eleventh years of the King's reign, pro- 
 perly corrected -, and the King and his Par- 
 liament united in affection, and in a mu- 
 tual regard for each others refpective rights, 
 and for their common fecurity and hap- 
 pinefs. 
 
 The Bifhop of Winchester had ufed his 
 beft endeavours, and had thus far hap- 
 pily fucceeded, in reftoring the public tran- 
 quillity ; and had the fatisfaction of leav- 
 ing things in this fair and promiling fitua- 
 tion, when he quitted the office of Chan- 
 cellor. 
 
256 THELIFEOF 
 
 cellor. On 6 the 27th of September 1391 
 he delivered the Great Seal to the King at 
 Wind for ; from what motives, either on his 
 part or the King's, we are not informed. 
 It is not improbable, that Wykeham, when 
 he was prelled into the fervice fo much 
 againfr his will, might have engaged the 
 King's promife to releafe him from it, as 
 foon as his affairs would allow of his dif- 
 miilion. Arundel Archbifhop of York, 
 whom he had fucceeded in that office, was 
 now made Chancellor again in his place j 
 a man of great abilities and eminent me- 
 rit, but too ft rongly attached to the Duke of 
 Glocefter to be much in favour with the 
 King. Perhaps Wykeham might have been 
 inftrumental in reconciling the King to him, 
 and reiloring him to his office, which he 
 himfelf had fo unwillingly accepted: this 
 however is certain, that the fame fcheme of 
 coalition and union, which had been en- 
 tered upon while Wykeham was at the head 
 of the adminiftration, was now carried on 
 farther, and fome others, who had been 
 chiefs of the popular party, were readmitted 
 
 6 Rym. Feed. Vol. 7. p. 707. 
 
 into 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 257 
 
 into the King's fervice. The new minifters 
 purfued the fame plan ; they were equally 
 Studious to promote the people's confidence 
 in the King, and to eftablifh his juft rights : 
 for 7 in .the next Parliament, at the in- 
 stance of the Commons, it was again de- 
 clared, that the King was as free in his 
 royal prerogative, as any of his predecef- 
 fors, notwithstanding any ftatute made in 
 derogation thereof, particularly in the time 
 of Edward the Second ; and that if any 
 Statute had been made in his time, in pre- 
 judice of the liberty of the Crown, it was 
 repealed and annulled. 
 
 But the King was not fatisfied with thefe 
 repeated declarations : he thought his power 
 and dignity very precarious, while it de- 
 pended on the authority of Parliament. 
 He dreaded the popular party, and the ef- 
 fects of oppofition and refiitance, which 
 he had fo lately experienced ; arid could 
 not bear the restraint, which thefe appre- 
 henfions laid him under. His whole views 
 therefore were from this time directed to 
 one end ; to fet himfelf above all oppofi- 
 tion and refinance : firft by making peace 
 
 * Rot. Pari. 15. R. 2. 
 
 S and 
 
258 THE LIFE OF 
 
 and gaining firm alliance abroad, and then 
 by eftablifliing an uncontrolable power at 
 home. In confequence of this defign, he 
 * entered with more earneftnefs upon a 
 treaty of peace with France, which had 
 been long carried on without effect : the 
 Duke of Lancafter, tho' his own affairs 
 required it, did not dare to conclude it 
 upon very difadvantageous or di (honour- 
 able terms j and the Duke of Gloceffer had 
 oppoied it with his ufual vehemence. In 
 the mean time the King became a widower ; 
 his great and fincere affliction for the lofs 
 of his Queen did not hinder him from 
 purfuing his point, by making propofals 
 loan after for a marriage with the King 
 of France's daughter a child of feven years 
 old. The match was wholly political, and 
 the King was intent upon it, as the beft 
 means of fecuring both the peace, which he 
 dtCued, and a powerful fupport, for which 
 he might have occalion, againfr. his own 
 refractory fubjecls. The Duke of Glo- 
 cefter faw the confequences of it, and was 
 determined to oppofe it with all his power : 
 and in effecl: he did perfift in his oppofi- 
 
 * Froiflart, Waifiogham. 
 
 tioil 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 259 
 
 tion to this meafure almoft to the lafl ; till 
 every thing was actually concluded, and 
 he faw it was to no purpofe to hold out 
 any longer. Froiffart 9 tells a ftory upon this 
 occafion, which greatly reflects upon the 
 Duke's honour ; and, fuppofing it had been 
 poffible for him to break off the match, no 
 lefs upon his judgement and prudence: he 
 fays, the King bribed him to confent to it, 
 or at lead to acquiefce in it, by promifmg 
 him 50000 nobles for himfelf, and the 
 Earldom of Rochefter, with 2000 1. a year, 
 for his fon ; but this, by his own account, 
 was after all was agreed upon, and while 
 the King was at Calais to receive the Queen j 
 and it does not appear, that any part of 
 this promife was afterwards performed. 
 However this may be, the marriage, and 
 at the fame time a truce for thirty years, 
 was concluded. 
 
 To fecure matters at home, the ' King's 
 firft flep was to fend the Duke of Lancas- 
 ter out of the way again, by granting to 
 him and his heirs the Duchy of Aquitain. 
 But being obliged to revoke this grant, as 
 the dates of Aquitain would not confent 
 
 * Vol. 4. chap. 78. 
 
 • Froiflart, Walfingham. 
 
 S 2 tO 
 
2§o THE LIFE OF 
 
 to be difmembered from the Crown of 
 England, he did what he could to bind 
 him to his interefr, by courting him, and 
 conferring favours on his family. He * 
 legitimated the Duke's natural children by 
 Katherine Swinford, whom he had lately 
 married} he got their legitimation con- 
 firmed by Parliament, and heaped upon 
 them honours and preferments. But the 
 moil important point was to procure a 
 Parliament at his devotion : and this the 
 King at lafl effecled ? by appointing, and 
 continuing in their offices, fuch Sheriffs, as 
 would be fubfervient to him, and would 
 return thofe for members, whom he mould 
 nominate to them ; and by gaining over 
 other members, by favours, bribes, or me- 
 naces, to confent to whatever he fhould 
 require. 
 
 The Duke of Gloceifter faw what the 
 King was aiming at, and thought it ne- 
 cedary to unite more clofely with his 
 friends, and to confiilt with them upon 
 their own and the public fafety. Arun- 
 del, now Archbi/hop of Canterbury, and 
 
 * Rot. Pari. 20. R 2. Rym. Feed. Vol. 7. p. 849. 
 3 Articles againfi King Richard, N Q 18, 19, 20. Rot. 
 Pari, 1* H. 4. 
 
 the 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 261 
 
 the Earls of Arundel and Warwick, had 
 feveral meetings with him : what particu- 
 lar refolutions they came to, it is very uncer- 
 tain, and probably was never known; but 
 their confulting together was enough to 
 awaken the jealoufy of the King, and his 
 courtiers were not wanting to alarm him 
 with the moft dreadful apprehenfions. He 
 determined to get rid of the Duke of Glo- 
 cefter at any rate. It was difficult to do 
 this, as he was greatly beloved and efteemed 
 by the people. The main point was pri- 
 vately to fecure his perfon : ,the King con- 
 trived the plot himfelf, and took the prin- 
 cipal fhare in the execution of it. The * 
 Duke was furprifed by an ambufh laid for 
 him, as he was riding to London with the 
 King : he was hurried away to the Thames, 
 where a veflel was prepared, which imme- 
 diately conveyed him to Calais. This was 
 managed with fuch fecrecy, that the Earls 
 of Arundel and Warwick, being fent for 
 by the King, came to Court the next morn- 
 ing without any fufpicion, and were arretted 
 and committed to the Tower. 
 
 The Dukes of Lancafter and York were 
 in the country when this happened. Sur- 
 
 * FroifTart, Polydore Virgil. 
 
 S 3 prifed 
 
262 THE LIFE OF 
 
 prifed with fo unexpected an event, they 
 haftened to London ; where, with very little 
 deliberation, they determined on the part 
 they would take in fo difficult a conjunc- 
 ture. They had the meannefs to declare 
 their approbation of what was done, and 
 to concur and affift in all the King's mea- 
 fures, manifefrly tending to the deftrucf ion 
 of their brother, and the extinction of the 
 liberties of their country. The s Procla- 
 mation hTued a few days after, fetting 
 forth, that the Duke of Glocefter and the 
 other Lords were arretted, not on account 
 of any former rifmg in arms, but for va- 
 rious other mifprifions and extorfions, ex- 
 pre'sly mentions theirs and the Earl of 
 Derby's afTent. And they all accepted and 
 executed the 6 King's commiffion, requiring 
 them to raife each of them a body of for- 
 ces, in the whole 1800 men, and to attend 
 the King at the enfuing Parliament, to be 
 holden at Weftminfter, in arms at the head 
 of them. The King befides ordered all the 
 Knights and Gentlemen, who wore his livery 
 of the Hart, to be ready in arms at the fame 
 time i and was likewife provided with other 
 
 s Hymer, Foed. Vol. 8. p. 6. Dated July 15, 1397. 
 * Ibid. p. 13. 
 
 forces, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 263 
 
 forces, and a ftrong guard of Chefhire men, 
 upon whofe fidelity he could depend at all 
 events. 
 
 The 7 Parliament met on the 17th of 
 September 1397, probably otherwife pre- 
 pared to act as the King would have them, 
 and befides kept in awe by a powerful ar- 
 my. The firft thing they did was to re- 
 peal the commiffion and ftatute of the 
 tenth year of the King's reign, as being 
 made traiteroufly againft his will ; and to 
 revoke the pardon granted to the confe- 
 derate Lords in the fucceeding Parliament. 
 The Commons then impeached Arundel 
 Archbimop of Canterbury of high treafon, 
 in procuring and executing the commif- 
 fion, and adviiing the Duke of Glocefler 
 and others to take upon them Royal Power : 
 on which he received fentence of ba- 
 nifliment. The King, not daring to bring 
 the Duke of Glocefter to a public trial, had 
 ordered him to be 8 privately murdered at 
 Calais. He was now impeached, together 
 with the Earls of Arundel and Warwick, 
 for procuring and executing the com- 
 
 7 Rot. Pari. 21. R. 2. 
 
 8 Articles againft King Richard, N° 32. Rot. Pari. I. 
 H. 4. item Placita Corona;. Rot. Pari. I. H. 4. 
 
 S 4 midion, 
 
264 THE LIFE OF 
 
 nriflion, and taking arms; was adjudged 
 guilty of high treafon, and attainted. The 
 Earl of Arundel was beheaded, and the 
 Earl of Warwick banifhed. The Lord 
 Cobham was found guilty of high treafon, 
 on the fole charge of procuring and exe- 
 cuting the commirTion, and was banifhed. 
 The King fatisfied with thefe proceedings, 
 at the interceflion of the Commons ex- 
 cufeth others of the Commiffioners, the 
 Duke of York, the Bifhop of Winchefter, 
 and the Lord le Scrope, then living 3 the; 
 Archbifhops of Canterbury and York, the 
 Bifhop of Exeter, and the Abbot of Wal- 
 tham, deceafed ; and declares them innocent 
 of the execution and intent of the com- 
 miiiion. Which declaration, pronounced 
 by the King himfelf from the Throne in 
 Parliament, with the advice and confent 
 of the Lords, and by petition of the Com- 
 mons, hath the force of ftatute. 
 
 Tho' the Bifhop of Winchefter efcapes, 
 to all appearance, fo freely on this occafion, 
 yet 'tis probable that the King, taking ad- 
 vantage of his prefent circumftances, ex- 
 torted from him a loan of ioool. This 
 
 9 fum was demanded of him between 
 
 - 
 
 9 Rym. Feed. Vol. 8. p. 9. Dated Aug. 10, 1397. 
 
 the 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 265 
 
 the time of the feizing the Lords and the 
 meeting of Parliament, when the King 
 got large fums from his fubjecls in this 
 way of loan. In fuch a conjuncture it 
 was not fafe for any one to refufe : the Bi- 
 fhop of Winchester was rich, and had 
 been in the commiflion, and fo was fnb- 
 jecl to a much larger demand than any 
 one befide. 
 
 The King having proceeded thus far 
 with iuccefs, adjourned the Parliament to 
 the 28th of January, to meet at Shrewf- 
 bury, as a more proper place for complet- 
 ing his defign. The Bifhop of Winches- 
 ter, probably not caring to fee what he 
 could not prevent, fent ' thither his pro- 
 curators to excufe his abfence, on account 
 of his ill health and infirmities, and to act 
 for him. Here the King, as he imagined, 
 eftablifhed his power on as firm a founda- 
 tion, and in as full extent, as he could wifh. 
 He had gained the moft confiderabie Lords 
 intirely to his devotion, by conferring new 
 honours upon them, and fharing among 
 them the confifcated eftates of the attainted 
 
 1 Regift. Wykeham, part. 3. b. fol. 153. . " Quia 
 Ci nos corporali moleftia & infirmitate ad praefens prae- 
 « pediti, &c." Dated High-Clere, Jan. 20th, 1397-8. 
 
 Lords. 
 
266 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Lords. The Parliament gave fanction of 
 law to all his proceedings, and to whatever 
 he required of them. The anfwers of the 
 Judges at Nottingham were confirmed, as 
 good and lawful ; all the acls of the Par- 
 liament of the eleventh year of the King 
 were repealed and annulled ; and a fubfidy 
 was granted to him for his life. At 
 length the whole power of Parliament was 
 by ftatute devolved upon the King, twelve 
 Lords, and fix of the Commons -, or any 
 fix of the former, and any three of the 
 latter. The King granted a general par- 
 don j but with proteftation, that if the 
 Lords and Commons in Parliament mould 
 at any time impugn the grant of the fub- 
 fidy for his life, then the faid pardon mould 
 be null and void. 
 
 There remained only one difficulty ; 
 which was, to give frability and a lafting 
 fanction to every thing thus fettled fo 
 much to the King's fatisfa&ion. For this 
 purpofe the Prelates, Lords, and Com- 
 mons, were fworn three feveral times dur- 
 ing the courfe of this Parliament, twice at 
 the fhrine of St. Edward, and once at 
 Shrewfbury,. to hold and maintain all the 
 
 ordi- 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 267 
 
 ordinances made in it. An oath * was de- 
 vifed to the fame intent, which the King 
 forced all his fubjecls to take : they were 
 required to fwear and engage, not only 
 for themfelves, but for their heirs and fnc- 
 ceflbrs alfo. The Bifhops were obliged to 
 pronounce fentence of excommunication 
 againfl: all, that fhould acl: or advife any 
 thing contrary to them. The King more- 
 over had them confirmed by a Bulle ob- 
 tained from the Pope. His Holinefs did 
 not grant this favour without a proper 
 return : the 5 King on his part granted a 
 fufpenfion, or moderation, as he called it, 
 of the ftatute againfl provifions, made a 
 few years before greatly to the fatisfaclion 
 of the nation. The + Parliament had 
 fometimes before intrufted the King with 
 a power, limited to a certain time, of dif- 
 penfing with this ftatute, by advice of his 
 Council : the King now took upon him to 
 difpenfe with law by his own authority. 
 
 - See Appendix, N° XIV. This and the following 
 Record I have inferted in the Appendix, as they eflablilh 
 fh&s of fome importance, which have efcaped the notice 
 ot our hiftorians. 
 
 3 See Appendix, N° XV. 
 
 * See Cotton's Abridgment of the Parliament Rolls ; 
 Index, in the word Prsv'fors, 
 
 AH 
 
263 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Ail thefe precautions ferved only to alarm 
 the people, to awaken them to a fenk 
 of the lofs of their liberties, and to haften 
 the revolution, which was fo eafily brought 
 about the year following j when Richard 
 the Second was depofed, and Henry of 
 Bolingbroke Duke of Lancaster placed on 
 the throne. 
 
 It does not appear, that the Bifhop of 
 Winchester had any mare on either fide 
 in this extraordinary and important tranf- 
 a£tion ; farther than by his prefence 5 in 
 the laft Parliament of Richard the Second, 
 held on September the 30th, 1399, when 
 that unhappy Prince refigned the Crown, 
 and was folemnly depofed. The firft Par- 
 liament of Henry the Fourth was fum- 
 moned a few days after ; at 6 winch alfo 
 the Bifhop affilled. On 7 the 23d of Oc- 
 tober a fblemn Council of the Lords in 
 Parliament was held by the King's com- 
 mand j and the queftion propofed by the 
 
 5 As appears by the Regifter: he was at Southwark 
 from this time till the end of November ; nor is there 
 any procuration entered. 
 
 * Rot. Pari. 1. H. 4. He was appointed (as nfual) 
 one of the Triers of Petitions of England, Ireland, 
 "Wales, and Scotland. 
 
 7 Rot. Pari. 1. H. 4. tit. 74, 76. 
 
 Archbifhop 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM 269 
 
 Archbifhop of Canterbury, with a ftrict 
 injunction of fecrecyj what was to be 
 done with the late King Richard, fo that 
 he might be fafely guarded, and his life 
 preferved ? They were feverally aflced their 
 opinions j and they advifed, that he fhould 
 be kept under fafe and fecret guard in 
 fome retired place. In purfuance of which 
 advice, October the 27th, the King being 
 prefent in Parliament, Richard was adjudged 
 to perpetual imprifonment. The names 
 of all the Lords, that gave this advice, are 
 exprefled in the Record : there were fifteen 
 Bifhops, (even Abbots, and thirty-fix 
 Lords ; the Bifliop of Winchefrer was not 
 of the number, tho' at this time refident 
 at his palace in Southwark. His known 
 attachment to the late King, his perfonal 
 regard for him as his benefactor in many 
 inftances, and his veneration for the me- 
 mory of his father and grandfather his 
 great patrons, would have made his pre- 
 fence, on this delicate occafion, as improper 
 and difagreeable with refpect to himfelf, as 
 it might have been unwelcome and offen- 
 five to others. This was the laft Parlia- 
 ment which he attended in perfon : he * ever 
 
 8 Regilt. Wykeham, part. 3, b. foh 185, 204, 215. 
 
 after 
 
2.jo THE LIFE OF 
 
 after fent procurators to excufe his abfence 
 on account of his age and infirmities. 
 
 Soon after the difmifTion of the Parlia- 
 ment, the Scots, taking advantage of the 
 unfettled Irate of the Nation, began hofti- 
 lities, and infefted the borders. The de- 
 figns of France were likewife fufpecled. 
 The King found it necefTary to undertake 
 an expedition to Scotland in perfon, but 
 was unprovided with money, and was un- 
 willing to call a Parliament again fo foon 
 to furmfh him with fupplies. He there- 
 fore fummoned a 9 Great Council of Lords 
 and Prelates ; who, in confideration of the 
 preffing neceflity of the nation at this junc- 
 ture, granted the King an aid of them- 
 felves : the Prelates gave a tenth, and the 
 Lords engaged each of them to raife and 
 maintain a certain number of forces. This 
 was to fet an example to the reft of the 
 Lords, who were not there prefent, and to 
 the whole nation : letters under the Privy 
 SeaLwere fent to all the Abbies to demand 
 a hafty fupply j and ' afterward to all the 
 
 9 Rym. Feed. Vol. 7. p. 125. 
 
 1 Chi on. S. Alban. ad an. quoted by Wake, State of 
 the Church, p. 338. 
 
 Clergy, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 271 
 Clergy, who complied with the demand, 
 and granded a fubfidy likewife of a tenth. 
 This extraordinary Council was held on 
 February the 9th following. The Bifhop 
 of Winchefter was fummoned to it, and 
 affifted at it. Thefe are the laft traces that 
 remain of his appearing and acling in pub- 
 lic affairs. 
 
 THE 
 
[ 2 7 2 ] 
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 O F 
 
 WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 
 
 SECTION VIII. 
 
 From the beginning of Henry the Fourth's 
 Reign to the Death of Wykeham. 
 
 WYKEHAM was now very far 
 advanced in years, and had from 
 his youth been conflantly engaged in a 
 multiplicity of bufinefs of the greater! im- 
 portance, both public and private, which 
 he had attended with infinite afliduity and 
 application : 'tis not to be wondered, that 
 old age and continued labour in conjunc- 
 tion 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 273 
 
 tion, mould bring upon him thofe infirmi- 
 ties, which are the ufual confequences of 
 each of them feparate $ and that he mould 
 be obliged at lafl to have recourfe to 
 eafe and retirement. He had been bleft 
 with an excellent conftitution, and had 
 enjoyed an uncommon mare of health. He 
 had now been Bifhop of Winchefter above 
 thirty years, and in all that time had ne- 
 ver been interrupted by illnefs in the at- 
 tendance upon his duty in every capacity, 
 except once. He was fomewhat out of 
 order at Merewell about the middle of Fe- 
 bruary, 1392-3 5 ' as I find by a procura- 
 tion which he fent to the Convocation, 
 excufing his abfence on that account. 
 However his diforder, whatever it was, 
 feems not to have been fuch as to hinder 
 his attendance on common bufinels at that 
 time ; and within a fortnight z he was able 
 to remove to Farnham, and to celebrate 
 an Ordination there. I have already in- 
 
 1 " Quia nos corporali moleftia & aliis prsepediti ne- 
 " gotiis/' &c. Regift. Wykeham, part 3. b. fol. 112. 
 " Et in medicin. praeparat. apud Oxon. pro Domino 
 " Fundatore per literam ejufdem Domini miff, ad Cuftod, 
 " in fefto Puriflc. Beatae Marian, 12 s. iod. --." Rot. 
 Comp. Coll. Nov. an. 1393. 
 
 * RegiftWykeham, part 2. in Ordinat. March 1 , 1392. 
 
 T timatedj 
 
274 THE LIFE OF 
 timated, that the illnefs, which prevented 
 his attending the Parliament at Shrewf- 
 bury, might perhaps be partly political : 
 before this time, as foon as the Adjourn- 
 ment thither was made, he had fent J the 
 like excufe to the Convocation, which was 
 to meet on the eighth of October ; and 
 joined to this excufe the plea of much bu- 
 finefs of other kinds. This plea itfelf fup- 
 pofes, that his illnefs was not very fevere -, 
 and we find accordingly + , that at this time 
 he was well enough to remove from South- 
 wark to Efher and Farnham, as he had oc- 
 cafion. About the beginning of Novem- 
 ber he retired to High-Clere, and conti- 
 nued there near four months; where he 
 was Hill able to tranfact bufinefs of all 
 forts, and among the reft to go through 
 the 5 ceremony of delivering the Pall to 
 Roger Walcien, the new Archbifhop of 
 Canterbury. During the two firft years 
 
 of Henry the Fourth 6 , I find him from 
 
 3 Regift. Wykeham, part 3. b. fol. 151. " Quia 
 11 nos corporali moleftia & aliis pracpediti negotiis," 
 , &c. Dated -Efher, Oflober 4th, 1397. 
 
 * Regift. Wykeham. 
 
 5 Regiit. Wykeham, part 3, b. fol. 154. Feb. 17, 
 
 1397- 
 
 * Regift. Wykeham. 
 
 time 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 275 
 
 time to time removing from one to an- 
 other of his Palaces in the country, as he 
 ufed to do. The firft remarkable indica- 
 tion of his weaknefs -and inability of body 
 appears in the month of May 1401, when 
 7 he was not able to undergo the fatigue 
 of adminiftring Ordination j but, tho' pre- 
 fent himfelf, he procured another Bifhop 
 to ordain for him : and he was ever after 
 obliged to continue the fame method of 
 fupplying that part of his office. At the 
 end of this year 8 he retired to South- 
 waltham 5 nor did he ever remove from 
 thence ; except once or twice, on occaiion 
 of fome particular bufmefs, and that no 
 farther than to Winchefler. 
 
 The Bifhop, with his ufual precaution 
 and care, had duly weighed and prepared 
 for this contingency. To fecure to him- 
 felf his own freedom of action, and to 
 prevent all difagreeable interpofitions of 
 authority j which, however proper and ne- 
 ceffary in fuch cafes, might perhaps be at- 
 
 7 Re gift. Wykeham, part 2. in Ordinat. The per- 
 fon, who from this time generally performed this office 
 for him, was the famous Thomas Merles, the deprived 
 Bifhop of Carliile. 
 
 8 Regift, Wykeham. 
 
 T 2 tended 
 
276 THE LIFE OF 
 
 tended with much inconvenience, and tend 
 to aggravate rather than relieve the in- 
 firmities of age ; he had above ten years 
 before procured a Bulie from the Pope, 9 
 giving him leave and authority, in con- 
 sideration of his age and ill health, to 
 aflume to himfelf one or more Coadju- 
 tors, without the advice and confent of 
 the Archbifhop of Canterbury, or of the 
 Chapter of Winchefter ; and, as often as 
 it fhould pleafe him, to remove them, and 
 in the place of the removed to depute an- 
 other or others, as he mould think pro- 
 per. The Bifhop did not find himfelf un- 
 der a neceffity of making ufe of this fa- 
 culty before the two laft years of his life. 
 On the fourth of January, 1402-3, ' he 
 produced the Pope's Bulie, and having 
 ordered it to be read and publi fried, he 
 in virtue of it then deputed in proper 
 form Dr. Nicholas Wykeham and Dr. 
 John Elmer to be his Coadjutors : and 
 from that time forward all bufmefs pro- 
 ceeded with their exprefs confent, and by 
 their authority. 
 
 * Regift. Wykeham, part 3. b. fol. 206. The Bulie 
 is dated July 2?, 1391. 
 
 • Ibid. 
 
 Being 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 277 
 
 Being thus relieved, in a great meafure, 
 from the conllant perfonal attendance on 
 the duties of his charge, he devoted his 
 whole time and application to, the dif- 
 pofal of his temporal goods, and to the 
 care of his fpiritual concerns. He finifhed 
 and figned his a Will on the 4th of July, 
 1403. The largenefs and multiplicity of 
 his legacies, and the great exaclnefs with 
 which every thing relating to them is or- 
 dered, muft have required much attention, 
 and evidently fhews in what ftrength and 
 perfection he ftill enjoyed all the faculties 
 of his mind. That extenfive and alrnof]: 
 boundlefs generality, which peculiarly dif- 
 tinguifhed his whole life, is here fully dis- 
 played : it comprehends all orders and 
 degrees of men from the higher! to the 
 lowefr, and anfwers every poflible demand 
 of piety, gratitude, affection, and charity. 
 He (till maintained the lame principle, up- 
 on which he had always acted, and which 
 is perhaps the mod certain and indubi- 
 table teft of true liberality : as he had al- 
 ways made it a rule to himfelf, never to 
 defer a generous and munificent acfion 
 
 * See Appendix, N° XVII. 
 
 T 3 to 
 
278 THE LIFE OF 
 
 to another day, when he had the prefent 
 ability. and the immediate opportunity of 
 performing it ; fo now he was no fooner 
 come to a final determination with regard 
 to the difpofal of his riches, than he be- 
 gan himfelf to fulfil his own intentions ; 
 and in a great many inftances, in which 
 his prefent liberality would enhance the 
 benefit which he defigned to confer, he 
 diftributed his Legacies with his own hands, 
 and became the executor of his own will. 
 This made it neceflary for him fome time 
 afterwards to add a Codicil to it j by which 
 he declares thefe articles fully difcharged, 
 and acquits his executors of all demands 
 on account of them and all others, in 
 which he mould for the future in like 
 manner anticipate their office. 
 
 It was a matter of principal concern 
 with all pious perfons, and made no fmall 
 part of the religion of that age, to offer 
 up their prayers for the dead, and to fc- 
 cure for their own fouls, after their de- 
 parture, the benefit of the interceffions of 
 pofterity. This perfuafion owed its origin 
 to certain cuftoms, that prevailed in the 
 early ages of the Church - } innocent per- 
 haps and blamelefs in themfelves, but mis- 
 taken 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 279 
 
 taken at length, and perverted from their 
 firfl intention to much fuperftition both in 
 opinion and practice. Prayers for the dead 
 feem at firft to have been ufed only at 
 their funerals. For the greater folemnity, 
 they often chofe to join the fervice of the 
 interment of the dead to the celebration 
 of the Eucharift ; and hence perhaps arofe 
 the cuftom of adding alms and oblations 
 to the fervice for the "dead, tho' not joined 
 with the Eucharift. In time it became the 
 practice to repeat thefe fervices annually : 
 anniverfary days were kept for private per- 
 fons by their own friends and relations ; 
 for Martyrs more publicly, and with greater 
 ceremony ; firft at their fepulchres, after- 
 ward in the Churches, which it became the 
 cuftom to build over their fepulchres, and 
 even to dedicate to the faints there depo- 
 sited. All this by degrees crept into the 
 public fervice of the Church : annual 
 oblations and facrifices of commemoration, 
 as they were called, were made for them : 
 at the celebration of the Eucharift, the 
 names of Martyrs, Confeflbrs, and Bi- 
 fhops departed in the faith, were publicly 
 recited ; and a folemn commemoration was 
 made of the dead in general, with prayers, 
 T 4. fome 
 
280 THELIFE OF 
 
 fome by way of thankfgiving to God for 
 their deliverance out of the troubles of this 
 world, others by way of interceflion, that 
 he would receive them to reft, and par- 
 don their failings and infirmities. The 
 people began to conclude, that fuch fer- 
 vices were not merely intended for a me- 
 morial of the deceafed, and for their own 
 edification, but were in fome way profit- 
 able to thofe, in whofe behalf they feemed 
 to be made. Thefe oblations and facri- 
 fices, tho' called commemorative, were 
 eafily miftaken for propitiatory ; and the 
 dead were fuppofed to obtain pardon of 
 their fins through the interceflion of the 
 living. At laft, to account fully for a 
 practice either ill founded or mifunderftood, 
 the doctrine of Purgatory was invented, 
 or rather borrowed from the heathen. For 
 it happens in Theology, as well as in Na- 
 tural Philofophy, that to give fupport and 
 confiftency to our own vain imaginations, 
 with regard to fome obfcure and miftaken 
 queftion, we are apt to have recourfe to 
 fome new Hypothecs equally imaginary 
 and vain. 
 
 Wykeham by difpofition, by education , 
 by principle, and by habit, had a deep 
 
 tincture 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 281 
 
 tin£ture of piety and devotion. He was 
 perfuaded of the truth of all parts of the 
 religion, in which he had been inftrucled 
 in his childhood ; but he feems to have 
 been particularly pofielied with the notion 
 of the reafonablenefs and efficacy of pray- 
 ers for the dead. It 3 is recorded of him, 
 that he always performed this part of the 
 public fervice of the Church with pecu-r 
 liar intenfenefs and fervor, even to the 
 abundant effufion of tears. 'Tis not to be 
 wondered, therefore, if we find him more 
 efpecially careful in procuring the inter- 
 ceffion of the faithful in behalf of himfelf, 
 his parents, and benefactors. Befide the 
 proviiions, which he made for this purpofe 
 in both his Colleges by his ftatutes, he 4 
 
 had 
 
 3 tc Et nedum fua, ficut praemittitur, fed & femet 
 " ipfum Deo vivum facrifkium optulit, ubi inter mif- 
 " farum folempnia, prsefertim ea parte miffe qua pro 
 '.* vivis & mortuis fpecialiter agitur memoria, lacrimas 
 " habundantius effundebat, ex cordis humilitate repu- 
 " tans fe indignum, ut frequentius fuis fecretariis jam 
 " expreffit, quod tantum peragcret officium, & tarn 
 " dignum tractaret eccleiias facramentum." MS. Coll. 
 Wint. 
 
 + Regift. Wykeham, part 3. b. fol. 57, 76, & i§fi 
 It appears from fpl. 57, that this Chantry was founded 
 before Augufl 22, 1383. But it is probable, from his 
 granting fome eflates to the Priory of Suthwyk in the 
 
 43d 
 
-32 THE LIFE OF 
 had long before founded a Chantry of 
 live s Priefts, to pray for the fouls of his 
 father and mother only, in the Priory of 
 Suthwyk. He 6 likewife paid to the Chap- 
 ter of Windfor two hundred pounds for 
 the purchafe of twenty marks a year, to 
 make a perpetual endowment for one ad- 
 ditional Chaplain } on condition that his 
 obit fhould be annually celebrated, and his 
 foul, and the fouls of Edward the Third, 
 of his own parents, and of his benefac- 
 tors, be daily recommended in their prayers. 
 But he thought it alfo more particularly 
 expedient to eitablifh a conftant fervice of 
 this kind in his own Church, in that part 
 of it, which he had rebuilt, and where he 
 had chofen the place of his burial. Ac- 
 cordingly he had defigned from the firir, 
 and had now fmiflied, in that part, a 
 Chapel, or Oratory, which was to be his 
 fepulchre and his chantry. The lituation 
 of this Chapel feems not at all well cho- 
 
 43d year of Edward the Third, that he eflablifhed it 
 as ioon as he was made Bimo'p of Winchcfter. Index 
 Rot. Pat. Bibl. Cotton. Titus, C. 2. Tanner. Notit. 
 Monaft: p. 162. 
 
 j| MS. Coll. Wint. 
 
 6 Ex Originali Indentura in Archivis Ecclefice Wind- 
 for. Dat.May 29, 1402. 
 
 fen, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 283 
 
 fen, if we confider it with refpedfc to the 
 whole building ; in which it has no good 
 effect, but creates an irregularity and an 
 embarraflment, which it had been better 
 to have avoided. But Wykeham was de- 
 termined to the choice of this particular 
 place, by a connderation of a very dif- 
 ferent kind ; by an early prejudice, and a 
 frrong religious imprefTion, which had been 
 ftamped on his mind in his childhood. 
 In 7 this part of the old Church there had 
 
 been 
 
 7 i( Erat enim Wilhelmus, pater venerabilis antedlo 
 " tus, a primevo litterarum ftudio Wynton. traditus 
 " deo noa modicum, & Eccleiice facrofanctcs devotus, 
 " nee non bafilicae majoris Wynton. in qua ut fperatur 
 " miferatione divina poftmodum prsefuit, ubi jam \\X\+ 
 *' matus corpore requiefcit, limiaa frequentans devote, 
 " & coram Beats Virginis Maris ymagine, ftante in 
 " capella in qua traditus eft ecclefiafticae fepulturse, 
 *' fuas fpeciales fundens orationes cotidie, miffam :na- 
 " tutinalem cujufdam monachi, PekifmafTe tunc diclam 
 " vulgariter, indies confuevit audire ; & fie in pueri- 
 " tia a fe pigritudine [/■£<', pigri :i !inis~\ fompnum ex- 
 " cutiens, fecundum beati Petri Apoftolidoctrinam, in- 
 " cepit in orationibus vigilare." MS. Coll. Whit. 
 
 " Non eft igitur poftponendum, quod in hac state 
 '* frequentare ecclefiam duke habuit, crebrius orationi 
 " incumbere, facris mifTarum intere/Te folernpniis. Ve- 
 " rum & fpecialem devotionem habuit ad beatam Dei 
 " Genetricem, ob cujus honorem fa-pius vifitavit ec- 
 " clefiam Sancli Swythuni, coram ymagine ejufdem 
 *' tunc pofita in quad am columpna ejufdem ecclefite 
 
 " genibus 
 
284 THE LIFE OF 
 
 been an altar dedicated to the Blefled Virgin, 
 with her image flan ding above it : at this 
 altar a mafs ufcd to be celebrated every 
 morning, which feems to have been a fa- 
 vourite one, and much frequented, at the 
 time when Wykeham was a boy, and at 
 fchool at Winchefter ; for it had gotten a 
 particular name among the people, and 
 was called JMufmaKe, from the name of 
 a Monk of the Convent, who ufually of- 
 ficiated in it. Young Wykeham was con- 
 usant in his daily attendance, and fervent 
 in his devotions, at this Mafs. He feems 
 even then to have chofen the Blefied Vir- 
 gin as his peculiar patronefs, to have placed 
 hirnfelf under her protection, and in a 
 manner to have dedicated hirnfelf to her 
 fervice : and probably he might ever after 
 
 *' genibus flexis earn humiliter deprecans, ut fuis pre- 
 " oihus ad talem ftatum mereretur aiTumi, ut non folum 
 H ipfam, fed (ilium ejus Jefum Chriftum in Eeclefia mi- 
 " litante digmus honoraret." Tractatus in Vet. Re- 
 gift. Coll. Wint. 
 
 llailCujus corpus jacet tumuLmim in oratorio Beata: 
 "Maria 5 Virginia in navi Eeclefia Cathedralis Wynton. 
 " quod ipfe iuperfres in honorem ejnfdem Virginis fieri 
 V ordinavit. In quo ad minus tres mifTas fpeciajes pro 
 " anima ejufdem patris, parentum & benefaclorum 
 " fnorum, ac omnium fidelium defunctorum, cotidic 
 c: celebrantur." Ibid, 
 
 imagine 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 285 
 
 imagine himfelf indebted to her efpecial 
 favour for the various fucceffes, which he 
 was bleded with through his life. This 
 feems to have been the reafon of his dedi- 
 cating to her his two Colleges, and calling 
 them by her name -, over all the principal 
 gates of which he has been careful to have 
 himfelf reprefented as her votary, in the 
 act of adoration to the BlefTed Virgin, as 
 his and their common guardian. And this 
 it was that determined the fituation of his 
 chantry. He erected his Chapel in the 
 very place, where he had been ufed to per- 
 form his daily devotions in his younger 
 days j between the two pillars, againft one 
 of which flood the altar above mentioned. 
 He dedicated the Chapel to the Bleded 
 Virgin ; the altar was continued in the 
 fame place as before, and probably the 
 very fame image was erected above it : which, 
 with the other ornaments of the fame 
 kind, both within the Chapel and without, 
 was dellroyed in the laft century, by the 
 zeal of modern enthufiafm, exerting itfelf 
 with a blind and indifcreet rage againit all 
 the venerable and beautiful monuments, 
 whether of antient piety or fugerftition. 
 
 The 
 
286 .THE LIFE OF 
 
 The Bifhop 8 ordered his body to be 
 depofited in the middle of this Chapel j 
 and a little before his death, he himfelf, 
 by agreement with the Prior and Convent, 
 directed the fervices, which were to be per- 
 petually performed in it, in the following 
 9 manner. 
 
 The Prior and Convent, in confidera- 
 tion of a benefaction made to them by the 
 Bifhop of about the yearly value of twenty 
 marks j and likewife in confideration of 
 his having at a great expence, in a molt 
 decent and handfome manner, rebuilt from 
 the foundations his and their Cathedral 
 Church of .Winchefter, and given to it a 
 great number of vefrxnents and other or- 
 naments j as alfo in gratitude for many 
 other favours and benefits moil generoufly 
 conferred upon them by him ; being de- 
 iirous, to the utmoft. of their ability, to 
 compenfate with fpiritual goods the many 
 benefits both temporal and fpiritual re- 
 ceived from him, engage for themfelves 
 and their fuccefibrs to perform for ever 
 the following fervices for the health of his 
 
 8 See Appendix, N° XVII. 
 * Ibid. N° XVI. 
 
 8 foul, 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 287 
 
 foul, and of the fouls of his parents and 
 benefactors. In the firft place, in die 
 Chapel in the nave of the Church, 
 where the Bifhop has chofen to be bu- 
 ried, three mafTes fhall be celebrated daily, 
 for him and his benefactors particularly, 
 by the Monks of the Convent : x the firft 
 mafs De Santla Maria, early in the morn- 
 ing throughout the year; the two other 
 maifes, later in the morning, at tierce or 
 at fixth hour, either De Sa?ic~fis i or De tem- 
 poralis as the devotion of the perfons offi- 
 ciating fhall incline them : in each of which 
 mafTes the colle<5t Rege qucefumus fhall be 
 faid during the Bifhop's life for his good 
 eftate, and the prayer Deus cui proprium, 
 for the fouls of his parents and benefac- 
 tors. After the Bifhop's deceafe, inftead 
 of the collect Rege qucefumus, fhall be faid 
 the prayer, Deus qui inter Apoftolicos, for 
 the Bifhop, and for him only. The Prior 
 is to pay to each of thefe Monks every 
 day one penny. The Sacrift is to provide 
 for them bread, wine, book, chalice, veft- 
 ments, candles for the altar, palls, and all 
 other neceflaries and ornaments. They 
 
 See the Roman Miflal, Breviary, Hours, &c. 
 
 more- 
 
2 88 THE LIFE OF 
 
 moreover engage, that the charity boys 
 of the Priory fliall every night for ever 
 fing at the faid Chapel in honour of the 
 Blelfed Virgin Mary the anthem Salve 
 Regina, or Ave Regina, and after it fay the 
 Pfalm De profundi j, with the prayer 'Fide- 
 Hum, or Inclina, for the fouls of the fa- 
 ther and mother of the Bifliop, and for 
 his foul after his deceafe, and for the fouls 
 of all the faithful deceafed : for which the 
 Prior is to pay to the Almoner yearly on 
 the feaft of the Annunciation of the BlefTed 
 Virgin fix millings and eight pence for. 
 the ufe of the faid boys. It is farther 
 ordered, that the Monks of the Convent in 
 Priefl's orders fliall be appointed weekly 
 to the performance of thefe fervices in a 
 table by courfe j and that, if any one fo 
 appointed fliall by fudden infirmity or 
 otherwife be hindred from officiating, he 
 ih all give notice to the Prior or his fubfti- 
 tute, who fliall nominate another to fup- 
 ply his place. This engagement of the 
 Prior and Convent is dated the 16th of 
 Auguft, 1404. 
 
 Thus Wykeham, having finally fettled 
 all his temporal and fpiritual concerns, 
 and being about this time full eighty years 
 
 of 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEH AM. 289 
 
 of age, with much piety and refignation 
 waited the hour of his diflblution. He 
 feems to have funk by a gentle and gra- 
 dual decay. Tho' weak in body, he re- 
 tained all the faculties of his mind to the 
 laft. Even 2 fince he had taken his Coad- 
 jutors to his affiftance, he had frill per- 
 fonally attended and directed his affairs 
 both public and private, as he ufed to 
 do before ; admitting all perfons, that had 
 bufinefs to tranfacl with him, to his up- 
 per chamber. This practice he was able 
 to continue at leaft till within four days of 
 his death. He died at South Waltham, on 
 3 Saturday the 27th day of September, 
 about eight o'clock in the morning, in the 
 year 1404. 
 
 He was buried, according to his direc- 
 tions, in his own Oratory, in the Cathedral 
 Church of Winchester. His funeral was 
 attended by a great concoui fe of people of 
 all forts j many, as we may well fuppofe, 
 being drawn thither by their affection to 
 him, and regard for his memory ; and 
 great numbers, as we may be fully aftured, 
 
 1 Regift. Wykeham. 
 
 3 Traftat. & I itulus Teftamenti, in Vet. Regift. Coll. 
 Wint. 
 
 U of 
 
2 9 o THELIFEOF 
 
 of the poorer fort coming to partake of 
 the alms frill reached out to them by the 
 fame munificent hand, that had fo long 
 been continually open to relieve their wants. 
 For 4 he had ordered by his will, that in 
 whatever place he mould happen to die, 
 and through whatever places his body 
 fhould be carried, between the place of his 
 death and the Cathedral Church of Win- 
 chefter, in all thefe places to every poor 
 tenant, that had held of him there as Bi- 
 fhop of Winchefter, mould be given, to 
 pray for his foul, four pence ; and to every 
 other poor perfon afking alms, two pence, 
 or one penny at leaft, according to the 
 difcretion of his executors : and that on 
 the day of his burial, to every poor per- 
 fon coming to Winchefter, and afking alms 
 for the love of God and for the health of 
 his foul, mould be given four pence. 
 
 I fhall here proceed to give a fummary 
 account of the other legacies, benefactions, 
 and charities, bequeathed by him in his will J . 
 
 Ta the poor in the prifons of New- 
 gate London, the Marefhalfy, Wolvefy, 
 Winchefter, Oxford, Berkshire, Guil- 
 
 ♦■ See Appendix, N° XVII. . «<T« 
 
 s See Appendix, Ibid. 
 
 ford, 
 
*% G 3 ^ I d S H T o" 
 WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 291 
 
 ford, Old and New Sarum, he ordered to 
 be diftributed the fum of two hundred 
 pounds. This was one of thofe charitable 
 bequefts, which he anticipated in his life- 
 time. He likewife lived to fee his building 
 of the Church of Winchefter in a manner 
 finifhed, for which he had alfo made pro- 
 vision by his will. 
 
 To the King he bequeaths a pair of filver 
 bafons gilt, and remitts to him a debt 6 of 
 five hundred pounds. 
 
 To the Archbifhop of Canterbury (Tho- 
 mas Arundel,) and to his fucceflor in the 
 Bilhoprick of Winchefter, feveral legacies 
 in jewels, plate, and books. To the Bi- 
 fhop of London (Robert Braybroke,) his 
 large filk bed and furniture in the beft 
 
 The Bifhop of Winchefter lent the King 400 1, 
 on the 1 ft of July 1402. The money was to be paid 
 on Chriftmas day following ; and for the Bifhop*s fe- 
 curity the King put into his hands certain jewels, giving 
 him leave to fell them, and pay himfelf, if the money 
 fhould not be paid at the time agreed on. Rym. Feed. 
 Vol. 8. p. 267. The executors ot William of Wykeham 
 late Bifhop of Winchefter petition the Council for pay- 
 ment of debts due from the King to the faid Bifhop : viz. 
 3 vol. over and above 500 1. remitted to the King by his 
 will, and ioool. the debt of Richard the Second due 
 by letters patent. MS. Rym. Hen. 4th, Vol. ad, N 9 
 166. 
 
 U 2 cham- 
 
292 T H E LIFE OF 
 
 chamber of his palace at Winchefter, with 
 the whole fuit of tapeftry hangings in the 
 fame apartment. 
 
 To the Church of Winchefter, his new 
 rich veftment of blue cloth, embroidered 
 with gold, with thirty copes of the fame 
 with gold fringes ; a pyx of beril for the 
 hofte j and a crofs of gold with reliques of 
 the true crofs. 
 
 To the Prior of Winchefter, plate to the 
 value of twenty pounds ; and to every 
 Monk of the Convent 7 , being Priefts, 
 five marks ; and to every one of them in 
 lower orders, forty (hillings, to pray for 
 his foul. 
 
 To his College in Oxford, his Mitre, 
 Crofier 8 , Dalmatics, and Sandals. 
 
 To his College at Winchefter, another 
 Mitre, the Bible 9 which he commonly 
 ufed, and feveral other books. 
 
 To each of the Wardens of his Colleges, 
 ten marks j and plate to the value of twenty 
 
 7 The Convent confifted of a Prior and forty- two 
 Monks. Leger-book of the Church of" Wint. N° i. 
 fol. 20. 
 
 8 See the Plate annexed. 
 
 9 " Biblia cum clapfulis de argertto deaurat. ex le- 
 " gato Domini Fundatoris. Pret. vm. marc." Vet. 
 Regift. Coll. Wint. 
 
 marks j 
 
t/<?/are ; 
 
 I 
 
 Is 
 
 77 sr J / ^ / ■ 
 
 /toir. Uaxai/. CUd&rvtrfztJ : em Aratnfy aeaivrafi? etfustttra enceutJura oriurto ■ 
 
 ,/ /r ' rr i.t i '..../. i 
 
 . 7. foyer r/t-t. ti .>■-////' P.rcn 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 293 
 
 marks ; the latter to be tranfmitted to their 
 fucceflfors. 
 
 To every Fellow, Chaplain, and Scho- 
 lar, of his College in Oxford, from twenty 
 fix millings and eight pence, to thirteen 
 millings and four pence, according to their 
 orders and degrees ; and ten pounds to be 
 divided between the Clerks, Chorifrers, and 
 Servants. 
 
 To the Schoolm after of Winchefrer 
 College, five pounds ; to each of the Fel- 
 lows, twenty-fix (hillings and eight pence ; 
 to the Umer, and each of the Chaplains, 
 twenty millings ; to each of the Scholars, 
 fix millings and eight pence; and ten 
 marks to be divided between the Clerks, 
 Chorifters, and Servants. 
 
 To the fabrick of the Church of Sarum, 
 twenty pounds, for the celebration of his 
 exequies on the day of his obit, and on the 
 thirtieth day after his death, by the Canons 
 and Minifters of the faid Church. 
 
 To the Abbot of Hyde, a piece of gilt 
 plate, value ten pounds; to every one of 
 the Monks of the fame Monaftery, being 
 Priefls, forty millings ; and to every one of 
 them in lower orders, twenty millings, to 
 pray for his foul. 
 
 U 3 To 
 
2Q4 THE LIFE OF 
 
 To the Abbefs of the Monaftery of St. 
 Mary Winton, five marks -> and to every 
 one of the Nuns 9 , thirteen fhillings and 
 four pence. 
 
 To the Prior and Convent of St. Mary 
 Overy Suthwerk, for the repair of their 
 Church, and to pray for his foul, forty 
 pounds, being a debt remitted. 
 
 To the Abbot and Convent of Waverly, 
 ten pounds, to pray for his foul. 
 
 To the Abby of Tichefield, one pair of 
 veftments, and a chalice. 
 
 To the Prior and Convent of Tanton, 
 one hundred marks, to pray for his foul. 
 
 To the Abbefs of the Monaftery of Nuns 
 at Romefey, five marks : to Felicia Aas, a 
 Nun of the fame Monaftery, five pounds : 
 and to each of the other Nuns, thirteen 
 fhillings and four pence. 
 
 To the Abbefs and Convent of the fame 
 Monaftery, for the repair of their Church 
 arid Cloyfter, a debt of forty pounds re- 
 mitted. i 1 *** 
 
 To the fabrick of the parifh Church of 
 
 Romefey, twenty marks. 
 
 \ J J 
 
 9 There were xxi Nuns at the dhTolution. Tanner. 
 Notit. Monaft. gnr< i 311 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 295 
 
 To the Abbefs and Convent of Where*- 
 well, to pray for his foul, twenty marks*^ 
 
 To the Prior and Convent of St. De- 
 nis Southampton, for the repair of their 
 Church, twenty marks. 
 
 To the Priorefs and Convent of Wynte- 
 ney, to pray for his foul, ten pounds. 
 
 To the Priory and Convent of Taurigge, 
 to pray for his foul, five pounds. 
 
 To be diftributed among the brethren, 
 and fitters, and poor, of the Hofpital of 
 St. Thomas Suthwerk, to pray for his foul^ 
 ten marks. 
 
 To the Hofpital of St. Crofs near Win* 
 chefter, one pair of veftments, with a 
 chalice, and one pair of fiiver bafons. 
 
 To the Hofpital of St. Nicholas at Portef- 
 mouth, one pair of veftments, with a 
 chalice. 
 
 To the Church of St. Mary Southamp- 
 ton, one pair of veftments, with a chalice. 
 
 To the College of St. Elizabeth, (Win- 
 ton) a pair of fiiver bafons, and two fiiver 
 cups, for the ufe of the high altar. 
 
 To the Hofpital of St. Mary Magda- 
 lene near Winchefter, for the repair of the 
 Church and houfes belonging to it, five 
 pounds, 
 
 U 4 To 
 
296 THE LIFE OF 
 
 To the Sifters of the Hofpital of the Al- 
 monry of the Church of St. Swythun, forty 
 millings, to be equally divided between 
 them, to pray for his foul. 
 
 To each of the Churches of Hameldon 
 and Eaftmeone, one fervice-book with 
 notes, of thofe belonging to his own 
 Chapel, and one chalice. 
 
 To each of five Churches of his patron- 
 age, one intire veftment, namely for prieft, 
 deacon, and fubdeacon, with a cope, and 
 one' chalice. 
 
 To each of five others likewife, one cope 
 of thofe belonging to his Chapel, and one 
 chalice. 
 
 To each of the Convents of the four 
 orders of Mendicant Friars in the city of 
 Winehefter, ten marks, to pray for his 
 foul. 
 
 To fifteen of his kindred, for themfelves 
 and for the children alfo of fome of them, 
 from one hundred to twenty pounds a piece, 
 in .the whole eight hundred twenty-three 
 pounds fix millings and eight pence. 
 
 To Selote Purbyk, ten pounds. 
 
 To each of the chief Juflices, a ring to 
 the value of live pounds. 
 
 To 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 297 
 
 To Mr. William Hengford, a ring of 
 gold, or one table diamond, to the value 
 of five pounds. 
 
 To Mr. Robert Faryngton, a pfalter, 
 and a pair of beads. 
 
 To John Uvedale, and Henry Popham, 
 (Efqrs.) each of them a filver cup or jewel, 
 to the value of ten marks. 
 
 To John Chamflour, Nicholas Bray, and 
 Stephen Carre, each of them a cup or 
 jewel, to the value of five pounds. 
 
 To Mr. William Savage, Rector of O- 
 verton, twenty pounds. 
 
 To Dr. John Keton, Precentor of the 
 Church of Southampton, twenty pounds* 
 
 And other legacies, in plate or money, 
 to be diftributed to the perfons named in 
 a roll, annexed to the will, and fealed 
 with his feal, according to the directions 
 therein contained. The number of the 
 perfons, being others of his friends, and 
 his officers, and fervants, of all degrees 
 whatfoever, is above one hundred and fifty; 
 and the value of thefe legacies in the whole 
 amounts to near one thoufand pounds. 
 All thefe he difcharged in his lifetime, and 
 had the pleafure of distributing with his 
 own hands. 
 
 He 
 
29 8 THE LIFE OF 
 
 He appoints Robert (Braybroke,) Bifhop 
 of London, Dr. Nicholas Wykeham (Arch- 
 deacon of Wilts,) Dr. John El mere (his Of- 
 ficial General, ) Dr. JohnCampeden (Arch- 
 deacon of Surry,) Thomas Chelrey, Stew- 
 ard of the lands of the Bifhoprick, Thomas 
 Wykeham, his great-nephew and heir, and 
 Dn Thomas Ay le ward Rector of Havont, 
 to be his executors. To whom he bequeaths 
 one thoufand pounds in recompence for 
 their trouble in the adminiftration of his 
 will, to be equally divided among thofe of 
 them only, who fhould take upon them, 
 that charge. 
 
 The refidue of his goods he leaves to be 
 difpofed of by his executors for the health 
 and remedy of his foul, (that is, to pious 
 and charitable ufes,) faithfully and con- 
 fcientioufly, as they fhall anfwer it at the 
 laft day. 
 
 The whole value of the bequefts of his 
 will amounts to between fix and feven 
 thoufand pounds -, the indeterminate con- 
 dition of feveral articles making it im- 
 
 fible to reduce it to aji exact eftima- 
 
 tion, 
 
 ■loi . 
 
 He 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 299 
 
 He T had before put Sir Thomas Wyke- 
 ham his heir into pofleflion of manors and 
 eftates to the value of fix hundred marks a 
 year ; and * he depofited in the hands of 
 the Warden and Scholars of New College 
 one hundred pounds for the defence of his 
 title to the laid eftates, to be kept by them, 
 and to be applied to no other life whatever, 
 for twenty years after the Bifhop's deceafej 
 after which term, the whole, or remainder, 
 not fo applied, was to be freely delivered 
 to Sir Thomas Wykeham, or his heirs. 
 
 As there are feveral other in (lances of 
 Wykeham's munificence and charity, which 
 I have not had occafion to mention before, 
 I fhall recite them here in the order in 
 which they happen to occur. 
 
 At l his firft entrance upon the Bifhop- 
 rick of Winchefter, he remitted to his poor 
 tenants certain acknowledgments, ufually 
 paid and due by cuftom, to the amount 
 of 4 five hundred and two pounds one fh.il- 
 Ijng and feven pence. 
 
 To 
 
 «■ MS. Coll. Wint. 
 
 * Ex Originali Indentura in Archivis Coll. Wint. 
 
 3 MS. Coll. Wint. 
 
 4 l< Recognicio tenendum Epifcopatus Wynton. fol- 
 «-' vend . in primo adventu cujuflibet Epifcopi : vide- 
 " licet, 
 
 " De 
 

 3 oo THE LIFE OF 
 
 To 5 feveral Officers of the Bifhoprick, 
 who were grown poor and become objects 
 of his liberality, he at different times re- 
 mitted fums due "to him, to the amount of 
 two thoufand marks. 
 
 He 6 paid for his tenants three feveral 
 times the fubfidies granted to the King by 
 Parliament. 
 
 In 7 the year 1377, out °f n * s mere 
 good will and liberality he difcharged the 
 whole debts of the Prior and Convent of 
 Selborne, to the amount of one hundred 
 
 " De Taunton & Rympton c libr. xxxij s. viij d. 
 
 " De Dounton xliij libr. xvs. viijd. 
 
 " De Twyford xlj libr. xij s. 
 
 " De Waltham xxxij libr. xiijs. iiij d. 
 
 " De Meones lv libr. xiij s. iiij d. ! 
 
 " De Sutton xxxj libr. xixs. xd. 
 
 " De Farnham xxxhij libr. xvj s. viij d. 
 
 *' De Clera xxxviij libr. xiij. denar. 
 
 " De Wytteneye lxix libr. vij folid. 
 
 " Item de Ivyngho & Wergrave lij libr. x s. 
 
 * c Sum. total, dii lib. xix denar." 
 
 MS. penes Dom. Epifc. Wint. fol. 122. 
 
 The exact agreement of this MS. with MS. Coll. 
 Wint. in this particular, mews the authority of the 
 latter MS. ; and confirms what I had before faid of it, 
 (Pref. 1 ft Edit.) that the writer of it had accefs to the 
 accounts of Wykeham's ftewards, and that it is the 
 moft authentic account of him that is extant. 
 
 5 MS. Coll. Wint. 6 Ibid. 
 
 7 Regift. Wykeham, part 3. b. fol. 209.- 
 
 and 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 301 
 
 and ten marks, eleven fhillings, and fix 
 pence : and 8 a few years before he died, he 
 made a free gift to the fame Priory of one 
 hundred marks. On which accounts, the 
 Prior and Convent voluntarily engaged for 
 the celebration of two mafles a day by two 
 Canons of the Convent for ten years, for 
 the Bifhop's welfare, if he mould live fo 
 long, and for his foul, if he mould die 
 before the expiration of that term. 
 
 From 9 the time of his being made Bi- 
 fhop of Winchefler he abundantly pro- 
 vided for a certain number of poor, twenty 
 four at the leafl, every day •, not only feed- 
 ing them, but alfo diftributing money 
 among them to fupply their neceffities of 
 every kind. 
 
 He ' continually employed his friends, 
 and thofe that attended upon him, to feek 
 out the propereft objecls of his charity j to 
 fearch after thofe whofe modefty would 
 not yield to their diftrerTes, nor fufFer them 
 to apply for relief j to go to the houfes 
 
 8 Ibid. fol. 18 3. 
 
 * MS. Coll. Wint. &Traaat. in Vet. Regift. Coll. 
 
 Wint. 
 1 Ibid. 
 
 of 
 
3 o2 THE LIFE OF 
 
 of the fick and needy, and to inform them- 
 (elves particularly of their feveral calami- 
 ties : and his beneficence adminiftred large- 
 ly to all their wants. He fupported the in- 
 firm, he relieved the dift relied, he fed the 
 hungry, and he clothed the naked. 
 
 To ~ the poor Friars of the orders fub- 
 fifting on charity he was always very li- 
 beral. His hofpitality was large, ccnftant, 
 and univerfal: his houfe was open to all, 
 and frequented by the rich and great, in 
 proportion as it was crowded by the poor 
 and indigent. 
 
 He 5 was ever attentive and companion- 
 ate to fuch as were imprifoned for debt j 
 he inquired into their circumftances, com- 
 pounded with their creditors, and procured 
 their releafe. In this article of charity he 
 expended three thoufand marks. 
 
 * Ibid. I meet with the following cafual inftance of 
 his liberality in this way, in Rot. Comp. Coll. Nov. anni 
 1 37 7* ltem m diltributione facta quattuor ordinibus 
 * fratrum mendicantium Oxon. de elemofina Domini, 
 " xiii. lib. xix s. praecepto Domini : viz. fratribus Pras- 
 "' dicatoribuslxxs. Minoribus ciiis. Carmelitis lvii's. .& 
 " Auguflinenfibus xlix s. & fie viz. omnibus fratribus 
 " in villa Oxon. prseditt. xiid." It appears from hence, 
 that there were at this time in the city of Oxford 279 
 Mendicant Friars. 
 
 3 MS. Coll. Wint. 
 
 The 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 303 
 
 The 4 roads between London and Win- 
 chefter, and in many other places, when 
 they were very bad, and almoft impaflable, 
 he repaired and amended ; making caufeys, 
 and building bridges, at a varr. expence. 
 
 He 5 repaired a great number of Churches 
 of his diocefe, which were gone to decay ; 
 and moreover furnifhed them, not only 
 in a decent, but even in a fplendid man- 
 ner, with books, veftments, chalices, and 
 other ornaments. In this way he beftowed 
 one hundred and thirteen filver chalices, 
 and one hundred pair of veftments: fo that 
 the articles of this kind, few in comparifon, 
 which we find in his will, were only in- 
 tended by way of fupplement to what he 
 had done in his lifetime ; that fuch of the 
 Churches of his patronage, which he had 
 not had occafion to confider before as ob- 
 jects of his liberality, might not however 
 feem to be wholly neglected by him. 
 
 Befides all this, he 6 purchafed eftates to 
 the value of two hundred marks a year in 
 addition to the demefne lands of the Bifliop- 
 rick of Winchefter, that he might leave 
 
 a .cozO ftifiv fli * 
 
 * Ibid. & Tra&at, in Vet. Regift. Coll. Witt. 
 
 * Ibid. .ail' brreM 
 
 * MS. Coll. Wint. 8M ■ 
 
 there 
 
364 THE LIFE O F, &c. 
 
 there memorials of his munificence in every 
 kind. 
 
 Tho' the other ornaments of his oratory 
 are deftroyed, yet his monument remains 
 there intire and unhurt to this day. It is 
 of white marble, of very elegant work- 
 manfhip, confidering the time, with his 
 effigies in his pontifical robes lying along 
 upon it j and on a plate of brais, running 
 round the edge of the upper table of it, is 
 the following infcription in Latin verfe, of 
 the ftyle of that age. 
 
 fi2iifl)eimus fcictujs (ftlp&eljam facet Ijic nece tuctug :• 
 3}(tiu0 eccle fiae praeutl, reparaiut eamqur* 
 Hargus erat, dapifer; probat Ijoc cum tubite 
 
 pauper : 
 Conulitjs partter vz$ni rxterat bene Better* 
 l^uttc fcocet efte pium umbatio Collcfftorum : 
 dDjtoniae primum fiat, flflltntom'aeque Cecuntium* 
 Jttffiter oretijs, tumttlum quicuttque btbette, 
 #ro tantte merits ut fit ubt bita pecemite* 
 
 THE 
 
[ 3^5 1 
 
 THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 F 
 
 WILLIAM of WYKEHAM. 
 
 SECTION IX. 
 
 An "Examination and Confutation of federal 
 things^ that have been publifoed to his dis- 
 credit, 
 
 1 Shall not attempt to form any other 
 character of this great man, than 
 what neceflarily arifes out of the facts 
 already related, and from the whole tenor 
 of his public life and actions, which I have 
 endeavoured fairly to exhibit from un- 
 doubted evidences, without difguiie or am- 
 X plification. 
 
THE LIFE OF 
 
 plifkation. Whatever other picture of 
 him I fhould pretend to fet forth, it could 
 only be looked upon as the work of mere 
 imagination ; there being now no original 
 drawing extant, fufficient to furnifh out 
 a complete piece, and to juftify a higher 
 colouring and more perfect finishing of 
 a copy taken from it. The peculiar and 
 diftinguifhing characters of men are much 
 better conceived, and more accurately 
 marked, from little circumftances and in- 
 cidents in private life, than from a long 
 feries of actions in a public ftation : thefe 
 may raife in us a high idea of a great 
 and good man, and ftrike us with a dif- 
 tant admiration of his abilities and his 
 virtues -, but 'tis by the former that we are 
 introduced to his acquaintance, that we 
 learn his particular turn, his temper, his 
 humours, his failings, as well as his ami- 
 able qualities, and become in a manner 
 intimate and familiar with him. I mull 
 acknowledge with much regret, that very 
 few particulars relating to the private and 
 domeftic part of Wykeham's character are 
 tranimitted down to us. The writers of 
 that age are very few, and they have given 
 us but a fliort and imperfect account even 
 
 of 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 307 
 
 of the moft important facts : fuch of them, 
 whom we may fuppofe to have had a 
 nearer and perhaps a perfonal knowledge 
 of him, which is the only foundation up- 
 on which the credit we give to more mi- 
 nute and circumftantial informations can 
 fafely be built, have done very little to- 
 wards gratifying our curiofity in this re- 
 fpect. 
 
 However, not to omit whatever may be 
 advanced upon reafonable evidence, we 
 find him in his early youth diftinguifhed 
 for his piety and his diligence ; raifing 
 himfelf from a low condition by his abi- 
 lities, his induftry, and his fidelity - y me- 
 riting the regard and encouragement of 
 feveral worthy and eminent patrons j and 
 at length raifed to the highefr. Nations by 
 the favour of two of the greatefl: men that 
 this nation has to boafr. of, Edward the 
 Third and his fon the Prince of Wales. 
 We may well conclude from the conttant 
 courfe and quick progrefs of his rifing 
 fortune, that he was not deficient in any 
 of thofe accomplifhments, that generally 
 lay open and fmooth the way to fuccefs in 
 the world : that he was a man of lively 
 parts, of an engaging addrefs, and an a- 
 X 2 greable 
 
3 o8 T H E L IF E O F 
 
 greeable converfation j and that he had in 
 a great degree that fort of natural penetra- 
 tion, which, afiifted with fome experience, 
 is neceffary to the attainment of a ready 
 and fure knowledge of men and things. 
 It is almoft needlefs to obferve, that . one, 
 who was pofTefied with fuch a fpirit of 
 univerfal benevolence, muft have been the 
 beft of mafters, the kinder! and moft ge- 
 nerous patron, the moft conflant and af- 
 fectionate friend : but all this we are not 
 left to deduce by confequencej we have 
 evident proofs of the largenefs and warmth 
 of his heart in every inftance of this kind : 
 we find l the lift of his friends, his offi- 
 cers, his domeftics, almoft invariably the 
 fame ; all receiving in their turns teftimo- 
 nies of his favour, and rewards of their 
 fervices -> never leaving him, nor ever de- 
 ferted by him. 
 
 As to his public character he may be 
 .coniidered in two lights -, as a Statefman, 
 and as a Benefactor. 
 
 His genius for bufinefs was ftrong and 
 univerial : he was endowed by nature 
 with a great capacity, and his induftry 
 
 1 Regift. Wykeham. & Appendix. N Q . XVII. 
 
 had 
 
WILLIAM OFWYKEHAM. 309 
 
 had furnifhed him with a large flock of 
 acquired qualifications, for the manage- 
 ment of all forts of affairs ; with a juft 
 theory of Law in all its branches, of the 
 Canon, the Civil, and Common Law; 
 and a perfect knowledge of the languages, 
 and the forms, which were made ufe of in 
 practice. The monuments which remain 
 of his acts in this kind difcover throughout 
 evident marks of uncommon abilities; 
 of a clear and exact comprehenfion of 
 things, and the greater! care and precifion 
 in the execution. His fkill in architec- 
 ture feems to have been only one part 
 of that various treafure of ufeful know- 
 ledge, which he had laid up in flore for 
 occafional application, and not the main 
 fund upon which he propofed to raife his 
 fortune : his firft employments were of a 
 very different kind, and he flruck into 
 this, as a fair opportunity offered, promp- 
 ted by the impulfe of a ready genius, and 
 the confcioufnefs of his own fufficiency 
 for the undertaking. The fame apt and 
 pliable genius turned itfelf to flate affairs, 
 with the fame eafe, and with equal fuccefs. 
 Edward the Third's opinion of him was 
 fully juflified : he proved an able, vigi- 
 X 3 lant, 
 
3io THE LIFE OF 
 
 lent, indefatigable, and honefc Minifterj 
 and at the fame time that he advanced 
 daily in his mailer's favour, he grew in 
 the ejfteem of the public. While z he 
 purfued with zeal and fidelity the in- 
 terefis of the King, he did not forget or 
 disregard the ea(e and happinefs of the 
 people i but was their conirant advocate, 
 and, as far as the neceffities of the ftate 
 would permit, always preferved them from 
 exaclions J and oppreftions. In s matters 
 of doubt and difficulty he had a penetra- 
 ting and a found judgement : he was eafy 
 of accefs, open and chearful in converfa- 
 tion, and ready in his anfwers to all that 
 applied to him : his words were not un- 
 meaning and evafive, but his performances 
 were always anfwerable to his profefiions, 
 and his actions kept pace with his pro- 
 
 *. " Totoqne tempore fui regiminis, tam tempori- 
 f bus Edwardi quam Ricardi, ipforum utrique obfe- 
 " quiofus extitit & fidelis ; ac populo regni favorabilis 
 " & plurimum gratiofus, ipfum a fubfidiis & exaftio- 
 " nibns ac aliis oppreffionibus praefervans continue." 
 MS. Coll. Wint 
 
 3 . " Erat confultus in ambiguis ; in refponfis prom- 
 " ptus, alacer, afFabilis ; nee erat ejus fermo frerilis, 
 " jiec otiofus ; quern commendabat laudabilis verborum 
 " &operum comitatus." Trac"r.at. in Vet. Regift.ColI. 
 Wint. & Brev. Chron. 
 
 mifes. 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 31.1 
 
 mifes. When he faw his two great friends* 
 Edward the Third and the Prince of 
 Wales, both together evidently declining 
 and dying, and the whole power devolving 
 into other hands, he had the courage, ho- 
 hour, and gratitude, to exert Jiimfelf in 
 behalf of thofe who could not protect him, 
 in oppofition to thofe who would in all 
 probability foon have it in their power to 
 defTroy him : and this, as he mufc have 
 forefeen, in effect brought upon him that 
 malicious attack of his enemies, which 
 ferved only in the end to mew, that his in- 
 tegrity could ftand the fevereft trial, and 
 abide the ftricteil fcrutiny ; and to produce 
 for the fatisfaclion of poitaity thofe pub- 
 lic teftimonies of his honefty and upright- 
 nefs, which we fhould otherwise have 
 wanted. 'Tis not to be wondered, that 
 fuch experience of unmerited perfecution 
 mould teach him a leilbn of caution, and 
 make him iteady in the practice of it, in 
 times of yet greater difficulty \ when th^t 
 uniform conduct of prudence and mode- 
 ration, which from thenceforth dirjin- 
 guifhes his public character, became equal- 
 ly expedient for the fafety of his King and 
 country, and for his own. fecurity. 
 
 X 4 We 
 
312 THE LIFE OF 
 
 We frequently hear of men, who by the 
 force of their genius, by their induflry, or 
 by their good fortune, have raifed them- 
 felves from the lowefl flations, to the high- 
 eft degrees of honour, power, and wealth : 
 but how feldom do we meet with thofe, 
 who have made a proper ufe of the advan- 
 tages which they have thus happily acqui- 
 red, and confidered them as depofited in 
 their hands by providence for the general 
 benefit cf mankind ? In this refpect Wyke- 
 ham Hands an uncommon and almoft 
 lingular example of generality and public 
 fpirit. By the time that he had reached 
 the meridian of life, he had acquired great 
 wealth ; and the remainder of his days he 
 employed, not in increafing it to no rea- 
 fonable end, but in bellowing it in every 
 way, that piety, charity, and liberality, 
 could devife. The latter half of a long life 
 he fpent in one continued feries of gene- 
 rous aclions and great deligns, for the 
 good of his friends, of the poor, and of his 
 country. His beneficence was ever vigi- 
 lant, ac~live, and perfevering: it was not 
 only ready to anfwer when opportunity 
 called, but fought it out when it did not 
 offer itfelf. No man feems to have tailed 
 
 more 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 313 
 
 more fenfibly the pleafure of doing gocd ; 
 and no man had ever a greater mare of 
 this exquifite enjoyment. The foundation 
 of his Colleges, the principal monuments 
 of his munificence, was as well calculated 
 for the real uie of the public, and as judi- 
 cioufly planned, as it was nobly and ge~ 
 neroufly executed. Whatever Wykeham's 
 attainments in letters were, he had at lead 
 the good fenfe to fee, that the Clergy, tho' 
 they had almofl engrofled the whole 
 learning of that age, yet were very deficient 
 in real and ufeful knowledge : befides that 
 by the particular diftreffes of the times, 
 and the havoc that feveral fucceflive plagues 
 had made in all ranks of the people, but 
 efpecially among the Clergy, the Church 
 was at a lofs for a proper fupply of fuch as 
 were tolerably qualified for the perform- 
 ance of the common fervice. It was not 
 vanity and oftentation that fuggefted this 
 delign to him ; he was prompted to it by 
 the notorious exigence of the times, and 
 the real demands of the public. The de- 
 liberation with which he entered upon it, 
 and the conftant attention with which he 
 purfued it for above thirty years, mews 
 how much he fet his heart upon the fuc- 
 
 cefs 
 
3 H THE LIFE OF 
 
 cefs of his undertaking, and how earnestly 
 he endeavoured to lecure the effectual at- 
 tainment of the end propofed, the promo- 
 tion of true piety and learning. In a word, 
 as he was in his own time a general blef- 
 fmg to his Country, in which his bounty 
 was freely imparted to every object, that 
 could come within the reach of his influ- 
 ence ; fo the memory of this great man 
 merits the univerfal regard of pofterity, as 
 of one, whofe pious and munificent defigns 
 were directed to the general good of man- 
 kind, and were extended to the lateft 
 ages. 
 
 It is not to be wondered, that a man, 
 who had met with fuch uncommon fuccefs, 
 aid who had been raifed from a low con- 
 dition of life to the moft eminent ftations, 
 mould in the height of his fortune have 
 become an objecl: of envy, and have ex- 
 cited the malice of rivals and enemies. 
 Motives of this kind may well be fuppofed 
 to have had a fecondary influence in the 
 perfecution, that was once raifed againft 
 him j and to have blown up the flame, that 
 faction had firft kindled. This however 
 was but of fhort continuance, and fell to 
 the ground with the political caufe that 
 
 gave 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 315 
 
 gave rife to it. Wykeham had the hap- 
 pinefs, a very uncommon one with fallen 
 ftatefmen, even at the time that he was 
 borne down by the power of his enemies, 
 ftill to retain his popularity ; and he lived 
 many years afterwards in an uninterrupted 
 pofTeffion of the love and efteem of the 
 public. But that one of his beneficent 
 and amiable character, whofe generofity 
 and public ipirit had been fo univerfal, and 
 was Hill extended to poiierity, iliould in 
 after ages, and at a time when envy and 
 faction are commonly filent and extinct, be 
 loaded with imputations, as falfe and 
 groundless, as they are fcandalous and 
 malicious ; this mult be looked upon as a 
 fmgular hardfhip, and may jufily raife both 
 our furprife and indignation. Yet fuch 
 has been Wykeham's uncommon lot. The 
 caufes and motives, which have given birth 
 to thefe imputations, and the means, by 
 which they have been nurfed up, and lent 
 abroad into the world, though very obfcure, 
 I fhall here endeavour to trace out, and 
 lay before the reader, with as much ex- 
 actness and perfpicuity as I am able : and 
 this inquiry I have chofen to referve to 
 this place, where without interrupting 
 
 other 
 
3i6 THE. LIFE OF 
 
 other matters, I might purfue it more mi- 
 nutely, in order to give him the fuller fa- 
 tisfaction. 
 
 The fole foundation of moft of the im- 
 putations, which have prevailed to the dis- 
 advantage of Wykeham's character, and 
 which have found place in many of our 
 hiitories, appears to have been a paper con- 
 taining mort notes relating to him, which 
 came into the hands of that learned and 
 indufhious antiquary, the famous Mr. 
 John Leland. 
 
 As Leland was very diligent in collecting 
 every thing that was curious relating to 
 our hifiories and antiquities, he tranfcribed 
 thefe notes, and entered them in his com- 
 mon-place book, among feveral other tranf- 
 cripts and extracts from different manu- 
 fcripts. A copy of this common-place 
 book of Leland, tranfcribed from that in 
 his own hand-writing, is extant in the 
 Bodleian library : Mr. Heame has publifh- 
 cd it, and it makes the appendix to the 
 fourth volume of Leland's Itinerary. 
 
 That Leland was not the author of thefe 
 notes, but that he only took a copy of 
 them, and fet them down in his common- 
 place book, is not only probable from the 
 
 remaining 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 317 
 
 remaining contents of the book, which con- 
 fift intirely of tranfcripts from different 
 authors, unlefs you will except one copy 
 of a letter of his own ; but moreover ap- 
 pears evidently from another tranfcript of 
 the fame notes, which is preferved in the 
 Cotton Library, and which has a Title 
 prefixed giving us the name of the Author : 
 they are called Dr. London's Report. I 
 fhall here infert the Report, with the 
 Title and Marginal Remarks added to it, 
 as it ftands in the Cotton Manufcript ; 
 fupplying at the fame time fuch variations 
 of the Bodleian Copy as are material. 
 
 4 MS. Biblioth. Cotton. Julius. C. 6. 
 " Doctor London his reporte, but not 
 <c true." 
 
 « William Wi- j.« William Perote, alias 
 « orw!S Pe * Willim, [Wikam, MS. 
 " ter." cc Bodl.] becaufe hee was 
 
 * ^h [s Is not " borne at Wikam in Hamp- 
 " fliire. Some fuppofe that 
 " he was a Baftard. dno anno 1404." 
 
 [Inftead 
 
 * N. B. In MS. Cotton, the Report itfelf, the Title, 
 and Marginal Notes, are all in the fame hand-writing ; 
 not Leland's, but copied from him. In the beginning 
 of the MS. where the Contents of the whole volume are 
 fet down, the Report is thus intitled: " A fcandalous 
 " report concerning Wickatn Bilhop of Winchefter." 
 
 The 
 
3 i8 THE LIFE OF 
 
 [Inftead of " dno anno 1404" MS. Bodl. 
 hath, " Perot the Parim-clerk's fon of 
 " Wikam."] 
 
 2. " Perrot brought up by Mr. Wodale 
 <c of Wikam learned gramar, and to writte 
 " fay re." 
 
 3. " TheConftableofWinchefrerCaftle, 
 <c at that time a great ruler in Hampfhire, 
 <c got Perote of Wodale, and made him 
 « his Clerk." 
 
 4. [" Edward the 3d coming to Winchef- 
 <c ter Caftle liked Perot, and took him to 
 « fervice" MS. Bodl. This article is omit- 
 ted in the Cotton MS. by miftake of the 
 tranfcriber, as it feems 5 the two next ar- 
 ticles beginning with the fame words.] 
 
 5. " Edward the third, underftanding 
 « that Perote had mynd to be prefle, made 
 « him firft perfon of St. Martynes in Lon- 
 « l don, and Dean of St. Martynes in Lon- 
 <c don, and then Archedeacon of Bucking- 
 " ham." 
 
 ' 6. " Edward the 3 made him Surveiyer 
 ct of his Buildings, as of Windfore, and 
 " Quinboroughe in Kent, and other build- 
 <c ings." 
 
 The Contents are in a different hand from that of the 
 Report, and the reft of the Volume itfelf. 
 
 i 7. " Then 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 319 
 
 7. tc Then Edward made him berer of 
 " the privie feale, mailer of the Wards and 
 " the Forefts." 
 
 8. " Wikam was treforer for the reve- 
 •' nues of France." 
 
 9. " Then he made him bifhope of 
 <c Winchefler, Chanfelor and Treforer of 
 " England, as it verye manifeftlye appear- 
 " ithe by writtinge." 
 
 10. " The Black Prince fcant favored 
 fl Wikam." 
 
 11. Wikam procured to kepe the Prince 
 " in battaile out of the realme." 
 
 12. " John of Gaunt Duke of Lancaf- 
 <c ter enemy e to Wikam." 
 
 13. " Alice Perers, concubine to Ed- 
 tc ward the 3d, caufed Wikam to be ba- 
 
 " niflied, and then he dwelled 
 "in Normandye and Picardye 
 
 €i a [about] 7 yeres, Edward the third yet 
 
 " lyving." 
 
 14. " Wickam reftored about the 2 
 <c yere of Richard the fecond, of whom he 
 " had a general pardon." 
 
 The volume in which thefe notes are 
 found in the Cotton Library, confifts s like- 
 
 s See the Contents of it in Smith's Catalogue of the 
 Cotton Library, 
 
 wife 
 
320 THE LIFE OF 
 
 wife of Collections relating to our hiftcry, 
 made by the fame Leland from antient 
 authors. Thefe notes then, as they ftand 
 in the Cotton Mahufcript, are ftill a part 
 of Leland's Collections ; and by the Title 
 and Marginal Remarks, here added to them, 
 it appears, that Leland knew them to be 
 Dr. London's, and that he was well ap- 
 prifed of their being for the mofr. part 
 falfe and groundlefs. It is indeed very 
 probable, that Leland had them from Dr. 
 London, to whom he might apply., as to a 
 perfon who by his flation had the befl: op- 
 portunity of giving him information, for 
 fome account of Wykeham : and that ha- 
 ving received this account from him, which 
 one fo well veiled in our hifrory muft im- 
 mediately fee was full of falfities, he not 
 not only noted the author, but expreffed his 
 opinion and judgement of his report in the 
 title and marginal remarks added to it. 
 
 The reader is by this time ready to in- 
 quire, who this Dr. London is ; and will 
 no doubt be furprifed, when he is inform- 
 ed, that Dr. London, the author and pro- 
 pagator of all this fcandal upon Wyke- 
 ham, was one who owed his education and 
 fubfiftence to Wykeham's bounty, and had 
 
 the 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 321 
 
 the honour of being at the head of the 
 principal of his two Societies, being War- 
 den of New College in Oxford, at the time 
 when Leland was employed in making his 
 Collections. If it is farther demanded, 
 with what defign, and from what motive, 
 he could give fo dishonourable, as well as 
 fo abfurd an account of his great Bene- 
 factor, I am wholly at a lofs for an an- 
 fwer to the queftion, and know not whe- 
 ther to charge it to his malice or his igno- 
 rance. All I can do towards the clearing 
 up of this matter, is to give the hiftory and 
 character of Dr. London, as I find it re- 
 corded on good authority -, that any one, 
 who is defirous of fatisfying himfelf of the 
 degree of credit that is due to his teftimo- 
 ny, may have fome ground to go upon in 
 forming his judgement. 
 
 John London was admitted of New Col- 
 lege in the year 1505 -, became L. L. B. in 
 1 5 12, and L. L. D. in 1518. He was 
 about this time Canon of York and Lin- 
 coln, and Domeftic Chaplain to Archbifhop 
 Warham. He was elected Warden of New 
 College in 1526 ; was Vicar of Abberbury ; 
 (both which laft preferments he refigned in 
 1542 j ) and Prebendary of Shipton in the 
 Y Church 
 
322 THE LIFE OF 
 
 Church of Sarum: afterwards he became 
 Canon of Windfor, Dean of Ofney, (1542) 
 and of the Collegiate Chapel of Walling- 
 ford Berks. After the death of Warham 
 in 1^2, he infinuated himielf into the 
 good graces of Cromwell, and was much 
 employed by him in the fuppreffion of mo- 
 naileries j he was one of the Vifitors, and 
 acted with great zeal in the removing of 
 Images and Reliques. After the fall of 
 Cromwell, he as dexteroufly made his court 
 to Gardiner Bifhop of Winchelier ; and to 
 compenfate for what he had done before, 
 he offered his moft zealous fervices to him, 
 and became his instrument and under-agent 
 in all his meafures. He was the perfon 
 principally employed by him in contriving 
 and carrying on the plot to deftroy Cranmer : 
 but the apparent malice and falihood of the 
 accufation brought againif the good Arch- 
 bimop induced the King to take him un- 
 der his protection. At the fame time he 
 was engaged in another fcheme of the fame 
 kind, and under the fame director: he 
 made it his bufinefs, iri conjunction with 
 one Symonds a Lawyer, to procure evi- 
 dence againft feveral perfons in Windfor, 
 who were fufpected of favouring the Re- 
 formation; 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 323 
 
 formation 5 and he laid his informations 
 before Gardiner j on which three perfons 
 were convicted upon the Six Articles, and 
 burnt. However he and his afTociate were 
 not fatisfied with this fuccefs : their plot 
 was carried ftill farther, and aimed at fe- 
 veral very confiderable perfons of the 
 Court - 3 but was difcovered before all their 
 meafures were concerted. They were ap- 
 prehended, and charged with it ; and being 
 put to their oaths denied it. Their own 
 hand- writing was then produced againn: 
 them : and being thus convicted of Per- 
 jury, they were adjudged to be carried on 
 horfe-back through Windfor, Reading, and 
 Newbury, with their faces to the horfes 
 tails, and then to ftand in the pillory in the 
 fame places j which was executed accord- 
 ingly. This difgrace funk fo deep in the 
 heart of Dr. London, that he died foon af- 
 ter in the Fleet prifon, in the year 1543 6 . 
 
 Tho' I doubt not but that e/ery com- 
 petent judge muft be fully fatisfied, upon the 
 mfl reading of this Report, of its inaccu- 
 racy in general, and of the apparent falf- 
 hood of many particulars in it ; and that, 
 
 6 Fox; A. Wood. Strype. Burnet. 
 
 Y 2 with 
 
324 THE LIFE OF 
 
 with regard to fome points more obfcure 
 and doubtful, very little credit will be 
 thought due to an author, who has been 
 fo egregioufly miflaken in others, where 
 the truth was fo eafily to be found ; yet I 
 think it necefTary to enter into a brief ex- 
 amination of the feveral articles of it, and 
 to point out diflinctly, what is true, falfe, 
 or doubtful in each, with the degree of 
 evidence, with which the truth or falfhood 
 of the particulars is proved. 
 
 i. Nothing can be more certain than 
 that Wykeham's family-name was not 
 Perot ; tho' Leland himfelf, mifled by this 
 informant, was of that opinion. This au- 
 thor does not affirm, that he was a Ballard ; 
 he only fays, that fome fuppofe it : how- 
 ever it does not at all appear, that it ever 
 was fuppofed by any one, before this infi- 
 nuation of his was publifhed. It is hard- 
 ly worth while to go about to confute fuch 
 a furmife not fupported by the leaft evi- 
 dence ; it deferves no other notice than a 
 bare denial of the truth of it : but that it 
 is abiblutely falfe, is in the higheH degree 
 probable, from the account given of his 
 Parents, and of the number of his rela- 
 tions both by the Father's and the Mother's 
 
 fide 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 325 
 lide from undoubted authorities. I mall 
 only add, that if Wykeham was a Baftard, 8 
 he could not have been admitted to any 
 Orders without a difpenfation from his 
 Diocefan, nor to Holy Orders without a 
 difpenfation from the Pope : the former 
 mufl have been granted to him by Edyng- 
 don Bifhop of Winchefrer before he or- 
 dained him Accolite, and the latter mull 
 have been tendered to the fame in order to 
 his being ordained by him Subdeacon j and 
 both would regularly have been entered in 
 his Regifter : yet no traces of any fuch 
 difpenfation in either cafe are to be found 
 there. What is added in the Bodleian 
 Manufcript, " Perot the parifh Clerk's fon 
 " of Wikam," is of the fame kind ; mani- 
 feftly falfe in one particular, for his Father's 
 name was not Perot ; and that either Perot, 
 or his Father, was parifh Clerk of Wick- 
 ham, is neither proved by any evidence, 
 nor favoured by any tradition. 
 
 2, 3, and 4. In thefe articles the Report 
 differs from all the authors that wrote 
 nearefl to Wykeham's time: they mention 
 not Wodale, or Uvedale, by name; but 
 
 7 See Appendix, N° XVIII. 
 . 8 I. CabafTutii Juris Canonici Theoria & Praxis, lib. 
 2. cap. 9. feci. 2. 
 
 Y 3 from 
 
326 T H E LIFE OF 
 
 from their account, and from a tradition 
 that ftill prevails, Uvedale is fuppofed to 
 have been Wykeham's patron, and to have 
 been the fame perfon with the Conftable of 
 Winchefler Cafde. The particular of Ed- 
 ward the third's meeting with Wykeham 
 firft at Winchefler, is deftitute of proof: 
 Archbifhop Parker fays, that he was firft 
 made known to the King at Windfor; 
 which is equally uncertain. The moil an- 
 tient authors only fay, that he was brought 
 to Court, and taken into the King's fervice. 
 
 5. Out of the particulars herein men- 
 tioned two are falfe : he never was Parfon 
 of St. Martin's, nor Archdeacon of Buck- 
 ingham. 
 
 7, 8, and 9. I find no evidence of his 
 ever having been Mailer of the Wards, or 
 Treafurer of the Revenues of France - y and 
 that he never was Treafurer of England, 
 very manifestly appeareth by the Public 
 Records. 
 
 ! 10. The contrary to this I think I have 
 proved beyond all doubt j and that not on- 
 ]y by probable arguments and confequences, 
 drawn from the circumftances of the hiftory 
 of thofe times, but by direct evidence from 
 
 Ol ,'■ J V -A 
 
 XvECOI QS\ 
 
 grubim t d 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 327 
 
 
 Records, fuch as was. hardly to be expected 
 in this caie. 
 
 11. What the Reporter adds in the next 
 article is merely an invention of his own, 
 drawn by confequence or conjecture from 
 the former; yet wholly improbable, even 
 allowing the truth of the former article. 
 
 12. This, without any circumftances 
 added of time or occafion, is very inaccu- 
 rate; fo that the contrary might be affirmed 
 in the fame manner with equal truth. 
 
 13. and 14. In the two concluding arti- 
 cles, the Reporter hath betrayed his ex- 
 treme ignorance of every thing relating to 
 the fubject, upon which he pretended to 
 give information. Any common chronicle 
 might have taught him better, and pre- 
 vented his running into fuch grofs errors. 
 And yet even in thefe, by pafnng under the 
 refpectable name of Leland, he has had 
 authority enough to miflead fucceeding 
 hiftorians, and has introduced the utmoft 
 confufion into this part of Wykeham's 
 hiftory. I have evidently and diftinclly 
 fhewn, that Wykeham's troubles were juft 
 of feven months continuance ; that he was 
 abfent from Court, being ordered not to 
 come within twenty miles of it, refiding 
 
 Y 4 chiefly 
 
328 THE LIFE OF 
 
 chiefly in the monafteries of Merton and 
 Waverly, jufr, two months; that he was 
 reftored by Edward the third, and that he 
 received his pardon from Richard the fe- 
 cond within fix weeks of his acceflion to the 
 throne. 
 
 Such is the Report, the falfhoods con- 
 tained in which, tho' at any time fo eafy to 
 be detected, yet have in fome degree crept 
 into mofl of our hiftories : a remarkable 
 proof of the extreme negligence of our hif- 
 torians, and how little their tefiimony is 
 to be depended upon, where it is not fup- 
 ported by clear and authentic evidence. 
 
 To ftate this cafe in a few words : it 
 appears from what has been faid, that Dr. 
 London was the author of the Report $ 
 that Leland only tranfcribed it; that he 
 has not given it any mark of his approba- 
 tion : on the contrary, it is highly pro- 
 bable, that the notes, added in the title and 
 margin, declaring the falfTiood and incre- 
 dibility of the greater! part of it, are his. 
 And yet merely becaufe it was found a- 
 rnong his Colleclions, cur Hiftorians have 
 taken it for Leland's own, and have given 
 credit to it, and propagated the belief of it, 
 under the fanclion of his authority. Hol- 
 
 linfhed 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 329 
 
 linfhed feems to have led the way in this 
 miftake : he has given in detail all the par- 
 ticulars therein mentioned, quoting Leland 
 for them. Others, tho' they have not ad- 
 opted the whole, yet have generally been 
 led into many errors by the fame mistaken 
 authority ; and there is hardly any account 
 of Wykeham written fince Leland's time, 
 but what has in fome degree been infected 
 with falfhood from the fame quarter. 
 
 A late anonymous Annotator to a late 
 Hiftorian, likewife anonymous, in the Col- 
 lection called the Complete Hiftory of Eng- 
 land, has retailed mod of thefe particulars, 
 with a defign, as it feems, of correcting 
 his author, who in his opinion had fpoken 
 too favourably of Wykeham j and has 
 added to them the following reflections : 
 " 8 The reward of good actions is to be 
 i{ expected according to the fincerity of 
 
 " the 
 
 8 Comp. Hift. of England, Vol. i. page 291. Mr. 
 Hearne having infinuated, that Bifhop Kennett was the 
 Author of this Note, the Bifhop in a Letter to Mr. 
 Hearne denied, that he was " the Author, Publisher, or 
 " Revifor of that Volume, or of any Note or Line in 
 " it." See the Preface to Vol. 4 th and 7 th of Leland's 
 Itinerary publifhed by Hearne. " He had no manner 
 " of hand in any branch of the two former [Volumes 
 ** of Comp. Hift. of England,] nor in the Preface to 
 
 " them, 
 
330 THE LIFE OF 
 
 " the heart. An orientation of Charity 
 " and the merit of Alms in thofe days put 
 " people on wicked courfes to fhew their 
 " beneficence to the Church and Church- 
 e< men. — No wonder he raifed fuch a 
 cc mighty eftate in his miniftry, confider- 
 " ing he lived in fo loofe a Government as 
 " that of King Richard the Second." I 
 fhall leave the reader to judge, as he mall 
 think proper, of the fpirit with which thefe 
 reflections are made, and of the grounds 
 upon which they are raifed. But with re- 
 gard to the laft claufe, the readers of this 
 Hirtory are to be reminded, that Wyke- 
 ham's miniftry was under Edward the 
 third, in, whofe time his eftate was raifed, 
 and in whofe time he conceived the whole 
 defign of his public charities, and began to 
 put it in execution ; that he bore no place 
 of profit under Richard the fecond, except 
 that of Chancellor, fomething more than 
 
 " them, which was written by Mr. Hughes ;" fays the 
 Author of Bifhop Kennett's Life, p. 33. 
 
 N. B. The author of this part of Comp. Hifl. of Eng- 
 land fiy?, that Wykeham was one of the Ambafladors fent 
 to Guihies to treat of Queen Ifabel's reiritution in 1401 ; 
 aad that he married Henry the fourth to the Duchefs of 
 Britany in St. Swythin's Church Winchefter, in Feb. 
 1402 — 3 : neither of which is true. 
 
 1 two 
 
WILLIAM OF- WYKE-HAM. 331 
 
 two years, which was forced upon him ; 
 and that however loofe this King's Govern- 
 ment might be, it was not chargeable upon 
 Wykeham^ who had no connection with 
 his minifters and favourites j but on the 
 contrary, was always applied to, and en- 
 trulted by the Parliament, as a fit perfon to 
 affifr. in the reforming and correcting the 
 enormities- fo much complained of in the 
 government. 
 
 Thus far has Wykeham undefervedly 
 fufFered in his reputation, through the ma- 
 lice and ingratitude, or at leaft the igno- 
 rance and prefumption, of a man, who 
 owed every thing to his bounty; a man, 
 who feems to have boldly undertaken to 
 inform others in a matter of importance, 
 in which he appears to have ufed no care 
 to inform himfelf ; one who was as void of 
 all regard to truth, as of refpeci to the me- 
 mory of his great benefactor. It is not to 
 be wondered, if others, who might be fup- 
 pofed upon any account to be influenced 
 by ill-will towards his memory, mould 
 have taken occafion from hence to load 
 him with infamy, and have endeavoured 
 to improve upon this firft efiay of calumny 
 and detraction. 
 
 This 
 
332 THE LIFE OF 
 
 This has been lately done, with a degree 
 of virulence that is almoft without exam- 
 ple, by one William Bohun of the Middle 
 Temple Efq;: 9 who having without any 
 juft caufe conceived a violent refentment 
 again.Il the Society of New College in Ox- 
 ford, nrft endeavoured, in the impotence of 
 
 his 
 
 5 Mr. Bohun had lent a fum of money to one Combes, 
 the Leiree of the Manor of Birchanger in EfTex under 
 College, and fued out an Execution againft him, 
 intending to feize on Combes's Term in Birchanger, as 
 a Chattel, by Sheriff's Writ, for the fecurity of his debt. 
 Combes in the mean time had made an Alignment of 
 his Leafe to Euftace Budgell Efq ; : fo that when the 
 Writ came to be executed, Combes had no Property in 
 EfTex, and the Sheriff was forced to return it with the 
 Indorfement of Nulla Bona. Mr. Bohun profecuted the 
 Sheriff for non execution of his Writ, who flood a 
 Trial, the event of which I know not. 
 
 The College had confirmed Combes's Alignment by 
 granting a new Leafe to Budgell: when in the year 
 1726 Bohun met the College Progrefs in EfTex, and 
 firft expoftulated with Mr. Pryor, then Fellow of the 
 College and acting upon that occafion as Deputy Stew- 
 ard, on the fuppofed injufiice of their proceedings; al- 
 ledging, that they had no authority to receive a Sur- 
 render, or make a Grant of an Kftatc, while (to ufe his 
 own cxprefiions) the King's Hands were upon it. Mr. 
 Pryor contented himfelf with anfwering, that the So- 
 ciety had not afted in that affair without taking due 
 :e, and that they were ready to juflify their con- 
 duct, whenever they fhould be called upon by a proper 
 - authority. 
 
 This was all that patted in Mr. Pryor's prefence : but 
 Dr. Bigg, Warden of the College, fent for Ivlr. Bohun 
 
 into 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 333 
 
 his wrath, to revenge himfelf by a vexa- 
 tious profecution commenced againft the 
 perfon of their worthy Governor : but not 
 fatisfied with this, and thinking he could 
 give them a blow, which would affecl: them 
 more fenfibly, by wounding the reputation 
 
 into the parlour of the houfe where the College Courts 
 were held, and there in the prefence of A4r. Budgell, 
 and Mr. Coker, (then Fellow of the College, and by his 
 office attending upon the Warden in his Progrefs ;, un- 
 dertook to reafon the matter with him calmly and dif- 
 paffionately in behalf of the Society's proceedings. But 
 finding himfelf unable to make any impreffion on him, 
 and high words arifing between Bohun and Budgell, 
 the Warden thought proper to withdraw. Soon after 
 Budgell having gradually moved Bohun off the end of 
 the bench on which they both fat, Bohun ftruck him, 
 and the Gentlemen exercifed their Canes on each other 
 pretty fmartly ; the confequence of which was victory 
 to Budgell, and a fevere beating to Bohun. 
 
 Bohun on his recovery, not only brought an Action 
 againft Budgell for an AfTault, but likevvife fwore the 
 Peace againft the Warden ; alledging, that he was a 
 Confederate with Budgell, and aiding and abetting to 
 him ; fince the Warden had invited Bohun into the 
 houfe, and ought to have protected him during his flay 
 in it. The Warden was obliged to attend in perfon at 
 Weftminfter-Hall, and to give Bail for his farther ap- 
 pearance; but Bohun proceeding no farther againft 
 him, the matter, fo far as concerned the Warden and 
 the College, dropped there. 
 
 This account has been communicated to me by two 
 Gentlemen of great honour and integrity, both therein 
 mentioned as prefent on the occafion ; John Coker of 
 Bicefter in the County of Oxford Efq; and Thomas 
 Pryor Efq; Steward of New College Oxford. 
 
 Of 
 
334 T HE LIFE OF 
 
 of their Founder, fet himfelf to collect 
 every thing he could meet with that was 
 capable of being reprefented to his difcre- 
 dit, and to improve it with new and hor- 
 rible calumnies of his own invention. Be- 
 ing a frequent Publifher, it feems, in the 
 way of his own Profeffion, he took care to 
 introduce into the next performance, which 
 he prefented to the world, his fcurrilous 
 Libel on the Illuftrious Dead : and it mud 
 be owned, he has introduced it with Angu- 
 lar propriety ; for it comes in by way of 
 illuftration on the fubjecl: of Scandalum 
 Magnatum. The Eook itfelf is intitled The 
 Englifh Lawyer '. As it is not of funi- 
 cient note to be eafily met with by any one 
 who fhall think it worth his while, upon 
 this occafion, to enquire after it j and as I 
 would deal fairly by the reader, and lay 
 before him the whole charge that this au- 
 thor has brought againft Wykeham, that 
 he may be the better able to judge of the 
 truth of it ; I mult here trouble him with a 
 large extract from it of every thing which 
 it contains to that purpofe; which is as 
 follows \ 
 
 f London, 8vo. 1732, 
 * Pag. 200 203, 
 
 " But 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 335 
 
 " But the truth of the cafe <« ji ie occafion 
 " as to the motives or occafion " oftheStat. 2. 
 <c of making the Stat. 2. R. 2. " ] 2 * 
 
 " was thus. In the declining years 
 
 " of King Edward 3. W. Wickbam Bifhop 
 " of Wincbefter, in whom that King in- 
 " tirely confided, had found means to in- 
 " troduce his Niece or Sifter (the famed 
 " Alice Tierce) to the King's Favour and 
 " Bed; and by her means had got into 
 " the chief management of the Councils 
 t£ and Revenues of the Kingdom, fo far as 
 lt to exclude even the King's Sons the Black 
 " Prince, and John of Gaunt, " The quarrel 
 " from intermeddling in pub- !! JSSl? w : 
 
 ■-. LL. . ° ,0 Wickhamand 
 
 " lie aftairs. This conduct » j hn of 
 " of Wickbam raifed high re- " Gaunt." - 
 " fentments in the Prince and Gaunt againfl 
 jtc Wickbam and his party (who were the 
 " body of the Prelates and EccleJia/licsJ 
 <{ and poflibly might occafion their favour- 
 " ing of Wicklief, &c. who then firft ap- 
 " peared in oppofition to the Ecclefiaftic 
 fC Hierarchy. They both purfued the 
 tc matter with fo much earneftnefs as to 
 " obtain an order for the removal of 
 <c Wickbam and Alice from the perfon of 
 " the King. But before this could be fully 
 
 " effected 
 
336 THELIFEOF 
 
 <c effected the Prince died, fufpecled of 
 " being poifoned by a zealot againfl herefy 
 " (or one of Alices agents). However the 
 <c contefl went on between Gaunt and Wick- 
 V See the firft « ham, and Gaunt charges 
 
 "SargeV^nft " Wickham with embezzling 
 «? Wickham." " above i, 100,000 pounds of 
 " the public money, a prodigious fum, 
 " above ten millions of our money; and if 
 * £ true (as there is good ground to believe 
 H for a great part) might well enable him 
 " to found and endow his colleges out of 
 " the plunder of the public." 
 
 " But this charge by Gaunt againfl 
 " The rage and " Wickham, and his favour- 
 
 << Prdat a es° f a- the " ing Wicklief, &c. fo fpirited 
 *« gainit " the rage of the Prelates and 
 
 "Gaunt." « Clergy againfl Gaunt, that 
 
 " their utmofl malice was employed, and 
 <c even the pulpit itfelf profiituted to fcan- 
 tc dalize and defame him. Infidel and He- 
 " retic were their fofter terms :. Tray tor. and 
 " Rebel were more common : he was ge- 
 " nerally reprefented by them as one that 
 Jted the kingdom, o£ which to render 
 him utterly incapable, .they faid he. was a 
 " Suppojititious Child^, a Bajlard, &c. of 
 " which report Wickham was doubtlefs the 
 
 « Promoter, 
 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 337 
 
 Promoter, if not the Author. For it was 
 " induftrioufly reported among the Pre- 
 ct lates and Clergy, that Queen Ifabel had 
 <c on her ; death-bed confeffed to Wickham 
 " that Gaunt was the fon of a Fktnijh wo- 
 " man, and not the fon of her or the King. 
 "But this report was not openly fpread 
 " till after the death of King Edward the 
 « Third." 
 
 " But notwithstanding the malice of 
 «■ Wickham and the Clergy prevailed fome- 
 <c what on the Commons, yet Gaunt found fo 
 < c much favour and intereft among the 
 « { temporal nobility, as upon Edward the 
 << Third's death to be conftituted Protector 
 tC of the young King Richard II. and the 
 " kingdom." 
 
 « Hereupon a new profe- „ But being re- 
 " cution was commenced a- " conciled, the 
 « gxmftWickham for Forgery, " Statute pafled." 
 " Bribery, Corruption, &c. and new fcandals 
 " were raifed againft Gaunt-, but in the 
 " end, by folicitation of the Prelates on 
 " one fide, and the Temporal Peers on the 
 {< other, an accommodation pafled between 
 " them ; and upon Gaunt's dropping the 
 ** profecution Wickham took his oath in 
 Z " full 
 
338 .. THE LIFE OF 
 
 C£ full Parliament that he was neither the 
 7 Author, nor would be the Fautor of thofe 
 tc fcandalsj and utterly difavowed the 
 u mention of his illegitimacy by Queen 
 *' Jfabcl: and urged that the authors of 
 " that report had fcandalized him more 
 ic than they had the Duke; and earneftly 
 " prefied, that the authors and fpreaders of 
 Ci thofe reports might be punifhed, &c. as 
 " a fcandal thrown on a Right Reverend 
 tc Prelate, as well as on amoft noble Duke* 
 " And hereupon was enacted the Sta- 
 r< tute 2. R. 2. 
 * wickham al- « ^ s to ^ statute 12. R. 2. 
 
 « of i^r/T " * can at prefent fey little 
 * ; c. 2." <c more than that I find Wick- 
 
 " ham was this year again made Chancellor; 
 " and poffibly remembring the old quarrel, 
 " was willing to footh and mollify the 
 " Duke's difpofition towards him. And as 
 *j on occafion he was a moft artful flatterer, 
 *' 11) knowing the utmoft of the Duke's de- 
 " fires was to have the honour of his birth 
 guarded againft fueh a horrid (or horri- 
 ble fcandal, as the Act calls it) and 
 ."knowing that high dignity without the 
 *' Duke's favour would but rip up old 
 ** wounds, he therefore anticipates the 
 o c Dukes 
 
 11 
 
 it 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 339 
 
 c ' Duke's wifhes, and procures the Act of 
 tc 12 R. 2. a)moft in the fame terms as the 
 " former, with a further puniflment (befides 
 " imprifonment) by the advice of the (Kings 
 \\ or Kingdoms) Council." 
 
 " I have but briefly hinted at fome few 
 " things in Wickhams ftory, which, were 
 ct the whole enlarged as it might, would 
 " prove that Prelate to have a genius far 
 
 (C 
 
 fuperior to any modern Bi/hop, Chancel- 
 " lory or Lord Treafurcr, who had the art 
 tl and addrefs during eight or ten years of 
 " a profound peace, not only to fcreen the 
 " whole revenues of the kingdom through 
 <c his own fingers; or, as the articles fay, 
 " had the whole difpofal of the King's mo- 
 <c ney both here and beyond lea, with all 
 <c the fubfidies and aids both great and 
 ct fmall ; but alfo the price paid for the re- 
 « € demption of the two Kings of Franc* 
 if and Scotland with the money given by 
 c the inhabitants or Burgundy to redeem 
 c ' their country from military execution ; 
 u as alfo 100,000 franks from the Duke of 
 u Millain, with prefects and gifts front 
 <c other princes 5 Jo that from 26 Nov. i£ 
 cc Ed. 7. to 47 or that reign, the -money 
 f 1 computed to be heaped up by him, a- 
 X 2 " mounted 
 
34& T H E L I F & 6 F 
 
 <l mounted to 1,109,600/. which vaft Turn 
 ft this Prelate is charged to have received, 
 a and yet tho' in time of peace, both the 
 "King and Kingdom by his artful ma- 
 " nagement was run in debt ; of which he 
 tl acquitted hirrifelf, by rendring himfelf 
 " unaccountable ; and at length (when 
 " Chancellor) acquitted himfelf by palling 
 " his own pardon, &c" 
 
 Thus far our author in his Englifh 
 Lawyer : but being fenfible that his malice 
 was like to prove very innocent, and would 
 be in a great meafure loft, while it lay hio* 
 fir "his own obfcure volume; he took the 
 firft opportunity that offered itfelf, tho' it 
 wa'S many years firfl, of publifhing his li- 
 ber more effectually, by tacking it on to a 
 work of fome credit, and that would be 
 iftore generally read. The vehicle, that he 
 ifiade'ufe of for thispurpofe, was Nathaniel 
 Bacon's Hiftorical and Political Difcourfe 
 of the Laws and Government of England. 
 A .new edition of this book was publifhed 
 in the year' 1739. The Bookfellers, who 
 Were engaged in it, employed Mr. Bohun 
 ~to' correct the prefs. What elfe he under- 
 took, I know" not; but this is the whole 
 ■JfJatV'fie ftaS performed to give him a claim 
 2 to 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 341 
 t;o the title of Editor, except that he. has. 
 added a very few notes, fcattered,here and 
 there in the margin, containing hardly .any 
 thing befide the foregoing calumnies againfi 
 Wykeham, drawn into a narrower com- 
 pafs, and introduced as occafion bed ferved. 
 The notes relating to Wykeham, (and they 
 are by much the greater!: part of the whole,) 
 are as follows. • » „ 
 
 Bacons Difcourfe, page 4. (fpeaking of 
 
 Ed. 3.) " to die in his minority under 
 
 " the rule of a woman of none of the befl 
 " fame."] Marginal note, " /. e. Alice Piers 
 " W. Wickham's niece, or &c. and by him 
 " laid in the King's bofom." 
 
 Ibid. p. 5. " the Duke of Lancaiter 
 
 " engaged with the Wicclififts."] Note, 
 " This induced the Ecclefiaflics (efpecially 
 " Wickham, &c.) to publifh moft mali 
 " cious fcandals againft Gaunt, which oc- 
 " cafioned the feveral ftatutes De Scandalis 
 " Magnatum, 5. & 10. R. 2." 
 
 Ibid. p. 37. " Stat. 2. cap. 5. Rich. 2. 
 " to apprehend heretics."] Note, " This 
 " pretended ftatute feems to have been 
 " formed by the artifice of Bifhop Wick- 
 : " ham (then Chancellor) and by him fhuf- 
 " fled in amongft the rolls of Parliament. 
 Z 3 «"6ee 
 
342 THE LIFE OF 
 
 " See the complaint of the Commons /»- 
 
 " fra." 
 
 Ibid. p. 66. " a law that all fuch as 
 
 " publifhed fuch falfe news, to fow fTrife 
 <e between great men," — with reference to 
 " 2 R. 2. c. 6. & j 2 R. 2. c. ii.] Note, 
 " Thefe fiatutes were made on occafion of 
 fc a quarrel between William Wickham 
 " Bifhop of Wincheiler and John of Gaunt, 
 " who had been fcandaloufly reflected on 
 cc by Wickham and his Clergy, even in 
 " their pulpits. See Wickham's Life." 
 
 Tho', after what I have already written 
 upon this fubject , the bare reporting of fo 
 groundlefs, fo malicious, and fo abfurd a 
 collection of flander, would be a fuffkient 
 confutation of it ; yet I (hall take the trou- 
 ble of reviewing it, and examining the fe- 
 veral particulars which it contains, in order 
 to kt the truth in the cleared and fuller! 
 light that my materials will enable me 
 to do. 
 
 To confider in the firfl place the charge 
 of Wykeham's connection with Alice Per- 
 rcrs. This Lady was Maid of Honour " to 
 
 Edward 
 
 * This circum ft.ince alone renders the account, 
 which the author of MS. HarJeian. N Q 6217, chap. 8, 
 
 gives 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 343 
 
 Edward the Third's Queen Philippa : 
 whoever the perfon was that recommended 
 her to the Queen's fervice, he might perhaps 
 a<5l very rightly and commend ably in lb 
 doing, and could not be anfwerable for the 
 confequences. In this ftation (he could not 
 efcape the King's notice, nor would flie 
 ftand in need of any other recommenda- 
 tion to his favour, befide that of her own 
 beauty and accomplifliments. Mr. Bohun 
 fays, flie was introduced to the King in his 
 declining years j Bacon calls it his minority, 
 meaning, I fuppofe, his dotage : in this the} 
 
 gives of Alice Perrers's low birth, very improbable. 
 However, as it is an anecdote, I fhall prefent" it to the 
 Reader : " There was at the fayme tyme in Englande 
 '[ a fhamlefle woman and wanton harlott called Ales 
 " Peres, of bafe kynred, for flie was a wever's dough ter 
 " of the towne of Hunneye, [in the margin, Hunneyie, 
 v ' byfyds Exceflur as fome fupofe.] but helped by for- 
 ** tune, beyng nether bewtilull nor fay re, (he knew hoi > 
 " to cover thefe defects with her flatterynge tounge ; 
 " whom fortune had fo exalted, (of a poore fervant 
 " and harlott of a certen foole that ufed with his hands 
 " to carye water from the coundnet to mens howfes 
 " for neceflarye ufes) that fhe had promoted her to the 
 " familiarytye of the kynge more then Mas convenyent, 
 " and, the Quene yet lyvynge, iholde prefer her in. the 
 " kynge's love before the faied Quene. This woman 
 " after flue was in the kynge's frendfhipp had fo be- 
 " witched hym, that he permytted the warres and 
 " greateft matters, of the realme to be defyned by her 
 
 " councell." 
 
 Z 4 are 
 
J<H THE LIFE OF 
 iH*e both miftaken, as indeed are all oar 
 kte Historians. Tlie truth of the matter 
 is, that Alice Perrers had gained the King's 
 good graces above ten years at leaft before 
 he.died.. How much earlier the date of his 
 affection for her ought to be placed, I can- 
 not fay; but from the beginning of the 
 forty firft year of his reign, when he was 
 not a very old man, and far from a 
 dotard, even our Records themfelves carry 
 evident proofs of it. Her intereft in the 
 Kkrg was by this time throughly eftablifh- 
 ed ; for from henceforward to the end of 
 his reign there hardly pafTed any year, in 
 which lhe did not obtain very confiderable 
 grants from the crown. Mr. Bohun is 
 pleafed to fay, that me was " introduced to 
 <{ the King's favour and bed," and after- 
 wards improving upon his expreflion, that 
 fhe was " laid in the King's bofom, by 
 " Wykeham." A bare aiiertion of his, of 
 fuch ba . nature, for which he produces no 
 voobher, and for which he could not pof- 
 fddjfB have any ta produce, would be pro- 
 perty anfwered, and fufficiently refuted by 
 s/sbare deniah Ba.tt.we need, not reft the 
 matter ■• upon.;! this iffue: .we may ap- 
 peal' to , hiuborv- . for. the. determination . of it. 
 bMT We 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 345 
 
 We have the concurrent tefHmony of his- 
 torians to prove, that Wykeham was ba- 
 niihed from Court, and Gripped of his 
 temporalties, by the united influence of 
 Alice Perrers and the Duke of Lancafter ; 
 they give not the leaft intimation of his 
 having gotten into the chief management 
 of the councils and revenues of the king* 
 dom by the means of Alice Perrers - 3 on the 
 contrary, they give a very different account 
 of his rife, and afcribe it to other cauies* 
 and thofe wholly of another kind. I have 
 already proved from unqueftionable autho- 
 rities, that Alice Perrers was at one time 
 Wykeham's avowed and bitter enemy : 
 hiftory affords not the leaff. colour of proof, 
 that there ever fubfifted between them any 
 particular connection of friendfhip. 
 
 But fays Mr. Bohun, " Alice Perrers 
 " was Wykeham's niece, or filler 5" and 
 afterwards, that he might allow full fcope 
 to the invention of any other forger of ca- 
 lumny that might fucceed him, " his niece, 
 " or, &c." He is doubtful of the relation, 
 thinks it belt, to abide by that of niece, as 
 mofr. probable, but is rather willing to have 
 it thought fome other, in the prefent cafe, 
 or in its general nature, more infamous. 
 
 This 
 
346 THELIFEOF 
 
 This particular of Alice Perrers being 
 Wykeham's near relation, is a circumflance 
 which he has laid hold of and improved 
 from a mere furmife of Archbifhop Parker, 
 which the Archbifhop indeed exprefVes with 
 much doubt and hefitation. ct 2 Among 
 " which Legacies" (fays he, fpeaking of 
 Wykeham's Will) " one hundred pounds 
 <c are bequeathed to Alice Perot his kinf- 
 <£ woman : whether this perfon was the fame 
 tc with her whom the hiftorians call Alice 
 " Penes, by whom, as we have faid, he was 
 " reconciled to the King, is uncertain." 
 The Archbifhop in fome other inftances 
 has not treated Wykeham with that can- 
 dor, which belonged to his own character, 
 and was due to Wykeham's. What he 
 fays of the extreme lownefs and fervile con- 
 dition of his birth, of his total deficiency 
 in learning, of his recovering his tempo- 
 ralties by bribing Alice Perrers, (which, by 
 the way, one would think was a method 
 
 1 " Inter quae legata ioo /. AliciaePerot confanguineqp 
 " fuse conceduntur : qusean eadem fucritquam Aliciam 
 " Perres hiftoriographi nuncnpant, cujus, lit diximns, 
 " gratia Regi reconciliatus fuerit, incertum eft." Antiq. 
 Britan. ad an. 1376. 
 
 6 he 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 347 
 
 he needed not to have had recoun'e to, had 
 fhe been his near relation) are of this kind j 
 founded on no fufficient proof and indeed 
 for the moft part deftitute of probability ; 
 as I have already fhewn. " '' He was always 
 <c a frugal man," (adds he) J' and by his 
 <c very parfimony acquired great wealth." 
 This, though it may be interpreted in a 
 favourable fenfe and as a commendation, 
 yet furely belongs not to the portrait which 
 he is drawing; it bears no refemblance to 
 the open-hearted and generous Wykeham, 
 whofe life was one continued courie of li- 
 beralitv and munificence. As to the Arch- 
 bifhop's conjecture above mentioned, it is 
 fo deftitute of ail proper foundation; that it 
 would ha idly be worth conficlerinrr, were it 
 not that his authority may poi: ' ' I ive fome 
 weight to ir, It appears to be wholly buih 
 on the firnilitude of names \ an4 tjjat too 
 very flight and impei f eel. The chriftian 
 name is indeed the fame: but it muft be 
 obferved, that Alice was a iiame very much 
 in vogue in that age, and perhaps the moft 
 common female name of any whatever. I 
 
 3 " Vir Temper frugi fuit, atque ipfa pariimonia quse- 
 '"' Hum fecit maximum." Ibid. 
 
 remember 
 
34 8 I$ktae L I F E. Q F aw 
 remember to have obfervedin Wykeham's V 
 regifter a lift of nuns, near half of whom 
 (five out of thirteen) were Alices. No- 
 thing therefore can be concluded from 
 hence. As for the furnames j Perrers is 
 exprefTed in the records with much varia- 
 tion j it is alfo written Perers, Perreres, and 
 de Pereris : but the name of Wykeham's 
 niece, which likewife occurs in many records 
 of unqueftionable authority, is, in all that I 
 havefeen, invariably Perot; very different in 
 orthography from the former, which way 
 foever written, and not at all like it in 
 found. So that the true ftate of the cafe is 
 this : the names at firft fight are very little 
 alike ; and when you come to examine them, 
 they plainly appear to be quite different. 
 Here is no room for an argument, or even 
 for a conjecture : I might juft as well fup- 
 pofe, or go about to prove by the fame 
 medium of fimilitude of names, that the 
 Bifho'p's coufin John Wykeham and .the 
 famous John WyklifF were one and the 
 fame perfon. 
 
 This is enough to fatisfy -any one that is 
 not polTefled with the fame fpirit with Mr, 
 Bohun. However, it will be eafy to ck~. 
 
 3?art 3 .b.fbl.i82. ;; , ./ ; . ; 
 
 moriftrate 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. $4$ 
 
 monftrate by matter of fact and the hiftory 
 of each of them, that Alice Perrers and 
 Alice Perot were two different perfons. 
 Perrers was the family name of the former; 
 Alice : fhe 4 continued unmarried till after 
 the firft Parliament of Richard the Second, 
 when fhe became the wife of Sir William 
 de Wyndefore, who had been Lieutenant 
 of Ireland in the end of Edward the Third's 
 time, and in whole behalf fhe had influ- 
 enced the King to reverfe an order of 
 Council, which was one of the articles of 
 the charge brought againft her in Parlia- 
 ment. Sir William de Wyndefore died* 
 
 in 
 
 ; ♦ Mr. Carte, who, after the example of Barnes, un- 
 dertakes the defence of this Lady's honour, is miftakeo 
 in affirming, that (he was actually married to Sir Wil- 
 liam Wyndefore in Edward the Third's time ; which is 
 his principal argument in her favour. That (he was 
 not married to him till after the firft Parliament of 
 Richard the Second is plain from hence, that hitherto 
 fhe is called in the Parliament Rolls Alice Perrers ; af- 
 terwards, Alice the wife of Sir William de Wyndefore, 
 late called Alice Perrers. Rot. Pari. 2 R. 2. and 8 R. 2. 
 As alfo in the following Record : " Bona Alicise uxo- 
 ** ris dilefti noftri Wilhelmi de Wyndefore Chivaler no- 
 " bis foris facia virtute judicii contra prsedift. Aliciam 
 
 M per nomen Alicia Perrers in Pari. an. reg. 1." 
 
 MS. Rymer. R. 2. vol. a. N° 139. 
 
 5 The probate of the will of Sir William Wynde- 
 fore is dated Sep. 19, 1384. His will is nuncupative; 
 
 he 
 
3^0 THE LIFE OF 
 
 in the year 1384, leaving no ifliie by her : 
 fhe lived, and continued a widow, till the 
 latter end of Richard the Second's time ; 6 
 after which we hear no more of her. The 
 7 family name of the other Alice, the 
 daughter of Agnes, Wykeham's filler, was 
 Chawmpeneys : fhe was married to Wil- 
 liam Perot fome years before the death of 
 Edward the Third j for John the youngefl 
 of her three fons was admitted Fellow of 
 New College Oxford in the year 1395) and 
 fo was born probably about the end of 
 Edward the Third's, or the beginning of 
 Richard the Second's reign : and her eldefr. 
 ion" William was married in the year 1396, 
 with the Bifhop's approbation, and was at 
 leaft of full age, probably fome years above. 
 She and her hufband William Perot were 
 both alive, and appeared in the Court of 
 King's Bench, in the eleventh year of Henry 
 the Fourth. All which particulars of un- 
 doubted matter of fact being laid together 
 
 he does not fo much as mention his wife in it, whofe 
 eftates, I ftippofe, had been fecured to her before ; and 
 only makes fome bequefts to his brother's fons ; from 
 whence I conclude he had no ifTue. Regift. Wykeham, 
 part 3. b. fol. 62. 
 
 See Cotton's Abridgment, 21 R. 1. 
 3 See Appendix, N* I. III. IV. & XVIII. 
 
 and 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 351 
 
 and compared, it appears to be utterly im- 
 poffible, that the faid two Alices, even 
 though their furnames were really the lame, 
 could be one and the fame perfon. 
 
 So much for Archbifliop Parker's con- 
 jecture, of which Mr. Bohun has made fuch 
 good ufe. In the remaining part of the 
 fame paragraph, he has confounded all 
 hiftoryj he has united the Prince of Wales 
 and Duke of Lancafter in oppofition to 
 Wykeham and Alice Perrers j whereas it 
 was the Prince of Wales and Wykeham 
 againft the Duke of Lancafter and Alice 
 Perrers : he makes the Prince of Wales 
 one of WicklifFs favourers, though he 
 died aim oft a year before Wick lift's 
 affair came in queftion : he fays, that 
 Wykeham and Alice Perrers were removed 
 from Court together, whereas it is certain 
 that Wykeham was removed in confequence 
 of Alice Perrers being reinftated in her 
 power there. te But before the removal 
 l< of Wykeham and Alice could be effect- 
 " ed," (it was not before the actual remo- 
 val of Alice j it was before the removal of 
 Wykeham was attempted or thought of) 
 " the Prince of Wales died, fufpecred of 
 " being poilbned bv a zealot againft here- 
 
 " fy, 
 
352 THE LIFE OF 
 
 " fy, or one of Alice's agents." Though 
 Wykeham never diflinguifhed himfelf as a 
 zealot againfr. herefy, nor was ever before 
 fufpected of being one of Alice's agents, yet 
 every one fees that this impudent infinua- 
 tion is aimed at him. But the abfurdity of 
 this writer is equal even to his malice, and 
 very happily counterworks the effects of 
 it. Bcfides that there never was any fuf- 
 picion of the Prince of Wales's being poi- 
 foncd, it is notorious, that he was feized 
 with the difeafe, which irrecoverably de- 
 frroyed his constitution, in his expedition 
 into Spain, ten years before his death; 
 that he did not return to England till three 
 or four years after that expedition, when 
 he was quite difabled from attending to 
 his affairs in Acquitaine, and his cafe was 
 in a manner defperate : that in England, 
 except that in the year after his return he 
 feemed to be for a little while fomewhat bet- 
 ter, his diftemper gradually increafed, and, 
 though later than was expected, brought 
 him at length to his grave. Would this 
 libeller fuppofe, that one of Alice's agents 
 poifoned the Prince fo long before in Spain ? 
 or at laft, and at home, when he was other- 
 wife vifibiy dying ? Why fhould we fup- 
 pofe 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 353 
 
 pofe it done by a zealot againft. herefy, when 
 the Prince was never in the lean: fufpecl:ed 
 of favouring heretics ? But the reader mud 
 ty this time think, that I prefume too much 
 en his patience, in imagining, that he will 
 accompany me in an examination in detail 
 of fuch an incoherent: collection of falfhood 
 and (lander. For what remains therefore, 
 relating to jhe accufation brought againft 
 Wykeham by the Duke of Lan carter at the 
 end of Edward the Third's reign, and the 
 report of the Queen's confeflion to him 
 upon her death-bed, I mall refer him to 
 what I have already faid upon thole heads ; 
 and ihall only add in brief, that Mr. Bo- 
 hun not writing from hiltory, where he 
 knew that what he wanted could not be 
 found, but froru his own head, miltakes 
 Queen Ifabel Edward the Third's mother 
 for Queen Philippa his wife: that what he 
 fays of the Prelates and the Clergy, or 
 "\Vykeham and his Clergy, proilituting their 
 pulpits to defame the Duke of Laiicailer, is 
 purely an invention of his own: and that 
 the next three paragraphs are .of the fame 
 kind, utterly deftitute of all manner, of 
 foundation, and contain not fo much as 
 le word of truth. The Duke of Lancaf- 
 A a ter 
 
 
THE LIFE OP 
 
 ter was never conftituted Protector of the 
 King and kingdom; no new profecution 
 was ever commenced againff. Wykeham ; 
 no one circumflance of all that he relates 
 in confequence of it ever exifted; Wyke- 
 ham was not Chancellor in the Parliament 
 of the twelfth year of Jlichard the Second, 
 nor in the firft year of the fame reign, 
 when his pardon was paffed ; nor had ei- 
 ther of the A6ts of Parliament, which he 
 has made the chief ground-work of his 
 flanders upon Wykeham, any the leafl re- 
 lation to him or his affairs. 
 
 Thus much may fully fuffice for the 
 Englifh Lawyer: but we have not yet 
 quite done with the Annotator on Bacon. 
 Not content with having in his firft per- 
 formance accufed Wykeham of being pan- 
 dar to the King; of proftituting his own 
 niece, or filler, or &c , of poifoning the 
 Prince of Wales; all monftrous calum- 
 nies of his own diabolical invention, which 
 one would have thought muft have been 
 by this time exhaufled; he has now ano- 
 ther charge to bring againfl- him, and that 
 of no lefs a crime than forging an Act of 
 Parliament. <c This pretended Statute'' 
 
 (Stat. 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. fjft 
 
 (Stat. 2. chap. 5. 5 R. 2. againft heretics) 
 c< feems to have been formed by the arti- 
 lC fice of Bifhop Wykeham, then Chancel- 
 * lor, and by him muffled in amongft the 
 " Rolls of Parliament." He makes no 
 fcruple of grounding an accufation of the 
 moft flagitious crime upon the (lighten: 
 furmife. You fee, the whole force of the 
 proof arifes from that one circumftance of 
 Wykeham's being then Chancellor. But 
 could any one imagine, that the man could 
 poffibly have the impudence to fay this, 
 when he muftknow, that his reader would 
 find by the fir ft chronicle he turned to, 
 that Wykeham was not Chancellor within 
 feven years of this time ? I (hall not enter 
 into a difcuflion of this affair, fince it no- 
 wife concerns Wykeham. Our author 
 borrowed the accufation of Lord Coke • he 
 has only by a fmall flight of hand transfer- 
 red it from one perfon to another. Lord 
 Coke 8 charges the inrolling of this Statute, 
 as a fraud, on Braybroke Bifhop of Lon- 
 don, whom he fuppofes to have been at 
 that time Chancellor : but a late 9 worthy 
 
 - 3. Tnft.cirap. 5. 
 
 9 See BHhop Gibfon's Codex, p. 399. 
 
 A. a 2 fuccefTor 
 
356 TH^ LIFE OF 
 fucceflbr of his in that fee has very well de- 
 fended him againft this imputation, upon 
 the fuppofition, that he was indeed then 
 Chancellor ; whereas ? in. truth Bray broke 
 was not then Chancellor, but Richard Le 
 Scrope a Layman. 
 
 I have now fairly laid before the reader 
 every thing that I can findj which has been 
 at any time alledged to the difcredit of 
 Wykeham : much of it of that fort, which 
 nothing but the obfeurity, in which all 
 private and perfonal hiftory of thofe times 
 lies involved, and the confidence, that any 
 charge of this kind boldly affirmed would 
 not eafily admit of a direct confutation, 
 could have encouraged the mofr. determined 
 malice to utter. But notwithstanding 
 thefe difadvantages, I hope I have fet every 
 thing material in fo clear a light, as to 
 leave no room for doubt in any unprejudi- 
 ced mind : it would have been enough, to 
 have fhewn, that thefe allegations are all 
 
 1 The Parliament of 5 R. 2. finifhed its feifion on 
 Feb. 25, i38"i-2. Wake, State of the Church, pag. 
 313. The writ to the Sheriff for proclamation of the 
 A els of that Parliament, and of this Statute among the 
 reft, is dated May 26 following. Stat, at large. Bray- 
 broke did not receive the Great Seal till September 20. 
 afterwards. Rymer's Foedera, Vol. 7. p. 362. 
 
 deftitute 
 
WILLIAM OF WYKEHAM. 357 
 
 deftitute of proof ; I think I have demon- 
 ftrated their falfity. I mall only add, that, 
 from the experience, which I have had in 
 my inquiries into this fubjecl:, I am fully 
 perfuaded, that the reputation and charac- 
 ter of Wykeham will always gain by being 
 accurately examined, and fully laid open 5 
 that, whatever new difcoveries may be made 
 in the general hiftory of his time, or what- 
 ever unexpected lights may be thrown upon 
 his particular affairs', they will all tend to 
 advance his honour -, and that nothing but 
 evidence and truth is required to fet forth 
 his life and actions to the greateft advan- 
 tage. 
 
 • 
 
 APPEN- 
 
 (51 .?.bi«v 
 
P P E N D I X. 
 
 N° I. 
 
 E Veteri Regiftro Coll. Winton. 
 
 LICIA, qu« fult foror Johannis Longe patrls 
 Domini Wilhelmi Wykeham Epifcopi Wyn- 
 ton & fundatoris iftius Collegii, defponfata 
 fuit Johanni Archemore, ex quibus procefTerunt trede- 
 cim filice, quarum una vocabatnr Emma, mater Johan- 
 na Warner & Wilhelmi Carpenter. 
 
 Altera vocabatur Margeria, mater Ediths Rynge- 
 borne & Ifabellse Mavyle & Johannis Rokle. 
 
 Altera vocabatur Alicia, mater Roberti Mavyle de 
 Strata Hyde Wynt. 
 
 Altera vocabatur Matilda, ex qua proceffit Agnes ad- 
 huc vivens in Weft-Stratton, ex qua proceffit Johanna 
 defponfata Johanni Bolne in Com. Suflex. 
 
 Altera vocabatur Johanna, mater ZelotGe quae mora- 
 batnr apud Weftmeone. 
 
 Agnes Chawmpeneys, foror Domini Wilhelmi Wyke- 
 ham fuadatoris noftri, fuit mater Alicise Perott, qusc 
 Alicia fuit mater Thomse Wykeham Militis. 
 
 Item lecundum quofdam Wiihelmus Stratton pro- 
 creavit de Amicia Stratton, filia Domini de Stratton 
 juxta Seaborne, quatuor filios, Ricardum, Stephanum, 
 Robertum, & Johannem, qui obierunt fine liberis ; ac 
 etiam tr s filias, fell. Aliclam, Julianam, & Alienonim. 
 
 Aliciam duxit Wiihelmus Bowadein uxorem, de qua 
 habuit filiam nomine Sibillam, quam Johannes Longe 
 duxit in uxorem, ex qua procrcavit filium nomine Wil- 
 helirvm Epifcapum Wint. & filiam nomine Agnetem, 
 quae Agues habuit filiam nomine Aliciam, quam Wiihel- 
 mus Perott duxit in uxorem, ex qua procreavit tres fi- 
 lios, Wilhelmum, Johannem, & Thomam, mortuos 
 nunc ; qui Thomas vocabatur Wykeham Miles, & duxit 
 
 a in 
 
ii APPENDIX. 
 
 in uxorem filiam Wilhelmi Wylkecys Armig. de qua 
 prpcreavit filios & filias. 
 
 Julianam Amitam matris Fundatoris duxit Ricardus 
 Botefle in uxorem, de qua habuit filiam nomine Em- 
 mam, quam Ricardus Benet duxit in uxorem, de qua 
 habuit filium nomine Ricardum. 
 
 Alienoram Amitam matris Fundatoris duxit in uxo- 
 rem Ricardus Kerfwell de Stokebrigg, de qua procrea- 
 vit iiliam nomine Elizabetham, quam Rog. Goryng de 
 Sarum duxit in uxorem, de qua habuit filiam nomine 
 Johannam. 
 
 Item fecundum alios Johannes Longe pater Fundato- 
 ris habuit fratrem nomine Henricum Aas, qui Henricus 
 Aas habuit tres filios, "Wilhelmum, Ricardum, &Radul- 
 phnm : Radelphus ifte habuit filium nomine Wilhel- 
 mum, & tres filias, s. Feliciam olim AbbatifTam. de 
 Romefeye. 
 
 K° II. 
 
 Ex Origlnali in Archivis Coll. Wiflt. 
 
 HJEC indentura facia inter Reverendum in Chrifto 
 Patrem & Dominum Dominuin Wilhelmum de 
 Wikeham'permiflione divina Epifcopum Wynton. ex par- 
 te una, & Nicholaum de Wikeham, Archidiaconum 
 Wiltes, Johannem de Wikeham Perfonam Eccleflae de 
 Crundale, Johannem de Campeden, & Wilhelmum 
 Ryngeborne, ex parte altera, teftatur quod dicti Nicho- 
 laus & Johannes de Wikeham, Johannes de Campeden, 
 & Wiihelmus Ryngeborne, per prcefentes conceflerunt Sc 
 dimiferunt diclo Domino Epifcopo maneria fua de 
 Burnham & Brene in Com. Somerf. cum omnibus fuis 
 pertinent, habendum & tenendum dicta maneria eidem 
 Domino Epifcopo ad totam viram fnam : ita quod pofl 
 mortem dicti domini Epifcopi, prsedi&a maneria de 
 Burnham & Brene cum fuis pertinent, integra remane- 
 ant Wilhelmo Wikeham conianguineo dicti Domini E- 
 pifcopi & Alicia Uvedale, & hoeredibus mafculis de cor- 
 pore ipfius Wilhelmi confanguinei legitime procreatis : 
 
 Ita 
 
APPENDIX. iii 
 
 Ita quod fi contingat dictum Wilhelmum Wikeham 
 confanguineum didli Domini Epifcopi fine hsrede maf- 
 culo de corpore fuo legitime procreato obire, quod ex. 
 tunc poll: mortem didls Alicis dicla maneria cum omni- 
 bus fuis pertinent, integra remaneant Thorns Wikeham, 
 fratri ejufdem Wilhelmi confanguinei & hsredibus maf- 
 culis ipfius Thorns de corpore fuo legitime procreatis : 
 Et fi contingat quod idem Thomas frater Wilhelmi ob- 
 ierit fine hsrede mafculo de corpore fuo legitime pro- 
 creato, tunc poll deceffum ipfius Thomae prsdicla ma- 
 neria cum pertinent, integre remaneant Johanni de 
 Wikeham fratri ejufdem Thorns fratris Wilhelmi, & 
 hsredibus mafculis de corpore fuo procreatis : Et fi 
 contingat quod idem Johannes Wikeham obierit fine 
 hsrede mafculo de corpore fno procreato, tunc poft de- 
 cefTum ipfius Johannis dicla maneria cum pertinent, in- 
 tegre remaneant hsredibus prsdicli Wilhelmi confan- 
 guinei de corpore fuo procreatis : Et fi nullus hsres de 
 corpore ipfius Wilhelmi confanguinei fuerit procreatus, 
 tunc predicla maneria cum pertinent, integre remane- 
 ant hsredibus prsdicli Thorns Wikeham de corpore 
 fuo procreatis : Et fi nullus hsres de corpore ipfius 
 Thorns fuerit procreatus, tunc prsdicla maneria cum 
 pertinent, integre remaneant hsredibus prsdicli Jo- 
 hannis Wykeham de corpore fuo procreatis : Et fi 
 nullus hsres de corpore ipfius Johannis fuerit procre- 
 atus, tunc prsdicla maneria cum pertinent, integre re- 
 maneant Thorns Warenner & Johanns uxori ejus, & 
 hsredibus mafculis ipfius Johanns de corpore fuo pro- 
 creatis : Et fi contingat quod eadem Johanna obierit fi- 
 ne hsrede mafculo de corpore fuo procreato, tunc pofl 
 decefliim ipforum Thorns Warenner & Johanns prs- 
 dicla maneria cum pertinent, remaneant Wilheimo 
 Ryngeborne & Ediths uxori ejus, & hsredibus maf- 
 culis ipf'us Ediths de corpore fuo procreatis : Et fi 
 contingat quod eadem Editha obierit fine hsrede mafcu- 
 lo de corpore fuo procreato, tunc poft deceffuin ipforum 
 Wilhelmi Ryngeborne & Ediths, prsdicta maneria 
 cum pertinent, integre remaneant Agneti uxori nuper 
 Guidonis Ayno, & hsredibus mafculis ipfius Agnetis 
 
 a 2 de 
 
iv APPENDIX. 
 
 de corpore fuo procreatis : Et fi contingat quod eadefll 
 Agnes obierit fine hserede mafculo du corpore fuo pro- 
 crcato, tunc poll deceffum di&se Agnetis fine exitu hu- 
 jufmodi, prasdicta maneria cum pertinent integre xe- 
 maneant Wilhelmo Maviell & Ifabellas uxori ejus, & 
 haeredibus mafcidis ipfius Ifabeilce : Et fi contingat 
 quad eadem Ifabella obierit fine haerede mafculo de 
 corpore fuo procreato, tunc pod deceffum ipfor'um Wil- 
 helmi Maviell & Ifabellae praed'^ta maneria cum perti- 
 nent, integre remaneant Johanni Beneyt de Bottele & 
 haeredibus mafculis de corpore fuo procreatis : Et fi 
 contingat quod idem Johannes Beneyt obierit fine hae- 
 rede mafculo de corpore fuo procreato, tunc pott de- 
 ceffum ipfius Johannis prsedicta maneria cnm pertinent, 
 integre remaneant haeredibus praediftae Johannae de 
 corpore fuo procreatis : Et fi nullus haeres de corpore 
 ipiius Johannae fuerit procreatus, tunc praedifta mane- 
 ria cum pertinent, integre remaneant haeredibus pras- 
 diclae Edithae de corpore fuo procreatis ; Et fi nullus 
 hutres de corpore ipfius Edithae fuerit procreatus, tunc 
 praedicta maneria cum fuis pertinent, integre remaneant 
 haeredibus praedictje Agnetis de corpore fuo procreatis : 
 Et fi nullus haeres de corpore ipfius Agnetis fuerit pro- 
 creatus, tunc praedidla maneria cum fuis pertinent, in- 
 tegre remaneant haeredibus praediftae Ifabella; de corpo- 
 re fuo procreatis : Et fi nullus haeres de corpore ip- 
 fius Ifabellae fuerit procreatus, tunc predicta maneria 
 cum fuis pertinent, integre remaneant haeredibus prae- 
 dicTi Johannis Beneyt de corpore fuo procreatis : Et fi 
 nullus hxres de corpore ipiius Johannis Beneyt fuerit 
 procreatus, tunc predicla maneria cum fuis pertinent, 
 integre remaneant reel: i a h\redibus dicli Domini Epif- 
 copi in perpetuum. Provifo femper quod fi fpoufalia 
 inter dtctos Wiihelmum -Wikeham confanguineum & 
 Aliciarn Uvedaie no.-i celebrentur citra feftum Sancli 
 Michaelis Archangeli proximum futurum, quod ex- 
 tunc bene liceat dictis, Nlcholao de Wikeham, Johan- 
 ni de Wikehum, Johanni de Campeden, & Wilhelmo 
 jehonae, daftai maneria cum fuis pertinent rcin- 
 traic n& in priftino itatu eorurn retinue impjrpetuum. 
 
 In 
 
APPENDIX. v 
 
 In cujus rei tefHmonium hiis indenturis partes praediclse 
 figilla fua alternatim appofuerunt. Dat. primo die Ju- 
 lii anno regni Regis Ricardi Secundi vicefimo. 
 
 Nicholaus Johannes Johannes Wilhelmus 
 
 Wykeham Wykeham Campedene Ringeburne 
 
 L. S. L. S. L. S. , L. S. 
 
 N° III. 
 
 E Libro H, Coll. Wint. fol. 157. 
 Pi.acita apud Weftm. coram Wilhelmo Thirnyng 5c 
 foe. fuis Juiliciariis Domini Regis de Banco, Term. 
 Hillar. anno Reg. Hen. Quarti poft Conq. undecimo. 
 
 . Et prcediftus cuftos [Coll. Wint.j dicit quod quon- 
 
 dam Wilhelmus de Wykeham, nuper Epifcopus VVynt. 
 confanguineus praedicl^e Aliciae Perot, videlicet frater 
 Agnetis matrisipfius Aliciae, cujus haeres ipfa eft, nuper 
 
 fuit feifitus de prcedicto manerio [de Elynge] & 
 
 dedit, concern t, & carta fua confirmavit, Cufrodi & 
 
 Scholaribus ejufdem Collegii psdistum manerium ■ 
 
 & petit quod'dicVi Wilhelmus Perot & Alicia praedictum 
 manerium de Elynge cum pertinentibus eidem Cuftodi 
 ex caufa praedicla warentizent, &c Et praediclus Wil- 
 helmus Perot & Alicia non poffimt dedicere quin ea- 
 
 (iem Alicia fit confanguinea & hares ipfius Epifcopi in 
 forma prsedicta, & gratis praefato Cuftodi praedictum 
 manerium de Elynge cum pertinentibus virtute cartas 
 prDsdiclae warentizant. 
 
 N° VI. 
 
 E Finalibus Recordis in Communi Banco de termino 
 Trinitatis 20 R. 2. Citat. a T. Martin, in Vita Gul. 
 Wicami, lib. 1. cap. 1. 
 
 ' ]£.C eft finalis Concordia faita in curia Domini Re- 
 gis, &c. in oclabis Sancte Trinitatis anno regni 
 Hichardi Regis vicefimo, coram Wilhelmo Thirninge, 
 a 3 &c. 
 
vi APPENDIX. 
 
 &c. inter Wilhelmum Wickham filium Wilhelmi Perott 
 & Aliciam uxorem ejus querentes, & Wilhelmum de 
 Wickham Epifcopum Winton. Magiftrum Nicholaum 
 de Wickham Clericum. & JohannemCampeden Clericum 
 
 deforciat. de manerio de Ottarburne, &c. Et fi con- 
 
 tingat quod idem Wilhelmus Wickham fill us Wilhelmi 
 Perott obierit fine haerede mafculo, de corpore fuo pro- 
 creato, tunc poft deceflum ipforum Wilhelmi & Aliciae 
 uxoris ejus, prsedicla manerium & tenementa cum per- 
 tinentiis integre remanebunt Thomae Wickham fratri 
 ejufdem Wilhelmi Wickham filii Wilhelmi Perott, & 
 haeredibus mafculis de corpore fuo procreatis. 
 
 N° V. 
 
 E Regiftro Wykeham. Part. I. fol. i. 
 
 Bulla Urbani Papae Quinti fuper adminiftratione Eccle- 
 
 iise Wynton. 
 
 URBAN US Epifcopus fervus fervorum Dei di- 
 leclo filio Wilhelmo de Wykeham Archidia- 
 cono Lincoln, adminiftratori in fpiritualibus & tempo- 
 ralibus Ecclefias Wynton. Salutem & ApoitolicamBene- 
 dictkmem. Regiu.ini univerfalis ecclefice quanqwam 
 infurficientibus mentis difponente Domino prsefidentes 
 de univerfis orbis eccle .is pro earum flatu falubriter 
 dirigendo quantum nobs ex alto conceditur folicite co- 
 gitamus, fed eo propeniius folicitudo nos urget, ut ec- 
 clellis illis quae fuis funt deftitutas paftoribus, ne in fpi- 
 ritualibus & temporalibus detrimenta fufrineant, de fa- 
 lubri remedio, profit ipfarum ecclefiarum ac locorum & 
 temporiun qualitas e.xigit, confulamus : dudum fiqui- 
 dem bona? memoriae Wilhelmo Epifcopo Wyntonienfi, 
 regimini Wynton. Ecclefise praefidente, nos cupientes 
 eidem Wynton. ecclefiae cum vacaret per fedis (f. c>po~ 
 Jioiica) providentiam utilem & idoneam pr^efle perfo- 
 nam proviilonem ipfius ecclefis ordinationi & difpofi- 
 tiunt noftrre duximus ca vice fpecialiter refervandum, 
 decernentes ex tunc irritum & inane fi fecus fuper his; 
 per quoicunquc quavis auctoritate fcienter vel ignoran- 
 
 tcr 
 
APPENDIX. vii 
 
 ter contingeret attemptari. Cum itaqne poftmodum 
 dicta ecclefia per obitum dicti Wilhelmi Epifcopi, qui 
 extra Romanam curiam debitum naturae perfolvit, vaca- 
 verit, & vacet ad prsefens, nos eidem ecclefiae, de cujus 
 provifione nullus praeter nos hac vice fe intromittere po- 
 tuerit neque potefr, refervatione & decreto obfifbenti- 
 bus fupradictis, ut feliciter gubernetur ejufque dona Sc 
 jura a pravorum manibus defenfentur, cupientes provi- 
 dere, ac fperantes, quod tu apud nos de literarum fci- 
 entia, vitae ac morum honefrate, fpiritualium providentia, 
 & teniporalium circumfpeclione, fide dignis teftimoniis 
 multipliciter commendatus, id fcias Sc poteris falubriter 
 adimplere, de fratrum noftrorum confilio adminiftrato- 
 rem dictc ecclefiae ufque ad apoftolicae fedis benepla- 
 citum, ordinamus, conftituimus, Sc deputamus, admi- 
 niftrationem plenam generalem Sc liberam ejufdem ec- 
 clefiae ac bonorum & jurium ejufdem tarn in fpirituali- 
 bus quam in temporalibus plenarie committentes, ut 
 dictam Wyntonien. eccleliam tuae adminittationi com- 
 miflam fpiritualiter & temporaliter, liatutis provincia- 
 libus feu confuetudinibus provinciae Cantuarien. Sc III Is 
 'prasfertim quibus caveri dicitur quod eccleliis cathedra - 
 libus provinciae Cantuarien. vacantibr.s Archiepifcopus 
 Cantuar. pro tempore exiftens in ipfis eccleliis fie va- 
 cantibus fpiritualia exerceat, & aliis contrariis non ob- 
 ftantibus quibufcunque, juxta datam tibi a Deo pruden- 
 tiam, regas dirigas & augmentes, ac etiam canonica- 
 tus Sc praebendas, dignitates, perfonatus, officia & alia 
 quaecumque beneficia eclefiaftica fecularia Sc regnlaria 
 ad collationem Epifcopi Wynton. pro tempore txiftentis 
 pertinentia, cum vacabunt, conferas & de ipfis provi- 
 deas, nee non de fruftibus, redditibus, proven tibus, ju- 
 ribus, & obventionibus univerfisad menfum Wyntonien. 
 fpectantibus ordinare & difponere valeas, prout veri E- 
 pifcopi Wynton. qui fuerint pro tempore de 13 lis ordi- 
 nare & difponere potaerunt ac etiam debuerunt, aliena- 
 tione quorumlibetimmobilium & pretioforum mobiiium 
 ejufdem ecclefiae tibi penitus interdicta. Tu igitur 
 circa ejufdem ecclefiae Wynton. regimen & adminiirra- 
 tionem folicite & fideiiter cxercenda te fie exhibeas 
 a 4 flud.ofum, 
 
viii APPENDIX. 
 
 ftudiofum, quod ecclefia ipfa, divina tibi favente de- 
 mentia, fub adminiftratione tua provida & falubri voti- 
 vis continue in fpiritualibus & temporalibus amplietur 
 commodis & falubribus proficiat incrementis, nofque 
 per tux circumfpecYionis & diligenti .- ftudium fru&uo- 
 fum dignis te poffimus in' Domino laudibus meiito 
 eonamendare. Dat Avinion. Hi. Id. Decembr. Pontifi- 
 cat. noftri anno quinto. 
 
 N° VI. 
 
 E Regiftro Wykeham, Part. tert. a. fol. 135. 
 
 Bulla Domini Papse diretta Domino kpilcopo Wyn- 
 
 tonien. 
 
 RECOP.IUS Epifcopus fervus fervorum Dei 
 JT venerabili fratri Epjfcopo Wyntonien. Salutem & 
 Apoftolicam benedictionem. Nuper gratanter accepimus 
 qualiter cariffimiin Chriito filii nottri Edwardus Angliae 
 &Carolus Francorum Reges illuftres ambaxiatores fuos 
 folennes pro tractatu pacis inter ipfos Reges dante Domi- 
 no peragendff Brugis deftinarunt, ac eidem Regi Ang- 
 liae fuper hoc fcribimus eum ad bonam pacem gratiofe 
 exhoitamio : verum cum hujufmodi pacis negotium in- 
 ter cxtera nobis incumbentia, prout novit altinimus, & 
 alias tibi fcripfimus, cordi nee immerito habeamus, & 
 dubitemus, ii traclatus hujufmodi quod abfit rumpere- 
 tur, quod peccatis exigentibus tarde vel nunquam inter 
 dictos Reges pax refurgeret peroptata, ac in prsemiffis 
 favor tuus fit plurimum opportunus, fraternitatem tuam 
 nobis caram rogamus & hortamurattente, quarenus pro 
 noftra & apoftolicff fedis reverentia & etiam tuff fahuis 
 intuitu apud eundem Regem Angliff, quod noftris in hac 
 parte procibus annuat, opem des prout piene confidimus 
 & operam efficaces. Praeterea cum pro relevandis one- 
 ribus expenfarum nobis & Romans ecclefiff, ut nos & 
 ipfam Rornanam ecclefiam ejufque jura <k bona in p.ir- 
 tibus Italia - abinvadentium manibus defendamus eorum- 
 qus refiftamus injuriis 8c jafburis, incumbentium, ad 
 
 quos 
 
APPENDIX. ix 
 
 quos fufiicere non pofTumus, in Francia; & Ifpaniac reg- 
 nis nee non in Aiamanio riiifqiie partibus fldelium per- 
 lonis ecclefiafricis certa fubfidia duxerimus imponenda, 
 quae quidem perfonae ecclefiaftica? in hijs nobis prout re- 
 nebantur, quamvis propter guerras & alias cauias muiti- 
 plicibus oneribus fatigatse eflent, \ ro majori parte paru- 
 erunt ; ac clero regni Anglic, qui in redditibus habun- 
 dat, & quod quidem regnum favente Domino in ie 
 guerris non contnrbatur, certum moderatmr, fubiidium, 
 prout alias tibi fcripfimus, duxerimus imponendum, 
 quod tamen nondumextitit perfolutum : rofque & dicta 
 Romana eccleiia, tatn propter praemiflas quam alias ra- 
 tionabiles caufas devotorurr fubfidiis plus folito egea- 
 jnus de prafenti, eandem fraternitatem tuam, quam in 
 adimplendis votis nofhis promptam femper invenimus 
 & paratam, ut carius pofTumus deprecamur, quatenus 
 pro nofha & apoflolicae fedis reverentia, & fkut nobis 
 placere deflderas, hujnfmodi clerum Anglise ad foivai- 
 dum praedictum fubiidium viis & modis quibus poteris 
 inducere non poflponas. Dileclum iiquidem jilium 
 Arnaldum Garnerii Canoniciun Cathalaunen. licentia- 
 tum in Icgibus in regno Angliae apoftolicas fedis nun- 
 cium, & frucluum & proventuum ibidem camera; apo- 
 ftolicae debitorum, coliectorem, cad aliqua tibi referenda 
 commiilimus, & quern una cum juribus pra-dicta? came- 
 ras noflrae recommendamus, ad partes illas de.'linamu?, 
 cui fidem indubiam adhibeas in dicendis. Dat Avi- 
 nion.. xiiiKal. April, pont. noflri, annoquinto. 
 
 N°VII. 
 
 E Regifiro Wykeham. Part, tert a. fol. o". 
 
 Infhumentum fupcr conventione inter jSpifcqpum Wyn- 
 
 ton. & Richardum de Her ton Gramma ticum. 
 
 N Dei nomine Amen, Anno ab Incarnatibne Domini 
 fecundum curfum & compurationem Ecclefias Ang- 
 licana; Millefimo Treeenteflmo Septuagefmo Tertio, 
 indiclione undecima, Menfis Scptembri? die prima, Pon- 
 tificattis San&iffimi in Chrifto patris & Domini noflri 
 
 Domini 
 
x APPENDIX 
 
 Domini Gregorii divina providentia Papae nndecimi an- 
 no tertio, conftitutus perfonaliter coram Reverendo Pa- 
 tre Domino Wilhelmo Dei gratia Wynton. Epifcopo in 
 aula manerii fui de Merewell Wynton. Diocefeos, in mei 
 Notarii Publici & Teftium fubfcriptorum praefcntia, 
 Venerabilis & difcretus vir Magifter Richardus de Her- 
 ton Grammaticus certam conventionem cum eodem Do- 
 mino Winton. Epifcopo fecit iniit & firmavit fub hac 
 forma ; videlicet, quod idem Richardus per decern an- 
 nos incipiendo in fefto Sancti Michaelis proximo futuro 
 inftruec & informabit fub hac forma pauperes Scolares 
 quos didlus Dominus Epilcopus fuis fumptibus exhibet 
 8c exhibebit fldeliter & diligenter in arte grammatica 
 & nullos alios fine licentia clicTti patris ad doclrinam hu- 
 juimodi recipiet per tempus pradictum, excepit tamen> 
 tempus infirmitatis fuse & tempus quo curiam Romanam 
 femel viiltabit fuis propriis fumptibus, & per idem tem- 
 pus alium virum fufficientem & idoneum pro doctrina 
 diclorum Scolarium fubflituet loco fuo. Ad haec con- 
 venit cum dicto Patre, quod idem Pater inveniet & ex- 
 hibebit libi unum aliuin virum idoneum qui eum pote- 
 nt adjuvare inlabore difciplinse Scolarium prsedictorum : 
 haec promifit firmiter idem Magifter Richardus cum 
 omni diligentia perficere & implere & fuper firmitate 
 illius convent ionis tenendae & fervandae idem Magifter 
 Richardus [per] manum fuam dextram in manu dextra 
 dicli patris exprefte pofuit & dedit fidem fuam ad prae- 
 mifla omnia perficienda in forma fupradicfa. Acfa funt 
 haec anno indiclione menfe die pontificatu & loco 
 praenotatis, praefentibus difcretis vhisMagiftris Johanne 
 de Bukyngham Canonico Ebor. & Domino Johanne de 
 Campeden Canonico Ecclefiae Suwellen. Ebor. Dioc. 
 tk Henrico de Thorp ac Johanne de Kellefeye Notariis 
 Publicis apoftolicis, teftibus ad praemuTa vocatis fpecia- 
 liter & rosatis. 
 
 N* VIII. 
 
APPENDIX. jd 
 
 N° VIII. 
 
 E Regiftro Wykeham. Part. tert. b. fol. 74. 
 Littera vifitandi Scolares & Collegium Oxoniae. 
 
 WILHELMUS permiffione divina Wyntonien. 
 Epifcopus Coilegii Sanctas Marias Wynton. in 
 Oxonia Fundator pariter & Patronus, dilectis nobis in 
 Chrifto venerabilibus viris Magiftris Thomas de South - 
 am, Archidiacono Oxon. in Ecclefia Lincoln, ac Ni- 
 cholao de Wykeham Archid. Wikes. in Ecclefia Sar. 
 Salutem in amplexibus Salvatoris. Relacione fide 
 dignorum audita flupor non modicus invafit fubito 
 mentem noflram, duminvinea n r ,frra quam plantavimus 
 deficientibus uvisfuccrefcant labrufcas, palmites quoque 
 quas fperabamus fructiferas amaricato gennine in fpuria 
 vitulamina convertantur. Accepimus namque tale in- 
 ter Scolares noftri Coilegii fupradicli qui de noftra vi- 
 vunt elemofina corrupcionis piaculum irrepfifTe, quod 
 ipfi fuse condicionis & quietis propria; paulifper obliti, 
 generis ad genus, nobilitatis ad iguobilitatem, fcientia* 
 ad fcientiam, f'acultatis ad facultatem, patrias ad patri- 
 am, & alias comparaciones quae odiofa; funt faciunt 
 infolenter contra doclrinam Apoftoli acceptores perfo- 
 narum effecli ; alii prasterea fuperfticicme prophana 
 colla ftra in fublime alcius erigentes, dutm refeflionis 
 gratia conveniunt ad menfam fibi vendicant loca pri- 
 ma prasceptum dominicum minime amplectentes, dicen- 
 tis, Qui major eft inter vos fiat ficut junior, & qui prre- 
 cefTor fiat ficut minifter. Nonnulli quoque ipforum 
 infolentiis aliis quas numerare non decet, fet nee com- 
 xnittere licet, a vera: virtutis tramite deviantes exhibent 
 fe frequenter. Unde in ipfo noflro Collego inter Sco- 
 lares prsediclos difTenciones contenciones & fcandala Or 
 riuntur & quod dolenter referimus quas noftras mentis 
 intentio Dei paravit ad gloriam tendunt ad noxam. Ex 
 quibus divina provocatur mageftas, diftumque noflxum 
 Ccliegiuni, utpote in fuis membris- nequiter viciatum 
 grave patitur detrimentum in perniciofum exemplum & 
 
 fcandalum 
 
xii APPENDIX. 
 
 fcandalum plurimorum. Nolentcs itaque dictum nof- 
 trum Collegium tantis fscdari maculis, quin potius ou- 
 pientes fermifflme ut omnis ab ipfo eliminetur fpurcitia, 
 
 ., quodque Scolares preedidci, viciorum fentibus extirpa- 
 tis, virtutibus illufrrentur, doctrinis facris efficaciter 
 adhsereant & milicice clericali : Ad inquirendum igitur 
 I i m genere quam in fpecie de & fuper criminibus & 
 exceflibus omnium & fingulorum Scolarium noftri Col- 
 
 % legii memora'ci & quos in praemiffis aut eorum aliquo 
 vel aliis exceifibus gravibus feu criminibus culpabiles 
 reperiris, ipfos cujufcunque gradus flatus vel condicio- 
 nis exiftant, a difto nofho Collegio perpetuo expellend. 
 niii de ipforum correccione celeri & morum in ca parte 
 reformacione falubri fpes fuerit ac vobis fignanter ap- 
 paruerit ; tunc enim exceflus hujufmodi & crimina fi- 
 cut pro ipfiushonore ac confervacione flatus dicti aof- 
 tri Collegii videi ttis expedire, corrigend. & acrius pu- 
 niend. Ca?tera infuper qua; in ipfo noflro Collegio re- 
 formatione indigent, debite reformand. omniaque alia 
 ti fingula qua? in pramiiTis & circa ea necefTaria fuerint, 
 vel quomodolibet opportuna, cum eorum incidentibus 
 emergentibus dependentibus & connexis faciend & 
 etiam exercend. Vobis de quorum fidelitate confcien- 
 tige puritate ac circumfpecYionis induftria plene confi- 
 dimus, tenore praefentium committimus vices noflras 
 cum cohercionis & executionis in hac parte debitse po- 
 teftate. Dat. in Caftro noflro de Farnham vigefimo 
 octavo die menfis Septembr. Anno Domini Millefiro 
 Trecentefimo Oclogeflmo Quinto. et noflrse Coafecra- 
 tionis Anno Decimo Oftavo. 
 
 N° IX. 
 
 E Reg'.flro Wykeham, Fart. tert. b. fol. yj. 
 Litera tangens Collegium Oxon. 
 
 W I LIT ELM US pcrraifiione divina Wynton. 
 Epifcopus, Eundator & Patronus CoL fanclfe 
 Maris Wvnton x in Oxonia, dilefto nobis in Chrifto 
 
 Cuftodi 
 
APPENDIX. xiii 
 
 Cuftodi di<fri noftri Collegii Salutem in omnipotente 
 Salvatore. Relatione didicimus fide digna, quod non- 
 nulli dicti noftri ColJegii Socii Magiftri Artium, qui li- 
 cet formam leclurae in artium facilitate in Univerfitate 
 Oxoniae ftatutam ac etiam requifitam com pi ever int, nee 
 non per unum annum ultra formam eandem in facultate 
 pnedicla lecturam continuaverint, ipii tamen contra or- 
 dinaciones noftras & ftatuta per nos edita&debite pro- 
 mulgata, nee non eifdem a multis retroactis temporibus 
 fepius divulgata, lecturae hujufmodi continuo inten- 
 dentes ad facultatem theologian feu aftronomise juxta or- 
 dinaciones & ftatuta noftra prsdicla fe convertere hac- 
 tcnus non curarunt, quodque ipfi & alii focii nonnulli 
 noftri Collegii memorati per vicos & plateas infra Uni- 
 verfitatem publice incedentes chimeris vel tabardis fupe- 
 rius mini me induuntur contra ordinaciones & ftatuta 
 fuperius ir.emorata : Cum igitur fie noftras intencioais 
 exiftat, quod Magiftri Artium dicfi noftri Collegii, com- 
 pletis forma & anno prajdictis, ad theologian {tv aftro- 
 nomia; facultatem iliico fe convertant, quodque ipfi & 
 alii focii quicumque noftri Collegii fupradifti cum extra 
 dictum noftrum Collegium infra Univerfitate^o praedic- 
 tam 8c etiam per fpacium miliaris circumquaque Uni- 
 verfitatem eandem incefferint, capis, chimeris, vel tabar- 
 dis longis & talaribus prout ipforum graclubus & ftatu- 
 bus congruit & non aliis veftibus fuperius induantur : 
 Vobis committimus & mandamus, quatenus ftatim vifis 
 prssfentibus abfque morse difpendio Magiftros Artium 
 quofcumque noftri Collegii fupradicti, qui formam St 
 annum de quibus prsemittitur compleverint, moneatis & 
 efficaciter iuducatis, quatenus a leclura & regimine in 
 artium facilitate ftatim fine mora ceflent omnino, & ad 
 theologian, feu aftronomice facultatem abfque morse dif- 
 pendio effectualiter fe convertant, & ftudeant ac profi- 
 ciant efficaciter in eadem : & quod ipfi & creteri quicum- 
 que focii fupradicti cum extra dictum noftrum Collegi- 
 um infra Univerfitatem & fpacium fupradictum inceife- 
 rint chimeris capis vel longis tabardis prout eis congi Li- 
 it fuperius induantur, nifi neceuinte cog'ente a'iudffur- 
 i It faciendum, juxta ordinaciones & ftatuta noftra 
 
 di&a. 
 
xivr APPENDIX. 
 
 dicta. Contradictores vero & rebelles, aut monicio' 
 nibus veftris hujufmodi ymmo verias (no/his) effeclua- 
 liter non parentes, a diclo noftro Collegio perpetuo ' 
 expellatis. Certificantes nos infra quatuor dierum fpa- 
 cium a tempore leceptionis prsefentium quid inveneritis 
 & feceritis in praemiflis. Dat. in manerio noftro de 
 Suthwerk vigefimo die Maii, Anno Domini Millefimo 
 Trecentefimo Octageftmo Sexto, et noftrae Conf. De- 
 eimo Nono. 
 
 N°X. 
 
 E Regiftro Wykeham. Part. tert. b. fol. 88. 
 
 Littera ut ydonei Scolares eligantur in Coll. Oxon. & 
 Wynton. abfque partialitate aliqua. 
 
 SALUTEM cum benedictione Dei atqne noftra. 
 Cariffimi, mittimus ad vos Johannem Everad & 
 Johannem Compton pauperes Clericulos de Capella nof- 
 tra ut in Collegium noftrum Wynton. admittantur. 
 Volumus igitur ut cum ipfi ad vos venerint ex hac 
 caufa in diclum noftrum Collegium recipiatis eofdem. 
 Vobis praeterea injungentes quatenus in eleccionibus a- 
 pud Coll. noftrum Wynt. jam proxime faciendis primo 
 videlicet de Scholaribus iplius noftri Coll. Wynt. ad 
 Coil, noftrum Oxon. afTumendis, ac deinde de Scolari- 
 bus aliis loco ipforum in diclum noftrum Coll. Wynt. 
 eligendis taliter procedatis ut abfqne prece aut pre- 
 cio favore vel amore feu partialitate quacumque, per 
 vos tales prcecipue in diclum noftrum Coll. Oxon. eli- 
 gantur qui in grammatica bene & fufficienter fuerint eru- 
 diti, vitaque & moribus merito commendandi, & quos 
 fperaveritis in veftris confcientiis plus pofle proficere Sc 
 debere in Collegio noftro Oxon. fupradifto. Quodque 
 in praefatum Coll. noftrum Wynt. habiles & magis 
 ydoneos eiigatis de locis in noftris Statutis limitatis. 
 Ita tamen quod quatuor de paroch. de Broghton, & 
 totidem de paroch. de Downton, ft habiles & ydonei 
 reperiantur, in dicta eiectione cseteris praeferantur. 
 8 Hoc 
 
APPENDIX. x*/ 
 
 Hoc infuper provifo, quod Scolares hujufmodi in dic- 
 tum noftrum Coll. Wynt. alTumendi in leclura & piano 
 cantu ac in antiquo donato inftructi competenter exif- 
 tant, jetatifque fuse annum duodecimum non excedant, 
 nil! taliter in grammatica prius fuerint informati, quod 
 ante decimum nonum Ktatis fuse annum in ipfa potu- 
 erint fufficienter expediri, otatutis noflris eleccionem 
 dictorum Scolarium Oxon. & Wynton. conccrnentibus 
 in omnibus Temper falvis, fuper quibus omnibus ipfas 
 veftras confcientias apud Altiflimum diftric'cius onera- 
 mus. Volentes praeterea & ordinantes quod Scolares 
 dicti noftri Coll. Wynton. fingulis diebus dominicis & 
 feftivis ad ecclefiam parochialem Sancti Johannis fuper 
 montem accedant, quamdiu in dicta paroch. ipfos 
 morari contigerit, ibidemque ad vefperas completor. 
 matutinas & alias horas atque mifTas de die legenda & 
 pfallenda cum nota & cantu more ecclefiaflico legant 
 atque pfallant devocius ficut decet, quodque nullus hu- 
 jufmodi Scolarium a prsemiflis fe abfentet nil! ex caufa 
 legitima per ipforum Magiftrum feu ejus Locumte- 
 nentem approbanda fuerit impeditus fub poena priva- 
 tionis communarum fuarum per quindecim dies diem quo 
 fe abfque caufa hujufmodi legitima fe abfentaverit im- 
 mediate fequentes. Volumus infuper & vos, Magiftri 
 Nicholae, Thoma Cranlegh, & Johannes de Ketone, at- 
 tente rogamus quatenus Magiftro Johanni de Melton, 
 dictorum Scolarium Magiftro informatori & Johanni 
 Seward ejus Vicefgerenti flrmiter injungatis ut ipfi hsec 
 omnia proxime fuperius recitata a dictis Scolaribns 
 noftri Coll. Wynt. de ccetero realiter & debite faciant 
 obfervari fub debito eorum juramenti nobis pr<eftiti 
 ab eifdem. Valete feliciter in Filio Virginis gloriofe. 
 Script, apud Esfhere octavo die meniis Aprilis. Diledto 
 confanguineo noftro Magiftro Nicholao Wykeham Cuf- 
 todi Coll. noftri Oxon. & Magifhis Thorns Cranlegh 
 Sacne Pagince ProfeiTori, Domino Johanni Ketone, ac 
 Johanni Melton. 
 
 N°XL 
 
xvi APPENDIX. 
 ' N° XI. 
 
 E Regiftro Wykeham, Part. tert. b. fol. 1 39. 
 Intimacio refignacionis Thomas Cranlegh, & quod 
 Socli & Scolares . procedant ad elecionem novi 
 Cuftodis. 
 
 WILHELMUS de Wykeham permiffione di- 
 vina Wynton. Epifcopus Coll. Beate Marie 
 Wynton. in Oxon. Seinte Marie College of Wyncheftre 
 in Oxenford, vulgarit. nuncupat. Fundator & Patronus, 
 DilecTis in Chrifto Filiis Sociis & Scolaribus ejufdem 
 Coll. univerfis Salutem in eo qui eft omnium vera Salus. 
 Vobis praefentibus noftris Uteris intimamus, quod Ma- 
 gifter Thomas Cranlegh nuper Cuftos difti Coll. noftri, 
 decimo quinto die pr.sefentis menfis Febr. coram nobis 
 in manerio jioftro de Waltham noftrse dioc. officio 
 cuftodiae Coll. fupradidtt ceffit & voluntarie renuncia- 
 vit, eo quod in obfequiis Domini noftri Regis ipfum in- 
 fiftere neceiTario oportebit : cujus ceffionem ex caufa 
 praedic~ra admifimus tunc ibidem. Ne igitur vacacio 
 diutina di<fti noftri Coll. vobis in perfonis & rebus fit 
 grave difpendium allatura, & ut prr:fatum noftrum 
 Coll. fub boni Cuftodis regimine protegatur a noxiis, 
 ac pacis & caritatis afHuat ubertate, Nos qai pro vobis 
 intenta follicitudine vigilamus, quos etiam tanquam fi- 
 lios cariffimos in vinculo diledlionls piuernse ,>rofcqui- 
 rr.ur, * tanta mente univerfltatem veftrajn & devotionem 
 monemus, & per vifcera rhifericordise Dei noftri ac per 
 afpercionem fui precioli fanguinis, animarumque vef- 
 trarum falutem, nee non fub divini obteftacione judicii 
 obfecramur & in Domino exhortamur, ut in elecione 
 veftri fiituri Cuftodis folum Deum ac communem Col- 
 legii prseciicVt utiiitatem habentes prse oculir, omni pri- 
 vate afFcclionis & lirigularitatis vitio depofito, & qui- 
 bufiibet paccionibus, convencionibus, promiflionibus, 
 obligatioriibus, juramentis & conventiculis ilJicitis, nee 
 non concicti & intencfimenti contemplacioue cefTanti- 
 * tenendum nta } ut in fimilibus locis in eodem Regiibti, 
 
 bus 
 
APPENDIX. xvii 
 
 b»!<; & omnino femotis, vos in vinculo pads caritatis & 
 concordice colligentes, cum omni follicitudine matu- 
 ritate & deliberacione, juxta nourorum Statutorum ex- 
 igentfam & tenorem, virum prouJum & dHcretum, li- 
 tcrarum fcientia moribus & virtuofis actibus merito 
 commendandum, in fpiritualibus & temporalibus plu- 
 rimum circumfpectum, tdem viz. quem fecundum De- 
 um & veflras confcientias jufr?.s vacanti Coll- antediclo 
 utiliorem & magis ydoneum effe credicreritis, in C >. 
 dem veflrum puris & liberis mentions abfque morse 
 difpendio eligere fhideatis, qui vobis plus prodefle cu- 
 piat, quam praeefie ; ut per ejus vigjlandarri follicitam 
 probitatem & gubernacioneni bonam, dictum Coll. 
 noftrum ad Dei honorem ac Cleri augmentum prof- 
 pere dirigi & votivis valeat commodis honorari ; in prse- 
 miffis taliter vos habentes, ut verus fcfutator cordium 
 quem nichil latere potent ex fadlis & geftis veflris in 
 hac parte merito contentetur. Dat. in manerio noftro 
 de Suth-Waltham vigefimo fexto die menu's Febr. An- 
 no Domini Millefimo Trecentefimo Nonagefimo Quinto, 
 & noftrce Conf. Anno Vigefimo nono. 
 
 N°XII. 
 
 Ex Originali in Archivis Regiftrarii Archidiaconatris 
 Winton. 
 
 DECRETUM Domini Winton. Epifcopi quoad 
 Refignationes tempore Supervifionis non admktepdas. 
 
 CU M multse quaeftiones & controveriiae ortas fiierint 
 de tempore Supervifionis & Scrutinii in tertia 
 Rubrica fpecificato, a quo momento, . hora, & articuio 
 temporis, aut actione, idem debeat & point mcipere ad 
 effedhim, ut poft talem incepticnem Scholares in indentu- 
 ris anni praecedentis nominati nullatenus vigore earun- 
 dem in Coll. Winton. admittaniur, vcl tranfmittantur ad 
 Coll Winton. m Oxon. Idcrco Dominus Epifcopus 
 Winton. facia ei prius legitirria intimatione per Cufto- 
 deiin & duos Socios Supervifores legitime dcclos eiuf- 
 b dera 
 
xviii APPENDIX. 
 
 dem Collegii in Oxon. Statutifque Supervifionem con- 
 cernentibus, una cum variis ambiguitatibus & incom- 
 modis propter incertitudinem inceptionis praedidbe, ei« 
 dem domino Epifcopo oftenfis & declaratis, declaravit, 
 hunc effe verum, germanum, & literalemfenfum verbo- 
 rum & claufuiac prrcfatorum ; quod tempus fupervifio- 
 nis & fcrutinii in dicta Rubric, mentionati turn demum 
 debet incipere, atque adeo ad omnes effectus incipere 
 cenfendmn eft, ubi primum advenerit, illuxeritque ille 
 dies, qui in Uteris certificatoriis in dicTta Rubr. fpeci- 
 ficatis, & ad Cuftodem Winton. miffis, & per eundem 
 in valvis ecclefise feeundum tenorem Statuti praefixis, 
 continetur, & defignatur ; ita quod neque toto illo die, 
 neque poflea aliquis, in indenturis iifdem, fcilicet anni 
 prascedentis, nominatus & defcriptus, vigore & virtute 
 earundem aliquod jus vel beneficium fit confecuturus, 
 nimirum ut admittatnr in Coll. Winton. vel ad alterum 
 Coll. tranfmittatur ullo modo. Et ulrerius cum falu- 
 berrimo hujus regni Statuto fancitum fit, ne quis lo- 
 cum habeas in Collegiis, eundem lucri velcpmmodi ali- 
 cujus gratia refignet quovis modo, atque contra hoc ip- 
 fum Statutum multipliciter peccari & delinqui polTe fit 
 vere-fimillimum in grave fcandalum Collegiorum di£k>- 
 rum, fi refignationes dictorum Scholarium loca haben- 
 dum in Collegiis Winton. & Oxon. tempore fupervi- 
 fionis & fcrutinii praedicto accipiantur & admittantur, 
 & cum etiam ejufmodi refignationes nullo Statuto dic- 
 torum Collegiorum approbentur, idcirco Dominus E- 
 pifcopus Winton. cupiens 8c affeclans tarn gravi fcanda- 
 lo occurrere tempeftive, legitime interpellatus, decrevit 
 & declaravit, quod nulla refignatio quam dictorum Col- 
 legiorum Scholares tempore fupervifionis fie fuperius de- 
 clarato fcribent, confident, ofi'erent, tradent, vel fcribi, 
 confici, oiFerri, vel tradi facient, aut confentient, ullo 
 mo.do in eo ipfo tempore fupervifionis praedi&ae acci- 
 piafur, approbetur, f vel admittatur, ulla judicetur per 
 Cuftodes aut V>cecuftodes dictorum Collegiorum, aut 
 alios quofcunque jus habentes admittendi probandique 
 refignationes pnsfaias. Et fi aliqua perfonarum praefa- 
 
 ■f Lege, admittatur, vel— 
 
 tarum 
 
APPENDIX. xix 
 
 tarum contra hujufmodi decretum & declarationem 
 contra-venerit, eundem videri committere & peccare in 
 grave prsedicrorum Collegiorum fcandalum, & omnem 
 talem admiffionem, approbationem, & acceptionem, in 
 & de omni praefato medio fupervillonis tempore factam 
 aut confirmatam, pro gravi in Collegia praedicta fcan- 
 dalo haberi & judicari. Quibus omnibus decretis 
 fanclionibufque & juftiffimis declarationibus dicli Do- 
 mini Epifcopi Winton. Cuftodes ntriufque Collegii una 
 cum reliquis electoribus unanimi confenfu affenferunt. 
 Ei praeferea prasfati Cuftodes, ut manifeftius & abnn- 
 dantius oflenderent quam perniciofa ipfis videretur hu- 
 jufmodi refignationum confuetudo, fponte fua affirma- 
 runt, & in fe reciperunt, ne pofthac unquam ullam re- 
 fignationem Scholarium ipfis fubditorum admittant, vel 
 effectualiter accipiat eorum alter, per feptem integras 
 feptimanas ante tempus fupervillonis praedidtas quotan- 
 nis celebrandse : quam eorum honefUflimam promifli- 
 onem diiftus Dominus Epifcopus ratificavit, [&] Cufto- 
 dibus & Vicecuftodibus injungens eorundem Collegio- 
 rum pro tempore exiftentibus, ne ipfi ejufmodi refigna- 
 tiones infra tempus praedictum feptem feptimanarum 
 admittant, nifi velint pro manifeflis contemptoribus or- 
 dinis falubriter conflituti, & corruptelae perditiffima; 
 fautoribus, & gravis fcandali procuratoribus judicari. 
 
 Thomas Winton. 
 Martyn Culpeper Cuitos. Tho. Bilfon Cuftos. 
 Edwarde Burley. Johan. Boles. 
 
 Henry Marten. Johannes Harmar. 
 
 Subfcripta erat hx-c fcedula decreti & declarationis Re- 
 verendi in Chrifto Patris Domini Thomae Winton. 
 Epifcopi, per eundem Dominum Epifcopum in ma- 
 nerio fuo de Waltham Epifcopi, perque prsediclos 
 Cuftodes utriufque Collegii cum reliquis elecloribus 
 infra Collegium Winton. Vicefimo Septimo die Au- 
 gulti Anno Domini Millefimo Quingenteiimo Nona- 
 ged mo Secundo. 
 
 Tefte 
 Edwardo Cole Notario publico. 
 
 b 2 N°XIII. 
 
xx APPENDIX. 
 
 N° XIII. 
 
 E Veteri Req-ifl.ro Coll. Winton. 
 
 EMORANDUM quod primus adventus Se- 
 reniiiimi Principis Henrici Sexti ad iftud Colle- 
 gium fait penultimo die Mentis Julii, videlicet die Sab- 
 bati Anno Domini Millefimo Quadringentefimo Qua- 
 dragefnno, & Anno ejufdem Domini Regis Decimo No- 
 no, quo die interfuit primis Vefperis, & in craftino 
 Miife & fecundis Vefperis ; & obtulit xiii s. iiij d. 
 
 Item Anno Domini Millefimo Quadringentefimo 
 Quadragefimo Quarto in fefro Sancte Cecilie Virginis 
 idem Chriftianifiimus Rex Henricus Sextus interfuit in 
 hoc Collegio utrifque Vefperis atque Miffe, in qua pre- 
 ter oblacionem fuam cotidianam obtulit centum nobilia 
 ad ornamentum fummi altaris ibidem, contulitque nota- 
 bilem auri fummam Scolaribus & Choriftis in eodein, 
 videlicet vj li. xiij s. iiij d. qui infuper ex habundancia 
 affluentiffime gratie fue privilegia libcrtates & franchc- 
 fias ejufdem Collegii confirmavit & ampliavit ; quare 
 dignum eft ut ejus in eodem perhennis memoriajugiter 
 habeatur. Et obtulit xiij s. iiij d. 
 
 Item idem Chriftianiffimus Rex Anno Domini Mil- 
 lefimo Quadringentefimo Quadragefimo Quinto, & an- 
 no regni ejufdem Regis Vicefimo Quarto, interfuit 
 clie dominica, videlicet in fefloSarKTiCuthberti in menfe 
 Septembri, in hoc Collegio utrifque Vefperis atque 
 Miffe, quo die ex gratia fua dedit Collegio opti- 
 mam Robam fuam una excepta furrat. cum furrura 
 de Sables, ad Dei laudem & honorem beatifiime 
 Marie Virginis. Et obtulit xiij s. iiij d. 
 
 Item idem illuitriffimus Princeps Anno Domini 
 
 Millefimo Quadringentefimo Quadragefimo Sexto, & 
 
 • regni ejudem Regis Vicefimo Quinto, in feflo 
 
 •S.mcYi lohnnnis de Beverlaco, videlicet feptimo die 
 
 ate in dominica, interfuit utrifque Vefpe- 
 
 j ii hoc Collegio, quo die ii mi liter ex 
 
 gracia 
 
APPENDIX. xxi 
 
 gracia fua dedit Collegio vj 1. xiij s. iiij d. Etobtulit eo- 
 dem tempore ad vices xiij s. iiij d. 
 
 Item idem illuftriffimus Princeps Anno Domini 
 Millefimo Quadringentefimo Quad rage fi mo Octavo & 
 Anno regni ejufdem Regis Vicefimo Septimo, in fefto 
 Sancti Wolftani Epifcopi, interfuit in hoc Collegio u~ 
 trifque Vefperis die dominica, fed non Miffe, quia ex- 
 hibuit prefenciam fuam in ecclefia Sancti Swythuni in 
 miffa propter intronizacionem reverendi Patris & Domi- 
 ni Domini Wilhelmi Wayneflete Epifcopi Wynton. 
 nuper magiftri informatoris Scolarium hujus Collegii. 
 In craftino vero in die lune in fefto fanctorum Fabiani 
 & Sebaftiani martyr, idem metuendiffimus Dominus in- 
 terfuit alteMiffe predictorum Sanctorum in hoc Colle- 
 gio, quo die dedit huic Collegio unum calicem de au- 
 ro, & x lib. in auro pro uno pari fiolarum ordinand. 
 de eodem auro ; & ultra ex Aua magna gracia dedit 
 Iiij s. iiij d. pro una pietancia habenda inter Socios & 
 Scolares in fefto purificationis beate Marie extunc pro- 
 ximo fequente. Et obtulitxiij s. iiij d. 
 
 Item Anno Domini Millefimo Quadringentefimo 
 Quadragefimo Nono, & Anno regni ejufdem Regis 
 Henrici Sexii Vicefimo Septimo, videlicet decimo fexto 
 die menfis Junii in parliaments ejufdem Regis tento 
 hie apud Winton. cum prorogatione dierum ufque ad 
 decimum fextum diem menfis Julii inclufive, interfuit 
 idem excellentiffimus Princeps in hoc Collegio in fefto 
 Sancti Albani martyris die dominica contingente utrif- 
 que Vefperis & Mifle, Et obtulit xiij s. iiij d. 
 
 Item alia vice eodem tempore in fefto Johannis 
 Baptiflse interfuit idem metuendiffimus Dominus Rex 
 in hoc Collegio utrifuue Vefperis & Mifie, Reverendo 
 Patre & Domino Domino Wilhelmo Waynflete Epifco- 
 po Wynton. totum offlcium illius diei devotiffime exe- 
 quente. Et obtulit vj s. viij d. 
 
 Item alia vice eodem tempore in fefto apoftolorum 
 Petri & Pauli interfuit idem Chriftianiifimus Rex in 
 hoc Collegio utrifque Vefperis & Matutinis die domi- 
 nico, fed non Miffe ; quia exhibuit prefenciam fuam in 
 ecclefia cathedrali Sancti Swythuni in Miif.i propter 
 bj diei 
 
xxii APPENDIX. 
 did follempnitatem ibidem, quia feftum loci ; Reveren- 
 do Patre Magiftro Thoma Bekynton Epifcopo Ba- 
 thon. & Wellenf. totum officium illius diei in hoc Col- 
 legio follempnit. exequente, & totum Collegium ipfo 
 die lautiilime convivante. 
 
 Item alia vice eodem tempore in Oclabis apoftolo- 
 rum Petri & Pauli in dominica prediclus fereniffimus 
 "Rex interfuit in hoc Collegio Vefperis ipfius fefri & 
 Miffe; primis Vefperis vero & fecundis Matutinis .& 
 Miffe in fefto Tranflacionis Sancli Thomse Martyris in 
 craftino contingente coniimiliter interfuit, totum offi- 
 cium illius diei Venerabili Patre Epifcopo Wynton. ex- 
 equente. MifTam vero illius diei celebravit in hoc Col- 
 legio Reverendiffimus Pater & Dominus Dominus Jo- 
 hannes Stafford Cantuar. Archiepifcopus, totius Anglie 
 Primas, apoftolice fedis Legatus, & tunc Anglie Cancel- 
 larius, affiftentibus eidem venerabilibus in Chriflo Pa- 
 tribus Wilhelmo Wynton. Epifcopo, Wilhelmo Af- 
 Icewe Sarefburienf. Epifcopo, Adam Moleynes Cicef- 
 tren. Epifcopo tunc Cuflode privati figilli Domini Re- 
 gis, cum aliis notabilibus perfonis, videlicet Clerico 
 Rotulorum, Clerico Parliamenti, & Clerico Hamperii, 
 & multis aliis ; quo die idem Pater Epifcopus & Me- 
 tropolitanus dedit Scolaribus pro refectione xls. Et 
 obtulitxiij s. iiijd. 
 
 Item idem Dominus nofter Rex alia vice in fefto 
 Reliquiar. videlicet decimo tertio die menfis Julii inter- 
 fuit in hoc Collegio utrifque Vefperis Matutinis & 
 Miffe, Reverendo Patre Domino Epifcopo Wynton of- 
 ficium illius diei exequente. Et obtulit vj s. viij d. 
 
 Item idem Chriftianiffimus Rex ultimo die Parlia- 
 menti, videlicet decimo fexto die menfis Julii, inter- 
 fuit in hoc Collegio Miffe beatiffime Marie Virginis, 
 & obtulit vjs. viij d. Poft diclam vero MifTam obtulit 
 Deo beate Marie & fummo altari unurn tabernaculum 
 de auro. 
 
 Item alia vice idem Dominus nofrer Rex interfuit 
 divinis officiis, videlicet Vefperis Proceffibni & Miffe, 
 in hoc Collegio, dominica in Ramis Palmarum, eodem 
 die Magiftro Thoma Chaundeler Cuftode iftius Col- 
 
 leRii 
 
APPENDIX. xxiit 
 legii poft nonam coram eodem Domino Rege & populo 
 fermonem faciente. Et obtulit xiij s. iiij d. Et ultra ex 
 fua magna gracia dedit fummo altari dicli Collegii in 
 auro c s. Officium iftius diei exequente Cuftode if- 
 tius Collegii. 
 
 Item idem Dominus nofler chriftianiflunus Rex ul- 
 tima vice fuit in hoc Collegio in fefto Tranflacionis 
 Sancti Swythuni in utrifque Vefperis ejufdem Sancli, 
 fed non in MifTa, quia exhibuit prefenciam fuam in ec- 
 clefia SancYi Swythuni. Et obtulit idem Rex vj s. viij d. 
 
 N° XIV. 
 
 E Regiflro Wykeham, Fart. tert. b. fol. 166. - 
 Executio cujufdam Brevis Regii de Juramento. 
 
 WILHELMUS permiffione divina Wynto- 
 nien. Epifcopus Dileclis in Chrifto filiis Priori 
 Ecclefie noftre Cathedralis Wynton. Abbati Monafterii 
 de Hyda noftre dioc. ac Magiftro Johanni Elmer Offic. 
 noftro Wynton. Salutem Gratiam & Benedifrionem. 
 Breve Domini noftri Regis cum quodam tranfcripto die- 
 to brevi interclufo recepimus in hec verba. Ricardus 
 Dei gratia Rex Anglias & Franciae & Dominus Hiber- 
 niae Venerabili in Chrifto Patri W. eadem gratia Epi- 
 fcopo Wynton. Salutem. Cum Drugo Barentyn Major 
 Civitatis noftrae London, ac Aldermanni & Cives, nee 
 non ceteri Communes ejufdem Civitatis ad omnia & 
 fingula -ftatuta ordinaciones & ftabilimenta in ultimo 
 Parliamento nofbro apud Weftm. tento & ufque Salop, 
 adjornato edita ordinata & ftabilita, una cum omnibus 
 judiciis & ordinacionibus apud Coventr. virtute & auc- 
 toritate ejufdem Parliamenti redditis editis atque faclis, 
 ac cum omnibus dependenciis & omnibus aliis que 
 inde fequi poflunt pro fe & fuccefToribus fuis fingulari- 
 ter & generaliter bene & fideliter obfervand. in perpe- 
 tuum facramenta fuper fandla Dei Evangelia prseftite- 
 rint corporalia, & pro majori fecuritate ac veritatis prae- 
 mifiorum teftimonio ad quandam cedulam formam facra- 
 b 4 mend 
 
xxW APPENDIX. 
 
 raenti- praedicti continentem, cujus tranfcriptum vobis 
 mittimus prscientibus interclufum, figilla fua appofu- 
 erint ; Nos confimilia facramenta & fecuritatem de 
 unlveriis & fingulis Ligeis noiiris regni noilii Anglias 
 de ftatu reputatis habere volcntes vobis mandamus, 
 quod ftatim vifis praefentibus ac infpetto tranfcripto 
 pra>dicto bmnes Sz finguios Abbates Priores Decanos & 
 Archidiaconos de dioc. veftra ac alias perfonas ecclefi- 
 afucas ejufdem dioc. coram vobis ad certos dies Sc loca_, 
 quos ad hoc proyideritis, infra eandcm dioc. cum omni 
 celcritate & feiiiuacione qua poteritis venire fac. & 
 facramenta hujufmcdi ab eifdcm. Abbatibus Prioribus 
 Decanis & Archidiaconis ac aliis prcedi&is, quod ipfi & 
 fucce-iTores fui praemifTa modo Sc forma quibus in dicto 
 tranfcripto ik mencio conformiter pro parte fua obfer- 
 vabunt, recipiatis, & ejufdem facramenti formam in ce- 
 dulam conlimilem redigatis, praefatofque Abbates Prio- 
 res Decancs Archidiaconos Sc alias perfonas praediftas 
 eandem cedularn figillisfuis confignare fac. & cedulam 
 iliam cum fie qoufighata fuerit una cum certificacione 
 tocius fafti veftri in hac parte nobis in cancellar. nof- 
 trum fub figillo veftro diftinfle & apte fine dilacione 
 mittatis, & hoc Kreve. T. meipfo apud Weftm. oclavo 
 frie Februar. Anno regni noftri Vicefimo Secundo. 
 Tenor quidem tranfcripti de quo praefatur talis eft. 
 A tres excellente magefte de notre tres redoute & tres 
 fouverain Seigneur le Roy Richard puis le Conqueft 
 Seconde Nous voz humblez & loyalx lieges des corps 
 Sc des cuers de votre citee de Londrcs avons & chef- 
 cun de nous ad tres bien entenduz comcnt vos lieges 
 de vo re roialtne pour la greindre parti ont fi come a 
 eux apartient a toute obeillaunce & humiiitcc jurez pro- 
 mys & rcconuz fouz leur faitz feallez de feveralment & 
 generalment tenir toutz ies eftatutz ordinances & efta- 
 biiliementz faitz ordeignez & eftabliz en votre honura- 
 ble Parlement darrein tenuz a Weftm. continuez a Sa- 
 lopbirs cue toutz les jugementz & ordeinances, faitz Sc 
 renduz a Coventr. par virtue & auclorite .du dit Parle- 
 ment li come en lour fubraiftions obeiiftnces promeffes 
 & reconifances ell aifez clerement con tenuz ; fur quoy 
 
 nous 
 
APPENDIX. xxv 
 
 sious voz fufditz humblez lieges ql a votre tres excel- 
 lente magefte roiale volons & vorrons a toutz jours faire 
 loialment de trestoutz noz poairs tout qanq a ycelle 
 magefte purra en afcune maniere faire plefance lez ditz 
 eifatutz ordeinances & eftabliffemtntz oue les depen- 
 dences & quanq ent purra fuir pour nous & pour noz 
 heirs & fucceflours devrons & devons fumez tenuz & 
 ferrons volons & vouldrons tenir & eftre tenuz pour 
 toutz jours fanz jammes venir ne faire ne fuffrer efti-e 
 fait par afcune perfonne de quelle condicion ou eftat qii 
 foit afcunement alencontre en nnlle guife 8c i\ afcun y 
 foit q Dieu defende qattempte face attempter ou veiulb 
 attempter ou faire au contraire en tout ou en partie 
 nous les ferrons & chefcun de nous le ferra impedier 
 deftourbier & empefcher oue toutz noz corps & biens 
 pour vivre & pour morir & de tout ceo q. impedier ne 
 deftourbier ne purrons le ferrons fanz delay afcun noti- 
 fier 8c atreteiner a votre dicte magefte Roiale. Et a 
 ceo fermement 8c loialment tenir pour nous & pour noz 
 heirs & fuccefiburs a toutz jours nous Dreu Barentyn 
 mair aldermans citezeins & communes de votre dite ci- 
 tee promettons & jurons fur les feintz Evangelies & 
 chefcun de nous promette fait foy & jure & pour 
 greindre feurte a iceftes prcfentz lettres mettons noz 
 fealx en tefmoignance de noz faitz & de la verite. 
 Done, &c. Nos igitur aliis dicTri Domini noftri Regis 
 variis & arduis prsepediti negotiis dictum breve quovis 
 modo perfonaliter exequi non valentes ad venire faci- 
 end. omnes & flngulos Abbates Priores Decanos & Ar- 
 chidiaconum ac alias perfonas ecclefiafticasArchidiacona- 
 tus Wynton. coram vobis ad certos dies & loca quos ad 
 hoc provideritis infra Archidiaconatum pradiclum cum 
 omni celeritate feftinacione qua poteritis & facramen- 
 ta hujumodi ab eifdem Abbatibus Prioribus Decanis & 
 Archidiacono ac aliis prasdicYis quod ipfi 8c fucceflbres 
 fui prxmifTa modo & forma quibus in diclo tranfcripto 
 fit mencio conformiter pro parte fua obfervabunt reci- 
 piend. & ejufdem facramenti formam in cedulam confi- 
 milem redigend. prasfatofque Abbates Priores Decanos 
 Archidiaconum & alias perfonas prcediclas eandem ce- 
 dulam 
 
xxvi APPENDIX. 
 
 dulam figillis fuis confignare faciend. ceteraque omnia 
 & fmgula que in prsemiffis vel circa ea necefTaria fue- 
 rint vel quomodolibet opportuna exercend. expediend. 
 & fideliter exequend. vobis de quorum fidelitate & 
 circumfpeclionis induftria plenam in Domino obtinemus 
 fiduciam committimus vices noftras cum cujuflibet co- 
 hercionis canonice poteftate : Vobis infuper & cuilibet 
 veftrum in virtute obediencie firmiter injungendo man- 
 damus quatinus hanc noftram commiffionem fecundum 
 omnem vim formam & effectum fupradicti brevis exe- 
 quamini indilate. Et cedulam illam de forma facra- 
 menti praedifta cum fie confignata fuerit una cum cer- 
 tificacione tocius fafri veftri in hac parte nobis infra u- 
 num menfem a dat praefenciurn continue numerand. 
 fub figillis veftris diftinclc & apte fine dilacione mitta- 
 tis. Quod fi non omnes praefentem noftram commif- 
 fionem potuerint exequi ut prsefertur Volumus quod 
 duo veftru:r. ipfam nihilominus exequantur. In cujns 
 rei teftimonium figillum nofhum fecimus hijs apponi. 
 Dat. in manerio noflro de Esfher decimo quarto die 
 menfis Maii Anno Domini Millefimo TrecentefimoNo- 
 nagefimo Nono, & noftrae Conf. Anno Tricefimo 
 Secundo. 
 
 N° XV. 
 
 E Regiftro Wykeham, part. tert. b. fol. 164. 
 
 MandatUm fuper moderatiooe Statuti editi contra 
 Provifores. 
 
 WILHELMUS permiffione divina Wyntonien. 
 Epifcopus Dilefto in Chrifto filioOffic. Archi- 
 diaconi noftri Winton. Salutem Graciam & Benedidlio- 
 nem. Literas Reverendi in Chrifto Patris & Domini 
 Domini Roberti Dei gratia Londonien. Epifcopi nup. 
 recepimus in hec verba. Reverendo in Chrifto Patri 
 ac Domino Domino Wilhelmo Dei gracia Wintonien. 
 Epifcopo Robertus permiffione divina Londonien. Epi- 
 fcopus Salutem & fraternam in Domino caritatem. 
 Litejas Reverendiffimi in Chrifto Patris & Domini Do- 
 mini 
 
APPENDIX. xxvii 
 
 mini Rogeri Dei gracia Cantuarien. Archiepifcopi to- 
 cius Anglie Primatis & apoftolice fedis legati nup. re- 
 cepimus in hec verba. Rogerns permiffione divina 
 Cantuarien. Archiepifcopus tocius Anglie Primas & a- 
 pofrolice fedis Legatus Venerabili fratri noftro Domi- 
 no Roberto Dei gratia Londonien. Epifcopo Salutem 
 & fraternam in Domino caritatem. Breve regium una 
 cum quadam cedula in eodem inclufa nup. recepimus 
 in hec verba : Ricardus Dei gracia Rex Anglise & 
 Franciae & Dominus Hibernise Venerabili in Chrifto 
 Patri R. eadem gratia Archiepifcopo Cantuar. tocius 
 Anglie Primati Salutem. Licet nuper quoddam Sta- 
 tu turn in Parliamento noftro apud We ft in. anno regni 
 noftri tertiodecimo tento contra Provifores editum ob 
 honorem Dei & fantte Romane Ecclefie ac propter 
 praecipuam affeccionem quam erga Dominum Summum 
 Pontificem modernum obtinemus, contemplacione eci- 
 am Venerabilis Patris P. Aquenfis Epifcopi apoftolice 
 fedis Nuncii quern eo quod nofter eft ligeus & ma- 
 gis nobis acceptus ultra omnes alios pro hac mate- 
 ria inantea profequentes uberius profperari afFectamus 
 aliqualiter moderari ac moderationem illam Statuto 
 praediclo aut aliis in contrarium ordinatis non obflan- 
 tibus fieri & tolerari a fefto concepcionis beate Marie 
 ultimo prseterito ad proximum Parliamentum noftrum 
 locum tenere & efFectum fortiri & gerere Volentes 
 formam & tenorem moderacionis & tolerancie praedic- 
 tarum Vobis miferimus brevi noftro Vobis inde nuper 
 direclo interclufos mandantes quod pro invioiabili & 
 inconcuffa obfervacione moderacionis hujufmodi per 
 tanti temporis fpacium tolerande partes veftras quate- 
 nus ad officium veftrum attinet paftorale adhiberetis 
 folicitas & difcretas & ulterins ceteris confratribus Co- 
 epifcopis & Suffraganeis veftris Cant, p/ovincie mo- 
 deracionem prajdiclam per literas veftras prajmifforuna 
 feriem continentes in hac parte debite conficiend. cum 
 omni celeritate qua commode potuiffetis intiniaretis et 
 notificaretis ac teneii & obfervari demanderetis : Qni- 
 bufdam tamen certis de caufis coram nobis per prssfa- 
 tum Epifcopum Aquenfem expolitis & declaratis uos 
 
 intime 
 
Kxviii APPENDIX. 
 
 in time .movcntibus moderacionem & toleranciam hujuf- 
 modi Statuti ufque ad feftum Pafche proxime futurum 
 & ab inde ufque ad idem feftum tunc proxime fequens 
 locum tenere & in omnibus efFectum fortiri & gerere 
 volumus, & ideo vobis mandamus quod pro debita ob- 
 fervacione moderacionis hujufmodi ufque ad dictum 
 pofterius feftum Pafche tolerande partes veftras quate- 
 nus ad ofEcium veftrum paftorale noveritis pertinere 
 adhibeatis folicitas <?c difcretas, & ulterius ceteris con*- 
 fratribus Coepifcopis Si SufFraganeis veftris Cantuar. 
 Provincie moderacionem praedi&am cujus tenorem vo- 
 bis mittimus prsefentibus interclufum per literas veftras 
 prarmifforum feriem continentes in hac parte debite 
 conficiend. cum omni edentate qua commode pote- 
 . iritis intimetis & notiflcetis ac teneri Sc obfervari de- 
 mandetis : injungentes ejfdem ex parte noftra quod fin- 
 guli eorum hujufmodi moderacionem per literas fuas 
 fub forma qua decet fimiliter conficiend. aliis pradatis 
 & clero fu'arum cfioc. publice intimari $c notificari ac 
 teneri & fervari fac. fub periculo quod incumbit priore 
 mandato noftro prasdiclo non obftante. T. meipfo apud 
 Coventr. decimo fexto die Januarii anno regni noftri 
 vicefimo fecnndo. Tenor vero cedule de qua prafer- 
 tur fequitur in hec verba. Quantum ad moderacio- 
 nem contentorum fub ftatuto talis prout fequitur eft 
 Domini noftri Regis intcncio quod ob honorein Dei & 
 fancle Romane Ecclefie & propter praxipuam afFecci- 
 onem quam obtinet penes Dominum noftrum Summum 
 Pontificem modernum contemplacione eciam Reverendi 
 Patiis Domini Petri Dei gracia Aquenfis Epifcopi apo- 
 ftolice fedis Nuncii quern eo quod fuus eft ligeus & 
 magis fibi acceptus arfeclat ultra omncs alios pro hac 
 materia inantca profequ'entes uberius profperari non 
 obftante ftatuto vel aliis in contrarium ordinatis tolera- 
 bitur ufque ad proximum Parliamentum prout inferius 
 eft infcriptum. Jn primis videlicet quantum ad digni- 
 ties epifcopales cum vacuerint expeclato congruo 
 tempore pro eleccionum in Curia reprefentacione Sum- 
 mus Pontifex provideat electo ft Rex pro eo fcripferit 
 vel alteii Domini noftri Regis ligeo fibi grato & ac- 
 
 cepto. 
 
APPENDIX. xxis 
 
 fepto. Item quantum ad provifionem in Cathedra- 
 libus & collegiatis ecclefiis providebit Sitmmus Ponti- 
 fex Cardinaiibus vel aliis Anglicis de tribus de cetero 
 v vacaturis in fingulis ecclefiis fupradi&is fub hac forma. 
 quod pod provifionem unam auctoritate papali ha- 
 beat Ordinarius fecundam & fie viciffim quotifque per 
 fedem apoftolicam facia fit in tribus provifio in reliquis 
 autem vacaturis penes Ordinarium remanebit col- 
 lacio. Set tamen Dominis Cardinaiibus nod provi- 
 debitur de dignitatibus elecYivis quibufcunque nee 
 principalibus in collegiatis vel aliquibus beneficiis cu- 
 ratis feu refidenciam vel perfonale adminiftracionis 
 exercicium de jure vel confuetudine requirentibus : Ali- 
 quibus tamen aiienigenis nifi Cardinaiibus infra regnum 
 nullatenus providebit. I'.em quantum ad provifiones 
 de collacionibus Ordinariorum vel aliorum fpiritualium 
 patronorum extra ecclefias metropolkicas cathedrales 
 & collegiatas Summus Pontifex de beneficiis de cetero 
 vacaturis habeat provifiones de primo vacaturo & Or- 
 dinarius vel Patronus Spirituals de fecundcr vacaturo 
 & fie fiet viciflim ufque ad finem Pafche prox. futur. 
 & ab inde ufque ad idem feftum tunc proxime fequens. 
 Ilia tamen tolerancia quantum ad provifiones per 
 fedem apoftolicam faciend. in beneficiis port dar. pros- 
 fencium vacaturis tantummodo locum obtinebit titulis 
 & poffeflione antea obtinencium in omnibus fempex" 
 falvis. Cniocirca vobis commktimus & mandamus 
 quatinus prsrmiffa omnia & fingula in dictis brevi & 
 cedula content, in veftris civitate & dioc. Uteris veflris 
 intimetis & notificetis ac moderacionem in dicta ceduii 
 cxpreffatam in perfona vefixa teneans & obferi 
 Vobis etiam ex parte regia injungentes quod modera- 
 cionem hujufmodi a Prelatis & Clero dictarum veftra- 
 rurn civitatis Sc dioc. teneri faciatis & eciam obfervari, 
 feriemque & tenorem bre\-is & cedule prsedift. de Sc 
 fuper moderacione hujufmodi de qua prajfertur uni- 
 verfis & (ingulis confratribus Coepifcopis & Suffraga- 
 neis nofhis nofire Cantuarien. provincie per ! : 
 veflras patentes pra?miiTorum feriem continentes in hac 
 fane conficiend. cum omni celeritac* qua commode 
 
 patueritis 
 
xxx APPENDIX. 
 
 potueritis eciam intimetis & notificetis ac teneri & ob- 
 fervari demandetis. Injungentes eifdem ex parte regia 
 quod finguli eorum hujufmodi moderacionem per li- 
 teras fuas fub forma qua decet fimiliter conficiend. aliis 
 Prelatis & Clero fuarum civitatum & dioc. pnbJice in- 
 timari & notificari ac teneri & obfervari faciant prout 
 & fecundum quod tenores & effeitus brevis & cedule 
 praedi&orum in fe exigunt et requiruat. Dat. in ma- 
 nerio noftro de Otteford decimo quarto die menfis Fer 
 bruarii Anno Domini Millefimo Trecentefimo Nonage- 
 fimo Octavo & noftre Conf. Anno Secundo Quarum 
 quidem literarum auctoritate vobis omnia & fingula 
 in dictis Uteris contenta feriemque & tenorem brevis & 
 cedule predict, de & fuper moderacione hujufmodi de 
 qua prsefertur per has literas noftras patentes praemif- 
 forum feriem continentes cuni ea qua decuit reverencia 
 intimamus & notificamus ac per vos fecundum formam 
 & effeetum eorundem brevis & cedule teneri & obfer- 
 vari mandamus injungentes vobis ex parte regia quod 
 hujufmodi moderacionem per literas veftras fub forma 
 qua decet conficiend. Prelatis & Clero veftrarum ci- 
 vitat & dioc. publice nunciari & notificari ac teneri & 
 obfervari faciatis prout & fecundum quod tenores & 
 effectus brevis & cedule prsediclorum nee non literarum 
 Reverendiffimi Patris Domini Archiepifcopi antedicYi in 
 fe exiguat & requirunt. Dat. fub figillo noftro in 
 manerio noftro de Wykham die vicefimo quarto menf. 
 Februar. Anno Domini Millefimo Trecentefimo Nona- 
 gefirr.o Octavo & noi're Conf. Anno Decimo Octavo. 
 Auctoritate igitur literarum praedictarum vobis com- 
 mitrimus & mandamus quatinus omnia & fingula in 
 dictis Uteris contenta feriemque & tenorem brevis & 
 cedule prsedict. de & fuper moderacione hujufmodi 
 Prelatis & clero in noftra Civitate & Archidiaconatu 
 Wynton. confHtutis publice nuncietis & notificetis. In- 
 jungentes vobis ex parte regia quod hujufmodi mode- 
 racionem in perfona veftra teneatis & obfervetis ac eciam 
 a Prelatis & Clero in dictis civitate & Archidiaconatu 
 teneri & obfervari faciatis prout & fecundum quod 
 
 tenores 
 
APPENDIX. xxxi 
 
 tenores & effettus brevis & cedule ac literarum proe- 
 diftarum in fe exigunt S< requirunt. Dat. &c. 
 
 N° XVI. 
 
 Ex Libro Evidentiarum Ecclefias Cathedralis Winton. 
 
 N° I. Fol. 18. 
 De Can tar i a Wilhelmi Wykeham Epifcopi Wynton. 
 
 UNIVERSIS Sanftae Matris Ecclefise filiis prae- 
 fentes literas infpecturis, Thomas miferatione 
 divina Ecclefiae Cathedralis Wyntoniae Prior humilis 
 & ejufdem loci Conventus, Salutem in eo qui eft om- 
 nium vera falus. Noverit Univerfitas veftra quod cum 
 Reverendus in Chrifto Pater & Dominus Dominus 
 Wilhelmus de Wykeham Wynton. Epifcopus noflxi 
 Prioratus Patronus, divinse remunerationis intuitu & 
 pro ipfius animse falute, in noftri Prioratus exoneratio- 
 nem multimodam & perpetuum relevamen, quoddam 
 corrodium five praeftationem annuam de domo Priora- 
 tus ecclefiae noftrse Sancti Swithuni Prioratui de Ha- 
 mele in the Rys in Com. Sutht. valoris annui decern li- 
 brarum & amplius primitus debit, poftmodumq e in & 
 ad Cuftodem Socios & Scolares Col. beatae Mariae pro- 
 pe civitatem Wynton. beynte Marie College of Wyn- 
 cheftre vulgariter nuncupati, Sc ipforum Collegium per 
 venerabilem Patrem antediftum noviter fundati, aucio- 
 ritate apoftolica & regia legitime & effectual iter tranf- 
 lat. per eofdem Cuftodem Socios & Scolares procura- 
 verit & fecerit nobis et fucceflbribus noftris remitti ac 
 in perpetuum relaxari : Idemque Reverendus Pater 
 quendam annuum redditum quadraginta quinque foli- 
 dorum & quatuor denariorum de marierio de Wefl- 
 meones, quod quondam fuit Phtlippi de Marrneon. 
 al. diet. Attehalle, exeuntem Nobis & Prioratui nof- 
 tro dederit & concefferit pro perpetuo, ac etiam fuam 
 & noftram ecclefiam Wynton. ipfius gravibus fumptibns 
 & expenfis decentiflime & honeftiffime a fundamentis 
 reparaverit ac etiam renovaverit, ac nobis & eccleii<e 
 
 prsedift. 
 
xxxii Appendix. 
 
 praedicl. ad Dei laudem pariter 8c honorem vefliment2 
 & alia oi namenta quamplurima ex fuss devotionis fer- 
 vent- contulerit : Nos igitur volentes Reverendo Patri 
 antediclo, per quern & cujus interventu tanta beneficia 
 adepti lumus £c favorabiliter confecuti, grata viciffitu- 
 dine refpondere, nonnullaque alia bona fpiritualia & 
 temporalia Nobis & Prioratui nofiro & ecclefias noftrac 
 prsedictae a die to Reverendo Patre magnifice facia 
 pariter & impenfa ipfiufque favores mukiplices aliqui- 
 bus bonis Fpiritualibus & orationum fuffragiis pro viri- 
 bus compenfare, concedimus & bona ride promittimus 
 pro nobis 8c fuccefforibus noflris firmiter in animas 
 nonxas prasfato Reverendo Patri Domino Wilhelmo 
 noftro Epifcopo pariter & Patrono, quod omnia fequen- 
 tia 8c fubferipta pro falute animas fuae ac progenitorum 
 8c benefaclorum ejufdem perpetuis futuris temporibus 
 faciemus 8c obfervabimus, eaque fie fieri 8z obfer- 
 vari prout inferius continetur inviolabiliter faciemus. 
 In primis vid. quod Reverendus Pater antedictus in 
 capella in qua fuam elegit fepulturam infra Ecclefiam 
 Cath. fupradictam in navi ejufdem ex parte auflrali 
 fituat. habebit tres monachos noftri conventus tres 
 mi/fas pro eo & fuis benefactoribus cotidie fpecialiter 
 celebrantes, debebuntque eaedem mifTas modo quo fe- 
 quitur perpetualiter celebrari. Prima mifTa vid. tam 
 in agitate quam yeme fummo mane, quae erit de Sancta 
 Maria : alias vero duo mifTa: die magis lucefcente de 
 fandtis aut de temporali fecundum devotionem cele- 
 brantium dicentur, hora tertia vid. five fexta : quo- 
 rum quidem monachorum taliter ut piaefertur cele- 
 brantinm pro eodem Reverendo Patre dum fuperftes 
 fuerit unufquifque in qualibet ejus mifTa dicat banc 
 collect. Rege quaefumus, pro ipfius Reverendi Patris 
 llatus incolumitate, ac orationem Deus cui proprium, 
 pro animabus patris & matris & benefaclorum Reve- 
 rendi Patris Epifcopi fupradicli. Poffquam vero idem 
 Reverendus Pater fubtraclus fueiit ab hac luce loco 
 collect. Rege quaefumus, de qua praefertur, dicetur pro 
 eodem Reverendo Patre oratio Deus qui inter apo- 
 ftoUcoi, fmgularker pro eodem. Quibus quidem 
 
 monachis 
 
APPENDIX. xxxiii 
 
 monachis fie ut prseFertur celebnntibus Prior qui tunc 
 eft, & qui pro tempore erit, fingulis dicbus tres dena- 
 rios, vid. cuilibet eorum unutn denarium bonae & ufu- 
 alis monetae fideliter miniftrabit. Sacrifta etiam eccle- 
 fise fupradiclae inveniet eifdem tribus monachis omnia 
 officia miffae neceffaria vid. panem & vinum, librum & 
 calicem, veftimenta, luminaria altaris, palla, & quaecun- 
 que in hac parte ornamenta alia requifita. Concedimus 
 infuper pro nobis & fuccefToribus noftris, quod pueri 
 elemofinariae de elemofina difti Prioratus noftri viven- 
 tes qualibet no«5le perpetuis futuris temporibus ad dic- 
 tam capellam in qua corpus ditfri Reverendi Patris cum 
 in fata deceflit difponitur tumulari, cantabunt in hono- 
 re beatse Maria Virginis Antiphonam Salve Pegina, 
 vel Ave Rigina, & confequenter dicent Pfalmum de 
 Profundus cum Oratione Fidclium, vel Inclina, pro 
 animabus patris & matris dicli reverendi Patris, ac pro 
 anima difti Patris cum ab hac luce fubtraclus fuerit, "& 
 animabus omnium fidelium defunclorum Pro prse- 
 miffis vero Nos Prior prasdifhis & fucceffores noftri 
 Priores qui pro tempore fuerint folvemus&folvent Ele- 
 mofinario dic~tae domus annuatim ad opus & utilitatem 
 didlorum puerorumfex folidos & otto denarios in fefto 
 Annunciationis beatae Marine Virginis in perpetuum. 
 Volumus etiam & concedimus pro nobis & fuccefToribus 
 noftris in perpetuum, quod die Sabbati cujufiibet fepti- 
 manae futurae monachi Prioratus noftri in ordine facer- 
 dotali conftitutij fani valentes & difpofiti ad celebran- 
 dum, ordinentur & intitulentur in tabula feriatim ad 
 celebrandum mifTas praediclas cotidie per feptimanam 
 tunc fequentem, & 11 cui de dictis monachis fubita In- 
 firmitas inter horam matutinarum & miflae hujufmodi 
 celebrand. vel prius acceflerit, feu aliud impedimentum 
 legitimum occurrerit, ita quod fie ut praefertur cele- 
 brare non poflit, tunc de ipfa infirmitate feu impedi- 
 mento, Priorem, Suppriorem vel tertium Priorem pise - 
 muniet, ipfeque fie praemunitus alium ad celebrandum 
 ut praefertur effectualiter fubrogabit, rriiffaque hujuf- 
 modi celebrabitur per eundem. Ad qua? omnia & liti- 
 gula facienda implenda & fideliter obfervanda obli- 
 c gam us 
 
xxxiv APPENDIX. 
 
 gamus nos fucceflbres & Prioratum noftros prajdidtos 
 & omnia bona Prioratus noftri praedicli praefato Vene- 
 rabilt Patri ac ipfius heredibus & cxecutoribus ac 
 diftrictioni & cohercioni cujufcumque judicis noftri ec- 
 clefiafti vel etiam fecularis. In quorum omnium tefti- 
 monium figillum noftrum commune praefentibus appo- 
 fuimus. Dat. in domo noftra capitulari Wynton. de- 
 cimo fexto die menfis Augufti Anno Domini Millefimo 
 Quadringentefimo Quarto. 
 
 N° XVII. 
 
 TESTAMENTUM 
 
 W. Wykeham Epifcopi Wynton. 
 
 E Regiftro Arundel in Archivis Lamethanis. 
 
 Part. I. Fol. 215—218. 
 
 Collatum cum Exemplari in Veteri Regiftro. ColL 
 Winton. 
 
 IN nomine & honore furnmae & individuae Trinitatis 
 Patris & Filii & Spiritus Sancti. Amen. Quia 
 omne quod fit in tempore, in tempore corrumpetur, & 
 quodlibet mortale vivens paulatim dilabitur & deficit, 
 donee veniat ad ultimum defectum, qui eft mors ; & 
 nefcio quamdiu fubfiftam, & quando toilet me Factor 
 meus, eo quod cunctis diebus quibus nunc milito ex- 
 pefto donee veniat immutatio mea ; hac meditatione 
 gravi & continua follicitus Scpulfatus egoWiLHELMUs 
 Wykeham, Altiffimo permittente, humilis Minifter 
 Ecclefiae Cathedralis Wynton. licet indignus, non po- 
 nens fpem meam in praefentis vitas brevitate, quae eft 
 vapor ad modicum parens & fubito tranftens, fciens me 
 de hac valle miferiae neceflario recefliirum, fed diem & 
 horam exitus mei ignorans, ac cupiens mea noviffima 
 praevidere priufquam vadam ad eum qui me mifit, ad 
 honorem Plafmatoris mei & Domini Jefu Chrifti Filii 
 Dei, & pro falute animae meae, & pro remiflione omni- 
 um 
 
APPENDIX. xxxv 
 
 urn delictorum & peccatorum meorum, Testamen- 
 TUM meum five ultimam voluntatem meam fana mente 
 & puro corde, condo, ordino, & facio in hunc modum. 
 
 Imprimis lego & recommendo Animam meam omni- 
 potent! Deo, Plafmatori & Salvatori meo, qui earn cre- 
 avit ex nichilo ; humillimo corde ipfius clementiam 
 deprecans& requirens ut earn per debitum magnsc mi- 
 fericordiae fuae in focietate Electorum fuorum collocare 
 dignetur. 
 
 Item lego Corpus meum, cum ab hac luce migra- 
 vero, tradendum ecckfiafticae fepulturae in medio cujuf- 
 dam Capellae in Navi di&ae Ecclefia; ex parte auflrali 
 ejufdem per me de novo conftruclae. 
 
 De Bonis autem meis, quae michi contulit dementia 
 Salvatoris, fie difpono, volo, ordino & lego, viz. Quod 
 ultra & praeter expenfas ad honorem & laudem Dei 
 ratione funeris mei, Servifui, faciendas, quas committo 
 difpofitioni, ordinationi, & difcretioni Executor um & 
 Amicorum meorum, omnia debita mea quaecunque 
 quibufcunque perfonis ex quacunque caufa vel occafio- 
 ne Tint debita, plene & integre perfolvantur abfque 
 difficultate, contradiftione, impedimento feu dilatione 
 aliquali : et deinde Legata fubfcripta Legatariis qui- 
 bufcunque plene & integre perfolvantur : de quibus 
 rero onero confcientias Executorum meorum, quod 
 ipfi Executores mei omnia & fingula fubfcripta, fpeci- 
 ficata & legata, plene, bene, fideliter & integre, abfque 
 defalcatione, fubftraftione, feu diminutione quacunque 
 faciant & exequantur in omnibus, prout ipfi inde re- 
 fpondere voluerint coram fummo Judice Domino meo 
 Jefu Chrifto. 
 
 Item lego, volo & ordino, quod in caflro, manerio, 
 villa, feu loco alio quocunque in quo me mori conti- 
 gerit, Executores mei donent & diftribuant paupc- 
 ribus debilioribus & magis indigentibus perfonis de me 
 in vita & epifcopatu meo tenentibus ibidem, & in omni 
 loco per quern contigerit corpus meum deferri ufque 
 ad Ecclefiam meam Winton. ad orandum pro falute 
 animae meas cuilibet ipforum pauperum tenendum 
 quatuor denarios, & cuilibet alteri, ekemofynam pro 
 c 2 amore 
 
xxxvi APPENDIX. 
 
 amore Dei petenti, duos denarios, vel unum denanum 
 ad minus, juxta difcretionem & ordinationem ipforum 
 Executorum meorum. 
 
 Item volo, ordino & lego, quod Execu tores mei 
 donent & diftribuant, die fepulturae corporis mei, cui- 
 libet pauperi indigenti venienti apud Winton. & elee- 
 mofynam pro amore Dei & falute animse meae petenti, 
 quatuor denarios. 
 
 Item lego Ducentas Libras dividendas inter pauperes 
 
 jprifonas * in prifonis de Newgate in London, Marefcal- 
 
 ciae Regis, Wolvefeye, Winton. Oxon. Berks. Gulde- 
 
 forde, Veteris & Novae Sarum, pro amore Dei, & pro 
 
 falute animae meae. 
 
 Item, Quia Deusdecorem domus fuae & locum ha- 
 bitationis fuae diligit, ad honorem & laudem ipfius Dei, 
 & Domini noftri Jefu Chrifti, & fanccae Mariae matris 
 fuae, Apoftolorumque ejus Petri & Pauli, & Patrono- 
 rum ecclefiae meae praedictae, nee non Sanctorum Brrini, 
 Swythuni, Eddae & Ethelwoldi, quorum corpora & 
 reliquiae in dicta continentur ecclefia ; volo & ordino 
 quod Executores mei corpus five medium ecclefiae fu- 
 pradictae inter alas auftralem & borealem, ab oftio oc- 
 cidental! chori ejufdem ecclefiae deorfum ufque ad fi- 
 nem occidentalem ejufdem ecclefiae, in muris, feneltris 
 & valto, honefte & honorifice, conformiter & decenter 
 fecundum exigentiam, formamque & modum novi ope- 
 ns alarum praediftarum nunc incepti, nee non & eafdem 
 ■ alas per idem fpaiium in longitudine refici faciant, ac 
 debite reparari ufque ad fummam Duarum Millium & 
 Quingentarum Marcarum, fi tantum expendi oporteat 
 in opere fupradicco, pro completione & confummatione 
 ejufdem, juxta modum & formam fuperius limitat. 
 Hijs tamen conditionibus fervatis in praemiffis, quod 
 Prior & Conventus ecclefiae fupradictae inveniant to- 
 tum fcaffaldum ad opus praedic-ium necefTarium, feu 
 etiam opportunum ; ac quod gratis & libere permit- 
 tant & fuflineant calcem & zabulum de terris & quar- 
 reris eorum, ac hominum & tenentium fuorum, ubi 
 melius ac utilius, pro celeriori ac feliciori dicti operis 
 . expeditione, Executores mei viderint expedire, ad hu- 
 
 jufmodi 
 
 * Forfan, prifonar, i. c. prifor.aiies. 
 
APPENDIX. xxxvii 
 
 jufmodi novum opus di&as ecclefiae, fodi, cariari, &' 
 abduci per operarios, a me vel Executoribus meis ad 
 hoc deputandos, quoufque opus hujufmodi fie ut pras- 
 mittitur totaliter compleatur ; ita etiam, quod lapides, 
 plumbum, ferramenta, meremium, vitrum, & quaecun- 
 que alia materia veteris operis ejufdem ecclefiae iutegre 
 cedat, remaneat, & convertatur in ufum, auxilium & 
 ntilitatem novi operis fupradicti. Volo etiam & or- 
 dino quod difpofitio & ordinatio hujuimodi novi 
 operis fiant per Magiftrutn Wilhelmum Winford, & 
 alios fufficientes, difcretos, & in arte ilia approbatos* 
 ab Executoribus meis, fi oportuerit, depiuandos : ac 
 quod Dominus Simon Membury nunc difti operis 
 Supervifor nee non & Solutor, fit etiam Solutor & 
 Supervifor in futurum, durante opere fupradicto, per 
 fupervifum, teltimonium & contra-rotulationem fratris 
 Johannis Wayte diclae ecclefiae meae Commonachi, 
 nuncque ex parte didtorum Prioris, & Conventus Con- 
 tra-rotulatoris operis fupradicti, dum modo fanus & in- 
 columis fuerit, & circa hoc laboiare potuerit : alio- 
 quin ipfo deficiente, feu laborare non valente, per fu- 
 pervifum, tefKmonium & contra-rotulationem alterius 
 diftas ecclefiae Commonachi, in hac parte difcreti fuf- 
 ficientis & ydonei ad hoc per dittos Priorcm & Con- 
 ventum capitulariter eligendi, durante opere memorato. 
 Quodque folutiones pro diftis operibus fiant de tem- 
 pore ad tempus per ordinationem, difpofitionem & 
 difcretionem omnium Executorum meorum, vel ad 
 minus quinque de iifdem, de fideliter adminiftrando 
 coram infinuante Teftamentum meum hujufmodi jura- 
 torum. 
 
 Item lego pro feneftris tarn fuperioribus quam .infe- 
 rioribus partis aufiralis ecclefiae pr3edic"rae per me repa- 
 ratae, bene & honefle & decenter juxta ordinationem 
 & difpofitionem Executorum rneorum vitriandis. 
 Quingentas Marcas. Et volo quod fiant hujufmodi 
 feneftrae vitreae incipiendo in fine occidentali ecclefiae 
 praedi&ae in novo opere per me facto feriatim & in 
 .ordine ufque ad completionem ac confummationem 
 omnium feneftrarum dicti novi operis partis auftralis 
 c 3 antedictae 
 
xxxviii APPENDIX. 
 
 antediftae. •'Et fi quid tunc de dicta fumma reman- 
 ferit non expenditum, volo quod circa feneftras aloe 
 borealis totaliter expendatur, incipiendo in fine occi- 
 dentali ad primam feneltram novi operis per me facti, 
 & fie continuando verfus partem orientalem, prout de 
 parte auftrali fuperius fpecialiter ordinavi. 
 
 It,em lego Domino meo Regi unum par pelvium 
 argent. & deaurat. cum rofis duplicatis fculptis in 
 fundo earundem. Et remitto eidem Domino meo 
 Regi Quingentas Libras de pecunia a me mutuo re- 
 Gepta per eundem. 
 
 Item lego Domino meo Archiepifcopo Cantuarienfi 
 unum anulum aureum cum lapide de ruby. Item 
 unum par precum de auro appenfum ad unum monile de 
 auro, habens haec verba infculpta, " I HC est 
 Amor meus." Item unum difcum eleemofynarium 
 argenteum & novum formatum ad modum navis. 
 
 Item lego SucceiTori meo in Epifcopatu meo Win- 
 ton meliorem Librum meurn de Officio Pontificali, qui in- 
 cipit in fecundo folio " Dicant excepto." Item meliorem 
 librum menm mifTalem ; qui incipit in fecundo folio 
 poll Kalendare " Turn Angelum." Item lego eidem 
 SuccefTori meo majorem anulum meura, aureum, pon- 
 tificaletn, cum lapide de faphiro circumdato & ornato 
 cum quatuor baleys & duobus parvis diamandis, ac 
 undecim margaritis. Item calicem meurn meliorem 
 deauratum & amelatum in pede cum ymaginibus de 
 Paffione. Item Ponfere meurn meliorem operatum & 
 ornatum cum novem baleys & cxlj margaritis. 
 
 I tem lego Reverendo in Chiifto Pacri Domino Ro- 
 berto Dei gratia London. Epifcopo majorem lectum 
 meurn rubeum de ferico, qui pendere folet in majori 
 eameija Palatii Winton. cum toto apparatu cjufdem, ac 
 totarn lectain de tapetis rubeis camerae praedictae, qui- 
 bus uti fo'.eo cum eodem leclo ibidem. 
 
 Item lego Ecclefice meae Winton. veftimentum me- 
 urn novum de blodio panno, virgato & operato cum 
 leouiDus de auro, cum viginti cnpis de eodem panno 
 aurifrigiatis cum hiftoria de JefTe. Item lego eidem 
 ecclefise meae unum vas de berillo, ordinatum pro 
 
 corpoie 
 
APPENDIX. xxxix 
 
 cor pore Chrifti. Item unam crucem de auro cum reli - 
 quiis de ligno Dominico. 
 
 Item lego Priori ecclefiae meae predicts ad oran- 
 dum pro anima mea unum cyphum argeateum deaura- 
 tum cum cooperculo, & unum aquarium argenteum 
 deauratum, pretii amborum Viginti Librarum. 
 
 Item lego fingulis Monachis ejufdem ecclefias in 
 ordine facerdotali conftitutis ad orandum proanima 
 mea Quinque Marcas ; cuilibet autem Monacho ejuf* 
 dem ecclefue non Prefbytero, in minoribus ordinibus 
 conftituto, lego Quadraginta Solidos ad orandum pro 
 anima mea. 
 
 Item lego Collegio meo Oxon. mitram meam Sz ba- 
 culum meum pafloralem, ac dalmaticas & fandalia 
 mea. 
 
 Item lego Collegio meo Winton. aliam mitram 
 meam planam, aurifrigiatam, ac bibliam meam ufua- 
 lem. Item librum vocatum " Catholicon." Item librum 
 vocatum " Rationale Divinorum." Item librum voca- 
 tum " Florarium Bartholomaei." Item librum de Vita 
 Sancti Thomae, vocatum " Thomas." Item librum 
 vocatum " Pars Oculi." 
 
 Item lege Cuftodi Coll. mei Oxon. Decern Marcas 
 & unum cyphum argenteum deauratum cum coopercu- 
 lo, & unum aquarium argenteum deauratum, pretii 
 amborum Viginti Marcarum : quern quidem cyphum 
 cum cooperculo & aquarium volo dicro Cuftodi & 
 fuis in ipfius officio SuccefToribus ad ufum fuum & 
 dicri Collegii pro perpetuo remanere. 
 
 Item lego cuilibet Socio perpetuo ejufdem Coll. in 
 ordine facerdotali conftituto Viginti Sex Solidos & 
 0£lo Denarios ; cuilibet autem Socio non Prefbytero 
 in facris ordinibus conftituto Viginti Solidos ; cuilibet 
 vero Socio in minoribus ordinibus conftituto SexdecW 
 Solidos Ocfto Denarios ; ac unicnique Scholaii ejufdem* 
 Coll. infra probationis annos cxiftenti, dum tamen fte- 
 terit per annum in Collegio poftijuam receptus fuerit 
 in verum & perpetuum Socium ejufdem, Trefdecim, 
 Solidos Quatuor Denarios Sterlingorum. 
 
 c 4 Item 1 - 
 
xl APPENDIX. 
 
 Item lego cuilibet Capellano condu&itio Capellae 
 Coll. mei Oxon per biennium continuum a die mortis 
 meaemoram in difto Coll. facienti, & divina celebranti 
 in eodem, Viginti Solidos. Et volo, ordino, & difpo- 
 no, quod fingulis diebus a die mortis mea; notae in 
 dicto Coll. ufque ad diem folempnitatis fepulturae mes 
 & per quadraginta dies ex tunc immediate fequentes 
 dicatur in communi in Capella ipfias Coll. cum nota 
 officium mortuorum ac miffa folempnis de Requiem 
 pro anima mea, & animabus omnium iidelium de- 
 functorum. 
 
 Item lego Decern Libras dividendas & difrribuen- 
 das inter Clericos & Chorlftas Capeltee dicli Coll. 
 Oxon. ac Servientes ir.trincecos communes ipfius Coll. 
 juxta difcretionem Cuftodis Vicecuftodis & Burfari- 
 orum Collegii memorati. 
 
 1 1 em lego Cuftodi Coll. mei Winton. Decern Mar- 
 c&s &• unum cyphum argenteum deauratum, cum coo- 
 perculo, & unum aquarium argenteum deauratum, 
 pretii amborum Viginti Marcarum. Qjiem quidem 
 cyphum cum cooperculo & kq6i.no volo diclo Cuftodi 
 & fuis in ipfius officio Succeiforibus ad ufum fuum 8c 
 dicii Coll. pro perpetuo remanere. 
 
 Item lego cuilibet Socio perpetuo Prefbytero ejuf- 
 dem Coll. mei Winton. Viginti Sex Solidos & Oc~to 
 Denarios ; cuilibet autem Capellano conductitio Ca- 
 pella; Coll. mei juxta Winton. Viginti Solidos: ac 
 Magiilro Thoma; Romfeye Inltructori Scholarium Coll. 
 prredicYi Centum Solidos, Sub-inftruftori vero five 
 Hofliario Viginti Solidos. Et volo quod fingulis die- 
 bus a die mortis mea; ufque ad diem folempnitatis fe- 
 pulturs mesc, & per quadraginta dies extunc immedia- 
 te fequentes dicatur in communi in Capella dicli Coll. 
 Winton. cum nota officium mortuorum & miffa fo- 
 lempnis de Requiem pro falute animae mese & omnium 
 fidelium defunctorum. 
 
 Item lego cuilibet Scholari Coll. mei Winton. Sex 
 Solidos & Octo Denarios. 
 
 Item lego Decern Marcas Sterlingorum dividendas 
 & dittribuendas inter Clericos & Choriftas dicti Coll. 
 
 Winton. 
 
APPENDIX. xii 
 
 Winton. ac Servientes intrincecos communes ipfius 
 Coll. juxta difcretionem Cuftodis Vicecuftodis & Bur- 
 fariorum Coll. memorati. 
 
 Item lego Fabrics Ecclefiae Sarum Viginti Libras 
 pro exequiis die obitus mei, & die triceftmo a tempore 
 mortis meae, inter ipfius ecclefiae Canonicos & Minif- 
 tros folempniter celebrandis. 
 
 Item lego Abbati Monafterii de Hyda ad orandura 
 pro anima mea unum cyphum argenteum deauratum 
 cum cooperculo, pretii Decern Librarum : & cuilibet 
 Monacho ejufdem Monafterii in ordine facerdotali con- 
 ftituto Quadraginta Solidos, cuilibet vero alteri dicli 
 Monafterii Monacho in minoribus ordinibus conftituto 
 Viginti Solidos, ad orandnm pro anima mea. 
 
 Item lego Abbatiflae Monafterii Sanctae Maria 
 Winton. Quinque Marcas Sterlingorum ; cuilibet au- 
 tern Moniali ejufdem Monafterii lego Trefdecim Solidos 
 Quatuor Denarios. 
 
 Item lego Priori & Conventui Beats: Maris de 
 Overe in Suthwerk meorum Patronatus & Diocefios 
 pro reparatione ecclefiae ipforum & ad orandum pro 
 anima mea Quadraginta Libras Sterlingorum in qui- 
 bus michi tenentur. 
 
 Item lego Abbati & Conventui de Waverle meorum 
 Patronatus & Diocefios ad orandum pro anima mea 
 Decern Libras. 
 
 Item lego Abbathiae de Tychefeld meorum Patro- 
 natus & Diocefios unum par veftimentorum cum 
 calice. 
 
 Item lego Priori & Conventui de Tanton mei Pa- 
 tronatus Bathonienfis Diocefios ad orandum pro ani- 
 ma mea Centum Marcas Sterlingorum. 
 
 Item lego Abbatiftl-e Monafterii Monalium de 
 Romefeye Quinque Marcas Sterlingorum 
 
 Item lego Felic. Aas * Moniali ejufdem Monafterii 
 Centum Solidos; cuilibet vero alteri Moniali ejufdem 
 Monafterii lego Trefdecim Solidos & Quatuor Dena- 
 rios. 
 
 * Ays, Regiftr, Arundel- 
 
 Item 
 
xlii APPENDIX. 
 
 Item lego Abbatiflae & Conventui ejufdem Mona- 
 fterii pro reparatione ecclefiae fuae & clauftri ejufdem 
 Monafterii Quadraginta Libras Sterlingorum in qui- 
 bus michi nunc ex mutuo tenentur. 
 
 Item lego Fabrics Ecclefiae Parochialis ibidem 
 Viginti Marcas. 
 
 Item lego Abbatiflae & Conventui de Wherewell 
 ad orandum pro anima mea Viginti Marcas. 
 
 Item lego Priori & Conventui Sancti Dionyfii juxta 
 Suthampton ad reparandum & emendandum defecrus 
 ecclefiae ipfornm Viginti Marcas. 
 
 Item lego Prioriflae & Conventui de Wynteney ad 
 
 orandum pro anima mea Decern Libras Sterlingorum. 
 
 Item lego Priori & Conventui de Taurigge meae 
 
 Diocefios ad orandum pro anima mea Centum So- 
 
 lidos. 
 
 Item lego ad diflxibuendum inter Fratres & Soro- 
 res ac Pauperes Hofpitalis Sancti Thomae in Snthwerk 
 ad orandum pro anima mea juxta difcretionem Execu- 
 torum meorum Decern Marcas. 
 
 Item lego Hofpitali Sanctae Crucis juxta Winton. 
 imum par vefHmentorum cum calice; & unum par 
 pelvium argent, cum f Feer de Molyn fculptis in 
 fundo earundem ad modum crucis. 
 
 Item lego Hofpitali Sancli Nicholai de Portefmuth 
 unum par vefHmentorum cum calice. 
 
 Item lego Ecclefiae Beatae Mariae Suthampton 
 unum par vefHmentorum cum calice. 
 
 Item lego Collegio Sanctae Elizabethan unum par 
 pelvium argent, cum ymagine Sancti Martini fedente in 
 equo fculpt. in fundo earundem, ac duos urciolos ar- 
 genteos ad ufum fummi altaris ibidem. 
 
 Item lego Hofpitali Sanctse Mariae Magdalenae pro- 
 pe Civitatem Winton. pro reparatione ecclefiae ac do- 
 morum & tenementorum ejufdem Hofpitalis Centum 
 Solidos. 
 
 Item lego Sororibus Hofpitalis Eleemofynariae Ec- 
 clefiae meae Sancti Swythuni Quadraginta Solidos inter 
 ipfas aequaliter dividendos ad orandum pro anima mea. 
 
 -j- Fer de Moulin j /'. e. The Iron of a Mill ; a Bearing in Heraldry. 
 
 Item 
 
APPENDIX. xlii 
 
 Item lego Ecclefiae de Hameldon unum portifo- 
 rium Capellae meae juxta electionem & difcretionem 
 Executorum meorum, & unum calicem. 
 
 Item lego confimili modo Ecclefiae de Eftmeone 
 unum aliud portiforium di&ae Capellaj meae & unum 
 calicem. 
 
 Item lego cuilibet Ecclefiarum fubfcriptarum, viz. 
 Wytteney, Farnham, Chiriton, Havonte, & Burghclere, 
 mei Patronatus, unum veftimentum integrum viz. pro 
 Sacerdote, Diacono, & Sub-diacono, cum capa etiam 
 & uno calice. 
 
 Item lego cuilibet Ecclefiarum fubfcriptarum viz. 
 Fallegh, Crawle, Alwardfbke, South-Waltham, & 
 Drokenesford, meorum Patronatus & Diocefios, unam 
 capam de capis ufualibus in Capella mea juxta difcre- 
 tionem Executorum meorum, nee non unum calicem. 
 
 Item lego cuilibet Conventui quatuor Ordinum 
 Fratrum Mendicantium Civitatis Winton. Decern Mar- 
 cas ad orandum pro anima mea. 
 
 Item lego Alicife Perot confanguinere meae Centum 
 Libras Sterlingorum. 
 
 Item lego Magiftro Johanni Wykeham Rectori 
 Ecclefiae de Crondale Centum Libras Sterlingorum. 
 
 Item lego Edithae Ryngebourne confanguineae mea; 
 pro fe & liberis fuis non maritatis nee promotis Centum 
 Libras Sterlingorum. 
 
 Item lego Agneti Wodelok confimguineae meae pro 
 fe & liberis fuis non maritatis nee promotis Centum 
 Libras Sterlingorum. 
 
 Item lego Johanna* uxori Wilhelmi Mavyell pro fe 
 & liberis fuis non maritatis nee promotis Quadraginta. 
 Libras Sterlingorum. 
 
 Item lego Edithae uxori Wilhelmi Croyfer confan- 
 guineae meae centum Libras Sterlingorum. 
 
 Item lego Dominae Agneti i-'andes confanguines 
 meet pro fe & liberis fuis non maritatis nee promotis 
 Centum Libras Sterlingorum. 
 
 Item lego Thomae Warenner Qiiinquaginta Mar- 
 cas in quibus michi per fcriptum iuum obligatorium 
 tenetur, 
 
 Item 
 
xliv APPENDIX. 
 
 Item lego Thomas filio & hasredi ejufdem Thoma? 
 eonfanguineo meo Viginti Libras Sterlingorum. 
 
 Item lego Riginald. filio ejufdem Thomae Waren- 
 ner eonfanguineo meo Viginti Libras Sterlingorum. 
 
 Item lego Wilhelmo Ryngebourne eonfanguineo 
 meo Viginti Libras Sterlingorum. 
 
 Item johanni Benett de Bottele eonfanguineo meo 
 Viginti Libras Sterlingorum 
 
 Item lego Magiftro Johanni Wykeham Rectori 
 Ecclefias de Biriton pro inceptione fua in theologia & 
 aliis actibus fcholafricis Quinquaginta Libras 
 
 Item lego Elenae forori Magiftri Nicholai Wykeham 
 pro fe & liberis fuis non maritatis nee promotis Viginti 
 Libras. 
 
 Item lego Selote Purbyk Decern Libras. 
 
 Item lego duobus Capitalibus Jufticiariis Domini 
 Regis, de Banco Domini Regis & de commani Banco, 
 cuilibet ipforum unum anulum aureum cum uno dya- 
 mand. vel unum de paras tablettis ad valorem Centum 
 Solidorum. 
 
 Item lego Domino Wilhelmo Hengford unum anu- 
 lum aureum vel unum tablett. ad valorem Centum Soli- 
 dorum. 
 
 Item lego Domino Roberto Faryngton unum pfalte- 
 rium & unum par precum 
 
 Item lego Johanni Uvedale unum cyphum argen- 
 ■teum vel aliud jocale ad valorem Decern Marcarum. 
 
 Item lego Henrico Popham unum cyphum argen- 
 teum vel aliud jocale ad valorem Decern Marcarum. 
 
 Item lego Johanni Chamflour, Nicholao Bray, & 
 Stcphano Carre, cuilibet ipforum unum cyphum vel a- 
 liud jocale ad valorem Centum Solidorum. 
 
 Item lego Domino Wilhelmo Savage Reclori Ec- 
 clefia2 de Overton Viginti Libras. 
 
 Item Domino Johanni Keton Praecentori Ecclefis 
 Suthampton Viginti Libras. 
 
 Item volo, ordino & lego, quod Executores mei 
 donent & difbibuant perfonis in Rotulo huic praefenti 
 Teftamento annexo, & figillo meo figillato, conferip- 
 
 tis, 
 
APPENDIX. xl 7 
 
 lis, res & fummas in eodem rotulo ipfamm fingulis de- 
 fignatas ac etiam limitatas 
 
 Item lego Executoribus rneis onus -adminiftratio- 
 nis hujus Teftamenti mei in fe fufcipieniibus fummam 
 Mille Librarum inter ipios aequaliter'dividendam, no- 
 mine remurierationis laboris eorundem circa etecHtio- 
 nem Teftamenti prasdicli ; ita tamen, quod nullus die- 
 torum Executorum meorum quicquam in dicta fumraa 
 percipiat feu participet, nifi hujus Teftamenti mei 
 onus adminiftrationis in fefufceperit & admiferit, ac de 
 fideliter adminiftrando in bonis hujufmodi Teftamen- 
 tum meum concernentibus, coram illo, per quern 
 Teftamenti hujus probationem fieri continget, ad 
 fan<5ba Dei Evangelia prseflet corporaliter juramen- 
 tum. 
 
 Residuum vero bonorum meorum fu peri us non le- 
 gatorum, do, lego & committo ordinationi ac difoofi- 
 tioni Executorum meorum f.ibfcriptorum ; ut ip'fi de 
 bonis meis prcedictis pro falute & remedio animas 
 meae ordinent ac fideliter difponant ficut in diftricto 
 examine coram Summo Judice voluerint refpondere. 
 
 Hujus autem Teftamenti mei Lxecutoivs ordino, 
 facio, & conftituo ; Rcverendum in Chrifto Patrem 
 Dominum Robertum, Dei gratia, Londonien. Epifco- 
 pum, ac vencrabiles viros Magiftroj Nicholaum Wyke- 
 ham, Johannem Elmere, & Johann^m Campeden, 
 Thomam Chelrey Senefcallum terrarum Epifcopatus 
 mei Winton. Ihomam Wykeham confauguine'um me- 
 um & haeredem, ac Dominum Thomam Aylcward 
 Rectorem Ecclefise de Havonte. 
 
 Dat. apud South-Waltham vicefimo quarto die 
 Menfis Julii, Anno ab Incarnatione Domini fe- 
 cundum curium & cornputationem Ecclefia; 
 AnglicanasMillefimo Quadringentefimo Tertio. 
 ■ Indiccione undecima Pontificatus fanctiffimi in 
 Chrifto Patris & Domini noftri Domini Bo- 
 nifacii divina Providentia Papae Noni Anno- 
 Decimo Quarto 
 
 Prasfentibus difcretis viris Dominis Wilhelmo 
 Norton, Thoma Lavyngton, Wilhelmo 
 
 Bouriller^ 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 Boutillere & Johanne Knyght, ac me 
 Wilhelmo Doune Notario Publico hujus 
 Teftamenti Scriba, Teftibus ad hoc voca- 
 tis fpecialiter & rogatis. 
 
 E T E G O Wilhelmus Doune Clericus Exon Dioc. 
 Publicus aufloritate apoftolica Notarius praedifti Tef- 
 tamenti faccioni, voluntati, ordinationi, difpofitioni, 
 Executorum nominationi & conftitutioni, teftiumque 
 pradi&orum rogationi, ac ceteris omnibus & fingu- 
 lis praemjflis, dum fie ut praemittitur per Reverendum 
 Patrem Dominum Wilhelmum Wykeham Epifcopum 
 Winton. fub anno, indiccione, pontificatu, menfe, die, 
 & loco prasdicYis agebantur & fiebant, una cum prae- 
 nominatis teftibus praefens interfui, eaque fie fieri vidi 
 & audivi : ac de mandato ejufdem Reverendi Patris 
 fcripfi & in hanc publicam formam redegi, fignoque 
 & nomine meis confuetis fignavi in fidem & teitimo- 
 nium omnium praemiflforum. 
 
 C D I C E L- 
 
APPENDIX. xlvil 
 
 CODlCELLUSfiveROTULUSdequofuprafit 
 mcntio. 
 
 Thomas Chelrey de vafis argent, ad va- 
 lorem - -. 1. libr. 
 Thomas Wykeham de vafis argent, ad 
 
 valorem - - 1. libr. 
 
 Magifter Nicholaus Wykeham de vafis 
 
 argent, ad valorem 1. libr. 
 
 Magifter Johannes Ellemere de vaf. ar- 
 gent, ad val. ... - 1. libr. 
 Magifter Johannes Campeden de vaf. 
 
 arg. ad val. - - 1. libr. 
 
 Magifter Robertus Keton de vaf. arg. ft s. d. 
 
 ad val. •• - - xxvj xiij iiij 
 
 Thomas Aylward de vaf. arg. ad val. - 1 libr. 
 Wilhelmus Norton de vaf. arg. ad val. xxvj xiij iiij 
 Thomas Lavyngton de vaf. arg. ad val. xxvj xiij iiij 
 Wilhelmus Butillere xx Libr. cum uno 
 
 calice praeterea. 
 Walterus Aude - xx libr. 
 
 Johannes Sturmiftre xx Libr. cum uno 
 
 calice. 
 Johannes Lytton - - - x libr. 
 
 Johannes Bussh ... xx libr. 
 
 Richardus Chicheftre ... Y j xiij iiij 
 
 Johannes Knyght xx Libr. cum uno ca- 
 lice 
 Johannes Langele - vj xiij iiij 
 
 Johannes Hende - - - c. s. 
 
 Joe. Bailiff - - - - c. s. 
 
 Wilhelmus Brocheband xx Libr. cum 
 
 uno cipho argent. 
 Johannes Foxle x libr. 
 
 Wilhelmus Weftynton x libr. 
 
 Radulphus Arches - - - c. s. 
 
 Johannes Dafltre c Solid, de oblig. 
 Wilhelmus Changelton - - c s. 
 
 Johannes 
 
xlviii A P P E N I 
 
 ) I X. 
 
 Johannes Coudray 
 
 c. s. 
 
 Guido Denham 
 
 c. s. 
 
 Nicholaus Gifrewaft 
 
 lxvi s viij d. 
 
 Thomas Penne • 
 
 lxvi s viij d 
 
 Johannes Arnold 
 
 c. s. 
 
 Johannes Shire - 
 
 c. s. 
 
 Johannes Devenifli c Solid, de oblig. 
 
 
 Johannes Prewes - - 
 
 Ixvj s viij d 
 
 Johannes Pope - 
 
 vj 1 xiij s iiij d 
 
 Nicholaus Hackeftalle 
 
 Ixvj s viij d 
 
 Wilhelmus Doune 
 
 c. s. 
 
 Wilhelmus Grene 
 
 Ixvj s viij d 
 
 Johannes Bofeham 
 
 xl s. 
 
 Stephanus Auftel 
 
 xl s. 
 
 Nicholaus Sturgeon 
 
 xl .s. 
 
 Wilhelmus Welde 
 
 xls. 
 
 Rogerus de Camera 
 
 c. g. 
 
 
 1. s. d. 
 
 Petrus Knyght 
 
 Vj xiij iiij 
 
 Johannes Barbour 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 Nicholaus Gerveys - 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 Wilhelmus Peti-john 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 Wilhelmus Salem an 
 
 vj xiij iiij 
 
 Richardus Crokkere 
 
 ,- Ixvj viij 
 
 Johannes Combe 
 
 vj xiij iiij 
 
 Johannes Cranbourne 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 Thomas Somer 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 Robertus Hertele 
 
 Ixvj Viij 
 
 Robertus Goos 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 Richardus Bonyet 
 
 xl s. 
 
 Johannes Skyrewhit 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 Thomas Squiler 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 Robertus Grey 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 Johannes Namby 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 Johannes Golde 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 Johannes Gay - 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 Wilhelmus Wayte 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 Thomas Bakere Huntere 
 
 xl s. 
 
 Johannes Ferrour - . - 
 
 Ixvj viij 
 
 
 Petrus 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 xlix 
 
 Petrus Hyndon 
 Thomas Payn 
 Johannes Mundy 
 Wilhelmus [* RufTel] 
 Richardus [* Wintrythe] 
 Galfridus [*Bowyar] 
 
 Nicholaus Bucher 
 Johannes Gare Butellar. 
 Richardus Howe 
 Richardus Forde 
 Roger us Gare Aulae 
 Johannes Bury 
 Thomas Lavender 
 Johannes Bolt 
 Johannes Frythe 
 Nicholaus Bonde 
 Rogerus Gare Piftrinse 
 Richardus Smith g. came- 
 
 rse Domini 
 Thomas Rede 
 Gardinar. de Waltham 
 Johannes Fox 
 Wilhelmus Gog 
 Johannes Martyn 
 Richardus Bikebrok 
 Johannes Stanes 
 Wilhelmus Bailif 
 Johannes Billebury 
 Robertus Bathe 
 Johannes Lemere 
 Wilhelmus Aldewyne 
 
 Garcio Venatoris 
 Pag. Char. Goos 
 Pag. Char. Somer 
 Pag. Lavendr. 
 Pag. Fiftrinae 
 
 Cuilibet - - xx foli4. 
 
 ► Cuilibet 
 
 xl folid. 
 
 Cuilibet 
 
 XX folid. 
 
 • Vet. Regiftr. Coll. Wint. 
 
 Pag. 
 
i 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Pag 
 
 Pag 
 
 Palfr. 
 Palt. 
 
 Carnific. 
 Roger us Spurlond 
 Pag. Squiler 
 Johannes Smyth 
 Johannes Fox, junior. 
 Johannes Wayte 
 Pag. Hak. 
 
 }■ Cuilibec 
 
 xx folid. 
 
 x libr.- 
 
 Simon Membury 
 
 Vicar de Sombourn Regiflr. unum ci- ? 
 phum arg. cum cooperculo ad valorem S 
 £* Johannes Doun Ciericus Regiflx. qumque marc] 
 
 x marc. 
 
 Wilhelmus Mavyel 
 Johannes Arches 
 Wilhelmus Faukener 
 Johannes Dekene 
 £dwardus,Coudray 
 Johannes Fromond 
 Kichardus Wallop 
 Richardus Elys 
 Thomas Warennere 
 Walterus Hoke 
 
 Cuilibet iftorum c s. vei 
 unum ciphum arg. ad 
 valorem c. s. ad eleccio* 
 pern Executorum. 
 
 x libr. 
 
 Richardus Prewes Ciericus Fpifcopatus 
 Wilhelmus Portman Ciericus de Taunton • 
 Wilhelmus Lamport Ciericus de Don n ton 
 Edmundus Nyng Ciericus de Twyford 
 Richardus Sydal Ciericus de Wytteneye 
 Johannes Compton Ciericus de Wergrave 
 Henricus Habraham Ciericus de Suttcn 
 Wilhelmus Knygh't Ciericus deMeone : • 
 Richardus Knollere Ciericus de Waltham 
 Wilhelmus Pope Ciericus de Clere 
 Johannes Shire Ciericus de Farnham 
 j'ohannes Myft - - 
 
 • . 
 
 Vet, Rcaiftr. Coll. Wmt. 
 ' y It* Ktgi&r. Arundel.' Dreft In Vet. Regift. Co!!. Wint. 
 
 . ' Janitor 
 
 lxvj s 
 
 viij d 
 
 c. s 
 
 
 lxvj s 
 
 viij d 
 
 lxvj s 
 
 viijd 
 
 c. s 
 
 
 x libr. 
 
 c. s 
 
 . 
 
 c. s 
 
 
 lxvjs 
 
 vuj4 
 
 xlibu 
 
 
A P P E N D i 'I X. 
 
 li 
 
 janitor de Taunton 
 janitor de Wolvefey 
 Janitor de Farnham 
 Ta niter London. 
 
 > juxta difcrecionem Executorum. 
 
 Parcarius 
 
 fde Taunton 1[ 
 I de Waltham 
 
 de Farnham 
 I de Hameldbn 
 ] de Meone 
 * de Merdon 
 
 de Merewell 
 
 de Clere .' 
 
 de Sutton 
 
 de Farham 
 
 de Biterne 
 
 juxta , difcrecionem Exc- 
 cutorurn. 
 
 ( 
 
 Cuftcs Warenncc de Overton 
 Cuflos Warenns de Farnham 
 Cuflos Warennse de "VVe,rgrave. 
 Cuftos Warennse de Longwode f 
 Thomas Buckingham Waren- \ 
 narius de Efshere *•* 
 
 juxta diicrecicnem 
 Executorurn. 
 
 IN DEI NOMINE AMEN. Ego Wilhelmus 
 ■ Wykeham Altiffimo permittente humilis Minifler 
 Ecclefiae Cath. Wynt licet indignus, confiderans quod 
 ambulatoria eft Voluntas teftantium ufque ad vitse 
 ip forum exitum, nee non ad mentem meam revo- 
 cans, ac memorise reducens, quod pofl Teflamenti mei 
 faclionem, nonnulla in eodem Teitamento legata, prdi- 
 nata, & difpofka, funt per me divina gratia affiftente 
 juxta diclce ultimae voluntatis mese difpoikipnem adim- 
 pleta & execution! realiter demandata ; idcircocodi- 
 cillando quoad omnia legata hujufmodi, quse dyxi prse^ 
 fentibus codicillis fpecialius exprimenda, Executores in 
 prsefato Teflamcnto meo nominatos volo efTe penitus 
 exonerates etiam & quietos, ac eadem legata exprefle 
 A&mb per prse femes, In prions legatum Ducentarum, 
 d 2 Libraruri* 
 
Jii APPENDIX. 
 
 Librarum relic"tum pauperibus prifonis * in Teflamentd 
 meo praedi&o., Item legatum veftimenti novi de blocf. 
 panno virgato & eperato'cum lconibus de auro, cum 
 triginta capis de eodem panno aurifrigiatis cum hifto- 
 ria de Jefle relictum Ecclefias mex Wynton. in eodenl. 
 Item legatum relictum in eodem Abbati Mon. de 
 Hyda & cuilibet monacho ejufdem Mon. Item legatum 
 precum reriftum in eodem Domino Roberto Faryng- 
 ton. Item Quinquaginta Marcas de legato C Libra- 
 rum relict, in eodem Aliciao Perot confanguineae mea;. 
 Item omnia & fingula le'gata reliclra in quodam Rotulo 
 eidem Teftamentd annexo & figillo meo figillato, de 
 quo in eodem Teftamento meo fit mentio, perfonis in 
 eodem Rotulo matriculatis adfcripta adimo, eo quod 
 de eifdem agens in humanis meam complevi in omnibus 
 voluntatem. Item volo & ordino quod 11 quas alia de 
 relictis ordinatis & difpofitis in Teftamento meo aut 
 prsefentibus codicillis per me perantea aut in futurum 
 dum fuero in humanis fuerint fa&a foluta vel etiam 
 executa quod ilia cefTent port mortem meam, ac ea 
 exnunc prout extunc adimo : & quod ad ipfa facienda 
 folvenda vel exequenda Executores mei nullatenus 
 onercntur feu etiam compellafitur, fed quod in illis 
 omnibus fint liberi quieti & prorfus abfoluti. Falc"r. 
 fuerunt praedicl:. Codicill. per me Wilhelmum Wyke- 
 ham antediclum apud Southwaltham decimo die Men- 
 fis jannarii Anno ab Incarnatione Domini fecundum 
 curium & computationem Ecclefia; Anglicanae Mille- 
 fnno Quadringentefirno Tertio, Indiccione Duodecima, 
 Foritincatus fanttiffimi in Chfifto Patris & Domini 
 noftri Domini Bonifacii divina providentia Pa pee Noni 
 Anno Quintodecimo prsefentibus difcretis viris Domi- 
 nis Wilhelmo Norton, Thorria Lavyngton, Johannc 
 Knyght & Johanne Busfh Prefbyteris, teftibus ad prae- 
 miila vocatis fpecialiter & rogatis. Et ego Wilhelmus 
 Doune. Clericus Exonien. Dioc Publicus auctoritate 
 apoftplica Notarius predict. Codicill. factioni teftium 
 rogac.joni ac caeleris omnibus & fingulis dum ficut prce- 
 miuitui per Reverend urn Patrem Dominum Wilhelmum 
 
 Wyke- 
 
 * Fojit |, - rik n.uiis. 
 
APPENDIX. litf 
 
 Wykeham Epifcopum Wynton. fub Anno, Indiocione, 
 Pont, menfe, die, & loco prsedi&is agebantur & fie- 
 bant, una cum prsenominatis teftibus prseferfs interfui, 
 eaque fie fieri vidi & audivi, fcripfi & in hanc publi- 
 cam formam redegi, fignoque & nomine meis confuetis- 
 fignavi requifitus in fidem & teftimonium omnium prse- 
 uiilTorum.' 
 
 TENORE przefentiurn Nos Thomas, &c. notum 
 facimus univerfis quod nono die Menfis Odtobris Anno 
 Dqmini Milefirno Quadringentefimo Quarto, in hofpi- 
 tio noftro in Civitate Coventr. fuprafcript. Teftamentum 
 bonae memorise Wilhelmi Wykeham ultimi Wynt. 
 Epifcopi noftrae Cantuarienfis Ecclefiae dum vixit Suf- 
 fraganei jam defunGi, una cum codicill. prasfentibus 
 annex, coram nobis exhibit. & legitime probat. appro- 
 havimus & infinuavimus ac pro veris Teftafnenfo Sc 
 Codicillo & ultima voluntate dic"H defuncti legitime 
 juxta juris exigentiam pronunciavimus, nee non ad 
 committend. in forma juris Executoribus in eodera 
 Teftamento nominatis adminiftrationem omnium bono- 
 rum hujufmodi Teftamentum & Codicillum concernen- 
 tium, dilecYis in Chrifto filiis Magiftro Johanni May- 
 denheth Vicario noftro in fpiritualibus & Cuftodi fplritu- 
 alitatis Civitatis & Dioc. Wynton. fede epifcopali ibi- 
 dem vacante, & fratri Thomas Nevyle Priori Ecclcfije 
 Wynton. communiter & divifim commifimus vices 
 noftras. In quorum teftimonium iigillum noftruai 
 prasfentibus eft appenfum. Dat. die, loco, menfe, & 
 Anno Domini fupradictis ; & noftise tranflationis annp 
 nono. 
 
 THOMAS permiffiorie divina, &c dileclis ia 
 Chrifto filiis Magiftro Johanni Maydenheth Vicario 
 hoftro in fpiritualibus & Cuftodi fpiritualitatis Civitat. 
 & Dioc. Wynt. fede epifcopali ibidem vacante, ac fra- 
 tri Thomas Nevyle Priori Ecclefiae Wynt. Saluteia 
 Gratiam & Benediclionem. Ad committendum in for- 
 ma juris adminiftrationem omnium bonorum qua fue^ 
 rint bonas memorise Domini Wilhelmi Wvkeham ultimo 
 
 W) 
 

 
 p append!. t>. 
 
 Wynt. Epifcopi noftrae Cant. Ecclefiae dum vixit Suf- 
 fraganei jam defuncYi tempore mortis fuse fuum con* 
 Cement. Teftamentmn & ejus ultimam voluntatem co* 
 mm nobis probat. ac per nos etiam approbat. ubicun- 
 que infra noftram provinciam exiirentium Fxecuto- 
 ribus in eodem Teftamento nominatis fi earn fufcipere 
 & admittere voluerint prafHto primitus per eofdem de- 
 corum quemlibet juramento ad fancla Dei Evangelia 
 per eos corporaliter tacla, quod fidele inventarium bo- 
 riorum hujufmodi conficient, ac ipfa juxta ultimam 
 prscdicli defuncli voluntatem fideliter adminifrrabunt, 
 ac nobis de & fupra adminiftratione fua hujufmodi fi- 
 cfelem compotum five ratiocinium reddent, cum fuper 
 hoc congrue fuerint requifiti, quodque acquietanciam 
 vel acquietancias aiiquibus debitoribus ipfius defuncli 
 non conficient nee conficiet aliquis eorundem fme con- 
 fenfu majoris & fanioris partis Executorum fuorum, 
 nee aliqua de bonis prajdictis fibi appropriabunt vel, 
 ufurpabunt, feu fie appropriabit vel ufurpabit aliquis' 
 de eifdem, falvis legatis eis reliclis & difpofitis per de- 
 functum, & racionabilibus expends circa adminiftratio- 
 nem hujufmodi exponend. vobis communiter &divifim 
 tenore praefentium committimus vices noftras & plenam 
 poteftatem. Et quod in praemiffis feceritis nos ante 
 feftum Sancti Andrea? Apofioli prox. futur. debite 
 certificetis per veftras patentes litteras harum feriem & 
 nomina & cognomina Executorum quibus hujufmodi 
 adminifhationem ut prasmittitur commiferitis conti- 
 ntes. Dat. in hofpitio nofiro Coventriae nono die 
 T^clobr. Anno Domini Miilefimo Quadringen^ 
 Et noftras tranllationis anno nono. 
 
 „«...** 
 

 
 
 I