THE CATALOGVE OF THE CHANCELLORS OF ENGLAND, THE LORD Keepers of the Great Seale: AND THE LORD TREASV­rers of England.

With a Collection of divers that have beene Masters of the Rolles.

By J. P. Summerset Herald.

Printed at London by Tho. Cotes, and are to be sold by Andrew Crooke in Pauls Church-yard, 1636.

‘CRESCAM UT PROSIM’ ‘CONSTANTER ET PRUDENTER’

The Right Hon ble S r Alex Campbell of Cesnok one of the Senators of the Colledge of Justice and one of the Lords of Her Ma ties most Hon ble Pray Counsell & Exchequer &c: 17 [...]7

To the right Honorable and excellent Lord, Thomas Howard Earle of Arundell and Surrey, Primer Earle and Earle Marshall of England, Baron Ho­ward, Mowbray, Segrave, Brewes of Gower, Fitz­allan, Clun, Oswalderstree, Maltravers and Grey­stock, Iustice in Eyre of all the Kings Forrests Parkes and Chaces beyond the River of Trent, Lievetenant generall to his Majestie in the Provinces of Norfolke, Sussex, Surrey, Northumberland, Westmerland and Cum­berland, of the Privy Councell to his Maiestie in England, Scotland and Ireland, and Knight of the most noble order of the Garter.

MY LORD,

I Have received many encouragements (by Friends that have per­used these Collections) to render them to the publicke, which cannot bee done without [Page] your Lordships approbation and permission to the Presse. The Catalogues of the great officers in France (long since printed) have offorded much contentment and do worthily preserve the memory of such as merited in those places and their qualities. And as I have no other but the same end in the publishing of these. So I will com­fort my selfe with an humble hope that it will give no discontentment. The incouragements your Lord­ship hath conferred up on the office of Armes in generall & my selfe in particular with a bountifull hand may give your Lordship just occa­sion to expect some fruite of our in­deavours: If these may passe in that estimate, but for blossomes it will [Page] be more then they demerite. And if your Lordship shall conceive them worthy to bee communicated to the world, I most humbly crave leave that they may passe under Dedication to your Lordship, which grace and favour will give them life and acceptation, and very much incourage and comfort

Most noble Lord, To Your thrice humble and most obliged servant, IOHN PHILIPOT.

To my very loving friends, the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers, at Stationers Hall in Lon­don these.

LEt the Catalogue of the Chancellors of Eng­land, the Lord Keepers of the great Seale, and Lord high Treasurers of England, Col­lected by Iohn Philipot Summerset, be printed.

Arundell and Surry.
‘CANDIDE ET CONSTANTER’
MErcedem meritis postponis, legibus aurum▪
Quod nunc prodigii pondus & instar habet.
Consilio multis, opibus succurris egenti,
[...]

The Preface.

THE Catalogue or Series of the Chancellors of England hath beene with much care and diligence laboured by Ro­bert Glover, Somerset He­rauld of Armes, and after him by Francis Thinne, Lan­caster Herauld; whose M. S Collections J have by me, and in them a thankfull commemoration is made of Mr. Thomas Talbots kinde assistance, hee being Clerke of the Records in the Tower of London, where the Charters and their Dates that afford the exactest testimonies of them are to be found for many Ages past. So that J shall not neede to cite the vou­chers and proofes at large. Neither will I be so false to my selfe or my Reader, as to conceale that the worthy and reverend Antiquarie S r. Henry Spil­man Knight, in his Glossary hath summarily menti­oned them: The nature of the Office is most accurate­ly described by him in that worke, and also by Mr. [Page] William Camden, Clarenceux King of Armes, in his History of Great Brittaine, in the description and definition of the severall Courts of Justice in this Kingdome, to which J referre those that desire to be particularly informed in that kinde. Pollidor Virgill would perswade us the Office and name of Chancellor was not known in this Kingdome till after the Norman Conquest, and the Author of the Cata­logue of Bishops, is positive in that opinion, speaking of Swithen Bishop of Winchester, (the opinion of whose piety procured him the title of a Saint.) But the contrary is most cleere and evident as by the Au­thorities hereafter mentioned will appeare, to which I referre my Reader.

A CATALOGVE OF THE CHANCELLORS of England from the time of the SAXON Kings.

T Ʋrketill was Chancellor to King Ethelbald, who be­gan his reigne in the yeere 718. this Turketill gave six Mannors to the Abbey of Croiland.

St. Swithen, Bishop of Winchester, was Chancellor and chiefe of Councell to the great Monarch King Egbert, who began his reigne about the yeere 802.

[Page 2] Wolfinus, was Chancellor to King Athel­stone, who began his raigne in the yeare 924. This King inriched the Monastary of Mal­mesbury in Wiltshire, with large and ample indowments, and bestowed great immu­nities upon the Towne. And in the Char­ter and grant of those Liberties; ths Wolfi­nus is a witnesse with the title of Chancel­lor.

Turketill, was Chancellor to the said King Athelstone, and so continued under King Edmund, who began his raigne in the yeare 940. and after the death of King Edmund, he was Chancellor to King Edred, the space of two yeares.

Adulthus, Chancellor to King Edgar; who began his raigne in Anno Dom. 959. Of this man speaketh Hugo Petro Burgensis, and Le­land calleth this Adulph, Cancellarium & Archi­grammatum, Chancellor or chiefe Secretary.

Alsius or Aelsius, the second Abbat of Elie, Chancellor to King Ethelred, who began his raigne in Anno Dom. 979. This man being by Ethelwold Bishop of Winchester, consecrated [Page 3] Abbat, by the appointment of the said King Ethelred, or Egelred, and being then Abbat of Elie, when Ethelred gave out his comman­dement, that the Abbat of Elie, should then, and for ever be Chancellor, I doubt not to place him here amongst the Chancellors, the proofe of which matter I have here verbatim set downe out of the second booke of the history of Elie. Statuit (which was Ethelred) atque concessit quatenus ecclesiam de Elie, ex tunc & semper in regis curia cancellarij ageret dignita­tem, quod etiam alijs, sancti videlicet, Augustini & Glasconiae ecclesijs constituit, ut Abbates isto­rum caenobiorum vicissim adsignatis succedendo, temporibus annum trifarie dividerent, cum san­ctuarijs, & caeteris ornamentis ministrando, &c.

Leofricus Bathonicus Chancellor to Edward the Confessor, in Anno Dom. 1045. and some yeares before, this man was Bishop of Cri­dington in Cornewall, which see was after tran­slated to Excester.

Wifinus, or Wolfinus, Chancellor to Ed­ward the Confessor, in the latter end of the said yeare 1045, being the third yeare of his raigne.

[Page 4] Resenbaldus, or Rembaldus, (for I take them both by many and ancient authorities to be all one man,) was Chancellor to Edward the Confessor, and Seale-bearer, witnesse amongst others, to many Deedes, which I have seene of the Confessors, some dated in Anno dom. 1066 and some otherwise, he was buried at Ciren­cester or Cicester.

Mauricius, Chancellor to William the Con­queror, in Anno dom. 1067. being the first, and part of the second yeare, of William the Con­queror.

Osmundus, after Bishop of Sarum, Chancellor to William the Conqueror in Anno dom. 1067, and after in the yeere 1075, about Anno 9 of the Kings reigne.

Arfastus Bishop of Helmane, who translated his See from Helmane to Thetford, was Chan­cellor to William the Conqueror, in Anno dom. 1068, being in the second and third yeere of the Conqueror, and also in the yeere 1077, being about Anno 10. of William the Conque­ror, Mauricius was againe Chancellor.

[Page 5] Hirmanus, that was first made Bishop of Su­ring or Wilton, and translated his See from Wilton to Shirborne, and from thence to Sarum; He is that Hirmanus, which (I suppose) was Chancellor to William the Conqueror, and called Hirmanus, and that wrote the life and miracles of S t. Edmund King of the Eastangles.

William Welson, or Wilson, borne of a Noble house, Chaplain and Chancellor to William the Conqueror, (as hath Robertus Montensis) succeeded Arfastus in the Bishopricke of Thetford, to whom by the gift of William Ru­fus, succeeded in that See Herbertus Losinga Abbat of Ramsey, which translated the Bi­shops See to Norwich.

William Gifford, Bishop of Winchester, was Chancellor in the time of the Conqueror, and of William Rufus, & of Henry, who made him Bishop of Winchester, in Anno dom. 1100, and was consecrated in Anno dom. 1107, though it seemeth that Robert Bluet came in place of this William Gifford, removed about the fourth yeere of the same Rufus, from his Office of Chancellorship, (as I suppose will bee well [Page 6] prooved,) but after placed againe in that Of­fice. Of the death of this William is much contrariety; for Matthew Westminster, placed it three severall yeeres, viz in Annis 28 & 29, Henry 1, and againe in the yeere of Christ, 1142, being the seaventh yeere of King Stephen.

Robert Bluet, Bloit, or Bloscit, made Chan­cellor in Anno dom. 1090. being Anno 4. of William Rufus, he was made Bishop of Lin­colne, in Anno dom 1092. but as it appeareth by some authority, that I have seene he did exe­cute that Office, being Bishop of Lincolne, he dyed at Woodstocke, in Anno dom. 1123. being about the 23. yeare of the raigne of Henry the first, whose Epitaph Henry Huntington re­citeth in this manner.

Pontificum Robertus honor, quem sama superstes
Perpetuare dabit, nec obiturus obit,
Hic humilis, dives (res mira,) potens, pius ultor,
Compatiens, mitis, quum pateretur erat,
Noluit esse suis dominus, studuit pater esse,
Semper in adversis, murus, & arma suis,
Jn decima Jani mendacis somnia mundi
Liquit, & evigilans vera perhennè vidit.

[Page 7] Ranulphus in th [...] the time of William Rufus, which might be that man, which was after Chancellor, in the time of Henry the first.

Waldricus Ch ncellor to Henry the first, in Anno dom. 1103. being Anno 3. of his raigne.

William Gifford, aforesaid was againe Chan­cellor.

Herbertus, Chancellor in Anno 4. Henry the first, in Anno dom. 1104. as appeareth by an Ann [...]nymall pamphlet in written hand, of whom I am not yet resolved, whether this were Herbertus Losinga, Bishop of Norwich or noe.

Roger, Bishop of Salisbury, whom Henry the first, called a meet Chaplaine to serve souldiers, was Chancellor to King Henry the first, in Anno dom. 1101. being the first yeare of King Henry the first, in Anno dom. 1107. a­bout the seaventh yeare of Henry the first, be­ing chosen Bishop, in Anno dom. 1102. and consecrated in the yeare 1107.

Galfridus Rufus, Bishop of Durham, wit­nesse to a Deed, wherein Henry the first con­firmed [Page 8] to the priory of Christ church, a peece of ground without Aldgate, called Knighton guild, in the presence of Geofry Chancellor, Geofry Clinton, and William Clinton, hee was Chancellor in Anno 22. Henry the first, and so untill Anno 33. Henry the first, and then was made Bishop of Durham, which Geofry dyed about the yeare 1141.

Robertus Ranulphus, called by Matthew West­minster, Ranulphus Chancellor to Henry the first, and Richard the Chaplaine, keeper of the great Seale, being at one time. This Ranulph was Chancellor in Anno dom. 1116. being the sixteenth of King Henry the first, In which Office I suppose that he continued un­till Anno dom. 1123. being in Anno 23, of the said King, In which yeare this Chancellor, (for so is he then called) fell from his Horse, and brake his necke on an hill, not far from Dunstable, where the King kept his Christ­masse.

Richardus Capellanus, was keeper of the Seale under this Ranulph.

Reginald Chancellor to King Henry the [Page 9] first, (as Leland hath set him downe,) wri­ting in this sort, in his notes of Montacute Abbey, Reginaldus Cancellarius, so named (belike) of his Office, he was a man of great fame, about King Henry the first, hee fell to Religion, and was Prior of Montacute, and in­larged it with great buildings, & possessions.

Thomas, Chancellor after this Regnaild, wit­nesse to a Charter of the Church of Norwich.

Roger, Bishop of Salisbury, againe Chan­cellor, in the latter end of the raigne of King Henry the first, and in the begining of King Stephen, in Anno dom. 1136, which Henry the first, dyed in the yeare 1135, being in Anno 35, of his raigne. This Roger died in Anno dom. 1139, being about the 4 yeer of King Stephen.

Godfrey, Chancellor to Henry the first, (as I gather out of Matthew Parker, in the life of William Corbel, or Corbris) the 36 Archbishop of Canterbury, to which dignity this William was advanced in Anno 23, Henry the first, be­ing in Anno dom. 1123, of which Godfrey, the said Matthew further writeth in this sort, spea­king of the said William the Archbishop, re­turned from Rome with the Pall. Deinde A­lexandrum [Page 10] Lincolniensem episcopum Cantuariae, God­fridum Regni Cancellarium, Bathoniensem episco­pum Londini consecravit.

Alexander, Bishop of Lincolne (as may be af­ter a sort gathered out of Wilhelmus Paruus, lib: 1, cap. 6. being Cosin or Nephew to Roger Bishop of Salisbury) was Chancellor, the words of which Wilhelmus Paruus be these. Eodem (that was to King Stephen) quoque sub­limato in regem, se (that was Roger Bishop of Salisbury) talem exhibuit, ut obsequiorum gratia praeclaram apud illum habere fiduciam videretur. Tantis ille beneficijs ingratus, & in ipsum episcopum, (cujus opera nunquam episcopalia fuere) ultor divi­nitus ordinatus, eundem tanquam exigui hominem momenti primo carcerati custodia, postmodum etiam sibi inopia, & nepoti ejus (qui Cacellarius fuerat regis) intentato supplicio ita coarctavit, ut duo illa praeclara castella (which were the castles of Vise, otherwise called the devises, and the castle of Shirborne) in quibus thesauri ejus erant repositi resignaret.

Robert, Chancellor of England, in the time of King Stephen, but I find not in what yeare, because the Charter is without date, neither [Page 11] can I learne what he was, because I know not his surname.

Philip, Chancellor to King Stephen, about the fourth yeare of his raigne, being in Anno dom▪ 1139. witnesse to many Deeds, which King Stephen made to the Monkes of Elie, and to Nigellus the Bishop of that See.

Reinold Abbat of Walden, whom I have seene in one anonymall briefe Chronicle, M, S▪ to be termed Chancellor, but in what time he lived, or what other name he had, I doe not yet know, but by the course of the history, much about this time.

John Chancellor of England, in the time of King Henry the second.

Thomas Becket, made Chancellor, (as some write) in the first yeare of the raigne of King Henry the second, others say in the fourth yeare, but the best authours agree, that he gave over the Seale in Anno dom. 1162, being in the eight yeare of the victorious Prince, King Henry the second, against the will of the Prince, he dyed in Anno dom. 1170.

Ralphe Warnevile Archdeacon of Roane, [Page 12] and Treasurer of the Church of Yorke, was made Chancellor about the yeare 1173, be­ing in Anno 8, Henry the second, Of this man speaketh Matthew Paris, and Matthew Westmin­ster.

Walterus de Constantijs, Archdeacon of Ox­ford, Bishop of Lincolne, in Anno dom, 1182, from whence he was advanced in Anno dom. 1184, being in Anno 31 Henry the second, un­to the Arch-bishopricke of Rome.

Geofry, the bastard sonne to King Henry the second, after he had surrendred the Bishop­ricke of Lincolne, whereof he was never con­secrate Bishop, but kept the place, and re­ceived the revenues, was made Chancellor much about Anno 26, Henry the second, in Anno dom 1181.

William Longchampe, the proud Bishop of E­lie, Legat of England, for the Bishop of Rome, cheife Iustice of the South, and West, parts of England, Deputy of that part of the Realm, when Richard the first, went to the warres of the holy Land, was made Chancellor in Anno 1 Richard the first, being in Anno Dom. [Page 13] 1191, of the sumptuous feast, of whose in­thronization, thus writeth Ferthulphus, or Fer­culphus, by the way of comparison,

Praevisis alijs, Eliensia festa videre,
Est quasi praevisa noste videre diem.

He dyed in the yeare of Christ, 1197, go­ing to Rome, in the Abbey of Pimie; being of the Charterhouse order, about which time in Anno 6, Richard the first, there was a Vice-chancellor called Malus Catulus.

Eustachius, Deane of Salisbury, was Chancel­lor of England, being elected Bishop of Ely, in the third Ides of August, in Anno dom. 11 [...]6, being in Anno 9 Richard 1, Of whom thus writeth Matthew Parker, in the life of Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury, contrary to that which others affirme; writing that Eustachius succeeded William Longchampe in the Office of Chancellor, and in the Bishopricke of Ely. The words of Matthew Parker in the life of Hubert be these. Hubertus deposito magistratu ci­vili, ecclesiae curae totus vacabat, consecravitque postea Robertum de Solopesbi, episcopum Bancho­rensem, & Eustachium, qui in cancellarij munere ei successit Eliensem episcopum, VVestmonasterij de­bita [Page 14] accepta ab utroquesubjectionis professione.

Hubert Walter, or Walter Hubert, for such a transmutation of the name, is used by au­thors, being first Bishop of Salisbury, and then Archbishop of Canterbury, was made Chancellor shortly after the Coronation of King John; which was in Anno dom. 1199, at what time a certaine Nobleman saide unto him in scorne, I have often seene, of a Chan­cellor made a Bishop, but I never before saw an Archbishop made a Chancellor.

Simon; or rather Hugh, of which is more hereafter, Arch-deacon of Wels, in the first yeare of King John, after (as I suppose that Hubert had left the Office, being so disgraced and abased, as he thought) was witnesse to a Deed, in which King John, granted to the Cittizens of Yorke, a guildhall, hanse, and o­ther liberties, as I have seene noted in the Copy of the same Charter, for which cause, I have set it downe as another man, although in truth I am fully resolved, that this Simon, and the Hugh following, were all one person, leaving it yet for every mans Iudgement.

[Page 15] Hugh de Wels Archdeacon of Wels witnesse to the Deed, in which King John, in the sixt yeare of his raigne confirmed to the Mona­stery of Westminster, Gistslep, or Islep in Oxford­shire, in which house Edward the Confessor was borne, he was made Bishop of Lincolne, about Anno 10, of the raigne of King John, in Anno dom. 1209, and dyed in the yeare of our Lord 1235.

Walter Gray, chosen Bishop of Chester, in anno dom 1210, was Bishop of Worcester, and after Bishop of York, a man of extream age, was made Chancellor in the seaventh yeare of King Iohn, as one anonymal Chronicle saith, to hold that Office during his life. Others say that he was made Chancellor in anno dom. 1209, being the tenth yeare of King John, after Hugh de Wels. But I suppose hee surren­dred that Patent; to hold it during his life, when he came to be Bishop of Yorke.

Richard de Marischo, whom Mathew Paris, termeth Tholenarius, as it were Toll-gathe­rer, or Treasurer (if you list,) being Arch­deacon of Northumberland, was Chancellor in the fourth yeare of King John, as appea­reth [Page 16] by a Deed that I have seene, and further he was made Chancellor in Anno 15, of King John, in which Office he continued to the 17 yeare of the said King, and as some do write, during King John his life, and died about the kalends of May, in Anno dom, 1226, in Anno 10, of the long raigne of King Henry the third, as some have; but the Booke of Durham saith; that he was made Bishop of that See, by Gwado the Legat, and consecra­ted by Walter Gray, Bishop of Yorke, in Anno dom. 1214. being about Anno 16, of King John, and dyed sodainely at Peterborough the first day of May, in Anno dom 1226, being the t nth yeare of King Henry the third, after that he had beene Bishop of Durham, nine yeares.

For whom this formall Epitaph was made,

Culmina qui cupi tis laudes pompasque sui tis
Et sedata si tis si me pensare veli tis
Qui populos regi tis memores super omnia si tis
Quod mors immi tis non parcit honore poti tis
Vobis praeposi tis similis fueram bene sci tis
Quod sum vos eri tis ad me currendo veni tis

Ralphe Nevill, was confirmed Chancel­lor, as it seemeth by the whole consent of the [Page 17] Nobility in Anno dom. 1226, being about Anno 10 Henry 3, after which he was made Bishop of Chichester, in Anno 11 Henry 3, being in Anno dom. 1227, or as hath Mathew VVestminster, he was made Bishop of Chiche­ster, in Anno dom 1223, being before Chan­cellor, after which the King in Anno 22 of his raigne, offended with Nevill, tooke from him the great Seale, and delivered it to Geofry of the Temple, as hath Mathew Paris, and Iohn de Lexington, although that the said Nevill remained still Chancellor, and received the profit thereof, to whom the King would have regiven the seale in Anno dom. 1229, being the three and twentieth yeare of his raigne, but Nevill would not re­ceive it This man dyed in the yeare of Christ 1243, being Anno 27 Henry 3, at his Palace at London, not farre from the new Temple.

Geofrey the Templer and John de Lexington, were made keepers of the great Seale, but shortly af er this Geofrey had the Seale taken from him, because he grew in dislike of the Nobility in continually provoking them to anger.

[Page 18] Hugh Pateshall, Cannon of Pauls, is by Mathew Paris, Fol 656, called Chancellor in Anno 23 Henry 3, Which I much doubt to be true, of his man shall be more saide in the Treasurers of England.

Simon the Norman keeper of the great Seale, in Anno 23 Henry 3, being in Anno dom. 1229, he had the Seale shortly taken from him, and was banished the Court, because he would not seale the Patent, whereby Thomas Earle of Flanders might take foure pence for every Sacke of Wooll, that came out of England in­to Flanders, This Simon dyed in the yeare of Christ 1249, being in Anno 33 Henry 3.

Richard Grasse or Grossus, Abbat of Evesh­am, (the said Simon expelled) had the kee­ping of the great Seale in Anno 23, Henry 3, he kept the Seale three yeares, and being chosen Bishop of Chester, hee resigned the Seale in Anno dom 1242, being the 26, yeare of Henry the third, he dyed (being wise and learned in the Canon Law,) in the same yeare in Gascoigne, in a Citty called in Latine Riola or Rigula, where he was buried.

[Page 19] John de Lexington, was againe made keeper of the Great Seale in Anno 26 Henry 3, being in Anno dom. 1242, to execute that Office, Ralphe Nevill being in life, and still Chancel­lor, but in the Kings disgrace, shortly after which, this Nevill dyed. This Iohn Lexington dyed in Anno dom. 1252, being in Anno 41, Henry 3.

Ranulfe Briton, as I read, is saide to be Chan­cellor, and Treasurer of the Chamber, about the 37 yeare of Henry the third, being in Anno dom. 124 [...], I suppose that he only had the kee­ping of the great Seale, as the rest had before him, during the life of Raphe Nevill, and so I leave him to the judgement of others, sith Matthew Paris, continually nameth him Trea­surer, and once Chancellor, who sodainly dy­ed after dinner, beholding players at Dice, in Anno dom. 1246, being in Anno 30 Henry 3, Of whom thus writeth the saide Matthew Paris, in his greater history Fol. 934, Ranul­phus Brito quondam Dominus familiarissimus Regi & Reginae multis posthabitis nobilibus & ejusdem Cancellarius specialis, quum post mensalem refecti­onem, aleatores certatim inspexisset colludentes, lae­thalis [Page 20] apoplexia, inexpectato vulnere corruit sugil­latus.

Silvester de Eversden, received the great Seale in Anno 29 Henry 3, being in Anno dom. 1246, he was Vice-chancellor, and conse­crated Bishop of Carleil, (being a man most cunning in the custome of the Chancery) in Anno dom. 1247. being in Anno 31 Henry 3.

Iohn Mansell Treasurer of Yorke, Parson of Maidstone in Kent, Parson of Wigan, Chancel­lor of Paules, Master or Ruler of Beverley, Chiefe Iustice of England, one of the privy Counsell to Henry the third, his Chaplaine, Ambassador into Spaine, and a worthy soul­dier, crossed to goe to Ierusalem, who at one feast, had two Kings, two Queenes, and I know not how many Noblemen, and whose spirituall livings were about 4000 Markes, of yearely revennewes [...]s I have gathered) he was at the will a [...] [...]stance of the King made keeper of the great Seale, as Vice-chancellor, for Matthew Paris saith, Custodi­am sigilli regij accepit Cancellarij vices acturus & officium, about Anno 31 Henry 3, in Anno dom. 1247, he built an house of regular Cannons [Page 21] at Rumney, one of the Cinque Ports in Kent; To this man King Henry the third, in Anno 30 of his raigne, did grant that his Towne of Wigan should be a Burrough.

John de Lexington, being after chiefe I [...]stice of the Forrest, from the River of Trent South­ward, was againe keeper of the great Seale, untill some part of the 32, yeare of Henry the third, in Anno dom. 1248.

John Mansell, againe keeper of the great Seale, who at Woodstocke, in the 32 yeare of Henry the third, did receive the great Seale of the said John Lexington, which he kept (as I suppose, and that with some good proofe) untill the 33 yeare of the said King, being in anno dom. 1248, Of which John Mansell, thus writeth, an old anonymall Chronicle, con­cerning the Barons warres. Sed & Johannes Mansell multarum in Anglia ecclesiarum Rector, seu potius incubator, reddituum quoque quorum non erat numerus possessor magnificus, ita quod ditior eo clericus non videbatur in orbe episcopali, puta digni­tate minime insignitus, metu Baronum aufugit, & latenter ultra mari de Turri London, in qua Rex Angliae, & Regina sua tunc temporis tenuerunt se. [Page 22] Quem quum Henricus filius regis Alemaniae fugien­tem insequeretur, & ipse capitur quum applicuisset Bononiae, a Magistro Ge [...]ardo, de fines procuratore ut putabatur reginae.

Radulphus de Diceto, was Chancellor as I reade and suppose, much about this time.

William of Kilkenny, being a modest, wise, and faithfull man, learned in the Canon and Civill Lawes, was made keeper of the great seale in Anno dom. 1250. being in Anno 34 Henry 3, He was elected to the Bishopricke of Elie, as saith the History of Elie, the 18 Calends of September, in Anno dom. 1255, being about anno 39 Henry 3. But others say, that he being then Vice-chancellor, was elected Bishop of Elie, in anno dom. 1254, being anno 38 Henry 3, after that he had faithfully, and to his great commendation, used and borne the great seale, he was consecrated to that Bi­shopricke in anno dom. 1255, and dyed in anno dom. 1256, being about anno 41 Henry 3, whose heart was buried at Elie.

Henry de Wingham, was made Chancellor in anno 39 Henry 3, and continued in annis 41 [Page 23] & 42 Henry 3, in which yeare (as some have) and in the 43 of Henry the third, (as others have) he was chosen Bishop of Winchester, upon condition that he should give place to Athelmer, halfe brother to King Henry the third, and sonne to Hugh Brunne, Earle of Marshe, and of Eleanor, King Henry the third his Mother, being banished by the Barons, if that he should againe come into England, and then leave the bishopricke of Winchester unto him, which he did upon the comming againe of the said Athelmer into England, and for that cause was after chosen Bishop of Lon­don, in Anno dom. 1259, being in Anno 33 Henry 3. and still Chancellor, and is buried in Pauls, on the South side of the Quire, (next to Eustachius Bishop of London,) in a Monu­ment of Marble, with this inscription on the wall to tell who it was. Hic jacet Henricus de Wingham quondam episcopus hujus ecclesiae qui mul­ta bona contulit ministris ecclesiae sancti Pauli.

Walter Merton Chancellor in Anno 44 Henry 3, being in Anno dom 1260.

Nicholas of Elie, made Chancellor by the Barons in Anno dom. 1260, and Walter Merton [Page 24] displaced. But King Henry the third disdai­ning to have Officers appointed him by his subjects, did in the month of October follow­ing in Anno dom. 1260. or rather 1261, de­prive the said Nicholas, and replaced the said Walter Merton.

Walter Merton, Bishop of Rochester, the se­cond time made Chancellor, as before ap­peareth.

John de Chesill, Arch-deacon of London, and Treasurer of England, was made keeper of the great seale in Anno dom. 1264, in Anno 48 Henry 3. This man was consecrated Bishop of London in Anno dom 1274, the third Kalends of May, as hath Matthew Westminster, he dyed in Anno dom. 1279, the fourth Ides of February, in Anno 7, of King Edward the first.

Thomas de Cantelupe, borne of the noble house of the Lords Cantelupes, the sonne of William Cantelupe and Millecent, which (as saith Leland) drew her originall from the Coun­tesses of Yorke, being Arch-deacon of Stafford, was Doctor, and afterward Bishop of Here­ford, in Anno dom. 1276, and before that made [Page 25] Chancellor, after the feast of S. Peters Chaire, in Anno dom. 1265, being in anno 49, Henry 3, he dyed beyond the Seas, comming from the Court of Rome, in anno dom. 1278, being in anno 6 Edward 1, or more truely (as others have,) in anno 1283, being anno 11 Edward 1, whose bones were brought to Hereford.

Walter Gifford Bishop of Bath and Wels, whom many doe call William, did injoy the state of the Chancellor, in anno dom 1266, be­ing anno 50, Henry 3, he was translated from Bath to Yorke in anno dom. 1259, being in anno 49 Henry 3, and dyed the 7, kalends of May, in the xij, yeare of his Bishopricke in anno dom. 1277, being in anno 6, Edward 1, or as Nicholas Trivet in anno dom. 1279. being the 7, yeare of King Edward 1.

Geofry Gifford, was Chancellor also in anno 51 Henry 3, being in anno dom. 1267, This man was Bishop of Worcester, about anno dom. 1299 where he sate 34, yeares, 4 moneths, 4 dayes, and dyed in the yeare 1304, being about the 32, yeare of King Edward the first.

John de Chesill, was the second time ho­noured [Page 26] with the place of the Chancellor in anno dom. 1268, being the 53 yeare, of King Henry the third.

Richard de Middleton, so surnamed of the place where he was borne, was advanced to the Office of the Chancellorship in the said anno 53 Henry 3, in the moneth of July in anno dom. 1268, and was also, (as appeareth by a Charter which I have seene,) witnesse to the same Deed, in anno 54 Henry 3, who as farre as I can gather) dyed in August, in anno dom. 1271, being anno 56 of the long governe­ment of King Henry the third.

John de Kirby, after the death of Richard Middleton, was made keeper of the great seale, in the said anno 56 Henry 3, It is very probable that this was the same John Kirby, which after was Bishop of Elie, and Treasurer of England.

Walter Merton, the third time made Chan­cellor of England, in Anno dom. 1273, being the first yeare of the raigne of that famous Prince King Edward, the first of that name, He was Bishop of Rochester, and founded Merton Colledge in Oxford, and dyed the yeare of [Page 27] Christ, 1278, being the sixt yeare of the raign of King Edward the first.

Robert Burnell, the eleaventh Bishop of Bath and Wels, (after the uniting of those two Sees, in one, by Iohn de Toures, in Anno dom. 1272, was made Bishop of Bath, in the yeare of our Lord, (as saith Eversden) 1274, chosen Arch-bishop of Canterbury, in Anno dom. 1278, but rejected by the Pope. He was Chancellor in Anno 2 Edward 1, in which place it see­meth, that he long continued, of whom thus writeth an anonymall Chronicle.

Dominus Edmundus Comes Cornubiae fundavit novum studium ordinis Cisterciensis apud Oxonias, & monachos de Thame primo ibidem introduxit, & dedit eis prima donatione Manerium de Erdington, & secit dedicare locum Abbatiae Tertij Jdus De­cembris, per Dominum Robertum Burnell eposcopum Bathon & Wels, Cancellarium regis, & posuit fun­damentum novae ecclesiae eodem die Northosneiae. This Bishop was required, with the sonne of Edward the first, and Gilbert de Clare Earle of Gloucester, in the time of Edward the first, to bee delivered for pledges for Lheweline, Prince of Wales, for his safe returne, if he came [Page 28] to the parliament, whereunto he was som­moned, by the said King Edward, In the time of this Chancellor, the Court of Chancery, was kept at Bristow. This man dyed in Anno dom. 1293, being Anno 21, Edward 1.

John de Langton, was made Chancellor of England, in Anno dom. 1293, being the 21 yeare of the victorius King Edward the first, in which office he remained untill the death of the said King, being in Anno dom. 1302, He was made Bishop of Chichester, a­bout Annis 26 or 27, Edward 1. being in Anno dom. 1298, or rather 1299, And in the said yeare 1299, he was before chosen Bishop of Elye, but rejected by the Pope, who made him Archdeacon of Canterbury. From which Langton King Edward did take the great seale in the thirtieth yeare before said, and delive­red it to John Drokenford.

John Drokenford keeper of the Wardrope was made keeper of the great Seale in the thirtieth yeare as before, in which office he continued from about the 15 day of August; untill Michaelmas.

[Page 29] William de Grinefeild Deane of Chichester and Canon of Yorke, was advanced to the place of Chancellor in Anno Dom. 1302. being about Anno. 30. Edward 1. which Office was given unto him at Saint Radigunds (as saith Anony­mus M.S. He was after chosen Bishop of Yorke, in Anno dom. 1303. who in the yeare of our Lord 1308 buried the body of the said King Edward the first in Westminster, though the King dyed in Anno dom. 1307. This Bishop dyed in Anno dom. 1315 being about the sixt yeare of King Edward the second, at Cawood, after that he had beene Bishop nine yeares, eleaven moneths and two dayes, and was buried in S. Nicholus Porch at Yorke, receiving his consecration at Rome, in Anno dom. 1305, (after that he had beene there two yeares) of Pope Clement; This Greinfeild was a man very eloquent, and pithie, and Prudent in Coun­sell.

William de Hamilton, Deane of Yorke, was created Chancellor of England, in Anno dom. 1305, being the 33, yeare of that noble prince, King Edward the first; this William dyed in Anno dom▪ 1307, being about Anno 35, [Page 30] of the said King at the Abbey of Fontnesse in Yorkshire, being a man that well deserved of the Common wealth.

Ralphe de Baldocke, chosen Bishop of London in Anno dom. 1303, was confirmed at Titne­shall, by Robert of Winchelsey Bishop of Can­terbury, and consecrated at Lyons by Peter of Spaine, Bishop of Alba, the third Calends [...]f February, in anno dom. 1305, Hee was made Lord Chancellor of England, after the death of the said William Hamilton, in the said 35, yeare of King Edward the first, and received the great Seale, in the Rogation weeke follow­ing, being some foure or five weekes, after he was advanced to that Office, at the Exche­quer, shortly after which dyed King Edward the first, for which cause the saide Baldocke sent the great Seale to King Edward the se­cond then at Carliel, by reason of his fathers death. This Baldocke dyed, on S. James Eeve in anno dom. 1313, being anno 7, Edward 2.

Iohn Langton Bishop of Chichester, againe made Lord Chancellor of England in Anno dom 1307. being the first yeare of King Ed­ward of Carnarvàn in which office it seemeth [Page 31] that he continued untill Anno dom. 1310 be­ing in Anno 3 Edward 2.

William Melton having two others joyned with him had the great Seale delivered unto them for a certaine time, to execute all such things as were to be done therewith, during the Kings pleasure. This man was a Canon of Yorke, Provost of Beverly, Treasurer of England, and Archbishop of Yorke, as saith Anonymus M.S. He was consecrated Bishop of Yorke at Rome, where he tarried two yeares for the same, he was a man never wearied with travell. He first of all the Bishops of Yorke, after a long controversie betwixt the Deane and Cannons of Yorke, visited the chapter by due order, he was wise, rich, se­vere in correction, gentle, familiar and hum­ble, he finished the West part of the Church of S. Peters in Yorke, with 300 pound, he was Archbishop of Yorke, 22 yeares, five, or sixe moneths, and two dayes, he dyed at Cawood, on S▪ Georges Eeve, in Anno dom. 1330, and was buried in the Minster of Yorke neere the Font.

Walter Reinolds Bishop of Worcester▪ Trea­surer of England, and Archbishop of Canter­bury, [Page 37] was made keeper of the great Seale, and Chancellor of England, on the sixt of July▪ Anno dom. 1310, being anno 3 Edward 2.

John de Sandall Clerke, Bishop of Winchester and Treasurer, was at Yorke made Chancel­lor of England, in Anno dom. 1314. being anno 8 Edward 2, in which place, he continued two yeares and more, some part thereof being after that he was made Bishop of Winchester, (as I gather) and then delivered backe the seale at Westminster, in anno dom. 1317, being in anno 11 Edward 2, Of this man is more spo­ken in the Treasurers of England.

John Hotham Bishop of Elie, was created Lord Chancellor of England, in anno dom. 1317, being in anno 11 Edward 2, In which Office he continued untill anno dom. 1319, be­ing anno 13 Edward 2, During whose governe­ment of the See of Elie, in anno dom. 1341, the steeple fell downe, which made such a terri­ble noise, and shaking of the ground, that it was supposed to be some earth-quake. He dyed of the palsey in anno dom. 1336, be­ing anno 10 Edward 3.

[Page 33] John Salmon Bishop of Norwich, was ad­vanced to be Chancellor in anno dom. 1319, be­ing anno 13 Edward 2, against whom the No­bles rebelled, for the misdemenour of Piers Gaveston, (the Gascoigne) Earle of Cornwall, In this yeare 1319, (as saith one Anonymal Chro­nicler M.S.) was William Airemine, Keeper of the seale, Vice-chancellor, taken prisoner by the Scots. The words of the which Au­thor, for the more certainety thereof, we have here set downe.

Episcopus Eborum, episcopus Eliae thesaurarius, Abbas beatae Mariae Eborum, Abbas de Selbie, Deca­nus Eborum, Dominus Willielmus Arymanee Vice-Cancellarius Angliae, ac dominus Johannes Dabe­ham, cum 8000 ferme hominum, tam equitum quam peditum & Civibus properanter, civitatem egredien­tes, quoddam flumen Swale nuncupatum sparsis cu­neis transeuntes, & indispositis, seu potius confusis ordinibus, cum adversarijs congressi sunt. Scoti si­quidem in Marte gnari amplitudinem eorum exerci­tus caute regentes, in nostris agminibus strictis au­dacter irruerunt, nostrorum deni (que) in brevi laceratis cuneis at (que) dissipatis, corruerunt ex nostris, tam in ore gladij quam aquarum scopulis suffocati, plusquam 4000. & capti sunt domini Johannes de Pabeham, [Page 34] & dominus Willielmus de Arymenee, ut praefertur de Cancellaria &c. Which William Ayrmenee was also in the said 15 of Edward 2. one of the Keepers of the great Seale, as I have seene re­gistred.

Robert Baldocke, Archdeacon of Middleton, a man evilly beloved, and whom the old English Chronicle remembers, with ill at­tributes, was made Chancellor of England in anno 17 Edward 2, at the Castle of Pickering in Yorkeshire, he was after made Bishop of Nor­wich and did his fealty for restitution of his Temporalties in anno 19, of the said King Ed­ward the second, at Woodstocke, in Oxfordshire, he was apprehended in anno 20 Edward 2 be­ing in anno dom 1326, or as others have in the yeare 1325, And first committed to the cu­stody of Adam Tarleton, or de Orleton, bishop of Hereford, and after was put in the prison of the Newgate, of London, in which 20 yeare of King Edward the second, the great seale was againe delivered to William Arymenee, who (as I suppose was then also made Bi­shop of Norwich and this Baldocke deposed from that see. Of which Baldocke thus wri­teth [Page 35] a Polythronicon of Durham. Robertus de Baldocke Cancellarius anno 1325, captus cum Hu­gonibus de Despensers, quia clericus fuit & sacer­dos in nova porta Londiniarum, poni fecit Edwar­dus Princeps & Isabella mater ejus, ubi pro nimia miseria mortuus fuit infra breve.

John Hotham bishop of Elie, the second time was at Westminster, made Chancellor of England in anno dom. 1326, being the first yeare of the Raigne of that King, that intitu­led himselfe King of England and France, but he continued not long in the same Office, for he was removed in the second yeare of the said King, being in anno dom. 1328, He was elected Bishop in anno dom. 1316, in which place he ruled twenty yeares, and died in anno dom. 1336, of the palsey, at Summersham, being buried in the Church of Elie, under a good­ly monument of stone, with the Image of a bishop carved out of Alabast r upon his Tombe.

Henry Cliffe, Master of the Rolles, had the charge and Keeping of the great Seale of England, in the said yeare of Christ, 1328, be­ing the second yeare of King Edward the [Page 36] third, and was the Kings Chancellor also.

Henry de Burgh, Burghwash, or Burghurst, Nephew to S r. Bartholmew Bladismere baron of Leedes in Kent, having beene Treasurer of England, enjoyed the honour of the Chan­cellor, in the second yeare of King Edward the third, being in anno dom. 1328. and was made Chancellor at Northampton, which Of­fice he did not long enjoy.

John Stratford Bishop of Winchester, and af­ter of Canterbury, and sometime Treasurer of England, was made Chancellor of the Realm, in anno dom 1330, being in anno 4 Edward 3, who being sent in the sixt yeare of his raigne, in anno dom. 1332, Ambassador beyond the Seas, about the affaires of the King and King­dome, did not like Cardinall Woolsey the Chancellor, (in the dayes of King Henry the 8,) presumptuously carry the great Seale with him beyond the seas, but left the same in his absence with others, who both could and would answere the well or evill using thereof whiles he was in France, This man continued in the Office, untill the Eight yeare of Edward the third.

[Page 32] Richard de Bury, otherwise called Richard de Angervile, being borne in a little village be­sides S Edmundsbury commonly cald the Bury Abbey, was so surnamed Bury of that place, had to his Father S r. Richard Angervile Knight, This man being first kept at schoole by his Vncle S r. Iohn VVillobie Priest, was afterward Treasurer of England, Chancellor, and Bishop of Durham, to which place of Chancellor-ship, hee was advanced in the yeare 1334 being in anno 8 Edward 3, which office he received by the Kings gift at VVest­minster, in which yeare he was inthronized, being first consecrated Bishop in anno do. 1333, in the Bishoprick of Durham, by William Cowton Prior of Durham, He kept the See 11 yeares, two moneths, and twelve dayes, and died in the yeare 1345, and was buryed in the South angle of the Church at Durham.

John Stratford, the second time Lord Chan­cellor, being now Archbishop of Canterbury, was installed therein at York, in anno dom. 1335, being the ninth yeare of the Raigne of King Edward the third.

Robert de Stratford or Strafford (as some [Page 38] have written) but as I thinke corruptly, be­ing Archdeacon of Canterbury, (which Of­fice was first ordeined by Anselme, Archbi­shop of the said Citty) was made Chancellor of England, on the 24 day of March, anno dom. 1336, being in anno 11 Edward 3, He was af­ter made Bishop of Chichester, desiring to be remooved from that office of Chancellor­ship, which was granted unto him, Where­upon he surrendred up the Seale unto the said King Edward 3, in the 12 yeare of his Raigne, being in anno dom. 1338.

Richard de Bintworth, chosen Bishop of Lon­don, and confirmed by John Stratford, Arch­bishop of Canterbury at Oxford, the tenth ka­lends of Iune 1338, was at Waltham advanced to the honour of Lord Chancellor, in the moneth of July, in the said yeare 1338, being the 12 yeare of King Edward the third.

John Stratford the third time Lord Chan­cellor of England, in which Office he did not long continue.

Robert Bishop of Chichester, being the fore­said Robert Stratford, was againe made Lord [Page 39] Chancellor of England, in Anno dom. 1340, be­ing anno 14 of the raigne of Edward the third, who was put out of that Office, and should with the Treasurer of England have beene sent into France for a pledge for the payment of certaine sommes of money.

Robert de Bourchier, borne of the honoura­ble house of the Lord Bourchiers, was in the Towre of London, made Lord Chancellor of England, in December in anno 14 Edward 3 be­ing in anno dom. 1340, though some say, hee was made Chancellor in anno 15 of the saide King.

Robert Perning, Pernicke, or Pernwicke, also Treasurer of England, was made Chancellor of England, in anno dom. 1341, bing in anno 15 Edward 3, he dyed in the yeare 1343, being in anno 17 of the said King, This man was a Serjant in the third yeare of Edward the third when he began to plead as a Serjant, in which he continued untill anno 11 Edward 3, and was after that, Iustice, Treasurer, and Chancellor, and dyed in the common plees being Chancellor, sitting and arguing amon­gest the Iustices, as appeares in the Law books [Page 40] of those yeares, of Edward the third, of whom is last mention made in the 17 yeare of Edward the third, where hee is named Chancellor.

Robert de Saddington Knight, was invested with the dignity of Lord Chancellor, after the death of Perning in anno dom. 1343, and in anno 17 Edward 3, He was elected to be Bishop of Canterbury, and so was installed, but never received the Pall. There was also one Richard Saddington Knight, Treasurer of England, of whom I have spoken in my discourse of the Lord Treasurers.

John Offord or Ʋfford, Deane of Lincolne, was made Chancellor of England, in anno dom. 1345. being anno 19 Edward 3, Hee dyed in the moneth of May, in anno dom 1349, being the 23, yeare of the Raigne of that victorious King, Edward the third.

John Thorsby Bishop of Worcester, Archbi­shop of Yorke, and Cardinall, was installed in the seat of the Lord Chancellor, in anno dom. 1349, being anno 23 Edward 3, who at his great suit was discharged of the Office [Page 41] of Chancellor, by delivery of the great Seale in November in anno 30 of the said King, be­ing in anno dom 1356, after hee had kept that place, almost by the space of 7 yeares, He in the 10 yeare of his Bishopricke, on the third kalends of August, beganne the frame of the Quire in S Peters Church in Yorke, and laid the first stone thereof, to which he gave an Hundred poundes, He dyed at Thorpe, and was buryed at Yorke, in anno dom 1363, or as others have, 1373, after that he had beene Archbishop, one and twenty yeares, and one and twenty dayes.

William de Edington, Bishop of Winchester, Lord Treasurer of England, was made Chan­cellor of England in November, in anno dom. 1356, in anno 30 of King Edward, the third.

Simon Langham, Abbat of Westminster, Bishop of Elie, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Treasu­rer of England, was made Lord Chancellor in February in anno dom. 1363, being the sea­ven and thirthieth yeare of the governement of King Edward the third. Of this Simon were these verses, made when he was remo­ved [Page 42] from Elie to the Bishopricke of Canter­bury.

Exultent caeli quia Simon transit ab Eli
Cujus in adventum flent in kent millia centum.

Of whom also because he richly endowed the Abbey of Westminster, with great gifts, of singular cost and value, a certaine Monke compiled these verses.

Res es de Langham, tua Simon sunt data quondam
Octingentena librarum millia dena.

Of this man is more spoken in the follow­ing discourse, of the Lord Treasurers of Eng­land.

William de Wickeham, so called of the place of his Birth, whom Leland maketh Treasurer of England, which by any possible meanes cannot be so, for any thing that I can yet learne, This man being Bishop of Winchester; and advanced to that place in anno dom. 1367, in anno 41 Edward 3, in which place he sate seaven and thirty yeares, was sometime kee­per of the privie seale, and made also Chan­cellor of England, in Anno dom. 1367, being [Page 43] the 41 yeare of Edward the third, in which Office he remained about foure yeares, and in March▪ in the yeare 1371, being the 45 of King Edward the third, did deliver up the great Seale, to the King at Westminster. Hee was buried in the body of Winchester Church, which he new built, with the other places about it, of whom were these verses com­posed, for the building of his Colledges, the one at Oxford, and the other at Winchester.

Hunc decet esse pium fundatis collegiorum
Oxoniae primum stat Wintoniaeque secundum.

Robert Thorpe Knight, being before Iustice of the Law in Anno dom. 1370, was after at Westminster advanced to the Chancellorship in March, in Anno 45, Edward 3, being in Anno dom. 1371, Who going home to his owne house, left the great seale with foure of the Guardians, or Masters of the Chancery, whereof the one was called Walter Power, to keepe and use as need required.

Sr. John Knivet or Knivell, (as some books have by the transcriber corrupted) was made Chancellor of England in July, in Anno dom. [Page 44] 1372, being the 46 yeare of King Edward the third, in which Office hee continued (as I gather) untill the 50 yeare of the saide King Edward the third, in which yeare (as here at hand appeareth) came in place, the Bishop of S. Davids.

Adam de Houghton, Bishop of Menenia, or of S. Davids in Wales, was advanced to the office of Lord Chancellor in Anno dom. 1376, being the 50 yeare of King Edward the third, who in the 51 yeare of the saide King, was with the Earle of Salisbury, and the Bishop of Hereford, sent Ambassador beyond the seas. And here I thinke it not amisse to set downe the originall of the Rolls in Chancery Lane in this sort.

Henry the third did build an house for the Iewes converted to the faith of Christ, which house is at this day, (and hath beene long before this time) appointed for the keeping of the Kings Rolles and recordes, being now called and knowne by the name of the Rols in Chancery Lane, besides Lincolnes Inne. In which house the master of the Rolles (for the time being) hath his dwelling. In which [Page 45] also there is a faire Chappell, called the Chap­pell of the Rolles, being a place commonly appointed wherein men accostome to pay money upon contracts.

The grant of Henry the third, for erecting of the house of Converts.

Rex archi episcopis &c. Sciatis nos intuitu Dei, & pro salute animae nostrae & animarum antecesso­rum & haeredum meorum concessisse, & hac charta nostra confirmasse pro nobis & haeredibus nostris domum quam fundari fecimus in vico, qui voca­tur Newst eet, inter vetus Templum & novum London, ad sustentationem fratrum conversorum, & convertendorum de Judaismo ad fidem catholi­cam, in auxilium sustentationis eorundem fratrum in eadem domo conversantium, domos & terraes quae fuere Johannis Harbeton in London, & sunt in manu nostra, tanquam eschaeta nostra, excepto Gardino, quod fuit eiusdem Iohannis in vico praedicto de New­street, & quod prius per Chartam nostram concessi­mus venerabili patri Radulpho Cicestrensi episcopo Cancellario nostro, & omnes alias eschaetas, quae tempore nostro per feloniam, vel quacunque ex cau­sa nobis accident in civitate nostra, vel in suburbio [Page 46] infra libertatem civitatis nostrae London. Quare vo­lumus & firmiter praecipimus pro nobis & haeredibus nostris quod praedicta domus habeat & teneat libere & quiete Bene & in pace, ad sustentationem fratrum conversorum & convertendorum de Judaismo; ad fidem catholicam, in auxillium sustentationis eorun­dem fratrum, in eadem domo conversantium, domos & terras, quae fuerunt Johannis Harbeton in London, & sunt in manu nostra, tanquam eschaeta nostra, excepto gardino quod fuit eiusdem Iohannis in vico praedicto de Newstreet, & quod prius per chartam nostram concessinus venerabili patri Radulpho Cicestrensi epis­copo Cancellario nostro, & omnes alias eschaetas, quae tempore nostro per feloniam vel quacunque ex causa nobis accident in civitate nostra, vel in fuburbio in­fra libertatem civitatis nostrae London, sicut prae­dictum est, His testibus venerabilibus patribus W. Kaerl. & W. Exon, episcopis. H: de Burgo Comite Kantiae. Radulpho filio Nicholai, Godfrido de Cran­combe Iohanne filio Philip. Amaurico de sancto Au­mundo, Will: de Picheford, Galfrido de Cauz & alijs. Dat. per manum Ve: P: R: Cicestrend: episcop. Cancellar. nostri apud Westmin. 19. die Aprilis.

[Page 47]The Grant of Edward the third whereby the said house was in the one and fiftieth and last yeare of the said Edward, converted to the custody of the Rolles and records of the Chancery.

Rex omnibus ad quos, &c. salutem. Sciatis quod nos, considerantes qualiter domus conversorum in sub­urbio Civitatis nostrae London, de patronatu nostro existens, & capella, aedificia, & clausur: ejusdem, tempore quo delectus noster Will. Burstall custodi­am ejusdem domus ex collatione nostra primo habuit, per negligentiam & incuriam aliorum qui ante prae­dictum Will. custodiam domus illius habuerunt, & ibidem, morari seu inhabitari non curaverunt, multi­pliciter & quasi totaliter in ruina exstiterunt, & quod praedictus Will. tempore suo de bonis suis pro­prijs, grandes costas & expensas super recuperatione & emendatione domus, capellae, aedificiorum, & clau­sur. praedict. ac etiam super factur: novar domorum ibidem. Nos ut domos conversorum, capella, aedificia, clausur. & novae domus supradict▪ competenter su­stententur & custodientur in futurum, ad supplicatio. nem praedicti Willielmi, qui custos Rotulorum Can­cellariae nostrae existit, in praesenti concessimus, de gratia nostra speciali, pro nobis & haeredibus no­stris, [Page 48] quod post mortem ejusdem Willielmi, dicta do­mus conversorum, cum suis juribus & pertinentibus quibuscunque remaneat & moretur in perpetuum Clerico Custod, Rotulorum Cancellar nostrae & hae­redum nostrorum pro tempore existente, & similiter annex. eidem officio in perpetuum, & quod Cancel­larius Angliae vel custos sive custodes magni sigilli nostri & haeredum nostrorum Angliae pro tempore existentium, post mortem ipsius Willielmi habeat, & habeant potestatem ad quamlibet vocationem dicti officij custodis Rotulorum, per mortem cessio­nem, vel mutationem personae, quocunque tempore fu­turo, institutum successivè custodes Rotulorum prae­dictorum in dicta domo conversorum, & Custodes il­los ponend. in possessionem ejusdem cum suis juribus et pertinentibus quibuscunque. In cujus, &c. T. R. apud Shene. 11. Aprilis, Anno 51. Edw. 3.

But after the death of this King Edward, the said William Burstall Master of the Rolls, (be­like not supposing this to bee a sufficient grant) procured this house by act of Parlia­ment in the first yeare of King Richard the second, to be more strongly established to the use of the Master of the Rolles for the time. After which John de Waltham, Master of the Rolles, after Bishop of Salisbury, and Trea­surer [Page 49] of England, procured King Richard the second in the sixt yeare of his raigne, by his Letters Patents to confirme the said house to the said William and his successors Masters of the Rolles. And whereas by the Patent of Edward the third, the Master of the Rolles was appointed and installed in that house by the Chancellor, it is to be noted, that the same manner of induction and instalment continued as long as the Master of the Rolles was of the Clergy, as I have seene set downe by others, and as the Presidents of those in­stalments, and the Writts themselves extant of record doe well prove.

Sir Richard Scroope Knight Lord of Bolton, having beene Lord Treasurer in the time of the deceased King Edward the third, was now in October about the latter end of the yeare, 1378 or the beginning of the yeare 1379. be­ing the second yeare of the after deposed King Richard the second, made Lord Chan­cellor, and had the great Seale delivered un­to him, who in the third yeare of the said King at a Parliament, did surrender up his office. Of this man is more set downe in the discourse of the Treasurers.

[Page 50] Simon Sudbury so surnamed of the place of his birth, but by descent called Tibold the sonne of Nicholas Tibold, descended of a gen­tleman like race dwelling at Sudbury in Suf­folke. This Simon was Archbishop of Can­terbury, and made Chancellor about the yeare of Christ, 1380. in the third yeare of Richard the second, and was by the Rebells beheaded in the Tower of London, in the fourth yeare of the disquieted government, of that unfortunate, but valiant King Richard the second. After whom in the fifth yeare of the said King, was R. Bishop of London, whereof I have seene and taken a note, which Bishop was (as I conjecture, and have some authority to prove) Robert Braybrooke which followeth, and was made Chancellor againe after Sir Richard Scroope.

R. Bishop of London Chancellor the fifth yeare of King Richard the second, at which time Robert Braybrooke was Bishop of Lon­don.

Sir Richard Scroope Knight, Lord of Bolton, made Chancellor againe about the latter end of November, by the Lords of the Parliament [Page 51] (as I take it) in the fifth yeare of the raigne of King Richard last mentioned, and was the yeare following, being about Anno dom. 1383, againe deposed from his office, and the King receiving the seale, kept it a certaine time, and therewith sealed such grants and wri­tings as pleased him, and in the end delive­red the same to Robert Braybrooke. Of this man see more in the Treasurers.

Robert Braybrooke Bishop of London, made Lord Chancellor in September following the moneth of July when Sir Richard Scroope was deposed, was advanced to that dignity on S. Matthews Eeve, in the sixt yeare of the raigne of the said King Richard the second, in which he continued not longer then the March following, (as hath Anonymus, M.S.) he was consecrated Bishop of London the fifth of January, Anno dom. 1381, he dyed the 17. of Au­gust in Anno dom. 1404, being the fifth yeare of King Henry the fourth.

Michael de la Poole, or at Poole, as hath Tho­mas Walsingham, was made Chancellor in the moneth of March▪ in Anno 6. of the said King Richard the second, and was made Earle of [Page 52] Suffolke in the ninth yeare of the said King, being after deposed from his office of Chan­cellorship at his owne and earnest request, in the tenth yeare of the said King. This man having fled the Realme, for that he was pursued by the Nobility, dyed at Paris in Ann. 13. of Richard the second, being in Anno dom. 1389, of whom that worthy Poet Sir John Gower, living at that time, in his Booke intitu­led Vox Clamantis, composed these verses.

Est comes elatus, fallax, cupidus, sceleratus,
Fraudes per mille stat Cancellarius ille
Hic proceres odit, & eorum nomina rodit
Morsibus a tergo, fit tandem profugus ergo;
Sic Deus in caelis mala de puteo Michaelis
Acriter expurgat ne plus comes ille resurgat.

Thomas Arundell, of the noble house of the Earles of Arundell, was first Bishop of Elie, and then of Yorke, and lastly of Canterbury, he was made Lord Chancellor of England, in Anno 10, of the raigne of the unfortunate King Richard 2, which was about Anno dom. 1386, in which office he remayned a­bout two yeares.

[Page 53] William Wickham, was againe made Lord Chancellor of England, in Anno 12 Richard 2, but was in the end remooved from thence in September, in the 15 yeare of the troublesome governement of the said King Richard.

Thomas Arundell aforesaid, was the second time created Lord Chancellor of England, in the saide 15 yeare of Richard 2, in place of William Wickham, in which office he remai­ned about five yeares, and was deposed and banished the Realme in the 20 yeare of the said King Richard.

John Scarle, Scirlee, or Serle, Master of the Rolles of the Chancery, and Keeper of the great Seale, hee was Chancellor or in the place of Chancellor in the first yeare of the raigne of King Henry the fourth, being in Anno dom. 1399.

Edmund Stafford, Keeper of the Privie Seale, Bishop of Excester, and sometime Bishop of Rochester, and lastly Bishop of Yorke, and borne of the noble house of the Staffords, was made Lord Chancellor of England, about the moneth of March [Page 54] in Anno dom. 1400, being about the second yeare of the usurping King Henry the fourth, in which Office hee continued untill Anno dom. 1403, being in Anno 4 of the said King Henry the fourth, he being Keeper of the Pri­vy Seale, was made Bishop of Excester, the 20 of June, in Anno dom. 1395, being the 21 yeare of Richard 2. Hee was consecrated at Lambeth, and kept the See of Excester, three and twenty yeares. Hee increased two fel­lowship in Stapletons Inne, in Oxford, refor­med the Statutes of the house, and called it Excester Colledge. Hee died the fourth of September, in the seaventh yeare of King Hen­ry the fift, being in Anno dom. 1419.

Henry Beuford, the son of John of Gaunt, by Katherine Swineford, made Bishop of Lincolne in Anno dom 1398, as hath Ypodigma, was ad­vanced to the dignity of Chancellor in Anno dom. 1403, being the fourth yeare of King Henry the fourth his elder Brother, by the daughter of the Earle of Hereford, in which office, he was in the fift yeare of King Henry the fourth, and sixt of the same King, (as our Chonicles doe remember) he was made Bishop of Winchester, in Anno dom. 1404, be­ing [Page 55] the fift yeare of King Henry the fourth.

Thomas Langley Priest and Bishop of Dur­ham, was at Westminster made Chancellor in Anno dom 1405, being in Anno 6. of Henry the fourth, in which office he continued (as far as I know) untill he was made Bishop of Dur­ham, which was on the 7. of May in Anno 7. of King Henry the fourth, being in Anno dom. 1406, he was Bishop one and thirty yeares, and dyed in Anno dom. 1437, being the 16. yeare of King Henry the sixt. See more fol­lowing.

Thomas Fitzalen, brother to Richard Earle of Arundell, being returned out of exile, with Henry of Bullingbruke, Duke of Hereford and Lancaster, and after King of England, by the name of Henry the fourth, was againe Chan­cellor, and continued therein about two yeares being removed from that place about September, in Anno 11 of Henry the fourth, being in Anno dom. 1410.

Thomas Beauford Knight, the sonne of John of Gaunt, sonne to King Edward the third, and brother to King Henry the fourth, was made Lord Chancellor in Anno 11 of the said [Page 56] King, being in Anno dom 1410, in which of­fice hee remained not full three yeares, but left the same office, and was created Earle of Dorcet, and lastly, Duke of Exceter.

John Wakering Clerke, Master of the Rolles was made keeper of the great Seale, when Thomas Beauford left the office of Chancellor, which Seale hee kept about the space of a Moneth, for in January after that he had re­ceived the Seale, there was a Chancellor cre­ated.

Thomas Fitzallen, or Arundell, Archbishop of Canterbury, was the fourth time invested with the Chancellorship in Anno dom. 1412. being in Anno 13. of Henry the fourth, in which of­fice he continued during the life of the said King, who dyed in the fourteenth yeare of his Raigne, and in Anno dom. 1413.

Henry Beauford Bishop of Winchester, and af­ter Cardinall in the time of Henry the sixt, be­ing Vnckle to King Henry the fift then reign­ing, was the second time made Chancellor in Anno dom. 1413. being in Anno 5, of Henry [Page 57] the fift, in which place he remained untill the fift yeare of the reigne of the said King, being in the yeare of our Lord 1417.

Thomas Langley Bishop of Durham, was the second time made Lord Chancellor of Eng­land in the said yeare of our Lord 1417, be­ing the 5, yeare of that worthy Conqueror King Henry the 5, Which office hee received at Southwicke, and continued in that honor (as farre as I can learne) by the space of six yeares or more, whereof five yeares were fully ended in the life and death of the said Henry the 5, and the sixt yeare ended in the last of the first, or beginning of the second yeare of King Henry the 6.

Henry Beauford Bishop of Winchester before named, was the third time made Lord Chan­cellor of England, in the second yeare of the raigne of King Henry the sixt, being about Anno dom. 1423, or 1424, for the second yeare of that King fell partly in the one and partly in the other of the said yeares of our Lord. In which office he continued about the space of foure yeares, untill he was made Cardinall in Anno dom. 1426.

[Page 58] John Kemp Bishop of London, was made Lord Chancellor of England in the fourth yeare of that King Henry, who in his youn­gest yeares was crowned first King of Eng­land, and then King of France in Paris, in which office he remained (as I suppose) about six yeares.

John Stafford Deane of Saint Martin and of Wels, Prebend of Milton in Lincolne Church, Bishop of Bath and Wells, Lord Chancellor and Treasurer of England, and Bishop of Can­terbury,) was made Lord Treasurer of Eng­land, in the moneth of February, in Anno dom. 1431, falling in the tenth yeare of King Hen­ry the sixt, he remained in that office, untill John Kempe, was againe made Lord Chan­cellor, which was about Anno 6 of Henry the sixt, And here I thinke it not unmeet to re­member, that some have noted William Wan­fleet, that was Bishop of Winchester, and Chan­cellor of Oxford, to be Chancellor of England, when he built Magdalen Colledge in Oxford, in Anno 25 Henry the sixt, which possibly can­not be, sith this Iohn Stafford, held that of­fice from the tenth of Henry the sixt, untill [Page 59] the eight and twentieth of the same King, which was eighteene yeares, during which time they place this Wanfleet to be Chancel­lor of England, which error I suppose they have committed, in that they finding him Chancellor, at the time of the building of his Colledge in the said 25 yeare of King Henry the sixt, have taken him to be Chancellor of England, when he was then but Chancellor of Oxford, although indeed afterward he was Chancellor of England, in Anno 35, of the said King, as after shall appeare.

John Kempe, Bishop of Yorke, and Cardinall was the second time made Lord Chancellor in the 28 yeare of King Henry the sixt, being in Anno dom. 1450, in which office he dyed, being Bishop of Canterbury, in Anno do (as saith Matthew Parker) 1453, being the 32 yeare of the raigne of King Henry the sixt. This man was first Bishop of Rochester, next of Chiche­ster, thirdly of London, then of Yorke, where he sate sate 28 yeares, and lastly he was Arch­bishop of Canterbury, and Cardinall by the title of Saint Rufind, which preferments are breifly expressed in this verse.

[Page 60]Bis primas, ter praeses & bis Cardine Functus.

Richard Nevill, Earle of Salisbury, the son to Raphe Nevill, Earle of Westmerland, and father to the valiant Richard Nevill, Earle of Warwicke, was after the death of Iohn Kempe, by Parliament made Lord Chancellor in the 32 yeare of King Henry the sixt, though o­thers make it to be in the 33 yeare of the same King, In which place hee continued not long, for in the yeare following, another was substituted and he remooved.

Thomas Bourchier, brother to Henry Bourchi­er, Earle of Essex, Bishop of Elie, and Bi­shop of Canterbury, was made Chancellor in Anno 33 Henry 6, in which he remained much about 2 yeares in whose time (as saith Mat­thew Parker) about Anno dom. 1461, was the Art of Printing invented at the Citty of Argen­torat in Germany. About which matter, and especially for the exact and certaine time thereof, many writers, although their count about one time doe disagree: yet at the in­venting of that worthy thing, were these verses composed, in commendation of the same most excellent Art.

[Page 61]
O faelix nostris memoranda impressio tectis
Inventore nitet utraque lingua tuo
Desierat quasi totum quod fundis in orbe
Nunc parvo doctus quilibet esse potest
Omnes Nunc homines igitur te laudibus ornent
Te duce quando ars haec mira reperta fuit.

William Patan or Paten, borne of a Gentle­manly Family, being commonly called Willi­am Wanfleet, of the place of his birth, and be­ing provost of Eaton, and Bishop of Winche­ster, was Lord Chancellor in Annis 35, & 36, & 37, of the unfortunate King Henry the sixt, as have the Records, of the Exchequor. By which appeareth the error of those, as I have before noted, that mistaking the 25. of King Henry the sixt, in which time hee was but Chancellor of Oxford, for the 35. of the said King, in which hee was Chancellor of England.

George Nevill (the sonne of Richard Nevill Earle of Salisbury and brother to Richard Ne­vill Earle of Warwicke) being made Bishop of Excester, came to that See, in Anno dom. 1455. in which See he continued tenne yeares, and was removed to Yorke in Anno dom▪ 1465, hee [Page 62] was made Lord Chancellor in the 38. yeare of the raigne of the deposed King Henry the sixt, in which office hee remained about 8. yeares, and then was remooved in the se­venth yeare of King Edward the fourth, being in Anno dom. 1467, He was a great friend to S. Albons, and procured Edward the fourth, in the fourth yeare of his raigne, to give and confirme to John Whethamstead Abbat of Saint Albons, the Priory of Pembrooke. This Bishop Nevill did after in the 13 yeare of King Ed­ward the fourth, grow in such disgrace with the King, that he was spoyled at one time of twenty thousand Pounds.

Robert Kirkham, Master of the Rolles, was made Lord Keeper of the great Seale, upon the removing of George Nevill, in the month of July, in the yeare of Christ, 1467, being the seventh yeare of King Edward the fourth.

Robert Stillington, Doctour of the Lawes, Keeper of the privy Seale in Anno 3 Edward the fourth, Bishop of Bath and Wels; being made Chancellor in the seaventh yeare of King Edward the fourth, did still so continue untill Anno 13, of the said King.

[Page 63] Henry Bourchier, Earle of Essex, and first advanced to that title of honour by King Ed­ward the fourth, came in place of the last Chancellor, about the 13 yeare of Edward the 4, in which place he remained not much more then one Trinity tearme, for in the said 13 yeare, about the Moneth of August, was Bishop Booth, Lord Chancellor of Eng­land.

Lawrence Booth, sometime Master of Pem­brooke Hall, Bishop of Durham, and after of Yorke, was made Lord Chancellor about Au­gust, or rather before, betweene that and Trinity tearme, (after Henry Bourchier) in the said 13 yeare of King Edward the 4, after his redemption of the Kingdome of England. This Bishop being brother to William Booth, sometime Bishop of Yorke, did build the Bi­shop of Yorke his house at Battersey, which Mannor he before bought of Nicholas Stanley, whom Leland the minser and refiner of all English names, doth most curiously in Latine call, Nicholaum Stenelegium. Hee continued in the See of Yorke, three yeares and nine mo­neths, and died at Sowthwell, in Anno dom. 1480 being in Anno 20 Edward 4.

[Page 64] Thomas Scot, surnamed Rotheram, because of the Towne of Rotheram, in Yorkeshire, where he was borne and bred up, was Bi­shop of Rochester, and then of Lincolne, where he sat nine yeares, and after that was Bishop of Yorke, whereunto he was installed first at Yorke, then at Ripon, being Provost of Bever­ley, he was made Chancellor of England, in Anno dom. 1474, being in Anno 14, Edward 4. This Bishop in Anno 15 of the said King, went over the Sea, with the said Edward 4, when he went to have an interveiw with the French King, of which meeting Monsieue de Argentine, (by name Philip Comineus) besides our English Chronicles, doth make mention, as a person that bare a part in that Solemnity.

John Alcot Bishop of Rochester, was made Chancellor during the absence of King Ed­ward.

Thomas Rotheram, being before Lord Kee­per of the Privy Seale, was after his returne out of France, the second time made Lord Chancellor, about the time, in which the said King had gotten Berwicke from the Scots, a­bout Anno 20 Edward 4, For the free gaining [Page 65] of the Towne was not so much before his death. In which Office this Rotheram, conti­nued all the life of King Edward the 4, and in the time of the Reigne of the guiltlesse mur­thered young Prince King Edward the 5, un­till it was ascribed to him for over much lightnesse, that he had delivered in the be­ginning of the rebellious government of the protectorship of the bloody and unnaturall Richard, Duke of Gloucester, the Seale to the Queene, to whom it did not appertaine, and from whom he received it not. Hee founded a Colledge at Rotheram, dedicated it to the name of Iesus, and endowed it with great possessions, and ornaments, and annex­ed thereto the Churches of Langhton and Almanbury.

John Russell Bishop of Lincolne, a grave and learned man, had the Seale delivered to him by the saide Protectour of England, during the time of the short Raigne of the yong King Edward, when the same Seale was taken from Rotheram, and so this Russell was made Chancellor in the moneth of June in Anno dom. 1483, being the first yeare of [Page 66] King Richard the third. This Russell is bury­ed in the Church of Lincolne, in a Chapell cast out of the upper wall of the South part of the Church.

Thomas Barow Master of the Rolls, was made Keeper of the great Seale, which I sup­pose, was in the third and last yeare of the said King Richard the third, for in that yeare he was Master of the Rolles▪

Thomas Rotheram, made againe Lord Chan­cellor in the first entrance of King Henry the seaventh, into the governement, but very shortly after he was displaced, and the Bishop of Worcester, placed in that roome, he was Archbishop of Yorke, 19 yeares and ten mo­neths, he was very beneficiall to all his kin­dred, and advanced some with marriages, some with possessions, and some with spi­rituall livings. He dyed the 29 day of Decem­ber, in Anno dom. 1500, being the 16 yeare of King Henry the eight, at Cawood in Yorkeshire, the morrow after the Ascension, being of the age of threescore and sixteene yeares, or more. He was buried in Yorke Minster, on the North side, in our Lady Chapell, in a [Page 67] tombe of Marble, which hee caused to be made whilest he was living.

John Alcot, Bishop of Worcester, made in Anno dom. 1476, was Lord Chancellor of Eng­land in Anno 1 Henry 7, being in Anno dom. 1485 shortly after the entrance of the said Henry into the governement of England, for though Rotheram were Chancellor, when he got the victory, for that he had beene so before, and for that the King was neither provided, nor minded sodainely to have a man, not meet for that place to execute the same, yet this Bishop Rotheram kept not that roome many months, but that Bishop Alcot came in place, because the King found Bishop Alcot a meeter person to execute the same office, answerable to the disposition of the Kings humour. All which notwithstanding, whether for malice of others, or for his owne deserts, or both, or for the more speciall trust, that the King put in Doctour Moorton, Bishop of Elie, who had beene the meanes to bring him to the Crowne, this Bishop Alcot, fell shortly in the Kings disgrace, was displaced of his Office, and Doctour Moorton came in his roome. So [Page 68] that in this first yeare of King Henry the sea­venth, there seemed to be three Chancellors in succession, one after another, All which before Moorton, in this first yeare of King Hen­ry the seaventh, may perhaps more properly be termed, Keepers of the great Seale, then Chancellors.

Iohn Moorton Doctor of the Civill Law, an Advocate in the Civill Courts, and of the Counsell of Henry the sixt, and to Edward the fourth, to whom also he was Master of the Rolles, was made Bishop of Elie, in Anno Dom. 1478, and Lord Chancellor, of Eng­land, at his returne from beyond the Seas, in the first yeare of King Henry the seventh, being in Anno Dom. 1485, after which he was ad­vanced to the Arch-bishopricke of Canterbury, he dyed in Anno Dom. 1499, in Anno 15 of Henry the seaventh, as hath Matthew Parker.

William Warham, Advocate in the Arches, Master of the Rolles, Bishop of London, and then Archbishop of Canterbury, was before his advancement to the See of Canterbury, made Chancellor of England, in the time of Henry the seaventh, in which office he conti­nued, [Page 69] until about the latter end of the seaventh yeare of King Henry the Eight. At what time surrendring the Seale, by reason of his age and weakenesse, the same was delivered to Thomas Woolsey.

Thomas Woolsey, sometimes Chapleine to Henry Deane, Archbishop of Canterbury, after the Kings Almoner, and Abbat of S. Austins, who possessing many other Abbies, and Bi­shoprickes, was advanced to the government of the great Seale, about the beginning of the 8, yeare of King Henry the eight, being in Anno Dom. 1516, to hold the same during his life, (as I gather) in which office yet he continued not above thirteene yeares, untill Anno 21 of King Henry the 8, being in Anno Dom. 1529. During which time of his Chancellorship in Anno 19 of King Henry the eight, being Anno Dom. 1527. he went into France, represen­ting the King of Englands Person, to set order for the delivery of Pope Clement the seaventh, and Francis the French King, at what time he carried the great Seale over the Seas, to Ca­lis, Which Seale hee left with Doctor Taylor, Master of the Rolles, to keepe the same at Calis [Page 70] untill the Cardinalls returne out of the French Dominions. He died in Leicester Abbey, not without suspicion of poison, as was thought, which he had prepared for himselfe, and gi­ven to his Apothecary to deliver when hee cal­led for it, the two and twentieth of King Hen­ry the eight in Anno Dom. 1530.

Thomas More Knight, Chancellor of the Dutchie of Lancaster, was advanced to the ho­nour of Chancellorship of England in Anno Dom. 1529, being in Anno 21 of King Henry the eight, In which office this rare witted Knight (to use Erasmus his epitheton) and lear­ned Chancellor continued not ful three yeares, but in Anno 24 of the said King, with much labour and earnest suit, he left his office. Tou­ching which it will not be impertinent to set downe the words of Matthew Parker, in the lives of the Bishops of Canterbury, in the life of Thomas Cranmer, writing after this manner. Interearex dum Papae meditabatur excidium, sin­gulorum de papali authoritate sensus iudiciis haud obscuris collegit. Inter quos Thomas Morus quia regis conatus pontificiis valde suspectus fuit, Can­cellarii munere, venia regis aegre impetrata, sese ab­dicavit.

[Page 71] Thomas Audeley, Atturney of the Dutchie of Lancaster, Serjant at the law, (as most affirme) and speaker of the Parliament, was made Knight, and Keeper of the great Seale, the fourth of June, in Anno 24, of the raigne of King Henry the eight, in Anno dom. 1 [...]32, not long after which he was made Lord Chan­cellor of England, This man in the tenth yeare of his Chancellorship, being in Anno dom. 1542, and Anno 35, Henry 8, changing the name of Buckingham Colledge in Cam­bridge, did name it the Colledge of S. Mary Magdalen, and endowed it with some possessi­ons. He dyed on May Eeve, in Anno dom. 1544 being in Anno 35 Henry 8.

Thomas Wriothesly, Knight of the Garter, Sonne to William Wriothesly, Yorke Herald, and Grand-childe to John Wriothesly, Garter King of Armes, being created Baron at Hampton Court, on the first day of Ianuary, in the 35 yeare of the Reigne of King Henry the eight, in Anno dom. 1543. was after advanced to the honour of the great seale, and Chancellor­ship of England, about the beginning of May in Anno 36 Henry 8, being in Anno dom. 1544, [Page 72] in which office hee did continue untill the death of the said King Henry the eight, And in the beginning of the raigne of King Ed­ward the sixt, he was the sixt of March remoo­ved, and the seale was delivered to William Paulet, Lord S. John of Basing. This Thomas Lord Wriothesly, being created Earle of Southampton, by King Edward the sixt, died at his house of Lincolne place in Holborne, the 30 of Iuly in the 4 yeare of the said King Ed­ward, in the yeare 1550, and was buried at S. Andrewes in Holborne.

William Paulet Knight, being first Steward of the lands of the Bishopricke of Winchester, then Treasurer of the houshold, Lord Sent-John of Basing, Lord great Master of the Kings house, afterwards Earle of Wiltshire, Marquesse of Winchester, and Treasurer of Eng­land, being of the Privie Councell to King Henry the eight, King Edward the sixt, Queen Mary, and Queene Elizabeth, had the keeping of the great seale committed unto him the seaventh day of March, in the yeare of our Lord 1547, being the first yeare of the raigne of the young King Edward the sixt, which [Page 73] seale he had in Custody, about seaven mo­neths, untill the 23, or 24, of October follow­ing, at what time S r. Richard Rich, was made Lord Chancellor.

Sir Richard Rich, Knight, A Gentleman well descended and alyed in Hampshire, crea­ted Lord Rich, was advanced to the dignity of Lord Chancellor of England, about the 23, of October, in Anno dom. 1547, being the first yeare of the raigne of the noble King Ed­ward the sixt, in which place he remained a­bout five yeares.

Thomas Goodericke, or Godericke, being Bi­shop of Elie, had the great Seale delivered un­to him, and was made Lord Chancellor of England, the 20 of December, (as John Stow hath noted in his Chronicle) in Anno dom. 1551 being Anno 5 Edward 6, in which office he continued all the life of the said King Ed­ward, who died in Iuly, Anno dom. 1553, be­ing the seaventh yeare of his raigne, and a­bout one moneth after, untill the 13, or 14, day of August, in which Queene Mary made Stephen Gardiner, her Chancellor.

[Page 74]Sir Nicholas Hare, Master of the Rolles, had at the comming of Queene Mary to the Crowne the great Seale, after the death of King Edward, as Lord Keeper by the space of a fortnight, and shortly after was Stephen Gardiner made Chancellor.

Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, was in August in Anno dom 1553, being the first yeare of the raigne of Queene Mary, made Chancellor of England. This man going in ambassage unto Calis, left the great seale in the custody of William Paulet, Marquesse of Winchester, which Bishop after his returne into England, continued in that office all the time of his life, which he ended the 19, of November in Anno dom. 1555, being the third yeare of Queene Mary. After which the great seale, lying in her Majesties custody, shee on the New-yeares day following, made a new Chancellor.

Nicholas Heath, Bishop of Rochester, Almo­ner to the King, Ambassador into Germany, Bishop of Worcester, President of Wales, and Archbishop of Yorke, was upon New-yeares day, in Anno dom. 1555, being the third yeare [Page 75] of the raigne of Queene Mary, advanced to the honorable dignity of Chancellorship; But Queene Mary deceasing on the 17 day of November, in Anno dom. 1558, and the sixt yeare of her governement, this Heath, upon the placing of Queene Elizabeth, upon the throne of the English governement, was re­mooved from his Office, and Master Bacon advanced.

Nicholas Bacon Esquire, Atturney of the Court of Wardes, was made Knight, and Lord Keeper of the great seale, the 22 of December in Anno dom. 1558, being the first yeare of Queene Elizabeth. Which name of Lord Kee­per, he still kept during his life, and the time of his Office. In whose time there was an Act of Parliament established, to make the power of the Keeper of the great seale equall with the authority of the Chancellor. This man continued in this office, and worthily executed the same, being a man of rare wit, and deepe experience during the time of his life, which continued untill the 20 of Febru­ary in Anno dom. 1578. after the Accompt of England, being the one and twentith yeare [Page 76] of Queene Elizabeth, which place this man kept eighteene yeares.

Thomas Bromlie, the generall Sollicitor of Queene Elizabeth, a Councellor of the Law, and one of the Inner Temple, was advanced to the dignity of Lord Chancellor, on the 25 day of Aprill in Anno dom. 1579, being in Anno 21 Elizabeth.

Sir Christopher Hatton, being Vice-chamber­laine, to Queene Elizabeth, was constituted Lord Chancellor of England, and Keeper of the graat seale, upon Sunday the 29. day of Aprill, in the 29 yeare of the said Queenes raigne. Anno dom. 1587.

John Puckring, Serjant at law, was made Knight, and sworne of the privy Councell, at Greenewich, upon Sunday the 28. day of May, in the 34. yeare of Queene Elizabeth, and at the same time was made Lord Keeper of the great seale of England.

Sir Thomas Egerton, Knight, being Master of the Rolles, had the great seale of England delivered unto him, at Greenewich, and sworne of the Privy Councell, upon the 6 of [Page 77] May 1596, being in the 38. of Queene Eliza­beth, and so continued in both those places till the first yeare of King James, who crea­ted him Baron of Elsmere at Hampton Court 21 Iuly 1603, and made him Lord Chancellor, and lastly created him into the dignity of Vi­count Brackley, the 7. day of November▪ 1616, but severed the place of Master of the Rolles, which was given to Edward Bruce, Lord Kinlosse.

S r. Francis Bacon, Knight, Atturney gene­rall to King Iames, and at the same time of the Privy Councell; second sonne of S r. Nicho­las Bacon, sometime Lord Keeper of the great seale, upon the 7 of March 1616 in the 14 yeare of King James, a few dayes before the death of the former Lord Chancellor, had the great seale committed to him, and being created a Baron by the title of Lord Verulam at Wansted the 12 of July 1617, was made Lord Chancellor the 4 of January fol­lowing and made Vicount of S t. Alban the 20 of Ianuary 1620.

[Page 78]Vpon the removall of the Lord Chan­cellor Bacon who was displaced by the Parliament, in Lent the 18 yeare of King Iames. The keeping of the great Seale, was committed to Henry, vicount Mande­vile, Lord President of the Councell, Lodowicke Duke of Richmond, and Lenox, Lord Steward of the Kings house, Willi­am Earle of Pembroke, Lord Chamber­laine of the Kings house, and Sir Iulius Caesar Knight, Master of the Rols, who continued the custody thereof till July following.

John Williams, Doctor of Divinity, Deane of Westminster, and one of the Privy Coun­sell, and after that consecrated Bishop of Lincolne, was made Lord keeper of the great seale of England, the 10 day of Iuly, in the 19 yeare of King James.

Sir Thomas Coventry Knight, eldest sonne to S r. Thomas Coventry Knight, one of the Iustices of the Common pleas, being the Kings Atturney Generall, was made Lord keeper of the great seale of England, the first day of November, in the first yeare [Page 90] of King Charles, and Created Baron Co­ventry of Allesborough in the County of Worcester, the 10 of Aprill, in the 4 yeare of King Charles; whose exempler vertues in the execution of this great office, to the honour of his Majestie, and the generall good of the Kingdome, I cannot menti­on without due Attributes, and fearing as I justly may, that I shall rather shew mine owne defects, than be able to set them forth in due characters; I shall with much security discharge my selfe in this kinde, by reciting the preamble of his Majesties Letters Patents, for Creating his Lordship into the dignity of a Baron and Peere of this Realme.

Rex &c. Archiepiscopis, Ducibus, &c. ad quos praesentes literae provenerint Salutem Offi­cio & curae Regali nihil magis arbitramur con­venire, quam virtutum praemia viris illustribus [...]itè disponere, ac illos Honoribus attollere qui de Rege & Republicâ optimè meruerunt: Perspi­cimus enim Coronam nostram Regiam quam plurimum honorari, & locupletari, cum viros cor­datos Consilio, prudentiâ, virtutibus, illustres, ac [Page 91] praesertim in administrandâ Justicia strenuos & insignes ad Honoris & dignitatis gradus voca­mus & erigimus. Nos igitur in personâ praedi­lecti, & per quam fidelis Consiliarij nostri Tho­mae Coventry, Militis, Custodis Magni Sigilli nostri Angliae, gratissima & dignissima servitia quae idem Consiliarius noster tam praecharissimo Patri nostro Jacobo Regi beatae memoriae per multos annos, quam nobis ab ipsis Regni nostri primis auspicijs fidelissimè & prudentissimè prae­stitit & impendit, indies (que); impendere non desistit. Nec non circumspèctionem, prudentiam, strenui­tatem, dexteritatem, integritatem, industriam, constantiam, & fidelitatem ipsius Thomae Coventry Militis, erga nos & Coronam nostrā Animo benigno & Regali intimè r [...]colentes pro gratiae nostrae, erga praefatum Consiliarium pig­nore. Nec non virtutum & benemeritorum ejus­dem encomio posteris suis relinquendum, ipsum, in Procerum hujus Regni nostri Angliae numerum ascribendum decrevimus, Sciatis ita (que); quod nos de gratia nostrâ speciali, ac ex certâ scientia & mero motu nostris praefatum Thomam Co­ventry Militem, ad statum, gradum, dignitatem & Honorem Baronis Coventry de Alesbo­rough, [Page 92] in Comitatu nostro Wigorniensi erex­imus, perficimus, & creavimus. Jpsum (que); Tho­mam Coventry Militem, Baronem Coven­try de Alesborough praedicta tenore prae­sentium erigimus, perficimus, & creamus. Jn cujus rei &c. T. R. apud Westm. decimo die Aprilis, Anno Regni Regis Caroli quarto, per ipsum Regem.

FINIS.

Custodes Rotulorum.

23. Ed. 1. ADAM de Osgodby Clerke,

10. Ed. 2.William Ayremyne after Keeper of the great Seale.

17. Ed. 2.Richard de Ayremyne.

20. Ed. 2.Henry de Clyffe Clerke, after keeper of the great Seale died the 7 of King Ed­ward the third.

7. Ed. 3.Michael de Worth Ianuary 20.

11. Ed. 3.Iohn de Saint Paul Aprill 28.

14. Ed. 3.Thomas de Evesham, Tuesday after the feast of Circumcision.

36. Ed. 3.David de Wollere

45. Ed. 3.William Burstall, Iuly 22.

[...]. Rich. 2.Iohn de Waltham Clerke, after Bi­shop of Salisbury.

8. Ri. 2.Iohannes de Burton, Clerke Octo. 24

1. Ri. 2.Thomas Stanley Clerke.

3. Ri. 2.Iohn Scarle or Serle, after keeper of the great Seale.

[...]. Hen. 4.Nicholas Bubwith Septem 24.

[Page 80] 6. Hen. 4.Iohannes Wakering Clerke, after kee­per of the great Seale.

3. Hen. 5Simon Garnastead Clerke Iune 3.

2. Hen. 6Iohannes Franke Clerke October 18

17. Hen. 6Iohannes Stopinden Clerke Nov. 13

25. Hen. 6Thomas Kirkby, had the Reversion March 29, he was in 28 and 33 H. 6.

1. Ed. 4.Robert de Kirkham Clerk December 23 after Lord Chancellor.

49. Hen. 6William Morland Clerke Februa. 22.

1. Ed. 14Iohn Alcocke Deane of the free Chap­pell at S. Stevens in Westminster, Aprill 29, after Lord Chancellor.

12. Ed. 4.Iohn Morton, Clerke, Doctor of Law, March 16, made Bishop of Ely 18 of Edward 4, Ianuary 4, after Lord Chancellor, and Archbishop of Can­terbury.

18. Ed. 4Robert Morton Clerke,

7. Hen. 7William Kliot.

Iohn Blithe Clerke.

Thomas Barow, Doctor of Law after keeper of the great Seale as some have it.

9 Hen. 7William Warham Clerke, after Lord Chancellor, and Archbishop of Can­terbury.

[Page 81] 17 Hen. 7William Barow Doctor of Law, men­tioned in the Glasse window, in the Chappell of the Rolles 1503.

20 Hen. 7Christopher Beinbrig Clerke, No▪ 15

1 Hen. 8.Iohn young Clerke, Ianuary 12.

8 Hen. 8.Cuthbert Tunstall Clerke, after Bi­shop of Duresme, March 12,

14 Hen. 8Iohn Clerke Clerke, October 20,

15 Hen. 8Thomas Hanniball Clerke, Octo. 19

19 Hen. 8Iohn Taylor Clerke, October 19.

26 Hen. 8Thomas Cromwell Esquire after cre­ated Earle of Essex, &c. October 6

28 Hen. 8Christopher Hales Esquire, after Knighted, Iune 10,

33 Hen. 8Robert Suthwell Esquire, Iuly 1,

4 Edw. 6Iohn Beaumont Esquire, Decem. 13.

6. Edw. 6Robert Bowes Knight, Iune 16.

1 M. Q.Nicholas Hare Knight, September 18, keeper of the great Seale.

4 & 5 Phi. & M. 23 Eli. Q.William Cordell Knight, Novem. 5,

Gilbert Gerard Knight.

Thomas Egerton Knight, after keeper of the great Seale, and Lord Chancellor.

Edward Bruce, Lord Kinlosse.

Thomas Phillips Knight, Serjant at Law.

[Page 82]Iulius Caesar Knight, Chancellor of the Kings Exchecker, which place he left when he was Master of the Rolles.

Dudley Digges, of Chilham Castle, in the County of Kent, Knight. 1636.

FINIS.

Honoratissimo & Reverendissimo Dom. in Christo Patri, D r. Guilielmo Iuxon, Speciali Dietatis providentia Praesuli Londinensi Totius Angliae Archithe­saurario. Et è Secretioribus regiis Arcanis Conciliario.

Pientissimo virtutis Assertori, strenuo po­litioris literaturae vindici & Religionis syncerae, propugnatori Acerrimo.

[blazon or coat of arms]

Ioh. Philipot Fecialis Regius a Provincia Sommerset tensi Denominatus.

Dignitatis vestrae cultor humilimus Hanc Thesurario­rum Seriem DICIT, DEDICAT, CONSECRAT.

A CATALOGVE OF THE LORD TREASVRERS OF ENGLAND.

DVnstane, Archbishop of Can­terbury was Treasurer to Eadred or Eldred King of England, who began his raigne in the yeare nine hun­dred forty and sixe, of whom thus writeth Matt. Parker, in his booke of the Archbishops of Canterbury, in the life of Odo Severus the two and twentieth Bi­shop of that see. Edmundo (the King of England) defuncto. Eadredus corona regia ab Odone redimitus, & rem publicam administrans, Dunstanum (ut in ejus vita patebit) tam singulari amore prosequutus est, ut omnes regni thesauros illius custodiae commendaret. This man was canonized a Saint, and the Gold­smiths of London are incorporated into the Soci­ety and fellwoship of Saint Dunstan.

[Page 2] Hugolme, was Treasurer and Chamberlaine to Edward the Confessor, hee gave Deane and South-bright to Westminster, which Edward the Confes­sor did afterward confirme to that house.

Odo, halfe brother to William the Conqueror Earle of Kent, Bishop of Baieux and chiefe Iustice of England was Treasurer in the time of the Con­queror, who had at his death; as saith Anonymus. M. S. Sixtie Thousand Pounds. Excepto auro & gemmis, & vasis, & Palijs.

Geofry Clinton, Treasurer and Chamberline to Henry the first: Hee about the thirteenth yeare of Henry the first, in the yeare of our Lord One Thou­sand one Hundred and Twelve, did found the Pri­ory of Kenelworth, and was after accused of trea­son, in the one and thirtieth yeare of the raigne of the said Henry the first; but (as it seemed) restored (in short time after) to the Kings favour.

Ranulph, Bishop of Durham, was Treasurer to the King, whom Florensius Wygorniensis calleth Praecipuum Regis placitatorem, & Regni exactorem, whose last word, Exactor, some men doe english Treasurer. Of this man is more said in the Chan­cellors of England.

Roger, Bishop of Sarisbury, Treasurer and Chan­celler of England, as appeareth by Leland, writing in this sort, Roger Bishop of Sarum Treasurer and Chanceller to Henry the first, made the Castle of Vies such a costly, and so strong a fort as was never before nor since set up by any Bishop of England. The Keepe or Dungeon of it set upon a hill cast by hand, is a peece of worke of incredible cost. Be­sides [Page 3] which to prove the same Roger Treasurer at the later end of the Raigne of Henry the first, to­gether with William de Pontlearch at the entring of King Stephen into England: Thus writeth one, A­nonymall chronicle. M. S. Stephanus cum intravit Angliam, Rogerum Sarisburiensem & Willielmum de Pontlearijs Custodes Thesaurorum ad se traduxit. Which William de Pontlearch was a witnesse with William Stigill to a certaine Charter which Ra­nulph Bishop of Durham made to the Monkes of Durham commonly called S. Cuthberts Monkes, wherein he confirmed to them Blakestone, Stand­ropp, and Sandropshire, with the wood of Hen­worth, on the East part of Mareburne, as farre as it goeth to the Sea. This Roger Bishop of Salisbury died in the yeere of our redemption One Thousand one Hundred Thirtie and Nine, being about the fourth yeare of King Stephen, of whom, mention is made in the Chancellers of England.

Nigellus, the second Bishop of Elye, Nephew to Roger Bishop of Sarum, and Treasurer to Henry the first, was advanced unto that Bishoppricke of Elie, in the yeere of our redemption One Thousand one Hundred Thirtie and Three, the first Calends of Iune, being the Three and Thirtieth yeere of the raigne of Henry the first, at whose going downe to be installed in the said Bishopricke, hee was recei­ved with such joy, that all the whole street of Ely, through which hee should passe, was hanged with curtaines and carpets, with seates set on each side, and the Monkes Cannons, and Clerkes meeting him with procession with divers other Priests stan­ding [Page 4] round about them. After his installation he re­turned to the dispatche of the affaires of the King­dome, committing the charge of his Bishoppricke to one Ralph, sometime a Moonke of Glastenbury, and now become an Apostata. Great contention was betweene this man and King Stephen. Hee bought the Treasurership for the Summe of Foure Hundred Markes of Henry the second for his sonne Richard, filius Nigelli, or Fitz Neale, otherwise cal­led Richard of Elie. He governed the Bishoppricke Sixe and Thirty yeeres, as some say, and builded Saint Iohns Colledge in Cambridge. Trivet affir­meth that he died in the yeere of Christ One Thou­sand One Hundred Sixty and Nine, and the Fif­teenth of King Henry the second, after that he had governed Sixe and Thirty yeares, he was honora­bly buried in the Church of Saint Ethelred of Elie, before the Altar dedicated to the Holy Crosse.

Richard of Elie, or Fitz Neale sonne of the said Nigellus Bishop of Elie, was made Treasurer to King Henry the second, by the purchase of his fa­ther Nigellus when the King went to the warres of Tolous. Of whom the Historie of Elie writeth: That after the buriall of Nigellus his Father, this Richard being also an enemy of the Church of Elie, as his father had beene before, made hast to passe over the Seas to King Henry the second, fearing that some evill would be prepared against him, if the Church should have sent any other thither be­fore him. At whose comming to the King, he ac­cused the Monkes of many things, and did there­with so edge the King against them, that the King [Page 5] sending into England, charged by Wunndrus, one of his Chaplens, that the Prior of Elie should bee deposed, and the Moonkes with all their goods to be proscribed & banished. This man being Trea­surer to King Henry the second, the Treasure of the said Henry the second at his death came unto One Hundred Thousand Markes, notwithstanding the excessive charges of the King many waies. Which Richard being Bishop of London, by the name of Richard the Third, and the Kings Trea­surer was chosen to that See, in the yeare of our re­demption, One Thousand Eightie and Nine, bee­ing the first yeere of King Richard the first, and was consecrated Bishop at Lambeth, by Baldwine Arch­bishop of Canterbury in the yeare of Christ 1190. He died the fourth Ides of September, in the yeare of grace 1198. being the Ninth yeere of King Ri­chard the first.

William of Elie, being of kinne to the last Richard Bishop of London, was Treasurer to King Richard the first, and to King Iohn. To which William then Treasurer, Richard his kinsman, the Bishop of Lon­don An. Do. 1196. being the seventh yeere of the raigne of Richard the first, and the said number of yeares of the governement of the said Richard in the Bishoppricke of London, did give all his houses in Westminster, which the said William did long af­ter give to the Abbat, and Moonkes of Westminster, as by the Charter thereof appeares, in this sort a­bridged.

Vniversis Christi fidelibus, ad quos praesens scrip­tum pervenerit. Gulielmus de Elie quondam Regum [Page 6] Angliae Thesaurarius salutem. Noverit universitas vestra me dedisse, &c. Deo & Monachis Westmin­ster, &c. pro animabus Richardi & Iohannis Regum Angliae & pro amima Richardi London Episcopi, &c. Domos meas & curiam cum pertinentibus in villa Westminster, &c. quas habui ex dono Richardi Epis­copi London, & quae sunt de feodo Westminster, &c. Testis Eustachius Fauconbridge Domini Regis The­sauraius, &c. He dyed in the yeare of Christ One Thousand Two Hundred Twenty Two, being the Sixt yeare of the long reigne of King Henry the Third: As noteth Matthew Paris and Westminster, who write that then. Objit Gulielmus Eliensis An­gliae Thesaurarius.

A Deane of Pauls was Treasurer to the King as appeares by Matthew Parker in the life of Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury, writing after this man­ner. Eodem tempore (which was a time between the creating of Hubert Archbishop of Canterbury, in the yeere of Christ 1194. being the sixt yeere of Richard the first, and the death of the said Richard the first, which fell in the yeare of Christ 1199. Ec­clesiae Paulina Decanus aerarij regi custos fuit, sive (ut vocant) Thesaurarius, and so goeth on with a dis­course of his miserable death.

Walter Gray, Bishop of Worcester whom some call Treasurer in the Eleventh of King Iohn.

Geffery, Archdeacon of Norwich Treasurer to King Iohn, who forsooke his Master the King bee­ing excommunicated by the Pope, as writeth Mat­thew Parker in the life of Stephen Langton Arch­bishop [Page 7] of Canterbury, in these following words. Inter quos (meaning the Bishops, which durst not openly publish the excommunication of the King, but secretly cast libels about the high waies, which gave notice thereof) quam ad fiscum Regium Gau­fridus Norvicensis Archidia conus negotijs regijs in­tendens sedisset, coepit assidentibus exponere excom­municationis sententiam in Regemjam latam, affirma­vit (que) non esse tutum, Capellanis & Ecclesiasticis digni­tatibus, beneficijs (que) affectis servire Regi amplius. Ideo (que) aulam deserens, ad Ecclesiastica beneficia (quae Regis servitio acquisierat) secessit. Rex hunc tam proditorie a se deficientem, per Willielmum Talbot, Militem prehendi, & ad se reduci fecit, cum (que) in publica custo­dia servatum, (donec sive paenae siue conscientiae taedio pertaesus vitae fuit & expiravit) detinuit, whose manner of death is in this sort set downe by Mat. Paris, Pag. 305. that he was committed to prison, Vbi post dies paucos Rege praefato (which was King Iohn) jubente capa indutus plumbea, tam victualium penuria, quam ipsius capae ponderositate compressus, migravit ad dominum. Much about this time (as I suppose) which was An. Do. 1209. being about the Eleventh yeere of King Iohn, the Chequer was by the King removed from London to Northamp­ton, (in hatred of the Londoners) untill Christ­mas.

Iohn Ruthall, Custos Officij Thesaurarij, as is pro­ved out of the Records of the Exchequer, had that office the third yeere of Henry the third, in the yeare 1219.

Eustachius de Fauconbridge, a Iustice to receive [Page 8] fines, Chanceller of the Exchequer, and Treasurer to Henry the Third, was by the Bishop of Rochester consecrated Bishop of London in An. Do. 1221. be­ing the fifth yeare of King Henry the Third: which Eustachius in the yeere 1222. with the Deane and Chapiter of London had great suites against William Abbat of Westminster, he was Treasurer in the third yeere of King Henry the third, being about An. Do. 1219. he died the day before the Kalends of No­vember in An. Dom. 1228. being the 13. of King Henry the third, and is buried on the south side of the Queere of Pauls (besides Henry Wengham) un­der a faire Monument of Marble, over whom on the wall is this inscription. Hicjacet Eustachius de Fauconbridge quondam Episcopus hujus Ecclesiae, qui multa bona contulit ministris ecclesiae sanccti Pauli.

Iohannes de Fontibus, or Iohn defontnes was Bi­shop of Elie, and Treasurer in the Ninth and Ele­venth yeares of King Henry the Third, and before (as I take it) this man being Abbat of Fontnes, and (as authors say) Vir simplex & justus, ac recedens a malo, was at Westminster made Bishop of Elie, in An. Dom. 1220 hee died after that hee had beene Bishop five yeeres and odde monethes in An. Do. 1225. being the Ninth yeare of Henry the Third, and was buried in the Church of Elie, toward the Altar of Saint Andrew.

Walter Malclarke, or Lacke latine; Treasurer of England, was made Bishop of Carleil in An. Dom. 1223. being about the seventh yeare of Henry the third, who in An. Dom. 1233. being the seven­teenth [Page 9] of the said King, was by the counsell of Pe­ter de Laroches Bishop of Winchester not onely re­moved from his office of Treasurership, but also put to the fine of 100. markes, which he paid with the losse of certaine holdes, given him by Charter during his life: After which hee would have fled beyond the Seas, but entring the Shippe at Dover, hee and all his were staid, and evilly in­treated by the Kings servants. This man in An. Do. 1246. being the 30. yeare of Henry the Third, did on the day of Peter and Paul at Oxenford, enter into the habit of the Fryer preachers: After which in An. Dom. 1248. being about the 32. of Henry the Third, he surrendred his soule to God.

Ranulph Briton, by some is made Treasurer of England, but untruely (as I suppose) for in truth, he was but Treasurer of the chamber, for any thing I can learne, and removed from that place in the sixteenth yeare of King Henry the third, in An. Do. 1232. in whose place came, Peter de Rivall. Of this Ranulph is mention had in the Chancellers. Besides which, about this time I reade, that Hubert de Burgo was Treasurer, for thus writeth Iohannes Londoniensis. Rex (about An. Dom. 1232.) fecit ip­sum (which was Hubert de Burgo) suum Institiarium principalem totius Angliae, & postea Thesaurarium.

Peter de Oriall, in Latine called Petrus de Rival­lis was Treasurer of the Chamber, and Treasurer of the King, Chamberline of England and Ireland, Guardian of all the Forrests of England, of all the Escheats, of all the Ports of the sea, and of all the [Page 10] Prises of England and Ireland, being so deare to the King, (as saith Matthew Westmin­ster) that Expulsis castrorum custodibus per to­tam ferè Angliam, Rex omnia sub ipsius Petri custo­dia commendarat. This man was made Treasurer after Walter Malclarke in An. Do. 1233. being a­bout the 17. yeare of King Henry the third, and in the 18. yeare of King Henry the third, who as I gather was together with Peter Bishop of Westmin­ster, Stephen de Segrave, and Robert Parslew, called to accounts in An. Dom. 1234. for the Kings trea­sure and seale evilly imployed and kept, whereup­on Peter de Revallis hid himselfe in the Cathedrall Church of Winchester, which Peter Bishop of Win­chester and Peter de Rivallis, the King removed by the perswasion of Edmund of Abindon Bishop of Canterbury, as they before had removed Walter Malclarke. After which it seemeth, that growing in o favour againe, this Petrus de Rivalis, was in An. Dom. 1257. being the 41. of King Henry the third, made Treasurer of the Chamber; For thus writeth Matthew Paris. Circa festum sancti Micha­elis, which in An. Dom. 1257. Mortuo Hurtaldo Domini Regis consiliario & clerico speciali, ac The­saurario de camera Regis, subrogatur Petrus de Ri­vallis; Vnder this Peter de Rivallis did Robert Passelew keepe the Kings Treasure; Touching which Robert Passelew writeth Matthew Parker. Quo etiam tempore, (which was in An. Dom. 1244. being about the 18. yeare of King Henry the third) Robertus de Passelew qui in thesauris regiis custodiendis & augendis totus versat [...]s est, co (que) nomine Regi charus, ab Ecclesiae Ca­thedralis [Page 11] Cicestrensis canonicis, qui Regi placere stu­duerant, Cicestrensis Episcopus electus est. Quod Bo­nifacius Cantuariensis Archiepiscopus indigne tulit, & Episcopis provinciae suae convocatis, in difficillimis quibusdam & nodosis quaestionibus per Lincolnien­sem Episcopum compositis serio examinavit, deinde electione rescissa hunc Robertum repulit, & Richar­dum quendam de Wiz loco suo, (inconsulto Rege) sub­stituit. Next writeth Matthew Westminster, that in An. Dom. 1233. being the 17. of Henry the third, the Nobility accused many of the Kings Counsellors, amongst whom they placed, Rober­tum Passelew Thesaurarium. Againe, a little after he saith, Et sic absondit se iterum Robertus Passelew, qui post Walterū Carleolensem officium thesaurarij admi­nistraverat. Of whose death Matthew Paris writeth thus; Eodem quo (que) anno, w ch was 1252. being the 35. yeare of Henry the third, Octavo Idus Iunij, obijt apud Waltham Robertus Passelew, archidiaconus Lewis.

Hugh Pateshall, Treasurer of the Exchequer, which was Treasurer of the greene wax, or of the Seale, was also treasurer to the King in the 18. and 19. yeares of his raigne, and after made Iustice of all England, as Matthew Paris hath set downe in these words. Rex autem fretus consilio saniori (in An. Dom. 1234. being the 18. yeare of Henry the third) Hugonem de Pateshall clericum filium videli­cet Simonis de Pateshall, qui quando (que) habenas mode­rabatur totius regni Iustitiarij, virum fidelem & hone­stum, loco praedictorum, which were Stephen Segrave, chiefe Iustice of England, and Peter de Rivallis Treasurer) subrogavit Administraverat enim idem [Page 12] Hugo officium Scaccarij antea laudabiliter, secundum quod appellatur secretum sigillum custodiendo, & de­finitam pecuniam a vicecomitibus recipiendo, quare plenior fides est ei adhibita, paterna fidelitate testimo­nium fidei perhibente. Hee was confirmed Bishop of Coventry in An. Dom. 1240. being the 24. yeare of Henry the third, (who having beene the Kings Treasurer before did now with great solemnity take his leave of the Barons of the Exchequer with teares, and they all rose up and kissed him. Of whose election (in An. Dom. 1230.) to that Bishop­ricke, thus further writeth the said Matthew touching the Moonkes of Coventry. Eligerunt se­cundum praedictam formam dominum Hugonem de Pa­teshall. &c. canonicum sancti Pauli London, & do­mini Regis Cancellarium in Episcopum, & custodem animarum suarum. Concerning whom I collected this note out of the Register of Westminster, that Phillip Coleville Knight the sonne of William Cole­ville, the sonne of Agnes Foliot gave to Richard Ab­bat of Westminster, all his part of the inheritance which was Robert Foliots, brother to the said Agnes, in London, Mortan, and Chalneie, witnesses Raph Bishop of Chichester, Chanceller, and Hugh Pate­shall Treasurer in the 19. of the reigne of Henry the third, which Pateshall Matthew Westminster in the yeare of grace 1234. calleth Summum thesaurarium

Galfridus Templarius, whom some will have Treasurer, but this man is more spoken of amongst the Chancellors.

William Haverhull, a Cannon of Pauls Church [Page 13] in London was made Treasurer to King Henry the third, in An. Dom. 1240. being the 24. yeare of the raigne of the said King Henry, in which place he continued in the 28. yeare of the raigne of King Henry the third, being in An. Do. 1244 he dyed at London in An. 1252. being the 36. yeare of the raigne of King Henry the third, as saith the additi­on to Matthew Paris, fol. 1128. After which the said Author, fol. 1226. laied his death in the yeare 1256. being the 39. yeare of King Henry the third, such error is crept into Histories by the negligence of the transcriber, but I suppose the first note of his death to bee the truer, because the same is confir­med by Matthew West. speaking in the said yeare 1252. of the death of this man, for whose Epitaph, these following verses were made.

Hic jacet Haverhulle jaces protothesaurarie Regis,
Hinc Haverhulle gemis non Paritura talem
Fercula culta dabas, empyrea vina pluebas
A modo sit Christus, cibus & esca tibi.

I have also read a note of one William Haverhull, (which might be this man) which saith that Wil­liam Haverhull, the sonne of Brithmarus de Haver­hull, gave houses in Cheapeside to the Abby of Westminster, and that one Thomas de Haverhull, was the sonne and heire of William Haverhull.

Richard de Barking, Abbat of Westminster, as witnesseth the lives of the Abbats, was one speci­all Counceller to Henry the third, Chiefe Baron of the Exchequer, and Treasurer of England who I suppose did follow William Haverhull, for his [Page 14] death which happened on the 23. day of Novem­ber in the 30. yeare of King Henry the third, in An. Dom. 1246. after that he had beene Abbat 24. yeares, must needes prove him to be Treasurer be­fore Phillip Lovell, yea and peradventure, (which is most likely) before Hugh Pateshall, yet Matthew Paris speaking of the death of Haverhulla, wil needs have Phillip Lovel to succeed William Haverhul, as after shall appeare. This Richard de Barking was buried in Westminster Church, before the middle of the Altar, in our Ladies Chappell in a tombe of Marble, which after in the time of William Colec­hester Abbat of that place, was pulled downe by Fryer Combe, a sacrist of that house of Westminster, who laid a faire plaine Marble stone over him, with this present Epitaph thus inscribed.

Richardus Barking prior & postinclitus Abbas
Henrici Regis, prudens fuit ille minister
Hujus erat prima laus, insula rebus opima
Altera laus eque Thorp, census, Ocham decimae (que)
Tertia Mortone castrum, simili ratione
Et regis quarta de multis commoda charta
Clementis festo mundo migravit ab isto
M. Domini C. bis xl. sexto (que) sub anno
Cui detur venia parte pia vergo Maria.

Philip Luvell or Lovell was in this order advan­ced to the office of Treasurer, as appeareth by the words of Matthew Paris upon the death of William Haverhull. Et cum crederetur quod Dominus Rex Iohannem Franciscum officio Wilhelmi, (which was Haverhull) subrogaret, fabricatis rumoribus, quod [Page 5] idem Iohannes in partibus remotis Angliae Boreali­bus, (ut contra quosdam religiosos plantaverat) obiisset, constituit Dominus Rex Philippum Lovell clericum virum prudentem, foecundum, & generosum in loco memorati Wilielmi, suum thesaurarium, quod factum est apud sanctum Albanum, procurante (ut dicitur) Io­hanne Mansell amico Philippi speciali. This man was Treasurer in the 35. and so untill the 42. yeare of Henry the third, and was in the same yeare de­posed by the Barons, Hee dyed at Hamesley in An. Dom. 1259. whose executors were Philip Lovell, and Robert de Mercenton. But his goods after his death, the King commanded to be confis­cate. Matthew Paris and Matthew Westminster, mention who were the Queenes Treasurers about that time, thus obijt & Walterus de Brudelle­jusdem Reginae thesaurarius, which hee placeth in An. Dom. 1255. being the 39. yeare of King Henry the third. Of the second person Chacepore thus writeth Matthew West. in An. Dom. 1254. Ve­niens autem Rex ad mare, nec ventum habens pros­perum apud Boloniam moratus est invitus, vbi obijt Petrus Chaceporc, natione Pictavensis, Reginae the­saurarius & Regis clericus & consiliarius specialis. These two Treasurers of the Queenes, are suppo­sed by some, (but not rightly) to have beene the Kings Treasurers.

Iohn Crackhall, Archdeacon of Bedford was Trea­surer in 42, 43, 44. yeares of Henry the third, to whom the King in the 44. of his raigne, being in An. Dom. 1260. gave a Prebendary, wherein being invested, he was from thence removed by [Page 16] a former collatiō therof made to one Iohn Le Gras. The same Crackhall after died the same yeare at London.

Iohn Abbot of Peterborough was by the Barons in the 44. yeare of Henry the third made Treasurer as the other Officers of the King also were. Ni­cholas of Ely was then made Chanceller, and Hugh de Spencer chiefe Iustice, which Office of Trea­surership this Iohn continued in the 46. yeare of Henry the third, 1262.

Nicholas de Elic so called, because he was Arch­deacon of Elie, was Treasurer to the King in the 47. of Henry the third, being the yeare of our Lord 1263. whereof I have seene this note of Re­cord. Memorandum quod in Crastino Paschae. Anno 47. Hen. Regis 3. in praesentia Rogeri le Bigot Comite Norfolke & Mareschalli Angliae. Hugo le Bi­got, Arnoldi de Berkeley Baronis de scaccario magi­stri, Iohannis de Chisull Cancellar. regis, &c. rece­pit Magister Nicholaus archidiaconus Eliensis The­saurarius, subscripta in Thesauraria domini regis, &c. This man as before appeareth, had beene Chan­celler, of whom is mention made in the catalogue of the Chancellers.

Thomas Wimundham: This man being chiefe Chanter of Lichfield, was by the Barons in An. Dom. 1258. in the 41. yeare of King Henry the third, made Treasurer (at the Exchequer) at the Seale or place where the Writts be sealed with greene waxe, after which hee was Treasurer to the King in the 50, 51, and 52. yeares of King Henry the third.

[Page 17] Iohn Chisull sometime Chanceller, was Treasu­rer in the 54. yeare of Henry the third, being about An. Dom. 1269. He was Deane of Pauls, chosen Bishop of London in An. Dom. 1273. and conse­crate to that place in the yeare of Christ, 1274. in which place he continued about five yeares, and died in An. Dom. 1279. being in the seventh yeare of the raigne of the victorious Prince, King Ed­ward the first of that name. See more of this Chi­sull in the Chancellors.

Phillip de Elie was treasurer as appeareth by the Records of the Exchequer, in the 56. yeare of King Henry the third; and in the first yeare of King Edward the first, partly falling in the yeare 1272. and 1273.

Ioseph de Chancy, whom on anomynall author calleth Iohn Chancy, but not rightly, as I suppose, was Treasurer in the second yeare of King Edward the first, being in An. Dom. 1274.

William Gifford, Bishop of Bathe and Welles, was Treasurer to Edward the first, hee was removed to Yorke, in An. Dom. 1275. This man is by many Chronicles and that perhaps most truely called Walter Gifford; He dyed in the 7. yeare of King Edward the first, being An. Dom. 1279. as hath Nicholas Trivet Of this man see more in the Chancellers of England.

Robert Burnell, Bishop of Bathe and Welles, Chan­celler of England, and Treasurer to King Edward [Page 18] the first, is by the Welsh-history, pag. 328. called chiefe Iustice of England. Leland reporteth that an Abbat told him, how that a Bishop Burnell built the Castle of Acton Burnell: Of this man more is spoken in the Chancellors of England.

Ioseph de Chancy, the second time Treasurer to King Edward the first, in the sixth yeare of the said King in An. Dom. 1278. was also Prior of Saint Iohns of Ierusalem in Anglia as I take it, and by a­nother name called the Lord of Saint Iohns, or of the Knights of the Rhodes in England.

Thomas Becke, Archdeacon of Dorcester was Treasurer in the seventh yeare of Edward the first, in An. Dom. 1278. as some have, but 1279. as other have, by the witnesse of Leland, out of a Moonke of Glastenbury in his booke De asserti­one Arthuri, reciting the words of the said Moonke in this sort. An. Dom. 1267. Edvardus Rex Henrici Tertij filius venit cum Regina sua Glas­coniam. Die vero Martis proxima sequenti, fuit Rex & tota Curia accepta sumptibus Monasterij. Quo die in crepusculo fecit apperiri sepulcrum inclyti Arthuri, ubi in duabus cïstis imaginibus & armis eorū depictis, ossa dicti Regis mirae grossitudinis separata invenit. Imago quidem Reginae coronata, imaginis regiae corona fuit prostrata, cum abscissione sinistrae auriculae, & vestigijs plagae unde moriebatur. Inventa est scriptu­ra superhis singulis manifesta. In crastino, viz. Die Mercurij Rex ossa regis, Regina ossa reginae, pallijs pretio [...]is revoluta, in suis cistis recludentes, & sigilla [Page 19] sua apponentes, praeceperunt idem sepulchrum ante majus altare celeriter collocari, retentis externis ca­pitibus, propter populi devotionem, apposita hujusmo­di scriptura. Haec sunt ossa nobilissimi Regis Arthuri quae Anno Dominicae incarnationis 1278. decimo ter­tio Calendas Maij per Dominum Edvardum Regem Angliae illustrem hic fuerunt sic collocatae, praesentibus Leonora serenissima ejuseum Regis consorte, & filia Domini Ferandi Regis Hispaniae, Magistro VVilliam de Middleton nunc Norwicensi electo, Magistro Thoma de Becke Archidiacono Dorsitensi, & predicti regis Thesaurario, Domino Henrico & Lasciae Comite Lin­colniae, Domino Amideo comite Subaudiae, & multis magnatibus Angliae. Thus farre the Moonke of Glastenbury.

Richard Warren or de Ware, Abbat of Westminster was made Abbat about An. Do. 1260. being a­bout the 44. yeare of Henry the third, who was made Treasurer as hath Iohn de Eversden, An. Dom. 1280. being the 8. yeare of Edward the first, which yeare 1280. some doe falsely make to fall in 10. some in 11. of Edward the first, which contrariety hath onely risen by the default of the transcriber. But most certaine it is, that he was Treasurer in the 9. 11. and part of 12. of the said Edward the first. This man going to Rome for his consecration brought from thence certaine workemen and rich purphury stones whereof and by whom hee made that rare pavement containing a discourse of the whole world, which is at this day most beautifull, and to be seene at Westminster before the commu­nion [Page 20] table, a thing of that singularity, curiousnesse, and rarenesse, that England hath not the like againe, in which pavement are circularly written in letters of brasse, these Ten verses following.

Si lector posita prudenter cuncta revolvat
Hinc finem primi, mobilis inveniet
Sepes trina canes & equos, homines super addas
Cervos & corvos, aquilas immania cete
Mundum quod (que) sequens praeeuntis triplicat annos
Sphericus archetypum globum hic monstrat microcosmum
Christi milleno, bis centeno duodeno
Cum sexageno subductis quatuor anno
Tertius Henricus, Rex, urbs Odoricus & abbas
Hos compegere purphyreos lapides.

Which Abbot with those workemen, and those stones did also frame the shrine of Edward the Confessor, with these verses carved out of stone and also guilded set about the same Shrine or Mo­nument.

Anno milleno Domini cum Septuageno
Et bis centeno, cum completo quasi deno
Hoc opus est factum, quod Petrus duxit in actum
Romanus civis, Homo, causam noscere si vis
Rex fuit Henricus, sancti praesentis amicus.

This Abbat died the second day of December in An. Dom. 1283. being the 12. of Edward the first, after that hee had governed the Monastery 23. yeares and more, and was buried there at Westmin­ster in the aforesaid plaine pavement of Purphury [Page 21] on the North side neere unto the Tombe (as is yet well to be seene) of Odomer or Aimer de Valence Earle of Pembrooke, on which grave is ingraven this briefe Epitaph here insuing.

Abbas Richardus de Wara qui requiescit
Hic portat lapides, quos hic portavit ab urbe.

Walter Wenlocke Abbat of Westm. whom Mat­thew Westm calleth William de Wenlock, was made Abbath of Westminster after the death of Richard de Ware, and was Treasurer to King Edward the first, as hath the Register of the lives of the Abbat of Westminster and other records that I have seene. Which office it seemeth hee had meane time betweene the 12. and 14. yeares of Edward the first, as I suppose. This man after that he had beene Ab­bat 26. yeares lacking sixe dayes, died the 25. day of December on the Christmas day at night in his mannor of Piriford in Gloucestershire in the first yeare of Edward, the son of Edward (which was Edward the second in An. Do. 1307. and was buri­ed in the Church of Westminster besides the high Altar then standing without the South dore of Saint Edwards Shrine before the Presbiterie there under a plaine pavement, & a Marble stone decently ador­ned with this Epitaph to his high commendation.

Abbas Walterus jacet hic sub marmore tectus
Non fuit Austerus, sed mitis, famine rectus.

A Bishop of Coventrie and Lichfield was Trea­surer [Page 22] of England in the 14. yeare of Edward the first, being An. Dom. 1286. in whose place the same yeare came Iohn Kerkbie.

Iohn Kerkbie Deane of Winburne and Arch­deacon of Coventrie and Treasurer to King Edward the first, was on the seventh Kalends of August in An. Do. 1286. being the 14. yeare of the said Ed­ward; (then at Paris) made Bishop of Elye, whom Leland the Refiner of all names doth in his Com­ment vpon his song of the Swan, in the word Win­chelsega, thus terme Iohannes Chirchebius Episcopus Anguillarinus Regi a thesauris. This man was Treasurer in the 16, 17, and part of 18, of Edward the first, in which yeare (as it seemeth) being part of An. Do. 1290. This Bishop died the 7. Kalends of Aprill, after that hee had beene Bishop three yeeres some moneths and some dayes, and was buried by Walpoole Bishop of Norwich in the Church of Elie, on the north part of the queere, be­fore the Altar of Saint Iohn Baptist.

William de Marchia or Gulielmus Martius, was Treasurer in Easter terme in the 18. of Edw. the first, in which office he continued about 5. yeares, & was removed from that place in the 23. of Edward the first, & Peter of Leicester, Baron of the Exchequer, with the two Chamberlaines executed al functions of that office untill a new Treasurer was made this William de Marchia was made Bishop of Bathe and Welles in An.Do. 1293. being the 22. of Edward the first, in which See hee remained almost 10. [Page 23] yeares; and died in An. Do. 1302. being about the 32. of Edward the first, & was buried in the Church of VVells in the wall, betweene the doore of the Cloister, and the Altar of Saint Martin, at whose Tombe in times past (as the nature of that cre­dulous age did hastily beleeve) were many mira­cles done, as some have left in memory to the fol­lowing posterity.

VValter Langhstane Bishop of Lichfield and Co­ventry was made Treasurer after William de Mar­chia in 23. Edward the first, in which office he con­tinued (as I gather) during the life of Edward the first, which fell in the 35. of his raigne being An. Do. 1307. and was then removed and imprisoned in the Tower with two men onely by Edward the second then comming to the Crowne, because the said Walter Langstone had caused Edward the first to imprison, and as some have to banish this new King, for breaking downe the Parkes of the said Bishop. During the time that this Peter de Willeby was under-Treasurer or Livetenant of the Treasu­ry, for the words be Locum tenens thesaurarij in 30. 31, and 32. Edward the first, this Walter was made Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield in An. Do. 1295. being 23. yeare of Edward the first, and the same yeare that he was made Treasurer: he died about An. Do. 1321. being about the 14. yeare of Ed­ward the second to which Bishop the Barons of Cobham were heires, being descended from Mar­garet the Sister and heire of Iohn Peverell, the Co­sen and heire of this Walter Langhstane, which [Page 24] Margaret was married to Sir William de La Poole of Ashby Knight, from whom the Lord Cobham issue. In this mans time of being Treasurer dyed King Edward the first, for whom were these verses.

Dum viguit (Rex) & valuit tua magna potestas
Fraus latuit, pax magna fuit, regnavit honestas
Scotos Edvardus dum vixit suppeditavit
Tenuit, afflixit, depressit, dilaniavit.

Walter Reynolds, Schoolemaster to Edward the se­cond, Bishop of Worcester & after of Canterbury and Chanceller of England was advanced to the place of Lord Treasurer of England in the first yeare of Edward the second, being in An. Dom. 1307. after which in the yeare 1308. hee was made Bishop of Worcester, he continued in the office of Treasurer untill some part of the 4. yeare of Edward the se­cond, at what time came in his place Iohn Sandall, who was Livetennant unto the said Walter in place of the Treasurer, as appeareth by many writs di­rected unto him by the name of Iohn Sandall Lo­cum tenenti Willimi Episcopi Wigorniae. Of him is more spoken in the Chancellors of England.

Iohn de Sandall being Clerke Scutifer Regis, Chanceller of the Exchequer, and Chanceller of England having beene before under Treasurer, or Deputy for the high Treasurer, came now in the fourth yeare of Edward the second, to bee made chiefe Treasurer, and entred into that office in [Page 25] Easter tearme about the beginning of the 4. yeare of Edward the 2. But in the yeare following, which was in the fifth yeare of Edward the second, hee gave place to another. Hee was chosen Bishop of Winchester, in the ninth yeare of King Edward the second, being in An Do. 1316. Of whom thus writeth Anonymus, M.S. Obierunt Episcopus Win­ton & Elie viri sacra professione insigniti, quorum primo successit Iohannes de Sandall Cancellarius An­gliae vir cunctis affabilis & necessarius communitati; Secundo successit Iohannes Hothum scaccar. re­gis, vir si quidem scientiae penitus ignarus, qui sta­tim episcopatus ascenso culmine ad honorum pariter & officij thesaurarij Rex in sui favorem sublimavit.

Walter Norwich Knight Treasurer in the 5. yeare of Edward the 2. and afterward in Easter tearme in the 8. yeare of Edward the 2. did on the third of October receive the office of Treasurership, and tooke his oath before the Barons & Chamberleynes of the Exchequer, to behave himselfe well and faithfully in the same office which he had received by Letters Patents dated at yorke the 26. of Sep­tember in the eight yeare of King Edward the se­cond, which he kept not long at that time.

Iohn Sandall, was the second time Lord Treasurer in sixt and seventh yeare of King Edw. the second: This man being Bishop of Winchester was Treasurer. Of him see more in the Chancellers of England.

Walter de Norwich being Treasurer as before in [Page 26] the eight yeare of Edward the second did not long enjoy the same, but as I suppose grave place to Iohn Drokensford.

Iohn Drokensford the 14. Bishop of Bath and Wells had as I have read the great seale delivered unto him, and was also Treasurer of England, but because I finde not as yet in what yeare, although it were in the time of Edward the second, I cannot set downe the certainety. Of whom thus writeth the Register of the Bishops of Bath. Iohannes Drokensford Thesaurarius, 14. Bathon Episcopus post Walterum Haselshawes, successit in Episcopatum Ba­thon, annis. 19. iste episcopatum pluribus aedificijs insignivit, franchesias per regis episcopatus concessas, non solum litterarie renovavit, sed etiam ampliavit, & quo additationem & exaltationem parentelae suae fere fuit aequalis praedicessori suo Roberto Bornell, & Welliae sepelitur ante altare sancti Iohannis Bap­tistae.

Iohn Hothum Bishop of Elie, as is before noted out of one anonymall Chronicle, obteyned the place and honour of Treasurership in the 11. yeare of Edward the second, which hee did not long enjoy, for in the Michaelmas Tearme in the the 12. yeare of Edward the second, came William VValwaine. Of this Iohn Hotham is mention made in the discourse of the Chancellers.

VVilliam VValwaine, Treasurer of England in the 12. yeare of Edward the second, about An. [Page 27] Dom. 1318. was (as it should seeme) for his negli­gence and unworthines removed at the Parliament at yorke, in such sort as he possessed not that place (as I conceive) above halfe a yeare: for in the same twelfth yeare came the Bishop of VVinchester.

Iohn Stratford, Bishop of VVinchester, upon the removing of VValwaine was in the 12. yeare of Edward the second, admitted into the office of Treasurership, untill the King should otherwise de­termine. Which Bishop found out in the Treasury above Twenty nine Pound Seventeene shillings eight pence, which might bee the cause of displa­cing of VValwaine, who had over prodigally dis­persed the Kings Treasure.

VValter Stapleton, Bishop of Exeter was Trea­surer in the 13. yeare of Edward the second, An. Dom. 1319. In which I suppose he contynued un­till the 15. yeare of Edward the second, An. Dom. 1321.

VValter Norwich Knight, was the Third tyme made Treasurer, which place he enjoyed in 15. Edward the second, An. Do. 1321. or thereabouts, VValsingham saith, that in the second yeare of Ed­ward the third. Obijt VVilliam de Norwich.

Roger Northborrow Scutifer or keeper of the seale being taken by the Scots at the battell of Ba­nocsbourne about the seventh yeare of Edward the second, in An. Do. 1313. was also Clerke of the [Page 28] Wardrobe, and Treasurer in the sixteenth yeare of Edward the 2. being in An. Dom. 1322. Of whom thus writeth one Anonimall Cronicle. M.S. An. Do. 1321. Obijt VValterus de Langtone Episcopus Cestren cui successit in episcopatus honore per viam impressio­nis & ambitionis Rogerus Northburgh Clericus de regis garderobia, sibi regis in cunctis faventibus aux­ilio & voluntate. I have read of one Godfrey of Northburgh Bishop of Chester that died in thirty three yeare of Edward the third, being in An. Do. 1359, which perhaps should bee this Roger North­borow. Godfrey being by the transcriber placed in stead of Roger, but I will not at this time define a­ny certainety thereof, although I finde another note of one Roger Northburgh consecrated Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield in An. Dom. 1321. who sate in that See 38. yeares, which 38. yeares ad­ded to the other in which this Roger was made Bi­shop doe make up the number of 1359. in which it is said that Godfrey Northborow died.

VValter Stapleton, Bishop of Exeter the second tyme Treasurer in the 18. yeare of Edward the se­cond, and before was removed in Easter Terme in the same yeare. In which Easter Terme was VVilliam Bishop of Yorke also made Treasurer, as is proved by the Pell of Exitus, that Terme being thus intituled. De Termino Paschae An. 18. Edw. 2. tam tempore VV. episcopi Exon, quam VV. archi-Episcopi Eborum. This Walter being elected to the Bishoppricke of Exeter in An. Dom. 1307. did sit in that place twenty yeares, and was beheded at the comming into England of Queene Isabell to de­pose [Page 29] Edward the second in the yeare 1326. The cause of whose beheading was, for that hee had procured the banishment of the said Queene Isabell and of her sonne Prince Edward.

VVilliam Melton Archbishop of Yorke made Lord Treasurer in Easter Terme in the 18. yeare of Edward the second kept the same office untill the deposition of himselfe from that place, and of his Master from his Kingdome in the twentieth yeare of the said Edward the second, and then gave place to Iohn Stratford.

Iohn Stratford, Bishop of VVinchester was the second time made Treasurer of England in the 20. yeare of the deposed King Edward, after the death of VValter Stapleton, This Iohn the 14. day of No­vember in the twentieth yeare of Edward the se­cond, comming into the Exchequer brought thi­ther the Kings patent or open Writ, or comman­dement, under the seale of Edward the Kings eldest son, to witnes his election & creatiō to that place of Treasurer, the tenor of which writt, I have thought good to set downe, because it was done by the son, in the fathers name, and under the Teste of the son, the father yet being King in shew, but the sonne indeede as governer of the Realme, which title hee enjoyed, untill that hee most unnaturally, by the malice of his mother, the ambition of himselfe, and the flattery of his followers, had deposed his father. The tenor of which writt, was in these words as followeth.

[Page 30] Edwardus Rex Angliae, & dominus Hiberniae, baronibus & camerarijs suis de scaccario suo salutem. Quum pro eo quod venerabilis pater. VV. archiepis­copus Eborum nuper thesaurarius scaccarij praedicti, circa diversa negotia in partibus borealibus est occupa­tus, quo minus intendere possit ad ea quae ad officium illud in dicto scaccario pertinent exercenda. Constitue­rimus venerabilem patrem Iohannem Wintoniensem episcopum, tenentem locum thesaurarij scaccarij prae­dicti, quousque de officio illo aliter duximus ordinan­dum. Percipendo in eodem officio (dum illud sic tenu­erit) feodum consuetum prout in literis nostris paten­tibus episcopo praefato inde confectis plenius contine­tur. Vobis mandamus quod ipsum episcopum ad offici­um admittatis, & ei in his quae ad officium praedictum pertineant intendatis in forma praedicta. Teste Ed­wardo filio nostro primogenito custode regni nostri, a­pud Hereford Sexto die Novembris, anno regni nostri vicessimo.

Adam Tarleton, or de Orleton, borne in Here­ford-shire, being Decretorum Doctor, was made Bishop of Hereford by the Pope at Avinion in An. Dom. 1317. about the 10. or 11. yeare of Edward the second, being hee that made the Ser­mon for the deposition of King Edward the se­cond, and wrote the amphibologicall Epistle for the death of the King, conteyning these words; (Regem occidere nolite timere bonum est) which hath by a comma or point made at Timere, one sense, and by a comma made at Nolite, another sence. Which Adam was made Lord Treasurer in the first [Page 31] yeare of Edward the third, being in An. Dom. 1326. in which office he continued not long, for in the Easter terme of the said King, came Henry Bi­shop of Lincolne. This man was made Bishop of Winchester in An. Dom. 1335. being the ninth of Edward the third, in which seate he sate 12. yeares The death of which Adam, (who gave Heming­field parsonage to the Church of Hereford) Sir Thomas De la More, doth most plentifully set forth.

Henry Burwash, Bishop of Lincolne, descended of the Lord Burghurst his Family called Lord Bur­wash, was Lord Treasurer in Easter terme in the first yeare of Edward the third, being in An. Dom. 1327. in which office he continued untill 2. yeare of Edward the third, and was afterwards removed.

Thomas, Bishop of Hereford injoyed the hono­rable office of Lord Treasurer in the third yeare of Edward the third, being in An. Dom. 1329. but in the yeare following another came in place.

Robert Woodhouse possessed the roome of the high Treasurer of England in the fourth yeare of Ed­ward the third being in An. Dom. 1330. And was also Treasurer some part of Michaelmas terme in the fift yeare of Edward the third, who in the yeare following did give place to another.

William Archbishop of Yorke was againe Trea­surer of England in the fift yeare of Edward the third, being An. Do. 1331. and enjoyed that place [Page 32] some part of Michaelmas Terme in the said yeare, after whom came the Bishop of Norwich.

William Bishop of Norwich, was made Treasurer in Michaelmas Terme in the fift yeare of Edward the third, in which tearme there had beene three Lord Treasurers successively, (a thing seldome or never heard, which office this Bishop kept all Mi­chaelmas Tearme in the sixt yeare of Edward the third, being in An. Dom. 1332. and somewhat more in the end, yet yeelding that honour to ano­ther.

Robert le Ailstone, being Lord Treasurer in the seventh yeare of Edward the third being An. Do. 1333. continued in the same office untill the tenth yeare of Edward the third being in An. Dom. 1336. which was about three yeares, the same being a longer time then any other had possessed that place, since the beginning of the raigne of the said King.

Henry Burwash, Bishop of Lincolne, was againe Treasurer the tenth yeare of Edward the third be­ing in An. Dom. 1336. in which yeare (as hath Scala cronicorum) the King holding his Parliament at London, was advised by his Counsell to prose­cute his title to the Crowne of France. Where­upon King Edward sent Ambassadors, to the Duke of Bavier Emperor, which had married the other sister to the Earle of Hannalt, (as King Edward the third had married one) for surety of aliance, and to retaine noble men about him with no small charge, [Page 33] which ambassadors were Henry Burgwash Bishop of Lincolne, and the Earles William Mountacute of Sarum, and William Clinton of Huntington, who returned to the Parliament at London with their answer well liked. Of this man see more in the Chancellers, being yet after his ambassage Trea­surer for some part of the 11. yeare of King Ed­ward the third.

Richard de Bury, Bishop of Durham did enjoy the honour of Lord Treasurer in the 11. yeare of Ed­ward the third, hee was a man of great gravity and much esteemed of the nobility and gentlemen of the North. Of this man is more soken of in the Chancellers of England.

William de la Zouch, borne of the noble house of the Lord Zouch was Treasurer of England, in the 12. yeare of Edward the third in An. Dom. 1338. he being Bishop of Yorke, was vicegerent to the King in the North parts in the 20. yeare of Edward the third, and in An. Dom. 1346. at what time he tooke David Bruce King of the Scotts. This man went to Rome, and after a long contention between him, and William Kelslye, Kelsbie, or Kelsey (for all these different names, are found in Authors) touch­ing the Archbishopprick of Yorke, he was after two yeares thus spent consecrated Bishop of Yorke by Pope Clement the sixt, after which this William in the 11. yeare of his Bishoppricke being long troubled with a grievous disease, began the worke of a Chapell on the South side adjoyning to the [Page 34] Church of Saint Peters in Yorke, where he purpo­sed to bee buried, but died before it was finished, and lieth interred in the said Church before the Altar of Edward the confessor.

Sir Richard Sadington Knight, was Treasurer in the fourteenth yeare of Edward the third, being in An. Dom. 1340. There was one Robert Sading­ton living about this time, of whom is more men­tion in the Chancellors of England, but as yet I well know not whether they were both one man or noe, sith Authors may misplace Robert for Ri­chard, as they have often done.

Robert Northborow, being at that time (as I judge) Bishop of Coventry, was Treasurer of England in the 14. yeare of Edward the third, and in An. Dom. 1340. in which yeare hee was removed, whom with the Chancellor the King ment afterward (as after shall appeare) to have sent into Flanders as Pledges for money that the King ought there. Af­ter whom as I suppose, that Sadington came in place

A Bishop of Chester was Lord Treasure of Eng­land in the fifteenth yeare of Edward the third, be­ing in An. Dom. 1341. in which office he did not long continue.

Robert Perning or Pernicke was Lord Treasurer in the Easter tearme in An. Dom. 1341. being the fifteenth yeare of King Edward the third, in which yeare also hee was made Chanceller, and so [Page 35] continued both offices a while untill the sixteenth yeare of Edward the third, as I gather by all cir­cumstances of times, records, and histories, who in the seventeenth yeare of Edward the third, being An. Dom. 1343. (as appeareth by the bookes of the Law) being Chancellor, delivered a record with his hands into the Court of the Kings Bench; Of this man more is set downe in the Chan­cellers.

Roger Northborow (as I take it) being then Bi­shop of Coventry, did honorably possesse the place of Lord Treasurer of England in the sixteenth yeare of Edward the third, being in An. Do. 1342. Of whom thus writeth Matthew Parker in the life of Iohn Stratford Archbishop of Canterbury. Ibi (meaning at the Tower) concilium initum est, tan­demque definitum, ut Archiepiscopus & episcopus Cicestrescis regni Cancellarius & Coventrensis The­saurarius una cum alijs satellitibus & lictoribus de­prehensi, ad publicam custodiam rerum a se, absente rege, gestarum rationem reddituri ducerentur. Ma­ne accedunt satellites Lametham, sed archiepiscopus ei pridie decesserat, tum Londinum reversi, Couentren­sem & Cicestrensem episcopos cum alijs designatis capiunt, captos ad turrim deducunt, &c.

William de Cusans being Lord Treasurer in the seventeenth yeare of Edward the third in An. Dom. 1343. continued in the same office all Michaelmas tearme in the eighteenth yeare of Edward the third and An. Dom. 1344. Betweene whom and Thomas [Page 36] Henley Abbat of Westminster was great contention about the Iurisdiction of the hospital of Saint Iames in the parish of Saint Margaret in Westminster, which Hospitall is now a stately house belonging to the King, and built by King Henry the eight, cal­led the manner of Saint Iames with a Parke walled about.

William de Edington, Lord Chancellor and Trea­surer of England, Bishop of Winchester, was Lord Treasurer in Easter Tearme in the nineteenth yeare of Edward the third, being in An. Dom. 1345. in which office he continued untill the 32. yeare o the said King, An. Dom. 1358. being 14. yeares Hee was so surnamed of the place where hee wa borne, being the Towne of Edington in Wiltshire, he was made Bishop of Winchester (as some have) about An. Dom. 1347. being about the 21. yeare of Edward the third: This man chosen Bishop of Canterbury (but yet never Bishop) died (as hath Walsingham in the fortieth yeare of Edward the third being in An. Dom. 1366.

Iohn Bishop of Rochester, was Lord Treasurer in the 32. yeare of Edward the third in An. Do. 1358. in which office hee continued in the 33. and 34. of the same King.

Simon Langham, being of the Priory of Westmin­ster made Abbat of that house, was shortly after made Lord Treasurer of England, which office he held in the 35. yeare of Edward the third, and [Page 37] 36. who being Bishop of London (as hath Matthew Parker) was in An. Dom. 1361. being the thirty fifth yeare of Edward the third, by the Pope made Bishop of Ely, where he sate five yeares, and was after in An. Dom. 1366, being in the 40. yeare of Edward the third, chosen Bishop of Canterbury, and consecrated in An. Dom. 1367. as saith the same Matthew Parker: On which day of his consecrati­on, he demanded homage of the Earle Stafford of Thomas Rosse, Iohn Tirhill, Robert Brockhill, and Raphe Sentleger Knights, for their Lands which they held of the Sea of Canterbury. Shortly after which in An. Dom. 1368. being the 42. yeare of Edward the third, he was made Cardinall, and di­ed at Avimere the 22 day of Iuly, about An. Dom. 1376. being in the 50. yeare of King Edward the third, and was buried besides Avinion, in a place which he had raised from the foundation. Three yeares after which, his bones were brought to Westminster, where at this day hee hath a worthie Tombe on the south side of the Shrine amongst the Kings, on whose Tombe the Moonkes of Westminster did sometime place this Epitaphe in the remembrance of him.

Simon de Langham sub petris his tumulatus
Istius Ecclesiae monachus fuerat, prior, abbas
Sede vacante fuit, electus Londoniensis
Praesul & insignis eligi, sed postea primas
Totius regni, magnus regis que minister
Nam Thesaurarius & Cancellarius ejus
Ac Cardinalis in Roma Presbiter iste
[Page 38]Post (que) Praenestinus est factus episcopus atque
Nuntius ex parte Papae, transmittitur istuc
Orbe dolente pater, quem nunc revocare nequimus
Magdalanae festo milleno septuageno.
Et ter centeno sexto Christi ruit anno
Hunc Deus absolvat, de cunctis quae male gessit
Et meritis matris sibi caelica gaudia donet.

Of this man I have treated in the collection of all the Chancellers of England.

Iohn Barret made Bishop of Worcester in An. Do. 1362. being the 36. yeare of Edward the third was Treasurer of England in the 37. yeare of Ed­ward the third, in which office he continued, being Treasurer in Michaelmas Tearme in the 38. yeare of Edward the third, which fell in An. Dom. 1364. and so hee continued till the 43. yeare of Edward the third, still Treasurer. He was made Bishop of Bath in An. Dom. 1363. in which Bishoppricke he remained three yeares, and was by Vrbane the 6. then Bishop of Rome, translated from Bath to Elie in An. Dom. 1366. being the 40. yeare of Edward the 3. in which place hee sate sixe yeares, and being a very old man, and having beene Trea­surer about sixe yeares, hee died at Hatfield the seventh Ides of Iune in An. Dom. 1373. in the 47. yeare of Edward the third, hee was buried in the Church of Elie, besides the high Altar on the south part.

Thomas de Brantington being Treasurer for the [Page 39] King in the parts of Guisnes martches, and Calis in An. Dom. 1367. being in the 41. yeare of Edward the third, was made Bishop of Exeter by speciall Letters of the King in An. Dom. 1358. being the 43. yeare of Edward the third, and was Lord Trea­surer of England, in the 44. and 45. yeares of Ed­ward the third, which 45. beeing in An. Dom. 1371. he was in a Parliament at the Petition of the Lords removed, at which time also there passed a Law, that the Chancellor Treasurer and Clarke of the Privy seale should no more be spiritual men, but that secular men should have those offices.

Sir Richard Scroope, Lord of Bolton and Chancel­lor of England, was Treasurer of England in the 46. yeare of Edward the third, and then gave place to Sir Robert Aston Knight. This Richard made out of the ground the Castle of Bolton consisting of foure great strong towers, & of other stately lodg­ings, which Castell was erecting 18. yeares, the charges whereof came yearely unto a Thousand Marks, which was 18. thousand Markes, or 12000. pound; which Castle hee finished before Ri­chard the second died. He bought the heire general of S. Quintine that was owner of Horneby Castle in Richmondshire, which heire hee was content one Conyers a servant of his should marry, and have the preferment of that ward, & so Horneby Castle came to the Coniers, of which the first Lord was William Coniers, grandfather to him that died in the time of Queene Mary without heire male, whereby his inheritance came to his three daughters, which [Page 40] William the first Lord Coniers of that name did much cost upon Horneby Castle being before but a meane thing. I have read of this Lord Scroope that hee had a sonne called William, whereof wee will speake more hereafter, that was Earle of Wiltsshire, who being beheaded in his fathers life, left no issue behind him. After which the father surviving was made Treasurer to the King, and died in honour; althoug he was not restored to his dig­nity of Chancellership, but at what time he should be the second time Treasurer (after the death of his sonne William) in the time of Henry the fourth. I cannot as yet certainely learne, But it may bee that hee was againe Treasurer in the ninth yeare of Henry the fourth, for that I finde not by any former search who then possessed that place. It seemeth that he had two wives, the one the daughter of the Lord Spenser, the other the daughter of Michaell de la Poole Earle of Suffolke called Blanch. Hee had three sonnes, for whom hee bought of the King the three daughters and heires of Robert Lord Tiptoft, whereof the eldest daughter Margaret was marri­ed to Roger his second sonne, the second daughter was married to William his eldest sonne, the third daughter called Millescent was married to Stephen the third sonne of the said Richard.

Sir Robert Ashton Knight, Constable of Dover Castle, and Lord warden of the Cinque Ports, was Lord Treasurer in the 50. and 51. yeare of King Edward the third in Michaelmas terme, which was the last Michaelmas tearme wherein the King [Page 41] raigned, being in An. Dom. 1376. of which name there was also one that was chiefe Baron in the time of Edward the second, as I have read.

Henry Wake or Wakefield being made Bishop of Worcester in An. Do. 1375. being in the 49. yeare of Edw. the 3. was made Lord Treasurer of England in An. Dom. 1376. in the 51. yeare of Edward the third, in which office hee continued part of Easter terme in the first yeare of Richard the second, be­ing in An. Dom. 1378. he died in An. Dom. 1395. as saith Walsingham.

Thomas Brantington Bishop of Excester was made Lord Treasurer in first yeare of Richard the second towards the latter end of Easter tearme, being in An. Dom. 1378. as I compute it, from which place he was shortly removed in the second yeare of Ri­chard the second.

Richard Earle of Arundell and Surry made Lord Treasurer of England in the second yeare of Ri­chard the second, whereof part fell in Anno Dom. 1378. and part in 1379. continued about One yeare in the same, and then gave place to him, which possessed the same place last before him, he married Elizabeth daughter of VVilliam de Bohune Earle of Northampton and Hereford, by whom hee had issue Thomas Earle of Arundell, Ioane maried to VVilliam Beuchampe Lord Aburgavennie, Eliza­beth married to Thomas Lord Mowbray, Margaret married to Sir Rowland Lenthall, and Alice married [Page 42] to Iohn Charleton Lord Powes. He dyed in the 21. yeare of Richard the second.

Thomas Brantington, Bishop of Excester was the third time made Lord Treasurer of England in the third yeare of the after deposed King Richard the second, and was removed from his office in the 4. yeare of Richard the second in An. Dom. 1380. after the account of such, as begin the yeare on the 25. of March.

Robert Hales, chiefe Prior of the Knights of the Rhodes intituled by the name of the Knights of St. Iohns Ierusalem in England, was Lord Treasurer of England in the fourth yeare of Richard the 2. in which office he continued during his life, for short­ly after hee came into that place, which I suppose he held in Easter tearme, and some monethes after, in the said yeare of Richard the second in An. Do. 1381. the Rebels having spoyled the hospitall or famous colledge of those Knights of Saint Iohns by Smithfield neere unto London, amongst other did fetch this Robert Hales out of the Tower of London (where the King then lay) and beheaded him on the Tower hill.

Hugh Segrave Knight, whom Walsingham cal­leth Regis seneschallum, the Kings Steward, was made Lord Treasurer of England in the fifth yeare of Richard the second, who continued in the said office, the 6, 7, 8. and some part of Michaelmas tearme in the 9. yeare of Richard the second, being in An. Do. 1385.

[Page 43] Iohn Fortham Canon, being Secretary to the King, was made Bishop of Durham the 29. day of May in An. Dom. 1381. being in the fourth yeare of Richard the second, and was inthronized in Sep­tember in An. Dom 1382. being in the sixt yeare of Richard the second. This man was made Lord Treasurer in Michaelmas tearme in the ninth yeare of Richard the second, being in An. Dom. 1385. and so continued part of the 10. yeare of Richard the second, until he was by parliament discharged. He was translated from the Bishoppricke of Dur­ham to Elie, by Boniface the Pope the first Calends of October, as hath the booke of Durham 1389. be­ing in the 12. yeare of Richard the second; but as saith the booke of Elie, 1388. being in the 13 yeare of Richard the second, which both may bee true, because the one may have relation to the yeare of his translation, and the other to the yeare of his inthronization, both which many times hap­pened in severall yeares of many other Bishops. He was Bishop of Elie 37. yeares three moneths, and foure dayes, and dyed a very old man the 13. of December in his Mannor of Durham in An. Dom. 1425. falling in the fourth yeare of Henry the sixt.

Iohn Gilbert, Bishop of Hereford was by Parlia­ment made Lord Treasurer in the 10. yeare of Ri­chard the second, being in An. Dom. 1386. in which office hee continued the eleventh and all Michael­mas Tearme in the 12. yeare of Richard the second, and the 21. day of March following; after which [Page 44] he was againe removed, and then hee with twelve more were appointed by commission to the go­vernement of the whole Realme under the King, of whom thus writeth on Anonymall Chronicle. M. S. Is fuit in ordine praedicatorum vir qui plus lingua quam fide regebat. Which Bishop (as I suppose) was removed to Saint Davids, after that hee had beene thirteene yeares Bishop of Here­ford.

Thomas Brantington, Bishop of Excester. I have read that the Bishop of Excester was made Treasu­rer in the twelfth yeare of Richard the second, up­on the removing of Iohn Gilbert, which Bishop of Excester could not be Edmond Gifford, as some fals­ly name him, for there is no such man, as I can find in the catalogue of all the Bishops of Excester, nei­ther was it Edmund Stafford for hee was not made Bishop of Excester untill the 20. of Iune 1395. be­ing the day before King Richard began the twenty one yeare of his raigne, which is eight yeares after the time whereof we now intreate. Wherefore it must needs bee Thomas Brantington, for hee being consecrated Bishop of Excester the tenth day of March in An. Dom. 1370. being in the 44. yeare of Edward the third, & governing that See 24. yeares, till An. Dom. 1395. in which came Edmund Staf­ford Keeper of the Privie Seale, it must be that the Bishop of Excester being Treasurer in the twelfth yeare of Richard the second falling in An. Dom. 1388. it was this man Brantington, and that he was the fourth time made Lord Treasurer of England, [Page 45] about the 18. yeare after that he was made Bishop of Excester, who died in the yeare 1395. as hath Ypodigma.

Iohn Gilbert, Bishop of Saint Davids in Wales was Lord Treasurer in the 13. and 14. yeare of Richard the second: Of whom there is somewhat spoken before.

Iohn Waltham, of whom there is large mention in the discourse of the Archbishops of Canterbury in the life of Will. Courtney, was Bishop of Salisbury, Master of the Rolls in the sixt yeare of Richard the second, and keeper of the Privie seale, after which he was Treasurer of England in the 15, 16, 17, and part of the 18. yeare of Richard the second, for hee died in Michaelmas Tearme in the 18. yeare of Richard the second, in An. Dom. 1395. others say, 1394. Of whom thus writeth Walsingham. Hoc Anno (which was 1395) obijt Iohannes de Waltham Episcopus Sarum, & regni thesaurarius, qui tantum Regi complacuerit, ut etiam multis licet murmuranti­bus apud monasterium inter reges meruit sepulturam.

Roger Walden, sometimes Secretary to the King, and Treasurer of the Towne of Calis in the twelfth yeare of Richard the second, was made Lord Trea­surer in the eighteenth yeare of the said King, about An. Dom. 1365. in which office he continued in the 22. yeare of Richard the second. Hee was e­lected and made Bishop of Canterbury, but after re­jected and deposed, and thereupon was by Pope [Page 46] Innocent the seventh made Bishop of London in the tenth yeare of December in An. Dom. 1404. being in the sixt yeare of Henry the fourth, in the which Bishopricke hee continued one yeare, and died in An. Dom. 1406. being buried at S. Bartholomewes Priory in Smithfield, who of a poore man (as saith Walsingham) was made Lord Treasurer of Eng­land.

G. Bishop of Saint Davids in Wales was Lord Treasurer of England in the twentie two yeare of Richard the second, which Bishop I suppose to bee Guy de Moone, whom the booke Ypodigma & Tho­mas Walsingham call Bishop of Saint Davids, and say, that hee died in An. Dom. 1407. writing in this sort. Eodem anno Guido de Mone Menevensis episco­pus praesentis lucis sensit eclipsim, qui dum vixit mag­norum malorum causa fuit.

William Scroope Knight, Vicechamberleine to Rchard the second was Lord Treasurer, hee bought of William Montacute Earle of Salisbury the Ile of Man with the Crowne thereof. Hee was one of those to whom King Richard the second, let the Kingdome to farme, he was Lord Treasurer of England in the 22. yeare of Richard the second, and was after created Earle of Wiltshire in the said 21. yeare of Richard the second, in An. Dom 1397. Hee was after beheaded at Bristow in the twenty three yeare of Richard the second: Of which Wil­liam Scroope and others, thus writeth that worthy Poet Iohn Gower in his historie of Richard the se­cond, [Page 47] commonly taken as part of his booke intitu­led Vox Clamantis.

Dux probus audaci vultu cum plebe sequaci
Regnum scrutatur, si proditor inveniator
Sic tres exosos, magis omnibus ambitiosos
Regni tortores, invenerat ipse priores.
Ense repercussi pereunt, Gren, Scrop, quo (que) Bussi
Hi qui regales fuerant cum rege sodales.
Scrop. comes & miles, cujus Bristolia viles
Actus declarat, quo mors sua fata pararat
Gren quo (que) sorte pari, statuit dux decapitari
Bussi convictus similes quo (que) sustinet ictus
Vnanimes mente, pariter mors una repente
Hos tres prostravit gladius, quos fine voravit
Sicut & egerunt alijs, sic hi ceciderunt
Quo dux laudatur, regnumque per omne jocatur.

Sir Iohn Northbury made Lord Treasurer in the first yeare of Henry the fourth, being in An. Dom. 1399. and continued in the same in the third yeare of Henry the fourth in which yeare he was keeper of the Privie gardrobe in the Tower also.

Henry Bowet made Bishop of Bath about An. Do. 1401. being in the second yeare of Henry the fourth, in which bishoprick he continued 8. yeares, and was after at the Kings instance in An. Dom. 1407. about the eight of Henry the fourth removed to Yorke, This man was Lord Treasurer of England in the fourth yeare of Henry the fourth in An. Do. 1403. in which place hee continued not above a yeare.

[Page 48] William Lord Rosse the sonne of Thomas Lord Rosse did possesse the honorable place of Lord Treasurer of England in the fifth yeare of Henry the fourth about An. Dom. 1404. and shortly af­ter gave place to the Lord Furnivall. Hee marri­ed Margaret daughter of Fitzallen, Lord Matra­vers, hee had issue Thomas Lord Rosse slaine in France in An. Dom. 1421. about the ninth yeare of Henry the sixt, and many other Children.

Thomas Lord Furnivall kept the place and office of Lord Treasurer of England in the 6, 7. and some part of the 8. yeare of Henry the fourth, as in Mi­chaelmas tearme of the said 8. yeare falling in An. Dom. 1406. after which this Lord Furnivall, who had the custodie of the Castle and honor of Wig­more being in the Kings hands by reason of the wardship and minority of Edmond Mortimer Earle of March, was (as it seemeth) removed from the Treasurership, in whose roome succeeded the Bi­shop of London. To these Lord Furnivalls did Fur­nivalls Inne in Holborne sometime appertaine as their mansion house, being now an Inne of Chan­cery for young Students of the Law, and Attur­neis, and belonging to Lincolnes Inne in Chance­ry-lane.

Nicholas Bubwith, made Bishop of London in An. Dom. 1406. being in the eight yeare of Hen­ry the fourth, must bee that Bishop of London (as farre as I can yet conceive) who was Lord Trea­surer of England in Michaelmas tearme in the 8. [Page 49] yeare, the office of the Treasurer remained in the Kings hands, and the Accompts of the said terme goe under the same title of being in the Kings hands.

Sir Richard Scroope Lord of Bolton (wherof is so much spoken before) was as I suppose the second time made Treasurer of England in the ninth yeare of Henry the fourth; whereunto I am induced by this reason. That first the King would not keepe that office so long in his hands as almost amounted to Two yeares, but that he would bestow the same upon some other: Secondly, for that I reade that this Richard Scroope father to William Scroope Earle of Wiltshire, beheaded by this Henry the fourth, before he came to the Crowne at Bristow, in the last yeare of Richard the second, and in the first of this Kings raigne, was after the death of the said William made Treasurer of England and so died in honour. Thirdly for that I cannot see how he might be Treasurer in any yeare since the death of the said William untill the ninth yeare of Henry the fourth. And lastly, for that I cannot in any re­cord or other author find any other man mentioned to supply that place in this yeare, for which causes I have attempted to bestow him here, and that rightly for any thing that I can yet learne.

Sir Iohn Tiptoft, or Tiptote Knight did possesse the place and office of Lord Treasurer of Eng­land in Michaelmas tearme in the tenth yeare of Henry the fourth, being in An. Do. 1408.

[Page 50] Henry Lord Scroope of Masham and of Flaxfleet was made Lord Treasurer of England in 11. yeare of Henry the fourth, being in An. Dom. 1410. as hath Walsingham, in which office he continued un­till the death of Henry the fourth, which happened in the fourteenth yeare of the said King, and in Anno Domino 1412. after the account of Eng­land, but 1413. after the account of such as doe begin the yeare in Ianuary. Hee rebelled against King Henry the fift, and was beheaded at South­hampton in the third yeare of Henry the fifth being in An. Dom. 1415. the last of Iuly. Of which Henry so conspiring against Henry the fifth. I finde these verses in a written booke of parchment, inti­tuled Extractum breve de cronica Thomae Helmham Prioris Lenton de tempore regis Henrici Quinti. In which verses by the capitall letters, are set downe the names of the principall conspirators, and the yeare of our Lord, wherein the same was done, being 1413. The greater Roman capitall letters in the third verse serving for the yerae of Christ, and for the name Zore, derived of this word Cor in the 4. verse, and the English capitall letters only serving for the names of the persons in this sort couched together for common capacity.

Mox rex navigium parat ut mare transeat armis
Scrop furit Henricus proditione fremens.
SCrVtans Conspirat RIMatVr OlenCla Plebi
Rumpe Iugo COR Avens Res Dabit Vltra Sonum
EIA Ruit Gens Avita Malis Opus Hoste Triumphat
Vota voluntatis sic sacre Christe tuae
[Page 51]Versibus his quinque praetactis Traditionem
Lector scire potes, hinc repetendo stude
Hi tres Richardus Zorc, Henry Scrup (que) Thomas Gray
In regem surgunt proditione pares
Munere Francorum corrupti terga dedere
Iusto munus habet, vindice quis (que) suum.

Thomas Fitzallen Earle of Arundell and Surrey, was advanced to the office of the Lord Treasurer­ship of England in An. Do. 1413. being the 1. yeare of the raigne of the most victorious Prince King Henry the fifth, in which office it seemeth that hee continued the 1, 2, and 3. of Henry the fifth. He in the yeare 140 [...]. being the seventh yeare of Hen­ry the fourth, on the next day of the feast of Saint Katherine, married Beatrice the naturall daughter of the King of Portugall, by whom hee had no Issue, but left his sisters his heires and dyed in An. Dom. 1416. being in the third yeare of Henry the fift, and was buried in the Colledge at A­rundell.

Sir Roger Leche, whom some call but not rightly as I suppose; Sir Philip Lech, being brother unto the said Sir Roger, was Treasurer of England in Mi­chaelmas and Easter tearme in the fourth yeare of Henry the fift, being An. Dom. 1416. He was at the seidge of Rone with this King Henry, in the sixt yeare of his raigne, being also Treasurer for the warres in that voyage.

Henry Lord Fitzhugh, was advanced to the office [Page 52] of the Lord Treasurership of England in the fift yeare of Henry the fift, being in An. Dom. 1417. in which office hee continued as I gather untill the death of the said King Henry the fift which happe­ned in August in An. Dom. 1422

Iohn Stafford Clerke was made Lord Treasurer of England in the first yeare of King Henry the sixt being in An. Dom. 1422. in which office hee conti­nued in Michelmas tearme in the fourth yeare of Henry the sixt falling in An. Dom. 1425. hee was chosen Bishop of Bath in the third yeare of Henry the sixt in An. Dom. 1424. he was Chanceller of England, and removed to the Archbishoprick of Canterbury, of whom is mention made in my discourse of the Chancellers of England, and touching whom I will for this time onely set down here, what Matthew Paris writeth of him, in the life of Henry Chichely an Archbishop of Canterbury, Archiepiscopus (saith he) in An. Dom. 1424. Can­tuariensis 12. Octob. clerum in ecclesia Paulina con­vocavit, in ea Henricus Beauford Winton episcopus regni Cancellarius, & Iohannes Stafford Bathonien­sis electus episcopus regni thesaurarius, ad bellum Gallicum opem a clero petivit, & interposita pauco­rum dierum deliberatione. Wilhelmus Linwood offi­cialis curiae Cantuariensis de arcubus hoc responsum ab inferiori clero Synodo acceptum episcopis declaravit, non posse penes cleri procuratores potestatem subsidium concedendi. Nam cum in dicta Synodo in singulis di­ocaesibus constituti essent, clerus de solutionibus con­sentiendi licentiam expresse ademit, quia tantis tribu­tis [Page 53] diu pendendis ad magnam inopiam & egestatem devenit. Itaque Cancellarius a superiori Synodo ad inferiorem transiens, longa & diserta oratione, ac re­gis jam minoris necessitate, ac de instanti in Gallia bel­lo egit, ac ne quicquam suasit.

Walter Lord Hungerford Knight of the garter the sonne of Sir Thomas Hungerford Knight was made Lord Treasurer of England in the fourth yeare of Henry the sixt, being in An. Dom. 1425. in which office hee contynued about sixe yeares, untill some part of Michaelmas terme in the tenth of Henry the sixt, falling in An. Dom. 1431. Hee was also one of the Counsell to the said King, of whom is Mention made by Matthew Parker in the life of Henry Chicheley Archbishop of Canterbury, in these words. Proximo anno (which was about An. Dom. 1425) synodus sub eodem archiepiscopo 15. Aprilis inchoata est, Qua Iohanne Kempo Eboracensi archiepiscopo & Waltero Hungerfordo Milite Regijs consiliarijs (ille cancellario hoc thesaurario regni) re­gis nomine postulantibus regi decimam concessit. Ac eisdem his petentibus triennio post in recenti Synodo media decima regi a clero data est. This Lord Trea­surer married Katherine the daughter and heire of Thomas Peverell Knight, by whom he had issue Walter Lord Hungerford of Hatchberry Knight of the garter, that dyed without issue; Sir Robert Lord Hungerford of Hatchberry, Edmund Hungerford Knight, that died without issue, Margaret married to Sir Walter Rodney Knight, and Elizabeth marri­ed to Phillip Courtney Knight, which Robert Lord [Page 54] Hungerford and Margaret his wife, Iohn Cheiney of Pim Esquire, Iohn Mervin Esquire, and others did (by the Kings licence granted unto them in the 11. yeare of King Edward the fourth) build the hospitall of Hatchberry in Wiltshire.

Iohn Lord Scroope of Vpsall and Masham made Lord Treasurer in the tenth yeare of Henry the sixt being in An. Dom. 1431. in which office hee con­tinued untill some part of the 12. yeare of the said King, as I for this time doe gather. Of whom thus writeth Matthew Parker in the life of Henry Chich­ley Archbishop of Canterbury, touching a Synod holden in An. Dom. 1430. at what time of the Clergie hee saith, that Iohannes Stafford episcopus Bathoniensis Cancellarius, &c. D. Scroope Thesau­rarius regni nec non Wilhelmus Lindwood custos pri­vati sigilli, pro rege subsidium postularunt, & mediam decimam tandem aegre impetrarunt.

Raphe Lord Cromwell the sonne of Raph Crom­well Lord of Tatershall, possessed the place of Lord Treasurer of England in Easter tearme of the 12. yeare of the after deposed King Henry the sixt, be­ing in An. Dom. 1434. and so continued in that of­fice about tenne yeares following as I suppose in An. Do. 1444. This man being knight was created Lord Cromwell, by the said Henry the sixt, and was lineally descended of one of the heires of Robert Lord Tatershall that married one of the daughters and heires of William Dalbeny Earle of Arundell. This Raph Lord Treasurer died without issue, and [Page 55] made his Testament in An. Dom. 1454. being in the 33. yeare of Henry the sixt, after whose decease the Inheritance came to the Three Auntes, being his heires, wherof the first was maried to the Lord Bardoffe staine at Braunch ammore in Northumber­land, the second was married to Sir William Fitz-Williams Knight of the Sepulcher: the third Eli­zabeth to Sir Iohn Cliston Knight, and after his death to Sir Edmund Benested Knight, of one Lord Cromwell I finde this note set downe by Leland. Dominus Radulphus▪ Cromwell & Matilda vxor ejus fundatores Collegij sanctae Trinitatis de Tater­shall, quumque Roberti ordine domini erant de Tater­shall, hos sequutus est Radulphus Comwell.

Sir Ralphe Butler Knight of the garter, Lord Sud­ley descended from Iohn Lord Sudley, and William Butler Baron of Wem, which married Ioane daugh­ter and heire to Iohn Sudley Baron Sudley, did pos­sesse the honorable place of the Lord Treasurership of England, the seventh of Iuly in the 22. yeare of Henry the sixt, being in An. Dom. 1444. which office he kept about three yeares, for in 25. of the said King, was the Bishop of Carlile Lord Trea­surer. This Raphe Lord Sudley builded the Castle of Sudley, in the time of King Henry the sixt, and of Edward the fourth was committed to prison by the King, first sending for him to come to his presence. Whereupon hee going to the King, and resting on an hill, from whence he did behold Sudley Castle said. It is thou, it is thou, Sudley Castle, and not I which am the traitor: After which comming to [Page 56] the King, hee resigned the said Sudley Castle into his handes. Which Castle came after to Iasper Duke of Bedford, & is now 1635. in the possession of Giles Bridges Lord Shandois. This Ralph being made Baron in the 20. yeare of Henry the sixt married Elizabeth, the daughter of Sir Iohn Northberry by whom he had issue Thomas his son that died with­out issue leaving his Two Sisters to bee his heires, whereof the Eldest daughter was married to Sir Iohn Northberry, whose heire generall was maried to John Halwell of Devonshire, who had issue Ioane his daughter and heire married to Edmund Lord Bray, of whose heires generall are descended, the Lord Cobham, Lord Chandos, Sir Edmund Verney, Knight Marshall, Sir Percivall Hart of Kent, The other Sister married to Sir Hamond Bellknap, of whom is descended the Lord Wootton of Bocton Maleherbe in Kent. The which Ralph Lord Butler of Sudley was vexilifer, and high butler of England, and steward in house to Henry the sixt.

Marmaduke Bishop of Carlile, was made Lord Treasurer of England in the 25. yeare of Henry the sixt, in which office hee continued, about two yeares in the 27. yeare of Henry the sixt, being in An. Dom. 1448. (or as some have) 1449.

Iames Fynes created at Bury Baron and of Say, of Seale, on the 3. of March, in the 25. yeare of King Henry the sixt, being in An. Dom. 1446. was Con­stable of Dover Castle, and Lord Treasurer of England in the 28. yeare of Henry the sixt, and was [Page 67] from thence removed, (as some have) in An. 29. of the said King: And was by the Rebells of Kent Iacke Cade and his fellowes, taken of out the Tower to the Guildhall, where hee was arraigned before the Major and other the Kings Iustices, who de­siring to be tried by his Peeres, was by the Rebells forceably taken from the Officers, and beheaded at the standard in Cheape. Which his beheading some doe attribute to the 28. yeare of Henry the sixt, being in An. Dom. 1450. He had issue Sir William Fines Knight, and one daughter married to Sir William Cromer Knight, Sheriffe of Kent, beheaded at that time also with his father in law. Of which Cromer, Sir Iames Cromer of Kent, Knight descended.

Iohn Lord Beuchamp a person of great worthi­nesse possessed the place of the Treasurership of England in the 29. and 30. yeare of Henry the sixt.

Iohn Tiptoft Earle of Worcester, possessed the place of the Lord Treasurer in the 31. and 32 yeare of Henry the sixt: Of whom is more mention made hereafter.

Iames Butler the sonne of Iames Earle of Ormond being Earle of Wiltshire and Ormond, possessed the office of the Lord Treasurer of England in the 33. of Henry the sixt, falling in An. Dom. 1455.

Henry Vicount Bourchier, borne of the noble [Page 68] house of the Bourchiers the sonne of William Bour­chier Earle of Ewe in Normandy, was Lord Trea­surer of England in the 33. yeare of Henry the sixt, in which office he did not long remaine.

Iohn Talbot Earle of Sherwsbury the sonne of Iohn Talbot the first Earle of Shrewesbury of that name, possessed the place of the Treasurership of England in the 35. and 36. yeare of Henry the sixt, and then gave place to the Earle of Wiltshire. This Earle was slaine at the battle of Northampton, in the 38. yeare of Henry the sixt, being in An. Dom. 1460. He married Elizabeth, the daughter of Iames Butler Earle of Ormond, and had issue Iohn Earle of Shrewesbury, Iames Gilbert, Christopher, and George, Anne married to Sir Henry Vernon, and Margaret, This man was buried in the Priory of Worksop.

Iames Butler, sonne to Iames the fourth of that name, Earle of Ormond, was the second time made Lord Treasurer of England, about the 37. yeare of Henry the sixt, in which office he continued (as I suppose) in the 38. yeare of the said King, In which yeare hee conveyed himselfe out of England into Duchland, (for feare of the Nobility, as the Duke of Yorke and others, that rebelled against the King) sending backe his souldiers into England, which he had before assembled upon the Sea, but after he returned into England, and was againe put to flight at Mortimers Crosse, by Edward Earle of March, after King, by the name of King Edward the fourth. He was made Earle of Ormond in the 39. of Henry [Page 69] the sixt, being his last yeare. Hee married Elinor, the daughter of Edmund Duke of Somerset, & diep without yssue, being beheaded at Newcastle in An. Do. 1461. in the first yeare of Edward the fourth.

Henry Viscount Bourchier, was Lord Treasurer of England the second time, in the 39. yeare of Henry the sixt, being in An. Dom. 1460. who up­on the deposition of the said King, by Edward the fourth, was also removed from the said office.

Thrmas Bourchier, made Lord Treasurer of Eng­land in the first yeare of Edward the fourth, in An-Dom. 1461. continued not long in that office, but gave place to Iohn Earle of Worcester.

Iohn Tiptoft Earle of Worcester, the second tyme possessed the place of the Lord Treasurership of England in the second and third yeare of Edward the fourth.

Edmund Lord Grey of Ruthine, the sonne of Iohn Lord Grey of Ruthine, did enjoy the office of Lord Treasurership of England, in the fourth yeare of Edward the fourth in Anno Dom. 1464. This man secretly in heart forsaking the part of King Henry the sixt, for injuries received at his hands ay­ded the said Edward the fourth, and was the chiefe meanes whereby hee attained the Crowne, in Mi­chaelmas Tearme in the said fourth yeare of this [Page 70] King, there was a Sergeants feast held in Holbourne in the Bishop of Ely his House, to which the Maior and Aldermen repaired being bidden thither. But when the Major looked to have kept the state in the Hall, forgetting that hee was out of his owne liberties (for the Bishops place was an exempt place) as it had beene used (saith Iohn Stow) in all places of the City, and liberties of the same, out of the Kings presence, the Lord Grey of Ruthine then Treasurer of England, unknowne to the Ser­geants, and against their willes (as they said) was placed in the highest roome, whereupon the Major Aldermen and Commons departed. This Edmund doth Matthew Parker, in the life of Thomas Bour­chier Archbishop of Canterbury, make to be Trea­surer in the Third yeare of Edward the fourth in Anno Dom. 1463. which may well enough stand with the former, being Treasurer to Iohn Earle of Worcester in the 3. yeare of the King. For upon re­moving of the said Earle in the 3. yeare of Edward the 4. came this Lord Grey in place. The words of which said Matthew Parker (with a note of An. Do. 1463. in the margent) are in this order: Edwardus Rex duobus jam annis faeliciter gesto regno, parlia­mentū. West monasterij tenuit, quo etiam tempore, Ar­chiepiscopus (which was Thomas Bourchier, the bro­ther of Henry Bourchier Earle of Essex) & Clerus in synodo convenerunt. In hac synodo Iohannes Comes Wigorniae, Henricus Comes Essexiae, & D. Edmun­dus Grey Thesaurarius Angliae, D. Humfridus Cromwell, D. Wenlocke, D. Iohannes Prior sancti Io­hannis & Robertus Stillington Legum doctor, custos [Page 71] privati sigilli regis consiliarij, allatis literis regijs petierunt a clero decerni regi ad Scotos repellendos sub­sidium. Quod quidem gratissimis omnium animis tam munifico regi concessum est, qui superiori anno ecclesiae immunitates atque jura iniquis judiciorum calumnijs (uti in Iohanne Stafford antea diximus) convulsa & labefactata diplomate regio restauravit. Besides which thus writeth Iohn Whethamstead, that lear­ned Abbat of Saint Albons of this Lord Grey, de­claring in what authority he was at first, in the daies of Henry the sixt, and then in the raigne of Edward the fourth, His words be these. In the 36. yeare of Henry the sixt, Venerunt tres viri monachi de cae­nobio Cluniacensi, quibus ad audiendum eorum nunti­um, missi sunt episcopus Dunelmensis, custos privati sigilli, Dominus Edmondus Grey de Ruthine, & Secre­tarius regis, quibus isti viri dixerunt, eorum adven­tum esse ob tria. Primo ad aperiendum quomodo reges Angliae, & praecipue Henricus secundus fuerunt tam magni benefactores ad eorum ecclesiam ut potius pro nunc dicatur earum patronus & praecipuus funda­tor. Secundo venerunt ad petendum possessionem & confirmationem bonorum illorum quae dicti progeni­tores eis contulerant, & per tempus non paucum jam­dudum a manibus eorum detenta & distracta erant. Tertio ad impetrandum liberam licentiam ad ingredi­endum singula loca religiosa ob eorum caenobio depen­dentia, & quae per nobiles progenitores reges posita fu­erunt sub eorum regimime. Sed nihil hic eis gratum fuit actum, itu at tristes discederunt. Out of which words of Whethamsted, may other things bee ga­thered, besides the doings of the Lord Grey, as that [Page 72] the Kings of England, and specially Henry the se­cond, have been great benefactors and founders of the Charterhouse Monkes, with many moe matters contained in the same, which I referre to the wise & learned reader, which made me the willinger to set down his words so largely; Moreover the same Whethamsted, continuing the Historie of Henry the sixt, writeth of the battle of Northampton, wherein was this Lord Gray, in this sort. In praelio Northamptonensi Edmundus Grey, dominus Ruthine, corpore licet praesens (even as the Lord Stanly was in the battell fought betwixt Richard the third, and Henry Earle of Richmond, after King, by the name of Henry the seventh) in campi domini regis Henrici Sexti steterat, cor tamen ejus non erat rectum in eo, neque omnino fidelis habitus aut inventus fuit. Nam venientibus turmis dictis ad fossam circumvallationis & ipsam non multum prompte propter elevationem ver ticis in parte ulteriore ascendere valentibus, oc­currit ipsis dominus cum suis copijs obvians, porrigen­do (que) ipsis dextran, traxit eos per manus in campum Martium, juxta votum suum. Thus much Whetham­sted of Edmond Grey Lord Ruthine, who was made Earle of Kent, in the fifth yeare of Edward the fourth, in An. Dom. 1464.

This Edmond Grey being Lord Hastings, Weis­ford, and Ruthine, (before he had the honour of this Earledome) did by his Deed of Indenture dated the eighteenth of November in the 25. yeare of Henry the sixt in An. Do. 1446. give to Iohn Pinch­becke Prior of Duffefield in Northamptonshire in Almes, during the life of the said Prior, his Feild [Page 73] called Challocke, to keepe the obits of Sir Iohn Grey, father to the said Sir Edmond, and of Dame Constance the widow of the Earle Marshall, and daughter of Iohn Holland Duke of Excester and Earle of Huntington, mother to the said Sir Edmund with masse, &c. as such other Collects, as the said Edmond should deliver unto the said Prior.

Sir Walter Blunt Knight, who was the first Lord Montjoy, possessed the place of Lord Treasurership of England, in the fifth yeare of Edward the fourth, which fell in Anno Dom. 1465. Of this man is men­tion made in the Booke of the Law called Long Quinto of Edward the fourth; Hee married the daughter of Sir Iohn Biron, and had yssue William, Iohn, and Iames.

Sir Richard Woodvile Knight Chamberlaine to the King, and Constable of England, was made Barron on the ninth of May in the second yeare of Henry the sixt, in An. Dom. 1424. and was after created Earle of Rivers in the fift yeare of Edward the fourth, in An. Dom. 1465. who thus advanced, was after Lord Treasurer in the 6. 7. and 8. of Ed­ward the fourth. In which 8. yeare of Edward the fourth, Thomas Cooke, late Major of London was accused of Treason, and arraigned for the same, who after he had beene many times purged theref, was yet at last found guilty, and by this Lord Ri­vers, then Lord Treasurer so handled, as that hee could not be delivered, untill hee had paid 8000. pound to the king, and 800. pound to the Queene. [Page 74] This Lord Treasurer married Iaquet, the widow of Iohn Duke of Bedford, daughter to Peter of Lu­cenburgh Earle of Saint Paule, by whom hee had yssue, Richard Earle Rivers, Anthony Lord Scales in the right of his wife, Edward Woodvile Knight slaine at the battell of Saint Albine in Britaine in [...]he third yeare of Henry the seventh, Lionell Bi­shop of Salisbury, Margaret married to Thomas Earle of Arundale, Margaret married to William Herbert, Earle of Huntington, Anna first married to William Bourchier Earle of Essex, and after to George Gray Earle of Kent, Iaquet married to Iohn Lord Strange, Elizabeth married to Sir Iohn Greie youn­ger son to the Lord Greie of Ruthine, and after the death of the said Sir Iohn Greie, to King Edward the fourth, and Katherine married to Henry Duke of Buckingham; Besides all which I have read of one Iohn, which was sonne to this Earle Rivers, which Iohn married the old Dutchesse of Norfolke, and was beheaded with his father, the truth wher­of I leave to further triall. This Richard Earle Ri­vers Lord Treasurer in the ninth yeare of Edward the fourth, in An. Dom. 1469. was by Robert Hil­tard, who named himselfe Robert of Kidesdale, ta­ken in the forrest of Deane, (as some have) others say at Grafton, and from thence brought to North­hampton and there was beheaded.

Iohn Longstrother Prior of Saint Iohns Ierusalem in England, possessed the place of Lord Treasurer of the Realme in the ninth yeare of Edward the fourth, in Anno Dom. 1469. for in the same yeare [Page 75] hee gave place to the Bishop of Elie.

William Grey, Bishop of Elie was after the trans­lation of Thomas Bourchier from Elie to Canterbury advanced to that See, by Nicholas the fifth, then Bishop of Rome, who gave it to the said Bishop, be­ing then procurator too for King Henry the 6. at Rome in the yeare of our redemption, 1454. This man was Lord Treasurer in the ninth yeare of Ed­ward the fourth, in An. Dom. 1469. in which of­fice he continued untill the 11. yeare of Edward the fourth, or thereabouts. This Greie was borne of the noble house of the Lord Greyes of Codnor, as saith Bale, and travelled into Italie to attaine great learning, where he heard the noble Clerke Guari­nus Veronensis reade in Ferraria. Hee continued Bishop of Elie 24. yeares 11. Moneths and two daies, departing this life at Durham the fourth of August in An. Dom. 1478. as I have read, and was buried at Elie, betweene two Marble pillars, ha­ving bestowed great sommes of money upon the reparations of that famous Belfrie of the Church of Elie, and upon other ornaments of the same Church.

Henry Bourchier Earle of Essxe, did the third time possesse the honorable place of the Lord Trea­surership of England in the 11. yeare of Edward the fourth, in which office hee continued (as I gather) 12. yeares, being all the residue of the life of Ed­ward the fourth, who departed this world, about the ninth day of Aprill in An. Dom. 1483. which [Page 76] Bourchier being made Earle of Essex in the first yeare of Edward the fourth, in An. Dom. 1461. married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard de Conis­burge Earle of Cambridge, the sister of Richard Duke of Yorke, by whom hee had yssue William Lord Bourchier, Thomas, Iohn, Henry, and Hum­phery, Knights.

Sir Richard Wood Knight, whom some call Sir Iohn Wood, being before under Treasurer in the 23. yeare of Edward the fourth, was in the same yeare made Knight about a Moneth before the death of the said King Edward the fourth. This man did possesse the place of the Lord Treasurer of Eng­land, (as I gather out of the record of Pellis exitus, of that yeare) in the second yeare of the Raigne of King Richard the third, being the yeare of our re­demption 1484. which office I suppose, that hee kept untill the said Richard the third was slayne, by Henry Earle of Richmond, afterward King of Eng­land, by the name of Henry the Seventh.

Sir Reignold Brey Knight, the sonne of Richard Brey Physician (as some have noted to King Henry the sixt) being servant to Margret Countesse of Richmond mother to Henry the seventh, was for the fidelity of his Lady, and good service in fur­thering King Henry the 7. to the Crowne received into great favour with the said King, and made Lord Treasurer of England, as appeareth by the record of Pellis exitus, made under his name in the first yeare of Henry the seventh in An. Dom. 1485. [Page 77] besides which Office, hee had many other offices and honours, part whereof were that he was Trea­surer of the Kinges warres, that he was one of the executors to King Henry the seventh, that hee was made Knight of the Bath, at the Coronation of the King, and created a Banneret at Blacke-heath field. Hee died in the 18. yeare of the prudent Prince. King Henry the seventh, being in An. Dom. 1503. and was honorably buried at Windsor.

Sir Iohn Dinham Kinght, the son of Sir Dinham Knight, a faithfull servant to the house of Yorke, aswell in ayding the Duke of Yorke, to whom Edward the fourth, sonne to the said Duke of Yorke, in the second yeare of his raigne, had given one Annuity of 30. pound per Annum; did after the death of the said Edward the fourth in the second yeare of Henry the seventh possesse the place of Lord Treasurer of England in An. Dom. 1486. and so continued vntill in An. 16. Henry the seventh, and then gave place to Thomas Earle of Surrey. Of which Lord Dinham thus writeth, Leland. Dominus Dinham primus fuit fun­dator sancti Nicholas alias Hortland, He was created Lord Dinham in the first yeare of Edward the 4. shortly after the Coronation of the said King in An. Dom. 1461. He dyed in Anno 16. of the same King Henry the seventh in An. Dom. 1500. and the 30. day of Ianuary was brought to the Gray Fryers in London, and there buried. He married Elizabeth daughter of the Lord Fitzwater, by whom he had yssue George and Phillip, and Sir Thomas Dinham [Page 78] his base sonne that married one of the daughters and heires of Sir Iohn Ormond: Which Thomas was buried at Ashring, Three miles from Berkham­sted, besides which children, this Lord Dinham or Denham (for so I finde both written in Chronicles) had by his legitimate wife divers daughters, which were Margaret married to Nicholas Baron of Carew Ioane married to the Lord Zouch, Elizabeth marri­ed to the Lord Fitz Warren, and Katherine married to Sir Thomas Arundell of Cornewall Knight.

Here I thinke it not amisse to say somewhat of a note which I have seene, that maketh Iohn Touchet Lord Audley Treasurer of England, which note is this. Iohn Touchet Lord Audley Treasurer of Eng­land dyed the 26. day of December in An. Do. 1490. falling in the sixt yeare of Henry the seventh, and had issue Iames Lord Audley, beheaded the 28. of Iune in An. Dom. 1497. being the 12. yeare of Henry the seventh.

Thomas Howard the sonne of Iohn Lord Howard created the first Duke of Norfolke of that name (in the time of Richard the Third) was at the same time also created Earle of Surrey. This man after the slaughter of his father at Bosworth field, when the Tyrant Richard the third was slaine by Henry the seventh, was after received into such favour with the said King Henry the seventh, that hee was advanced to be Lord Treasurer of England in the 16. yeare of Henry the seventh in An. Dom. 1500. Which place hee continued all the life of the said King Henry the seventh, who died in the 24. yeare [Page 79] of his raigne, being in An. Do. 1509. After which for the good service hee used in the time of King Henry the seventh, King Henry the 8. permitted him to keepe that Office, which he possessed untill the 15. yeare of King Henry the 8. in An. Dom. 1523. This man was created Duke of Norfolke on Candlemas day in the fift yeare of Henry the 8. be­ing in An. Dom. 1513. at what time also his sonne Thomas Howard was made Earle of Surrey. This Duke was advanced to that honour, in recompence of the death of the King of Scots, and for the good service that hee did against that Nation in the said 5. yeare of Henry the 8. with an augmentation of his armes: the Armes of Scotland, in medio benda Armorum proprij Nominis of Howard. Touching which victory of the death of the King of Scots. Buchanan, Lib. 13. writeth to this effect. That the said Thomas Howard (as a note of the conquest) gave to his servants (to weare on their left arme) being a white Lyon (the beast which he beare be­fore as the proper Ensigne of that house) standing over a Red Lion, the peculiar note of the King­dome of Scotland) and tearing the same Red Lyon with his pawes. This Tho. Duke of Norfolke mar­ried two wives, his first wife was Elizabeth the daughter of Fredericke Tilney Knight, by whom he had issue Thomas Earle of Surrey, after Duke of Norfolk, Edward slaine at Brest Admiral of England and Edmond Howard, with Elizabeth married to Thomas Bulline Earle of Wiltshire, and Muriell married to Iohn Grey Lord Lisle: His second wife was Agnes daughter of Philip Tilney Knight, by [Page 80] whom he had yssue William Lord Howard of Ef­fingham with many others. This Thomas Duke of Norfolke died in the 16. yeare of King Henry the 8. in An. Dom. 1544. and was buried at Thetford in Norfolke.

Thomas Howard, sonne to the said Thomas Duke of Norfolke, being Earle of Surrey possessed the place of the Lord Treasurer in the 15. yeare of Henry the 8. in An. Dom. 1523. the which office he continued in the 38. yeare of the said King, in An. Dom. 1546. in the which yeare on the 28. of Ianuary, the said King Henry died, so that this Duke and his father were Lord Treasurers of Eng­land almost 48. yeares: But about some few daies more then a Moneth before the death of the said King, that is to say, on the 12. day of December, this Duke with his sonne Henry Earle of Surrey were committed to the Tower, the one by water, the other by land. Shortly after which, the said Henry was beheaded at Tower-hill the 19. day of Ianuary, about 9. dayes before the death of the King. And the Duke remained as condemned to perpetuall prison, till the beginning of the Raigne of Queene Mary, who then set him at liberty: He married for his first wife Anne the daughter of King Edward the fourth, but had Thomas that died young after, he married Elizabeth daughter to Edward Duke of Buckingham, by whom hee had yssue Henry Earle of Surrey beheaded as before, Thomas Viscount Bindon and Mary married to Henry Fitzroy Duke of Richmond, Hee died about [Page 81] the beginning of the Raigne of Queene Mary.

Edward Seymer Earle of Hartford was after the death of King Henry the 8. made Lord Treasurer of England, in the first yeare of King Edward the sixt, in An. Dom. 1546. in which yeare hee was also made protector of England and Duke of So­merset, of whom thus writeth Matthew Parker, calling him Regni Camerarium, in the life of Tho­mas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury in these words, pag. 397. In testamento (meaning King Henry the 8.) Edwardo Principi minori novem an­nis nato haeredi suo Sexdecem tutores, ex Episcopis solos Thomam Cranmerum Cantuariensem archiepis­copum & Cuthbertum Tonstallum Dunelmensem E­piscopum dedit. And a little after, pag. 398. fol­loweth, Verum pluribus (ut diximus (ei minori) (that was King Edward) a patre constitutis curatori­bus, ne numero suo, at (que) multitudine ad dissentiones faciles essent & proclives, unus electus est, qui ex consilijs reliquorum impuberis regis tutelam solus administraret: Is futit Edwardus Seimerus Comes He­refordiensis totius regni Camerarius regis (que) Auuncu­lus. Qui suscepta tutela regis, totius regni atque do­miniorum suorum proctteor & Somerseti Dux nuncu­patus at (que) creatus est. This Duke of Somerset being Treasurer of England continued in the same office (untill his death which was) more then 4. yeares, and was beheaded in the fift yeare of Edward the sixt, in An. Dom. 1551.

[Page 82]Sir William Paulet Knight Marquesse of Winche­ster, was made Lord Treasurer, upon the death of the Duke of Somerset, in the fift yeare of Edward the sixt in An. Dom. 1551. Which office hee kept by the space of Twenty yeares and more, a longer time then ever any other Treasurer had done be­fore, except the two last Dukes of Norfolke. This man being a man of extreame age, (as attaining to the yeares Ninetie Seven) died Lord Treasurer of England, the tenth of March, in An. Dom. 1571. (being the 14. yeare of the Raigne of the famous Queene Elizabeth) at his Mannor of Basing. Hee in his life time did see the Children of his Chil­drens Children growne to the number of One Hundred and Three; a rare blessing of God to men of his calling. He maried Elizabeth the daughter of Sir William Capell Knight, by whom he had issue, Iohn Marquesse of Winchester, Thomas, Chidiocke, and Giles, Alice married to Richard Stowell, Margaret married to Sir William Berkeley, Margery married to Richard Waller, and Eleanor married to Sir Richard Perckshall.

Sir William Cecill Knight, principall Secretary of State, created Lord Burghley, upon the death of the Marquesse of Winchester was made Lord Trea­surer of England the 13. Iuly 1572. being in the 14. yeare of the reigne of Queene Elizabeth, and con­tinued in that office during his life, being also (e­lected unto that most noble Order of the Garter. Chancellor of the Vniversity of Cambridge, and a Commissioner for the Office of Earle Marshall of of England.

[Page 83] Thomas Sackvill Barron Buckhurst, heire Male of that ancient Familie that have flourished in a continued series from the Conquest, and com­ming over out of Normandie, deserved Nobly in that action was made Lord Treasurer the 15. of May in the 41. yeare of Queene Elizabeth, and continued in that office during his life: Hee was after by King Iames Created Earle of Dorcet the 13. of March 1603. being Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter, and Chancellor of the Vni­versity of Oxford.

Sir Robert Cecill second son to William Lord Bur­ghley, being Principal Secretary of State to Queene Elizabeth and after to King Iames, was by the said king created Baron Cecill of Essendon the 13. of May 1603. vicount Cranborne the 20. of August 1604. and Earle of Salisbury the 4. of May in the sixt yeare of King Iames, and upon the death of the Earle of Dorcet hee was made Lord Treasurer of England, and continued in the place till his death.

Thomas Lord Howard of Walden (second sonne to Thomos Howard Duke of Norfolke) created Earle of Suffolke by King Iames, being then Lord Chamber­laine and Knight of the Garter, was made Lord Treasurer of England the 12. of Iuly in the 12. yeare of the raigne of King Iames.

Sir Henry Montague Knight, Lord chiefe Iustice of the Kings Bench, was made Lord Treasurer of [Page 84] England the 14. of December in the 18. yeare of King Iames, and the 19. day of the same moneth and yeare he was Created Baron of Kimolten Ca­stle in Huntington-shire, and Vicount Mandevile, and immediately after the Coronation of King Charles he was created Earle of Manchester.

Lyonell Lord Cranfield of Cranfield in the Coun­ty of Bedford, so created by Letters Patents, bea­ring date the 9. of Iuly 1621. was made Lord Trea­surer the 19. of October following, and created Earle of Middlesex the 19. of October. 1622.

Sir Iames Ley Knight and Baronet, Lord Cheife Iustice of the Kings Bench, was made Lord Trea­surer of England the 22. of December in the 22. yeare of the raigne of King Iames, and upon the 31. day of the same Moneth he was created Baron Ley of Ley in Devonshire, and immediately after the Coronation of King Charles, he was created Earle of Marleburgh in Wiltsshire.

Richard Lord Weston Chancellor of the Exche­quer, upon the remove of the Earle of Marleburgh was made Lord Treasurer of England upon the 15. day of Iuly in the 4. yeare of King Charles, and was after that created Earle of Portland in Dorcet­shire, by Letters Patents, bearing date the 17. day of February in the eighth yeare of the raigne of King Charles.

[Page 85]Vpon the death of the said Earle of Portland, his Majestie appointed Commissioners for the said office, viz. William Lord Archbishop of Canter­bury, his Grace; Henry Earle of Manchester, Lord Privie Seale; Francis Lord Cottington Chancel­lor of the Exchequer; Sir Iohn Cooke, and Sir Francis Windebank Knights, Principall Secretaries of State.

The right reverend Father in God William Iuxon, first Lord Bishop of Hereford, then translated to London and made deane of the Kings Chappel, and called to be of the Privy Councell, and was made Lord Treasurer of England, the Ninth day of March, 1635.

FINIS.

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Text Creation Partnership. Searching, reading, printing, or downloading EEBO-TCP texts is reserved for the authorized users of these project partner institutions. Permission must be granted for subsequent distribution, in print or electronically, of this EEBO-TCP Phase II text, in whole or in part.